THE

PICCOLOMINI,

&c.

ACT I.-SCENE I.

An old Gothic Chamber in the Council House at Filsen, decorated with Colours and other War Insignia.

ILLO WITH BUTLER AND ISOLANI.

ILLO.

YE have come late-but ye are come! The dis

tance,

Count Isolan, excuses your delay.

ISOLANI.

Add this too, that we come not empty handed.

At Donauwert it was reported to us,

A Swedish caravan was on its way

• A town about 12 German miles N. E. of Ulm.

Transporting a rich cargo of provision,
Almost six hundred waggons.

Plunged down upon and

prize!

We bring it hither

ILLO.

This my Croats

seized, this weighty

Just in time to banquet

The illustrious company assembled here.

BUTLER.

'Tis all alive! a stirring scene here!

ISOLANI.

Ay!

The

very churches are all full of soldiers.

[Casts his eye round.

And in the Council-house too, I observe,

You're settled, quite at home! Well, well! we

soldiers

Must shift and suit us in what way we can.

ILLO.

We have the Colonels here of thirty regiments.

You'll find Count Tertsky here, and Tiefenbach,
Kolatto, Goetz, Maradas, Hinnersam,

The Piccolomini, both son and father

You'll meet with many an unexpected greeting From many an old friend and acquaintance. Only Galas is wanting still, and Altringer.

Expect not Galas.

BUTLER.

ILLO. (hesitating)

How so? Do you know

ISOLANI. (interrupting him)

Max. Piccolomini here?-O bring me to him.
I see him yet, ('tis now ten years ago,

We were engaged with Mansfeld hard by Dessau)
I see the youth, in my mind's eye I see him,
Leap his black war-horse from the bridge adown,
And t'ward his father, then in extreme peril,
Beat
against the strong tide of the Elbe.
The down was scarce upon his chin! I hear
He has made good the promise of his youth,
And the full hero now is finished in him.

up

ILLO.

You'll see him yet ere evening. He conducts
The Duchess Friedland hither, and the Princess*
From Carnthen. We expect them here at noon.

BUTLER.

Both wife and daughter does the Duke call hither? He crowds in visitants from all sides.

ISOLANI.

Hm !

The Dukes in Germany being always reigning powers, their

sons and daughters are entitled Princes and Princesses.

So much the better! I had framed my mind
To hear of naught but warlike circumstance,
Of marches, and attacks, and batteries:
And lo! the Duke provides, that something too
Of gentler sort, and lovely, should be present
To feast our eyes.

ILLO. (who has been standing in the attitude of
meditation, to Butler, whom he leads a little
on one side.)

And how came you to know

That the Count Galas joins us not?

BUTLER.

Because

He importuned me to remain behind.
ILLO. (with warmth.)

And you?-You hold out firmly?

[Grasping his hand with affection.

Noble Butler !

BUTLER.

After the obligation which the Duke

Had layed so newly on me

I hear, too, that, to make the gift still sweeter,
The Duke has given him the very same

In which he first saw service, and since then,

Worked himself, step by step, through each preferment,

From the ranks upwards. And verily, it gives

A precedent of hope, a spur of action,

To the whole corps, if once in their remembrance
An old deserving soldier makes his way.

BUTLER.

I am perplexed and doubtful, whether or no
I dare accept this your congratulation.

The Emperor has not yet confirmed the appointment.

ISOLANI.

Seize it, friend! Seize it! The hand which in that

post

Placed you, is strong enough to keep you there,
Spite of the Emperor and his Ministers ?

ILLO.

Ay, if we would but so consider it!—

If we would all of us consider it so!

The Emperor gives us nothing; from the Duke
Comes all---whate'er we hope, whate'er we have.
ISOLANI. (to Illo.)

My noble brother! did I tell you how

The Duke will satisfy my creditors?