This manifesto sentences the Duke — 35Recalls 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
