No honest man"s ambitious to press forward To the hangman"s service.
BUTLER.
And no brave man loses His color at a daring enterprise.
GORDON.
A brave man hazards life, but not his conscience.
BUTLER.
What then? Shall he go forth anew to kindle The unextinguishable flame of war?
GORDON.
Seize him, and hold him prisoner--do not kill him.
BUTLER.
Had not the emperor"s army been defeated I might have done so. But "tis now pa.s.sed by.
GORDON.
Oh, wherefore opened I the stronghold to him?
BUTLER.
His destiny, and not the place destroys him.
GORDON.
Upon these ramparts, as beseemed a soldier-- I had fallen, defending the emperor"s citadel!
BUTLER.
Yes! and a thousand gallant men have perished!
GORDON.
Doing their duty--that adorns the man!
But murder"s a black deed, and nature curses it.
BUTLER (brings out a paper).
Here is the manifesto which commands us To gain possession of his person. See-- It is addressed to you as well as me.
Are you content to take the consequences, If through our fault he escape to the enemy?
GORDON.
I? Gracious G.o.d!
BUTLER.
Take it on yourself.
Come of it what may, on you I lay it.
GORDON.
Oh, G.o.d in heaven!
BUTLER.
Can you advise aught else Wherewith to execute the emperor"s purpose?
Say if you can. For I desire his fall, Not his destruction.
GORDON.
Merciful heaven! what must be I see as clear as you. Yet still the heart Within my bosom beats with other feelings!
BUTLER.
Mine is of harder stuff! Necessity In her rough school hath steeled me. And this Illo, And Terzky likewise, they must not survive him.
GORDON.
I feel no pang for these. Their own bad hearts Impelled them, not the influence of the stars.
"Twas they who strewed the seeds of evil pa.s.sions In his calm breast, and with officious villany Watered and nursed the poisonous plants. May they Receive their earnests to the uttermost mite!
BUTLER.
And their death shall precede his!
We meant to have taken them alive this evening Amid the merrymaking of a feast, And keep them prisoners in the citadel, But this makes shorter work. I go this instant To give the necessary orders.
SCENE VII.
To these enter ILLO and TERZKY.
TERZKY.
Our luck is on the turn. To-morrow come The Swedes--twelve thousand gallant warriors, Illo!
Then straightwise for Vienna. Cheerily, friend!
What! meet such news with such a moody face?
ILLO.
It lies with us at present to prescribe Laws, and take vengeance on those worthless traitors Those skulking cowards that deserted us; One has already done his bitter penance, The Piccolomini: be his the fate Of all who wish us evil! This flies sure To the old man"s heart; he has his whole life long Fretted and toiled to raise his ancient house From a count"s t.i.tle to the name of prince; And now must seek a grave for his only son.
BUTLER.
"Twas pity, though! A youth of such heroic And gentle temperament! The duke himself, "Twas easily seen, how near it went to his heart.
ILLO.
Hark ye, old friend! That is the very point That never pleased me in our general-- He ever gave the preference to the Italians.
Yea, at this very moment, by my soul!
He"d gladly see us all dead ten times over, Could he thereby recall his friend to life.
TERZKY.
Hush, hush! Let the dead rest! This evening"s business Is, who can fairly drink the other down-- Your regiment, Illo! gives the entertainment.
Come! we will keep a merry carnival The night for once be day, and "mid full gla.s.ses Will we expect the Swedish avant-garde.
ILLO.
Yes, let us be of good cheer for to-day, For there"s hot work before us, friends! This sword Shall have no rest till it is bathed to the hilt In Austrian blood.
GORDON.
Shame, shame! what talk is this, My lord field-marshal? Wherefore foam you so Against your emperor?
BUTLER.
Hope not too much From this first victory. Bethink you, sirs!
How rapidly the wheel of fortune turns; The emperor still is formidably strong.