Anspessade.There came to hand a letter from the Emperor35Commanding us——Wallenstein.Who chose you?Anspessade.Every companyDrew its own man by lot.Wallenstein.Now! to the business.Anspessade.There came to hand a letter from the EmperorCommanding us collectively, from theeAll duties of obedience to withdraw,40Because thou wert an enemy and traitor.Wallenstein.And what did you determine?Anspessade.All our comradesAt Brannau, Budweiss, Prague and Olmutz, haveObeyed already, and the regiments here,45Tiefenbach and Toscana, instantlyDid follow their example. But—but weDo not believe that thou art an enemyAnd traitor to thy country, hold it merely[747]For lie and trick, and a trumped-up Spanish story!50Thyself shalt tell us what thy purpose is,For we have found thee still sincere and true:No mouth shall interpose itself betwixtThe gallant General and the gallant troops.Wallenstein.Therein I recognize my Pappenheimers.55Anspessade.And this proposal makes thy regiment to thee:Is it thy purpose merely to preserveIn thy own hands this military sceptre,Which so becomes thee, which the EmperorMade over to thee by a covenant?60Is it thy purpose merely to remainSupreme commander of the Austrian armies?—We will stand by thee, General! and guaranteeThy honest rights against all opposition.And should it chance, that all the other regiments65Turn from thee, by ourselves will we stand forthThy faithful soldiers, and, as is our duty,Far rather let ourselves be cut to pieces,Than suffer thee to fall. But if it beAs the Emperor's letter says, if it be true,70That thou in traitorous wise wilt lead us overTo the enemy, which God in heaven forbid!Then we too will forsake thee, and obeyThat letter——Wallenstein.Hear me, children!Anspessade.Yes, or no!There needs no other answer.Wallenstein.Yield attention.75You're men of sense, examine for yourselves;Ye think, and do not follow with the herd:And therefore have I always shewn you honourAbove all others, suffered you to reason;Have treated you as free men, and my orders80Were but the echoes of your prior suffrage.—Anspessade.Most fair and noble has thy conduct beenTo us, my General! With thy confidenceThou hast honoured us, and shewn us grace and favourBeyond all other regiments; and thou seest85We follow not the common herd. We willStand by thee faithfully. Speak but one word—Thy word shall satisfy us, that it is not[748]A treason which thou meditatest—thatThou meanest not to lead the army over90To the enemy; nor e'er betray thy country.Wallenstein.Me, me are they betraying. The EmperorHath sacrificed me to my enemies,And I must fall, unless my gallant troopsWill rescue me. See! I confide in you.95And be your hearts my strong hold! At this breastThe aim is taken, at this hoary head.This is your Spanish gratitude, this is ourRequital for that murderous fight at Lutzen!For this we threw the naked breast against100The halbert, made for this the frozen earthOur bed, and the hard stone our pillow! never streamToo rapid for us, nor wood too impervious:With cheerful spirit we pursued that MansfieldThrough all the turns and windings of his flight;105Yea, our whole life was but one restless march;And homeless, as the stirring wind, we travelledO'er the war-wasted earth. And now, even now,That we have well-nigh finished the hard toil,The unthankful, the curse-laden toil of weapons,110With faithful indefatigable armHave rolled the heavy war-load up the hill,Behold! this boy of the Emperor's bears awayThe honours of the peace, an easy prize!He'll weave, forsooth, into his flaxen locks115The olive branch, the hard-earn'd ornamentOf this grey head, grown grey beneath the helmet.Anspessade.That shall he not, while we can hinder it!No one, but thou, who hast conducted itWith fame, shall end this war, this frightful war.120Thou led'st us out into the bloody fieldOf death, thou and no other shalt conduct us home,Rejoicing, to the lovely plains of peace—Shalt share with us the fruits of the long toil—Wallenstein.What? Think you then at length in late old age125To enjoy the fruits of toil? Believe it not.Never, no never, will you see the endOf the contest! you and me, and all of us,This war will swallow up! War, war, not peace,Is Austria's wish; and therefore, because I130[749]Endeavoured after peace, therefore I fall.For what cares Austria, how long the warWears out the armies and lays waste the world?She will but wax and grow amid the ruin,And still win new domains.[The Cuirassiers express agitation by their gestures.Ye're moved—I see135A noble rage flash from your eyes, ye warriors!Oh that my spirit might possess you nowDaring as once it led you to the battle!Ye would stand by me with your veteran arms,Protect me in my rights; and this is noble!140But think not that you can accomplish it,Your scanty number! to no purpose will youHave sacrificed you for your General.No! let us tread securely, seek for friends;The Swedes have proffered us assistance, let us145Wear for a while the appearance of good will,And use them for your profit, till we bothCarry the fate of Europe in our hands,And from our camp to the glad jubilant worldLead Peace forth with the garland on her head!150Anspessade.'Tis then but mere appearances which thouDost put on with the Swede? Thou'lt not betrayThe Emperor? Wilt not turn us into Swedes?This is the only thing which we desireTo learn from thee.Wallenstein.What care I for the Swedes?155I hate them as I hate the pit of hell,And under Providence I trust right soonTo chase them to their homes across their Baltic.My cares are only for the whole: I haveA heart—it bleeds within me for the miseries160And piteous groaning of my fellow-Germans.Ye are but common men, but yet ye thinkWith minds not common; ye appear to meWorthy before all others, that I whisper yeA little word or two in confidence!165See now! already for full fifteen yearsThe war-torch has continued burning, yetNo rest, no pause of conflict. Swede and German,[750]Papist and Lutheran! neither will give wayTo the other, every hand's against the other.170Each one is party and no one a judge.Where shall this end? Where's he that will unravelThis tangle, ever tangling more and more.It must be cut asunder.I feel that I am the man of destiny,175And trust, with your assistance, to accomplish it.
