Scene V

Before1Wallenstein (in soliloquy).1800,1828,1829.

[2]can . . . would1800,1828,1829.

can . . . would1800,1828,1829.

[4]do . . . thought1800,1828,1829.

do . . . thought1800,1828,1829.

After25[Pauses and remains in deep thought.1800,1828,1829.

[39]not1800,1828,1829.

not1800,1828,1829.

[48]dumb1800.

dumb1800.

[50]rent1800.

rent1800.

After50[Pauses again.1800,1828,1829.

[53]orders1800,1828,1829.

orders1800,1828,1829.

[55]many] may1800,1828,1829.

many] may1800,1828,1829.

[56]Grasps] Grasp1800,1828,1829.

Grasps] Grasp1800,1828,1829.

After62[Paces in agitation through the chamber, then pauses, and, after the pause, breaks out again into audible soliloquy.1800,1828,1829.

WallensteinandWrangel.

Wallenstein.Your name is Wrangel?Wrangel.Gustave Wrangel, GeneralOf the Sudermanian Blues.Wallenstein.It was a WrangelWho injured me materially at Stralsund,And by his brave resistance was the causeOf the opposition which that sea-port made.5Wrangel.It was the doing of the elementWith which you fought, my Lord! and not my merit.The Baltic Neptune did assert his freedom,The sea and land, it seemed, were not to serveOne and the same.Wallenstein (makes a motion for him to take a seat, and seats himself).And where are your credentials?10Come you provided with full powers, Sir General?Wrangel.There are so many scruples yet to solve——

Wallenstein.Your name is Wrangel?

Wrangel.Gustave Wrangel, GeneralOf the Sudermanian Blues.

Wallenstein.It was a WrangelWho injured me materially at Stralsund,And by his brave resistance was the causeOf the opposition which that sea-port made.5

Wrangel.It was the doing of the elementWith which you fought, my Lord! and not my merit.The Baltic Neptune did assert his freedom,The sea and land, it seemed, were not to serveOne and the same.

Wallenstein (makes a motion for him to take a seat, and seats himself).And where are your credentials?10Come you provided with full powers, Sir General?

Wrangel.There are so many scruples yet to solve——

Wallenstein (having read the credentials).An able letter!—Ay—he is a prudent,Intelligent master, whom you serve, Sir General!The Chancellor writes me, that he but fulfils15His late departed Sovereign's own ideaIn helping me to the Bohemian crown.Wrangel.He says the truth. Our great King, now in heaven,Did ever deem most highly of your Grace'sPre-eminent sense and military genius;20And always the commanding Intellect,He said, should have command, and be the King.Wallenstein.Yes, he might say it safely.—General Wrangel,[Taking his hand.Come, fair and open—Trust me, I was alwaysA Swede at heart. Ey! that did you experience25Both in Silesia and at Nuremburg;I had you often in my power, and let youAlways slip out by some back door or other.'Tis this for which the Court can ne'er forgive me,Which drives me to this present step: and since30Our interests so run in one direction,E'en let us have a thorough confidenceEach in the other.Wrangel.Confidence will comeHas each but only first security.Wallenstein.The Chancellor still, I see, does not quite trust me;35And, I confess—the gain does not wholly lieTo my advantage—Without doubt he thinksIf I can play false with the Emperor,Who is my Sov'reign, I can do the likeWith the enemy, and that the one too were40Sooner to be forgiven me than the other.Is not this your opinion too, Sir General?Wrangel.I have here an office merely, no opinion.Wallenstein.The Emperor hath urged me to the uttermost.I can no longer honourably serve him.45For my security, in self-defence,I take this hard step, which my conscience blames.Wrangel.That I believe. So far would no one goWho was not forced to it.[After a pause.What may have impelled[694]Your princely Highness in this wise to act50Toward your Sovereign Lord and Emperor,Beseems not us to expound or criticize.The Swede is fighting for his good old cause.With his good sword and conscience. This concurrence,This opportunity, is in our favour,55And all advantages in war are lawful.We take what offers without questioning;And if all have its due and just proportions——Wallenstein.Of what then are ye doubting? Of my will?Or of my power? I pledged me to the Chancellor,60Would he trust me with sixteen thousand men,That I would instantly go over to themWith eighteen thousand of the Emperor's troops.Wrangel.Your Grace is known to be a mighty war-chief,To be a second Attila and Pyrrhus.65'Tis talked of still with fresh astonishment,How some years past, beyond all human faith,You called an army forth, like a creation:But yet——Wallenstein.But yet?Wrangel.But still the Chancellor thinks,It might yet be an easier thing from nothing70To call forth sixty thousand men of battle,Than to persuade one sixtieth part of them—Wallenstein.What now? Out with it, friend!Wrangel.To break their oaths.Wallenstein.And he thinks so?—He judges like a Swede,And like a Protestant. You Lutherans75Fight for your Bible. You are interestedAbout the cause; and with your hearts you followYour banners.—Among you, whoe'er desertsTo the enemy, hath broken covenantWith two Lords at one time.—We've no such fancies.80Wrangel.Great God in Heaven! Have then the people hereNo house and home, no fire-side, no altar?Wallenstein.I will explain that to you, how it stands—The Austrian has a country, ay, and loves it,And has good cause to love it—but this army,85That calls itself the Imperial, this that housesHere in Bohemia, this has none—no country;[695]This is an outcast of all foreign lands,Unclaimed by town or tribe, to whom belongsNothing, except the universal sun.90Wrangel.But then the Nobles and the Officers?Such a desertion, such a felony,It is without example, my Lord Duke,In the world's history.Wallenstein.They are all mine—Mine unconditionally—mine on all terms.95Not me, your own eyes you must trust.

