DUKE
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY
Treasure %oom
THE
COLERIDGE
COLLECTION
I
...v Vi
P."
-./
TRANSLATED
FROM A MANUSCRIPT-COPY ATTESTED BY THE AUTHOR,
" 4
• * *■ THE
PICCOLOMINI,
OP. THE
FIRST PART OF WALLKNSTEIN
PRINTED R-V G. WQODFALL, PATERNOSTER ROW,
^
WALLEKSTE1N
Zondofl. PubhjhaUpril ißoo.bvMutfZmynan. and Rms.JistaTuutu- Jh>
THE
PICCOLOMINI.
OR THE
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN,
A DRAMA
IN FIVE ACTS.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF
FREDERICK SCHILLER
«
BY
$
S. T. COLERIDGE.
LONDON
PRINTED TOR T. N. LONGMAN AND
O. REES, PATERNOSTER^ROY,^
1800.
<-
-
v. It,
%l>Zy,^
PREFACE
$>^feb(L,
OP
£ 0 9 . 3j
i
T//E TRANSLATOR.
IT was my intention to have prefixed a
-Life of Wallenftein to this tranflation; but
I found that it muft either have occupied a
fpace wholly difproportionate to the nature
of the publication, or have been merely a
meagre catalogue of events narrated not more
fully than they already are in the Play itfelf.
The recent tranflation, likewife, of Schiller's
History of the Thirty Years* War di-
minifhed the motives thereto. In the tranf-
lation I endeavoured to render my Author
literally wherever I was not prevented by
abfolute differences of idiom ; but I ani
confcious, that in two or three ihort paflages
a 3 I have,
263902
H PREFACE OF THE TRANSLATOR.
I have been guilty of dilating the original;
and, from anxiety to give the full meaning,
have weakened the force. In the metre I
have availed myfclf of no other liberties
than thofe which Schiller had permitted to
himfelf, except the occafional breaking-up
of the line by the fubftitution of a trochee
for an iambic; of which liberty, fo frequent
in our tragedies, I find no inftance in thefe
dramas.
S. T. COLERIDGE.
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283902
DRAMATIS PERSONS.
WaLLENSTein, Duke of Friedland, Generalißmo of the Impe-
rial Forces in the Thirty-years War.
Octavio Piccolomini, Lieutenant General.
Max. Piccolomini, his Son, Colonel of a Regiment of Cuiraßers.
Count Tertsky, the Com.man.der of federal Regiments, and
Brother-in-law of Wallenßein.
Illo, Field Marßal, Wallenßein* s Cojifidant. '-
Isolani, General of the Croats.
Butler,«« Irißman, Commander of a Regiment of Dragoons.
Tiefenbach,
IEFENBACH, "\
• on Maradas, r
tOETZ, l"
[OLATTO, J
D_.
_^ y Generals under Wallenßei
üi??
K<
Neumann, Captain of Cavalry, Aide-de-camp to Tertßj.
The War Commißoner Von Qu estenberg, Imperial Envoy*.
General Wrangel, Snvediß Envoy.
Baptista Seni, Aßrologer.
Duchess of Friedland, Wife of Wallenßein.
Thekla, her Daughter, Princefs of Friedland.
The Countess Tertsky, Sißer of the Ducbcfi.
A Cornet.
Several Colonels and Generals.
Pages and Attendants belonging to Wallenßein.
Attendants and Hoboists belonging to Tertßy.
The Master of the Cellar to Count Tertßy. -
Valet de Chambre of Count Piccolomini.
TUE
PICCOLOMINI, &c.
ACT I.
^ ■ '
SCENE I.
I
An old Gothic Chamber in the Council Honfe at
Pilfen, decorated with Colours and other War
Inßgnia»
Illo with Butler and Isolani. .
ILLO.
IE have come late — but ye are come! The
diftance,
Count Ifolan, excufes your delays
ISOLANI*
Add this too, that we come not empty-handed.
At *Donauwert it was reported to us,
A Swediih caravan was on it's Way
Tranfporting a rich cargo of provifion,
Almoft fix hundred waggons. This my Croats
* A town about la German miles N. E. of Ulm.
b Plung'd
2 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
Plung'd down upon and feiz'd, this weighty-
prize !
We bring it hither
ILLO.
Juft in time to banquet
The illuftrious company aflembled here.
BUTLER.
'Tis all alive ! a ftirring fcene here !
ISOLANT.
.Ay!
The very churches are all full of foldiers.
fCqJfs Ms eye round)
And in the Council-houfe too, I obferve,
You're fettled, quite at home! Well, well! wTe
foldiers \
Mud (hift and iuit us in what way we can.
ILLO.
We have the Colonels here of thirty regiments.
You'll find Count Tertfky here, and Tiefenbach,
Kolatto, Goetz, Maradas, Hinnerfam,
The Piccolomini, both fon and father
You'll meet with many an unexpected greeting
From many an old friend and acquaintance. Only
Galas is wanting flill, and Altringer.
BUTLER.
Expect not Galas.
ILLO. (heßtating)
How fo ? Do you know
i so lan i. [interrupting him)
Max. Piccolomini here ?- — O bring me to him.
I fee him yet, ('tis now ten years ago,
We
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTElN. §
We were engaged with Mansfeld hard by Deffau)
j fee the youth, in my mind's eye I fee him,
Leap his black war-horfe from the bridge adovvn,
And t'ward his father, then in extreme peril,
Beat up againft the ftrong tide of the Elbe.
The down was fcarce upon his chin ! I hear
He has made good the promife of his youth»
And the full hero now is finifh'd in him.
ILLO..
You'll fee him yet ere evening. He conduces
The Duchefs Friedland hither, and the *Princefs
From Carnthen. We expect them here at noon.
BUTLER.
Both wife and daughter does the Duke call hither ?
Fie crowds in vifitants from all fides;.
ISOLANI.
Hm!
So much the better! I had fram'd my mind
To hear of naught but warlike circumftance,
Of marches, and attacks, and batteries :
•And lo ! the Duke provides, that fomething too
Of gentler fort, and lovely, fhould be prefent
To feaft our eyes.
illo. (who has been fianding in the attitude of
meditation, to Butler, whom he leads a little
on one fide.)
And how came you to know,
That the Count Galas joins us not ?
* The Dukes in Germany being always reigning powers, their
fons and daughters are entitled Princes and Princeflcs.
B 2 BUT-
4 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
BUTLER.
Becaufe
He importun'd me to remain behind.
illo. (with warmth).
And you ? — You hold out firmly ?
(Grafping his hand with affection.)
Noble Butler!
„ - BUTLER.
After the obligation which the Duke
Had lay'd fo newly on me
ILLO.
I had forgotten
A pleafant duty — Major General,
I wifh you joy !
ISOLANI.
What, you mean, of his regiment ?
I hear, too, that, to make the gift ftill fweeter,
The Duke has given him the very fame
In which he flrftfaw fervice, and fincethen,
Work'd himfelf, ftep #by ftep, thro' each prefer-
ment.
From the ranks upwards. And verily, it gives
A precedent of hope, a fpur of action
To the whole corps, if once in their remembrance
An old deferving foldier makes his way.
butler.
I am perplexed and doubtful, whether or no
I dare accept this your congratulation.
. The Emperor has not yet confirm'd th' appoint-
ment.
ISOLANI.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN* 5
ISOLANI.
Seize it, friend ! Seize it ! The hand which in
that poft
Plac'd you, is ftrong enough to keep you there,
Spite of the Emperor and his Minifters !
ILLO.
Ay, if we would but fo confider it ! —
If we would all of us confider it fo !
The Emperor gives us nothing j from the Duke
Comes all— r-whate'er we hope, whate'er we have.
ISOLANI. (to Illo)
My noble brother ! did I tell you how
The Duke will fatisfy my creditors ?
Will be himfelf my banker for the future,
Make me once more a creditable man !
And this is now the third time, think of that !
This kingly-minded man has refcued me
, From abfolute ruin, and reftor'd my honour.
ILLO.
O that his power but kept pace with his wiflies I
Why, friend ! he'd give the whole world to his
foldiers.
But at Vienna, brother! — there's the grievance! —
What politic fchemes do they not lay to (horten
His arm, and, where they can, to clip his pinions,
Then thefe new dainty requifitions! thefe,
Which this fame Queftcnberg brings hither !
BUTLER.
Ay!
. Thefe requifitions of the Emperor,
b 3 I to*
6 #THE flCCQLOMINI, OR THE
«
Itoo have heard about them; but I hope
The Duke will not draw back a fingle inch !
ILLO.
Not from his right moft furely, unlefs firfl
—From office !
butler. (Jliocked and confufed)
Know you aught then? You alarm me.
isolani. {at the fame time with Bit tier } and in
a hurrying voice.)
We mould be ruin'd, every one of us !
ILLO.
/
No more!
Yonder I fee our worthy friend* approaching
With the Lieutenant-General, Piccolomini.
butler, (flaking his head fgnificantly)
I fear we (hall not go hence as we came.
/ SCENE II.
Enter, Octavio Piccolomini, and Ques-
TENBERG.
p c t Ay I o . (fill in the difance)
Ayy ay! more ftill! Still more new vilitors!
Ac/knowledge, friend ! that never was a camp,
Which held at once fo many heads of heroes.
{Approaching nearer.)
Welcome, Count Ifolani !
* Spoken with a fneer.
ISOLANJ.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 7
ISOLANI.
My noble brother,
Even now am I arriv'd ; it had been elfe my duty —
OCTAVIO.
And Colonel Butler — truft me, I rejoice
Thus to renew acquaintance with a man
Whofe wortji and fervices I know and honor.
See, fee, my friend !
There might we place at once before our eyes
The fum of war's whole trade and myftery —
{To 2ueßenberg, prefenting Butler and Ifolani
at the fame time to him.)
Thefe two the total fum — Strength and Dis-
patch.
QUESTENBERG (/0 Octeö).
Andlo! betwixt them bothexperienc'd Prudence!
octaviq (prefenting Queßenberg to Butler and
Ifolani).
The Chamberlajn and War-commiffioner Quef*
tenberg.
The bearer of the Emperor's behefts,
The long- tried friend and patron of a}l foldiers.
We honor in this noble vifitor.
( Univerfal filence. )
illo. {moving toward^ üueßenberg.)
'Tis not the firft time, noble Minifter,
You have (hewn our camp this honor.
QUESTENBERG.
Once before
I flood before thefe colours.
b 4 ILLO.
8 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
ILLO.
Perchance too you remember where that was.
It was at Znäim * in Moravia, where
You did prefent yourfelf upon the part
Of th' Emperor, to fupplicate our Duke
That he would ftraight alfume the chief command.
QUESTENBERG.
To fupplicate f Nay, noble General !
So far extended neither my commiffion
(At leaft to my own knowledge) nor my zeal.
ILLO.
Well, well then — to compel him, if you chufe,
I can remember me right well, Count Tilly
Had fuffered total rout upon the Lech.
Bavaria lay all open to the enemy,
Whom there was nothing to delay from prefling-
Onwards into the very heart of Auftria.
At that time you and Werdenberg appear'd
Before our General, ftorming him with prayers,
And menacing the Emperor's difpleafure,
Unlefs he took companion on this wretchednefs.
i s o l a n i . {Steps up to them . ) ■
Yes, yes, 'tis comprehenfible enough,
Wherefore with your commiffion of to-day
You were not all too willing to remember
Your former one.
QUESTENBERG.
Why not, Count Ifolan ?
No contradiction lure exifls between them.
* A town not far from the Mine-mountains, on the high
road from Vienna to Prague.
It
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 9
It was the urgent bufinefs of that time
To match Bavaria from her enemy's hand ;
And my commiflion of to-day inftrufts me
To free her from her good friends and protectors.
* ILLO.
A worthy office ! After with our blood
We have wrefted this Bohemia from the Saxon,
To be fwept out of it is all our thanks,
The fole reward of all our hard-won victories.
QUESTENBERG. •
Unlefs that wretched land be doom'd to luffer
Only a change of evils, it muft be
Freed from the fcourge alike of friend and foe.
ILLO.
What ? 'Twas a favorable yearj the Boors
Can anfwer freih demands already.
QUESTENBERG.
4
Nay,
If you difcourfe of herds and meadow-grounds —
ISOLANI.
The war maintains the war. Are the Boors ruin'd
The Emperor gains fo many more new foMiers.
i
QUESTENBERG.
And is the poorer by even fo many fubjecls.
ISOLANI.
Poh ! We are all his fubjecls. -
QUESTENBERG.
Yet with a difference, General ! The one fill
With profitable induftry the purfe,
The pthers are well fkili'd to empty it.
The
10 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
The fword has made the Emperor poor; the plough
Muft reinvigorate his refources.
ISOLANI.
Sure !
Times are not yet fo bad. Methinks I fee
(examining with his eye the drefs and ornaments
of 2neße?iberg)
Good {lore of gold that ftill remains uncoin'd.
QUESTENBERG.
Thank Heaven ! that means have been found out
to hide
Some little from the fingers of the Croats.
ILLO,
There ! The Stawata and the Martinitz,
On whom the Emperor heaps his gifts and graces,
To the heart-burning of all good Bohemians —
Thofe minions of court favor, thofe court harpies,
Who fatten on the wrecks of citizens
Driven from their houfe and home— who reap no
harvefts
Save in the general calamity —
Who now, with kingly pomp, infult and mock
The defolation of their country — thefe,
Let thefe, and fuch as thefe, fupport the war,
The fatal war, which they alone enkindled !
BUTLER.
And thofe ftate-parafites, who have their feet
So conftantly beneath the Emperor's table,
Who cannot let a benefice fall, but they
Snap at it with dog's hunger — they, forfooth,
Would
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 11
Would pare the foldier's bread, and crofs hjs
reckoning !
ISOLANI.
My life long will it anger me to think,
How when I went to court feven years ago,
To fee about new horfes for our regiments,
How from one antichamber to another
They dragg'd me on, and left me by the hour
To kick my heels among a croud of fimpering,
Feaft-fatten'd Haves, as if I had come thither
A mendicant fuitor for the crumbs of favor
That fall beneath their tables. And, at laft, •
Whom mould they fend me but a Capuchin !
Straight I began to mufter up my fins
For abfolution — -but no fuch luck for me ! '
This was the man, this Capuchin, with whom
I was to treat concerning th' army horfes.
And I was forc'd at laft to quit the field,
The bufinefs unaccomplim'd. Afterwards
The Duke procur'd me in three days, what I
Could not obtain in thirty at Vienna.
QUESTENBERG.
Yes, yes ! your travelling bills foon found their
way to us :
Too well I know we have ftill accounts to fettle.
ILLO.
War is a violent trade ; one cannot always
Finifh one's work by foft means ; every trifle
Muft not be bhcken'd into facrilege.
If we fhould wait till you, in folemn council,
With due deliberation had felecled ■
The
12 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
The fmalleft out of four-and- twenty evils,
I'faith we fhould wait Jong. —
"Daih! and through with it !"— That's the
better watch-word.
Then after come what may come. 'Tis man's
nature
To make the beft of a bad thing once paft.
A bitter and perplexed " What (hall I do?"
Is worfe to man than worft neceffity.
QÜESTENBERG.
Ay, doubtlefs, it is true ; the Duke does fpare us
The troublefome taik of chufing,
BUTLER.
Yes, the Duke
Cares with a father's feelings for his troops -x
But how the Emperor feels for us, we fee.
QÜESTENBERG.
Hh cares and feelings all ranks (hare alike,
Nor will he offer one up to another.
ISOLANI.
And 'therefore thrufts he- us into the defarts
As beads of prey, that fo he may preferve
His dear (beep fattening in his fields at home.
questenberg {with a fneer).
Count, this companion you make, not I.
BUTLER.
Why, were we all the Court iuppofes us,
'Twere. dangerous, fure, to give us liberty,
QÜESTENBERG.
You have taken liberty — it was not given ypu.
And
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 13
And therefore it becomes an urgent duty
To rein it in with curbs.
octavio (interpofing and addreffing Queflen-
berg).
My noble friend,
This is no more than a remembrancing
That you are now in camp, and among warriors.
The foldier's boldnefs conftitutes his freedom. .
Could he act daringly, unlefs he dar'd
Talk even fo ? One runs into the other.
The boldnefs of this worthy officer,
{pointing to Butler)
Which now has but miftaken in its mark,
Preferv'd, when nought but boldnefs could pre-
„ ferve it,
To the Emperor his capital city Prague,
In a mofr. formidable mutiny
Of the whole garrifon.
{Military mvfic at a dißance.)
Hah ! here they come !
ILLO.
The fentries are faluting them : this fignal
Announces the arrival of the Duchefs.
octavio {to 2ueßenberg).
Then my fon Max. too has return'd. 'Twas he
Fetch'd and attended them from Carnthen hither.
i so LAN i {to lib).
Shall we not go in company to greet them ?
ILLO.
Well, let us go. — Ho 1 Colonel Butler, come.
You'll
14 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
(To Octavio.)
You'll not forget, that yet ere noori we meet
The noble Envoy at the General's palace.
Exeunt all bat Queftenberg and Octavicn
SCENE III.
QUESTENBERG and OCTAVIO.
questenberg {with figiis of averfion andafio-
ni/hment).
What have I not been forc'd to hear, Oclavio !
What fentiments ! what fierce, uncurb'd defiance !
And were this fpirit univerfal —
OCTAVIO.
Hm!
You are now acquainted with three fourths of the
1 army.
QUESTENBERG.
Where mull we feek then for a fecond hoft
To have the cuftody of this ? That Illo
Thinks worfe, I fear me, than he fpea'ks. And
then
This Butler too — he cannot even conceal
The pamonate workings of his ill intentions.
OCTAVIO.
Quicknefs of temper — irritated pride;
'Twas nothing more. I cannot give up Butler.
I know a fpell that will foon difpoflefs
The evil fpirit in him.
4 QUESTENBERG
FiaST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 15
qüestenberg (walking up and down in evident
difquiet).
Friend, friend !
O ! this is worfe, far worfe, than we had fuffer'd
Ourfelves to dream of at Vienna. There
We faw it only with the courtier's eyes,
Eyes dazzled by the fplendor of the throne.
We had not feen the Wax-c\nzf, the Commander,
The man all-powerful in his camp. Here, here,
'Tis quite anotner thing.
Here is- no Emperor more — the Duke is Emperor.
Alas, my friend ! alas, my noble friend !
This walk which you have ta'en me through the
camp
Strikes my hopes proftrate.
OCTAVIO.
Now you fee yourfelf
Of what a perilous kind the office is,
Which you deliver to me from the Court.
The lead fufpicion of the General
Cofts me my freedom and my life, and would
But haften his moil defperate enterpriie.
QUESTENBERG.
Where was our reafon fleeping when we trufted
This madman with the fword, and plac'd fuch
power
In fuch a hand ? I tell you, he'll refufe,
Flatly refufe, t'obey the Imperial orders.
Friend, he can do't, and what he can, he will.
And then th' impunity of his defiance —
O ! what a proclamation of our weaknefs !
OCTAVIO.
16 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
OCTAVIO.
D'ye think too, he has brought his wife and
daughter
Without a purpofe hither ? Here in camp !
And at the very point of time, in which
We're arming for the war ? That he has taken
Thefe, the Iaft pledges of his loyalty,
Away from out the Emperor's domains —
This is no doubtful token of the nearnefs
Of fome eruption !
QUESTENBERG.
How (hall we hold footing
Beneath this tempeft, which collects itfelf
And threats us from all quarters ? Th' enemy
Of th' empire on our borders, now already
The mafler of the Danube, and flill farther,
And farther flill, extending every hour !
In our interior the alarum-bells
Of infurrection — peafantry in arms
All orders difcontented — and the ar*ny*
Juft in the moment of our expectation
Of aidance from it— lo ! this very army
Seduc'd, run wild, loll to all difcipline,
Loofen'd, and rent afunder from the flate
And from their fov'reign, the blind inftrument
Of the mod daring of mankind, a weapon
Of fearful power, which at his will he wields !
OCTAVIO.
Nay, nay, friend ! let us not defpair too-foon.
Men's words are ever bolder than their deeds :
And many a reiblute, who now appears
■ Made
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 17
Made up to all extremes, will* on a Hidden,
Find in his breaft a heart he wot not of,
Let but a tingle honeft man fpeak out
The true name of his crime ! Remember too,
We ftand not yet fo wholly unprotected.
Counts Altringer and Galas have maintain'd
Their little army faithful to it's duty,
And daily it becomes more numerous.
Nor can he take us by furprize : you know*
I hold him all encompafs'd by my lifl'ners.
Whate'er he does, is mine, even while 'tis doing —
No ftep fo fmall, but inftantly I hear it jv
Yea, his'own mouth difclofes it.
QUESTENBERG.
'Tis quite
Incomprehensible, that he detects not
The foe fo near !
OCTAVIO.
Beware, you do not think,
That I by lying arts, and complaifant
Hypocrify, have fkulk'd into his graces j
Or with the fuftenance of fmooth profeffions
Nourim his all-confiding friendfhip ! No —
Compell'd alike by prudence, and that duty
Which we all owe our country, and our fovereign,
To hide my genuine feelings from him, yet
Ne'er have I dup'd him with bafe counterfeits !
QUESTENBERG.
It is the vifible ordinance of heaven.
* c OCTAVIO.
18 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
OCTAVTO.
I know not what it is that fo attracts
And links him both to me and to my fon.
Comrades and friends we always were — long habit,
Adventurous deeds perform'd in company,
And all thofe many and various incidents
Which ftore a foldier's memory with affections,
Had bound us long and early to each other —
Yet I can name the day, when all at once
His heart rofe on me, and his confidence
Shot out in fudden growth. It was the morning
Before the memorable fight at Lützner.
Urg'd by an ugly dream, I fought him out,
To prefs him to accept another charger.
At diftance from the tents, beneath a tree,
I found him in a ileep. When I had wak'd him,
And had related all my bodings to him,
Long time he ftar'd upon me, like a man
Aftounded ; thereon fell upon my neck,
And manifefted to me an emotion
That far outftripp'd the worth ofthat fmall fervice.
Since then his confidence has follow'd me
With the fame pace that mine has fled from him.
QUESTENBERG.
You lead your fon into the fecret ?
OCTAVIO.
No!
QUESTENBERG.
What ? and not warn him either what bad hands
His lot has plac'd him in ?
5 OCT AVI o;
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 19
OCTAVIO.
I mufl perforce
Leave him in wardfhip to his innocence.
His young and open foul — diflimulation
Is foreign to it's habits ! Ignorance
Alone can keep alive the cheerful air.
The unembarrafs'd fenfe and light free fpirit,
That make the Duke fecure.
QUESTENBERG. ( anxioilfiy )
My honour'd friend ! moft highly do I deem.
Of Colonel Piccolomini — yet — if
Refled a little
OCTAVIO.
I mufl venture it.
Hufh ! — There he comes !
SCENE IV.
Max. Piccolomini, Octavio Piccolomini,
questenberg.
MAX.
Ha ! there he is himfelf. Welcome, my father !
(He embraces his father. As he turns round,
he obferves 2ueße?iberg, and draws back
with a cold and referved air.)
You are engag'd, I fee. I'll not difturb you.
C 2 OCTAVIO.
20 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
OCTAVIO.
How, Max. ? Look clofer at this vifitor
Attention, Max. an old friend merits — Rev'rencc
Belongs of right to the envoy of your fov'reign.
max. (drily)
Von Queftenberg ! — Welcome — if you bring with
you
Aught good to our head quarters.
questenberg. (feizing his hand)
Nay, draw not
Your hand away, Count Piccolomini !
Not on mine own account alone I feiz'd it,
And nothing common will I fay therewith.
flaking the hands of both)
Odtavio — Max. Piccolomini !
0 faviour names, and full of happy omen !
Ne'er will her profperous genius turn from Auftria,
While two fuch ftars, with bleffed influences
Beaming protection, mine above her hofts.
MAX.
Heh ! — Noble minifler ! You mifs your part.
You came not here to ad a panegyric.
You're fent, I know, to find fault and to fcold us —
1 muft not be beforehand with my comrades.
octavio. (to Max.)
He comes from court, where people are not quite
So well contented with the duke, as here.
MAX.
What now have they contriv'd to find out in him ?
That he alone determines for himfelf
What
FIRST PART OF WALLEKSTEIN. 21
What he himfelf alone doth underftand ?
Well, therein he does right, and will perfift in't.
Heaven never meant him for that paffive thing
That can be ftruck and hammer'd out to fuit
Another's tafle and fancy. He'll not dance
To every tune of every minifter.
It goes againft his nature — he can't do it.
He is poffefs'd by a commanding fpirit,
And his too is the ftation of command.
And well for us it is fo ! There exift
Few fit to rule themfelves, but few that ufe
Their intellects intelligently. — Then
Well for the whole, if there be found a man,
Who makes himfelf what nature deftin'd him,
The paufe, the central point of thoufand thou-
fands
Stands fix'd and ftately, like a firm-built column,
Where all may prefs with joy and confidence.
Now fuch a man is Wallenftein ; and if
Another better fuits the court — no other
But fuch a one as he can ferve the army.
QUESTETSTBERG.
The army ? Doubtlefs !
octavio. (to Queßenberg)
Hufh ! Supprefs it friend !
Unlefs fame end were anfwer'd by the utterance.-—
Of him there you'll make nothing.
MAX. (continuing)
In their diftrefs
They call a fpirit up, and when he comes,
c 3 Straight
22 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
Straight their flefli creeps and quivers, and they
dread him
More than the ills for which they call'd him up.
Th' uncommon, the fublime, muft feem and be
Like things of every day.— -But in the field,
Aye, there the Prefent Being makes itfelf felt.
The perfonal muft command, the actual eye
Examine. If to be the chieftain afks
All that is great in nature, let it be
Likewife his privilege to move and act
In all the correfpondencies of greatnefs.
The oracle within him, that which lives.
He muft invoke and queftion — not dead books,
Not ordinances, not mould-rotted papers.
OCTAVIO.
My fon ! of thofe old narrow ordinances
Let us not hold too lightly. They are weights
Of pricelefs value, which opprefs'd mankind
Tied to the volatile will of their oppreifors.
For always formidable was the league
And partnerfhip of free power with free will.
The way of ancient ordinance, tho' it winds,
Is yet no devious way. Straight forwards goes
The lightning's path, and flraight the fearful path
Of the cannon-ball. Direct it flies and rapid,
Shatt'ring that it may reach, and fhatt'ring what
it reaches.
My fon ! the road, the human being travel?,
That, on which blessing comes and goes, cloth
follow
The river's courfe, the valley's playful windings
Curves round the corn-field and the hill of vines,
Honour-
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 23
Honouring the holy bounds of property !
And thus fecure, tho' late, leads to its end.
QUESTENBERG.
O hear your father, noble youth ! hear him,
Who is at once the hero and the man.
OCTAVIO.
My fon, the nurfling of the camp fpoke in thee 1
A war of fifteen years
Hath been thy education and thy fchool.
Peace haft thou never witnefs'd ! There exifls
An higher than the warrior's excellence.
In war itfelf war is no ultimate purpofe.
The vaft and fudden deeds of violence,
Adventures wild, and wonders of the moment»
Thefe are not they, my fon, that generate
The Calm, the Blifsful, and thJ enduring Mighty !
Lo there ! the foldier, rapid architect !
Builds his light town of canvafs, and at once
The whole fcene moves and buftles momently,
With arms, and neighing fteeds, and mirth and
quarrel !
The motley market fills ; the roads, the ft reams
Are crowded with new freights, trade ftirs and
hurries !
But on fome morrow morn, all fuddenly,
The tents drop down, the hord renews its march.
Dreary, and folitary as a church -yard
The meadow and down-trodden feed-plot lie,
And the year's harveft is gone utterly.
MAX.
O let the Emperor make peace, my father !
c 4 Moft
clk THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
Moft gladly would I give the blood-ftain'd laurel
For the firfl violet * of the leaflefs fpring,
Pluck'd in tliofe quiet fields where I have
journey'd !
OCTAVIO.
What ails thee ? What fo moves thee all at once ?
MAX.
Peace have I ne'er beheld ? I have beheld it.
From thence am I come hither : O ! that fight,
It glimmers (till before me, like fome landfcape
Left in the diftance,— fome delicious landfcape !
My road conducted me thro' countries where
The war has not yet reach'd. Life, life, my
father-
My venerable father, Life has charms
Which we have ne'er experienc'd. We have been
But voyaging along it's barren coafts,
Like fome poor ever-roaming horde of pirates,
That, crowded in the rank and narrow ihip,
Houfe on the wild fea with wild ufages,
Nor know aught of the main land, but the bays
Where fafelieft they may venture a thieves' landing.
Whate'er in th' inland dales the land conceals
Of fair and exquifite, O! nothing, nothing,
Do we behold of that in our rude voyage.
* In the original.
Den blutgen Lorbeer, geb ich hin, nvit Freuden
Furs erfte Veilchen, das der merz uns bringt,
Pas duftige Pffand der neuverjüngten Erde.
OCTAVIO.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEItf. 25«
©CTAVio. {attentive, with an appearance of
uneafinefs)
~ <■ — And fo your journey has reveal'd this to you?
MAX.
'Twas the firft leifure of my life. O tell me,
What is the meed and purpofe of the toil,
The painful toil, which robb'd me of my youth,
Left me an heart unfoul'd and folitary,
A fpirit uninform'd, unornamented.
For the camp's flir and crowd and ceafelefs larum,
The neighing war-horfe, the air-ihatt'ring trumpet,
The unvaried, ftill-returning hour of duty,
Word of command, and exercife of arms —
There's nothing here, there's nothing in all this
To fatisfy the heart, the gafping heart !
Mere buftling nothingnefs, where the foul is not — -
This cannot be the fole felicity,
Thefe cannot be man's beft and only pleafures!
OCTAVIO.
Much has thou learnt, my fon, in this fliort
journey.
MAX.
O ! day thrice lovely ! when at length the foldier
Returns home into life ; when he -becomes
A fellow-man among his fellow-men.
The colours are unfurl'd, the cavakade
Marmals, and now the buz is hufli'd, and hark !
Now the foft peace-march beats, home, brothers,
home !
The caps and helmets are all garlanded
With
c26 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
With green boughs, the laft plund'ring of the
fields.
The city gates fly open of themfelves,
They need no longer the petard to tear them.
The ramparts are all fill'd with men and women,
With peaceful men and women, that fend onwards
Kifles and welcomings upon the air,
Which they make breezy with affectionate geflures.
From all the towers rings out the merry peal,
The joyous vefpers of a bloody day.
0 happy man, O fortunate ! for whom
The well-known door, the faithful arms are open,
The faithful tender arms with mute embracing.
qu Estenberg [apparently much affected).
O ! that you fhould fpeak
Of fuch a diftant, diftant time, and not
Of the to-morrow, not of this to-day „
max. [tiwning round to him quick and vehement.)
Where lies the fault but on you in Vienna ?
1 will deal openly with you, Queftenberg.
Juft now, as firft I faw you {landing here,
(I'll own it to you freely) indignation
Crowded and preft my inmoft foul together.
'Tis ye that hinder peace, ye ! — and the warrior,
Jt is the warrior that muft force it from you.
Ye fret the General's life out, blacken him,
Hold him up as a rebel, and Heaven knows
What elfe ftill worfe, becaufe he fpares the Saxons,
And tries to awaken confidence in th' enemy ;
Which vet's the only way to peace : for if
War
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 2?
War intermit not during war, how then
And whence can peace come ? — Your own plagues
fall on you !
Even as I love what's virtuous, hate I you.
And here make I this vow, here pledge myfel^g
My blood mall fpurt out for this Wallenftein,
And my heart drain off, drop by drop, ere ye
Shall revel and dance jubilee o'er his ruin.
[Exit,
SCENE V.
QüESTENBERG, OeTAVIO PlCCOLOMINI.
QUESTENBERG.
Alas, alas ! and Hands it fo ?
(then inprejfvng and impatient tones.)
What, friend ! and do we let him go away
In this delufion — -let him go away ?
Not call him back immediately, not open
His eyes upon the fpot ?
octavio (recovering himfelf out of a deep ßudy)*
He has now open'd mine,
And I fee more than pleafes me.
QUESTENBERG.
What is it ?
PCTAVIO.
Curfe on this journey !
QUESTENBERG.
But why fo ? What is it ?
OCTAVIO.
28 THE 2ICCOLOMINI, OR THE
OCTAVIO.
Come, come along, friend ! I muft follow up
The ominous track immediately. Mine eyes
Are open'd now, and I mull ufe them. Come !
{draws Queßenberg on ivith him.)
QÜESTENBERG.
What now ? Where go you then ? /
' OCTAVIO.
To her herfelf.
QÜESTENBERG.
To
octavio {interrupting him, and correcting him-
■ Self.)
To the Duke. Come, let us go- — 'Tis done,
'tis done I
I fee the net that is thrown over him.
0 ! he returns not to me as he went.
QÜESTENBERG.
Nay, but explain yourfelf.
OCTAVIO.
. And that I mould not
Forefee it, not prevent this journey ! Wherefore
Did I keep it from him ? — You were in the right.
1 ihould have warn'd him ! Now it is too late.
QÜESTENBERG.
But what's too late ? Bethink yourfelf, my friend,
That you are talking abfolute riddles to me.
octavio {more collected).
Come ! — to the Duke's. 'Tis clofe upon the
hour
Which
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 29
Which he appointed you for audience. Come !
A curie, a threefold curfe, upon this journey !
{He leads Queßenberg off.)
SCENE VI.
Changes to a fpacious chamber in the houfe of
the Duke of Friedland. — Servants employed
in putting the tables and chairs in order.
During tins enters Seni, like an old Italian
doctor, in black, and clothed fomewhat fantaf-
tically. He carries a white ßaff, with which,
he marks out the quarters of the heaven.
FIRST SERVANT.
Come — to it, lads, to it ! Make an end of it. I
hear the fentry call out, " Stand to your arms!'*
They will be there in a minute.
SECOND SERVANT.
Why were we not told before that the audience
would be held here ? Nothing prepared — no or-
ders— no inftructions —
THIRD SERVANT.
Ay, and why was the balcony-chamber counter-
manded, that with the great worked carpet }- —
•there one can look about one.
FIRST SERVANT.
Nay, that you mufl afk the mathematician
there. He fays it is an unlucky chamber.
SECOND
30 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
SECOND SERVANT.
Poh ! fluff and nonfenfe ! That's what I call a
hum. A chamber is a chamber , what much can
the place fignify in the affair ?
s e n i (zvith gravity).
IVry fon, there's nothing infignificant,
Nothing ! But yet in every earthly thing
Firft and moft principal is place and time*
first servant {to the Second).
Say nothing to him, Nat. The Duke himfelf
muft let him have his own will.
sen i {counts the chairs, half in a loud, half in
a low voice, till he comes to eleven, which he
repeats).
Eleven ! an evil number ! Set twelve chairs.
Twelve ! twelve figns hath the zodiac : five and
feven,
The holy numbers, include themfelves in twelve.
SECOND SERVANT.
And what may you have to object, againft eleven ?
I mould like to know that now.
SENI.
Eleven is— tranfgreflion ; eleven overfteps
The ten commandments.
SECOND SERVANT.
That's good ! and why do you call five an holy
number ?
SENI.
Five is the (bul of man : for even as man
Is
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 31
Is mingled up of good and evil, fo
The five is the firft number that's made up
Of even and odd.
SECOND SERVANT.
The foolifh old coxcomb ! *
FIRST SERVANT.
Ey ! let him alone though. I like to hear him ;
there is more in his words than can be feen at firfl
fight.
THIRD SERVANT.
Off ! They come.
SECOND SERVANT.
There ! Out at the fide-door.
{They hurry off. Seni follows ßowly. A page
brings the fiaff of command on a red cufhion,
and places . it on the table near the Duke's
chair. They are announced from without,
and the xvings of the door fly open. )
SCENE VII.
Wallenstein, Duchess.
wallenstein.
You went then through Vienna, were prefented
To the Queen of Hungary ? \
DUCHESS.
Yes ; and to the Emprefs too.
And by both Majefties were we admitted
To kifs the hand.
WALLEN-
32 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
WALLENSTEIN.
And how was it receiv'd,
That I had fent for wife and daughter hither
To the camp, in winter time ?
A DUCHESS.
I did even that
Which you commiflion'd me to do. I told them,
You had determin'd on our daughter's marriage,
And wifh'd, ere yet you went into the field,
To (hew th' elected hufband his betroth'd.
WALLENSTEIN.
And did they guefs the choice which I had made ?
DUCHESS.
They only hop'd and wifh'd it may have fallen
Upon no foreign nor yet Lutheran noble.
WALLENSTEIN.
And you — what do you wilh, Elizabeth?
DUCHESS.
Your will, you know, was always mine.
wallenstein {after a paufe).
Well then !
And in all elfe, of what kind and complexion
Was your reception at the court ?
{The Duchefs cafis her eyes on the ground, and
remains ß lent.)
Hide nothing from me. How were you receiv'd ?
duchess.
O ! my dear lord, all is not what it was.
A cankerworm, my lord, a cankerworm
Has ftolen into the bud.
wallen-
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 33
WALLENSTEIN*
Ay ! is it fo ?
What, they were lax ? they fail'd of th' old refpect ?.
DUCHESS.
Not of refpect. No honors were omitted,
No outward courtefy ; but in the place
Of condefcending, confidential kindnefs,
Familiar and endearing, there were given me
Only thefe honors and that folemn courtefy.
Ah ! and the tendernefs which was put on,
It was the guife of pity, not of favor.
No ! Albrecht's wife, Duke Albrecht's princely
wife,
Count Harrach's noble daughter, (hould not fo —
Not wholly (o fhould flie have been receiv'd.
WALLENSTEIN.
Yes, yes ; they have ta'en offence. My lateft
conduct,
They rail'd at it, no doubt.
DUCHESS*
. O that they had !
I have been long accuftom'd to defend you,
To heal and pacify diftemper'd fpirits.
No -, no one rail'd at you. They wrapp'd them up,
O Heaven ! in fuch oppreflive, folemn filence ! —
Here is no every-day mifunderftanding,
No tranfient pique, no cloud that partes over;
Something mod lucklefs, moft unhealable,
Has taken place. The Queen of Hungary
Us'd formerly to call me her dear aunt,
And ever at departure to embrace me —
D WALLEN-
$4? THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
WALLENSTEIN.
Now me omitted it ?
duchess (wiping away her tears, after a paufe.)
She did embrace me,
But then firft when I had already taken
My formal leave, and when the <loor already
Had clos'd upon me, then did (he come out
In hafte, as fhe had fuddenly bethought herfelf,
And prefs'd me to her bofom, more with anguifh
Than tendernefs.
wallenstein (feizes her hand foothingly .}
Nay now, coll eel: yourfelf.
And what of Eggenberg and Lichtenftein,
And of our other friends there ?
duchess (Jliaking her head.)
I faw none.
wallenstein.
Th' AmbafTador from Spain, who once was wont
To plead fo warmly for me ? —
duchess.
Silent, filent \
wallenstein.
Thefe funs then are eclipfed for us. Henceforward
jMuft we roll on, our own fire, our own light.
duchess.
And were it — were it, my dear lord, in that
Which mov'd about the Court in buz and whifper,
But in the country let itfelf be heard
Aloud — in that which Father Lamormain
In fundry hints and—
WALLES-
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEltf. 35
wallenstein {eagerly).
Lamormain ! what faid he ?
duchess*
That you 're accufed of having daringly
O'erftepp'd the powers entrufted to you, charg'd
With traiterous contempt of th' Emperor
And his fupreme behefts. The proud Bavarian,
He and the Spaniards Hand up your accufers.— *
That there's a ftorm collecting over you
Of far more fearful menace than that former one
Which whirPd you headlong down at Regenfburg.
And people talk, faid he, of Ah !-—
{fiißing extreme emotion.)
wallenstein.
Proceed I
DUCHESS.
I cannot utter it !
WALLENSTEIN.
Proceed !
DUCHESS.
They talk-rrr^
WALLENSTEJN.
Well !
DUCHESS.
Of a fecond [catches her
voice and heßtates.)
WALLENSTEIN.
Second
DUCHESS.
More difgraceful
"Difmiffion.
D 2 WALLEN-
36 ■ THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
WALLENSTEIN.
Talk they ?
{Strides acrofs the chamber in vehement agitatioii)
O ! they force, they thruft me
With violence, againfl my own will, onward!
duchess, (prejfes near to him, in entreaty.)
O ! if there yet be time, my hufband ! Tf
By giving way and by fubmiffion, this
Can be averted — my dear lord, give way !
Win down your proud heart to it ! Tell that
heart,
It is your fovereign lord, your Emperor
Before whom you retreat. O let no longer
Low tricking malice blacken your good meaning
With abhor'd venomous glofles. Stand you up
Shielded and helm'd and weapon'd with the truth,
And drive before you into uttermoft fhame
Thefe flanderous liars ! Few firm friends have we.
You know it ! — The fwift growth of our good
fortune
It hath but fet us up, a mark for hatred.
What are we, if the fovereign's grace and favour
Stand not before us !
SCENE
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 37
SCENE VIII.
Enter the Countefs Tertsky, leading in her
hand the Princefs The k la, richly adorned
with brilliants.
Countess, Thekla, Wallenstein,
Duchess.
countess.'
How, filler ? What already upon bufinefs,
(obferving the countenance of the Duchefs)
And bufinefs of no pleafing kind I fee, —
Ere he has gladden'd at his child. The fir ft
Moment belongs to joy. Here, Friedland! father!
This is thy daughter,
(Thekla approaches ivith ajliy and timid air,
and bends herfelf as about to kifs his hand,
he receives her in his arms, and remains
fianding for fome time laß in the feeling of
her prefence.)
WALLENSTEIN,
Yes ; pure and lovely hath hope rifen on me :
I take her as the pledge of greater fortune,
DUCHESS.
'Twas but a little child when you departed.
To raife up that great army for the Emperor :
And after, at the clofe of the campaign,
When you return'd home out of Pomerania«
Your daughter was already in the convent.
Wherein fhe has remain'd till now.
p 3 wal^
33 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
WALLENSTEIN.
The while
We in the field here gave our cares and toils
To make her great, and fight her a free way
To the loftieft earthly good j lo ! mother Nature
Within the peaceful filent convent walls
Has done her part, and out of her free grace
Hath me beftowed on the beloved child
The godlike ; and now leads her thus adorned
To meet her fplendid fortune,, and my hope.
Duchess, (to Tkekla)
Thou wouldefl not have recogniz'd thy father,
Would'ft thou, my child ? She counted fcarce
eight years,
When laft (he faw your face*
THEKLA.
O yes, yes, mother \
At the firfl glance !'— »My father is not alter'd.
The form, that ftands before me, falsifies
No feature of the image that hath liv'd
$o long within me !
WALLENSTEIN.
The voice of my child !
(then after a paufe)
I was indignant at my deftiny
That it denied me a man-child to be
Heir of my name and of my profperous fortune,.
And re-illume my foon extinguifiYd being
In a proud line of princes.
I wrong'd my deftiny. Here upon this head
So lovely in its maiden bloom will I
Let
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 39
Let fall the garland of a life of war,
Nor deem it loft, if only I can wreatfi it
Tranfmitted to a regal ornament,
Around thefe beauteous brows.
(He clafps her in his arms as Piccolomini enters.)
SCENE IX.
Enter Max. Piccolomini, andfometime after
Count Tertsky, the others remaining as
before.
countess.
There comes the Palladin who protected us.'
WALLENSTEIN.
Max ! Welcome, ever welcome ! Always wert thou
The morning ftar of my beft joys !
MAX.
My General
WALLENSTEIN.
'Till now it was the Emperor who rewarded thee,
I but the inftrument. This day thou haft bound
The father to thee, Max ! the fortunate father,
And this debt Friedland's felf muft pay.
MAX.
My prince 1
You made no common hurry to transfer it.
I come with fliame. Yea, not without a pang 1
For fcarce have I arriv'd here, fcarce deliver'd
The mother and the daughter to your arms,
d 4 **
40 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
But there is brought to me from your equerry
A fplendid richly-plated hunting drefs
So to remunerate me for my trouble .
Yes, yes, remunerate me ! Since a trouble
It muft be, a mere office, not a favour
Which I leapt forward to receive, and which
I came already with full heart to thank you for.
No ! 'twas not fo intended, that my bufinefs
Should be my higheft beft good fortune !
[Tertjkxj enter 's, and delivers letters to the
Duke, zvhich he breaks open hurryingly.)
countess, {to Max.)
Remunerate your trouble ! For his joy
He makes you recompenfe. 'Tis not unfitting
For you, Count Piccolomini, to feel
So tenderly — my brother it befeems
To fhew himfelf for ever great and princely,
THEKLA.
Then I too muft have fcruples of his love :
For his "munificent hands did ornament me
Ere yet the father's heart had fpoken to me.
MAX.
Yes ; 'tis his nature ever to be giving
And making happy.
(He grafps the hand of the Duchefs with flill
in c reafing warmth . )
How my heart pours out
Its all of thanks to him : O ! how I feem
To utter all things in the dear name Friedland.
While I (hall live, fo long will I remain
The captive of this name : in it (hall bloom
* \ My
PIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 41
My every fortune, every lovely hope.
Inextricably as in fome magic ring
In this name hath my deftiny cljarm-bound me !
countess»
(JVho during this time has been anxiouflif
watching the Duke, and remarks that he is
lofi in thought over the letters.)
My brother wifhes us to leave him. Come.
4
WALLENSTEIN.
(Turns him/elf round quick, collects him/elf,
and /peaks with chcarfulnefs to the Duchefs.)
Once more I bid thee welcome to the camp,
Thou art the hoftefs of this court. You, Max.
Will now again adminifter your old office,
While we perform the fovereign's bufmefs here.
(Max. Piccolomini offers the Duchefs his arm,
the Countefs accompanies the Princefs.)
tertsky. (calling after him.)
Max. we depend on feeing you at the meeting.
SCENE X.
Wallenstein, Count Tertsky. .
wallenstein, {in deep thought to himfelf)
She hath feen all things as they are — It is fo,
And fquares completely with my other notices.
They have determin'd finally in Vienna,
Have given me my fucceflbr already j
It is the king of Hungary, Ferdinand,
The
42 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
The Emperor's delicate fon ! he's now their faviour,
He's the new ftar that's rifing now ! Of us
They think themfelves already fairly rid,
And as we were deceas'd, the heir already
Is entering on poffeffion. — Therefore — difpatch !
(As he turns round he objerves Tert/ly, and
gives him a letter.)
Count Altringer will have himfelf excus'd,
And Gal& too— I like not this !
TERTSKY.
And if
Thou loiterefl longer, all will fall away,
One following the other.
WALLENSTEIN.
Altringer
Is matter of the Tyrole paffes. I muft forthwith
Send fome one to him, that he let not in
The Spaniards on me from the Milanefe.
— —Well, and the old Sefin, that ancient trader
In contraband negociations, he
Has fhewn himfelf again of late* What brings h$
From the Count Thur?
TERTSKY.
The Count communicates,
He has found out the Swedilh chancellor
At Halberftadt, where the convention's held,
Who fays, you've tir'd him out, and that he'U
have
No further dealings with you.
WALLENSTEIN.
And why fo ?
TERTSKY.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 43
TEftTSKY.
He fays, you are never in earnefl in your fpeeches,
That you decoy the Swedes — to make fools of them,
Will league yourfelf with Saxony againft them,
And at laft make yourfelf a riddance of them
With a paltry fum of money.
WALLENSTEIN.
So then, doubtlefs,
Yes, doubtlefs, this fame modeft Swede expects
That I (hall yield him fome fair German tract
For his prey and booty, that ourfelves at laft
On our own foil and native territory,
May be no longer our own lords and mailers !
An excellent fcheme ! — No, no ! They muft be off,
Off, off! away \-^-we want no fuch neighbours.
TERTSKY.
Nay, yield them up that dot, that fpeck of land —
It goes not from your portion. If you win
The game, what matters it to you who pay^it ?
WALLENSTEIN.
Off with them, off! Thou underftand'ft not, this.
Never fhall it be faid of me, I parcell'd
My native land away, difmember'd Germany,
Betray 'd it to a foreigner, in order
To come with ftealthy tread, and filch away
My own fliare of the plunder. — Never ! never !—
No foreign power fhall ftrike root in the empire,
And leaft of all, thefe Goths ! thefe hunger-
wolves !
Who fend fuch envious, hot and greedy glances
T'wards the rich bleffings of our German lands \
I'll
44? THE" PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
I'll have their aid to cad and draw my nets,
But not a iingle fifh of all the draught
Shall thev come in for.
TERTSKY.
You will deal, however,
More fairly with the Saxons ? They lofe patience
While you fhift ground and make fo many curves.
Say, to what purpofe all thefe maiks ? Your
friends
Are plung'd in doubts, baffled, and led affray in
you.
