The Piccolomini (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.

ACT II.