Page:Poet Lore, volume 33, 1922.pdf/205

 Beauvalle (Irritably).—Well, what has happened, Millesimo?

Millesimo (Laughing).—I escorted, His Highness, the Court Commissioner to his very equipage, his carriage, and now I am rewarded! Do you wish to know, Count, and you also, Countess, what that Jordán proposed to me, that cavalier of bunglers? Can you for a moment guess what he is trying to drag me into?

Countess.—Surely something interesting!

Millesimo.—Just try to imagine something very ridiculous, yes, extremely ridiculous, and then superlatively ridiculous,—that will be the creation of Jordán!

Countess.—Come, share the joke with us; do not keep us so long in suspense!

Millesimo.—That courtly Jordán,—no, I wish to say, Baron Schirnding,—heaven knows how the idea came to him,—wants to raise a landsturm, Reservists in Pilsen. That Jordán from the court told me! And do you know what he proposed? (Laughing) That I, Count Millesimo, should also join that landsturm and they will create of me,—Jordán and Schirnding,—a captain, an officer of the Reservists! (The and  join the laugh.)

Dejm.—And you have accepted? We must give you an official patent. Millesimo, Millesimo, you will yet become a great military genius!

Millesimo.—A General, Dejm, a general. Ogilvie is already despatched, Neipperg, Lobkovic and the Grand Duke Toskánsky are having a merry time of it, outvying each other in giving a wide berth to the enemy, and so it has finally fallen upon me to become a leader, a general! (General laughter greets his words) Excuse me. I must slip away somewhere, so I can forget about that buffoon, Jordan,—I know not, whether his remarkable idea will not deprive me of reason! Jordán, you Jordán! (With laughter, pausing now and then, he proceeds toward the castle.)

Dejm (Looking after ; sarcastically speaking).—Even among us there are heroes with a sense of duty. What an interesting struggle, with such live warriors!

Countess (Invites and  to be seated).—Fate listens to those who act and are strong of soul. (To, half jesting, half seriously) I promised your name to Count Dejm, that you would align yourself with Charles Albert!