Title] Part Second. The Death of Wallenstein. A Tragedy. The Death of Wallenstein. Preface of the Translator.1828,1829.
Title] Part Second. The Death of Wallenstein. A Tragedy. The Death of Wallenstein. Preface of the Translator.1828,1829.
[10]notion] idea1800,1828,1829.
notion] idea1800,1828,1829.
[21]conception] idea1800,1828,1829.
conception] idea1800,1828,1829.
[41]the excellence of which] whose excellence1800,1828,1829.
the excellence of which] whose excellence1800,1828,1829.
[60]effect] effort1834.
effect] effort1834.
[66]sense]sense1800,1828,1829.
sense]sense1800,1828,1829.
[67]spirit]spirit1800,1828,1829.
spirit]spirit1800,1828,1829.
[68]compensation]compensation1800,1828,1829.
compensation]compensation1800,1828,1829.
After72S. T. Coleridge1800,1828,1829.
After72S. T. Coleridge1800,1828,1829.
Scene—A Chamber in the House of theDuchess of Friedland.
Countess Tertsky, Thekla, Lady Neubrunn(the two latter sit at the same table at work).
Countess (watching them from the opposite side).So you have nothing, niece, to ask me? Nothing?I have been waiting for a word from you.And could you then endure in all this timeNot once to speak his name?[TheCountessrises and advances to her.Why, how comes this?Perhaps I am already grown superfluous,5And other ways exist, besides through me?Confess it to me, Thekla! have you seen him?Thekla.To-day and yesterday I have not seen him.Countess.And not heard from him either? Come, be open!Thekla.No syllable.
Countess (watching them from the opposite side).So you have nothing, niece, to ask me? Nothing?I have been waiting for a word from you.And could you then endure in all this timeNot once to speak his name?[TheCountessrises and advances to her.Why, how comes this?Perhaps I am already grown superfluous,5And other ways exist, besides through me?Confess it to me, Thekla! have you seen him?
Thekla.To-day and yesterday I have not seen him.
Countess.And not heard from him either? Come, be open!
Thekla.No syllable.
Countess.And still you are so calm?10Thekla.I am.Countess.May't please you, leave us, Lady Neubrunn![ExitLady Neubrunn.
Countess.And still you are so calm?10
Thekla.I am.
Countess.May't please you, leave us, Lady Neubrunn![ExitLady Neubrunn.
[4][Theklaremaining silent, the, &c.,1800,1828,1829.
[Theklaremaining silent, the, &c.,1800,1828,1829.
TheCountess, Thekla.
Countess.It does not please me, Princess! that he holdsHimself so still, exactly at this time.Thekla.Exactly at this time?Countess.He now knows all.'Twere now the moment to declare himself.Thekla.If I'm to understand you, speak less darkly.5Countess.'Twas for that purpose that I bade her leave us.Thekla, you are no more a child. Your heartIs now no more in nonage: for you love,And boldness dwells with love—that you have proved.Your nature moulds itself upon your father's10More than your mother's spirit. Therefore may youHear, what were too much for her fortitude.Thekla.Enough! no further preface, I entreat you.At once, out with it! Be it what it may,It is not possible that it should torture me15More than this introduction. What have youTo say to me? Tell me the whole and briefly!Countess.You'll not be frightened—Thekla.Name it, I entreat you.Countess.It lies within your power to do your fatherA weighty service—Thekla.Lies within my power?20Countess.Max Piccolomini loves you. You can link himIndissolubly to your father.Thekla.I?What need of me for that? And is he notAlready linked to him?Countess.He was.Thekla.And whereforeShould he not be so now—not be so always?25Countess.He cleaves to the Emperor too.Thekla.Not more than dutyAnd honour may demand of him.Countess.We askProofs of his love, and not proofs of his honour.[728]Duty and honour!Those are ambiguous words with many meanings.30You should interpret them for him: his loveShould be the sole definer of his honour.Thekla.How?Countess.The Emperor or you must he renounce.Thekla.He will accompany my father gladlyIn his retirement. From himself you heard,35How much he wished to lay aside the sword.Countess.He must not lay the sword aside, we mean;He must unsheath it in your father's cause.Thekla.He'll spend with gladness and alacrityHis life, his heart's blood in my father's cause,40If shame or injury be intended him.Countess.You will not understand me. Well, hear then!Your father has fallen off from the Emperor,And is about to join the enemyWith the whole soldiery—Thekla.Alas, my mother!45Countess.There needs a great example to draw onThe army after him. The PiccolominiPossess the love and reverence of the troops;They govern all opinions, and whereverThey lead the way, none hesitate to follow.50The son secures the father to our interests—You've much in your hands at this moment.Thekla.Ah,My miserable mother! what a death-strokeAwaits thee!—No! She never will survive it.Countess.She will accommodate her soul to that55Which is and must be. I do know your mother.The far-off future weights upon her heartWith torture of anxiety; but is itUnalterably, actually present,She soon resigns herself, and bears it calmly.60Thekla.O my fore-boding bosom! Even now,E'en now 'tis here, that icy hand of horror!And my young hope lies shuddering in its grasp;I knew it well—no sooner had I entered,A heavy ominous presentiment65Revealed to me, that spirits of death were hoveringOver my happy fortune. But why think IFirst of myself? My mother! O my mother!
