The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Illustrated Edition). Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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Isolani. Out upon you, Illo! 85
Octavio, Tertsky, Butler (all together). Down with the sword!
Max (rushes on him suddenly and disarms him, then to Count
Tertsky). Take him off to bed.
[MAX leaves the stage. ILLO cursing and raving is held
back by some of the Officers, and amidst a
universal confusion the curtain drops.
triumphant air) 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 16] Tertsky (to Butler, eagerly). 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 19] Illo (cordially). 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 23] Max (waking as from a dream). 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 24] [OCTAVIO directs his eyes on him with intense anxiety.
1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 49] Tertsky (in extreme embarrassment, to the, &c. 1800, 1828,
1829.
[Before 51] Isolani (with a bitter laugh). 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 55] Tertsky (interrupting him). 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 56] Illo (raising his voice to the highest pitch). 1800, 1828,
1829.
[Before 58] Max (has his attention roused, and looks again into the
paper). 1800, 1828, 1829.
ACT III
SCENE I
SCENE. — A Chamber in PICCOLOMINI’S Mansion. — Night.
OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI. A Valet de Chambre, with Lights.
Octavio. —— And when my son comes in, conduct him hither.
What is the hour?
Valet. ‘Tis on the point of morning.
Octavio. Set down the light. We mean not to undress.
You may retire to sleep.
[Exit Valet. OCTAVIO paces, musing, across the chamber;
MAX PICCOLOMINI enters unobserved, and looks at his
father for some moments in silence.
Max. Art thou offended with me? Heaven knows 5
That odious business was no fault of mine.
‘Tis true, indeed, I saw thy signature.
What thou hadst sanctioned, should not, it might seem,
Have come amiss to me. But—’tis my nature —
Thou know’st that in such matters I must follow 10
My own light, not another’s.
Octavio (embraces him). Follow it,
O follow it still further, my best son!
To-night, dear boy! it hath more faithfully
Guided thee than the example of thy father.
Max. Declare thyself less darkly.
Octavio. I will do so. 15
For after what has taken place this night,
There must remain no secrets ‘twixt us two.
[Both seat themselves.
Max Piccolomini! what thinkest thou of
The oath that was sent round for signatures?
Max. I hold it for a thing of harmless import, 20
Although I love not these set declarations.
Octavio. And on no other ground hast thou refused
The signature they fain had wrested from thee?
Max. It was a serious business —— I was absent —
The affair itself seemed not so urgent to me. 25
Octavio. Be open, Max. Thou hadst then no suspicion?
Max. Suspicion! what suspicion? Not the least.
Octavio. Thank thy good angel, Piccolomini:
He drew thee back unconscious from the abyss.
Max. I know not what thou meanest.
Octavio. I will tell thee. 30
Fain would they have extorted from thee, son,
The sanction of thy name to villainy;
Yea, with a single flourish of thy pen,
Made thee renounce thy duty and thy honour!
Max (rises). Octavio!
Octavio. Patience! Seat yourself. Much yet 35
Hast thou to hear from me, friend! — hast for years
Lived in incomprehensible illusion.
Before thine eyes is Treason drawing out
As black a web as e’er was spun for venom:
A power of hell o’erclouds thy understanding. 40
I dare no longer stand in silence — dare
No longer see thee wandering on in darkness,
Nor pluck the bandage from thine eyes.
Max. My father!
Yet, ere thou speak’st, a moment’s pause of thought!
If your disclosures should appear to be 45
Conjectures only — and almost I fear
They will be nothing further — spare them! I
Am not in that collected mood at present,
That I could listen to them quietly.
Octavio. The deeper cause thou hast to hate this light, 50
The more impatient cause have I, my son,
To force it on thee. To the innocence
And wisdom of thy heart I could have trusted thee
With calm assurance — but I see the net
Preparing — and it is thy heart itself 55
Alarms me for thine innocence — that secret,
Which thou concealest, forces mine from me.
Know, then, they are duping thee! — a most foul game
With thee and with us all — nay, hear me calmly —
The Duke even now is playing. He assumes 60
The mask, as if he would forsake the army;
And in this moment makes he preparations
That army from the Emperor to steal,
And carry it over to the enemy!
Max. That low Priest’s legend I know well, but did not 65
Expect to hear it from thy mouth.
Octavio. That mouth,
From which thou hearest it at this present moment,
Doth warrant thee that it is no Priest’s legend.
Max. How mere a maniac they supposed the Duke!
What, he can meditate? — the Duke? — can dream 70