The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon - LightNovelsOnl.com
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OFFICER
Klenau and Kollowrath are pounding on!
To turn the enemy's left with our strong right Is, after all, a plan that works out well.
Hiller and Lichtenstein conjoin therein.
FRANCIS
I hear from thence appalling cannonades.
OFFICER
'Tis their, your Majesty. Now we shall see If the French read that there the danger lies.
FRANCIS
I only pray that Bonaparte refrain From spying danger there till all too late!
OFFICER [involuntarily, after a pause]
Ah, Heaven!
FRANCIS [turning sharply]
Well, well? What changes figure now?
OFFICER
They pierce our centre, sire! We are, despite, Not centrally so weak as I supposed.
Well done, Bellegarde!
FRANCIS [glancing to the centre]
And what has he well done?
OFFICER
The French in fierce fume broke through Aderklaa; But Bellegarde, p.r.i.c.king along the plain behind, Has charged and driven them back disorderly.
The Archduke Charles bounds thither, as I shape, In person to support him!
[The EMPEROR returns to his spygla.s.s; and they and others watch in silence, sometimes the right of their front, sometimes the centre.]
FRANCIS
It is so!
That the right attack of ours spells victory, And Austria's grand salvation!... [Times pa.s.ses.] Turn your gla.s.s, And closely scan Napoleon and his aides Hand-galloping towards his centre-left To strengthen it against the brave Bellegarde.
Does your eye reach him?--That white horse, alone In front of those that move so rapidly.
OFFICER
It does, sire; though my gla.s.s can conjure not So cunningly as yours.... that horse must be The famed Euphrates--him the Persian king Sent Bonaparte as gift.
[A silence. NAPOLEON reaches a carriage that is moving across.
It bears Ma.s.sENA, who, having received a recent wound, in unable to ride.]
FRANCIS
See, the white horse and horseman pause beside A coach for some strange reason rolling there....
That white-horsed rider--yes!--is Bonaparte, By the aides hovering round....
New war-wiles have been worded; we shall spell Their purport soon enough! [An interval.]
The French take heart To stand to our battalions steadfastly, And hold their ground, having the Emperor near!
[Time pa.s.ses. An aide-de-camp enters.]
AIDE
The Archduke Charles is pierced in the shoulder, sire; He strove too far in beating back the French At Aderklaa, and was nearly ta'en.
The wound's not serious.--On our right we win, And deem the battle ours.
[Enter another aide-de-camp.]
SECOND AIDE
Your Majesty, We have borne them back through Aspern village-street And Essling is recovered. What counts more, Their bridges to the rear we have nearly grasped, And panic-struck they crowd the few left free, Choking the track, with cries of "All is lost!"
FRANCIS
Then is the land delivered. G.o.d be praised!
[Exeunt aides. An interval, during which the EMPEROR and his companions again remain anxiously at their gla.s.ses.]
There is a curious feature I discern To have come upon the battle. On our right We gain ground rapidly; towards the left We lose it; and the unjudged consequence Is that the armies; whole commingling ma.s.s Moves like a monstrous wheel. I like it not!
[Enter another aide-de-camp.]
