LINENOTES:

[614:1]In the original,Den blut'gen Lorbeer geb ich him mit FreudenFürs erste Veilchen, das der Merz uns bringt,Das duftige Pffand der neuverjüngten Erde.1800,1828,1829.

[614:1]In the original,

Den blut'gen Lorbeer geb ich him mit FreudenFürs erste Veilchen, das der Merz uns bringt,Das duftige Pffand der neuverjüngten Erde.

1800,1828,1829.

After1[He embraces His father. As he turns round he observes Questenberg, and draws back with a cold and reserved air.1800,1828,1829.

Before6Max (drily).1800,1828,1829.

Before20Octavio (to Max).1800,1828,1829.

[38]to] of1800.

to] of1800.

[44]Octavio (to Questenberg).1800,1828,1829.

Octavio (to Questenberg).1800,1828,1829.

[45]some1800,1828,1829.

some1800,1828,1829.

[46]him1800,1828,1829.Max (continuing).In their, &c.1800,1828,1829.

him1800,1828,1829.Max (continuing).In their, &c.1800,1828,1829.

[52]therethePresent Being1800,1828,1829.

therethePresent Being1800,1828,1829.

[58]lives1800,1828,1829.

lives1800,1828,1829.

[63]th' oppressedMS. R.

th' oppressedMS. R.

[71]may1800,1828,1829.

may1800,1828,1829.

[73]Blessing1800,1828,1829.

Blessing1800,1828,1829.

[78]him1800,1828,1829.

him1800,1828,1829.

[106]have1800,1828,1829.

have1800,1828,1829.

[113]we1800,1828,1829.

we1800,1828,1829.

Before123Octavio (attentive, with an appearance of uneasiness).1800,1828,1829.

Before158Questenberg (apparently much affected).1800,1828,1829.

Before161Max (turning round to him, quick and vehement).1800,1828,1829.

[165]peace,ye1800,1828,1829.

peace,ye1800,1828,1829.

[172]how1800,1828,1829.

how1800,1828,1829.

[173]whence1800,1828,1829.

whence1800,1828,1829.

Questenberg, Octavio Piccolomini.

Questenberg.Alas, alas! and stands it so?What, friend! and do we let him go awayIn this delusion—let him go away?Not call him back immediately, not openHis eyes upon the spot?Octavio.He has now opened mine,5And I see more than pleases me.Questenberg.What is it?Octavio.Curse on this journey!Questenberg.But why so? What is it?Octavio.Come, come along, friend! I must follow upThe ominous track immediately. Mine eyesAre opened now, and I must use them. Come!10[DrawsQuestenbergon with him.Questenberg.What now? Where go you then?Octavio.To her herself.Questenberg.To——Octavio.To the Duke. Come, let us go—'Tis done, 'tis done,I see the net that is thrown over him.O! he returns not to me as he went.Questenberg.Nay, but explain yourself.Octavio.And that I should not15Foresee it, not prevent this journey! WhereforeDid I keep it from him?—You were in the right.I should have warned him! Now it is too late.

Questenberg.Alas, alas! and stands it so?What, friend! and do we let him go awayIn this delusion—let him go away?Not call him back immediately, not openHis eyes upon the spot?

Octavio.He has now opened mine,5And I see more than pleases me.

Questenberg.What is it?

Octavio.Curse on this journey!

Questenberg.But why so? What is it?

Octavio.Come, come along, friend! I must follow upThe ominous track immediately. Mine eyesAre opened now, and I must use them. Come!10[DrawsQuestenbergon with him.

Questenberg.What now? Where go you then?

Octavio.To her herself.

Questenberg.To——

Octavio.To the Duke. Come, let us go—'Tis done, 'tis done,I see the net that is thrown over him.O! he returns not to me as he went.

Questenberg.Nay, but explain yourself.

Octavio.And that I should not15Foresee it, not prevent this journey! WhereforeDid I keep it from him?—You were in the right.I should have warned him! Now it is too late.

Questenberg.But what's too late? Bethink yourself, my friend,That you are talking absolute riddles to me.20Octavio.Come!—to the Duke's. 'Tis close upon the hourWhich he appointed you for audience. Come!A curse, a threefold curse, upon this journey![He leadsQuestenbergoff.

