The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 102

The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 102

LINENOTES:

[10] _Gordon (with earnest anxiety)._ Oh! &c. 1800, 1828, 1829.

[38] _duty_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[62] _dishonour'd_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[66] _Butler (with a cold and haughty air)._ He is, &c. 1800, 1828, 1829.

SCENE IX

_Butler (alone)._ I treasured my good name all my life long; The Duke has cheated me of life's best jewel, So that I blush before this poor weak Gordon!

He prizes above all his fealty; His conscious soul accuses him of nothing; 5 In opposition to his own soft heart He subjugates himself to an iron duty.

Me in a weaker moment pa.s.sion warped; I stand beside him, and must feel myself The worst man of the two. What though the world 10 Is ignorant of my purposed treason, yet One man does know it, and can prove it too-- High-minded Piccolomini!

There lives the man who can dishonour me!

This ignominy blood alone can cleanse! 15 Duke Friedland, thou or I--Into my own hands Fortune delivers me--The dearest thing a man has is himself.

(_The curtain drops._)

LINENOTES:

[12] _One_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

ACT IV

SCENE I

SCENE--_BUTLER'S Chamber._

_BUTLER, and MAJOR GERALDIN._

_Butler._ Find me twelve strong dragoons, arm them with pikes, For there must be no firing---- Conceal them somewhere near the banquet-room, And soon as the dessert is served up, rush all in And cry--Who is loyal to the Emperor? 5 I will overturn the table--while you attack Illo and Tertsky, and dispatch them both.

The castle-palace is well barred and guarded, That no intelligence of this proceeding May make its way to the Duke.--Go instantly; 10 Have you yet sent for Captain Devereux And the Macdonald?----

_Geraldin._ They'll be here anon.

[_Exit GERALDIN._

_Butler._ Here's no room for delay. The citizens Declare for him, a dizzy drunken spirit Possesses the whole town. They see in the Duke 15 A Prince of peace, a founder of new ages And golden times. Arms too have been given out By the town-council, and a hundred citizens Have volunteered themselves to stand on guard.

Dispatch then be the word. For enemies 20 Threaten us from without and from within.

SCENE II

_BUTLER, CAPTAIN DEVEREUX, and MACDONALD._

_Macdonald._ Here we are, General.

_Devereux._ What's to be the watchword?

_Butler._ Long live the Emperor!

_Both (recoiling)._ How?

_Butler._ Live the House of Austria!

_Devereux._ Have we not sworn fidelity to Friedland?

_Macdonald._ Have we not marched to this place to protect him?

_Butler._ Protect a traitor, and his country's enemy! 5

_Devereux._ Why, yes! in his name you administered Our oath.

_Macdonald._ And followed him yourself to Egra.

_Butler._ I did it the more surely to destroy him.

_Devereux._ So then!

_Macdonald._ An altered case!

_Butler (to Devereux)._ Thou wretched man!

So easily leav'st thou thy oath and colours? 10

_Devereux._ The devil!--I but followed your example, If you could prove a villain, why not we?

_Macdonald._ We've nought to do with thinking--that's your business.

You are our General, and give out the orders; We follow you, though the track lead to h.e.l.l. 15

_Butler._ Good then! we know each other.

_Macdonald._ I should hope so.

_Devereux._ Soldiers of fortune are we--who bids most, He has us.

_Macdonald._ 'Tis e'en so!

_Butler._ Well, for the present Ye must remain honest and faithful soldiers.

_Devereux._ We wish no other.