SCENE VI

OCTAVIO and MAX PICCOLOMINI.

Octavio (advances to Max). I am going off, my son.

[Receiving no answer he takes his hand.

My son, farewell.

Max. Farewell.

Octavio. Thou wilt soon follow me?

Max. I follow thee? Thy way is crooked--it is not my way.

[OCTAVIO drops his hand, and starts back.

O, hadst thou been but simple and sincere, Ne'er had it come to this--all had stood otherwise. He had not done that foul and horrible deed, The virtuous had retained their influence o'er him: He had not fallen into the snares of villains. Wherefore so like a thief, and thief's accomplice Did'st creep behind him--lurking for thy prey? O, unblest falsehood! Mother of all evil! Thou misery-making demon, it is thou That sink'st us in perdition. Simple truth, Sustainer of the world, had saved us all! Father, I will not, I cannot excuse thee! Wallenstein has deceived me--O, most foully! But thou hast acted not much better.

Octavio. Son! My son, ah! I forgive thy agony!

Max. Was't possible? had'st thou the heart, my father, Had'st thou the heart to drive it to such lengths, With cold premeditated purpose? Thou-- Had'st thou the heart, to wish to see him guilty, Rather than saved? Thou risest by his fall. Octavio, 'twill not please me.

Octavio. God in Heaven!

Max. O, woe is me! sure I have changed my nature. How comes suspicion here--in the free soul? Hope, confidence, belief, are gone; for all Lied to me, all what I e'er loved or honoured. No! No! Not all! She--she yet lives for me, And she is true, and open as the Heavens! Deceit is every where, hypocrisy, Murder, and poisoning, treason, perjury: The single holy spot is now our love, The only unprofaned in human nature.

Octavio. Max!--we will go together. 'Twill be better.

Max. What? ere I've taken a last parting leave, The very last--no never!

Octavio. Spare thyself The pang of necessary separation. Come with me! Come, my son! [Attempts to take him with him.

Max. No! as sure as God lives, no!

Octavio. Come with me, I command thee! I, thy father.

Max. Command me what is human. I stay here.

Octavio. Max! in the Emperor's name I bid thee come.

Max. No Emperor has power to prescribe Laws to the heart; and would'st thou wish to rob me Of the sole blessing which my fate has left me, Her sympathy? Must then a cruel deed Be done with cruelty? The unalterable Shall I perform ignobly--steal away, With stealthy coward flight forsake her? No! She shall behold my suffering, my sore anguish, Hear the complaints of the disparted soul, And weep tears o'er me. Oh! the human race Have steely souls--but she is as an angel. From the black deadly madness of despair Will she redeem my soul, and in soft words Of comfort, plaining, loose this pang of death!

Octavio. Thou wilt not tear thyself away; thou canst not. O, come, my son! I bid thee save thy virtue.

Max. Squander not thou thy words in vain. The heart I follow, for I dare trust to it.

Octavio. Max! Max! if that most damnéd thing could be, If thou--my son--my own blood--(dare I think it?) Do sell thyself to him, the infamous, Do stamp this brand upon our noble house, Then shall the world behold the horrible deed, And in unnatural combat shall the steel Of the son trickle with the father's blood.

Max. O hadst thou always better thought of men, Thou hadst then acted better. Curst suspicion! Unholy miserable doubt! To him Nothing on earth remains unwrenched and firm, Who has no faith.

Octavio. And if I trust thy heart, Will it be always in thy power to follow it?

Max. The heart's voice thou hast not o'erpower'd--as little Will Wallenstein be able to o'erpower it.

Octavio. O, Max! I see thee never more again!

Max. Unworthy of thee wilt thou never see me.

Octavio. I go to Frauenberg--the Pappenheimers I leave thee here, the Lothrings too; Toskana And Tiefenbach remain here to protect thee. They love thee, and are faithful to their oath, And will far rather fall in gallant contest Than leave their rightful leader, and their honour.

Max. Rely on this, I either leave my life In the struggle, or conduct them out of Pilsen.

Octavio. Farewell, my son!

Max. Farewell!

Octavio. How? not one look Of filial love? No grasp of the hand at parting? It is a bloody war, to which we are going, And the event uncertain and in darkness. So used we not to part--it was not so! Is it then true? I have a son no longer?

[MAX falls into his arms, they hold each [other] for a long time in a speechless embrace, then go away at different sides.

The Curtain drops.