Letter by letter, line by line; no eyeWould e’er discover other difference,
Save only the omission of that clause, 5
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 —
NEUMANN lays the copy on the table and steps back again to the
side-table.
SCENE X
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 not 5
To 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. Already
It is the talk, not merely to maintain
The Duke in station. ‘Since we’re once for all 10
Together and unanimous, why not,’
Says Montecuculi, ‘aye, why not onward,
And make conditions with the Emperor
There in his own Vienna?’ Trust me, Count,
Were it not for these said Piccolomini, 15
We might have spared ourselves the cheat.
Tertsky. And Butler?
How goes it there? Hush!
SCENE XI
To them enter BUTLER from 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! 5
You understand me? My fidelity
The 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
The Emperor’s general! and Friedland’s servant, 10
As soon as it shall please him to become
His 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 fidelity 15
To sale, Count Tertsky! Half a year ago
I would not have advised you to have made me
An overture to that, to which I now
Offer myself of my own free accord. —
But that is past! and to the Duke, Field Marshal, 20
I bring myself together with my regiment.
And mark you, ‘tis my humour to believe,
The example which I give will not remain
Without an influence.
Illo. Who is ignorant,
That the whole army look to Colonel Butler, 25
As to a light that moves before them?
Butler. Ey?
Then I repent me not of that fidelity
Which for the length of forty years I held,
If in my sixtieth year my old good name
Can purchase for me a revenge so full. 30
Start not at what I say, sir Generals!
My real motives — they concern not you.
And you yourselves, I trust, could not expect
That this your game had crooked my judgment — or
That fickleness, quick blood, or such light cause, 35
Had 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 steadily
At that on which I have determined.
Illo. Say, 40
And speak roundly, what are we to deem you?
Butler. A friend! I give you here my hand! I’m yours
With all I have. Not only men, but money
Will the Duke want. —— Go, tell him, sirs!
I’ve earned and laid up somewhat in his service, 45
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 feeling
That binds the husband to a wife and children. 50
My name dies with me, my existence ends.
Illo.
