FOOTNOTES:

Illo (hurrying out).God in heaven be praised!Wallenstein.It is his evil genius and mine.245Our evil genius! It chastises himThrough me, the instrument of his ambition;And I expect no less, than that RevengeE'en now is whetting for my breast the poniard.Who sows the serpent's teeth, let him not hope250To reap a joyous harvest. Every crimeHas, in the moment of its perpetration,Its own avenging angel—dark misgiving,An ominous sinking at the inmost heart.He can no longer trust me—Then no longer255Can I retreat—so come that which must come.—Still destiny preserves its due relations,The heart within us is its absoluteVicegerent.[ToTertsky.Go, conduct you Gustave WrangelTo my state-cabinet. Myself will speak to260The couriers.—And dispatch immediatelyA servant for Octavio Piccolomini.[To theCountess.No exultation—woman, triumph not!For jealous are the Powers of Destiny.Joy premature, and shouts ere victory,265Incroach upon their rights and privileges.We sow the seed, and they the growth determine.

Illo (hurrying out).God in heaven be praised!

Wallenstein.It is his evil genius and mine.245Our evil genius! It chastises himThrough me, the instrument of his ambition;And I expect no less, than that RevengeE'en now is whetting for my breast the poniard.Who sows the serpent's teeth, let him not hope250To reap a joyous harvest. Every crimeHas, in the moment of its perpetration,Its own avenging angel—dark misgiving,An ominous sinking at the inmost heart.He can no longer trust me—Then no longer255Can I retreat—so come that which must come.—Still destiny preserves its due relations,The heart within us is its absoluteVicegerent.[ToTertsky.Go, conduct you Gustave WrangelTo my state-cabinet. Myself will speak to260The couriers.—And dispatch immediatelyA servant for Octavio Piccolomini.[To theCountess.No exultation—woman, triumph not!For jealous are the Powers of Destiny.Joy premature, and shouts ere victory,265Incroach upon their rights and privileges.We sow the seed, and they the growth determine.

[While he is making his exit the curtain drops.

[701:1]Could I have hazarded such a Germanism as the use of the word 'after-world' forposterity, 'Es spreche Welt undNachweltmeinen Nahmen' might have been rendered with more literal fidelity:'Let world and after-world speak out my name,' &c.1800,1828,1829.

[701:1]Could I have hazarded such a Germanism as the use of the word 'after-world' forposterity, 'Es spreche Welt undNachweltmeinen Nahmen' might have been rendered with more literal fidelity:

'Let world and after-world speak out my name,' &c.

1800,1828,1829.

[701:2]I have not ventured to affront the fastidious delicacy of our age with a literal translation of this line:'werthDie Eingeweide schaudernd aufzuregen.'1800,1828,1829.

[701:2]I have not ventured to affront the fastidious delicacy of our age with a literal translation of this line:

'werthDie Eingeweide schaudernd aufzuregen.'

1800,1828,1829.

[12]will not . . . must1800,1828,1829.

will not . . . must1800,1828,1829.

[26]Countess (hastily).1800,1828,1829.

Countess (hastily).1800,1828,1829.

Before31Countess (laughs).1800,1828,1829.

[78]Wallenstein (in extreme agitation).1800,1828,1829.

Wallenstein (in extreme agitation).1800,1828,1829.

Before88Wallenstein (starts up in violent agitation).1800,1828,1829.

[90]As I1800,1828,1829.

As I1800,1828,1829.

[110]were1800,1828,1829.

were1800,1828,1829.

[118]Duke1800,1828,1829.

Duke1800,1828,1829.

[137]thee1800,1828,1829.

thee1800,1828,1829.

[149]Hath] Has1800,1828,1829.

Hath] Has1800,1828,1829.

[157]needed1800,1828,1829.

needed1800,1828,1829.

[163]him1800,1828,1829.

him1800,1828,1829.

[187]thou1800,1828,1829.

thou1800,1828,1829.

[189]they1800,1828,1829.

they1800,1828,1829.

[209]For him1800,1828,1829.

For him1800,1828,1829.

[211]Against him1800,1828,1829.

Against him1800,1828,1829.

