_To these enter ILLO from the inner room. He has in his hand the golden
service-cup, and is extremely distempered with drinking: GOETZ and
BUTLER follow him, endeavouring to keep him back._
_Illo._ What do you want? Let me go.
_Goetz and Butler._ Drink no more, Illo! For heaven's sake,
drink no more.
_Illo (goes up to Octavio, and shakes him cordially by the hand,
and then drinks)._ Octavio! I bring this to you! Let all grudge
be drowned in this friendly bowl! I know well enough, ye 5
never loved me--Devil take me!--and I never loved you!--I am
always even with people in that way!--Let what's past be past--that
is, you understand--forgotten! I esteem you infinitely.
(_Embracing him repeatedly._) You have not a dearer friend on
earth than I--but that you know. The fellow that cries rogue 10
to you calls me villain--and I'll strangle him!--my dear friend!
_Tertsky (whispering to him)._ Art in thy senses? For heaven's
sake, Illo! think where you are!
_Illo (aloud)._ What do you mean?--There are none but friends
here, are there? Not a sneaker among us, thank heaven! 15
_Tertsky (to Butler)._ Take him off with you, force him off,
I entreat you, Butler!
_Butler (to Illo)._ Field Marshal! a word with you.
[_Leads him to the sideboard._
_Illo._ A thousand for one! Fill--Fill it once more up to the
brim.--To this gallant man's health! 20
_Isolani (to Max, who all the while has been staring on the paper
with fixed but vacant eyes)._ Slow and sure, my noble
brother!--Hast parsed it all yet?--Some words yet to go
through?--Ha?
_Max._ What am I to do?
_Tertsky (and at the same time Isolani)._ Sign your name.
_Max (returns the paper)._ Let it stay till to-morrow. It is 25
business--to-day I am not sufficiently collected. Send it to me
to-morrow.
_Tertsky._ Nay, collect yourself a little.
_Isolani._ Awake, man! awake!--Come, thy signature, and
have done with it! What? Thou art the youngest in the 30
whole company, and wouldest be wiser than all of us together?
Look there! thy father has signed--we have all signed.
_Tertsky (to Octavio)._ Use your influence. Instruct him.
_Octavio._ My son is at the age of discretion.
_Illo (leaves the service-cup on the sideboard)._ What's the
dispute? 35
_Tertsky._ He declines subscribing the paper.
_Max._ I say, it may as well stay till to-morrow.
_Illo._ It cannot stay. We have all subscribed to it--and so
must you.--You must subscribe.
_Max._ Illo, good night! 40
_Illo._ No! You come not off so! The Duke shall learn
who are his friends. [_All collect round ILLO and MAX._
_Max._ What my sentiments are towards the Duke, the Duke
knows, every one knows--what need of this wild stuff? 45
_Illo._ This is the thanks the Duke gets for his partiality to
Italians and foreigners.--Us Bohemians he holds for little better
than dullards--nothing pleases him but what's outlandish.
_Tertsky (to the commanders, who at Illo's words give a sudden
start, as preparing to resent them)._ It is the wine that speaks,
and not his reason. Attend not to him, I entreat you. 50
_Isolani._ Wine invents nothing: it only tattles.
_Illo._ He who is not with me is against me. Your tender
consciences! Unless they can slip out by a back-door, by a
puny proviso----
_Tertsky._ He is stark mad--don't listen to him! 55
_Illo._ Unless they can slip out by a proviso.--What of the
proviso? The devil take this proviso!
_Max._ What is there here then of such perilous import?
You make me curious--I must look closer at it.
_Tertsky (in a low voice to Illo)._ What are you doing, Illo? 60
You are ruining us.
_Tiefenbach (to Kolatto)._ Ay, ay! I observed, that before we
sat down to supper, it was read differently.
_Goetz._ Why, I seemed to think so too.
_Isolani._ What do I care for that? Where there stand other 65
names, mine can stand too.
_Tiefenbach._ Before supper there was a certain proviso therein,
or short clause concerning our duties to the Emperor.
_Butler (to one of the commanders)._ For shame, for shame!
Bethink you. What is the main business here? The question 70
now is, whether we shall keep our General, or let him retire.
One must not take these things too nicely and
over-scrupulously.
_Isolani (to one of the Generals)._ Did the Duke make any of
these provisos when he gave you your regiment? 75
_Tertsky (to Goetz)._ Or when he gave you the office of
army-purveyancer, which brings you in yearly a thousand pistoles!
_Illo._ He is a rascal who makes us out to be rogues. If
there be any one that wants satisfaction, let him say so,--I am
his man. 80
_Tiefenbach._ Softly, softly! 'Twas but a word or two.
_Max (having read the paper gives it back)._ Till to-morrow,
therefore!
_Illo (stammering with rage and fury, loses all command over
himself, and presents the paper to Max with one hand, and his
sword in the other)._ Subscribe--Judas!
_Isolani._ Out upon you, Illo! 85
_Octavio, Tertsky, Butler (all together)._ Down with the sword!
_Max (rushes on him suddenly and disarms him, then to Count
Tertsky)._ Take him off to bed.
[_MAX leaves the stage. ILLO cursing and raving is held
back by some of the Officers, and amidst a
universal confusion the curtain drops._
LINENOTES:
[11] _dear_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[15] here, are there? (_looks round the whole circle with a jolly and
triumphant air_) 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 16] _Tertsky (to Butler, eagerly)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 19] _Illo (cordially)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[22] _parsed_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 23] _Max (waking as from a dream)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 24] [_OCTAVIO directs his eyes on him with intense anxiety._
1800, 1828, 1829.
[26] _business_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 49] _Tertsky (in extreme embarrassment, to the, &c._ 1800, 1828,
1829.
[Before 51] _Isolani (with a bitter laugh)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[51] _tattles_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 55] _Tertsky (interrupting him)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 56] _Illo (raising his voice to the highest pitch)._ 1800, 1828,
1829.
[57] _proviso_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 58] _Max (has his attention roused, and looks again into the
paper)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[67] _was_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
ACT III
SCENE I
SCENE.--_A Chamber in PICCOLOMINI'S Mansion.--Night._
_OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI. A_ Valet de Chambre, _with Lights._
_Octavio._----And when my son comes in, conduct him hither.
What is the hour?
_Valet._ 'Tis on the point of morning.
_Octavio._ Set down the light. We mean not to undress.
You may retire to sleep.
[_Exit Valet. OCTAVIO paces, musing, across the chamber;
MAX PICCOLOMINI enters unobserved, and looks at his
father for some moments in silence._
_Max._ Art thou offended with me? Heaven knows 5
That odious business was no fault of mine.
'Tis true, indeed, I saw thy signature.
What thou hadst sanctioned, should not, it might seem,
Have come amiss to me. But--'tis my nature--
Thou know'st that in such matters I must follow 10
My own light, not another's.
_Octavio (embraces him)._ Follow it,
O follow it still further, my best son!
To-night, dear boy! it hath more faithfully
Guided thee than the example of thy father.
_Max._ Declare thyself less darkly.
_Octavio._ I will do so. 15
For after what has taken place this night,
There must remain no secrets 'twixt us two.
[_Both seat themselves._
Max Piccolomini! what thinkest thou of
The oath that was sent round for signatures?
_Max._ I hold it for a thing of harmless import, 20
Although I love not these set declarations.
_Octavio._ And on no other ground hast thou refused
The signature they fain had wrested from thee?
_Max._ It was a serious business----I was absent--
The affair itself seemed not so urgent to me. 25
_Octavio._ Be open, Max. Thou hadst then no suspicion?
_Max._ Suspicion! what suspicion? Not the least.
_Octavio._ Thank thy good angel, Piccolomini:
He drew thee back unconscious from the abyss.
_Max._ I know not what thou meanest.
_Octavio._ I will tell thee. 30
Fain would they have extorted from thee, son,
The sanction of thy name to villainy;
Yea, with a single flourish of thy pen,
Made thee renounce thy duty and thy honour!
_Max (rises)._ Octavio!
_Octavio._ Patience! Seat yourself. Much yet 35
Hast thou to hear from me, friend!--hast for years
Lived in incomprehensible illusion.
Before thine eyes is Treason drawing out
As black a web as e'er was spun for venom:
A power of hell o'erclouds thy understanding. 40
I dare no longer stand in silence--dare
No longer see thee wandering on in darkness,
Nor pluck the bandage from thine eyes.
_Max._ My father!
Yet, ere thou speak'st, a moment's pause of thought!
If your disclosures should appear to be 45
Conjectures only--and almost I fear
They will be nothing further--spare them! I
Am not in that collected mood at present,
That I could listen to them quietly.
_Octavio._ The deeper cause thou hast to hate this light, 50
The more impatient cause have I, my son,
To force it on thee. To the innocence
And wisdom of thy heart I could have trusted thee
With calm assurance--but I see the net
Preparing--and it is thy heart itself 55
Alarms me for thine innocence--that secret,
Which thou concealest, forces mine from me.
Know, then, they are duping thee!--a most foul game
With thee and with us all--nay, hear me calmly--
The Duke even now is playing. He assumes 60
The mask, as if he would forsake the army;
And in this moment makes he preparations
That army from the Emperor to steal,
And carry it over to the enemy!
_Max._ That low Priest's legend I know well, but did not 65
Expect to hear it from thy mouth.
_Octavio._ That mouth,
From which thou hearest it at this present moment,
Doth warrant thee that it is no Priest's legend.
_Max._ How mere a maniac they supposed the Duke!
What, he can meditate?--the Duke?--can dream 70
That he can lure away full thirty thousand
Tried troops and true, all honourable soldiers,
More than a thousand noblemen among them,
From oaths, from duty, from their honour lure them,
And make them all unanimous to do 75
A deed that brands them scoundrels?
_Octavio._ Such a deed,
With such a front of infamy, the Duke
No wise desires--what he requires of us
Bears a far gentler appellation. Nothing
He wishes, but to give the Empire peace. 80
And so, because the Emperor hates this peace,
Therefore the Duke--the Duke will force him to it.
All parts of the Empire will he pacify,
And for his trouble will retain in payment
(What he has already in his gripe)--Bohemia! 85
_Max._ Has he, Octavio, merited of us,
That we--that we should think so vilely of him?
_Octavio._ What we would think is not the question here.
The affair speaks for itself--and clearest proofs!
Hear me, my son--'tis not unknown to thee, 90
In what ill credit with the Court we stand.
But little dost thou know, or guess, what tricks,
What base intrigues, what lying artifices,
Have been employed--for this sole end--to sow
Mutiny in the camp! All bands are loosed-- 95
Loosed all the bands, that link the officer
To his liege Emperor, all that bind the soldier
Affectionately to the citizen.
Lawless he stands, and threateningly beleaguers
The state he's bound to guard. To such a height 100
'Tis swoln, that at this hour the Emperor
Before his armies--his own armies--trembles;
Yea, in his capital, his palace, fears
The traitor's poniards, and is meditating
To hurry off and hide his tender offspring---- 105
Not from the Swedes, not from the Lutherans--
No! from his own troops hide and hurry them!
_Max._ Cease, cease! thou tortur'st, shatter'st me. I know
That oft we tremble at an empty terror;
But the false phantasm brings a real misery. 110
_Octavio._ It is no phantasm. An intestine war,
Of all the most unnatural and cruel,
Will burst out into flames, if instantly
We do not fly and stifle it. The Generals
Are many of them long ago won over; 115
The subalterns are vacillating--whole
Regiments and garrisons are vacillating.
To foreigners our strong holds are entrusted;
To that suspected Schafgotch is the whole
Force of Silesia given up: to Tertsky 120
Five regiments, foot and horse--to Isolani,
To Illo, Kinsky, Butler, the best troops.
_Max._ Likewise to both of us.
_Octavio._ Because the Duke
Believes he has secured us--means to lure us
Still further on by splendid promises. 125
To me he portions forth the princedoms, Glatz
And Sagan; and too plain I see the angle
With which he doubts not to catch thee.
_Max._ No! no!
I tell thee--no!
_Octavio._ O open yet thine eyes!
And to what purpose think'st thou he has called us 130
Hither to Pilsen?--to avail himself
Of our advice?--O when did Friedland ever
Need our advice?--Be calm, and listen to me.
To sell ourselves are we called hither, and,
Decline we that--to be his hostages. 135
Therefore doth noble Galas stand aloof;
Thy father, too, thou would'st not have seen here,
If higher duties had not held him fettered.
_Max._ He makes no secret of it--needs make none--
That we're called hither for his sake--he owns it. 140
He needs our aidance to maintain himself--
He did so much for us; and 'tis but fair
That we too should do somewhat now for him.
_Octavio._ And know'st thou what it is which we must do?
That Illo's drunken mood betrayed it to thee. 145
Bethink thyself--what hast thou heard, what seen?
The counterfeited paper--the omission
Of that particular clause, so full of meaning,
Does it not prove, that they would bind us down
To nothing good?
_Max._ That counterfeited paper 150
Appears to me no other than a trick
Of Illo's own device. These underhand
Traders in great men's interests ever use
To urge and hurry all things to the extreme.
They see the Duke at variance with the court, 155
And fondly think to serve him, when they widen
The breach irreparably. Trust me, father,
The Duke knows nothing of all this.
_Octavio._ It grieves me
That I must dash to earth, that I must shatter
A faith so specious; but I may not spare thee! 160
For this is not a time for tenderness.
Thou must take measures, speedy ones--must act.
I therefore will confess to thee, that all
Which I've entrusted to thee now--that all
Which seems to thee so unbelievable, 165
That--yes, I will tell thee--Max! I had it all
From his own mouth--from the Duke's mouth I had it.