Countess.It does not please me, Princess! that he holdsHimself so still, exactly at this time.
Thekla.Exactly at this time?
Countess.He now knows all.'Twere now the moment to declare himself.
Thekla.If I'm to understand you, speak less darkly.5
Countess.'Twas for that purpose that I bade her leave us.Thekla, you are no more a child. Your heartIs now no more in nonage: for you love,And boldness dwells with love—that you have proved.Your nature moulds itself upon your father's10More than your mother's spirit. Therefore may youHear, what were too much for her fortitude.
Thekla.Enough! no further preface, I entreat you.At once, out with it! Be it what it may,It is not possible that it should torture me15More than this introduction. What have youTo say to me? Tell me the whole and briefly!
Countess.You'll not be frightened—
Thekla.Name it, I entreat you.
Countess.It lies within your power to do your fatherA weighty service—
Thekla.Lies within my power?20
Countess.Max Piccolomini loves you. You can link himIndissolubly to your father.
Thekla.I?What need of me for that? And is he notAlready linked to him?
Countess.He was.
Thekla.And whereforeShould he not be so now—not be so always?25
Countess.He cleaves to the Emperor too.
Thekla.Not more than dutyAnd honour may demand of him.
Countess.We askProofs of his love, and not proofs of his honour.[728]Duty and honour!Those are ambiguous words with many meanings.30You should interpret them for him: his loveShould be the sole definer of his honour.
Thekla.How?
Countess.The Emperor or you must he renounce.
Thekla.He will accompany my father gladlyIn his retirement. From himself you heard,35How much he wished to lay aside the sword.
Countess.He must not lay the sword aside, we mean;He must unsheath it in your father's cause.
Thekla.He'll spend with gladness and alacrityHis life, his heart's blood in my father's cause,40If shame or injury be intended him.
Countess.You will not understand me. Well, hear then!Your father has fallen off from the Emperor,And is about to join the enemyWith the whole soldiery—
Thekla.Alas, my mother!45
Countess.There needs a great example to draw onThe army after him. The PiccolominiPossess the love and reverence of the troops;They govern all opinions, and whereverThey lead the way, none hesitate to follow.50The son secures the father to our interests—You've much in your hands at this moment.
Thekla.Ah,My miserable mother! what a death-strokeAwaits thee!—No! She never will survive it.
Countess.She will accommodate her soul to that55Which is and must be. I do know your mother.The far-off future weights upon her heartWith torture of anxiety; but is itUnalterably, actually present,She soon resigns herself, and bears it calmly.60
Thekla.O my fore-boding bosom! Even now,E'en now 'tis here, that icy hand of horror!And my young hope lies shuddering in its grasp;I knew it well—no sooner had I entered,A heavy ominous presentiment65Revealed to me, that spirits of death were hoveringOver my happy fortune. But why think IFirst of myself? My mother! O my mother!
Countess.Calm yourself! Break not out in vain lamenting!Preserve you for your father the firm friend,70And for yourself the lover, all will yetProve good and fortunate.Thekla.Prove good? What good?Must we not part? Part ne'er to meet again?Countess.He parts not from you! He can not part from you.Thekla.Alas for his sore anguish! It will rend75His heart asunder.Countess.If indeed he loves you,His resolution will be speedily taken.Thekla.His resolution will be speedily taken—O do not doubt of that! A resolution!Does there remain one to be taken?Countess.Hush!80Collect yourself! I hear your mother coming.Thekla.How shall I bear to see her?Countess.Collect yourself.
