Chapter 86

_BUTLER, CAPTAIN DEVEREUX, and MACDONALD._

_Macdonald._ Here we are, General.

_Devereux._ What's to be the watchword?

_Butler._ Long live the Emperor!

_Both (recoiling)._ How?

_Butler._ Live the House of Austria!

_Devereux._ Have we not sworn fidelity to Friedland?

_Macdonald._ Have we not marched to this place to protect him?

_Butler._ Protect a traitor, and his country's enemy! 5

_Devereux._ Why, yes! in his name you administered Our oath.

_Macdonald._ And followed him yourself to Egra.

_Butler._ I did it the more surely to destroy him.

_Devereux._ So then!

_Macdonald._ An altered case!

_Butler (to Devereux)._ Thou wretched man! So easily leav'st thou thy oath and colours? 10

_Devereux._ The devil!--I but followed your example, If you could prove a villain, why not we?

_Macdonald._ We've nought to do with thinking--that's your business. You are our General, and give out the orders; We follow you, though the track lead to hell. 15

_Butler._ Good then! we know each other.

_Macdonald._ I should hope so.

_Devereux._ Soldiers of fortune are we--who bids most, He has us.

_Macdonald._ 'Tis e'en so!

_Butler._ Well, for the present Ye must remain honest and faithful soldiers.

_Devereux._ We wish no other.

_Butler._ Ay, and make your fortunes. 20

_Macdonald._ That is still better.

_Butler._ Listen!

_Both._ We attend.

_Butler._ It is the Emperor's will and ordinance To seize the person of the Prince-Duke Friedland, Alive or dead.

_Devereux._ It runs so in the letter.

_Macdonald._ Alive or dead--these were the very words. 25

_Butler._ And he shall be rewarded from the State In land and gold, who proffers aid thereto.

_Devereux._ Ay? That sounds well. The words sound always well That travel hither from the Court. Yes! yes! We know already what Court-words import. 30 A golden chain perhaps in sign of favour, Or an old charger, or a parchment patent, And such like.--The Prince-duke pays better.

_Macdonald._ Yes, The Duke's a splendid paymaster.

_Butler._ All over With that, my friends! His lucky stars are set. 35

_Macdonald._ And is that certain?

_Butler._ You have my word for it.

_Devereux._ His lucky fortunes all past by?

_Butler._ For ever. He is as poor as we.

_Macdonald._ As poor as we?

_Devereux._ Macdonald, we'll desert him.

_Butler._ We'll desert him? Full twenty thousand have done that already; 40 We must do more, my countrymen! In short-- We--we must kill him.

_Both._ Kill him!

_Butler._ Yes! must kill him. And for that purpose have I chosen you.

_Both._ Us!

_Butler._ You, Captain Devereux, and thee, Macdonald. 45

_Devereux (after a pause)._ Choose you some other.

_Butler._ What? art dastardly? Thou, with full thirty lives to answer for-- Thou conscientious of a sudden?

_Devereux._ Nay, To assassinate our Lord and General--

_Macdonald._ To whom we've sworn a soldier's oath--

_Butler._ The oath 50 Is null, for Friedland is a traitor.

_Devereux._ No, no! It is too bad!

_Macdonald._ Yes, by my soul! It is too bad. One has a conscience too--

_Devereux._ If it were not our chieftain, who so long Has issued the commands, and claim'd our duty. 55

_Butler._ Is that the objection?

_Devereux._ 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, 60 From which no monk or confessor absolves us.

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

_Devereux._ 'Twill not do!

_Macdonald._ 'Twon't do!

_Butler._ Well, off then! and--send Pestalutz to me.

_Devereux._ The Pestalutz--

_Macdonald._ What may you want with him? 65

_Butler._ If you reject it, we can find enough--

_Devereux._ Nay, if he must fall, we may earn the bounty As well as any other. What think you, Brother Macdonald?

_Macdonald._ Why if he must fall, And will fall, and it can't be otherwise, 70 One would not give place to this Pestalutz.

_Devereux._ When do you purpose he should fall?

_Butler._ This night. To-morrow will the Swedes be at our gates.

_Devereux._ You take upon you all the consequences!

_Butler._ I take the whole upon me.

_Devereux._ And it is 75 The Emperor's will, his express absolute will? For we have instances, that folks may like The murder, and yet hang the murderer.

_Butler._ The manifesto says--alive or dead. Alive--'tis not possible--you see it is not. 80

_Devereux._ Well, dead then! dead! But how can we come at him? The town is fill'd with Tertsky's soldiery.

_Macdonald._ Ay! and then Tertsky still remains, and Illo--

_Butler._ With these you shall begin--you understand me?

_Devereux._ How? And must they too perish?