There's Oxenflein, there's Arnheim — neither
knows
What he fliould think. of your procrastinations.
And in the end I prove the liar ; all
Paffes through me. I have not even your hand-
writing.
WALLENSTEIN.
I never give my hand-writing ; thou know'ft it,
TERTSKY.
But how can it be known that you're in earneft,
If the act follows not upon the word ?
You muft yourfelf acknowledge, that in all
Your intercourfes hitherto with th' enemy
You might have done with fafety all you have done,
Had you meant nothing further than to gull him
For th' Emperor's fervice.
wallekstein ( after a paufe, du ring iv h ich h e
looks narrowly on Terfjkij.)
And from whence dofl thou know
That I'm not gulling him for th' Emperor's fervice ?
Whence
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTSlN. 45
Whence knoweft thou that I'm not gulling all of
you ?
Doft thou know me fo well ? When made I thee
Th' Intendant of my fecret purpofes ?
I am not confcious that I ever open'd
My inmoft thoughts to thee. Th' Emperor, it is -
true,
Hath dealt with me amifs ; and if I would>
I could repay him with ufurious interefl
For th' evil he hath done me. It delights me
To know my power ; but whether I fhall ufe it,
Of that, I mould have thought that thou could'ft
fpeak
No wifelier than thy fellows.
TERTSKY.
So haft thou always play'd thy game with us.
Knter illo.
SCENE XL
Illo, Wallenstein, Tertsky.
wallenstein.
How ftand affairs without ? Are they prepar'd ?
ILLO.
YouVll find them in the very mood you wifh.
They know about the Emperor's requifitions,
And are tumultuous.
' WALLENSTEIN.
How hath Ifolan
Declar'diiimfelf? • .
ILLO.
46 THE PICCQLOMINI, OR THE
ILLO.
He's your's, both foul and body,
Since you built up again his Faro-bank.
WALLENSTEIN.
And which way doth Kolatto bend ? Haft thou
Made fure of Tiefenbach and Deodate ?
ILLO.
What Piceolomini does, that they do too.
WALLENSTEIN.
You mean then I may venture fomewhat with
them ?
ILLO.
— If you are aflured of the Piceolomini.
WALLENSTEIN.
Not more affur'd of mine own felf.
TERTSKY.
And yet
I would you trufted not fo much to Octavio,
The fox ! '
WALLENSTEIN.
Thou teacheft me to know my man ?
Sixteen campaigns I have made with that old
warrior.
Befides, I have his horofcope,
We both are born beneath like ftars — in fhgrt
(with an air of my fiery)
To this belongs its own particular afpect.
If therefore thou canft warrant me the reft—
JLLO.
There is among them all but this one voice,
You
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 47
You muß not lay down the command. I hear
They mean to fend a deputation to you.
WALLENSTEIN.
If I'm in aught to bind myfelf to them,
They too rauft bind themfelves to me.
ILLO.
Of courfe.
VVALLENSTEIN.
Their words of honor they mufl give, their oaths,
Give them in writing to me, promising
Devotion to my fervice unconditional.
ILLO.
Why not ?
TERTSKY.
Devotion unconditional P
The exception of their duties towards Auftria
They'll always place among the premifes.
With this referve
wallenstein (Jhaking his head.)
All unconditional !
No premifes, no referees.
ILLO.
A thought has ftruck me.
Does not Count Tert&y give us a fet banquet
This evening ?
TERTSKY.
Yes ; and all the Generals
Have been invited.
1LL£
48 THE PICCOLÖMINI, OR THE
illo (to Wallenfiein.)
Say, will you here fully
Commiffion me to ufe my own difcretlon ?
I'll gain for you the Generals' words of honor,
Even as you wilh.
WALLENSTEIN.
Gain me their fignatures t
How you come by them, that is your concern.
ILLO.
And if I bring it to you, black on white,
That all the leaders who are prefent here
Give themfelves up to you, without condition ;
Say, will you then — then will jou fhew yourfelf
In earned, and with fome decifive action
Make trial of your luck ?
WALLENSTEIN.
The fignatures \
Gain me the fignatures.
ILLO.
Seize, feize the hour
Ere it flips from you. Seldom comes the moment
In life, which is indeed fublime and weighty.
To make a great decifion poflible,
O ! many things, all tranfient and all rapid,
Muft meet at once : and, haply, they thus met
May by that confluence be enforc'd to paufe
Time long enough for wifdom, though too fhort,
Far, far too fhort a time for doubt and fcruple !
This is that moment. See, our army chieftains,
Our beft, our nobleft, are affembled round you,
Their
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 49
Their kinglike leader! On your nod they wait.
The fingle threads, which here your profperous
fortune
Hath woven together in one potent web
InftincT with deftiny, O let them not
Unravel of themfelves. If you permit
Thefe chiefs to feparate, fo unanimous
Bring you them not a fecond time together. •
'Tis the high tide that heaves the ftranded fhip,
And every individual's fpirit waxes
In the great ftream of multitude. Behold,
They are ftill here, here ftill ! But foon the war
Burfts them once more afunder, and in fmall
Particular anxieties and interefts
Scatters their fpirit, and the fympathy
Of each man with the whole. He, who to-day
Forgets himfelf, forc'd onward with the ftream,
Will become fober, feeing but himfelf,
Feel only his own weaknefs, and with fpeed
Will face about, and march on in the old
High road of duty, the old broad-trodden road,
And feek but to make fh elter in good plight.
WALLENSTEIN.
The time is not yet come.
TERTSKY.
So you fay always.
But when will it be time ?
WALLENSTEIN.
' ; When I (hall fay it. s
1LL0.
You'll wait upon the ftars, and on their hours,
e Till
50 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
Till the earthly hour efcapes you. O, believe me,
In your own bofom are your deftiny's ftars.
Confidence in yourfelf, prompt refolution,
This is your Venus ! and the fole malignant,
The only one that harmeth you, is Doubt.
WALLENSTEIN.
Thou fpeakeft as thou underftand'ft. How oft
And many a time I've told thee, Jupiter,
That luftrous god, was fetting at thy birth.
Thy vifual power fubdues no myfteries;
Mole-ey'd, thou may'ft but burrow in the earth,
Blind as that fubterreftrial, who with wan,
Lead-colour'd mine lighted thee into life.
The common, the terreftrial, thou may'ft fee,
With ferviceable cunning knit together
The neareft with the neareft ; and therein
I truft thee and believe thee ! but whate'er
Full of myfterious import Nature weaves,
And fashions in the depths— the ipirit's ladder,
That from this grofs and vifible world of dull
Even to the ftarry world, with thoufand rounds,
Builds itfelf up; on which the unfeen powers
Move up and down on heavenly minifteries —
The circles in the circles, that approach
The central fun with ever-narrowing orbit
Thefe fees the glance alone, the unfeal'd eye,
Of Jupiter's glad children born in luftre.
file walks acrofs the chamber, then returns, and,
ßandingßill, proceeds.)
The heavenly conftellations make not merely
The day and night, fummer and fpring, not merely
Signify
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 51
Signify to the hufbandman the feafons
Of fowing and of harveft. Human action,
That is the feed too of contingencies,
Strew'd on the dark land of futurity
In hopes to reconcile the powers of fate.
Whence it behoves us to feek out the feed-time,
To watch the ftars, felect their proper hours,
And trace with fearching eye the heavenly houfes,
Whether the enemy of growth and thriving
Hide himfelf not, malignant, in his corner.
Therefore permit me my own time. Meanwhile
Do you your part. As yet I cannot fay
What / (hall do — only, give way I will not.
Depofe me too they Ihall not. On thefe points
You may rely.
page (entering.)
My Lords, the Generals.
WALLENSTEIN.
Let them come in.
£ * SCENE
52 TUE PICCÖLÖMINI, OR THE
SCENE XII.
Wallenflein, Tertß:y, Illo. — To them enter Quef-
tenberg, Octavio and Max. Piccolomini, But-
ler, I/olani, Maradas, and three other Ge-
nerals. Wallenfiein motions 2ueflenberg, who
in confequence takes the Chair directly oppoßte
to him ; the others follow, arranging them-
felves according to their Rank. There reigns &~
momentary Silence.
WALLENSTEIN.
I have underftood, 'tis true, the fum and import
Of your inftructions, Queftenberg, have weigh'd
them,
And form'd my final, abfolute refolve ;
Yet it feems fitting, that the Generals
Should hear the will of th' Emperor from your
mouth.
May't pleafe you then to open your commiflion
Before thefe noble Chieftains.
QUESTENBERG.
- I am ready
To obey you; but will firft entreat your Highnefs,
And all thefe noble Chieftains, to confider,
Th' Imperial dignity and fov'reign right
Speaks from my mouth, and not my own pre-
emption.
WALLENSTEIN.
We excufe all preface.
QUESTENBERG.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 53
QUESTENBERG.
When his Majefty
The Emperor to his courageous armies
Preferred in the perfon of Duke Friedland
A moft experienced and renown'd commander,
He did it in glad hope and confidence
To give thereby to the fortune of the war
A rapid and aufpicious change. The onfet
Was favourable to his royal wifhes.
Bohemia was deliver'd from the Saxons,
The Swede's career of conqueft check'd ! Thefe
lands
Began to draw breath freely, as Duke Friedland
From all the dreams of Germany forc'd hither
The fcatter'd armies of the enemy,
Hither invok'd as round one magic circle
The Rhinegrave, Bernhard, Banner, Oxenftirn,
Yea, and that never-conquer'd King himfelf j
Here finally, before the eye of Nürnberg,
The fearful game of battle to decide.
WALLENSTEIN.
May't pleafe you, to the point,
QUESTENBERG.
In Nürnberg' s camp the Swedilh monarch left
His fame — in Lützen's plains his life. But who
Stood not aftounded, when victorious Friedland
After this day of triumph, this proud day,
March'd toward Bohemia with the fpeed of flight,
And vanifh'd from the theatre of war;
While the young Weimar hero forc'd his way
JLnto Franconia, to the Danube, like
e 3' Some
54t THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
Some delving winter-ftream, which, where it rufhes,
Makes its own channel ; with fuch fudden fpeed
He march'd, and now at once 'fore Regenfpurg
Stood to th' affright of all good Catholic Chriftians.
Then did Bavaria's well-deferving Prince
Entreat fwift aidance in his extreme need ;
The Emperor fends feven horfemen to Duke
Friedland,
Seven horfemen couriers fends he with th' entreaty :
He fuperadds his own, and fupplicates
Where as the fovereign lord he can command.
In vain his fupplication ! At this moment
The Duke hears only his old hate and grudge,
Barters the general good to gratify
Private revenge — and fo falls Regenfpurg.
WALLENSTEIN.
Max. to what period of the war alludes he ?
My recollection fails me here.
MAX.
He means
When we were in Silefia.
WAXLENSTEIN.
Ay ! Is it fo ?
But what had we to do there ?
MAX.
To beat out
Tlfe Swedes and Saxons from the province.
WALLENSTEIN.
True.
In that defcription which the Minifter gave
I feem'd to have forgotten the whole war.
{to
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 55
(to Qzteßeiiberg)
Well,* but proceed a little.
QUESTENBERG.
Yes ! at length
Befide the river Oder did the Duke
Aflert his ancient fame. Upon the fields
Of Steinau did the Swedes lay down their arms,
Subdued without a blow. And here, with others,
The righteoufnefs of Heaven to his avenger
Deliver'd that long-praftis'd ftirrer-up
Of infurreftion, that curfe-laden torch
And kindler of this war, Matthias Thur.
But he had fallen into magnanimous hands ;
Inftead of punimment he found reward,
And with rich prefents did the Duke difmifs
The arch -foe of his Emperor.
wallenstein, (laughs)
I know,
I know you had already in Vienna
Your windows and balconies all foreftall'd
To fee him on the executioner's cart.
I might have loft the battle, loft it too
With infamy, and ftill retain'd your graces —
But, to have cheated them of a fpeftacle,
Oh ! that the good folks of Vienna never,
No, never can forgive me,
QUESTENBERG.
So Silefia
Was freed, and all things loudly call'd the Duke
Into Bavaria, now prefs'd hard on all fides.
e 4 And
56 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
And he did put his troops in motion : flowly,
Quite at his eafe, and by the longed road
He traverfes Bohemia ; but ere ever
He hath once feen the enemy, faces round,
Breaks up the march, and takes to winter quarters.
WALLENSTEIN.
The troops were pitiably deftitute
Of every neceflary, every comfort.
The winter came. What thinks his Majefty
His troops are made of? An't we men ? fubje&ed
Like other men to wet, and cold, and all
The circumftances of neceffity ?
O miferable lot of the poor foldier !
Wherever he comes in, all flee before him,
And when he goes away, the general curfe
Follows him on his rout. AH muft be feiz'd,
Nothing is given him. And compelPd to feize
From every man, he's every man's abhorrence.
Behold, here ftand my Generals. Karaffa !
Count Deodate ! Butler ! Tell this man
How long the foldiers' pay is in arrears,
butler.
Already a full year.
WALLENSTEIN.
And 'tis the hire
That conftitutes the hireling's name and duties.
The foldier's pay is the foldier's covenant *.
QUES-
* The original is not tranflatable into Englifh :
iTJnd (em/old
Mufs &zmfoldaten werden, darnach heifst er.
It
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 57
QÜESTENBERG.
Ah ! this is a far other tone from that
In which the Duke fpoke eight, nine years ago.
WALLENSTEIN.
Yes ! 'tis my fault, I know it : I myfelf
Have fpoilt the Emperor by indulging him.
Nine years ago, during the Danifh war,
I rais'd him up a force, a mighty force,
Forty or fifty thoufand men, that coft him
Of his own purfe no doit. Through Saxony
The fury goddefs of the war march'd on,
E'en to the furf-rocks of the Baltic, bearing
The terrors of his name. That was a time !
In the whole Imperial realm no name like mine
Honor'd with'feftival and celebration —
And Albrecht Wallenstein, it was the title
Of the third jewel in his crown i
But at the Diet, when the Princes met
At Regenfpurg, there, there the whole broke out,
There 'twas laid open, there it was made- known,
Out of what money-bag I had paid the hoft.
And what was now my thank, what had I now,
That I, a faithful fervant of the Sovereign,
Had loaded on myfelf the people's curfes,
And let the Princes of the empire pay
The expences of this war, that aggrandizes
It might perhaps have been thus rendered :
'* And that for which he fold his fervices,
" The foldier muft receive."
But a falfe or doubtful etymology is no more than a dull pun.
The
58 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
The Emperor alone — What thanks had 1 1
What ? I was offer'd up to their complaints,
Difmifs'd, degraded !
QUESTENBERG.
But your Highnefs knows
What little freedom he poffefs'd of action
In that difafirous diet.
WALLENSTEIK.
Death and hell \
/had that which could have procur'd him freedom.
No ! Since 'twas prov'd fo inaufpicious to me
To ferve the Emperor at the empire's cofl,
I have been taught far other trains of thinking
Of th* empire, and the diet of the empire.
From th* Emperor, doubtlefs, I receiv'd this HafT^
But now I hold it as the empire's general —
For the common weal, the univerfal int'reft,
And no more for that one man's aggrandizement I
But to the point. What is it that's defir'd of me ?
QUESTENBERG.
Firft, his Imperial Majefly hath will'd
That without pretexts of delay the army
Evacuate Bohemia.
WALLENSTEIN.
In this feafon ?
And to what quarter, wills the Emperor,
That we direct our courfe ?
QUESTENBERG.
To th$ enemy.
His Majefty refolves, that Regenfpurg
Be purified from the enemy, ere Eafler,
That
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 59
That Luth'ranifm may be no longer preach'd
In that cathedral, nor heretical
Defilement defacrate the celebration
Of that pure feftival.
WALLENSTEIN.
My generals,
Can this be realiz'd ?
ILLO.
'Tis not poflible.
BUTLER.
It can't be realiz'd.
QUESTENBERG.
The Emperor
Already hath commanded colonel Suys
To advance toward Bavaria ?
WALLENSTEIN.
What did Suys ?
QUESTENBERG.
That which his duty prompted. He advanc'd t
WALLENSTEIN.
What ? he advanc'd ? And I, his general,
Had given him orders, peremptory orders,
Not to defert his ftation ! Stands it thus
With my authority ? Is this th' obedience
Due to my office, which being thrown afide
No war can be conducted ? Chieftains, fpeak !
You be the judges, generals ! What deferves
That officer, who of his oath neglectful
Is guilty of contempt of orders ?
a ILLO.
60 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
ILLO.
Death.
WALLENSTEIN.
{raffing his voice, as all, but Mo, had re-
mained filent, andfeemingly fcrupulous)
Count Piccolomini ! what has he deferv'd ?
Max. Piccolomini. (After a long paufe)
According to the letter of the law,
Death.
ISOLANI.
Death.
BUTLER.
Death, by the laws of war.
[Queßenberg rifes from his feat, Wallenfiein
follows, all the refi rife)
WALLENSTEIN.
To this the law condemns him, and not I.
And if I (hew him favour, 'twill arife
From the rev'rence that I owe my Emperor.
QUESTENBERG.
\ifo, I can fay nothing further — here f
WALLENSTEIN.
I accepted the command but on conditions !
And this the firft, that to the diminution
Of my authority no human being,
Not even the Emperor's felf, mould be entitled
To do aught, or to fay aught, with the army.
If I ftand warranter of the event,
Placing my honour and my head in pledge,
Needs muft I have full maftery in all
The
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 61
The means thereto. What render' d this Guftavus
Refiftlefs, and unconquer'd upon earth?
This : that he was the monarch in his army ;
A monarch, one who is indeed a monarch,
Was never yet fubdued but by his equal.
But to the point 1 The beft is yet to come.
Attend now, generals !
QUESTENBERG.
The prince Cardinal
Begins his route at the approach of fpring
From the Milanefe ; and leads a Spanifli army
Thro' Germany into the Netherlands.
That he may march fecure and unimpeded,
'Tis th' Emperor's will, you grant him a detach-
»
ment
Of eight horfe-regiments from the army here.
WALLENSTEIN.
Yes, yes ! I underftand ! — Eight regiments ! Well,
Right well concerted, father Lamormain !
Eight thoufand horfe ! Yes, yes ! 'Tis as it mould
be!
I fee it coming.
QUESTENBERG.
There is nothing coming.
*
All flands in front : the counfel of ftate -prudence,
The dictate of neceffity !
WALLENSTEIN.
What then ?
What, my Lord Envoy ? May I not be fuffer'd
To underftand, that folks are tir'd of feeing
The
62 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
The fword's hilt in my grafp : and that your court
Snatch eagerly at this pretence, and ufe
The Spanifh title, to drain off my forces,
To lead into the empire a new army
Unfubjected to my controul. To throw me
Plumply afide, — I am ftill too powerful for you
To venture that. My ftipulation runs,
That all the Imperial forces (hall obey me
Where-e'er the German is the native language.
Of Spanilh troops and of Prince Cardinals
That take their route, as vifitors, thro' the empire,
There ftands no fyllable in my ftipulation.
No fyllable ! And fo the politic court
Steals in a tiptoe, and creeps round behind it;
Firfl makes me weaker, then to be difpens'd with,
Till it dares ftrike at length a bolder blow
And make fhort work with me.
What need of all thefe crooked ways. Lord Envoy?
Straight-forward, man ! His compact with me
pinches
The Emperor. He would that I mov'd off!— r
Well ! — I will gratify him !
(Here there commences an agitation among tk
generals which increafes continually.)
Jt grieves me for my noble officers fakes !
I fee not yet, by what means they will come at
The moneys they have advanced, or how obtain
The recompence their fervices demand.
Still a new leader brings new claimants forward,
And prior merit fuperannuates quickly.
There ferve here many foreigners in tW army,
And
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 63
And were the man in all elfe brave and gallant,
I was not wont to make nice fcrutiny
After his pedigree or catechifm.
This will be otherwife, i'the time to come.
Well — me no longer it concerns.
{He feats him/elf.)
MAX. PICCOLOMINI.
Forbid it Heaven, that it mould come to this ?
Our troops will fwell in dreadful fermentation —
The Emperor is abus'd — it cannot be.
ISOLANI.
It cannot be ; all goes to inftant wreck.
WALLENSTEIN.
Thou haft faid truly, faithful Ifolani ]
What we with toil and forefight have built up,
Will go to wreck — all go to inftant wreck.
What then ? another chieftain is foon found,
Another army likewise (who dares doubt it ?)
Will flock from all fides to the Emperor
At the firft beat of his recruiting drum.
(During this fpeech, Ifolani, Tertfky, Illo, and
Maradas, talk confufedly with great agi-
tation. )
MAX. PICCOLOMINI.
ißufily, and pajfionately going from one to
another, and foothing them.)
Hear, my commander ! Hear me, generals !
Let me conjure you, Duke ! Determine nothing,
Till we have met and reprefented to you
Our*
64? THE PICCÖLÖMINI, OR THE
Our joint remonftrances. — Nay, calmer! Friends!
I hope all may be yet let right again.
TERTSKY.
Away ! let us away ! in th' antichamber
Find we the others. [They go,
butler, (to Queßenberg.)
If good counfel gain
Due audience from your wifdom, my Lord Envoy I
You will be cautious how you fliew yourfelf
In public for fome hours to come — or hardly
Will that gold key protect you from mal-treat-
ment.
{Commotions heard from without.)
WALLENSTEIN.
A falutary counfel Thou, Octavio I
Wilt anfwer for the fafety of our gueft.
Farewell, Von Queflenberg !
{2ueßenberg is about to /peak.)
Nay, not a word.
Not one word more of that detefted fubject !
You have perform'd your duty — We know how
To feparate the office from the man.
(As Queßenberg is going off with Octavio^ Goetzy
Tiefenbach, Kollatto, prefs in, feveral other
generals following them.)
GOETZ.
Where's he, who means to rob us of our general ?
O"
tiefenbach. [at the fame time.)
What are we forc'd to hear ? That thou wilt
leave us ?
KOL-
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 65
kolatto. (at the fame time.}
We will live with thee, we will die with thee.
wallenstein, (with fiatelinefs, and pointing
to lib.)
There ! the Field- Marfhal knows our will.
[Exit,
(While all are going off the ßage, the curtain
drops. )
£ND OF ACT I.
ACT IL
66 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
ACT IL
Scene a fmall Chamber:
SCENE t
- Illo and Tertsky.
TERTSKY.
Now for this evening's bufinefs 1 How intend you
To manage with the generals at the banquet ?
ii-LO.
Attend ! We frame a formal declaration,
Wherein we to the Duke confign ourfelves
Collectively, to be and to remain
His both with life and limb, and not to fpare1
The laß: drop of our blood for him, provided
So doing we infringe no oath or duty,
We may be under to the Emp'ror. — Mark !
This refervation we exprefsly make
In a particular claufe, and fave the confcience.
Now hear ! This formula fo fram'd and worded
Will be prefented to them for perufal
Before the banquet. No one will find in it
Caufe of offence or fcruple. • Hear now further !
After the feaft, when now the vap'ring wine
Opens
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN". 67
Opens the heart, and fhuts the eyes, we let
A counterfeited paper, in the which
This one particular claufe has been left out,
Go round for fignatures.
TERTSKY.
How ? think you then
That they'll believe themfelves bound by an oath,
Which we had trick'd them into by a juggle ?
ILLO.
We fhall have caught and cag'd them ! Let them
then
Beat their wings bare againft the wires, and rave
Loud as they may againft our treachery,
At court their fisrnatures will be believ'd
Far more than their moft holy affirmations.
Traitors they are, and muft be ; therefore wifely
Will make a virtue of neceffity.
TERTSKY.
Well, well, it fhall content me ; let but fomething
Be done, let only fome decifive blow
Set us in motion.
ILLO.
Befides, 'tis of fubordinate importance
How, or how far, we may thereby propel
The generals. 'Tis enough that we perfuade
The Duke, that they are his — Let him but act
In his determin'd mood, as if he had them,
And he will have them. Where he plunges in,
He makes a whirlpool, and all dream down to it.
F 2, TERTSKY*
08 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR TH£
TERTSKY.
His policy is fuch a labyrinth,
Xhat many a time when I have thought myfelf
Clofe at his fide, he's gone at once, and left me
Ignorant of the ground where I was {landing.
He lends the enemy his ear, permits me
To write to them, to Arnheim ; to Sefina
Himfelf comes forward blank and undifguis'd j
Talks with us by the hour about his plans,
And when I think I have him — off at once
He has flipp'd from me, and appears as if
He had no fcheme, but to retain his place,
ILLO.
He give up his old plans ! I'll tell you, friend !
His foul is occupied with nothing elfe,
Even in his ileep — They are his thoughts, his
dreams
That day by day he queflions for this purpofe
The motions of the planets — —
TERTSKY,
Ay 1 you know
This night, that is now coming, he with Sen*
Shuts himfelf up in the aftrological tower
To make joint obfervations — for I hear,
It is to be a night of weight and crifis,
And fomething great, and of long expectation,
Is to make its proceffion in the heaven.
■Il/LO.
Come ! be we bold and make difpatch. The work
In liiis next day or two muß: thrive and grow
More
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 69
More than it has for years. And let but only-
Things firft turn up aufpicious here below-
Mark what ,1 fay — the right ftars too will {hew
themfelves.
Come, to the generals. All is in the glow,
And muft be beaten while 'tis malleable«
TERTSKY.
Do you go thither, Ulo. I muft üay
And wait here for the Countefs Tertfky. Know,
That we too are not idle. Break one firing,
A fecond is in readinefs,
I LLC
Yes! Yes!
I faw your Lady fmile with fuch fly meaning.
What's in the wind ?
TERTSKY.
A fecret. Hufh ! (he comes.
[Exit Ilia.
SCENE II.
[The Countefs fieps out from a clofet.)
Count and Countess Tertsky.
TERTSKY.
Well — is fhe coming — I can keep him back
No longer.
COUNTESS,
She will be there inftantly.
You only fend him.
F 3 TERTSKY.
70 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
TERTStCY.
I am not quite certain
I muft confefs it, Countefs, whether or no
We are earning the Duke's thanks hereby. You
know,
No ray has broke out from him on this point.
You have o'er rul'd me, and yourfelf know beft,
How far you dare proceed.
COUNTESS.
I take it on me.
(talking to her/elf 9 while Jhe is advancing.)
Here's no need of full powers and commimons —
My cloudy Duke ! we underfland each other —
And without words. What, could I not unriddle,
Wherefore the daughter fhould be fent for hither,
Why firft he, and no other, mould be chofen
To fetch her hither i ' This (ham of betrothing her
To a bridegroom *, when no one knows — No i
no !
This may blind others ! I fee thro' thee, Brother!
But it beieems thee not, to draw a card
At fuch a game. Not yet ! — It all remains
Mutely deliver'd up to my fineffing
Well — thou (halt not have been deceiv'd, Duke
Friedland !
In her who is thy fitter.
* In Germany, after honourable addrefTes have been paid
and formally accepted, the lovers are called Bride and Bride-
groom, even though the marriage fhould not take place till
years afterwards. .'
SERVANT.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 71
servant, {enters.)
The commanders !
tertsky. (to the Countefs.)
Take care you heat his fancy and affections —
PofTefs him with a reverie, and fend him,
Abfent, and dreaming, to the banquet ; that,
He may not boggle at the fignature.
COUNTESS.
Take you care of your guefls !^-Go, fend him
hither.
TERTSKY.
All refls upon his underfigning.
countess, {interrupting hi?n.)
Xjo to your guefls ! Go ■
illo. (comes back.)
Where art flaying, Tertfky ?
The houfe is full, and all expecting 'you.
TERTSKY.
Inflantly \ inflantly '!
(To the Countefs.)
And let him not
Stay here too long. It might awake fufpicion
In the old man
COUNTESS.
A truce with your precautions ! \
{Exeunt Tertfky and Illo.
f 4 SCENE
72 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
SCENE III.
Countess, Max. Piccolomini.
max. (peeping in on the fiagejliily.)
y Aunt Tertfky ! may I venture ?
[Advances to the middle of theßage, and looks
around him with uneafinefs.)
She's not here I
Where is (he ?
COUNTESS.
Look but fomewhat narrowly
In yonder corner, left perhaps fhe lie
Conceal'd behind that fcreen.
MAX.
There lie her gloves !
(Snatches at the?n> but the Countefs takes them
herftlf.)
You unkind Lady ' You refufe me this —
You make it an amufement to torment me.
COUNTESS.
And this the thank you give me for my trouble ?
MAX.
O, if you felt the oppreflion at my heart •
Since we've been here, fo to conftrain myfelf —
With fuch poor ftealth to hazard words and
glances — *
Thefe, thefe are not my habits I
COUNTESS.
You have ftill
Many new habits to acquire, young friend .'
But
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 73
But on this proof of your obedient temper
I muft continue to infift ; and only
On this condition can I play the agent
For your concerns.
MAX.
But wherefore comes fhe not ?
Where is (lie ?
COUNTESS.
Into my hands you muft place it
Whole and entire. Whom could you find, indeed,
More zealoufly affected to your intereft ?
No foul on earth muft know it — not your father.
He muft not above all.
MAX.
Alas ! what danger j
Here is no face on which I might concenter
All, the enraptur'd foul ftirs up within me.
O Lady ! tell me. Is all chang'd around mej
Or is it only I ?
I find myfelf,
As among ftrangers ! Not a trace is left
Of all my former withes, former joys.
Where has it vanifh'd to ? There was a time
Whenev'n,methought, with fuch a world, as this*
I was not difcontented. Now how flat \
How ftale ! No life, no bloom, no flavour in it 1
My comrades are intolerable to me.
My father— Even to him I can fay nothing.
My arms, my military duties — O !
They are fuch wearying toys !
COUNTESS.
74- THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
COUNTESS.
But, gentle friend !
I muft entreat it of your condefcenfion,
You would be pleas'd to link your eye, and favour
With one fhort glance or two this poor ftale world,
Where even now much, and of much moment,
Is on the eve of its completion.
MAX..
Something,
I can't but know, is going forward round me.
I lee it gath 'ring, crowding, driving on,
In wild uncuftomary movements. Well,
In due time, doubtlefs, it will reach even me.
Where think you I have been, dear lady ? Nay,
No raillery. . The turmoil of the camp,
The fpring-tide of acquaintance rolling in,
The pointlefs jeft, the empty converfation,
Opprefs'd and ftifled me. I gafp'd for air —
I could not breathe- — I was conftrain'd to fly,
To feek a filence out for my full heart ;
And a pure fpot wherein to feel my happinefs.
No fmiling, Countefs ! In the church was I.
There is a cloifler here to the * heaven's gate,
Thither I went, there found myfelf alone.
Over the altar hung an holy mother ;
A wretched painting 'twas, yet 'twas tlie friend
* I am doubtful whether this be the dedication of the cloifler,
©r the name of one of the city gates, near which it Hood. I
have tranflated it in the former fenfe ; but fearful of having made
fome blunder, I add the original. — Es ift ein Klofter hier zur
Himmelfpforte.
That
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 15
That I was feeking in this moment. Ah,
How oft have I beheld that glorious form
In fplendour, mid extatic worfhippers;
Yet, ftill it mov'd me not ! and now at once
Was my devotion cloudlefs as my love.
COUNTESS.
Enjoy your fortune and felicity!
Forget the world around you. Meantime, friend-
fhip
Shall'keep ftrict vigils for you, anxious, active.
Only be manageable when that friend fhip
Points you the road to full accomplifhment.
How long may it be fince you declared your pafiion ?
MAX.
This morning did I hazard the fir ft word.
COUNTESS.
This morning the firft time in twenty days ?
MAX.
'Twas at that hunting-caftle, betwixt here
And Ncpomuck, where you hadjoin'd us, and —
That was the laft relay of the whole journey !
In a balcony we were Handing mute,
And gazing. out upon the dreary field :
Before us the dragoons were riding onward,
The fafe-guard which the Duke had lent us — heavy
The inquietude of parting lay upon me,
And trembling ventur'd I at length thefe words :
This all reminds me, noble maiden, that
To-day I muft take leave of my good fortune.
3 A few
76 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
A few hours more, and you will find a father,'
Will fee yourfelf furrounded by new friends,
And I henceforth mail be but as a ftranger,
Loft in the many — " Speak with my aunt Tertiky !'■
With hurrying voice (lie interrupted me.
She faulter'd. I beheld a glowing red
Poffefs her beautiful cheeks, and from the ground
Rais'd flowly up her eye met mine — no longer
Did I controul myfelf.
(The Princefs Thekla appeals at the door, and
remains ßanding, ohferved \>y the ConntefSy
but not by Piccolomini.)
With inftant boldnefs
I caught her in my arms, my mouth touch'd her's ;
There was a ruftling in the room clofe by ;
. It parted us — 'Twas you. What fince has hap-
pened,
You know.
COUNTESS.
(after a paufe, with a fiolen glance at Thekla.)
And is it your excefs of modefty ;
Or are you fo incurious, that you do not
Afk me too of my fecret ?
MAX.
Of your fecret ?
COUNTESS.
Why, yes ! When in the inftant after you
I ftepp'd into the room, and found my niece there,
What fhe in this firft moment of the heart
Ta'en with furprife—
max. (with eagernefs.)
Well ?
SCENE
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 77
SCENE IV.
Thekla (hurries forward), Countess» Max.
Piccolomini.
the k la. (to the Countefs)
Spare yourfelf the trouble.
That hears he better from myfelf.
max. (fiepping backward)
My Princefs!
What have you let her hear me fay, aunt Tertfky !
i thekla. (to the Countefs)
Has he been here long ?
COUNTESS.
Yes ; and foon muft go.
Where have you ftay'd fo long ?
thekla.
Alas ! my mother
Wept fo again ! and I — I fee her fuffer,
Yet cannot keep myfelf from being happy.
max.
Now once again I have courage to look on you.
"To-day at noon I could not.
The dazzle of the jewels that play'd round you
Hid the beloved from me.
thekla.
Then you faw me
With your eye only — and not with your heart ?
max.
This morning, when I found you in the circle
Of all your kindred, in your father's arms,
Beheld myfelf an alien in this circle,
O ! what an inrpulfe felt I in that moment
♦ To
78 THE PICCOLOMINT, OR THE
To fall upon his neck, to call him father!
But his ftern eye o'erpower'd the fwelling paffion— ~
It dar'd not but be filent. And thofe brilliants,
That like a crown of ftars enwreath'd your brows,'
They fcar'd me too ! Ö wherefore, wherefore
mould he
At the firfl meeting fpread as 'twere the bann
Of excommunication round you, wherefore
Drefs up the angel as for facrifice,
And call upon the light and joyous heart
The mournful burthen of his flat ion ? Fitly
May love dare woo for love; but fuch a fplendour
Might none but monarchs venture to approach.
THEKLA.
Hufh ! not a word more of this mummery.
You fee how foon the burthen is thrown off.
(to the Countefs.)
He is not in fpirits. Wherefore is he not ?
'Tis you, aunt, that have made him all fo gloomy !
He had quite another nature on the journey —
So calm, fo bright, ,,fo joyous eloquent.
(to Max.)
It was my wifti to fee you always To»
And never otherwife !
MAX.
You find yourfelf
In your great father's arms, beloved lady !
All in a new world, which does homage to you,
And which, were't only by its novelty,
Delights your eye.
THEKLA.
Yes; I confefs to you
Thai
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN; 79
That many things delight me here : this camp,
This motley flage of warriors, which renews
So manifold the image of my fancy,
And binds to life, binds to reality,
What hitherto had but been prefent to me
As a fweet dream !
MAX.
Alas ! not fo to me.
It makes a dream of my reality.
Upon fome ifland in the etherial heights
I've liv'd for thefe laft days. This mafs of men
Forces me down to earth. It is a bridge
That, reconducting to my former life,
Divides me and my heaven.
THEKLA.
The game of life
Looks cheerful, when one carries in one's heart
The unalienable treafure. 'Tis a game,
Which having once review'd, I turn more joyous
Back to my deeper and appropriate blifs..
(breaking off] and in afportive tone)
In this fliort time that I've been prefent here,
What new unheard-of things have I not feen ?
And yet they all muft give place to the wonder
Which this myfterious caftle guards.
countess, (reco lie c ting)
And what
Can this be then ? Methought I was acquainted
With all the dufky corners of this houfe.
thekla. (fmiling)
Ay, but the road thereto is watch'd by fpirits,
Two griffins ftill ftand fentry at the door.
COUN-
SO THE PICCOLÖMINI, OÄ Ttfg
countess, (laughs)
The aflrological tdwer ! — How happens it
That this fame fan&uary, whofe acceß
Is to all others fo impracticable,
Opens before you e'en at your approach >
THEKLA.
A dwarfim old man with a friendly face
And fhow-white hairs, whofe gracious fervices
Were mine at nrfl fight, open'd me the doors.
MAX.
That is the Duke's aftrologer, old Seni.
THEKLA.
He queftion'd me on many points ; for inftance,
When I was born, what month, and on what day,
Whether by day or in the night.
COUNTESS.
He wifh'd
To ere£t a figure for your horofcope.
THEKLA.
My hand too he examin'd, (hook his head
With much fad meaning, and the lines, methought,
Did not fquare over truly with his wilhes.
COUNTESS.
Well, Princefs, and what found you in this tower?
My higheft privilege has been to fnatch
A fide-glance, and away !
THEKLA.
It was a flrange
Senfation that came o'er me, when at firft
From the broad funihine I ftepp'd in ; and now
The narrowing line of day-light, that ran after
The clofing door, was gone ; and all about me
'Twas pale and duiky night, with many fhadoivs
Fant at-
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 81
Fantaftically call. Here fix or feven
Coloflal ftatues, and all kings, flood round me
In a half-circle. Each one in his hand
A fceptre bore, and on his head a flar,
And in the tower no other light was there
But from thefe ftars j all feem'd to come from them.
* Thefe are the planets,' faid that low oid man,
' They govern worldly fates, and for that caufe
* Are imag'd here as kings. He farthefl from you,
5 Spiteful and cold, an old man melancholy,
f With bent and yellow forehead, he is Saturn.
' He oppofite, the king with the red light,
* An arm'd man for the battle, that is Mars :
* And both thefe bring but little luck to man.'
But at his fide a lovely lady flood,
The flar upon her head was foft and bright,
And that was Venus, the bright flar of joy.
On the left hand, lo ! Mercury, with wings.
Quite in the middle glitter'd filver-bright
A cheerful man, and with a monarch's mien ;
And this was Jupiter, my father's flar :
And at his fide I faw the Sun and Moon.
MAX.
O never rudely will I blame his faith
In the might of flars and angels ! 'Tis not merely
The human being's pride that peoples fpace
With life and myflical predominance ;
Since likewife for the flricken heart of Love
This vifible nature, and this Common world,
Is all too narrow : yea, a deeper import
Lurks in the legend told my infant years
Than lies upon that truth, we live to learn,
g For
82 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
For fable is Love's world, his home, his birth-place :
Delightedly dwells he 'mong fays and talifmans,
And fpirits; and delightedly believes
Divinities, being himfelf divine.
The intelligible forms of ancient poets,
The fair humanities of old religion,
The Power, the Beauty, and the Majefty,
That had their haunts in dale, or piny mountain,
Or foreft by flow fhream, or pebbly fpring,
Or chafms and wat'ry depths j all thefe have vanilh'd.
They live no longer in the faith of reafon !
But iiill the heart doth need a language, ftill
Doth the old inftindt bring back the old names.
Arid to yon ftarry world they now are gone,
* Spirits or gods, that us'd to (hare this earth
With man as with their friend ; and to the lover
Yonder they move, from yonder vifibk iky
Shoot influence down : and even at this day
'Tis Jupiter who brings whate'er is great,
And Venus who brings every thing that's fair!
thekla.
And if this be the fcience of the ftars,
I too, with glad and zealous induftry,
Will learn acquaintance with this cheerful faith.
It is a gentle and affectionate thought,
That in immealurable heights above us,
At our firft birth, the wreath of love was woven,
With fparkling ftars for flowers.
COUNTESS.
Not only rofes,
But thorns too hath the heaven ; and well for you,
* No more of talk, where god or angel gueft
With man, as with his friend familiar, us'd
To lit indulgent. paradise LOST, B. ix.
Leave
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 83
Leave they your wreath of love inviolate.
What Venus twin'd, the bearer of glad fortune,
The füllen orb of Mars foon tears to pieces.
max. *
Soon will his gloomy empire reach its clofe.
Bleft be the General's zeal : into the laurel
Will he inweave the olive-branch, prefenting
Peace to the fhouting nations. Then no wifh
Will have remain'd for his great heart ! Enough
Has he perform'd for glory, and can now
Live for himfelf and his. To his domains
Will he retire j he has a {lately feat
Of faireft view at Gitfchin ; Reichenberg,
And Friedland Caftle, both lie pleafantly- —
Even to the foot of the huge mountains here
Stretches the chafe and covers of his forefts :
His ruling paffion, to create the fplendid,
He can indulge without reflraint ; can give
A princely patronage to every art,
And to all worth a Sovereign's prote&ion.
Can build, can plant, can watch the flarry courfes— -
countess. ■
Yet I would haVe you look, and look again,
Before you lay afide your arms, young friend !
A gentle bride, as fhe is, is well worth it
That you mould woo and win her with the fword.
MAX.
O, that the fword could win her !
COUNTESS.
What was that ?
Did you hear- nothing ? Seem'd, as if I heard
Tumult and larum in the banquet-room.
[Exit Count eß.
g 2 SCENE
S4> THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
SCENE V.
Thekla and Max. Piccolomini.
THEKLA.
(Asfoon as the Countejs is out of Jight, in a
- quick ßow voice to Piccolomini)
Don't truft them ! They are falfe !
MAX.
Impoflible !
v THEKLA.
Truft no one here but me. I- faw at once,
They had a purpofe.
MAX.
Purpofe ! but what purpofe ?
And how can we be inftrumental to it ?
THEKLA-
I know no more than you ; but yet, believe me :
There's fome defign in this ! To make us happy,
To realize our union — truft me, love !
They but pretend to wifh it.
MAX.
But thefe Tertfkies
Why ufe we them at all ? Why not your mother ?
Excellent creature ! me deferves from us
A full and filial confidence.
THEKLA.
She doth love you,
Doth rate you high before all others — but —
But fuch a fecret — fhe would never have
The courage to conceal it from my father.
For
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 85
For her own peace of mind we muft preferve it
A fecret from her too.
MAX.
Why any fecret ?
I love not fecrets. Mark, what I will do.
I'll throw me at your father's feet — let him
Decide upon my fortunes ! —He is true,
He wears no mafk — he hates all crooked ways- —
He is fo good, fo noble !
the k la. (falls on his neck.)
That are you !
MAX.
You knew him only fince this morn ; but I
Have liv'd ten years already in his prefence,
And who knows whether in this very moment
He is not merely waiting for us both
To own our loves, in order to unite us.
You are filent ? •
You look at me with fuch a hopeleflnefs !
What have you to object againft your father ?
THEKLA.
I ? Nothing. Only he's fo occupied-
He has no leifure time to think about
The happinefs of us two.
[Taking his hand tenderly.^
Follow me 1
Let us not place too great a faith in men. „
Thefe Tertfkies — we will ftill be grateful to them
For every kindnefs, but not truft them further
Than they deferve ; — and in all elfe rely" ■
On our own hearts !
9 3 Max.
THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
O ! fhall we e'er be happy ?
THEKLA.
Are we not happy now ? Art thou not mine ?
Am I not thine ? There lives within my foul
A lofty courage — 'tis love gives it me !
I ought to be lefs open — ought to hide
My heart more from thee — fo decorum dictates.
But where in this place coukPft thou feek for truthj
If in my mouth thou did 'ft not find it ?
SCENE VI.
To them enters the Countefs Tertsky,
countess, (m a prejjing manner.)
Come !
My hufband fends me for you — It is now
The lateft moment.
{They not appearing to attend to what Jtie
■ faVs-> fie ßePs between them.)
Part you !
THEKLA.
O, not yet !
It has been fcarce a moment.
COUNTESS.
Aye ? Then time
Flies fwiftly with your Highnefs, Princefs niece \
MAX.
There is no hurry, aunt.
, COUN-
FIRST PART OP WALLENSTEIN. 87
C />UNT£SS.
Away ! away !
The folks begin to mifs you. Twice already
His father has afk'd for him.
THEKLA.
Ha 1 his father ?
countess.
You underftand that, niece !
THEKLA.
Why needs he
To go at all to that fociety ?
'Tis not his proper company. They may
Be worthy men, but he's too young for them.
In brief, he fuits not fuch fociety.
COUNTESS.
You mean, you'd rather keep him wholly here ?
thekla. (xuith energy.)
Yes ! you have hit it, aunt ! That is my meaning.
Leave him here wholly ! Tell the company
COUNTESS.
What ? have you loft your fenfes, niece ?
Count, you remember the conditions.- Come !
max. {to Thekla.)
Lady, I muft obey. Farewell, dear lady !
{Thekla turns away from him xvith a quick
motion.)
What fay you then, dear lady ?
Thekla. (without looking at him.)
Nothing. Go !
6 4 MAX.
88 . THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
MAX. '
Can I, when you are angry
(He drazos tip to. her, their eyes meet, Jlie
fiands /dent a moment, then throws herfelf
into his arms j he prejjes her faß to his
heart,) ,
countess.
Off ! Heavens ! if any one ihould come !
Hark ! What's that noife ? It comes this way. —
Off!
(Max. tears himf elf away out of her arms, and
goes. The Countefs accompanies him.
Thekla follows him with her eyes at firfi,
walks reßlefsly acrofs the room, then flops,
and remains ßanding, lofi in thought. A
guitar lies on the table, fhe f ehe s it äs by a
fudden emotion, and after fie has played
a while an irregular and melancholy fym-
phomj, fhe falls gradually into the mußc and
thekla. ( plays andfings.)
The cloud doth gather, the greenwood roar,
-The damfel paces along the fhore ;
The bjllows they tumble with might, with might ;
And fhe flings out her voice to the darkfome night,
Her bofom is fwelling with furrow ;
The world it is empty, the heart will die,
There's nothing to wifh for beneath the fky :
Thou Holy One', call thy child away !
I've lived and loved, and that was to-day — — '
Make ready my graye-qlothes to-morrow *. ■ .
* I found it not in my power totranflate this fongw;th literal
fidelity, prefervirig at the fame time the Alcaic Movement ; and
have
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 89
have therefore added the original with a profe tranflation, Some
of my readers may be more fortunate.
THEKLA. ffpielt und fingt.)
Der Eichwald braufet, die Wolken ziehn,
Pas Mägdlein wandelt an Ufers Grün,
Es bricht fich die Welle mit Macht, mit Macht,
' Und fie fingt hinaus in die finftre Nacht,
Das Auge von Weinen getrübet :
Das Herz ift geftorben, die Welt ift leer,
Und weiter giebt fie dem Wunfche nichts mehr.
Du Heilige, rufe dein Kind zurück,
Ich habe genoffen das irdifche Glück,
Ich habe gelebt und geliebet.
Literal Tranfiation.
THEKLA. (plays andßngs.)
The oak-foreft bellows, the clouds gather, the damfel walks
to and fro on the green of the fhore ; the wave breaks with
might, with might, and fhe fings out into the dark night, her
eye difcolour'd with weeping : the heart is dead, the world is
empty, and further gives it nothing more to the wifli. Thou
Holy One, call thy child home, I have enjoyed the ' happinefs
of this world, I have lived and have loved.
I cannot but add here an imitation of this fong, with which
the author of " The Tale of Rofamund Gray and Blind Mar-
garet," has favoured me, and which appears to me to have
caught the happieft manner of our old ballads.
The clouds are black'ning, the ftorms threat'ning,
The cavern doth mutter, the greenwood moan ;
Billows are breaking, the damfeh' heart aching,
Thus in the dark night fhe fingeth alone,
Her eye upward roving :
The world is empty, the heart is dead furely,
In this world plainly all feemeth amifs ;
To thy heaven, Holy One, take home thy little one,
I have partaken of all earth's blifs,
Both living and loving.
SCENE
90 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
SCENE VII.
Countess (returns) The k la.
countess.
Fie, lady niece ! to throw yourfelf upon him,
Like a poor gift to one who cares not for it,
And fo mult be flung after him ! For you,
Duke Friedland's only child, I mould have thought,
It had been more befeeming to have {hewn yourfelf
More chary of your perfon.
thekla. (rifing)
And what mean you ?
countess.
I mean, niece, that you mould not have forgotten
Who you are, and who he is. But perchance
That never once occurr'd to you.
thekla.
What then ?
COUNTESS.
That you're the daughter of the Prince-duke
Friedland,
THEKLA.
Well — and what farther ?
COUNTESS.
What ? a pretty queflion !
THEKLA.
He was bom that which we have but become.
He's of an ancient Lombard family,
Son of a reigning princefs.
