ACT IV.

SCENE I.-Butler's Chamber.

Butler, Major, and Geraldin.

But. Find me twelve strong dragoons, arm them with pikes,

For there must be no firing ;

Conceal them somewhere near the banquet-room,
And soon as the dessert is served up, rush all in
And cry-Who is loyal to the Emperor?
I will overturn the table-while you attack
Illo and Tertsky, and dispatch them both.
The castle-palace is well barred and guarded,
That no intelligence of this proceeding

May make its way to the Duke.-Go instantly;
Have
you yet sent for Captain Devereux

And the Macdonald?

Ger.

They'll be here anon.
[Exit Geraldin.

But. Here's no room for delay. The citizens Declare for him, a dizzy drunken spirit Possesses the whole town. They see in the Duke A Prince of peace, a founder of new ages And golden times. Arms too have been given out By the town-council, and a hundred citizens Have volunteered themselves to stand on guard. Dispatch then be the word. For enemies Threaten us from without and from within.

SCENE II.

Butler, Captain Devereux, and Macdonald.

Mac. Here we are, General.

Dev.

What's to be the watchword?

But. Long live the Emperor !
Both. (recoiling.) How?

But.

Live the house of Austria !

Dev. Have we not sworn fidelity to Friedland? Mac. Have we not marched to this place to protect him?

But. Protect a traitor, and his country's enemy! Dev. Why, yes! in his name you administered Our oath.

Mac. And followed him yourself to Egra. But. I did it the more surely to destroy him. Dev. So then !

But. (to Devereux.) Thou wretched man! So easily leav'st thou thy oath and colours? Dev. The devil!-I but followed your example, you could prove a villain, why not we? Mac. We've nought to do with thinking—that's your business.

If

You are our General, and give out the orders!
We follow you, though the track lead to hell.
But. Good, then! we know each other.
I should hope so.

Mac.

Dev. Soldiers of fortune are we-who bids

Ye must remain honest and faithful soldiers ;

Dev. We wish no other.

But. It is the Emperor's will and ordinance

To seize the person of the Prince-Duke Friedland ̧ Alive or dead.

Dev.

It runs so in the letter.

words.

Mac. Alive or dead-these were the very
But. And he shall be rewarded from the State

In land and gold, who proffers aid thereto.

Dev. Ay? That sounds well. The words sound
always well

That travel hither from the Court. Yes! yes!
We know already what Court-words import.

A golden chain perhaps in sign of favour,
Or an old charger, or a parchment patent,
And such like.-The Prince-duke pays better.
Mac.

The Duke's a splendid paymaster.

But.

All over

Yes,

With that, my friends! His lucky stars are set.

Mac. And is that certain?

But. You have my word for it.

Dev. His lucky fortunes all past by?

Full twenty thousand have done that already; We must do more, my countrymen! In shortWe-we must kill him.

But. You, Captain Devereux, and thee, Macdonald.

Dev. (after a pause.) Choose you some other. But.

What? art dastardly?

Thou, with full thirty lives to answer for-
Thou conscientious of a sudden?

Dev.

Nay,

To assassinate our Lord and General

Mac. To whom we've sworn a soldier's oath

But.

Is null, for Friedland is a traitor.

Dev. No, no! It is too bad!

Mac.

The oath

Yes, by my soul !

It is too bad. One has a conscience too--

Dev. If it were not our chieftain, who so long Has issued the commands, and claim'd our duty,

But. Is that the objection?

Dev.

Were it my own father,

And the Emperor's service should demand it of me, It might be done perhaps---But we are soldiers, And to assassinate our chief commander,

That is a sin, a foul abomination,

From which no monk or confessor absolves us.

But. I am your Pope, and give you absolution. Determine quickly!

Dev.

Mac.

'Twill not do!

'Twont do.

But. Well, off, then! and---send Pestalutz to

me.

Dev. The Pestalutz

Mac.

What may you want with him?

But. If you reject it, we can find enough— Dev. Nay, if he must fall, we may earn the

And will fall, and it can't be otherwise,

One would not give place to this Pestalutz.

Dev. When do you purpose he should fall? But. This night;To-morrow will the Swedes be at our gates.

Dev. You take upon you all the consequences! But. I take the whole upon me.

Dev.

And it is

The Emperor's will, his express absolute will?--