Wrangel.He says the truth. Our great King, now in heaven,Did ever deem most highly of your Grace'sPre-eminent sense and military genius;20And always the commanding Intellect,He said, should have command, and be the King.

Wallenstein.Yes, he might say it safely.—General Wrangel,[Taking his hand.Come, fair and open—Trust me, I was alwaysA Swede at heart. Ey! that did you experience25Both in Silesia and at Nuremburg;I had you often in my power, and let youAlways slip out by some back door or other.'Tis this for which the Court can ne'er forgive me,Which drives me to this present step: and since30Our interests so run in one direction,E'en let us have a thorough confidenceEach in the other.

Wrangel.Confidence will comeHas each but only first security.

Wallenstein.The Chancellor still, I see, does not quite trust me;35And, I confess—the gain does not wholly lieTo my advantage—Without doubt he thinksIf I can play false with the Emperor,Who is my Sov'reign, I can do the likeWith the enemy, and that the one too were40Sooner to be forgiven me than the other.Is not this your opinion too, Sir General?

Wrangel.I have here an office merely, no opinion.

Wallenstein.The Emperor hath urged me to the uttermost.I can no longer honourably serve him.45For my security, in self-defence,I take this hard step, which my conscience blames.

Wrangel.That I believe. So far would no one goWho was not forced to it.[After a pause.What may have impelled[694]Your princely Highness in this wise to act50Toward your Sovereign Lord and Emperor,Beseems not us to expound or criticize.The Swede is fighting for his good old cause.With his good sword and conscience. This concurrence,This opportunity, is in our favour,55And all advantages in war are lawful.We take what offers without questioning;And if all have its due and just proportions——

Wallenstein.Of what then are ye doubting? Of my will?Or of my power? I pledged me to the Chancellor,60Would he trust me with sixteen thousand men,That I would instantly go over to themWith eighteen thousand of the Emperor's troops.

Wrangel.Your Grace is known to be a mighty war-chief,To be a second Attila and Pyrrhus.65'Tis talked of still with fresh astonishment,How some years past, beyond all human faith,You called an army forth, like a creation:But yet——

Wallenstein.But yet?

Wrangel.But still the Chancellor thinks,It might yet be an easier thing from nothing70To call forth sixty thousand men of battle,Than to persuade one sixtieth part of them—

Wallenstein.What now? Out with it, friend!

Wrangel.To break their oaths.

Wallenstein.And he thinks so?—He judges like a Swede,And like a Protestant. You Lutherans75Fight for your Bible. You are interestedAbout the cause; and with your hearts you followYour banners.—Among you, whoe'er desertsTo the enemy, hath broken covenantWith two Lords at one time.—We've no such fancies.80

Wrangel.Great God in Heaven! Have then the people hereNo house and home, no fire-side, no altar?

Wallenstein.I will explain that to you, how it stands—The Austrian has a country, ay, and loves it,And has good cause to love it—but this army,85That calls itself the Imperial, this that housesHere in Bohemia, this has none—no country;[695]This is an outcast of all foreign lands,Unclaimed by town or tribe, to whom belongsNothing, except the universal sun.90

Wrangel.But then the Nobles and the Officers?Such a desertion, such a felony,It is without example, my Lord Duke,In the world's history.

Wallenstein.They are all mine—Mine unconditionally—mine on all terms.95Not me, your own eyes you must trust.

[He gives him the paper containing the written oath.Wrangelreads it through, and, having read it, lays it on the table, remaining silent.

