OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI.
Questenberg. Alas, alas! and stands it so?
What, friend! and do we let him go away
In this delusion — let him go away?
Not call him back immediately, not open
His eyes upon the spot?
Octavio. He has now opened mine, 5
And I see more than pleases me.
Questenberg. What is it?
Octavio. Curse on this journey!
Questenberg. But why so? What is it?
Octavio. Come, come along, friend! I must follow up
The ominous track immediately. Mine eyes
Are opened now, and I must use them. Come! 10
[Draws QUESTENBERG on with him.
Questenberg. What now? Where go you then?
Octavio. To her herself.
Questenberg. To ——
Octavio. To the Duke. Come, let us go—’Tis done, ‘tis done,
I see the net that is thrown over him.
O! he returns not to me as he went.
Questenberg. Nay, but explain yourself.
Octavio. And that I should not 15
Foresee it, not prevent this journey! Wherefore
Did I keep it from him? — You were in the right.
I should have warned him! Now it is too late.
Questenberg. But what’s too late? Bethink yourself, my friend,
That you are talking absolute riddles to me. 20
Octavio. Come! — to the Duke’s. ‘Tis close upon the hour
Which he appointed you for audience. Come!
A curse, a threefold curse, upon this journey!
[He leads QUESTENBERG off.
[After 1] [Then in pressing and impatient tones. 1800, 1828, 1829.
1829.
[Before 12] Octavio (interrupting him, and correcting himself). 1800,
1828, 1829.
[Before 21] Octavio (more collected). 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE VI
Changes to a spacious chamber in the house of the Duke of
Friedland. — Servants employed in putting the tables and chairs in
order. During this enters SENI, like an old Italian doctor, in black,
and clothed somewhat fantastically. He carries a white staff, with which
he marks out the quarters of the heaven.
First Servant. Come — to it, lads, to it! Make an end of it.
I hear the sentry call out, ‘Stand to your arms!’ They will
be there in a minute.
Second Servant. Why were we not told before that the
audience would be held here? Nothing prepared — no orders — no 5
instructions —
Third Servant. Ay, and why was the balcony-chamber
countermanded, that with the great worked carpet? — there one can
look about one.
First Servant. Nay, that you must ask the mathematician there. 10
He says it is an unlucky chamber.
Second Servant. Poh! stuff and nonsense! That’s what I call
a hum. A chamber is a chamber; what much can the place
signify in the affair?
Seni. My son, there’s nothing insignificant, 15
Nothing! But yet in every earthly thing
First and most principal is place and time.
First Servant (to the Second). Say nothing to him, Nat. The
Duke himself must let him have his own will.
Seni (counts the chairs, half in a loud, half in a low voice, till
he comes to eleven, which he repeats). Eleven! an evil number!
Set twelve chairs. 20
Twelve! twelve signs hath the zodiac: five and seven,
The holy numbers, include themselves in twelve.
Second Servant. And what may you have to object against
eleven? I should like to know that now.
Seni. Eleven is — transgression; eleven oversteps 25
The ten commandments.
Second Servant. That’s good! and why do you call five an
holy number?
Seni. Five is the soul of man: for even as man
Is mingled up of good and evil, so 30
The five is the first number that’s made up
Of even and odd.
Second Servant. The foolish old coxcomb!
First Servant. Ey! let him alone though. I like to hear
him; there is more in his words than can be seen at first sight. 35
Third Servant. Off! They come.
Second Servant. There! Out at the side-door.
[They hurry off. SENI follows slowly. A page brings the
staff of command on a red cushion, and places it on
the table near the DUKE’S chair. They are announced