Countess.Calm yourself! Break not out in vain lamenting!Preserve you for your father the firm friend,70And for yourself the lover, all will yetProve good and fortunate.
Thekla.Prove good? What good?Must we not part? Part ne'er to meet again?
Countess.He parts not from you! He can not part from you.
Thekla.Alas for his sore anguish! It will rend75His heart asunder.
Countess.If indeed he loves you,His resolution will be speedily taken.
Thekla.His resolution will be speedily taken—O do not doubt of that! A resolution!Does there remain one to be taken?
Countess.Hush!80Collect yourself! I hear your mother coming.
Thekla.How shall I bear to see her?
Countess.Collect yourself.
[2]still . . . this1800,1828,1829.
still . . . this1800,1828,1829.
[3]this1800,1828,1829.
this1800,1828,1829.
[9]you1800,1828,1829.
you1800,1828,1829.
[20]my1800,1828,1829.
my1800,1828,1829.
[31]You1800,1828,1829.
You1800,1828,1829.
[37]not1800,1828,1829.
not1800,1828,1829.
[72]Provegood1800.
Provegood1800.
[74]can1800.
can1800.
[80]taken1800.
taken1800.
To them enter theDuchess.
Duchess (to the Countess).Who was here, sister? I heard some one talking,And passionately too.Countess.Nay! There was no one.Duchess.I am grown so timorous, every trifling noiseScatters my spirits, and announces to meThe footstep of some messenger of evil.5And can you tell me, sister, what the event is?Will he agree to do the Emperor's pleasure,And send the horse-regiments to the Cardinal?Tell me, has he dismissed Von QuestenbergWith a favourable answer?Countess.No, he has not.10Duchess.Alas! then all is lost! I see it coming,The worst that can come! Yes, they will depose him;The accurséd business of the Regenspurg dietWill all be acted o'er again!Countess.No! never!Make your heart easy, sister, as to that.15
Duchess (to the Countess).Who was here, sister? I heard some one talking,And passionately too.
Countess.Nay! There was no one.
Duchess.I am grown so timorous, every trifling noiseScatters my spirits, and announces to meThe footstep of some messenger of evil.5And can you tell me, sister, what the event is?Will he agree to do the Emperor's pleasure,And send the horse-regiments to the Cardinal?Tell me, has he dismissed Von QuestenbergWith a favourable answer?
Countess.No, he has not.10
Duchess.Alas! then all is lost! I see it coming,The worst that can come! Yes, they will depose him;The accurséd business of the Regenspurg dietWill all be acted o'er again!
Countess.No! never!Make your heart easy, sister, as to that.15
[Theklathrows herself upon her mother, and enfolds her in her arms, weeping.
Duchess.Yes, my poor child!Thou too hast lost a most affectionate godmotherIn the Empress. O that stern unbending man!In this unhappy marriage what have INot suffered, not endured. For ev'n as if20I had been linked on to some wheel of fireThat restless, ceaseless, whirls impetuous onward,I have passed a life of frights and horrors with him,And ever to the brink of some abyssWith dizzy headlong violence he whirls me.25Nay, do not weep, my child! Let not my sufferingsPresignify unhappiness to thee,Nor blacken with their shade the fate that waits thee.There lives no second Friedland: thou, my child,Hast not to fear thy mother's destiny.30Thekla.O let us supplicate him, dearest mother!Quick! quick! here's no abiding-place for us.Here every coming hour broods into lifeSome new affrightful monster.Duchess.Thou wilt shareAn easier, calmer lot, my child! We too,35I and thy father, witnessed happy days.Still think I with delight of those first years,When he was making progress with glad effort,When his ambition was a genial fire,Not that consuming flame which now it is.40The Emperor loved him, trusted him: and allHe undertook could not but be successful.But since that ill-starred day at Regenspurg,Which plunged him headlong from his dignity,A gloomy uncompanionable spirit,45Unsteady and suspicious, has possessed him.His quiet mind forsook him, and no longerDid he yield up himself in joy and faithTo his old luck, and individual power;But thenceforth turned his heart and best affections50All to those cloudy sciences, which neverHave yet made happy him who followed them.Countess.You see it, sister! as your eyes permit you.But surely this is not the conversationTo pass the time in which we are waiting for him.55You know he will be soon here. Would you have him[731]Find her in this condition?Duchess.Come, my child!Come, wipe away thy tears, and shew thy fatherA cheerful countenance. See, the tie-knot hereIs off—this hair must not hang so dishevelled.60Come, dearest! dry thy tears up. They deformThy gentle eye—well now—what was I saying?Yes, in good truth, this PiccolominiIs a most noble and deserving gentleman.Countess.That is he, sister!Thekla (to the Countess).Aunt, you will excuse me?65[Is going.Countess.But whither? See, your father comes.Thekla.I cannot see him now.Countess.Nay, but bethink you.Thekla.Believe me, I cannot sustain his presence.Countess.But he will miss you, will ask after you.Duchess.What now? Why is she going?70Countess.She's not well.Duchess.What ails then my beloved child?
