No ray has broken from him on this point.You have o’erruled me, and yourself know best
How far you dare proceed.
Countess. I take it on me.
[Talking to herself, while she is advancing.
Here’s no need of full powers and commissions —
My cloudy Duke! we understand each other — 10
And without words. What, could I not unriddle,
Wherefore the daughter should be sent for hither,
Why first he, and no other, should be chosen
To fetch her hither! This sham of betrothing her
To a bridegroom, whom no one knows — No! no! —— 15
This may blind others! I see through thee, Brother!
But it beseems thee not, to draw a card
At such a game. Not yet! — It all remains
Mutely delivered up to my finessing ——
Well — thou shalt not have been deceived, Duke Friedland!
In her who is thy sister. —— 20
Servant (enters). The commanders!
Tertsky (to the Countess). Take care you heat his fancy and
affections —
Possess him with a reverie, and send him,
Absent and dreaming, to the banquet; that
He may not boggle at the signature. 25
Countess. Take you care of your guests! — Go, send him hither.
Tertsky. All rests upon his undersigning.
Countess. Go to your guests! Go ——
Illo (comes back). Where art staying, Tertsky?
The house is full, and all expecting you. 30
Tertsky. Instantly! Instantly! [To the COUNTESS.
And let him not
Stay here too long. It might awake suspicion
In the old man ——
Countess. A truce with your precautions!
[Exeunt TERTSKY and ILLO.
SCENE III
COUNTESS, MAX PICCOLOMINI.
Max. Aunt Tertsky? may I venture?
[Advances to the middle of the stage, and looks
around him with uneasiness.
She’s not here!
Where is she?
Countess. Look but somewhat narrowly
In yonder corner, lest perhaps she lie
Conceal’d behind that screen.
Max. There lie her gloves!
[Snatches at them, but the COUNTESS takes them herself.
You unkind Lady! You refuse me this — 5
You make it an amusement to torment me.
Countess. And this the thanks you give me for my trouble?
Max. O, if you felt the oppression at my heart!
Since we’ve been here, so to constrain myself —
With such poor stealth to hazard words and glances — 10
These, these are not my habits!
Countess. You have still
Many new habits to acquire, young friend!
But on this proof of your obedient temper
I must continue to insist; and only
On this condition can I play the agent 15
For your concerns.
Max. But wherefore comes she not?
Where is she?
Countess. Into my hands you must place it
Whole and entire. Whom could you find, indeed,
More zealously affected to your interest?
No soul on earth must know it — not your father. 20
He must not above all.
Max. Alas! what danger?
Here is no face on which I might concentre
All the enraptured soul stirs up within me.
O Lady! tell me. Is all changed around me?
Or is it only I?
I find myself, 25
As among strangers! Not a trace is left
Of all my former wishes, former joys.
Where has it vanished to? There was a time
When even, methought, with such a world as this
I was not discontented. Now how flat! 30
How stale! No life, no bloom, no flavour in it!
My comrades are intolerable to me.
My father — Even to him I can say nothing.
My arms, my military duties — O!
They are such wearying toys!
Countess. But, gentle friend! 35
I must entreat it of your condescension,
You would be pleased to sink your eye, and favour
With one short glance or two this poor stale world,
Where even now much, and of much moment,
Is on the eve of its completion.
Max. Something, 40