COUNTESS.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN", 91
COUNTESS.
Are you dreaming ?
Talking in ileep ? An excellent jeft, forfooth !
We fhall no doubt right courteoufly entreat him
To honour with his hand the richeft heirefs
In Europe.
THEKLA.
That will not be neceflary.
COUNTESS.
Methinks 'twere well tho' not to run the hazard.
THEKLA.
His father loves him, Count Oclavio
Will interpofe no difficulty
countess.
His!
His father! his ! But your's, niece, what of your's?
THEKLA.
Why I begin to think you fear his father,
So anxioufly you hide it from the man ,
His father, his, I mean.
countess, (looks at her, as fcrutinizing)
Niece, you vxzfalfe.
THEKLA.
Are you then wounded ? O, be friends with me !
COUNTESS.
You hold your game for won already. Do not
Triumph too foon ! —
thekla (interrupting her, and attempting to
footh her.)
Nay now, be friends with me.
COUNTESS-
92 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
COUNTESS.
It is not yet fo far gone.
THEKLA.
I believe you.
COUNTESS.
Did you fuppofe your father had laid out
His moft important life in toils of war,
Denied himfelf each quiet earthly blifs,
Had baniuVd flumber from his tent, devoted
His noble head to care, and for this only,
To make a happy pair of you ? At length
To draw you from your convent, and conduct
In eafy triumph to your arms the man
That chanc'd to pleafe your eyes! AU this,
methinks,
He might have purchas'd at a cheaper rate.
THEKLA,
That which he did not plant for me, might yet
Bear me fair fruitage of its own accord.
And if my friendly and affectionate fate,
Out of his fearful and enormous being,
Will but prepare the joys of life for me —
countess.
Thou feed it with a lovelorn maiden's eyes.
Call thine eye round, bethink thee. who thou art,
Into no iioufe of joyance haft thou flepp'd,
For no efpoufals doll thou find the walls
Deck'd out, no guefls the nuptial garland wearing.
Here is no fplendour but of arms. Or think'ft thou
Tha*
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 93
That all thefe thoufands are here congregated
To lead up the long dances at thy wedding ?
Thou fee'ft thy father's forehead full of thought,
Thy mother's eye in tears : upon the balance
Lies the great deftiny of all our houfe.
Leave now the puny wifh, the girlilh feeling,
0 thruft it far behind thee ! Give thou proof,
That thou'rt the daughter of the Mighty — his,
Who where he moves creates the wonderful.
Not to herfelf the woman muft belong,
Annex'd and bound to alien deftinies.
But fhe performs the beft part, fhe the wifeft,
Who can tranfmute the alien into felf,
Meet and difarm neceffity by choice;
And what muft be, take freely to her heart,
And bear and folder it with mother's love.
THEKLA.
Such ever was my leflbn in the convent.
1 had no loves, no wifhes, knew myfelf
Only as his — his daughter — his, the Mighty !
His fame, the echo of whofe blafl drove to me
From the far diftance, waken'd in my foul
No other thought than this — I am appointed
To offer up myfelf in paflivenefs to him.
COUNTESS.
That is thy fate. Mould thou thy wifnes to it.
I and thy mother gave thee the example.
THEKLA.
My fate hath fhewn me him, to whom behoves it
That I mould offer up myfelf. In gladnefs
Him will I follow.
COUN-
94 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
COUNTESS.
Not thy fate hath (hewn him !
Thy heart, fay rather — 'twas thy heart, my child !
THEKLA.
Fate hath no voice but the heart's impulfes.
I am all his ! His Prefent — his alone,
Is this new life, which lives in me. He hath
A right to his own creature. What was I
Ere his fair love infus'd a foul into me?
COUNTESS.
Thou would'ft oppofe thy father then, mould he
Have otherwife determin'd with thy perfon?
{Thekla remains filent. The Countefs continues.)
Thou mean'fl to force him to thy liking ? — Child,
His name is Friedland. *
THEKLA.
My name too is Friedland.
He fhall have found a genuine daughter in me.
COUNTESS.
What ? he has vanquifh'd all impediment,
And in the wilful mood of his own daughter
Shall a new ftruggle rife for him ? Child ! child * .
As yet thou haft feen thy father's fmiles alone ;
The eye of his rage thou haft not feen. Dear
child,
I will not frighten thee. To that extreme,
I truft, it ne'er fhall come. His will is yet
Unknown to me : 'tis pomble, his aims
May have the fame direction as thy with.
But this can never, never be his will,
That
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 95
That thou, the daughter of his haughty fortunes,
Should'ft e'er demean thee as a love-fick maiden;
And like fome poor coft-nothing, fling thyfelf
Toward the man, who, if that high prize ever
Be deftin'd to await him, yet, with facrifices
The higheft love can bring, muft pay for it.
[Exit Countess,
the k la. (who during the laß fpeech had been
ßanding evidently lofi in her refections.)
I thank thee for the hint. It turns
My fad prefentiment to certainty.
And it is fo I — Not one friend have we here,
Not one true heart! we've nothing but ourfelves-'
0 fhe faid rightly — no aufpicious figns
Beam on this convenant of our affections.
This is no theatre, where hope abides.
The dull thick noife of war alone ftirs here.
And love himfelf, as he were arm'd in fteel,
Steps forth, and girds him for the flrife of death.
(Muße from the banquet room is heard.)
There's a dark fpirit walking in our houfe,
And fwiftly will the Deftiny clofe on us.
It drove me hither from my calm afylum,
It mocks my foul with charming witchery,
It lures me forward in a feraph's fhape,
1 fee it near, I fee it nearer floating, ,
It draws, it pulls me with a god-like power —
And lo ! the abyfs — and thither am I moving —
I have no power within me not to move !
(Tlie mufic from the banquet room becomes
louder.)
4 O when
96 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
O when a houfe is doom'd in fire to perifh,
Many and dark heaven drives his clouds together,
Yea, lhoo*ts his lightnings down from funny heights,
Flames burft from out the fubterraneous chafms,
* And fiends and angels, mingling in their fury,
Sling fire-brands at the burning edifice.
[Exit The k la.
* There are few, who will not have tafte enough to laugh at
the two concluding lines of this foliloquy ; and ftill fewer, I
would fain hope, who -would not have been more difpofed
to fhudder, had I given a. faithful tranflation. For the readers
of German I have added the original :
Blind-wiithendfchleudert felbfl: der Gott der Freude
Den Pechkranz in das brennende Gebäude,
scene;
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN". 97
SCENE VIII.
A large Saloon lighted tip withfefial Splendour ;
in the Midß of it, and in the Centre of the
Stage, a Table richly fet out, at ivhich eight
Generals are fitting, among whom are Oc-
tavio Piccolomini, Tertsky, and Ma-
radas. Right and left of this, but further
back, tzvo other Tables, at each of xvhich fix
Perfons are placed. The middle Door, which
is ftanding open, gives to the Profpect a fourth
Table, with - the fame Number of Perfons»
More forward fiands the Sideboard. The
whole Front of the Stage is kept open for the
Pages and Servants in waiting. All is in
Motion. The Band of Mufic belonging to
Tertfky's Regiment march acrofs the Stage,
and draw up round the Tables. Before they
are quite off from the Front of the Stage,
Max. Piccolomini appears, Tertjky ad-
vances towards him with a Paper, Ifolani
comes up to meet him with a Beaker or Service -
cup.
Tertsky, Isolani, Max. Piccolomini.
isolani.
Here brother, what we love ! Why, where haft
been ?
Off, to thy place — quick ! Tertiky here has given
The mother's holiday wine up to free booty.
Here it goes on as at the Heideberg caftle.'
h Already
£8 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
Already haft thou loft the beft. They're giving
At yonder table ducal crowns in fhares;
There's Sternberg's lands and chattels are put up»
With Eggenberg's, Stawata's, Lichtenftein's,
And all the great Bohemian feodalties.
Be nimble, lad 1 and fomething may turn up
For thee — who knows ? Off — to thy place ! quick I
march !
tiefenbach and GOETZ- [call out from the
fecoud and third tables.)
Count Piccolomini I
tertsky.
Stop, ye mall have him in an inftant. — Read
This Oath here, whether as 'tis here fet forth,
The wording fatisfies you. They've all read it,
Each in his turn, and each one will fubfcribe
His individual fignature.
max. (reads)
" Ingratis fefvire nefas."
ISOLANI.
That founds to my ears very much like Latin,
And being interpreted, pray what may't mean ?
TSUTSKY.
No honeft man will ferve a thanklefs mafter.
MAX.
t( Inafmuch as our fupreme Commander, the
illuftrious Duke of Friedland, in confequence of
the manifold affronts and grievances which he has
received, had exprefled his determination to quit
the Emperor, but on our unanimous entreaty has
1 grac-ioufly
FIRST PAHT OF WALLENSTEIN. 99
gracioufly confented to remain ftill with the army,
and not to part from us without our approbation
thereof, fo we, collectively and each in particular,
in the flead of an oath perfonally taken, do hereby
oblige ourfelves— ^-likewife by him honourably and
faithfully to hold, and in nowife whatfoever from
him to part, and to be ready to med for his
interefts the laft drop of our blood, fo far, namely,
as our oath to the Emperor will permit it. (Thefe
laß words are repeated by Ifolani.) In teftimony
of which we fubfcribe our names.'*
TERTSKY.
Now ! — are you willing to fubfcribe this paper?
ISOLANI.
Why mould he not ? All officers of honour
Can do it, ay muft do it. — Pen and ink here !
TERTSKY.
Nay, let it reft till after meal.
isoLANi. (drawing Max. a long.)
Come, Max.
(Both feat them/elves at their table. J
SCENE IX.
Tertsky, Neumann.
tertsky. (beckons to Neumann who is waiting
at the fide-table, and fieps forward with him
to the edge of the fi 'age,)
Have you the copy with you, Neumann ? Give it.
It may be chang'd for the other?
H 2 NEU-
100 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
NEUMANN.
I have copied it
Letter by letter, line by line; no eye
Would e'er difcover other difference,
Save only the omiflion of that claufe,
According to your Excellency's order.
TERTSKY.
Right ! Lay it yonder, and away with this«—
It has perform'd its butinefs — to the fire with it — •
( Neumann lays the copy on the table, and
Jleps back again to the ßde-table. J
-L—
SCENE X.
Illo (comes out from the fecond chamber) ,
Tertsky.
illo;
How goes it with young Piccolomini ?
TERTSKY.
All right, I think. He has ftarted no objection.
ILLO.
He is the only one I fear about —
He and his father. Have an eye on both !
TERTSKY.
Htow looks it at your table ? You forget not
To keep them warm and ftirring ?
ILLO.
Ö, quite cordial,
• i They
FIRST PART OF WAI^ENSTEfN. 101
They are quite- cordial in the fcheme. We have
them.
And ?tis as I predicted too. Already
It is the talk, not merely to maintain
The Duke in ftation.- " Since we're once for all
Together and unanimous, why not,"
Says Montecuculi, * ay, why not onward ?
And make conditions with the Emperor
There in his own Vienna ?" Truft me, Count,
Were it not for thefe faid Piccolomini,
We might have fpar'd ourfelves the cheat.
TERTSKY.
And Butler ?
How goes it there ? Hum !
SCENE XI.
To them enter Butler from thefecond table.
BUTLER.
Don't difturb yourfelves.
Field Marfhal, I have underftood you perfectly.
Good luck be to the fcheme ; and as to me,
(zvith an air of myfiery)
You may depend upon me.
i l l o . (with vivacity)
May we, Butler ?
BUTLER.
With or without the claufe, all one to me !
You underftand me ? My fidelity
* 3 The
102 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
The Duke may put to any proof— I'm with him (
Tell him fo ! I'm the Emperor's officer,
As long as 'tis his pleafure to remain
The Emperor's general ! and Friedland's fervant,
As foon as it mail pleafe him to become
His own lord.
TERTSKY.
You would make a good exchange.
No flern economift, no Ferdinand,
Is he to whom you plight your fervices.
Butler, (with a haughty look)
I do not put up my fidelity
To fale, Count Tertfky ! Half a year ago
I would not have advis'd you to have made me
An overture to that, to which I now
Offer myfelf of my own free accord. —
But that is pall ! and to the Duke, Field Marfhal,
I bring myfelf together with my regiment.
And mark you, 'tis my humour to believe,
The example which I give will not remain
Without an influence.
ILLO.
Who is ignorant, -
That the whole army look to Colonel Butler,
As to a light that moves before them ?
BUTLER.
Ey?
Then I repent me not of that fidelity
Which for the length of forty years I held*
If in my fixtieth year my old good name
Can purchafe for me a revenge fo full.
Start
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 103
Start not at what I fay, fir Generals !
My real motives — they -concern not you.
And you yourfelves, I trull, could not expe£t
That this your game had crook'd /^judgment — or
That ficklenefs, quick blood, or fuch light caufe,
Has driven the old man from the track of honour,
Which he ib long had trodden. — Come, my friends!
I'm not thereto determin'd with lefs firmnefs,
Becaufe I know and have look'd fleadily
At that on which I have determin'd.
ILLO.
Say,
And fpeak roundly, what are we to deem you?
BUTLER.
A friend I I give you here my hand \ I'm your's
With all I have. Not only men, but money
Will the Duke want. Go, tell him, firs I
I've earn'd and laid -up fomewhat in his fervice,
I lend it him ; and is he my furvivor,
It has been already long ago bequeath'd him.
fie is my heir. For me, I ftand alone
Here in the world ; nought know I of the feeling
That bind the huiband to a wife and children.
My name dies with me, my existence ends.
ILLO.
■ i
'Tis not your money that he needs — a heart
JJke your's weighs tons of gold down, weighs down
millions !
BUTLER.
I came a fimple foldier's boy from Ireland
To Prague — and with a mailer, whom I buried.
h 4 From
104? THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
From loweft ftable duty I climb'd up,
Such was the fate of war, to this high rank,
The plaything of a whimfical good fortune.
And Wallenftein too is a child of luck,
I love a fortune that is like my own.
ILLO.
All powerful fouls have kindred with each other.
BUTLER.
This is an awful moment ! to the brave,
To the determin'd, an aufpicious moment.
The Prince of Weimar arms, upon the Main
To found a mighty dukedom. He of Halberftadt,
That Mans feld, wanted but a longer life
To have mark'd out with his good fword a lordfhip
That Ihould reward his courage. Who of thefe
Equals our Friedland ? There is nothing, nothing
So high, but he may fet the ladder to it !
TERTSKY.
That's fpoken like a man !
BUTLER.
Do you fecure the Spaniard and Italian —
I'll be your warrant for the Scotchman Lefly.
Come ! to the company !
TERTSKY.
Where is the mafter of the cellar ? Ho !
Let the beft wines come up. Ho | cheerly, boy !
Luck comes to-day, fo give her hearty welcome.
\Exeimt, each to his table.
Rr* .1»- ■... . ■ * *
SCENE
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN, lOJS
SCENE XII.
T^e Master of the Cellar advancing xvit\
Neumann, Servants paffmg backwards and
forwards,
master of the cellar.
The beft wine ! O ! if my old miftrefs, his lady
mother, could but fee thefe wild goings on, (he
would turn herfelf round in her grave. Yes, yes, fir
officer! 'tis all down the hill with this noble houfe!
no end, no moderation 1 And this marriage with
the Duke's filter, a fplendid connection, a very
fplendid connection ! but I tell you, fir officer, it
bodes no good.
NEUMANN.
Heaven forbid 1 Why, at this very moment the
whole profpect is in bud and bloflom !
MASTER OF THE CELLAR.
You thinjc fo \ — Well, well J much may be faid
on that head.
FIRST SERVANT, (comes)
Burgundy for the fourth table.
MASTER OF THE CELLAR.
Now, fir lieutenant, if this an't the feventieth
flaik—
FIRST SERVANT.
Why, the reafon is, triät German lord, Tiefen-,
bach, fits at that table.
MASTER OF THE CELLAR, (continuing klS dif-
courfe to Neumann.)
They are foaring too high. They would rival
kings and electors in their pomp and fplendour -,
and
IOÖ THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
and wherever the Duke leaps, not a minute does
my gracious mafter, the Count, loiter on the
brink. (to the Servants) — What do you ftand
there liftening for ? I will let you know you have
legs prefently. Off ! fee to the tables, fee to the
flaiks ! Look there ! Count Palfi has an empty
glafs before him !
runner, (comes)
The great fervice-cup is wanted, fir ; that rich
gold cup with the Bohemian arms on it. The
Count fays you know which it is,.
MASTER OF THE CELLAR,
Ay ! that was made for Frederick's coronation
by the artifl William-— there was not fuch another
prize in the whole booty at Prague.
RUNNER.
The fame ! — a health is to go round in him.
master of the cellar, (Jkaking his head
while he fetches and rinfes the cup.)
This "will be fomething for the tale bearers — -
this goes to Vienna.
NEUMANN.
Permit me to look at it. — Well, this is a cup
s indeed ! How heavy ! as well it may be, being all
gold.— And what neat things are embofs'd on it !
how natural and elegant they look ! — There, on
.that foil quarter, let me fee. That proud Amazon
there on horfeback, fhe that is taking a leap over
the croiier and mitres, and carries on. a wand a hat
together with a banner, on which there's a goblet
repre-
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 107
reprefented. Can you tell ii\e what all this fig-
nifies ?
MASTER OF THE CELLAR.
The woman whom you fee there on horfeback,
is the Free Election of the Bohemian Crown,
That is fignified by the round hat, and by that fiery
fteed on which (he is riding. The hat is the pride
of man; for he who cannot keep his hat on before
J^ings and emperors is no free man.
NEUMANN.
But what is the cup there on the banner ?
MASTER OF THE CELLAR.
TJie cup fignifies the freedom of the Bohemian
Church, as it was in our forefathers' times. Our
forefathers in the wars of the Huffites forced from
the Pope this noble privilege; for the Pope, you
know, will not grant the cup to any layman.
Your true Moravian values nothing beyond the
cup ; it is his coftly jewel, and has coft the Bohe-
mians their precious blood in many and many a
battle.
NEUMANN.
And what fays that chart that hangs in the air
there, over it all ?
MASTER OF THE CELLAR.
That fignifies the Bohemian letter roya!, whicln
we forced from the Emperor Rudolph— a precious,
never to be enough valued parchment, that fecures
to the new Church the old privileges of free ring,
xng and open pfalmocfy. But fince he of Steier-
3 mark
108 THE PICCOLOMINr, OR THE
mark lias ruled over us, that is at an end ; and
after the battle at Prague, in which Count Pala-
tine Frederic loft crown and empire, our faith
hangs upon the pulpit and the altar — and our
brethren look at their homes over their fhoutders ;
but the letter royal the Emperor himfelf cut to
pieces with his fciffars.
NEUMANN.
Why, my good Mafter of the Cellar I you are
deep read in the chronicles of your country !
MASTER OF THE CELLAR.
So were my forefathers, and for that reafon
were they minftrels, and ferved under Procopius
anji Ziika. Peace be with their afjies J Well, well 1
they fought for a good caufe tho' — There 1 carry-
it up [
NEUMANN.
Stay ! let me but look at this fecond quarter.
Look there ! That is, when at Prague Caftle the
Imperial Counfellors, Martinitz and Stawata were
hurt'd down head over heels. ' 'Tis even fo ! there
ftands Count Thur who commands it.
{Runner takes the fervice-ctcp and goes off' with it.)
MASTER OF THE CELLAR.
O let me never more hear of that day. It was
the three and twentieth of May, in the year of
our Lord one thoufand, fix hundred, and eighteen.
It feems to me as it were but yefterday-— from that
unlucky day it all began, all the heart-aches of
the country. Since that day it is now fixteen
years, and there has never once been peace on the
earth.
(Ilealty
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 109
(Health drank aloud at thefecond table.)
The Prince of Weimar ! Hurra !
(At the third and fourth table.)
Long live Prince William •' Long live Duke
Bernard ! Hurra '
( Mufic fir ikes up.)
FIRST SERVANT.
Hear'em • Hear'em ! What an uproaT !
second servant, (comes in running.)
Did you hear ? They have drank the Prince of
Weimar's health.
THIRD SERVANT.
The Swedifli Chief Commander !
first servant, (/peaking at the fame lime.)
The Lutheran !
SECOND SERVANT.
Juft before, when Count Deodate gave out the
Emperor's health, they were all as mum as a
nibbling moufe.
-#•
MASTER OF THE CELLAR.
Po, po ! When the wine goes in, ftrange thing's
come out. A good fervant hears, and hears not ! —
You mould be nothing but eyes and feet, except
when you're called to.
SECOND SERVANT.
(To the Runner, to whom he gives /ecretly a
fia/k of wii&L keeping his eye on the Mafier
of the Cellar, fianding between him and the
Runner. )
Quick, Thomas' before the Matter of the
Cellar
1IQ THE PlCCOLÖMlKl, OR THE
Cellar looks this way— 'tis a fk'/k of Frontignac f
— Snapp'd it up at the third table — Canft go off
with it ?
runner, (hides it in liis pocket.)
All right I
[Exit, the Second Servant.
third servant, (q/ide, to theßrß.)
Be on the hark,, Jack \ that we may have right
plenty to tell to father Quivoga — He will give
us right plenty of absolution in return for it.
FIRST SERVANT.
For that very purpofe I am always having Some-
thing to do behind Illo's chair. — He is the man
for fpeeches to make you flare with !
Master of the cellar, {to Neumann.)
Who, pray, may that fwarthy man be, he with
the crofs, that is chatting fo confidentially with
Efterhats ?
NEUMANN.
Ay ! he too is one of thofe to whom they con-
fi4e too much. He calls himfelf Maradas, a
Spaniard is he.
master of the cellar, {impatiently.)
Spaniard \ Spaniard ! — I tell you, friend ;
nothing good comes of thofe Spaniards. All thefe
outlandilh * fellows are little better than rogues.
* There is a humour in the original which cannot be -given
in the traiiflation. " Die tvelfchen alle," Sec. which word in
claffical German means the Italians alone ; but in its firfl: fenfe,
and at ptfefen? in the 'vulgar ufe of the word, fignifies foreigners
in general. Our word wall-nuts, I fuppofe, means outlandifh
jWjtS— «Wallse nue«s, in German " Welfch-nüfle." T.
NEUMANN.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. Ill
XEUMAXN.
Fy, fy •' you mould not fay To, friend. There
are among them our very beft generals, and thofe
on whom the Duke at this iriöment relies the moft.
AlA&TER OF THE CELLAR.
[Taking the ßafk out of the Runner's pocket.)
My fon, it will be broken to pieces in your
pocket.
( Tertfky hurries in, fetches away the paper,
and calls to a fervant for pen and ink, and
goes to the back of 'the fi age.)
master of the cellar, {to the fervants.)
The Lieutenant-General Hands up. — Be on the
watch. — Now ! They break up.- — Off, and move
back the forms !
{They rife at all the tables, the fervants hurry
off the front of the ß age to the tables ; part
' of the guefis come forward.)
SCENE
112 THE PICCOLO-MINI," OK THE
:vs.ce^e xiii.
.-. ,: /- v&i Jcrt I:
(Octavio Pic^c_OLpMi^i: enters in converfa-
tion with Mar-ad as, find both place them-
felves quite on the edgf of the fiage on one
fide of the profcenium. On the fide directly
oppofite, Max. Picgolomini, by himfelf,
lofi in thought, and taking no part in any
thing that is going forward. The middle
fpace between both, but rather more difiant
from the edge of the fiage, is filled up by
Butler, Isolani, Goetz, Tiefen-
bach, and Kolatto.)
isolani. {while the company is coming forward!)
Good night, good night, Kolatto ! Good night,
Lieutenant-General ! — I fhould rather fay, good
morning.
goetz. {to TiefenbachJ)
Noble brother ! {making the ufual compliment
after meals.)
TIEFENBACH.
Ay I 'twas a royal feaft indeed.
GOETZ.
Yes, my Lady Countefs underftands thefe mat-
ters. Her mother-in-law, heaven reft her foul,-
taught her ! — Ah ! that was a houfewife for you !
tiefenbach.
There was not her like in all Bohemia for fet ting
out a table.
octavio. {afide to Maradas.)
Do me the favour to talk to me — talk of what
you
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 113
you will — or of nothing. Only preferve the ap-
pearance at leaft of talking. I would not wifh to
(land by myfelf, and yet I conjecture that there
will be goings on here worthy of our attentive
obfervation. {He continues to fix his eye on the
whole following fcene.)
isoLANi. [on the point of gomg.)
Lights ! lights !
tertsky. ( advances with the paper to Ifolani. )
Noble brother ! two minutes longer ! — Here is
fomething to fubfcribe.
ISOLANI.
Subfcribe as much as you like — but you muft
excufe me from reading it.
TERTSKY.
There is no need. It is the oath which you
have already read. — Only a few marks of your
pen ! {Ifolani hands over the paper to Octavio,
refpectfully . )
TEKTSKY.
Nay, nay, firfl come firft ferved. There is no
precedence here. {Octavio runs over the paper
with apparent indifference. Tertflcy watches him
atfome dißance.)
goetz. {to Tert/ky.)
Noble Count ! with your permiffion — Good
night.
tertsky.
Where's the hurry ? Come, one other compofing
draught, {to the ferv ants) — Ho !
i goetz.
1I4> THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
GOETZ.
Excufe fne — an't able.
TERTSKY.
A thimble-full !
GOETZ.
Excufe me.
TIEFENBACH. (fits doWU.)
Pardon me, nobles ! — This Handing does not
agree with me.
TERTSKY.
Confult only your own convenience, General !
TIEFENBACH.
Clear at head, found in ftomach — only my legs
won't carry me any longer.
i sol an i. (pointing at his corpulence.^
Poor legs ' how Jhould they ? Such an unmer-
ciful load'-' {Octavio fubfcribes his name, and
reaches over the paper to Tertßcy, who gives 'it
to Ifolam'i and he goes to the table to fign his
name.)
TIEFENBACH.
'Twas that war in Pomerania that firft brought
it on. Out in all weathers — ice and fnow — no help
for it. — I (hall never get the better of it all the
days of my life.
GOETZ.
Why, in fimple verity, your Swede makes no
nice enquiries about the feafon.
TERTSKY. (obferving Ifolani, whofe hand trem-
bles excejfively, fo that he canfcarce direct his
pen.) Have you had that ugly complaint
long, noble brother ? — Difpatch it.
ISO LAN*.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 115
ISOLANI.
The fins of youth •' I have already tried the
Chalybeate waters. Well — I muft bear it.
{Tertfky gives the paper to Maradas; he fieps to
the table to fubfcribe.)
octavio. (advancing to Butler.)
You are not over fond of the orgies of Bacchus,
Colonel ! I have obferved it. You would, I
think, find yourfeif more to your liking in the
uproar of a battle, than of a feaft.
BUTLER.
I muft confefs, 'tis not in my way.
octavio. (fiepping nearer to him friendlily .)
Nor in mine either, I can allure you ; and I am
not a little glad, my much honoured Colonel
Butler, that we agree fo well in our opinions. A
half dozen good friends at mod, at a fmall round
table, a glafs of genuine Tokay, open hearts, and
a rational converfation — that's my tafte !
BUTLER.
And mine too, when it can be had. (The
paper, comes to Tiefenbach, xoho glances over it
at the fame time with Goetz and Kolatto. Mara-
das in the mean time returns to Octavio, all this
takes place, the converfation with Butler proceed-
ing uninterrupted.)
octavio. (introducing Maradas to Butler.)
Don Balthafar Maradas ! likewife a man of our
ftamp, and long ago your admirer. (Butler
bozus)
I 2 OCTAVI0,
116 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
o c t A v i o . (continuing.')
You are a ftranger here — 'twas but yefterday
you arrived j — you are ignorant of the ways and
means here. 'Tis a wretched place — I know, at
our age, one loves to be fnug and quiet — What
if you moved your lodgings ? — Come, be my
vifitor. {Butler makes a low bow.) Nay, with-
out compliment ! — For a friend like you, I have
flill a corner remaining.
butler, {coldly.)
Your obliged humble fervant, my Lord Lieu-
tenant-General ! {The paper comes to Butler,
ztho goes to the table to fubfcribe it. The front
of the fiage is vacant, fo that both the Piccolo-
minis, each on the fide where he had been from
the commencement of the fcene, remain alone.
octavio. {After having fome time ivatched
his fon in filence, advances fomewhat nearer
to him.) You were long abfent from us, friend !
MAX.
I urgent bufinefs detained me.
OCTAVIO.
And, I obferve, you are flill abfent !
MAX.
You know this croud and buftle always makes
me lilent.
octavio. {advancing fill nearer. )
May I be permitted to afk what the bufinefs
was that detained you ? — Tertßy knows it without
alking !
AI ax.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 117
MAX.
What does Tertfky know ?
OCTAVIO.
He was the only one who did not mifs you.
isolani. (who has been attending to them from
Jörne dißance, fieps up.) Well done, father !
Rout out his baggage ! Beat up his quarters ! There
is fomething there that mould not be.
tertsky. (with the paper.)
Is there none wanting ? Have the whole fub-
fcribed ?
OCTAVIO.
All.
tertsky. (calling aloud.)
Ho ! Who fubfcribes ?
butler, (to TertJIcy.)
Count the names. There ought to be juft thirty.
tertsky.
Here is a crofs.
tiefenbach.
That's my mark.
isolani.
He cannot write ; but his crofs is a good crofs,
and is honoured by Jews as well as Chriftians.
octavio. (prejjes on to Max.)
Come, General ! let us go. It is late.
tertsky.
One Piccolomini only has figned.
isolani. fpoin ting to Max. )
Look ! that is your man, that flatue there, who
i 3 has
113 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
has had neither eye, ear, nor tongue for us the
whole evening. (Max. receives the paper from
Tertßy, which he looks upon vacantly.)
SCENE XIV.
(To thefe enter Illo from the inner room. He
has in his hand the golden fervice-cupi and is
extremely diflempered zvith drinking : Goetz
and Butler fo How him, endeavouring to keep
him back.)
illo.
What do you want ? Let me go.
goetz and butler.
Drink no more, Illo ! For heav'n's fake, drink
no more.
illo. (goes up to Octavio, and fliakes him cor-
dially 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 never loved me — Devil take
me ! — and I never loved you ! — I am always
even with people in that way ! — Let what's
paft be paft — that is, you underftand — forgotten!
, I efteem you infinitely, [embracing him re-
peatedly.) You have not a dearer friend on earth
than I — but that you know. The fellow that cries
rogue to you calls me villain — and I'll ftrangle
him ! — my dear friend J
tertsky.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 119
tertsky. (whifpering to him.)
Art in thy fenfes ? For heaven's fake, Illo -
think where you, are.
illo. {aloud.)
What do you mean? — There are none but friends
here, are there ? [looks round the whole circle
'with a jolly and triumphant air.) Not a meeker
among us, thank heaven •
tertsky. [to Butler, eagerly.)
Take him off with you, force him off, I entreat
you, Butler!
BUTLER. (to Illo.)
Field Marfhal ! a word with you. (leads him
to the fide-board.)
illo. (cordially.)
A thoufand for one? Fill — Fill it once more
up to the brim. — To this gallant man's health !
isolani. (to Max. who all the zvhile has been
flaring on the paper with fixed but vacant eyes.)
Slow and fure, my noble brother ! — Haft parfed
it all yet ?— Some .words yet to go thro' ? — Ha?— >
max. (xvakuig as from a dream.)
What am I to do ?
tertsky, and at the fame time isolani.
Sign your name. (Octavio directs his eyes on
him with intenfe anxiety.)
max. (returns the paper.)
Let it ftay till to-morrow. It is bufinefs—
to-day I am not fufficiently colle&ed. Send it to
me to-morrow.
i 4 tertsky.
120 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
TERTSKY.
Nay, colled yourfelf a little.
ISOLANI.
Awake, man ! awake ! — Come, thy fignature,
and have done with it ! What ? Thou art the
youngeft in the whole company, and wouldeft be
wifer than all of us together ? Look there ! thy
father has figned — we have all figned.
TERTSKY. (to Octaviff.)
life your influence. Inftruct him.
> OCTAVIO.
My fon is at the age of difcretion.
illo. (leaves the fervice-cnp on the fide-board.)
What's the difpute ?
TERTSKY.
He declines fubfcribing the paper.
MAX.
I fay, it may as well flay till to-morrow.
.ILLO.
It cannot flay. We have all fubfcribed to it — ■
and fo muft you. — You rnuft fubfcribe.
MAX.
Illo, good night !
ILLO.
No ! — You come not off fo ! The Duke mail
learn who are his friends, (all collect round Illo
and Max.)
MAX.
What my fentiments are towards the Duke, the
Duke knows, every one knows — what need of
this wild fluff?
ILLO.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 121
ILLO.
This is the thanks the Duke gets for his par-
tialty to Italians and foreigners. — Us Bohemians
he holds for little -better than dullards — nothing
pleafes him but what's outlandifh.
tertsk y. (in extreme embarrajjment> to the com* ■
manders, who at IlWs words gave a fudden ßarty
as preparing to refent them.) It is the wine that
fpeaks, and not his reafon. Attend not to him,
I entreat you.
i so lan i. {with a bitter laugh.)
Wine invents nothing ; it only tattles.
ILLO.
He who is not with me is againft me. Your
tender confciences ! Unlefs they can flip out by
a back-door, by a puny provifo
tertsky. {interrupting him.)
He is ftark mad — don't liften to him !
ILLO. (raifing his voice to' the higheß pitch.)
Unlefs they can flip out by a provifo. — What
of the provifo ? The devil take this provifo 1
max, (has his attention roufed, and looks again
into the paper.)
What is there here then of fuch perilous im-
port ? You make me curious — I mull look clofer
at it.
tertsky. (in a low voice to lib.)
- What are you doing, Ulo ? You are ruining us«
TIEFENBACH. (to KolattO.)
Ay, ay ! I obferved, that before we fat down
to fupper, it was read differently.
GOETZ
122 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
GOETZ.
Why, I Teemed to think fo too.
ISOLANI.
What do T care for that ? Where there Hand
other names, mine can ftand too.
TIEFENBACH.
Before fupper there zuas a certain provifo there-
in, or fhort claufe concerning our duties to the
Emperor.
butler, (to one of the commanders.)
For fhame, for fhame ! Bethink you. What
is the main bufinefs here ? The queftion now is,
whether we fhall keep our General, or let him
retire. One muft not take thefe things too nicely
and over-fcrupuloully.
isolani. (to one of the genera Is. )
Did the Duke make any of thefe provifoes
when he gave you your regiment ?
TERTSKY. (to GoetX.)
Or when he gave you the office of army-pur-
veyancer, which brings you in yearly a thoufand
piftoles !
ILLO.
He is a rafcal who makes us out to be rogues.
If there be any one that wants fatisfaclion, let
him fay fo. — I am his man.
TIEFENBACH.
Softly, foftly ! 'Tvvas but a word or two.
*
mas. {having read the paper gives it back-)
Till to-morrow therefore !
ILLO.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 123
ILLO. (flammering with rage and fury, lofes
all command over hhnfelf and prefents the paper
to Max. with one hand, and his /word in the
other.) Subfcribe — Judas !
ISOLANI.
Out upon you, Iilo !
octavio, tertsky, butler, (all together.)
Down with the fword !
max. (rujhes on him fuddenly and difarms him,
then to Count Tertjky.)
Take him off to bed.
(Max. leaves the fl age. Illo curfing and raving
is held back by fome of the officers, and amidfi
an univerfal confufion the curtain drops.
END OF ACT II.
ACT III
124 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
ACT III.
Scene a Chamber in PiccolominV s Manfion. — ■
It is Night.
SCENE I.
Octavio Piccolomini. A Valet de Chambre,
zvith Lights.
OCTAVIO.
NAnd when my fon 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 undrefs.
You may retire to fleep.
[Exit Valet. Octavio paces, mußng> acrofs the
chamber. Max. Piccolomini enters unob-
served, and looks at his father for fome mo-
ments infilence.
MAX.
Art thou offended with me ? Heav'n knows
That odious bufmefs was no fault of mine.
'Tis
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 125
'Tis true, indeed, I faw thy fignature.
What thou hadft fan&ion'd, fhould not, it might
feem,
Have come amifs to me. But — 'tis my nature —
Thou know'ft, that in fuch matters I mud follow
My own light, not another's.
oct avio. (goes up to him, and embraces him.)
Follow it,
O follow it ftill further, my beft fon !
To night, dear boy ! it hath more faithfully
Guided thee than th' example of thy father.
MAX.
Declare thyfelf lefs darkly.
OCTAVIO.
I will do fo.
For after what has taken place this night,
There muft remain no fecrets 'twixt us two.
(Both feat them/elves.)
Max. Piccolomini ! what think'ft thou of
The oath that was fent round for fignatures?
MAX.
I hold it for a thing of harmlefs import,
Altho' I love not thefe fet declarations.
OCTAVIO.
And on no other ground hadft thou refus'd
The fignature they fain had wrefted from thee ?
MAX.
It was a ferious bufinefs 1 was abfent —
The affair itfelf feem'd not fo urgent to me.
OCTAVIO.
Be open, Max. Thou hadft then no fufpicion ?
5 MAX,
126 THE PICCOLOMINI, O.R THE
■ v MAX.
Sufpicion ! what fufpicion ? Not the leaft. :.
OCTAVIO.
Thank thy good angel, Piccolomihi ;
He drew thee back unconfcious from the abyfs.
MAX.
I know not what thou meaneft.
OCTAVIO.
I will tell thee.
Fain would they have extorted from thee, fon,
The fanction of thy name to villainy;
Yea, with a fingle flouriih of thy pen,
Made thee renounce thy duty and thy honour !
max. (r if es J
Octavio !
OCTAVIO.
Patience !■— Seat yourfelf. Much yet
Haft thou to hear from me, friend ! — haft for years
Liv'd in incomprehenfible illufion.
Before thine eyes is Treafon drawing out
As black a web as e'er was fpun from venom :
A power of hell o'erclouds thy underftanding.
I dare no longer ftand in filence — dare
No longer fee thee wandering ©n in darknefs,
Nor pluck the bandage from thine eyes.
MAX.
My father !
Yet, ere thou fpeak'ft, a moment's paufe of thought!
If your difclofures mould appear to be
Conjectures only — and almoft Lfear
They
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 127
They will be nothing further — fpare them ! I
Am not in that collected mood at prefent,
That I could Üften to them quietly.
OCTAVIO.
The deeper caufe thou haft to hate this light,
The more impatient caufe have I, my fon,
To force it on thee. To the innocence
And wifdom of thy heart I could have trufted thee
With calm affurance — but I fee the net
Preparing — and it is thy heart itfelf
Alarms me for thine innocence — that fecret,
(fixing his eye fiedfafily on his fon s face)
Which thou concealeft, forces mine from me.
(Max. attempts to anfwer, but hefitates, and
- cafis his eyes to the ground embarrafed.)
octavio. (after a paufej '
Know, then, they are duping thee ! — a mofl foul
game
With thee and with us all — nay, hear me calmly — '
The Duke even now is playing. He aflumes
The maik, as .if he would forfake the army;
And in this moment makes he preparations
That army from the Emperor — to ßeal,
And carry it over to the enemy !
MAX.
That low Prieil's legend I know well, but did not
Expect to hear it from thy mouth.
OCTAVIO.
That mouth,
From which thou hear'fl it at this prefent moment,
Doth warrant thee that it is no Prieft's legend.
4 MAX.
128 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
MAX.
How mere a maniac they fuppofe the Duke !
What, he can meditate? — the Duke? — can dream
That he can lure away full thirty thoufand
Tried troops and true, all honourable foldiers,
More than a thoufand noblemen among them,
From oaths, from duty, from their honour lure
them,
And make them all unanimous to do
A deed that brands them fcoundrels ?
OCTAVIO.
Such a deed,
With fuch a front of infamy, the Duke
No ways defires — what he requires of us
Bears a far gentler appellation. Nothing
He wifhes, but to give the Empire peace.
And fo, becaufe 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 \
MAX.
Has he, Octavio, merited of us,
That we — that we ihould think fo vilely of him?
OCTAVIO.
What we would think is not the queftion here.
The affair ipeaks for itfelf — and cleared proofs I
Hear me, my Ion — 'tis not unknown to thee,
In what ill credit with the Court we ftand.
But little doft thou know, or guefs, what tricks,
What
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 129
What bafe intrigues, what lying artifices,
Have been employ'd — for this fole end — to fow
Mutiny in the camp ! All bands are loos'd —
Loos'd all the bands, that link the officer
To his liege Emperor, all that bind the foldier
Affectionately to the citizen.
Lawlefs he ftands, and threat'ningly beleaguers
The flate he's bound to guard. To fuch a height
'Tis fwoln, that at this hour the Emperor
Before his armies — his own armies — trembles 3
Yea, in his capital, his palace, fears
The traitors' poniards, and is meditating
To hurry off and hide his tender offspring
Not from the Swedes, not from the Lutherans —
No ! from his own troops hide and hurry them !
MAX.
Ceafe, ceafe ! thou tortur'ft, (hatter'ft me. I know
That oft we tremble at an empty terror;
But the falfe phantafm brings a real mifery.
OCTAVIO.
It is no phantafm. An interline war,
Of all the moft unnatural and cruel,
Will burft out into flames, if inftantly
We do not fly and flifle it. The Generals
Are many of them long ago won over;
The fubalterns are vacillating — whole
Regiments and garrifons are vacillating.
To foreigners our ftrong holds are entrufted ;
To that fufpcdled Schafgotch is the whole
Force of Silefia given up;, to Tertlky
k Five
i 30 THE PftCOLOMINI, OR THE
Five regiments, foot and horfe — to Ifolani,
To Illo, Kiniky, Butler, the beft troops.
MAX.
Likewife to b0th of us.
OCTAVIO.
Becaufe the Duke
Believes he has fecur'd us — means to lure us
Still further on by fplendid promifes.
To me he portions forth the princedoms, Glatz-
And Sagan ; and too plain I fee the angel
With which he doubts not to catch thee.
MAX.
No ! no !
I tell thee- — no !
OCTAVIO.
O open yet thine eyes !
And to what purpofe think'ft thou he has call'd us
Hither to Pillen ? — To avail himfelf
Of our advice?— O when did Friedland ever
Need our advice ? — Be calm, and liilen to me.
To fell ourfelves are we call'd hither, and
Decline we that — to be his hoftages.
Therefore doth noble Galas ftand aloof;
Thy father, too, thou would'ft not have feen here,
If higher duties had not held him fetter'd.
MAX.
He makes no fecret of it — needs make none —
That we're call'd hither for his fake — he owns it.
He needs our aidance to maintain himfelf —
He did fo much for us ; and 'tis but fair
That we too fhould do fomewhat now for him.
OCTAVIO.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTElN". IS I
OCTAVIO.
And know'ft thou what it is which we müft do?
That Illo's drunken mood betray'd it to thee.
Bethink thyfelf— what haft thou heard, what feen?
The counterfeited paper — the omiffion
Of that particular claufe, fo full of meaning,
Does it not prove, that they would bind us down
To nothing good ?
MAX.
That counterfeited paper
Appears to me no other than a trick
Of Illo's own device. Thefe underhand
Traders in great mens' interefts ever ufe
To urge and hurry all things to the extreme.
They fee the Duke at variance with the Courtj
And fondly think to ferve him, when they widen
The breach irreparably. Truft me, father,
TJie Duke knows nothing of all this.
OCTAVIO.
It grieves me
That I muft dafh to earth, that I muft (hatter
A faith fo fpecious; but I may not fpare thee !
For this is not a time for tendernefs.
Thou muft take meafures, fpeedy ones — muft ad.
I therefore will confefs to thee, that all
Which I've entrufted to thee now — that all
Which feems to thee fo unbelievable,
That—yes, I will tell thee— fa paufeJ—Mz*. I I
had it all
From his own mouth — from the Duke's mouth I
had it.
K 2 MAX.
132 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
max. (in exceffive agitation J
No ! — no ! — never !
OCTAVIO.
Himfelf confided to me
What I, 'tis true, had long before difcover'd
By other means — himfelf confided to me,
That 'twas his fettled plan to join the Swedes ;
And, at the head of the united armies,
Compel the Emperor
MAX.
He is paflionate.
The Court has flung him — he is fore all over
With injuries and affronts; and in a moment
Of irritation, what if he, for once,
Forgot himfelf ? He's an impetuous man.
OCTAVIO.
Nay, in cold blood he did confefs this to me ;
And having conftrued my aftonifhment
Into a fcruple of his power, he fliew'd me
His written evidences — fliew'd me letters,
Both from the Saxon and the Swede, that gave
Promife of aidance, and defin'd th' amount.
MAX.
It cannot be ! — can not be ! — can not be !
Dofl thou not fee, it cannot !
Thou would eft of neceffity have (hewn him
Such horror, fuch deep loathing — that or he
Had tak'n thee for his better genius, or
Thou ftood'ft not now a living man before me-
OCTAVIO.
I have laid open my objections to him,
Ditfuaded him with prefiing earneftnefsj
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 133
But my abhorrence, the full fentiment
Of my whole heart — that I have ftill kept facred
To my own confcioufnefs.
MAX.
And thou haft been
So treacherous ? That looks not like my father !
I trufted not thy words, when thou didft tell me
Evil of him; much lefs can I now do it,
That thou calumniatell thy own felf.
OCTAVIO.
I did not thruft myfelf into his fecrefy.
MAX.
Uprightnefs merited his confidence.
OCTAVIO.
He was no longer worthy of fincerity.
MAX.
Diffimulatton, fure, was ftill lefs worthy
Of thee, Oftavio !
OCTAVIO.
Gave I him a caufe
To entertain a fcruple of my honour ?
MAX.
That he did not, evinc'd his confidence.
OCTAVIO.
Dear fon, it is not always poffible
Still to preferve that infant purity
Which the voice teaches in our inmoft heart.
Still in alarm, for ever on the watch
Againft the wiles of wicked men, e'en Virtue
Will fometimes bear away her outward robes
Soil'd in the wreftle with Iniquity.
k 3 This
134 THE PICCOLOMINi, OR THE
This is the curfe of every evil deed,
That, propagating ftiil,-it brings forth evil.
J do not cheat my better foul with fophifms:
I but perform my orders; the Emperor
Prefcribes my conduct to me. Deareft boy,
Far better were it, doubtlefs, if we ail
Obey'd the heart at all times; but fo doing,
In this our prefent fojourn with bad men,
We muft abandon many an honeft object.
'Tis now our call to ferve the Emperor,
By what means he can belt be ferv'd — the heart
May whifper what it will — this is our call !
MAX.
It feems a thing appointed, that to-day
I mould not comprehend, not understand thee.
The Duke, thou fay 'ft, did honeftly pour out
His heart to the$ but for an evil purpofe;
And thou difhoneffiy hail cheated him
For a good purpofe ! Silence, I entreat thee —
My friend thou ftealeft not from me-~
Let me not lofe my father 1
octavio. (fupprejfing reftntment)
As yet thou know'ft not all, my fon. I have
Yet fomewhat to difclofe to thee.
(After a paufe)
Duke Friedland
Hath made his preparations. He relies
Upon his ftars. He deems us unprovided,
And thinks to fail upon us by furprize.
Yea, in his dream of hope, he grafps already
The golden circle in his hand. He errs.
4 We
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 135
We too have been in adHon- — he but grafps
His evil fate, moft evil, moft myfterious !
MAX.
O nothing rafh, my tire ! By all that's good
Let me invoke thee — no precipitation !
OCTAVIO.
With light tread ftole he on his evil way,
And" light of tread hath Vengeance ftole on after
him.
Unfeen fhe ftands already, dark behind him —
But one ftep more — he (hudders in her grafp !
— Thou haft feen Queftenberg with me. As yet
Thou know'ft but his oftenfible commimon —
He brought with him a private one, my fon !
And that was for me only.
max. -
May I know it ?
qctavio. ( feizes the patent.)
Maxl
(A panfe.)
-In this difclofure place I in thy hands
The Empire's welfare and thy father's life.
Dear to thy inmoft heart is Wallenftein:
A powerful tie of love, of veneration,
Hath knit thee to him from thy earlieft youth.
Thou riourifheft the wijh — O let me ftill
Anticipate thy loitering confidence !
The hope thou nourifheft to knit thyfelf
Yet clofer to him--r^—
K 4 MAX.
136 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
MAX.
Father-
OCTAVIO.
O my Ton !
I truft thy heart undoubtingly. But am I
Equally fure of thy collectednefs ?
Wilt thou be able, with calm countenance,
To enter this man's prefence, when that I
Have trufted to thee his whole fate ?
MAX.
According
As thou doft truft me, father, with his crime.
(Octavio takes a paper out of his efcrutoire,
and gives it to him.)
MAX.
What ? how M* a full Imperial patent !
OCTAVIO.
