BUTLER.

’Twas pity, though!  A youth of such heroic
And gentle temperament!  The Duke himself,
’Twas easily seen, how near it went to his heart.

ILLO.

Hark ye, old friend!  That is the very point
That never pleased me in our General—­
He ever gave the preference to the Italians. 
Yea, at this very moment, by my soul! 
He’d gladly see us all dead ten times over,
Could he thereby recall his friend to life.

TERZKY.

Hush, hush!  Let the dead rest!  This evening’s business
Is, who can fairly drink the other down—­
Your regiment, Illo! gives the entertainment. 
Come! we will keep a merry carnival—­
The night for once be day, and ’mid full glasses
Will we expect the Swedish avant-garde.

ILLO.

Yes, let us be of good cheer for today,
For there’s hot work before us, friends!  This sword
Shall have no rest, till it be bathed to the hilt
In Austrian blood.

GORDON.

Shame, shame! what talk is this
My Lord Field-Marshal?  Wherefore foam you so
Against your Emperor?

BUTLER.

Hope not too much
From this first victory.  Bethink you, sirs! 
How rapidly the wheel of Fortune turns;
The Emperor still is formidably strong.

ILLO.

The Emperor has soldiers, no commander,
For this King Ferdinand of Hungary
Is but a tyro.  Gallas?  He’s no luck,
And was of old the ruiner of armies. 
And then this viper, this Octavio,
Is excellent at stabbing in the back,
But ne’er meets Friedland in the open field.

TERZKY.

Trust me, my friends, it cannot but succeed;
Fortune, we know, can ne’er forsake the Duke! 
And only under Wallenstein can Austria
Be conqueror.

ILLO.

The Duke will soon assemble
A mighty army:  all comes crowding, streaming
To banners, dedicate by destiny
To fame and prosperous fortune.  I behold
Old times come back again! he will become
Once more the mighty Lord which he has been. 
How will the fools, who’ve now deserted him,
Look then?  I can’t but laugh to think of them,
For lands will he present to all his friends,
And like a King and Emperor reward
True services; but we’ve the nearest claims.

[To GORDON.]

You will not be forgotten, Governor! 
He’ll take you from this nest, and bid you shine
In higher station:  your fidelity
Well merits it.

GORDON.

I am content already
And wish to climb no higher; where great height is,
The fall must needs be great.  “Great height, great depth.”

ILLO.

Here you have no more business, for tomorrow
The Swedes will take possession of the citadel. 
Come, Terzky, it is supper-time.  What think you? 
Nay, shall we have the town illuminated
In honor of the Swede?  And who refuses
To do it is a Spaniard and a traitor.