The Piccolomini

[Casts his eye round.

And in the council-house, too, I observe,
You're settled quite at home! Well, well! we soldiers
Must shift and suit us in what way we can.

ILLO

We have the colonels here of thirty regiments.
You'll find Count Terzky here, and Tiefenbach,
Kolatto, Goetz, Maradas, Hinnersam,
The Piccolomini, both son and father —
You'll meet with many an unexpected greeting
From many an old friend and acquaintance. Only
Gallas is wanting still, and Altringer.

BUTLER

Expect not Gallas.

ILLO (hesitating)

How so? Do you know —

ISOLANI (interrupting him)

Max. Piccolomini here? O bring me to him.
I see him yet ('tis now ten years ago,
We were engaged with Mansfeldt hard by Dessau),
I see the youth, in my mind's eye I see him,
Leap his black war-horse from the bridge adown,
And t'ward his father, then in extreme peril,
Beat up against the strong tide of the Elbe.
The down was scarce upon his chin! I hear
He has made good the promise of his youth,
And the full hero now is finished in him.

ILLO

You'll see him yet ere evening. He conducts

The Duchess Friedland hither, and the princess[2 - The Dukes in Germany being always reigning powers, their sons and daughters are entitled princes and princesses.] From Caernthen[3 - Carinthia.]. We expect them here at noon.

BUTLER

Both wife and daughter does the duke call hither?
He crowds in visitants from all sides.

ISOLANI

Hm!
So much the better! I had framed my mind
To hear of naught but warlike circumstance,
Of marches and attacks, and batteries;
And lo! the duke provides, and something too
Of gentler sort and lovely, should be present
To feast our eyes.

ILLO (who has been standing in the attitude of meditation, to BUTLER,

whom he leads a little on one side)

And how came you to know
That the Count Gallas joins us not?

BUTLER

Because
He importuned me to remain behind.

ILLO (with warmth)

And you? You hold out firmly!

[Grasping his hand with affection.

Noble Butler!

BUTLER

After the obligation which the duke
Had laid so newly on me —

ILLO

I had forgotten
A pleasant duty – major-general,
I wish you joy!

ISOLANI

What, you mean, of this regiment?
I hear, too, that to make the gift still sweeter,
The duke has given him the very same
In which he first saw service, and since then
Worked himself step by step, through each preferment,
From the ranks upwards. And verily, it gives
A precedent of hope, a spur of action
To the whole corps, if once in their remembrance
An old deserving soldier makes his way.