Iso. Subscribe as much as you like-but you must excuse me from reading it.

Ter. There is no need. It is the oath which you have already read. Only a few marks of your pen!

[ISOLANI hands over the paper to OCTAVIO respectfully. Ter. Nay, nay, first come first served. There is no precedence here.

[OCTAVIO runs over the paper with apparent indifference. TERTSKY watches him at some distance.

Goetz. [to TERTSKY.] Noble Count! with your permissionGood night.

Ter. Where's the hurry? Come, one other composing draught. [To the Servants.]-Ho!

Goetz. Excuse me-an't able.

Ter. A thimble-full!

Goctz. Excuse me.

Tief. [sits down.] Pardon me, nobles!-This standing does not agree with me.

Ter. Consult only your own convenience, General !

Tief. Clear at head, sound in stomach-only my legs won't carry me any longer.

Iso. [pointing at his corpulence.] Poor legs! how should they? Such an unmerciful load!

[OCTAVIO subscribes his name, and reaches over the paper to TERTSKY, who gives it to ISOLANI; and he goes to the table to sign his name.

Tief. 'Twas that war in Pomerania that first brought it on. Out in all weathers-ice and snow-no help for it.-I shall never get the better of it all the days of my life.

Goetz. Why, in simple verity, your Swede makes no nice inquiries about the season.

Ter. [observing ISOLANI, whose hand trembles excessively, so that he can scarce direct his pen.] Have you had that ugly complaint long, noble brother?-Dispatch it.

Iso. The sins of youth! I have already tried the Chalybeate waters. Well-I must bear it.

[TERTSKY gives the paper to MARADAS; he steps to the table

to subscribe.

Oct. [advancing to BUTLER.] You are not over fond of the orgies of Bacchus, Colonel! I have observed it. You would, I think, find yourself more to your liking in the uproar of a battle, than of a feast.

But. I must confess, 'tis not in my way.

Oct. [stepping nearer to him, friendlily.] Nor in mine either, I can assure you; and I am not a little glad, my much honoured Colonel Butler, that we agree so well in our opinions. A half dozen good friends at most, at a small round table, a glass of genuine Tokay, open hearts, and a rational conversation—that's my taste!

But. And mine too, when it can be had.

[The paper comes to TIEFENBACH, who glances over it at the same time with GOETZ and KOLATTO. MARADAS in the

mean time returns to OCTAVIO; all this takes place, the conversation with BUTLER proceeding uninterrupted. Oct. [introducing MARADAS to BUTLER.] Don Balthasar Maradas! likewise a man of our stamp, and long ago your admirer. [BUTLER bows.

Oct. [continuing.] You are a stranger here-'twas but yesterday you arrived-you are ignorant of the ways and means here. 'Tis a wretched place-I know, at our age, one loves to be snug and quiet-What if you moved your lodgings ?-Come, be my visitor. [BUTLER makes a low bow.] Nay, without compliment!-For a friend like you, I have still a corner remaining.

But. [coldly.] Your obliged humble servant, My Lord Lieutenant-General!

[The paper comes to BUTLER, who goes to the table to subscribe it. The front of the stage is vacant, so that both the

PICCOLOMINIS, each on the side where he had been from the commencement of the scene, remain alone.

Oct. [after having some time watched his son in silence, advances somewhat nearer to him.] You were long absent from us, friend! Max. I -urgent business detained me.

Oct. And, I observe, you are still absent !

Max. You know this crowd and bustle always makes me silent. Oct. May I be permitted to ask what business 'twas that detained you? Tertsky knows it without asking!

Max. What does Tertsky know?

Oct. He was the only one who did not miss you.

Iso. [who has been attending to them from some distance, steps up.] Well done, father! Rout out his baggage! Beat up his quarters! there is something there that should not be.

Ter. [with the paper.] Is there none wanting? Have the whole subscribed?

Oct. All.

Ter. [calling aloud.] Ho! Who subscribes ?

But. [to TERTSKY.] Count the names. There ought to be just thirty.

Ter. Here is a cross.

Tief. That's my mark.

Iso. He cannot write; but his cross is a good cross, and is honoured by Jews as well as Christians.

Oct. [presses on to MAX.] Come, General! Let us go. It is

late.

Ter. One Piccolomini only has signed.

Iso. [pointing to MAX.] Look! that is your man, that statue there, who has had neither eye, ear, nor tongue for us the whole evening.

[MAX. reteives the paper from TERTSKY, which he looks upon vacantly.

SCENE XIV. To these enter ILLO from the inner room. He has in his hand the golden service-cup, and is extremely distempered with drinking: GOETZ and BUTLER follow him, endeavouring to keep him back.