Questenberg.But what's too late? Bethink yourself, my friend,That you are talking absolute riddles to me.20

Octavio.Come!—to the Duke's. 'Tis close upon the hourWhich he appointed you for audience. Come!A curse, a threefold curse, upon this journey![He leadsQuestenbergoff.

After1[Then in pressing and impatient tones.1800,1828,1829.

[5]Octavio (recovering himself out of a deep study).1800,1828,1829.

Octavio (recovering himself out of a deep study).1800,1828,1829.

[11]Where1800,1828,1829.

Where1800,1828,1829.

Before12Octavio (interrupting him, and correcting himself).1800,1828,1829.

[19]what's1800,1828,1829.

what's1800,1828,1829.

Before21Octavio (more collected).1800,1828,1829.

Changes to a spacious chamber in the house of the Duke of Friedland.—Servantsemployed in putting the tables and chairs in order. During this entersSeni, like an old Italian doctor, in black, and clothed somewhat fantastically. He carries a white staff, with which he marks out the quarters of the heaven.

First Servant.Come—to it, lads, to it! Make an end of it.I hear the sentry call out, 'Stand to your arms!' They willbe there in a minute.Second Servant.Why were we not told before that theaudience would be held here? Nothing prepared—no orders—no5instructions—Third Servant.Ay, and why was the balcony-chambercountermanded, that with the great worked carpet?—there one canlook about one.First Servant.Nay, that you must ask the mathematician there.10He says it is an unlucky chamber.Second Servant.Poh! stuff and nonsense! That's what I calla hum. A chamber is a chamber; what much can the placesignify in the affair?Seni.My son, there's nothing insignificant,15Nothing! But yet in every earthly thingFirst and most principal is place and time.First Servant (to the Second).Say nothing to him, Nat. TheDuke himself must let him have his own will.Seni (counts the chairs, half in a loud, half in a low voice, till he comes to eleven, which he repeats).Eleven! an evil number! Set twelve chairs.20Twelve! twelve signs hath the zodiac: five and seven,The holy numbers, include themselves in twelve.Second Servant.And what may you have to object againsteleven? I should like to know that now.

First Servant.Come—to it, lads, to it! Make an end of it.I hear the sentry call out, 'Stand to your arms!' They willbe there in a minute.

Second Servant.Why were we not told before that theaudience would be held here? Nothing prepared—no orders—no5instructions—

Third Servant.Ay, and why was the balcony-chambercountermanded, that with the great worked carpet?—there one canlook about one.

First Servant.Nay, that you must ask the mathematician there.10He says it is an unlucky chamber.

Second Servant.Poh! stuff and nonsense! That's what I calla hum. A chamber is a chamber; what much can the placesignify in the affair?

Seni.My son, there's nothing insignificant,15Nothing! But yet in every earthly thingFirst and most principal is place and time.

First Servant (to the Second).Say nothing to him, Nat. TheDuke himself must let him have his own will.

Seni (counts the chairs, half in a loud, half in a low voice, till he comes to eleven, which he repeats).Eleven! an evil number! Set twelve chairs.20Twelve! twelve signs hath the zodiac: five and seven,The holy numbers, include themselves in twelve.

Second Servant.And what may you have to object againsteleven? I should like to know that now.

Seni.Eleven is—transgression; eleven oversteps25The ten commandments.Second Servant.That's good! and why do you call five anholy number?Seni.Five is the soul of man: for even as manIs mingled up of good and evil, so30The five is the first number that's made upOf even and odd.Second Servant.The foolish old coxcomb!First Servant.Ey! let him alone though. I like to hearhim; there is more in his words than can be seen at first sight.35Third Servant.Off! They come.Second Servant.There! Out at the side-door.

Seni.Eleven is—transgression; eleven oversteps25The ten commandments.

Second Servant.That's good! and why do you call five anholy number?

Seni.Five is the soul of man: for even as manIs mingled up of good and evil, so30The five is the first number that's made upOf even and odd.

Second Servant.The foolish old coxcomb!