Anspessade.There came to hand a letter from the Emperor35Commanding us——
Wallenstein.Who chose you?
Anspessade.Every companyDrew its own man by lot.
Wallenstein.Now! to the business.
Anspessade.There came to hand a letter from the EmperorCommanding us collectively, from theeAll duties of obedience to withdraw,40Because thou wert an enemy and traitor.
Wallenstein.And what did you determine?
Anspessade.All our comradesAt Brannau, Budweiss, Prague and Olmutz, haveObeyed already, and the regiments here,45Tiefenbach and Toscana, instantlyDid follow their example. But—but weDo not believe that thou art an enemyAnd traitor to thy country, hold it merely[747]For lie and trick, and a trumped-up Spanish story!50Thyself shalt tell us what thy purpose is,For we have found thee still sincere and true:No mouth shall interpose itself betwixtThe gallant General and the gallant troops.
Wallenstein.Therein I recognize my Pappenheimers.55
Anspessade.And this proposal makes thy regiment to thee:Is it thy purpose merely to preserveIn thy own hands this military sceptre,Which so becomes thee, which the EmperorMade over to thee by a covenant?60Is it thy purpose merely to remainSupreme commander of the Austrian armies?—We will stand by thee, General! and guaranteeThy honest rights against all opposition.And should it chance, that all the other regiments65Turn from thee, by ourselves will we stand forthThy faithful soldiers, and, as is our duty,Far rather let ourselves be cut to pieces,Than suffer thee to fall. But if it beAs the Emperor's letter says, if it be true,70That thou in traitorous wise wilt lead us overTo the enemy, which God in heaven forbid!Then we too will forsake thee, and obeyThat letter——
Wallenstein.Hear me, children!
Anspessade.Yes, or no!There needs no other answer.
Wallenstein.Yield attention.75You're men of sense, examine for yourselves;Ye think, and do not follow with the herd:And therefore have I always shewn you honourAbove all others, suffered you to reason;Have treated you as free men, and my orders80Were but the echoes of your prior suffrage.—
Anspessade.Most fair and noble has thy conduct beenTo us, my General! With thy confidenceThou hast honoured us, and shewn us grace and favourBeyond all other regiments; and thou seest85We follow not the common herd. We willStand by thee faithfully. Speak but one word—Thy word shall satisfy us, that it is not[748]A treason which thou meditatest—thatThou meanest not to lead the army over90To the enemy; nor e'er betray thy country.
Wallenstein.Me, me are they betraying. The EmperorHath sacrificed me to my enemies,And I must fall, unless my gallant troopsWill rescue me. See! I confide in you.95And be your hearts my strong hold! At this breastThe aim is taken, at this hoary head.This is your Spanish gratitude, this is ourRequital for that murderous fight at Lutzen!For this we threw the naked breast against100The halbert, made for this the frozen earthOur bed, and the hard stone our pillow! never streamToo rapid for us, nor wood too impervious:With cheerful spirit we pursued that MansfieldThrough all the turns and windings of his flight;105Yea, our whole life was but one restless march;And homeless, as the stirring wind, we travelledO'er the war-wasted earth. And now, even now,That we have well-nigh finished the hard toil,The unthankful, the curse-laden toil of weapons,110With faithful indefatigable armHave rolled the heavy war-load up the hill,Behold! this boy of the Emperor's bears awayThe honours of the peace, an easy prize!He'll weave, forsooth, into his flaxen locks115The olive branch, the hard-earn'd ornamentOf this grey head, grown grey beneath the helmet.
Anspessade.That shall he not, while we can hinder it!No one, but thou, who hast conducted itWith fame, shall end this war, this frightful war.120Thou led'st us out into the bloody fieldOf death, thou and no other shalt conduct us home,Rejoicing, to the lovely plains of peace—Shalt share with us the fruits of the long toil—
Wallenstein.What? Think you then at length in late old age125To enjoy the fruits of toil? Believe it not.Never, no never, will you see the endOf the contest! you and me, and all of us,This war will swallow up! War, war, not peace,Is Austria's wish; and therefore, because I130[749]Endeavoured after peace, therefore I fall.For what cares Austria, how long the warWears out the armies and lays waste the world?She will but wax and grow amid the ruin,And still win new domains.[The Cuirassiers express agitation by their gestures.Ye're moved—I see135A noble rage flash from your eyes, ye warriors!Oh that my spirit might possess you nowDaring as once it led you to the battle!Ye would stand by me with your veteran arms,Protect me in my rights; and this is noble!140But think not that you can accomplish it,Your scanty number! to no purpose will youHave sacrificed you for your General.No! let us tread securely, seek for friends;The Swedes have proffered us assistance, let us145Wear for a while the appearance of good will,And use them for your profit, till we bothCarry the fate of Europe in our hands,And from our camp to the glad jubilant worldLead Peace forth with the garland on her head!150
Anspessade.'Tis then but mere appearances which thouDost put on with the Swede? Thou'lt not betrayThe Emperor? Wilt not turn us into Swedes?This is the only thing which we desireTo learn from thee.
