SCENE as in the preceding Act.
WALLENSTEIN, OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI.WALLENSTEIN (coming forward in conversation).He sends me word from Linz that he lies sick;But I have sure intelligence that heSecretes himself at Frauenberg with Gallas.Secure them both, and send them to me hither.Remember, thou takest on thee the commandOf those same Spanish regiments,—constantlyMake preparation, and be never ready;And if they urge thee to draw out against me,Still answer yes, and stand as thou went fettered.I know, that it is doing thee a serviceTo keep thee out of action in this business.Thou lovest to linger on in fair appearances;Steps of extremity are not thy province,Therefore have I sought out this part for thee.Thou wilt this time be of most service to meBy thy inertness. The meantime, if fortuneDeclare itself on my side, thou wilt knowWhat is to do.[Enter MAX. PICCOLOMINI.Now go, Octavio.This night must thou be off, take my own horsesHim here I keep with me—make short farewell—Trust me, I think we all shall meet againIn joy and thriving fortunes.OCTAVIO (to his son).I shall see youYet ere I go.
WALLENSTEIN, MAX. PICCOLOMINI.MAX. (advances to him).My general!WALLENSTEIN.That I am no longer, ifThou stylest thyself the emperor's officer.MAX.Then thou wilt leave the army, general?WALLENSTEIN.I have renounced the service of the emperor.MAX.And thou wilt leave the army?WALLENSTEIN.Rather hope ITo bind it nearer still and faster to me.[He seats himself.Yes, Max., I have delayed to open it to thee,Even till the hour of acting 'gins to strike.Youth's fortunate feeling doth seize easilyThe absolute right, yea, and a joy it isTo exercise the single apprehensionWhere the sums square in proof;But where it happens, that of two sure evilsOne must be taken, where the heart not whollyBrings itself back from out the strife of duties,There 'tis a blessing to have no election,And blank necessity is grace and favor.This is now present: do not look behind thee,—It can no more avail thee. Look thou forwards!Think not! judge not! prepare thyself to act!The court—it hath determined on my ruin,Therefore I will be beforehand with them.We'll join the Swedes—right gallant fellows are they,And our good friends.[He stops himself, expecting PICCOLOMINI's answer.I have taken thee by surprise. Answer me not:I grant thee time to recollect thyself.[He rises, retires to the back of the stage. MAX. remainsfor a long time motionless, in a trance of excessive anguish.At his first motion WALLENSTEIN returns, and places himselfbefore him.MAX.My general, this day thou makest meOf age to speak in my own right and person,For till this day I have been spared the troubleTo find out my own road. Thee have I followedWith most implicit, unconditional faith,Sure of the right path if I followed thee.To-day, for the first time, dost thou referMe to myself, and forcest me to makeElection between thee and my own heart.WALLENSTEIN.Soft cradled thee thy fortune till to-day;Thy duties thou couldst exercise in sport,Indulge all lovely instincts, act foreverWith undivided heart. It can remainNo longer thus. Like enemies, the roadsStart from each other. Duties strive with duties,Thou must needs choose thy party in the warWhich is now kindling 'twixt thy friend and himWho is thy emperor.MAX.War! is that the name?War is as frightful as heaven's pestilence,Yet it is good, is it heaven's will as that is.Is that a good war, which against the emperorThou wagest with the emperor's own army?O God of heaven! what a change is this.Beseems it me to offer such persuasionTo thee, who like the fixed star of the poleWert all I gazed at on life's trackless ocean?O! what a rent thou makest in my heart!The ingrained instinct of old reverence,The holy habit of obediency,Must I pluck life asunder from thy name?Nay, do not turn thy countenance upon me—It always was as a god looking upon me!Duke Wallenstein, its power has not departed;The senses still are in thy bonds, althoughBleeding, the soul hath freed itself.WALLENSTEIN.Max., hear me.MAX.Oh, do it not, I pray thee, do it not!There is a pure and noble soul within thee,Knows not of this unblest unlucky doing.Thy will is chaste, it is thy fancy onlyWhich hath polluted thee—and innocence,It