First Servant.Ey! let him alone though. I like to hearhim; there is more in his words than can be seen at first sight.35

Third Servant.Off! They come.

Second Servant.There! Out at the side-door.

[They hurry off.Senifollows slowly. A page brings the staff of command on a red cushion, and places it on the table near theDuke'schair. They are announced from without, and the wings of the door fly open.

[13]hum1800,1828,1829.

hum1800,1828,1829.

Before15Seni (with gravity).1800,1828,1829.

[15]nothing1800,1828,1829.

nothing1800,1828,1829.

[16]Nothing1800,1828,1829.

Nothing1800,1828,1829.

Wallenstein, Duchess.

Wallenstein.You went then through Vienna, were presentedTo the Queen of Hungary?Duchess.Yes, and to the Empress too,And by both Majesties were we admittedTo kiss the hand.Wallenstein.And how was it received,That I had sent for wife and daughter hither5To the camp, in winter time?Duchess.I did even thatWhich you commissioned me to do. I told them,You had determined on our daughter's marriage,And wished, ere yet you went into the field,To shew the elected husband his betrothed.10Wallenstein.And did they guess the choice which I had made?Duchess.They only hoped and wished it may have fallenUpon no foreign nor yet Lutheran noble.Wallenstein.And you—what do you wish, Elizabeth?Duchess.Your will, you know, was always mine.Wallenstein.Well, then?15[619]And in all else, of what kind and complexionWas your reception at the court?Hide nothing from me. How were you received?Duchess.O! my dear lord, all is not what it was.A cankerworm, my lord, a cankerworm20Has stolen into the bud.Wallenstein.Ay! is it so!What, they were lax? they failed of the old respect?Duchess.Not of respect. No honours were omitted,No outward courtesy; but in the placeOf condescending, confidential kindness,25Familiar and endearing, there were given meOnly these honours and that solemn courtesy.Ah! and the tenderness which was put on,It was the guise of pity, not of favour.No! Albrecht's wife, Duke Albrecht's princely wife,30Count Harrach's noble daughter, should not so—Not wholly so should she have been received.Wallenstein.Yes, yes; they have ta'en offence. My latest conduct,They railed at it, no doubt.Duchess.O that they had!I have been long accustomed to defend you,35To heal and pacify distempered spirits.No; no one railed at you. They wrapped them up,O Heaven! in such oppressive, solemn silence!—Here is no every-day misunderstanding,No transient pique, no cloud that passes over;40Something most luckless, most unhealable,Has taken place. The Queen of HungaryUsed formerly to call me her dear aunt,And ever at departure to embrace me—Wallenstein.Now she omitted it?Duchess.She did embrace me,45But then first when I had already takenMy formal leave, and when the door alreadyHad closed upon me, then did she come outIn haste, as she had suddenly bethought herself,And pressed me to her bosom, more with anguish50Than tenderness.

Wallenstein.You went then through Vienna, were presentedTo the Queen of Hungary?

Duchess.Yes, and to the Empress too,And by both Majesties were we admittedTo kiss the hand.

Wallenstein.And how was it received,That I had sent for wife and daughter hither5To the camp, in winter time?

Duchess.I did even thatWhich you commissioned me to do. I told them,You had determined on our daughter's marriage,And wished, ere yet you went into the field,To shew the elected husband his betrothed.10

Wallenstein.And did they guess the choice which I had made?

Duchess.They only hoped and wished it may have fallenUpon no foreign nor yet Lutheran noble.

Wallenstein.And you—what do you wish, Elizabeth?

Duchess.Your will, you know, was always mine.

Wallenstein.Well, then?15[619]And in all else, of what kind and complexionWas your reception at the court?Hide nothing from me. How were you received?

Duchess.O! my dear lord, all is not what it was.A cankerworm, my lord, a cankerworm20Has stolen into the bud.

Wallenstein.Ay! is it so!What, they were lax? they failed of the old respect?

Duchess.Not of respect. No honours were omitted,No outward courtesy; but in the placeOf condescending, confidential kindness,25Familiar and endearing, there were given meOnly these honours and that solemn courtesy.Ah! and the tenderness which was put on,It was the guise of pity, not of favour.No! Albrecht's wife, Duke Albrecht's princely wife,30Count Harrach's noble daughter, should not so—Not wholly so should she have been received.