So then?Now comprehend you?Wrangel.Comprehend who can!My Lord Duke; I will let the mask drop—yes!I've full powers for a final settlement.The Rhinegrave stands but four days' march from here100With fifteen thousand men, and only waitsFor orders to proceed and join your army.Those orders I give out, immediatelyWe're compromised.Wallenstein.What asks the Chancellor?Wrangel.Twelve Regiments, every man a Swede—my head105The warranty—and all might prove at lastOnly false play——Wallenstein (starting).Sir Swede!Wrangel.Am therefore forcedT' insist thereon, that he do formally,Irrevocably break with the Emperor,Else not a Swede is trusted to Duke Friedland.110Wallenstein.Come, brief and open! What is the demand?Wrangel.That he forthwith disarm the Spanish regimentsAttached to the Emperor, that he seize Prague,And to the Swedes give up that city, withThe strong pass Egra.Wallenstein.That is much indeed!115Prague!—Egra's granted—But—but Prague!—'Twon't do.I give you every security[696]Which you may ask of me in common reason—But Prague—Bohemia—these, Sir General,I can myself protect.Wrangel.We doubt it not.120But 'tis not the protection that is nowOur sole concern. We want security,That we shall not expend our men and moneyAll to no purpose.Wallenstein.'Tis but reasonable.Wrangel.And till we are indemnified, so long125Stays Prague in pledge.Wallenstein.Then trust you us so little?Wrangel (rising).The Swede, if he would treat well with the German,Must keep a sharp look-out. We have been calledOver the Baltic, we have saved the empireFrom ruin—with our best blood have we seal'd130The liberty of faith, and gospel truth.But now already is the benefactionNo longer felt, the load alone is felt.——Ye look askance with evil eye upon us,As foreigners, intruders in the empire,135And would fain send us, with some paltry sumOf money, home again to our old forests.No, no! my Lord Duke! no!—it never wasFor Judas' pay, for chinking gold and silver,That we did leave our King by the Great Stone.[696:1]140No, not for gold and silver have there bledSo many of our Swedish Nobles—neitherWill we, with empty laurels for our payment,Hoist sail for our own country. CitizensWill we remain upon the soil, the which145Our Monarch conquered for himself, and died.Wallenstein.Help to keep down the common enemy,And the fair border land must needs be yours.Wrangel.But when the common enemy lies vanquished,Who knits together our new friendship then?150We know, Duke Friedland! though perhaps the SwedeOught not t' have known it, that you carry on[697]Secret negotiations with the Saxons.Who is our warranty, that we are notThe sacrifices in those articles155Which 'tis thought needful to conceal from us?Wallenstein (rises).Think you of something better, Gustave Wrangel!Of Prague no more.Wrangel.Here my commission ends.Wallenstein.Surrender up to you my capital!Far liever would I face about, and step160Back to my Emperor.Wrangel.If time yet permits——Wallenstein.That lies with me, even now, at any hour.Wrangel.Some days ago, perhaps. To-day, no longer,No longer since Sesina is a prisoner.My Lord Duke, hear me—We believe that you165At present do mean honourably by us.Since yesterday we're sure of that—and nowThis paper warrants for the troops, there's nothingStands in the way of our full confidence.Prague shall not part us. Hear! The Chancellor170Contents himself with Albstadt, to your GraceHe gives up Ratschin and the narrow side,But Egra above all must open to us,Ere we can think of any junction.Wallenstein.You,You therefore must I trust, and you not me?175I will consider of your proposition.Wrangel.I must entreat, that your considerationOccupy not too long a time. AlreadyHas this negotiation, my Lord Duke!Crept on into the second year. If nothing180Is settled this time, will the ChancellorConsider it as broken off for ever.Wallenstein.Ye press me hard. A measure, such as this,Ought to be thought of.Wrangel.Ay! but think of this too,That sudden action only can procure it185Success—think first of this, your Highness.[ExitWrangel.

So then?Now comprehend you?

Wrangel.Comprehend who can!My Lord Duke; I will let the mask drop—yes!I've full powers for a final settlement.The Rhinegrave stands but four days' march from here100With fifteen thousand men, and only waitsFor orders to proceed and join your army.Those orders I give out, immediatelyWe're compromised.

Wallenstein.What asks the Chancellor?

Wrangel.Twelve Regiments, every man a Swede—my head105The warranty—and all might prove at lastOnly false play——

Wallenstein (starting).Sir Swede!

Wrangel.Am therefore forcedT' insist thereon, that he do formally,Irrevocably break with the Emperor,Else not a Swede is trusted to Duke Friedland.110

Wallenstein.Come, brief and open! What is the demand?

Wrangel.That he forthwith disarm the Spanish regimentsAttached to the Emperor, that he seize Prague,And to the Swedes give up that city, withThe strong pass Egra.

Wallenstein.That is much indeed!115Prague!—Egra's granted—But—but Prague!—'Twon't do.I give you every security[696]Which you may ask of me in common reason—But Prague—Bohemia—these, Sir General,I can myself protect.

Wrangel.We doubt it not.120But 'tis not the protection that is nowOur sole concern. We want security,That we shall not expend our men and moneyAll to no purpose.

Wallenstein.'Tis but reasonable.

Wrangel.And till we are indemnified, so long125Stays Prague in pledge.

Wallenstein.Then trust you us so little?

Wrangel (rising).The Swede, if he would treat well with the German,Must keep a sharp look-out. We have been calledOver the Baltic, we have saved the empireFrom ruin—with our best blood have we seal'd130The liberty of faith, and gospel truth.But now already is the benefactionNo longer felt, the load alone is felt.——Ye look askance with evil eye upon us,As foreigners, intruders in the empire,135And would fain send us, with some paltry sumOf money, home again to our old forests.No, no! my Lord Duke! no!—it never wasFor Judas' pay, for chinking gold and silver,That we did leave our King by the Great Stone.[696:1]140No, not for gold and silver have there bledSo many of our Swedish Nobles—neitherWill we, with empty laurels for our payment,Hoist sail for our own country. CitizensWill we remain upon the soil, the which145Our Monarch conquered for himself, and died.