Duchess.Yes, my poor child!Thou too hast lost a most affectionate godmotherIn the Empress. O that stern unbending man!In this unhappy marriage what have INot suffered, not endured. For ev'n as if20I had been linked on to some wheel of fireThat restless, ceaseless, whirls impetuous onward,I have passed a life of frights and horrors with him,And ever to the brink of some abyssWith dizzy headlong violence he whirls me.25Nay, do not weep, my child! Let not my sufferingsPresignify unhappiness to thee,Nor blacken with their shade the fate that waits thee.There lives no second Friedland: thou, my child,Hast not to fear thy mother's destiny.30
Thekla.O let us supplicate him, dearest mother!Quick! quick! here's no abiding-place for us.Here every coming hour broods into lifeSome new affrightful monster.
Duchess.Thou wilt shareAn easier, calmer lot, my child! We too,35I and thy father, witnessed happy days.Still think I with delight of those first years,When he was making progress with glad effort,When his ambition was a genial fire,Not that consuming flame which now it is.40The Emperor loved him, trusted him: and allHe undertook could not but be successful.But since that ill-starred day at Regenspurg,Which plunged him headlong from his dignity,A gloomy uncompanionable spirit,45Unsteady and suspicious, has possessed him.His quiet mind forsook him, and no longerDid he yield up himself in joy and faithTo his old luck, and individual power;But thenceforth turned his heart and best affections50All to those cloudy sciences, which neverHave yet made happy him who followed them.
Countess.You see it, sister! as your eyes permit you.But surely this is not the conversationTo pass the time in which we are waiting for him.55You know he will be soon here. Would you have him[731]Find her in this condition?
Duchess.Come, my child!Come, wipe away thy tears, and shew thy fatherA cheerful countenance. See, the tie-knot hereIs off—this hair must not hang so dishevelled.60Come, dearest! dry thy tears up. They deformThy gentle eye—well now—what was I saying?Yes, in good truth, this PiccolominiIs a most noble and deserving gentleman.
Countess.That is he, sister!
Thekla (to the Countess).Aunt, you will excuse me?65[Is going.
Countess.But whither? See, your father comes.
Thekla.I cannot see him now.
Countess.Nay, but bethink you.
Thekla.Believe me, I cannot sustain his presence.
Countess.But he will miss you, will ask after you.
Duchess.What now? Why is she going?70
Countess.She's not well.
Duchess.What ails then my beloved child?
[Both follow thePrincess, and endeavour to detain her. During thisWallensteinappears, engaged in conversation withIllo.
Between14, 15[Thekla, in extreme agitation, throws herself, &c.1800,1828,1829.
Between14, 15[Thekla, in extreme agitation, throws herself, &c.1800,1828,1829.
[28]fate1800.
fate1800.
[40]flame1800.
flame1800.
[53]your1800.
your1800.
[56]be soon] soon be1828,1829.
be soon] soon be1828,1829.
[57]her1800,1828,1829.
her1800,1828,1829.
[65]Thekla (to the Countess, with marks of great oppression of spirits).1800,1828,1829.
Thekla (to the Countess, with marks of great oppression of spirits).1800,1828,1829.
Before72Duchess (anxiously).1800,1828,1829.
