_Thekla._ Alas for his sore anguish! It will rend 75
His heart asunder.
_Countess._ If indeed he loves you,
His resolution will be speedily taken.
_Thekla._ His resolution will be speedily taken--
O do not doubt of that! A resolution!
Does there remain one to be taken?
_Countess._ Hush! 80
Collect yourself! I hear your mother coming.
_Thekla._ How shall I bear to see her?
_Countess._ Collect yourself.
LINENOTES:
[2] _still . . . this_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[3] _this_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[9] _you_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[20] _my_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[31] _You_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[37] _not_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[72] Prove _good_ 1800.
[74] _can_ 1800.
[80] _taken_ 1800.
SCENE III
_To them enter the DUCHESS._
_Duchess (to the Countess)._ Who was here, sister? I heard some one
talking,
And passionately too.
_Countess._ Nay! There was no one.
_Duchess._ I am grown so timorous, every trifling noise
Scatters my spirits, and announces to me
The footstep of some messenger of evil. 5
And can you tell me, sister, what the event is?
Will he agree to do the Emperor's pleasure,
And send the horse-regiments to the Cardinal?
Tell me, has he dismissed Von Questenberg
With a favourable answer?
_Countess._ No, he has not. 10
_Duchess._ Alas! then all is lost! I see it coming,
The worst that can come! Yes, they will depose him;
The accurséd business of the Regenspurg diet
Will all be acted o'er again!
_Countess._ No! never!
Make your heart easy, sister, as to that. 15
[_THEKLA throws herself upon her mother, and enfolds her
in her arms, weeping._
_Duchess._ Yes, my poor child!
Thou too hast lost a most affectionate godmother
In the Empress. O that stern unbending man!
In this unhappy marriage what have I
Not suffered, not endured. For ev'n as if 20
I had been linked on to some wheel of fire
That restless, ceaseless, whirls impetuous onward,
I have passed a life of frights and horrors with him,
And ever to the brink of some abyss
With dizzy headlong violence he whirls me. 25
Nay, do not weep, my child! Let not my sufferings
Presignify unhappiness to thee,
Nor blacken with their shade the fate that waits thee.
There lives no second Friedland: thou, my child,
Hast not to fear thy mother's destiny. 30
_Thekla._ O let us supplicate him, dearest mother!
Quick! quick! here's no abiding-place for us.
Here every coming hour broods into life
Some new affrightful monster.
_Duchess._ Thou wilt share
An easier, calmer lot, my child! We too, 35
I and thy father, witnessed happy days.
Still think I with delight of those first years,
When he was making progress with glad effort,
When his ambition was a genial fire,
Not that consuming flame which now it is. 40
The Emperor loved him, trusted him: and all
He undertook could not but be successful.
But since that ill-starred day at Regenspurg,
Which plunged him headlong from his dignity,
A gloomy uncompanionable spirit, 45
Unsteady and suspicious, has possessed him.
His quiet mind forsook him, and no longer
Did he yield up himself in joy and faith
To his old luck, and individual power;
But thenceforth turned his heart and best affections 50
All to those cloudy sciences, which never
Have yet made happy him who followed them.
_Countess._ You see it, sister! as your eyes permit you.
But surely this is not the conversation
To pass the time in which we are waiting for him. 55
You know he will be soon here. Would you have him
Find her in this condition?
_Duchess._ Come, my child!
Come, wipe away thy tears, and shew thy father
A cheerful countenance. See, the tie-knot here
Is off--this hair must not hang so dishevelled. 60
Come, dearest! dry thy tears up. They deform
Thy gentle eye--well now--what was I saying?
Yes, in good truth, this Piccolomini
Is a most noble and deserving gentleman.
_Countess._ That is he, sister!
_Thekla (to the Countess)._ Aunt, you will excuse me? 65
[_Is going._
_Countess._ But whither? See, your father comes.
_Thekla._ I cannot see him now.
_Countess._ Nay, but bethink you.
_Thekla._ Believe me, I cannot sustain his presence.
_Countess._ But he will miss you, will ask after you.
_Duchess._ What now? Why is she going? 70
_Countess._ She's not well.
_Duchess._ What ails then my beloved child?
[_Both follow the PRINCESS, and endeavour to detain her.
During this WALLENSTEIN appears, engaged in
conversation with ILLO._
LINENOTES:
[Between 14, 15] [_THEKLA, in extreme agitation, throws herself, &c._
1800, 1828, 1829.
[28] _fate_ 1800.
[40] _flame_ 1800.
[53] _your_ 1800.
[56] be soon] soon be 1828, 1829.
[57] _her_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[65] _Thekla (to the Countess, with marks of great oppression of
spirits)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 72] _Duchess (anxiously)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE IV
_WALLENSTEIN, ILLO, COUNTESS, DUCHESS, THEKLA._
_Wallenstein._ All quiet in the camp?
_Illo._ It is all quiet.
_Wallenstein._ In a few hours may couriers come from Prague
With tidings, that this capital is ours.
Then we may drop the mask, and to the troops
Assembled in this town make known the measure 5
And its result together. In such cases
Example does the whole. Whoever is foremost
Still leads the herd. An imitative creature
Is man. The troops at Prague conceive no other,
Than that the Pilsen army has gone through 10
The forms of homage to us; and in Pilsen
They shall swear fealty to us, because
The example has been given them by Prague.
Butler, you tell me, has declared himself.
_Illo._ At his own bidding, unsolicited, 15
He came to offer you himself and regiment.
_Wallenstein._ I find we must not give implicit credence
To every warning voice that makes itself
Be listened to in the heart. To hold us back,
Oft does the lying spirit counterfeit 20
The voice of Truth and inward Revelation,
Scattering false oracles. And thus have I
To intreat forgiveness, for that secretly
I've wrong'd this honourable gallant man,
This Butler: for a feeling, of the which 25
I am not master (fear I would not call it),
Creeps o'er me instantly, with sense of shuddering,
At his approach, and stops love's joyous motion.
And this same man, against whom I am warned,
This honest man is he, who reaches to me 30
The first pledge of my fortune.
_Illo._ And doubt not
That his example will win over to you
The best men in the army.
_Wallenstein._ Go and send
Isolani hither. Send him immediately.
He is under recent obligations to me. 35
With him will I commence the trial. Go. [_ILLO exit._
_Wallenstein (turns himself round to the females)._ Lo, there the
mother with the darling daughter!
For once we'll have an interval of rest--
Come! my heart yearns to live a cloudless hour
In the beloved circle of my family. 40
_Countess._ 'Tis long since we've been thus together, brother.
_Wallenstein (to the Countess aside)._ Can she sustain the news? Is
she prepared?
_Countess._ Not yet.
_Wallenstein._ Come here, my sweet girl! Seat thee by me,
For there is a good spirit on thy lips.
Thy mother praised to me thy ready skill: 45
She says a voice of melody dwells in thee,
Which doth enchant the soul. Now such a voice
Will drive away from me the evil demon
That beats his black wings close above my head.
_Duchess._ Where is thy lute, my daughter? Let thy father 50
Hear some small trial of thy skill.
_Thekla._ My mother!
I--
_Duchess._ Trembling? Come, collect thyself. Go, cheer
Thy father.
_Thekla._ O my mother! I--I cannot.
_Countess._ How, what is that, niece?
_Thekla (to the Countess)._ O spare me--sing--now--in this sore
anxiety, 55
Of the o'erburthen'd soul--to sing to him,
Who is thrusting, even now, my mother headlong
Into her grave!
_Duchess._ How, Thekla? Humoursome?
What! shall thy father have expressed a wish
In vain?
_Countess._ Here is the lute.
_Thekla._ My God! how can I-- 60
[_The orchestra plays. During the ritornello THEKLA
expresses in her gestures and countenance the
struggle of her feelings: and at the moment
that she should begin to sing, contracts
herself together, as one shuddering, throws
the instrument down, and retires abruptly._
_Duchess._ My child! O she is ill--
_Wallenstein._ What ails the maiden?
Say, is she often so?
_Countess._ Since then herself
Has now betrayed it, I too must no longer
Conceal it.
_Wallenstein._ What?
_Countess._ She loves him!
_Wallenstein._ Loves him! Whom?
_Countess._ Max does she love! Max Piccolomini. 65
Hast thou ne'er noticed it? Nor yet my sister?
_Duchess._ Was it this that lay so heavy on her heart?
God's blessing on thee, my sweet child! Thou needest
Never take shame upon thee for thy choice.
_Countess._ This journey, if 'twere not thy aim, ascribe it 70
To thine own self. Thou shouldest have chosen another
To have attended her.
_Wallenstein._ And does he know it?
_Countess._ Yes, and he hopes to win her.
_Wallenstein._ Hopes to win her!
Is the boy mad?
_Countess._ Well--hear it from themselves.
_Wallenstein._ He thinks to carry off Duke Friedland's daughter! 75
Aye?--The thought pleases me.
The young man has no grovelling spirit.
_Countess._ Since
Such and such constant favour you have shewn him--
_Wallenstein._ He chooses finally to be my heir.
And true it is, I love the youth; yea, honour him. 80
But must he therefore be my daughter's husband!
Is it daughters only? Is it only children
That we must shew our favour by?
_Duchess._ His noble disposition and his manners--
_Wallenstein._ Win him my heart, but not my daughter.
_Duchess._ Then 85
His rank, his ancestors--
_Wallenstein._ Ancestors! What?
He is a subject, and my son-in-law
I will seek out upon the thrones of Europe.
_Duchess._ O dearest Albrecht! Climb we not too high.
Lest we should fall too low.
_Wallenstein._ What? have I paid 90
A price so heavy to ascend this eminence,
And jut out high above the common herd,
Only to close the mighty part I play
In Life's great drama, with a common kinsman?
Have I for this-- [_pause._] She is the only thing 95
That will remain behind of me on earth;
And I will see a crown around her head,
Or die in the attempt to place it there.
I hazard all--all! and for this alone,
To lift her into greatness-- 100
Yea, in this moment, in the which we are speaking-- [_pause._
And I must now, like a soft-hearted father,
Couple together in good peasant fashion
The pair, that chance to suit each other's liking--
And I must do it now, even now, when I 105
Am stretching out the wreath that is to twine
My full accomplished work--no! she is the jewel,
Which I have treasured long, my last, my noblest,
And 'tis my purpose not to let her from me
For less than a king's sceptre.
_Duchess._ O my husband! 110
You're ever building, building to the clouds,
Still building higher, and still higher building,
And ne'er reflect, that the poor narrow basis
Cannot sustain the giddy tottering column.
_Wallenstein (to the Countess)._ Have you announced the place of
residence 115
Which I have destined for her?
_Countess._ No! not yet.
'Twere better you yourself disclosed it to her.
_Duchess._ How? Do we not return to Karn then?
_Wallenstein._ No.
_Duchess._ And to no other of your lands or seats?
_Wallenstein._ You would not be secure there.
_Duchess._ Not secure 120
In the Emperor's realms, beneath the Emperor's
Protection?
_Wallenstein._ Friedland's wife may be permitted
No longer to hope that.
_Duchess._ O God in heaven!
And have you brought it even to this?
_Wallenstein._ In Holland
You'll find protection.
_Duchess._ In a Lutheran country? 125
What? And you send us into Lutheran countries?
_Wallenstein._ Duke Franz of Lauenburg conducts you thither.
_Duchess._ Duke Franz of Lauenburg?
The ally of Sweden, the Emperor's enemy.
_Wallenstein._ The Emperor's enemies are mine no longer. 130
_Duchess (casting a look of terror on the Duke and the Countess)._
Is it then true? It is. You are degraded?
Deposed from the command? O God in heaven!
_Countess (aside to the Duke)._ Leave her in this belief. Thou seest
she cannot
Support the real truth.
LINENOTES:
[26] _fear_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[48] from] _for_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[56] _him_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[95]
Have I for this-- [_Stops suddenly, repressing himself._
1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 101] [_He recollects himself._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[118] Kärn 1800.
[123] _that_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE V
_To them enter COUNT TERTSKY._
_Countess._ --Tertsky!
What ails him? What an image of affright!
He looks as he had seen a ghost.
_Tertsky (leading Wallenstein aside)._ Is it thy command that all
the Croats--
_Wallenstein._ Mine! 5
_Tertsky._ We are betrayed.
_Wallenstein._ What?
_Tertsky._ They are off! This night
The Jägers likewise--all the villages
In the whole round are empty.
_Wallenstein._ Isolani?
_Tertsky._ Him thou hast sent away. Yes, surely.
_Wallenstein._ I?
_Tertsky._ No! Hast thou not sent him off? Nor Deodate? 10
They are vanished both of them.
SCENE VI
_To them enter ILLO._
_Illo._ Has Tertsky told thee?
_Tertsky._ He knows all.
_Illo._ And likewise
That Esterhatzy, Goetz, Maradas, Kaunitz,
Kolatto, Palfi, have forsaken thee?
