Dev. Have we not sworn fidelity to Friedland?

Macd. Have we not march'd to this place to protect him?

But. Protect a traitor, and his country's enemy!

Dev. Why, yes! in his name you administer'd

Our oath.

Macd.

And follow'd him yourself to Egra.

But. I did it the more surely to destroy him.

Dev. So, then!

Macd.

But. (to Devereux)

An alter'd case!

Thou wretched man!

So easily leav'st thou thy oath and colours?

Dev. The devil!-I but follow'd your example,

If you could prove a villain, why not we?

Macd. We've nought to do with thinking—that's your

business.

You are our General, and give out the orders;

We follow you, tho' the track lead to hell.

But. (appeased) Good then! we know each other.

Macd.

I should hope so.

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

But.

Well, for the present

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.

Macd. Alive or dead-these were the very words,
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.
Macd.
Yes,

The Duke's a splendid paymaster.

But.

All over

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

Macd. And is that certain ?

We must do more, my countrymen! In short

But. You, Captain Devereux, and the 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.

To assassinate our lord and general

Nay,

Macd. To whom we've sworn a soldier's oathBut.

Is null, for Friedland is a traitor.

Dev. No, no! It is too bad!
Macd.

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.

Macd.

"Twill not do!

'Twont do !

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

Dev. (hesitates) The Pestalutz

Macd.

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 bounty

As well as any other.

Brother Macdonald?

Macd.

What think you,

Why if he must fall,

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

One would not give place to this Pestalutz.

Dev. (after some reflection) 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 ?
For we have instances, that folks may like
The murder, and yet hang the murderer.

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

Dev. Well, dead then! dead! But how can we come at him?

The town is fill'd with Tertsky's soldiery.

Macd. Ay! and then Tertsky still remains, and IlloBut. With these we shall begin-you understand me? Dev. How? And must they too perish?

But.

They the first.

Macd. Hear, Devereux! A bloody evening this.

Dev. Have you a man for that? Commission me-
But. '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,
And hew them down. The Pestalutz, and Lesley,
Have that commission-soon as that is finish'd-

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

But. "Twill be the lesser danger with the Duke.

Dev. Danger! The devil! What do you think me, General?

'Tis the Duke's eye, and not his sword, I fear.

But. What can his eye do to thee?

Dev.

Death and hell!

Thou know'st that I'm no milk-sop, General!

But 'tis not eight days, since the Duke did send me

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!

But. 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.
How doth he thank the Emperor? With revolt,
And treason.

Dev.

That is true. The devil take

And would'st quiet

Such thankers! I'll despatch him.

But.

Thy conscience, thou hast nought to do but simply
Pull off the coat; so canst thou do the deed

With light heart and good spirits.