[220]and opportunity] and th' opportunity1800,1828,1829.

and opportunity] and th' opportunity1800,1828,1829.

After242Wallenstein (during this last speech walks up and down with inward struggles, labouring with passions; stops suddenly, stands still, then, &c.1800,1828,1829.

[245]his . . . mine1800,1828,1829.

his . . . mine1800,1828,1829.

[246]him1800,1828,1829.

him1800,1828,1829.

[249]my1800,1828,1829.

my1800,1828,1829.

After262[To theCountess, who cannot conceal her triumph.1800,1828,1829.

Scene—As in the preceding Act.

Wallenstein, Octavio Piccolomini.

Wallenstein (coming forward in conversation).He sends me word from Linz, that he lies sick;But I have sure intelligence, that heSecretes himself at Frauenberg with Galas.Secure them both, and send them to me hither.Remember, thou tak'st on thee the command5[706]Of those same Spanish regiments,—constantlyMake preparation, and be never ready;And if they urge thee to draw out against me,Still answer yes, and stand as thou wert fettered.I know, that it is doing thee a service10To keep thee out of action in this business.Thou lovest to linger on in fair appearances;Steps of extremity are not thy province,Therefore have I sought out this part for thee.Thou wilt this time be of most service to me15By thy inertness. The mean time, if fortuneDeclare itself on my side, thou wilt knowWhat is to do.

EnterMax Piccolomini.

Now go, Octavio.This night must thou be off, take my own horses:Him here I keep with me—make short farewell—20Trust me, I think we all shall meet againIn joy and thriving fortunes.Octavio (to his son).I shall see youYet ere I go.

Now go, Octavio.This night must thou be off, take my own horses:Him here I keep with me—make short farewell—20Trust me, I think we all shall meet againIn joy and thriving fortunes.

Octavio (to his son).I shall see youYet ere I go.

[3]Secretes] Secrets1828,1829,1893.

Secretes] Secrets1828,1829,1893.

[9]yes1800,1828,1829.

yes1800,1828,1829.

Wallenstein, Max Piccolomini.

Max (advances to him).My General!Wallenstein.That am I no longer, ifThou styl'st thyself the Emperor's officer.Max.Then thou wilt leave the army, General?Wallenstein.I have renounced the service of the Emperor.Max.And thou wilt leave the army?Wallenstein.Rather hope I5To bind it nearer still and faster to me. [He seats himself.Yes, Max, I have delayed to open it to thee,Even till the hour of acting 'gins to strike.Youth's fortunate feeling doth seize easilyThe absolute right, yea, and a joy it is10To exercise the single apprehensionWhere the sums square in proof;But where it happens, that of two sure evilsOne must be taken, where the heart not whollyBrings itself back from out the strife of duties,15[707]There 'tis a blessing to have no election,And blank necessity is grace and favour.—This is now present: do not look behind thee.—It can no more avail thee. Look thou forwards!Think not! judge not! prepare thyself to act!20The Court—it hath determined on my ruin,Therefore I will to be beforehand with them.We'll join the Swedes—right gallant fellows are they,And our good friends.[He stops himself, expectingPiccolomini'sanswer.I have ta'en thee by surprise. Answer me not.25I grant thee time to recollect thyself.

Max (advances to him).My General!

Wallenstein.That am I no longer, ifThou styl'st thyself the Emperor's officer.

Max.Then thou wilt leave the army, General?

Wallenstein.I have renounced the service of the Emperor.

Max.And thou wilt leave the army?

Wallenstein.Rather hope I5To bind it nearer still and faster to me. [He seats himself.Yes, Max, I have delayed to open it to thee,Even till the hour of acting 'gins to strike.Youth's fortunate feeling doth seize easilyThe absolute right, yea, and a joy it is10To exercise the single apprehensionWhere the sums square in proof;But where it happens, that of two sure evilsOne must be taken, where the heart not whollyBrings itself back from out the strife of duties,15[707]There 'tis a blessing to have no election,And blank necessity is grace and favour.—This is now present: do not look behind thee.—It can no more avail thee. Look thou forwards!Think not! judge not! prepare thyself to act!20The Court—it hath determined on my ruin,Therefore I will to be beforehand with them.We'll join the Swedes—right gallant fellows are they,And our good friends.[He stops himself, expectingPiccolomini'sanswer.I have ta'en thee by surprise. Answer me not.25I grant thee time to recollect thyself.