_Tertsky._ Damnation!
_Wallenstein (winks at them)._ Hush!
_Countess (who has been watching them anxiously from the distance
and now advances to them)._ Tertsky! Heaven! What is it? What
has happened? 5
_Wallenstein (scarcely suppressing his emotions)._ Nothing! let us
be gone!
_Tertsky (following him)._ Theresa, it is nothing.
_Countess (holding him back)._ Nothing? Do I not see, that all the
lifeblood
Has left your cheeks--look you not like a ghost?
That even my brother but affects a calmness? 10
_Page (enters)._ An Aid-de-Camp enquires for the Count Tertsky.
[_TERTSKY follows the Page._
_Wallenstein._ Go, hear his business. [_To ILLO._
This could not have happened
So unsuspected without mutiny.
Who was on guard at the gates?
_Illo._ 'Twas Tiefenbach. 15
_Wallenstein._ Let Tiefenbach leave guard without delay,
And Tertsky's grenadiers relieve him. [_ILLO is going._
Stop!
Hast thou heard aught of Butler?
_Illo._ Him I met.
He will be here himself immediately.
Butler remains unshaken.
[_ILLO exit. WALLENSTEIN is following him._
_Countess._ Let him not leave thee, sister! go, detain him! 20
There's some misfortune.
_Duchess (clinging to him)._ Gracious heaven! What is it?
_Wallenstein._ Be tranquil! leave me, sister! dearest wife!
We are in camp, and this is nought unusual;
Here storm and sunshine follow one another
With rapid interchanges. These fierce spirits 25
Champ the curb angrily, and never yet
Did quiet bless the temples of the leader.
If I am to stay, go you. The plaints of women
Ill suit the scene where men must act.
[_He is going: TERTSKY returns._
_Tertsky._ Remain here. From this window must we see it. 30
_Wallenstein (to the Countess)._ Sister, retire!
_Countess._ No--never.
_Wallenstein._ 'Tis my will.
_Tertsky (leads the Countess aside, and drawing her attention to the
Duchess)._ Theresa!
_Duchess._ Sister, come! since he commands it.
LINENOTES:
[4] _Wallenstein (winks to them)._ 1800.
SCENE VII
_WALLENSTEIN, TERTSKY._
_Wallenstein (stepping to the window)._ What now, then?
_Tertsky._ There are strange movements among all the troops,
And no one knows the cause. Mysteriously,
With gloomy silentness, the several corps
Marshal themselves, each under its own banners. 5
Tiefenbach's corps makes threatening movements; only
The Pappenheimers still remain aloof
In their own quarters, and let no one enter.
_Wallenstein._ Does Piccolomini appear among them?
_Tertsky._ We are seeking him: he is no where to be met with. 10
_Wallenstein._ What did the Aid-de-Camp deliver to you?
_Tertsky._ My regiments had dispatched him; yet once more
They swear fidelity to thee, and wait
The shout for onset, all prepared, and eager.
_Wallenstein._ But whence arose this larum in the camp? 15
It should have been kept secret from the army,
Till fortune had decided for us at Prague.
_Tertsky._ O that thou hadst believed me! Yester evening
Did we conjure thee not to let that skulker,
That fox, Octavio, pass the gates of Pilsen. 20
Thou gav'st him thy own horses to flee from thee.
_Wallenstein._ The old tune still! Now, once for all, no more
Of this suspicion--it is doting folly.
_Tertsky._ Thou did'st confide in Isolani too;
And lo! he was the first that did desert thee. 25
_Wallenstein._ It was but yesterday I rescued him
From abject wretchedness. Let that go by.
I never reckon'd yet on gratitude.
And wherein doth he wrong in going from me?
He follows still the god whom all his life 30
He has worshipped at the gaming table. With
My Fortune, and my seeming destiny,
He made the bond, and broke it not with me.
I am but the ship in which his hopes were stowed,
And with the which well-pleased and confident 35
He traversed the open sea; now he beholds it
In imminent jeopardy among the coast-rocks,
And hurries to preserve his wares. As light
As the free bird from the hospitable twig
Where it had nested, he flies off from me: 40
No human tie is snapped betwixt us two.
Yea, he deserves to find himself deceived,
Who seeks a heart in the unthinking man.
Like shadows on a stream, the forms of life
Impress their characters on the smooth forehead, 45
Nought sinks into the bosom's silent depth:
Quick sensibility of pain and pleasure
Moves the light fluids lightly; but no soul
Warmeth the inner frame.
_Tertsky._ Yet, would I rather
Trust the smooth brow than that deep furrowed one. 50
LINENOTES:
[6] makes] make 1800, 1828, 1829.
[11] Aid-de-Camp] Aide-de-Camp 1800.
[32] FORTUNE 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE VIII
_WALLENSTEIN, TERTSKY, ILLO._
_Illo._ Treason and mutiny!
_Tertsky._ And what further now?
_Illo._ Tiefenbach's soldiers, when I gave the orders
To go off guard--Mutinous villains!
_Tertsky._ Well!
_Wallenstein._ What followed?
_Illo._ They refused obedience to them. 5
_Tertsky._ Fire on them instantly! Give out the order.
_Wallenstein._ Gently! what cause did they assign?
_Illo._ No other,
They said, had right to issue orders but
Lieutenant-General Piccolomini.
_Wallenstein._ What? How is that? 10
_Illo._ He takes that office on him by commission,
Under sign-manual of the Emperor.
_Tertsky._ From the Emperor--hear'st thou, Duke?
_Illo._ At his incitement
The Generals made that stealthy flight--
_Tertsky._ Duke! hearest thou?
_Illo._ Caraffa too, and Montecuculi, 15
Are missing, with six other Generals,
All whom he had induced to follow him.
This plot he has long had in writing by him
From the Emperor; but 'twas finally concluded
With all the detail of the operation 20
Some days ago with the Envoy Questenberg.
[_WALLENSTEIN sinks down into a chair and covers
his face._
_Tertsky._ O hadst thou but believed me!
LINENOTES:
[Before 1] _Illo (who enters agitated with rage)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[9] _Piccolomini_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[10] _Wallenstein (in a convulsion of agony)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE IX
_To them enter the COUNTESS._
_Countess._ This suspense,
This horrid fear--I can no longer bear it.
For heaven's sake, tell me, what has taken place.
_Illo._ The regiments are all falling off from us.
_Tertsky._ Octavio Piccolomini is a traitor. 5
_Countess._ O my foreboding! [_Rushes out of the room._
_Tertsky._ Hadst thou but believed me!
Now seest thou how the stars have lied to thee.
_Wallenstein._ The stars lie not; but we have here a work
Wrought counter to the stars and destiny.
The science is still honest: this false heart 10
Forces a lie on the truth-telling heaven.
On a divine law divination rests;
Where nature deviates from that law, and stumbles
Out of her limits, there all science errs.
True, I did not suspect! Were it superstition 15
Never by such suspicion t' have affronted
The human form, O may that time ne'er come
In which I shame me of the infirmity.
The wildest savage drinks not with the victim
Into whose breast he means to plunge the sword. 20
This, this, Octavio, was no hero's deed:
'Twas not thy prudence that did conquer mine;
A bad heart triumphed o'er an honest one.
No shield received the assassin stroke; thou plungest
Thy weapon on an unprotected breast-- 25
Against such weapons I am but a child.
SCENE X
_To these enter BUTLER._
_Tertsky (meeting him)._ O look there! Butler! Here we've still a
friend!
_Wallenstein (meets him with outspread arms, and embraces him with
warmth)._ Come to my heart, old comrade! Not the sun
Looks out upon us more revivingly
In the earliest month of spring,
Than a friend's countenance in such an hour. 5
_Butler._ My General: I come--
_Wallenstein (leaning on Butler's shoulders)._ Know'st thou
already?
That old man has betrayed me to the Emperor.
What say'st thou? Thirty years have we together
Lived out, and held out, sharing joy and hardship.
We have slept in one camp-bed, drunk from one glass, 10
One morsel shared! I leaned myself on him,
As now I lean me on thy faithful shoulder.
And now in the very moment, when, all love,
All confidence, my bosom beat to his,
He sees and takes the advantage, stabs the knife 15
Slowly into my heart. [_He hides his face on BUTLER'S breast._
_Butler._ Forget the false one.
What is your present purpose?
_Wallenstein._ Well remembered!
Courage my soul! I am still rich in friends,
Still loved by Destiny; for in the moment,
That it unmasks the plotting hypocrite, 20
It sends and proves to me one faithful heart.
Of the hypocrite no more! Think not, his loss
Was that which struck the pang: O no! his treason
Is that which strikes this pang! No more of him!
Dear to my heart, and honoured were they both, 25
And the young man--yes--he did truly love me,
He--he--has not deceived me. But enough,
Enough of this--Swift counsel now beseems us.
The Courier, whom Count Kinsky sent from Prague
I expect him every moment: and whatever 30
He may bring with him, we must take good care
To keep it from the mutineers. Quick, then!
Dispatch some messenger you can rely on
To meet him, and conduct him to me. [_ILLO is going._
_Butler (detaining him)._ My General, whom expect you then?
_Wallenstein._ The
Courier 35
Who brings me word of the event at Prague.
_Butler (hesitating)._ Hem!
_Wallenstein._ And what now?
_Butler._ You do not know it?
_Wallenstein._ Well?
_Butler._ From what that larum in the camp arose?
_Wallenstein._ From what?
_Butler._ That Courier.
_Wallenstein._ Well?
_Butler._ Is already here.
_Tertsky and Illo (at the same time)._ Already here?
_Wallenstein._ My Courier?
_Butler._ For some hours. 40
_Wallenstein._ And I not know it?
_Butler._ The centinels detain him
In custody.
_Illo._ Damnation!
_Butler._ And his letter
Was broken open, and is circulated
Through the whole camp.
_Wallenstein._ You know what it contains?
_Butler._ Question me not.
_Tertsky._ Illo! alas for us. 45
_Wallenstein._ Hide nothing from me--I can hear the worst.
Prague then is lost. It is. Confess it freely.
_Butler._ Yes! Prague is lost. And all the several regiments
At Budweiss, Tabor, Brannau, Konigingratz,
At Brun and Znaym, have forsaken you, 50
And ta'en the oaths of fealty anew
To the Emperor. Yourself, with Kinsky, Tertsky,
And Illo have been sentenced.
[_TERTSKY and ILLO express alarm and fury. WALLENSTEIN
remains firm and collected._
_Wallenstein._ 'Tis decided!
'Tis well! I have received a sudden cure
From all the pangs of doubt: with steady stream 55
Once more my life-blood flows! My soul's secure!
In the night only Friedland's stars can beam.
Lingering irresolute, with fitful fears
I drew the sword--'twas with an inward strife,
While yet the choice was mine. The murderous knife 60
Is lifted for my heart! Doubt disappears!
I fight now for my head and for my life.
[_Exit WALLENSTEIN; the others follow him._
LINENOTES:
[11] _him_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[12] _thy_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[21] _faithful_ 1800.
[26] _did_ 1800.
[39] _Wallenstein (with eager expectation)._ Well? 1800, 1828, 1829.
[42] _Illo (stamping with his foot)._ Damnation! 1800, 1828, 1829.
[48] _is_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE XI
_Countess Tertsky (enters from a side room)._ I can endure no
longer. No! [_Looks around her._
Where are they?
No one is here. They leave me all alone,
Alone in this sore anguish of suspense.
And I must wear the outward shew of calmness
Before my sister, and shut in within me 5
The pangs and agonies of my crowded bosom.
It is not to be borne.--If all should fail;
If--if he must go over to the Swedes,
An empty-handed fugitive, and not
As an ally, a covenanted equal, 10
A proud commander with his army following;
If we must wander on from land to land,
Like the Count Palatine, of fallen greatness
An ignominious monument--But no!
That day I will not see! And could himself 15
Endure to sink so low, I would not bear
To see him so low sunken.
SCENE XII
_COUNTESS, DUCHESS, THEKLA._
_Thekla (endeavouring to hold back the Duchess)._ Dear mother, do
stay here!
_Duchess._ No! Here is yet
Some frightful mystery that is hidden from me.
Why does my sister shun me? Don't I see her
Full of suspense and anguish roam about
From room to room?--Art thou not full of terror? 5
And what import these silent nods and gestures
Which stealthwise thou exchangest with her?
_Thekla._ Nothing:
Nothing, dear Mother!
_Duchess (to the Countess)._ Sister, I will know.
_Countess._ What boots it now to hide it from her? Sooner
Or later she must learn to hear and bear it. 10
'Tis not the time now to indulge infirmity,
Courage beseems us now, a heart collected,
And exercise and previous discipline
Of fortitude. One word, and over with it!
Sister, you are deluded. You believe, 15
The Duke has been deposed--The Duke is not
Deposed--he is----
_Thekla (going to the Countess)._ What? do you wish to kill her?