_Max._ No!--no!--never!
_Octavio._ Himself confided to me
What I, 'tis true, had long before discovered
By other means--himself confided to me, 170
That 'twas his settled plan to join the Swedes;
And, at the head of the united armies,
Compel the Emperor--
_Max._ He is passionate.
The Court has stung him--he is sore all over
With injuries and affronts; and in a moment 175
Of irritation, what if he, for once,
Forgot himself? He's an impetuous man.
_Octavio._ Nay, in cold blood he did confess this to me:
And having construed my astonishment
Into a scruple of his power, he shewed me 180
His written evidences--shewed me letters,
Both from the Saxon and the Swede, that gave
Promise of aidance, and defin'd the amount.
_Max._ It cannot be!--can _not_ be! _can_ not be!
Dost thou not see, it cannot! 185
Thou wouldest of necessity have shewn him
Such horror, such deep loathing--that or he
Had taken thee for his better genius, or
Thou stood'st not now a living man before me--
_Octavio._ I have laid open my objections to him, 190
Dissuaded him with pressing earnestness;
But my abhorrence, the full sentiment
Of my whole heart--that I have still kept sacred
To my own consciousness.
_Max._ And thou hast been
So treacherous? That looks not like my father! 195
I trusted not thy words, when thou didst tell me
Evil of him; much less can I now do it,
That thou calumniatest thy own self.
_Octavio._ I did not thrust myself into his secrecy.
_Max._ Uprightness merited his confidence. 200
_Octavio._ He was no longer worthy of sincerity.
_Max._ Dissimulation, sure, was still less worthy
Of thee, Octavio!
_Octavio._ Gave I him a cause
To entertain a scruple of my honour?
_Max._ That he did not, evinced his confidence. 205
_Octavio._ Dear son, it is not always possible
Still to preserve that infant purity
Which the voice teaches in our inmost heart.
Still in alarm, for ever on the watch
Against the wiles of wicked men, e'en Virtue 210
Will sometimes bear away her outward robes
Soiled in the wrestle with Iniquity.
This is the curse of every evil deed,
That, propagating still, it brings forth evil.
I do not cheat my better soul with sophisms: 215
I but perform my orders; the Emperor
Prescribes my conduct to me. Dearest boy,
Far better were it, doubtless, if we all
Obeyed the heart at all times; but so doing,
In this our present sojourn with bad men, 220
We must abandon many an honest object.
'Tis now our call to serve the Emperor,
By what means he can best be served--the heart
May whisper what it will--this is our call!
_Max._ It seems a thing appointed, that to-day 225
I should not comprehend, not understand thee.
The Duke thou say'st did honestly pour out
His heart to thee, but for an evil purpose;
And thou dishonestly hast cheated him
For a good purpose! Silence, I entreat thee-- 230
My friend thou stealest not from me--
Let me not lose my father!
_Octavio._ As yet thou know'st not all, my son. I have
Yet somewhat to disclose to thee. [_After a pause._
Duke Friedland
Hath made his preparations. He relies 235
Upon his stars. He deems us unprovided,
And thinks to fall upon us by surprise.
Yea, in his dream of hope, he grasps already
The golden circle in his hand. He errs.
We too have been in action--he but grasps 240
His evil fate, most evil, most mysterious!
_Max._ O nothing rash, my sire! By all that's good
Let me invoke thee--no precipitation!
_Octavio._ With light tread stole he on his evil way,
With light tread hath Vengeance stole on after him. 245
Unseen she stands already, dark behind him--
But one step more--he shudders in her grasp!
Thou hast seen Questenberg with me. As yet
Thou know'st but his ostensible commission;
He brought with him a private one, my son! 250
And that was for me only.
_Max._ May I know it?
_Octavio (seizes the patent)._ Max! [_A pause._
----In this disclosure place I in thy hands
The Empire's welfare and thy father's life.
Dear to thy inmost heart is Wallenstein:
A powerful tie of love, of veneration, 255
Hath knit thee to him from thy earliest youth.
Thou nourishest the wish.--O let me still
Anticipate thy loitering confidence!
The hope thou nourishest to knit thyself
Yet closer to him----
_Max._ Father----
_Octavio._ O my son! 260
I trust thy heart undoubtingly. But am I
Equally sure of thy collectedness?
Wilt thou be able, with calm countenance,
To enter this man's presence, when that I
Have trusted to thee his whole fate?
_Max._ According 265
As thou dost trust me, father, with his crime.
[_OCTAVIO takes a paper out of his escrutoire, and gives
it to him._
_Max._ What? how? a full Imperial patent!
_Octavio._ Read it.
_Max (just glances on it)._ Duke Friedland sentenced and condemned!
_Octavio._ Even so.
_Max (throws down the paper)._ O this is too much! O unhappy
error! 270
_Octavio._ Read on. Collect thyself.
_Max (after he has read further, with a look of affright and
astonishment on his father)._ How! what! Thou! thou!
_Octavio._ But for the present moment, till the King
Of Hungary may safely join the army,
Is the command assigned to me.
_Max._ And think'st thou,
Dost thou believe, that thou wilt tear it from him? 275
O never hope it!--Father! father! father!
An inauspicious office is enjoined thee.
This paper here--this! and wilt thou enforce it?
The mighty in the middle of his host,
Surrounded by his thousands, him would'st thou 280
Disarm--degrade! Thou art lost, both thou and all of us.
_Octavio._ What hazard I incur thereby, I know.
In the great hand of God I stand. The Almighty
Will cover with his shield the Imperial house,
And shatter, in his wrath, the work of darkness. 285
The Emperor hath true servants still; and even
Here in the camp, there are enough brave men,
Who for the good cause will fight gallantly.
The faithful have been warned--the dangerous
Are closely watched. I wait but the first step, 290
And then immediately----
_Max._ What! on suspicion?
Immediately?
_Octavio._ The Emperor is no tyrant.
The deed alone he'll punish, not the wish.
The Duke hath yet his destiny in his power.
Let him but leave the treason uncompleted, 295
He will be silently displaced from office,
And make way to his Emperor's royal son.
An honourable exile to his castles
Will be a benefaction to him rather
Than punishment. But the first open step---- 300
_Max._ What callest thou such a step? A wicked step
Ne'er will he take; but thou mightest easily,
Yea, thou hast done it, misinterpret him.
_Octavio._ Nay, howsoever punishable were
Duke Friedland's purposes, yet still the steps 305
Which he hath taken openly, permit
A mild construction. It is my intention
To leave this paper wholly uninforced
Till some act is committed which convicts him
Of a high-treason, without doubt or plea, 310
And that shall sentence him.
_Max._ But who the judge?
_Octavio._ Thyself.
_Max._ For ever, then, this paper will lie idle.
_Octavio._ Too soon, I fear, its powers must all be proved.
After the counter-promise of this evening, 315
It cannot be but he must deem himself
Secure of the majority with us;
And of the army's general sentiment
He hath a pleasing proof in that petition
Which thou delivered'st to him from the regiments. 320
Add this too--I have letters that the Rhinegrave
Hath changed his route, and travels by forced marches
To the Bohemian Forest. What this purports,
Remains unknown; and, to confirm suspicion,
This night a Swedish nobleman arrived here. 325
_Max._ I have thy word. Thou'lt not proceed to action
Before thou hast convinced me--me myself.
_Octavio._ Is it possible? Still, after all thou know'st,
Canst thou believe still in his innocence?
_Max._ Thy judgment may mistake; my heart can not. 330
These reasons might expound thy spirit or mine;
But they expound not Friedland--I have faith:
For as he knits his fortunes to the stars,
Even so doth he resemble them in secret,
Wonderful, still inexplicable courses! 335
Trust me, they do him wrong. All will be solved.
These smokes, at once, will kindle into flame--
The edges of this black and stormy cloud
Will brighten suddenly, and we shall view
The Unapproachable glide out in splendour. 340
_Octavio._ I will await it.
LINENOTES:
Act III, Scene I. _A Chamber, &c. . . . It is Night. Octavio, &c._ 1800,
1828, 1829.
[8] _thou_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 12] _Octavio (goes up to him and embraces him)._ 1800, 1828,
1829.
[39] for] from 1800, 1828, 1829.
[47] They] There 1828, 1829.
[After 56] [_Fixing his eye steadfastly on his son's face._ 1800, 1828,
1829.
[57] _mine_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 57] [_Max attempts to answer but hesitates, and casts his eyes to
the ground, embarrassed. Octavio, after a pause._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[63] _steal_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[69] supposed] suppose 1800, 1828, 1829.
[78] wise] ways 1800, 1828, 1829.
[81] _this_ 1800.
[82] _force_ 1800.
[88] _we would_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[104] traitor's] traitors' 1800, 1828, 1829.
[127] angle] _angel_ 1800, 1828, 1829, 1834 _angle_ 1852. Angle, der
Angel, a curious misprint perpetuated in the new edition. [MS. note by
Derwent Coleridge.]
[128] _thee_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[166] That--yes, I will tell thee-- (_a pause_), &c. 1800, 1828, 1829.]
[Before 168] _Max (in excessive agitation)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[192] _abhorrence_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[193] _whole_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[194] _thou_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[197] _now_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[209] alarm] alarum 1828, 1829.
[233] _Octavio (suppressing resentment)._ _1800, 1828, 1829.
[245] With light tread] And light of tread 1800, 1828, 1829.
[250] _private_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[257] _wish_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[259] _hope_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[317] _us_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[322] Hath] Had 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 330] _Max (with enthusiasm)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 330] [_Moderates his voice and manner._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE II
_OCTAVIO and MAX as before. To them the_ Valet of the Chamber.
_Octavio._ How now, then?
_Valet._ A dispatch is at the door.
_Octavio._ So early? From whom comes he then? Who is it?
_Valet._ That he refused to tell me.
_Octavio._ Lead him in:
And, hark you--let it not transpire.
[_Exit_ Valet--_the_ Cornet _steps in._
_Octavio._ Ha! Cornet--is it you? and from Count Galas? 5
Give me your letters.
_Cornet._ The Lieutenant-General
Trusted it not to letters.
_Octavio._ And what is it?
_Cornet._ He bade me tell you--Dare I speak openly here?
_Octavio._ My son knows all.
_Cornet._ We have him.
_Octavio._ Whom?
_Cornet._ Sesina,
The old negotiator.
_Octavio._ And you have him? 10
_Cornet._ In the Bohemian Forest Captain Mohrbrand
Found and secured him yester morning early:
He was proceeding then to Regenspurg,
And on him were dispatches for the Swede.
_Octavio._ And the dispatches----
_Cornet._ The Lieutenant-General 15
Sent them that instant to Vienna, and
The prisoner with them.
_Octavio._ This is, indeed, a tiding!
That fellow is a precious casket to us,
Enclosing weighty things.--Was much found on him?
_Cornet._ I think, six packets, with Count Tertsky's arms. 20
_Octavio._ None in the Duke's own hand?
_Cornet._ Not that I know.
_Octavio._ And old Sesina?
_Cornet._ He was sorely frightened,
When it was told him he must to Vienna.
But the Count Altringer bade him take heart,
Would he but make a full and free confession. 25
_Octavio._ Is Altringer then with your Lord? I heard
That he lay sick at Linz.
_Cornet._ These three days past
He's with my master, the Lieutenant-General,
At Frauenberg. Already have they sixty
Small companies together, chosen men; 30
Respectfully they greet you with assurances,
That they are only waiting your commands.
_Octavio._ In a few days may great events take place.
And when must you return?
_Cornet._ I wait your orders.
_Octavio._ Remain till evening.
[Cornet _signifies his assent and obeisance, and
is going._
_Octavio._ No one saw you--ha? 35
_Cornet._ No living creature. Through the cloister wicket
The Capuchins, as usual, let me in.
_Octavio._ Go, rest your limbs, and keep yourself concealed.
I hold it probable, that yet ere evening
I shall dispatch you. The development 40
Of this affair approaches: ere the day,
That even now is dawning in the heaven,
Ere this eventful day hath set, the lot
That must decide our fortunes will be drawn. [_Exit_ Cornet.
LINENOTES:
[9] _Sesina_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 10] _Octavio (eagerly)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE III
_OCTAVIO and MAX PICCOLOMINI._
_Octavio._ Well--and what now, son? All will soon be clear;
For all, I'm certain, went through that Sesina.
_Max._ I will procure me light a shorter way.
Farewell.
_Octavio._ Where now?--Remain here.
_Max._ To the Duke. 5
_Octavio._ What----
_Max._ If thou hast believed that I shall act
A part in this thy play----
Thou hast miscalculated on me grievously.
My way must be straight on. True with the tongue, 10
False with the heart--I may not, cannot be:
Nor can I suffer that a man should trust me--
As his friend trust me--and then lull my conscience
With such low pleas as these:--'I ask'd him not--
He did it all at his own hazard--and 15
My mouth has never lied to him.'--No, no!
What a friend takes me for, that I must be.
--I'll to the Duke; ere yet this day is ended
Will I demand of him that he do save
His good name from the world, and with one stride 20
Break through and rend this fine-spun web of yours.
He can, he will!--I still am his believer.
Yet I'll not pledge myself, but that those letters
May furnish you, perchance, with proofs against him.
How far may not this Tertsky have proceeded-- 25
What may not he himself too have permitted
Himself to do, to snare the enemy,
The laws of war excusing? Nothing, save
His own mouth shall convict him--nothing less!
And face to face will I go question him. 30
_Octavio._ Thou wilt?