[He rises, and retires at the back of the stage.Maxremains for a long time motionless, in a trance of excessive anguish. At his first motionWallensteinreturns, and places himself before him.

Max.My General, this day thou makest meOf age to speak in my own right and person,For till this day I have been spared the troubleTo find out my own road. Thee have I followed30With most implicit unconditional faith,Sure of the right path if I followed thee.To-day, for the first time, dost thou referMe to myself, and forcest me to makeElection between thee and my own heart.35Wallenstein.Soft cradled thee thy Fortune till to-day;Thy duties thou couldst exercise in sport,Indulge all lovely instincts, act for everWith undivided heart. It can remainNo longer thus. Like enemies, the roads40Start from each other. Duties strive with duties.Thou must needs choose thy party in the warWhich is now kindling 'twixt thy friend and himWho is thy Emperor.Max.War! is that the name?War is as frightful as heaven's pestilence.45Yet it is good, is it heaven's will as that is.Is that a good war, which against the EmperorThou wagest with the Emperor's own army?O God of heaven! what a change is this.Beseems it me to offer such persuasion50To thee, who like the fixed star of the poleWert all I gazed at on life's trackless ocean?[708]O! what a rent thou makest in my heart!The ingrained instinct of old reverence.The holy habit of obediency,55Must I pluck live asunder from thy name?Nay, do not turn thy countenance upon me—It always was as a god looking at me!Duke Wallenstein, its power is not departed:The senses still are in thy bonds, although,60Bleeding, the soul hath freed itself.Wallenstein.Max, hear me.Max.O! do it not, I pray thee, do it not!There is a pure and noble soul within thee,Knows not of this unblest, unlucky doing.Thy will is chaste, it is thy fancy only65Which hath polluted thee—and innocence,It will not let itself be driven awayFrom that world-awing aspect. Thou wilt not,Thou canst not, end in this. It would reduceAll human creatures to disloyalty70Against the nobleness of their own nature.'Twill justify the vulgar misbelief,Which holdeth nothing noble in free will,And trusts itself to impotence aloneMade powerful only in an unknown power.75Wallenstein.The world will judge me sternly, I expect it.Already have I said to my own selfAll thou canst say to me. Who but avoidsThe extreme,—can he by going round avoid it?But here there is no choice. Yes—I must use80Or suffer violence—so stands the case,There remains nothing possible but that.Max.O that is never possible for thee!'Tis the last desperate resource of thoseCheap souls, to whom their honour, their good name85Is their poor saving, their last worthless keep,Which having staked and lost, they stake themselvesIn the mad rage of gaming. Thou art rich,And glorious; with an unpolluted heartThou canst make conquest of whate'er seems highest!90But he, who once hath acted infamy,Does nothing more in this world.Wallenstein (grasps his hand).Calmly, Max![709]Much that is great and excellent will wePerform together yet. And if we onlyStand on the height with dignity, 'tis soon95Forgotten, Max, by what road we ascended.Believe me, many a crown shines spotless now,That yet was deeply sullied in the winning.To the evil spirit doth the earth belong,Not to the good. All, that the powers divine100Send from above, are universal blessings:Their light rejoices us, their air refreshes,But never yet was man enriched by them:In their eternal realm no propertyIs to be struggled for—all there is general.105The jewel, the all-valued gold we winFrom the deceiving Powers, depraved in nature,That dwell beneath the day and blessed sun-light.Not without sacrifices are they renderedPropitious, and there lives no soul on earth110That e'er retired unsullied from their service.Max.Whate'er is human, to the human beingDo I allow—and to the vehementAnd striving spirit readily I pardonThe excess of action; but to thee, my General!115Above all others make I large concession.For thou must move a world, and be the master—He kills thee, who condemns thee to inaction.So be it then! maintain thee in thy postBy violence. Resist the Emperor,120And if it must be, force with force repel:I will not praise it, yet I can forgive it.But not—not to the traitor—yes!—the wordIs spoken out——Not to the traitor can I yield a pardon.125That is no mere excess! that is no errorOf human nature—that is wholly different,O that is black, black as the pit of hell!Thou canst not hear it nam'd, and wilt thou do it?O turn back to thy duty. That thou canst,130I hold it certain. Send me to Vienna.I'll make thy peace for thee with the Emperor.[710]He knows thee not. But I do know thee. HeShall see thee, Duke! with my unclouded eye,And I bring back his confidence to thee.135Wallenstein.It is too late. Thou knowest not what has happened.Max.Were it too late, and were things gone so far,That a crime only could prevent thy fall,Then—fall! fall honourably, even as thou stood'st.Lose the command. Go from the stage of war.140Thou canst with splendour do it—do it tooWith innocence. Thou hast liv'd much for others,At length live thou for thy own self. I follow thee.My destiny I never part from thine.Wallenstein.It is too late! Even now, while thou art losing145Thy words, one after the other are the mile-stonesLeft fast behind by my post couriers,Who bear the order on to Prague and Egra.Yield thyself to it. We act as we are forced.I cannot give assent to my own shame150And ruin. Thou—no—thou canst not forsake me!So let us do, what must be done, with dignity,With a firm step. What am I doing worseThan did famed Cæsar at the Rubicon,When he the legions led against his country,155The which his country had delivered to him?Had he thrown down the sword, he had been lost,As I were, if I but disarmed myself.I trace out something in me of his spirit.Give me his luck, that other thing I'll bear.160