Read it.
max. (jufl glances on it)
Duke Friedland fentenc'd and condemn'd \
OCTAVIO.
Even fo.
max. (throws down the paper)
O this is too much ! — O unhappy error !
OCTAVIO.
Read on. Collefl thyfelf.
max. (after he has read further ■, with a look
of affright and afionifhment on his father)
. How ! — what ! — Thou ! — thou !
OCTAVIO.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 137
OCTAVIO.
But for the prefent moment, till the King
Of Hungary may fafely join the army,
Is the command aflign'd to me.
MAX.
And think' ft thou,
Doft thou believe, that thou wilt tear it from him?
O never hope it' — Father! father' father!
An inaufpicious office is.enjoin'd thee.
This paper here — this ! and wilt thou enforce it?
The mighty, in the middle of his hoft,
Surrounded by his thoufands, him would'ft thou
Difarm — degrade ! Thou art loft, both thou and
all of us.
OCTAVIO.
What hazard I incur thereby, I know.
In the great hand of God I ftand. The Almighty
Will cover with his (hield the Imperial houfe,
And matter, in his wrath, the work of darknefs.
The Emperor hath true fervants ftill; and, even
Here in the camp, there are enough brave men,
Who for the good caufe will fight gallantly.
The faithful have been warn'd — the dangerous
Are clofely watch'd. I wait but the firft ftep,
And then immediately--
Immediately
MAX.
What ! on fufpicion ?
OCTAVIO.
The Emperor is no tyrant.
The deed alone he'll punifli, not the wifli.
The
138 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
The Duke hath yet his deftiny in his power.
Let him but leave the treafqn uncompleted,
He will be filently difplac'd from office,
And make way to his Emperor's royal Ton.
An honourable exile to his caftles
Will be a benefaction to him rather
Than punifliment. But the firft open ftep-^
MAX.
What call'ft thou Tuch a ftep ? A wicked fiep
Ne'er will he takej but thou might 'ft cülü\}\
Yea, thou haft done it, mifinterpret him.
octavio.
Nay, howfoever punifhable were
Duke Friedland's purpofes, yet ftill the fteps
Which he hath taken openly, permit
A mild conftru&ion. It is my intention
To leave this paper wholly uninforc'd
Till fome ad is committed which convicts him
Of an high-treafon, without doubt or plea.,
And that mal] fentence him.
MAX.
But who the judge ?
OCTAVIO.
Thyfelf.
MAX.
Forever, then, this paper will lie idle.
OCTAVIO.
Too foon, I fear, its powers mud all be prov'd.
After the counter-promife of this evening,
It cannot be but he muft deem himfelf
Secure
FIRST FART OF WALLENSTEIN. 13£
Secure of the majority with us;
And of the army's general fentiment
He hath ä pleafing proof in that petition
Which thou deliver' ft to him from the regiments.
Add this to© — I have letters that the Rhinegrave
Hath chang'd his route, and travels by forced
marches
To the Bohemian Foreft. What this purports,
Remains unknown; and, to confirm fufpicion,
This night a Swedifh nobleman arriv'd here.
MAX.
I have thy word. Thou'lt not proceed to action
Before thou haft convinc'd me — me myfelf.
OCTAVIO.
Is it poffible ? Still, after all thou know'ft,
Canft thou believe {till in his innocence?
max. (with enthußafm)
Thy judgment may miftake: my heart can not.
(moderates his voice and manner)
Thefe reafons might expound thy fpirit or mine ;
But they expound not Friedland— -I have faith :
For as he knits his fortunes to the ftars,
Even fo doth he referable them in fecret,
Wonderful, ftill inexplicable courfes !
Trull me, they do him wrong. All will be folv'd.
Thefe fmok-es., at once, will kindle into flame —
The edges of this black and ftormy cloud
Will brighten fuddenly, and we mall view
The Unapproachable glide out in fplendour.
OCTAVIO.
I will await i^,
SCENE
140 THE PICCOlÖMINI, OR THE
SCENE II.
Octavio and Max. as before. To them the
Valet of the Chamber.
OCTAVIO.
How now, then ?
VALET.
A difpatch is at the door.
OCTAVIO.
So early ? From whom comes he then ? Who is it-?
VALET.
That he refus'd to tell me.
OCTAVIO.
Lead him in :
And, hark you — let it not tranfpire.
[Exit Valet — the Cornet fleps in.
OCTAVIO.
Ha! Cornet — is it you? and from Count Galas ?
Give me your letters.
CORNET.
The Lieutenant-general
Trufted it not to letters.
OCTAVIO.
And what is it ?
CORNET.
He bade me tell you — Dare I fpeak openly here ?
OCTAVIO.
My fon knows all.
CORNET.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 141
CORNET.
We have him.
OCTAVIO.
Whom?
CORNET.
Sejina,
The old negociator,
octavio. (eagerly)
And you have him ?
cornet.
In the Bohemian Foreft Captain Mohrbrand
Found and fecur'd him yefter morning early:
He was proceeding then to Regenfpurg,
And on him were difpatches for the Swede.
OCTAVIO.
And the difpatches
cornet.
The Lieutenant-general
Sent them that inftant to Vienna, and
The prifoner with them.
OCTAVIO.
This is, indeed, a tiding!
That fellow is a precious cafket to us,
Enclofing weighty things. — Was much found on
him?
CORNET.
I^think, fix packets, with Count Tertiky's arms.
OCTAVIO.
None in the Duke's own hand ?
C CORNET.
142 THE PICCOLOMIN1, OR THE
CORNET.
Not that I know.
OCTAVIO.
And oldSefina?
CORNET.
He was forely frighten 'd,
When it was told him he muft to Vienna.
But the Count Altringer bade him take heart,
Would he but make a full and free confeffion.
OCTAVIO.
Is Altringer then with your Lord ? I heard
That he lay fick at Linz.
CORNET.
Thefe three days pafl
He's with my mafter, the Lieutenant-general,
At Frauemburg. Already have they fixty
Small companies together, chofen men:
Refpectfully they greet you with aflurances,
That they are only waiting your commands.
OCTAVIO.
In a few days may great events take place.
And when muft you return ?
CORNET.
I wait your orders.
OCTAVIO.
Remain till evening.
(Comet fignifies his affent and obeifance, and is
going.)
OCTAVIO.
No one faw you — ha ?
CORNET.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 145
CÖRftEf.
No living creature. Thro' the cloifter wicket
The Capuchins, as ufual, let me in.
OCTAVTÖ.
Go, reft your limbs, and keep yoürfelf cOnceal*d.
I hold it probable, that yet ere evening
I mall dilpatch you. The developement
Of this affair approaches : ere the day,
That even now is dawning in the heaven,
Ere this eventful day hath fet, the lot
That muft decide our fortunes will be drawn.
[Exit Cornet.
SCENE III.
Octavio and Max. Piccolomi ni.
octavio.
Well — and what now, fon ? All will foon be clear ;
For all, I'm certain, went thro' that Sefina.
MAX.
{Who through the whole of the foregoing fcene
has been in a violent and vifible flruggle of
feelings ; at length fiarts as ont refolved)
I will procure me light a fliorter way.
JFarewell.
OCTAVIO.
Where now ? — Remain here.
MAX.
To the Duke.
OCTAVIO.
144» THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
octavio. (alarmed)
What
max. (returning)
If thou haft believ'd that I (hall ad
A part in this thy play
Thou haft mifcalculated on me grievoufly.
My way rauft be ftraight on. True with the tongue,
Falfe with the heart — I may not, cannot be ;
Nor can I fufTer that a man mould truft me —
As his friend truft me — and then lull my confcience
With fuch low pleas as thefe : — " I afk'd him not —
He did it all at his own hazard — and
My mouth has never lied to him." — No, no !
What a friend takes me for, that I muft be.
— I'll to the Duke j ere yet this day is ended
Will I demand of him that he do fave
His good name from the world, and with one ftride
Break through and rend this fine-fpun web of
your's.
He can, he will! — / ftill am his believer.
Yet I'll not pledge myfelf, but that thofe letters
May furnifh you, perchance, with proofs againft
him.
How far may not this Tertiky have proceeded —
What may not he himfelf too have permitted
jrjimfelf to do, to fnare the enemy,
The laws of war excufing ? Nothing, fave
His own mouth fhall convict him — nothing lefs 1
And face to face will I go queftion. him.
OCTAVIO.
Thou wilt ?
MAX.
F7ÄST PART OF WALLENSTEI&. 145
mAx.
I will, as fure as this heart beats.
OCTAVIO.
I have, indeed, mifcalcüläted on thee.
I calculated on a prudent fon,
Who would have bleft the hand beneficent
That pluck'd him back from the abyfs— and lo !
A fafcinated being I difcovef,
Whom his two eyes befool, whom paflion wilders,
Whom not the broadeft light of noon can heal.
Go, queftion hirii !- — Be mad enough, I pray thee.
The purpofe of thy father, of thy Emperor,
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 fecret purpofe even to this hour,
And laid to fleep Sufpicion's piercing eyes,
Let me have liv'd to fee that mine own fon,
With frantic enterprife, annihilates
My toilfome labours and ftate-pplicy.
max.
Aye — this ftate-policy f O how I curfe it !
"You will fome time, with your ftate-policy,
Compel him to the meafure : it may happen,
'Becaufe ye are determined that he is guilty,
Guilty ye'll make him. All retreat cut off,
You clofe up every outlet, hem him in
Narrower and narrower, till at length ye force him —
Yes, ye, — ye force him, in his defperation,
To fet fire to his prifon. — Father! father!
That never can end well — it cannot — will not !
l And
146 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
And let it be decided as it may,
I fee with boding heart the near approach
Of an ill-ftarr'd, unbleft cataftrophe.
For this great Monarch-fpirit, if he fall,
Will drag a world into the ruin with him.
And as a fhip (that midway on the ocean
Takes fire) at once, and with a thunder-burft
Explodes, and with itfelf (hoots out its crew
In fmoke and ruin betwixt fea and heaven j
So will he, falling, draw down in his fall
All us, who're fix'd and mortic'd to his fortune.
Deem of it what thou wilt ; but pardon me,
That 1 muft bear me on in my own way.
All muft remain pure betwixt him and me;
And, ere the day light dawns, it muft; be known
Which I muft lofe — my father, or my friend.
{During his exit the curtain drops.)
£ND 0P act in.
ACT
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 147
ACT IV.
Scene a Room fitted up for afirological Labours,
and. provided with celeßial Charts, with Globes,
Tele/copes, Quadrants, and other mathematical
• Infiruments. — Seven Coloffal Figures, ?*epre-
fenting the Planets, each with a tranf parent
Star of a different Colour on its Head, fand
in a Semi- circle in the Back-ground, fo that
Mars and Saturn are neareß the Eye.— The
Remainder of the Scene, and its Difpofition, is
given in the Fourth Scene of the Second Act. —
There muß be a Curtain over the Figures,
which may be dropped, and conceal them on
Occafions. "
[I?i the Fifth Scene of this Act it muß be dropped-,
but, in the Seventh Scene, it muß be again .
drawn up wholly or in part. \
SCENE I.
'allenstein fl/ a black Table, on which a
Speculum Aßrologicum is defcribed with Chalk.
Seni is taking Obfervations through a Window.
WALLENSTEIN.
idl well — and now let it be ended, Seni. — Come,
[fhe dawn commences, and Mars rules the hour.
l 2 • We
148 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
We mud give o'er the operation. Come,
We know enough.
SENI.
Your Highnefs muft permit me
Juft to contemplate Venus. She's now rifing:
Like as a fun, fo (hines me in the eaft.
.WALLENSTEIN.
She is at prefent in her perigee,
And moots down now her ftrongeft influences.
(Contemplating the figure on the table.)
Aufpicious afped: ! fateful in conjunction,
At length the mighty three corradiatej
And the two ftars of blefling, Jupiter
And Venus, take between them the malignant
Slily-malicious Mars, and thus compel
Into my fervice that old mifchief-founder :
For long he view'd me hoftilely, and ever
With beam oblique» or perpendicular,
Now in the Quartile, now in the Secundan,
Shot his red lightnings at my ftars, difturbing
Their blefled influences and fweet afpe&s.
Now they have conquer'd the old enemy,
And bring him in the heavens a prifoner to me.
seni. [u)ho has come down from the window)
And in a corner houfe, your Highnefs — 4hink
that !
That makes each influence of double ftrength.
-,
WALLENSTEIN.
And fun and moon, too, in the Sextile afpect,
The foft light with the veh'ment — ib. I lqve it.
• Sot
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 14#
Sol is the hearty 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, powerlefs, in cadente Domo.
WALLENSTEIN.
The empire of Saturnus is gone by:
Lord of the fecret birth of things is he;
Within the lap of earth, and in the depths
Of the imagination dominates ;
And his are all things that efchew the light.
The time is o'er of brooding and contrivance ;
For Jupiter, the luftrous, lordeth now,
And the dark work, complete of preparation,
He draws by force into the realm of light.
Now muft we haften on to action, ere
The fcheme, and moft aufpicious poiiture
Parts o'er my head, and takes once more its flight ;
For the heavens journey Hill, and fojourn not.
( There are knocks at the door)
There's fome one knocking there. See who it is.
tertsky. (from without)
Open, and let me in.
WALLENSTEIN.
Aye — 'tis Tertfky.
What is there of-fuch urgence ? We are bufy.
tertsky. (from without)
Lay all afide at prefent, I entreat you.
It fuffers no delaying.
Tu 3 WALLENSTEIN.
150 - THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
WALLENSTEIN.
Open, Seni !
( While Seni opens the door for Tert/ky, Wallen-
fiein draws the curtain over thefgures.
tertsky. (enters)
Haft thou already heard it ? He is taken.
Galas has giv'n him up to the Emperor.
[Seni draws off the black table, and exit.
SCENE II.
< WALLENSTEIN... COUNT TERTSKY,. •
i
i wallenstein. ( to Tertßy )
Who has been taken ?— Who is given up ?
TERTSKY.
The man who knows our fecrets, who knows every
Negociation with the Swede and Saxon,
Thro' whofe hands all and every thing has pafs'd —
wALLENsfEiN. [drawing back)
Nay, not Sefina? — Say, No! I entreat thee.
TERTSKY.
All on his road for Regenfpürg tö the Swede
He was plung'd down upon by Galas' agent*
Who had been long in ambufh* lurking for him.
There muft'have been found on him my whole
• packet >
To Thur, to Kinfky_, to Oxenftirn, to Arnheim :
All this is in their hands ; they have now an infight
Into the whole — -our meafures, and our motives.
SCENE
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 151
SCENE III.
To them enters Illo.
illo. {to Tertjky)
Has he heard it ?
TERTSKY.
f f
He has heard it.
illo. (to Wallenfiein)
Think'ft thou ftill
To make thy peace with the Emp'ror, to regain!
His confidence ? — E'en were it now thy wifli
To abandon all thy plans, yet ftill they know
What thou haft wifh'd ; then forwards thou muft
prefs ;
Retreat is now no longer in thy power.
TERTSKY.
They have documents againft us, and in hands,
Which fhew beyond all power of contradiction — *.
WALLENSTEIN.
Of my hand-writing — no iota. Thee
I punifh for thy lies.
ILLO.
And thou believ'fl
That what this man, that what thy filler's hufband,
Did in thy name, will not fland on thy reck'ning?
His word muft pafs for thy word with the Swede,
And not with thofe that hate thee at Vienna.
TERTSKY.
In writing thou gav'ft nothing — But bethink thee,
How far thou ventured'ft by word of mouth
l 4 ' • With
152 THE PICCO^DMINI, OR THE
With this Sefina ? And will he be filent ?
If he can fave himfelf by yielding up
Thy fecret purpofes, will he retain them ? .
ILLO.
Thyfelf doft not conceive ;t poffible;
And fincethey now have -evidence authentic
How far thou haft already gone, fpeak ! — tell us,
What art thou waiting for ? Thou canft no longer
Keep thy command ; and beyond hope of refcue
Thou'rt loft, if thou refign'ft it.
WALLENSTEIN.
In the army
Lies my fecurity. The army will not
Abandon me. Whatever they may know,
The power is mine, and they muft gulp it down.— -
And fubftitute I caution for my fealty,
They muß be fatisfied, at leaft appear fo.
...
ILLO.
The army, Duke, is thine now — for this moment —
'Tis thine : but think with terror on the flow,
The quiet power of time. From open yi'lence
The attachment of thy foldiery fecures thee
To-day — to-morrow ; but grant'ft thou them a
reipite,
Unheard, unfeen, they'll undermine that love
On which thou now doft feel fo firm a footing, -
With wily theft will draw away from thee
One after th' other
WALLENS.TEIN.
'Tis a-curfed accident- !
ILLO.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 153
ILLO.
O I will call it a moft blefled one,
If it work on thee as it ought to do,
Hurry thee on to a&ion— to decifion-^
The Swedifh General
WALLENSTEIN.
He's arriv'd i^-Know'fl thou
What his commiflion is H
ILLO.
To thee alone
Will he. entruft the purpofe of his coming.
WALLENSTEIN.
A curfed, curfed accident !— Yes, yes,
Sefina knows too much, and won't be filent.
TERTSKY.
He's a Bohemian fugitive and, rebel,
His neck is forfeit. Can he fave himfelf
At thy coft, think you he will fcruple it ?
And if they put him to the torture, will he,
Will he, that daftardling, have ftrength enough —
WALLENSTEIN, (lofi in thought)
Their confidence is loft— -irreparably !
And I may a<5t what way I will, I (hall
Be and remain for ever in their thought
A traitor to my country. How fincerely
Soever I return back to my duty,
It will no longer help me
ILLO. |
Ruin thee,
That it will do! Not thy fidelity,
Thy weaknefs will be deem'd the fole occafion^-
WALLENSTfilN.
J54f THE PICCOLOMINIjOR THE
•
wallenstein, f pacing up and down in ex-
treme agitation)
What I I muft realize it now in earneft,
Becaufe I toy'd too freely with the thought?
Accurfed he who dallies with a devil !
And muft I — I muß realize it now —
Now, while I have the power, it muß take place ?
ILLO.
Now — now — ere they can ward and parry it \
wallen stein, (looking at the paper of fig-
natures)
I have the General's words — a written promife \
Max. Piccolomini ftands not here — how's that ?
tertsky.
It was — —he fancied ;
i'llo.
Mere felf-willednefs.
There needed no fuch thing 'twixt him and you.
WALLENSTEIN.
He is quite right — there needeth no fuch thing.
The regiments, too, deny to march for Flanders- —
Have fent me in a paper of remonftrance,
And openly refill the Imperial orders.
The firfb ftep to revolt 's already taken,
illo.
Believe me, thou wilt find it far more eafy
To lead them over to the enemy '
Than to the Spaniard.
wallenstein.
I will hear, however3
What the Swede has to fay to. me.*
ILLO.
fclRSr PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 155
illo. {eagerly to Tertßy.)
Go, call him.'
He Hands without the dcor in waiting.
WALLENSTEIN.
Stay !
Stay yet a little. It hath taken me
All by furprize, — it came too quick upon me -3
'Tis wholly novel, that an accident,
With its dark lordfhip, and blind agency,
Should force me on with it.
ILLO.
/ Firft hear him only,
-And after weigh it.
[Exeunt Tertßy and Illo.
SCENE IV.
Wallenstein, (infoliloqiiy.)
Is it poffible ?
Is't fo ? I can no longer what I would?
No longer draw back at my liking ? I
Muft do the deed, becaufe I thought of it,
And fed this heart here with a dream ? Becaufe
I did not fcowl temptation from my prefence,
Dallied with thoughts of poffible fulfilment,
Commenced no movement, left all time uncertain^
And only kept the road, the accefs open ?
By the great God of Heaven ! It was not
My ferious meaning, it was ne'er refolve.
I but amus'd myfelf with thinking of it.
3 The
156 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
The free-will tempted me, the power to do
Or not to do it. — Was it criminal
To make the fancy minifter to hope,
To fill the air with pretty toys of air,
And clutch fantaftic fceptres moving t'ward me ?
Was not the will kept free ? Beheld I not
The rpad of duty clofe befide me — but
One little ftep, and once more I was in it !
Where am I ? Whither have I been tranfported ?
No road, no track behind me, but a wall,
Impenetrable, infurmountable,
Rifes obedient to the fpells I mutter'd
And meant not — my own doings tower behind me'.
(Paufes and remains in deep thought.)
A punilhable man I feem, the guilt,
Try what I will, I cannot roll off from me -s
The equivocal demeanour of my lire
Bears witnefs on my profecutor's party,
And evenmypureft ads from pureft motives
Sufpicion poifons with malicious glofs.
Were I that thing, for which I pafs, that traitor,
ft goodly outfide I had fure referv'd,
Had drawn the cov'rings thick and double round
me,
Been calm and chary of my utterance.
But being confcious of the innocence
Of my intent, my uncorrupted will,
I gave way to my humours, tomy paflion :
Bold were my words, becaufe my deeds were not.
Now every planlefs meafure, chance event,
The threat of rage, the vaunt of joy and triumph,
And
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 157
And all the May-games of a heart o'erflowing,
Will they conned, and weave them all together
Into one web of treafon -, all will be plan,
My eye ne'er abfent from the far-off mark,
Step tracing ftep, each ftep a politic progrefs ;
And out of all they'll fabricate a charge
So fpecious, that I muft myfelf ftand dumb.
I am caught in my own net, and only force,
Naught but a fudden rent can liberate me.
(P auf es again.)
How elfe ! fince that the heart's unbias'd inftinft
Impell'd me to the daring deed, which now
Neceflity, felf-prefervation, orders.
Stern is the On-look of neceflity,
Not without fhudder may a human hand
Grafp the myfterious urn of deftiny.
My deed was mine, remaining in my bofom,
Once fuffer'd to efcape from it's fafe corner
Within the heart, it's nuriery and birth-place*
Sent forth into the poreign, it belongs
For ever to thofe fly malicious powers
Whom never art of man conciliated.
{Paces in agitation through the chamber^
then paufes, and, after thepat/fe, breaks
out again into audible foliloquy.)
What is thy enterprise ? thy aim ? thy object ?
Haft honeftly confefs'd it to thyfelf.?
Power feated on a quiet throne thou'dft fbake,
Power on, an ancient confecrated throne.
Strong in poffeffion, founded in old cuftomj
Power by athoufand tough and ftringy roots
Fix'd
158 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
' ' '
Fix'd to the people's pious nurfery-faith.
This, this will be no ftrife of ftrength with ftrength,
That fear'd I not. I brave each combatant,
Whom I can look on, fixing eye to eye,
Who full himfelf of courage kindles courage
In me too. 'Tis a foe invifible,
The which I fear — a fearful enemy,
Which in the human heart oppofes me,
By it's coward fear alone made fearful to me.
Not that, which full of life, inflincl; with pow'r,
Makes known it's prefent being, that is not
The true, the periloufly formidable.
O no I it is the common, the quite common,
The thing of an eternal yefterday,
What ever was, and ever more returns,
Sterling to-morrow, for to-day 'twas fterling !
For of the wholly common is man made,
And cuftom is his nurfe V Woe then to them,
Who lay irreverent hands upon his old
Houfe furniture, the dear inheritance
From his forefathers. For time confecrates ;
And what is grey with age becomes religion.
Be in poffeflion, and thou haft the right,
And facred will the many guard it for thee !
( To the Page, who here enters.)
The Swedifli officer ? — Well, let him enter.
(The Page exit, Wallenflein fixes his eye in
deep thought on the door.)
Yet is it pure — as 3'et ! — the crime has come
Not o'er this threfhold yet — fo flender is*
The boundary that divideth life's two paths.
scene;
3?IRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 159
SCENE V.
Wallenstein and Wrangel.
wallenstein, (after having fixed a fear ek-
ing look on him J
Your name is Wrangel ? '
WRANGEL,
Guftave Wrangel, General
Of the Sudermanian Blues.
wallenstein.
It was a Wrangel
Who injur'd me materially at Stralfund,
And by his brave refinance was the caufe
Of th' oppofition which that fea-port made.
wrangel.
It was the doing of the element
With which you fought, my Lord ! and not my
merit.
The Baltic Neptune did aflert his freedom,
The fea and land, it feem'd, were not to ferve
One and the fame.
, wallenstein, {makes the motion for him
to take a feat, and feats himfelf.)
And where-are your credentials ?
Come you provided with full powers, Sir General ?
Wrangel.
There are fo many fcruples yet to folve — —
wallenstein, (having read the credentials.)
An able letter !— Ay — he is a prudent
Intelligent
160 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR *H'£
Intelligent mafter, whom you ferve, Sir General !
The Chancellor writes me, that he but fulfils
His late departed Sovereign's own idea
In helping me to the Bohemian crown.
WRANGEL.
He fays the truth. Our great King, now in
heaven,
Did ever deem mofl highly of your Grace's
Pre-eminent fenfe and military genius ;
And always the commanding Intellect,
He faid, mould have command, and be' the King.
WALLENSTEIN.
Yes, he might fay it fafely. — General Wrangely
( Talcing his hand affectionately.) .
Come,, fair and open. — Truftme, I was always
A Swede at heart. Ey ! that did you experience
Both in Silefia and at Nuremburg ;
I had you often in my power, and let you
Always flip out by fome back door or other.
'Tis this for which the Court can ne'er forgive me,
Which drives me to this prefent ttep : and iince
Our interests fo run in one direction,
E'n let us have a thorough confidence
Each in the other.
WRANGEL.
Confidence will come
Has each but only firft fecurity.
WALLENSTEIN.
The Chancellor ftill, I fee, does not quite truft me,
And,- I confefs — the game does not lie wholly
To my advantage — Without doubt he thinks
if I can pky falfe with the Emperor,
5 , Who
FIRST PART OP WALLENSTEIN". 161
Who is my Sov'reign, I can do the like
With th' enemy, and that the one too were
Sooner to be forgiven me than the other.
Is not £his your opinion too, Sir General ?
WRANGEL.
I have here an office merely, no opinion.
■
WALLENSTEIN.
The Emperor hath urged me to the uttermofL
I can no longer honourably ferve him.
For my fecurity, in felf-defence,
I take this hard flep, which my confcience blames*
WRANGEL.
i
That 1 believe. So far would no one go
Who was not forc'd to it.
(After a paufe.)
What may have impelled
Your princely Highnefs in this wife to act
Toward your Sovereign Lord and Emperor,
Befeems not us to expound or criticize.
The Swede is fighting for his good old caufe.
With his good fword and confcience. This con-
currence.
This opportunity, is in our favour,
And all advantages in war are lawfuL
We take what offers without queftioning j
And if all have its due and juft proportions-^—
WALLENSTEIN.
Of what then are ye doubting ? Of my will ?
Or of my power ? 1 pledg'd me to the Chancellor,
Would he trull me with fixteen thoüfand men,
m That
1$2 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
That I would inftantly go over to them
With eighteen thoufand of the Emperor's troops.
WR ANGEL.
Your Grace is known to be a mighty war-chief,
To be a fecond Attila and Pyrrhus.
'Tis talk'd of flill with frefh aftonilhment,
How fome years paft, beyond all human faith,
You called an army forth, like a creation :
But yet
WALLENSTEIN.
But yet ?
WRANGEL.
But ftill the Chancellor thinks,
It might yet be an eafier thing from nothing
To cali forth fixty thoufand men of battle,
Than to perfuade one fixtieth part of them —
WALLENSTEIN.
What now ? Out with it, friend ?
WRANGEL.
To break their oaths.
WALLENSTEIN.
And he thinks fo f — He judges like a Swede,
And like a Proteftant. You Lutherans
Fight for your Bible. You are int'refted
About the caufe ; and with your hearts you follow
Your banners. — Among i/ouy whoe'er deferts
To the enemy, hath broken covenant
With two Lords at one time. — We've no fuch
fancies.
WRANGEL.
FHtST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 163
WRANGfiL,
Great God in Heaven ! Have then the people here
No houfe and home, no fire-fide, no altar ?
. WALLENSTEIN.
I will explain that to you, how it ftands- —
The Auftrian. has a country, ay, and loves it,
And has good caufe to love it — but this army,
That calls itfelf th' Imperial, this that houfes
Here in Bohemia, this has none — no country;
This is an outcali of all foreign lands,
Unclaim'd by town or tribe, to whom belongs
Nothing, except the univerfal fun.
WRANGEL.
But then the Nobles and the Officers ?
Such a defertion, fuch a felony,
It is without example, my Lord Duke,
In the world's hiftory.
WALLENSTEIN.
They are all mine — >
Mine unconditionally — mine on all terms.
Not me,, your own eyes you may truft.
[He gives him the paper containing the
written oath. Wranzel reads it through,
and, having read it, lays it on the table,
remaining filent.~\
So then?
Now comprehend you ?-
wrangel.
Comprehend, who. can ! .
My Lord Duke ! I will let the mafk drop— yes !
m 2 I have
W4t THE FICCOLÖMlftl, Oil THE
I've full powers for a final fettlement.
The khinegrave ftands but four clays march from
here,
With fifteen thoufand men, and only waits
For orders to proceed and join your army.
Thofe orders /give out, immediately
We're compromis'd.
WÄLLENSTEIN.
What afks the Chancellor ?
wrangle, (conficleratehj .)
Twelve Regiments, every man a Swede — my-liead
The warranty — and all might prOve at laft
Only falfe play-
wall en stein, {ßärting:)
Sir Swede !
wrangel. (calmly proceeding.)
Am therefore forc'd
T infift thereon, that J^e do formally,
Irrevocably break with th' Emperor,
Elfe not a Swede is trailed to Duke Friedland.
wallenstein.
Gome, brief, and open ! What is the demand ?
WRANGEL.
'That he forthwith difarm the Spanifh reg'ments
AttachM to th' Emperor, that he feize Prague»
And to the Swedes give up that city, with
The ftrong pafs £gra.
' WALLENSTEIN*
That is much indeed !
Prague !— Egra's granted— But— but Prague !—
'Twon't do,
I give
FIRST PART OF WALLENßTEIN, 16*5.
I give you every fecurlty
Which you may afk of me in common, rea.fbn —
But Prague — Bohemia — thefe, Sir Genera^,
I can my felf protect.
VEANGEL.
We doubt it not;.
But 'tis not the protection that is now
Our fole concern. We want fecurity,
That we fhall not expend our men and money
AH tonopurpofe.
% WALLENSTEIN.
'Tis but reafonable,
WRANGEL.
And till we are indemnified, fo long
Stays Prague in pledge.
WALLENSTEIN.
Then truft: you us fo little ?
wrang el. (ri/ing.)
The Swede, if he would treat well with the Ger-
man,
Muft keep a (harp look-out. We have been call'd
Over the Baltic, we have fav'd the empire
From ruin — with our belt blood have we feal'd
The liberty of faith, and gofpel truth.
But now already is the benefaction
No longer felt, the load alone is felt.
Ye look afkance with evil eye upon us,
As foreigners, intruders in the empire,
And would fain fend us, with fome paltry fum
Of money, home again to our old forefts.
No, no ! my Lord Duke 1 no 1 — it never was
m 3 For
166 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
For Judas pay, for chinking gold arid filver,
That we did leave our King by the * Great Stone.
No, not for gold and filver have there bled
So many of our Swedifli Nobles — neither
Will we, with empty laurels for our payment,
Hoi ft fail for our own country. Citizens
Will we remain upon the foil, the which
Our Monarch conquered for himfelf, and died.
WALLENSTEIN.
Help to keep down the common enemy, ■
And the fair border land mud needs be your's.
WRÄNGE L.^"
But when the common enemy lies vanquilh'd.
Who knits together our new friendfhip then ?
We know, Duke Faiedland ! though perhaps the
Swede
Ought not t' have known it, that you carry on
Secret negociations with the Saxons.
Who is our warranty, that zue are not
The facrifices in thofe articles
Which 'tis thought needful to conceal from us ?
WALLENSTEIN. (rifeS.)
Think you of fomething better, Guftave Wrangel !
Of Prague no more.
WRANGEL.
. Here my commiffion ends.
» A great ftone near Lützen, fince 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 loft his life.
WAl*
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 167
WALLENSTEIN.
Surrender up to you my capital !
Far liever would I face about, and ftcp
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 fince Sefina's been a prifoner.
(JVallenßein is ßruck, and filenced.)
My Lord Duke, hear me — We believe that you
At prefent do mean honourably by us.
Since yefierday we're fure of that — and now
This paper warrants for the troops, there's nothing
Stands in the way of our full confidence.
Prague (hall not part us. Hear ! The Chancellor
Contents himfelf with Albftadt, to your Grace
He gives up Ratfchin and the narrow fide,
But Egra,, above all, muft open to us,
E're we can think of any junftion.
WALLENSTEIN.
You,
You therefore muft I trufl, arid you not me ?
I will confider of your propolition.
WRANGEL.
I muft entreat, that your consideration
Occupy not too long a time. Already
Has this negociation, my Lord Duke !
Crept on into the fecond year. If nothing
m 4 Is
108 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THfe-
Is fettled this time, will the Chancellor
Canfider it as broken off for ever.
WALLENSTElfcr.
Ye prefs me hard. A meafure, fueh as this,
Ought to be thought of.
WRANGEL.
Ay ! but think of this too,
That fudd^n action only can procure it
Succefs — think firfl of this, your Highnefs.
[Exit WrangeL
i.
SCENE VI.
Waeeenstein, Tertsky, and Ileo (re-
enter*)
ILLO.
Is't all right ?■
TERTSKY.
Are you comprornis'd ?
JLLO.
This Swede
Went fmiling from you. Yes ! you're compn>
mis'd,
wallensteiist.
As yet is nothing fettled ; and (well weigh'd)
I feel myfelf inclin'd to leave it fo.
tertsky.
How ? What is that ?
4 WAL«
yiRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. It>9
WALLENSTEIN.
Come on me what tf?iU come,
The doing evil to avoid an evil
Cannot be good !
Tertsky.
Nay, but bethink you, Duke ?
WALLENSTEIN,
To live upon the mercy of thefe Swedes !
Of thefe proud-hearted Swedes ! I could not bear It
ILLO.
Goeft thou as fugitive, a? mendicant ?
Bring'ft thou not more to them than thou receiv'fti
SCENE VII.
To thefe enter the Countess Tertsky.
WALLENSTEIN.
Who fent for you ? There is no bufinefs here
For women.
COUNTESS.
I am come to bid you joy.
WALLENSTEIN.
Ufe thy authority, Tertiky, bid her go.
COUNTESS.
Come I perhaps too early > I hope not.
WALLENSTEIN*
170 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
WALLENSTEIN.
Set not this tongue upon me, I entreat you.
You know it is the weapon that deftroys me,
I am routed, if a woman but attack me.
I cannot traffic in the trade of words
With that unreafoning fex.
COUNTESS.
1 I had already
Giv'n the Bohemians a king.
.wallenstein, {farcafiically .)
They have one»
In confequence, no doubt.
countess (/o the others.)
Ha ! what new fcruple ?
TERTSKY.
The Duke will not.
COUNTESS.
He will not what he muß /
ILLO.
It lies with you now. Try. For I am filenced,
When folks begin to talk to me of confcience,
And of fidelity.
COUNTESS.
How ? then, when all
Lay in the far off diftance, when the road
Stretch'd out before thine.eyes interminably,
Then hadft thou courage and refolve-; and now,
Now that the dream is being realized,
The
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 171
The purpofe ripe, the iiiue afcertained,
Doft thou begin to play the daftard now ?
Plann'd merely, 'tis a common felony ;
Accomplifli'd, an immortal undertaking ;
And with fuccefs comes pardon hand in hand 5
For all event is God's arbitrement.
servant. (entej'S.)
The Colonel Piccolomini.
countess, (hafiily.)
— Muft wait.
WALLENSTEIN.
I cannot fee him now. Another time.
servant.
But for two minutes he entreats an audience«
Of the moll: urgent nature is his bufinefs.
wallenstein.
Who knows what he may bring us ? Twill hear him.
countess, (laughs.)
Urgent for him, no doubt ; but thou may'fi: wait.
wallenstein, •
What is it ?
COUNTESS.
Thou fhalt be inform'd hereafter.
Firft let the Swede and thee be compromifed.
[Exit Servant.
WALLENSTEIN.
If there were yet a choice; if yet fome milder
Way of efcape were poffible — I ftill
Will chufe it, and avoid the lafl extreme.
countess..
172 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
COUNTESS.
Xtefir'ft thou nothing further ? Such a way-
Ivies ftill before thee. Send this Wrangel off,
Forget thou thy old hopes, cad far away
All thy pail life ; determine to commence
Ä 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 — fay aloud,
Thou did'ft but wim to prove thy fealty ;
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 black.
COUNTESS.
I fear not that. They have not evidence
To attaint him legally, and they avoid
The avowal of an arbitrary power.
They'll let the Duke refign without difturbance.
I fee how all will end. The King of Hungary
Makes his appearance, and 'twill of itfelf
Be underftood, that then the Duke retires.
There • will not want a formal declaration.
The young King will adminifter the oath
To the whole army ; and fo all returns
To the old pofition. On fome morrow morning
The Duke departs ; and now 'tis ftirand buftle_
Within his caftles. He will hunt, and build,
Superintend his hones' pedigrees,
Create
FIltST PART OF WA'LLENSTEI*N. 173
Creates himfelf a court, gives golden keys,
And introducet'h nricteft ceremony
In fine proportions, and nice etiquette;
Keeps open table with high cheer; in brief
Commenced! mighty King — *in 'miniature.
And while hepruderitly demeans himfelf,
And gives himfelf no actual importance*
He will be let appear whate'er!he likes ;
And who dares doubt, that Friedland will appear
A mighty Prince to his laft dying hour? .
Well now, what then ? Duke Friedland is, as
others,
A fire-new Noble, whom the war 'hath raisM
-To price arid currency, a Jonah's Gourd,
An over-night ;creation of court-favour,
With which an undiftincmiihable eafe
Makes Baron or makes Prince.
wall en st ein. [in extreme agitation-)
Take her away-
Let in the young Count Piccolomini.
countess .
* r
Art thou in earned ? I entreat thee ! Cari'll'thou
Confent to bear thyfelf to thy own grave,
So ignominioufly to be dried up ?
Thy life, that arrogated fuch an height,
To end in fuch a nothing ! To be nothing.
When one was always nothing, is an evil
That afcs no ftretch of patience, a light evil,
But 'to become a nothing, having been^-
WALLENSTEIN
174 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
wallenstein, {Harts up in violent agitation.)
Shew me a way out of this ftifling crowd,
Ye Powers of Aidance ! Shew me fuch a way
As / am capable of going. — I
Am no tongue-hero, no fine virtue-prattler ;
I can not warm by thinking ; cannot fay
To the good luck that turns her back upon me,
Magnanimouflv : " Go ! I need thee not."
Geafe X to work, I am annihilated.
Dangers nor facrifices wili I fhun,
If fo I may avoid the laft extreme ;
But ere I link down into nothingnefs,
Leave off fo little, who begun fo great,
Ere that the world confufes me with thofe
Poor wretches, whom a day creates and crumbles,
This age and * after-ages fpeak my name • «-
With hate and dread; and Friedland be redemption
For each accurfed deed \
COUNTESS.
What is there here, then»
So againft nature ? Help me to perceive it !
O let not Superflition's nightly goblins
Subdue thy clear bright fpirit ! Art thou bid
To murder ?— -with abhorr'd accurfed poinard,
* Could I have hazarded fuch a Germanifm, as the ufe of the
word after-world, for pofterity.— " Es fpreche Welt und
Naclrwch meinen Nahmen" — might have been rendered with
more literal fidelity :— Let world and after-world fpeak out my
name, &c.
To
FIRST PAUT OF WALLENSTEIN. 175
To violate the breads that nouriüYd thee ?
That were againft our nature, that might aptly
* Make thy flefti (hudder, and thy whole heart
ficken.
Yet not a few, and for a meaner object
Have ventured even this, ay, and perform'd it.
What is there in thy cafe fo black and monftrous ?
Thou art accus'd of treafon — whether with
Or without juftice is not now the queftion —
Thou art loft if thou doit not avail thee quickly
Of the power which thou poflefleft. — Friedland !
Duke I
Tell me, where lives that thing fo meek and tame,
That doth not all his living faculties
Put forth in prefervation of his life ?
What deed fo daring, which necefllty
And defperation will not fanetify ?
WALLENSTEIN.
Once was this Ferdinand fo gracious to me :
He Iov'd me; he efteem'd me; I was plac'd
The neareft to his heart. Full many a time
We like familiar friends, both at one table,
Have banqueted together. He and 1-^—
And the young kings themfelves held me the bafon
Where with to walh me — and is't come to this ?
COUNTESS.
So faithfully preferv'ft thou each fmaU favour,
And haft no memory for contumelies ?
* I have not ventured to affront the faftidious delicacy of oiyr
age with a literal translation of this line.
tc werth
** Die Eingeweide fchaudernd aufzuregen."
. Muft
US THE nCCCLOMitil, OR THE
Muft I remind thee, how at Regenfpurg
This man repaid thy faithful fervices ?
AH ranks and all conditions in the empire
Thou hadft wrong'd, to make him greats—had ft
loaded on thee,
Ön thee, the hate, the curfe of the whole world.
No friend exifted for thee in all Germany,
And why ? becaufe thou hadft exifted only
For th' Emperor. To th' Emperor alone
Clung Friedland in that ftorm which gather'd
round him
At Regenfpurg in the Diet — and he dropp'd thee \
He let thee fall ! He let thee fall a viftim
To the Bavarian, to that infolent !
Depos'd, iirrpt bare; of all thy dignity
And power, -amid the taunting of thy foes,
Thou wert let drop into obfcurity. — -
Say not, the reftoration of thy honour
Has made atonement for that firft injuftiee.
No koneft good-will was it. that replac'd thee,
The law of hard neceflity replac'd thee>
Which they had fain oppos'd, but that they could
: nQt. '■'-:■■ f!' ; .
WALLEKSTEIN.
Not to their good wifhes, that is certain,
Nor yet to his affection I'm indebted
For this high office j and if I abufe it,
I fhall therein abufe no- confidence.
COUNTESS.
Affection ! confidence !~-They needed thee*
Neceflity, impetuous remonftrant !
Who
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 177
Who not with empty names, or (hews of proxy,
Is ferv'd, who'll have the thing and not the fymbol,
Ever feeks out the greateft and the beft,
And at the rudder places him, e'en though
She had been forc'd to take him from the rabble—*
She, this Neceflity, it was that plac'd thee
In this high office, it was (he that gave thee
Thy letters patent of inauguration.
For, to the uttermoft moment that they can,
This race ftill help themfelves at cheapen: rate
With flavifh fouls, with puppets ! At the approach
Of extreme peril, when a hollow image
Is found a hollow image and no more,
Then falls the power into the mighty hands
Of Nature, of the fpirit giant-born,
Who liftens only to himfelf, knows nothing
Of ftipulations, duties, reverences,
And, like th' emancipated force of fire,
Unmafter'd fcorches, ere it it reaches them,
Their fine-fpun webs, their artificial policy.
WALLENSTEIN.
'Tis true f they faw me always as I am —
Always ! I did not .cheat them in the bargain.
I never held it worth my pains to hide
The bold ali-grafping habit of my foul.
COUNTESS.
Nay rather — thou haft ever fhewn thyfelf
A formidable man, without reftraint>
Haft exercis'd the full prerogatives
. ' .N •' . Of
178 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
Of thy impetuous nature, which had been
Once granted to thee. Therefore, Duke, not thou9
Who haft ftilL remain'd confident with thyfelf,
But they are in the wrong, who fearing thee,
Entrufted fuch a power in hands, they fear'd.
For, by the laws of Spirit, in the right
Is every individual character
That acts in ftrict confidence with itfelf.
Self -contradiction is the only wrong.
Wert thou another being, then, when thou
Eight years ago purfuedd thy march with fire
And fword, and defolation, through the Circles
Of Germany, the univerfal fcourge,
Didft mock all ordinances of the empire,
The fearful rights of ftrength alone exertedft,
Trampledft to earth each rank, each magiftracy,
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 confcience,
Whatferv'd him pleas'd him, and without a murmur
He flamp'd his broad feal on thefe lawlefs deeds.
What at that time was right, becaufe thou didft it
For firm, to day is all at once become
Opprobrious, foul, becaufe it is directed
Againfl him. — O mod flimfy fuperflition !
WALLENSTEIN, (rifillg)
I never faw it in this light before.
'Tis even to. The Emperor perpetrated
Deeds through my arm, deeds mod unorderly.
And
FiltST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 119 .
And' even this prince's mantle, which I wear,
I owe to what were fervices to him,
But mod high mifdemeanours 'gainft the empire.
COUNTESS.
Then betwixt thee and him (confefs it, Friedland !)
The point can be no more of right and duty,
Only of power and th' opportunity.
That opportunity, lo ! it comes yonder,
Approaching with fwift fteeds j then with a fwing
Throw thyfelf up into the chariot feat,
Seize with firm hand the reins, ere thy opponent
Anticipate thee, and himfelf make conqueft
Of the now empty feat. The moment comes,
It is already here, when thou muft write
The abfolute total of thy life's vaft fum.
The conftellations fland victorious o'er thee,
The planets fhoot good fortune in fair jundtions,
And tell thee, " Now's the time !" The ftarry
courfes
Haft thou thy life-long meafur'd to no purpofe ?
The quadrant and the circle, were they play things ?
(pointing to the different objects in the room)
The zodiacs, the rolling orbs of heaven,
Haft pidur'd on thefe walls, and all around thee
In dumb, foreboding fymbols haft thou plac'd
Thefe feven prefiding Lords of deftihy —
For toys ? Is all this preparation nothing ?
Is there no marrow in this hollow art,
That even to thyfelf it doth avail
Nothing, and has no influence over thee
n 2 In
180 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR TEE
In the great moment of decifion?
wallenstein, (during this laß fpeech walks
up and dow?i with inward ßruggles, labouring
with paffions; ßops fuddenly^ fiands ßill, then
interrupting the CountefsJ
Send Wrangel to me — I will inftantly
Difpatch three couriers
illo. (hurrying out)
God in heaven be prais'd !
WALLENSTEIN.
It is his evil genius and mine.
Our evil genius ! It chaftifes him
Through me, the inftrument of his ambition j
And I expect no lefs, than that Revenge
E'en now is whetting for my breaft the poniard.
Who fows the ferpent's teeth, let him not hope
To reap a joyous harvefr. Every crime
Has, in the moment of its perpetration,
Its own avenging angel — dark Mifgiving,
An ominous Sinking at the inmoft heart.
He can no longer truft me. — Then no longer
Can I retreat — fo come that which muftcome. —
Still defliny preferves its due relations,
The heart within us is its abfolute
Vicegerent.
(to Tertßy)
Go, conduct you Guftave Wrangel
To my rtate-cabinet. — Myfelf will (peak to
The couriers. — And difpatch immediately
A fervant for Oclavio Piccolomini.
(to
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 181
(to the Coimtefs, zv/io cannot conceal her triumph)
No exultation ! — woman, triumph not!
For jealous are the Powers of Deftiny.
Joy premature, and Shouts ere victory,
Incroach upon their rights and privileges.
We fow the feed, and they the growth determine.
[While he is making his exit, the curtain drops.]
END OF ACT IV.
* 3 JCT
182 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
ACT V.
Scene, as in the preceding Act.
SCENE I.
Wallenstejn, Octavio Piccolomini.
wallenstein, [coming forward in converfation. }
He fends me word from Linz, that he lies fick ;
But I have fure intelligence, that he
Secretes himfelf at Frauenberg with Galas.
Secure them both, and fend them to me hither.
Remember, thou tak'ft on thee the command
Of thofe fame Spanifh regiments,^ — conftantly
Make preparation, and be never ready ;
And if they urge thee to draw out againft me,
Still anfwer yes, and ftand as thou wert fetter'd.
I know, that it is doing thee a fervice
To keep thee out of action in this bufinefs.
Thou lov'fl to linger on in fair appearances ;
Steps of extremity are not thy province,
Therefore have I fought out this part for thee.
Thou wilt this time be of moft fervice to me
By thy inertnefs. The mean time, if fortune
Declare itfelf on my fide, thou wilt know
What is to do.
{Ente}'
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 183
{Enter max- piccolomini.)
Now go, Octayio.
This night mufl thou be off, take my own horfes :
Him here I keep with me — make fhort farewell — ■
Truft me, I think we all fhall meet again
In joy and thriving fortunes.
octavio. (to his J on.)
, I fhall fee you
Yet e'er I go.
SCENE II.
Wallenstein, Max. Piccolomini.
max. (advances to him.)
My General !
WALLENSTEIN.
That am I no longer, if
Thou ftyl'ft thyfelf the Emperor's officer.
MAX.
Then thou wilt leave the army, General ?
WALLENSTEIN.
I have renounc'd the fervice of the Emperor.
MAX.
And thou wilt leave the army ?
