Gordon. We should not Hurry to realize a bloody sentence. A word may be recall'd, a life can never be. but i. e.t. Dispatch in service pleases sovereigns. Gondon. No honest man 's ambitious to press forward To the hangman's service. put Left. And no brave man loses His colour at a daring enterprise. Gordox. A brave man hazards life, but not his conscience. put Leh. What then Shall he go forth anew to kindle The unextinguishable flame of war? Good on. Seize him, and hold him prisoner—do not kill him! Buririt. Had not the Emperor's army been defeated, I might have done so.-But "t is now past by. goh don. 0, wherefore open'd I the strong-hold to him? - but len. His destiny and not the place destroys him. GORD ON. Upon these ramparts, as beseem'd a soldier, I had fallen, defending the Emperor's citadel! bottlen. Yes! and a thousand gallant men have perish'd Go it to on. Doing their duty—that adorns the man! But murder's a black deed, and nature curses it. burlea (brings out a paper). Here is the manifesto which commands us To gain possession of his person. See— It is addressed to you as well as me. Are you content to take the consequences, If through our fault he escape to the enemy? Gordon. I?—Gracious God! butlett. Take it on yourself. Come of it what it may, on you I lay it. G0 to do N. O God in heaven! Butler. Can you advise aught else Wherewith to execute the Emperor's purposer Say if you can. For I desire his fall, Not his destruction. Gordon. Merciful heaven! what must be I see as clear as you. Yet still the heart Within my bosom beats with other feelings! BUT Left. Mine is of harder stuff! Necessity In her rough school hath steel'd me. And this Illo And Tertsky likewise, they must not survive him. Goan on. I feel no pang for these. Their own bad hearts Impell'd them, not the influence of the stars. 'T was they who strew'd the seeds of evil passions In his calm breast, and with officious villany

water'd and nursed the poisonous plants. May they
Receive their earnests to the uttermost mite!
futi, ea.
And their death shall precede his!
We meant to have taken them alive this evening
Amid the merry-making of a feast,
And keep them prisoners in the citadels.
But this makes shorter work. I go this instant
To give the necessary orders.

SCEN E Wii. To these enter Illo and TERTsKY.

tentsky. Our luck is on the turn. To-morrow come The Swedes—twelve thousand gallant warriors, Illo! Then straightways for Vienna. Cheerily, friend! What! meet such news with such a moody face? ILL0. It lies with us at present to prescribe Laws, and take vengeance on those worthless traitors, Those skulking cowards that deserted us; One has already done his bitter penance, The Piccolomini: be his the fate Of all who wish us evil! This flies sure To the old man's heart; he has his whole life long Fretted and toil'd to raise his ancient house From a Count's title to the name of Prince; And now must seek a grave for his only son. buri. Ea. 'T was pity, though! A youth of such heroic And gentle temperament! The Duke himself, 'T was easily seen, how near it went to his heart. ILL0. Hark ye, old friend! That is the very point That never pleased me in our General— He ever gave the preference to the Italians. Yea, at this very moment, by my soul! He "d gladly see us all dead ten times over, Could he thereby recal his friend to life. Triarsky. Hush, hush! Let the dead rest! This evening's business Is, who can fairly drink the other down— Your regiment, Illo! gives the entertainment. Come! we will keep a merry carnival— The night for once be day, and mid full glasses Will we expect the Swedish avant-garde. il Lo. Yes, let us be of good cheer for to-day, For there 's hot work before us, friends! This sword Shall have no rest, till it be bathed to the hilt In Austrian blood. got nox. Shame, shame! what talk is this, My Lord Field Marshal! Wherefore foam you so Against your Emperor Butler. Hope not too much From this first victory. Bethink you, sirs! How rapidly the wheel of Fortune turns; The Emperor still is formidably strong. it. Lo. The Emperor has soldiers, no commander, For this King Ferdinand of Iluutary ls but a tyro. Galas! He's no luck,