will not let itself be driven awayFrom that world-awing aspect. Thou wilt not,Thou canst not end in this. It would reduceAll human creatures to disloyaltyAgainst the nobleness of their own nature.'Twill justify the vulgar misbelief,Which holdeth nothing noble in free will,And trusts itself to impotence alone,Made powerful only in an unknown power.WALLENSTEIN.The world will judge me harshly, I expect it.Already have I said to my own selfAll thou canst say to me. Who but avoidsThe extreme, can he by going round avoid it?But here there is no choice. Yes, I must useOr suffer violence—so stands the case,There remains nothing possible but that.MAX.Oh, that is never possible for thee!'Tis the last desperate resource of thoseCheap souls, to whom their honor, their good name,Is their poor saving, their last worthless keep,Which, having staked and lost, they staked themselvesIn the mad rage of gaming. Thou art richAnd glorious; with an unpolluted heartThou canst make conquest of whate'er seems highest!But he who once hath acted infamyDoes nothing more in this world.WALLENSTEIN (grasps his hand).Calmly, Max.!Much that is great and excellent will wePerform together yet. And if we onlyStand on the height with dignity, 'tis soonForgotten, Max., by what road we ascended.Believe me, many a crown shines spotless now,That yet was deeply sullied in the winning.To the evil spirit doth the earth belong,Not to the good. All that the powers divineSend from above are universal blessingsTheir light rejoices us, their air refreshes,But never yet was man enriched by them:In their eternal realm no propertyIs to be struggled for—all there is general.The jewel, the all-valued gold we winFrom the deceiving powers, depraved in nature,That dwell beneath the day and blessed sunlight.Not without sacrifices are they renderedPropitious, and there lives no soul on earthThat e'er retired unsullied from their service.MAX.Whate'er is human to the human beingDo I allow—and to the vehementAnd striving spirit readily I pardonThe excess of action; but to thee, my general!Above all others make I large concession.For thou must move a world and be the master—He kills thee who condemns thee to inaction.So be it then! maintain thee in thy postBy violence. Resist the emperor,And if it must be force with force repel;I will not praise it, yet I can forgive it.But not—not to the traitor—yes! the wordIs spoken out—Not to the traitor can I yield a pardon.That is no mere excess! that is no errorOf human nature—that is wholly different,Oh, that is black, black as the pit of hell![WALLENSTEIN betrays a sudden agitation.Thou canst not hear it named, and wilt thou do it?O turn back to thy duty. That thou canst,I hold it certain. Send me to Vienna;I'll make thy peace for thee with the emperor.He knows thee not. But I do know thee. HeShall see thee, duke! with my unclouded eye,And I bring back his confidence to thee.WALLENSTEIN.It is too late! Thou knowest not what has happened.MAX.Were it too late, and were things gone so far,That a crime only could prevent thy fall,Then—fall! fall honorably, even as thou stoodest,Lose the command. Go from the stage of war!Thou canst with splendor do it—do it tooWith innocence. Thou hast lived much for others,At length live thou for thy own self. I follow thee.My destiny I never part from thine.WALLENSTEIN.It is too late! Even now, while thou art losingThy words, one after another, are the mile-stonesLeft fast behind by my post couriers,Who bear the order on to Prague and Egra.[MAX. stands as convulsed, with a gesture and countenanceexpressing the most intense anguish.Yield thyself to it. We act as we are forced.I cannot give assent to my own shameAnd ruin. Thou—no—thou canst not forsake me!So let us do, what must be done, with dignity,With a firm step. What am I doing worseThan did famed Caesar at the Rubicon,When he the legions led against his country,The which his country had delivered to him?Had he thrown down the sword, he had been lost.As I were, if I but disarmed myself.I trace out something in me of this spirit.Give me his luck, that other thing I'll bear.[MAX. quits him abruptly. WALLENSTEIN startled and overpowered,continues looking after him, and is still in this posture whenTERZKY enters.