WALLENSTEIN.
Rather hope I
To bind it nearer ftill and fafter to me.
(He feats himfelf.)
Yes, Max, I have delay'd to open it to thee,
Even till the hour of acting 'gins to ftrike.
n 4 Youth's
184? THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
Youth's fortunate feeling doth feize eafily
The abfolute right, yea, and a joy it is
To exercife the fingle apprehenfion
Where the fums fquare in proof ;
But where it happens, that of two fure evils
One muft be taken, where the heart not wholly
Brings itfelf back from out the flrife of duties,
There 'tis a bleffing to have no election,
And blank neceflity is grace and favour.
— This is now prefent : do not look behind thee, —
It can no more avail thee. Look thou forwards !
Think not ! judge not ! prepare thyfelf to act !
The Court— it hath determin'd 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 fiops himfelf, expecting PiccolominVs
an/wer.)
I have ta'en thee by furprife. Anfwer rue not,
I grant thee time to recoiled thyfelf.
(He rifes, and retires at the back of the ßage.
Max. remains for a long time motion lefs, in
a trance of excejfwe anguifJi. At his firfi mo-
tion Walknfiein returns, and places himfelf
before him.)
MAX.
My General, this day thou makeft me
Of age, to lpeak in my own right and perfon,
For till this day I have been fpared the trouble
To find out my own road. Thee have I follow'd
With
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 185
With moft implicit unconditional faith,
Sure of the right path if I follow'd thee.
To day, for the firft time, doft thou refer
Me to myfelf, and forced me to make
Election between thee and my own heart.
WALLENSTEIN.
Soft cradled thee thy Fortune till to day ;
Thy duties thou couldft exercife in fport,
Indulge all lovely inftincts, act for ever
With undivided heart. It can remain
No longer thus Like enemies, the roads
Start from each other. Duties ftrive with duties.
Thou mull needs chufe 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 peftilence,
Yet it is good, is it heaven s will as that is.
Is that a good war, which againft the Emperor
Thou wageft with the Emperor's own army?
O God of heaven ! what a change is this .
Befeems it me to offer fuch perfuafion
To thee, who like the fix'd {tar of the pole
Wert all, I gaz'd at, on life's tracklefs ocean?
O! what a rent thou makeft in my heart!
The ingrained inftinct of old reverence,
The holy habit of obediency,
Muft I pluck live afunder from thy name ?
Nay, do not turn thy countenance upon me —
It
186 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
It always was a god looking at me !
Duke Wallenftein, its power is not departed :
The fenfes ftill are in thy bonds, although,
Bleeding, the foul hath freed itfelf.
WALLENSTEIN.
Max, hear me.
MAX.
O I do it not, I pray thee, do it not !
There is a pure and noble foul within thee,
Knows not of this unbleft, unlucky doing.
Thy will is chatte, it is thy fancy only
Which hath polluted thee — and innocence,
It will not let itfelf be driv'n away
From that world-awing afpect. Thou wilt not,
Thou canft not, end in this. It would reduce
All human creatures to difloyalty
Againft the noblenefs of their own nature.
'Twill juftify the vulgar mifbelief,
Which holdeth nothing noble in free will,
And trufts itfelf to impotence alone
Made powerful only in an unknown power.
WALLENSTEIN.
The world will judge me fternly, I expect it.
Already have I faid to my own felf
All thou canft fay to me. Who but avoids
Th' extreme, — can he by going round avoid it?
But here there is no choice. Yes — I mull: ufe
Or fuffer violence — fo ftands the cafe,
There remains nothing poflible but that.
i
MAX,
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 187
MAX.
O that is never'pomble for thee! ,
Tis the laft defperate refource of thofe
Cheap fouls, to whom their honor, their good name
Is their poor favbig, their laft worthlefs Keep,
Which having ftak'd and loft, they ftake themfelves
In the mad rage of gaming. Thou art rich,
And glorious j with an unpolluted heart
Thou canft make conqueft of whate'er feems
high eft 1
But he, who once hath acted infamy,
Does nothing more in this world.
wallenstein, fgrafps 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 foon
Forgotten, Max, by what road we afcended.
Believe me, many a crown (nines fpotlefs now,
That yet was deeply fullied in the winning.
To the evil fpirit doth the earth belong,.
Not to the good. All, that the powers divine
Send from above, are univerfal bteffings :
Their light rejoices us, their air refreihes,
But never yet was man enrich 'd by therat
In their eternal realm no property
Is to be ftruggled for — all there is general.
The jewel, the all- valued gold we win
From the deceiving Powers, deprav'd in nature,
That dwell beneath the day and bleffed fun-light.
Not without facrifices are they render'd
5 Propitious
188 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
Propitious, and there lives no foul on earth
That e'er retir'd unfullied from their fervice.
MAX.
Whate'er is human, to the human being
Do I allow — and to the vehement
And ftriving fpirit readily I pardon
Th' excefs of action; but to thee, my general!
Above all others make I large conceflion.
For thou muft move a world, and be the mafter —
He kills thee, who condemns thee to inaction.
So be it then! maintain thee in thy poft
By violence. Refill the Emperor,
And if it muft be, force with force repel :
I will not praife it, yet I can forgive it.
But not — not to the traitor — yes ! — the word
Is fpoken out
Not to the traitor can I yield a pardon.
That is no mere excefs ! that is no error
Of human nature — that is wholly dirT'rent,
O that is black, black as the pit of hell !
(Wallenfiein betrays a fudden agitation.)
Thou canft not hear it ?iam,di and wilt thou do it :
0 turn back to thy duty. That thou canft,
1 hold it certain. Send me to Vienna.
I'll make thy peace for thee with th' Emperor.
He knows thee not. But I do know thee. He
Shall fee thee, Duke! with my unclouded eye,
And I bring back his confidence to thee.
WALLENSTEIX.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 189
WALLENSTEIN.
It is too late. Thou know'ft not what has happen'd.
MAX.
Were it too late, and were gone fo far,
That a crime only could prevent thy fall,
Then — fall ! fall honourably, even as thou ftood'ft.
Lofe the command. Go from the ftage of war.
Thou canft with fplendour do it — do it too
With innocence. Thou haft liv'd much for others.
At length live thou for thy own felf. I follow
thee.
My deftiny I never part from thine.
WALLENSTEIN.
It is too late ! Even now, while thou art lofing
Thy words, one after the other are the mile-ftones
Left faft behind by my poft couriers, *
Who bear the order on to Prague and Egra.
(Max.ßands as convuli'd, with a gefiure and
countenance exprejfing the moß intenfe an-
gui/Ii. )
Yield thyfelf to it. We act as we are fore'd.
/ cannot give affent to my own fhame
And ruin. Thou — no — thou cartft not forfake me!
So let us do, what muft be done, with dignity,
With a firm ftep. What am I doing worfe
Than did fasn'd Caefar at the Rubicon,
When he the legions led againft his country,
The which his country had delivered to him ?
Had he thrown down the fword, he had been loft,
As
190 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
As I were, if I but difarm'd myfelf.
I trace out fomething in me of his fpirit.
Give me his luck, that other thine I'll bear.
{Max. quits him abruptly. Wallenfiein, ßartled
and overpowered, continues looking after him,
and is fiill in this pofiure when TertJJcy en-
ters. )
SCENE III.
Wallenstein. Tertsky.
TERTSKY.
Max Piccolomini juft left you ?
WALLENSTEIN.
Where is Wrangel ?
TERTSKY.
He is already gone.
WALLENSTEIN.
In fuch a hurry ?
TERTSKY.
It is as if the earth had fwallow'd him.
He had fcarce left thee, when I went to feek him.
I wifh'd fome words with him — but he was gone.
How, when, and where, could no one tell me. Nay,
I half believe it was the devil himfelf ;
A human creature could not fo at once
Have vanim'd.
1LL0.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 191
illo. (enters)
Is it true that thou wilt Tend
Octavio ?
TERTSKY.
How, O&avio! Whither fend him ?
WALLENSTEIN.
He goes to Frauenberg, and will lead hither
The SpanilTi and Italian regiments.
ILLO.
No!—
Nay, Heaven forbid !
WALLENSTEIN.
And why mould Heaven forbid ?
ILLO.
Him ! — that deceiver ! Would'ft tjiou truft to him
The foldiery ? Him wilt thou let flip from thee,
Now, in the very inflant that decides us
TERTSKY.
Thou wilt not do this ! — No ! I pray thee, no !
WALLENSTEIN.
Ye are whimfical.
ILLO.
O but for this time, Duke,
Yield to our warning ! Let him not depart.
WALLENSTEIN.
And why mould I not truft him only this time,
Who have always trufted him ? What, then, has
happen'd,
That I mould lofe my good opinion of him ?
In complaifance to your whims, not my own,
I rauft,
192 THE PiCCOLOMINl, OR THE
I muft, forfooth, give up a rooted judgment.
Think not I am a woman. Having trufted him
E'en 'till to-day, to-day too will I truft him.
TERTSKY.
Muft it be he — he only ? Send another.
WALLENSTEIN.
It muft be he, whom I myfelf have chofen ;
He is well fitted for the bufinefs. Therefore
I gave it him.
ILLO.
Becaufe he's an Italian —
Therefore is he well fitted for the bufinefs.
WALLENSTEIN.
I know you love them not — nor lire nor fon—
Becaufe that I efteem them, love them — vifibly
Efteem them, love them more than you and others,
E'en as they merit. Therefore are they eye-blights,
Thorns in your foot-path. But your jealoufies,
In what afFect they me or my concerns ?
Are they the worfe to me becaufe you hate them ?
Love or hate one another as you will,
I leave to each man his own moods and likings ;
Yet know the worth of each of you to me.
ILLO.
Von Queftenberg, while he was here, was always
Lurking about with this Octavio.
WALLENSTEIN.
It happen'd with my knowledge and permiflion.
ILLO.
I know that fecret meffengers cane to him
From Galas
WALLENSTEIN.
FIRST PART Ot WALLENSTEIN. 195
WALLENSTEIN.
That's not true.
ILLO.
O thou art blind
With thy deep-feeing eyes.
WALLENSTEIN.
Thou wilt not (hake
My faith for me — my faith, which founds itfelf
On the profoundeft fcience. If 'tis falfe,
Then the whole fcience of the ftars is falfe.
For know, I have a pledge from Fate itfelf,
That he is the moft faithful of my friends.
ILLO.
Haft thou a pledge, that this pledge is not falfe ?
waLlenstein.
There exift moments in the life of man,
When he is nearer the great Soul of the world
Than is man's cuftom, and poffefles freely
The power of queftioning his deftiny:
And fuch a moment 'twas, when in the night
Before the action in the plains of Lützen,
Leaning againft a tree, thoughts crowding thoughts,
I look'd out far upon the ominous plain.
My whole life, paft and future, in this moment
Before my mind's eye glided in proceffion,
And to the deftiny of the next morning
The fpirit, fill'd with anxious prefentiment,
Did knit the moft remov'd futurity.
Then faid I alfo to myfelf, " So many
Doft thou command. They follow all thy ftars,
And as on fome great number kt their Ali
o Upon
J94 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
Upon thy fingle head, and only man
The veflel of thy fortune. Yet a day
Will come, when Deftiny fhall once more fcatter
All thefe in many a feveral direction :
Few be they who will ftand out faithful to thee."
I yearn'd to know which one was faithfulleft
Of all, this camp include. Great Deftiny,
Give me a fign ! And he fhall be the man,
Who, on th' approaching morning, comes the firft
To meet me with fome token of his love :
And thinking this, I fell into a flumber.
Then midmofl in the battle was I led
In fpirit. Great the preffure and the tumult !
Then was my horfe kill'd under me : I fank ;
And over me away, all unconcernedly,
Drove horfe and rider — and thus trod to pieces
I lay, and panted like a dying man. *
Then feiz'd me fuddenly a faviour arm*
It was Octavio's — I awoke at once.
'Twas broad day, and Octavio flood before me.
" My brother," faid he, " do not ride to-day
" The dapple, as you're wont; but mount the
" horfe
" Which I have chofen for thee. Do it, brother !
" In love to me. A ilrong dream warn'd me fo."
It was the fwiftnefs of this horfe that fnatch'd me
From the hot purfuit of Bannier's dragoons.
My coufin rode the dapple on that day,
And never more faw I or horfe or rider.
ILLO.
That was a chance.
WALLENSTEIN.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 195
WALLENSTEIN, (figllificailtly)
There's no fuch thing as chance.
In brief, 'tis fign'd and feal'd that this O&avio
Is my good angel — and now no word more.
[He is retiring.)
TERTSKY.
This is my comfort — Max. remains our hoftagc
ILLO.
And he fhall never ftir from here alive.
wallenstein, (ßops, and turns himfelf
round )
Are ye not like the women, who for ever
Only recur to their firft word, altho'
One had been talking reafon by the hour ?
Know* that the human being's thoughts and deeds
Are not, like ocean billows, blindly mov'd.
The inner world, his microcofmus, is
The deep fhaft, out of which they fpring eternally.
They grow by certain laws, like the tree*s fruit —
No juggling chance can metamorphofe them.
Have I the human kernel firft examin'd ?
Then I know, too, the future will and action.
SCENE IV.
Scene a Chamber in PiccolorninV s Dwelling-
Houfe.
ÖcTAVio PiccoLeMiNi, Isolani, entering.
ISOLANI.
Here am I — Well ! who comes yet of the others ?
o % OCTAVIO
196 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
octavio. (with an air of myfiery)
But, firjft, a word with you, Count Ifolani.
I s o l an i . ( qfluming the fame air of my fiery )
Will it explode, ha ? — Is the Duke about
To make th' attempt ? In me, friend, you may
place
Full confidence. — Nay, put me to the proof.
OCTAVIO.
That may happen.
ISOLANI.
Noble brother, I am
Not one of thofe men who in words are valiant*
And when it comes to action fkulk away.
The Duke has acted towards me as a friend.
Gods knows it is fo ; and I owe him all -
He may rely on my fidelity.
OCTAVIO.
That will be feen hereafter.
ISOLANI.
Be on your guard.
All think not as I think ; and there are many
' Who ftill hold with the Court — yes, and they fay
That thofe ftol'n fignatures bind them to nothing»
OCTAVIO.
1 am rejoic'd to hear it.
ISOLANI.
You rejoice \
OCTAVIO.
That the Emperor has yet fuch gallant fervants
And loving friends.
ISOLANI.
FIRST PART OF WALJ.ENSTEIN. 191
ISOLANI.
Nay, jeer not, I entreat you.
They are no fuch worthlefs fellows, I afiure you.
OCTAVIO.
I am affur'd already. God forbid
That I mould jeft ! — -In very ferious earneft
I am rejoic'd to fee an lioneft caufe
So fhrong.
ISOLANI.
The devil ! — what ! — -why, what means this?
Are you not, then -^For what, then, am I here ?
qctavio.
That you may make full declaration, whether
You will be call'd the friend or enemy
Of th' Emperor.
isoLANi. f zvith an air of defiance )
That declaration, friend,
I'll make to him in whom a right is plac'ci
To put that queftion to me.
qctavio.
Whether, Count,
That right is mine, this paper may inftrucl you.
isoLANi. [fiammering)
Why — why — what! this is the Emperor's hand
and feal ! (Reads.)
■' Whereas the officers collectively
" Throughout our army will obey the orders
" Of the Lieutenant-general Piccolomini,
As from ourfelves."— -. — *Hem! — Yes I fo! —
Yes ! yes ! — .
-I give you joy, Lieutenant-general !
q 3 OCTAVIQ
<<
1Ö8 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
OCTAVIO.
And you fubmit you to the order ?
ISOLANI.
I
But you have taken me fo by furprize —
Time for reflection one muß have
OCTAVIO.
• Two minutes»
ISOLANI.
My God ! But then the cafe is
OCTAVIO.
Plain and fimple.
You muft declare you, whether you determine
To act a treafon 'gainft your Lord and Sovereign,
Or whether you will ferve him faithfully.
ISOLANI.
Treafon! — My God !— But who talks then of
treafon ?
OCTAVIO.
That is the cafe. 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 th' Emperor ?
Sell yourfelf to the enemy ? — Say, will you ?
ISOLANI.
What mean you ? I — I break my oath, d'ye fay,
To his Imperial Majefty ?
Did I fay fo ? — When, when have I faid that ?
< OCTAVIO.
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 19.9
OCTAVIO.
You have not faid it yet — not yet. This inftant . _
I wait to hear, Count, whether you will fay it.
ISOLANI.
Aye ! that delights me now, that you yourfelf
Bear witnefs for me that I never faid fo.
OCTAVIO.
And you renounce the Duke then ?
ISOLANI.
If he's planning
Treafon — why, treafon breaks all bonds afunder.
OCTAVIO.
And are determin'd, too, to fight againft him ?
ISOLANI.
He has done me fervice — but if he's a villain,
Perdition feize him ! — All fcores are rubb'd off.
OCTAVIO.
I am rejoic'd that you're fo well difpos'd.
This night break off in th' utmoft fecrefy
With all the light-arm'd troops — it muft appear
As came the order from the Duke himfelf.
At Frauenberg's the place of rendezvous ;
There will Count Galas give you further orders.
ISOLANI.
It mall be done. But you'll remember me
With th' Emperor — how well-difpos'd you fourvd
me.
OCTAVIO.
I will not fail to mention it honourably.
[Exit Ifolani. A Servant enters.
What, Colonel Butler !— Shew him up.
O 4 ISOLANI,
200 THE PICCOLOMI^I, OR THE
isolani. {returning)
Forgive me too my bearilh ways, old father!
Lord God ! how mould I know, then, what a great
Perfon I had before me. .
OCTAVIO.
No excufes !
ISOLANI.
I am a merry lad, and if at time
A ram word might efcape me 'gainft the court
Amidft my wine — you know no harm was meant.
[Exit.
OCTAVIO.
You need not be uneafy on that fcore.
That has fucceeded. Fortune favour us
With all the others only but as much !
SCENE V.
OCTAVIOPICCOLOMINI. BüTLER.
BUTLER.
At your command, Lieutenant General.
OCTAVIO.
Welcome, as honor'd friend and vifitor.
BUTLER.
You do me too much honour.
OCTAVIO.
FfRST PART OF WALXENSTEIN, 201
ocTAVio. (after bpth have feated themj "elves .)
You have not
Return*d the ad varices which I made you yefterday—^
Mifunderflood them, as mere empty forms.
That wifti proceeded from my heart — I was
In earneft with you — for 'tis now a time
In which the honeft fhould unite moft clofely.
BUTLER.
'Tis only the like-minded can unite.
OCTAVIO.
True ! and I name all honeft men like-minded.
I never charge a man but with thofe acts
To which his character deliberately
Impels him ; for alas ! the violence
Of blind mimnderftandings often thrufts
The very beft of us from the right track.
You came thro* Frauenberg. Did the Count Galas
Say nothing to you ? Tell me. He's my friend.
BUTLER.
His words were loft on me.
octavio.
It grieves me forely
To hear it : for his counfel was moft wife.
I had myfelf the like to offer.
BUTLER.
Spare
Yoürfelf the trouble — me th* embarrafiment,
To have deferv'd fo ill your good opinion.
OCTAVIO.
202 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
OCTAVIO.
The time is precious — let us talk openly.
You know how matters ftand here, Wallenftein
Meditates treafon — I can tell you further —
He has committed treafon; but few hours
Have paft, fince he a covenant concluded
With th" enemy. The meffengers are now
Full on their way to Egra and to Prague.
To-morrow he intends to lead us over
To th* enemy. But he deceives himfelf ;
For Prudence wakes — the Emperor has ft ill
Many and faithful friends here, and they ftand
In clofeft union, mighty tho' unfeen.
This manitefto fentences the Duke —
Recals the obedience of the army from him,
And fummons all the loyal, all the honeft,
To join and recognize in me their leader.
Choofe — will you {hare with us an honeft caufe ?
Or with the evil (hare an evil lot.
butler, (rifes.)
His lot is mine.
OCTAVIO.
Is that your laft refolve ?
BUTLER.
It is.
OCTAVIO.
Kay, but bethink you, Colonel Butler !
As yet you have time. Within my faithful breaft
Thatrafhly utter'd word remains interr'd.
Recal it, Butler ! chufe a better party.
You have not chofen the right one.
4 BUTLER.
FIRST PART OP WALLENSTETn. 203
BUTLER, (going.)
Any other
Commands for me, Lieutenant General ?
OCTAVIO.
See your white hairs ! Recal that word !
BUTLER.
Farewell !
OCTAVIO.
What would you draw this good and gallant fword
In fuch a caufe ? Into a curfe would you
Transform the gratitude which you have earn'd
By forty years' fidelity from Auftria ?
butler, [laughing with bitternefs.)
Gratitude from the houfe of Auftria.
(he is going.)
octavio. (permits him to go äs far as the door,
then calls after him.)
Butler !
BUTLER.
What with you ?
OCTAVIO.
How was't with the Count ?
butler.
Count ? what I
octavio. {coldly,)
The title that you wifh'd I mean.
butler, (fiarts in fudden pajfion . )
Hell and damnation !
octavio. {coldly.)
You petition'd for it —
And your petition was repell'd-— Was it fo ?
butler*
f04f ¥HE PICCOkOMINI, OH TUB
BUTLER.
Your infolent feoff (ball not go by unpunifh'd, .
Drawl
OCTAVIO.
Nay ! your fword to 'ts (heath ! and tell me calmly
How all that happen'd. I will not refufe you
Your fatisfadtion afterwards. — Calmly, Butler !
BUTLER.
Be the whole world acquainted with the weaknefs;
For which I never can forgive myfelf.
Lieutenant General ! Yes — I have ambition.
Ne'er was I able to endure contempt.
It flung me to the quick, that birth and title
Should have more weight than merit has in tl\
army.
I would fain not be meaner than my equal,
So in an evil hour I ht myfelf
Be tempted to that meafure — It was folly !
But yet fo hard a penance it deferv*d not.
It might have been refus'd ; but wherefore barb
And venom the refufal with contempt ?
"Why daili to earth and crufh with heavieft fcori*
The grey-hair'd man, the faithful Veteran ?
Why to the bafenefs of his parentage
Refer him with fuch cruel roughnefs, only
Beeaufe he had a weak hour and forgot himfelf ?
But nature gives a fling e'en to the worm
Which wanton Power treads on in fport and infuk.
■OCTAV10.
You mull have been calumniated. Guefs you
The enemy, who did you this ill fervice ?
3 butler.
fciRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 205
BUTLER.
Be't who it will — a moft low-hearted fcoundrel,
Some vile court-minion muft itbe,fome Spaniard,
Some young {quire of ibme ancient family,
In whofe light I may ftand, fome envious knave,
Stung to his foul by my fair felf-earn'd honours I -
OCTAVIO.
But tell me ! Did the Duke approve that meafure ?
BUTLER.
Hirnfelf impell'd me to it> ufed his interefl
In my behalf with all the warmth of friendship. '
OCTAVIO.
Ay ? Are you fure of that ?
BUTLER.
I read the letter.
OCTAVIO.
And fo did I — but the contents were different.
(Butler B fuddenly firuck)
By chance I'm in poffeflion 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, ,
An infamous game have they been playing with
you.
The Duke, you fay, impell'd you to this meafure T
Now, in this letter talks he in contempt
Concerning you* counfels the Minifter
T„
206 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
To give found chaftifement to your conceit,
For fo he calls it.
< (Butler reads through the letter , hü knees
tremble, he feizes a chair, and finks down
in it.)
You have no enemy, no perfecutör;
There's no one wifhes ill to you. Afcribe
The infult you receiv'd to the Duke only.
His aim is clear and palpable. He wiüVd
To tear you from your Emperor — he hop'd
To gain from your revenge what he well knew
(What your long-tried fidelity convinc'd him)
He n'er could dare expect from your calm reafon.
A blind tool would he make you, in contempt
Ufe you, as means of mod abandon'd ends.
He has gain'd his point. Too well has he fucceeded
In luring you away from that good path
On which you had been journeying forty years !
butler, (his vo ice trem b ling )
Can e'er the Emperor's Majefly forgive me ?
0CTAVI0.
More than forgive you. He would fain con>
penfate
For that affront, and moft unmerited grievance
Suftain'd by a deferving, gallant veteran.
From his free impulfe he confirms the prefent,
Which the Duke made you for a wicked purpofe.
The regiment, which you now command, is your's.
(Butler attempts to rife, finks down again. He
labours inwardly with violent emotions > tries
to
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 207
to J peak, and cannot. At length he takes his
/word from the belt, and offers it to Pic-
colomini. )
OCTAVIO.
What wifh you ? Recoiled yourfelf, friend .
BUTLER.
Take it.
OCTAVIO.
But to what purpofe ? Calm yourfelf.
BUTLER.
O take M !
I am no longer worthy of this fvvord.
OCTAVIO.
Receive it then anew from my hands — and
Wear it with honour for the right caufe ever.
BUTLER.
Perjure myfelf to fuch a gracious Sovereign 1
OCTAVIO.
You'll make amends. Quick ! break off from the
Duke !
BUTLER.
Break off from him !
OCTAVIO.
What now ? Bethink thyfelf.
butler, (no longer governing his emotion )
Only break off from him ! — He dies ! he dies !
OCTAVIO.
Come after me to Frauenberg, where now
All, who are loyal, are aflembling under
Counts Altringer and Galas. Many others
I've
208 THE PICCOLoMlNT, OR THE
I've brought to a remembrance of their duty.
This night be fure, that you efcape from Pilfen.
butler, (ßrides up and dozen in exceffive
agitation, thenßeps up to Octavio with re-
folved countenance.)
Count Piccolomini ! Dare that man fpeak
Of honour to you, who once broke his troth.
OCTAVIO.
He, who repents fo deeply of it, dares»
BUTLER.
Then leave me here, upon my word of honour I
OCTAVIO.
What's your defign ?
BUTLER.
Leave me and my regiment.
OCTAVIO.
1 have full confidence in you. But tell me
What are you brooding ?
BUTLER.
That the deed will tell you.
Aik me no more at prefent. Truft to me.
Ye may truft fafely. By the living God
Ye give him over, not to his good angel !
Farewell ! [Exit Butler.
servant, {enters with a billet.)
A ftranger left it, and is gone.
The Prince-Duke's horfes wait for you below.
[Exit Servants
octavio. (reads.)
" Be fure, make hafte ! Your faithful Ifolan."
—^O that I had but left this town behind me.
To
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 209
To fplit upon a rock fo near the haven ! —
Away !■ This is no longer a fafe place for me !
Where can my Ton be tarrying ?
SCENE VI.
Octavio and Max. Picgolomini.
(Max. enters almqß in a fiate of derangement
from extreme agitation, his eyes roll zvildly,
his xvalk is unßeady, and he appears not to
obferve Ids father, who flands at a difiance,
and gazes at him with a countenance expref-
ßve of compajfion. He paces with long
ßrides through the chamber, then ßands
fill again, and at laß throws himfelf into a
chair, ßaring vacantly at the object directly
before him.)
octavio. {advances to ftim,)
I am going 0fT, my fon.
{Receiving no anfwer, he takes his hand.)
My fon, farewell.
MAX.
Farewell.
OCTAVIO.
Thou wilt foon follow me ?
MAX.
• I follow thee ?
Thy way is crooked — it is not my way.
p (Qctavfo
#10 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
(Octavio drops his hand, and ßarts back.)
O, hadfl thou been but fimple and fincere,
Ne'er had it come to this — all had flood otherwife.
He had not done that foul and horrible deed,
The virtuous had retained their influence o'er him :
He had not fallen into the fnares of villains.
Wherefore fo like a thief, and thief's accomplice
Did'ft creep behind him — lurking for thy prey ?
O, unbleft falfehood ! Mother of all evil !
Thou mifery-making daemon, it is thou
That fink'ft us in perdition. Simple truth,
Suftainerof the world, had fav'd us all !
Father, I will not, I cannot excufe thee !
Wallenftein has deceiv'd me — O, mod foully !
But thou haft acted not much, better.
OCTAVIO.
Son !
My fon, ah ! I forgive thy agony !
max. (rifes, and contemplates his father with
looks of fufpicion,)
Was't poffible ? had'ft thou the heart, my father,
Had'ft thou the heart to drive it to fuch lengths,
With cold premeditated purpofe ? Thou —
Had'ft thou the heart, to wifh to fee him guilty,
Rather than fav'd ? Thou rifeft by his fall.
Octavio, 'twill not pleafe me.
OCTAVIO.
God in Heaven !
MAX.
O, woe is me 1 lure I have chang'd my nature.
4 How
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 211
How comes fufpicion here — in the free foul ?
Hope, confidence, belief, are gone s for all
Lied to me, all what I e'er lov'd or honour d.
No ! No ! Not all ! She — (he yet lives for me,
And (he is true, and open as the Heavens !
Deceit is every where, hypocrify,
Murder, and poifoning, treafon, perjury :
The fingle holy fpot is our love,
The only unprofan'd in human nature.
OCTAVIO.
Max ! — we will go together. 'Twill be better.
MAX.
What ? ere I've taken a lad parting leave,
The very laft — no never !
OCTAVIO.
Spare thyfelf
The pang of neceffary feparation.
Come with me I Come, my fon !
[Attempts to take him with him.)
MAX»
No I as fure as God lives, no !
octavio. {more urgently.)
Come with me, I command thee ! I, thy father.
MAX.
Command me what is human. I flay here.
OCTAVIO.
Max ! in the Emperor's name I bid thee come.
MAX.
No Emperor hath power to prefcribe
p z Laws
212 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
Laws to the heart ; and would'ft thou v.i(h to rob
me
Of the fole blefling which my fate has left me,
Her fympathy. Muft then a cruel deed
Be done with cruelty ? The unalterable
Shall I perform ignobly — ileal away,
With flealthy coward flight forfake her ? No !
She (hall behold my fuffering, my fore anguifh,
Hear the complaints of the difparted foul,
And weep tears o'er me. O ! the human race
Have fteely fouls — but (he is as an angel.
From the black deadly madnefs of defpair
Will me redeem my foul, and in foft words
Of comfort, plaining, loofe this pang of death \
OCTAVIO.
Thou will not tear thyfelf away, thou can' ft not.
O, come, my fbn ! I bid thee fave thy virtue,
MAX.
Squander not thou thy words in vain.
The heart I follow, for I dare trufl to it.
octAVio. {trembling, and lofing all felf-*
command.)
Max ! Max ! if .that moft damned thing could be,
If thou — my fon — my own blood — (dare I think
it?)
Do fell thyfelf to him, the infamous,
Do (lamp this brand upon our noble houfe,
Then (hall the world behold the horrible deed,
And in unnatural combat (hall the fteel
Of the fon trickle with the father's blood.
MAX,
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 213
MAX.
O hadft thou always better thought of men,
Thou hadft then afted better. Curft fufpicion !
Unholy miferable doubt ! To him
Nothing on earth remains unwrench'd and firm,
Who has no faith.
OCTAVIO.
And if I truft thy heart,
Will it be always in thy power to follow it ?
MAX.
The heart's voice thou haft not o'erpower'd— as
little
Will Wallenftein be able to o'erpower it.
OCTAVIO.
O, Max ! I fee thee never more again !
MAX.
Unworthy of thee wilt thou never fee me.
OCTAVIO.
I go to Frauenberg — the Pappenheimers
I leave thee here, the Lothrings too ; Tofkana
And Tiefenbach remain here to protect thee.
They love thee, and are faithful ,to their oath,
And will far rather fall in gallant conteft
Than leave their rightful leader, and their honour.
MAX.
Rely on this, I either leave my life
In the ftruggle, or conduct them out of Pilfen.
OCTAVIO.
Farewell, my fon !
MAX.
farewell !
OCTAVIO.
214 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE
OCTAVIO.
How ? not one iook
Of filial love ? No grafp of tir hand at parting ?
It is a bloody war, to which we are going,
And the event uncertain and in darknefs.
So us'd we not to part — it was not fo j
Is it then true ? I have a fon no longer ?
{Max. falls into his arms, they hold each for
a long time in a fpeechlefs embrace, then.
p;o ai^ay at afferent Mes.)
THE CURTAIN DROPS.
'Prinicd by G. Wood/all, No. 22, Pafernofier-Ro<w, London.
THE
DEATH
OP
WALLENSTEIN.
A TRAGEDY
IN FIVE ACTS.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OP
FREDERICK SCHILLER
by
S. T. COLERIDGE.
LONDON :
PRINTED FOR T. N. LONGMAN AND O. REES, PATERNOSTER ROW,
By G. Woodfallt No. 22, Paternoßer'Ro'w.
1800.
WALLENSTEIN.
A DRAMA
IN TWO PARTS.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF'
FREDERICK SCHILLER
BY
S T. COLERIDGE,
LONDON j
JMUNTED FOR T. tt. LONGMAN AND O. REES> ?ATERNOSTER-ROW,
By G. Wood/all, No. a 2, Paternofier-Roiu,
18Q0
PREFACE
OF THE
TRANSLATOR.
HE two Dramas, Piccolomini, or the firft
part of Wallenstein, and Wallenstein,
are introduced in the original manufcript by a
Prelude in one Act, entitled Wallen stein's
Camp. This is written in rhyme, and in nine
fyllable verfe, in the fame lilting metre (if that
expreffion may be permitted) with the fecond
Eclogue of Spencer's Shepherd's Calendar.
This Prelude poffefles a fort of broad humour,
and is not deficient in character j but to have
tranflated it into profe, or into any other metre
than that of the original, would have given a
falfe idea both of its ftyle and purport ; to have
tranflated it into the fame metre would have been
incompatible with a faithful adherence to the
fenfe of the German, from the comparative po-
verty of our language in rhymes ; and it would
have been unadvifeable from the incongruity of
thole lax verfes with the prefent tafte of the Eng-
lish Public. Schiller's intention feems to have
been merely to have prepared his reader for the
Tragedies by a lively picture of the laxity of dif-
cipline, and the mutinous difpofitions of Wallen-
ftein's foldiery. It is not neceflary as a prelimi-
nary explanation. For thefe reafons it has been
thought expedient not to translate it.
The
PREFACE.
The admirers of Schiller, who have abftracted
their idea of that author from the Robbers, and
the Cabal and Love, plays in which the main in-
terefl is produced by the excitement of curiofity,
and in which the curiofity is excited by terrible
and extraordinary incident, will not have perufed
without fome portion of difappointment the
Dramas, which it has been my employment to
translate. They mould, however, reflect that
thefe are Hiftorical Dramas, taken from a po-
pular German Hiftory ; that we muft therefore
judge of them in fome meafure with the feelings
of Germans ; or by analog}'-, with the intereft
excited in us by fimilar Dramas in our own
language. Few, I truft, would be rafh or igno-
rant enough to compare Schiller with Shakefpeare;
yet, merely as illuftration, I would fay that wg
(bould proceed to the perufal of Wallenftein, not
from Lear or Othello, but from Richard the
Second, or the three parts of Henry the Sixth.
We fcarcely expect rapidity in an Hiftorical
Drama; and many prolix fpeeches are pardoned
from characters, whofe names and actions have
formed the moft amufing tales of our early life.
On the other hand, there exift in thefe plays more
individual beauties, more paflages, whofe excel»
lence will bear reflection, than in the former
productions of Schiller. The defcription of the
Aftrological Tower, and the reflections of the
Young Lover, which follow it, form in the ori-
ginal a fine poem ; and my tranflation muft have
been wretched indeed, if it can have wholly over-
clouded the beauties of the Scene in the firft
Aft of the firft Play between Queftenberg, Max.
and Octavio Piccolomini. If we except the Scena
of the fetting fan in the Robbers, I know of no
part in Schiller's Plays which equals the whole of
the firft Scene of the fifth Ad of the concluding
Play.
PREFACE.
Play. It would be unbecoming in me to be more
difFule on this fubjecl:. A Translator (lands con-
nected with the original Author by a certain law
of fubordination, which makes it more decorous
to point out excellencies than defects : indeed he
is not likely to be a fair judge of either. The
pleafure or difguft from his own labour will
mingle with the feelings that arife from an after-
view of the original. Even in the fiift perufal
of a work in any foreign language which we
underftand, we are apt to attribute to it more
excellence than it really poliertes from our own
pleafurable fenfe of difficulty overcome without
effort. Tranflation of poetry into poetry is diffi-
cult, becaufe the Tranflator mufl give a brilliancy
to his language without that warmth of original
conception, from which fuch brilliancy would
follow of its own accord. But the Tranflator of
a living Author is encumbered with additional
inconveniences. If he render his original faith-
fully, as to the fenfe of each paflage, he muft
necefiarily deftroy a confiderable portion of the
fpirit ; if he endeavour to give a work executed
according to laws of compenfation, he fubjecls
himfeifto imputations of vanity, or mifreprefenta-
tion. I have thought it my duty to remain bound
by the fenfe of my original, with as few exceptions
&s the nature of the languages rendered portable,
& T, COLERIDGE
DRAMATIS
DRAMATIS PERSONS.
Wallenstein, Duke of Friedland, Generalißmo of the Impe-
rial Forces in the Thirty-years War.
Duchess of Fried land, Wife of Wallenfiein.
Thekla, her Daughter, Princefs of Friedland.
TfcCouifTESs Tertsky, Sißer of the Ducbefs.
Lady Neubrunn.
Octavio Piccolomini, Lieutenant General.
Max. Piccolomini, his Son, Colonel of a Regiment ofCuiraßers.
Count Tertsky, the Commander of feveral Regiments, and
Brother-in-lato of Wallenßein.
Illo, Field Marfhal, Wallenßein' s Confidant.
Butler, an Irißman, Commander of a Regiment of Dragoons.
Gordon, Governor of Egra.
Major Geraldin. .
Captain Devereux.
Macdonald.
Neumann, Captain of Cavalry, Aide-de-camp to Tertfiy.
Swedish Captain.
Seni.
Burgomaster, of Egra.
Anspessade of the Cuiraßers.
Groom of the Chamber.
A Page,
Cuirassiers, Dragoons, Servants.
» \ Belonging to the Duie.
THE
DEATH
OF
WALLENSTEIN.
ACT I.
Scene, a Chamber in the Houfe of the Duchefs
of Friedland.
SCENE I.
Countess Tertsky. Thekla. Lady
Neubrunn.
(the two latter fit at the fame table at work.)
countess, (watching them from the oppofitejide.)
So you have nothing, niece, to afk me ? Nothing ?
I have been waiting for a word from you.
And could you then endure in all this time
Not once to fpeak his name ?
(Thekla remaining filent* the Cpuntefs rifes and
advances to her.)
Why, how comes this ?
Perhaps I am already grown fuperfluous,
And other ways exift, befides through me ?
Confefs it to me, Thekla ! have you feen him ?
B THEKLA.
2 THE DEATH OF
THEKLA.
To-day and yefterday I have not feen him.
COUNTESS.
And not heard from him either ? Come, be open i
THEKLA.
No fyllable.
COUNTESS.
And ftill you are fo calm ?
THEKLA.
I am.
COUNTESS.
May't pleafe you, leave us, Lady Neubrunn !
[Exit Lady Neubrunit.
■.'•■.■.
SCENE II.
The Countess. Thekla.
countess.
I J: does not pleafe me, Princefs ! that he holds.
Himfelf foyfo*//, exactly at this time.
THEKLA.
Exactly at this time?
COUNTESS.
He now knows all.
'Twere now the moment to declare himfelf.
THEKLA.
If I^m to underfta'rid you, fpeak lefs darkly.
COUNTESS.
'Twas for that purpofe that I bade her leave us.
- Thekla,
WALLENSTEIN. 3
Thekla, you are no more a child. Your heart
Is now no more in nonage : for you love,
And boldnefs dwells with love — that you have
prov'd.
Your nature moulds itfelf upon your father's
More than your mother's fpirit. Therefore may you
Hear, what were too much for her fortitude.
THEKLA.
Enough ! no further preface, I intreat you.
At once, out with it ! Be it what it may,
It is not poffible that it mould torture me
More than this introduction. What have you
To fay to me ? Tell me the whole, and briefly !
COUNTESS.
You'll not be frighten'd —
THEKLA.
Name it, I intreat you.
COUNTESS.
It lies within your power to do your father
A weighty fervice—
THEKLA.
Lies within my power?.
countess.
Max.- Pi'ccolomini loves you. You can link him
IndiffolubJy to your father.
THEKLA. •
I ?
What need of me for that ? And is he not
Already link'd to him ?
B 2 COUNTESS.
I
»-
4 the death: of \
COUNTESS.
He was.
THEKLA.
And wherefore
Should he not be fo now — not be fo always ?
COUNTESS.
He cleaves to th' Emp'ror too.
THEKLA.
Not more than duty
And honour may demand of him.
COUNTESS.
We aflc
Proofs of his love, and not proofs of his honour.
Dutv and honour !
Thofe are ambiguous words with many meanings-
You mould interpret them for him : his love
Should be. the fole definer of his honour.
THEKLA.
How ? .
COUNTESS.
Th' Emperor or you muft he renounce.
THEKLA.
He will accompany my father gladly
In his retirement. From himfelf you heard,
How much he wifrYd to lay afide the fword.
COUNTESS.
He müft not lay the fword afide, we mean -,
He muft unfheath it in your father's caufe.
THEKLA.
WALLENSTEIN. 5.
THEKLA.
He'll fpend with gladnefs and alacrity
His life, his heart's blood in my father's caufe,
If fhame or injury be intended him.
COUNTESS.
You will not underftand me. Well, hear then !
Your father has fallen off from' the JEmperor,
And is about to join the enemy
With the whole foldiery —
THEKLA,
Alas, my mother !
COUNTESS.
There needs a great example to draw on
The army after him. The Piccolomini
Poflefs the love and rev'rence of the troops;
They govern all opinions, and wherever
They lead the way, none hefitate to follow.
The fon fecures the father to our interefts —
You've much in your hands at this moment.
THEKLA,
Ah,
My miferable mother ! what a death-ftroke
Awaits thee ! — No ! She never will furvive it.
COUNTESS.
She will accommodate her foul to that
Which is and rauft be. I do know vour mother.
The far-off future weighs upon he/ heart
With torture of anxiety ; but is it
Unalterably, actually prefent,
She foon refigns herfelf, and bears it calmly.
E %. THEKLA.
6" THE DEATH OF
■ THEKLA.
0 my fore -boding bofom ! Even now,
E'en now 'tis here, that icy hand of horror !
And my young hope lies fhuddering in its grafp.
1 knew it well — no fooner had I enter'd,
An heavy ominous prefentiment
Reveal'd to me, that fpirits of death were hov'ring
Over my happy fortune. But why think I
Firft of myfelf ? My mother ! O my mother !
COUNTESS.
Calm yourfelf ! Break not out in vain lamenting !
Preferve you for your father the firm friend,
And for yourfelf the lover, all will yet
Prove good and fortunate.
THEKLA.
Prove good ? What good ?
Mull; 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 fore anguifh ! It will rend
His heart afunder.
COUNTESS.
If indeed he loves you,
His refolution will be fpeedily taken.
THEKLA.
His refolution will be fpeedily taken —
O do not doubt of that ! A refolution !
Does there remain one to be taken f
COUNTESS.
WALLENSTEIN-.
COUNTESS.
Hllfll!
Colled yourfelf ! I hear your mother coming.
THEKLA.
How (hall I bear to fee her ?
COUNTESS.
Colled: yourfelf.
,SCE^E III.
To them enter the Duchess.
duchess, (to the Countefs.)
Who was here, fifter ? I heard fome one talking,
And paffionately too.
countess.
Nay! There was no one»
duchess.
I am grown fo timorous, every trifling noife
Scatters my fpirits, and announces to me
The footftep of fome meflenger of evil.
And can you tell me, fifter, what the event is ?
Will he agree to do the Emperor's pleafure,
And fend th' horfe-regiments to the Cardinal ?
Tell me, has he difmifs'd Von Queftenberg
With a favourable anfwer ?
COUNTESS.
No, he has not.
B 4 DUCHESS,
8 THE DEATH OF
PUCHESS.
Alas ! then all is loft ! I fee it coming,
The worft that can come • Yes, they will depofe him $
The accurfed bufinefs of the I-legenfpurg diet
Will all be acted o'er again !
COUNTESS.
No ! never !
Make your heart eafy, fitter, as to that.
(Thekla3 in extreme agitation, throws her/elf upoi%
her mother, and enfolds her in her arms, %veepr
ing.)
DUCHESS.
Yes, my poor child !
Thou too haft loft a moft affectionate godmother
In th' Emprefs. O that ftern unbending man !
In this unhappy marriage what have I
Not fuffer'd, not endur'd. For ev'n as if
I had been link'd on to fome wheel of fire
That reftlefs, ceafelefs, whirls impetuous onward,
I have paft a life of frights and horrors with him,
And ever to the brink of fome Abyfs
With dizzy headlong violence he whirls me.
Nay, do not weep, my child ! Let not my fufFrings
Prefignify unhappinefs to thee,
Nor blacken with their made, the fate that waits
thee.
There lives no fecond Friedland : thou, my child,
Haft not to fear thy mother's deftiny.
THEKLA.
O let us fupplicate him, deareft mother !
Quick ! quick ! here's no abiding-place for us.
Here
WALLENSTEIN. 9
Here every coming hour broods into life
Some new affrightful monfter.
DUCHESS.
Thou wilt mare
An eafier, calmer lot, my child ! We too,
I and thy father, witnefs'd happy days.
Still think I with delight of thofe firft years,
When he was making progrefs with glad effort,
When his ambition was a genial fire,
Not that confuming j##??ze which now it is.
The Emperor lov'd him, trufted him ; and all
He undortook, could not but be fuccefsful.
But fince that ill-ftarr'd day at Regenfpurg,
Which plung'd him headlong from his dignity,
A gloomy uncompanionable fpirit,
ÄUnfteady and fufpicious, has poffefs'd him.
His quiet mind forfook him, and no longer
Did he yield up himfelf in joy and faith
To his old luck, and individual power ;
But thenceforth turn'd his heart and befl affections
^.11 to thofe cloudy fciences, which never
Have yet made happy him who followed them-
COUNTESS.
You fee it, fifter! as y our eyes permit you.
But furely this is not the converfation
To pafs the time in which we are waiting for him.
You know he will be foon here. Would you have
him
Find her in this condition ?
DUCHESS.
10 THE DEATH OP
/
DUCHESS.
Come, my child!
Come wipe away thy tears, and (hew thy father
A chearful countenance. See, the tie-knot here
Is off — this hair mull not hang fo difhevell'd.
Come, deareft ! dry thy tears up. They deform.
Thy gentle eye — well now — -what was I faying ?
Yes, in good truth, this Piccolomini
Is a moft noble and deferving gentleman.
COUNTESS.
That is he, fitter !
THEKLA.
(to the Countefs, with marks of great oppreffionqf
fpirits.)
Aunt, you will excufe me ? (is going)
COUNTESS.
But whither ? See, your father comes.
THEKLA.
I cannot fee him now.
COUNTESS.
Nay, but bethink you.
THEKLA.
Believe me, I cannot fuftain his prefence.
COUNTESS.
But he will mifs you, will afk after you.
DUCHESS.
What now ? Why is fhe going r
?
COUNTESS.
She's not well.
DUCHESS.
WALLENSTEItf. 11
duchess, (anxioußy.)
What ails then my beloved child ?
{both follow the Princefs, and endeavour to detain
her. During this Wallenfiein appears, en-
gaged in converfation with Illo.)
SCENE IV.
Wallenstein. Illo. Countess. Duchess.
Thekla.
wallenstein.
All quiet in the camp ?
illo.
It is all quiet.
WALLENSTEIN.
In a few hours may couriers come from Prague
With tidings, that this capital is ours.
Then we may drop the mafk, and to the troops
Affembled in this town make known the meafure
And it's refult together. In fuch cafes
Example does the whole. Whoever is foremoft
Still leads the herd. An imitative creature
Is man. The troops at Prague conceive no other,
Than that the Pilfen army has gone through
The forms of homage to us ; and in Pilfen
They lliall fwear fealty to us, becaufe
The example has been given them by Prague.
Butler, you tell me, has declared himfelf.
ILLO.
At his own bidding, unfolicited,
He came to offer you himfelf and regiment.
WALLENSTEIN.
12 THE DEATH OF
WALLENSTEIN.
I find we muft not give implicit credence
To every warning voice that makes itfelf
Be liften'd to in th' heart. To hold us back,
Oft does the lying fpirit counterfeit
The voice of Truth and inward Revelation,
Scatt'ring falf^ oracles. And thus have I
To intreat forgivenefs, for that fecretly
I've wrong'd this honourable gallant- man,
This Butler : for a feeling, of the which
I am not matter, {fear I would not call it)
Creeps o'er me inftantly, with fenfe of fhudd'ring,
At his approach, and flops love's joyous motion.
And this fame man, againft whom J am warn'd,
This honeft man is he, who reaches to me
The firft pledge of my fortune.