And was of old the ruiner of armies.
And then this viper, this Octavio,
Is excellent at stabbing in the back,
But ne'er meets Friedland in the open field.
rentsky.
Trust me, my friends, it cannot but succeed;
Fortune, we know, can ne'er forsake the Duke!
And only under Wallenstein can Austria
Be conqueror. -
Illo.
The Duke will soon assemble
A mighty army: all comes crowding, streaming
To banners, dedicate by destiny,
To fame, and prosperous fortune. I behold
Old times come back again! he will become
Once more the mighty Lord which he has been.
How will the fools, who've now deserted him,
Look then? I can't but laugh to think of them,
For lands will he present to all his friends,
And like a King and Emperor reward
True services; but we've the nearest claims.
[To Gordon.
You will not be forgotten, Governor:
He'll take you from this nest, and bid you shine
In higher station: your fidelity
Well merits it.
Gondon.
I am content already,
And wish to climb no higher; where great height is,
The fall must needs be great. • Great height, great
depth. .
illo.
Here you have no more business, for to-morrow
The Swedes will take possession of the citadel.
Come, Tertsky, it is supper-time. What think you?
Nay, shall we have the State illuminated
In honour of the Swede? And who refuses
To do it is a Spaniard and a traitor.
retatsky.
Nay! Nay! not that, it will not please the Duke—
illo.
What! we are masters here; no soul shall dare
Avow himself imperial where we've the rule.
Gordon! good night, and for the last time, take
A fair leave of the place. Send out patroles
To make secure, the watch-word may be alter'd
At the stroke of ten; deliver in the keys
To the Duke himself, and then you've quit for ever
Your wardship of the gates, for on to-morrow
The Swedes will take possession of the citadel.
tentsky (as he is going, to Butlea).
You come, though, to the castle?
Butler.
At the right time.
[Exeunt Teatsky and Illo.

SCEN E Wiii. Gordon and Butleh.

condon (looking after them). Unhappy men! How free from all foreboding! They rush into the outspread net of murder, In the blind drunkenness of victory; I have no pity for their fate. This illo, This overflowing and fool-hardy villain That would fain bathe himself in his Emperor's blood.—

butler. Do as he order'd you. Send round patroles, Take measures for the citadel's security; When they are within I close the castle-gate That nothing may transpire. Gondon (with earnest anxiety). Oh! haste not so! Nay, stop; first tell me—— BUTLeR. You have heard already, To-morrow to the Swedes belongs. This night Alone is ours. They make good expedition. But we will make still greater. Fare you well. GDR don. Ah! your looks tell me nothing good. Nay, Butler, I pray you, promise me! But LeR. The sun has set; A fateful evening doth descend upon us, And brings on their long night! Their evil stars Deliver them unarm'd into our hands, And from their drunken dream of golden fortunes The dagger at their heart shall rouse them. Well, The Duke was ever a great calculator; His fellow-men were figures on his chess-board, To move and station, as his game required. Other men's honour, dignity, good name, Did he shift like pawns, and made no conscience of it: Still calculating, calculating still; And yet at last his calculation proves Erroneous; the whole game is lost; and lo! His own life will be found among the forfeits. GoR don. O think not of his errors now; remember His greatness, his munificence, think on all The lovely features of his character, On all the noble exploits of his life, And let them, like an angel's arm, unseen Arrest the lifted sword. Butlert. It is too late. I suffer not myself to feel compassion, Dark thoughts and bloody are my duty now: [Grasping Gondon's hand. Gordon't is not my hatred (I pretend not To love the Duke, and have no cause to love him), Yet "t is not now my hatred that impels me To be his murderer. 'T is his evil fate. Hostile concurrences of many events Control and subjugate me to the office. In vain the human being meditates Free action. He is but the wire-work'd' puppet Of the blind power, which out of his own choice Creates for him a dread necessity. What too would it avail him, if there were A something pleading for him in my heart— Still I must kill him. Gondon. If your heart speak to you, Follow its impulse. T is the voice of God. Think you your fortunes will grow prosperous Bedew'd with blood—his blood? Believe it not

we doubt the propriety of putting so blasphemous a sentiment in the mouth of any character. T.

Butlem. You know not. Ask not! Wherefore should it happen, That the Swedes gain'd the victory, and hasten With such forced marches hitherward 2 Fain would I Have given him to the Emperor's mercy.—Gordon : I do not wish his blood–But I must ransom The honour of my word, it lies in pledge– And he must die, or—— (Passionately grasping Gorton's hand. Listen then, and know! I am dishonour'd if the Duke escape us. Goalpox. O! to save such a man—— BuTLE:n. what Goradox. It is wortli A sacrifice.—Come, friend Be noble-minded ! Our own heart, and not other men's opinions, Forms our true honour. burlea (with a cold and haughty air). He is a great Lord, This Duke—and I am but of mean importance. This is what you would say? Wherein concerns it The world at large, you mean to hint to me, Whether the man of low extraction keeps Or blemishes his honour— So that the man of princely rank be saved. We all do stamp our value on ourselves. The price we challenge for ourselves is given us. There does not live on earth the man so station'd, That I despise myself compared with him. Man is made great or little by his own will; Because I am true to mine, therefore he dies. Gornox. I am endeavouring to move a rock. Thou hadst a mother, yet no human feelings. I cannot hinder you, but may some God

Rescue him from you! [Exit Gonbox.

