The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 114

_Voice (from behind the Scene)._ Keep back the people! Guard the door.

LINENOTES:

[3] _you_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

SCENE IX

_To these enters OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI with all his train. At the same time DEVEREUX and MACDONALD enter from out the Corridor with the_ Halberdiers. _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'll not believe it. Say no!

[_GORDON 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--

_Macdonald._ Is it your order--

_Butler (pointing to Octavio)._ Here stands he who now 5 Hath the sole power to issue orders.

[_DEVEREUX and MACDONALD retire with marks of obeisance.

One drops away after the other, till only BUTLER, OCTAVIO, and GORDON remain on the stage._

_Octavio (turning to Butler)._ Was that my purpose, Butler, when we parted?

O G.o.d of Justice!

To thee I lift my hand! I am not guilty Of this foul deed.

_Butler._ Your hand is pure. You have 10 Availed yourself of mine.

_Octavio._ Merciless man!

Thus to abuse the orders of thy Lord-- And stain thy Emperor's holy name with murder, With b.l.o.o.d.y, most accursed a.s.sa.s.sination!

_Butler._ I've but fulfilled the Emperor's own sentence. 15

_Octavio._ O curse of Kings, Infusing a dread life into their words, And linking to the sudden transient thought The unchangeable irrevocable deed.

Was there necessity for such an eager 20 Despatch? Could'st thou not grant the merciful A time for mercy? Time is man's good Angel.

To leave no interval between the sentence, And the fulfilment of it, doth beseem G.o.d only, the immutable!

_Butler._ For what 25 Rail you against me? What is my offence?

The Empire from a fearful enemy Have I delivered, and expect reward.

The single difference betwixt you and me Is this: you placed the arrow in the bow; 30 I pulled the string. You sowed blood, and yet stand Astonished that blood is come up. I always Knew what I did, and therefore no result Hath power to frighten or surprise my spirit.

Have you aught else to order?--for this instant 35 I make my best speed to Vienna; place My bleeding sword before my Emperor's throne, And hope to gain the applause which undelaying And punctual obedience may demand From a just judge. [_Exit BUTLER._ 40

LINENOTES:

[10] _hand_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 15] _Butler (calmly)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

SCENE X

_To these enter the COUNTESS TERTSKY, pale and disordered. Her utterance is slow and feeble, and unimpa.s.sioned._

_Octavio (meeting her)._ O Countess Tertsky! These are the results Of luckless unblest deeds.

_Countess._ They are the fruits Of your contrivances. The Duke is dead, My husband too is dead, the d.u.c.h.ess struggles In the pangs of death, my niece has disappeared. 5 This house of splendour, and of princely glory, Doth now stand desolated: the affrighted servants Rush forth through all its doors. I am the last Therein; I shut it up, and here deliver The keys.

_Octavio._ O Countess! my house too is desolate. 10

_Countess._ Who next is to be murdered? Who is next 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-- 15 The evil destiny surprised my brother Too suddenly; he could not think on them.

_Octavio._ Speak not of vengeance! Speak not of maltreatment!

The Emperor is appeased; the heavy fault Hath heavily been expiated--nothing 20 Descended from the father to the daughter, Except his glory and his services.

The Empress honours your adversity, Takes part in your afflictions, opens to you Her motherly arms! Therefore no farther fears! 25 Yield yourself up in hope and confidence To the Imperial Grace!

_Countess._ To the grace and mercy of a greater Master Do I yield up myself. Where shall the body Of the Duke have its place of final rest? 30 In the Chartreuse, which he himself did found, At Gitschin rests the Countess Wallenstein; And by her side, to whom he was indebted For his first fortunes, gratefully he wished He might sometime repose in death! O let him 35 Be buried there. And likewise, for my husband's Remains, I ask the like grace. The Emperor Is now proprietor of all our castles.

This sure may well be granted us--one sepulchre Beside the sepulchres of our forefathers! 40

_Octavio._ Countess, you tremble, you turn pale!

_Countess._ You think More worthily of me, than to believe I would survive the downfall of my house.

We did not hold ourselves too mean to grasp After a monarch's crown--the crown did fate 45 Deny, but not the feeling and the spirit That to the crown belong! We deem a Courageous death more worthy of our free station Than a dishonoured life.--I have taken poison.

_Octavio._ Help! Help! Support her!

_Countess._ Nay, it is too late. 50 In a few moments is my fate accomplished. [_Exit COUNTESS._

_Gordon._ O house of death and horrors!

[_An officer enters, and brings a letter with the great seal._

_Gordon (steps forward and meets him)._ What is this?

It is the Imperial Seal.

[_He reads the Address, and delivers the letter to OCTAVIO with a look of reproach, and with an emphasis on the word._

To the Prince Piccolomini.

[_OCTAVIO, with his whole frame expressive of sudden anguish, raises his eyes to heaven._

(_The curtain drops._)