How, when, and where, could no one tell me.
I half believe it was the divil himself;

A human creature could not so at once
Have vanish'd.

Illo. (enters)

Octavio?

Ter.

Nay,

Is it true that thou wilt send

How, Octavio! Whither send him?

Wal. He goes to Frauenberg, and will lead hither The Spanish and Italian regiments.

Illo.

Nay, Heaven forbid !

Wal.

No!

And why should Heaven forbid ?

Illo. Him!-that deceiver! Would'st thou trust to

him

The soldiery? Him wilt thou let slip from thee,

Now, in the very instant that decides us

Ter. Thou wilt not do this!-No! I pray thee, no!
Wal. Ye are whimsical.

Illo.

O but for this time, Duke,

Yield to our warning! Let him not depart.

Wal. And why should I not trust him only this time, Who have always trusted him? What, then, has happen'd That I should lose my good opinion of him? In complaisance to your whims, not my own, I must, forsooth, give up a rooted judgment. Think not I am a woman. Having trusted him E'en 'till to-day, to-day too will I trust him.

Ter. Must it be he-he only? Send another. Wal. It must be he, whom I myself have chosen ; He is well fitted for the business. Therefore

I gave it him.

Illo.

Because he's an Italian

Therefore is he well fitted for the business.

Wal. I know you love them not-nor sire nor son

Because that I esteem them, love them-visibly
Esteem them, love them more than you and others,
E'en as they merit. Therefore are they eye-blights,
Thorns in your foot-path. But your jealousies,
In what affect they me or my concerns?

Are they the worse to me because you hate them?
Love or hate one another as you will,

I leave to each man his own moods and likings;
Yet know the worth of each of you to me.

Illo. Von Questenberg, while he was here, was always Lurking about with this Octavio.

Wal. It happen'd with my knowledge and permission.

Illo. I know that secret messengers came to him

My faith for me-my faith, which founds itself

On the profoundest science. If 'tis false,
Then the whole science of the stars is false.
For know, I have a pledge from fate itself,

That he is the most faithful of my friends.

Illo. Hast thou a pledge, that this pledge is not false?

Wal. There exist moments in the life of man,

When he is nearer the great Soul of the world
Than is man's custom, and possesses freely

The power of questioning his destiny:
And such a moment 'twas, when in the night
Before the action in the plains of Lützen,

Leaning against a tree, thoughts crowding thoughts,

I look'd out far upon the ominous plain.

My whole life, past and future, in this moment
Before my mind's eye glided in procession,

And to the destiny of the next morning
The spirit, fill'd with anxious presentiment,
Did knit the most remov'd futurity.

Then said I also to myself,

So many

Dost thou command. They follow all thy stars, And as on some great number set their all Upon thy single head, and only man

The vessel of thy fortune. Yet a day

Will come, when Destiny shall once more scatter
All these in many a several direction :

Few be they who will stand out faithful to thee.'
I yearn'd to know which one was faithfullest
Of all, this camp include. Great Destiny,
Give me a sign! And he shall be the man,
Who, on th' approaching morning, comes the first
To meet me with some token of his love:
And thinking this, I fell into a slumber.
Then midmost in the battle was I led

In spirit. Great the pressure and the tumult!
Then was my horse kill'd under me: I sank;
And over me away, all unconcernedly,

Drove horse and rider-and thus trod to pieces
I lay, and panted like a dying man.
Then seiz'd me suddenly a såviour arm.

It was Octavio's-I awoke at once.

'Twas broad day, and Octavio stood before me.
'My brother,' said he, do not ride to-day
The dapple, as you're wont; but mount the horse
Which I have chosen for thee. Do it, brother!
In love to me. A strong dream warn'd me so.'
It was the swiftness of this horse that snatch'd me
From the hot pursuit of Bannier's dragoons.
My cousin rode the dapple on that day,
And never more saw I or horse or rider.

Illo. That was a chance.

Wal. (significantly) There's no such thing as chance. In brief, 'tis sign'd and seal'd that this Octavio Is my good angel-and now no word more.

(He is retiring.)

Ter. This is my comfort-Max. remains our hostage. Illo. And he shall never stir from here alive.

Wal. (stops, and turns himself round) Are ye not like the women, who, for ever

Only recur to their first word, altho'

One had been talking reason by the hour?
Know, that the human being's thoughts and deeds
Are not, like ocean billows, blindly mov'd.

The inner world, his microcosmus, is

The deep shaft, out of which they spring eternally,
They grow by certain laws, like the tree's fruit—
No juggling chance can metamorphose them.
Have I the human kernel first examin'd?
Then I know, too, the future will and action.

SCENE IV.

Scene-a chamber in Piccolomini's dwelling-house.

Octavio Piccolomini, Isolani, entering.

Iso. Here am I-Well! who comes yet of the others? Oct. (with an air of mystery) But, first, a word with you, Count Isolani.

Iso. (assuming the same air of mystery) Will it explode, ha? Is the Duke about

To make th' attempt? In me, friend, you may place
Full confidence.- Nay, put me to the proof.

Oct. That may happen.

Iso.

Noble brother, I am

Not one of those men who in words are valiant,

And when it comes to action skulk away.
The Duke has acted towards me as a friend.
God knows it is so; and I owe him all-

He may rely on my fidelity.

Oct. That will be seen hereafter.

Iso.

Be on your guard.

All think not as I think; and there are many
Who still hold with the Court-yes, and they say
That those stol'n signatures bind them to nothing.
Oct. I am rejoic'd to hear it.

Iso.

You rejoice!

Oct. That the Emperor has yet such gallant servants And loving friends.

Iso.

Nay, jeer not, I entreat you.

They are no such worthless fellows, I assure you.

Oct. I am assur'd already. God forbid

That I should jest!-In very serious earnest

I am rejoic'd to see an honest cause

So strong.

Iso.

The devil!-what!-why, what means this?

Are you not, then-For what, then, am I here?
Oct. That you may make full declaration, whether
You will be call'd the friend or enemy

Of th' Emperor.

Iso. (with an air of defiance) That declaration, friend, I'll make to him in whom a right is plac'd

To put that question to me.

Oct.

Whether, Count,

That right is mine, this paper may instruct you.