142
THE DEATH OF
Spoken to me, as now it has done—Gordon,
It may be, I might have bethought myself.
It may be too, I might not.—Might, or might not,
Is now an idle question. All too seriously
Has it begun to end in nothing, Gordon!
Let it then have its course.
(stepping to the window.)
All dark and silent—at the castle too
All is now hush'd—Light me, Chamberlain!
(The groom of the chamber, who had entered during the last dialogue, and had been standing at a distance and listening to it with visible expressions of the deepest interest, advances in extreme agitation, and throws himself at the Duke's feet,)
And thou too! But I know why thou dost wish
My reconcilement with the Emperor.
Poor man! he hath a small estate in Cärnthen,
And fears it will be forfeited because
He's in my service. Am I then so poor,
That I no longer can indemnify
My servants? Well! To no one I employ
Means of compulsion. If 'tis thy belief
That fortune has fled from me, go! Forsake me.
This night for the last time mayst thou unrobe me,
And then go over to thy Emperor.
Gordon, good night! I think to make a long
Sleep of it for the struggle and the turmoil
Of this last day or two was great. May't please you!
It may be, I might have bethought myself.
It may be too, I might not.—Might, or might not,
Is now an idle question. All too seriously
Has it begun to end in nothing, Gordon!
Let it then have its course.
(stepping to the window.)
All dark and silent—at the castle too
All is now hush'd—Light me, Chamberlain!
(The groom of the chamber, who had entered during the last dialogue, and had been standing at a distance and listening to it with visible expressions of the deepest interest, advances in extreme agitation, and throws himself at the Duke's feet,)
And thou too! But I know why thou dost wish
My reconcilement with the Emperor.
Poor man! he hath a small estate in Cärnthen,
And fears it will be forfeited because
He's in my service. Am I then so poor,
That I no longer can indemnify
My servants? Well! To no one I employ
Means of compulsion. If 'tis thy belief
That fortune has fled from me, go! Forsake me.
This night for the last time mayst thou unrobe me,
And then go over to thy Emperor.
Gordon, good night! I think to make a long
Sleep of it for the struggle and the turmoil
Of this last day or two was great. May't please you!
Take
