MANLIUS
(alene ved vagtilden).
Nu samler skyerne sig mer og mer;
det er en mørk og uvejrssvanger nat; –
en fugtig tåge klemmer mig om brystet,
som om den varsled uheld for os alle.
Hvor er det nu, det lette sorgfri sind,
hvormed jeg fordum tumled mig i krigen?
Mon det er alderdommens byrde blot,
som jeg fornemmer? Sælsomt nok, – iaftes
mig tyktes selv de unge sært forstemte.
(efter et ophold.)
Nu, guderne skal vide, hævn var ej
det mål, hvorfor jeg fulgte Catilina.
Min harme blussed op en flygtig stund,
da jeg mig følte forurettet, krænket; –
det gamle blod er end ej ganske koldt;
tidt kan det rulle hedt nok gennem åren.
Men krænkelsen er glemt. Jeg fulgte ham,
min Catilina, for hans egen skyld;
og jeg skal våge over ham med omhu.
Her står han ensom mellem disse skarer
af vilde venner og af usle skurke.
De mægter ej at fatte ham, – og han
er altfor stolt til dem at ville fatte.
(han lægger nogle kviste på ilden og bliver stående i taushed.)
(Catilina kommer ud fra teltet.)
MANLIUS.
[Alone by the camp fire.]
The clouds begin to gather thick and fast;
It is a dark and storm-presaging night;--
A misty fog hangs heavy on my breast,
As though foreboding mishap to us all.
Where is it now, that easy carefree spirit
With which in former times I went to war?
Ah, can it be the weight of years alone
That now I feel? Strange--strange, indeed,--last night
Even the young seemed sorely out of heart.
MANLIUS.
[After a pause.]
The gods shall know revenge was not the aim
For which I joined and followed Catiline.
My wrath flared up within me for a space
When first I felt I had been wronged, insulted;--
The old blood is not yet entirely cold;
Now and again it courses warmly through my veins.
But the humiliation is forgotten.
I followed Catiline for his own sake;
And I shall watch o’er him with zealous care.
Here stands he all alone amidst these hosts
Of paltry knaves and dissolute companions.
They cannot comprehend him,--he in turn
Is far too proud to wish to fathom them.
[He throws some branches on the fire and remains standing in silence. CATILINE comes out of the tent.]
