WALLENSTEIN.
153
OCTAVIO. (turning to Butler.)
Was that my purpose, Butler, when we parted?
O God of Justice!
To thee I lift my hand! I am not guilty
Of this foul deed.
Was that my purpose, Butler, when we parted?
O God of Justice!
To thee I lift my hand! I am not guilty
Of this foul deed.
BUTLER.
Your hand is pure. You have
Avail'd yourself of mine.
Your hand is pure. You have
Avail'd yourself of mine.
OCTAVIO.
Merciless man!
Thus to abuse the orders of thy Lord—
And stain thy Emperor's holy name with murder,
With bloody, most accurs'd assassination?
Merciless man!
Thus to abuse the orders of thy Lord—
And stain thy Emperor's holy name with murder,
With bloody, most accurs'd assassination?
BUTLER. (calmly.)
I've but fulfill'd the Emperor's own sentence.
I've but fulfill'd the Emperor's own sentence.
OCTAVIO.
O curse of Kings,
Infusing a dread life into their words,
And linking to the sudden transcient thought
The unchangeable irrevocable deed.
Was there necessity for such an eager
Despatch? Could'st thou not grant the merciful
A time for mercy? Time is man's good Angel.
To leave no interval between the sentence,
And the fulfilment of it, doth beseem
God only, the immutable!
O curse of Kings,
Infusing a dread life into their words,
And linking to the sudden transcient thought
The unchangeable irrevocable deed.
Was there necessity for such an eager
Despatch? Could'st thou not grant the merciful
A time for mercy? Time is man's good Angel.
To leave no interval between the sentence,
And the fulfilment of it, doth beseem
God only, the immutable!
BUTLER.
For what
Rail you against me? What is my offence?
The Empire from a fearful enemy
For what
Rail you against me? What is my offence?
The Empire from a fearful enemy
Have