Wallenstein.Help to keep down the common enemy,And the fair border land must needs be yours.

Wrangel.But when the common enemy lies vanquished,Who knits together our new friendship then?150We know, Duke Friedland! though perhaps the SwedeOught not t' have known it, that you carry on[697]Secret negotiations with the Saxons.Who is our warranty, that we are notThe sacrifices in those articles155Which 'tis thought needful to conceal from us?

Wallenstein (rises).Think you of something better, Gustave Wrangel!Of Prague no more.

Wrangel.Here my commission ends.

Wallenstein.Surrender up to you my capital!Far liever would I face about, and step160Back to my Emperor.

Wrangel.If time yet permits——

Wallenstein.That lies with me, even now, at any hour.

Wrangel.Some days ago, perhaps. To-day, no longer,No longer since Sesina is a prisoner.My Lord Duke, hear me—We believe that you165At present do mean honourably by us.Since yesterday we're sure of that—and nowThis paper warrants for the troops, there's nothingStands in the way of our full confidence.Prague shall not part us. Hear! The Chancellor170Contents himself with Albstadt, to your GraceHe gives up Ratschin and the narrow side,But Egra above all must open to us,Ere we can think of any junction.

Wallenstein.You,You therefore must I trust, and you not me?175I will consider of your proposition.

Wrangel.I must entreat, that your considerationOccupy not too long a time. AlreadyHas this negotiation, my Lord Duke!Crept on into the second year. If nothing180Is settled this time, will the ChancellorConsider it as broken off for ever.

Wallenstein.Ye press me hard. A measure, such as this,Ought to be thought of.

Wrangel.Ay! but think of this too,That sudden action only can procure it185Success—think first of this, your Highness.[ExitWrangel.

[696:1]A great stone near Lützen, since called the Swede's Stone, the body of their great King having been found at the foot of it, after the battle in which he lost his life.

Before1Wallenstein (after having fixed a searching look on him).1800,1828,1829.

Before10Wallenstein (makes the motion, &c.1800,1828,1829.

[23]might1800,1828,1829.

might1800,1828,1829.

After23[Taking his hand affectionately.1800,1828,1829.

[36]wholly lie] lie wholly1828,1829.

wholly lie] lie wholly1828,1829.

[40]the one1800,1828,1829.

the one1800,1828,1829.

[41]other1800,1828,1829.

other1800,1828,1829.

[61]me1800,1828,1829.

me1800,1828,1829.

[74]so1800,1828,1829.

so1800,1828,1829.

[77]hearts1800,1828,1829.

hearts1800,1828,1829.

[78]you1800,1828,1829.

you1800,1828,1829.

[84]has1800,1828,1829.

has1800,1828,1829.

[96]must] may1800,1828,1829.

must] may1800,1828,1829.

[103]I1800,1828,1829. out] you1828,1829.

I1800,1828,1829. out] you1828,1829.

Before105Wrangel (considerately).1800,1828,1829.

[107]Wrangel (calmly proceeding).1800,1828,1829.

Wrangel (calmly proceeding).1800,1828,1829.

[144]Citizens1800,1828,1829.

Citizens1800,1828,1829.

[154]we1800,1828,1829.

we1800,1828,1829.

[164]Sesina is] Sesina's been1800,1828,1829.

Sesina is] Sesina's been1800,1828,1829.

After164[Wallenstein is struck, and silenced.1800,1828,1829.

[167]yesterday1800,1828,1829.

yesterday1800,1828,1829.

[184]thought1800,1828,1829.

thought1800,1828,1829.

Wallenstein, Tertsky, andIllo(re-enter).

Illo.Is't all right?Tertsky.Are you compromised?Illo.This SwedeWent smiling from you. Yes! you're compromised.Wallenstein.As yet is nothing settled: and (well weighed)I feel myself inclined to leave it so.Tertsky.How? What is that?Wallenstein.Come on me what will come,5The doing evil to avoid an evilCannot be good!Tertsky.Nay, but bethink you, Duke?Wallenstein.To live upon the mercy of these Swedes!Of these proud-hearted Swedes! I could not bear it.Illo.Goest thou as fugitive, as mendicant?10Bringest thou not more to them than thou receivest?

Illo.Is't all right?

Tertsky.Are you compromised?

Illo.This SwedeWent smiling from you. Yes! you're compromised.

Wallenstein.As yet is nothing settled: and (well weighed)I feel myself inclined to leave it so.

Tertsky.How? What is that?

Wallenstein.Come on me what will come,5The doing evil to avoid an evilCannot be good!

Tertsky.Nay, but bethink you, Duke?

Wallenstein.To live upon the mercy of these Swedes!Of these proud-hearted Swedes! I could not bear it.

Illo.Goest thou as fugitive, as mendicant?10Bringest thou not more to them than thou receivest?

[10]Wallenstein (sarcastically).1800,1828,1829.

Wallenstein (sarcastically).1800,1828,1829.

[11]Countess (to the others).1800,1828,1829.