Wallenstein.Soft cradled thee thy Fortune till to-day;Thy duties thou couldst exercise in sport,Indulge all lovely instincts, act for everWith undivided heart. It can remainNo longer thus. Like enemies, the roads40Start from each other. Duties strive with duties.Thou must needs choose thy party in the warWhich is now kindling 'twixt thy friend and himWho is thy Emperor.

Max.War! is that the name?War is as frightful as heaven's pestilence.45Yet it is good, is it heaven's will as that is.Is that a good war, which against the EmperorThou wagest with the Emperor's own army?O God of heaven! what a change is this.Beseems it me to offer such persuasion50To thee, who like the fixed star of the poleWert all I gazed at on life's trackless ocean?[708]O! what a rent thou makest in my heart!The ingrained instinct of old reverence.The holy habit of obediency,55Must I pluck live asunder from thy name?Nay, do not turn thy countenance upon me—It always was as a god looking at me!Duke Wallenstein, its power is not departed:The senses still are in thy bonds, although,60Bleeding, the soul hath freed itself.

Wallenstein.Max, hear me.

Max.O! do it not, I pray thee, do it not!There is a pure and noble soul within thee,Knows not of this unblest, unlucky doing.Thy will is chaste, it is thy fancy only65Which hath polluted thee—and innocence,It will not let itself be driven awayFrom that world-awing aspect. Thou wilt not,Thou canst not, end in this. It would reduceAll human creatures to disloyalty70Against the nobleness of their own nature.'Twill justify the vulgar misbelief,Which holdeth nothing noble in free will,And trusts itself to impotence aloneMade powerful only in an unknown power.75

Wallenstein.The world will judge me sternly, I expect it.Already have I said to my own selfAll thou canst say to me. Who but avoidsThe extreme,—can he by going round avoid it?But here there is no choice. Yes—I must use80Or suffer violence—so stands the case,There remains nothing possible but that.

Max.O that is never possible for thee!'Tis the last desperate resource of thoseCheap souls, to whom their honour, their good name85Is their poor saving, their last worthless keep,Which having staked and lost, they stake themselvesIn the mad rage of gaming. Thou art rich,And glorious; with an unpolluted heartThou canst make conquest of whate'er seems highest!90But he, who once hath acted infamy,Does nothing more in this world.

