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

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СКАЧАТЬ Does it not prove, that they would bind us down

       To nothing good?

      Max. That counterfeited paper 150

       Appears to me no other than a trick

       Of Illo’s own device. These underhand

       Traders in great men’s interests ever use

       To urge and hurry all things to the extreme.

       They see the Duke at variance with the court, 155

       And fondly think to serve him, when they widen

       The breach irreparably. Trust me, father,

       The Duke knows nothing of all this.

      Octavio. It grieves me

       That I must dash to earth, that I must shatter

       A faith so specious; but I may not spare thee! 160

       For this is not a time for tenderness.

       Thou must take measures, speedy ones — must act.

       I therefore will confess to thee, that all

       Which I’ve entrusted to thee now — that all

       Which seems to thee so unbelievable, 165

       That — yes, I will tell thee — Max! I had it all

       From his own mouth — from the Duke’s mouth I had it.

      Max. No! — no! — never!

      Octavio. Himself confided to me

       What I, ‘tis true, had long before discovered

       By other means — himself confided to me, 170

       That ‘twas his settled plan to join the Swedes;

       And, at the head of the united armies,

       Compel the Emperor —

      Max. He is passionate.

       The Court has stung him — he is sore all over

       With injuries and affronts; and in a moment 175

       Of irritation, what if he, for once,

       Forgot himself? He’s an impetuous man.

      Octavio. Nay, in cold blood he did confess this to me:

       And having construed my astonishment

       Into a scruple of his power, he shewed me 180

       His written evidences — shewed me letters,

       Both from the Saxon and the Swede, that gave

       Promise of aidance, and defin’d the amount.

      Max. It cannot be! — can not be! can not be!

       Dost thou not see, it cannot! 185

       Thou wouldest of necessity have shewn him

       Such horror, such deep loathing — that or he

       Had taken thee for his better genius, or

       Thou stood’st not now a living man before me —

      Octavio. I have laid open my objections to him, 190

       Dissuaded him with pressing earnestness;

       But my abhorrence, the full sentiment

       Of my whole heart — that I have still kept sacred

       To my own consciousness.

      Max. And thou hast been

       So treacherous? That looks not like my father! 195

       I trusted not thy words, when thou didst tell me

       Evil of him; much less can I now do it,

       That thou calumniatest thy own self.

      Octavio. I did not thrust myself into his secrecy.

      Max. Uprightness merited his confidence. 200

      Octavio. He was no longer worthy of sincerity.

      Max. Dissimulation, sure, was still less worthy

       Of thee, Octavio!

      Octavio. Gave I him a cause

       To entertain a scruple of my honour?

      Max. That he did not, evinced his confidence. 205

      Octavio. Dear son, it is not always possible

       Still to preserve that infant purity

       Which the voice teaches in our inmost heart.

       Still in alarm, for ever on the watch

       Against the wiles of wicked men, e’en Virtue 210

       Will sometimes bear away her outward robes

       Soiled in the wrestle with Iniquity.

       This is the curse of every evil deed,

       That, propagating still, it brings forth evil.

       I do not cheat my better soul with sophisms: 215

       I but perform my orders; the Emperor

       Prescribes my conduct to me. Dearest boy,

       Far better were it, doubtless, if we all

       Obeyed the heart at all times; but so doing,

       In this our present sojourn with bad men, 220

       We must abandon many an honest object.

       ‘Tis now our call to serve the Emperor,

       By what means he can best be served — the heart

       May whisper what it will — this is our call!

      Max. It seems a thing appointed, that to-day 225

       I should not comprehend, not understand thee.

       The Duke thou say’st did honestly pour out

       His heart to thee, but for an evil purpose;

       And thou dishonestly hast cheated him

       For a good purpose! Silence, I entreat thee — 230

       My friend thou stealest not from me —

       Let me not lose my father!

      Octavio. As СКАЧАТЬ