I LLC
And doubt not
That his example will win over to you
The befl men in the army.
WALLENSTEIN.
Go and fend
Ifolani hither. Send him immediately.
He is under recent obligations to me.
With him will I commence the trial. Go.
[illo. Ex if.
w allenstein . ((urns himfelf round to thefemales)
Lo, there the mother with the darling daughter,
For once we'll have an interval of reft —
Come ! my heart yearns to live a cloudlefs hour
In the beloved circle of my family.
COUNTESS.
WALLENSTEIN. 13
COUNTESS.
Tis long fince we've been thus together, brother.
wallenstein, (to the Coantefs, aßde.)
Can fiie fuftain the news ? Is (he prepar'd ?
COUNTESS.
Not yet.
WALLENSTEIN.
Come here, my fweet girl ! Seat thee by me.
For there is a good fpirit on thy lips.
Thy mother prais'd to me thy ready fkill :
She fays a voice of melody dwells in thee,
Which doth enchant the foul. Now fuch a voice
Will drive away for me the evil daemon
That beats his black wings clofe above my head.
DUCHESS.
Where is thy lute, my daughter ? Let thy father
Hear fome fmall trial of thy {kill.
THEKLA.
My motljer !
I—
DUCHESS.
Trembling ? Come, collect thyfelf. Go, cheer
Thy father.
THEKLA.
Q my mother! I- — I cannot.
COUNTESS.
^low, what is that, niece?
thekla. (to the Conntefs.)
O fpare me— fing — now — in this fore anxiety,
Of the o'erburthen'd foul — to ling to him,
Who
I* THE DEATH OF
Who is thrufling, even now, my mother headlong
Into her grave.
DUCHESS.
How, Thekla ? Humourfome ?
What ! mail thy father have exprefs'd a with
In vain ?
countess.
Here is the lute.
THEKLA.
My God ! how can I —
(The orcliefira plays. During the ritornello
Thekla exprejfesin her gefiures and countenance
the firuggle of her feelings ; and at the mo-
ment that Jlie fJiould begin to fing , contracts
herfelf together, as one Jhuddering, throws the
inßrument down, and retires abruptly.)
DUCHESS.
My child ! O me is ill—
WALLENSTEIN.
What ails the maiden ?'
Say, is (he often fo ?
COUNTESS.
Since then herfelf
Has now betray'd it, I too muft no longer
Conceal it.
WALLENSTEIN.
What?
COUNTESS.
She loves him !
WALLENSTEIN.
WALLENSTEIN. 15
WALLENSTEIN.
Loves him ! Whom ?
COUNTESS.
Max. does me love ? Max. Piccolomini.
Haft thou ne'er notic'd it ? Nor yet my lifter ?
DUCHESS.
Was it this that lay fo heavy on her heart ?
God's blefiing on thee, my fweet child ! Thou
need 'ft
Never take fhame upon thee for thy choice.
COUNTESS.
This journey, if 'twere not thy aim, afcribe it
To thine own felf. Thou fhoüld'ft have chofen
another
To have attended her.
wallenstein;
And does he know it ?
countess.
Yes, and he hopes to win her.
WALLENSTEIN.
Hopes to win her !
Is the boy mad ? -
COUNTESS.
Well — hear it from themfelves.
WALLENSTEIN.
He thinks to carry ofFDuke Friedland' s daughter !
Ay ?-— -The thought pleafes me.
The young man has no grovelling fpirit.
COUNTESS.
1$ TUE DEATrf Off
COUNTESS.
' i i Since
Such and lach conftant favour you have (hewn him«,
WALLENSTEIN.
He chufes finally to be my heir.
And true it is, I love the youth ; yea, honour him.
But muft he therefore be my daughter's hufband ?
Is it daughters only ? Is it only children
That we muft fhew our favour by ?
DUCHESS.
His noble difpofition and his manners —
WALLENSTEIN.
Win him my heart, but not my daughter*
^ DUCHESS.
Then \
His rank, his anceftors —
WALLENSTEIN.
Anceftors! What?'.
He is a fubject, and my fon-in-law
I will feek out upon the thrones of Europe.
DUCHESS.
O deareft Albrecht ! Climb we not too high,
Left we mould fall too low.
WALLENSTEIN.
What ? have I paid
A price fo heavy to afcend this eminence,
And jut out high above the common herd,
Only to'clofe the mighty part I play
In
WALLENSTEIN. 17
In Life's great Drama, with a common kinfman ?
Have I for this —
(flops fuddenly , repr effing hhnfclf.)
She is the only thing
That will remain behind of me on earth t
And I will fee a crown around her head,
Or die in the attempt to place it there.
I hazard all — all ! and for this alone,
To lift her into greatnefs —
Yea, in this moment, in the which we are fpeaking—
(he recollects him/elf)
And I muft now, like a foft-hearted father,
Couple together in good peafant fafhion
The pair, that chance to fuit each other's liking-*-
And I mud do it now, even now, when I
Arn ftretching out the wreath, that is to twine
My full accompliuYd work— no ! ihe is the jewel,
Which I have treafur'd long, my laft, my nobleft,
And 'tis my purpofe not to let her from me
For lefs than a king's fceptre.
DUCHESS.
O my hufband 1
You're ever building, building to the clouds,
Still building higher, and ftill higher building,
And ne'er reflect., that the .poor narrow bafis
Cannot fuftain the giddy tottering column.
wallenstein, (to the Cowiiefs.)
Have you announc'd the place of refidence
Which I have deftin'd for her?
c COUNTESS.
18 THE DEATH OF
COUNTESS.
No ! not yet.
"Twere better, you yourfelf difclos'd it to her.
DUCHESS.
How ? Do we not return to Kärn then ?
WALLENSTEIN.
No. j
DUCHESS. '
And to no other of your lands or feats ?
WALLENSTEIN.
You would not be fecure there.
DUCHESS.
Not fecure
" In the Emperor's realms, beneath the Emperor's
Protection ?
WALLENSTEIN.
Friedland's wife may be permitted
No longer to hope that.
DUCHESS.
O God in heaven !
And have you brought it even to this ?
WALLENSTEIN.
In Holland
You'll find protection.
DUCHESS.
In a Lutheran country ?
What ? And you fend us into Lutheran countries ?
WALLENSTEIN.
Duke Franz of Lauenburg condufbs you thither.
duchess.
. WALLLENSTEIN. ,19
DUCHESS.
Duke Franz of Lauenberg ?
The ally of Sweden, the Emperor's enemy.
WALLENSTEIN.
The Emperor's enemies are mine no longer.
DUCHESS.
(cafiing a look of terror on the Duke and the
Countefs.)
Is it then true ? It is. You are degraded ?
Depos'd from the command ? O God in heaven !
countess, (afide to the Duke.)
, J^eave her in this belief. Thou feeft flie cannot
Support the real truth.
SCENE V.
To them enter Count Tertsky.
countess.
— tertsky!
What ails him ? What an image of affright !
He looks as he had feen a ghoft.
TERTSKY.
(leading Wallenfiein afide!)
Is it thy command that all the Croats — •
WALLENSTEIN.
Mine!
TERTSKY.
We are betrayM.
C 2. WAL«
20 THE DEATH OF
WALLENSTEIN.
What ?
TERTSKY.
They are off 1 This night
The Jägers likewife£— all the villages
In the whole round are empty.
WALLENSTE.IN.
Ifolanr ?
TERTSKY.
Him thou haft fent away. Yes* furely.
WALLENSTEIN-.
I!
TERTSKY.
No I Haft thou not Tent him off? Nor Deodate?
They are vanifh'd both of them.
SCENE VI.
To them enter Illo.
I LLQ,
Has Tert&y told thee ?
TERTSKY.
He knows all.
ILXO.
And likewife
That Efterhatzy, Goetz, Maradas, Kaunitz,
Kolatto, Palfi, have forfaken thee.
TERTSKY.
Damnation i
wallenstein, {ivinks to them.)
Hu(h!
COUNTESS.
WALL-&NSTEIN. 21
COUNTESS.
{who has been watching them anxioufiy from the
difiance, and now advances to them.)
Tertfky! Heaven! What is it? What^i as hap-
pened ?
wa llenstein. {fcarcelyfappreßng his emotions.)
Nothing ! Let us be gone !
T E r tsk y . (following him.)
Therefa, it is nothing.
countess, (ho kling h im back.)
Nothing? Do I not fee, that all the life blood
Has left your cheeks — look you not like a ghoft ?
That even my brother but affects a calmnels ?
page, {enters.)
An Aid-de-Camp enquires for the Count Terriky.
( Tertjky follows the Page)
wallenstein.
Go, hear his bufinefs.
(to flip)
This could not have happened
80 unfufpected without mutiny.
^Vho was 011 guar4 at the gates }
1LLO.
'Twas Tiefenbach.
WALLENSTEIN.
Let Tiefenbach leave guard without delay.
And Tertfky 's grenadiers relieve him,
(IUo is going)
Stop !
Haft thou heard aught of Butler?
q o ILLO,
22 THE DEATH OF
ILLO."
Him I met.
He Will be here himfelf immediately.
Butler remains unfhaken.
(Mo exit. Walle nfiein is following him.)
COUNTESS.
Let him not leave thee, filler ! go, detain him I
There's Tome misfortune.
duchess, {clinging to him.)
Gracious heaven ! What is it ?
WALLENSTEIN.
Be tranquil ! leave me, filter ! dearefl wife !
We are in camp, and this is nought unufual ;
Here ftorm and funfhine follow one another
With rapid interchanges. Thefe fierce fpirits
Champ the curb angrily, and never yet
Did quiet blefs the temples of the leader.
If I am to flay, go you. The plaints of women
111 fuit the fcene where men mufl ad.
(He is going : Tertjlcy returns.)
TERTSKY.
Remain here. From this window mufl we fee it,
wallenstein, (to the Countefs.)
Siller, retire !
COUNTESS.
No — never.
wallenstein.
'Tis my will,
TERTSKY.
WALLENSTEIN. 23
t e r t s k Y . ( leads the Countefs qßde, and draw-
ing her attention to the Duchefs.)
Therefa !
DUCHESS.
Sifter, come ! fince he commands it.
SCENE VII.
Wallenste.in. Tertsky.
wallenstein, (ßepping to the window.)
What now, then ?
TERTSKY.
There are ftrange movements among all the troops,
And no one knows the caufe. Myfterioufly,
With gloomy filentnefs, the feveral corps
Marfhal themfelves, each under its own banners.
Tiefenbach's corps make threatening movements ;
only
The Pappenheimers flill remain aloof
Jn their own quarters, and let no one enter.
WALLENSTEIN.
Does Piccolomini appear among them ?
TERTSKY.
We are feeking him : he js no where to be met with.
WALLENSTEIN.
What did the Aide-de-Camp deliver to you ?
TERTSKY.
My regiments had difpatched him, yet once more
c 4 Thfy
24 THE DEATH OF
They fwear fidelity tö thöe, and wait
The fhout for onfet, all prepar'd, and eager.
WALLENSTEIN.
But whence arofe this larum in the camp ?
It mould have been kept fecret from the army,
Till fortune had decided for us at Prague.
TERTSKY.
0 that thou hadft believ'd me ! Yefter evening
Did we conjure thee not to let that ikulker,
That fox, Octavio, pafs the gates of Pilfen.
Thou gav'ft him thy own horfes to flee from thee,
WALLENSTEIN.
The old tune ftill ! Now, once for all, no more
Of this fufpicion— it is doting folly. . .
TERTSKY.
Thou did'fl: confide in Ifolani too ;
And lo ! he was the firft that did defert thee.
WALLENSTEIN.
It was but yefterday I refcued him
From abject wretchednefs. Let that go by»
1 never reckon'd yet on gratitude.
And wherein doth he wrong in going from me ?
He follows ftill the god whom all his life
He has worihipp'd at the gaming table. With
My Fortune, and my feemingjieiliny,
He made the bond, and broke it not with me.
I am but the (hip in which his hopes were flow'd,
And with the which well-pleas'd and confident
He travers'd the open fea j now he beholds it
In eminent jeopardy among the coaft>rocks,
- And
WALXENSTEIN, 25
And hurries to preferve his wares. As light
As the free bird from the hofpi table twig
Where it had nefted, he flies off from me :
No human tie is fnapp'd betwixt us two.
Yea, he deferves to find himfelf deceiv'd,
Who feeks a heart in the unthinking man.
Like fliadows on a ftream, the forms of life
Imprefs their characters on the fmooth forehead,
Nought finks into the bofom's lllent depth :
Quick fenfibility of pain and pleafure
Moves the light fluids lightly ; but no foul
Warmeth the inner frame.
TERTSKY.
Yet, would I rather
Truft the fmooth brow than that deep furrow'done.
SCENE VIII.
Wallenstein. TertsKy. Illo.
{who enters agitated xvith rage.)
illo.
Treafon and mutiny !
TERTSKY.
And what further now ?
ILLO.
Tiefenbach's foldiers, when I gave the orders
To go off guard — Mutinous villains !
TERTSKY.
Well ?
WALLENSTEIN.
What follow'd ?
ILLO.
They refus'd obedience to them.
TERTSKY.
26 THE DEATH OP
TERTSKY.
Fire on them inftantly I Give out the order,
WALLENSTEIN.
Gently ! What caufe did they afllgn ?
ILLO.
No other*
They faid, had. right to iffue orders but
Lieutenant-General Plccolomini.
WALLENSTEIN, [hl ü CO?Wulfio?l of QgOliy,)
What ? How is that ?
ILLO.
He takes that office on him by commilHon,
Under fign-manual of the Emperor.
TERTSKY.
From th' Emp'ror — hear'ft thou, Duke ?
ILLO.
At his incitement
The Generals made that ftealthy flight — b
TERTSKY.
Duke! hear'ft thou?
ILLO.
Caraffa too, and Montecuculi ,
Are miffing, with fix other Generals,
All whom he had induc'd to follow him.
This plot he has long had in writing by him
From the Emperor ; but 'twas finally conclude^
With all the detail of the operation
Some days ago with the Envoy1 Queftenberg.
(Wallenftehi finks down into a chair , and covers
his face.)
TERTSKY.
O hadft thou but believed me !
SCENE
WALLENSTEIN, 27
SCENE IX.
To them enter the Countess.
countess.
This fufpenfe,
This horrid fear — I can no longer bear it.
For heaven's fake, tell me, what has taken place,
ILLO.
The regiments are all falling off from us.
TERTSKY.
Ocliavio Piccolomini is a traitor.
COUNTESS.
O my foreboding ! {rujlies out of the room.')
TERTSKY.
Hadft thou but beiiev'dme!
Now feeft thou how the flars have lied to thee.
WALLENSTEIN.
The flars lie not ; but we have here a work
Wrought counter to the flars and defliny.
The fcience is ftill honeft :, this falle heart
Forces a lie on the truth-telling heaven.
On a divine law divination refls ;
Where nature deviates from that law, and flumbies
Out of her limits, there all fcience errs.
True, I did not fufpect ! Were it fuperftition
Never by fuch fufpicion t' have affronted
The human form, O may that time ne'er come
In which I fhame me of th' infirmity.
The wildeft favage drinks not with the victim,
Into
2S THE DEATH OF
In whofe breafl he means to plunge the fvvord.
This, this, Octavio, was no hero's deed :
'Twas not thy prudence that did conquer mine ;
A bad heart triumph'd o'er an honeft one.
No fliield receiv'd the afTaffin ftroke ; thou plunged
Thy weapon on an unprotected bread —
Againft fuch weapons I am but a child.
SCENE X.
To thefe enter Butler.
TERTSKt. (meeting him.)
O look there ! Butler ! Here we've dill a friend i
WÄLLENSTEIN.
{meets him with ontfpread arms, and embraces
him with zuarmth.)
Come to my heart, old comrade ! Not the fun
Looks out upon us more revivingly
In the earlieft month of fpring,
Than a friend's countenance in fqch an hour,
BUTLER,
My General • I come —
WALLENSTEIN.
{leaning on Butter's J/wulder.)
Know'ft thou already ?
That old man has betray 'd me to the Emperor.
What fay'ft thou ? Thirty years have we together
Liv'd out, and held out, fharing joy and hardfhip.
We have llept in one camp-bed, drunk from one
glafs,
Oac
WALLENSTEIN.' 29
One morfel fhar'd ! I lean'd myfelf on him,
As now I lean me on thy faithful flioulder.
And now in the very moment, when, all love,
All confidence, my bofom beat to his,
He fees and takes the advantage, ftabs the knife
Slowly into my heart.
[he hides his face in Butler's breaß.)
BUTLER.
Forget the falfe one.
What is your prefent purpofe ?
WALLENSTEIN".
Well remembered !
Courage, my foul ! I am Hill rich in friends,
Still lov'd by Deftiny ; for in the moment,
That it unmafks the plotting hypocrite,
It fends and proves to me one faithful heart.
Of the hypocrite no more ! Think not, his lofs
Was that which ftruck the pang: O no ! his treafon
Is that which ftrikes this pang ! No more of him!
Dear to my heart, and honour'd were they both,
And the young man — yes — he did truly love me,
He — he — has not deceiv'd me. But enough,
Enough of this — Swift eounfel now befeems us.
The Courier, whom Count Kinfky fent from Prague,
I expect him every moment : and whatever
He may bring with him, we muß; take gopd care
Uo keep it from the mutineers. Quick, then I
Difpatch fome meffenger you can rely on
To meet him, and conduct him to me.
' (Illo is going.)
butler, {detaining hi?n.\
My General, whom expect you then ?
WAL-
50 THE DEATH OF
WALLENSTEIN.
The Courier
Who brings me word of the event at Prague.
butler, (kejitating.)
Hem!
WALLENSTEIN.
And what now ?
BUTLER.
You do not know it ?
WALLENSTEIN.
Well ?
BUTLER.
From what that larum in the camp arofe ?
• WALLENSTEIN.
From what ?
BUTLER.
That Courier
wallenstein, [with eager expectation. )
Well ?
BUTLER.
Is already here.
tertsky and illo. {at the fame time.)
Already here ?
wallenstetn.
My Courier f
butler.
For fome hours.
WALLEN.5TEIN.
And I not know it ?
A. BUTLER,
WALLENSTEIN. 31
BUTLER.
The centinels detain hini
In cuftody.
illo. [ßamping with his foot.)
Damnation I
BUTLER.
And his letter
Was broken open, and is circulated
Through the whole camp.
,1 WALLENSTEIN.
You know what it contains ?
BUTLER.
Queftion me not !
, TERTSKY.
\
Illo ! alas for us !
WALLENSTEIN.
Hide nothing from me — I can hear the worft.
Prague then is loft. It is. Confefs it freely.
BUTLER.
Yes ! Prague is loft. And all the feveral regiments
At Budweifs, Tabor, Braunau, Konigingratz,
At Brun, and Znaym, have forfaken you,
And ta'en the oaths of fealty anew
To the Emperor. Yourfelf, with Kiniky, Tertfky,
And Illo have been fentenc'd.
{Tertjky and Illo exprefs alarm and fury. Wal*
lenflein remains firm and collected.)
WALLENSTEIN.
Tis decided 1
'Tis
32 THE DEATH Of
'Tis well ! I have receiv'd a fudden currf
From all the pangs of doubt : with fteady ftrearri
Once more my life-blood flows ! My foul's fecure !
In the night only Friedland's ftars can beam.
Ling'ring, irrefolute, with fitful fears
I drew the fword — 'twas with an inward flrife,
While yet the choice was mine. The murd'rous
knife
Is lifted for my heart ! Doubt difappearsi
I fight now for my head and for my life.
[Exit Wallenßein, the others follow him.
SCENE XI.
Countess Tertsjcy. (enters from a fide room.)
I can endure no longer. No !
(looks around her.)
Where are they ?
No one is here. They leave me all alone,
Alone in this fore anguifh of fufpenfe.
And I mud wear the outward fhew of calmnefs
Before my filler, and fhut in within me
The pangs and agonies of my crowded bofom.
It is not to be borne. — If all mould fail ;
IF— -if he muft go over to the Swedes,
An empty-handed fugitive, and not
As an ally, a covenanted equal,
A proud commander with his army following $
If we muft wander on from land to land,
Like the Count Palatine, of fallen greatnefs
3 An
WALLENSTEIN. 33
An ignominious monument — But no !
That day I will not fee ! And could himfelf
Endure to fink fo low, I would not bear
To fee him fo low funken.
SCENE XII.
Countess, Duchess, Thekla.
Thekla. (endeavouring to hold back the
Duchefs.)
-Dear mother, do ftay here !
DUCHESS.
No ! Here is yet
Some frightful myflery that is hidden from me.
Why does my lifter fhun me ? Don't I fee her
Full of fufpenfe and anguifti roam about
From room to room ? — Art thou not full of
terror ?
And what import thefe filent nods and geftures
Which ftealthwife thou exchanged with her ?
THEKLA.
Nothing ;
Nothing, dear mother !
duchess, (to the Countefs.)
Sifter, I will know.
COUNTESS.
What boots it now to hide it from her ? Sooner
Or later fhe muß learn to hear and bear it.
'Tis not the time now to indulge infirmity,
i> Courage
54 THE DEATPI OF
Courage befeems us now, a heart collect
And exercife and previous discipline
Of "fortitude. One word, and over with it !
Sifter, you are deluded. You believe,
The Duke has been depos'd — The Duke is not
Depos'd — he is ■
the k la. (going to the Coantcfs.)
What ? do you wilh to kill her ?
COUNTESS.
The Duke is —
thekl a. (Throzoing her arms round her mother.}
O (land firm ! Hand firm, my mother !
countess.
Revolted is the Duke, he is preparing
To join the enemy, the army leave him,
And all has fail'd.
{During thefe zvo?*ds the Duchefs totters, and
fatls in a fainting-fit into the arms of her
daughter. While Thekla is calling for help,
the curtain drops.)
END OF ACT I.
ACT
WALLENSTEIN. S'l
ACT IL
Scene, a fpacious Room in the Duke of Fried-
land's Palace.
SCENE I.
wallen stein, (in armour.)
Thou haft gain'd thy point, Octavio ! Once more
. am I
Almoft as friendlefs as at Regenfpurg.
There I had nothing left me, but myfelf —
But what one man can do, you have now ex-
perience.
The twigs have you hew'd off, and here I fland
A leaflefs trunk. But in the fap within
Lives the creating power, and a new world
May fprout forth from it. Once already have I
Prov'd myfelf worth an army to you — I alone !
Before theSwedifh ftrength youFtroops had melted;
Befide the Lech funk Tilly, your laft hope \
Into Bavaria, like a winter torrent,
Did that Guftavus pour, and at Vienna
In his own palace did the Emperor tremble.
Soldiers were fcarce, for ftill the multitude
Follow the luck : all eyes were turn'd on me,
'heir helper in diftrefs : the Emperor's pride
Bow'd itfelf down before the man he had injur'd.
'Twas I muft rife, and with creative word
d 2 Affemblc
9
6 THE DEATH OF
Aflemble forces in the defolate camps.
I did it. Like a god of war, my name
Went thro' the world. The drum was beat-^*
and, Jo •
The plough, the work- (hop is forfaken, all
Swarm, to the old familiar long-lov'd banners ;
And as the wood-choir rich in melody
AfTemble quick around the bird of wonder,
When firft his throat fwells with his magic fong^
So did the warlike youth of Germany
Croud in around the image of my eagle.
I feel myfelf the being that I was.
It is the foul that builds itfelf a body,
And Friedland's camp will not remain unfill'd.
Lead then your thoufands out to meet me — true!
They are accuftom'd under me to conquer,
But not againft me. If the head and limbs
Separate from each other, 'twill be foon
Made manifeft, in which the foul abode.
(Illo and Tertjky enter.)
Courage, friends ! Courage I We are ftill uri-
vanquiüYd ;
I feel my footing firm ; five regiments, Tertfky,
Are ftill our own, and Butler's gallant troops;
And aahoft of fixteen thouiand Swedes to-morrow.
I was not ftronger, when nine years ago
I march'd forth, with glad heart and high of Jiope,
To conquer Germany for the Emperor.
SCENE
WALLENSTEIN. 37
SCENE IL
Wallensteinn, Illo, Tertsky. (To them
enter Neumann,^ leads Tertjky qßde>ap,d
talks with him.)
TERTSKY.
What do they want ?
WALLENSTEIN.
What now ?
TERTSKY.
Ten Cuiraffiers
From Pappenheim requeft leave to addvefs yoq
In the name of the regiment.
wallenstein, (haßt It/, to Neitmaim-)
Let them enter.
[Exit Neumann*
This
May end in fomething. Mark you. They are ftill
Poubtful, and may be won.
d 3 'SCENE
38 THE DEATH OF
SCENE III.
Wallenstein, Tertsky, Illo, Ten Cui-
rassiers, (led by an Anfpeffade*, march up
and arrange them/elves, after the word of com-
mand, in one front before the Duke, and make
their obeifances. He takes his hat off, and
immediately covers himfelf again.)
ANSPESSAI>E.
Halt ! Front ! -Prefent !
wallenstein, (after he has run through them
with his eye, to the Anfpefja.de.)
I linow thee well. Thou art out of Brüggin in
Flanders :
Thy name is Mercy,
ANSPESSADE.
Henry Mercy.
WALLENSTEIN.
Thou wert cut off on the march, furrounded
by the Heffians, and didft fight thy way with an
hundred and eighty men thro' their thoufand.
ANSPESSADE.
'Twas even fo, General !
WALLENSTEIN.
What reward hadft thou for this gallant ex-
ploit ?
* Anfpefiade, in German, Gefreiter, a foldier inferior to
a corporal, but above the centinels. The German name
implies that he is exempt from mounting guard.
ANSPES-
WALLENSTEIN. 39
ANSPESSADE.
That which I aik'd for ; the honour to ferve in
this corps.
wallenstein, (turning to a fecond.)
Thou wert among the volunteers that feized,
and made booty of the Swedilh battery at Al ten-
burg.
SECOND CUIKASSIER.
Yes, General !
WALLENSTEIN.!
I forget no one with whom I have exchanged
words, (apanfe.) Who fends you ?
ANSPESSADE.
Your noble regiment, the Cuirailiers of Picco-
lomini.
WALLENSTEIN.
Why does not your colonel deliver in your re-
{jueft, according to the cuftom of fervice ?
ANSJPESSADE.
Becaufe we would firft know whom we ferve.
WALLENSTEIN.
Begin your addrefs.
anspessade. (givi?ig the word of command.)
Shoulder your arms !
wallenstein, (turning to a third.)
Thy name is Riubeck, Cologne is thy birth-
place.
THIRD CUIRASSIER.
Rifbeck of Cologne.
d 4 WAL-
40 TPTE DEATH OF*
WALLENSTEIN.
It was thou that broughteft in the Swedifh
colonel, Diebald, prifoner, in the camp at Nu-
renburg.
THIRD CUIRASSIER.
It was not I, General !
WALLENSTEIN.
Perfectly right ! It was thy elder brother, thou
hadft a younger brother too : Where did he ftay ?
THIRD CUIRASSIER,
He is ftationed at Olmutz with the Imperial
army.
wallenstein, (to the Anfpejfade .)
Now then — begin.
anspessade,
There came to hand a letter from the Emperor
Commanding us
wallenstein, (interrupting him.)
WHo chofe you ?
anspessade.
Every company
Drew its own man by lot.
wallenstein.
Now ! to the bufinefs.
anspessade.
There came to hand a letter from the Emperor
Commanding us collectively, from thee
All duties of obedience to withdraw,
Becaufe thou wert an enemy and traitor.
wallenstein.
And what did you determine ?
anspes-
WALLENSTEIN. 41
ANSPESSADE.
All our comrades
At Brunau, Budweifs, Prague and Olmutz, have
Obey'd already, and the regiments here,
Tiefenbach and Tofcana, inftantly
Did follow their example. But — but we
Do not believe that thou art an enemy
And traitor to thy country, hold it merely
For lie and trick, and a trump'd up SpaniQi ftoryl
(with warmth.)
Thyfelf (halt tell us what thy purpofe is,
For we have found thee ftil-1 fincere and true ;
No mouth fhall interpofe itfelf betwixt
The gallant General aud the gallant troops.
WALLENSTEIN.
Therein I recognize my Pappenheimers,
ANSPESSADE.
And this propofal makes thy regiment to thee :
Is it thy purpofe merely to preferve
In thy own hands this military fceptre,
Which fo becomes thee, which the Emperor
Made over to thee by a covenant ;
Is it thy purpofe merely to remain
Supreme commander of the Auftrian armies;
We will ftand by thee, General ! and guarantee
Thyhoneft rights againfb all oppofition.
And mould it chance, that all the other regi ments
Turn from thee, by ourfelves will we (land forth
Thy faithful foldiers, and, as is our duty,
Far rather let ourfelves be cut to pieces,
Than fuffer thee to fall. But if it be
As
42 THE DEATH OF
As the Emperor's letter fays, if it be true,
That thou in trait'rous wife wilt lead us over
To the enemy, which God in heaven forbid !
Then we too will forfake thee, and obey
That letter ■
WALLENSTEIN.
Hear me, children !
ANSPESSADE.
Yes, or no !
There needs no other anfwer.
WALLENSTEIN.
Yield attention.
You're men of fenfe, examine for yourfelves ;
Ye think, and do not follow with the herd :
And therefore have I always fhewn you honour
Above all others, fuffer'd you to reafon ;
Have treated you as free men, and my orders
Were but the echoes of your prior fufTrage. —
ANSPESSADE.
Mod fair and noble has thy conduct been
To us, my General ! With thy confidence
Thou haft honour'd us, and (hewn us grace and
favour
Beyond all other regiments ; and thou fee'ft
We follow not the common herd. We will
Stand by thee faithfully. Speak but one word —
Thy word (hall fatisfy us, that it is not
A treafon which thou meditated — that
Thou meaneft not to lead the army over
To the enemy ; nor e'er betray thy country.
WAL-
-WALLENSTEIN, 43
"WALLENSTEIN.
Me, me, are they betraying. Th' Emperor
Hath facrificed me to my enemies,
And I muftfall, unlefs my gallant troops
Will reicue me. See ! I confide in you.
And be your hearts my ftrong hold ! At this breaft
The aim is taken, at this hoary head.
This is your Spanifh gratitude, this is our
Requital for that murderous fight at Lutzen !
For this we threw the naked bread againft
The halbert, made for this the frozen earth
Our bed, and the hard Hone our pillow ! never
ftream
Too rapid for us, no wood too impervious;
With chearful fpirit we purfued that Mansfield
Through all the turns and windings of his flight;
Yea, our whole life was but one reftlefs march -3
And homelefs, as the flirring wind, we travell'd
O'er the war- wafted earth. And now, even now,
That we have well nigh finifh'd the hard toil,
The unthankful, the curfe-laden toil of weapons,
With faithful indefatigable arm
Have roll'd the heavy war-load up the hill,
Behold ! this boy of the Emperor's bears away
The honours of the peace, an eafy prize !
He'll weave, forfooth, into his flaxen locks
The olive branch, the hard-eain'd ornament
Of this grey head, grown grey beneath the helmet.
ANSPESSADE.
That mail he not, while we can hinder it !
No one, but thou, who haft conducted it
With
44- THE DEATH OF
With fame, (hall end this war,, this frightful war
Thou led'ft us out into the bloody field
Of death, thou and no other (halt conduct us home,
Rejoicing to the lovely plains of peace —
Shalt (hare with us the fruits of the long toil. —
WALLENSTEIN.
What ? Think you then at length in late old age.
To enjoy the fruits of toil ? Believe it not.
Never, no never, will you fee the end
Of the conteft ! you and me, and all of us,
This war will fwallow up ! War, war, not peace,
Is Auftria's wifh ; and therefore, becaufe I
Endeavour'd after peace, therefore I fall.
For what cares Auftria, how long" the war
Wears out the armies and lays walle the world ?
She will but wax and grow amid the ruin,
And dill win new domains.
[the Cuimßiers expreß agitation by their gefln res.}
Ye're mov*d— I fee
A noble rage flafh from your eyes, ye warriors \
Oh that my fpirit might poflefs you now
Daring as once it led you to the battle !
Ye would ftand by me with your veteran arms,
Protect me in my rights ; and this is noble !
But think not that you can accomplish it,
Your fcanty number I to nopurpofe will you
Have facrifked you for your General.
(confidentially . )
No ! let us tread fecurely, feek for friends;
The Swedes have proffer'd us aßiftance, let us
W ear for a while the appearance of good will,
And
WALLENSTEIN. 45
And ufe them for our profit, till we both
Carry the fate of Europe in our hands,
And from our camp to the glad jubilant world
Lead Peace forth with the garland on her head !
AN5PESSADE.
'Tis then but mere appearances which thou
Doft put on with the Swede ? Thou'lt not betray
The Emperor ? Wilt not turn us into Swedes ?
This is the only thing which we defire
To learn from thee.
WALLENSTEIN.
What care I for the Swedes ?
I hate them as I hate the pit of hell,
And under Providence I truft right foon
To chafe them to their homes acrofs their Baltic,
My cares are only for the whole : I have
A heart — it bleeds within me for the miferies
And piteous groaning of my fellow Germans.
Ye are but common men, but yet ye think
With minds not common; ye appear to me
Worthy before all others, that I whifper ye
A little word or two in confidence !
See now ! already for full fifteen years
The war-torch has continu'd burning, yet
No reft, no paufe of conflict. Swede and German !
Papift and Lutheran ! neither will give way
To the other, every hand's againft the other.
Each one is party and no one a judge.
Where (hall this end ? Where's he that will unravel
This tangle, ever tangling more and more.
It
46 THE DEATH OF
It mud be cut afunder.
I feel that I am the man of defliny,
And truft, with your afliftancej to accomplim it.
SCENE IV.
To thefe enter Butler.
butler, (pajjionately.)
General ! This is not right !
WALLENSTEIN.
What is not right?
BUTLER.
It mufl needs injure us with all honeft men.
WALLENSTEIN.
But what ?
BUTLER.
It is an open proclamation
Of infurrect-ion.
WALLENSTEIN.
Well, well — but what is it ?
EUTLER.
Count Tertfky's regiments tear the Imperial Eagle
From off the banners, and inftead of it,
Have rear'd aloft thy arms.
anspessade. (abruptly to the Cuirajßers.)
Ris:ht about ! March !
wallenstein.
Curs'd be this counfel, and accurs'd who gave it !
(to the Cuiraßers, ivho are retiring. J
Halt, children, halt ! There's fome miftake in this !
Hark !
WALLENSTEIN. 47
Hark ! — I will punifli it feverely. Stop !
They do not hear, (to Illo.J Go after them, allure
them,
And bring them back to me, coft what it may.
(Illo hurries out.)
This hurls us headlong. Butler ! Butler !
You are my evil genius, wherefore muft you
Announce it in their prefence ? It was all
In a fair way. They were half won, thofe madmen
With their improvident over-readinefs —
A cruel game is Fortune playing with me.
The zeal of friends it is that razes me,
And not the hate of enemies.
SCENE V.
To thefe enter the Duchess, who rujlies into the
Chamber. Thekla and the Countess fol-
low her.
DUCHESS.
O Albrecht !
What haft thou done ?
Wallenstein.
And now comes this beiide.
countess.
Forgive me, brother ! It was not in my power.
They know all.
duchess.
What haft thou done ?
countess.
48 THE DEATH Of
countess, (to Terfficy.)
Is there no hope ? Is all loft utterly ?
TERTSKY-
All loft. No hope. Prague in the Emperor's hands«
The foidiery have ta'en their oaths anew.
COUNTESS.
That lurking hypocrite, Oftavio !
Count Max. is off too ?
TERTSKY.
Where can he be ? He's1
Gone over to the Emperor with his father.
{The/da mjhes out into the arms of her mothers
hiding her face in her bofom.)
duchess, {enfolding her in her arms.)
Unhappy child'! and more unhappy mother !
wallenstein. ( a fide to Tertjky.)
Quick ! Let a carriage 'ftand in readinels
In the court behind the palace. Scherfenberg
Be their attendant ; he is faithful to us ;
To Egra he'll conduce them, and we follow.
(to Illo who returns)
Xhou haft not brought them back ?
ILLO.
Hear'ft thou the uproar ?
The whole corps of the Pappenheimers is
Drawn out : the younger Piccolomini,
Their colonel, they require ; for they affirm,
That he is in the palace here, a prifoner ;
And if thou doft not inftantly deliver him,
They will find means to free him with the fword.
(alljland amazed.)
3 TERTSKY.
tVALLEtfSTEIN. 49
TER*TSKi".
What fliall We make of. this ?
WALLENSTEIN.
Said I not fö ?
0 my prophetic heart ! lie is Itill here.
He has not betray'd me— -he could not betray rrie;,
1 never doubted of it.
COUNTESS.
If he be
Still here, then all goes well >, for I know what
(embracing Thckhi.)
Will keep him here for ever.
TERTSKt.
It can't be.
His father has betray'd us, is gone over
To the Emperor— the fon could not have ventür'd
To flay behind.
the K la. (her eye fixed on the door.)
There he is !
SCENE VII.
To thefe enter Max; Piccölomini.
MAX.
Yes ! here he is ! I can endure no longer
To creep on tiptoe round this lioufe, and lurk
In ambufh for a favourable moment.
This loitering, this fufpenfe exceeds my powers.
(advancing to Thekla, who has thrown herfelf into
her mother's arms:).
e Turn
50 THE DEATH OF
Turn not thine eyes away. O look upon me !
Confefs it freely before all. Fear no one.
Let who will hear that we both love each other.
Wherefore continue to conceal it ? Secrecy
Is for the happy — mifery, hopelefs mifery,
Needeth no veil ! Beneath a thoufand funs
It dares act openly.
(he obferves the Countefs looking on Thekla with
exprejjions of triumph.)
No, Lady ! No !
Expect not, hope it not. I am not come
To flay : to bid farewel, farewel for ever,
For this I come ! 'Tis over ! I muft leave thee !
Thekla, I muft — muß leave thee ! Yet thy hatred
Let me not take with me. I pray thee, grant me
One look of fympathy, only one look.
Say that thou doft not hate me. Say it to me,
Thekla!
(grafps her hand.)
0 God ! I cannot leave this fpot — I cannot !
Cannot let go this hand. O tell me, Thekla !
That thou doft fuffer with me, art. convinc'd
That I can not act otherwife.
(Thekla, avoiding his look, points with her hand,
to her father. Max. turns round to the Duke»
whom he had not till then per ceiv'd.)
Thou here ? It was not thou, whom here I fought.
1 trufted never more to have beheld thee.
My bufinefs is with her alone. Here will I
Receive a full acquittal from this heart—
For any other I am no more concern'd.
WAL-
WALLENSTEIN. 51
WALLENSTEIN.
Think'ft thou, that fool-like, I (hail let thee go,
And a<5t the mock-magnanimous with thee ?
Thy father is become a villain to me -,
I hold thee for his fon, and nothing more ;
Nor to no purpofe (halt thou have been given
Into my power. Think not, that I will honour
That ancient love, which fo remorfelefsly
He mangled. They are now pad by, thofe hours
Of friendfhip and forgivenefs. Hate and vengeance
Succeed — 'tis now their turn — I too can throw
All feelings of the man afide — can prove
Myfelf as much a monfter as thy father !
max. (calmly.)
Thou wilt proceed with me, as thou haft power.
Thou know'ft, I neither brave nor fear thy rage.
What haft detain'd me here, that too thou know'ft.
(taking Thekla by the hand.)
See, Duke ! All — all would I have owed to thee,
Would have receiv'd from thy paternal hand
The lot of bleffed fpirits. This haft thou
Laid wafte for ever — that concerns not thee.
Indifferent thou trampleft in the duft
Their happinefs, who moft are thine. The god
Whom thou doft ferve, is no benignant deity.
Like as the blind irreconcileable
Fierce element, incapable of compact,
Thy heart's wild impulfe only doft thou follow *.
WAL-
* I have here ventured to omit a confiderable number of
ljnes, I fear that I fhould not have done amifs, had I taken
e 2 this
52 THE DEATH OF
WALLENSTEIN.
Thou art defcribing thy own father's heart.
The adder ! G, the charms of hell o'erpowerd me.
He
this liberty more frequently. It is, however, incumbent on
me to give the original with a literal translation.
Weh denen die auf dich vertraun, an Dich
Die fichre Hütte ihres Glückes lehnen,
Gelockt von deiner gaftlichen Geflalt.
Schnell unver hofft, by nächtlich ftiller Weile-
Gährts in dem tückfchen Feuerfchlunde, ladet
Sich aus mit tobender Gervalt, und weg
Treibt über alle Pflanzunger der Menfchen
Der wilde Strom in graufender zerftöhrung.
WALLENSTEIN.
Du fchilderft deines Vater3 Herz. Wie Du's
Befchreibft, fo ifts in feinem Eingeweide,
In di,efer fchwarzen Heuchlers Bruft gehaltet.
G mich hat Höllenkunft getäufcht. Mir fandte
Der Abgrund den verfleckteften der Geifler,
Den Lügekundigilen herauf,, und ftellt' ihn
Als Freund an meine Seite. Wer vermag
Der Hölle Macht zu widerftehn ! Ich zog
Den Bafiliiken auf an meinem Bufen,
Mit meinem Herzblut nährt ich ihn, er feg
Sich fchwelgend voll an meiner Liebe Brüllen,
Ich hatte nimmer Arges gegen ihn,
Weit offen liefs ich des Gedankens Thore,
Und warft die Schluflel weifer Vorficht weg,
Am Sternenhimmel, See.
Literal Translation.
Alas ! forthofe who place their confidence on thee, againft
thee lean the fecure hut of their fortune, allured by thy hof-
pitable form. Suddenly, unexpectedly, in a moment ftill as
night, there is a fermentation in the treacherous gulf of
fire ; it difcharges itfelf with raging force, and away over
all
WALLENSTEIN. 53
He dwelt within me, to my inmoft foul
"Still to and fro he pafs'd, fufpe&ed never I
On the wide ocean, in the ftarry heaven
Did mine eyes feek the enemy, whom I
In my heart's heart had folded ! Had I been
To Ferdinand what Octavio was to me,
War had I ne'er denounc'd againft him. No,
I never could have done it. The Emp'ror was
My auftere mafter only, not my friend.
There was already war 'twixt him and me
When he deliver'd the Commander's Staff
Into my hands ; for there's a natural
Unceafing war 'twixt cunning and fufpicion$
Peace exifts only betwixt confidence
And faith. Who poifons confidence, he murders
The future generations.
MAX,
I will not
Defend my father. Woe is me, I cannot !
Hard deeds and lucklefs have ta'en place, one crime
all the plantations of men drives the wild ftream in fright-
ful devaftation. Wallenstein. Thou art portraying thy
father's heart, as thou defcribeft, even fo is it fhaped in his
entrails, in this black hypocrite's breaft. O, the art of hell
has deceiv'd me ! The Abyfs fent up to me the moft fpotted
of the fpirits, the moil fkilful in lies, and placed him as a
friend at my fide. Who may withftand the power of hell ?
I took the bafilifk to my bofom, with my heart's blood I
nourifhed him ; he fucked himfelf glut-full at the breafts of
my love. I never harboured evil towards him; wide open
•did I leave the door of my thoughts; I threw away the key
of wife forefight. In the ftarry heaven, &c. — We find a diffi-
culty in believing this to have been written by Schiller.
e 3 Drags
54
THE DEATH OF
Drags after it the other in clofe link.
But we are innocent : how have we fallen
Into this circle of mif-hap and guilt ?
To whom have we been faithlefs ? Wherefore rauft
The evil deeds and guilt reciprocal
Of our two fathers twine like ferpents rounds us ?
Why muft our fathers'
Unconquerable hate rend üs afunder,
Who love each other ?
WALLENSTEIN.
Max. remain with me.
Go you not from me, Max ! Hark ! I will tell
thee —
How when at Prague, our winter quarters, thou
Wert brought into my tent a tender boy,
Not yet accuftom'd to the German winters ;
Thy hand was frozen to the heavy colours ;
Thou would'ft not let them go —
At that time did I take thee in my arms,
And with my mantle did I cover thee :
I was thy nurfe, no woman could have been
A kinder to thee; I was not aQiam'd
To do for thee all little offices,
However ftrange tome; I tended thee
Till life return 'd ; and when thine eyes firft open'd,
I had thee in my arms. Since then, when have I
Alter'd my feelings towards thee ? Many thouiands
Have I made rich, prefented them with lands;
Rewarded them with dignities and honours ;
Thee have I lov'd : my heart, my felf, 1 gave
To
WALLENSTEIN. 55
To thee ! They all were aliens : thou wert
Our child and inmate *. Max. ! Thou can'ft not
leave me ;
It cannot be ; I may not, will not think
That Max. can leave me.
MAX.
O my God !
WALLENSTEIN.
I have
Held and fuftain'd thee from thy tott'ring child-
hood.
What holy bond is there of natural love ?
What human tie, that does not knit thee to me ?
I love thee, Max ! What did thy father for thee,
Which I too have not done, to the height of duty ?
Go hence, forfake me, ferve thy Emperor j
He will reward thee with a pretty chain
Of gold j with his ram's fleece will he reward thee ;
For that the friend, the father of thy youth,
For that the holieft feeling of humanity,
Was nothing worth to thee,
MAX,
O God ! How can I
Do otherwife ? Am I not forc'd to do it ?
My oath — my duty— honour — ■
* This is a poor and inadequate tranflation of the affec-
tionate fimplicity of the original —
Sie alle waren Fremdlinge, Dh warft
Das kind des Haufes.
Indeed the whole fpeech is in the bell ftyle of Malfinger.
O fi fie omnia !
E 4 WAL-
<56 THE DEATH OF
WALLENSTEIN.
How ? Thy duty ?
Duty to whom? Who art thou ? Max ! bethink
thee
What duties may'fl: thou have ? If I am acting
A criminal part toward the Emperor,
It is my crime, not thine. Doft thou belong
To thine own felf ? Art thou thine own com-
mander ?
Stand'ft thou, like me, a freeman in the world,
That in thy actions thou fhould'ft plead free.
agency ?
On me thou 'rt planted, I am thy Emperor j
To obey me\ to belong to me, this is
Thy honour, this a law of nature to thee !
And if the planet, on the which thou liy'ft
And haft thy dwelling, from its orbit flarts,
It is not in thy choice, whether or no
Thou'lt follow it. Unfelt it whirls thee onwaroj
Together with his ring and all his moons.
With little guilt ftepp'lt thou into this conteft,
Thee will the world not cenfure, it will praife
thee,
For that thou heldft thy friend more worth to thee
Than names and influences more remov'd.
For juftice is the virtue of the ruler,
Affection and fidelity the fubject's.
Not every one doth it befeem to queftion
The far-off high Arcturus. Moft fecurely
Wilt thou purfue the neareft duty — let
JThe pilot fix his eye upon the pole-flar.
SCENE
WALLENSTEIN. '57
SCENE VII.
To thefe enter Neumann.'
WALLENSTEIN.
What now ?
NEUMANN.
The Pappenheimers are difmounted,
And are advancing now on foot, determin'd
With fword in hand to florin the houfe, and free
The Count, their colonel.
WALLENSTEIN. (to Tcrtßyj,)
Have the cannon planted.
I will receive them with chain-fhot.
[Exit Tcrtfoy.
Prefcribe to me with fword in hand ! Go, Neu-
mann !
?Tis my command that they retreat this moment,
And in their ranks in filence wait my pleafure.
{Neumann exit. Illo fieps to the window,
COUNTESS.
Let him go, I entreat thee, let him go.
illo. [at the window.)
Hell and perdition !
WALLENSTEIN.
What is it ?
ILLO.
They fcale the council -houfe, the roof's uncover' d,
They level at this houfe the cannon
MAX.
Madmen !
ILLO.
They are making preparations now to fire on us.
puchess
5$ THE DEATH OF
DUCHESS AND COUNTESS.
Merciful Heaven !
max. (to Wallenßein.)
Let me go to them !
WALLENSTEIN.
Not a ftep !
max. (pointing to Thekla and the Duchefs.
But their life 1 Thine !
WALLENSTEIN.
What tidings bring' ft thou, Tertfky ?
SCENE VIII.
To thefe Tertsky (returning.)
TERTSKY.
Meffage and greeting from our faithful reg'ments.
Their ardour may no longer be curb'd in.
They intreat permiffion to commence th' attack,
And if thou would'ft but give the word of onfet,
They could now charge the enemy in rear,
Into the city wedge them, and with eafe
O'erpower them in the narrow ftreets.
ILLO.
O come !
Let not their ardour cool. The foldiery
Of Butler's corps ftand by us faithfully ;
We are the greater number. Let us charge them,
And finilh here in Pilfen the revolt.
WAL-
WALLENSTEIN. 59
WALLENSTEIN.
