BUTLER.
"Twill be the lesser danger with the duke.
DEVEREUX.
Danger! The devil! What do you think me, general, "Tis the duke"s eye, and not his sword, I fear.
BUTLER.
What can his eye do to thee?
DEVEREUX.
Death and h.e.l.l!
Thou knowest that I"m no milksop, general!
But "tis not eight days since the duke did send me Twenty gold pieces for this good warm coat Which I have on! and then for him to see me Standing before him with the pike, his murderer.
That eye of his looking upon this coat-- Why--why--the devil fetch me! I"m no milksop!
BUTLER.
The duke presented thee this good warm coat, And thou, a needy wight, hast pangs of conscience To run him through the body in return, A coat that is far better and far warmer Did the emperor give to him, the prince"s mantle.
How doth he thank the emperor? With revolt And treason.
DEVEREUX.
That is true. The devil take Such thankers! I"ll despatch him.
BUTLER.
And would"st quiet Thy conscience, thou hast naught to do but simply Pull off the coat; so canst thou do the deed With light heart and good spirits.
DEVEREUX.
You are right, That did not strike me. I"ll pull off the coat-- So there"s an end of it.
MACDONALD.
Yes, but there"s another Point to be thought of.
BUTLER.
And what"s that, Macdonald?
MACDONALD.
What avails sword or dagger against him?
He is not to be wounded--he is----
BUTLER (starting up).
What!
MACDONALD.
Safe against shot, and stab, and flash! Hard frozen.
Secured and warranted by the black art His body is impenetrable, I tell you.
DEVEREUX.
In Ingolstadt there was just such another: His whole skin was the same as steel; at last We were obliged to beat him down with gunstocks.
MACDONALD.
Hear what I"ll do.
DEVEREUX.
Well.
MACDONALD.
In the cloister here There"s a Dominican, my countryman.
I"ll make him dip my sword and pike for me In holy water, and say over them One of his strongest blessings. That"s probatum!
Nothing can stand "gainst that.
BUTLER.
So do, Macdonald!
But now go and select from out the regiment Twenty or thirty able-bodied fellows, And let them take the oaths to the emperor.
Then when it strikes eleven, when the first rounds Are pa.s.sed, conduct them silently as may be To the house. I will myself be not far off.
DEVEREUX.
But how do we get through Hartschier and Gordon, That stand on guard there in the inner chamber?
BUTLER.
I have made myself acquainted with the place, I lead you through a back door that"s defended By one man only. Me my rank and office Give access to the duke at every hour.
I"ll go before you--with one poinard-stroke Cut Hartschier"s windpipe, and make way for you.
DEVEREUX.
And when we are there, by what means shall we gain The duke"s bed-chamber, without his alarming The servants of the court? for he has here A numerous company of followers.
BUTLER.
The attendants fills the right wing: he hates bustle, And lodges in the left wing quite alone.
DEVEREUX.
Were it well over--hey, Macdonald! I Feel queerly on the occasion, devil knows.
MACDONALD.
And I, too. "Tis too great a personage.
People will hold us for a brace of villains.
BUTLER.
In plenty, honor, splendor--you may safely Laugh at the people"s babble.
DEVEREUX.
If the business Squares with one"s honor--if that be quite certain.
BUTLER.
Set your hearts quite at ease. Ye save for Ferdinand His crown and empire. The reward can be No small one.
DEVEREUX.
And "tis his purpose to dethrone the emperor?
BUTLER.
Yes! Yes! to rob him of his crown and life.
DEVEREUX.