The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon Part 24

MACK [to Archduke]

It is my privilege firmly to submit That your Imperial Highness undertake No venturous vaulting into risks unknown.-- a.s.sume that you, Sire, as you have proposed, With your light regiments and the cavalry, Detach yourself from us, to scoop a way By circuits northwards through the Rauhe Alps And Herdenheim, into Bohemia: Reports all point that you will be attacked, Enveloped, borne on to capitulate.

What worse can happen here?-- Remember, Sire, the Emperor deputes me, Should such a clash arise as has arisen, To exercise supreme authority.

The honour of our arms, our race, demands That none of your Imperial Highness' line Be pounded prisoner by this vulgar foe, Who is not France, but an adventurer, Imposing on that country for his gain.

ARCHDUKE

But it seems clear to me that loitering here Is full as like to compa.s.s our surrender As moving hence. And ill it therefore suits The mood of one of my high temperature To pause inactive while await me means Of desperate cure for these so desperate ills!

[The ARCHDUKE FERDINAND goes out. A troubled, silence follows, during which the gusts call into the chimney, and raindrops spit on the fire.]

SCHWARZENBERG

The Archduke bears him shrewdly in this course.

We may as well look matters in the face, And that we are cooped and cornered is most clear; Clear it is, too, that but a miracle Can work to loose us! I have stoutly held That this man's three years' ostentatious scheme To fling his army on the tempting sh.o.r.es Of our Allies the English was a--well-- Scarce other than a trick of thimble-rig To still us into false security.

JELLACHICH

Well, I know nothing. None needs list to me, But, on the whole, to southward seems the course For lunging, all in force, immediately.

[Another pause.]

SPIRIT SINISTER

The Will throws Mack again into agitation: Ho-ho--what he'll do now!

SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

Nay, hard one, nay; The clouds weep for him!

SPIRIT SINISTER

If he must; And it's good antic at a vacant time!

[MACK goes restlessly to the door, and is heard pacing about the vestibule, and questioning the aides and other officers gathered there.]

A GENERAL

He wavers like this smoke-wreath that inclines Or north, or south, as the storm-currents rule!

MACK [returning]

Bring that deserter hither once again.

[A French soldier is brought in, blindfolded and guarded. The bandage is removed.]

Well, tell us what he says.

AN OFFICER [after speaking to the prisoner in French]

He still repeats That the whole body of the British strength Is even now descending on Boulogne, And that self-preservation must, if need, Clear us from Bonaparte ere many days, Who momently is moving.

MACK

Still retain him.

[He walks to the fire, and stands looking into it. The soldier is taken out.]

JELLACHICH [bending over the map in argument with RIESC]

I much prefer our self-won information; And if we have Marshal Soult at Landsberg here, [Which seems to be truth, despite this man,]

And Dupont hard upon us at Albeck, With Ney not far from Gunzburg; somewhere here, Or further down the river, lurking Lannes, Our game's to draw off southward--if we can!

MACK [turning]

I have it. This we'll do. You Jellachich, Unite with Spangen's troops at Memmingen, To fend off mischief there. And you, Riesc, Will make your utmost haste to occupy The bridge and upper ground at Elchingen, And all along the left bank of the stream, Till you observe whereon to concentrate And sever their connections. I couch here, And hold the city till the Russians come.

A GENERAL [in a low voice]

Disjunction seems of all expedients worst: If any stay, then stay should every man, Gather, inlace, and close up hip to hip, And perk and bristle hedgehog-like with spines!

MACK

The conference is ended, friends, I say, And orders will be issued here forthwith.

[Guns heard.]

AN OFFICER

Surely that's from the Michaelsberg above us?

MACK