Countess (to the others).1800,1828,1829.

To these enter theCountess Tertsky.

Wallenstein.Who sent for you? There is no business hereFor women.Countess.I am come to bid you joy.Wallenstein.Use thy authority, Tertsky, bid her go.Countess.Come I perhaps too early? I hope not.Wallenstein.Set not this tongue upon me, I entreat you.5You know it is the weapon that destroys me.I am routed, if a woman but attack me.I cannot traffic in the trade of wordsWith that unreasoning sex.Countess.I had alreadyGiven the Bohemians a king.Wallenstein.They have one,10In consequence, no doubt.Countess.Ha! what new scruple?Tertsky.The Duke will not.Countess.He will not what he must!Illo.It lies with you now. Try. For I am silenced,When folks begin to talk to me of conscience,And of fidelity.Countess.How? then, when all15[699]Lay in the far-off distance, when the roadStretched out before thine eyes interminably,Then hadst thou courage and resolve; and now,Now that the dream is being realized,The purpose ripe, the issue ascertained,20Dost thou begin to play the dastard now?Planned merely, 'tis a common felony;Accomplished, an immortal undertaking:And with success comes pardon hand in hand;For all event is God's arbitrement.25Servant (enters).The Colonel Piccolomini.Countess.—Must wait.Wallenstein.I cannot see him now. Another time.Servant.But for two minutes he entreats an audience.Of the most urgent nature is his business.Wallenstein.Who knows what he may bring us? I will hear him.30Countess.Urgent for him, no doubt; but thou mayest wait.Wallenstein.What is it?Countess.Thou shalt be informed hereafter.First let the Swede and thee be compromised.[ExitServant.Wallenstein.If there were yet a choice! if yet some milderWay of escape were possible—I still35Will choose it, and avoid the last extreme.Countess.Desir'st thou nothing further? Such a wayLies still before thee. Send this Wrangel off.Forget thou thy old hopes, cast far awayAll thy past life; determine to commence40A new one. Virtue hath her heroes too,As well as Fame and Fortune.—To Vienna—Hence—to the Emperor—kneel before the throne;Take a full coffer with thee—say aloud,Thou did'st but wish to prove thy fealty;45Thy whole intention but to dupe the Swede.Illo.For that too 'tis too late. They know too much.He would but bear his own head to the block.Countess.I fear not that. They have not evidenceTo attaint him legally, and they avoid50The avowal of an arbitrary power.They'll let the Duke resign without disturbance.I see how all will end. The King of Hungary[700]Makes his appearance, and 'twill of itselfBe understood, that then the Duke retires.55There will not want a formal declaration.The young King will administer the oathTo the whole army; and so all returnsTo the old position. On some morrow morningThe Duke departs; and now 'tis stir and bustle60Within his castles. He will hunt, and build,Superintend his horses' pedigrees;Creates himself a court, gives golden keys,And introduceth strictest ceremonyIn fine proportions, and nice etiquette;65Keeps open table with high cheer; in brief,Commenceth mighty King—in miniature.And while he prudently demeans himself,And gives himself no actual importance,He will be let appear whate'er he likes;70And who dares doubt, that Friedland will appearA mighty Prince to his last dying hour?Well now, what then? Duke Friedland is as others,A fire-new Noble, whom the war hath raisedTo price and currency, a Jonah's Gourd,75An over-night creation of court-favour,Which with an undistinguishable easeMakes Baron or makes Prince.Wallenstein.Take her away.Let in the young Count Piccolomini.Countess.Art thou in earnest? I entreat thee! Canst thou80Consent to bear thyself to thy own grave,So ignominiously to be dried up?Thy life, that arrogated such a heightTo end in such a nothing! To be nothing,When one was always nothing, is an evil85That asks no stretch of patience, a light evil,But to become a nothing, having been——Wallenstein (starts up).Shew me a way out of this stifling crowd,Ye Powers of Aidance! Shew me such a wayAs I am capable of going.—I90Am no tongue-hero, no fine virtue-prattler;I cannot warm by thinking; cannot say[701]To the good luck that turns her back upon me,Magnanimously: 'Go! I need thee not.'Cease I to work, I am annihilated,95Dangers nor sacrifices will I shun,If so I may avoid the last extreme;But ere I sink down into nothingness,Leave off so little, who began so great,Ere that the world confuses me with those100Poor wretches, whom a day creates and crumbles,This age and after-ages[701:1]speak my nameWith hate and dread; and Friedland be redemptionFor each accurséd deed!Countess.What is there here, then,So against nature? Help me to perceive it!105O let not Superstition's nightly goblinsSubdue thy clear bright spirit! Art thou bidTo murder?—with abhorr'd accurséd poniard,To violate the breasts that nourished thee?That were against our nature, that might aptly110Make thy flesh shudder, and thy whole heart sicken.