_Countess._ The Duke is----
_Thekla (throwing her arms round her mother)._ O stand firm! stand
firm, my mother!
_Countess._ Revolted is the Duke, he is preparing 20
To join the enemy, the army leave him,
And all has failed.
LINENOTES:
[10] _must_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[12] collected] collect 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 22] [_During these words the DUCHESS totters, and
falls in a fainting fit into the arms of her daughter. While THEKLA is
calling for help, the curtain drops._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
ACT II
SCENE I
SCENE--_A spacious Room in the DUKE OF FRIEDLAND'S Palace._
_Wallenstein (in armour)._ Thou hast gained thy point, Octavio! Once
more am I
Almost as friendless as at Regenspurg.
There I had nothing left me, but myself--
But what one man can do, you have now experience.
The twigs have you hewed off, and here I stand 5
A leafless trunk. But in the sap within
Lives the creating power, and a new world
May sprout forth from it. Once already have I
Proved myself worth an army to you--I alone!
Before the Swedish strength your troops had melted; 10
Beside the Lech sank Tilly, your last hope;
Into Bavaria, like a winter torrent,
Did that Gustavus pour, and at Vienna
In his own palace did the Emperor tremble.
Soldiers were scarce, for still the multitude 15
Follow the luck: all eyes were turned on me,
Their helper in distress; the Emperor's pride
Bowed itself down before the man he had injured.
'Twas I must rise, and with creative word
Assemble forces in the desolate camps. 20
I did it. Like a god of war, my name
Went through the world. The drum was beat--and, lo!
The plough, the work-shop is forsaken, all
Swarm to the old familiar long-loved banners;
And as the wood-choir rich in melody 25
Assemble quick around the bird of wonder,
When first his throat swells with his magic song,
So did the warlike youth of Germany
Crowd in around the image of my eagle.
I feel myself the being that I was. 30
It is the soul that builds itself a body,
And Friedland's camp will not remain unfilled.
Lead then your thousands out to meet me--true!
They are accustomed under me to conquer,
But not against me. If the head and limbs 35
Separate from each other, 'twill be soon
Made manifest, in which the soul abode.
(_ILLO and TERTSKY enter._)
Courage, friends! Courage! We are still unvanquished;
I feel my footing firm; five regiments, Tertsky,
Are still our own, and Butler's gallant troops; 40
And a host of sixteen thousand Swedes to-morrow.
I was not stronger, when nine years ago
I marched forth, with glad heart and high of hope,
To conquer Germany for the Emperor.
LINENOTES:
[11] sank] sunk 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE II
_WALLENSTEIN, ILLO, TERTSKY. (To them enter NEUMANN, who leads TERTSKY
aside, and talks with him.)_
_Tertsky._ What do they want?
_Wallenstein._ What now?
_Tertsky._ Ten Cuirassiers
From Pappenheim request leave to address you
In the name of the regiment.
_Wallenstein (hastily to Neumann)._ Let them enter.
[_Exit NEUMANN._
This
May end in something. Mark you. They are still
Doubtful, and may be won. 5
SCENE III
_WALLENSTEIN, TERTSKY, ILLO, Ten_ Cuirassiers _(led by an_
Anspessade,[745:1] _march up and arrange themselves, after the word of
command, in one front before the DUKE, and make their obeisance. He
takes his hat off, and immediately covers himself again)._
_Anspessade._ Halt! Front! Present!
_Wallenstein (after he has run through them with his eye, to the
Anspessade)._ I know thee well. Thou art out of Brüggin in Flanders:
Thy name is Mercy.
_Anspessade._ Henry Mercy.
_Wallenstein._ Thou wert cut off on the march, surrounded
by the Hessians, and didst fight thy way with a hundred and 5
eighty men through their thousand.
_Anspessade._ 'Twas even so, General!
_Wallenstein._ What reward hadst thou for this gallant exploit?
_Anspessade._ That which I asked for: the honour to serve
in this corps. 10
_Wallenstein (turning to a second)._ Thou wert among the
volunteers that seized and made booty of the Swedish battery
at Altenburg.
_Second Cuirassier._ Yes, General!
_Wallenstein._ I forget no one with whom I have exchanged 15
words. (_A pause_). Who sends you?
_Anspessade._ Your noble regiment, the Cuirassiers of
Piccolomini.
_Wallenstein._ Why does not your colonel deliver in your
request, according to the custom of service? 20
_Anspessade._ Because we would first know whom we serve.
_Wallenstein._ Begin your address.
_Anspessade (giving the word of command)._ Shoulder your arms!
_Wallenstein (turning to a third)._ Thy name is Risbeck, Cologne
is thy birthplace. 25
_Third Cuirassier._ Risbeck of Cologne.
_Wallenstein._ It was thou that broughtest in the Swedish
colonel, Diebald, prisoner, in the camp at Nuremberg.
_Third Cuirassier._ It was not I, General!
_Wallenstein._ Perfectly right! It was thy elder brother: 30
thou hadst a younger brother too: Where did he stay?
_Third Cuirassier._ He is stationed at Olmutz with the
Imperial army.
_Wallenstein (to the Anspessade)._ Now then--begin.
_Anspessade._ There came to hand a letter from the Emperor 35
Commanding us----
_Wallenstein._ Who chose you?
_Anspessade._ Every company
Drew its own man by lot.
_Wallenstein._ Now! to the business.
_Anspessade._ There came to hand a letter from the Emperor
Commanding us collectively, from thee
All duties of obedience to withdraw, 40
Because thou wert an enemy and traitor.
_Wallenstein._ And what did you determine?
_Anspessade._ All our comrades
At Brannau, Budweiss, Prague and Olmutz, have
Obeyed already, and the regiments here, 45
Tiefenbach and Toscana, instantly
Did follow their example. But--but we
Do not believe that thou art an enemy
And traitor to thy country, hold it merely
For lie and trick, and a trumped-up Spanish story! 50
Thyself shalt tell us what thy purpose is,
For we have found thee still sincere and true:
No mouth shall interpose itself betwixt
The gallant General and the gallant troops.
_Wallenstein._ Therein I recognize my Pappenheimers. 55
_Anspessade._ And this proposal makes thy regiment to thee:
Is it thy purpose merely to preserve
In thy own hands this military sceptre,
Which so becomes thee, which the Emperor
Made over to thee by a covenant? 60
Is it thy purpose merely to remain
Supreme commander of the Austrian armies?--
We will stand by thee, General! and guarantee
Thy honest rights against all opposition.
And should it chance, that all the other regiments 65
Turn from thee, by ourselves will we stand forth
Thy faithful soldiers, and, as is our duty,
Far rather let ourselves be cut to pieces,
Than suffer thee to fall. But if it be
As the Emperor's letter says, if it be true, 70
That thou in traitorous wise wilt lead us over
To the enemy, which God in heaven forbid!
Then we too will forsake thee, and obey
That letter----
_Wallenstein._ Hear me, children!
_Anspessade._ Yes, or no!
There needs no other answer.
_Wallenstein._ Yield attention. 75
You're men of sense, examine for yourselves;
Ye think, and do not follow with the herd:
And therefore have I always shewn you honour
Above all others, suffered you to reason;
Have treated you as free men, and my orders 80
Were but the echoes of your prior suffrage.--
_Anspessade._ Most fair and noble has thy conduct been
To us, my General! With thy confidence
Thou hast honoured us, and shewn us grace and favour
Beyond all other regiments; and thou seest 85
We follow not the common herd. We will
Stand by thee faithfully. Speak but one word--
Thy word shall satisfy us, that it is not
A treason which thou meditatest--that
Thou meanest not to lead the army over 90
To the enemy; nor e'er betray thy country.
_Wallenstein._ Me, me are they betraying. The Emperor
Hath sacrificed me to my enemies,
And I must fall, unless my gallant troops
Will rescue me. See! I confide in you. 95
And be your hearts my strong hold! At this breast
The aim is taken, at this hoary head.
This is your Spanish gratitude, this is our
Requital for that murderous fight at Lutzen!
For this we threw the naked breast against 100
The halbert, made for this the frozen earth
Our bed, and the hard stone our pillow! never stream
Too rapid for us, nor wood too impervious:
With cheerful spirit we pursued that Mansfield
Through all the turns and windings of his flight; 105
Yea, our whole life was but one restless march;
And homeless, as the stirring wind, we travelled
O'er the war-wasted earth. And now, even now,
That we have well-nigh finished the hard toil,
The unthankful, the curse-laden toil of weapons, 110
With faithful indefatigable arm
Have rolled the heavy war-load up the hill,
Behold! this boy of the Emperor's bears away
The honours of the peace, an easy prize!
He'll weave, forsooth, into his flaxen locks 115
The olive branch, the hard-earn'd ornament
Of this grey head, grown grey beneath the helmet.
_Anspessade._ That shall he not, while we can hinder it!
No one, but thou, who hast conducted it
With fame, shall end this war, this frightful war. 120
Thou led'st us out into the bloody field
Of death, thou and no other shalt conduct us home,
Rejoicing, to the lovely plains of peace--
Shalt share with us the fruits of the long toil--
_Wallenstein._ What? Think you then at length in late old age 125
To enjoy the fruits of toil? Believe it not.
Never, no never, will you see the end
Of the contest! you and me, and all of us,
This war will swallow up! War, war, not peace,
Is Austria's wish; and therefore, because I 130
Endeavoured after peace, therefore I fall.
For what cares Austria, how long the war
Wears out the armies and lays waste the world?
She will but wax and grow amid the ruin,
And still win new domains.
[_The Cuirassiers express agitation by their gestures._
Ye're moved--I see 135
A noble rage flash from your eyes, ye warriors!
Oh that my spirit might possess you now
Daring as once it led you to the battle!
Ye would stand by me with your veteran arms,
Protect me in my rights; and this is noble! 140
But think not that you can accomplish it,
Your scanty number! to no purpose will you
Have sacrificed you for your General.
No! let us tread securely, seek for friends;
The Swedes have proffered us assistance, let us 145
Wear for a while the appearance of good will,
And use them for your profit, till we both
Carry the fate of Europe in our hands,
And from our camp to the glad jubilant world
Lead Peace forth with the garland on her head! 150
_Anspessade._ 'Tis then but mere appearances which thou
Dost put on with the Swede? Thou'lt not betray
The Emperor? Wilt not turn us into Swedes?
This is the only thing which we desire
To learn from thee.
_Wallenstein._ What care I for the Swedes? 155
I hate them as I hate the pit of hell,
And under Providence I trust right soon
To chase them to their homes across their Baltic.
My cares are only for the whole: I have
A heart--it bleeds within me for the miseries 160
And piteous groaning of my fellow-Germans.
Ye are but common men, but yet ye think
With minds not common; ye appear to me
Worthy before all others, that I whisper ye
A little word or two in confidence! 165
See now! already for full fifteen years
The war-torch has continued burning, yet
No rest, no pause of conflict. Swede and German,
Papist and Lutheran! neither will give way
To the other, every hand's against the other. 170
Each one is party and no one a judge.
Where shall this end? Where's he that will unravel
This tangle, ever tangling more and more.
It must be cut asunder.
I feel that I am the man of destiny, 175
And trust, with your assistance, to accomplish it.
FOOTNOTES:
[745:1] Anspessade, in German, _Gefreiter_, a soldier inferior to a
corporal, but above the centinels. The German name implies that he is
exempt from mounting guard.
LINENOTES:
[21] _whom_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[36] _Wallenstein (interrupting him)._ Who chose you? 1800, 1828, 1829.
[46] Toscana] Toscano 1828, 1829.
[After 50] (_With warmth._) 1800, 1828, 1829.
[141] _you_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 143] [_Confidentially._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[147] your] our 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE IV
_To these enter BUTLER._
_Butler (passionately)._ General! This is not right!
_Wallenstein._ What is not right?
_Butler._ It must needs injure us with all honest men.
_Wallenstein._ But what?
_Butler._ It is an open proclamation
Of insurrection.
_Wallenstein._ Well, well--but what is it?
_Butler._ Count Tertsky's regiments tear the Imperial Eagle 5
From off the banners, and instead of it,
Have reared aloft thy arms.
_Anspessade (abruptly to the Cuirassiers)._ Right about! March!
_Wallenstein._ Cursed be this counsel, and accursed who gave it!
[_To the Cuirassiers, who are retiring._
Halt, children, halt! There's some mistake in this;
Hark!--I will punish it severely. Stop! 10
They do not hear. (_To ILLO._) Go after them, assure them,
And bring them back to me, cost what it may.
[_ILLO hurries out._
This hurls us headlong. Butler! Butler!
You are my evil genius, wherefore must you
Announce it in their presence? It was all 15
In a fair way. They were half won, those madmen
With their improvident over-readiness--
A cruel game is fortune playing with me.
