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OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, BUTLER.

Butler. At your command, Lieutenant-General.

Octavio. Welcome, as honoured friend and visitor.

Butler. You do me too much honour.

Octavio (after both have seated themselves). You have not

Returned the advances which I made you yesterday —

Misunderstood them, as mere empty forms. 5

That wish proceeded from my heart — I was

In earnest with you — for ‘tis now a time

In which the honest should unite most closely.

Butler. ‘Tis only the like-minded can unite.

Octavio. True! and I name all honest men like-minded. 10

I never charge a man but with those acts

To which his character deliberately

Impels him; for alas! the violence

Of blind misunderstandings often thrusts

The very best of us from the right track. 15

You came through Frauenberg. Did the Count Galas

Say nothing to you? Tell me. He’s my friend.

Butler. His words were lost on me.

Octavio. It grieves me sorely

To hear it: for his counsel was most wise.

I had myself the like to offer.

Butler. Spare 20

Yourself the trouble — me th’ embarrassment,

To have deserved so ill your good opinion.

Octavio. The time is precious — let us talk openly.

You know how matters stand here. Wallenstein

Meditates treason — I can tell you further — 25

He has committed treason; but few hours

Have past, since he a covenant concluded

With the enemy. The messengers are now

Full on their way to Egra and to Prague.

Tomorrow he intends to lead us over 30

To the enemy. But he deceives himself;

For prudence wakes — the Emperor has still

Many and faithful friends here, and they stand

In closest union, mighty though unseen.

This manifesto sentences the Duke — 35

Recalls the obedience of the army from him,

And summons all the loyal, all the honest,

To join and recognize in me their leader.

Choose — will you share with us an honest cause?

Or with the evil share an evil lot? 40

Butler (rises). His lot is mine.

Octavio. Is that your last resolve?

Butler. It is.

Octavio. Nay, but bethink you, Colonel Butler!

As yet you have time. Within my faithful breast

That rashly uttered word remains interred.

Recall it, Butler! choose a better party: 45

You have not chosen the right one.

Butler (going). Any other

Commands for me, Lieutenant-General?

Octavio. See your white hairs! Recall that word!

Butler. Farewell!

Octavio. What, would you draw this good and gallant sword

In such a cause? Into a curse would you 50

Transform the gratitude which you have earned

By forty years’ fidelity from Austria?

Butler (laughing with bitterness). Gratitude from the House of

Austria. [He is going.

Octavio (permits him to go as far as the door, then calls after

him). Butler!

Butler. What wish you?

Octavio. How was’t with the Count?

Butler. Count? what?

Octavio. The title that you wished, I mean. 55

Butler (starts in sudden passion). Hell and damnation!

Octavio. You

petitioned for it —

And your petition was repelled — Was it so?

Butler. Your insolent scoff shall not go by unpunished.

Draw!

Octavio. Nay! your sword to ‘ts sheath! and tell me

calmly,

How all that happened. I will not refuse you 60

Your satisfaction afterwards. — Calmly, Butler!

Butler. Be the whole world acquainted with the weakness

For which I never can forgive myself.

Lieutenant-General! Yes — I have ambition.

Ne’er was I able to endure contempt. 65

It stung me to the quick, that birth and title

Should have more weight than merit has in the army.

I would fain not be meaner than my equal,

So in an evil hour I let myself

Be tempted to that measure — It was folly! 70

But yet so hard a penance it deserved not.

It might have been refused; but wherefore barb

And venom the refusal with contempt?

Why dash to earth and crush with heaviest scorn

The grey-haired man, the faithful veteran? 75

Why to the baseness of his parentage

Refer him with such cruel roughness, only

Because he had a weak hour and forgot himself?

But nature gives a sting e’en to the worm

Which wanton power treads on in sport and insult. 80

Octavio. You must have been calumniated. Guess you

The enemy, who did you this ill service?

Butler. Be’t who it will — a most low-hearted scoundrel,

Some vile court-minion must it be, some Spaniard,

Some young squire of some ancient family, 85

In whose light I may stand, some envious knave,

Stung to his soul by my fair self-earned honours!

Octavio. But tell me! Did the Duke approve that measure?

Butler. Himself impelled me to it, used his interest

In my behalf with all the warmth of friendship. 90

Octavio. Ay? Are you sure of that?

Butler. I read the letter.

Octavio. And so did I — but the contents were different.

By chance I’m in possession of that letter —

Can leave it to your own eyes to convince you.

[He gives him the letter.

Butler. Ha! what is this?

Octavio. I fear me, Colonel Butler, 95

An infamous game have they been playing with you.

The Duke, you say, impelled you to this measure?

Now, in this letter talks he in contempt

Concerning you, counsels the Minister

To give sound chastisement to your conceit, 100

For so he calls it.

[BUTLER reads through the letter, his knees tremble, he

seizes a chair, and sinks down in it.

You have no enemy, no persecutor;

There’s no one wishes ill to you. Ascribe

The insult you received to the Duke only.

His aim is clear and palpable. He wished 105

To tear you from your Emperor — he hoped

To gain from your revenge what he well knew

(What your long-tried fidelity convinced him)

He ne’er could dare expect from your calm reason.

A blind tool would he make you, in contempt 110

Use you, as means of most abandoned ends.

He has gained his point. Too well has he succeeded

In luring you away from that good path

On which you had been journeying forty years!

Butler. Can e’er the Emperor’s Majesty forgive me? 115

Octavio. More than forgive you. He would fain compensate

For that affront, and most unmerited grievance

Sustained by a deserving, gallant veteran.

From his free impulse he confirms the present,

Which the Duke made you for a wicked purpose. 120

The regiment, which you now command, is yours.

[BUTLER attempts to rise, sinks down again. He labours

inwardly with violent emotions; tries to speak,

and cannot. At length he takes his sword from the

belt, and offers it to PICCOLOMINI.

Octavio. What wish you? Recollect yourself, friend.

Butler. Take it.

Octavio. But to what purpose? Calm yourself.

Butler. O take it!

I am no longer worthy of this sword.

Octavio. Receive it then anew from my hands — and 125

Wear it with honour for the right cause ever.

Butler. —— Perjure myself to such a gracious Sovereign!

Octavio. You’ll make amends. Quick! break off from the Duke!

Butler. Break off from him!

Octavio. What now? Bethink thyself.

Butler (no longer governing his emotion). Only break off from

him? — He dies! — he dies! 130

Octavio. Come after me to Frauenberg, where now

All who are loyal are assembling under

Counts Altringer and Galas. Many others

I’ve brought to a remembrance of their duty.

This night be sure that you escape from Pilsen. 135

Butler. Count Piccolomini! Dare that man speak

Of honour to you, who once broke his troth?

Octavio. He, who repents so deeply of it, dares.

Butler. Then leave me here, upon my word of honour!

Octavio. What’s your design?

Butler. Leave me and my regiment. 140

Octavio. I have full confidence in you. But tell me

What are you brooding?

Butler. That the deed will tell you.

Ask me no more at present. Trust to me.

Ye may trust safely. By the living God

Ye give him over, not to his good angel! 145

Farewell. [Exit BUTLER.

Servant (enters with a billet). A stranger left it, and is gone.

The Prince-Duke’s horses wait for you below.

[Exit Servant.

Octavio (reads). ‘Be sure, make haste! Your faithful Isolan.’

— O that I had but left this town behind me.

To split upon a rock so near the haven! — 150

Away! This is no longer a safe place for me!

Where can my son be tarrying?