_Max._ I will, as sure as this heart beats.
_Octavio._ I have, indeed, miscalculated on thee.
I calculated on a prudent son,
Who would have blest the hand beneficent
That plucked him back from the abyss--and lo! 35
A fascinated being I discover,
Whom his two eyes befool, whom passion wilders,
Whom not the broadest light of noon can heal.
Go, question him!--Be mad enough, I pray thee.
The purpose of thy father, of thy Emperor, 40
Go, give it up free booty:--Force me, drive me
To an open breach before the time. And now,
Now that a miracle of heaven had guarded
My secret purpose even to this hour,
And laid to sleep Suspicion's piercing eyes, 45
Let me have lived to see that mine own son,
With frantic enterprise, annihilates
My toilsome labours and state-policy.
_Max._ Aye--this state-policy! O how I curse it!
You will some time, with your state-policy, 50
Compel him to the measure: it may happen,
Because ye are determined that he is guilty,
Guilty ye'll make him. All retreat cut off,
You close up every outlet, hem him in
Narrower and narrower, till at length ye force him-- 55
Yes, ye,--ye force him, in his desperation,
To set fire to his prison. Father! Father!
That never can end well--it cannot--will not!
And let it be decided as it may,
I see with boding heart the near approach 60
Of an ill-starred unblest catastrophe.
For this great Monarch-spirit, if he fall,
Will drag a world into the ruin with him.
And as a ship (that midway on the ocean
Takes fire) at once, and with a thunder-burst 65
Explodes, and with itself shoots out its crew
In smoke and ruin betwixt sea and heaven;
So will he, falling, draw down in his fall
All us, who're fixed and mortised to his fortune.
Deem of it what thou wilt; but pardon me, 70
That I must bear me on in my own way.
All must remain pure betwixt him and me;
And, ere the day-light dawns, it must be known
Which I must lose--my father, or my friend.
[_During his exit the curtain drops._
LINENOTES:
[Before 3] _Max (who through the whole of the foregoing scene has been
in a violent and visible struggle of feelings, at length starts as one
resolved)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 6] _Octavio (alarmed)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 7] _Max (returning)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[14] ask'd] ask 1800, 1828, 1829.
[16] _mouth_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[22] _I_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[52] _determined_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[53] _make_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[56] _ye_,--_ye force_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
ACT IV
SCENE I
SCENE--_A Room fitted up for astrological Labours, and provided with
celestial Charts, with Globes, Telescopes, Quadrants, and other
mathematical Instruments.--Seven Colossal Figures, representing the
Planets, each with a transparent Star of a different Colour on its Head,
stand in a Semi-circle in the Back-ground, so that Mars and Saturn are
nearest the Eye.--The remainder of the Scene, and its Disposition, is
given in the Fourth Scene of the Second Act.--There must be a Curtain
over the Figures, which may be dropped, and conceal them on Occasions._
[_In the Fifth Scene of this Act it must be dropped; but in the Seventh
Scene, it must be again drawn up wholly or in part._]
_WALLENSTEIN at a black Table, on which a Speculum Astrologicum is
described with Chalk. SENI is taking Observations through a window._
_Wallenstein._ All well--and now let it be ended, Seni.--Come,
The dawn commences, and Mars rules the hour.
We must give o'er the operation. Come,
We know enough.
_Seni._ Your Highness must permit me
Just to contemplate Venus. She's now rising: 5
Like as a sun, so shines she in the east.
_Wallenstein._ She is at present in her perigee,
And shoots down now her strongest influences.
[_Contemplating the figure on the table._
Auspicious aspect! fateful in conjunction,
At length the mighty three corradiate; 10
And the two stars of blessing, Jupiter
And Venus, take between them the malignant
Slily-malicious Mars, and thus compel
Into my service that old mischief-founder;
For long he viewed me hostilely, and ever 15
With beam oblique, or perpendicular,
Now in the Quartile, now in the Secundan,
Shot his red lightnings at my stars, disturbing
Their blessed influences and sweet aspects.
Now they have conquered the old enemy, 20
And bring him in the heavens a prisoner to me.
_Seni (who has come down from the window)._ And in a corner house,
your Highness--think of that!
That makes each influence of double strength.
_Wallenstein._ And sun and moon, too, in the Sextile aspect,
The soft light with the vehement--so I love it. 25
Sol is the heart, Luna the head of heaven,
Bold be the plan, fiery the execution.
_Seni._ And both the mighty Lumina by no
Maleficus affronted. Lo! Saturnus,
Innocuous, powerless, in cadente Domo. 30
_Wallenstein._ The empire of Saturnus is gone by;
Lord of the secret birth of things is he;
Within the lap of earth, and in the depths
Of the imagination dominates;
And his are all things that eschew the light. 35
The time is o'er of brooding and contrivance;
For Jupiter, the lustrous, lordeth now,
And the dark work, complete of preparation,
He draws by force into the realm of light.
Now must we hasten on to action, ere 40
The scheme, and most auspicious positure
Parts o'er my head, and takes once more its flight;
For the heavens journey still, and sojourn not.
[_There are knocks at the door._
There's some one knocking there. See who it is.
_Tertsky (from without)._ Open, and let me in.
_Wallenstein._ Aye--'tis Tertsky. 45
What is there of such urgence? We are busy.
_Tertsky (from without)._ Lay all aside at present, I entreat you.
It suffers no delaying.
_Wallenstein._ Open, Seni!
[_While SENI opens the doors for TERTSKY, WALLENSTEIN
draws the curtain over the figures._
_Tertsky (enters)._ Hast thou already heard it? He is taken.
Galas has given him up to the Emperor. 50
[_SENI draws off the black table, and exit._
LINENOTES:
[14] _my_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[26] SOL . . . LUNA 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE II
_WALLENSTEIN, COUNT TERTSKY._
_Wallenstein (to Tertsky)._ Who has been taken?--Who is given up?
_Tertsky._ The man who knows our secrets, who knows every
Negotiation with the Swede and Saxon,
Through whose hands all and every thing has passed--
_Wallenstein (drawing back)._ Nay, not Sesina?--Say, No! I entreat
thee. 5
_Tertsky._ All on his road for Regenspurg to the Swede
He was plunged down upon by Galas' agent,
Who had been long in ambush, lurking for him.
There must have been found on him my whole packet
To Thur, to Kinsky, to Oxenstirn, to Arnheim: 10
All this is in their hands; they have now an insight
Into the whole--our measures, and our motives.
SCENE III
_To them enters ILLO._
_Illo (to Tertsky)._ Has he heard it?
_Tertsky._ He has heard it.
_Illo (to Wallenstein)._ Thinkest thou
still
To make thy peace with the Emperor, to regain
His confidence?--E'en were it now thy wish
To abandon all thy plans, yet still they know
What thou hast wished; then forwards thou must press; 5
Retreat is now no longer in thy power.
_Tertsky._ They have documents against us, and in hands,
Which shew beyond all power of contradiction--
_Wallenstein._ Of my hand-writing--no iota. Thee
I punish for thy lies.
_Illo._ And thou believest, 10
That what this man, that what thy sister's husband,
Did in thy name, will not stand on thy reck'ning?
His word must pass for thy word with the Swede,
And not with those that hate thee at Vienna.
_Tertsky._ In writing thou gav'st nothing--But bethink thee, 15
How far thou ventured'st by word of mouth
With this Sesina? And will he be silent?
If he can save himself by yielding up
Thy secret purposes, will he retain them?
_Illo._ Thyself dost not conceive it possible; 20
And since they now have evidence authentic
How far thou hast already gone, speak!--tell us,
What art thou waiting for? thou canst no longer
Keep thy command; and beyond hope of rescue
Thou'rt lost, if thou resign'st it.
_Wallenstein._ In the army 25
Lies my security. The army will not
Abandon me. Whatever they may know,
The power is mine, and they must gulp it down--
And substitute I caution for my fealty,
They must be satisfied, at least appear so. 30
_Illo._ The army, Duke, is thine now--for this moment--
'Tis thine: but think with terror on the slow,
The quiet power of time. From open violence
The attachment of thy soldiery secures thee
To-day--to-morrow; but grant'st thou them a respite, 35
Unheard, unseen, they'll undermine that love
On which thou now dost feel so firm a footing,
With wily theft will draw away from thee
One after the other----
_Wallenstein._ 'Tis a curséd accident!
_Illo._ O, I will call it a most blessed one, 40
If it work on thee as it ought to do,
Hurry thee on to action--to decision.
The Swedish General----
_Wallenstein._ He's arrived! Know'st thou
What his commission is----
_Illo._ To thee alone
Will he entrust the purpose of his coming. 45
_Wallenstein._ A curséd, curséd accident! Yes, yes,
Sesina knows too much, and won't be silent.
_Tertsky._ He's a Bohemian fugitive and rebel,
His neck is forfeit. Can he save himself
At thy cost, think you he will scruple it? 50
And if they put him to the torture, will he,
Will he, that dastardling, have strength enough----
_Wallenstein._ Their confidence is lost--irreparably!
And I may act what way I will, I shall
Be and remain for ever in their thought 55
A traitor to my country. How sincerely
Soever I return back to my duty,
It will no longer help me----
_Illo._ Ruin thee,
That it will do! Not thy fidelity,
Thy weakness will be deemed the sole occasion---- 60
_Wallenstein._ What! I must realize it now in earnest,
Because I toy'd too freely with the thought?
Accurséd he who dallies with a devil!
And must I--I must realize it now--
Now, while I have the power, it must take place? 65
_Illo._ Now--now--ere they can ward and parry it!
_Wallenstein (looking at the paper of signatures)._ I have the
Generals' word--a written promise!
Max Piccolomini stands not here--how's that?
_Tertsky._ It was----he fancied----
_Illo._ Mere self-willedness.
There needed no such thing 'twixt him and you. 70
_Wallenstein._ He is quite right--there needeth no such thing.
The regiments, too, deny to march for Flanders--
Have sent me in a paper of remonstrance,
And openly resist the Imperial orders.
The first step to revolt's already taken. 75
_Illo._ Believe me, thou wilt find it far more easy
To lead them over to the enemy
Than to the Spaniard.
_Wallenstein._ I will hear, however,
What the Swede has to say to me.
_Illo (to Tertsky)._ Go, call him!
He stands without the door in waiting.
_Wallenstein._ Stay! 80
Stay yet a little. It hath taken me
All by surprise,--it came too quick upon me;
'Tis wholly novel, that an accident,
With its dark lordship, and blind agency,
Should force me on with it.
_Illo._ First hear him only, 85
And after weigh it. [_Exeunt TERTSKY and ILLO._
LINENOTES:
[13] _His_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[31] _is_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[52] _he_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 53] _Wallenstein (lost in thought)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 61] _Wallenstein (pacing up and down in extreme agitation)._
1800, 1828, 1829.
[64] I _must_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[65] _must_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[79] _Illo (eagerly to Tertsky)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE IV
_Wallenstein._ Is it possible?
Is't so? I can no longer what I would?
No longer draw back at my liking? I
Must do the deed, because I thought of it,
And fed this heart here with a dream? Because 5
I did not scowl temptation from my presence,
Dallied with thoughts of possible fulfilment,
Commenced no movement, left all time uncertain,
And only kept the road, the access open?
By the great God of Heaven! it was not 10
My serious meaning, it was ne'er resolve.
I but amused myself with thinking of it.
The free-will tempted me, the power to do
Or not to do it.--Was it criminal
To make the fancy minister to hope, 15
To fill the air with pretty toys of air,
And clutch fantastic sceptres moving t'ward me?
Was not the will kept free? Beheld I not
The road of duty close beside me--but
One little step, and once more I was in it! 20
Where am I? Whither have I been transported?
No road, no track behind me, but a wall,
Impenetrable, insurmountable,
Rises obedient to the spells I muttered
And meant not--my own doings tower behind me. 25
A punishable man I seem, the guilt,
Try what I will, I cannot roll off from me;
The equivocal demeanour of my life
Bears witness on my prosecutor's party;
And even my purest acts from purest motives 30
Suspicion poisons with malicious gloss.
Were I that thing, for which I pass, that traitor,
A goodly outside I had sure reserved,
Had drawn the coverings thick and double round me,
Been calm and chary of my utterance. 35
But being conscious of the innocence
Of my intent, my uncorrupted will,
I gave way to my humours, to my passion:
Bold were my words, because my deeds were not.
Now every planless measure, chance event, 40
The threat of rage, the vaunt of joy and triumph,
And all the May-games of a heart o'erflowing,
Will they connect, and weave them all together
Into one web of treason; all will be plan,
My eye ne'er absent from the far-off mark, 45
Step tracing step, each step a politic progress;
And out of all they'll fabricate a charge
So specious, that I must myself stand dumb.
I am caught in my own net, and only force,
Naught but a sudden rent can liberate me. 50
How else! since that the heart's unbiass'd instinct
Impelled me to the daring deed, which now
Necessity, self-preservation, orders.
Stern is the On-look of Necessity,
Not without shudder many a human hand 55
Grasps the mysterious urn of destiny.
My deed was mine, remaining in my bosom,
Once suffered to escape from its safe corner
Within the heart, its nursery and birthplace,
Sent forth into the Foreign, it belongs 60
For ever to those sly malicious powers
Whom never art of man conciliated.
What is thy enterprize? thy aim? thy object?
Hast honestly confessed it to thyself?
Power seated on a quiet throne thou'dst shake, 65
Power on an ancient consecrated throne,
Strong in possession, founded in old custom;
Power by a thousand tough and stringy roots
Fixed to the people's pious nursery-faith.
