Sustainer of the world, had sav'd us all! Max. (rises, and contemplates his father with looks of suspicion) Was't possible? had'st thou the heart, my father, Had'st thou the heart to drive it to such lengths, With cold premeditated purpose? Thou Had'st thou the heart, to wish to see him guilty, Oct. God in Heaven! Max. O, woe is me! sure I have chang'd my nature. How comes suspicion here-in the free soul? Hope, confidence, belief, are gone; for all Murder, and poisoning, treason, perjury: The only unprofan'd in human nature. Oct. Max!-we will go together. 'Twill be better. Max. What? ere I've taken a last parting leave, The very last-no never! Spare thyself Oct. (Attempts to take him with him.) Max. No! as sure as God lives, no! Oct. (more urgently) Come with me, I command thee! I, thy father. Max. Command me what is human. I stay here. Laws to the heart; and would'st thou wish to rob me Be done with cruelty? The unalterable With stealthy coward flight forsake her? No! Of comfort, plaining, loose this pang of death! Oct. Thou wilt not tear thyself away, thou canst not. O, come, my son! I bid thee save thy virtue. Max. Squander not thou thy words in vain ; The heart I follow, for I dare trust to it. Oct. (trembling, and losing all self-command) Max! Do stamp this brand upon our noble house, Of the son trickle with the father's blood. Max. O hadst thou always better thought of men, Thou hadst then acted better. Curst suspicion ! Unholy miserable doubt! To him Nothing on earth remains unwrench'd and firm, Who has no faith. Oct. And if I trust thy heart, Will it be always in thy power to follow it? Max. The heart's voice thou hast not o'erpower'd-as little Will Wallenstein be able to o'erpower it. Oct. O Max! I see thee never more again! Max. Oct. Farewell! How? not one look Of filial love? No grasp of the hand at parting? So us'd we not to part-it was not so! Is it then true? I have a son no longer? (Max, falls into his arms, they hold each other for a long time in a speechless embrace, then go away at different sides. The curtain drops.) |