The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Illustrated Edition). Samuel Taylor Coleridge

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      Tertsky. Now for this evening’s business! How intend you

       To manage with the generals at the banquet?

      Illo. Attend! We frame a formal declaration,

       Wherein we to the Duke consign ourselves

       Collectively, to be and to remain 5

       His both with life and limb, and not to spare

       The last drop of our blood for him, provided

       So doing we infringe no oath nor duty,

       We may be under to the Emperor. — Mark!

       This reservation we expressly make 10

       In a particular clause, and save the conscience.

       Now hear! This formula so framed and worded

       Will be presented to them for perusal

       Before the banquet. No one will find in it

       Cause of offence or scruple. Hear now further! 15

       After the feast, when now the vap’ring wine

       Opens the heart, and shuts the eyes, we let

       A counterfeited paper, in the which

       This one particular clause has been left out,

       Go round for signatures.

      Tertsky. How? think you then 20

       That they’ll believe themselves bound by an oath,

       Which we had tricked them into by a juggle?

      Illo. We shall have caught and caged them! Let them then

       Beat their wings bare against the wires, and rave

       Loud as they may against our treachery, 25

       At court their signatures will be believed

       Far more than their most holy affirmations.

       Traitors they are, and must be; therefore wisely

       Will make a virtue of necessity.

      Tertsky. Well, well, it shall content me; let but something 30

       Be done, let only some decisive blow

       Set us in motion.

      Illo. Besides, ‘tis of subordinate importance

       How, or how far, we may thereby propel

       The generals. ‘Tis enough that we persuade 35

       The Duke, that they are his — Let him but act

       In his determined mood, as if he had them,

       And he will have them. Where he plunges in,

       He makes a whirlpool, and all stream down to it.

      Tertsky. His policy is such a labyrinth, 40

       That many a time when I have thought myself

       Close at his side, he’s gone at once, and left me

       Ignorant of the ground where I was standing.

       He lends the enemy his ear, permits me

       To write to them, to Arnheim; to Sesina 45

       Himself comes forward blank and undisguised;

       Talks with us by the hour about his plans,

       And when I think I have him — off at once ——

       He has slipped from me, and appears as if

       He had no scheme, but to retain his place. 50

      Illo. He give up his old plans! I’ll tell you, friend!

       His soul is occupied with nothing else,

       Even in his sleep — They are his thoughts, his dreams,

       That day by day he questions for this purpose

       The motions of the planets ——

      Tertsky. Ay! you know 55

       This night, that is now coming, he with Seni

       Shuts himself up in the astrological tower

       To make joint observations — for I hear,

       It is to be a night of weight and crisis;

       And something great, and of long expectation, 60

       Is to make its procession in the heaven.

      Illo. Come! be we bold and make dispatch. The work

       In this next day or two must thrive and grow

       More than it has for years. And let but only

       Things first turn up auspicious here below —— 65

       Mark what I say — the right stars too will shew themselves.

       Come, to the generals. All is in the glow,

       And must be beaten while ‘tis malleable.

      Tertsky. Do you go thither, Illo. I must stay

       And wait here for the Countess Tertsky. Know 70

       That we too are not idle. Break one string,

       A second is in readiness.

      Illo. Yes! Yes!

       I saw your Lady smile with such sly meaning.

       What’s in the wind?

      Tertsky. A secret. Hush! she comes. [Exit ILLO.

SCENE II

       Table of Contents

      The COUNTESS steps out from a Closet.

      COUNT and COUNTESS TERTSKY.

      Tertsky. Well — is she coming? — I can keep him back

       No longer.

      Countess. She will be there instantly.

       You only send him.

      Tertsky. I am not quite certain,

       I must confess it, Countess, whether or not

       We are earning the Duke’s thanks hereby. СКАЧАТЬ