Wallenstein.Yes, yes; they have ta'en offence. My latest conduct,They railed at it, no doubt.

Duchess.O that they had!I have been long accustomed to defend you,35To heal and pacify distempered spirits.No; no one railed at you. They wrapped them up,O Heaven! in such oppressive, solemn silence!—Here is no every-day misunderstanding,No transient pique, no cloud that passes over;40Something most luckless, most unhealable,Has taken place. The Queen of HungaryUsed formerly to call me her dear aunt,And ever at departure to embrace me—

Wallenstein.Now she omitted it?

Duchess.She did embrace me,45But then first when I had already takenMy formal leave, and when the door alreadyHad closed upon me, then did she come outIn haste, as she had suddenly bethought herself,And pressed me to her bosom, more with anguish50Than tenderness.

Wallenstein (seizes her hand soothingly).Nay, now collect yourself,And what of Eggenberg and Lichtenstein,And of our other friends there?Duchess.I saw none.Wallenstein.The Ambassador from Spain, who once was wontTo plead so warmly for me?—Duchess.Silent, Silent!55Wallenstein.These suns then are eclipsed for us. HenceforwardMust we roll on, our own fire, our own light.Duchess.And were it—were it, my dear lord, in thatWhich moved about the court in buzz and whisper,But in the country let itself be heard60Aloud—in that which Father LamormainIn sundry hints and——Wallenstein.Lamormain! what said he?Duchess.That you're accused of having daringlyO'erstepped the powers entrusted to you, chargedWith traitorous contempt of the Emperor65And his supreme behests. The proud Bavarian,He and the Spaniards stand up your accusers—That there's a storm collecting over youOf far more fearful menace than that former oneWhich whirled you headlong down at Regensburg.70And people talk, said he, of——Ah!—Wallenstein.Proceed!Duchess.I cannot utter it!Wallenstein.Proceed!Duchess.They talk——Wallenstein.Well!Duchess.Of a second——Wallenstein.Second——Duchess.More disgraceful——Dismission.Wallenstein.Talk they?O! they force, they thrust me[621]With violence, against my own will, onward!75Duchess. O! if there yet be time, my husband! ifBy giving way and by submission, thisCan be averted—my dear lord, give way!Win down your proud heart to it! Tell that heartIt is your sovereign lord, your Emperor80Before whom you retreat. O let no longerLow tricking malice blacken your good meaningWith abhorred venomous glosses. Stand you upShielded and helm'd and weapon'd with the truth,And drive before you into uttermost shame85These slanderous liars! Few firm friends have we—You know it!—The swift growth of our good fortuneIt hath but set us up, a mark for hatred.What are we, if the sovereign's grace and favourStand not before us?90

Wallenstein (seizes her hand soothingly).Nay, now collect yourself,And what of Eggenberg and Lichtenstein,And of our other friends there?

Duchess.I saw none.

Wallenstein.The Ambassador from Spain, who once was wontTo plead so warmly for me?—

Duchess.Silent, Silent!55

Wallenstein.These suns then are eclipsed for us. HenceforwardMust we roll on, our own fire, our own light.

Duchess.And were it—were it, my dear lord, in thatWhich moved about the court in buzz and whisper,But in the country let itself be heard60Aloud—in that which Father LamormainIn sundry hints and——

Wallenstein.Lamormain! what said he?

Duchess.That you're accused of having daringlyO'erstepped the powers entrusted to you, chargedWith traitorous contempt of the Emperor65And his supreme behests. The proud Bavarian,He and the Spaniards stand up your accusers—That there's a storm collecting over youOf far more fearful menace than that former oneWhich whirled you headlong down at Regensburg.70And people talk, said he, of——Ah!—

Wallenstein.Proceed!

Duchess.I cannot utter it!

Wallenstein.Proceed!

Duchess.They talk——

Wallenstein.Well!

Duchess.Of a second——

Wallenstein.Second——

Duchess.More disgraceful——Dismission.

