SCENE IX.

Tertsky, Neumann.

Ter. (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?

I have copied it

Neu.
Letter by letter, line by line; no eye
Would e'er discover other difference,
Save only the omission of that clause,
According to your Excellency's order.

Ter. 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?

Ter. All right, I think. He has started no ob

jection.

Illo. He is the only one I fear about--

He and his father. Have an eye on both!
Ter. How looks it at your table: you forget

And 'tis as I predicted too. Already

It is the talk, not merely to maintain

We have

The Duke in station. "Since we're once for all
Together and unanimous, why not,"

Says Montecuculi, "ay, why not onward,
And make conditions with the Emperor
There in his own Vienna?" Trust me, Count,
Were it not for these said Piccolomini,

We might have spared ourselves the cheat.

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?

But. With or without the clause, all one to me! 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, As soon as it shall please him to become

His own lord.

Ter.

You would make a good exchange.

No stern economist, no Ferdinand,

Is he to whom you plight your services.
But. I do not put up my fidelity

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,
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,

As to a light that moves before them?

But.

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.
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, 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,

And speak roundly, what are we to deem you? But. 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,
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.
My name dies with me, my existence ends.

Illo. 'Tis not your money that he needs---a heart

Like yours weighs tons of gold down, weighs down millions!

But. I came a simple soldier's boy from Ireland To Prague---and with a master, whom I buried. From 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.

Illo. All powerful souls have kindred with each

other.

But. This is an awful moment! to the brave, To the determined, an auspicious moment. The Prince of Weimar arms, upon the Maine To found a mighty dukedom. He of Halberstadt, That Mansfeld, wanted but a longer life

To have marked out with his good sword a lordship That should reward his courage. Who of these Equals our Friedland? there is nothing, nothing So high, but he may set the ladder to it!

Ter. That's spoken like a man!

But. Do you secure the Spaniard and Italian--I'll be your warrant for the Scotchman Lesly. Come to the company!

Ter. Where is the master of the cellar? Ho! Let the best wines come up. Ho! cheerly, boy! Luck comes to-day, so give her hearty welcome. [Exeunt, each to his table.

SCENE XII.

The Master of the Cellar advancing with Neumann, Servants passing backwards and forwards.

old

Mast. of the Cel. The best wine! O! if my mistress, his lady mother, could but see these wild