Page:Wallenstein, a drama in 2 parts - Schiller (tr. Coleridge) (1800).djvu/52

SECOND SERVANT.

Poh! stuff and nonsense! that's what I call a
hum. A chamber is a chamber; what much can
the place signify in the affair?

SENI (with gravity).

My son, there's nothing insignificant,

Nothing! But yet in every earthly thing
First and most principal is place and time.

FIRST SERVANT (to the Second).

Say nothing to him, Nat. The Duke himself

must let him have his own will.

SENI (counts the chairs, half in a loud, half in
a low voice, till he comes to eleven, which he
repeats).

Eleven! an evil number! Set twelve chairs.

Twelve! twelve signs hath the zodiac: five and seven,
The holy numbers, include themselves in twelve.

SECOND SERVANT.

And what may you have to object against eleven?

I should like to know that now.

SENI.

Eleven is—transgression; eleven oversteps

The ten commandments.

SECOND SERVANT.

That's good! and why do you call five a holy number?

SENI.

Five is the soul of man: for even as man

Is