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THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
(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 dæmon, it is thou
That stnk'st us in perdition. Simple truth,
Sustainer of the world, had sav'd us all!
Father, I will not, I cannot excuse thee!
Wallenstein has deceiv'd me—O, most foully!
But thou hast acted not much better.
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 dæmon, it is thou
That stnk'st us in perdition. Simple truth,
Sustainer of the world, had sav'd us all!
Father, I will not, I cannot excuse thee!
Wallenstein has deceiv'd me—O, most foully!
But thou hast acted not much better.
OCTAVIO.
Son!
My son, ah! I forgive thy agony!
Son!
My son, ah! I forgive thy agony!
MAX. (rises, and contemplates his father with
looks of suspicion.)
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 sav'd? Thou risest by his fall.
Octavio, 'twill not please me.
looks of suspicion.)
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 sav'd? Thou risest by his fall.
Octavio, 'twill not please me.
OCTAVIO.
God in Heaven!
God in Heaven!
MAX.
O, woe is me! sure I have chang'd my nature.
O, woe is me! sure I have chang'd my nature.
How