Wallenstein (grasps his hand).Calmly, Max![709]Much that is great and excellent will wePerform together yet. And if we onlyStand on the height with dignity, 'tis soon95Forgotten, Max, by what road we ascended.Believe me, many a crown shines spotless now,That yet was deeply sullied in the winning.To the evil spirit doth the earth belong,Not to the good. All, that the powers divine100Send from above, are universal blessings:Their light rejoices us, their air refreshes,But never yet was man enriched by them:In their eternal realm no propertyIs to be struggled for—all there is general.105The jewel, the all-valued gold we winFrom the deceiving Powers, depraved in nature,That dwell beneath the day and blessed sun-light.Not without sacrifices are they renderedPropitious, and there lives no soul on earth110That e'er retired unsullied from their service.

Max.Whate'er is human, to the human beingDo I allow—and to the vehementAnd striving spirit readily I pardonThe excess of action; but to thee, my General!115Above all others make I large concession.For thou must move a world, and be the master—He kills thee, who condemns thee to inaction.So be it then! maintain thee in thy postBy violence. Resist the Emperor,120And if it must be, force with force repel:I will not praise it, yet I can forgive it.But not—not to the traitor—yes!—the wordIs spoken out——Not to the traitor can I yield a pardon.125That is no mere excess! that is no errorOf human nature—that is wholly different,O that is black, black as the pit of hell!Thou canst not hear it nam'd, and wilt thou do it?O turn back to thy duty. That thou canst,130I hold it certain. Send me to Vienna.I'll make thy peace for thee with the Emperor.[710]He knows thee not. But I do know thee. HeShall see thee, Duke! with my unclouded eye,And I bring back his confidence to thee.135

Wallenstein.It is too late. Thou knowest not what has happened.

Max.Were it too late, and were things gone so far,That a crime only could prevent thy fall,Then—fall! fall honourably, even as thou stood'st.Lose the command. Go from the stage of war.140Thou canst with splendour do it—do it tooWith innocence. Thou hast liv'd much for others,At length live thou for thy own self. I follow thee.My destiny I never part from thine.

Wallenstein.It is too late! Even now, while thou art losing145Thy words, one after the other are the mile-stonesLeft fast behind by my post couriers,Who bear the order on to Prague and Egra.Yield thyself to it. We act as we are forced.I cannot give assent to my own shame150And ruin. Thou—no—thou canst not forsake me!So let us do, what must be done, with dignity,With a firm step. What am I doing worseThan did famed Cæsar at the Rubicon,When he the legions led against his country,155The which his country had delivered to him?Had he thrown down the sword, he had been lost,As I were, if I but disarmed myself.I trace out something in me of his spirit.Give me his luck, that other thing I'll bear.160

[Maxquits him abruptly.Wallenstein, startled and overpowered, continues looking after him, and is still in this posture whenTertskyenters.

[86]saving . . . Keep1800,1828,1829.

saving . . . Keep1800,1828,1829.

[104]property1800,1828,1829.

property1800,1828,1829.

[116]all1800,1828,1829.

all1800,1828,1829.

[123]traitor1800,1828,1829.

traitor1800,1828,1829.

After128[Wallensteinbetrays a sudden agitation.1800,1828,1829.

[129]nam'd . . . do1800,1828,1829.

nam'd . . . do1800,1828,1829.

After148[Maxstands as convulsed, with a gesture and countenance expressing the most intense anguish.1800,1828,1829.

[150]I1800,1828,1829.

I1800,1828,1829.

[151]Thou—no1800,1828,1829.

Thou—no1800,1828,1829.

[160]that other thing1800,1828,1829.

that other thing1800,1828,1829.

Wallenstein, Tertsky.

Tertsky.Max Piccolomini just left you?Wallenstein.Where is Wrangel?Tertsky.He is already gone.

Tertsky.Max Piccolomini just left you?

Wallenstein.Where is Wrangel?

Tertsky.He is already gone.