Illo. What do you want? Let me go.

Goetz and But. Drink no more, Illo! For heaven's sake, drink

no more.

Illo. [goes up to OCTAVIO and shakes him cordially by the hand, and then drinks.] Octavio! I bring this to you. Let all grudge be drowned in this friendly bowl! I know well enough, ye never loved me-Devil take me!—and I never loved you!-I am always even with people in that way!-Let what's past be past-that is, you understand-forgotten! I esteem you infinitely. [Embracing him repeatedly.] You have not a dearer friend on earth than I-but that you know. The fellow that cries rogue to you calls me villain -and I'll strangle him !—my dear friend!

Ter. [whispering to him.] Art in thy senses? For heaven's sake, Illo! think where you are!

Illo. [aloud.] What do you mean?-There are none but friends here, are there? [Looks round the whole circle with a jolly and triumphant air.] Not a sneaker among us, thank heaven!

Ter. [to BUTLER eagerly.] Take him off with you, force him off I entreat you, Butler !

But. [to ILLO.] Field Marshal! a word with you!

[Leads him to the side-board. Illo. A thousand for one; Fill-fill it once more up to the brim. To this gallant man's health!

Iso. [to MAX. who all the while has been staring on the paper with fixed but vacant eyes.] Slow and sure, my noble brother?-Hast parsed it all yet?-Some words yet to go through ?-Ha? Max. [waking up as from a dream.] What am I to do? Ter. [and at the same time ISOLANI.] Sign your name.

[OCTAVIO directs his eyes on him with intense anxiety. Max. [returns the paper.] Let it stay till to-morrow. It is business-to-day I am not sufficiently collected. Send it to me to

morrow.

Ter. Nay, collect yourself a little.

Iso. Awake, man! awake!-Come, thy signature, and have done with it! What? Thou art the youngest in the whole company, and wouldest be wiser than all of us together? Look there! hy father has signed-we have all signed.

Ter. [to OCTAVIO.] Use your influence. Instruct him.

Oct. My son is at the age of discretion.

Illo. [leaves the service-cup on the side-board.] What's the dispute? Ter. He declines subscribing the paper.

Max. I say, it may as well stay till to-morrow.

Illo. It cannot stay. We have all subscribed to it-and so must you. You must subscribe.

Max. Illo; good night!

Illo. No! You come not off so! The Duke shall learn who are his friends.

[All collect round ILLO and MAX.

Max. What my sentiments are towards the Duke the Duke knows, every one knows-what need of this wild stuff?

Illo. This is the thanks the Duke gets for his partiality to Italians and foreigners.-Us Bohemians he holds for little better than dullards-nothing pleases him but what's outlandish.

Ter. [in extreme embarrassment, to the Commanders, who at ILLO's words give a sudden start, as preparing to resent them.] It is the wine that speaks, and not his reason. Attend not to him, I entreat you.

Iso. [with a bitter laugh.] Wine invents nothing: it only tattles. Illo. He who is not with me, is against me. Your tender consciences! Unless they can slip out by a back-door, by a puny proviso-

Ter. [interrupting him.] He is stark mad-don't listen to him! Illo. [raising his voice to the highest pitch.] Unless they can slip out by a proviso. What of the proviso? The devil take this proviso !

Max. [has his attention roused and looks again into the paper.] What is there here then of such perilous import? You make me curious-I must look closer at it.

Ter. [in a low voice to ILLO.] What are you doing, Illo? You are ruining us.

Tief. [to KOLATTO.] Ay, ay! I observed, that before we sat down to supper, it was read differently.

Goetz. Why, I seemed to think so too.

Iso. What do I care for that? Where there stand other names, mine can stand too.

Tief. Before supper there was a certain proviso therein, or short clause concerning our duties to the Emperor.

But. [to one of the Commanders.] For shame, for shame! Bethink you. What is the main business here? The question now is, whether we shall keep our General, or let him retire. One must not take these things too nicely and over-scrupulously.

Iso. [to one of the Generals.] Did the Duke make any of these provisos when he gave you your regiment?

If there be am his man.

Ter. [to GOETZ.] Or when he gave you the office of army purveyancer, which brings you in yearly a thousand pistoles ! Illo. He is a rascal who makes us out to be rogues. any one that wants satisfaction, let him say so, Tief. Softly, softly! 'Twas but a word or two. Max. [having read the paper gives it back.] Till to-morrow, therefore!

Illo. [stammering with rage and fury, loses all command over himself, and presents the paper to MAX. with one hand, and his sword in the other.] Subscribe-Judas !

Iso. Out upon you, Illo!

Oct. Ter. But. [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 con fusion the curtain drops.