[9]feodalities] feodalties1800.
feodalities] feodalties1800.
Tertsky, Neumann.
Tertsky (beckons to Neumann who is waiting at the side-table, and steps forward with him to the edge of the stage).Have you the copy with you, Neumann? Give it.It may be changed for the other?Neumann.I have copied itLetter by letter, line by line; no eyeWould e'er discover other difference,Save only the omission of that clause,5[660]According to your Excellency's order.Tertsky.Right! lay it yonder, and away with this—It has performed its business—to the fire with it—
Tertsky (beckons to Neumann who is waiting at the side-table, and steps forward with him to the edge of the stage).Have you the copy with you, Neumann? Give it.It may be changed for the other?
Neumann.I have copied itLetter by letter, line by line; no eyeWould e'er discover other difference,Save only the omission of that clause,5[660]According to your Excellency's order.
Tertsky.Right! lay it yonder, and away with this—It has performed its business—to the fire with it—
Neumannlays the copy on the table and steps back again to the side-table.
Illo(comes out from the second chamber),Tertsky.
Illo.How goes it with young Piccolomini?Tertsky.All right, I think. He has started no objection.Illo.He is the only one I fear about—He and his father. Have an eye on both!Tertsky.How looks it at your table: you forget not5To keep them warm and stirring?Illo.O, quite cordial,They are quite cordial in the scheme. We have them.And 'tis as I predicted too. AlreadyIt is the talk, not merely to maintainThe Duke in station. 'Since we're once for all10Together and unanimous, why not,'Says Montecuculi, 'aye, why not onward,And make conditions with the EmperorThere in his own Vienna?' Trust me, Count,Were it not for these said Piccolomini,15We might have spared ourselves the cheat.Tertsky.And Butler?How goes it there? Hush!
Illo.How goes it with young Piccolomini?
Tertsky.All right, I think. He has started no objection.
Illo.He is the only one I fear about—He and his father. Have an eye on both!
Tertsky.How looks it at your table: you forget not5To keep them warm and stirring?
Illo.O, quite cordial,They are quite cordial in the scheme. We have them.And 'tis as I predicted too. AlreadyIt is the talk, not merely to maintainThe Duke in station. 'Since we're once for all10Together and unanimous, why not,'Says Montecuculi, 'aye, why not onward,And make conditions with the EmperorThere in his own Vienna?' Trust me, Count,Were it not for these said Piccolomini,15We might have spared ourselves the cheat.
Tertsky.And Butler?How goes it there? Hush!
To them enterButlerfrom the second table.
Butler.Don't disturb yourselves.Field Marshal, I have understood you perfectly.Good luck be to the scheme; and as to me,You may depend upon me.Illo.May we, Butler?Butler.With or without the clause, all one to me!5You understand me? My fidelityThe Duke may put to any proof—I'm with him!Tell him so! I'm the Emperor's officer,As long as 'tis his pleasure to remain[661]The Emperor's general! and Friedland's servant,10As soon as it shall please him to becomeHis own lord.Tertsky.You would make a good exchange.No stern economist, no Ferdinand,Is he to whom you plight your services.Butler.I do not put up my fidelity15To sale, Count Tertsky! Half a year agoI would not have advised you to have made meAn overture to that, to which I nowOffer myself of my own free accord.—But that is past! and to the Duke, Field Marshal,20I bring myself together with my regiment.And mark you, 'tis my humour to believe,The example which I give will not remainWithout an influence.Illo.Who is ignorant,That the whole army look to Colonel Butler,25As to a light that moves before them?Butler.Ey?Then I repent me not of that fidelityWhich for the length of forty years I held,If in my sixtieth year my old good nameCan purchase for me a revenge so full.30Start not at what I say, sir Generals!My real motives—they concern not you.And you yourselves, I trust, could not expectThat this your game had crooked my judgment—orThat fickleness, quick blood, or such light cause,35Had driven the old man from the track of honour,Which he so long had trodden.