Wallenstein.In such a hurry?Tertsky.It is as if the earth had swallowed him.He had scarce left thee, when I went to seek him.I wished some words with him—but he was gone.5How, when, and where, could no one tell me. Nay,I half believe it was the devil himself;A human creature could not so at onceHave vanished.Illo (enters).Is it true that thou wilt sendOctavio?Tertsky.How, Octavio! Whither send him?10Wallenstein.He goes to Frauenberg, and will lead hitherThe Spanish and Italian regiments.Illo.No!Nay, Heaven forbid!Wallenstein.And why should Heaven forbid?Illo.Him!—that deceiver! Would'st thou trust to himThe soldiery? Him wilt thou let slip from thee,15Now, in the very instant that decides us——Tertsky.Thou wilt not do this!—No! I pray thee, no!Wallenstein.Ye are whimsical.Illo.O but for this time, Duke,Yield to our warning! Let him not depart.Wallenstein.And why should I not trust him only this time,20Who have always trusted him? What, then, has happened,That I should lose my good opinion of him?In complaisance to your whims, not my own,I must, forsooth, give up a rooted judgment.Think not I am a woman. Having trusted him25E'en till to-day, to-day too will I trust him.Tertsky.Must it be he—he only? Send another.Wallenstein.It must be he, whom I myself have chosen;He is well fitted for the business. ThereforeI gave it him.Illo.Because he's an Italian—30Therefore is he well fitted for the business.Wallenstein.I know you love them not—nor sire nor son—Because that I esteem them, love them—visiblyEsteem them, love them more than you and others,E'en as they merit. Therefore are they eye-blights,35Thorns in your foot-path. But your jealousies,In what affect they me or my concerns?[712]Are they the worse to me because you hate them?Love or hate one another as you will,I leave to each man his own moods and likings;40Yet know the worth of each of you to me.Illo.Von Questenberg, while he was here, was alwaysLurking about with this Octavio.Wallenstein.It happened with my knowledge and permission.Illo.I know that secret messengers came to him45From Galas——Wallenstein.That's not true.Illo.O thou art blindWith thy deep-seeing eyes.Wallenstein.Thou wilt not shakeMy faith for me—my faith, which founds itselfOn the profoundest science. If 'tis false,Then the whole science of the stars is false.50For know, I have a pledge from fate itself,That he is the most faithful of my friends.Illo.Hast thou a pledge, that this pledge is not false?Wallenstein.There exist moments in the life of man,When he is nearer the great soul of the world55Than is man's custom, and possesses freelyThe power of questioning his destiny:And such a moment 'twas, when in the nightBefore the action in the plains of Lützen,Leaning against a tree, thoughts crowding thoughts,60I looked out far upon the ominous plain.My whole life, past and future, in this momentBefore my mind's eye glided in procession,And to the destiny of the next morningThe spirit, filled with anxious presentiment,65Did knit the most removed futurity.Then said I also to myself, 'So manyDost thou command. They follow all thy stars,And as on some great number set their AllUpon thy single head, and only man70The vessel of thy fortune. Yet a dayWill come, when destiny shall once more scatterAll these in many a several direction:Few be they who will stand out faithful to thee.'I yearn'd to know which one was faithfullest75[713]Of all, this camp included. Great Destiny,Give me a sign! And he shall be the man,Who, on the approaching morning, comes the firstTo meet me with a token of his love:And thinking this, I fell into a slumber.80Then midmost in the battle was I ledIn spirit. Great the pressure and the tumult!Then was my horse killed under me: I sank:And over me away, all unconcernedly,Drove horse and rider—and thus trod to pieces85I lay, and panted like a dying man.Then seized me suddenly a saviour arm;It was Octavio's—I awoke at once,'Twas broad day, and Octavio stood before me.'My brother,' said he,'do not ride to-day90The dapple, as you're wont; but mount the horseWhich I have chosen for thee. Do it, brother!In love to me. A strong dream warned me so.'It was the swiftness of this horse that snatched meFrom the hot pursuit of Bannier's dragoons.95My cousin rode the dapple on that day.And never more saw I or horse or rider.Illo.That was a chance.Wallenstein.There's no such thing as chance.In brief, 'tis signed and sealed that this OctavioIs my good angel—and now no word more.[He is retiring.Tertsky.This is my comfort—Max remains our hostage.100Illo.And he shall never stir from here alive.Wallenstein (stops and turns himself round).Are ye not like the women, who for everOnly recur to their first word, althoughOne had been talking reason by the hour?105Know, that the human being's thoughts and deedsAre not, like ocean billows, blindly moved.The inner world, his microcosmus, isThe deep shaft, out of which they spring eternally.They grow by certain laws, like the tree's fruit—110No juggling chance can metamorphose them.Have I the human kernel first examined?Then I know, too, the future will and action.