What ? fhall this town become a field of
flaughter,
And brother-killing Difcord, fire-eyed,
Be let lofe through its ftreets to roam and rage f
Shall the decifion be deliver'd over
To deaf remorfelefs Rage, that hears no leader ?
Here is not room for battle, only for butchery.
Well, let it be ! I have long thought of it,
So let it burft then !
(turns to Max.)
Well, how is it with thee ?
Wilt thou attempt a heat with me. Away !
Thou art free to go. Oppofe thyfelf to me,
Front againft front, and lead them to the battle ;
Thou'rt lkill'd in war, thou haft learn'd fomewhat
under me,
I need not be afham'd of my opponent,
And never hadft thou fairer opportunity
To pay me for thy fchooling.
COUNTESS.
Is it then,
Can it have come to this ? — What ! Coufin,
Coufin !
Have you the heart ?
MAX.
The regiments that are trufted to my care
I have pledg'd my troth to bring away from
Pilfen
True to the Emperor, and this promife will I
Make good, or peri(h. More than this no duty
Requires of me. I will not fight againft thee,
Unlefs
€0 THE DEATH OF
Unlefs compeli'd ; for though an enemy,
Thy head is holy to me füll.
{ Two reports of cannon, Illo and Terijkn
hurry to the window.)
WALLENSTEIN.
What's that ?
TERTSKY.
He falls.
WALLENSTEIN.
Falls! Who!
ILLO.
Tiefenbach's corps
Difcharg'd the ordnance.
WALLENSTEIN.
Upon whom ?
ILLO.
On Neumann,
Your mefienger.
WALLENSTEIN, (ßartlllg Up.)
Ha i Death and hell ! I will—
TERTSKY.
Expofe thyfelf to their blind frenzy ?
DUCHESS AND COUNTESS.
No!
For God's fake, No !
ILLO.
Not yet, my General !
COUNTESS.
O, hold him ! hold him •'
a
WAL-
WALLENSTEIN. 61
WALLENSTEIN.
Leave me
max.
Do it not ;
Not yet \ This rafh and bloody deed has thrown
them
Into a frenzy-fit — allow them time
WALLENSTEIN.
Away ! too long already have I loiter'd.
They are embolden'd to thefe outrages,
Beholding not my face. They fhall behold
My countenance, (hall hear my voice
Are they not my troops ? Am I not their Genera^
And their long-fear'd commander ? Let me fee, .
Whether indeed they do no longer know
That countenance, which was their fun in battle I
From the balcony, (mark !j I fhew myfelf
To thefe rebellious forces, and at once
Revolt is mounded, and the high-fwoln current
Shrinks back into the old bed of obedience.
{Exit Wallenfiein ; Illo, Tertßy, and Butler
follow.
SCENE IX.
Countess, Duchess, Max. and Thekla,
countess, {to the Duchefs. )
Let them but fee him — there is hope ftill, fitter.
DUCHESS.
Hope ! * have none !
3 MAX.
62 THE DEATH OF
max. (who during the lafi fcene has beenfiand-
ing at a dißance in a vißble ßruggle of feelings y
advances.)
This can I not endure.
With mod determin'd foul did I come hither,
My purpos'd action feem'd unblameable
To my own confcience — and I muft (land here
Like one abhorr'd, a hard inhuman being;
Yea, loaded with the curfe of all I love !
Muft fee all whom I love in this fore anguifh,
Whom I with one word can make happy — O !
My heart revolts within me, and two voices
Make themfelves audible within my bofom.
My foul's benighted ; I no longer can
Diftinguilh the right track. O, well and truly
Didft thou fay, father, I relied too much
On my own heart. My mind moves to and fro —
I know not what to do.
COUNTESS.
What ! you know not ?
Does not your own heart tell you ? O ! then I
Will tell it you. "Your father is a traitor,
A frightful traitor to us — he has plotted
Againft our General's life, has plung'd us all
In mifery — and you're his fon ! 'Tis your's
To make the amends — Make you the fon's
fidelity
Outweigh the father's treafon, that the name
Of Piccolomini be not a proverb
Of infamy, a common form of curfing
To the pofterity o£ Wallenfteiri.
5 max.
WALLENSTEIN. 63
MAX.
Where is that voice of truth which I dare follow ?
It fpeaks no longer in my heart. We all
But utter what qur paffionate wilhes dictate.
O that an angel would defcend from Heaven,
And fcoop for me the right, the uncorrupted,
With a pure hand from the pure Fount of Light.
{His eyes glance on Thekla.)
What other angel feek I ? To this heart,
To this unerring heart, will I fubmit it,
Will afk thy love, which has the power to blefs
The happy man alone, averted ever
From the difquieted and guilty — canJfl thou
Still love me, if I flay ? Say that thou can'ft,
And I am the Duke's
COUNTESS.
Think, niece
MAX.
Think nothing, Thekla !
Speak what th.au feelejl.
COUNTESS.
Think upon your father.
MAX.
I did not queftion thee, as Friedland's daughter.
Thee, the beloved, and the unerring god
Within thy heart, I queftion. What's at ftake ?
Not whether diadem of royalty
Be to be won or no — that might'ft thou think on.
Thy friend, and his foul's quiet, are at ftake j
The fortune of a thoufand gallant men,
Who will all follow me j (hall I forfwear
My
64> THE DEATH OF
My oath and duty to the Emperor ?
Say, (hall I fend into Octavio's camp
The parricidal ball ? For when the ball
Has left its cannon, and is on its flight,
It is no longer a dead inftrument j
It lives, a fpirit paffes into it,
The avenging furies feize poffeflion of it,
And with fure malice guide it the worfl way.
THEKLA.
O! Max.
max. (interrupting her.)
Nay, not precipitately either, Thekla.
1 underftand thee. To thy noble heart
The hardeft duty might appear the highefL
The human, not the great part, would I a£h
Ev'n from my childhood to this prefent hour,
Think what the Duke has done for me, how lov'd
me,
And think too, how my father has repay'd'him-
O likewife the free lovely impulfes
Of hofpitality, the pious friend's
Faithful attachment, thefe too are a holy
Religion to the heart ; and heavily
The Ihudderings of nature do avenge
Themfelves on the barbarian that infults therri.
Lay all uporvthe balance, all — then fpeak,
And Jet thy heart decide it*
THEKLA.
O, thy own
Hath long ago decided. Follow thou
Thy heart's firft feeling — —
• ** <£0UN-
WALLENSTEIN. 65
COUNTESS.
Oh ! ill-fated woman !
THEKLA.
Is it poflible, that that can be the right,
The which thy tender heart did not at firft
Detect and feize with inftant impulfe ? Go,
Fulfil thy duty ! I fhould ever love thee.
What e'er thou hadft chofen, thou would'ft Hill
have acted
Nobly and worthy of thee — but repentance
Shall ne'er difturb thy foul's fair peace.
MAX.
Then I »
Mult leave thee, muft part from thee !
THEKLA.
Being faithful
To thine own felf, thou art faithful too to me j
If our fates part, our hearts remain united.
A bloody hatred will divide for ever
The houfes Piccolomini and Friedland j
But we belong not to our houfes — Go !
Quick ! quick ! and feparate thy righteous caufe
From our unholy and unblefsed one !
The curfe of heaven lies upon our head :
'Tis dedicate to ruin. Even me
My father's guilt drags with it to perdition.
Mourn not for me :
My deftiny will quickly be decided.
(Max. clafps her in his arms in extreme emotion.
There is heard from behind the Scene a loudr
wild, long continued cry. Vivat Ferdiv
F NANDUS,
66 THE DEATH OF
nandus, accompanied by warlike Inßrumenls.
Max. and Thekla remain without motion in
each others embraces.)
SCENE X.
To thefe enter Tertsky.
countess, (meeting him.)
What meant that cry ? What was it ?
TERTSKY.
All is loft !
COUNTESS.
What ! they regarded not his countenance ?
TERTSKY.
'Twas all in vain.
DUCHESS.
'They fhouted Vivat !
TERTSKY.
To the Emperor.
COUNTESS.
The traitors !
TERTSKY.
Nay ! he was not once permitted
Kven to addrefs them. Soon as he began,
With deafening noife of warlike inftruments
They drown'd his words. But here he comes.
SCENE
WALLLENSTEIN. 67
SCENE XL
To thefe enter Wallenstein, accompanied by
Illo and Butler.
Wallenstein, (as he enters.)
Tertfky!
TERTSKY.
My General ?
wallenstein.
Let our regiments hold themfelves
In readinefs to march ; for we fhall leave
Pilfen ere evening. [Exit Tertfky.
Butler !
BUTLERk
Yes, my General.
WALLENSTEIN.
The Governor at Egra is your friend
And countryman. Write to him inflantly
By a Poft Courier. He mud be advis'd,
That we are with him early on the morrow.
You follow us yourfelf, your regiment with you.
BUTLER»
It fhall be done, my General !
wallenstein, (ßeps bet-ween Max. andThekla,
who have remained during this time in each
others arms.)
Part ...
MAX.
O God !
(CuiraJJiers enter with drawn /words, and
ajemble in the back-ground. At the fame
time there are heard from below fome fpirited
pajjages out of the Pappenheim March, which
feem to addrefs Max.)
F 2 WAL-
6$ THE DEATH OF
wallenstein, (to the Cuirajfiers*)
Here he is, he is at liberty : I keep him
No longer.
(He turns away, and fiands fo that Max. cannot
paß by him nor approach the Princefs.)
MAX.
Thou know'fl that I have not yet learnt to live
Without thee I I go forth into a defart,
Leaving my all behind me. O do not turn
Thine eyes away from me ! O once more fhew me
Thy ever dear and honour'd countenance.
(Max. attempts to take his hand, but is repelled ;
he turns to the Countefs.)
Is there no eye that has a look of pity for me ?
(The Countefs turns away from him s he turns ta
the Duchefs.)
Mv mother !
D-UCHESS.
Go where duty calls you. Haply
The time may come, when you may prove to us
A true friend, a good Angel at the throne
Of the Emperor.
MAX.
You give me hope ; you would not
Suffer me wholly to defpair. No ! No !
Mine is a certain mifery — Thanks to heaven
That offers me a means of ending it.
( The military mufic begins again. Thefiagefilh
more and more with armed men. Max. fees
Butler, and addrejfes him.)
And you here, Colonel Butler— ^and will you
Not follow me ? Well, then ! remain more faithful
To
WALLENSTEIN. 69
To your new lord, than you have prov'd yourfelf
To the Emperor. Come, Butler ! promife me,
Give me your hand upon it, that you'll be
The guardian of his life, its fhield, its watchman.
He is attainted, and his princely head
Fair booty for each ilave that trades in murder.
Now he doth need the faithful eye of friendlnip,
And thofe whom here I fee —
[cafting fafpicious looks on Illo and Butler )
ILLO.
Go — feek for traitors
In Galas', in your father's quarters. Here
Is only one. Away ! away ! and free us
From his detefted light ! Away !
{Max. attempts once more to approach The Ida.
Wallenflein prevents him. Max. fiands irrefo-
lute, and in apparent anguijli. In the mean time
the fi age fills more and more ; and the horns
found from below louder and louder, and each
time after ajlwrter interval.)
MAX.
Blow, blow ! O were it but the Swedifh Trumpets,
And all the naked fwords, which I fee here,
Were plunged into my bread ! What purpofe you ?
You come to tear me from this place ! Beware,
Ye drive me not to defperation. — Do it not !
Ye may repent it !
(the Jage is entirely filFd with armed men.)
Yet more ! weight upon weight to drag me down \
Think what ye're doing. It is not well done
To choofe a man defpairing for your leader j
f 3 You
70 THE DEATH OF
You tear me from my happinefs. Well, then,
I dedicate your fouls to vengeance. Mark !
For your own ruin you. have chofen me :
Who goes with me, mult be prepared to perifh.
{He turns to the back-ground, there enfu.es a
fudden and violent movement among the
Cuiraffiers ; they fur round him, and carry him
off in wild tumult. Wallenfiein remains im-
moveable. Thekla finks into her mother s arms.
The curtain falls. The mufic becomes loud
and overpowering, and paffes into a complete
•war-march — the ore hefira joins it — and conti-
nues during the interval between thefecond and
third Act.)
ACT
WALLENSTEIN. 11
ACT III.
Scene, the Burgomaßer* 's Houfe at Egrd.
SCENE I.
butler, (jufi arrived.)
Here then he is, by his deftiny. conducted.
Here, Friedland ! and no farther ! From Bohemia
Thy meteor rofe, travers'd the Iky awhile,
And here upon the borders of Bohemia
Muß: fink.
Thou haft forfvvorn the ancient colours,
Blind man ! yet trufteft to thy ancient fortunes.
Profaner of the altar and the hearth,
Againft thy Emperor and fellow-citizens
Thou mean'ft to wage the war. Friedland, be-»
ware —
The evil fpirit of revenge impels thee —
Beware thou, that revenge deftroy thee not !
SCENE II.
Butler and Gordon.
GORDON.
Is it you?
How my heart finks I The Duke a fugitive traitor J
{lis princely head attainted ! O my God 1
F4 BUTLER,'
72 THE DEATH OF
BUTLER.
You have receiv'd the letter which I fent you
By a pod-courier.
GORDON.
Yes ! and in obedience to it
Open'd the ftrong hold to him without fcruple.
For an imperial letter orders me
To follow your commarids implicitly.
But yet forgive me ; when even now I law
The Duke himfelf, my fcruples recommenced.
For truly, not like an attainted man,
Into this town did Friedland make his entrance ;
His wonted Majefty beam'd from his brow,
And calm, as in the days when all was right,
Did he receive from me the accounts of office ;
'Tis faid, that fallen pride learns condefcenfion :
But fparjng and with dignity the Duke
Weigh'd every fyllable of approbation,
As mafters praife a fervant who has done
His duty, and no more.
BUTLER.
'Tis all precifely
As I related in my letter. Friedland
Has fold the army to the enemy,
And pledg'd himfelf to give up Prague and Egra»
On this. report the regiments all forlbok him,
The five excepted that belong to Tertiky,
And which have follow'd him, as thou haft feen.
The fentence of attainder is pafs'd on him,
c And
WALLENSTEIN. 73
And every loyal fubject is required
To give him in to juftice, dead or living.
GORDON.
A traitor to the Emperor — Such a noble !
Of fach high talents ! What is human great nefs !
I often faid, this can't end happily.
His might, his greatnefs, and this obfcure power
Are but a cover'd pit-fall. The human being
May not be trailed to felf-government.
The clear and written law, the deep trod foot-marks
Of ancient cuftom, are all necefiary
To keep him in the road of faith and duty.
The authority entrufled to this man
Was unexampl'd and unnatural,
It plac'd him on a level with his Emperor,
Till the proud foul unlearn'd fubmiffion. Wo is
me;
I mourn for him ! for where he fell, I deem
Might none ftand firm. Alas 1 dear General,
We in our lucky mediocrity
Have ne'er experienc'd, cannot calculate,
What dangerous wifhes fach a height may breed
In the heart of fach a man.
BUTLER.
Spare your laments
Till he need fympathy ; for at this prefent
He is flill mighty, and flill formidable.
The Swedes advance to Egra by forc'd marches,
And quickly will the junction be accomplifh'd.
This rauft not be ! The Duke mud never leave
This
11' THE DEATH OF
This flrong hold on free footing ; fori have
Pledged life and honour here to hold him pris'ner,
And your affiflance 'tis on which I calculate.
GORDON.
O that I had not liv'd to fee this day !
From his hand I receiv'd this dignity,
He did himfelf entruft this ftronghold to me,
Which I am now requir'd to make his dungeon.
We fubalterns have no will of our own :
The free, the mighty man alone may liften
To the fair impulfe of his human nature.
Ah ! we are but the poor tools of the law,
Obedience the fole virtue we dare aim at !
BUTLER.
Nay, let it not afflicT: you, that your power
Is circumfcrib'd. Much liberty, much error {
The narrow path of duty is fecureft.
GORDON. ,
And all then have deferted him, you fay ? '
He has built up the luck of many thoufands,
For kingly was his fpirit : his full hand
Was ever open ! Many a one from du ft
{witk a fide glance en Butler.)
Hath he felefted, from the very duft
Hath rais'd him into dignity and honour.
And yet no friend, not one friend hath hepurchas'd,
Whofe heart beats true to him in the evil hour.
butler.
Here's one, I fee
GOR*
-~! S
WALLENSTEIN. 73
GORDON.
I have enjoy 'd from him
No grace or favour. I could almofl doubt,
If ever in his greatnefs he once thought on
An old friend of his youth. For ftill my office
Kept me at diftance from him ; and when full
He to this citadel appointed me,
He was fincere and ferious in his duty.
I do not then abufe his confidence,
If I p refer ve my fealty in that
Which to my fealty was firfl deliver'd.
BUTLER.
Say, then, will you fulfil th' attainder on him ?
gordon. fpaufes reflecting — then as in deep
dejection.)
If it be fo — if all be as you fay —
If he've betray'd the Emperor, his matter,
Have fold the troops, have purpos'd to deliver
The ftrong holds of the country to the enemy —
Yea, truly ! — there is no redemption for him !— -
Yet it is hard, that me the lot mould defline
To be the infbrument of his perdition 3
For we were pages at the court of Bergau
At the fame period -„ but I was the fenior.
BUTLER.
I have heard fo
GORDON.
'Tis full thirty years fince then.
A youth who fcarce'had feen his twentieth year
Was Wallenftein, when he and I were friends :
- 4. Yet
76* THE DEATH OF
Yet even then he had a daring foul :
His frame of mind was ferious and fevere
Beyond his years ; his dreams were of great ob-
jects.
He walk'd amidfl us of a filent fpirit,
Communing with himfelf : yet I have known him
Tranfported on a fudden into utterance
Of dränge conceptions ; kindling into fplendour
His foul reveal'd itfelf, and he fpake fo
That we look'd round perplex'd upon each other,
Not knowing whether it were crazinefs,
Or whether 't were a god that fpoke in him.
BUTLER.
But was it where he fell two flory high
From a window-ledge, on which he had fallen
afleep ;
And rofe up free from injury ? From this day
(It is reported) he betray'd clear marks
Of a diftemper'd fancy.
GORDON.
He became
Doubtlefs more felf-enwrapt and melancholy-;
He made himfelf a Catholic. Marvelloufly
His marvellous prefervation had transform'd him.
Thenceforth he held himfelf for an exempted
And privileged being, and, as if he were
Incapable of dizzinefs or fall,
He ran along the unfteady rope of life.
But now our deftinies drove us afunder :
He pac'd with rapid ftep the way of greatnefs,
Was
WALLENSTEIN. 77
Was Count, and Prince, Duke regent, and Dic-
tator.
And now is all, all this too little for him ;
He ftretches forth his hands for a king's crown,
And plunges in unfathomable ruin,
BUTLER.
No more, he comes.
SCENE III.
To thefe enter Wallenstein, in converfation
with the Burgomaster of Egra.
s, wallenstein.
You were at one time a free town. I fee,
Ye bear the half eagle in your city arms.
Why the half eagle only ?
BURGOMASTER.
We were free,
But for thefe laft two hundred years has Egra
Remain'd in pledge to the Bohemian crown,
Therefore we bear the half eagle, the other half
Being cancelPd till the empire ranfom us,
If ever that mould be.
wallenstein.
Ye merit freedom.
Only be firm and dauntlefs. Lend your ears
To no defigning whifpering court-minions.
What may your impofts be ?
3URG0-
78 THE DEATH OF
n
BURGOMASTER.
So heavy that
We totter under them. The garrifon
Lives at our coils.
WALLENSTEIN.
I will relieve you. Tell me,
There are fome Proteftants among you flill ?
(The Burgomaßer heßtates.)
Yes, yes; I know it. Many lie conceal'd
Within thefe walls — Confefs now — you yourfelf —
(Fixes his eye on him. The Burgomaßer alarmed.)
Be not alarm'd. I hate the Jefuits.
Could my will have determin'd it, they had
Been long ago expell'd the empire. Truft me—
Mafs-book or bible — 'tis all one to me.
Of that the world has had fufficient proof.
I built a church for the reform'd in Glogan
At my own inftance. Hark'e, Burgomafter !^
What is your name.
BURGOMASTER.
Pachhälbel, may it pleafe you.
WALLENSTEIN.
Hark'e !
But let it go no further, what I now
Difclofe to you in confidence.
{Laying his hand on the Burgomaßer' sßoulder
with a certain folemnity.)
The times
Draw near to their fulfilment, Burgomafter !
The high will fall, the low will be exalted.
Hark'e ! But keep it to yourfelf! The end
Approaches
WALLENSTEIN. 79
Approaches of the Spanilh double monarchy — «
A new arrangement is at hand. • You faw
The three moons that appeared at once in the
Heaven.
BURGOMASTER.
With wonder and affright !
WALLENSTEIN.
Whereof did two
Strangely transform themfelves to bloody daggers,
And only one, the middle moon, remain'd
Steady and clear.
BURGOMASTER.
We applied it to the Turks.
WALLENSTEIN.
The Turks ! That all ?— I tell you, that two
empires
Will fet in blood, in the Eaft and in the Weft,
And Luth 'ranifm alone remain.
(obferving- Gordon and Butler.)
I'faith,
'Twas a fmart cannonading that we heard
This evening, as we journey'd hitherward ;
'Twas on our left hand. Did you hear it here ?
GORDON.
Diftinc"tly, The wind brought it from the South.
BUTLER.
It feem'd to come from Weiden or from Neuftadt.
WALLENSTEIN.
'Tis likely. That's the route the Swedes are taking.
How flrong is the garrifon ?
GORDON
80 THE DEATH OF
GORDON.
Not quite two hundred
Competent men, the reft are invalids.
WALLENSTEIN.
Good ! And how many in the vale of Jochim.
GORDON.
Two hundred Arquebuffiers have I fent thither
To fortify the pofts againfl the Swedes.
WALLENSTEIN.
Good! I commend your forefight. At the works
too
You have done fomewhat ?
GORDON.
Two additional batteries
I caused to be run up. They were needlefs.
The Rhine- Grave prefles hard upon us, General!
WALLENSTEIN.
You have been watchful in your Emperor's fervice.
I am content with you, Lieutenant-Colonel.
' (to Butler.)
Releafe the outpofts in the vale of Jochim
With all the ftations in the enemy's route.
(to Gordon.)
Governor, in your faithful hands I leave
My wife, my daughter, and my filler. I
Shall make no ftay here, and wait but the arrival
Of letters, to take leave of you, together
With all the regiments.
SCENE
WALLENSTEIN. 81
SCENE IV.
To thefe enter, Count Tertsky.
f ERTSKY.
joy, Generali joy ! I bring you welcome tidings.
WALLENSTEIN.
And what may they be ?
TERTSKY.
There has been an engagement
At Neuftadt j the Swedes gain'd the vi&ory.
WALLENSTEIN.
From whence did you receive the intelligence ?
TERTSKY.
A countryman from Tirfchenfeil convey'd it.
Soon after fun rife did the fight begin !
A troop of the Imperialifts from Fachau
Had forc'd their way into the Swedifh camp ;
The cannonade continued full two hours ;
There were left dead upon the field a thoufand
Imperialifts together, with their Colonel ;
Further than this he did not know.
WALLENSTEIN.
How came
Imperial troops at Neuftadt ? Altringer
But yefterday, flood fixty miles from there.
Count Galas' force collects at Frauenberg,
And have not the full complement. Is it poffible,
That Suys perchance had ventur'd fo far onward ?
It cannot be.
TERTSKY.
We mail foon know the whole,
For hefe comes Illo, full of hafte, and joyous.
g SCENE
82 THE DEATH OF
SCENE V.
To thefe enter Illo.
illo. (to Wallenfiein.)
A courier, Duke ! he wi flies to fpeak with thee.
tertsky. (eagerly.)
Does he bring confirmation of the victory ?
wallenstein, {at the fame time.)
What does he bring ? Whence comes he ?
ILLO.
From the Rhine-grave»
And what he brings I can announce to you
Before hand. Seven leagues diftant are the Swedes;
At Neufladt did Max. Piccolomini
Throw himfelf on them wilh the cavalry;
A murd'rous fight took place ; o'erpower'd by
numbers
The Pappenheimers all, with Max- their leader*
(Wallenfiein Jhndders and turns pale.)
Were left dead on the field.
wallenstein, (after a paufe in a low voice.)
Where is the meflenger ? Conduct me to him.
(Wallenfiein is going, when Lady Neubrunn
rufhes into the room. Some ferv ants follow her
and run acrqfs the fi age.)
NEUBRUNN.
Help! Help!
illo and tertsky. (at the fame time.)
What now ?
X NEU-
WALLENSTEIN. $3
NEUBRUNN.
The Princefs !— «
WALLENSTEIN and TERTSKY.
Does fhe know it ?
NEUBRUNN» fat the fame iime with them.)
She is dying ! (hurries off the fiage, and Wallen-
fiein and Tertfky follow her.)
SCENE VI.
Butler and Gordon.
GORDON.
What's this?
BUTLRR,
She has loft the man fhelov'd
Young Piccolomini who fell in the battle.
GORDON*
Unfortunate Lady !
butler.
You have heard what IIlo
Reporteth, that the Swedes are conquerors,
And marching hitherward.
GORDON.
Too well I heard it.
BUTLER.
They are twelve regiments ftrong, and there are
five
Clofe by us to proted: the Duke. We have
Only my fingle regiment ; and the garrifon
Is not two hundred ftrong.
G 2 GOR"
84 THE DEATH OF
GORDON.
'Tis even fo.
BUTLER.
It is not poffible with fuch fmall force
To hold in cuftody a man like him.
GORDON.
I grant it.
BUTLER.
Soon the numbers would difarm us,
And liberate him.
GORDON.
It were to be fear'd.
butler, (after a paufe.J
Know, I am warranty for the event ;
With my head have I pledg'd myfelf for his,
Müft make my word good, coll it what it will,
And if alive we cannot hold him prifoner,
Why — death makes all things certain !
GORDON.
Butler! What?
Do I underftand you ? Gracious God ! You could—
BUTLER.
He muft not live.
GORDON.
And you can do the deed !
BUTLER.
Either you or I. This morning was his laft.
GORDON.
You would affafiinate him ?
BUTLER.
'Tis my purpofe.
GOR-
WALLENSTEIN. 85
GORDON.
Who leans with his whole confidence upon you !
BUTLER.
Such is his evil deftiny !
GORDON.
Your General !
The facred perfon of your General !
BUTLER.
My General he has been.
GORDON.
That 'tis only
An " has been" wafhes out no villainy.
And without judgment pafs'd ?
BUTLER.
The execution
Is here inftead of judgment.
GORDON.
This were murder,
Not juftice. The molt guilty mould be heard«
BUTLER.
His guilt is clear, the Emperor has paft judgment,
And we but execute his will.
GORDON.
We mould not
Hurry to realize a bloody fentence.
A word may be recali'd, a life can never be.
BUTLER.
Difpatch in fervice pleafes fovereigns.
GORDON.
No honeft man's ambitious to prefs forward
To the hangman's fervice.
g 3 BUT-
85 THE DEATH OF
BUTLER.
And no brave man lofes
His colour at a daring enterprize.
GORDON.
A brave man hazards life, but not his confcience.
BUTLER.
What then ? Shall he go forth anew to kindle
The unextinguimable flame of war ?
GORDON.
Seize him, and hold him prifoner— do not kill him !
BUTLER,
Had not the Emperor's army been defeated,
I might have done fo.^But 'tis now pall by.
GORDON.
O, wherefore open'd I the ftrong hold to him ?
BUTLER.
His deftiny and n3t the place deftroys him.
GORDON.
Upon thefe ramparts, as befeem'd a foldier,
I had fallen, defending the Emperor's citadel !
BUTLER.
Yes ! and a thoufand gallant men have perifh'd.
GORDON.
Doing their duty— that adorns the man !
But murder's a black deed, and nature curfes it.
butler, (brings out a paper.)
Here is the manifesto which commands us
To gain pofleflion of his perfon. See —
It is addrefs'd to you as well as me.
Are
WALLENSTEIN. 87
Are you content to take the confequences,
If thro' our fault he efcape to the enemy.
GORDON.
I ? — Gracious God !
BUTLER.
Take jt on yourfelf.
Come of it what it may, on you I lay it.
GORDON.
0 God in heaven !
BUTLER.
Can you advife aught elfe
Wherewith to execute the Emperor's purpofe ?
Say if you can. For I defire his fall,
Not his deftruction.
GORDON.
Merciful heaven ! what muft be
1 fee as clear as you. Yet flill the heart
Within my bofom beats with other feelings !
BUTLER.
Mine is of harder fluff! Neceffity
In her rough fchool hath fteel'd me. And this Illo,
And Tertfky likewife, they muft not furvive him.
GORDON.
I feel no pang for thefe. Their own bad heart
Impell'd thein, not the influence of the ftars.
'Twas they who ftrew'd the feeds of evil paflions
In his calm bread, and with officious villainy
Water'd and nurs'd the pois'nous plants. May
they
Jleceive their earnefts to the uttermoft mite !
g 4 *FT-
83 THE DEATH OF
BUTLER.
And their death fhall precede his !
We meant to have taken them alive this evening
Amid the merry-making of a feaft,
And keep them prifoners in the citadels.
But this makes (horter work. I go this inftant
To give the neceflarv orders.
SCENE VIT.
To t liefe enter Illo öw^Tertsky.
TERTSKY.
Our luck is on the turn. To-morrow come
The Swedes — twelve thouiand gallant warriors,
Illo!
Then ftraightways for Vienna. Cheerily, friend !
What ! meet fuch news with fuch a moody face ?
ILLO.
It lies with us at prefent to prefcribe
Laws, and take vengeance on thofe worthlefs trai-
tors,
Thofe fkulking cowards that deferted us ;
One has already done his bitter penance,
The Piccolomini, be his the fate
Of all who wifh us evil ! This flies fure
To the old man's heart ; he has his whole life long
Fretted and toil'd to raife his ancient houfe
From a Count's title to the name of Prince ;
And now mud feek a gra\e for his only fon.
BUTLER.
WALLENSTEIN. 89
BUTLER.
'Twas pity tho' ! A youth of fuch heroic
And gentle temp'rament ! The Duke himfelf,
'Twas eaiily feen, how near it went to his heart.
ILLO.
Hark'e, old friend ! That is the very point
That never pleas'd me in our General —
He ever gave the preference to the Italians.
Yea, at this very moment, by my foul !
He'd gladly fee us all dead ten times over,
Could he thereby recal his friend to life.
TERTSKY.
Hum, hufh ! Let the dead reft ! This evening's
bufinefs
Is, who can fairly drink the other down —
Your regiment, Illo ! gives the entertainment.
Come ! we will keep a merry carnival —
The night for once be day, and mid full glafTes
Will we expect the Swedilh Avantgarde.
ILLO.
Yes, let us be of good chear for to-day,
For there's hot work before us, friends ! This fword
Shall have no reft, till it be bath'd to the hilt
In Auftrian blood.
GORDON.
Shame, (name ! what talk is this,
My Lord Field Marfhal ? Wherefore foam you fo
Againft your Emperor ?
BUTLER.
Hope not too much
From this firft victory. Bethink you, firs !
How
90 THE DEATH OF
How rapidly the wheel of fortune turns,
The Emperor ftill is formidably ftrong.
ILLO.
The Emperor has foldiers, no commander,
For this King Ferdinand of Hungary
Is but a Tyro. Galas ? He's no luck,
And was of old the miner of armies.
And then this Viper, this Octavio,
Is excellent at ftabbing in the back,
But ne'er meets Friedland in the open field.
TERTSKY.
Truft me, my friends, it cannot but fucceed;
Fortune, we know can ne'er forfake the Duke !
And only under Wallenftein can Auftria
Beconqueior.
ILLO.
The Duke will foon aflemble
A mighty army, all comes crowding, ftreaming
To banners, dedicate by deftiny,
To fame, and profperous fortune. I behold
Old times come back again, he will become
Once more the mighty Lord which he has been.
How will the fools, who've now deferted him,
Look then ? I can't but laugh to think of them,
For lands will he prefent to all his friends,
And like a King and Emperor reward
True fervices j but we've the neareft claims.
(To Gordon.)
You will not be forgotten, Governor !
He'll take you from this nefl and bid you fhine
In
WALLENSTEIN. 91
In higher flation : your fidelity-
Well merits it.
GORDON.
I am content already.
And wifti to climb no higher; where great height is
The fall mud needs be great. " Great height,
great depth."
ILLO.
Here you have no more bufinefs for to-morrow ;
The Swedes will take poiTeffion of the citadel.
Come, Tertiky, it is fupper-time. What think
you ?
Say, mail we have the State illuminated
In honour of the Swede ? And who refufes
To do it is a Spaniard and a traitor.
TERTSKY.
Nay ! Nay ! not that, it not will pleafe the Duke —
ILLO.
What ! we are mailers here ; no foul mail dare
Avow himfelf imperial where we've the rule.
Gordon ! Good night, and, for the laft time, take
A fair leave of the place. Send 'out pat roles
To make fecure, the watch -word may be alter'd
At the ftroke of ten; deliver in the keys
To the Duke himfelf, and then you're quit for ever
Your wardmip of the gates, for on to-morrow
The Swedes will take poiTeffion of the citadel,.
tertsky. fas he is going, to Butler.)
You come though to the caftle.
BUTLER.
At the right time.
(Exeunt Ttrlfky and Wo. J
SCENE.
$2 THE DEATH OF
SCENE VIIT.
Gordon and Butler.
Gordon, {looking after them.)
Unhappy man ! How free from all foreboding !
They ruth into the outfpread net of murder,
In the blind drunkennefs of victory ;
I have no pity for their fate. This Illo,
This overflowing and fool-hardy villain
That would fain bathe himfelf in his Emperor's
blood.
BUTLER./
Do as he order'd you. Send round patroles,
Take meafures for the citadel's fecurity ;
When they are within I clofe the caftle gate
That nothing may tranfpire.
gordon. {with earnefl anxiety.)
Oh ! hafte not fo !
Nay, flop; firft tell me
BUTLER.
You have heard already,
To-morrow to the Swedes belongs. This night
Alone is ours. They make good expeditions
But we will make ftill greater. Fare you well.
GORDON.
Ah ! your looks tell me nothing good. Nay,
Butler,
I pray you, promife me !
BUTLER.
The fun has fet ;
A fateful evening doth defcend upon us,
And brings on their Jong night ! Their evil ftars
Deliver
WALLENSTEIN. - 93
Deliver them unarm'd into our hands,
And from their drunken dream of golden fortunes
The dagger at their heart lhall roufe them. Well,
The Duke was ever a great calculator ;
His fellow-men were figures on his chefs-board,
To move and ftation, as his game requir'd.
Other men's honour, dignity, good name,
Did he fhift like pawns, and made no confcience
of it:
Still calculating, calculating ftill,
And yet at laft his calculation proves
Erroneous ; the whole game is loft j and lo !
His own life will be found among the forfeits.
GORDON.
0 think not of his errors now ; remember
His greatnefs, his munificence, think on all
The lovely features of his character,
On all the noble exploits of his life,
And let them, like an angels' arm, unfeen
Arreft the lifted fword.
BUTLER.
It is too late.
1 fuffer not myfelf to feel compaflion,
Dark thoughts and bloody are my duty now :
(grafping Gordon's hand.)
Gordon ! 'Tis not my hatred (I pretend not
To love the Duke, and have no caufe to love him)
Yet 'tis not now my hatred that impels me
To be his murderer. 'Tis his evil fate.
Hoflile concurrences of many events
Control and fubjugate me to the office.
In
§4f THE DEATH OF
In vain the human being meditates
Free action. He is but the wire-work'd * puppet
Of the blind power, which out of his own choice
Creates for him a dread neceffity.
What too would it avail him, if there were
A fomething pleading for him in my heart—-:»
Still I muft kill him,
GORDON.
If your heart fpeak to you*
Follow its impulfe. 'Tis the voice of God.
Think you your fortunes will grow profperous '
Bedew'd with blood, his blood ? Believe it not !
BUTLER.
You know not. Afk not ! Wherefore mould it
happen,
That the Swedes gain'd the viclory, and haften
With fuch fore'd marches hitherward ? Fain
would I
Have given him to the Emperor's mercy. — Gor-
don ! '
I do not wifh his blood- — But I muft ranfom
The honour of my word — it lies in pledge —
And he muft die, or — i —
(paffionately grafping Gordon s hand.)
Liften then, and know !
I am diflionoiir 'd if the Duke efcape us.
GORDON.
O ! to fave fuch a man — - —
* We doubt the propriety of putting fo blafphemous a
fentiment in the mouth of any character. T.
BUTLER.
WALLENSTEIN, 95
BUTLER.
What !
GORDON.
It is worth
A facrifice. — Come, friend! be noble-minded !
Our own heart, and not other men's opinions,
Forms our true honour.
Butler, (with a cold and haughty air.)
He is a great Lord,
This Duke — and I am but of mean importance.
This is what you would fay ? Wherein concerns it
The world at large, you mean to hint to me,
Whether the man of low extraction keeps
Or blemifhes his honour —
So that the man of princely rank be fav'd.
We all do ftamp our value on ourfelves.
The price we challenge for ourfelves is given us.
There does not live on earth the man fo flation'd,
That I defpife myfelf compar'd with him.
Man is made great or little by his own will,
Becaufe I am true to mine, therefore he dies.
GORDON.
I am endeavouring to move a rock.
Thou hadft a mother, yet no human feelings.
I cannot hinder you, but may fome God
Refcue. him from you !
[Exit Gordon.
SCENE
9G THE DEATH OF
SCENE TX.
butler, [alone.)
I treafur'd my good name all my life long;
The Duke has cheated me of life's beft jewel,
So that I blufh before this poor weak Gordon !
He prizes above all his fealty ;
His confcious foul accufes him of nothing ;
In oppofition to his own foft heart
He fubjugates himfelf to an iron duty.
Me in a weaker moment paffion warp'd ;
I ftand betide him, and mufl feel myfelf
The worfe man of the two. What, though the
world
Is ignorant of my purpos'd treafon, yet
One man does know it, and can prove it too —
High-minded Piccolomini !
There lives the man who can difhonour me !
This ignominy blood alone can cleanfe !
Duke Friedland, thou or I — Into my own hands
Fortune delivers me — The dearefl thing a man has
is himfelf.
[The air tain drops.)
ACT
WALLENSTEIN* 97
ACT IV.
Scene, Butler's Chamber*
SCENE I.
Butler, Major, and Geraldin.
butler.
Find me twelve ftrong Dragoons, arm them with
pikes,
For there muft be no firing
Conceal them fomewhere near the banquet -room,
And Toon as the defert is ferv'd up, ruQi all in
And cry — Who is loyal to the Emperor ?
I will overturn the table — while you attack
Illo and Tertfky, and difpatch them both.
The caflle-palace is well barr'd and guarded,
That no intelligence of this proceeding
May make its way to the Duke.— Go inftantly 3
Have you yet fent for Captain Devereux
And the Macdonald ?
GERALDIN.
They'll be here anon.
[Exit Geraldin.
BUTLER.
Here's no room for delay. The citizens
Declare for him, a dizzy drunken fpirit
Pofleffes the whole town. They fee in the Duke
h A Prinee
S>8 THE DEATH OF
A Prince of peace, a founder of new ages
And golden times. Arms too have been given out
By the town-council, and an hundred citizens
Have volunteer'd themfelves. to ftand on guard.
Difpatch then be the word. For enemies
Threaten us from without and from within.
SCENE II.
Butler, Captain Devereux, and
Macdonald.
macdonald.
Here we are, General.
DEVEREUX.
What's to be the watchword ?
BUTLER.
Long live the Emperor !
both, (recoiling.)
How ?
BUTLER.
Live the Houfe of Auftria !
DEVEREUX.
Have we not fwore fidelity to Friedland ?
MACDONALD.
Have we not march'd to this place to protect
him ?
BUTLER.
Protect a traitor, and his country's enemy !
DEVEREUX.
Why, yes ! in his name you adminifler'd
Our oath.
MAC*
*.
WALLENSTEIN. 99
MAC DONALD.
And follow'd him yourfelf to Egra.
BUTLER.
I did it the more furely to deftroy him.
DEVEREUX.
So, then !
MACDONALD.
An alter'd cafe !
butler, (to Devereux.)
Thou wretched man !
So ealily leav'ft thou thy oath and colours ?
DEVEREUX.
The devil !— I but follow'd your example,
If you could prove a villain, why not we ?
MACDONALD.
We've nought to do with thinking— that's your
bulinefs.
You .are our General, and give out the orders ;
We follow you, tho' the track lead to hell.
butler, (appeafed.)
Good then ! we know each other.
MACDONALD.
I mould hope fo.
DEVEREUX.
Soldiers of fortune are we — who bids moft,
He has us.
MACDONALD.
'Tis e'en fol /
BUTLER.
Well, for the prefent
Ye muft remain honeft and faithful foldiers.
H 2 DEVEREUX.
100 THE DEATH OF
DEVEREUX.
We wifri no other.
BUTLER.
* t
Aye, and make your fortunes.
MACDONALD.
That is dill better. ,
BUTLER.
Liften t
BOTHj.
We attend.
BUTLER.
It is the Emperor's will and ordinance
To feize the perfonöf the Prince -Duke Friedland,
Alive or dead.
DEVEREUX.
It runs fo in the letter.
MACDONALD.
Alive or dead — thefe were the very words.
BUTLER.
And he (hall be rewarded from the State
In land and gold, who proffers aid thereto.
DEVEREUX.
-
Ay ? That founds well. The words found always
well
That travel hither from the Court. Yes ! yes !
We know already what Gourt-words import.
A golden chain perhaps in fign of favour,
Or an old charger, or a parchment patent,
And fuch like. — The Prince-Duke pays better.
MAC-
WALLENSTEIN. 101
MACDONALD.
Yes,
The Duke's a fplendid paymafter.
BUTLER.
All over
With that, my friends ! His lucky liars are fet.
MACDONALD.
And is that certain ?
BUTLER,
You frave my word for it,
DEVEREUX.
His lucky fortunes all pad by ? '
BUTLER.
For ever.
He is as poor as we.
MACDONALD.
As poor as we-?
DEVEREUX.
Macdonald, we'll defert him.
BUTLER.
We'll defert him ?
Full twenty thoufand have done that already ;
We muft do more, my countrymen ! In Abort —
We — we muft kill him.
both, (ßarting back.)
Kill him I
BUTLER.
Yes ! muft kill him.
And for that purpofe have I chofen you.
h 3 both.
1ÖS THE DEATH OP
BOTH.
Us!
BUTLER.
You> Captain Devereux, and the Macdonald.
devereux. (after a paufe.)
Chufe you fome other.
BUTLER.
What ? art dafbrdly ?
Thou, with full thirty lives to anfwer for —
Thou confcientious of a fudden ?
devereux.
Nay,
To afiaffinate our Lord and General—
MACDONALD.
To whom we've fworn a foldier's oath —
BUTLER.
The oath
Is null, for Friedland is a traitor.
DEVEREUX.
No, no ! It is too bad !
MACDONALD.
Yes, by my foul !
It is too bad. One has a confcience too —
DEVEREUX.
If it were not our Chieftain, who fo long
Has iffued the commands, and claim'd our duty.
BUTLER.
Ts that the objection ?
devereux.
Were it my own father,
And the Emperor's fervice fliould demand it of me,
It
WALLENSTEIN. 103
It might be done perhaps — But we are foldiers,
And to affaffinate our Chief Commander,
That is a fin, a foul abomination,
From which no Monk or Confeflor abfolves us.
BUTLER.
I am your Pope, and give you abfolution.
Determine quickly !
DEVEREUX.
Twill not do!
MACDONALD.
'Twont do !
BUTLER.
Well, offthen ! and — fend Peftalutz to me.
devereux. (heßtates.)
The Peftalutz—
MACDONALD.
What may you want with him ?
BUTLER.
If you reject it, we can find enough—
DEVEREUX.
Nay, if he mull fall, we may earn the bounty
As well as any other. What think you,
Brother Macdonald ?
MACDONALD.
Why if he muß fall,
And will fall, and it can't be otherwife,
One would not give place to this Peftalutz.
devereux. (after fome reflection.)
When do you purpofe he Ihould fall ?
H 4 BUT-
1Ö4 THE DEATH OF
BUTLER.
This night.
To-morrow will the Swedes be at our gates.
DEVEREUX.
You take upon you all the confequences !
BUTLER.
I take the whole upon me.
DEVEREUX.
And it is
The Emperor's will, his exprefs abfolute will ?
For we have instances, that folks may like
The murder, and yet hang the murderer.
butler. -
The manifefto fays — alive or dead .
Alive— 'tis not poflible — you fee it is not.
DEVEREUX.
Well, dead then ! dead ! But how can we come
at him ?
The town is fill'd with Tertfky's foldiery.
MACDONALD.
Ay ! and then Tertiky ftill remains, and Illo —
BUTLER.
With thefe we mail begin— you underftand me ?
DEVEREUX.
How ? And muft they too perifli ?
BUTLER.
They the firft.
MACDONALD.
Hear, Devereux ! A bloody evening this.
DEVEREUX.
Have you a man for that ? Commiffion me —
but-
, WALLENSTEIN. . 105
BUTLER.
'Tis given in truft to Major Geraldin ;
This is a carnival night, and there's a feafl
Given at the Caftle — there we fhall furprize them,
And hew them down. The Peftalutz, and Lefley,
Have that commiffion— foon as that is finidi'd —
DEVEREUX.
Hear, General ! It will be all one to you.
Hark'e ! let me exchange with Geraldin.
BUTLER.
'Twill be the lefTer danger with the Duke.
DEVEREUX.
Danger ! The devil ! What do you think me, Ge-
neral ?
'Tis the Duke's eye, and not his fword, I fear.
BUTLER.
What' can his eye do to thee ?
DEVEREUX.
Death and hell !
Thou know'ft that I'm no milk-fop, General !
But 'tis not eight days, lince the Duke did fend
me
Twenty gold pieces for this good warm coat
Which I have on ! and then for him to fee me
Standing before him with the pike, his murderer,
That eye of his looking upon this coat —
Why — why — the devil fetch me i I'm no milk-
fop !
4 ;BUT-
166 THE DEATH OF
BUTLER.
The Duke prefented thee this good warm coat,
And thou, a needy wight, haft pangs of confcience
To run him through the body in return.
A coat that is far better and far warmer
Did the Emperor give to him, the Prince's mantle.
How doth he thank the Emperor ? With revolt,
And treafon.
DEVEREUX.
That is true. The devil take
Such thankers ! I'll difpatch him.
BUTLER.
And would'ft quiet .
Thy confcience, thou haft nought to do but limply
Pull off the coat -, fo can'ft thou do the deed
With light heart and good fpirits.
DEVEREUX.
You are right.
That did not ftrike me. I'llpull off the coat —
So there's an end of it.
MACDONALD.
Yes, but there's another
Point to be thought of.
BUTLER.
And what's that, Macdonald ?
MACDONALD.
What avails fword or dagger againft him f
He is not to be wounded — he is —
butler, (ßarting zip.)
What?
MAC-
WALLENSTEIN. 107
MACDONALD.
Safe againft fhot, and ftab and ila(h ! Hard frozen,
Secured, and warranted by the black art !
His body is impenetrable, I tell you.
DEVEREUX.
In Ingleftadt there was juft another —
"His whole fkin was the fame as fleel; at laft
We wefe obliged to beat him down with gun«
flocks.
MACDONALD.
Hear wjiat I'll do.
DEVEREUX.
Well ?
MACDONALD.
In the CloKler here
There's a Dominican, my countryman.
I'll make him dip my fword and pike for me
In holy water, and fay over them
One of his ftrongeft bleflings. That's probatum 1
Nothing can ftand 'gainft that.
BUTLER.
So do, Macdonald !
But now go and feject from out the regiment
Twenty or thirty able-bodied fellows,
And let them take the oaths to the Emperor.
Then when it ftrikes eleven, when the firfh rounds
Are pafs'd, conduct them, filently as may be,
To th' houfe — I will myfelf be not far off.
DEVEREUX.
But how do we get through Hartfchier and Gordon
That ftand on guard there in the inner chamber ?
5 BUT-
108 THE DEATH OF
BUTLER.
I have made myfelf acquainted with the place.
I lead you through a back-door t'hat's defended
By one man only. Me my rank and office
Give accefs to the Duke at every hour.
I'll go before you — with one poinard-ftroke
Cut Hartfchier's wind-pipe, and make way for you.
DEVEREUX.
And when we are there, by what means (hall we
gain
The Duke's bed-chamber, without his alarming
The fervants of the Court ; for he has here
A numerous company of followers.
_ i
BUTLER.
The attendants fill the right wing j he hates buflle,
And lodges in the left wing quite alone.
DEVEREUX.
Were it well over — hey, Macdonald ? I
Feel queerly on the occafion, devil knows !