WALLENSTEIN, TERZKY.TERZKY.Max. Piccolomini just left you?WALLENSTEIN.Where is Wrangel?TERZKY.He is already gone.WALLENSTEIN.In such a hurry?TERZKY.It is as if the earth had swallowed him.He had scarce left thee, when I went to seek him.I wished some words with him—but he was gone.How, when, and where, could no one tell me.Nay, I half believe it was the devil himself;A human creature could not so at onceHave vanished.ILLO (enters).Is it true that thou wilt sendOctavio?TERZKY.How, Octavio! Whither send him?WALLENSTEIN.He goes to Frauenberg, and will lead hitherThe Spanish and Italian regiments.ILLO.No!Nay, heaven forbid!WALLENSTEIN.And why should heaven forbid?ILLO.Him!—that deceiver! Wouldst thou trust to himThe soldiery? Him wilt thou let slip from thee,Now in the very instant that decides us——TERZKY.Thou wilt not do this! No! I pray thee, no!WALLENSTEIN.Ye are whimsical.ILLO.O but for this time, duke,Yield to our warning! Let him not depart.WALLENSTEIN.And why should I not trust him only this time,Who have always trusted him? What, then, has happenedThat I should lose my good opinion of him?In complaisance to your whims, not my own,I must, forsooth, give up a rooted judgment.Think not I am a woman. Having trusted himE'en till to-day, to-day too will I trust him.TERZKY.Must it be he—he only? Send another.WALLENSTEIN.It must be he, whom I myself have chosen;He is well fitted for the business.Therefore I gave it him.ILLO.Because he's an Italian—Therefore is he well fitted for the business!WALLENSTEIN.I know you love them not, nor sire nor son,Because that I esteem them, love them, visiblyEsteem them, love them more than you and others,E'en as they merit. Therefore are they eye-blights,Thorns in your footpath. But your jealousies,In what affect they me or my concerns?Are they the worse to me because you hate them?Love or hate one another as you will,I leave to each man his own moods and likings;Yet know the worth of each of you to me.ILLO.Von Questenberg, while he was here, was alwaysLurking about with this Octavio.WALLENSTEIN.It happened with my knowledge and permission.ILLO.I know that secret messengers came to himFrom Gallas——WALLENSTEIN.That's not true.ILLO.O thou art blind,With thy deep-seeing eyes!WALLENSTEIN.Thou wilt not shakeMy faith for me; my faith, which founds itselfOn the profoundest science. If 'tis false,Then the whole science of the stars is false;For know, I have a pledge from Fate itself,That he is the most faithful of my friends.ILLO.Hast thou a pledge that this pledge is not false?
2pb312 (155K)
2pb312 (155K)
WALLENSTEIN.There exist moments in the life of man,When he is nearer the great Soul of the worldThan is man's custom, and possesses freelyThe power of questioning his destiny:And such a moment 'twas, when in the nightBefore the action in the plains of Luetzen,Leaning against a tree, thoughts crowding thoughts,I looked out far upon the ominous plain.My whole life, past and future, in this momentBefore my mind's eye glided in procession,And to the destiny of the next morningThe spirit, filled with anxious presentiment,Did knit the most removed futurity.Then said I also to myself, "So manyDost thou command. They follow all thy stars,And as on some great number set their allUpon thy single head, and only manThe vessel of thy fortune. Yet a dayWill come, when destiny shall once more scatterAll these in many a several direction:Few be they who will stand out faithful to thee."I yearned to know which one was faithfulestOf all, my camp included. Great destiny,Give me a sign! And he shall be the man,Who, on the approaching morning, comes the firstTo meet me with a token of his love:And thinking this, I fell into a slumber,Then midmost in the battle was I ledIn spirit. Great the pressure and the tumult!Then was my horse killed under me: I sank;And over me away, all unconcernedly,Drove horse and rider—and thus trod to piecesI lay, and panted like a dying man;Then seized me suddenly a savior arm;It was Octavio's—I woke at once,'Twas broad day, and Octavio stood before me."My brother," said he, "do not ride to-dayThe dapple, as you're wont; but mount the horseWhich I have chosen for thee. Do it, brother!In love to me. A strong dream warned me so."It was the swiftness of this horse that snatched meFrom the hot pursuit of Bannier's dragoons.My cousin rode the dapple on that day,And never more saw I or horse or rider.ILLO.That was a chance.WALLENSTEIN (significantly).There's no such thing as chanceAnd what to us seems merest accidentSprings from the deepest source of destiny.In brief, 'tis signed and sealed that this OctavioIs my good angel—and now no word more.[He is retiring.TERZKY.This is my comfort—Max. remains our hostage.ILLO.And he shall never stir from here alive.WALLENSTEIN (stops and turns himself round).Are ye not like the women, who foreverOnly recur to their first word, althoughOne had been talking reason by the hour!Know, that the human being's thoughts and deedsAre not like ocean billows, blindly moved.The inner world, his microcosmus, isThe deep shaft, out of which they spring eternally.They grow by certain laws, like the tree's fruit—No juggling chance can metamorphose them.Have I the human kernel first examined?Then I know, too, the future will and action.[Exeunt.
