And where it is thy will that thou shouldst be wattlensteix. I hear a boisterous music' and the Castle is lighted up. Who are the revellers? Gofanox. There is a banquet given at the Castle wall. Evs Teix. In honour of the victory—This tribe Can show their joy in nothing else but feasting. Unrobe me. I will lay me down to sleep. [walless reis takes the keys from Gospox. So we are guarded from all enemies, And shut in with sure friends. For all must cheat me, or a face like this [Fixing his eye on Goat ox. was ne'er a hypocrite's mask. [The Gnoon of the Chamber takes off his mantle, collar, and scarf. wallexstriv. Take care—what is that? G Room of Tito chaxth ER. The golden chain is snapped in two. wall-existri v. Well, it has lasted long enough. Here-tive it. [He takes and looks at the chain. 'T was the first present of the Emperor. He hung it round me in the war of Friule, | He being then Archduke; and I have worn it Till now from habit—— From superstition, if you will. Belike, | It was to be a Talisman to me; And while I wore it on my neck in faith, It was to chain to me all my life long | The volatile fortune, whose first pledge it was. Well, be it so Ilenceforward a new fortune Must spring up for me: for the potency Of this charm is dissolved. [Gnoon of the Chambra retires with the vestments. WALLE-SI E1 N rises, takes a stride across the posture of meditation. ! How the old time returns upon me! I Behold myself once more at Burgau, where We two were Pages of the Court together. We oftentimes disputed: thy intention Was ever good; but thou wert wont to play The Moralist and Preacher, and wouldst rail at me— | That I strove after things too high for me, Giving my faith to bold unlawful dreams, | And still extol to me the golden mean. —Thy wisdom hath been proved a thriftless friend To thy own self. See, it has made thce early A superannuated man, and (but That my inunificent stars will intervene) Would let thee in some miserable corner 'Go out like an untended lamp. go to don. - My Prince: With light heart the poor fisher moors his boat, | And watches from the shore the lofty ship Stranded amid the storm. t wall. Evs reix. Art thou already [Rings. The Groow or the Chamber enters. room, and stands at last before GoRDox in a T TTTTT-__ sex i. In harbour then, old man? Well! I am not. [He moves with long strides across the saloon, and remains on the opposite side over-against Goa pox. Who now persists in calling Fortune false? To me she has proved faithful, with fond love Took me from out the common ranks of men, And like a mother goddess, with strong arm Carried me swiftly up the steps of life. Nothing is common in my destiny, Nor in the furrows of my hand. Who dares Interpret then my life for me as 't were One of the undistinguishable many True in this present moment I appear Fallen low indeed; but I shall rise again. The high flood will soon follow on this ebb; The fountain of iny fortune, which now stops Repress'd and bound by some malicious star, Will soon in joy play forth from all its pipes. Go a nox. And yet remember 1 the good old proverb, • Let the night come before we praise the day. I would be slow from long continued fortune o - To gather hope : for Hope is the companion Given to the unfortunate by pitying Ileaven, Flee ere the dav-break! Trust not thy person to the Swedes: wall. Exs rein. What now Is in thy thoughts? sex (with louder voice). Trust not thy person to these Swedes. wallex's reix." What is it then? sent (still more urgently). Owait not the arrival of these Swedes; An evil near at hand is threatening thee From false friends. All the signs stand full of horror! Near, near at hand the net-work of Perdition— Yea, even now "t is being cast around thee! wall. Exsrf ix. Baptista, thou art dreaming!—Fear befools thee. sex i. Believe not that an empty fear deludes me. Come, read it in the planetary aspects; Head it thyself, that ruin threatens thee From false friends! wallowstfix. From the falseness of my friends IIas risen the whole of my unprosperous fortunes. The warning should have come before. At present I need no revelation from the stars To know that. st wi. Come and see! trust thine A fearful sign stands in the house of life— An enemy; a fiend lurks close behind The radiance of thv planet.