The zeal of friends it is that razes me,
And not the hate of enemies. 20
SCENE V
_To these enter the DUCHESS, who rushes into the Chamber. THEKLA and the
COUNTESS follow her._
_Duchess._ O Albrecht!
What hast thou done?
_Wallenstein._ And now comes this beside.
_Countess._ Forgive me, brother! It was not in my power.
They know all.
_Duchess._ What hast thou done?
_Countess (to Tertsky)._ Is there no hope? Is all lost utterly? 5
_Tertsky._ All lost. No hope. Prague in the Emperor's hands,
The soldiery have ta'en their oaths anew.
_Countess._ That lurking hypocrite. Octavio!
Count Max is off too?
_Tertsky._ Where can he be? He's
Gone over to the Emperor with his father. 10
[_THEKLA rushes out into the arms of her mother, hiding
her face in her bosom._
_Duchess (enfolding her in her arms)._ Unhappy child! and more
unhappy mother!
_Wallenstein (aside to Tertsky)._ Quick! Let a carriage stand in
readiness
In the court behind the palace. Scherfenberg
Be their attendant; he is faithful to us;
To Egra he'll conduct them, and we follow. 15
[_To ILLO, who returns._
Thou hast not brought them back?
_Illo._ Hear'st thou the uproar?
The whole corps of the Pappenheimers is
Drawn out: the younger Piccolomini,
Their colonel, they require; for they affirm,
That he is in the palace here, a prisoner; 20
And if thou dost not instantly deliver him,
They will find means to free him with the sword.
_Tertsky._ What shall we make of this?
_Wallenstein._ Said I not so?
O my prophetic heart! he is still here.
He has not betrayed me--he could not betray me. 25
I never doubted of it.
_Countess._ If he be
Still here, then all goes well; for I know what
[_Embracing THEKLA._
Will keep him here for ever.
_Tertsky._ It can't be.
His father has betrayed us, is gone over
To the Emperor--the son could not have ventured 30
To stay behind.
_Thekla (her eye fixed on the door)._ There he is!
LINENOTES:
[9] _he_ 1800.
[After 22] [_All stand amazed._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE VI
_To these enter MAX PICCOLOMINI._
_Max._ Yes! here he is! I can endure no longer
To creep on tiptoe round this house, and lurk
In ambush for a favourable moment.
This loitering, this suspense exceeds my powers.
[_Advancing to THEKLA._
Turn not thine eyes away. O look upon me! 5
Confess it freely before all. Fear no one,
Let who will hear that we both love each other.
Wherefore continue to conceal it? Secrecy
Is for the happy--misery, hopeless misery,
Needeth no veil! Beneath a thousand suns 10
It dares act openly.
[_He observes the COUNTESS looking on THEKLA with
expressions of triumph._
No, Lady! No!
Expect not, hope it not. I am not come
To stay: to bid farewell, farewell for ever.
For this I come! 'Tis over! I must leave thee!
Thekla, I must--must leave thee! Yet thy hatred 15
Let me not take with me. I pray thee, grant me
One look of sympathy, only one look.
Say that thou dost not hate me. Say it to me, Thekla!
[_Grasps her hand._
O God! I cannot leave this spot--I cannot!
Cannot let go this hand. O tell me, Thekla! 20
That thou dost suffer with me, art convinced
That I cannot act otherwise.
[_THEKLA, avoiding his look, points with her hand to
her father. MAX turns round to the DUKE, whom
he had not till then perceived._
Thou here? It was not thou, whom here I sought.
I trusted never more to have beheld thee.
My business is with her alone. Here will I 25
Receive a full acquittal from this heart--
For any other I am no more concerned.
_Wallenstein._ Think'st thou, that fool-like, I shall let thee go,
And act the mock-magnanimous with thee?
Thy father is become a villain to me; 30
I hold thee for his son, and nothing more:
Nor to no purpose shalt thou have been given
Into my power. Think not, that I will honour
That ancient love, which so remorselessly
He mangled. They are now past by, those hours 35
Of friendship and forgiveness. Hate and vengeance
Succeed--'tis now their turn--I too can throw
All feelings of the man aside--can prove
Myself as much a monster as thy father!
_Max._ Thou wilt proceed with me, as thou hast power. 40
Thou know'st, I neither brave nor fear thy rage.
What has detained me here, that too thou know'st.
[_Taking THEKLA by the hand._
See, Duke! All--all would I have owed to thee,
Would have received from thy paternal hand
The lot of blessed spirits. This hast thou 45
Laid waste for ever--that concerns not thee.
Indifferent thou tramplest in the dust
Their happiness, who most are thine. The god
Whom thou dost serve, is no benignant deity.
Like as the blind irreconcileable 50
Fierce element, incapable of compact,
Thy heart's wild impulse only dost thou follow.[753:1]
_Wallenstein._ Thou art describing thy own father's heart.
The adder! O, the charms of hell o'erpowered me.
He dwelt within me, to my inmost soul 55
Still to and fro he passed, suspected never!
On the wide ocean, in the starry heaven
Did mine eyes seek the enemy, whom I
In my heart's heart had folded! Had I been
To Ferdinand what Octavio was to me, 60
War had I ne'er denounced against him. No,
I never could have done it. The Emperor was
My austere master only, not my friend.
There was already war 'twixt him and me
When he delivered the Commander's Staff 65
Into my hands; for there's a natural
Unceasing war 'twixt cunning and suspicion;
Peace exists only betwixt confidence
And faith. Who poisons confidence, he murders
The future generations.
_Max._ I will not 70
Defend my father. Woe is me, I cannot!
Hard deeds and luckless have ta'en place, one crime
Drags after it the other in close link.
But we are innocent: how have we fallen
Into this circle of mishap and guilt? 75
To whom have we been faithless? Wherefore must
The evil deeds and guilt reciprocal
Of our two fathers twine like serpents round us?
Why must our fathers'
Unconquerable hate rend us asunder,
Who love each other?
_Wallenstein._ Max, remain with me. 80
Go you not from me, Max! Hark! I will tell thee--
How when at Prague, our winter quarters, thou
Wert brought into my tent a tender boy,
Not yet accustomed to the German winters;
Thy hand was frozen to the heavy colours; 85
Thou would'st not let them go.--
At that time did I take thee in my arms,
And with my mantle did I cover thee;
I was thy nurse, no woman could have been
A kinder to thee; I was not ashamed 90
To do for thee all little offices,
However strange to me; I tended thee
Till life returned; and when thine eyes first opened,
I had thee in my arms. Since then, when have I
Altered my feelings towards thee? Many thousands 95
Have I made rich, presented them with lands;
Rewarded them with dignities and honours;
Thee have I loved: my heart, my self, I gave
To thee! They all were aliens: thou wert
Our child and inmate.[755:1] Max! Thou canst not leave me; 100
It cannot be; I may not, will not think
That Max can leave me.
_Max._ O my God!
_Wallenstein._ I have
Held and sustained thee from thy tottering childhood.
What holy bond is there of natural love?
What human tie, that does not knit thee to me? 105
I love thee, Max! What did thy father for thee,
Which I too have not done, to the height of duty?
Go hence, forsake me, serve thy Emperor;
He will reward thee with a pretty chain
Of gold; with his ram's fleece will he reward thee; 110
For that the friend, the father of thy youth,
For that the holiest feeling of humanity,
Was nothing worth to thee.
_Max._ O God! how can I
Do otherwise? Am I not forced to do it?
My oath--my duty--honour--
_Wallenstein._ How? Thy duty? 115
Duty to whom? Who art thou? Max! bethink thee
What duties may'st thou have? If I am acting
A criminal part toward the Emperor,
It is my crime, not thine. Dost thou belong
To thine own self? Art thou thine own commander? 120
Stand'st thou, like me, a freeman in the world,
That in thy actions thou should'st plead free agency?
On me thou'rt planted, I am thy Emperor;
To obey me, to belong to me, this is
Thy honour, this a law of nature to thee! 125
And if the planet, on the which thou liv'st
And hast thy dwelling, from its orbit starts,
It is not in thy choice, whether or no
Thou'lt follow it. Unfelt it whirls thee onward
Together with his ring and all his moons. 130
With little guilt stepp'st thou into this contest,
Thee will the world not censure, it will praise thee,
For that thou heldst thy friend more worth to thee
Than names and influences more removed.
For justice is the virtue of the ruler, 135
Affection and fidelity the subject's.
Not every one doth it beseem to question
The far-off high Arcturus. Most securely
Wilt thou pursue the nearest duty--let
The pilot fix his eye upon the pole-star. 140
FOOTNOTES:
[753:1] I have here ventured to omit a considerable number of lines. I
fear that I should not have done amiss, had I taken this liberty more
frequently. It is, however, incumbent on me to give the original with a
literal translation.
Weh denen die auf dich vertraun, an Dich
Die sichre Hütte ihres Glückes lehnen,
Gelockt von deiner gastlichen Gestalt.
Schnell, unverhofft, bei nächtlich stiller Weile
Gährt's in dem tückschen Feuerschlunde, ladet
Sich aus mit tobender Gewalt, und weg
Treibt über alle Pflanzungen der Menschen
Der wilde Strom in grausender Zerstörung.
WALLENSTEIN.
Du schilderst deines Vaters Herz. Wie Du's
Beschreibst, so ist's in seinem Eingeweide,
In dieser schwarzen Heuchlersbrust gestaltet.
O mich hat Höllenkunst getäuscht. Mir sandte
Der Abgrund den verstecktesten der Geister,
Den Lügekundigsten herauf, und stellt' ihn
Als Freund an meine Seite. Wer vermag
Der Hölle Macht zu widerstehn! Ich zog
Den Basilisken auf an meinem Busen,
Mit meinem Herzblut nährt' ich ihn, er sog
Sich schwelgend voll an meiner Liebe Brüsten.
Ich hatte nimmer Arges gegen ihn,
Weit offen Hess ich des Gedankens Thore,
Und warf die Schlüssel weiser Vorsicht weg,
Am Sternenhimmel, &c.
LITERAL TRANSLATION.
Alas! for those who place their confidence on thee, against thee lean
the secure hut of their fortune, allured by thy hospitable form.
Suddenly, unexpectedly, in a moment still as night, there is a
fermentation in the treacherous gulf of fire; it discharges itself with
raging force, and away over all the plantations of men drives the wild
stream in frightful devastation. WALLENSTEIN. Thou art portraying thy
father's heart; as thou describest, even so is it shaped in his
entrails, in this black hypocrite's breast. O, the art of hell has
deceived me! The Abyss sent up to me the most spotted of the spirits,
the most skilful in lies, and placed him as a friend by my side. Who may
withstand the power of hell? I took the basilisk to my bosom, with my
heart's blood I nourished him; he sucked himself glutfull at the breasts
of my love. I never harboured evil towards him; wide open did I leave
the door of my thoughts; I threw away the key of wise foresight. In the
starry heaven, &c.--We find a difficulty in believing this to have been
written by Schiller. _1800_, _1828_, _1829_. I have here ventured to
omit a considerable number of lines, which it is difficult to believe
that Schiller could have written. _1834_.
[755:1] This is a poor and inadequate translation of the affectionate
simplicity of the original--
Sie alle waren Fremdlinge, _Du_ warst
Das Kind des Hauses.
Indeed the whole speech is in the best style of Massinger. _O si sic
omnia!_
LINENOTES:
[After 4] [_Advancing to THEKLA, who has thrown herself into her
mother's arms._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[14] _must_ leave 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 40] _Max (calmly)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[60] _Ferdinand . . . me_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[98] _lov'd_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[117] _thou_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[124] _me . . . belong_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE VII
_To these enter NEUMANN._
_Wallenstein._ What now?
_Neumann._ The Pappenheimers are dismounted,
And are advancing now on foot, determined
With sword in hand to storm the house, and free
The Count, their colonel.
_Wallenstein (to Tertsky)._ Have the cannon planted.
I will receive them with chain-shot. [_Exit TERTSKY._ 5
Prescribe to me with sword in hand! Go, Neumann!
'Tis my command that they retreat this moment,
And in their ranks in silence wait my pleasure.
[_NEUMANN exit. ILLO steps to the window._
_Countess._ Let him go, I entreat thee, let him go.
_Illo (at the window)._ Hell and perdition!
_Wallenstein._ What is it? 10
_Illo._ They scale the council-house, the roof's uncovered.
They level at this house the cannon----
_Max._ Madmen!
_Illo._ They are making preparations now to fire on us.
_Duchess and Countess._ Merciful Heaven!
_Max (to Wallenstein)._ Let me go to them!
_Wallenstein._ Not a step!
_Max (pointing to Thekla and the Duchess)._ But their life!
Thine! 15
_Wallenstein._ What tidings bring'st thou, Tertsky?
SCENE VIII
_To these TERTSKY (returning)._
_Tertsky._ Message and greeting from our faithful regiments.
Their ardour may no longer be curbed in.