—Come, my friends!I'm not thereto determined with less firmness,Because I know and have looked steadilyAt that on which I have determined.Illo.Say,40And speak roundly, what are we to deem you?Butler.A friend! I give you here my hand! I'm yoursWith all I have. Not only men, but moneyWill the Duke want.——Go, tell him, sirs!I've earned and laid up somewhat in his service,45[662]I lend it him; and is he my survivor,It has been already long ago bequeathed him.He is my heir. For me, I stand alone,Here in the world; nought know I of the feelingThat binds the husband to a wife and children.50My name dies with me, my existence ends.Illo.'Tis not your money that he needs—a heartLike yours weighs tons of gold down, weighs down millions!Butler.I came a simple soldier's boy from IrelandTo Prague—and with a master, whom I buried.55From lowest stable-duty I climbed up,Such was the fate of war, to this high rank,The plaything of a whimsical good fortune.And Wallenstein too is a child of luck,I love a fortune that is like my own.60Illo.All powerful souls have kindred with each other.Butler.This is an awful moment! to the brave,To the determined, an auspicious moment.The Prince of Weimar arms, upon the MaineTo found a mighty dukedom. He of Halberstadt,65That Mansfeld, wanted but a longer lifeTo have marked out with his good sword a lordshipThat should reward his courage. Who of theseEquals our Friedland? there is nothing, nothingSo high, but he may set the ladder to it!70Tertsky.That's spoken like a man!Butler.Do you secure the Spaniard and Italian—I'll be your warrant for the Scotchman Lesly.Come! to the company!Tertsky.Where is the master of the cellar? Ho!75Let the best wines come up. Ho! cheerly, boy!Luck comes to-day, so give her hearty welcome.[Exeunt, each to his table.
Butler.Don't disturb yourselves.Field Marshal, I have understood you perfectly.Good luck be to the scheme; and as to me,You may depend upon me.
Illo.May we, Butler?
Butler.With or without the clause, all one to me!5You understand me? My fidelityThe Duke may put to any proof—I'm with him!Tell him so! I'm the Emperor's officer,As long as 'tis his pleasure to remain[661]The Emperor's general! and Friedland's servant,10As soon as it shall please him to becomeHis own lord.
Tertsky.You would make a good exchange.No stern economist, no Ferdinand,Is he to whom you plight your services.
Butler.I do not put up my fidelity15To sale, Count Tertsky! Half a year agoI would not have advised you to have made meAn overture to that, to which I nowOffer myself of my own free accord.—But that is past! and to the Duke, Field Marshal,20I bring myself together with my regiment.And mark you, 'tis my humour to believe,The example which I give will not remainWithout an influence.
Illo.Who is ignorant,That the whole army look to Colonel Butler,25As to a light that moves before them?
Butler.Ey?Then I repent me not of that fidelityWhich for the length of forty years I held,If in my sixtieth year my old good nameCan purchase for me a revenge so full.30Start not at what I say, sir Generals!My real motives—they concern not you.And you yourselves, I trust, could not expectThat this your game had crooked my judgment—orThat fickleness, quick blood, or such light cause,35Had driven the old man from the track of honour,Which he so long had trodden.—Come, my friends!I'm not thereto determined with less firmness,Because I know and have looked steadilyAt that on which I have determined.
Illo.Say,40And speak roundly, what are we to deem you?
Butler.A friend! I give you here my hand! I'm yoursWith all I have. Not only men, but moneyWill the Duke want.——Go, tell him, sirs!I've earned and laid up somewhat in his service,45[662]I lend it him; and is he my survivor,It has been already long ago bequeathed him.He is my heir. For me, I stand alone,Here in the world; nought know I of the feelingThat binds the husband to a wife and children.50My name dies with me, my existence ends.
Illo.'Tis not your money that he needs—a heartLike yours weighs tons of gold down, weighs down millions!
Butler.I came a simple soldier's boy from IrelandTo Prague—and with a master, whom I buried.55From lowest stable-duty I climbed up,Such was the fate of war, to this high rank,The plaything of a whimsical good fortune.And Wallenstein too is a child of luck,I love a fortune that is like my own.60
Illo.All powerful souls have kindred with each other.