Wallenstein.What care I for the Swedes?155I hate them as I hate the pit of hell,And under Providence I trust right soonTo chase them to their homes across their Baltic.My cares are only for the whole: I haveA heart—it bleeds within me for the miseries160And piteous groaning of my fellow-Germans.Ye are but common men, but yet ye thinkWith minds not common; ye appear to meWorthy before all others, that I whisper yeA little word or two in confidence!165See now! already for full fifteen yearsThe war-torch has continued burning, yetNo rest, no pause of conflict. Swede and German,[750]Papist and Lutheran! neither will give wayTo the other, every hand's against the other.170Each one is party and no one a judge.Where shall this end? Where's he that will unravelThis tangle, ever tangling more and more.It must be cut asunder.I feel that I am the man of destiny,175And trust, with your assistance, to accomplish it.
[745:1]Anspessade, in German,Gefreiter, a soldier inferior to a corporal, but above the centinels. The German name implies that he is exempt from mounting guard.
[745:1]Anspessade, in German,Gefreiter, a soldier inferior to a corporal, but above the centinels. The German name implies that he is exempt from mounting guard.
[21]whom1800,1828,1829.
whom1800,1828,1829.
[36]Wallenstein (interrupting him).Who chose you?1800,1828,1829.
Wallenstein (interrupting him).Who chose you?1800,1828,1829.
[46]Toscana] Toscano1828,1829.
Toscana] Toscano1828,1829.
After50: (With warmth.)1800,1828,1829.
After50: (With warmth.)1800,1828,1829.
[141]you1800,1828,1829.
you1800,1828,1829.
After143[Confidentially.1800,1828,1829.
After143[Confidentially.1800,1828,1829.
[147]your] our1800,1828,1829.
your] our1800,1828,1829.
To these enterButler.
Butler (passionately).General! This is not right!Wallenstein.What is not right?Butler.It must needs injure us with all honest men.Wallenstein.But what?Butler.It is an open proclamationOf insurrection.Wallenstein.Well, well—but what is it?Butler.Count Tertsky's regiments tear the Imperial Eagle5From off the banners, and instead of it,Have reared aloft thy arms.Anspessade (abruptly to the Cuirassiers).Right about! March!Wallenstein.Cursed be this counsel, and accursed who gave it![To the Cuirassiers, who are retiring.Halt, children, halt! There's some mistake in this;Hark!—I will punish it severely. Stop!10They do not hear. (ToIllo.) Go after them, assure them,And bring them back to me, cost what it may.[Illohurries out.This hurls us headlong. Butler! Butler!You are my evil genius, wherefore must youAnnounce it in their presence? It was all15In a fair way. They were half won, those madmenWith their improvident over-readiness—A cruel game is fortune playing with me.The zeal of friends it is that razes me,And not the hate of enemies.20
Butler (passionately).General! This is not right!
Wallenstein.What is not right?
Butler.It must needs injure us with all honest men.
Wallenstein.But what?
Butler.It is an open proclamationOf insurrection.
Wallenstein.Well, well—but what is it?
Butler.Count Tertsky's regiments tear the Imperial Eagle5From off the banners, and instead of it,Have reared aloft thy arms.
Anspessade (abruptly to the Cuirassiers).Right about! March!
Wallenstein.Cursed be this counsel, and accursed who gave it![To the Cuirassiers, who are retiring.Halt, children, halt! There's some mistake in this;Hark!—I will punish it severely. Stop!10They do not hear. (ToIllo.) Go after them, assure them,And bring them back to me, cost what it may.[Illohurries out.This hurls us headlong. Butler! Butler!You are my evil genius, wherefore must youAnnounce it in their presence? It was all15In a fair way. They were half won, those madmenWith their improvident over-readiness—A cruel game is fortune playing with me.The zeal of friends it is that razes me,And not the hate of enemies.20
To these enter theDuchess, who rushes into the Chamber.Theklaand theCountessfollow her.
Duchess.O Albrecht!What hast thou done?
Duchess.O Albrecht!What hast thou done?
Wallenstein.And now comes this beside.Countess.Forgive me, brother! It was not in my power.They know all.Duchess.What hast thou done?Countess (to Tertsky).Is there no hope? Is all lost utterly?5Tertsky.All lost. No hope. Prague in the Emperor's hands,The soldiery have ta'en their oaths anew.Countess.That lurking hypocrite. Octavio!Count Max is off too?Tertsky.Where can he be? He'sGone over to the Emperor with his father.10
Wallenstein.And now comes this beside.
Countess.Forgive me, brother! It was not in my power.They know all.
Duchess.What hast thou done?
Countess (to Tertsky).Is there no hope? Is all lost utterly?5
Tertsky.All lost. No hope. Prague in the Emperor's hands,The soldiery have ta'en their oaths anew.
Countess.That lurking hypocrite. Octavio!Count Max is off too?
Tertsky.Where can he be? He'sGone over to the Emperor with his father.10
[Theklarushes out into the arms of her mother, hiding her face in her bosom.