[701:2]Yet not a few, and for a meaner object,Have ventured even this, ay, and performed it.What is there in thy case so black and monstrous?Thou art accused of treason—whether with115Or without justice is not now the question—Thou art lost if thou dost not avail thee quicklyOf the power which thou possessest—Friedland! Duke!Tell me, where lives that thing so meek and tame,That doth not all his living faculties120Put forth in preservation of his life?What deed so daring, which necessityAnd desperation will not sanctify?Wallenstein.Once was this Ferdinand so gracious to me:[702]He loved me; he esteemed me; I was placed125The nearest to his heart. Full many a timeWe like familiar friends, both at one table,Have banquetted together. He and I—And the young kings themselves held me the basonWherewith to wash me—and is't come to this?130Countess.So faithfully preserv'st thou each small favour,And hast no memory for contumelies?Must I remind thee, how at RegenspurgThis man repaid thy faithful services?All ranks and all conditions in the Empire135Thou hadst wronged, to make him great,—hadst loaded on thee,On thee, the hate, the curse of the whole world.No friend existed for thee in all Germany,And why? because thou hadst existed onlyFor the Emperor. To the Emperor alone140Clung Friedland in that storm which gathered round himAt Regenspurg in the Diet—and he dropped thee!He let thee fall! He let thee fall a victimTo the Bavarian, to that insolent!Deposed, stript bare of all thy dignity145And power, amid the taunting of thy foes,Thou wert let drop into obscurity.—Say not, the restoration of thy honourHath made atonement for that first injustice.No honest good-will was it that replaced thee,150The law of hard necessity replaced thee,Which they had fain opposed, but that they could not.Wallenstein.Not to their good wishes, that is certain,Nor yet to his affection I'm indebtedFor this high office; and if I abuse it,155I shall therein abuse no confidence.Countess. Affection! confidence!—They needed thee.Necessity, impetuous remonstrant!Who not with empty names, or shews of proxy,Is served, who'll have the thing and not the symbol,160Ever seeks out the greatest and the best,And at the rudder places him, e'en thoughShe had been forced to take him from the rabble—She, this Necessity, it was that placed theeIn this high office, it was she that gave thee165[703]Thy letters patent of inauguration.For, to the uttermost moment that they can.This race still help themselves at cheapest rateWith slavish souls, with puppets! At the approachOf extreme peril, when a hollow image170Is found a hollow image and no more,Then falls the power into the mighty handsOf Nature, of the spirit giant-born,Who listens only to himself, knows nothingOf stipulations, duties, reverences175And, like the emancipated force of fire,Unmastered scorches, ere it reaches them,Their fine-spun webs, their artificial policy.Wallenstein.'Tis true! they saw me always as I am—Always! I did not cheat them in the bargain.180I never held it worth my pains to hideThe bold all-grasping habit of my soul.Countess.Nay rather—thou hast ever shewn thyselfA formidable man, without restraint;Hast exercised the full prerogatives185Of thy impetuous nature, which had beenOnce granted to thee. Therefore, Duke, not thou,Who hast still remained consistent with thyself,But they are in the wrong, who fearing thee,Entrusted such a power in hands they feared.190For, by the laws of Spirit, in the rightIs every individual characterThat acts in strict consistence with itself.Self-contradiction is the only wrong.Wert thou another being, then, when thou195Eight years ago pursuedst thy march with fireAnd sword, and desolation, through the CirclesOf Germany, the universal scourge,Didst mock all ordinances of the empire,The fearful rights of strength alone exertedst,200Trampledst to earth each rank, each magistracy,All to extend thy Sultan's domination?Then was the time to break thee in, to curbThy haughty will, to teach thee ordinance.But no! the Emperor felt no touch of conscience,205What served him pleased him, and without a murmurHe stamped his broad seal on these lawless deeds.[704]What at that time was right, because thou didst itFor him, to-day is all at once becomeOpprobrious, foul, because it is directed210Against him.—O most flimsy superstition!Wallenstein (rising).I never saw it in this light before.'Tis even so. The Emperor perpetratedDeeds through my arm, deeds most unorderly.And even this prince's mantle, which I wear,215I owe to what were services to him,But most high misdemeanours 'gainst the empire.Countess.Then betwixt thee and him (confess it, Friedland!)The point can be no more of right and duty,Only of power and opportunity.220That opportunity, lo! it comes yonder,Approaching with swift steeds; then with a swingThrow thyself up into the chariot-seat,Seize with firm hand the reins, ere thy opponentAnticipate thee, and himself make conquest225Of the now empty seat. The moment comes—It is already here, when thou must writeThe absolute total of thy life's vast sum.The constellations stand victorious o'er thee,The planets shoot good fortune in fair junctions,230And tell thee, 'Now's the time!' The starry coursesHast thou thy life long measured to no purpose?The quadrant and the circle, were they playthings?[Pointing to the different objects in the room.The zodiacs, the rolling orbs of heaven,Hast pictured on these walls, and all around thee235In dumb, foreboding symbols hast thou placedThese seven presiding Lords of Destiny—For toys? Is all this preparation nothing?Is there no marrow in this hollow art,That even to thyself it doth avail240Nothing, and has no influence over theeIn the great moment of decision?——Wallenstein (interrupting the Countess).Send Wrangel to me—I will instantlyDispatch three couriers——

Wallenstein.Who sent for you? There is no business hereFor women.