Before72Duchess (anxiously).1800,1828,1829.
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 PragueWith tidings, that this capital is ours.Then we may drop the mask, and to the troopsAssembled in this town make known the measure5And its result together. In such casesExample does the whole. Whoever is foremostStill leads the herd. An imitative creatureIs man. The troops at Prague conceive no other,Than that the Pilsen army has gone through10The forms of homage to us; and in PilsenThey shall swear fealty to us, becauseThe example has been given them by Prague.Butler, you tell me, has declared himself.Illo.At his own bidding, unsolicited,15[732]He came to offer you himself and regiment.Wallenstein.I find we must not give implicit credenceTo every warning voice that makes itselfBe listened to in the heart. To hold us back,Oft does the lying spirit counterfeit20The voice of Truth and inward Revelation,Scattering false oracles. And thus have ITo intreat forgiveness, for that secretlyI've wrong'd this honourable gallant man,This Butler: for a feeling, of the which25I am not master (fear I would not call it),Creeps o'er me instantly, with sense of shuddering,At his approach, and stops love's joyous motion.And this same man, against whom I am warned,This honest man is he, who reaches to me30The first pledge of my fortune.Illo.And doubt notThat his example will win over to youThe best men in the army.Wallenstein.Go and sendIsolani hither. Send him immediately.He is under recent obligations to me.35With him will I commence the trial. Go.[Illoexit.Wallenstein (turns himself round to the females).Lo, there the mother with the darling daughter!For once we'll have an interval of rest—Come! my heart yearns to live a cloudless hourIn the beloved circle of my family.40Countess.'Tis long since we've been thus together, brother.Wallenstein (to the Countess aside).Can she sustain the news? Is she prepared?Countess.Not yet.Wallenstein.Come here, my sweet girl! Seat thee by me,For there is a good spirit on thy lips.Thy mother praised to me thy ready skill:45She says a voice of melody dwells in thee,Which doth enchant the soul. Now such a voiceWill drive away from me the evil demonThat beats his black wings close above my head.Duchess.Where is thy lute, my daughter? Let thy father50Hear some small trial of thy skill.Thekla.My mother!I—
Wallenstein.All quiet in the camp?
Illo.It is all quiet.
Wallenstein.In a few hours may couriers come from PragueWith tidings, that this capital is ours.Then we may drop the mask, and to the troopsAssembled in this town make known the measure5And its result together. In such casesExample does the whole. Whoever is foremostStill leads the herd. An imitative creatureIs man. The troops at Prague conceive no other,Than that the Pilsen army has gone through10The forms of homage to us; and in PilsenThey shall swear fealty to us, becauseThe example has been given them by Prague.Butler, you tell me, has declared himself.
Illo.At his own bidding, unsolicited,15[732]He came to offer you himself and regiment.
Wallenstein.I find we must not give implicit credenceTo every warning voice that makes itselfBe listened to in the heart. To hold us back,Oft does the lying spirit counterfeit20The voice of Truth and inward Revelation,Scattering false oracles. And thus have ITo intreat forgiveness, for that secretlyI've wrong'd this honourable gallant man,This Butler: for a feeling, of the which25I am not master (fear I would not call it),Creeps o'er me instantly, with sense of shuddering,At his approach, and stops love's joyous motion.And this same man, against whom I am warned,This honest man is he, who reaches to me30The first pledge of my fortune.
Illo.And doubt notThat his example will win over to youThe best men in the army.
Wallenstein.Go and sendIsolani hither. Send him immediately.He is under recent obligations to me.35With him will I commence the trial. Go.[Illoexit.
Wallenstein (turns himself round to the females).Lo, there the mother with the darling daughter!For once we'll have an interval of rest—Come! my heart yearns to live a cloudless hourIn the beloved circle of my family.40
Countess.'Tis long since we've been thus together, brother.
Wallenstein (to the Countess aside).Can she sustain the news? Is she prepared?
Countess.Not yet.
Wallenstein.Come here, my sweet girl! Seat thee by me,For there is a good spirit on thy lips.Thy mother praised to me thy ready skill:45She says a voice of melody dwells in thee,Which doth enchant the soul. Now such a voiceWill drive away from me the evil demonThat beats his black wings close above my head.
Duchess.Where is thy lute, my daughter? Let thy father50Hear some small trial of thy skill.
