The Piccolomini, Friedrich Schiller [best e book reader android .txt] 📗

May I know it?

OCTAVIO (seizes the patent).
Max! In this disclosure place I in thy hands
[A pause. The empire's welfare and thy father's life. Dear to thy inmost heart is Wallenstein A powerful tie of love, of veneration, Hath knit thee to him from thy earliest youth. Thou nourishest the wish,--O let me still Anticipate thy loitering confidence! The hope thou nourishest to knit thyself Yet closer to him----

MAX.
Father----

OCTAVIO.
Oh, my son! I trust thy heart undoubtingly. But am I Equally sure of thy collectedness? Wilt thou be able, with calm countenance, To enter this man's presence, when that I Have trusted to thee his whole fate?

MAX.
According As thou dost trust me, father, with his crime.

[OCTAVIO takes a paper out of his escritoire and gives it to him.

MAX. What! how! a full imperial patent!

OCTAVIO.
Read it.

MAX. (just glances on it). Duke Friedland sentenced and condemned!

OCTAVIO.
Even so.

MAX. (throws down the paper). Oh, this is too much! O unhappy error!

OCTAVIO. Read on. Collect thyself.

MAX. (after he has read further, with a look of affright and astonishment
on his father).
How! what! Thou! thou!

OCTAVIO. But for the present moment, till the King Of Hungary may safely join the army, Is the command assigned to me.

MAX.
And think'st thou, Dost thou believe, that thou wilt tear it from him? Oh, never hope it! Father! father! father! An inauspicious office is enjoined thee. This paper here!--this! and wilt thou enforce it? The mighty in the middle of his host, Surrounded by his thousands, him wouldst thou Disarm--degrade! Thou art lost, both thou and all of us.

OCTAVIO. What hazard I incur thereby, I know. In the great hand of God I stand. The Almighty Will cover with his shield the imperial house, And shatter, in his wrath, the work of darkness. The emperor hath true servants still; and even Here in the camp, there are enough brave men Who for the good cause will fight gallantly. The faithful have been warned--the dangerous Are closely watched. I wait but the first step, And then immediately----

Max.
What? On suspicion? Immediately?

OCTAVIO.
The emperor is no tyrant. The deed alone he'll punish, not the wish. The duke hath yet his destiny in his power. Let him but leave the treason uncompleted, He will be silently displaced from office, And make way to his emperor's royal son. An honorable exile to his castles Will be a benefaction to him rather Than punishment. But the first open step----

MAX. What callest thou such a step? A wicked step Ne'er will he take; but thou mightest easily, Yea, thou hast done it, misinterpret him.

OCTAVIO. Nay, howsoever punishable were Duke Friedland's purposes, yet still the steps Which he hath taken openly permit A mild construction. It is my intention To leave this paper wholly unenforced Till some act is committed which convicts him Of high treason, without doubt or plea, And that shall sentence him.

MAX.
But who the judge

OCTAVIO. Thyself.

MAX.
Forever, then, this paper will lie idle.

OCTAVIO. Too soon, I fear, its powers must all be proved. After the counter-promise of this evening, It cannot be but he must deem himself Secure of the majority with us; And of the army's general sentiment He hath a pleasing proof in that petition, Which thou delivered'st to him from the regiments. Add this too--I have letters that the Rhinegrave Hath changed his route, and travels by forced marches To the Bohemian forests. What this purports Remains unknown; and, to confirm suspicion, This night a Swedish nobleman arrived here.

MAX. I have thy word. Thou'lt not proceed to action Before thou hast convinced me--me myself.

OCTAVIO. Is it possible? Still, after all thou know'st, Canst thou believe still in his innocence?

MAX. (with enthusiasm). Thy judgment may mistake; my heart cannot.
[Moderates his voice and manner. These reasons might expound thy spirit or mine; But they expound not Friedland--I have faith: For as he knits his fortunes to the stars, Even so doth he resemble them in secret, Wonderful, still inexplicable courses! Trust me, they do him wrong. All will be solved. These smokes at once will kindle into flame-- The edges of this black and stormy cloud Will brighten suddenly, and we shall view The unapproachable glide out in splendor.

