The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge - novelonlinefull.com
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_Butler._ Ay, and make your fortunes. 20
_Macdonald._ That is still better.
_Butler._ Listen!
_Both._ We attend.
_Butler._ It is the Emperor's will and ordinance To seize the person of the Prince-Duke Friedland, Alive or dead.
_Devereux._ It runs so in the letter.
_Macdonald._ Alive or dead--these were the very words. 25
_Butler._ And he shall be rewarded from the State In land and gold, who proffers aid thereto.
_Devereux._ Ay? That sounds well. The words sound always well That travel hither from the Court. Yes! yes!
We know already what Court-words import. 30 A golden chain perhaps in sign of favour, Or an old charger, or a parchment patent, And such like.--The Prince-duke pays better.
_Macdonald._ Yes, The Duke's a splendid paymaster.
_Butler._ All over With that, my friends! His lucky stars are set. 35
_Macdonald._ And is that certain?
_Butler._ You have my word for it.
_Devereux._ His lucky fortunes all past by?
_Butler._ For ever.
He is as poor as we.
_Macdonald._ As poor as we?
_Devereux._ Macdonald, we'll desert him.
_Butler._ We'll desert him?
Full twenty thousand have done that already; 40 We must do more, my countrymen! In short-- We--we must kill him.
_Both._ Kill him!
_Butler._ Yes! must kill him.
And for that purpose have I chosen you.
_Both._ Us!
_Butler._ You, Captain Devereux, and thee, Macdonald. 45
_Devereux (after a pause)._ Choose you some other.
_Butler._ What? art dastardly?
Thou, with full thirty lives to answer for-- Thou conscientious of a sudden?
_Devereux._ Nay, To a.s.sa.s.sinate our Lord and General--
_Macdonald._ To whom we've sworn a soldier's oath--
_Butler._ The oath 50 Is null, for Friedland is a traitor.
_Devereux._ No, no! It is too bad!
_Macdonald._ Yes, by my soul!
It is too bad. One has a conscience too--
_Devereux._ If it were not our chieftain, who so long Has issued the commands, and claim'd our duty. 55
_Butler._ Is that the objection?
_Devereux._ 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 a.s.sa.s.sinate our chief commander, That is a sin, a foul abomination, 60 From which no monk or confessor absolves us.
_Butler._ I am your Pope, and give you absolution.
Determine quickly!
_Devereux._ 'Twill not do!
_Macdonald._ 'Twon't do!
_Butler._ Well, off then! and--send Pestalutz to me.
_Devereux._ The Pestalutz--
_Macdonald._ What may you want with him? 65
_Butler._ If you reject it, we can find enough--
_Devereux._ Nay, if he must fall, we may earn the bounty As well as any other. What think you, Brother Macdonald?
_Macdonald._ Why if he must fall, And will fall, and it can't be otherwise, 70 One would not give place to this Pestalutz.
_Devereux._ When do you purpose he should fall?
_Butler._ This night.
To-morrow will the Swedes be at our gates.
_Devereux._ You take upon you all the consequences!
_Butler._ I take the whole upon me.
_Devereux._ And it is 75 The Emperor's will, his express absolute will?
