L'Aiglon Part 28

Well, what?

OBENAUS.

I--

THE DUKE.

What? What happened? Won't you tell me?

OBENAUS.

Well-- I hardly know--you're in a merry humor--

THE DUKE.

You hardly know? Then, gentlemen, I'll tell you!

The sixth October, eighteen-five--

OBENAUS _and_ DIETRICHSTEIN.

[_Leaping to their feet._]

Eh? What?

THE DUKE.

When he was least expected, when Vienna, Watching the Eagle hover ere he swooped, Sighed with relief, The blow is aimed at London!

Having left Stra.s.sburg, crossed the Rhine at Kehl, The Emperor--

OBENAUS.

Emperor!

THE DUKE.

Yes! and you know which!

Marches through Wurtemberg, marches through Baden--

DIETRICHSTEIN.

Great Heavens!

THE DUKE.

Gives Austria a morning song, With drums by Soult, and trumpets by Murat!

At Wertingen and Augsburg leaves his Marshals With here and there a victory to play with--

OBENAUS.

My Lord!

THE DUKE.

Pursues with wonderful manoeuvres.

Arrives at Ulm before he's changed his boots.

Bids Ney take Elchingen, sits down and writes A joyous, terrible, and calm despatch.

Prepares the a.s.sault:--the seventeenth October Sees seven thousand Austrians disarmed, And eighteen generals at the hero's feet; And then he starts again!

DIETRICHSTEIN.

My Lord!

THE DUKE.

November Finds him at Schonbrunn, sleeping in my bedroom.

OBENAUS.

But--!

THE DUKE.

He pursues! his foes are in his hand!

One night he says "To-morrow!" and to-morrow Says, galloping along the bannered front-- A spot of grey among his brilliant staff-- "Soldiers, we'll finish with a thunderbolt!"

The army is an ocean. He awaits The rising sun, and places with a smile This risen sun athwart his history!

OBENAUS.

Oh, Dietrichstein!

THE DUKE.

So there!

DIETRICHSTEIN.

Oh, Obenaus!

THE DUKE.

Terror and death! Two Emperors beaten by one!

And twenty thousand prisoners!

OBENAUS.

I beseech you!

People might hear!

THE DUKE.