Thekla.My mother!I—
Duchess.Trembling? Come, collect thyself. Go, cheerThy father.Thekla.O my mother! I—I cannot.Countess.How, what is that, niece?Thekla (to the Countess).O spare me—sing—now—in this sore anxiety,55Of the o'erburthen'd soul—to sing to him,Who is thrusting, even now, my mother headlongInto her grave!Duchess.How, Thekla? Humoursome?What! shall thy father have expressed a wishIn vain?Countess.Here is the lute.Thekla.My God! how can I—60
Duchess.Trembling? Come, collect thyself. Go, cheerThy father.
Thekla.O my mother! I—I cannot.
Countess.How, what is that, niece?
Thekla (to the Countess).O spare me—sing—now—in this sore anxiety,55Of the o'erburthen'd soul—to sing to him,Who is thrusting, even now, my mother headlongInto her grave!
Duchess.How, Thekla? Humoursome?What! shall thy father have expressed a wishIn vain?
Countess.Here is the lute.
Thekla.My God! how can I—60
[The orchestra plays. During the ritornelloTheklaexpresses in her gestures and countenance the struggle of her feelings: and at the moment that she should begin to sing, contracts herself together, as one shuddering, throws the instrument down, and retires abruptly.
Duchess.My child! O she is ill—Wallenstein.What ails the maiden?Say, is she often so?Countess.Since then herselfHas now betrayed it, I too must no longerConceal it.Wallenstein.What?Countess.She loves him!Wallenstein.Loves him! Whom?Countess.Max does she love! Max Piccolomini.65Hast thou ne'er noticed it? Nor yet my sister?Duchess.Was it this that lay so heavy on her heart?God's blessing on thee, my sweet child! Thou needestNever take shame upon thee for thy choice.Countess.This journey, if 'twere not thy aim, ascribe it70To thine own self. Thou shouldest have chosen anotherTo have attended her.Wallenstein.And does he know it?Countess.Yes, and he hopes to win her.Wallenstein.Hopes to win her!Is the boy mad?Countess.Well—hear it from themselves.Wallenstein.He thinks to carry off Duke Friedland's daughter!75[734]Aye?—The thought pleases me.The young man has no grovelling spirit.Countess.SinceSuch and such constant favour you have shewn him—Wallenstein.He chooses finally to be my heir.And true it is, I love the youth; yea, honour him.80But must he therefore be my daughter's husband!Is it daughters only? Is it only childrenThat we must shew our favour by?Duchess.His noble disposition and his manners—Wallenstein.Win him my heart, but not my daughter.Duchess.Then85His rank, his ancestors—Wallenstein.Ancestors! What?He is a subject, and my son-in-lawI will seek out upon the thrones of Europe.Duchess.O dearest Albrecht! Climb we not too high.Lest we should fall too low.Wallenstein.What? have I paid90A price so heavy to ascend this eminence,And jut out high above the common herd,Only to close the mighty part I playIn Life's great drama, with a common kinsman?Have I for this— [pause.] She is the only thing95That will remain behind of me on earth;And I will see a crown around her head,Or die in the attempt to place it there.I hazard all—all! and for this alone,To lift her into greatness—100Yea, in this moment, in the which we are speaking—[pause.And I must now, like a soft-hearted father,Couple together in good peasant fashionThe pair, that chance to suit each other's liking—And I must do it now, even now, when I105Am stretching out the wreath that is to twineMy full accomplished work—no! she is the jewel,Which I have treasured long, my last, my noblest,And 'tis my purpose not to let her from meFor less than a king's sceptre.Duchess.O my husband!110You're ever building, building to the clouds,[735]Still building higher, and still higher building,And ne'er reflect, that the poor narrow basisCannot sustain the giddy tottering column.Wallenstein (to the Countess).Have you announced the place of residence115Which I have destined for her?Countess.No! not yet.'Twere better you yourself disclosed it to her.Duchess.How? Do we not return to Karn then?Wallenstein.No.Duchess.And to no other of your lands or seats?Wallenstein.You would not be secure there.Duchess.Not secure120In the Emperor's realms, beneath the Emperor'sProtection?Wallenstein.Friedland's wife may be permittedNo longer to hope that.Duchess.O God in heaven!And have you brought it even to this?Wallenstein.In HollandYou'll find protection.Duchess.In a Lutheran country?125What? And you send us into Lutheran countries?Wallenstein.Duke Franz of Lauenburg conducts you thither.Duchess.Duke Franz of Lauenburg?The ally of Sweden, the Emperor's enemy.Wallenstein.The Emperor's enemies are mine no longer.130Duchess (casting a look of terror on the Duke and the Countess).Is it then true? It is. You are degraded?Deposed from the command? O God in heaven!Countess (aside to the Duke).Leave her in this belief. Thou seest she cannotSupport the real truth.