—o be warn'd. Deliver not thyself up to these heathens, To wage a war against our holy church. watosroix (laughing gently). The oracle rails that way! Yes, yes! Now ! recollect. This junction with the Swedes Did never please thee—lay thyself to sleep, Baptista Signs like these I do not fear. Gondon (who during the whole of this dialogue has shown marks of extreme agitation, and yow turns to Walless reis). My Duke and General! May dare presume? wall exstrix. Speak freely. Gofanox. What if t were no mere creation of fear, if God's high providence vouchsafed To interpose its aid for your deliverance, And made that mouth its organ wal. LENs reix. Ye're both feverish! How can mishap come to me from the Swedes, O hear him! hear him! - goadon (rises). SCEN E IV. Gondon, Butlem (at first behind the scenes). butler (not yet come into view of the stage). Here stand in silence till I give the signal. connon (starts up). "T is he, he has already brought the murderers. Butlett. The lights are out. All lies in profound sleep. Gondo N. What shall I do, shall I attempt to save him? Shall I call up the house? Alarm the guards? butler (appears, but scarcely on the stage). A light gleams hither from the corridor. It leads directly to the Duke's bed-chamber. Gort don. But then I break my oath to the Emperor; If he escape and strengthen the enemy, Do I not hereby call down on my head All the dread consequences? nutler (stepping forward). Ilark | Who speaks there! Gordon. "T is better, I resign it to the hands Of providence. For what am I, that I Should take upon myself so great a deed! I have not murder'd him, if he be murder'd; But all his rescue were my act and deed; Mine—and whatever be the consequences, I must sustain them. butleh (advances). I should know that voice. Gondon. Goladon. To these enter MAcDon Ald, and Deveaeux, with the Halbeitdiens. condon (throwing himself between him and them). No, monster! First over my dead body thou shalt tread. I will not live to see the accursed deed! nutler (forcing him out of the way). Weak-hearted dotard! [Trumpets are heard in the distance. DevEReux and MacDon Ald. Hark! The Swedish trumpets! The Swedes before the ramparts! Let us hasten! Gondon (rushes out). 0, God of Mercy! Burlin (calling after him). Governor, to your post! choom of the chambea (hurries in). Who dares make larum here? Hush ' The Duke sleeps. deveazux (with loud harsh voice). Friend, it is time now to make larum. Gnoom of the cil AMBER. Help! Murder! but LeR. Down with him." gaoom or the chamber (run through the body by Deveheux, falls at the entrance of the gallery.) Jesus Maria! but LE.R. Burst the doors open. [They rush over the body into the gallery-two doors are heard to crash one after the otherpoices deadened by the distance-Clash of arms—then all at once a profound silence. countess tentsky (with a light). SCENE WII. goadox (rushes in out of breath). but Left. He comes Too late. [Gordon dashes himself against the wall. Gofa DON. O God of mercy! countess. What too late? Who will be here himself? Octavio in Egram Treason! Treason —Where's the Duke? [she rushes to the Gallery. SCEN E VIII. (servants run across the stage full of terror. The whole countess. What is it, Senio PAGE (from the Gallery). Opiteous sight! [Other Servants hasten in with torches. countess. What is it? For God's sake! sent. And do you ask? Within the Duke lies murder’d—and your husband Assassinated at the Castle. [The Countess stands motionless. FEMALE servant (rushing across the stage). Help! help! the Duchess! buscom Aster (enters). What mean these confused Loud cries, that wake the sleepers of this house? Gordon. Your house is cursed to all eternity. In your house doth the Duke lie murder'd : surgomasrea (rushing out). Heaven forbid! first seawaxt. Fly! fly! they murder us all ! second skavant (carrying silver plate). That way! The lower Passages are block'd up. voics (from behind the scene). Make room for the Lieutenant-General: [At these words the Countess starts from her stupor, collects herself, and retires suddenly. voice (from behind the scene). Keep back the people! Guard the door: To these enters Octavio Piccolomixi with all his Train. At the same time Devensus and Macdonald enter from out the Corridor with the Hallerdiers.—wallenstein's dead Body is carried over the back part of the Stage, wrapped in a piece of crimson tapestry. octavio (entering abruptly). It must not be! It is not possible! Butler Gordon : I Il not believe it. Say no! [Gondon, without answering, points with his hand to the Body of Wallenstein as it is carried over the back of the stage. Octavio looks that way, and stands overpowered with horror. devereux (to Butler). Here is the golden fleece—the Duke's sword— MACDo NAL.D. Is it your order— hurlen (pointing to Octavio). Here stands he who now Hath the sole power to issue orders. [Devineux and Macdonald retire with marks of obeisance. One drops away after the other, till only Burton, Octavio, and Goadox remain on the stage. octavio (turning to Burlen). Was that my purpose, Butler, when we parted? O God of Justice! To thee I lift my hand! I am not guilty Of this foul deed. Who next is to be murder'd : Who is next O curse of Kings, To be maltreated Lo! the Duke is dead. The Emperor's vengeance may be pacified' Spare the old servants; let not their fidelity Be imputed to the faithful as a crime— |