Duchess (enfolding her in her arms).Unhappy child! and more unhappy mother!Wallenstein (aside to Tertsky).Quick! Let a carriage stand in readinessIn the court behind the palace. ScherfenbergBe their attendant; he is faithful to us;To Egra he'll conduct them, and we follow.[ToIllo, who returns.15Thou hast not brought them back?Illo.Hear'st thou the uproar?The whole corps of the Pappenheimers isDrawn out: the younger Piccolomini,Their colonel, they require; for they affirm,That he is in the palace here, a prisoner;20And if thou dost not instantly deliver him,They will find means to free him with the sword.Tertsky.What shall we make of this?Wallenstein.Said I not so?O my prophetic heart! he is still here.He has not betrayed me—he could not betray me.25I never doubted of it.Countess.If he beStill here, then all goes well; for I know what[EmbracingThekla.Will keep him here for ever.Tertsky.It can't be.His father has betrayed us, is gone overTo the Emperor—the son could not have ventured30To stay behind.Thekla (her eye fixed on the door).There he is!
Duchess (enfolding her in her arms).Unhappy child! and more unhappy mother!
Wallenstein (aside to Tertsky).Quick! Let a carriage stand in readinessIn the court behind the palace. ScherfenbergBe their attendant; he is faithful to us;To Egra he'll conduct them, and we follow.[ToIllo, who returns.15Thou hast not brought them back?
Illo.Hear'st thou the uproar?The whole corps of the Pappenheimers isDrawn out: the younger Piccolomini,Their colonel, they require; for they affirm,That he is in the palace here, a prisoner;20And if thou dost not instantly deliver him,They will find means to free him with the sword.
Tertsky.What shall we make of this?
Wallenstein.Said I not so?O my prophetic heart! he is still here.He has not betrayed me—he could not betray me.25I never doubted of it.
Countess.If he beStill here, then all goes well; for I know what[EmbracingThekla.Will keep him here for ever.
Tertsky.It can't be.His father has betrayed us, is gone overTo the Emperor—the son could not have ventured30To stay behind.
Thekla (her eye fixed on the door).There he is!
[9]he1800.
he1800.
After22[All stand amazed.1800,1828,1829.
After22[All stand amazed.1800,1828,1829.
To these enterMax Piccolomini.
Max.Yes! here he is! I can endure no longerTo creep on tiptoe round this house, and lurkIn ambush for a favourable moment.This loitering, this suspense exceeds my powers.[Advancing toThekla.Turn not thine eyes away. O look upon me!5Confess it freely before all. Fear no one,Let who will hear that we both love each other.Wherefore continue to conceal it? SecrecyIs for the happy—misery, hopeless misery,Needeth no veil! Beneath a thousand suns10It dares act openly.[He observes theCountesslooking onTheklawith expressions of triumph.No, Lady! No!Expect not, hope it not. I am not comeTo stay: to bid farewell, farewell for ever.For this I come! 'Tis over! I must leave thee!Thekla, I must—must leave thee! Yet thy hatred15Let me not take with me. I pray thee, grant meOne look of sympathy, only one look.Say that thou dost not hate me. Say it to me, Thekla![Grasps her hand.O God! I cannot leave this spot—I cannot!Cannot let go this hand. O tell me, Thekla!20That thou dost suffer with me, art convincedThat I cannot act otherwise.
Max.Yes! here he is! I can endure no longerTo creep on tiptoe round this house, and lurkIn ambush for a favourable moment.This loitering, this suspense exceeds my powers.[Advancing toThekla.Turn not thine eyes away. O look upon me!5Confess it freely before all. Fear no one,Let who will hear that we both love each other.Wherefore continue to conceal it? SecrecyIs for the happy—misery, hopeless misery,Needeth no veil! Beneath a thousand suns10It dares act openly.[He observes theCountesslooking onTheklawith expressions of triumph.No, Lady! No!Expect not, hope it not. I am not comeTo stay: to bid farewell, farewell for ever.For this I come! 'Tis over! I must leave thee!Thekla, I must—must leave thee! Yet thy hatred15Let me not take with me. I pray thee, grant meOne look of sympathy, only one look.Say that thou dost not hate me. Say it to me, Thekla![Grasps her hand.O God! I cannot leave this spot—I cannot!Cannot let go this hand. O tell me, Thekla!20That thou dost suffer with me, art convincedThat I cannot act otherwise.
[Thekla, avoiding his look, points with her hand to her father.Maxturns round to theDuke, whom he had not till then perceived.