_Butler._ They the first. 85

_Macdonald._ Hear, Devereux? A bloody evening this.

_Devereux._ Have you a man for that? Commission me--

_Butler._ 'Tis given in trust to Major Geraldin; This is a carnival night, and there's a feast Given at the castle--there we shall surprise them, 90 And hew them down. The Pestalutz and Lesley Have that commission--soon as that is finished--

_Devereux._ Hear, General! It will be all one to you. Hark'e! let me exchange with Geraldin.

_Butler._ 'Twill be the lesser danger with the Duke. 95

_Devereux._ Danger! The devil! What do you think me, General? 'Tis the Duke's eye, and not his sword, I fear.

_Butler._ What can his eye do to thee?

_Devereux._ Death and hell! Thou know'st that I'm no milk-sop, General! But 'tis not eight days since the Duke did send me 100 Twenty gold pieces for this good warm coat Which I have on! and then for him to see me Standing before him with the pike, his murderer, That eye of his looking upon this coat-- Why--why--the devil fetch me! I'm no milk-sop! 105

_Butler._ The Duke presented thee this good warm coat, And thou, a needy wight, hast pangs of conscience To run him through the body in return. A coat that is far better and far warmer Did the Emperor give to him, the Prince's mantle. 110 How doth he thank the Emperor? With revolt, And treason.

_Devereux._ That is true. The devil take Such thankers! I'll dispatch him.

_Butler._ And would'st quiet Thy conscience, thou hast nought to do but simply Pull off the coat; so canst thou do the deed 115 With light heart and good spirits.

_Devereux._ You are right. That did not strike me. I'll pull off the coat-- So there's an end of it.

_Macdonald._ Yes, but there's another Point to be thought of.

_Butler._ And what's that, Macdonald?

_Macdonald._ What avails sword or dagger against him? 120 He is not to be wounded--he is--

_Butler._ What?

_Macdonald._ Safe against shot, and stab and flash! Hard frozen, Secured, and warranted by the black art! His body is impenetrable, I tell you.

_Devereux._ In Inglestadt there was just such another-- 125 His whole skin was the same as steel; at last We were obliged to beat him down with gunstocks.

_Macdonald._ Hear what I'll do.

_Devereux._ Well?

_Macdonald._ In the cloister here There's a Dominican, my countryman. I'll make him dip my sword and pike for me 130 In holy water, and say over them One of his strongest blessings. That's probatum! Nothing can stand 'gainst that.

_Butler._ So do, Macdonald! But now go and select from out the regiment Twenty or thirty able-bodied fellows, 135 And let them take the oaths to the Emperor. Then when it strikes eleven, when the first rounds Are passed, conduct them silently as may be To the house--I will myself be not far off.

_Devereux._ But how do we get through Hartschier and Gordon, 140 That stand on guard there in the inner chamber?

_Butler._ I have made myself acquainted with the place. I lead you through a back-door that's defended By one man only. Me my rank and office Give access to the Duke at every hour. 145 I'll go before you--with one poniard-stroke Cut Hartschier's wind-pipe, and make way for you.

_Devereux._ And when we are there, by what means shall we gain The Duke's bed-chamber, without his alarming The servants of the Court; for he has here 150 A numerous company of followers?

_Butler._ The attendants fill the right wing; he hates bustle, And lodges in the left wing quite alone.

_Devereux._ Were it well over--hey, Macdonald? I Feel queerly on the occasion, devil knows! 155

_Macdonald._ And I too. 'Tis too great a personage. People will hold us for a brace of villains.

_Butler._ In plenty, honour, splendour--You may safely Laugh at the people's babble.

_Devereux._ If the business Squares with one's honour--if that be quite certain-- 160

_Butler._ Set your hearts quite at ease. Ye save for Ferdinand His Crown and Empire. The reward can be No small one.

_Devereux._ And 'tis his purpose to dethrone the Emperor?

_Butler._ Yes!--Yes!--to rob him of his crown and life. 165

_Devereux._ And he must fall by the executioner's hands, Should we deliver him up to the Emperor Alive?

_Butler._ It were his certain destiny.

_Devereux._ Well! Well! Come then, Macdonald, he shall not Lie long in pain. 170

[_Exeunt BUTLER through one door, MACDONALD and DEVEREUX through the other._

LINENOTES:

[13] _thinking_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 16] _Butler (appeased)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[28] _words_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[42] _Both (starting back)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[45] thee, Macdonald] the Macdonald 1800.

[65] _Devereux (hesitates)._ The Pestalutz-- 1800, 1828, 1829.

[69] _must_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[70] _will_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 72] _Devereux (after some reflection)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[120] _him_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[121] _Butler (starting up)._ What? 1800, 1828, 1829.

[122] flash] slash 1800, 1828, 1829.