Butler.This is an awful moment! to the brave,To the determined, an auspicious moment.The Prince of Weimar arms, upon the MaineTo found a mighty dukedom. He of Halberstadt,65That Mansfeld, wanted but a longer lifeTo have marked out with his good sword a lordshipThat should reward his courage. Who of theseEquals our Friedland? there is nothing, nothingSo high, but he may set the ladder to it!70
Tertsky.That's spoken like a man!
Butler.Do you secure the Spaniard and Italian—I'll be your warrant for the Scotchman Lesly.Come! to the company!
Tertsky.Where is the master of the cellar? Ho!75Let the best wines come up. Ho! cheerly, boy!Luck comes to-day, so give her hearty welcome.[Exeunt, each to his table.
After3[with an air of mystery1800,1828,1829.
After3[with an air of mystery1800,1828,1829.
[4]Illo (with vivacity).1800,1828,1829.
Illo (with vivacity).1800,1828,1829.
[15]Butler (with a haughty look).1800,1828,1829.
Butler (with a haughty look).1800,1828,1829.
[34]my1800,1828,1829.
my1800,1828,1829.
[36]Had] Has1800,1828,1829.
Had] Has1800,1828,1829.
TheMaster of the Cellaradvancing withNeumann, Servantspassing backwards and forwards.
Master of the Cellar.The best wine! O! if my old mistress,his lady mother, could but see these wild goings on, shewould turn herself round in her grave. Yes, yes, sir officer!'tis all down the hill with this noble house! no end, nomoderation! And this marriage with the Duke's sister, a5splendid connection, a very splendid connection! but I tell you,sir officer, it bodes no good.
Neumann.Heaven forbid! Why, at this very moment thewhole prospect is in bud and blossom!
Master of the Cellar.You think so?—Well, well! much10may be said on that head.
First Servant (comes).Burgundy for the fourth table.
Master of the Cellar.Now, sir lieutenant, if this isn't theseventieth flask——
First Servant.Why, the reason is, that German lord,15Tiefenbach, sits at that table.
Master of the Cellar (continuing his discourse to Neumann).They are soaring too high. They would rival kings andelectors in their pomp and splendour; and wherever theDuke leaps, not a minute does my gracious master, theCount, loiter on the brink——(To theServants)—What do20you stand there listening for? I will let you know you havelegs presently. Off! see to the tables, see to the flasks!Look there! Count Palfi has an empty glass before him!
Runner (comes).The great service-cup is wanted, sir; thatrich gold cup with the Bohemian arms on it. The Count25says you know which it is.
Master of the Cellar.Ay! that was made for Frederick'scoronation by the artist William—there was not suchanother prize in the whole booty at Prague.
Runner.The same!—a health is to go round in him.30
Master of the Cellar.This will be something for thetale-bearers—this goes to Vienna.
Neumann.Permit me to look at it.—Well, this is a cupindeed! How heavy! as well it may be, being allgold.—And what neat things are embossed on it! how natural35and elegant they look! There, on that first quarter, let mesee. That proud Amazon there on horseback, she that istaking a leap over the crosier and mitres, and carries on awand a hat together with a banner, on which there'sa goblet represented. Can you tell me what all this signifies?40
Master of the Cellar.The woman whom you see there onhorseback, is the Free Election of the Bohemian Crown.That is signified by the round hat, and by that fiery steedon which she is riding. The hat is the pride of man; forhe who cannot keep his hat on before kings and emperors45is no free man.
Neumann.But what is the cup there on the banner?
Master of the Cellar.The cup signifies the freedom of theBohemian Church, as it was in our forefathers' times. Ourforefathers in the wars of the Hussites forced from the Pope50this noble privilege: for the Pope, you know, will not grantthe cup to any layman. Your true Moravian values nothingbeyond the cup; it is his costly jewel, and has cost theBohemians their precious blood in many and many a battle.
Neumann.And what says that chart that hangs in the air55there, over it all?
Master of the Cellar.That signifies the Bohemian letterroyal, which we forced from the Emperor Rudolph—aprecious, never to be enough valued parchment that securesto the new Church the old privileges of free ringing and60open psalmody. But since he of Steiermärk has ruled overus, that is at an end; and after the battle of Prague, inwhich Count Palatine Frederick lost crown and empire, ourfaith hangs upon the pulpit and the altar—and our brethrenlook at their homes over their shoulders; but the letter65royal the Emperor himself cut to pieces with his scissors.