They intreat permission to commence the attack,
And if thou would'st but give the word of onset,
They could now charge the enemy in rear, 5
Into the city wedge them, and with ease
O'erpower them in the narrow streets.
_Illo._ O come!
Let not their ardour cool. The soldiery
Of Butler's corps stand by us faithfully;
We are the greater number. Let us charge them, 10
And finish here in Pilsen the revolt.
_Wallenstein._ What? shall this town become a field of slaughter,
And brother-killing Discord, fire-eyed,
Be let loose through its streets to roam and rage?
Shall the decision be delivered over 15
To deaf remorseless Rage, that hears no leader?
Here is not room for battle, only for butchery.
Well, let it be! I have long thought of it,
So let it burst then! [_Turns to MAX._
Well, how is it with thee?
Wilt thou attempt a heat with me. Away! 20
Thou art free to go. Oppose thyself to me,
Front against front, and lead them to the battle;
Thou'rt skilled in war, thou hast learned somewhat under me,
I need not be ashamed of my opponent,
And never had'st thou fairer opportunity 25
To pay me for thy schooling.
_Countess._ Is it then,
Can it have come to this?--What! Cousin, Cousin!
Have you the heart?
_Max._ The regiments that are trusted to my care
I have pledged my troth to bring away from Pilsen 30
True to the Emperor, and this promise will I
Make good, or perish. More than this no duty
Requires of me. I will not fight against thee,
Unless compelled; for though an enemy,
Thy head is holy to me still. 35
[_Two reports of cannon. ILLO and TERTSKY hurry to the
window._
_Wallenstein._ What's that?
_Tertsky._ He falls.
_Wallenstein._ Falls! Who?
_Illo._ Tiefenbach's corps
Discharged the ordnance.
_Wallenstein._ Upon whom?
_Illo._ On Neumann,
Your messenger.
_Wallenstein (starting up)._ Ha! Death and hell! I will--
_Tertsky._ Expose thyself to their blind frenzy?
_Duchess and Countess._ No!
For God's sake, no!
_Illo._ Not yet, my General! 40
_Countess._ O, hold him! hold him!
_Wallenstein._ Leave me----
_Max._ Do it not
Not yet! This rash and bloody deed has thrown them
Into a frenzy-fit--allow them time----
_Wallenstein._ Away! too long already have I loitered.
They are emboldened to these outrages, 45
Beholding not my face. They shall behold
My countenance, shall hear my voice----
Are they not my troops? Am I not their General,
And their long-feared commander? Let me see,
Whether indeed they do no longer know 50
That countenance, which was their sun in battle!
From the balcony (mark!) I shew myself
To these rebellious forces, and at once
Revolt is mounded, and the high-swoln current
Shrinks back into the old bed of obedience. 55
[_Exit WALLENSTEIN; ILLO, TERTSKY, and BUTLER follow._
LINENOTES:
[48] _my_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE IX
_COUNTESS, DUCHESS, MAX, and THEKLA._
_Countess (to the Duchess)._ Let them but see him--there is hope
still, sister.
_Duchess._ Hope! I have none!
_Max (who during the last scene has been standing at a distance,
advances)._ This can I not endure.
With most determined soul did I come hither,
My purposed action seemed unblameable
To my own conscience--and I must stand here 5
Like one abhorred, a hard inhuman being;
Yea, loaded with the curse of all I love!
Must see all whom I love in this sore anguish,
Whom I with one word can make happy--O!
My heart revolts within me, and two voices 10
Make themselves audible within my bosom.
My soul's benighted; I no longer can
Distinguish the right track. O, well and truly
Didst thou say, father, I relied too much
On my own heart. My mind moves to and fro-- 15
I know not what to do.
_Countess._ What! you know not?
Does not your own heart tell you? O! then I
Will tell it you. Your father is a traitor,
A frightful traitor to us--he has plotted
Against our General's life, has plunged us all 20
In misery--and you're his son! 'Tis yours
To make the amends--Make you the son's fidelity
Outweigh the father's treason, that the name
Of Piccolomini be not a proverb
Of infamy, a common form of cursing 25
To the posterity of Wallenstein.
_Max._ Where is that voice of truth which I dare follow?
It speaks no longer in my heart. We all
But utter what our passionate wishes dictate:
O that an angel would descend from Heaven, 30
And scoop for me the right, the uncorrupted,
With a pure hand from the pure Fount of Light.
[_His eyes glance on THEKLA._
What other angel seek I? To this heart,
To this unerring heart, will I submit it,
Will ask thy love, which has the power to bless 35
The happy man alone, averted ever
From the disquieted and guilty--canst thou
Still love me, if I stay? Say that thou canst,
And I am the Duke's----
_Countess._ Think, niece----
_Max._ Think nothing, Thekla!
Speak what thou feelest.
_Countess._ Think upon your father. 40
_Max._ I did not question thee, as Friedland's daughter.
Thee, the beloved and the unerring god
Within thy heart, I question. What's at stake?
Not whether diadem of royalty
Be to be won or not--that might'st thou think on. 45
Thy friend, and his soul's quiet, are at stake;
The fortune of a thousand gallant men,
Who will all follow me; shall I forswear
My oath and duty to the Emperor?
Say, shall I send into Octavio's camp 50
The parricidal ball? For when the ball
Has left its cannon, and is on its flight,
It is no longer a dead instrument!
It lives, a spirit passes into it,
The avenging furies seize possession of it, 55
And with sure malice guide it the worst way.
_Thekla._ O! Max----
_Max._ Nay, not precipitately either, Thekla.
I understand thee. To thy noble heart
The hardest duty might appear the highest.
The human, not the great part, would I act. 60
Ev'n from my childhood to this present hour,
Think what the Duke has done for me, how loved me,
And think too, how my father has repaid him.
O likewise the free lovely impulses
Of hospitality, the pious friend's 65
Faithful attachment, these too are a holy
Religion to the heart; and heavily
The shudderings of nature do avenge
Themselves on the barbarian that insults them.
Lay all upon the balance, all--then speak, 70
And let thy heart decide it.
_Thekla._ O, thy own
Hath long ago decided. Follow thou
Thy heart's first feeling----
_Countess._ Oh! ill-fated woman!
_Thekla._ Is it possible, that that can be the right,
The which thy tender heart did not at first 75
Detect and seize with instant impulse? Go,
Fulfil thy duty! I should ever love thee.
Whate'er thou had'st chosen, thou would'st still have acted
Nobly and worthy of thee--but repentance
Shall ne'er disturb thy soul's fair peace.
_Max._ Then I 80
Must leave thee, must part from thee!
_Thekla._ Being faithful
To thine own self, thou art faithful too to me:
If our fates part, our hearts remain united.
A bloody hatred will divide for ever
The houses Piccolomini and Friedland; 85
But we belong not to our houses--Go!
Quick! quick! and separate thy righteous cause
From our unholy and unblessed one!
The curse of heaven lies upon our head:
'Tis dedicate to ruin. Even me 90
My father's guilt drags with it to perdition.
Mourn not for me:
My destiny will quickly be decided.
[_MAX clasps her in his arms. There is heard from behind
the Scene a loud, wild, long continued cry, 'Vivat
Ferdinandus,' accompanied by warlike instruments._
LINENOTES:
[Before 3] _Max (who . . . distance in a visible struggle of feelings,
advances)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[22] _amends_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[23] _Outweigh_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[28] _my_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[37] _can'st_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[40] _feelest_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[45] _think_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[46] _his_ _1800_.]
[57] _Max (interrupting her)._ Nay, &c. 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 92] [_MAX . . . in extreme emotion. There is . . . instruments.
MAX and THEKLA remain without motion in each other's embraces._ 1800,
1828, 1829.
SCENE X
_To these enter TERTSKY._
_Countess (meeting him)._ What meant that cry? What was it?
_Tertsky._ All is
lost!
_Countess._ What! they regarded not his countenance?
_Tertsky._ 'Twas all in vain.
_Duchess._ They shouted Vivat!
_Tertsky._ To the Emperor.
_Countess._ The traitors!
_Tertsky._ Nay! he was not once permitted
Even to address them. Soon as he began, 5
With deafening noise of warlike instruments
They drowned his words. But here he comes.
SCENE XI
_To these enter WALLENSTEIN, accompanied by ILLO and BUTLER._
_Wallenstein (as he enters)._ Tertsky!
_Tertsky._ My General?
_Wallenstein._ Let our regiments hold themselves
In readiness to march; for we shall leave
Pilsen ere evening. [_Exit TERTSKY._
Butler!
_Butler._ Yes, my General.
_Wallenstein._ The Governor at Egra is your friend 5
And countryman. Write to him instantly
By a Post Courier. He must be advised,
That we are with him early on the morrow.
You follow us yourself, your regiment with you.
_Butler._ It shall be done, my General!
_Wallenstein (steps between Max and Thekla)._ Part!
_Max._ O God! 10
[Cuirassiers _enter with drawn swords, and assemble in
the back-ground. At the same time there are heard
from below some spirited passages out of the
Pappenheim March, which seem to address MAX._
_Wallenstein (to the Cuirassiers)._ Here he is, he is at liberty: I
keep him
No longer.
[_He turns away, and stands so that MAX cannot pass by
him nor approach the PRINCESS._
_Max._ Thou know'st that I have not yet learnt to live
Without thee! I go forth into a desert,
Leaving my all behind me. O do not turn 15
Thine eyes away from me! O once more shew me
Thy ever dear and honoured countenance.
[_MAX attempts to take his hand, but is repelled; he
turns to the COUNTESS._
Is there no eye that has a look of pity for me?
[_The COUNTESS turns away from him; he turns to the
DUCHESS._
My mother!
_Duchess._ Go where duty calls you. Haply
The time may come, when you may prove to us 20
A true friend, a good angel at the throne
Of the Emperor.
_Max._ You give me hope; you would not
Suffer me wholly to despair. No! No!
Mine is a certain misery--Thanks to heaven
That offers me a means of ending it. 25
[_The military music begins again. The stage fills more
and more with armed men. MAX sees BUTLER, and
addresses him._
And you here, Colonel Butler--and will you
Not follow me? Well, then! remain more faithful
To your new lord, than you have proved yourself
To the Emperor. Come, Butler! promise me,
Give me your hand upon it, that you'll be 30
The guardian of his life, its shield, its watchman.
He is attainted, and his princely head
Fair booty for each slave that trades in murder.
Now he doth need the faithful eye of friendship,
And those whom here I see--
[_Casting suspicious looks on ILLO and BUTLER._
_Illo._ Go--seek for traitors 35
In Galas', in your father's quarters. Here
Is only one. Away! away! and free us
From his detested sight! Away!
[_MAX attempts once more to approach THEKLA. WALLENSTEIN
prevents him. MAX stands irresolute, and in
apparent anguish. In the mean time the stage fills
more and more; and the horns sound from below
louder and louder, and each time after a shorter
interval._
_Max._ Blow, blow! O were it but the Swedish Trumpets,
And all the naked swords, which I see here, 40
Were plunged into my breast! What purpose you?
You come to tear me from this place! Beware,
Ye drive me not in desperation.--Do it not!
Ye may repent it!
[_The stage is entirely filled with armed men._
Yet more! weight upon weight to drag me down! 45
Think what ye're doing. It is not well done
To choose a man despairing for your leader;
You tear me from my happiness. Well, then,
I dedicate your souls to vengeance. Mark!
For your own ruin you have chosen me: 50
Who goes with me, must be prepared to perish.
[_He turns to the background, there ensues a sudden and
violent movement among the_ Cuirassiers; _they
surround him, and carry him off in wild tumult.
WALLENSTEIN remains immovable. THEKLA sinks into
her mother's arms. The curtain falls. The music
becomes loud and overpowering, and passes into a
complete war-march--the orchestra joins it--and
continues during the interval between the second
and third Act._
LINENOTES:
[10] _Wallenstein (steps between Max and Thekla, who have remained
during this time in each others arms)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
ACT III
SCENE I
_The_ Burgomaster's _House at Egra._
_BUTLER._
_Butler._ Here then he is, by his destiny conducted.
Here, Friedland! and no farther! From Bohemia
Thy meteor rose, traversed the sky awhile,
And here upon the borders of Bohemia
Must sink.
Thou hast forsworn the ancient colours, 5
Blind man! yet trustest to thy ancient fortunes.
Profaner of the altar and the hearth,
Against thy Emperor and fellow-citizens
Thou mean'st to wage the war. Friedland, beware--
The evil spirit of revenge impels thee-- 10
Beware thou, that revenge destroy thee not!
LINENOTES:
[Before 1] _Butler (just arrived)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE II
_BUTLER and GORDON._
_Gordon._ Is it you?
How my heart sinks! The Duke a fugitive traitor!
His princely head attainted! O my God!
_Butler._ You have received the letter which I sent you
By a post-courier?