This, this will be no strife of strength with strength. 70
That feared I not. I brave each combatant,
Whom I can look on, fixing eye to eye,
Who full himself of courage kindles courage
In me too. 'Tis a foe invisible,
The which I fear--a fearful enemy, 75
Which in the human heart opposes me,
By its coward fear alone made fearful to me.
Not that, which full of life, instinct with power,
Makes known its present being, that is not
The true, the perilously formidable. 80
O no! it is the common, the quite common,
The thing of an eternal yesterday,
What ever was, and evermore returns,
Sterling to-morrow, for to-day 'twas sterling!
For of the wholly common is man made, 85
And custom is his nurse! Woe then to them,
Who lay irreverent hands upon his old
House furniture, the dear inheritance
From his forefathers. For time consecrates;
And what is grey with age becomes religion. 90
Be in possession, and thou hast the right,
And sacred will the many guard it for thee!
[_To the_ Page, _who here enters._
The Swedish officer?--Well, let him enter.
[_The_ Page _exit, WALLENSTEIN fixes his eye in deep
thought on the door._
Yet is it pure--as yet!--the crime has come
Not o'er this threshold yet--so slender is 95
The boundary that divideth life's two paths.
LINENOTES:
[Before 1] _Wallenstein (in soliloquy)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[2] _can . . . would_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[4] _do . . . thought_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 25] [_Pauses and remains in deep thought._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[39] _not_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[48] _dumb_ 1800.
[50] _rent_ 1800.
[After 50] [_Pauses again._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[53] _orders_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[55] many] may 1800, 1828, 1829.
[56] Grasps] Grasp 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 62] [_Paces in agitation through the chamber, then pauses, and,
after the pause, breaks out again into audible soliloquy._ 1800, 1828,
1829.
SCENE V
_WALLENSTEIN and WRANGEL._
_Wallenstein._ Your name is Wrangel?
_Wrangel._ Gustave Wrangel, General
Of the Sudermanian Blues.
_Wallenstein._ It was a Wrangel
Who injured me materially at Stralsund,
And by his brave resistance was the cause
Of the opposition which that sea-port made. 5
_Wrangel._ It was the doing of the element
With which you fought, my Lord! and not my merit.
The Baltic Neptune did assert his freedom,
The sea and land, it seemed, were not to serve
One and the same.
_Wallenstein (makes a motion for him to take a seat, and seats
himself)._ And where are your credentials? 10
Come you provided with full powers, Sir General?
_Wrangel._ There are so many scruples yet to solve----
_Wallenstein (having read the credentials)._ An able
letter!--Ay--he is a prudent,
Intelligent master, whom you serve, Sir General!
The Chancellor writes me, that he but fulfils 15
His late departed Sovereign's own idea
In helping me to the Bohemian crown.
_Wrangel._ He says the truth. Our great King, now in heaven,
Did ever deem most highly of your Grace's
Pre-eminent sense and military genius; 20
And always the commanding Intellect,
He said, should have command, and be the King.
_Wallenstein._ Yes, he might say it safely.--General Wrangel,
[_Taking his hand._
Come, fair and open--Trust me, I was always
A Swede at heart. Ey! that did you experience 25
Both in Silesia and at Nuremburg;
I had you often in my power, and let you
Always slip out by some back door or other.
'Tis this for which the Court can ne'er forgive me,
Which drives me to this present step: and since 30
Our interests so run in one direction,
E'en let us have a thorough confidence
Each in the other.
_Wrangel._ Confidence will come
Has each but only first security.
_Wallenstein._ The Chancellor still, I see, does not quite trust
me; 35
And, I confess--the gain does not wholly lie
To my advantage--Without doubt he thinks
If I can play false with the Emperor,
Who is my Sov'reign, I can do the like
With the enemy, and that the one too were 40
Sooner to be forgiven me than the other.
Is not this your opinion too, Sir General?
_Wrangel._ I have here an office merely, no opinion.
_Wallenstein._ The Emperor hath urged me to the uttermost.
I can no longer honourably serve him. 45
For my security, in self-defence,
I take this hard step, which my conscience blames.
_Wrangel._ That I believe. So far would no one go
Who was not forced to it. [_After a pause._
What may have impelled
Your princely Highness in this wise to act 50
Toward your Sovereign Lord and Emperor,
Beseems not us to expound or criticize.
The Swede is fighting for his good old cause.
With his good sword and conscience. This concurrence,
This opportunity, is in our favour, 55
And all advantages in war are lawful.
We take what offers without questioning;
And if all have its due and just proportions----
_Wallenstein._ Of what then are ye doubting? Of my will?
Or of my power? I pledged me to the Chancellor, 60
Would he trust me with sixteen thousand men,
That I would instantly go over to them
With eighteen thousand of the Emperor's troops.
_Wrangel._ Your Grace is known to be a mighty war-chief,
To be a second Attila and Pyrrhus. 65
'Tis talked of still with fresh astonishment,
How some years past, beyond all human faith,
You called an army forth, like a creation:
But yet----
_Wallenstein._ But yet?
_Wrangel._ But still the Chancellor thinks,
It might yet be an easier thing from nothing 70
To call forth sixty thousand men of battle,
Than to persuade one sixtieth part of them--
_Wallenstein._ What now? Out with it, friend!
_Wrangel._ To break their oaths.
_Wallenstein._ And he thinks so?--He judges like a Swede,
And like a Protestant. You Lutherans 75
Fight for your Bible. You are interested
About the cause; and with your hearts you follow
Your banners.--Among you, whoe'er deserts
To the enemy, hath broken covenant
With two Lords at one time.--We've no such fancies. 80
_Wrangel._ Great God in Heaven! Have then the people here
No house and home, no fire-side, no altar?
_Wallenstein._ I will explain that to you, how it stands--
The Austrian has a country, ay, and loves it,
And has good cause to love it--but this army, 85
That calls itself the Imperial, this that houses
Here in Bohemia, this has none--no country;
This is an outcast of all foreign lands,
Unclaimed by town or tribe, to whom belongs
Nothing, except the universal sun. 90
_Wrangel._ But then the Nobles and the Officers?
Such a desertion, such a felony,
It is without example, my Lord Duke,
In the world's history.
_Wallenstein._ They are all mine--
Mine unconditionally--mine on all terms. 95
Not me, your own eyes you must trust.
[_He gives him the paper containing the written oath.
WRANGEL reads it through, and, having read it,
lays it on the table, remaining silent._
So then?
Now comprehend you?
_Wrangel._ Comprehend who can!
My Lord Duke; I will let the mask drop--yes!
I've full powers for a final settlement.
The Rhinegrave stands but four days' march from here 100
With fifteen thousand men, and only waits
For orders to proceed and join your army.
Those orders I give out, immediately
We're compromised.
_Wallenstein._ What asks the Chancellor?
_Wrangel._ Twelve Regiments, every man a Swede--my head 105
The warranty--and all might prove at last
Only false play----
_Wallenstein (starting)._ Sir Swede!
_Wrangel._ Am therefore forced
T' insist thereon, that he do formally,
Irrevocably break with the Emperor,
Else not a Swede is trusted to Duke Friedland. 110
_Wallenstein._ Come, brief and open! What is the demand?
_Wrangel._ That he forthwith disarm the Spanish regiments
Attached to the Emperor, that he seize Prague,
And to the Swedes give up that city, with
The strong pass Egra.
_Wallenstein._ That is much indeed! 115
Prague!--Egra's granted--But--but Prague!--'Twon't do.
I give you every security
Which you may ask of me in common reason--
But Prague--Bohemia--these, Sir General,
I can myself protect.
_Wrangel._ We doubt it not. 120
But 'tis not the protection that is now
Our sole concern. We want security,
That we shall not expend our men and money
All to no purpose.
_Wallenstein._ 'Tis but reasonable.
_Wrangel._ And till we are indemnified, so long 125
Stays Prague in pledge.
_Wallenstein._ Then trust you us so little?
_Wrangel (rising)._ The Swede, if he would treat well with the
German,
Must keep a sharp look-out. We have been called
Over the Baltic, we have saved the empire
From ruin--with our best blood have we seal'd 130
The liberty of faith, and gospel truth.
But now already is the benefaction
No longer felt, the load alone is felt.----
Ye look askance with evil eye upon us,
As foreigners, intruders in the empire, 135
And would fain send us, with some paltry sum
Of money, home again to our old forests.
No, no! my Lord Duke! no!--it never was
For Judas' pay, for chinking gold and silver,
That we did leave our King by the Great Stone.[696:1] 140
No, not for gold and silver have there bled
So many of our Swedish Nobles--neither
Will we, with empty laurels for our payment,
Hoist sail for our own country. Citizens
Will we remain upon the soil, the which 145
Our Monarch conquered for himself, and died.
_Wallenstein._ Help to keep down the common enemy,
And the fair border land must needs be yours.
_Wrangel._ But when the common enemy lies vanquished,
Who knits together our new friendship then? 150
We know, Duke Friedland! though perhaps the Swede
Ought not t' have known it, that you carry on
Secret negotiations with the Saxons.
Who is our warranty, that we are not
The sacrifices in those articles 155
Which 'tis thought needful to conceal from us?
_Wallenstein (rises)._ Think you of something better, Gustave
Wrangel!
Of Prague no more.
_Wrangel._ Here my commission ends.
_Wallenstein._ Surrender up to you my capital!
Far liever would I face about, and step 160
Back to my Emperor.
_Wrangel._ If time yet permits----
_Wallenstein._ That lies with me, even now, at any hour.
_Wrangel._ Some days ago, perhaps. To-day, no longer,
No longer since Sesina is a prisoner.
My Lord Duke, hear me--We believe that you 165
At present do mean honourably by us.
Since yesterday we're sure of that--and now
This paper warrants for the troops, there's nothing
Stands in the way of our full confidence.
Prague shall not part us. Hear! The Chancellor 170
Contents himself with Albstadt, to your Grace
He gives up Ratschin and the narrow side,
But Egra above all must open to us,
Ere we can think of any junction.
_Wallenstein._ You,
You therefore must I trust, and you not me? 175
I will consider of your proposition.
_Wrangel._ I must entreat, that your consideration
Occupy not too long a time. Already
Has this negotiation, my Lord Duke!
Crept on into the second year. If nothing 180
Is settled this time, will the Chancellor
Consider it as broken off for ever.
_Wallenstein._ Ye press me hard. A measure, such as this,
Ought to be thought of.
_Wrangel._ Ay! but think of this too,
That sudden action only can procure it 185
Success--think first of this, your Highness. [_Exit WRANGEL._
FOOTNOTES:
[696:1] A great stone near Lützen, since called the Swede's Stone, the
body of their great King having been found at the foot of it, after the
battle in which he lost his life.
LINENOTES:
[Before 1] _Wallenstein (after having fixed a searching look on him)._
1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 10] _Wallenstein (makes the motion, &c._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[23] _might_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 23] [_Taking his hand affectionately._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[36] wholly lie] lie wholly 1828, 1829.
[40] _the one_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[41] _other_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[61] _me_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[74] _so_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[77] _hearts_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[78] _you_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[84] _has_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[96] must] may 1800, 1828, 1829.
[103] _I_ 1800, 1828, 1829. out] you 1828, 1829.
[Before 105] _Wrangel (considerately)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[107] _Wrangel (calmly proceeding)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[144] _Citizens_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[154] _we_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[164] Sesina is] Sesina's been 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 164] [_Wallenstein is struck, and silenced._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[167] _yesterday_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[184] _thought_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE VI
_WALLENSTEIN, TERTSKY, and ILLO (re-enter)._
_Illo._ Is't all right?
_Tertsky._ Are you compromised?
_Illo._ This Swede
Went smiling from you. Yes! you're compromised.
_Wallenstein._ As yet is nothing settled: and (well weighed)
I feel myself inclined to leave it so.
_Tertsky._ How? What is that?
_Wallenstein._ Come on me what will come, 5
The doing evil to avoid an evil
Cannot be good!
_Tertsky._ Nay, but bethink you, Duke?
_Wallenstein._ To live upon the mercy of these Swedes!
Of these proud-hearted Swedes! I could not bear it.
_Illo._ Goest thou as fugitive, as mendicant? 10
Bringest thou not more to them than thou receivest?
LINENOTES:
[10] _Wallenstein (sarcastically)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[11] _Countess (to the others)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE VII
_To these enter the COUNTESS TERTSKY._
_Wallenstein._ Who sent for you? There is no business here
For women.
_Countess._ I am come to bid you joy.
_Wallenstein._ Use thy authority, Tertsky, bid her go.
_Countess._ Come I perhaps too early? I hope not.
_Wallenstein._ Set not this tongue upon me, I entreat you. 5
You know it is the weapon that destroys me.
I am routed, if a woman but attack me.
I cannot traffic in the trade of words
With that unreasoning sex.
_Countess._ I had already
Given the Bohemians a king.
_Wallenstein._ They have one, 10
In consequence, no doubt.
_Countess._ Ha! what new scruple?
_Tertsky._ The Duke will not.
_Countess._ He will not what he must!
_Illo._ It lies with you now. Try. For I am silenced,
When folks begin to talk to me of conscience,
And of fidelity.
_Countess._ How? then, when all 15
Lay in the far-off distance, when the road
Stretched out before thine eyes interminably,
Then hadst thou courage and resolve; and now,
Now that the dream is being realized,
The purpose ripe, the issue ascertained, 20
Dost thou begin to play the dastard now?
