The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon Part 26

But O, the intolerable antilogy Of making figments feel!

SPIRIT IRONIC

Logic's in that.

It does not, I must own, quite play the game.

CHORUS OF IRONIC SPIRITS [aerial music]

And this day wins for Ulm a dingy fame, Which centuries shall not bleach from her name!

[The procession of Austrians continues till the scene is hidden by haze.]

SCENE VI

LONDON. SPRING GARDENS

[Before LORD MALMESBURY'S house, on a Sunday morning in the same autumn. Idlers pause and gather in the background.

PITT enters, and meets LORD MULGRAVE.]

MULGRAVE

Good day, Pitt. Ay, these leaves that skim the ground With withered voices, hint that suns.h.i.+ne-time Is well-nigh past.--And so the game's begun Between him and the Austro-Russian force, As second movement in the faceabout From Boulogne sh.o.r.e, with which he has hocussed us?-- What has been heard on't? Have they clashed as yet?

PITT

The Emperor Francis, partly at my instance, Has thrown the chief command on General Mack, A man most capable and far of sight.

He centres by the Danube-bank at Ulm, A town well-walled, and firm for leaning on To intercept the French in their advance From the Black Forest toward the Russian troops Approaching from the east. If Bonaparte Sustain his marches at the break-neck speed That all report, they must have met ere now.

--There is a rumour... quite impossible!...

MULGRAVE

You still have faith in Mack as strategist?

There have been doubts of his far-sightedness.

PITT [hastily]

I know, I know.--I am calling here at Malmesbury's At somewhat an unceremonious time To ask his help to translate this Dutch print The post has brought. Malmesbury is great at Dutch, Learning it long at Leyden, years ago.

[He draws a newspaper from his pocket, unfolds it, and glances it down.]

There's news here unintelligible to me Upon the very matter! You'll come in?

[They call at LORD MAMESBURY'S. He meets them in the hall, and welcomes them with an apprehensive look of foreknowledge.]

PITT

Pardon this early call. The packet's in, And wings me this unreadable Dutch paper, So, as the offices are closed to-day, I have brought it round to you.

[Handling the paper.]

What does it say?

For G.o.d's sake, read it out. You know the tongue.

MALMESBURY [with hesitation]

I have glanced it through already--more than once-- A copy having reached me, too, by now...

We are in the presence of a great disaster!

See here. It says that Mack, enjailed in Ulm By Bonaparte--from four side shutting round-- Capitulated, and with all his force Laid down his arms before his conqueror!

[PITT's face changes. A silence.]

MULGRAVE

Outrageous! Ignominy unparalleled!

PITT

By G.o.d, my lord, these statement must be false!

These foreign prints are trustless as Cheap Jack Dumfounding yokels at a country fair.

I heed no word of it.--Impossible.

What! Eighty thousand Austrians, nigh in touch With Russia's levies that Kutuzof leads, To lay down arms before the war's begun?

'Tis too much!

MALMESBURY

But I fear it is too true!

Note the a.s.severed source of the report-- One beyond thought of minters of mock tales.

The writer adds that military wits Cry that the little Corporal now makes war In a new way, using his soldiers' legs And not their arms, to bring him victory.

Ha-ha! The quip must sting the Corporal's foes.

PITT [after a pause]

O vacillating Prussia! Had she moved, Had she but planted one foot firmly down, All this had been averted.--I must go.

'Tis sure, 'tis sure, I labour but in vain!