_Gordon._ Yes! and in obedience to it 5
Opened the strong hold to him without scruple.
For an imperial letter orders me
To follow your commands implicitly.
But yet forgive me; when even now I saw
The Duke himself, my scruples recommenced. 10
For truly, not like an attainted man,
Into this town did Friedland make his entrance;
His wonted majesty beamed from his brow,
And calm, as in the days when all was right,
Did he receive from me the accounts of office; 15
'Tis said, that fallen pride learns condescension:
But sparing and with dignity the Duke
Weighed every syllable of approbation,
As masters praise a servant who has done
His duty, and no more.
_Butler._ 'Tis all precisely 20
As I related in my letter. Friedland
Has sold the army to the enemy,
And pledged himself to give up Prague and Egra.
On this report the regiments all forsook him,
The five excepted that belong to Tertsky, 25
And which have followed him, as thou hast seen.
The sentence of attainder is passed on him,
And every loyal subject is required
To give him in to justice, dead or living.
_Gordon._ A traitor to the Emperor--Such a noble! 30
Of such high talents! What is human greatness!
I often said, this can't end happily.
His might, his greatness, and this obscure power
Are but a covered pit-fall. The human being
May not be trusted to self-government. 35
The clear and written law, the deep trod foot-marks
Of ancient custom, are all necessary
To keep him in the road of faith and duty.
The authority entrusted to this man
Was unexampled and unnatural 40
It placed him on a level with his Emperor,
Till the proud soul unlearned submission. Wo is me;
I mourn for him! for where he fell, I deem
Might none stand firm. Alas! dear General,
We in our lucky mediocrity 45
Have ne'er experienced, cannot calculate,
What dangerous wishes such a height may breed
In the heart of such a man.
_Butler._ Spare your laments
Till he need sympathy; for at this present
He is still mighty, and still formidable. 50
The Swedes advance to Egra by forced marches,
And quickly will the junction be accomplished.
This must not be! The Duke must never leave
This strong hold on free footing; for I have
Pledged life and honour here to hold him prisoner, 55
And your assistance 'tis on which I calculate.
_Gordon._ O that I had not lived to see this day!
From his hand I received this dignity,
He did himself entrust this strong hold to me,
Which I am now required to make his dungeon. 60
We subalterns have no will of our own:
The free, the mighty man alone may listen
To the fair impulse of his human nature.
Ah! we are but the poor tools of the law,
Obedience the sole virtue we dare aim at! 65
_Butler._ Nay, let it not afflict you, that your power
Is circumscribed. Much liberty, much error!
The narrow path of duty is securest.
_Gordon._ And all then have deserted him, you say?
He has built up the luck of many thousands; 70
For kingly was his spirit: his full hand
Was ever open! Many a one from dust
Hath he selected, from the very dust
Hath raised him into dignity and honour.
And yet no friend, not one friend hath he purchased, 75
Whose heart beats true to him in the evil hour.
_Butler._ Here's one, I see.
_Gordon._ I have enjoyed from him
No grace or favour. I could almost doubt,
If ever in his greatness he once thought on
An old friend of his youth. For still my office 80
Kept me at distance from him; and when first
He to this citadel appointed me,
He was sincere and serious in his duty.
I do not then abuse his confidence,
If I preserve my fealty in that 85
Which to my fealty was first delivered.
_Butler._ Say, then, will you fulfil the attainder on him?
_Gordon._ If it be so--if all be as you say--
If he've betrayed the Emperor, his master,
Have sold the troops, have purposed to deliver 90
The strong holds of the country to the enemy--
Yea, truly!---there is no redemption for him!
Yet it is hard, that me the lot should destine
To be the instrument of his perdition;
For we were pages at the court of Bergau 95
At the same period; but I was the senior.
_Butler._ I have heard so----
_Gordon._ 'Tis full thirty years since then.
A youth who scarce had seen his twentieth year
Was Wallenstein, when he and I were friends:
Yet even then he had a daring soul: 100
His frame of mind was serious and severe
Beyond his years: his dreams were of great objects.
He walked amidst us of a silent spirit,
Communing with himself: yet I have known him
Transported on a sudden into utterance 105
Of strange conceptions; kindling into splendour
His soul revealed itself, and he spake so
That we looked round perplexed upon each other,
Not knowing whether it were craziness,
Or whether it were a god that spoke in him. 110
_Butler._ But was it where he fell two story high
From a window-ledge, on which he had fallen asleep;
And rose up free from injury? From this day
(It is reported) he betrayed clear marks
Of a distempered fancy.
_Gordon._ He became 115
Doubtless more self-enwrapt and melancholy;
He made himself a Catholic. Marvellously
His marvellous preservation had transformed him.
Thenceforth he held himself for an exempted
And privileged being, and, as if he were 120
Incapable of dizziness or fall,
He ran along the unsteady rope of life.
But now our destinies drove us asunder:
He paced with rapid step the way of greatness,
Was Count, and Prince, Duke-regent, and Dictator. 125
And now is all, all this too little for him;
He stretches forth his hands for a king's crown,
And plunges in unfathomable ruin.
_Butler._ No more, he comes.
LINENOTES:
[After 72] [_With a sly glance on BUTLER._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 88] _Gordon (pauses reflecting--then as in deep dejection)._
1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE III
_To these enter WALLENSTEIN, in conversation with the_ Burgomaster _of
Egra._
_Wallenstein._ You were at one time a free town. I see,
Ye bear the half eagle in your city arms.
Why the half eagle only?
_Burgomaster._ We were free,
But for these last two hundred years has Egra
Remained in pledge to the Bohemian crown, 5
Therefore we bear the half eagle, the other half
Being cancelled till the empire ransom us,
If ever that should be.
_Wallenstein._ Ye merit freedom.
Only be firm and dauntless. Lend your ears
To no designing whispering court-minions. 10
What may your imposts be?
_Burgomaster._ So heavy that
We totter under them. The garrison
Lives at our costs.
_Wallenstein._ I will relieve you. Tell me,
There are some Protestants among you still?
[_The_ Burgomaster _hesitates._
Yes, yes; I know it. Many lie concealed 15
Within these walls--Confess now--you yourself--
Be not alarmed. I hate the Jesuits.
Could my will have determined it, they had
Been long ago expelled the empire. Trust me--
Mass-book or Bible--'tis all one to me. 20
Of that the world has had sufficient proof.
I built a church for the reformed in Glogan
At my own instance. Hark'e, Burgomaster!
What is your name?
_Burgomaster._ Pachhälbel, may it please you.
_Wallenstein._ Hark'e!---- 25
But let it go no further, what I now
Disclose to you in confidence.
[_Laying his hand on the_ Burgomaster's _shoulder._
The times
Draw near to their fulfilment, Burgomaster!
The high will fall, the low will be exalted.
Hark'e! But keep it to yourself! The end 30
Approaches of the Spanish double monarchy--
A new arrangement is at hand. You saw
The three moons that appeared at once in the Heaven.
_Burgomaster._ With wonder and affright!
_Wallenstein._ Whereof did two
Strangely transform themselves to bloody daggers. 35
And only one, the middle moon, remained
Steady and clear.
_Burgomaster._ We applied it to the Turks.
_Wallenstein._ The Turks! That all?--I tell you, that two empires
Will set in blood, in the East and in the West,
And Luth'ranism alone remain. [_Observing GORDON and BUTLER._
I'faith, 40
'Twas a smart cannonading that we heard
This evening, as we journeyed hitherward;
'Twas on our left hand. Did you hear it here?
_Gordon._ Distinctly. The wind brought it from the South.
_Butler._ It seemed to come from Weiden or from Neustadt. 45
_Wallenstein._ Tis likely. That's the route the Swedes are taking.
How strong is the garrison?
_Gordon._ Not quite two hundred
Competent men, the rest are invalids.
_Wallenstein._ Good! And how many in the vale of Jochim?
_Gordon._ Two hundred arquebussiers have I sent thither 50
To fortify the posts against the Swedes.
_Wallenstein._ Good! I commend your foresight. At the works too
You have done somewhat?
_Gordon._ Two additional batteries
I caused to be run up. They were needless.
The Rhinegrave presses hard upon us, General! 55
_Wallenstein._ You have been watchful in your Emperor's service.
I am content with you, Lieutenant-Colonel. [_To BUTLER._
Release the outposts in the vale of Jochim
With all the stations in the enemy's route. [_To GORDON._
Governor, in your faithful hands I leave 60
My wife, my daughter, and my sister. I
Shall make no stay here, and wait but the arrival
Of letters, to take leave of you, together
With all the regiments.
LINENOTES:
[2] _half_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 16] [_Fixes his eye on him. The_ Burgomaster _alarmed._ 1800,
1828, 1829.
[27]
Disclose to you in confidence. [_Laying . . . shoulder with a
certain solemnity._
1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE IV
_To these enter COUNT TERTSKY._
_Tertsky._ Joy, General; joy! I bring you welcome tidings.
_Wallenstein._ And what may they be?
_Tertsky._ There has been an engagement
At Neustadt; the Swedes gained the victory.
_Wallenstein._ From whence did you receive the intelligence?
_Tertsky._ A countryman from Tirschenseil conveyed it. 5
Soon after sunrise did the fight begin!
A troop of the Imperialists from Fachau
Had forced their way into the Swedish camp;
The cannonade continued full two hours;
There were left dead upon the field a thousand 10
Imperialists, together with their Colonel;
Further than this he did not know.
_Wallenstein._ How came
Imperial troops at Neustadt? Altringer,
But yesterday, stood sixty miles from there.
Count Galas' force collects at Frauenberg, 15
And have not the full complement. Is it possible,
That Suys perchance had ventured so far onward?
It cannot be.
_Tertsky._ We shall soon know the whole,
For here comes Illo, full of haste, and joyous.
SCENE V
_To these enter ILLO._
_Illo (to Wallenstein)._ A courier, Duke! he wishes to speak with
thee.
_Tertsky._ Does he bring confirmation of the victory?
_Wallenstein._ What does he bring? Whence comes he?
_Illo._ From the
Rhinegrave.
And what he brings I can announce to you
Beforehand. Seven leagues distant are the Swedes; 5
At Neustadt did Max Piccolomini
Throw himself on them with the cavalry;
A murderous fight took place! o'erpower'd by numbers
The Pappenheimers all, with Max their leader,
Were left dead on the field. 10
_Wallenstein (after a pause)._ Where is the messenger? Conduct me
to him.
[_WALLENSTEIN is going, when LADY NEUBRUNN rushes into
the room. Some servants follow her and run across
the stage._
_Neubrunn._ Help! Help!
_Illo and Tertsky (at the same time)._ What now?
_Neubrunn._ The Princess!
_Wallenstein and Tertsky._ Does she know it?
_Neubrunn._ She is dying!
[_Hurries off the stage, when WALLENSTEIN and TERTSKY
follow her._
LINENOTES:
[Before 2] _Tertsky (eagerly)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 3] _Wallenstein (at the same time)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 9] [_WALLENSTEIN shudders and turns pale._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 11] _Wallenstein (after a pause, in a low voice)._ 1800, 1828,
1829.
[13] _Neubrunn (at the same time with them)._ She is dying! 1800, 1828,
1829.
SCENE VI
_BUTLER and GORDON._
_Gordon._ What's this?
_Butler._ She has lost the man she lov'd--
Young Piccolomini, who fell in the battle.
_Gordon._ Unfortunate Lady!
_Butler._ You have heard what Illo
Reporteth, that the Swedes are conquerors,
And marching hitherward.
_Gordon._ Too well I heard it. 5
_Butler._ They are twelve regiments strong, and there are five
Close by us to protect the Duke. We have
Only my single regiment; and the garrison
Is not two hundred strong.
_Gordon._ 'Tis even so.
_Butler._ It is not possible with such small force 10
To hold in custody a man like him.
_Gordon._ I grant it.
_Butler._ Soon the numbers would disarm us.
And liberate him.
_Gordon._ It were to be feared.
_Butler (after a pause)._ Know, I am warranty for the event;
With my head have I pledged myself for his, 15
Must make my word good, cost it what it will,
And if alive we cannot hold him prisoner,
Why--death makes all things certain!
_Gordon._ Butler! What?
Do I understand you? Gracious God! You could--
_Butler._ He must not live.
_Gordon._ And you can do the deed! 20
_Butler._ Either you or I. This morning was his last.
_Gordon._ You would assassinate him.
_Butler._ 'Tis my purpose.
_Gordon._ Who leans with his whole confidence upon you!
_Butler._ Such is his evil destiny!
_Gordon._ Your General!
The sacred person of your General! 25
_Butler._ My General he has been.
_Gordon._ That 'tis only
A '_has been_' washes out no villainy.
And without judgment passed?
_Butler._ The execution
Is here instead of judgment.
_Gordon._ This were murder,
Not justice. The most guilty should be heard. 30
_Butler._ His guilt is clear, the Emperor has passed judgment,
And we but execute his will.
