ACT II.
Scene a small Chamber.
SCENE I.
Illo and Tertsky.
TERTSKY.
To manage with the generals at the banquet?
ILLO.
Wherein we to the Duke consign ourselves
Collectively, to be and to remain
His both with life and limb, and not to spare
The last drop of our blood for him, provided
So doing we infringe no oath or duty,
We may be under to the Emp'ror.—Mark!
This reservation we expressly make
In a particular clause, and save the conscience.
Now hear! This formula so fram'd and worded
Will be presented to them for perusal
Before the banquet. No one will find in it
Cause of offence or scruple. Hear now further!
After the feast, when now the vap'ring wine
Opens the heart, and shuts the eyes, we let
A counterfeited paper, in the which
This one particular clause has been left out,
Go round for signatures.
TERTSKY.
That they'll believe themselves bound by an oath,
Which we have trick'd them into by a juggle?
ILLO.
Beat their wings bare against the wires, and rave
Loud as they may against our treachery,
At court their signatures will be believ'd
Far more than their most holy affirmations.
Traitors they are, and must be; therefore wisely
Will make a virtue of necessity.
TERTSKY.
Be done, let only some decisive blow
Set us in motion.
ILLO.
How, or how far, we may thereby propel
The generals. 'Tis enough that we persuade
The Duke, that they are his—Let him but act
In his determin'd mood, as if he had them,
And he will have them. Where he plunges in,
He makes a whirlpool, and all stream down to it.
TERTSKY.
That many a time when I have thought myself
Close at his side, he's gone at once, and left me
Ignorant of the ground where I was standing.
He lends the enemy his ear, permits me
To write to them, to Arnheim; to Sesina
Himself comes forward blank and undisguis'd;
Talks with us by the hour about his plans,
And when I think I have him—off at once———
He has slipp'd from me, and appears as if
He had no scheme, but to retain his place.
ILLO.
His soul is occupied with nothing else,
Even in his sleep—They are his thoughts, his dreams———
That day by day he questions for this purpose
The motions of the planets———
TERTSKY.
This night, that is now coming, he with Seni
Shuts himself up in the astrological tower
To make joint observations—for I hear,
It is to be a night of weight and crisis,
And something great, and of long expectation,
Is to make its procession in the heaven.
ILLO.
In this next day or two must thrive and grow
More than it has for years. And let but only
Things first turn up auspicious here below———
Mark what I say—the right stars too will shew themselves.
Come, to the generals. All is in the glow,
And must be beaten while 'tis malleable.
TERTSKY.
And wait here for the Countess Tertsky. Know,
That we too are not idle. Break one string,
A second is in readiness.
ILLO.
I saw your Lady smile with such sly meaning.
What's in the wind?
TERTSKY.
[Exit Illo.