MACDONALD.
And I too. 'Tis too great a perfonage.
People will hold us for a brace of villains.
BUTLER.
In plenty, honour, fplendour. — You may fafely
Laugh at the people's babble.
DEVEREUX.
If the bufinefs
Squares with one's honour — if that be quite cer-
tain—
BUT-
WALLENSTEIN. 109
BUTLER. ;
Set your hearts quite at eafe. Ye fave for Ferdi-
nand
His Crown and Empire. The reward can be
No fmall one.
DEVEREUX. g
And 'tis his purpofe to dethrone the Emperor ?
BUTLER.
Yes ! — Yes !. — to rob him of his Crown and Life.
DEVEREUX.
And he mud fall by the executioner's hands,
Should we deliver him up to the Emperor
Alive ?
• BUTLER.
It were his certain deftiny.
DEVEREUX.
Well ! Well ! Come then, Macdonald, he mall not
Lie long in pain.
[Exeunt Butler through one door, Macdonald and
Devereux through the other.']
SCENE III.
Scene, a gothic and gloomy Apartmtnt at the
Duchefs Friedland' s. Thekla on a feat, pale,
her eyes clofed. The Duchess and Lady
Neu brunn bußed about her. Wallen-
stein and the Countess in converfation.
WALLENSTEIN.
How knew fhe it fo foon *
COUN-
110 THE DEATH OF
COUNTESS.
She Teems to have
Foreboded fome misfortune. The report
Of an engagement, in the which had fallen
A Colonel of the Imperial Army, frighten'd her.
I faw it inftantly. She flew to meet
The Swedilh Courier, and with fudden queftion-
Soon wrefted from him the difaftrous fecret.
Too late we mifs'd her, haftened after her,
We found her lying in his arms, all pale
^.nd in a fwoon.
WALLENSTEIN.
A heavy, heavy blow I
And (he fo unprepar'd ! Poor child ! How is it I
(turning to the Duchefs.)
Is (he coming to herfelf ?
DUCHESS.
Her eyes are opening.
COUNTESS.
She lives.
thekla. ( looking round her.)
Where am I ?
wallenstein, (fleps to her, raißng her up in
his arms.)
Come cheerly, Thekla ! be my own brave girl !
See, there's thy loving mother. Thou art in
Thy father's arms.
thekla. (ßtmding tip.)
Where is he ? Is he gone ?
duchess.
WALLENSTEIN. Ill
DUCHESS.
Who gone, my daughter ?
THEKLA.
He — the man who utter'd
That word of mifery.
duchess. '
O! think not of it,
MyTheklaf
WALLENSTEIN.
Give her forrow leave to talk !
Let her complain— mingle your tears with her's,
For {he hath fufFer'd a deep anguifh ; but
She'll rife fuperior to it, for my Thekia
Hath all her father's unfubdued heart.
THEKLA.
I am not ill. See, I have power to ftand.
Why does my mother weep ? Have I alarm'd her ?
It is gone by — I recoiled: myfelf.
(Jhe cafis her eyes round the room, asfeekingfome
one.)
Where is he ? Pleafe you, do not hide him from
me.
You fee, I have ftrength enough ; now I will hear
him.
DUCHESS.
No, never (hall this meffenger of evil
Enter again into thy prefence, Thekia !
THEKLA.
My father—
VAL-
112 THE DEATH OP
WALLENSTEI5T.
Deareft daughter I
THEKLA.
I'm not weak —
Shortly I (hall be quite myfelf again.
You'll grant me one requeft ?
WALLENSTEIN.
Name it, my daughter.
THEKLA.
Permit the ftranger to be calFd to me,
And grant me leave, that by myfelf I may
Hear his report and queftion him.
DUCHESS.
No, never?
COUNTESS.
'Tis not advifeable — aflfent not to it,
WALLENSTEIISr.
Hufh-' Wherefore would'ft thou fpeak with him,
my daughter ?
THEKLA.
Knowing the whole, I fhall be more collected ;
I will not be deceiv'd. My mother wiflies
Only to fpare me. I will not be fpar'd.
The worft is faid already : I can hear
Nothing of deeper anguifti !
countess and duchess.
Do it not.
THEKLA.
The horror overpower 'd me by furprize.
My heart betray'd me in the flranger's prefence ;
He was a witnefs of my weaknefs, yea,
I fank
WALLENSTEIN. 113
I fank into his arms ; and that has fham'd me.
I muft replace myfelf in his efteem,
And I muft fpeak with him, perforce, that he,
The ftranger, may not think ungently of me.
WALLENSTEIN.
I fee (he is in the right, and am inclin'd
To grant her this requeft of her's. Go, call him,
[Lady Neubrunn goes to call him.)
DUCHESS.
But I, thy mother, will be prefent —
THEKLA.
'Twere
More pleafing to me, if alone I faw him :
Truft me, I (hall behave myfelf the more
Collectedly.
WALLENSTEIN.
Permit her her own will.
Leave her alone with him : for there are forrows,
Where of neceflity the foul muft be
Its own fupport. A ftrong heart will rely
On its own ftrength alone. In het own bofom,
Not in her mother's arms, muft fhe collect
The ftrength to rife fuperior to this blow.
It is mine own brave girl. I'll have her treated
Not as the woman, but the heroine.
fgoing.J
countess, (detaining him.)
Where art thou going ? I heard Tertfky fay
That 'tis thy purpofe to depart from hence
To-morrow early, but to leave us here.
I WAL-
114 THE DEATH OF
WALLENSTE1N.
Yes, ye flay here, plac'd under the protection
Of gallant men.
COUNTESS.
O take us with you, brother.
Leave us not in this gloomy folitude
To brood o'er anxious thoughts. The mifts of
doubt
Magnify evils to a ihape of horror.
WALLENSTEIN.
Whofpeaks of evil ? I entreat you, filler,
Ufe words of better omen.
COUNTESS.
Then take us with you*
0 leave us not behind you in a place
That forces us to füch fad omens. Heavy
And fick within me is my heart
Thefe walls breathe on me, like a church-yard
vault.
1 cannot tell you, brother, how this place
Doth go againft my nature. Take us with you.
Come, fifter, join you your entreaty ! — Niece,
Your's too. We all entreat you, take us with
you !
WALLENSTEIN.
The place's evil omens will I change,
Making it that which fliields and fhelters for me
My beft-belov'd.
lady neuer UNN. (returning.)
The Swedifh officer.
W A L -
WALLENSTEIN, 115
GALLENSTEIN.
Leave her alone with him. [Exit.
duchess, (to Thekla, who fi arts andjhivers)
There — pale as death ! — Child, 'tis impoffible
That thou fhould'ft fpeak with him. Follow thy
mother.
THEKLA.
The Lady Neubrunn then may (lay with me.
\Exeunt Duchefs and Countefi,
SCENE IV.
Thekla, the Swedish Captain, LaDy
NEUBRUNNi
captain, [refpectfully approaching her.)
Princefs — I muft entreat your gentle pardon — -
My incönfiderate rafh fpeech — How could I— ~
thekla. (with dignity.)
You have beheld me in my agony.
A moll diflrefsful accident occafion'd
You from a ftranger to become at once
My confidant.
CAPTAIN.
I fear you hate my prefence3
For my tongue fpake a melancholy word.
thekla.
The fault is mine. Myfelf did wreft it from you* '
The horror which came o'er me interrupted
Your tale at its commencement. May it pleafe yous
Continue it to the end.
•I 2, CAP«
116 THE DEATH OF
CAPTAIN.
Princefs, 'twill
Renew your anguifli.
THEKLA.
I am firm.
I will be firm. Well — how began the engage-
ment ?
CAPTAIN.
We lay, expecting no attack, at Neuftadt,
Entrench'd but infecurely in our camp,
When towards evening rofe a cloud of dull:
From the wood thitherward ; our vanguard fled
Into the camp, and founded the alarm.
Scarce had we mounted, ere the Pappenheimers,
Their horfes at full fpeed, broke thro' the lines,
And leapt the trenches ; but their heedlefs courage
Had borne them onward far before the others —
The infantry were ftill at diftance, only
The Pappenheimers followed daringly
Their daring leader
(Thekla betrays agitation in her geßures. The
officer panfes till JJie makes a fign to him to
proceed.)
CAPTAIN.
Both in van and flanks
With our whole cavalry we now receiv'd them,
Back to the trenches drove them, where the foot
Stretch'd out a folid ridge of pikes to meet them.
They neither could advance, nor yet retreat ;
And as they flood on every fide wedg'd in,
The Rhinegrave to their leader call'd aloud,
Inviting
WALLENSTEIN. 117
Inviting a furrender; but their leader,
Young Piccolomini
{Thekla, as giddy, grafps a chair.)
Known by his plume,
And his long hair, gave fignal for the trenches ;
Himfelf leapt firft, the regiment all plung'd after. —
His charger, by an halbert gor'd, rear'd up,
Flung him with violence off, and over him
The horfes, now no longer to be curb'd.
(Thekla, who has accompanied the laß fpeech
with all the marks of increafing agony,
trembles through her whole frame, and is
falling. The Lady Neubrunn runs to her,
and receives her in her a?*ms.)
NEUBRUNN.
My deareft lady
CAPTAIN.
I retire.
THEKLA.
'Tis over.
Proceed to the conclufion.
CAPTAIN.
Wild defpair
Infpir'd the troops with frenzy when they faw
Their leader perilh ; every thought of refcue
Was fpurn'd ; they fought like wounded tygers -,
their
Frantic refinance rous'd our foldiery ;
A murderous fight took place, nor was the conteft
Finim'd before their lall man fell.
i 3 thekla.
1 18 THE DEATH OF
the k la. (faltering.)
And where
Where is — You have not told me all.
captain, [after a paufe.)
This morning
We buried him. Twelve youths of nobleft birth
Did bear him to interment ; the whole army
Follow'd the bier. A laurel deck'd his coffin ;
The fword of the deceas'd was plac'd upon it,
In mark of honour, by the Rhinegrave's felf.
Nor tears were wanting : for there are among us
Many, who. had themfelves. experienced
The greatnefs of his mind, and gentle manners ; .
All were affected at his fate. The Rhinegrave
Would willingly have fav'd him ; but himfelf
Made vain th' attempt — 'tis faid he wiih'd to die.
Neubrunn, (to Thekla, zvho has hidden her
countenance.)
Look up, my deareft lacjy
THEKLA.
Where is his grave \
CAPTAIN.
At Neufladt, lady ; in a cloifter church .
Are his remains depoflted, until
We can receive directions from his father
THEKLA.
What is the cloifter's name ?
CAPTAIN.
Saint Catharine's«
THEKLA.
And how far is it thither ?
CAP-
WALLENSTEIN. 119
CAPTAIN.
Near twelve leagues.
THEKLA,
And which the way ?
CAPTAIN.
You go by Tirfchenreit
And Falkenberg, thro' our advanced polls.
THEKLA.
Who
Is their Commander ?
CAPTAIN.
Colonel Seckendorf.
(Thekla fleps to the table, and takes a ring
from a cajket.)
THEKLA.
You have beheld me in my agony,
And fliewn a feeling heart. Pleafe you, accept
(giving him the ring.)
A fmall memorial of this hour. Now go !
captain, (confufed.)
Princefs
{Thekla filently makes figns to him to go, and
turns from him. The Captain lingers, and
is about tofpeak. Lady Neubrunn repeats
theßgnal, and he retires.)
i 4 SCENE
120 THE DEATH OF
SCENE V.
Thekla, Lady Neubrunn.
the k la. (falls on Lady Neubrunn' s neck.)
Now, gentle Neubrunn, fhew me the affection
Which thou haft ever promis'd — prove thyfelf
My own true friend and faithful fellow-pilgrim.
This night we muft away !
NEUBRUNN.
Away ! and whither ?
THEKLA.
Whither ! There is but one place in the world.
Thither where he lies buried ! To his coffin !
NEUBRUNN.
What would you do there ?
THEKLA.
What do there ?
That would* ft thou not have afk'd, hadft thou
e'er lov'd.
There, there is all that ftill remains of him.
That fingle fpot is the whole earth to me.
NEUBRUNN.
That place of death
THEKLA.
Is now the only place,
Where life yet dwells for me : detain me not !
Come and make preparations : let us think
Of means to fly from hence.
NEU-
WALLENSTEIN. 121
NEUBRUNN.
Your father's rage
THEKLA.
That time is paft
And now I fear no human being's rage.
NEUBRUNN.
The fentence of the world ! The tongue of
calumny !
THEKLA. s
Whom am I feeking ? Him who is no more.
Am I then haftening to the arms — — O God !
I hafte but to the grave of the beloved.
NEUBRUNN.
And we alone, two helplefs feeble women ?
THEKLA.
We will take weapons : my arm mail protect thee.
NEUBRUNN.
In the dark night-time ?
THEKLA.
Darknefs will conceal us,
NEUBRUNN.
This rough tempeftuous night
THEKLA.
Had he a foft bed
Under the hoofs of his war-horfes ?
NEUBRUNN.
Heaven !
And then the many polls of the enemy !—
THEKLA.
122 THE DEATH OF
THEKLA.
They are human beings. Mifery travels free
Through the whole earth.
NEUBRUNN.
The journey's weary length —
THEKLA.
The pilgrim, travelling to a diftant fhrine
Of hope and healing, doth not count the leagues.
NEUBRUNN.
How can we pafs the gates ?
THEKLA.
Gold opens them.
Go, do but go.
NEUBRUNN.
Should we be recogniz'd —
THEKLA.
In a defpairing woman, a poor fugitive,
Will no one feek the daughter of Duke Friedland.
NEUBRUNN.
And where procure we horfes for our flight ?
THEKLA.
My equerry procures them. Go and fetch him.
NEUBRUNN.
Dares he, without the knowledge of his lord ?
THEKLA.
He will. Go, only go. Delay no longer.
NEUBRUNN.
Dear lady ! and your mother ?
THEKLA.
Oh ! my mother !
1 ' NEU-
WALLENSTEIN. 123
NEUBRUNN.
So much as fhe has fuffer'd too already ;
Your tender mother — Ah j how ill prepared
For this laft anguiih !
THEKLA.
Woe is me ! my mother !
(paufes.)
Go inftantly.
NEUBRUNN.
But think what you are doing !
THEKLA.
What can be thought, already has been thought,
NEUBRUNN.
And being there, what purpofe you to do ?
THEKLA.
There a Divinity will prompt my foul.
NEUBRUNN.
Your heart, dear lady, is difquieted !
And this is not the way that leads to quiet.
THEKLA.
To a deep quiet, fuch as he has found.
It draws me on, I know not what to name it,
Refiftlefs does it draw me to his grave.
'IThere will my heart be eas'd, my tears will flow.
O haften, make no further queftioning !
There is no reft, for me till I have left
Thefe walls — they fall in on me — A dim power
Drives me from hence — Oh mercy 1 What a feel-
ing !
What
124? THE DEATH OF
What pale and hollow forms are thofe ! They fill,
They crowd the place ! I have no longer room
«here !
Mercy ! Still more ! More ftill ! The hideous
fwarm !
They prefs on me ; they chace me from thefe
walls
Thofe hollow, bodilefs forms of living men •
NEUBRUNN.
You frighten me fo, lady, that no longer
I dare ftay here myfelf. I go and call
Rofenberg inftantly.
[Exit Lady Neubrunn.
SCENE VI.
THEKLA.
His fpirit 'tis that calls me : 'tis the troop
Of his true followers, who offer'd up
Themfelves t' avenge his death : and they accufe
me
Of an ignoble loitering — they would not
Forfake their leader even in death — they died for
him !
And mall / live ?
For me too was that laurel-garland twin'd
That decks his bier. Life is an empty cafkst.
I throw it from me. O, my only hope j
5 To
WALLENSTEIN. 125
To die beneath the hoofs of trampling fleeds —
That is the lot of heroes upon earth !
[Exit Thekla. *
(The curtain drops.)
* The foliloquy of Thekla confifts in the original of fix
and twenty lines, twenty of which are in rhymes of irregular
recurrence. T thought it prudent to abridge it, Indeed the
whole fcene between Thekla and Lady Neubrunn might,
perhaps, have been omitted without injury to the play.
END OF ACT IV,
AC!
tl26 THE DEATH OB'
ACT r.
Scene, ä Saloon, terminated by a gallery which
extends far into the back-ground.
SCENE I.
Wallenstein, {fitting at a table.)
The Swedish Captain, [ßanding before hwi.)
, WALLENSTEIN.
Commend me to your lord. I fympathize
'In his good fortune j and if you have feen me
Deficient in the expreflions of that joy*
Which fuch ä victory might well demand,
Attribute it to no lack of good will,
For henceforth are our fortunes one. • Farewell j
And for your trouble talce my thanks. To-mor-
row
The dtadel (hall be furre'nder'd to you
On your arrival.
[The Szvedi/h Captain rehYes. Wallenflein fits
loß in thought, his eyes fix' 'd vacantly, and his
head fufiain'd by his hand. The Countess
Tertsky enters, fiands before him awhile,
unobferved by him; at length he far is, fees
her, and recollects himfeff]
WAL-
V/ALLENSTEIN* 127
WALLENSTEIN.
Com'ft thou from her ? Is me reftor'd ? How is
ihe?
COUNTESS.
My filler tells me, fhe was more collected
After her converfation with the Swede.
She has now retired to reft.
WALLENSTEIN.
The pang will foften.
She will flied tears.
COUNTESS.
I find thee alter' d too,
My brother ! After fuch a victory
I had expected to have found in thee
A cheerful fpirit. O remain thou firm !
Suftain, uphold us ! For our light thou art,
Our fun.
WALLENSTEIN.
Be quiet. I ail nothing. Where's
Thy hufband,
COUNTESS.
At a banquet — he and tllo.
WALLENSTEIN.
(rifes andßrides der of s the faloon.)
The night's far fpent. Betake thee to thy cham-
ber.
COUNTESS.
Bid me not go, O let me flay with thee !
WALLENSTEIN.
(moves to the window.)
^here is a bufy motion in the Heaven,
3 The
12S THE DEATH OF
The wind doth chace the flag upon the tower,
Faft fly the clouds, the * fickle of the moon,
Struggling, darts fnatches of uncertain light.
No form of ftar is vifible ! That one
White flain of light, that fingle glimm'ring yonder,
Is from Cafliopeia, and therein
Is Japiter. (a paufe.) But now
The blacknefs of the troubled element hides him !
{he jinks into profound melancholy, and looks va-
cantly into the diftance.)
COUNTESS.
(looks on him mournfully, then grafps his hand.)
What art thou brooding on ?
WALLENSTEIN.
Methinks,
If I but faw him, 'twould be well with me.
* Thefe four lines are expreiTed in the orginal with exqui-
fite felicity.
Am Himmel ift geschäftige Bewegung, .
Des Thurmes Fahne jagt der Wind, fchnell geht
Der Wolken Zug, Sie Mondes-ßchel tvanh,
Und durch die Nacht zuckt ungewiße Kelle.
The word " moon-fickle," reminds me of a paffage in
Harris, as quoted by Johnfon, under the word " falcated.'*
" The enlightened part of the moon appears in the form
of a fickle or reaping-hook, which is while fhe is moving
from the conjunction to the oppofition, or from the new
moon to the full ; but from full to a new again, the en-
lightened part appears gibbous, and the dark falcated"
The words " wanken" and " fchweben" are not eafily
tranflated. The Englifh words, by which we attempt to
render them, are either vulgar or pedantic, or not of fuffi-
ciently general application.
He
WALLENSTEIN. 129
He is the ftar of my nativity,
And often marvelloufly hath his afpect
Shot ftrength into my heart.
COUNTESS.
Thou'lt fee him again.
WALLENSTEIN.
[remains for a zvhile with abfent mind, then af-
fumes a livelier manner, and turns fuddenly to
the Countefs.)
See him again ? O never, never again.
COUNTESS.
How ?
WALLENSTEIN.
He is gone — is duft.
COUNTESS*
'Whom mean'ft thou then ?
WALLENSTEIN.
He the more fortunate ! yea, he hath fmifh'd !
For him there is no longer any future —
His life is bright — bright without fpot it was.
And cannot ceafe to be. No ominous hour
Knocks at his door with tidings of mif-hap.
Far off is he, above defire and fear j
No more fubmitted to the change and chance
Of the unfteady planets. O 'tis well
With him ! but who knows what the coming hour
Veil'd in thick darknefs brings for us !
COUNTESS.
Thou fpeakefl
Of Piccolomini. What was his death ?
k The
lift) THE DEATH OF
The courier had juft left thee, as I came.
(Wallenßeili by a motion of Ins hand makes figns
to her to be fi lent )
Turn not thine eyes upon the backward view,.
Let us look forward into funny days.
Welcome with joyous heart the victory,
Forget what it has cod thee. Not to day,
For the firft time, thy friend' was to thee dead ;
To thee he died, when firft he parted from thee.
WALLENSTEIN.
This anguifh will be wearied down, * I know ;
What pang is permanent! with man ? From th*
higheft,
As from the vileft thing of every day
He learns to wean himfelf : for the flrong hours
Conquer him. Yet I feel what I have loft
In him» The bloom is vanifh'd from my life.
For O ! he flood befide me, like my youth,
Transformed for me the real to a dream,
Cloathing the palpable and the familiar
With golden exhalations of the dawn.
Whatever fortunes wait my future toils,
The beautiful is vaniuYd — and returns not.
COUNTESS.
O be not .treacherous to thy own power.
Thy heart is rich enough to vivify
* A very inadequate translation of the original.
" Verfchmerzen werd ich diefen Schlag» das weifs ichr
Pennwas verfchmerzte nicht der Menfch !"
Literally.
I fhall grievi Joim this blow, of (hat I'm confcious ;
What does not man grieve down ?
Itfelf.
WALLENSTEIN. 131
Itfelf. Thou lov'ft and prizeft virtues in him^
The which thyfelf did'ft plant, thy felf unfold.
wallenstein, {ßepping to the door.)
Who interrupts us now at this late hour ?
It is the Governor. He brings the keys
Of the Citadel. 'Tis midnight. Leave me,
fitter!
COUNTESS.
0 'tis fo hard to me this night to leave thee — •
A boding fear pofTeiTes me !
WALLENSTEIN.
Fear ? Wherefore \
COUNTESS.
Should'fl thou depart this night, and we at waking
Never more find thee !
WALLENSTEIN.
Fancies !
COUNTESS.
O my foul
Has long been weigh'd down by thefe dark fore-
bodings.
And if I combat and repel them waking,
They ftill rufli down upon my heart in dreams.
1 faw thee yefternight with thy firft wife
Sit at a banquet gorgeoufly attir'd.
WALLENSTEIN.
This was a dream of favourable omen,
That marriage being the founder of my fortunes.
COUNTESS.
To-day I. dreamt that. I was feeking thee
152 THE DEATH OF
In thy own chamber. As I enter'd, lo !
It was no more a chamber, the Chartreufe
At Gitfchin 'twas, which thou thyfelf haft founded,
And where it is thy will that thou Qiould'ft be
Interr'd.
WALLENSTEIN.
Thy foul is bufy with thefe thoughts.
COUNTESS.
What doft thou not believe, that oft in dreams
A voice of warning fpeaks prophetic to us ?
WALLENSTEIN.
There is no doubt that there exifl fuch voices.
Yet I would not call them
Voices of warning that announce to us
Only the inevitable. As the fun,
Ere it is rifen, fometimes paints its image
In the atmofphere, fo often do the fpirits
Of great events ftride on before the events,
. And in to-day already walks to-morrow.
That which we read of the fourth Henry's death,
Did ever vex and haunt me like a tale
Of my own future deftiny. The King
Felt in his breaft the phantom of the knife,
Long ere Ravaillac arm'd himfelf therewith.
His quiet mind forfook him : the Phantafma
Started him in his Louvre, chac'd him forth
Into the open air : like funeral Knells
Sounded that coronation feftival ;
And fliil with boding fenfe he heard the tread
Of thofe feet, that ev'n then were feeking him
Through-
WALLENSTEIN. 133
Throughout the flreets of Paris.
COUNTESS.
And to thee
The voice within thy foul bodes nothing ?
WALLENSTEIN.
Nothing.
Be wholly tranquil.
COUNTESS.
And another time
I haften'd after thee, and thou ran'ft from me
Thro' a long fuite, thro' many a fpacious hall.
There feem'd no end of it — door creek'd and
clapp'd i
I follow'd panting, but could not o'ertake thee ;
When on a fudden did I feel myfelf
Grafp'd from behind — the hand was cold, that
grafp'd me —
'Twas thou, and thou did'fl kifs me, and there ,
feem'd
A crimfon covering to envelope us.
WALLENSTEIN.
That is the crimfon tap'ftry of my. chamber.
countess, (gazing on him.)
If it fhould come to that — if I fhould fee thee,
Who {landed now before me in the fullnefs
Of life—
{Jhe falls on his breafi and weeps.)
. WALLENSTEIN.
The Emperor's proclamation weighs upon thee — ■
Alphabets wound not — and he finds no hands.
K 3 COUN-
134« THE DEATH OF
COUNTESS.
If h&Jltould find them, my refolve is taken —
I bear about me my fupport and refuge.
\Exit Countefs.
SCENE II.
Wallenstein. Gordon,
wallenstein.
All quiet in the town ?
GORDON.
The town is quiet.
WALLENSTEIN.
I hear a boifterous mufic ! and the Caftle
Is lighted up. Who are the revellers ?
GORDON.
There is a banquet given at the Caftle
To the Count Tertfky, and Field Marmal Illo.
WALLENSTEIN.
In honour of the victory. — This tribe
Can (hew their joy in nothing elfe but feafling.
{Rings. The Groom of the Chamber enters.)
Unrobe me. I will lay me down to fleep.
{Wallenflein takes the keys from Gordon.)
So we are guarded from all enemies,
And fhut in with fure friends.
For all muft cheat me, or a face like this
(Fixing his eye on Gordon.)
Was
WALLENSTEIN. 135
Was ne'er an hypocrite's mafk.
{The Groom of the Chamber takes off his mantlet
collar and fear f.)
■ WALLENSTEIN.
Take care — what is that ?
GROOM of the CHAMBER.
The golden chain is Inapp'd in two.
WALLENSTEIN.
Well, it has laded long enough. Here — give it.
{He takes and looks at the chain.)
1Twas the firft prefent of the Emperor.
He hung it round me in the war of Friule,
He being then Archduke; and I have worn it
Till now from habit-
From fuperftitiön if you will. Belike,
It was to be a Talifman to me,
And while I wore it on my neck in faith,
It was to chain to me all my life long,
The volatile fortune, whofe firft pledge it was.
Well, be it fo ! Henceforward a new fortune
Muft fpring up for me; for the potency
Of this charm is diflblv'd.
(Groom of the Chamber retirees zvith the veßments*
Wallenfiein rifes^ takes afiride acrofs the reom^
andfiands at laß before Gordon in a poßure of
rneditation.)
How the old time returns upon me ! I
Behold myfelf once more at Burgau, where
We two were Pages of the Court together.
We oftentimes difputed : thy intention
Was ever good ; but thou wert wont to play
k 4 The
136 THE DEATH OF
The Moralift and Preacher, and would 'ft rail at
me —
That I ftrove after things too high for me,
Giving my faith to bold unlawful dreams,
And Hill extol to me the golden mean.
— Thy wifdom hath been prov'd a thriftlefs friend
To thy own felf. See, it has made thee early
A fuperannuated man, and (but
That my munificent ftars will intervene)
Would let thee in fome miferable corner
Go out, like an untended lamp.
GORDON.
My Prinqg !
With light heart the poor fifher moors his boat,
And watches from the fhore the lofty (hip
Stranded amid the dorm.
WALLENSTEIN.
Art thou already
In harbour then, old man ? Well ! I am not.
Theunconquer'd fpirit drives me o'er life's billows;
My planks flill firm, my canvafs fwelling proudlv.
Hope is my goddefs ftill, and youth my inmate ;
And while we ftand thus front to front almoft,
I might prefume to fay, that the fwift years
Have pafs'd by powerlefs o'er my unblanch'd hair.
(He moves with longfirides acrofs the fa loon, and
' remains on the oppofile fide over againfi Gcr*
don.)
Who now periiits in calling fortune falfe r
To me fhe has prov'd faithful, with fond love
Took me from out the common ranks of men,
And
WALLENSTErN. 137'
And like a mother goddefs with ftrong arm,
Carried me fwiftly up the Heps of life.
Nothing is common in my deftiny, > ■
Nor in the furrows of my hand. Who dares
Interpret then my life for me as 'twere
One of the undiftinguiihable many ?
True in this prefent moment I appear
Fallen low indeed ; but I (hall rife again.
The high flood will foon follow on this ebb ;
The fountain of my fortune, which now flops
Reprefs'd and bound by fome malicious ftar, .
Will foon in joy play forth from all its pipes.
tGORDON.
And yet remember I the good old proverb,
" Let the night come before we praife the day."
I would be flow from long-continued fortune
To gather hope : for hope is the companion
Given to the unfortunate by pitying Heaven.
Fear hovers round the head of profperous men :
For flill unfteady are the fcales of fate.
WAL^ENSTEIN. (f Hilling.)
I hear the very Gordon that of old
Was wont to preach to me, now once more
preaching ;
I know well, that all fublunary things
Are flill the vaflals of viciffitude.
The unpropitious gods demand their tribute.
This long ago the ancient Pagans knew:
And therefore of their own accord they offered
To themfelves injuries,, fp to atone . . .
The
138 THE DEATH OF
The jealoufy of their divinities :
And human facrifices bled to Typhon.
(after a paufe, feriousy and in a more fubdued
manner.)
I too have facrific'd to him — For me
There fell the deareft friend-, and through my
fault
He fell ! No joy from favourable fortune
Can overweigh the anguifh of this ftroke.
The envy of my deftiny is glutted :
Life pays for life. On this pure head the
light'ning
Was drawn off, which would elfe have fhatter'd
me.
SCENE III.
To thefe enter Seni.
WALLENSTEIN.
Is not that Seni ? and befide himfelf,
If one may truft his looks ! What brings thee hithef
At this late hour, Baptifha ?
SENI.
Terror, Duke .r
On thy account.
WÄLLENSTEIN.
What now ?'
SENI.
' Flee ere the day-break !
Trull not thy peribn to^iic Swedes !
WAL-
WALLENSTEIN. 139.'
WALLENSTEIN.
What now
Is in thy thoughts ?
sen i. {with louder voice.)
Truft not thy perfon to thefe Swedes.
WALLENSTEIN.
What is it then ?
seni. (flitt more urgently. J
0 wait not the arrival of thefe Swedes !
An evil near at hand is threatening thee
From falfe friends. All the figns ftand full of
horror !
Near, near at hand the net -work of perdition —
Yea, even now 'tis being caft around thee !
WALLENSTEIN.
Baptifta, thou art dreaming ! — Fear befools thee.
SENI.
Believe not that an- empty fear deludes nie.
Come, read it in the planetaty afpects ;
Read it thyfelf, that ruin threatens thee
From falfe friends !
■WALLENSTEIN.
From the falfenefs of my friends
Has rifen the whole of my unprofperous fortunes.
The warning fhould have come before ! At prefent
1 need no revelation from the ftars
To know that.
SENI.
Come and fee ! truft thine own eyes !
A fearful fign ftands in the houfe of life
An enemy j a fiend lurks clofe behind
The
14-0 THE DEATH OF
The radiance of thy planet — O be warn'd !
Deliver not thyfelf up to thefe heathens
To wage a war againft our holy church.
wallenstein, (laughing gently.)
The oracle rails that way ! Yes, yes ! Now
I recoiled. This junction with the Swedes
Did never pleafe thee — lay thyfelf to fleep,
Baptifta ! Signs like thefe I do not fear.
Gordon, {who during the zuhole of this dia-
logue has Jliewn marks of extreme agitation,
and now turns to Wallenfiein.)
My Duke and^General ! May I dare prefume ?
WALLENSTEIN.
Speak freely.
GORDON.
What ? if 'twere no mere creation
Of fear, if God's high providence vouch faf'd
To interpofe its aid for your deliv'rance,
And made that mouth its organ.
WALLE'NSTEIN.
Ye're both feverhri !
How can mifliap come to me from the Swedes ?
They fought this junction with me — 'tis their
intereft.
Gordon, (with difficulty fit pprefjing h is emotion. )
But what if the arrival of thefe Swedes —
What if this were the very thing that wing'd
The ruin that is flying to your temples ?
(flings himfelf at his feet.)
There is yet time, my Prince
SENI.
I
WALLENSTEItf. 141
i
SENI.
O hear him ! hear him !
Gordon, (rifes.)
The Rhinegrave's (till far off. Give but the
orders
This citadel (hall clofe its gates upon him.
If then he will befiege us, let him try it.
But this 1 fay ; he'll find his own deftruclion
With his whole force before thefe ramparts, fooner
Than weary down the valour of our fpirit.
He fhall experience what a band of heroes,
Infpirited by an heroic leader,
Is able to perform. And if indeed
It be thy ferious wifh to make amend
For that which thou haft done amifs, — this, this
Will touch and reconcile the Emperor,
Who gladly turns his heart to thoughts of mercy,
And Friedland, who returns repentant to him,
Will ftand yet higher in his Emperor's favour,
Than e'er he flood when he had never fallen.
wallenstein, [contemplates him withfurprize,
remains filent awhile, betraying flrong emo-
tion?)
Gordon — your zeal and fervour lead you far.
Well, well — an old friend has a privilege.
Blood, Gordon, has been flowing. Never, never
Can the Emperor pardon me : and if he could,
Yet I — I ne'er could let myfelf be pardon'd.
Had I foreknown what now has taken place,
That he, my deareft friend, would fall for me,
My firfl death-offering : and had the heart
5 Spoken
142 THE DEATH OV
Spoken to me, as now it has done — Gordon,
It may be, I might have bethought myfelf.
It may be too, I might not. — Might, or might
not,
Is now an idle queftion. All too ferioufly
Has it begun to end in nothing, Gordon i
Let it then have its courfe.
(flepping to the window.)
All dark and filent — at the caftle too
All is now hufh'd — Light me, Chamberlain !
{The groom of the chamber, who had entered
during the laß dialogue, and had been fiand-
ing at a difiance and Ujlening to it with
vifible exprejfions of the deepefi intereß, ad-
vances in extreme agitation, and throws
himjelf at the Duke's feet,)
And thou too ! But I know why thou doll wifh
My reconcilement with the Emperor.
Poor man ! he hath a fmall eftate in Cärnthen,
And fears it will be forfeited becaufe
He's in my fervice. Am I then fo poor,
That I no longer can indemnify
My fervants ? Well I To no one I employ
Means of compulfion. If 'tis thy belief
That fortune has fled from me, go ! Forfake me.
This night for the lair, time mayft thou unrobe me*
And then go over to thy Emperor.
Gordon, good night ! I think to make a long
Sleep of it : for the ftruggle and the turmoil
Of this laft day or two was.ereat, May' t plea fe
you!
Take
"WALL EN STEIN. , 143
Take care that they awake me not too early.
[Exit Wallenßein, the Groom of the Chamber
lighting him. Seni follows« Gordon re-
mains on the darken 'd ßage, follozving the
Duke with his eye, till he difappears at
the farther end of the gallery : then by
his gejhtres the old man expreJJ'es the
depth, of his anguijh, and fiands leaning
againß a pillar,
SCENE IV.
Gordon, Butxer. [atßrß behind the fcenes . )
VJ
butler, {not yet come into view of the fiage. )
Here {land in lilence till I give the fignah
gordon. (farts zip.)
'Tis lie, he has already brought the murderers,
BUTLER.
The lights are out. All lies in profound ileep.
GORDON.
What fhall I do, (hall I attempt to fave him?
Shall I call up the houfe ? Alarm the guards ?
butler, [appears, but fcarcely on theßage.)
A light gleams hither from the corridor.
It leads directly to the Duke's bed-chamber.
'.■•-- - ' i
GORDON.
But then I break my oath to the Emperor I
if he efcape arid ftrengthen the «nemy,
3 tk
14-4* THE DEATH OF
Do I not hereby call down on my head
All the dread confequences ?
butler, (fiepping forward.)
Hark I Who fpeaks there ?
GORDON.
'Tis better, I refign it to the hands
Of Providence. For what am I, that /
Should take upon myfelf fo great a deed ?
/have not murder'd him, if he be murder'd;
But all his refcue were my act and deed j
Mine — and whatever be the confequences»
I mud fuftain them.
butler, (advances.)
I fhould know that voice.
GORDON.
Butler !
BUTLER.
, 'Tis Gordon. What do you want here ?
Was it fo late then, when the Duke difmifs'd
you ?
GORDON.
Your hand bound up and in a fcarf ?
BUTLER.
'Tis wounded.
That Illo fought as he was frantic, till
At laß: we threw him on the ground.
gordon. (fliiiddering.)
Both dead ?
BUTLER.
Is he in bed ?
GOR-
WALLENSTEIN. 145
GORDON.
Ah, Butler 4
•BUTLER.
Is he ? fpeak.
.GORDON.
He (hall not perim ! Not through you ! The
Heaven
Refufes your arm. See — ■''tis wounded !-r-
BUTLER.
There is no need of my arm.
GORDON.
The ffloft guilty
Have perim'd, and enough is given to juflice.
(The Groom of the Chamber advances from
the gallery,' with his finger on his mouthy
■commanding file nee '-. J
GORDON.
He fleeps 1 O murder not the holy fleep !
BUTLER.
No 1 he fhall die awake.
(is going.J
GORDON.
His heart ilill cleaves
To earthly things : he's not prepar'd to ftep
Into the prefence of his God !
butler, (going. J
God's merciful !
Gordon, (holds him.)
Grant him but this night's refpite.
L BUT-
14(5 THE DEATH Of
butler, {hurrying off.)
The next moment
May ruin all.
Gordon, [holds himßill.)
One hour !•
BUTLER.
Unhold me ! What
Can that fhort refpite profit him I
GORDON.
O — Time
Works miracles. In one hour many thoufänds
Of grains of fand run out ; and quick as they,
Thought follows thought within the human foul.
Only one hour ! Your heart may change its pur->
pofe,
His heart may change its pur-pofe — fome new
tidings
May come ; fome fortunate event, decifive,
May fall from Heaven and refcue him ! O what
May not one hour achieve !
BUTLER.
You but remind me,
£Iow precious every minute is !
(he fi amps on the floor.)
SCENE
WALLENSTEIN. 147
SCENE V.
To thefe enter Macdonald, and Deverevx,
with the Halberdiers.
■Gordon. ( 'throwing himfelf 'between him and
them J
No, monfter !
Firfl over my dead body thou {halt tread.
I will not live to fee the accurfed deed !
butler, (forcing him out vf the %vay.)
Weak-hearted dotard !
[trumpets are heard in the difiance.)
DEVEREUX and MACDONALD,
Hark ! The Swedifh trumpets !
The Swedes before the ramparts ! Let us haften I
GORDON. {j'ltßcS OUt.)
O God of mercy !
butler, (calling afler him.)
Governor, to your poft ,!
groom of the chamber, (hurries in.)
Who dares make larum here ? Hum ! The DuJce
fleeps.
devereux. (with loud harfli voice.)
Friend, it is time now to make larum.
i
groom of the chamber.
Help!
Murder !
l 2 but»
148 THE DEATH OF
BUTLER.
Down with him !
groom of the chamber, (run through the
( body by Devereux, falls at the entrance of the
gallery.)
Jefus Maria !
BUTLER.
Burft the doors open !
{they rufli over the body into the gallery — two
doors are heard to craft one after the other
— Voices deadened by the diflance — Clafli of
arms — then all at once a profound ßlence.)
SCENE VI.
Countess Tertsky. (with a light.)
Her bed-chamber is empty ; fhe herfelf
Is nowhere to be found ! The Neubrunn too,
Who watch'd by her, is miffing. If (he fhould
Be flown — But whither flown ? We muft call up
Every foul in the houfe. How will the Duke
Bear up againft thefe word bad tidings ? O
If that my hufband now were but return'd
Home from the banquet : Hark ! I wonder
whether
The Duke is ftill awake ! I thought I heard
Voices and tread of feet here ! I will go
And liften at the door. Hark ! What is that ?
'Tis hailening up the fteps !
SCENE
WALLENSTEIN. 149
■
SCENE VIL
Countess, Gordon.
Gordon, (riißies in out of breath.)
'Tis a miftake,
'Tis not the Swedes — Ye mud proceed no further — ■
Butler ! O God ! Where is he ?
(then obferving the Countefs.J
Countefs ! Say
COUNTESS.
You are come then from the caftle ? Where's my
hufband ?
gordon. (in an agony of affright.)
Your hufband ! — Afk not !— To the Duke—
COUNTESS.
Not till
You have difcover'd to me
GORDON.
On this moment
Does the world hang. For God's fake ! to the Duke.
While we are fpeaking —
{calling loudly.)
Butler! Butler! God!
COUNTESS.
Why, he is at the caftle with my hufband.
(Butler comes from the gallery.)
GORDON.
'Twas a miflake — 'Tis not the Swedes — It is
The Imperialift's Lieutenant-General
l 3 Has
150 THE DEATH OF
Has Tent me hither, will be here himfelf
Inftantly. — You mud not proceed.
BUTLER.
He comes
Too late.
[Gordo7i daflies himfelf again fl the zeal I.)
GORDON.
O God of mercy T
COUNTESS.
What too late ?
Who will be liere himfelf? Octavio
InEgra? Treafon! Treafon !' Where's the Duke?"
(She rujhes to the gallery.)
SCENE VIII.
{Servants run acrofs the fiage full of terror. The
whole Scene muß be fpoken entirely without!
paufes.)
sen i. (frmn the gallery.}
O bloody frightful deed !
COUNTESS.
What is it, Sen i ?
page, (from the gallery.)
O piteous fight !
[Other ferv ants haficn in with torches.)
COUNTESS..
What is it? For God's fake !.
SENT.
toALLEN&TElri. 151
SENI.
And do yon afk ?
Within the Duke lies murder'd — and your huf-
band
Afiafiinated at the Cattle.
(The Countefs fiands mötionleß.)
female servant, (riißing acrofs theßage.)
Help ! Help ! the Duchefs !
burgomaster, (enters.)
What meant thefe confus'd
Loud cries, that wake thefleepersof this houfe ?
GORDON.
Your houfe is curs'd to all eternity.
In your houfe doth the Duke lie murdered !
BURGOMASTER. (rilflling Old.)
Heaven forbid J
FIRST SERVANT.
Fly ! fly ! they murder us all !
second servant, (carrying ßlver plate.)
That way ! The lower
Paflages are block'd up.
voice, {from behind the Scene.)
Make room for the Lieutenant General !
(At theß words the Counteß fiarts from her ßu-
por, collects heffelf, and retires fuddtnty.)
voice, (from behind the Scene.)
Keep back the people !. Guard the door,
% 4 ' SCENE
152 THE DEATH QF
' " SCENE IX.
To thefe enters Oct avio Piccolomini with alt
his train. At the fame time Devereux and
Macdonald enter from out the Corridor
with the Halberdiers. Wallenste i n' s dead
body is carried over the hack part of the finge,
wrapped in a piece of crimfon tapcjiry.
OCT avio. {entering abruptly.)
It mufl not be ! It is not poflible !
Butler ! Gordon !
I'll not believe it^ Say no !
GORDON,
(Without anfwering , points with his hand to the
body of Wallenflein as it is carried over the
back of the ßage. Octavio looks that way, and
fiands overpowered with horror.)
devereux. {to Butler.)
Here is the golden fleece — the Duke's (word—
macdonald.
Is it your order ?
butler, {pointing to Octavio.)
Here Hands he who now
Hath the fole power to iflue orders.
(Devereux and Macdonald retire with marks
of obeifance. One drops away after the other,
till only Butler, Octavio, and Gordon remain
on the ßage .)
oc-
WALLENSTEIK. 153
ocTAVio. (turning to Butler.)
Was that my purpofe, Butler, when we parted ?
O God of Juftice !
To thee I lift my hand I I am not guilty
Of this foul deed.
BUTLER.
Your hand is pure. You have
Avail'd yourfelf of mine.
OCTAVIO.
Mercilefs man I
Thus to abufe the orders of thy Lord —
And ftain thy Emperor's holy name with murder,.
With bloody, molt accurs'd afTaffination ?
butler, (calmly.)
I've but fulfiU'd the Emperor's own fentence-
OCTAVIO.
O curfe of Kings,
Infuling a dread life into their words,
And linking to the fudden tranfcient thought
The unchangeable irrevocable deed.
Was there neceffity for fuch an eager
Defpatch ? Could'ft thou not grant the merciful
A time for mercy? Time is man's good Angel.
To leave no interval between the fentence,
And the fulfilment of it, doth befeem
God only, the immutable !
BUTLER.
For what
Rail you againft me ? What is my offence ?
The Empire from a fearful enemy ^^^m
Have
I54 THE DEATH OF
Have I deliver'd, and expect, reward.
The fingle difference betwixt you and me
Is this : you plac'd the arrow in the bow ;
I pull'd the firing. You fow'd blood, and yet
ftand
Aftonifh'd that blood is come up. I always
Knew what I did, and therefore no refult
Hath power to frighten or furprize my fpirit ;
Have you aught e-lfe to order ; for this inftant
I make my befl fpeed to Vienna; place
My bleeding fword before my Emperor's Throne,
And hope to gain the applaufe which undelaying
And punctual obedience may demand
From a juft Judge. [Exit Butler,
SCENE X.
To thefe enter the Countess Tertsky,/)^ and
dif ordered. Her utterance is ßow and feeble,
and unempajjioned.
ocTAvio. (meeting her.)
O Countefs Tertiky ! Thefe are the refults
Of lucklefs unblefl deeds.
COUNTESS.
They are the fruits
Of your contrivances. The Duke is dead,
My jiufband too is dead, the Duchefs ftruggles
In the pangs of death, my niece has difappear'd.
This houfe of fplendour, and of princely glory,
Doth now ftand defolated : the affrighted fervants
Rufh
WALLENSTEIN. 15-5
Rufli forth thro' all its doors. I am the lad:
Therein; I (hut it up, and here deliver
The keys.
octavio. (icitha deep angiajli. )
O Countefs ! my houfe too is defolafcc.
COUNTESS.
Who next is to be murder'd ? Who is next
To be maltreated ? Lo ! The Duke is dead.
The Emperor's vengeance may be pacified I
Spare the old fervants ; let not their fidelity
Be imputed to the faithful as a crime — *
The evil deftiny furpriz'd my brother
Too fuddenly : he could not think on them.
OCTAVIO.
Speak not of vengeance ! Speak not of maltreat-
ment!
The Emp'ror is appeas'd ; the heavy fault
Hath heavily been expiated — nothing
Defcended from the father to the daughter,
Except his glory and his fervices.
The Emprefs honours your adverfity,
Takes part in your afflictions, opens to yon
Her motherly arms ! Therefore no farther fears I
Yield yourfelf up in hope and confidence
To the Imperial Grace !
COUNTESS./
(with her eye raised to heaven.)
To the grace and mercy of a greater Mailer
Do I yield up myfelf. — Where fhall the body
Of the Duke have its. place of final reft ?
4 In
156 THE DEATH OF
In the Chartreufe, which he himfelf did found
At Gitfchin, refts the Countefs Wallenftein ;
And by her fide, to whom he was indebted
For his.firft fortunes, gratefully he wiüYd
He might fometime repofe in death ! O let him
Be buried there. And likewife, for my hufband's
Remains, I aik the like grace. The Emperor
Is now proprietor of all our Caflles.
This fure may well be granted us — one fepulchre
Befide the fepulchres of our- forefathers !
OCTAVIO.
Countefs, you tremble, you turn pale !
COUNTESS.
[reajjembles all her powers ■> and J "peaks with energy
and dignity.)
You think
More worthily of me, than to believe
I would furvive the downfal of my houfe.
We did not hold ourfelves too mean, to grafp
After a monarch's crown — the crown did fate
Deny, but not the feeling and the fpirit
That to the crown belong ! We deem a
Courageous death more worthy of our free flat ion
Than a dishonoured life. — I have taken poifon.
OCTAVIO.
9
Help ! Help ! Support her .!
COUNTESS.
Nay, it is too late.
In a few moments is my fate accomplilh'd.
[Exit Conntefs.
3 GOR-
WALLENSTEIN. 157
GORDON.
O Houfe of death and horrors !
(An officer enters, and brings a letter with th$
great Seal.)
gordon. (fieps forward and meets him.)
What is this?
It is the Imperial Seal
[He reads the Addrefs, and delivers the letter to
Octavio zuith a look of reproach, and ivith an,
empha/is on the word.)
To the Prince Piccolomini.
octavio. [with his whole frame expreffive of fad-
den anguifh, raifes his eyes to heaven.)
The Curtain drops.
FINIS.
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