Wallenstein.In such a hurry?

Tertsky.It is as if the earth had swallowed him.He had scarce left thee, when I went to seek him.I wished some words with him—but he was gone.5How, when, and where, could no one tell me. Nay,I half believe it was the devil himself;A human creature could not so at onceHave vanished.

Illo (enters).Is it true that thou wilt sendOctavio?

Tertsky.How, Octavio! Whither send him?10

Wallenstein.He goes to Frauenberg, and will lead hitherThe Spanish and Italian regiments.

Illo.No!Nay, Heaven forbid!

Wallenstein.And why should Heaven forbid?

Illo.Him!—that deceiver! Would'st thou trust to himThe soldiery? Him wilt thou let slip from thee,15Now, in the very instant that decides us——

Tertsky.Thou wilt not do this!—No! I pray thee, no!

Wallenstein.Ye are whimsical.

Illo.O but for this time, Duke,Yield to our warning! Let him not depart.

Wallenstein.And why should I not trust him only this time,20Who have always trusted him? What, then, has happened,That I should lose my good opinion of him?In complaisance to your whims, not my own,I must, forsooth, give up a rooted judgment.Think not I am a woman. Having trusted him25E'en till to-day, to-day too will I trust him.

Tertsky.Must it be he—he only? Send another.

Wallenstein.It must be he, whom I myself have chosen;He is well fitted for the business. ThereforeI gave it him.

Illo.Because he's an Italian—30Therefore is he well fitted for the business.

Wallenstein.I know you love them not—nor sire nor son—Because that I esteem them, love them—visiblyEsteem them, love them more than you and others,E'en as they merit. Therefore are they eye-blights,35Thorns in your foot-path. But your jealousies,In what affect they me or my concerns?[712]Are they the worse to me because you hate them?Love or hate one another as you will,I leave to each man his own moods and likings;40Yet know the worth of each of you to me.

Illo.Von Questenberg, while he was here, was alwaysLurking about with this Octavio.

Wallenstein.It happened with my knowledge and permission.

Illo.I know that secret messengers came to him45From Galas——

Wallenstein.That's not true.

Illo.O thou art blindWith thy deep-seeing eyes.

Wallenstein.Thou wilt not shakeMy faith for me—my faith, which founds itselfOn the profoundest science. If 'tis false,Then the whole science of the stars is false.50For know, I have a pledge from fate itself,That he is the most faithful of my friends.

Illo.Hast thou a pledge, that this pledge is not false?

Wallenstein.There exist moments in the life of man,When he is nearer the great soul of the world55Than is man's custom, and possesses freelyThe power of questioning his destiny:And such a moment 'twas, when in the nightBefore the action in the plains of Lützen,Leaning against a tree, thoughts crowding thoughts,60I looked out far upon the ominous plain.My whole life, past and future, in this momentBefore my mind's eye glided in procession,And to the destiny of the next morningThe spirit, filled with anxious presentiment,65Did knit the most removed futurity.Then said I also to myself, 'So manyDost thou command. They follow all thy stars,And as on some great number set their AllUpon thy single head, and only man70The vessel of thy fortune. Yet a dayWill come, when destiny shall once more scatterAll these in many a several direction:Few be they who will stand out faithful to thee.'I yearn'd to know which one was faithfullest75[713]Of all, this camp included. Great Destiny,Give me a sign! And he shall be the man,Who, on the approaching morning, comes the firstTo meet me with a token of his love:And thinking this, I fell into a slumber.80Then midmost in the battle was I ledIn spirit. Great the pressure and the tumult!Then was my horse killed under me: I sank:And over me away, all unconcernedly,Drove horse and rider—and thus trod to pieces85I lay, and panted like a dying man.Then seized me suddenly a saviour arm;It was Octavio's—I awoke at once,'Twas broad day, and Octavio stood before me.'My brother,' said he,'do not ride to-day90The dapple, as you're wont; but mount the horseWhich I have chosen for thee. Do it, brother!In love to me. A strong dream warned me so.'It was the swiftness of this horse that snatched meFrom the hot pursuit of Bannier's dragoons.95My cousin rode the dapple on that day.And never more saw I or horse or rider.

