The Works of Frederick Schiller Part 168

How goes it with young Piccolomini!

TERZKY.

All right, I think. He has started no object.

ILLO.

He is the only one I fear about-- He and his father. Have an eye on both!

TERZKY.

How looks it at your table: you forget not To keep them warm and stirring?

ILLO.

Oh, 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 Together and unanimous, why not,"

Says Montecuculi, "ay, why not onward, And make conditions with the emperor There in his own Venice?" Trust me, count, Were it not for these said Piccolomini, We might have spared ourselves the cheat.

TERZEY.

And Butler?

How goes it there? Hus.h.!.+

SCENE IV.

To them enter BUTLER from a second table.

BUTLER.

Don't disturb yourselves; Field-marshal, I have understood you perfectly.

Good luck be to the scheme; and as to me, [With an air of mystery.

You may depend upon me.

ILLO (with vivacity).

May we, Butler?

BUTLER.

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.

TERZKY.

You would make a good exchange.

No stern economist, no Ferdinand, Is he to whom you plight your services.

BUTLER (with a haughty look).

I do not put up my fidelity To sale, Count Terzky! 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 humor to believe, The example which I give will not remain Without an influence.

ILLO.

Who is ignorant, That the whole army looks to Colonel Butler As to a light that moves before them?

BUTLER.

Ay?

Then I repent me not of that fidelity Which for the length of forty years I held, If in my sixtieth year my good old 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 like cause, Has driven the old man from the track of honor, 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?

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, I lend it him; and is he my survivor, It has been already long ago bequeathed to him; He is my heir. For me, I stand alone Here in the world; naught 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!

BUTLER.

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.

BUTLER.

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 Mansfeldt, wanted but a longer life To have marked out with his good sword a lords.h.i.+p 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!

TERZKY.

That's spoken like a man!

BUTLER.

Do you secure the Spaniard and Italian-- I'll be your warrant for the Scotchman Lesly.

Come to the company!

TERZKY.

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 V.

The MASTER OF THE CELLAR, advancing with NEUMANN, SERVANTS pa.s.sing backwards and forwards.