Planned merely, 'tis a common felony;
Accomplished, an immortal undertaking:
And with success comes pardon hand in hand;
For all event is God's arbitrement. 25
_Servant (enters)._ The Colonel Piccolomini.
_Countess._ --Must wait.
_Wallenstein._ I cannot see him now. Another time.
_Servant._ But for two minutes he entreats an audience.
Of the most urgent nature is his business.
_Wallenstein._ Who knows what he may bring us? I will hear him. 30
_Countess._ Urgent for him, no doubt; but thou mayest wait.
_Wallenstein._ What is it?
_Countess._ Thou shalt be informed hereafter.
First let the Swede and thee be compromised. [_Exit_ Servant.
_Wallenstein._ If there were yet a choice! if yet some milder
Way of escape were possible--I still 35
Will choose it, and avoid the last extreme.
_Countess._ Desir'st thou nothing further? Such a way
Lies still before thee. Send this Wrangel off.
Forget thou thy old hopes, cast far away
All thy past life; determine to commence 40
A new one. Virtue hath her heroes too,
As well as Fame and Fortune.--To Vienna--
Hence--to the Emperor--kneel before the throne;
Take a full coffer with thee--say aloud,
Thou did'st but wish to prove thy fealty; 45
Thy whole intention but to dupe the Swede.
_Illo._ For that too 'tis too late. They know too much.
He would but bear his own head to the block.
_Countess._ I fear not that. They have not evidence
To attaint him legally, and they avoid 50
The avowal of an arbitrary power.
They'll let the Duke resign without disturbance.
I see how all will end. The King of Hungary
Makes his appearance, and 'twill of itself
Be understood, that then the Duke retires. 55
There will not want a formal declaration.
The young King will administer the oath
To the whole army; and so all returns
To the old position. On some morrow morning
The Duke departs; and now 'tis stir and bustle 60
Within his castles. He will hunt, and build,
Superintend his horses' pedigrees;
Creates himself a court, gives golden keys,
And introduceth strictest ceremony
In fine proportions, and nice etiquette; 65
Keeps open table with high cheer; in brief,
Commenceth mighty King--in miniature.
And while he prudently demeans himself,
And gives himself no actual importance,
He will be let appear whate'er he likes; 70
And who dares doubt, that Friedland will appear
A mighty Prince to his last dying hour?
Well now, what then? Duke Friedland is as others,
A fire-new Noble, whom the war hath raised
To price and currency, a Jonah's Gourd, 75
An over-night creation of court-favour,
Which with an undistinguishable ease
Makes Baron or makes Prince.
_Wallenstein._ Take her away.
Let in the young Count Piccolomini.
_Countess._ Art thou in earnest? I entreat thee! Canst thou 80
Consent to bear thyself to thy own grave,
So ignominiously to be dried up?
Thy life, that arrogated such a height
To end in such a nothing! To be nothing,
When one was always nothing, is an evil 85
That asks no stretch of patience, a light evil,
But to become a nothing, having been----
_Wallenstein (starts up)._ Shew me a way out of this stifling crowd,
Ye Powers of Aidance! Shew me such a way
As I am capable of going.--I 90
Am no tongue-hero, no fine virtue-prattler;
I cannot warm by thinking; cannot say
To the good luck that turns her back upon me,
Magnanimously: 'Go! I need thee not.'
Cease I to work, I am annihilated, 95
Dangers nor sacrifices will I shun,
If so I may avoid the last extreme;
But ere I sink down into nothingness,
Leave off so little, who began so great,
Ere that the world confuses me with those 100
Poor wretches, whom a day creates and crumbles,
This age and after-ages[701:1] speak my name
With hate and dread; and Friedland be redemption
For each accurséd deed!
_Countess._ What is there here, then,
So against nature? Help me to perceive it! 105
O let not Superstition's nightly goblins
Subdue thy clear bright spirit! Art thou bid
To murder?--with abhorr'd accurséd poniard,
To violate the breasts that nourished thee?
That were against our nature, that might aptly 110
Make thy flesh shudder, and thy whole heart sicken.[701:2]
Yet not a few, and for a meaner object,
Have ventured even this, ay, and performed it.
What is there in thy case so black and monstrous?
Thou art accused of treason--whether with 115
Or without justice is not now the question--
Thou art lost if thou dost not avail thee quickly
Of the power which thou possessest--Friedland! Duke!
Tell me, where lives that thing so meek and tame,
That doth not all his living faculties 120
Put forth in preservation of his life?
What deed so daring, which necessity
And desperation will not sanctify?
_Wallenstein._ Once was this Ferdinand so gracious to me:
He loved me; he esteemed me; I was placed 125
The nearest to his heart. Full many a time
We like familiar friends, both at one table,
Have banquetted together. He and I--
And the young kings themselves held me the bason
Wherewith to wash me--and is't come to this? 130
_Countess._ So faithfully preserv'st thou each small favour,
And hast no memory for contumelies?
Must I remind thee, how at Regenspurg
This man repaid thy faithful services?
All ranks and all conditions in the Empire 135
Thou hadst wronged, to make him great,--hadst loaded on thee,
On thee, the hate, the curse of the whole world.
No friend existed for thee in all Germany,
And why? because thou hadst existed only
For the Emperor. To the Emperor alone 140
Clung Friedland in that storm which gathered round him
At Regenspurg in the Diet--and he dropped thee!
He let thee fall! He let thee fall a victim
To the Bavarian, to that insolent!
Deposed, stript bare of all thy dignity 145
And power, amid the taunting of thy foes,
Thou wert let drop into obscurity.--
Say not, the restoration of thy honour
Hath made atonement for that first injustice.
No honest good-will was it that replaced thee, 150
The law of hard necessity replaced thee,
Which they had fain opposed, but that they could not.
_Wallenstein._ Not to their good wishes, that is certain,
Nor yet to his affection I'm indebted
For this high office; and if I abuse it, 155
I shall therein abuse no confidence.
_Countess_. Affection! confidence!--They needed thee.
Necessity, impetuous remonstrant!
Who not with empty names, or shews of proxy,
Is served, who'll have the thing and not the symbol, 160
Ever seeks out the greatest and the best,
And at the rudder places him, e'en though
She had been forced to take him from the rabble--
She, this Necessity, it was that placed thee
In this high office, it was she that gave thee 165
Thy letters patent of inauguration.
For, to the uttermost moment that they can.
This race still help themselves at cheapest rate
With slavish souls, with puppets! At the approach
Of extreme peril, when a hollow image 170
Is found a hollow image and no more,
Then falls the power into the mighty hands
Of Nature, of the spirit giant-born,
Who listens only to himself, knows nothing
Of stipulations, duties, reverences 175
And, like the emancipated force of fire,
Unmastered scorches, ere it reaches them,
Their fine-spun webs, their artificial policy.
_Wallenstein._ 'Tis true! they saw me always as I am--
Always! I did not cheat them in the bargain. 180
I never held it worth my pains to hide
The bold all-grasping habit of my soul.
_Countess._ Nay rather--thou hast ever shewn thyself
A formidable man, without restraint;
Hast exercised the full prerogatives 185
Of thy impetuous nature, which had been
Once granted to thee. Therefore, Duke, not thou,
Who hast still remained consistent with thyself,
But they are in the wrong, who fearing thee,
Entrusted such a power in hands they feared. 190
For, by the laws of Spirit, in the right
Is every individual character
That acts in strict consistence with itself.
Self-contradiction is the only wrong.
Wert thou another being, then, when thou 195
Eight years ago pursuedst thy march with fire
And sword, and desolation, through the Circles
Of Germany, the universal scourge,
Didst mock all ordinances of the empire,
The fearful rights of strength alone exertedst, 200
Trampledst to earth each rank, each magistracy,
All to extend thy Sultan's domination?
Then was the time to break thee in, to curb
Thy haughty will, to teach thee ordinance.
But no! the Emperor felt no touch of conscience, 205
What served him pleased him, and without a murmur
He stamped his broad seal on these lawless deeds.
What at that time was right, because thou didst it
For him, to-day is all at once become
Opprobrious, foul, because it is directed 210
Against him.--O most flimsy superstition!
_Wallenstein (rising)._ I never saw it in this light before.
'Tis even so. The Emperor perpetrated
Deeds through my arm, deeds most unorderly.
And even this prince's mantle, which I wear, 215
I owe to what were services to him,
But most high misdemeanours 'gainst the empire.
_Countess._ Then betwixt thee and him (confess it, Friedland!)
The point can be no more of right and duty,
Only of power and opportunity. 220
That opportunity, lo! it comes yonder,
Approaching with swift steeds; then with a swing
Throw thyself up into the chariot-seat,
Seize with firm hand the reins, ere thy opponent
Anticipate thee, and himself make conquest 225
Of the now empty seat. The moment comes--
It is already here, when thou must write
The absolute total of thy life's vast sum.
The constellations stand victorious o'er thee,
The planets shoot good fortune in fair junctions, 230
And tell thee, 'Now's the time!' The starry courses
Hast thou thy life long measured to no purpose?
The quadrant and the circle, were they playthings?
[_Pointing to the different objects in the room._
The zodiacs, the rolling orbs of heaven,
Hast pictured on these walls, and all around thee 235
In dumb, foreboding symbols hast thou placed
These seven presiding Lords of Destiny--
For toys? Is all this preparation nothing?
Is there no marrow in this hollow art,
That even to thyself it doth avail 240
Nothing, and has no influence over thee
In the great moment of decision?----
_Wallenstein (interrupting the Countess)._ Send Wrangel to me--I
will instantly
Dispatch three couriers----
_Illo (hurrying out)._ God in heaven be praised!
_Wallenstein._ It is his evil genius and mine. 245
Our evil genius! It chastises him
Through me, the instrument of his ambition;
And I expect no less, than that Revenge
E'en now is whetting for my breast the poniard.
Who sows the serpent's teeth, let him not hope 250
To reap a joyous harvest. Every crime
Has, in the moment of its perpetration,
Its own avenging angel--dark misgiving,
An ominous sinking at the inmost heart.
He can no longer trust me--Then no longer 255
Can I retreat--so come that which must come.--
Still destiny preserves its due relations,
The heart within us is its absolute
Vicegerent. [_To TERTSKY._
Go, conduct you Gustave Wrangel
To my state-cabinet. Myself will speak to 260
The couriers.--And dispatch immediately
A servant for Octavio Piccolomini. [_To the COUNTESS._
No exultation--woman, triumph not!
For jealous are the Powers of Destiny.
Joy premature, and shouts ere victory, 265
Incroach upon their rights and privileges.
We sow the seed, and they the growth determine.
[_While he is making his exit the curtain drops._
FOOTNOTES:
[701:1] Could I have hazarded such a Germanism as the use of the word
'after-world' for _posterity_, 'Es spreche Welt und _Nachwelt_ meinen
Nahmen' might have been rendered with more literal fidelity:
'Let world and after-world speak out my name,' &c.
1800, 1828, 1829.
[701:2] I have not ventured to affront the fastidious delicacy of our
age with a literal translation of this line:
'werth
Die Eingeweide schaudernd aufzuregen.'
1800, 1828, 1829.
LINENOTES:
[12] _will not . . . must_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[26] _Countess (hastily)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 31] _Countess (laughs)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[78] _Wallenstein (in extreme agitation)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 88] _Wallenstein (starts up in violent agitation)._ 1800, 1828,
1829.
[90] _As I_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[110] _were_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[118] _Duke_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[137] _thee_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[149] Hath] Has 1800, 1828, 1829.
[157] _needed_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[163] _him_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[187] _thou_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[189] _they_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[209] _For him_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[211] _Against him_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[220] and opportunity] and th' opportunity 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 242] _Wallenstein (during this last speech walks up and down with
inward struggles, labouring with passions; stops suddenly, stands still,
then, &c._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[245] _his . . . mine_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[246] _him_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[249] _my_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 262] [_To the COUNTESS, who cannot conceal her triumph._ 1800,
1828, 1829.
ACT V
SCENE I
SCENE--_As in the preceding Act._
_WALLENSTEIN, OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI._
_Wallenstein (coming forward in conversation)._ He sends me word
from Linz, that he lies sick;
But I have sure intelligence, that he
Secretes himself at Frauenberg with Galas.
Secure them both, and send them to me hither.
Remember, thou tak'st on thee the command 5
Of those same Spanish regiments,--constantly
Make preparation, and be never ready;
And if they urge thee to draw out against me,
Still answer yes, and stand as thou wert fettered.
I know, that it is doing thee a service 10
To keep thee out of action in this business.
Thou lovest to linger on in fair appearances;
Steps of extremity are not thy province,
Therefore have I sought out this part for thee.
Thou wilt this time be of most service to me 15
By thy inertness. The mean time, if fortune
Declare itself on my side, thou wilt know
What is to do.
_Enter MAX PICCOLOMINI._
Now go, Octavio.
This night must thou be off, take my own horses:
Him here I keep with me--make short farewell-- 20
Trust me, I think we all shall meet again
In joy and thriving fortunes.
_Octavio (to his son)._ I shall see you
Yet ere I go.
LINENOTES:
[3] Secretes] Secrets 1828, 1829, 1893.
[9] YES 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE II
_WALLENSTEIN, MAX PICCOLOMINI._
_Max (advances to him)._ My General!
_Wallenstein._ That am I no longer, if
Thou styl'st thyself the Emperor's officer.
_Max._ Then thou wilt leave the army, General?
_Wallenstein._ I have renounced the service of the Emperor.
_Max._ And thou wilt leave the army?
_Wallenstein._ Rather hope I 5
To bind it nearer still and faster to me. [_He seats himself._
Yes, Max, I have delayed to open it to thee,
Even till the hour of acting 'gins to strike.
