The Piccolomini: A Play

SCENE V.

      QUESTENBERG, OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI.

   QUESTENBERG.
   Alas! alas! and stands it so?
         [Then in pressing and impatient tones.
   What friend! and do we let him go away
   In this delusion—let him go away?
   Not call him back immediately, not open
   His eyes, upon the spot?

   OCTAVIO (recovering himself out of a deep study).
                He has now opened mine,
   And I see more than pleases me.

   QUESTENBERG.
                   What is it?

   OCTAVIO.
   Curse on this journey!

   QUESTENBERG.
               But why so? What is it?

   OCTAVIO.
   Come, come along, friend! I must follow up
   The ominous track immediately. Mine eyes
   Are opened now, and I must use them. Come!

           [Draws QUESTENBERG on with him.

   QUESTENBERG.
   What now? Where go you then?

   OCTAVIO.
                   To her herself.

   QUESTENBERG.
                           To——

   OCTAVIO (interrupting him and correcting himself).
   To the duke. Come, let us go 'Tis done, 'tis done,
   I see the net that is thrown over him.
   Oh! he returns not to me as he went.

   QUESTENBERG.
   Nay, but explain yourself.

   OCTAVIO.
                 And that I should not
   Foresee it, not prevent this journey! Wherefore
   Did I keep it from him? You were in the right.
   I should have warned him. Now it is too late.

   QUESTENBERG.
   But what's too late? Bethink yourself, my friend,
   That you are talking absolute riddles to me.

   OCTAVIO (more collected).
   Come I to the duke's. 'Tis close upon the hour
   Which he appointed you for audience. Come!
   A curse, a threefold curse, upon this journey!

               [He leads QUESTENBERG off.