Countess.I am come to bid you joy.

Wallenstein.Use thy authority, Tertsky, bid her go.

Countess.Come I perhaps too early? I hope not.

Wallenstein.Set not this tongue upon me, I entreat you.5You know it is the weapon that destroys me.I am routed, if a woman but attack me.I cannot traffic in the trade of wordsWith that unreasoning sex.

Countess.I had alreadyGiven the Bohemians a king.

Wallenstein.They have one,10In consequence, no doubt.

Countess.Ha! what new scruple?

Tertsky.The Duke will not.

Countess.He will not what he must!

Illo.It lies with you now. Try. For I am silenced,When folks begin to talk to me of conscience,And of fidelity.

Countess.How? then, when all15[699]Lay in the far-off distance, when the roadStretched out before thine eyes interminably,Then hadst thou courage and resolve; and now,Now that the dream is being realized,The purpose ripe, the issue ascertained,20Dost thou begin to play the dastard now?Planned merely, 'tis a common felony;Accomplished, an immortal undertaking:And with success comes pardon hand in hand;For all event is God's arbitrement.25

Servant (enters).The Colonel Piccolomini.

Countess.—Must wait.

Wallenstein.I cannot see him now. Another time.

Servant.But for two minutes he entreats an audience.Of the most urgent nature is his business.

Wallenstein.Who knows what he may bring us? I will hear him.30

Countess.Urgent for him, no doubt; but thou mayest wait.

Wallenstein.What is it?

Countess.Thou shalt be informed hereafter.First let the Swede and thee be compromised.[ExitServant.

Wallenstein.If there were yet a choice! if yet some milderWay of escape were possible—I still35Will choose it, and avoid the last extreme.

Countess.Desir'st thou nothing further? Such a wayLies still before thee. Send this Wrangel off.Forget thou thy old hopes, cast far awayAll thy past life; determine to commence40A new one. Virtue hath her heroes too,As well as Fame and Fortune.—To Vienna—Hence—to the Emperor—kneel before the throne;Take a full coffer with thee—say aloud,Thou did'st but wish to prove thy fealty;45Thy whole intention but to dupe the Swede.

Illo.For that too 'tis too late. They know too much.He would but bear his own head to the block.

Countess.I fear not that. They have not evidenceTo attaint him legally, and they avoid50The avowal of an arbitrary power.They'll let the Duke resign without disturbance.I see how all will end. The King of Hungary[700]Makes his appearance, and 'twill of itselfBe understood, that then the Duke retires.55There will not want a formal declaration.The young King will administer the oathTo the whole army; and so all returnsTo the old position. On some morrow morningThe Duke departs; and now 'tis stir and bustle60Within his castles. He will hunt, and build,Superintend his horses' pedigrees;Creates himself a court, gives golden keys,And introduceth strictest ceremonyIn fine proportions, and nice etiquette;65Keeps open table with high cheer; in brief,Commenceth mighty King—in miniature.And while he prudently demeans himself,And gives himself no actual importance,He will be let appear whate'er he likes;70And who dares doubt, that Friedland will appearA mighty Prince to his last dying hour?Well now, what then? Duke Friedland is as others,A fire-new Noble, whom the war hath raisedTo price and currency, a Jonah's Gourd,75An over-night creation of court-favour,Which with an undistinguishable easeMakes Baron or makes Prince.

Wallenstein.Take her away.Let in the young Count Piccolomini.

Countess.Art thou in earnest? I entreat thee! Canst thou80Consent to bear thyself to thy own grave,So ignominiously to be dried up?Thy life, that arrogated such a heightTo end in such a nothing! To be nothing,When one was always nothing, is an evil85That asks no stretch of patience, a light evil,But to become a nothing, having been——

Wallenstein (starts up).Shew me a way out of this stifling crowd,Ye Powers of Aidance! Shew me such a wayAs I am capable of going.—I90Am no tongue-hero, no fine virtue-prattler;I cannot warm by thinking; cannot say[701]To the good luck that turns her back upon me,Magnanimously: 'Go! I need thee not.'Cease I to work, I am annihilated,95Dangers nor sacrifices will I shun,If so I may avoid the last extreme;But ere I sink down into nothingness,Leave off so little, who began so great,Ere that the world confuses me with those100Poor wretches, whom a day creates and crumbles,This age and after-ages[701:1]speak my nameWith hate and dread; and Friedland be redemptionFor each accurséd deed!

Countess.What is there here, then,So against nature? Help me to perceive it!105O let not Superstition's nightly goblinsSubdue thy clear bright spirit! Art thou bidTo murder?—with abhorr'd accurséd poniard,To violate the breasts that nourished thee?That were against our nature, that might aptly110Make thy flesh shudder, and thy whole heart sicken.[701:2]Yet not a few, and for a meaner object,Have ventured even this, ay, and performed it.What is there in thy case so black and monstrous?Thou art accused of treason—whether with115Or without justice is not now the question—Thou art lost if thou dost not avail thee quicklyOf the power which thou possessest—Friedland! Duke!Tell me, where lives that thing so meek and tame,That doth not all his living faculties120Put forth in preservation of his life?What deed so daring, which necessityAnd desperation will not sanctify?

