The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 45

[71] _may_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[73] BLESSING 1800, 1828, 1829.

[78] _him_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[106] _have_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[113] _we_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 123] _Octavio (attentive, with an appearance of uneasiness)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 158] _Questenberg (apparently much affected)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 161] _Max (turning round to him, quick and vehement)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[165] peace, _ye_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[172] _how_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[173] _whence_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

SCENE V

_QUESTENBERG, OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI._

_Questenberg._ Alas, alas! and stands it so?

What, friend! and do we let him go away In this delusion--let him go away?

Not call him back immediately, not open His eyes upon the spot?

_Octavio._ He has now opened mine, 5 And I see more than pleases me.

_Questenberg._ What is it?

_Octavio._ Curse on this journey!

_Questenberg._ But why so? What is it?

_Octavio._ Come, come along, friend! I must follow up The ominous track immediately. Mine eyes Are opened now, and I must use them. Come! 10

[_Draws QUESTENBERG on with him._

_Questenberg._ What now? Where go you then?

_Octavio._ To her herself.

_Questenberg._ To----

_Octavio._ To the Duke. Come, let us go--'Tis done, 'tis done, I see the net that is thrown over him.

O! he returns not to me as he went.

_Questenberg._ Nay, but explain yourself.

_Octavio._ And that I should not 15 Foresee it, not prevent this journey! Wherefore Did I keep it from him?--You were in the right.

I should have warned him! Now it is too late.

_Questenberg._ But what's too late? Bethink yourself, my friend, That you are talking absolute riddles to me. 20

_Octavio._ Come!--to the Duke's. 'Tis close upon the hour Which he appointed you for audience. Come!

A curse, a threefold curse, upon this journey!

[_He leads QUESTENBERG off._

LINENOTES:

[After 1] [_Then in pressing and impatient tones._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[5] _Octavio (recovering himself out of a deep study)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[11] _Where_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 12] _Octavio (interrupting him, and correcting himself)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[19] _what's_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 21] _Octavio (more collected)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

SCENE VI

_Changes to a s.p.a.cious chamber in the house of the Duke of Friedland._--Servants _employed in putting the tables and chairs in order. During this enters SENI, like an old Italian doctor, in black, and clothed somewhat fantastically. He carries a white staff, with which he marks out the quarters of the heaven._

_First Servant._ Come--to it, lads, to it! Make an end of it.

I hear the sentry call out, 'Stand to your arms!' They will be there in a minute.

_Second Servant._ Why were we not told before that the audience would be held here? Nothing prepared--no orders--no 5 instructions--

_Third Servant._ Ay, and why was the balcony-chamber countermanded, that with the great worked carpet?--there one can look about one.

_First Servant._ Nay, that you must ask the mathematician there. 10 He says it is an unlucky chamber.

_Second Servant._ Poh! stuff and nonsense! That's what I call a hum. A chamber is a chamber; what much can the place signify in the affair?

_Seni._ My son, there's nothing insignificant, 15 Nothing! But yet in every earthly thing First and most princ.i.p.al is place and time.

_First Servant (to the Second)._ Say nothing to him, Nat. The Duke himself must let him have his own will.

_Seni (counts the chairs, half in a loud, half in a low voice, till he comes to eleven, which he repeats)._ Eleven! an evil number!