FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30  
31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   >>   >|  
ISOLANI. My noble brother! Even now am I arrived; it has been else my duty---- OCTAVIO. And Colonel Butler--trust me, I rejoice Thus to renew acquaintance with a man Whose worth and services I know and honor. See, see, my friend! There might we place at once before our eyes The sum of war's whole trade and mystery-- [To QUESTENBERG, presenting BUTLER and ISOLANI at the same time to him. These two the total sum--strength and despatch. QUESTENBERG (to OCTAVIO). And lo! betwixt them both, experienced prudence! OCTAVIO (presenting QUESTENBERG to BUTLER and ISOLANI). The Chamberlain and War-Commissioner Questenberg. The bearer of the emperor's behests,-- The long-tried friend and patron of all soldiers, We honor in this noble visitor. [Universal silence. ILLO (moving towards QUESTENBERG). 'Tis not the first time, noble minister, You've shown our camp this honor. QUESTENBERG. Once before I stood beside these colors. ILLO. Perchance too you remember where that was; It was at Znaeim [4] in Moravia, where You did present yourself upon the part Of the emperor to supplicate our duke That he would straight assume the chief command. QUESTENBURG. To supplicate? Nay, bold general! So far extended neither my commission (At least to my own knowledge) nor my zeal. ILLO. Well, well, then--to compel him, if you choose, I can remember me right well, Count Tilly Had suffered total rout upon the Lech. Bavaria lay all open to the enemy, Whom there was nothing to delay from pressing Onwards into the very heart of Austria. At that time you and Werdenberg appeared Before our general, storming him with prayers, And menacing the emperor's displeasure, Unless he took compassion on this wretchedness. ISOLANI (steps up to them). Yes, yes, 'tis comprehensible enough, Wherefore with your commission of to-day, You were not all too willing to remember Your former one. QUESTENBERG. Why not, Count Isolani? No contradiction sure exists between them. It was the urgent business of that time To snatch Bavaria from her enemy's hand; And my commission of to-day instructs me To free her from her good friends and protectors. ILLO. A worthy office! After with our blood We have wrested this Bohemia from the Saxon, To be swept out of it is all our thanks, The sole reward of all our hard-won victories. QUESTENBERG. Unless that wretched land be doomed
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30  
31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

QUESTENBERG

 

ISOLANI

 

OCTAVIO

 

remember

 
commission
 

emperor

 

Unless

 

BUTLER

 

presenting

 

Bavaria


supplicate
 

general

 
friend
 
Austria
 

appeared

 

Werdenberg

 
Before
 

prayers

 
choose
 
displeasure

menacing

 

compel

 

storming

 

Onwards

 
suffered
 
pressing
 

office

 

wrested

 

worthy

 

instructs


friends

 
protectors
 

Bohemia

 

victories

 

wretched

 
doomed
 

reward

 

snatch

 
comprehensible
 

Wherefore


wretchedness

 

exists

 

urgent

 
business
 

contradiction

 

Isolani

 

compassion

 

present

 

mystery

 

experienced