Wallenstein.Talk they?O! they force, they thrust me[621]With violence, against my own will, onward!75

Duchess. O! if there yet be time, my husband! ifBy giving way and by submission, thisCan be averted—my dear lord, give way!Win down your proud heart to it! Tell that heartIt is your sovereign lord, your Emperor80Before whom you retreat. O let no longerLow tricking malice blacken your good meaningWith abhorred venomous glosses. Stand you upShielded and helm'd and weapon'd with the truth,And drive before you into uttermost shame85These slanderous liars! Few firm friends have we—You know it!—The swift growth of our good fortuneIt hath but set us up, a mark for hatred.What are we, if the sovereign's grace and favourStand not before us?90

[14]youwish1800,1828,1829.

youwish1800,1828,1829.

[15]Wallenstein (after a pause).Well, then?1800,1828,1829.

Wallenstein (after a pause).Well, then?1800,1828,1829.

After17[TheDuchesscasts her eyes on the ground and remains silent.1800,1828,1829.

[31]so1800,1828,1829.

so1800,1828,1829.

[45]Now1800,1828,1829.Duchess (wiping away her tears, after a pause).1800,1828,1829.did1800,1828,1829.

Now1800,1828,1829.Duchess (wiping away her tears, after a pause).1800,1828,1829.did1800,1828,1829.

[53]Duchess (shaking her head).1800,1828,1829.

Duchess (shaking her head).1800,1828,1829.

[62]Wallenstein (eagerly).Lamormain, &c.1800,1828,1829.he1800,1828,1829.

Wallenstein (eagerly).Lamormain, &c.1800,1828,1829.

he1800,1828,1829.

[71]And people . . . Ah!—[Stifling extreme emotion.1800,1828,1829.

And people . . . Ah!—[Stifling extreme emotion.

1800,1828,1829.

[73]Duchess.Of a second—— (catches her voice and hesitates).1800,1828,1829.

Duchess.Of a second—— (catches her voice and hesitates).

1800,1828,1829.

[74]Wallenstein.Talk they?[Strides across the chamber in vehement agitation.1800,1828,1829.

Wallenstein.Talk they?[Strides across the chamber in vehement agitation.

1800,1828,1829.

before76Duchess (presses near to him, in entreaty).1800,1828,1829.

Enter theCountess Tertsky, leading in her hand thePrincess Thekla, richly adorned with brilliants.

Countess, Thekla, Wallenstein, Duchess.

Countess.How, sister? What already upon business,And business of no pleasing kind I see,Ere he has gladdened at his child. The firstMoment belongs to joy. Here, Friedland! father!This is thy daughter.5

(Theklaapproaches with a shy and timid air, and bends herself as about to kiss his hand. He receives her in his arms, and remains standing for some time lost in the feeling of her presence.)

Wallenstein.Yes! pure and lovely hath hope risen on me:I take her as the pledge of greater fortune.Duchess.'Twas but a little child when you departedTo raise up that great army for the Emperor:And after, at the close of the campaign,10When you returned home out of Pomerania,Your daughter was already in the convent,Wherein she has remain'd till now.Wallenstein.The while[622]We in the field here gave our cares and toilsTo make her great, and fight her a free way15To the loftiest earthly good, lo! mother NatureWithin the peaceful silent convent wallsHas done her part, and out of her free graceHath she bestowed on the beloved childThe godlike; and now leads her thus adorned20To meet her splendid fortune, and my hope.Duchess (to Thekla).Thou wouldst not have recognized thy father,Wouldst thou, my child? She counted scarce eight years,When last she saw your face.Thekla.O yes, yes, mother!At the first glance!—My father is not altered.25The form, that stands before me, falsifiesNo feature of the image that hath livedSo long within me!Wallenstein.The voice of my child![Then after a pause.I was indignant at my destinyThat it denied me a man-child to be30Heir of my name and of my prosperous fortune,And re-illume my soon extinguished beingIn a proud line of princes.I wronged my destiny. Here upon this headSo lovely in its maiden bloom will I35Let fall the garland of a life of war,Nor deem it lost, if only I can wreath itTransmitted to a regal ornament,Around these beauteous brows.[He clasps her in his arms asPiccolominienters.