Thou here? It was not thou, whom here I sought.I trusted never more to have beheld thee.My business is with her alone. Here will I25Receive a full acquittal from this heart—For any other I am no more concerned.Wallenstein.Think'st thou, that fool-like, I shall let thee go,And act the mock-magnanimous with thee?Thy father is become a villain to me;30[753]I hold thee for his son, and nothing more:Nor to no purpose shalt thou have been givenInto my power. Think not, that I will honourThat ancient love, which so remorselesslyHe mangled. They are now past by, those hours35Of friendship and forgiveness. Hate and vengeanceSucceed—'tis now their turn—I too can throwAll feelings of the man aside—can proveMyself as much a monster as thy father!Max.Thou wilt proceed with me, as thou hast power.40Thou know'st, I neither brave nor fear thy rage.What has detained me here, that too thou know'st.[TakingTheklaby the hand.See, Duke! All—all would I have owed to thee,Would have received from thy paternal handThe lot of blessed spirits. This hast thou45Laid waste for ever—that concerns not thee.Indifferent thou tramplest in the dustTheir happiness, who most are thine. The godWhom thou dost serve, is no benignant deity.Like as the blind irreconcileable50Fierce element, incapable of compact,Thy heart's wild impulse only dost thou follow.[753:1]Wallenstein.Thou art describing thy own father's heart.[754]The adder! O, the charms of hell o'erpowered me.He dwelt within me, to my inmost soul55Still to and fro he passed, suspected never!On the wide ocean, in the starry heavenDid mine eyes seek the enemy, whom IIn my heart's heart had folded! Had I beenTo Ferdinand what Octavio was to me,60War had I ne'er denounced against him. No,I never could have done it. The Emperor wasMy austere master only, not my friend.There was already war 'twixt him and meWhen he delivered the Commander's Staff65Into my hands; for there's a naturalUnceasing war 'twixt cunning and suspicion;Peace exists only betwixt confidenceAnd faith. Who poisons confidence, he murdersThe future generations.Max.I will not70Defend my father. Woe is me, I cannot!Hard deeds and luckless have ta'en place, one crimeDrags after it the other in close link.[755]But we are innocent: how have we fallenInto this circle of mishap and guilt?75To whom have we been faithless? Wherefore mustThe evil deeds and guilt reciprocalOf our two fathers twine like serpents round us?Why must our fathers'Unconquerable hate rend us asunder,Who love each other?Wallenstein.Max, remain with me.80Go you not from me, Max! Hark! I will tell thee—How when at Prague, our winter quarters, thouWert brought into my tent a tender boy,Not yet accustomed to the German winters;Thy hand was frozen to the heavy colours;85Thou would'st not let them go.—At that time did I take thee in my arms,And with my mantle did I cover thee;I was thy nurse, no woman could have beenA kinder to thee; I was not ashamed90To do for thee all little offices,However strange to me; I tended theeTill life returned; and when thine eyes first opened,I had thee in my arms. Since then, when have IAltered my feelings towards thee? Many thousands95Have I made rich, presented them with lands;Rewarded them with dignities and honours;Thee have I loved: my heart, my self, I gaveTo thee! They all were aliens: thou wertOur child and inmate.[755:1]Max! Thou canst not leave me;100It cannot be; I may not, will not thinkThat Max can leave me.Max.O my God!Wallenstein.I haveHeld and sustained thee from thy tottering childhood.What holy bond is there of natural love?What human tie, that does not knit thee to me?105I love thee, Max! What did thy father for thee,[756]Which I too have not done, to the height of duty?Go hence, forsake me, serve thy Emperor;He will reward thee with a pretty chainOf gold; with his ram's fleece will he reward thee;110For that the friend, the father of thy youth,For that the holiest feeling of humanity,Was nothing worth to thee.Max.O God! how can IDo otherwise? Am I not forced to do it?My oath—my duty—honour—Wallenstein.How? Thy duty?115Duty to whom? Who art thou? Max! bethink theeWhat duties may'st thou have? If I am actingA criminal part toward the Emperor,It is my crime, not thine. Dost thou belongTo thine own self? Art thou thine own commander?120Stand'st thou, like me, a freeman in the world,That in thy actions thou should'st plead free agency?On me thou'rt planted, I am thy Emperor;To obey me, to belong to me, this isThy honour, this a law of nature to thee!125And if the planet, on the which thou liv'stAnd hast thy dwelling, from its orbit starts,It is not in thy choice, whether or noThou'lt follow it. Unfelt it whirls thee onwardTogether with his ring and all his moons.130With little guilt stepp'st thou into this contest,Thee will the world not censure, it will praise thee,For that thou heldst thy friend more worth to theeThan names and influences more removed.For justice is the virtue of the ruler,135Affection and fidelity the subject's.Not every one doth it beseem to questionThe far-off high Arcturus. Most securelyWilt thou pursue the nearest duty—letThe pilot fix his eye upon the pole-star.140
Thou here? It was not thou, whom here I sought.I trusted never more to have beheld thee.My business is with her alone. Here will I25Receive a full acquittal from this heart—For any other I am no more concerned.
Wallenstein.Think'st thou, that fool-like, I shall let thee go,And act the mock-magnanimous with thee?Thy father is become a villain to me;30[753]I hold thee for his son, and nothing more:Nor to no purpose shalt thou have been givenInto my power. Think not, that I will honourThat ancient love, which so remorselesslyHe mangled. They are now past by, those hours35Of friendship and forgiveness. Hate and vengeanceSucceed—'tis now their turn—I too can throwAll feelings of the man aside—can proveMyself as much a monster as thy father!