Youth's fortunate feeling doth seize easily
The absolute right, yea, and a joy it is 10
To exercise the single apprehension
Where the sums square in proof;
But where it happens, that of two sure evils
One must be taken, where the heart not wholly
Brings itself back from out the strife of duties, 15
There 'tis a blessing to have no election,
And blank necessity is grace and favour.
--This is now present: do not look behind thee.--
It can no more avail thee. Look thou forwards!
Think not! judge not! prepare thyself to act! 20
The Court--it hath determined on my ruin,
Therefore I will to be beforehand with them.
We'll join the Swedes--right gallant fellows are they,
And our good friends.
[_He stops himself, expecting PICCOLOMINI'S answer._
I have ta'en thee by surprise. Answer me not. 25
I grant thee time to recollect thyself.
[_He rises, and retires at the back of the stage. MAX
remains for a long time motionless, in a trance
of excessive anguish. At his first motion
WALLENSTEIN returns, and places himself before
him._
_Max._ My General, this day thou makest me
Of age to speak in my own right and person,
For till this day I have been spared the trouble
To find out my own road. Thee have I followed 30
With most implicit unconditional faith,
Sure of the right path if I followed thee.
To-day, for the first time, dost thou refer
Me to myself, and forcest me to make
Election between thee and my own heart. 35
_Wallenstein._ Soft cradled thee thy Fortune till to-day;
Thy duties thou couldst exercise in sport,
Indulge all lovely instincts, act for ever
With undivided heart. It can remain
No longer thus. Like enemies, the roads 40
Start from each other. Duties strive with duties.
Thou must needs choose thy party in the war
Which is now kindling 'twixt thy friend and him
Who is thy Emperor.
_Max._ War! is that the name?
War is as frightful as heaven's pestilence. 45
Yet it is good, is it heaven's will as that is.
Is that a good war, which against the Emperor
Thou wagest with the Emperor's own army?
O God of heaven! what a change is this.
Beseems it me to offer such persuasion 50
To thee, who like the fixed star of the pole
Wert all I gazed at on life's trackless ocean?
O! what a rent thou makest in my heart!
The ingrained instinct of old reverence.
The holy habit of obediency, 55
Must I pluck live asunder from thy name?
Nay, do not turn thy countenance upon me--
It always was as a god looking at me!
Duke Wallenstein, its power is not departed:
The senses still are in thy bonds, although, 60
Bleeding, the soul hath freed itself.
_Wallenstein._ Max, hear me.
_Max._ O! do it not, I pray thee, do it not!
There is a pure and noble soul within thee,
Knows not of this unblest, unlucky doing.
Thy will is chaste, it is thy fancy only 65
Which hath polluted thee--and innocence,
It will not let itself be driven away
From that world-awing aspect. Thou wilt not,
Thou canst not, end in this. It would reduce
All human creatures to disloyalty 70
Against the nobleness of their own nature.
'Twill justify the vulgar misbelief,
Which holdeth nothing noble in free will,
And trusts itself to impotence alone
Made powerful only in an unknown power. 75
_Wallenstein._ The world will judge me sternly, I expect it.
Already have I said to my own self
All thou canst say to me. Who but avoids
The extreme,--can he by going round avoid it?
But here there is no choice. Yes--I must use 80
Or suffer violence--so stands the case,
There remains nothing possible but that.
_Max._ O that is never possible for thee!
'Tis the last desperate resource of those
Cheap souls, to whom their honour, their good name 85
Is their poor saving, their last worthless keep,
Which having staked and lost, they stake themselves
In the mad rage of gaming. Thou art rich,
And glorious; with an unpolluted heart
Thou canst make conquest of whate'er seems highest! 90
But he, who once hath acted infamy,
Does nothing more in this world.
_Wallenstein (grasps his hand)._ Calmly, Max!
Much that is great and excellent will we
Perform together yet. And if we only
Stand on the height with dignity, 'tis soon 95
Forgotten, Max, by what road we ascended.
Believe me, many a crown shines spotless now,
That yet was deeply sullied in the winning.
To the evil spirit doth the earth belong,
Not to the good. All, that the powers divine 100
Send from above, are universal blessings:
Their light rejoices us, their air refreshes,
But never yet was man enriched by them:
In their eternal realm no property
Is to be struggled for--all there is general. 105
The jewel, the all-valued gold we win
From the deceiving Powers, depraved in nature,
That dwell beneath the day and blessed sun-light.
Not without sacrifices are they rendered
Propitious, and there lives no soul on earth 110
That e'er retired unsullied from their service.
_Max._ Whate'er is human, to the human being
Do I allow--and to the vehement
And striving spirit readily I pardon
The excess of action; but to thee, my General! 115
Above all others make I large concession.
For thou must move a world, and be the master--
He kills thee, who condemns thee to inaction.
So be it then! maintain thee in thy post
By violence. Resist the Emperor, 120
And if it must be, force with force repel:
I will not praise it, yet I can forgive it.
But not--not to the traitor--yes!--the word
Is spoken out----
Not to the traitor can I yield a pardon. 125
That is no mere excess! that is no error
Of human nature--that is wholly different,
O that is black, black as the pit of hell!
Thou canst not hear it nam'd, and wilt thou do it?
O turn back to thy duty. That thou canst, 130
I hold it certain. Send me to Vienna.
I'll make thy peace for thee with the Emperor.
He knows thee not. But I do know thee. He
Shall see thee, Duke! with my unclouded eye,
And I bring back his confidence to thee. 135
_Wallenstein._ It is too late. Thou knowest not what has happened.
_Max._ Were it too late, and were things gone so far,
That a crime only could prevent thy fall,
Then--fall! fall honourably, even as thou stood'st.
Lose the command. Go from the stage of war. 140
Thou canst with splendour do it--do it too
With innocence. Thou hast liv'd much for others,
At length live thou for thy own self. I follow thee.
My destiny I never part from thine.
_Wallenstein._ It is too late! Even now, while thou art losing 145
Thy words, one after the other are the mile-stones
Left fast behind by my post couriers,
Who bear the order on to Prague and Egra.
Yield thyself to it. We act as we are forced.
I cannot give assent to my own shame 150
And ruin. Thou--no--thou canst not forsake me!
So let us do, what must be done, with dignity,
With a firm step. What am I doing worse
Than did famed Cæsar at the Rubicon,
When he the legions led against his country, 155
The which his country had delivered to him?
Had he thrown down the sword, he had been lost,
As I were, if I but disarmed myself.
I trace out something in me of his spirit.
Give me his luck, that other thing I'll bear. 160
[_MAX quits him abruptly. WALLENSTEIN, startled and
overpowered, continues looking after him, and
is still in this posture when TERTSKY enters._
LINENOTES:
[86] _saving . . . Keep_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[104] _property_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[116] _all_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[123] _traitor_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 128] [_WALLENSTEIN betrays a sudden agitation._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[129] _nam'd . . . do_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 148] [_MAX stands as convulsed, with a gesture and countenance
expressing the most intense anguish._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[150] _I_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[151] _Thou_--no 1800, 1828, 1829.
[160] _that other thing_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE III
_WALLENSTEIN, TERTSKY._
_Tertsky._ Max Piccolomini just left you?
_Wallenstein._ Where is Wrangel?
_Tertsky._ He is already gone.
_Wallenstein._ In such a hurry?
_Tertsky._ It is as if the earth had swallowed him.
He had scarce left thee, when I went to seek him.
I wished some words with him--but he was gone. 5
How, when, and where, could no one tell me. Nay,
I half believe it was the devil himself;
A human creature could not so at once
Have vanished.
_Illo (enters)._ Is it true that thou wilt send
Octavio?
_Tertsky._ How, Octavio! Whither send him? 10
_Wallenstein._ He goes to Frauenberg, and will lead hither
The Spanish and Italian regiments.
_Illo._ No!
Nay, Heaven forbid!
_Wallenstein._ And why should Heaven forbid?
_Illo._ Him!--that deceiver! Would'st thou trust to him
The soldiery? Him wilt thou let slip from thee, 15
Now, in the very instant that decides us----
_Tertsky._ Thou wilt not do this!--No! I pray thee, no!
_Wallenstein._ Ye are whimsical.
_Illo._ O but for this time, Duke,
Yield to our warning! Let him not depart.
_Wallenstein._ And why should I not trust him only this time, 20
Who have always trusted him? What, then, has happened,
That I should lose my good opinion of him?
In complaisance to your whims, not my own,
I must, forsooth, give up a rooted judgment.
Think not I am a woman. Having trusted him 25
E'en till to-day, to-day too will I trust him.
_Tertsky._ Must it be he--he only? Send another.
_Wallenstein._ It must be he, whom I myself have chosen;
He is well fitted for the business. Therefore
I gave it him.
_Illo._ Because he's an Italian-- 30
Therefore is he well fitted for the business.
_Wallenstein._ I know you love them not--nor sire nor son--
Because that I esteem them, love them--visibly
Esteem them, love them more than you and others,
E'en as they merit. Therefore are they eye-blights, 35
Thorns in your foot-path. But your jealousies,
In what affect they me or my concerns?
Are they the worse to me because you hate them?
Love or hate one another as you will,
I leave to each man his own moods and likings; 40
Yet know the worth of each of you to me.
_Illo._ Von Questenberg, while he was here, was always
Lurking about with this Octavio.
_Wallenstein._ It happened with my knowledge and permission.
_Illo._ I know that secret messengers came to him 45
From Galas----
_Wallenstein._ That's not true.
_Illo._ O thou art blind
With thy deep-seeing eyes.
_Wallenstein._ Thou wilt not shake
My faith for me--my faith, which founds itself
On the profoundest science. If 'tis false,
Then the whole science of the stars is false. 50
For know, I have a pledge from fate itself,
That he is the most faithful of my friends.
_Illo._ Hast thou a pledge, that this pledge is not false?
_Wallenstein._ There exist moments in the life of man,
When he is nearer the great soul of the world 55
Than is man's custom, and possesses freely
The power of questioning his destiny:
And such a moment 'twas, when in the night
Before the action in the plains of Lützen,
Leaning against a tree, thoughts crowding thoughts, 60
I looked out far upon the ominous plain.
My whole life, past and future, in this moment
Before my mind's eye glided in procession,
And to the destiny of the next morning
The spirit, filled with anxious presentiment, 65
Did knit the most removed futurity.
Then said I also to myself, 'So many
Dost thou command. They follow all thy stars,
And as on some great number set their All
Upon thy single head, and only man 70
The vessel of thy fortune. Yet a day
Will come, when destiny shall once more scatter
All these in many a several direction:
Few be they who will stand out faithful to thee.'
I yearn'd to know which one was faithfullest 75
Of all, this camp included. Great Destiny,
Give me a sign! And he shall be the man,
Who, on the approaching morning, comes the first
To meet me with a token of his love:
And thinking this, I fell into a slumber. 80
Then midmost in the battle was I led
In spirit. Great the pressure and the tumult!
Then was my horse killed under me: I sank:
And over me away, all unconcernedly,
Drove horse and rider--and thus trod to pieces 85
I lay, and panted like a dying man.
Then seized me suddenly a saviour arm;
It was Octavio's--I awoke at once,
'Twas broad day, and Octavio stood before me.
'My brother,' said he,'do not ride to-day 90
The dapple, as you're wont; but mount the horse
Which I have chosen for thee. Do it, brother!
In love to me. A strong dream warned me so.'
It was the swiftness of this horse that snatched me
From the hot pursuit of Bannier's dragoons. 95
My cousin rode the dapple on that day.
And never more saw I or horse or rider.
_Illo._ That was a chance.
_Wallenstein._ There's no such thing as chance.
In brief, 'tis signed and sealed that this Octavio
Is my good angel--and now no word more. [_He is retiring._
_Tertsky._ This is my comfort--Max remains our hostage. 100
_Illo._ And he shall never stir from here alive.
_Wallenstein (stops and turns himself round)._ Are ye not like the
women, who for ever
Only recur to their first word, although
One had been talking reason by the hour? 105
Know, that the human being's thoughts and deeds
Are not, like ocean billows, blindly moved.
The inner world, his microcosmus, is
The deep shaft, out of which they spring eternally.
They grow by certain laws, like the tree's fruit-- 110
No juggling chance can metamorphose them.
Have I the human kernel first examined?
Then I know, too, the future will and action.
LINENOTES:
[38] _me_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[76] included] include 1800.
[89] _Octavio_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[98] _Wallenstein (significantly)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[112] _kernel_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE IV
SCENE--_A Chamber in PICCOLOMINI'S Dwelling-House._
_OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, ISOLANI (entering)._
_Isolani._ Here am I--Well! who comes yet of the others?
_Octavio._ But, first, a word with you, Count Isolani.
_Isolani._ Will it explode, ha?--Is the Duke about
To make the attempt? In me, friend, you may place
Full confidence.--Nay, put me to the proof. 5
_Octavio._ That may happen.
_Isolani._ Noble brother, I am
Not one of those men who in words are valiant,
And when it comes to action skulk away.
The Duke has acted towards me as a friend.
God knows it is so; and I owe him all---- 10
He may rely on my fidelity.
_Octavio._ That will be seen hereafter.
_Isolani._ Be on your guard,
All think not as I think; and there are many
Who still hold with the Court--yes, and they say
That those stolen signatures bind them to nothing. 15
_Octavio._ I am rejoiced to hear it.
_Isolani._ You rejoice!
_Octavio._ That the Emperor has yet such gallant servants
And loving friends.
