The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 103

_Butler._ Ay, and make your fortunes. 20

_Macdonald._ That is still better.

_Butler._ Listen!

_Both._ We attend.

_Butler._ It is the Emperor's will and ordinance To seize the person of the Prince-Duke Friedland, Alive or dead.

_Devereux._ It runs so in the letter.

_Macdonald._ Alive or dead--these were the very words. 25

_Butler._ And he shall be rewarded from the State In land and gold, who proffers aid thereto.

_Devereux._ Ay? That sounds well. The words sound always well That travel hither from the Court. Yes! yes!

We know already what Court-words import. 30 A golden chain perhaps in sign of favour, Or an old charger, or a parchment patent, And such like.--The Prince-duke pays better.

_Macdonald._ Yes, The Duke's a splendid paymaster.

_Butler._ All over With that, my friends! His lucky stars are set. 35

_Macdonald._ And is that certain?

_Butler._ You have my word for it.

_Devereux._ His lucky fortunes all past by?

_Butler._ For ever.

He is as poor as we.

_Macdonald._ As poor as we?

_Devereux._ Macdonald, we'll desert him.

_Butler._ We'll desert him?

Full twenty thousand have done that already; 40 We must do more, my countrymen! In short-- We--we must kill him.

_Both._ Kill him!

_Butler._ Yes! must kill him.

And for that purpose have I chosen you.

_Both._ Us!

_Butler._ You, Captain Devereux, and thee, Macdonald. 45

_Devereux (after a pause)._ Choose you some other.

_Butler._ What? art dastardly?

Thou, with full thirty lives to answer for-- Thou conscientious of a sudden?

_Devereux._ Nay, To a.s.sa.s.sinate our Lord and General--

_Macdonald._ To whom we've sworn a soldier's oath--

_Butler._ The oath 50 Is null, for Friedland is a traitor.

_Devereux._ No, no! It is too bad!

_Macdonald._ Yes, by my soul!

It is too bad. One has a conscience too--

_Devereux._ If it were not our chieftain, who so long Has issued the commands, and claim'd our duty. 55

_Butler._ Is that the objection?

_Devereux._ Were it my own father, And the Emperor's service should demand it of me, It might be done perhaps--But we are soldiers, And to a.s.sa.s.sinate our chief commander, That is a sin, a foul abomination, 60 From which no monk or confessor absolves us.

_Butler._ I am your Pope, and give you absolution.

Determine quickly!

_Devereux._ 'Twill not do!

_Macdonald._ 'Twon't do!

_Butler._ Well, off then! and--send Pestalutz to me.

_Devereux._ The Pestalutz--

_Macdonald._ What may you want with him? 65

_Butler._ If you reject it, we can find enough--

_Devereux._ Nay, if he must fall, we may earn the bounty As well as any other. What think you, Brother Macdonald?

_Macdonald._ Why if he must fall, And will fall, and it can't be otherwise, 70 One would not give place to this Pestalutz.

_Devereux._ When do you purpose he should fall?

_Butler._ This night.

To-morrow will the Swedes be at our gates.

_Devereux._ You take upon you all the consequences!

_Butler._ I take the whole upon me.

_Devereux._ And it is 75 The Emperor's will, his express absolute will?