The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Iii Part 69

BUTLER.

They the first.

MACDON.

Hear, Devereux! A b.l.o.o.d.y evening this.

DEVEREUX.

Have you a man for that? Commission me--

BUTLER.

'Tis given in trust to Major Geraldin; This is a carnival night, and there's a feast Given at the castle--there we shall surprise them, And hew them down. The Pestalutz and Lesley Have that commission. Soon as that is finish'd--

DEVEREUX.

Hear, General! It will be all one to you-- Hark ye, let me exchange with Geraldin.

BUTLER.

'Twill be the lesser danger with the Duke.

DEVEREUX.

Danger! The Devil! What do you think me, General?

'Tis the Duke's eye, and not his sword, I fear.

BUTLER.

What can his eye do to thee?

DEVEREUX.

Death and h.e.l.l!

Thou know'st that I'm no milksop, General!

But 'tis not eight days since the Duke did send me Twenty gold pieces for this good warm coat Which I have on! and then for him to see me Standing before him with the pike, his murderer, That eye of his looking upon this coat-- Why--why--the devil fetch me! I'm no milksop!

BUTLER.

The Duke presented thee this good warm coat, And thou, a needy wight, hast pangs of conscience To run him through the body in return?

A coat that is far better and far warmer Did the Emperor give to him, the Prince's mantle.

How doth he thank the Emperor? With revolt, And treason.

DEVEREUX.

That is true. The devil take Such thinkers! I'll dispatch him.

BUTLER.

And would'st quiet Thy conscience, thou hast nought to do but simply Pull off the coat; so canst thou do the deed With light heart and good spirits.

DEVEREUX.

You are right, That did not strike me. I'll pull off the coat-- So there's an end of it.

MACDONALD.

Yes, but there's another Point to be thought of.

BUTLER.

And what's that, Macdonald?

MACDON.

What avails sword or dagger against _him?_ He is not to be wounded--he is--

BUTLER (_starting up_).

What?

MACDON.

Safe against shot, and stab, and fles.h.!.+ Hard frozen, Secured and warranted by the black art!

His body is impenetrable, I tell you.

DEVEREUX.

In Ingolstadt there was just such another: His whole skin was the same as steel; at last We were obliged to beat him down with gun-stocks.

MACDON.

Hear what I'll do.

DEVEREUX.

Well.

MACDONALD.

In the cloister here There's a Dominican, my countryman.

I'll make him dip my sword and pike for me In holy water, and say over them One of his strongest blessings. That's probatum!

Nothing can stand 'gainst that.

BUTLER.

So do, Macdonald!