THE PICCOLOMINI, &c.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-An old Gothic Chamber in the Councilhouse at Pilsen, decorated with Colours and other War Insignia.

ILLO, with BUTLER and ISOLANI.

Illo. YE have come late-but ye are come! The distance,

Count Isolan, excuses your delay.

Iso. Add this too, that we come not empty handed. At Donauwert * it was reported to us,

A Sweedish caravan was on it's way,

Transporting a rich cargo of provision,

Almost six hundred waggons. This my Croats Plunged down upon and seized, this weighty prize!We bring it hither

Illo.

Just in time to baquet

The illustrious company assembled here.

But. "Tis all alive! a stirring scene here!
Iso.

The very churches are full of soldiers.

Ay!

(Casts his eye around.)

And in the Council-house too, I observe,

You're settled, quite at home! Well, well! we soldiers Must shift and suit us in what way we can.

Illo. We have the Colonels here of thirty regiments. You'll find Count Tertsky here, and Tiefenbach, Kolatto, Goetz, Maradas, Hinnersam,

A town about twelve German miles N. E. of Ulm.

The Piccolomini, both son and father

You'll meet with many an unexpected greeting From many an old friend and acquaintance. Only Galas is wanting still, and Atringer.

But. Expect not Galas.

Illo. (hesitating). How so? Do you know--
Iso. (interrupting him) Max. Piccolomini here ?-
O bring me to him.

I see him yet, ('tis now ten years ago,

We were engaged with Mansfield hard by Dessau)
I see the youth, in my mind's eye I see him,
Leap his black war-horse from the bridge adown,
And t'ward his father, then in extreme peril,
Beat up against the strong tide of the Elbe.
The down was scarce upon his chin! I hear
He has made good the promise of his youth,
And the full hero now is finish'd in him.

Illo. You'll see him yet ere evening. He conducts
The Duchess Friedland hither, and the Princess *
From Carnthen. We expect them here at noon.
But. Both wife and daughter does the Duke call
hither?

He crouds in visitants from all sides,

Iso.

Hm!

So much the better! I had fram'd my mind

To hear of nought but warlike circumstance,

Of marches, and attacks, and batteries:

And lo! the Duke provides, that something too
Of gentler sort, and lovely, should be present

To feast our eyes.

Illo. (who has been standing in the attitude of meditation, to Butler, whom he leads a little on one side.)

Dukes in Germany being aiways reigning powers, their sons ters are entitled Princes and Princesses.

And how came you to know

That the Count Galas joins us not?
But.

Because

He importun'd me to remain behind.

Illo. (with warmth) And you ?—You hold out firmly ?

(Grasping his hand with affection.)

Noble Butler !

But. After the obligation which the Duke

Had lay'd so newly on me—

Illo.

A pleasant duty—Major General,

I wish you joy!

I had forgotten

Iso. What, you mean of his regiment?

I hear, too, that, to make the gift still sweeter,
The Duke has given him the very same

In which he first saw service, and since then,
Work'd himself, step by step, thro' each preferment,
From the ranks upwards. And verily, it gives
A precedent of hope, a spur of action

To the whole corps, if once in their remembrance
An old deserving soldier makes his way.

But. I am perplexed and doubtful, whether or no I dare accept this your congratulation.

The Emperor has not yet confirm'd th' appointment. Iso. Sieze it, friend! Sieze it! The hand which in

that post

Plac'd you, is strong enough to keep you there,
Spite of the Emperor and his Ministers!

Illo. Ay, if we would but so consider it !—

If we would all of us consider it so!

The Emperor gives us nothing; from the Duke
Comes all-whate'er we hope, whate'er we have.
Iso. (to Illo) My noble brother! did I tell you how
The Duke will satisfy my creditors?

Will be himself my banker for the future,
Make me once more a creditable man!-
And this is now the third time, think of that!
This kingly-minded man has rescued me

From absolute ruin, and restor❜d my honour.

Illo. O that his power but kept pace with his wishes! Why, friend! he'd give the whole world to his soldiers. But at Vienna, brother!-there's the grievance !-What politic schemes do they not lay to shorten His arm, and, where they can, to clip his pinions. Then these new dainty requisitions! these, Which this same Questenberg brings hither! But.

These requisitions of the Emperor

I too have heard about them; but I hope

Ay,

The Duke will not draw back a single inch!

Illo. Not from his right most surely, unless first -From office!

But. (shocked and confused) Know you aught

then? You alarm me.

Iso. (at the same time with Butler, and in a hurry-
ing voice.) We should be ruin'd, every one of us!
Illo.
No more!

Yonder I see our worthy friend * approaching
With the Lieutenant-General, Piccolomini.

But. (shaking his head significantly) I fear we shall not go hence as we came.

SCENE II.

Enter OCTAVIO, PICCOLOMINI, and QUESTEN Berg. Oct. (still in the distance) Ay, ay! more still! still more new visiters!

· Spoken with a sneer.

Acknowledge, friend! that never was a camp,
Which held at once so many heads of heroes.

(Approaching nearer.)

Welcome, Count Isolani!

Iso.

My noble brother,

Even now am I arriv'd; it had been else my duty—
Oct. And Colonel Butler-trust me, I rejoice
Thus to renew acquaintance with a man
Whose worth and services I know and honour.
See, see, my friend!

There might we place at once before our eyes
The sum of war's whole trade and mystery-

(To Questenberg, presenting Butler and Iso-
lani at the same time to him.)

These two the total sum-Strength and Despatch. Ques. (to Octavio,) And lo! betwixt them both experienc'd Prudence!

Oct. (presenting Questenberg to Butler and Isolani.)

The Chamberlain and War-commissioner Questenberg, The bearer of the Emperor's behests.

The long-tried friend and pation of all soldiers,

We honour in this noble visiter. (Universal silence.) Illo. (moving towards Questenberg.) 'Tis not the first time, noble Minister

You have shown our camp this 1 onour.

Ques.

I stood before these colours.

Once leforc

Illo. Perchance, too, you rememl er where that was. It was at Znäim* in Moravia, where

You did present yourself upon the pa't

Of th' Emperor, to supplicate our Duke

That he would straight assume the chief 'ommand.

A town not far from the Mine-mountains, on the high road from Vienna to Prague.