THE PICCOLOMINI.

ACT I.

SCENE I.- An old Gothic Chamber in the Council-house at Pilsen, decorated with colours and other war insignia.

ILLO with BUTLER and ISOLANI.

Illo. YE have come late-but ye are come! The distance,

Count Isolan, excuses your delay.

Iso. Add this too, that we come not empty handed.

At Donauwert* it was reported to us,

A Swedish caravan was on its way

Transporting a rich cargo of provision,

Almost six hundred waggons.

This my Croats

Plunged down upon and seized, this weighty

prize!

We bring it hither

Illo.

Just in time to banquet

The illustrious company assembled here.
But. 'Tis all alive! a stirring scene here!

Iso.

The

very churches are all full of soldiers.

Ay!

* A town about twelve German miles northeast of Ulm.

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.

Illo. We have the Colonels here of thirty regi

ments.

You'll find Count Tertsky here, and Tiefenbach, Kolalto, Goetz, Maradas, Hinnersam,

The Piccolomini, both son and father

You'll meet with many an unexpected greeting From many an old friend and acquaintance. Only Gallas is wanting still, and Altringer.

But. Expect not Gallas.

Illo. [hesitating.] How so? Do you knowIso. [interrupting him.] Max Piccolomini here?-O bring me to him.

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 toward his father, then in extreme peril,
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 con-
ducts

The Duchess Friedland hither, and the Princess From Kärnthen. We expect them here at noon.

But. Both wife and daughter does the Duke call hither?

He crowds in visitants from all sides.

Hm!

Iso. So much the better! I had framed my mind To hear of nought but warlike circumstance, 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.

Illo. [who has been standing in the attitude of meditation, to BUTLER, whom he leads a little on one side.] And how came you to know That the Count Gallas joins us not?

But.

Because

He importuned me to remain behind.

Illo. [with warmth.] And you?—You hold out

firmly?

[Grasping his hand with affection.] Noble Butler!

But. After the obligation which the Duke Had laid so newly on me

Illo.

I had forgotten

A pleasant duty-MAJOR GENERAL,
I wish you joy!

Iso.

What, you mean, of his regiment? I hear, too, that to make the gift still sweeter, The Duke has given him the very same

In which he first saw service, and since then, Worked himself, step by step, through each pre

ferment,

From the ranks upwards. And verily, it gives A precedent of hope, a spur of action

To the whole corps, if once in their remembrance An old deserving soldier makes his way.

But. I am perplexed and doubtful, whether

or no

I dare accept this your congratulation.

The Emperor has not yet confirmed the appoint

ment.

Iso. 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!

The Emperor gives us nothing; from the Duke
Comes all-whate'er we hope, whate'er we have.
Iso. [to ILLO.] My noble brother! did I tell you
how

The Duke will satisfy my creditors?
Will be himself my banker for the future,
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!

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, Which this same Questenberg brings hither!— But.

These requisitions of the Emperor,

I too have heard about them; but I hope

Ay,

The Duke will not draw back a single inch! Illo. Not from his right most surely, unless first · From office!

But. [shocked and confused.] Know you aught then? You alarm me.

Iso. [at the same time with BUTLER, and in a hurried voice.] We should be ruined, every one of us!

Yonder I see our worthy friend* approaching
With the Lieutenant-General, Piccolomini.
But. [shaking his head significantly.] I fear we
shall not go hence as we came.

SCENE II.-Enter OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI and QUESTEN

BERG.

Oct. [still in the distance.] Ay, ay! more still!
Still more new visitors!

Acknowledge, friend! that never was a camp,
Which held at once so many heads of heroes.

Welcome, Count Isolani!

[Approaching nearer

* Spoken with a sneer.