TERTSKY.

All right, I think. He has started no objection

How looks it at your table: you forget not

To keep them warm and stirring?

ILLO.

O, quite cordial,

They are quite cordial in the scheme. We have them.

And 'tis as I predicted too. Already

It is the talk, not merely to maintain

The Duke in station. "Since we're once for all

Together and unanimous, why not,"

Says Montecuculi, "ay, why not onward,

And make conditions with the Emperor
There in his own Vienna ?" Trust me, Count,
Were it not for these said Piccolomini,

We might have spared ourselves the cheat.

TERTSKY.

How goes it there? Hush!

And Butler?

SCENE XI.

To them enter BUTLER from the second table.
BUTLER.

Don't disturb yourselves.

Field Marshal, I have understood you perfectly.
Good luck be to the scheme; and as to me,

[with an air of mystery.

You may depend upon me.

May we, Butler?

ILLO (with vivacity).

BUTLER.

With or without the clause, all one to me!

You understand me? My fidelity

The Duke may put to any proof-I'm with him!
Tell him so! I'm the Emperor's officer,

As long as 'tis his pleasure to remain

The Emperor's general! and Friedland's servant,
As soon as it shall please him to become

His own lord.

TERTSKY.

You would make a good exchange.

No stern economist, no Ferdinand,

Is he to whom you plight your services.

BUTLER (with a haughty look).

I do not put up my fidelity

To sale, Count Tertsky! Half a year ago

I would not have advised you to have made me
An overture to that, to which I now

Offer myself of my own free accord.

But that is past! and to the Duke, Field Marshal,
I bring myself together with my regiment.
And mark you, 'tis my humour to believe,

The example which I give will not remain
Without an influence.

ILLO.

Who is ignorant,

That the whole army look to Colonel Butler,
As to a light that moves before them?

BUTLER.

Ey?

Then I repent me not of that fidelity
Which for the length of forty years I held,
If in my sixtieth year my old good name
Can purchase for me a revenge so full.
Start not at what I say, sir Generals!
My real motives--they concern not you.
And you yourselves, I trust, could not expect
That this your game had crooked my judgment-or
That fickleness, quick blood, or such light cause,
Has driven the old man from the track of honour,
Which he so long had trodden.-Come, my friends!

I'm not thereto determined with less firmness,
Because I know and have looked steadily

At that on which I have determined.

ILLO.

Say,

And speak roundly, what are we to deem you?

BUTLER.

A friend! I give you here my hand! I'm your's

With all I have. Not only men, but

Will the Duke want.

money

-Go, tell him, sirs!

I've earned and laid up somewhat in his service,
I lend it him; and is he my survivor,

It has been already long ago bequeathed him.
heir. For me, I stand alone,

He is my
Here in the world; nought know I of the feeling
That binds the husband to a wife and children.

My name dies with me, my existence ends.
ILLO.

'Tis not your money that he needs a heart

Like your's weighs tons of gold down, weighs down

millions!

BUTLER.

I came a simple soldier's boy from Ireland

To Prague and with a master, whom I buried.
From lowest stable duty I climbed up,

Such was the fate of war, to this high rank,

The plaything of a whimsical good fortune.
And Wallenstein too is a child of luck,

I love a fortune that is like

my own.

ILLO.

All powerful souls have kindred with each other.
BUTLER.

This is an awful moment! to the brave,

To the determined, an auspicious moment.
The Prince of Weimar arms, upon the Maine

To found a mighty dukedom. He of Halberstadt,
That MANSFELD, wanted but a longer life
To have marked out with his good sword a lordship
That should reward his courage. Who of these
Equals our Friedland? there is nothing, nothing
So high, but he may set the ladder to it!

TERTSKY.

That's spoken like a man!

BUTLER.

Do you secure the Spaniard and Italian-
I'll be your warrant for the Scotchman Lesly.
Come! to the company!

TERTSKY.

Where is the master of the cellar? Ho!

Let the best wines come up. Ho! cheerly, boy!
Luck comes to-day, so give her hearty welcome.

[Exeunt, each to his table.