OCTAVIO. I will await it.


SCENE II.

OCTAVIO and MAX. as before. To then the VALET OF
THE CHAMBER.

OCTAVIO. How now, then?

VALET.
A despatch is at the door.

OCTAVIO. So early? From whom comes he then? Who is it?

VALET. That he refused to tell me.

OCTAVIO.
Lead him in: And, hark you--let it not transpire.

[Exit VALET: the CORNET steps in.

OCTAVIO. Ha! cornet--is it you; and from Count Gallas? Give me your letters.

CORNET.
The lieutenant-general Trusted it not to letters.

OCTAVIO.
And what is it?

CORNET. He bade me tell you--Dare I speak openly here?

OCTAVIO. My son knows all.

CORNET.
We have him.

OCTAVIO.
Whom?

CORNET.
Sesina, The old negotiator.

OCTAVIO (eagerly).
And you have him?

CORNET. In the Bohemian Forest Captain Mohrbrand Found and secured him yester-morning early. He was proceeding then to Regensburg, And on him were despatches for the Swede.

OCTAVIO. And the despatches----

CORNET.
The lieutenant-general Sent them that instant to Vienna, and The prisoner with them.

OCTAVIO.
This is, indeed, a tiding! That fellow is a precious casket to us, Enclosing weighty things. Was much found on him?

CORNET. I think, six packets, with Count Terzky's arms.

OCTAVIO. None in the duke's own hand?

CORNET.
Not that I know.

OCTAVIO. And old Sesina.

CORNET.
He was sorely frightened. When it was told him he must to Vienna; But the Count Altringer bade him take heart, Would he but make a full and free confession.

OCTAVIO. Is Altringer then with your lord? I heard That he lay sick at Linz.

CORNET.
These three days past He's with my master, the lieutenant-general, At Frauenburg. Already have they sixty Small companies together, chosen men; Respectfully they greet you with assurances, That they are only waiting your commands.

OCTAVIO. In a few days may great events take place. And when must you return?

CORNET.
I wait your orders.

OCTAVIO. Remain till evening.
[CORNET signifies his assent and obeisance, and is going.
No one saw you--ha?

CORNET. No living creature. Through the cloister wicket The capuchins, as usual, let me in.

OCTAVIO. Go, rest your limbs, and keep yourself concealed. I hold it probable that yet ere evening I shall despatch you. The development Of this affair approaches: ere the day, That even now is dawning in the heaven, Ere this eventful day hath set, the lot That must decide our fortunes will be drawn.

[Exit CORNET.


SCENE III.

OCTAVIO and MAX. PICCOLOMINI.

OCTAVIO. Well--and what now, son? All will soon be clear; For all, I'm certain, went through that Sesina.

MAX. (who through the whole of the foregoing scene has been in
a violent and visible struggle of feelings, at length starts
as one resolved). I will procure me light a shorter way. Farewell.

OCTAVIO.
Where now? Remain here.

MAX.
To the Duke.

OCTAVIO (alarmed). What----

MAX. (returning).
If thou hast believed that I shall act A part in this thy play, thou hast Miscalculated on me grievously. My way must be straight on. True with the tongue, False with the heart--I may not, cannot be Nor can I suffer that a man should trust me-- As his friend trust me--and then lull my conscience With such low pleas as these: "I ask him not-- He did it all at his own hazard--and My mouth has never lied to him." No, no! What a friend takes me for, that I must be. I'll to the duke; ere yet this day is ended Will I demand of him that he do save His good name from the world, and with one stride Break through and rend this fine-spun web of yours. He can, he will! I still am his believer, Yet I'll not pledge myself, but that those letters May furnish you, perchance, with proofs against him. How far may not this Terzky have proceeded-- What may not he himself too have permitted Himself to do, to snare the enemy, The laws of war excusing? Nothing, save His own mouth shall convict him--nothing less! And face to face will I go question him.

OCTAVIO. Thou wilt.

MAX.
I will, as sure as this heart beats.

OCTAVIO. I have, indeed, miscalculated on thee. I calculated on a prudent son, Who would have blessed the hand beneficent That plucked him back from the