Chamber in the residence of Piccolomini: OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI(attired for travelling), an ADJUTANT.OCTAVIO.Is the detachment here?ADJUTANT.It waits below.OCTAVIO.And are the soldiers trusty, adjutant?Say, from what regiment hast thou chosen them?ADJUTANT.From Tiefenbach's.OCTAVIO.That regiment is loyal,Keep them in silence in the inner court,Unseen by all, and when the signal pealsThen close the doors, keep watch upon the house.And all ye meet be instantly arrested.[Exit ADJUTANT.I hope indeed I shall not need their service,So certain feel I of my well-laid plans;But when an empire's safety is at stake'Twere better too much caution than too little.
A chamber in PICCOLOMINI's dwelling-house: OCTAVIO,PICCOLOMINI, ISOLANI, entering.ISOLANI.Here am I—well! who comes yet of the others?OCTAVIO (with an air of mystery).But, first, a word with you, Count Isolani.ISOLANI (assuming the same air of mystery).Will it explode, ha? Is the duke aboutTo make the attempt? In me, friend, you may placeFull confidence—nay, put me to the proof.OCTAVIO.That may happen.ISOLANI.Noble brother, I amNot one of those men who in words are valiant,And when it comes to action skulk away.The duke has acted towards me as a friend:God knows it is so; and I owe him all;He may rely on my fidelity.OCTAVIO.That will be seen hereafter.ISOLANI.Be on your guard,All think not as I think; and there are manyWho still hold with the court—yes, and they sayThat these stolen signatures bind them to nothing.OCTAVIO.Indeed! Pray name to me the chiefs that think so;ISOLANI.Plague upon them! all the Germans think soEsterhazy, Kaunitz, Deodati, too,Insist upon obedience to the court.OCTAVIO.I am rejoiced to hear it.ISOLANI.You rejoice?OCTAVIO.That the emperor has yet such gallant servants,And loving friends.ISOLANI.Nay, jeer not, I entreat you.They are no such worthless fellows, I assure you.OCTAVIO.I am assured already. God forbidThat I should jest! In very serious earnest,I am rejoiced to see an honest causeSo strong.ISOLANI.The devil!—what!—why, what means this?Are you not, then——For what, then, am I here?OCTAVIO.That you may make full declaration, whetherYou will be called the friend or enemyOf the emperor.ISOLANI (with an air of defiance).That declaration, friend,I'll make to him in whom a right is placedTo put that question to me.OCTAVIO.Whether, count,That right is mine, this paper may instruct you.ISOLANI (stammering).Why,—why—what! this is the emperor's hand and seal[Reads."Whereas the officers collectivelyThroughout our army will obey the ordersOf the Lieutenant-General Piccolomini,As from ourselves."—Hem!—Yes! so!—Yes! yes!I—I give you joy, lieutenant-general!OCTAVIO.And you submit to the order?ISOLANI.I—But you have taken me so by surpriseTime for reflection one must have——OCTAVIO.Two minutes.ISOLANI.My God! But then the case is——OCTAVIO.Plain and simple.You must declare you, whether you determineTo act a treason 'gainst your lord and sovereign,Or whether you will serve him faithfully.ISOLANI.Treason! My God! But who talks then of treason?OCTAVIO.That is the case. The prince-duke is a traitor—Means to lead over to the enemyThe emperor's army. Now, count! brief and full—Say, will you break your oath to the emperor?Sell yourself to the enemy? Say, will you?ISOLANI.What mean you? I—I break my oath, d'ye say,To his imperial majesty?Did I say so! When, when have I said that?OCTAVIO.You have not said it yet—not yet. This