Wallenstein.Yes! pure and lovely hath hope risen on me:I take her as the pledge of greater fortune.

Duchess.'Twas but a little child when you departedTo raise up that great army for the Emperor:And after, at the close of the campaign,10When you returned home out of Pomerania,Your daughter was already in the convent,Wherein she has remain'd till now.

Wallenstein.The while[622]We in the field here gave our cares and toilsTo make her great, and fight her a free way15To the loftiest earthly good, lo! mother NatureWithin the peaceful silent convent wallsHas done her part, and out of her free graceHath she bestowed on the beloved childThe godlike; and now leads her thus adorned20To meet her splendid fortune, and my hope.

Duchess (to Thekla).Thou wouldst not have recognized thy father,Wouldst thou, my child? She counted scarce eight years,When last she saw your face.

Thekla.O yes, yes, mother!At the first glance!—My father is not altered.25The form, that stands before me, falsifiesNo feature of the image that hath livedSo long within me!

Wallenstein.The voice of my child![Then after a pause.I was indignant at my destinyThat it denied me a man-child to be30Heir of my name and of my prosperous fortune,And re-illume my soon extinguished beingIn a proud line of princes.I wronged my destiny. Here upon this headSo lovely in its maiden bloom will I35Let fall the garland of a life of war,Nor deem it lost, if only I can wreath itTransmitted to a regal ornament,Around these beauteous brows.[He clasps her in his arms asPiccolominienters.

After1[Observing the countenance of the Duchess.1800,1828,1829.

EnterMax Piccolomini, and some time afterCount Tertsky, the others remaining as before.

Countess.There comes the Paladin who protected us.Wallenstein.Max! Welcome, ever welcome! Always wert thouThe morning star of my best joys!Max.My General——Wallenstein.'Till now it was the Emperor who rewarded thee,I but the instrument. This day thou hast bound5[623]The father to thee, Max! the fortunate father,And this debt Friedland's self must pay.Max.My prince!You made no common hurry to transfer it.I come with shame: yea, not without a pang!For scarce have I arrived here, scarce delivered10The mother and the daughter to your arms,But there is brought to me from your equerryA splendid richly-plated hunting dressSo to remunerate me for my troubles——Yes, yes, remunerate me! Since a trouble15It must be, a mere office, not a favourWhich I leapt forward to receive, and whichI came already with full heart to thank you for.No! 'twas not so intended, that my businessShould be my highest best good fortune!20

Countess.There comes the Paladin who protected us.

Wallenstein.Max! Welcome, ever welcome! Always wert thouThe morning star of my best joys!

Max.My General——

Wallenstein.'Till now it was the Emperor who rewarded thee,I but the instrument. This day thou hast bound5[623]The father to thee, Max! the fortunate father,And this debt Friedland's self must pay.

Max.My prince!You made no common hurry to transfer it.I come with shame: yea, not without a pang!For scarce have I arrived here, scarce delivered10The mother and the daughter to your arms,But there is brought to me from your equerryA splendid richly-plated hunting dressSo to remunerate me for my troubles——Yes, yes, remunerate me! Since a trouble15It must be, a mere office, not a favourWhich I leapt forward to receive, and whichI came already with full heart to thank you for.No! 'twas not so intended, that my businessShould be my highest best good fortune!20

[Tertskyenters, and delivers letters to theDuke, which he breaks open hurryingly.

Countess (to Max).Remunerate your trouble! For his joyHe makes you recompense. 'Tis not unfittingFor you, Count Piccolomini, to feelSo tenderly—my brother it beseemsTo shew himself for ever great and princely.25Thekla.Then I too must have scruples of his love:For his munificent hands did ornament meEre yet the father's heart had spoken to me.Max.Yes; 'tis his nature ever to be givingAnd making happy.How my heart pours out30Its all of thanks to him: O! how I seemTo utter all things in the dear name Friedland.While I shall live, so long will I remainThe captive of this name: in it shall bloomMy every fortune, every lovely hope.35Inextricably as in some magic ringIn this name hath my destiny charm-bound me!Countess.My brother wishes us to leave him. Come.Wallenstein (turns himself round quick, collects himself, and speaks with cheerfulness to the Duchess).Once more I bid thee welcome to the camp,[624]Thou art the hostess of this court. You, Max,40Will now again administer your old office,While we perform the sovereign's business here.

