Page images
PDF
EPUB

ACT II.-SCENE I.

SCENE-A small Chamber.

ILLO and TERTSKY.

TERTSKY.

Now for this evening's business! How intend you To manage with the generals at the banquet?

ILLO.

Attend! We frame a formal declaration,
Wherein we to the Duke consign ourselves
Callectively, to be and to remain

His both with life and limb, and not to spare
The last drop of our blood for him, provided
So doing we infringe no oath or duty,
We may be under to the Emperor.-Mark!
This reservation we expressly make

In a particular clause, and save the conscience.
Now hear! This formula so framed and worded
Will be presented to them for perusal

Before the banquet. No one will find in it
Cause of offence or scruple. Hear now further!
After the feast, when now the vap'ring wine
Opens the heart, and shuts the eyes, we let
A counterfeited paper, in the which
This one particular clause has been left out,
Go round for signatures.

TERTSKY.

How? think you then

That they'll believe themselves bound by an oath,
Which we had tricked them into by a juggle?

ILLO.

We shall have caught and caged them! Let them

then

Beat their wings bare against the wires, and rave

Loud as they may against our treachery,
At court their signatures will be believed
Far more than their most holy affirmations.
Traitors they are, and must be; therefore wisely
Will make a virtue of necessity.

TERTSKY.

Well, well, it shall content me; let but something
Be done, let only some decisive blow

Set us in motion.

ILLO.

Besides, 'tis of subordinate importance

How, or how far, we may thereby propel
The generals. "Tis enough that we persuade
The Duke, that they are his-Let him but act
In his determined mood, as if he had them,
And he will have them. Where he plunges in,
He makes a whirlpool, and all stream down to it.
TERTSKY.

His policy is such a labyrinth,

That many a time when I have thought myself
Close at his side, he's gone at once, and left me
Ignorant of the ground where I was standing.
He lends the enemy his ear, permits me
To write to them, to Arnheim; to Sesina
Himself comes forward blank and undisguised;
Talks with us by the hour about his plans,
And when I think I have him-off at once-
He has slipped from me, and appears as if
He had no scheme, but to retain his place.
ILLO.

He give up his old plans! I'll tell you, friend!

His soul is occupied with nothing else,

Even in his sleep-They are his thoughts his

dreams

That day by day he questions for this purpose

The motions of the planets

VOL. III.

G

TERTSKY.

Ay! you know

This night, that is now coming, he with SENI
Shuts himself up in the astrological tower
To make joint observations-for I hear,
It is to be a night of weight and crisis;
And something great, and of long expectation,
Is to make its procession in the heaven.

ILLO.

Come! be we bold and make dispatch. The work
In this next day or two must thrive and grow
More than it has for years. And let but only
Things first turn up auspicious here below

Mark what I say the right stars too will shew themselves.

Come, to the generals. All is in the glow,
And must be beaten while 'tis malleable.

TERTSKY.

Do you go thither, Illo. I must stay

And wait here for the Countess Tertsky. Know,
That we too are not idle. Break one string,

A second is in readiness.

ILLO.

Yes! Yes!

I saw your Lady smile with such sly meaning.
What's in the wind?

[blocks in formation]

(The Countess steps out from a Closet.)
COUNT and COUNTESS TERTSKY.

TERTSKY.

Well-is she coming-I can keep him back

[blocks in formation]

I must confess it, Countess, whether or not
We are earning the Duke's thanks hereby.

know,

No ray has broke out from him on this point.
You have o'er-ruled me, and yourself know best,
How far you dare proceed.

You

COUNTESS.

I take it on me.

[talking to herself, while she is advancing.

Here's no need of full powers and commissions

« PreviousContinue »