Neumann.Why, my good Master of the Cellar! you aredeep read in the chronicles of your country!
Master of the Cellar.So were my forefathers, and for thatreason were they minstrels, and served under Procopius and70Ziska. Peace be with their ashes! Well, well! they foughtfor a good cause though—There! carry it up!
Neumann.Stay! let me but look at this second quarter.Look there! That is, when at Prague Castle the ImperialCounsellors, Martinitz and Stawata were hurled down head75over heels. 'Tis even so! there stands Count Thur whocommands it.
[Runnertakes the service-cup and goes off with it.
Master of the Cellar.O let me never more hear of that day.It was the three and twentieth of May, in the year of ourLord one thousand, six hundred, and eighteen. It seems to me80as it were but yesterday—from that unlucky day it all began,all the heart-aches of the country. Since that day it is nowsixteen years, and there has never once been peace on the earth.
[Health drunk aloud at the second table.
The Prince of Weimar! Hurra!
[At the third and fourth table.
Long live Prince William! Long live Duke Bernard!85Hurra![Music strikes up.
First Servant.Hear 'em! Hear 'em! What an uproar!
Second Servant (comes in running).Did you hear? They havedrunk the Prince of Weimar's health.
Third Servant.The Swedish Chief Commander!90
First Servant (speaking at the same time).The Lutheran!
Second Servant.Just before, when Count Deodate gave outthe Emperor's health, they were all as mum as a nibblingmouse.
Master of the Cellar.Po, po! When the wine goes in,95strange things come out. A good servant hears, and hearsnot!—You should be nothing but eyes and feet, except whenyou are called.
Second Servant (to the Runner, to whom he gives secretly a flaskof wine, keeping his eye on the Master of the Cellar, standingbetween him and the Runner).Quick, Thomas! before theMaster of the Cellar runs this way—'tis a flask of100Frontignac!—Snapped it up at the third table.—Canst go offwith it?
Runner (hides it in his pocket).All right!
[Exit theSecond Servant.
Third Servant (aside to the First).Be on the hark, Jack! thatwe may have right plenty to tell to father Quivoga—He will105give us right plenty of absolution in return for it.
First Servant.For that very purpose I am always havingsomething to do behind Illo's chair.—He is the man for speechesto make you stare with!
Master of the Cellar (to Neumann).Who, pray, may that110swarthy man be, he with the cross, that is chatting soconfidentially with Esterhats?
Neumann.Ay! he too is one of those to whom they confidetoo much. He calls himself Maradas, a Spaniard is he.
Master of the Cellar (impatiently).Spaniard! Spaniard!—I115tell you, friend; nothing good comes of those Spaniards. Allthese out-landish[665:1]fellows are little better than rogues.
Neumann.Fy, fy! you should not say so, friend. There areamong them our very best generals, and those on whom theDuke at this moment relies the most.120
Master of the Cellar (taking the flask out of the Runner's pocket).My son, it will be broken to pieces in your pocket.
[Tertskyhurries in, fetches away the paper, and calls to aServantfor pen and ink, and goes to the back of the stage.
Master of the Cellar (to the Servants).The Lieutenant-Generalstands up.—Be on the watch.—Now! They break up.—Off,and move back the forms.
[They rise at all the tables, theServantshurry off the front of the stage to the tables; part of the guests come forward.
[665:1]There is a humour in the original which cannot be given in the translation. 'Diewelschenalle,' &c., which word in classical German means theItaliansalone; but in its first sense, and at present in thevulgaruse of the word, signifies foreigners in general. Our word wall-nuts, I suppose, meansoutlandishnuts—Wallae nuces, in German 'Welschnüsse'.—T.
[665:1]There is a humour in the original which cannot be given in the translation. 'Diewelschenalle,' &c., which word in classical German means theItaliansalone; but in its first sense, and at present in thevulgaruse of the word, signifies foreigners in general. Our word wall-nuts, I suppose, meansoutlandishnuts—Wallae nuces, in German 'Welschnüsse'.—T.
