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

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СКАЧАТЬ Yet somewhat to disclose to thee. [After a pause.

       Duke Friedland

       Hath made his preparations. He relies 235

       Upon his stars. He deems us unprovided,

       And thinks to fall upon us by surprise.

       Yea, in his dream of hope, he grasps already

       The golden circle in his hand. He errs.

       We too have been in action — he but grasps 240

       His evil fate, most evil, most mysterious!

      Max. O nothing rash, my sire! By all that’s good

       Let me invoke thee — no precipitation!

      Octavio. With light tread stole he on his evil way,

       With light tread hath Vengeance stole on after him. 245

       Unseen she stands already, dark behind him —

       But one step more — he shudders in her grasp!

       Thou hast seen Questenberg with me. As yet

       Thou know’st but his ostensible commission;

       He brought with him a private one, my son! 250

       And that was for me only.

      Max. May I know it?

      Octavio (seizes the patent). Max! [A pause.

       —— In this disclosure place I in thy hands

       The Empire’s welfare and thy father’s life.

       Dear to thy inmost heart is Wallenstein:

       A powerful tie of love, of veneration, 255

       Hath knit thee to him from thy earliest youth.

       Thou nourishest the wish. — O let me still

       Anticipate thy loitering confidence!

       The hope thou nourishest to knit thyself

       Yet closer to him ——

      Max. Father ——

      Octavio. O my son! 260

       I trust thy heart undoubtingly. But am I

       Equally sure of thy collectedness?

       Wilt thou be able, with calm countenance,

       To enter this man’s presence, when that I

       Have trusted to thee his whole fate?

      Max. According 265

       As thou dost trust me, father, with his crime.

      [OCTAVIO takes a paper out of his escrutoire, and gives

       it to him.

      Max. What? how? a full Imperial patent!

      Octavio. Read it.

      Max (just glances on it). Duke Friedland sentenced and condemned!

      Octavio. Even so.

      Max (throws down the paper). O this is too much! O unhappy

       error! 270

      Octavio. Read on. Collect thyself.

      Max (after he has read further, with a look of affright and

       astonishment on his father). How! what! Thou! thou!

      Octavio. But for the present moment, till the King

       Of Hungary may safely join the army,

       Is the command assigned to me.

      Max. And think’st thou,

       Dost thou believe, that thou wilt tear it from him? 275

       O never hope it! — Father! father! father!

       An inauspicious office is enjoined thee.

       This paper here — this! and wilt thou enforce it?

       The mighty in the middle of his host,

       Surrounded by his thousands, him would’st thou 280

       Disarm — degrade! Thou art lost, both thou and all of us.

      Octavio. What hazard I incur thereby, I know.

       In the great hand of God I stand. The Almighty

       Will cover with his shield the Imperial house,

       And shatter, in his wrath, the work of darkness. 285

       The Emperor hath true servants still; and even

       Here in the camp, there are enough brave men,

       Who for the good cause will fight gallantly.

       The faithful have been warned — the dangerous

       Are closely watched. I wait but the first step, 290

       And then immediately ——

      Max. What! on suspicion?

       Immediately?

      Octavio. The Emperor is no tyrant.

       The deed alone he’ll punish, not the wish.

       The Duke hath yet his destiny in his power.

       Let him but leave the treason uncompleted, 295

       He will be silently displaced from office,

       And make way to his Emperor’s royal son.

       An honourable exile to his castles

       Will be a benefaction to him rather

       Than punishment. But the first open step —— 300

      Max. What callest thou such a step? A wicked step

       Ne’er will he take; but thou mightest easily,

       Yea, thou hast done it, misinterpret him.

      Octavio. Nay, howsoever punishable were

       Duke Friedland’s purposes, yet still the steps 305

       Which he hath taken openly, permit

       A mild construction. It is my intention

       To leave this paper wholly uninforced

       Till some act is committed СКАЧАТЬ