Part 209 (2/2)

Profaner of the altar and the hearth, Against thy emperor and fellow-citizens Thou meanest to wage the war. Friedland, beware-- The evil spirit of revenge impels thee-- Beware thou, that revenge destroy thee not!

SCENE II.

BUTLER and GORDON.

GORDON.

Is it you?

How my heart sinks! The duke a fugitive traitor!

His princely head attainted! Oh, my G.o.d!

Tell me, general, I implore thee, tell me In full, of all these sad events at Pilsen.

BUTLER.

You have received the letter which I sent you By a post-courier?

GORDON.

Yes: and in obedience to it Opened the stronghold to him without scruple, For an imperial letter orders me To follow your commands implicitly.

But yet forgive me! when even now I saw The duke himself, my scruples recommenced.

For truly, not like an attainted man, Into this town did Friedland make his entrance; His wonted majesty beamed from his brow, And calm, as in the days when all was right, Did he receive from me the accounts of office.

'Tis said, that fallen pride learns condescension.

But sparing and with dignity the duke Weighed every syllable of approbation, As masters praise a servant who has done His duty and no more.

BUTLER.

'Tis all precisely As I related in my letter. Friedland Has sold the army to the enemy, And pledged himself to give up Prague and Egra.

On this report the regiments all forsook him, The five excepted that belong to Terzky, And which have followed him, as thou hast seen.

The sentence of attainder is pa.s.sed on him, And every loyal subject is required To give him in to justice, dead or living.

GORDON.

A traitor to the emperor. Such a n.o.ble!

Of such high talents! What is human greatness?

I often said, this can't end happily.

His might, his greatness, and this obscure power Are but a covered pitfall. The human being May not be trusted to self-government.

The clear and written law, the deep-trod footmarks Of ancient custom, are all necessary To keep him in the road of faith and duty.

The authority intrusted to this man Was unexampled and unnatural, It placed him on a level with his emperor, Till the proud soul unlearned submission. Woe is me!

I mourn for him! for where he fell, I deem Might none stand firm. Alas! dear general, We in our lucky mediocrity Have ne'er experienced, cannot calculate, What dangerous wishes such a height may breed In the heart of such a man.

BUTLER.

Spare your laments Till he need sympathy; for at this present He is still mighty, and still formidable.

The Swedes advance to Egra by forced marches, And quickly will the junction be accomplished.

This must not be! The duke must never leave This stronghold on free footing; for I have Pledged life and honor here to hold him prisoner, And your a.s.sistance 'tis on which I calculate.

GORDON.

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