Illo.That was a chance.

Wallenstein.There's no such thing as chance.In brief, 'tis signed and sealed that this OctavioIs my good angel—and now no word more.[He is retiring.

Tertsky.This is my comfort—Max remains our hostage.100

Illo.And he shall never stir from here alive.

Wallenstein (stops and turns himself round).Are ye not like the women, who for everOnly recur to their first word, althoughOne had been talking reason by the hour?105Know, that the human being's thoughts and deedsAre not, like ocean billows, blindly moved.The inner world, his microcosmus, isThe deep shaft, out of which they spring eternally.They grow by certain laws, like the tree's fruit—110No juggling chance can metamorphose them.Have I the human kernel first examined?Then I know, too, the future will and action.

[38]me1800,1828,1829.

me1800,1828,1829.

[76]included] include1800.

included] include1800.

[89]Octavio1800,1828,1829.

Octavio1800,1828,1829.

[98]Wallenstein (significantly).1800,1828,1829.

Wallenstein (significantly).1800,1828,1829.

[112]kernel1800,1828,1829.

kernel1800,1828,1829.

Scene—A Chamber inPiccolomini'sDwelling-House.

Octavio Piccolomini, Isolani(entering).

Isolani.Here am I—Well! who comes yet of the others?Octavio.But, first, a word with you, Count Isolani.Isolani.Will it explode, ha?—Is the Duke aboutTo make the attempt? In me, friend, you may placeFull confidence.—Nay, put me to the proof.5Octavio.That may happen.Isolani.Noble brother, I amNot one of those men who in words are valiant,And when it comes to action skulk away.The Duke has acted towards me as a friend.God knows it is so; and I owe him all——10He may rely on my fidelity.Octavio.That will be seen hereafter.Isolani.Be on your guard,All think not as I think; and there are manyWho still hold with the Court—yes, and they sayThat those stolen signatures bind them to nothing.15Octavio.I am rejoiced to hear it.Isolani.You rejoice!Octavio.That the Emperor has yet such gallant servantsAnd loving friends.Isolani.Nay, jeer not, I entreat you.They are no such worthless fellows, I assure you.Octavio.I am assured already. God forbid20That I should jest!—In very serious earnestI am rejoiced to see an honest causeSo strong.Isolani.The Devil!—what!—why, what means this?Are you not, then——For what, then, am I here?Octavio.That you may make full declaration, whether25You will be called the friend or enemyOf the Emperor.Isolani.That declaration, friend,I'll make to him in whom a right is placedTo put that question to me.Octavio.Whether, Count,30That right is mine, this paper may instruct you.

Isolani.Here am I—Well! who comes yet of the others?

Octavio.But, first, a word with you, Count Isolani.

Isolani.Will it explode, ha?—Is the Duke aboutTo make the attempt? In me, friend, you may placeFull confidence.—Nay, put me to the proof.5

Octavio.That may happen.

Isolani.Noble brother, I amNot one of those men who in words are valiant,And when it comes to action skulk away.The Duke has acted towards me as a friend.God knows it is so; and I owe him all——10He may rely on my fidelity.

Octavio.That will be seen hereafter.

Isolani.Be on your guard,All think not as I think; and there are manyWho still hold with the Court—yes, and they sayThat those stolen signatures bind them to nothing.15

Octavio.I am rejoiced to hear it.

Isolani.You rejoice!

Octavio.That the Emperor has yet such gallant servantsAnd loving friends.

Isolani.Nay, jeer not, I entreat you.They are no such worthless fellows, I assure you.

Octavio.I am assured already. God forbid20That I should jest!—In very serious earnestI am rejoiced to see an honest causeSo strong.

Isolani.The Devil!—what!—why, what means this?Are you not, then——For what, then, am I here?

Octavio.That you may make full declaration, whether25You will be called the friend or enemyOf the Emperor.

Isolani.That declaration, friend,I'll make to him in whom a right is placedTo put that question to me.

Octavio.Whether, Count,30That right is mine, this paper may instruct you.

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