_Isolani._ Nay, jeer not, I entreat you.
They are no such worthless fellows, I assure you.
_Octavio._ I am assured already. God forbid 20
That I should jest!--In very serious earnest
I am rejoiced to see an honest cause
So strong.
_Isolani._ The Devil!--what!--why, what means this?
Are you not, then----For what, then, am I here?
_Octavio._ That you may make full declaration, whether 25
You will be called the friend or enemy
Of the Emperor.
_Isolani._ That declaration, friend,
I'll make to him in whom a right is placed
To put that question to me.
_Octavio._ Whether, Count, 30
That right is mine, this paper may instruct you.
_Isolani._ Why,--why--what! This is the Emperor's hand and seal!
[_Reads._
'Whereas the officers collectively
Throughout our army will obey the orders
Of the Lieutenant-General Piccolomini 35
As from ourselves.'----Hem!--Yes! so!--Yes! yes!--
I--I give you joy, Lieutenant-General!
_Octavio._ And you submit you to the order?
_Isolani._ I----
But you have taken me so by surprise--
Time for reflection one must have----
_Octavio._ Two minutes. 40
_Isolani._ My God! But then the case is----
_Octavio._ Plain and simple.
You must declare you, whether you determine
To act a treason 'gainst your Lord and Sovereign,
Or whether you will serve him faithfully.
_Isolani._ Treason!--My God!--But who talks then of treason? 45
_Octavio._ That is the case. The Prince-Duke is a traitor--
Means to lead over to the enemy
The Emperor's army.--Now, Count!--brief and full--
Say, will you break your oath to the Emperor?
Sell yourself to the enemy?--Say, will you? 50
_Isolani._ What mean you? I--I break my oath, d'ye say,
To his Imperial Majesty?
Did I say so?--When, when have I said that?
_Octavio._ You have not said it yet--not yet. This instant
I wait to hear, Count, whether you will say it. 55
_Isolani._ Aye! that delights me now, that you yourself
Bear witness for me that I never said so.
_Octavio._ And you renounce the Duke then?
_Isolani._ If he's planning
Treason--why, treason breaks all bonds asunder.
_Octavio._ And are determined, too, to fight against him? 60
_Isolani._ He has done me service--but if he's a villain,
Perdition seize him!--All scores are rubbed off.
_Octavio._ I am rejoiced that you're so well disposed.
This night break off in the utmost secrecy
With all the light-armed troops--it must appear 65
As came the order from the Duke himself.
At Frauenberg's the place of rendezvous;
There will Count Galas give you further orders.
_Isolani._ It shall be done. But you'll remember me
With the Emperor--how well disposed you found me. 70
_Octavio._ I will not fail to mention it honourably.
[_Exit ISOLANI. A_ Servant _enters._
What, Colonel Butler!--Shew him up.
_Isolani (returning)._ Forgive me too my bearish ways, old father!
Lord God! how should I know, then, what a great
Person I had before me.
_Octavio._ No excuses! 75
_Isolani._ I am a merry lad, and if at time
A rash word might escape me 'gainst the court
Amidst my wine--You know no harm was meant. [_Exit._
_Octavio._ You need not be uneasy on that score.
That has succeeded. Fortune favour us 80
With all the others only but as much!
LINENOTES:
[Before 2] _Octavio (with an air of mystery)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 3] _Isolani (assuming the same air of mystery)._ 1800, 1828,
1829.
[27] _Isolani (with an air of defiance)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 32] _Isolani (stammering)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[36] _Hem_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[40] _must_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[55] _will_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE V
_OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, BUTLER._
_Butler._ At your command, Lieutenant-General.
_Octavio._ Welcome, as honoured friend and visitor.
_Butler._ You do me too much honour.
_Octavio (after both have seated themselves)._ You have not
Returned the advances which I made you yesterday--
Misunderstood them, as mere empty forms. 5
That wish proceeded from my heart--I was
In earnest with you--for 'tis now a time
In which the honest should unite most closely.
_Butler._ 'Tis only the like-minded can unite.
_Octavio._ True! and I name all honest men like-minded. 10
I never charge a man but with those acts
To which his character deliberately
Impels him; for alas! the violence
Of blind misunderstandings often thrusts
The very best of us from the right track. 15
You came through Frauenberg. Did the Count Galas
Say nothing to you? Tell me. He's my friend.
_Butler._ His words were lost on me.
_Octavio._ It grieves me sorely
To hear it: for his counsel was most wise.
I had myself the like to offer.
_Butler._ Spare 20
Yourself the trouble--me th' embarrassment,
To have deserved so ill your good opinion.
_Octavio._ The time is precious--let us talk openly.
You know how matters stand here. Wallenstein
Meditates treason--I can tell you further-- 25
He has committed treason; but few hours
Have past, since he a covenant concluded
With the enemy. The messengers are now
Full on their way to Egra and to Prague.
To-morrow he intends to lead us over 30
To the enemy. But he deceives himself;
For prudence wakes--the Emperor has still
Many and faithful friends here, and they stand
In closest union, mighty though unseen.
This manifesto sentences the Duke-- 35
Recalls the obedience of the army from him,
And summons all the loyal, all the honest,
To join and recognize in me their leader.
Choose--will you share with us an honest cause?
Or with the evil share an evil lot? 40
_Butler (rises)._ His lot is mine.
_Octavio._ Is that your last resolve?
_Butler._ It is.
_Octavio._ Nay, but bethink you, Colonel Butler!
As yet you have time. Within my faithful breast
That rashly uttered word remains interred.
Recall it, Butler! choose a better party: 45
You have not chosen the right one.
_Butler (going)._ Any other
Commands for me, Lieutenant-General?
_Octavio._ See your white hairs! Recall that word!
_Butler._ Farewell!
_Octavio._ What, would you draw this good and gallant sword
In such a cause? Into a curse would you 50
Transform the gratitude which you have earned
By forty years' fidelity from Austria?
_Butler (laughing with bitterness)._ Gratitude from the House of
Austria. [_He is going._
_Octavio (permits him to go as far as the door, then calls after
him)._ Butler!
_Butler._ What wish you?
_Octavio._ How was't with the Count?
_Butler._ Count? what?
_Octavio._ The title that you wished, I mean. 55
_Butler (starts in sudden passion)._ Hell and damnation!
_Octavio._ You
petitioned for it--
And your petition was repelled--Was it so?
_Butler._ Your insolent scoff shall not go by unpunished.
Draw!
_Octavio._ Nay! your sword to 'ts sheath![718:1] and tell me
calmly,
How all that happened. I will not refuse you 60
Your satisfaction afterwards.--Calmly, Butler!
_Butler._ Be the whole world acquainted with the weakness
For which I never can forgive myself.
Lieutenant-General! Yes--I have ambition.
Ne'er was I able to endure contempt. 65
It stung me to the quick, that birth and title
Should have more weight than merit has in the army.
I would fain not be meaner than my equal,
So in an evil hour I let myself
Be tempted to that measure--It was folly! 70
But yet so hard a penance it deserved not.
It might have been refused; but wherefore barb
And venom the refusal with contempt?
Why dash to earth and crush with heaviest scorn
The grey-haired man, the faithful veteran? 75
Why to the baseness of his parentage
Refer him with such cruel roughness, only
Because he had a weak hour and forgot himself?
But nature gives a sting e'en to the worm
Which wanton power treads on in sport and insult. 80
_Octavio._ You must have been calumniated. Guess you
The enemy, who did you this ill service?
_Butler._ Be't who it will--a most low-hearted scoundrel,
Some vile court-minion must it be, some Spaniard,
Some young squire of some ancient family, 85
In whose light I may stand, some envious knave,
Stung to his soul by my fair self-earned honours!
_Octavio._ But tell me! Did the Duke approve that measure?
_Butler._ Himself impelled me to it, used his interest
In my behalf with all the warmth of friendship. 90
_Octavio._ Ay? Are you sure of that?
_Butler._ I read the letter.
_Octavio._ And so did I--but the contents were different.
By chance I'm in possession of that letter--
Can leave it to your own eyes to convince you.
[_He gives him the letter._
_Butler._ Ha! what is this?
_Octavio._ I fear me, Colonel Butler, 95
An infamous game have they been playing with you.
The Duke, you say, impelled you to this measure?
Now, in this letter talks he in contempt
Concerning you, counsels the Minister
To give sound chastisement to your conceit, 100
For so he calls it.
[_BUTLER reads through the letter, his knees tremble, he
seizes a chair, and sinks down in it._
You have no enemy, no persecutor;
There's no one wishes ill to you. Ascribe
The insult you received to the Duke only.
His aim is clear and palpable. He wished 105
To tear you from your Emperor--he hoped
To gain from your revenge what he well knew
(What your long-tried fidelity convinced him)
He ne'er could dare expect from your calm reason.
A blind tool would he make you, in contempt 110
Use you, as means of most abandoned ends.
He has gained his point. Too well has he succeeded
In luring you away from that good path
On which you had been journeying forty years!
_Butler._ Can e'er the Emperor's Majesty forgive me? 115
_Octavio._ More than forgive you. He would fain compensate
For that affront, and most unmerited grievance
Sustained by a deserving, gallant veteran.
From his free impulse he confirms the present,
Which the Duke made you for a wicked purpose. 120
The regiment, which you now command, is yours.
[_BUTLER attempts to rise, sinks down again. He labours
inwardly with violent emotions; tries to speak,
and cannot. At length he takes his sword from the
belt, and offers it to PICCOLOMINI._
_Octavio._ What wish you? Recollect yourself, friend.
_Butler._ Take it.
_Octavio._ But to what purpose? Calm yourself.
_Butler._ O take it!
I am no longer worthy of this sword.
_Octavio._ Receive it then anew from my hands--and 125
Wear it with honour for the right cause ever.
_Butler._----Perjure myself to such a gracious Sovereign!
_Octavio._ You'll make amends. Quick! break off from the Duke!
_Butler._ Break off from him!
_Octavio._ What now? Bethink thyself.
_Butler (no longer governing his emotion)._ Only break off from
him?--He dies!--he dies! 130
_Octavio._ Come after me to Frauenberg, where now
All who are loyal are assembling under
Counts Altringer and Galas. Many others
I've brought to a remembrance of their duty.
This night be sure that you escape from Pilsen. 135
_Butler._ Count Piccolomini! Dare that man speak
Of honour to you, who once broke his troth?
_Octavio._ He, who repents so deeply of it, dares.
_Butler._ Then leave me here, upon my word of honour!
_Octavio._ What's your design?
_Butler._ Leave me and my regiment. 140
_Octavio._ I have full confidence in you. But tell me
What are you brooding?
_Butler._ That the deed will tell you.
Ask me no more at present. Trust to me.
Ye may trust safely. By the living God
Ye give him over, not to his good angel! 145
Farewell. [_Exit BUTLER._
_Servant (enters with a billet)._ A stranger left it, and is gone.
The Prince-Duke's horses wait for you below.
[_Exit_ Servant.
_Octavio (reads)._ 'Be sure, make haste! Your faithful Isolan.'
--O that I had but left this town behind me.
To split upon a rock so near the haven!-- 150
Away! This is no longer a safe place for me!
Where can my son be tarrying?
FOOTNOTES:
[718:1] It probably did not suit Schiller's purposes to remark, what he
doubtless knew, that Butler was of a noble Irish family, indeed one of
the noblest. _MS. R_.
LINENOTES:
[18] _me_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[55] _Octavio (coldly)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 92] [_BUTLER is suddenly struck._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 115] _Butler (his voice trembling)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 136] _Butler (strides up and down in excessive agitation, then
steps up to Octavio with resolved countenance)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE VI
_OCTAVIO and MAX PICCOLOMINI._
_Octavio (advances to Max)._ I am going off, my son.
[_Receiving no answer he takes his hand._
My son, farewell.
_Max._ Farewell.
_Octavio._ Thou wilt soon follow me?
_Max._ I follow thee?
Thy way is crooked--it is not my way.
[_OCTAVIO drops his hand, and starts back._
O, hadst thou been but simple and sincere,
Ne'er had it come to this--all had stood otherwise. 5
He had not done that foul and horrible deed,
The virtuous had retained their influence o'er him:
He had not fallen into the snares of villains.
Wherefore so like a thief, and thief's accomplice
Did'st creep behind him--lurking for thy prey? 10
O, unblest falsehood! Mother of all evil!
Thou misery-making demon, it is thou
That sink'st us in perdition. Simple truth,
Sustainer of the world, had saved us all!
Father, I will not, I cannot excuse thee! 15
Wallenstein has deceived me--O, most foully!
But thou hast acted not much better.
_Octavio._ Son!
My son, ah! I forgive thy agony!
_Max._ Was't possible? had'st thou the heart, my father,
Had'st thou the heart to drive it to such lengths, 20
With cold premeditated purpose? Thou--
Had'st thou the heart, to wish to see him guilty,
Rather than saved? Thou risest by his fall.
Octavio, 'twill not please me.
_Octavio._ God in Heaven!
_Max._ O, woe is me! sure I have changed my nature. 25
How comes suspicion here--in the free soul?
Hope, confidence, belief, are gone; for all
Lied to me, all what I e'er loved or honoured.
No! No! Not all! She--she yet lives for me,
And she is true, and open as the Heavens! 30
Deceit is every where, hypocrisy,
Murder, and poisoning, treason, perjury:
The single holy spot is now our love,
The only unprofaned in human nature.
_Octavio._ Max!--we will go together. 'Twill be better. 35
_Max._ What? ere I've taken a last parting leave,
The very last--no never!