[13]isn't] a'nt1800,1828,1829.
isn't] a'nt1800,1828,1829.
Before31Master of the Cellar (shaking his head while he fetches and rinses the cups).1800,1828,1829.
Before31Master of the Cellar (shaking his head while he fetches and rinses the cups).1800,1828,1829.
[74]there1800,1828,1829.
there1800,1828,1829.
After83drunk]drank1800,1828,1829.
After83drunk]drank1800,1828,1829.
[89]drunk] drank1800,1828,1829.
drunk] drank1800,1828,1829.
[98]called] called to1800,1828,1829.
called] called to1800,1828,1829.
Octavio Piccolominienters in conversation withMaradas, and both place themselves quite on the edge of the stage on one side of the proscenium. On the side directly opposite,Max Piccolomini, by himself, lost in thought, and taking no part in any thing that is going forward. The middle space between both, but rather more distant from the edge of the stage, is filled up byButler, Isolani, Goetz, Tiefenbach, andKolatto.
Isolani (while the company is coming forward).Good night,good night, Kolatto! Good night, Lieutenant-General!—I shouldrather say, good morning.
Goetz (to Tiefenbach).Noble brother!
Tiefenbach.Ay! 'twas a royal feast indeed.5
Goetz.Yes, my Lady Countess understands these matters.Her mother-in-law, heaven rest her soul, taught her!—Ah!that was a housewife for you!
Tiefenbach.There was not her like in all Bohemia for settingout a table.10
Octavio (aside to Maradas).Do me the favour to talk tome—talk of what you will—or of nothing. Only preserve theappearance at least of talking. I would not wish to stand bymyself, and yet I conjecture that there will be goings on hereworthy of our attentive observation.15
Isolani (on the point of going).Lights! lights!
Tertsky (advances with the paper to Isolani).Noble brother!two minutes longer!—Here is something to subscribe.
Isolani.Subscribe as much as you like—but you must excuseme from reading it.20
Tertsky.There is no need. It is the oath which you havealready read.—Only a few marks of your pen!
[Isolanihands over the paper toOctaviorespectfully.
Tertsky.Nay, nay, first come first served. There is noprecedence here.
[Octavioruns over the paper with apparent indifference.Tertskywatches him at some distance.
Goetz (to Tertsky).Noble Count! with your25permission—Good night.
Tertsky.Where's the hurry? Come, one other composingdraught. (To the Servants)—Ho!
Goetz.Excuse me—an't able.
Tertsky.A thimble-full!30
Goetz.Excuse me.
Tiefenbach (sits down).Pardon me, nobles!—This standingdoes not agree with me.
Tertsky.Consult only your own convenience, General!
Tiefenbach.Clear at head, sound in stomach—only my legs35won't carry me any longer.
Isolani.Poor legs! how should they? Such an unmercifulload!
[Octaviosubscribes his name, and reaches over the paper toTertsky, who gives it toIsolani; and he goes to the table to sign his name.
Tiefenbach.'Twas that war in Pomerania that first broughtit on. Out in all weathers—ice and snow—no help for it.—I40shall never get the better of it all the days of my life.
Goetz.Why, in simple verity, your Swede makes no niceenquiries about the season.
Tertsky (observing Isolani, whose hand trembles excessively, sothat he can scarce direct his pen).Have you had that uglycomplaint long, noble brother?—Dispatch it.45
Isolani.The sins of youth! I have already tried theChalybeate waters. Well—I must bear it.
[Tertskygives the paper toMaradas; he steps to the table to subscribe.
Octavio (advancing to Butler).You are not over fond of theorgies of Bacchus, Colonel! I have observed it. You would, Ithink, find yourself more to your liking in the uproar of a battle,50than of a feast.
Butler.I must confess, 'tis not in my way.
Octavio.Nor in mine either, I can assure you; and I am nota little glad, my much honoured Colonel Butler, that we agreeso well in our opinions. A half dozen good friends at most,55at a small round table, a glass of genuine Tokay, open hearts,and a rational conversation—that's my taste!
Butler.And mine too, when it can be had.
