And yet,--here in the stillness of the night, This lonely solitude, again I see Rising before me life-like all I dreamed.
[A SHADOW, attired like an old warrior in armor and toga, stems to rise from the earth among the trees a short distance from him.]
CATILINE. [Recoils before THE SHADOW.]
Great powers of heaven--!
THE SHADOW. Greetings, Catiline!
CATILINE. What will you have? Who are you, pallid shade?
THE SHADOW. One moment! It is here my right to question,-- And you shall answer. Do you no longer know This voice from ages long since pa.s.sed away?
CATILINE. Methinks I do; yet certain I am not--.
But speak, whom seek you at this midnight hour?
THE SHADOW. "Tis you I seek. Know that this hour alone Is granted me as respite here on earth.
CATILINE. By all the G.o.ds! Who are you? Speak!
THE SHADOW. Be calm!
Hither I come to call you to account.
Why do you envy me the peace of death?
Why do you drive me from my earthy dwelling?
Why do you mar my rest with memories, That I must seek you, whisper menaces, To guard the honor I so dearly bought?
CATILINE. Alas! this voice--! Somehow I seem to know--
THE SHADOW. What is there left of my imperial power?
A shadow like myself; yes, scarcely that.
Both sank into the grave--and came to naught.
"Twas dearly bought; dear, dear was it attained.
For it I sacrificed all peace in life, And waived all claims to peace beyond the grave.
And now you come and want to wrest from me With daring hands what little I have left.
Are there not paths enough to n.o.ble deeds?
Why must you choose the one that I have chosen?
I gave up everything in life to power; My name--so dreamed I--should forever stand, Not beaming like a star with friendly l.u.s.tre,-- No, like a flash against the midnight sky!
I did not covet fame, the goal of hundreds, For magnanimity and n.o.ble deeds; Nor admiration;--far too many share That fate already: so will many more Until the end of time. Of blood and horror I wished to build me my renown and fame.
With silent dread, as on some meteor That now appears in mystery and is gone Again,--men should gaze back upon my life, And look askance on me, whom no one ever, Before or since then, dared to emulate.
Yes, thus I dreamed and dreamed,--and was deceived.
Why did I not surmise, when you stood near me, The secret thoughts then growing in your soul.
Yet, Catiline, beware; know that I see Beyond the veil that hides from you the future.
Written among the stars--I read your fate!
CATILINE. You read my fate? Expound it then to me!
THE SHADOW. No, first beyond death"s gloomy gate Shall fade away the mists that hide The gruesome and the n.o.bly great, Borne ever on by time and tide.
This from thy book of fate alone A liberated soul may tell thee: Perish thou shalt by deed thine own, And yet a stranger"s hand shall fell thee.
[THE SHADOW glides away as in a mist.]
CATILINE. [After a pause.]
Ah, he has vanished. Was it but a dream?
No, no; even here he stood; the moonbeams played Upon his sallow visage. Yes, I knew him!
It was the man of blood, the old dictator, Who sallied from his grave to frighten me.
He feared lest he should lose the victor"s crown,-- Not the reward of honor, but the terror Whereby his memory lives. Are bloodless shades Spurred onward also by the thought of glory?
[Paces to and fro uneasily.]
CATILINE. All things storm in upon me. Now Aurelia In gentle admonition speaks,--and now In me reechoes Furia"s warning cry.
Nay, more than that;--out of the grave appear The pallid shadows of a by-gone age.
They threaten me. I should now stop and pause?
I should turn back? No. I shall venture on Unfaltering;--the victory soon is mine!
[CURIUS comes through the forest in great agitation.]
CURIUS. O Catiline--!
CATILINE. [Surprised.] What, you,--you here, my friend!
CURIUS. I had to--
CATILINE. Wherefore staid you not in town?
CURIUS. Fear prompted me; I had to seek you here.
CATILINE. You rush for my sake blindly into danger.
You thoughtless lad! Yet, come into my arms!
[Moves to embrace him.]
CURIUS. [Draws back.]
No! Do not touch me! Do not even come near me!
CATILINE. What ails you, my dear Curius?
CURIUS. Up! Break camp!
Flee, if you can, even this very hour!
On every highway come the enemy troops; Your camp is being surrounded.
CATILINE. Calm yourself; You rave. Speak, has the journey shaken you--?
CURIUS. Oh no; but save yourself while there is time!
You are betrayed--
[Prostrates himself before him.]
CATILINE. [Starts back.] Betrayed! What are you saying?
CURIUS. Betrayed by one in friendly guise!