_Octavio._ Spare thyself
The pang of necessary separation.
Come with me! Come, my son! [_Attempts to take him with him._
_Max._ No! as sure as God lives, no! 40
_Octavio._ Come with me, I command thee! I, thy father.
_Max._ Command me what is human. I stay here.
_Octavio._ Max! in the Emperor's name I bid thee come.
_Max._ No Emperor has power to prescribe
Laws to the heart; and would'st thou wish to rob me 45
Of the sole blessing which my fate has left me,
Her sympathy? Must then a cruel deed
Be done with cruelty? The unalterable
Shall I perform ignobly--steal away,
With stealthy coward flight forsake her? No! 50
She shall behold my suffering, my sore anguish,
Hear the complaints of the disparted soul,
And weep tears o'er me. Oh! the human race
Have steely souls--but she is as an angel.
From the black deadly madness of despair 55
Will she redeem my soul, and in soft words
Of comfort, plaining, loose this pang of death!
_Octavio._ Thou wilt not tear thyself away; thou canst not.
O, come, my son! I bid thee save thy virtue.
_Max._ Squander not thou thy words in vain. 60
The heart I follow, for I dare trust to it.
_Octavio._ Max! Max! if that most damnéd thing could be,
If thou--my son--my own blood--(dare I think it?)
Do sell thyself to him, the infamous,
Do stamp this brand upon our noble house, 65
Then shall the world behold the horrible deed,
And in unnatural combat shall the steel
Of the son trickle with the father's blood.
_Max._ O hadst thou always better thought of men,
Thou hadst then acted better. Curst suspicion! 70
Unholy miserable doubt! To him
Nothing on earth remains unwrenched and firm,
Who has no faith.
_Octavio._ And if I trust thy heart,
Will it be always in thy power to follow it?
_Max._ The heart's voice thou hast not o'erpower'd--as little 75
Will Wallenstein be able to o'erpower it.
_Octavio._ O, Max! I see thee never more again!
_Max._ Unworthy of thee wilt thou never see me.
_Octavio._ I go to Frauenberg--the Pappenheimers
I leave thee here, the Lothrings too; Toskana 80
And Tiefenbach remain here to protect thee.
They love thee, and are faithful to their oath,
And will far rather fall in gallant contest
Than leave their rightful leader, and their honour.
_Max._ Rely on this, I either leave my life 85
In the struggle, or conduct them out of Pilsen.
_Octavio._ Farewell, my son!
_Max._ Farewell!
_Octavio._ How? not one look
Of filial love? No grasp of the hand at parting?
It is a bloody war, to which we are going,
And the event uncertain and in darkness. 90
So used we not to part--it was not so!
Is it then true? I have a son no longer?
[_MAX falls into his arms, they hold each [other] for
a long time in a speechless embrace, then go
away at different sides._
_The Curtain drops._
LINENOTES:
[Before 1] (_MAX enters almost in a state of derangement from extreme
agitation, his eyes roll wildly, his walk is unsteady, and he appears
not to observe his father, who stands at a distance, and gazes at him
with a countenance expressive of compassion. He paces with long strides
through the chamber, then stands still again, and at last throws himself
into a chair, staring vacantly at the object directly before him_).
1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 19] _Max (rises and contemplates his father with looks of
suspicion)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[28] what] that 1828, 1829.
[33] The single holy spot is our love 1800.
[Before 41] _Octavio (more urgently)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 62] _Octavio (trembling, and losing all self-command)._ 1800,
1828, 1829.
[63] _think_ 1800.
[75] _thou_ 1800.
THE DEATH OF WALLENSTEIN
A TRAGEDY
IN FIVE ACTS
PREFACE OF THE TRANSLATOR
TO THE FIRST EDITION
The two Dramas, PICCOLOMINI, or the first part of
WALLENSTEIN, and WALLENSTEIN, are introduced in the original
manuscript by a Prelude in one Act, entitled WALLENSTEIN'S
CAMP. This is written in rhyme, and in nine-syllable verse, in
the same _lilting_ metre (if that expression may be permitted) 5
with the second Eclogue of Spenser's Shepherd's Calendar.
This Prelude possesses a sort of broad humour, and is not
deficient in character; but to have translated it into prose, or
into any other metre than that of the original, would have
given a false notion both of its style and purport; to have 10
translated it into the same metre would have been incompatible with
a faithful adherence to the sense of the German, from the
comparative poverty of our language in rhymes; and it would have
been unadvisable from the incongruity of those lax verses with
the present taste of the English Public. Schiller's intention 15
seems to have been merely to have prepared his reader for the
Tragedies by a lively picture of the laxity of discipline, and the
mutinous dispositions of Wallenstein's soldiery. It is not
necessary as a preliminary explanation. For these reasons it
has been thought expedient not to translate it. 20
The admirers of Schiller, who have abstracted their conception
of that author from the _Robbers_, and the _Cabal_ and _Love_, plays
in which the main interest is produced by the excitement of
curiosity, and in which the curiosity is excited by terrible and
extraordinary incident, will not have perused without some 25
portion of disappointment the Dramas, which it has been my
employment to translate. They should, however, reflect that
these are Historical Dramas, taken from a popular German
History; that we must therefore judge of them in some measure
with the feelings of Germans; or by analogy, with the interest 30
excited in us by similar Dramas in our own language. Few,
I trust, would be rash or ignorant enough to compare Schiller
with Shakspeare yet, merely as illustration, I would say
that we should proceed to the perusal of Wallenstein, not
from Lear or Othello, but from Richard the Second, or the 35
three parts of Henry the Sixth. We scarcely expect rapidity
in an Historical Drama; and many prolix speeches are
pardoned from characters, whose names and actions have
formed the most amusing tales of our early life. On the other
hand, there exist in these plays more individual beauties, 40
more passages the excellence of which will bear reflection,
than in the former productions of Schiller. The description of
the Astrological Tower, and the reflections of the Young Lover,
which follow it, form in the original a fine poem; and my
translation must have been wretched indeed, if it can have 45
wholly overclouded the beauties of the Scene in the first Act of
the first Play between Questenberg, Max, and Octavio Piccolomini.
If we except the Scene of the setting sun in the _Robbers_,
I know of no part in Schiller's Plays which equals the whole
of the first Scene of the fifth Act of the concluding Play. It 50
would be unbecoming in me to be more diffuse on this subject.
A Translator stands connected with the original Author by
a certain law of subordination, which makes it more decorous
to point out excellencies than defects: indeed he is not likely
to be a fair judge of either. The pleasure or disgust from his 55
own labour will mingle with the feelings that arise from an
afterview of the original. Even in the first perusal of a work
in any foreign language which we understand, we are apt to
attribute to it more excellence than it really possesses from our
own pleasurable sense of difficulty overcome without effect. 60
Translation of poetry into poetry is difficult, because the
Translator must give a brilliancy to his language without that warmth
of original conception, from which such brilliancy would follow
of its own accord. But the translator of a living Author is
encumbered with additional inconveniences. If he render his 65
original faithfully, as to the sense of each passage, he must
necessarily destroy a considerable portion of the spirit; if he
endeavour to give a work executed according to laws of
compensation, he subjects himself to imputations of vanity, or
misrepresentation. I have thought it my duty to remain 70
bound by the sense of my original, with as few exceptions as
the nature of the languages rendered possible.
LINENOTES:
Title] Part Second. The Death of Wallenstein. A Tragedy. The Death of
Wallenstein. Preface of the Translator. 1828, 1829.
[10] notion] idea 1800, 1828, 1829.
[21] conception] idea 1800, 1828, 1829.
[41] the excellence of which] whose excellence 1800, 1828, 1829.
[60] effect] effort 1834.
[66] sense] _sense_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[67] spirit] _spirit_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[68] compensation] _compensation_ 1800, 1828, 1829.
[After 72] S. T. Coleridge 1800, 1828, 1829.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
_WALLENSTEIN, Duke of Friedland, Generalissimo of the Imperial Forces
in the Thirty Years' War._
_DUCHESS OF FRIEDLAND, Wife of Wallenstein._
_THEKLA, her Daughter, Princess of Friedland._
_THE COUNTESS TERTSKY, Sister of the Duchess._
_LADY NEUBRUNN._
_OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, Lieutenant-General._
_MAX PICCOLOMINI, his Son, Colonel of a Regiment of Cuirassiers._
_COUNT TERTSKY, the Commander of several Regiments, and Brother-in-law
of Wallenstein._
_ILLO, Field Marshal, Wallenstein's confidant._
_BUTLER, an Irishman, Commander of a Regiment of Dragoons._
_GORDON, Governor of Egra._
_MAJOR GERALDIN._
_CAPTAIN DEVEREUX._
_CAPTAIN MACDONALD._
_NEUMANN, Captain of Cavalry, Aide-de-Camp to Tertsky._
_SWEDISH CAPTAIN._
_SENI._
_BURGOMASTER of Egra._
_ANSPESSADE of the Cuirassiers._
_GROOM OF THE CHAMBER_, } _belonging to the Duke._
_A PAGE_, }
_CUIRASSIERS, DRAGOONS, SERVANTS._
THE DEATH OF WALLENSTEIN
ACT I
SCENE I
SCENE--_A Chamber in the House of the DUCHESS OF FRIEDLAND._
_COUNTESS TERTSKY, THEKLA, LADY NEUBRUNN (the two latter sit at the same
table at work)._
_Countess (watching them from the opposite side)._ So you have
nothing, niece, to ask me? Nothing?
I have been waiting for a word from you.
And could you then endure in all this time
Not once to speak his name?
[_The COUNTESS rises and advances to her._
Why, how comes this?
Perhaps I am already grown superfluous, 5
And other ways exist, besides through me?
Confess it to me, Thekla! have you seen him?
_Thekla._ To-day and yesterday I have not seen him.
_Countess._ And not heard from him either? Come, be open!
_Thekla._ No syllable.
_Countess._ And still you are so calm? 10
_Thekla._ I am.
_Countess._ May't please you, leave us, Lady Neubrunn!
[_Exit LADY NEUBRUNN._
LINENOTES:
[4] [_THEKLA remaining silent, the, &c._, 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE II
_The COUNTESS, THEKLA._
_Countess._ It does not please me, Princess! that he holds
Himself so still, exactly at this time.
_Thekla._ Exactly at this time?
_Countess._ He now knows all.
'Twere now the moment to declare himself.
_Thekla._ If I'm to understand you, speak less darkly. 5
_Countess._ 'Twas for that purpose that I bade her leave us.
Thekla, you are no more a child. Your heart
Is now no more in nonage: for you love,
And boldness dwells with love--that you have proved.
Your nature moulds itself upon your father's 10
More than your mother's spirit. Therefore may you
Hear, what were too much for her fortitude.
_Thekla._ Enough! no further preface, I entreat you.
At once, out with it! Be it what it may,
It is not possible that it should torture me 15
More than this introduction. What have you
To say to me? Tell me the whole and briefly!
_Countess._ You'll not be frightened--
_Thekla._ Name it, I entreat you.
_Countess._ It lies within your power to do your father
A weighty service--
_Thekla._ Lies within my power? 20
_Countess._ Max Piccolomini loves you. You can link him
Indissolubly to your father.
_Thekla._ I?
What need of me for that? And is he not
Already linked to him?
_Countess._ He was.
_Thekla._ And wherefore
Should he not be so now--not be so always? 25
_Countess._ He cleaves to the Emperor too.
_Thekla._ Not more than duty
And honour may demand of him.
_Countess._ We ask
Proofs of his love, and not proofs of his honour.
Duty and honour!
Those are ambiguous words with many meanings. 30
You should interpret them for him: his love
Should be the sole definer of his honour.
_Thekla._ How?
_Countess._ The Emperor or you must he renounce.
_Thekla._ He will accompany my father gladly
In his retirement. From himself you heard, 35
How much he wished to lay aside the sword.
_Countess._ He must not lay the sword aside, we mean;
He must unsheath it in your father's cause.
_Thekla._ He'll spend with gladness and alacrity
His life, his heart's blood in my father's cause, 40
If shame or injury be intended him.
_Countess._ You will not understand me. Well, hear then!
Your father has fallen off from the Emperor,
And is about to join the enemy
With the whole soldiery--
_Thekla._ Alas, my mother! 45
_Countess._ There needs a great example to draw on
The army after him. The Piccolomini
Possess the love and reverence of the troops;
They govern all opinions, and wherever
They lead the way, none hesitate to follow. 50
The son secures the father to our interests--
You've much in your hands at this moment.
_Thekla._ Ah,
My miserable mother! what a death-stroke
Awaits thee!--No! She never will survive it.
_Countess._ She will accommodate her soul to that 55
Which is and must be. I do know your mother.
The far-off future weights upon her heart
With torture of anxiety; but is it
Unalterably, actually present,
She soon resigns herself, and bears it calmly. 60
_Thekla._ O my fore-boding bosom! Even now,
E'en now 'tis here, that icy hand of horror!
And my young hope lies shuddering in its grasp;
I knew it well--no sooner had I entered,
A heavy ominous presentiment 65
Revealed to me, that spirits of death were hovering
Over my happy fortune. But why think I
First of myself? My mother! O my mother!
_Countess._ Calm yourself! Break not out in vain lamenting!
Preserve you for your father the firm friend, 70
And for yourself the lover, all will yet
Prove good and fortunate.
_Thekla._ Prove good? What good?
Must we not part? Part ne'er to meet again?
_Countess._ He parts not from you! He can not part from you.
_Thekla._ Alas for his sore anguish! It will rend 75
His heart asunder.