Duchess.My child! O she is ill—
Wallenstein.What ails the maiden?Say, is she often so?
Countess.Since then herselfHas now betrayed it, I too must no longerConceal it.
Wallenstein.What?
Countess.She loves him!
Wallenstein.Loves him! Whom?
Countess.Max does she love! Max Piccolomini.65Hast thou ne'er noticed it? Nor yet my sister?
Duchess.Was it this that lay so heavy on her heart?God's blessing on thee, my sweet child! Thou needestNever take shame upon thee for thy choice.
Countess.This journey, if 'twere not thy aim, ascribe it70To thine own self. Thou shouldest have chosen anotherTo have attended her.
Wallenstein.And does he know it?
Countess.Yes, and he hopes to win her.
Wallenstein.Hopes to win her!Is the boy mad?
Countess.Well—hear it from themselves.
Wallenstein.He thinks to carry off Duke Friedland's daughter!75[734]Aye?—The thought pleases me.The young man has no grovelling spirit.
Countess.SinceSuch and such constant favour you have shewn him—
Wallenstein.He chooses finally to be my heir.And true it is, I love the youth; yea, honour him.80But must he therefore be my daughter's husband!Is it daughters only? Is it only childrenThat we must shew our favour by?
Duchess.His noble disposition and his manners—
Wallenstein.Win him my heart, but not my daughter.
Duchess.Then85His rank, his ancestors—
Wallenstein.Ancestors! What?He is a subject, and my son-in-lawI will seek out upon the thrones of Europe.
Duchess.O dearest Albrecht! Climb we not too high.Lest we should fall too low.
Wallenstein.What? have I paid90A price so heavy to ascend this eminence,And jut out high above the common herd,Only to close the mighty part I playIn Life's great drama, with a common kinsman?Have I for this— [pause.] She is the only thing95That will remain behind of me on earth;And I will see a crown around her head,Or die in the attempt to place it there.I hazard all—all! and for this alone,To lift her into greatness—100Yea, in this moment, in the which we are speaking—[pause.And I must now, like a soft-hearted father,Couple together in good peasant fashionThe pair, that chance to suit each other's liking—And I must do it now, even now, when I105Am stretching out the wreath that is to twineMy full accomplished work—no! she is the jewel,Which I have treasured long, my last, my noblest,And 'tis my purpose not to let her from meFor less than a king's sceptre.
Duchess.O my husband!110You're ever building, building to the clouds,[735]Still building higher, and still higher building,And ne'er reflect, that the poor narrow basisCannot sustain the giddy tottering column.
Wallenstein (to the Countess).Have you announced the place of residence115Which I have destined for her?
Countess.No! not yet.'Twere better you yourself disclosed it to her.
Duchess.How? Do we not return to Karn then?
Wallenstein.No.
Duchess.And to no other of your lands or seats?
Wallenstein.You would not be secure there.
Duchess.Not secure120In the Emperor's realms, beneath the Emperor'sProtection?
Wallenstein.Friedland's wife may be permittedNo longer to hope that.
Duchess.O God in heaven!And have you brought it even to this?
Wallenstein.In HollandYou'll find protection.
Duchess.In a Lutheran country?125What? And you send us into Lutheran countries?
Wallenstein.Duke Franz of Lauenburg conducts you thither.
Duchess.Duke Franz of Lauenburg?The ally of Sweden, the Emperor's enemy.
Wallenstein.The Emperor's enemies are mine no longer.130
Duchess (casting a look of terror on the Duke and the Countess).Is it then true? It is. You are degraded?Deposed from the command? O God in heaven!
Countess (aside to the Duke).Leave her in this belief. Thou seest she cannotSupport the real truth.