[The paper comes toTiefenbach, who glances over it at the same time withGoetzandKolatto.Maradasin the mean time returns toOctavio, all this takes place, the conversation withButlerproceeding uninterrupted.
Octavio (introducing Maradas to Butler).Don BalthasarMaradas! likewise a man of our stamp, and long ago your admirer.60
[Butlerbows.
Octavio (continuing).You are a stranger here—'twas butyesterday you arrived—you are ignorant of the ways and meanshere. 'Tis a wretched place—I know, at our age, one loves tobe snug and quiet—What if you moved your lodgings?—Come,be my visitor. (Butlermakes a low bow.) Nay, without65compliment!—For a friend like you, I have still a cornerremaining.
Butler.Your obliged humble servant, my LordLieutenant-General!
[The paper comes toButler, who goes to the table to subscribe it. The front of the stage is vacant, so that both thePiccolominis, each on the side where he had been from the commencement of the scene, remain alone.
Octavio (after having some time watched his son in silence, advancessomewhat nearer to him).You were long absent from us,friend!70
Max.I——urgent business detained me.
Octavio.And, I observe, you are still absent!
Max.You know this crowd and bustle always makes mesilent.75
Octavio.May I be permitted to ask what business 'twas thatdetained you? Tertsky knows it without asking!
Max.What does Tertsky know?
Octavio.He was the only one who did not miss you.
Isolani.Well done, father! Rout out his baggage! Beat80up his quarters! there is something there that should not be.
Tertsky (with the paper).Is there none wanting? Have thewhole subscribed?
Octavio.All.
Tertsky (calling aloud).Ho! Who subscribes?85
Butler (to Tertsky).Count the names. There ought to bejust thirty.
Tertsky.Here is a cross.
Tiefenbach.That's my mark.
Isolani.He cannot write; but his cross is a good cross, and90is honoured by Jews as well as Christians.
Octavio (presses on to Max).Come, general! let us go. It is late.
Tertsky.One Piccolomini only has signed.
Isolani (pointing to Max).Look! that is your man, that statuethere, who has had neither eye, ear, nor tongue for us the95whole evening.
[Maxreceives the paper fromTertsky, which he looks upon vacantly.
After4(making the usual compliment after meals)1800,1828,1829.
After4(making the usual compliment after meals)1800,1828,1829.
After15[He continues to fix his eye on the whole following scene.1800,1828,1829.
After15[He continues to fix his eye on the whole following scene.1800,1828,1829.
[37]Isolani (pointing at his corpulence).1800,1828,1829.should]should1800,1828,1829.
Isolani (pointing at his corpulence).1800,1828,1829.
should]should1800,1828,1829.
Before53Octavio (stepping nearer to him friendlily).1800,1828,1829.
Before53Octavio (stepping nearer to him friendlily).1800,1828,1829.
Before68Butler (coldly).1800,1828,1829.
Before68Butler (coldly).1800,1828,1829.
Before76Octavio (advancing still nearer).1800,1828,1829.
Before76Octavio (advancing still nearer).1800,1828,1829.
[76]business 'twas] the business was1800,1828,1829.
business 'twas] the business was1800,1828,1829.
[77]Tertsky1800,1828,1829.
Tertsky1800,1828,1829.
Before80Isolani (who has been attending to them from some distance, steps up).1800,1828,1829.
Before80Isolani (who has been attending to them from some distance, steps up).1800,1828,1829.
[93]One1800,1828,1829.
One1800,1828,1829.
To these enterIllofrom the inner room. He has in his hand the golden service-cup, and is extremely distempered with drinking:GoetzandButlerfollow him, endeavouring to keep him back.
Illo.What do you want? Let me go.
Goetz and Butler.Drink no more, Illo! For heaven's sake,drink no more.
Illo (goes up to Octavio, and shakes him cordially by the hand,and then drinks).Octavio! I bring this to you! Let all grudgebe drowned in this friendly bowl! I know well enough, ye5never loved me—Devil take me!—and I never loved you!—I amalways even with people in that way!—Let what's past be past—thatis, you understand—forgotten! I esteem you infinitely.(Embracing him repeatedly.) You have not a dearer friend onearth than I—but that you know. The fellow that cries rogue10to you calls me villain—and I'll strangle him!—my dear friend!
