Illo. The sentries are saluting them: this signal Announces the arrival of the Duchess. Oct. (to Questenberg.) Then my son Max. too has return'd. 'Twas he Fetch'd and attended them from Carnthen hither. Iso. (to Illo). Shall we not go in company to greet them? Illo. Well, let us go.-Ho! Colonel Butler come. (To Octavio). You'll not forget, that yet ere noon we meet The noble Envoy at the General's palace. [Exeunt all but Questenberg and Octavio. SCENE III. QUESTENBERG and OCTAVIO. Ques. (with signs of aversion and astonishment). What have I not been forc'd to hear Octavio! What sentiments! what fierce, uncurb'd defiance! And where this spirit universal— Oct. Hm ! You are now acquainted with three-fourths of the army. Ques. Where must we seek then for a second host To have the custody of this? That Illo Thinks worse, I fear me, than he speaks. And then The evil spirit in him. Ques. (walking up and down in evident disquiet.) Friend, friend! O! this is worse, far worse, than we had suffer'd Ourselves to dream of at Vienna. There We saw it only with the courtier's eyes, Here is no Emperor more—the Duke is Emperor. This walk which you have ta'en me through the camp Strikes my hopes prostrate. Oct. Now you see yourself Of what a perilous kind the office is, Which you deliver to me from the Court. The least suspicion of the General Costs me my freedom and my life, and would But hasten his most desperate enterprise. Ques. Where was our reason sleeping when we trusted This madman with the sword, and plac'd such power Flatly refuse, t'obey, and what he can, he will. O! what a proclamation of our weakness! Oct. D'ye think, too, he has brought his wife and daughter Without a purpose hither? Here in camp! And at the very point of time, in which We're arming for the war? That he has taken These, the last pledges of his loyalty, Ques. How shall we hold footing Beneath this tempest, which collects itself And threats us from all quarters? Th' enemy Of th' empire on our borders, now already Yea, his own mouth discloses it. That I by lying arts, and complaisant Hypocrisy, have skulk'd into his graces; Or with the sustenance of smooth professions I found him in a sleep. When I had wak'd him, That far outstripp'd the worth of that small service. Since then his confidence has follow'd me With the same pace that mine has fled from him. Ques. You led your son into the secret? Oct. No! Ques. What? and not warn him either what bad hands His lot has plac'd him in? Oct. I must perforce Leave him in wardship to his innocence. Is foreign to its habits Ignorance Alone can keep alive the cheerful air, The unembarrass'd sense and light free spirit, Ques. (anxiously). My honour'd friend! most highly do I deem Of Colonel Piccolomini-yet-if— Reflect a little Oct. I must venture it, Hush There he comes! SCENE IV. MAX. PICCOLOMINI, OCTAVIO, PICCOLOMINI, QUESTENBERG. Max. Ha! there he is himself. Welcome my father! (He embraces his father. As he turns round, he observes Questenberg, and draws back with a cold and reserved air.) You are engag'd, I see. I'll not disturb you. Aught good to our head quarters. Nay, draw not Ques. (seizing his hand). Not on mine own account alone I seiz'd it, Octavio-Max. Piccolomini O saviour names, and full of happy omen! |