SCENE IX.

burlea (alone).

I treasured my good name all my life long;
The Duke has cheated me of life's best jewel,
So that I blush before this poor weak Gordon!
He prizes above all his fealty;
His conscious soul accuses him of nothing;
In opposition to his own soft heart
He subjugates himself to an iron duty.
Me in a weaker moment passion warp'd;
I stand beside him, and must feel myself
The worse man of the two. What, though the world
Is ignorant of my purposed treason, yet
one man does know it, and can prove it too—
High-minded Piccolonini :
There lives the man who can dishonour me!
This ignominy blood alone can cleanse!
Duke Friedland, thou or 1–Into my own hands
Fortune delivers me—The dearest thing a man has is

himself.

(The curtain drops.)

ACT IV. Sce N E i. Scene—Butler's Chamber. Butler, MAjos, and GER Alpix.

but Left. Find me twelve strong Dragoons, arm them with pikes, For there must be no firing—— Conceal them somewhere near the banquet-room, And soon as the dessert is served up, rush all in And cry—Who is loyal to the Emperor? I will overturn the table—while you attack Illo and Tertsky, and dispatch them both. The castle-palace is well barr'd and guarded, That no intelligence of this proceeding May make its way to the Duke.—Go instantly; Have you yet sent for Captain Devereux And the Macdonald 2–– Gert Albion. They'll be here anon. [Exit Gesaloix. Butlett. Here's no room for delay. The citizens Declare for him, a dizzy drunken spirit Possesses the whole town. They see in the Duke A Prince of peace, a founder of new ages And golden times. Arms too have been given out By the town-council, and a hundred citizens Have volunteer'd themselves to stand on guard. Dispatch then be the word. For enemies Threaten us from without and from within.

burlen (to Deveaeux). Thou wretched man! So easily leavest thou thy oath and colours ? dev Erieux. The devil'—I but follow'd your example, If you could prove a villain, why not we? M.Actoow Ald. We've nought to do with thinking—that's your business. You are our General, and give out the orders; We follow you, though the track lead to hell. butler (appeased). Good then! we know each other. MA cooxAid. I should hope so. to Even Eix. Soldiers of fortune are we-who bids most, He has us. At Actionald. 'T is een so! BUti.ea. Well, for the present Ye must remain honest and faithful soldiers. Dew Eraeux. We wish no other. but lea. Aye, and make your fortunes. MACDow A Lid. That is still better. Butlett. Listen both. We attend. butlets. It is the Emperor's will and ordinance To seize the person of the Prince-Duke Friedland, Alive or dead. dEver EUx. It runs so in the letter. MacDow Ai.d. Alive or dead—these were the very words. duti. Ett. And he shall be rewarded from the State In land asyl gold, who proffers aid thereto. prover Eux. Ay! that sounds well. The words sound always well That travel hither from the Court. Yes! yes! We know already what Court-words import. A golden chain perhaps in sign of favour, Or an old charger, or a parchment patent, And such like.—The Prince-Duke pays better. Macdox A Lia. Yes, The Duke's a splendid paymaster. huti, Ep.

All over with that, my friends! His lucky stars are set. MAcdox Ald.

And is that certain }

butler. You have my word for it. prove to Etox. His lucky fortunes all past by ? putler.

For ever :

He is as poor as we.

MACDONALso, As poor as we? devealeux. Macdonald, we'll desert him. Butler. We'll desert him? Full twenty thousand have done that already; We must do more, my countrymen In short— We—we must kill him. both (starting back). Kill him BUT LEh. Yes! must kill him; And for that purpose have I chosen you. both. Us! butlen. You, Captain Devereux, and thee Macdonald. deveaeux (after a pause). Chuse you some other. Butlets. What? art dastardly? Thou, with full thirty lives to answer for— Thou conscientious of a sudden

Yes, by my soul! It is too bad. One has a conscience too— dev et Eux. If it were not our Chieftain, who so long Has issued the commands, and claim'd our duty. but left. Is that the objection? dEwerhou X. Were it my own father, And the Emperor's service should demand it of me, It might be done perhaps—But we are soldiers, And to assassinate our Chief Commander, That is a sin, a foul abomination, From which no Monk or Confessor absolves us. But Left. I am your Pope, and give you absolution. Determine quickly! DevEReux. "T will not do. MACDONAL.D. T wont do Butler. Well, off then! and—send Pestalutz to me. DEVEREux (hesitates). The Pestalutz— o Macdox Ald. What may you want with him? BUTLER. If you reject it, we can find enough— devear. Ux. Nay, if he must fall, we may earn the bounty