Thekla.Then I too must have scruples of his love:For his munificent hands did ornament meEre yet the father's heart had spoken to me.

Max.Yes; 'tis his nature ever to be givingAnd making happy.How my heart pours out30Its all of thanks to him: O! how I seemTo utter all things in the dear name Friedland.While I shall live, so long will I remainThe captive of this name: in it shall bloomMy every fortune, every lovely hope.35Inextricably as in some magic ringIn this name hath my destiny charm-bound me!

Countess.My brother wishes us to leave him. Come.

Wallenstein (turns himself round quick, collects himself, and speaks with cheerfulness to the Duchess).Once more I bid thee welcome to the camp,[624]Thou art the hostess of this court. You, Max,40Will now again administer your old office,While we perform the sovereign's business here.

[Max Piccolominioffers theDuchesshis arm, theCountessaccompanies thePrincess.

Tertsky (calling after him).Max, we depend on seeing you at the meeting.

[30]And making happy.[He grasps the hand of theDuchesswith still increasing warmth.1800,1828,1829.

And making happy.[He grasps the hand of theDuchesswith still increasing warmth.

1800,1828,1829.

Before38Countess (who during this time has been anxiously watching the Duke, and remarks that he is lost in thought over the letters).1800,1828,1829.

Wallenstein, Count Tertsky.

Wallenstein (to himself).She hath seen all things as they are—It is soAnd squares completely with my other notices.They have determined finally in Vienna,Have given me my successor already;It is the king of Hungary, Ferdinand,5The Emperor's delicate son! he's now their saviour,He's the new star that's rising now! Of usThey think themselves already fairly rid,And as we were deceased, the heir alreadyIs entering on possession—Therefore—dispatch!10[As he turns round he observesTertsky, and gives him a letter.Count Altringer will have himself excused,And Galas too—I like not this!Tertsky.And ifThou loiterest longer, all will fall away,One following the other.Wallenstein.AltringerIs master of the Tyrole passes. I must forthwith15Send some one to him, that he let not inThe Spaniards on me from the Milanese.——Well, and the old Sesin, that ancient traderIn contraband negotiations, heHas shewn himself again of late. What brings he20From the Count Thur?Tertsky.The Count communicates,He has found out the Swedish chancellorAt Halberstadt, where the convention's held,Who says, you've tired him out, and that he'll have[625]No further dealings with you.Wallenstein.And why so?25[625:1]Tertsky.He says, you are never in earnest in your speeches,That you decoy the Swedes—to make fools of them,Will league yourself with Saxony against them,And at last make yourself a riddance of themWith a paltry sum of money.Wallenstein.So then, doubtless,30Yes, doubtless, this same modest Swede expectsThat I shall yield him some fair German tractFor his prey and booty, that ourselves at lastOn our own soil and native territory,May be no longer our own lords and masters!35An excellent scheme! No, no! They must be off,Off, off! away! we want no such neighbours.Tertsky.Nay, yield them up that dot, that speck of land—It goes not from your portion. If you winThe game what matters it to you who pays it?40Wallenstein.Off with them, off! Thou understand'st not this.Never shall it be said of me, I parcelledMy native land away, dismembered Germany,Betrayed it to a foreigner, in orderTo come with stealthy tread, and filch away45My own share of the plunder—Never! never!—No foreign power shall strike root in the empire,And least of all, these Goths! these hunger-wolves!Who send such envious, hot and greedy glances[626]T'wards the rich blessings of our German lands!50I'll have their aid to cast and draw my nets,But not a single fish of all the draughtShall they come in for.Tertsky.You will deal, however,More fairly with the Saxons? They lose patienceWhile you shift ground and make so many curves.55Say, to what purpose all these masks? Your friendsAre plunged in doubts, baffled, and led astray in you.There's Oxenstirn, there's Arnheim—neither knowsWhat he should think of your procrastinations.And in the end I prove the liar: all60Passes through me. I have not even your hand-writing.Wallenstein.I never give my handwriting; thou knowest it.Tertsky.But how can it be known that you're in earnest,If the act follows not upon the word?You must yourself acknowledge, that in all65Your intercourses hitherto with the enemyYou might have done with safety all you have done,Had you meant nothing further than to gull himFor the Emperor's service.Wallenstein (after a pause, during which he looks narrowly on Tertsky).And from whence dost thou knowThat I'm not gulling him for the Emperor's service?70Whence knowest thou that I'm not gulling all of you?Dost thou know me so well? When made I theeThe intendant of my secret purposes?I am not conscious that I ever open'dMy inmost thoughts to thee. The Emperor, it is true,75Hath dealt with me amiss; and if I would,I could repay him with usurious interestFor the evil he hath done me. It delights meTo know my power; but whether I shall use it,Of that, I should have thought that thou could'st speak80No wiselier than thy fellows.Tertsky.So hast thou always played thy game with us.

