The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Illustrated Edition). Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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Because I know and have looked steadily
At that on which I have determined.
Illo. Say, 40
And speak roundly, what are we to deem you?
Butler. A friend! I give you here my hand! I’m yours
With all I have. Not only men, but money
Will the Duke want. —— Go, tell him, sirs!
I’ve earned and laid up somewhat in his service, 45
I lend it him; and is he my survivor,
It has been already long ago bequeathed him.
He is my heir. For me, I stand alone,
Here in the world; nought know I of the feeling
That binds the husband to a wife and children. 50
My name dies with me, my existence ends.
Illo. ‘Tis not your money that he needs — a heart
Like yours weighs tons of gold down, weighs down millions!
Butler. I came a simple soldier’s boy from Ireland
To Prague — and with a master, whom I buried. 55
From lowest stable-duty I climbed up,
Such was the fate of war, to this high rank,
The plaything of a whimsical good fortune.
And Wallenstein too is a child of luck,
I love a fortune that is like my own. 60
Illo. All powerful souls have kindred with each other.
Butler. This is an awful moment! to the brave,
To the determined, an auspicious moment.
The Prince of Weimar arms, upon the Maine
To found a mighty dukedom. He of Halberstadt, 65
That Mansfeld, wanted but a longer life
To have marked out with his good sword a lordship
That should reward his courage. Who of these
Equals our Friedland? there is nothing, nothing
So high, but he may set the ladder to it! 70
Tertsky. That’s spoken like a man!
Butler. Do you secure the Spaniard and Italian —
I’ll be your warrant for the Scotchman Lesly.
Come! to the company!
Tertsky. Where is the master of the cellar? Ho! 75
Let the best wines come up. Ho! cheerly, boy!
Luck comes to-day, so give her hearty welcome.
[Exeunt, each to his table.
[After 3] [with an air of mystery 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE XII
The Master of the Cellar advancing with NEUMANN, Servants passing
backwards and forwards.
Master of the Cellar. The best wine! O! if my old mistress,
his lady mother, could but see these wild goings on, she
would turn herself round in her grave. Yes, yes, sir officer!
‘tis all down the hill with this noble house! no end, no
moderation! And this marriage with the Duke’s sister, a 5
splendid connection, a very splendid connection! but I tell you,
sir officer, it bodes no good.
Neumann. Heaven forbid! Why, at this very moment the
whole prospect is in bud and blossom!
Master of the Cellar. You think so? — Well, well! much 10
may be said on that head.
First Servant (comes). Burgundy for the fourth table.
Master of the Cellar. Now, sir lieutenant, if this isn’t the
seventieth flask ——
First Servant. Why, the reason is, that German lord, 15
Tiefenbach, sits at that table.
Master of the Cellar (continuing his discourse to Neumann).
They are soaring too high. They would rival kings and
electors in their pomp and splendour; and wherever the
Duke leaps, not a minute does my gracious master, the
Count, loiter on the brink —— (To the Servants) — What do 20
you stand there listening for? I will let you know you have
legs presently. Off! see to the tables, see to the flasks!
Look there! Count Palfi has an empty glass before him!
Runner (comes). The great service-cup is wanted, sir; that
rich gold cup with the Bohemian arms on it. The Count 25
says you know which it is.
Master of the Cellar. Ay! that was made for Frederick’s
coronation by the artist William — there was not such
another prize in the whole booty at Prague.
Runner. The same! — a health is to go round in him. 30
Master of the Cellar. This will be something for the
tale-bearers — this goes to Vienna.
Neumann. Permit me to look at it. — Well, this is a cup
indeed! How heavy! as well it may be, being all
gold. — And what neat things are embossed on it! how natural 35
and elegant they look! There, on that first quarter, let me
see. That proud Amazon there on horseback, she that is
taking a leap over the crosier and mitres, and carries on a
wand a hat together with a banner, on which there’s
a goblet represented. Can you tell me what all this signifies? 40
Master of the Cellar. The woman whom you see there on
horseback, is the Free Election of the Bohemian Crown.
That is signified by the round hat, and by that fiery steed
on which she is riding. The hat is the pride of man; for
he who cannot keep his hat on before kings and emperors 45
is no free man.
Neumann. But what is the cup there on the banner?
Master of the Cellar. The cup signifies the freedom of the
Bohemian Church, as it was in our forefathers’ times. Our
forefathers in the wars of the Hussites forced from the Pope 50
this noble privilege: for the Pope, you know, will not grant
the cup to any layman. Your true Moravian values nothing
beyond the cup; it is his costly jewel, and has cost the
Bohemians their precious blood in many and many a battle.
Neumann. And what says that chart that hangs in the air 55
there, over it all?
Master of the Cellar. That signifies the Bohemian letter
royal, which we