Max.Thou wilt proceed with me, as thou hast power.40Thou know'st, I neither brave nor fear thy rage.What has detained me here, that too thou know'st.[TakingTheklaby the hand.See, Duke! All—all would I have owed to thee,Would have received from thy paternal handThe lot of blessed spirits. This hast thou45Laid waste for ever—that concerns not thee.Indifferent thou tramplest in the dustTheir happiness, who most are thine. The godWhom thou dost serve, is no benignant deity.Like as the blind irreconcileable50Fierce element, incapable of compact,Thy heart's wild impulse only dost thou follow.[753:1]
Wallenstein.Thou art describing thy own father's heart.[754]The adder! O, the charms of hell o'erpowered me.He dwelt within me, to my inmost soul55Still to and fro he passed, suspected never!On the wide ocean, in the starry heavenDid mine eyes seek the enemy, whom IIn my heart's heart had folded! Had I beenTo Ferdinand what Octavio was to me,60War had I ne'er denounced against him. No,I never could have done it. The Emperor wasMy austere master only, not my friend.There was already war 'twixt him and meWhen he delivered the Commander's Staff65Into my hands; for there's a naturalUnceasing war 'twixt cunning and suspicion;Peace exists only betwixt confidenceAnd faith. Who poisons confidence, he murdersThe future generations.
Max.I will not70Defend my father. Woe is me, I cannot!Hard deeds and luckless have ta'en place, one crimeDrags after it the other in close link.[755]But we are innocent: how have we fallenInto this circle of mishap and guilt?75To whom have we been faithless? Wherefore mustThe evil deeds and guilt reciprocalOf our two fathers twine like serpents round us?Why must our fathers'Unconquerable hate rend us asunder,Who love each other?
Wallenstein.Max, remain with me.80Go you not from me, Max! Hark! I will tell thee—How when at Prague, our winter quarters, thouWert brought into my tent a tender boy,Not yet accustomed to the German winters;Thy hand was frozen to the heavy colours;85Thou would'st not let them go.—At that time did I take thee in my arms,And with my mantle did I cover thee;I was thy nurse, no woman could have beenA kinder to thee; I was not ashamed90To do for thee all little offices,However strange to me; I tended theeTill life returned; and when thine eyes first opened,I had thee in my arms. Since then, when have IAltered my feelings towards thee? Many thousands95Have I made rich, presented them with lands;Rewarded them with dignities and honours;Thee have I loved: my heart, my self, I gaveTo thee! They all were aliens: thou wertOur child and inmate.[755:1]Max! Thou canst not leave me;100It cannot be; I may not, will not thinkThat Max can leave me.
Max.O my God!
Wallenstein.I haveHeld and sustained thee from thy tottering childhood.What holy bond is there of natural love?What human tie, that does not knit thee to me?105I love thee, Max! What did thy father for thee,[756]Which I too have not done, to the height of duty?Go hence, forsake me, serve thy Emperor;He will reward thee with a pretty chainOf gold; with his ram's fleece will he reward thee;110For that the friend, the father of thy youth,For that the holiest feeling of humanity,Was nothing worth to thee.
Max.O God! how can IDo otherwise? Am I not forced to do it?My oath—my duty—honour—
Wallenstein.How? Thy duty?115Duty to whom? Who art thou? Max! bethink theeWhat duties may'st thou have? If I am actingA criminal part toward the Emperor,It is my crime, not thine. Dost thou belongTo thine own self? Art thou thine own commander?120Stand'st thou, like me, a freeman in the world,That in thy actions thou should'st plead free agency?On me thou'rt planted, I am thy Emperor;To obey me, to belong to me, this isThy honour, this a law of nature to thee!125And if the planet, on the which thou liv'stAnd hast thy dwelling, from its orbit starts,It is not in thy choice, whether or noThou'lt follow it. Unfelt it whirls thee onwardTogether with his ring and all his moons.130With little guilt stepp'st thou into this contest,Thee will the world not censure, it will praise thee,For that thou heldst thy friend more worth to theeThan names and influences more removed.For justice is the virtue of the ruler,135Affection and fidelity the subject's.Not every one doth it beseem to questionThe far-off high Arcturus. Most securelyWilt thou pursue the nearest duty—letThe pilot fix his eye upon the pole-star.140
[753:1]I have here ventured to omit a considerable number of lines. I fear that I should not have done amiss, had I taken this liberty more frequently. It is, however, incumbent on me to give the original with a literal translation.Weh denen die auf dich vertraun, an DichDie sichre Hütte ihres Glückes lehnen,Gelockt von deiner gastlichen Gestalt.Schnell, unverhofft, bei nächtlich stiller WeileGährt's in dem tückschen Feuerschlunde, ladetSich aus mit tobender Gewalt, und wegTreibt über alle Pflanzungen der MenschenDer wilde Strom in grausender Zerstörung.Wallenstein.Du schilderst deines Vaters Herz. Wie Du'sBeschreibst, so ist's in seinem Eingeweide,In dieser schwarzen Heuchlersbrust gestaltet.O mich hat Höllenkunst getäuscht. Mir sandteDer Abgrund den verstecktesten der Geister,Den Lügekundigsten herauf, und stellt' ihnAls Freund an meine Seite. Wer vermagDer Hölle Macht zu widerstehn! Ich zogDen Basilisken auf an meinem Busen,Mit meinem Herzblut nährt' ich ihn, er sogSich schwelgend voll an meiner Liebe Brüsten.Ich hatte nimmer Arges gegen ihn,Weit offen Hess ich des Gedankens Thore,Und warf die Schlüssel weiser Vorsicht weg,Am Sternenhimmel, &c.Literal Translation.Alas! for those who place their confidence on thee, against thee lean the secure hut of their fortune, allured by thy hospitable form. Suddenly, unexpectedly, in a moment still as night, there is a fermentation in the treacherous gulf of fire; it discharges itself with raging force, and away over all the plantations of men drives the wild stream in frightful devastation.Wallenstein.Thou art portraying thy father's heart; as thou describest, even so is it shaped in his entrails, in this black hypocrite's breast. O, the art of hell has deceived me! The Abyss sent up to me the most spotted of the spirits, the most skilful in lies, and placed him as a friend by my side. Who may withstand the power of hell? I took the basilisk to my bosom, with my heart's blood I nourished him; he sucked himself glutfull at the breasts of my love. I never harboured evil towards him; wide open did I leave the door of my thoughts; I threw away the key of wise foresight. In the starry heaven, &c.—We find a difficulty in believing this to have been written by Schiller.1800,1828,1829. I have here ventured to omit a considerable number of lines, which it is difficult to believe that Schiller could have written.1834.