_Gordon._ We should not
Hurry to realize a bloody sentence.
A word may be recalled, a life can never be.
_Butler._ Dispatch in service pleases sovereigns. 35
_Gordon._ No honest man's ambitious to press forward
To the hangman's service.
_Butler._ And no brave man loses
His colour at a daring enterprize.
_Gordon._ A brave man hazards life, but not his conscience.
_Butler._ What then? Shall he go forth anew to kindle 40
The unextinguishable flame of war?
_Gordon._ Seize him, and hold him prisoner--do not kill him.
_Butler._ Had not the Emperor's army been defeated,
I might have done so.--But 'tis now past by.
_Gordon._ O, wherefore opened I the strong hold to him! 45
_Butler._ His destiny and not the place destroys him.
_Gordon._ Upon these ramparts, as beseemed a soldier,
I had fallen, defending the Emperor's citadel!
_Butler._ Yes! and a thousand gallant men have perished.
_Gordon._ Doing their duty--that adorns the man! 50
But murder's a black deed, and nature curses it.
_Butler (brings out a paper)._ Here is the manifesto which
commands us
To gain possession of his person. See--
It is addressed to you as well as me.
Are you content to take the consequences, 55
If through our fault he escape to the enemy?
_Gordon._ I?--Gracious God!
_Butler._ Take it on yourself.
Let come of it what may, on you I lay it.
_Gordon._ O God in heaven!
_Butler._ Can you advise aught else
Wherewith to execute the Emperor's purpose? 60
Say if you can. For I desire his fall,
Not his destruction.
_Gordon._ Merciful heaven! what must be
I see as clear as you. Yet still the heart
Within my bosom beats with other feelings!
_Butler._ Mine is of harder stuff! Necessity 65
In her rough school hath steeled me. And this Illo
And Tertsky likewise, they must not survive him.
_Gordon._ I feel no pang for these. Their own bad hearts
Impelled them, not the influence of the stars.
'Twas they who strewed the seeds of evil passions 70
In his calm breast, and with officious villainy
Watered and nursed the pois'nous plants. May they
Receive their earnests to the uttermost mite!
_Butler._ And their death shall precede his!
We meant to have taken them alive this evening 75
Amid the merry-making of a feast,
And kept them prisoners in the citadels.
But this makes shorter work. I go this instant
To give the necessary orders.
LINENOTES:
[19] _You_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[20] _you_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[26] _has been_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[58] Come of it what it may, on you I lay it. 1800, 1828, 1829.
[77] kept] keep 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE VII
_To these enter ILLO and TERTSKY._
_Tertsky._ Our luck is on the turn. To-morrow come
The Swedes--twelve thousand gallant warriors, Illo!
Then straightways for Vienna. Cheerily, friend!
What! meet such news with such a moody face?
_Illo._ It lies with us at present to prescribe 5
Laws, and take vengeance on those worthless traitors,
Those skulking cowards that deserted us;
One has already done his bitter penance
The Piccolomini, be his the fate
Of all who wish us evil! This flies sure 10
To the old man's heart; he has his whole life long
Fretted and toiled to raise his ancient house
From a Count's title to the name of Prince;
And now must seek a grave for his only son.
_Butler._ 'Twas pity though! A youth of such heroic 15
And gentle temperament! The Duke himself,
'Twas easily seen, how near it went to his heart.
_Illo._ Hark'e, old friend! That is the very point
That never pleased me in our General--
He ever gave the preference to the Italians. 20
Yea, at this very moment, by my soul!
He'd gladly see us all dead ten times over,
Could he thereby recall his friend to life.
_Tertsky._ Hush, hush! Let the dead rest! This evening's business
Is, who can fairly drink the other down-- 25
Your regiment, Illo! gives the entertainment.
Come! we will keep a merry carnival--
The night for once be day, and mid full glasses
Will we expect the Swedish Avantgarde.
_Illo._ Yes, let us be of good cheer for to-day, 30
For there's hot work before us, friends! This sword
Shall have no rest, till it be bathed to the hilt
In Austrian blood.
_Gordon._ Shame, shame! what talk is this,
My Lord Field Marshal? Wherefore foam you so
Against your Emperor?
_Butler._ Hope not too much 35
From this first victory. Bethink you, sirs!
How rapidly the wheel of Fortune turns;
The Emperor still is formidably strong.
_Illo._ The Emperor has soldiers, no commander,
For this King Ferdinand of Hungary 40
Is but a tyro. Galas? He's no luck,
And was of old the ruiner of armies.
And then this viper, this Octavio,
Is excellent at stabbing in the back,
But ne'er meets Friedland in the open field. 45
_Tertsky._ Trust me, my friends, it cannot but succeed;
Fortune, we know, can ne'er forsake the Duke!
And only under Wallenstein can Austria
Be conqueror.
_Illo._ The Duke will soon assemble
A mighty army, all come crowding, streaming 50
To banners dedicate by destiny
To fame and prosperous fortune. I behold
Old times come back again, he will become
Once more the mighty Lord which he has been.
How will the fools, who've now deserted him, 55
Look then? I can't but laugh to think of them,
For lands will he present to all his friends,
And like a King and Emperor reward
True services; but we've the nearest claims. [_To GORDON._
You will not be forgotten, Governor! 60
He'll take you from this nest and bid you shine
In higher station: your fidelity
Well merits it.
_Gordon._ I am content already,
And wish to climb no higher; where great height is
The fall must needs be great. 'Great height, great depth.' 65
_Illo._ Here you have no more business for to-morrow;
The Swedes will take possession of the citadel.
Come, Tertsky, it is supper-time. What think you?
Say, shall we have the State illuminated
In honour of the Swede? And who refuses 70
To do it is a Spaniard and a traitor.
_Tertsky._ Nay! Nay! not that, it will not please the Duke--
_Illo._ What! we are masters here; no soul shall dare
Avow himself imperial where we've rule.
Gordon! Good night, and for the last time, take 75
A fair leave of the place. Send out patroles
To make secure, the watch-word may be altered
At the stroke of ten; deliver in the keys
To the Duke himself, and then you're quit for ever
Your wardship of the gates, for on to-morrow 80
The Swedes will take possession of the citadel.
_Tertsky (as he is going, to Butler)._ You come though to the
castle.
_Butler._ At the right time. [_Exeunt TERTSKY and ILLO._
LINENOTES:
[50] come] comes 1800, 1828, 1829.
[74] Avow himself imperial where we've the rule. 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE VIII
_GORDON and BUTLER._
_Gordon (looking after them)._ Unhappy men! How free from all
foreboding!
They rush into the outspread net of murder,
In the blind drunkenness of victory;
I have no pity for their fate. This Illo,
This overflowing and fool-hardy villain 5
That would fain bathe himself in his Emperor's blood.
_Butler._ Do as he ordered you. Send round patroles.
Take measures for the citadel's security;
When they are within I close the castle gate
That nothing may transpire.
_Gordon._ Oh! haste not so! 10
Nay, stop; first tell me----
_Butler._ You have heard already,
To-morrow to the Swedes belongs. This night
Alone is ours. They make good expedition.
But we will make still greater. Fare you well.
_Gordon._ Ah! your looks tell me nothing good. Nay, Butler, 15
I pray you, promise me!
_Butler._ The sun has set;
A fateful evening doth descend upon us,
And brings on their long night! Their evil stars
Deliver them unarmed into our hands.
And from their drunken dream of golden fortunes 20
The dagger at their heart shall rouse them. Well,
The Duke was ever a great calculator;
His fellow-men were figures on his chess-board,
To move and station, as his game required.
Other men's honour, dignity, good name, 25
Did he shift like pawns, and made no conscience of it:
Still calculating, calculating still;
And yet at last his calculation proves
Erroneous; the whole game is lost; and lo!
His own life will be found among the forfeits. 30
_Gordon._ O think not of his errors now; remember
His greatness, his munificence, think on all
The lovely features of his character,
On all the noble exploits of his life,
And let them, like an angel's arm, unseen 35
Arrest the lifted sword.
_Butler._ It is too late.
I suffer not myself to feel compassion,
Dark thoughts and bloody are my duty now:
[_Grasping GORDON'S hand._
Gordon! 'Tis not my hatred (I pretend not
To love the Duke, and have no cause to love him) 40
Yet 'tis not now my hatred that impels me
To be his murderer. 'Tis his evil fate.
Hostile concurrences of many events
Control and subjugate me to the office.
In vain the human being meditates 45
Free action. He is but the wire-worked[777:1] puppet
Of the blind power, which out of his own choice
Creates for him a dread necessity.
What too would it avail him, if there were
A something pleading for him in my heart-- 50
Still I must kill him.
_Gordon._ If your heart speak to you,
Follow its impulse. 'Tis the voice of God.
Think you your fortunes will grow prosperous
Bedewed with blood--his blood? Believe it not!
_Butler._ You know not. Ask not! Wherefore should it happen, 55
That the Swedes gained the victory, and hasten
With such forced marches hitherward? Fain would I
Have given him to the Emperor's mercy.--Gordon!
I do not wish his blood--But I must ransom
The honour of my word--it lies in pledge-- 60
And he must die, or----
[_Passionately grasping GORDON'S hand._
Listen then, and know!
I am dishonoured if the Duke escape us.
_Gordon._ O! to save such a man----
_Butler._ What!
_Gordon._ It is worth
A sacrifice.--Come, friend! Be noble-minded!
Our own heart, and not other men's opinions, 65
Forms our true honour.
_Butler._ He is a great Lord,
This Duke--and I am but of mean importance.
This is what you would say? Wherein concerns it
The world at large, you mean to hint to me,
Whether the man of low extraction keeps 70
Or blemishes his honour--
So that the man of princely rank be saved.
We all do stamp our value on ourselves.
The price we challenge for ourselves is given us.
There does not live on earth the man so stationed, 75
That I despise myself compared with him.
Man is made great or little by his own will;
Because I am true to mine, therefore he dies.
_Gordon._ I am endeavouring to move a rock.
Thou hadst a mother, yet no human feelings. 80
I cannot hinder you, but may some God
Rescue him from you! [_Exit GORDON._
FOOTNOTES:
[777:1] We doubt the propriety of putting so blasphemous a sentiment in
the mouth of any character.--T[RANSLATOR]. _1800_, _1828_, _1829_.
LINENOTES:
[10] _Gordon (with earnest anxiety)._ Oh! &c. 1800, 1828, 1829.
[38] _duty_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[62] _dishonour'd_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[66] _Butler (with a cold and haughty air)._ He is, &c. 1800, 1828,
1829.
SCENE IX
_Butler (alone)._ I treasured my good name all my life long;
The Duke has cheated me of life's best jewel,
So that I blush before this poor weak Gordon!
He prizes above all his fealty;
His conscious soul accuses him of nothing; 5
In opposition to his own soft heart
He subjugates himself to an iron duty.
Me in a weaker moment passion warped;
I stand beside him, and must feel myself
The worst man of the two. What though the world 10
Is ignorant of my purposed treason, yet
One man does know it, and can prove it too--
High-minded Piccolomini!
There lives the man who can dishonour me!
This ignominy blood alone can cleanse! 15
Duke Friedland, thou or I--Into my own hands
Fortune delivers me--The dearest thing a man has is himself.
(_The curtain drops._)
LINENOTES:
[12] _One_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
ACT IV
SCENE I
SCENE--_BUTLER'S Chamber._
_BUTLER, and MAJOR GERALDIN._
_Butler._ Find me twelve strong dragoons, arm them with pikes,
For there must be no firing----
Conceal them somewhere near the banquet-room,
And soon as the dessert is served up, rush all in
And cry--Who is loyal to the Emperor? 5
I will overturn the table--while you attack
Illo and Tertsky, and dispatch them both.
The castle-palace is well barred and guarded,
That no intelligence of this proceeding
May make its way to the Duke.--Go instantly; 10
Have you yet sent for Captain Devereux
And the Macdonald?----
_Geraldin._ They'll be here anon.
[_Exit GERALDIN._
_Butler._ Here's no room for delay. The citizens
Declare for him, a dizzy drunken spirit
Possesses the whole town. They see in the Duke 15
A Prince of peace, a founder of new ages
And golden times. Arms too have been given out
By the town-council, and a hundred citizens
Have volunteered themselves to stand on guard.
Dispatch then be the word. For enemies 20
Threaten us from without and from within.
SCENE II
_BUTLER, CAPTAIN DEVEREUX, and MACDONALD._
_Macdonald._ Here we are, General.
_Devereux._ What's to be the watchword?
_Butler._ Long live the Emperor!
_Both (recoiling)._ How?
_Butler._ Live the House of Austria!
_Devereux._ Have we not sworn fidelity to Friedland?
_Macdonald._ Have we not marched to this place to protect him?
_Butler._ Protect a traitor, and his country's enemy! 5
_Devereux._ Why, yes! in his name you administered
Our oath.