Tertsky (whispering to him).Art in thy senses? For heaven'ssake, Illo! think where you are!
Illo (aloud).What do you mean?—There are none but friendshere, are there? Not a sneaker among us, thank heaven!15
Tertsky (to Butler).Take him off with you, force him off,I entreat you, Butler!
Butler (to Illo).Field Marshal! a word with you.[Leads him to the sideboard.
Illo.A thousand for one! Fill—Fill it once more up to thebrim.—To this gallant man's health!20
Isolani (to Max, who all the while has been staring on the paperwith fixed but vacant eyes).Slow and sure, my noblebrother!—Hast parsed it all yet?—Some words yet to go through?—Ha?
Max.What am I to do?
Tertsky (and at the same time Isolani).Sign your name.
Max (returns the paper).Let it stay till to-morrow. It is25business—to-day I am not sufficiently collected. Send it to meto-morrow.
Tertsky.Nay, collect yourself a little.
Isolani.Awake, man! awake!—Come, thy signature, andhave done with it! What? Thou art the youngest in the30whole company, and wouldest be wiser than all of us together?Look there! thy father has signed—we have all signed.
Tertsky (to Octavio).Use your influence. Instruct him.
Octavio.My son is at the age of discretion.
Illo (leaves the service-cup on the sideboard).What's thedispute?35
Tertsky.He declines subscribing the paper.
Max.I say, it may as well stay till to-morrow.
Illo.It cannot stay. We have all subscribed to it—and somust you.—You must subscribe.
Max.Illo, good night!40
Illo.No! You come not off so! The Duke shall learnwho are his friends.[All collect roundIlloandMax.
Max.What my sentiments are towards the Duke, the Dukeknows, every one knows—what need of this wild stuff?45
Illo.This is the thanks the Duke gets for his partiality toItalians and foreigners.—Us Bohemians he holds for little betterthan dullards—nothing pleases him but what's outlandish.
Tertsky (to the commanders, who at Illo's words give a suddenstart, as preparing to resent them).It is the wine that speaks,and not his reason. Attend not to him, I entreat you.50
Isolani.Wine invents nothing: it only tattles.
Illo.He who is not with me is against me. Your tenderconsciences! Unless they can slip out by a back-door, by apuny proviso——
Tertsky.He is stark mad—don't listen to him!55
Illo.Unless they can slip out by a proviso.—What of theproviso? The devil take this proviso!
Max.What is there here then of such perilous import?You make me curious—I must look closer at it.
Tertsky (in a low voice to Illo).What are you doing, Illo?60You are ruining us.
Tiefenbach (to Kolatto).Ay, ay! I observed, that before wesat down to supper, it was read differently.
Goetz.Why, I seemed to think so too.
Isolani.What do I care for that? Where there stand other65names, mine can stand too.
Tiefenbach.Before supper there was a certain proviso therein,or short clause concerning our duties to the Emperor.
Butler (to one of the commanders).For shame, for shame!Bethink you. What is the main business here? The question70now is, whether we shall keep our General, or let him retire.One must not take these things too nicely andover-scrupulously.
Isolani (to one of the Generals).Did the Duke make any ofthese provisos when he gave you your regiment?75
Tertsky (to Goetz).Or when he gave you the office ofarmy-purveyancer, which brings you in yearly a thousand pistoles!
Illo.He is a rascal who makes us out to be rogues. Ifthere be any one that wants satisfaction, let him say so,—I amhis man.80
Tiefenbach.Softly, softly! 'Twas but a word or two.
Max (having read the paper gives it back).Till to-morrow,therefore!
Illo (stammering with rage and fury, loses all command overhimself, and presents the paper to Max with one hand, and hissword in the other).Subscribe—Judas!
Isolani.Out upon you, Illo!85
Octavio, Tertsky, Butler (all together).Down with the sword!
Max (rushes on him suddenly and disarms him, then to CountTertsky).Take him off to bed.
[Maxleaves the stage.Illocursing and raving is held back by some of the Officers, and amidst a universal confusion the curtain drops.