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I was to treat concerning the army horses: And I was forced at last to quit the field,

The business unaccomplished.

wards

After

The Duke procured me in three days, what I

Could not obtain in thirty at Vienna. Questenberg. Yes, yes! your travelling bills soon found their way to

us :

Too well I know we have still accounts to settle.

Illo. War is a violent trade; one cannot always

Finish one's work by soft means; every
trifle

Must not be blackened into sacrilege. 110
If we should wait till you, in solemn

council,

With due deliberation had selected
The smallest out of four-and-twenty evils,
I'faith, we should wait long.-
'Dash! and through with it!'-That's
the better watch-word.

Then after come what may come.
man's nature

Questenberg. His cares and feelings all ranks share alike,

Nor will he offer one up to another. Isolani. And therefore thrusts he us into the deserts

As beasts of prey, that so he may pre

serve

His dear sheep fattening in his fields at home.

Questenberg (with a sneer). Count, this comparison you make, not I. Butler. Why, were we all the Court supposes us,

130

"Twere dangerous, sure, to give us
liberty.

Questenberg. You have taken liberty
-it was not given you.
And therefore it becomes an urgent duty
To rein it in with curbs.

Octavio (interposing and addressing

Questenberg). My noble friend, This is no more than a remembrancing That you are now in camp, and among warriors.

The soldier's boldness constitutes his
freedom.

Could he act daringly, unless he dared
Talk even so? One runs into the other.
The boldness of this worthy officer, 140
[pointing to Butler.
Which now has but mistaken in its
mark,
Preserved, when nought but boldness
could preserve it,

To the Emperor his capital city, Prague,
'Tis In a most formidable mutiny
Of the whole garrison.

To make the best of a bad thing once past.

A bitter and perplexed 'what shall I

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[Military music at a distance. Hah! here they come !

Illo. The sentries are saluting them : this signal

Announces the arrival of the Duchess. Octavio (to Questenberg). Then my son Max too has returned. 'Twas he Fetched and attended them from Carnthen hither. 150

Isolani (to Illo). Shall we not go in

company to greet them?

Illo. Well, let us go.-Ho! Colonel
Butler, come.

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All orders discontented-and the army, Just in the moment of our expectation Of aidance from it-lo! this very army Seduced, run wild, lost to all discipline, Loosened, and rent asunder from the

state

And from their sovereign, the blind

instrument

To hide my genuine feelings from him, yet

Ne'er have I duped him with base. counterfeits!

Questenberg. It is the visible ordinance of heaven.

Octavio. I know not what it is that so attracts

Of the most daring of mankind, a weapon And links him both to me and to my Of fearful power, which at his will he

wields !

Octavio. Nay, nay, friend! let us not despair too soon,

Men's words are ever bolder than their

deeds:

And many a resolute, who now appears Made up to all extremes, will, on a sudden

Find in his breast a heart he wot not of,

Let but a single honest man speak out The true name of his crime! Remember, too,

We stand not yet so wholly unprotected. Counts Altringer and Galas have maintained

Their little army faithful to its duty,
And daily it becomes more numerous. 70
Nor can he take us by surprize : you
know,

I hold him all-encompassed by my lis

teners.

Whate'er he does, is mine, even while

'tis doing

son.

Comrades and friends we always werelong habit,

Adventurous deeds performed in com

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No step so small, but instantly I hear it; Astounded; thereon fell upon my neck,
Yea, his own mouth discloses it.
And manifested to me an emotion
That far outstripped the worth of that
small service.

Questenberg. 'Tis quite Incomprehensible, that he detects not The foe so near !

Octavio. Beware, you do not think, That I by lying arts, and complaisant Hypocrisy, have skulked into his graces: Or with the sustenance of smooth professions Nourish his all-confiding friendship! No

80

Compelled alike by prudence, and that duty

Which we all owe our country, and our sovereign,

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His young and open soul-dissimulation Beaming protection, shine above her

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you. Octavio. How, Max? Look closer at this visitor;

Attention, Max, an old friend meritsReverence

Belongs of right to the envoy of your sovereign.

Max (drily). Von Questenberg !Welcome-if you bring with you Aught good to our head quarters.

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Their intellects intelligently.-Then Well for the whole, if there be found a man,

Questenberg (seizing his hand). Nay, Who makes himself what nature destined

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