[_The_ Cuirassiers _express agitation by their gestures_.]
Ye're moved--I see A noble rage flash from your eyes, ye warriors! Oh that my spirit might possess you now Daring as once it led you to the battle! Ye would stand by me with your veteran arms, Protect me in my rights; and this is noble! But think not that _you_ can accomplish it, Your scanty number! to no purpose will you Have sacrificed you for your General.
No! let us tread securely, seek for friends; The Swedes have proffer'd us assistance, let us Wear for a while the appearance of good will, And use them for your profit, till we both Carry the fate of Europe in our hands, And from our camp to the glad jubilant world Lead Peace forth with the garland on her head!
'Tis then but mere appearances which thou Dost put on with the Swede! Thou'lt not betray The Emperor? Wilt not turn us into Swedes? This is the only thing which we desire To learn from thee.
What care I for the Swedes? I hate them as I hate the pit of hell, And under Providence I trust right soon To chase them to their homes across their Baltic. My cares are only for the whole: I have A heart--it bleeds within me for the miseries And piteous groaning of my fellow Germans. Ye are but common men, but yet ye think With minds not common; ye appear to me Worthy before all others that I whisper ye A little word or two in confidence! See now! already for full fifteen years, The war-torch has continued burning, yet No rest, no pause of conflict. Swede and German, Papist and Lutheran! neither will give way To the other, every hand's against the other. Each one is party and no one a judge. Where shall this end? Where's he that will unravel This tangle, ever tangling more and more; It must be cut asunder; I feel that I am the man of destiny, And trust, with your assistance, to accomplish it.
It must needs injure us with all honest men.
It is an open proclamation Of insurrection.
Count Terzky's regiments tear the Imperial Eagle From off the banners, and instead of it Have rear'd aloft their arms.
ANSPESSADE (_abruptly to the_ Cuirassiers).
Cursed be this counsel, and accursed who gave it!
[_To the_ Cuirassiers, _who are retiring_.]
Halt, children, halt! There's some mistake in this; Hark!--I will punish it severely. Stop! They do not hear. (_To_ ILLO.) Go after them, assure them, And bring them back to me, cost what it may.