Wallenstein.Once was this Ferdinand so gracious to me:[702]He loved me; he esteemed me; I was placed125The nearest to his heart. Full many a timeWe like familiar friends, both at one table,Have banquetted together. He and I—And the young kings themselves held me the basonWherewith to wash me—and is't come to this?130

Countess.So faithfully preserv'st thou each small favour,And hast no memory for contumelies?Must I remind thee, how at RegenspurgThis man repaid thy faithful services?All ranks and all conditions in the Empire135Thou hadst wronged, to make him great,—hadst loaded on thee,On thee, the hate, the curse of the whole world.No friend existed for thee in all Germany,And why? because thou hadst existed onlyFor the Emperor. To the Emperor alone140Clung Friedland in that storm which gathered round himAt Regenspurg in the Diet—and he dropped thee!He let thee fall! He let thee fall a victimTo the Bavarian, to that insolent!Deposed, stript bare of all thy dignity145And power, amid the taunting of thy foes,Thou wert let drop into obscurity.—Say not, the restoration of thy honourHath made atonement for that first injustice.No honest good-will was it that replaced thee,150The law of hard necessity replaced thee,Which they had fain opposed, but that they could not.

Wallenstein.Not to their good wishes, that is certain,Nor yet to his affection I'm indebtedFor this high office; and if I abuse it,155I shall therein abuse no confidence.

Countess. Affection! confidence!—They needed thee.Necessity, impetuous remonstrant!Who not with empty names, or shews of proxy,Is served, who'll have the thing and not the symbol,160Ever seeks out the greatest and the best,And at the rudder places him, e'en thoughShe had been forced to take him from the rabble—She, this Necessity, it was that placed theeIn this high office, it was she that gave thee165[703]Thy letters patent of inauguration.For, to the uttermost moment that they can.This race still help themselves at cheapest rateWith slavish souls, with puppets! At the approachOf extreme peril, when a hollow image170Is found a hollow image and no more,Then falls the power into the mighty handsOf Nature, of the spirit giant-born,Who listens only to himself, knows nothingOf stipulations, duties, reverences175And, like the emancipated force of fire,Unmastered scorches, ere it reaches them,Their fine-spun webs, their artificial policy.

Wallenstein.'Tis true! they saw me always as I am—Always! I did not cheat them in the bargain.180I never held it worth my pains to hideThe bold all-grasping habit of my soul.

Countess.Nay rather—thou hast ever shewn thyselfA formidable man, without restraint;Hast exercised the full prerogatives185Of thy impetuous nature, which had beenOnce granted to thee. Therefore, Duke, not thou,Who hast still remained consistent with thyself,But they are in the wrong, who fearing thee,Entrusted such a power in hands they feared.190For, by the laws of Spirit, in the rightIs every individual characterThat acts in strict consistence with itself.Self-contradiction is the only wrong.Wert thou another being, then, when thou195Eight years ago pursuedst thy march with fireAnd sword, and desolation, through the CirclesOf Germany, the universal scourge,Didst mock all ordinances of the empire,The fearful rights of strength alone exertedst,200Trampledst to earth each rank, each magistracy,All to extend thy Sultan's domination?Then was the time to break thee in, to curbThy haughty will, to teach thee ordinance.But no! the Emperor felt no touch of conscience,205What served him pleased him, and without a murmurHe stamped his broad seal on these lawless deeds.[704]What at that time was right, because thou didst itFor him, to-day is all at once becomeOpprobrious, foul, because it is directed210Against him.—O most flimsy superstition!

Wallenstein (rising).I never saw it in this light before.'Tis even so. The Emperor perpetratedDeeds through my arm, deeds most unorderly.And even this prince's mantle, which I wear,215I owe to what were services to him,But most high misdemeanours 'gainst the empire.

Countess.Then betwixt thee and him (confess it, Friedland!)The point can be no more of right and duty,Only of power and opportunity.220That opportunity, lo! it comes yonder,Approaching with swift steeds; then with a swingThrow thyself up into the chariot-seat,Seize with firm hand the reins, ere thy opponentAnticipate thee, and himself make conquest225Of the now empty seat. The moment comes—It is already here, when thou must writeThe absolute total of thy life's vast sum.The constellations stand victorious o'er thee,The planets shoot good fortune in fair junctions,230And tell thee, 'Now's the time!' The starry coursesHast thou thy life long measured to no purpose?The quadrant and the circle, were they playthings?[Pointing to the different objects in the room.The zodiacs, the rolling orbs of heaven,Hast pictured on these walls, and all around thee235In dumb, foreboding symbols hast thou placedThese seven presiding Lords of Destiny—For toys? Is all this preparation nothing?Is there no marrow in this hollow art,That even to thyself it doth avail240Nothing, and has no influence over theeIn the great moment of decision?——

Wallenstein (interrupting the Countess).Send Wrangel to me—I will instantlyDispatch three couriers——

Back to Index Next