The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 60

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

SCENE XI

_To them enter BUTLER from the second table._

_Butler._ Don't disturb yourselves.

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?

_Butler._ With or without the clause, all one to me! 5 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, 10 As soon as it shall please him to become His own lord.

_Tertsky._ You would make a good exchange.

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

_Butler._ I do not put up my fidelity 15 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, 20 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, 25 As to a light that moves before them?

_Butler._ 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. 30 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, 35 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, 40 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, 45 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. 50 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. 55 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. 60

_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, 65 That Mansfeld, 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! 70

_Tertsky._ 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!

_Tertsky._ Where is the master of the cellar? Ho! 75 Let the best wines come up. Ho! cheerly, boy!

Luck comes to-day, so give her hearty welcome.

[_Exeunt, each to his table._

LINENOTES:

[After 3] [_with an air of mystery_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[4] _Illo (with vivacity)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[15] _Butler (with a haughty look)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[34] _my_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[36] Had] Has 1800, 1828, 1829.

SCENE XII

_The_ Master of the Cellar _advancing with NEUMANN_, Servants _pa.s.sing backwards and forwards._

_Master of the Cellar._ The best wine! O! if my old mistress, his lady mother, could but see these wild goings on, she would turn herself round in her grave. Yes, yes, sir officer!

'tis all down the hill with this n.o.ble house! no end, no moderation! And this marriage with the Duke's sister, a 5 splendid connection, a very splendid connection! but I tell you, sir officer, it bodes no good.

_Neumann._ Heaven forbid! Why, at this very moment the whole prospect is in bud and blossom!

_Master of the Cellar._ You think so?--Well, well! much 10 may be said on that head.

_First Servant (comes)._ Burgundy for the fourth table.

_Master of the Cellar._ Now, sir lieutenant, if this isn't the seventieth flask----

_First Servant._ Why, the reason is, that German lord, 15 Tiefenbach, sits at that table.

_Master of the Cellar (continuing his discourse to Neumann)._ They are soaring too high. They would rival kings and electors in their pomp and splendour; and wherever the Duke leaps, not a minute does my gracious master, the Count, loiter on the brink----(_To the_ Servants)--What do 20 you stand there listening for? I will let you know you have legs presently. Off! see to the tables, see to the flasks!

Look there! Count Palfi has an empty gla.s.s before him!

_Runner (comes)._ The great service-cup is wanted, sir; that rich gold cup with the Bohemian arms on it. The Count 25 says you know which it is.

_Master of the Cellar._ Ay! that was made for Frederick's coronation by the artist William--there was not such another prize in the whole booty at Prague.

_Runner._ The same!--a health is to go round in him. 30

_Master of the Cellar._ This will be something for the tale-bearers--this goes to Vienna.

_Neumann._ Permit me to look at it.--Well, this is a cup indeed! How heavy! as well it may be, being all gold.--And what neat things are embossed on it! how natural 35 and elegant they look! There, on that first quarter, let me see. That proud Amazon there on horseback, she that is taking a leap over the crosier and mitres, and carries on a wand a hat together with a banner, on which there's a goblet represented. Can you tell me what all this signifies? 40