Tertsky.And ifThou loiterest longer, all will fall away,One following the other.

Wallenstein.AltringerIs master of the Tyrole passes. I must forthwith15Send some one to him, that he let not inThe Spaniards on me from the Milanese.——Well, and the old Sesin, that ancient traderIn contraband negotiations, heHas shewn himself again of late. What brings he20From the Count Thur?

Tertsky.The Count communicates,He has found out the Swedish chancellorAt Halberstadt, where the convention's held,Who says, you've tired him out, and that he'll have[625]No further dealings with you.

Wallenstein.And why so?25

[625:1]Tertsky.He says, you are never in earnest in your speeches,That you decoy the Swedes—to make fools of them,Will league yourself with Saxony against them,And at last make yourself a riddance of themWith a paltry sum of money.

Wallenstein.So then, doubtless,30Yes, doubtless, this same modest Swede expectsThat I shall yield him some fair German tractFor his prey and booty, that ourselves at lastOn our own soil and native territory,May be no longer our own lords and masters!35An excellent scheme! No, no! They must be off,Off, off! away! we want no such neighbours.

Tertsky.Nay, yield them up that dot, that speck of land—It goes not from your portion. If you winThe game what matters it to you who pays it?40

Wallenstein.Off with them, off! Thou understand'st not this.Never shall it be said of me, I parcelledMy native land away, dismembered Germany,Betrayed it to a foreigner, in orderTo come with stealthy tread, and filch away45My own share of the plunder—Never! never!—No foreign power shall strike root in the empire,And least of all, these Goths! these hunger-wolves!Who send such envious, hot and greedy glances[626]T'wards the rich blessings of our German lands!50I'll have their aid to cast and draw my nets,But not a single fish of all the draughtShall they come in for.

Tertsky.You will deal, however,More fairly with the Saxons? They lose patienceWhile you shift ground and make so many curves.55Say, to what purpose all these masks? Your friendsAre plunged in doubts, baffled, and led astray in you.There's Oxenstirn, there's Arnheim—neither knowsWhat he should think of your procrastinations.And in the end I prove the liar: all60Passes through me. I have not even your hand-writing.

Wallenstein.I never give my handwriting; thou knowest it.

Tertsky.But how can it be known that you're in earnest,If the act follows not upon the word?You must yourself acknowledge, that in all65Your intercourses hitherto with the enemyYou might have done with safety all you have done,Had you meant nothing further than to gull himFor the Emperor's service.

Wallenstein (after a pause, during which he looks narrowly on Tertsky).And from whence dost thou knowThat I'm not gulling him for the Emperor's service?70Whence knowest thou that I'm not gulling all of you?Dost thou know me so well? When made I theeThe intendant of my secret purposes?I am not conscious that I ever open'dMy inmost thoughts to thee. The Emperor, it is true,75Hath dealt with me amiss; and if I would,I could repay him with usurious interestFor the evil he hath done me. It delights meTo know my power; but whether I shall use it,Of that, I should have thought that thou could'st speak80No wiselier than thy fellows.

Tertsky.So hast thou always played thy game with us.

[EnterIllo.

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