The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 40

_Illo._ Just in time to banquet The ill.u.s.trious company a.s.sembled here. 10

_Butler._ 'Tis all alive! a stirring scene here!

_Isolani._ Ay!

The very churches are all full of soldiers.

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. 15

_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 20 From many an old friend and acquaintance. Only Galas is wanting still, and Altringer.

_Butler._ Expect not Galas.

_Illo._ How so? Do you know----

_Isolani._ Max Piccolomini here?--O bring me to him. 25 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, 30 Beat up 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.

_Illo._ You'll see him yet ere evening. He conducts 35 The d.u.c.h.ess Friedland hither, and the Princess[601:1]

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!

So much the better! I had framed my mind 40 To hear of nought but warlike circ.u.mstance, 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. 45

_Illo (aside to Butler)._ And how came you to know That the Count Galas joins us not?

_Butler._ Because He importuned me to remain behind.

_Illo._ And you?--You hold out firmly?

n.o.ble Butler!

_Butler._ After the obligation which the Duke 50 Had laid so newly on me----

_Illo._ I had forgotten A pleasant duty--Major-General, I wish you joy!

_Isolani._ What, you mean, of his regiment?

I hear, too, that to make the gift still sweeter, 55 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 60 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. 65

_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! 70 The Emperor gives us nothing; from the Duke Comes all--whate'er we hope, whate'er we have.

_Isolani (to Illo)._ My n.o.ble brother! did I tell you how The Duke will satisfy my creditors?

Will be himself my banker for the future, 75 Make me once more a creditable man!-- And this is now the third time, think of that!

This kingly-minded man has rescued me From absolute ruin, and restored my honour.

_Illo._ O that his power but kept pace with his wishes! 80 Why, friend! he'd give the whole world to his soldiers.

But at Vienna, brother! here's the grievance!-- What politic schemes do they not lay to shorten His arm, and, where they can, to clip his pinions.

Then these new dainty requisitions! these, 85 Which this same Questenberg brings. .h.i.ther!--

_Butler._ Ay, These requisitions of the Emperor,-- I too have heard about them; but I hope The Duke will not draw back a single inch! 90

_Illo._ Not from his right most surely, unless first --From office!

_Butler._ Know you aught then? You alarm me.

_Isolani (at the same time with Butler, and in a hurrying voice)._ We should be ruined, every one of us!

_Illo._ No more!

Yonder I see our worthy friend[603:1] approaching With the Lieutenant-General, Piccolomini.

_Butler._ I fear we shall not go hence as we came. 95

FOOTNOTES:

[600:1] In 1800 the following table of _Dramatis Personae_ was prefixed to Act I of _The Piccolomini, or The First Part of Wallenstein_. In 1828, 1829, and 1834 this table was omitted.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

_WALLENSTEIN, Duke of Friedland, Generalissimo of the Imperial Forces in The Thirty-years' War._ _OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, Lieutenant-General._ _MAX PICCOLOMINI, his son, Colonel of a Regiment of Cuira.s.siers._ _COUNT TERTSKY, the Commander of several Regiments, and Brother-in-law of Wallenstein._ _ILLO, Field Marshal, Wallenstein's Confidant._ _ISOLANI, General of the Croats._ _BUTLER, an Irishman, Commander of a Regiment of Dragoons._ _TIEFENBACH_, } _DON MARADAS_, } _Generals under Wallenstein._ _GOETZ_, } _KOLATTO_, } _NEUMANN, Captain of Cavalry, Aide-de-Camp to Tertsky._ _The War Commissioner, VON QUESTENBERG, Imperial Envoy._ _GENERAL WRANGEL, Swedish Envoy._ _BAPTISTA SENI, Astrologer._ _d.u.c.h.eSS OF FRIEDLAND, Wife of Wallenstein._ _THEKLA, her Daughter, Princess of Friedland._ _The COUNTESS TERTSKY, Sister of the d.u.c.h.ess._ _A CORNET._ _Several COLONELS and GENERALS._ _PAGES and ATTENDANTS belonging to Wallenstein._ _ATTENDANTS and HOBoISTS belonging to Tertsky._ _The MASTER OF THE CELLAR to Count Tertsky._ _VALET DE CHAMBRE of Count Piccolomini._

[600:2] A town about 12 German miles NE. of Ulm.

[601:1] The Dukes in Germany being always reigning powers, their sons and daughters are ent.i.tled Princes and Princesses. _1800_, _1828_, _1829_.

[603:1] _Spoken with a sneer._ _1800_, _1828_, _1829_.

LINENOTES:

[1] _are_ 1800.

[After 12] [_Casts his eye round._ 1817, 1828, 1829.

[24] _Illo (hesitating)._ How so? 1817, 1828, 1829. _you_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 25] _Isolani (interrupting him)._ 1817, 1828, 1829.

[45] _Illo (who has been standing in the att.i.tude of meditation, to Butler, whom he leads a little on one side)._ And how, &c. 1817, 1828, 1829.

[48] _me_ 1800, 1828, 1829.