As well as any other. What think you,
Brother Macdonald!
M.AcidoNALD.
Why, if he must fall,
And will fall, and it can't be otherwise,
One would not give place to this Pestalutz.
devereux (after some reflection).
when do you purpose he should fall?
BUTLER.
This night.
To-morrow will the Swedes be at our gates.
Dewetlelix.
You take upon you all the consequences!
BUTLER.
I take the whole upon me.
Dever, Eux.
And it is
the Emperor's will, his express absolute will?
For we have instances, that folks may like
The murder, and yet hang the murderer.
But Left.
The manifesto says—alive or dead.
Alive—"t is not possible—you seet it is not.
Dr.V. E. REux.
Well, dead then dead! But how can we come at him?
The town is fill'd with Tertsky's soldiery.
MACDo NAL.D.
Ay! and then Tertsky still remains, and illo-
Butleta.
with these you shall begin—you understand me?
dev K.R.EUx.
How? And must they too perish' -
BUTLER.
They the first.
MAcdonald.
Hear, Devereux! A bloody evening this.
to evereux.
Have you a man for that? Commission me—
Butlett.
'T is given in trust to Major Geraldin;
This is a carnival night, and there's a feast
Given at the castle—there we shall surprise them,
And hew them down. The Pestalutz, and Lesley
Have that commission—soon as that is finish’d—
devot, to El Y.
Hear, General It will be all one to you—
Harkye, let me exchange with Geraldin.
BUTLEa.
"Twill be the lesser danger with the Duke.
Dew ER EUX.
Danger! The devil! What do you think me, General?
'T is the Duke's eye, and not his sword, I fear.
But left.
What can his eye do to thee!
DEVEneux.
Death and hell!
Thou know'st that I'm no milk-sop, General!
But 'tis not eight days since the Duke did send me
Twenty gold pieces for this good warm coat
Which I have on! and then for him to see me
Standing before him with the pike, his murderer,
That eye of his looking upon this coat—
Why—why—the devil fetch me! I'm no milk-sop!
Butlett.
The Duke presented thee this good warm coat,
And thou, a needy wight, hast pangs of conscience

To run him through the body in return.
A coat that is far better and far warmer
Did the Emperor give to him, the Prince's mantle.
How doth he thank the Emperor? With revolt,
And treason.
DEvereux.
That is true. The devil take
Such thankers! I'll dispatch him.
but LeR.
And wouldst quiet
Thy conscience, thou hast nought to do but simply
Pull off the coat; so canst thou do the deed
With light heart and good spirits.
Devereux.
You are right.
That did not strike me. I'll pull off the coat—
So there's an end of it.
Macdon Ald.
Yes, but there's another
Point to be thought of.
but LEtt.
And what's that, Macdonald?
MA.cdow. ALD.
What avails sword or dagger against him?
He is not to be wounded—he is—
Butler (starting up).
What?
Macdo NALn.
Safe against shot, and stab and flash! Hard frozen,
Secured, and warranted by the black art!
His body is impenetrable, I tell you.
develti-ux.
In Inglestadt there was just such another:
His whole skin was the same as steel; at last
We were obliged to beat him down with gunstocks.
MAcdox Ald.
Hear what I'll do.
develarux.
Well?
Macdonald.
In the cloister here
There's a Dominican, my countryman.
I'll make him dip my sword and pike for me
In holy water, and say over them
One of his strongest blessings. That's probatum!
Nothing can stand 'gainst that.
Butlett.
So do, Macdonald!
But now go and select from out the regiment
Twenty or thirty able-bodied fellows,
And let them take the oaths to the Emperor.
Then when it strikes eleven, when the first rounds
Are pass'd, conduct them silently as may be
To the house—I will myself be not far off.
dever, Fux.
But how do we get through Hartschier and Gordon,
That stand on guard there in the inner chamber?
but Leia.
I have made myself acquainted with the place.
I lead you through a back-door that's defended
By one man only. Memy rank and office
Give access to the Duke at every hour.
I'll go before you—with one poniard-stroke
Cut Hartschier's windpipe, and make way for you.
develaruw.
And when we are there, by what means shall we gain