[753:1]I have here ventured to omit a considerable number of lines. I fear that I should not have done amiss, had I taken this liberty more frequently. It is, however, incumbent on me to give the original with a literal translation.
Weh denen die auf dich vertraun, an DichDie sichre Hütte ihres Glückes lehnen,Gelockt von deiner gastlichen Gestalt.Schnell, unverhofft, bei nächtlich stiller WeileGährt's in dem tückschen Feuerschlunde, ladetSich aus mit tobender Gewalt, und wegTreibt über alle Pflanzungen der MenschenDer wilde Strom in grausender Zerstörung.Wallenstein.Du schilderst deines Vaters Herz. Wie Du'sBeschreibst, so ist's in seinem Eingeweide,In dieser schwarzen Heuchlersbrust gestaltet.O mich hat Höllenkunst getäuscht. Mir sandteDer Abgrund den verstecktesten der Geister,Den Lügekundigsten herauf, und stellt' ihnAls Freund an meine Seite. Wer vermagDer Hölle Macht zu widerstehn! Ich zogDen Basilisken auf an meinem Busen,Mit meinem Herzblut nährt' ich ihn, er sogSich schwelgend voll an meiner Liebe Brüsten.Ich hatte nimmer Arges gegen ihn,Weit offen Hess ich des Gedankens Thore,Und warf die Schlüssel weiser Vorsicht weg,Am Sternenhimmel, &c.
Weh denen die auf dich vertraun, an DichDie sichre Hütte ihres Glückes lehnen,Gelockt von deiner gastlichen Gestalt.Schnell, unverhofft, bei nächtlich stiller WeileGährt's in dem tückschen Feuerschlunde, ladetSich aus mit tobender Gewalt, und wegTreibt über alle Pflanzungen der MenschenDer wilde Strom in grausender Zerstörung.
Wallenstein.
Du schilderst deines Vaters Herz. Wie Du'sBeschreibst, so ist's in seinem Eingeweide,In dieser schwarzen Heuchlersbrust gestaltet.O mich hat Höllenkunst getäuscht. Mir sandteDer Abgrund den verstecktesten der Geister,Den Lügekundigsten herauf, und stellt' ihnAls Freund an meine Seite. Wer vermagDer Hölle Macht zu widerstehn! Ich zogDen Basilisken auf an meinem Busen,Mit meinem Herzblut nährt' ich ihn, er sogSich schwelgend voll an meiner Liebe Brüsten.Ich hatte nimmer Arges gegen ihn,Weit offen Hess ich des Gedankens Thore,Und warf die Schlüssel weiser Vorsicht weg,Am Sternenhimmel, &c.
Literal Translation.
Alas! for those who place their confidence on thee, against thee lean the secure hut of their fortune, allured by thy hospitable form. Suddenly, unexpectedly, in a moment still as night, there is a fermentation in the treacherous gulf of fire; it discharges itself with raging force, and away over all the plantations of men drives the wild stream in frightful devastation.Wallenstein.Thou art portraying thy father's heart; as thou describest, even so is it shaped in his entrails, in this black hypocrite's breast. O, the art of hell has deceived me! The Abyss sent up to me the most spotted of the spirits, the most skilful in lies, and placed him as a friend by my side. Who may withstand the power of hell? I took the basilisk to my bosom, with my heart's blood I nourished him; he sucked himself glutfull at the breasts of my love. I never harboured evil towards him; wide open did I leave the door of my thoughts; I threw away the key of wise foresight. In the starry heaven, &c.—We find a difficulty in believing this to have been written by Schiller.1800,1828,1829. I have here ventured to omit a considerable number of lines, which it is difficult to believe that Schiller could have written.1834.
[755:1]This is a poor and inadequate translation of the affectionate simplicity of the original—Sie alle waren Fremdlinge,DuwarstDas Kind des Hauses.Indeed the whole speech is in the best style of Massinger.O si sic omnia!
[755:1]This is a poor and inadequate translation of the affectionate simplicity of the original—
Sie alle waren Fremdlinge,DuwarstDas Kind des Hauses.
Sie alle waren Fremdlinge,DuwarstDas Kind des Hauses.
Indeed the whole speech is in the best style of Massinger.O si sic omnia!
After4[Advancing toThekla, who has thrown herself into her mother's arms.1800,1828,1829.
After4[Advancing toThekla, who has thrown herself into her mother's arms.1800,1828,1829.
[14]mustleave1800,1828,1829.
mustleave1800,1828,1829.
Before40Max (calmly).1800,1828,1829.
Before40Max (calmly).1800,1828,1829.