_Macdonald._ And followed him yourself to Egra.
_Butler._ I did it the more surely to destroy him.
_Devereux._ So then!
_Macdonald._ An altered case!
_Butler (to Devereux)._ Thou wretched man!
So easily leav'st thou thy oath and colours? 10
_Devereux._ The devil!--I but followed your example,
If you could prove a villain, why not we?
_Macdonald._ We've nought to do with thinking--that's your business.
You are our General, and give out the orders;
We follow you, though the track lead to hell. 15
_Butler._ Good then! we know each other.
_Macdonald._ I should hope so.
_Devereux._ Soldiers of fortune are we--who bids most,
He has us.
_Macdonald._ 'Tis e'en so!
_Butler._ Well, for the present
Ye must remain honest and faithful soldiers.
_Devereux._ We wish no other.
_Butler._ Ay, and make your fortunes. 20
_Macdonald._ That is still better.
_Butler._ Listen!
_Both._ We attend.
_Butler._ It is the Emperor's will and ordinance
To seize the person of the Prince-Duke Friedland,
Alive or dead.
_Devereux._ It runs so in the letter.
_Macdonald._ Alive or dead--these were the very words. 25
_Butler._ And he shall be rewarded from the State
In land and gold, who proffers aid thereto.
_Devereux._ Ay? That sounds well. The words sound always well
That travel hither from the Court. Yes! yes!
We know already what Court-words import. 30
A golden chain perhaps in sign of favour,
Or an old charger, or a parchment patent,
And such like.--The Prince-duke pays better.
_Macdonald._ Yes,
The Duke's a splendid paymaster.
_Butler._ All over
With that, my friends! His lucky stars are set. 35
_Macdonald._ And is that certain?
_Butler._ You have my word for it.
_Devereux._ His lucky fortunes all past by?
_Butler._ For ever.
He is as poor as we.
_Macdonald._ As poor as we?
_Devereux._ Macdonald, we'll desert him.
_Butler._ We'll desert him?
Full twenty thousand have done that already; 40
We must do more, my countrymen! In short--
We--we must kill him.
_Both._ Kill him!
_Butler._ Yes! must kill him.
And for that purpose have I chosen you.
_Both._ Us!
_Butler._ You, Captain Devereux, and thee, Macdonald. 45
_Devereux (after a pause)._ Choose you some other.
_Butler._ What? art
dastardly?
Thou, with full thirty lives to answer for--
Thou conscientious of a sudden?
_Devereux._ Nay,
To assassinate our Lord and General--
_Macdonald._ To whom we've sworn a soldier's oath--
_Butler._ The oath 50
Is null, for Friedland is a traitor.
_Devereux._ No, no! It is too bad!
_Macdonald._ Yes, by my soul!
It is too bad. One has a conscience too--
_Devereux._ If it were not our chieftain, who so long
Has issued the commands, and claim'd our duty. 55
_Butler._ Is that the objection?
_Devereux._ Were it my own father,
And the Emperor's service should demand it of me,
It might be done perhaps--But we are soldiers,
And to assassinate our chief commander,
That is a sin, a foul abomination, 60
From which no monk or confessor absolves us.
_Butler._ I am your Pope, and give you absolution.
Determine quickly!
_Devereux._ 'Twill not do!
_Macdonald._ 'Twon't do!
_Butler._ Well, off then! and--send Pestalutz to me.
_Devereux._ The Pestalutz--
_Macdonald._ What may you want with him? 65
_Butler._ If you reject it, we can find enough--
_Devereux._ Nay, if he must fall, we may earn the bounty
As well as any other. What think you,
Brother Macdonald?
_Macdonald._ Why if he must fall,
And will fall, and it can't be otherwise, 70
One would not give place to this Pestalutz.
_Devereux._ When do you purpose he should fall?
_Butler._ This night.
To-morrow will the Swedes be at our gates.
_Devereux._ You take upon you all the consequences!
_Butler._ I take the whole upon me.
_Devereux._ And it is 75
The Emperor's will, his express absolute will?
For we have instances, that folks may like
The murder, and yet hang the murderer.
_Butler._ The manifesto says--alive or dead.
Alive--'tis not possible--you see it is not. 80
_Devereux._ Well, dead then! dead! But how can we come at him?
The town is fill'd with Tertsky's soldiery.
_Macdonald._ Ay! and then Tertsky still remains, and Illo--
_Butler._ With these you shall begin--you understand me?
_Devereux._ How? And must they too perish?
_Butler._ They the first. 85
_Macdonald._ Hear, Devereux? A bloody evening this.
_Devereux._ Have you a man for that? Commission me--
_Butler._ 'Tis given in trust to Major Geraldin;
This is a carnival night, and there's a feast
Given at the castle--there we shall surprise them, 90
And hew them down. The Pestalutz and Lesley
Have that commission--soon as that is finished--
_Devereux._ Hear, General! It will be all one to you.
Hark'e! let me exchange with Geraldin.
_Butler._ 'Twill be the lesser danger with the Duke. 95
_Devereux._ Danger! The devil! What do you think me, General?
'Tis the Duke's eye, and not his sword, I fear.
_Butler._ What can his eye do to thee?
_Devereux._ Death and hell!
Thou know'st that I'm no milk-sop, General!
But 'tis not eight days since the Duke did send me 100
Twenty gold pieces for this good warm coat
Which I have on! and then for him to see me
Standing before him with the pike, his murderer,
That eye of his looking upon this coat--
Why--why--the devil fetch me! I'm no milk-sop! 105
_Butler._ The Duke presented thee this good warm coat,
And thou, a needy wight, hast pangs of conscience
To run him through the body in return.
A coat that is far better and far warmer
Did the Emperor give to him, the Prince's mantle. 110
How doth he thank the Emperor? With revolt,
And treason.
_Devereux._ That is true. The devil take
Such thankers! I'll dispatch him.
_Butler._ And would'st quiet
Thy conscience, thou hast nought to do but simply
Pull off the coat; so canst thou do the deed 115
With light heart and good spirits.
_Devereux._ You are right.
That did not strike me. I'll pull off the coat--
So there's an end of it.
_Macdonald._ Yes, but there's another
Point to be thought of.
_Butler._ And what's that, Macdonald?
_Macdonald._ What avails sword or dagger against him? 120
He is not to be wounded--he is--
_Butler._ What?
_Macdonald._ Safe against shot, and stab and flash! Hard frozen,
Secured, and warranted by the black art!
His body is impenetrable, I tell you.
_Devereux._ In Inglestadt there was just such another-- 125
His whole skin was the same as steel; at last
We were obliged to beat him down with gunstocks.
_Macdonald._ Hear what I'll do.
_Devereux._ Well?
_Macdonald._ In the cloister here
There's a Dominican, my countryman.
I'll make him dip my sword and pike for me 130
In holy water, and say over them
One of his strongest blessings. That's probatum!
Nothing can stand 'gainst that.
_Butler._ So do, Macdonald!
But now go and select from out the regiment
Twenty or thirty able-bodied fellows, 135
And let them take the oaths to the Emperor.
Then when it strikes eleven, when the first rounds
Are passed, conduct them silently as may be
To the house--I will myself be not far off.
_Devereux._ But how do we get through Hartschier and Gordon, 140
That stand on guard there in the inner chamber?
_Butler._ I have made myself acquainted with the place.
I lead you through a back-door that's defended
By one man only. Me my rank and office
Give access to the Duke at every hour. 145
I'll go before you--with one poniard-stroke
Cut Hartschier's wind-pipe, and make way for you.
_Devereux._ And when we are there, by what means shall we gain
The Duke's bed-chamber, without his alarming
The servants of the Court; for he has here 150
A numerous company of followers?
_Butler._ The attendants fill the right wing; he hates bustle,
And lodges in the left wing quite alone.
_Devereux._ Were it well over--hey, Macdonald? I
Feel queerly on the occasion, devil knows! 155
_Macdonald._ And I too. 'Tis too great a personage.
People will hold us for a brace of villains.
_Butler._ In plenty, honour, splendour--You may safely
Laugh at the people's babble.
_Devereux._ If the business
Squares with one's honour--if that be quite certain-- 160
_Butler._ Set your hearts quite at ease. Ye save for Ferdinand
His Crown and Empire. The reward can be
No small one.
_Devereux._ And 'tis his purpose to dethrone the Emperor?
_Butler._ Yes!--Yes!--to rob him of his crown and life. 165
_Devereux._ And he must fall by the executioner's hands,
Should we deliver him up to the Emperor
Alive?
_Butler._ It were his certain destiny.
_Devereux._ Well! Well! Come then, Macdonald, he shall not
Lie long in pain. 170
[_Exeunt BUTLER through one door, MACDONALD and DEVEREUX
through the other._
LINENOTES:
[13] _thinking_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 16] _Butler (appeased)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[28] _words_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[42] _Both (starting back)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[45] thee, Macdonald] the Macdonald 1800.
[65] _Devereux (hesitates)._ The Pestalutz-- 1800, 1828, 1829.
[69] _must_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[70] _will_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 72] _Devereux (after some reflection)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[120] _him_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[121] _Butler (starting up)._ What? 1800, 1828, 1829.
[122] flash] slash 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE III
SCENE--_A Gothic Apartment at the DUCHESS FRIEDLAND'S. THEKLA on a seat,
pale, her eyes closed. The DUCHESS and LADY NEUBRUNN busied about her.
WALLENSTEIN and the COUNTESS in conversation._
_Wallenstein._ How knew she it so soon?
_Countess._ She seems to have
Foreboded some misfortune. The report
Of an engagement, in the which had fallen
A colonel of the Imperial army, frighten'd her.
I saw it instantly. She flew to meet 5
The Swedish Courier, and with sudden questioning,
Soon wrested from him the disastrous secret.
Too late we missed her, hastened after her,
We found her lying in his arms, all pale
And in a swoon.
_Wallenstein._ A heavy, heavy blow! 10
And she so unprepared! Poor child! How is it?
[_Turning to the DUCHESS._
Is she coming to herself?
_Duchess._ Her eyes are opening.
_Countess._ She lives.
_Thekla (looking around her)._ Where am I?
_Wallenstein (steps to her, raising her up in his arms)._ Come,
cheerly, Thekla! be my own brave girl!
See, there's thy loving mother. Thou art in 15
Thy father's arms.
_Thekla (standing up)._ Where is he? Is he gone?
_Duchess._ Who gone, my daughter?
_Thekla._ He--the man who uttered
That word of misery.
_Duchess._ O! think not of it,
My Thekla!
_Wallenstein._ Give her sorrow leave to talk!
Let her complain--mingle your tears with hers, 20
For she hath suffered a deep anguish; but
She'll rise superior to it, for my Thekla
Hath all her father's unsubdued heart.
_Thekla._ I am not ill. See, I have power to stand.
Why does my mother weep? Have I alarmed her? 25
It is gone by--I recollect myself--
[_She casts her eyes round the room, as seeking some one._
Where is he? Please you, do not hide him from me.
You see I have strength enough: now I will hear him.
_Duchess._ No, never shall this messenger of evil
Enter again into thy presence, Thekla! 30
_Thekla._ My father--
_Wallenstein._ Dearest daughter!
_Thekla._ I'm not weak--
Shortly I shall be quite myself again.
You'll grant me one request?
_Wallenstein._ Name it, my daughter.
_Thekla._ Permit the stranger to be called to me,
And grant me leave, that by myself I may 35
Hear his report and question him.
_Duchess._ No, never!
_Countess._ 'Tis not advisable--assent not to it.
_Wallenstein._ Hush! Wherefore would'st thou speak with him, my
daughter?
_Thekla._ Knowing the whole, I shall be more collected;
I will not be deceived. My mother wishes 40
Only to spare me. I will not be spared.
The worst is said already: I can hear
Nothing of deeper anguish!
_Countess and Duchess._ Do it not.
_Thekla._ The horror overpowered me by surprise.
My heart betrayed me in the stranger's presence; 45
He was a witness of my weakness, yea,
I sank into his arms; and that has shamed me.
I must replace myself in his esteem,
And I must speak with him, perforce, that he,
The stranger, may not think ungently of me. 50
_Wallenstein._ I see she is in the right, and am inclined
To grant her this request of hers. Go, call him.
[_LADY NEUBRUNN goes to call him._
_Duchess._ But I, thy mother, will be present--
_Thekla._ 'Twere
More pleasing to me, if alone I saw him:
Trust me, I shall behave myself the more 55
Collectedly.
_Wallenstein._ Permit her her own will.
Leave her alone with him: for there are sorrows,
Where of necessity the soul must be
Its own support. A strong heart will rely
On its own strength alone. In her own bosom, 60
Not in her mother's arms, must she collect
The strength to rise superior to this blow.
It is mine own brave girl. I'll have her treated
Not as the woman, but the heroine. [_Going._