[60]Ferdinand . . . me1800,1828,1829.
Ferdinand . . . me1800,1828,1829.
[98]lov'd1800,1828,1829.
lov'd1800,1828,1829.
[117]thou1800,1828,1829.
thou1800,1828,1829.
[124]me . . . belong1800,1828,1829.
me . . . belong1800,1828,1829.
To these enterNeumann.
Wallenstein.What now?Neumann.The Pappenheimers are dismounted,[757]And are advancing now on foot, determinedWith sword in hand to storm the house, and freeThe Count, their colonel.Wallenstein (to Tertsky).Have the cannon planted.I will receive them with chain-shot.[ExitTertsky.5Prescribe to me with sword in hand! Go, Neumann!'Tis my command that they retreat this moment,And in their ranks in silence wait my pleasure.
Wallenstein.What now?
Neumann.The Pappenheimers are dismounted,[757]And are advancing now on foot, determinedWith sword in hand to storm the house, and freeThe Count, their colonel.
Wallenstein (to Tertsky).Have the cannon planted.I will receive them with chain-shot.[ExitTertsky.5Prescribe to me with sword in hand! Go, Neumann!'Tis my command that they retreat this moment,And in their ranks in silence wait my pleasure.
[Neumannexit.Illosteps to the window.
Countess.Let him go, I entreat thee, let him go.Illo (at the window).Hell and perdition!Wallenstein.What is it?10Illo.They scale the council-house, the roof's uncovered.They level at this house the cannon——Max.Madmen!Illo.They are making preparations now to fire on us.Duchess and Countess.Merciful Heaven!Max (to Wallenstein).Let me go to them!Wallenstein.Not a step!Max (pointing to Thekla and the Duchess).But their life! Thine!15Wallenstein.What tidings bring'st thou, Tertsky?
Countess.Let him go, I entreat thee, let him go.
Illo (at the window).Hell and perdition!
Wallenstein.What is it?10
Illo.They scale the council-house, the roof's uncovered.They level at this house the cannon——
Max.Madmen!
Illo.They are making preparations now to fire on us.
Duchess and Countess.Merciful Heaven!
Max (to Wallenstein).Let me go to them!
Wallenstein.Not a step!
Max (pointing to Thekla and the Duchess).But their life! Thine!15
Wallenstein.What tidings bring'st thou, Tertsky?
To theseTertsky(returning).
Tertsky.Message and greeting from our faithful regiments.Their ardour may no longer be curbed in.They intreat permission to commence the attack,And if thou would'st but give the word of onset,They could now charge the enemy in rear,5Into the city wedge them, and with easeO'erpower them in the narrow streets.Illo.O come!Let not their ardour cool. The soldieryOf Butler's corps stand by us faithfully;We are the greater number. Let us charge them,10And finish here in Pilsen the revolt.Wallenstein.What? shall this town become a field of slaughter,And brother-killing Discord, fire-eyed,Be let loose through its streets to roam and rage?[758]Shall the decision be delivered over15To deaf remorseless Rage, that hears no leader?Here is not room for battle, only for butchery.Well, let it be! I have long thought of it,So let it burst then![Turns toMax.Well, how is it with thee?Wilt thou attempt a heat with me. Away!20Thou art free to go. Oppose thyself to me,Front against front, and lead them to the battle;Thou'rt skilled in war, thou hast learned somewhat under me,I need not be ashamed of my opponent,And never had'st thou fairer opportunity25To pay me for thy schooling.Countess.Is it then,Can it have come to this?—What! Cousin, Cousin!Have you the heart?Max.The regiments that are trusted to my careI have pledged my troth to bring away from Pilsen30True to the Emperor, and this promise will IMake good, or perish. More than this no dutyRequires of me. I will not fight against thee,Unless compelled; for though an enemy,Thy head is holy to me still.35
Tertsky.Message and greeting from our faithful regiments.Their ardour may no longer be curbed in.They intreat permission to commence the attack,And if thou would'st but give the word of onset,They could now charge the enemy in rear,5Into the city wedge them, and with easeO'erpower them in the narrow streets.
Illo.O come!Let not their ardour cool. The soldieryOf Butler's corps stand by us faithfully;We are the greater number. Let us charge them,10And finish here in Pilsen the revolt.
Wallenstein.What? shall this town become a field of slaughter,And brother-killing Discord, fire-eyed,Be let loose through its streets to roam and rage?[758]Shall the decision be delivered over15To deaf remorseless Rage, that hears no leader?Here is not room for battle, only for butchery.Well, let it be! I have long thought of it,So let it burst then![Turns toMax.Well, how is it with thee?Wilt thou attempt a heat with me. Away!20Thou art free to go. Oppose thyself to me,Front against front, and lead them to the battle;Thou'rt skilled in war, thou hast learned somewhat under me,I need not be ashamed of my opponent,And never had'st thou fairer opportunity25To pay me for thy schooling.
Countess.Is it then,Can it have come to this?—What! Cousin, Cousin!Have you the heart?
Max.The regiments that are trusted to my careI have pledged my troth to bring away from Pilsen30True to the Emperor, and this promise will IMake good, or perish. More than this no dutyRequires of me. I will not fight against thee,Unless compelled; for though an enemy,Thy head is holy to me still.35
[Two reports of cannon.IlloandTertskyhurry to the window.