instantI wait to hear, count, whether you will say it.ISOLANI.Ay! that delights me now, that you yourselfBear witness for me that I never said so.OCTAVIO.And you renounce the duke then?ISOLANI.If he's planningTreason—why, treason breaks all bonds asunder.OCTAVIO.And are determined, too, to fight against him?ISOLANI.He has done me service—but if he's a villain,Perdition seize him! All scores are rubbed off.OCTAVIO.I am rejoiced that you are so well disposed.This night break off in the utmost secrecyWith all the light-armed troops—it must appearAs came the order from the duke himself.At Frauenberg's the place of rendezvous;There will Count Gallas give you further orders.ISOLANI.It shall be done. But you'll remember meWith the emperor—how well disposed you found me.OCTAVIO.I will not fail to mention it honorably.[Exit ISOLANI. A SERVANT enters.What, Colonel Butler! Show him up.ISOLANI (returning).Forgive me too my bearish ways, old father!Lord God! how should I know, then, what a greatPerson I had before me.OCTAVIO.No excuses!ISOLANI.I am a merry lad, and if at timeA rash word might escape me 'gainst the courtAmidst my wine,—you know no harm was meant.OCTAVIO.You need not be uneasy on that score.That has succeeded. Fortune favor usWith all the others only but as much.[Exit.
OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, BUTLER.BUTLER.At your command, lieutenant-general.OCTAVIO.Welcome, as honored friend and visitor.BUTLER.You do me too much honor.OCTAVIO (after both have seated themselves)You have notReturned the advances which I made you yesterday—Misunderstood them as mere empty forms.That wish proceeded from my heart—I wasIn earnest with you—for 'tis now a timeIn which the honest should unite most closely.BUTLER.'Tis only the like-minded can unite.OCTAVIO.True! and I name all honest men like-minded.I never charge a man but with those actsTo which his character deliberatelyImpels him; for alas! the violenceOf blind misunderstandings often thrustsThe very best of us from the right track.You came through Frauenberg. Did the Count GallasSay nothing to you? Tell me. He's my friend.BUTLER.His words were lost on me.OCTAVIO.It grieves me sorelyTo hear it: for his counsel was most wise.I had myself the like to offer.BUTLER.SpareYourself the trouble—me the embarrassment.To have deserved so ill your good opinion.OCTAVIO.The time is precious—let us talk openly.You know how matters stand here. WallensteinMeditates treason—I can tell you further,He has committed treason; but few hoursHave past since he a covenant concludedWith the enemy. The messengers are nowFull on their way to Egra and to Prague.To-morrow he intends to lead us overTo the enemy. But he deceives himself;For prudence wakes—the emperor has stillMany and faithful friends here, and they standIn closest union, mighty though unseen.This manifesto sentences the duke—Recalls the obedience of the army from him,And summons all the loyal, all the honest,To join and recognize in me their leader.Choose—will you share with us an honest cause?Or with the evil share an evil lot?BUTLER (rises).His lot is mine.OCTAVIO.Is that your last resolve?BUTLER.It is.OCTAVIO.Nay, but bethink you, Colonel Butler.As yet you have time. Within my faithful breastThat rashly uttered word remains interred.Recall it, Butler! choose a better party;You have not chosen the right one.BUTLER (going).Any otherCommands for me, lieutenant-general?OCTAVIO.See your white hairs; recall that word!BUTLER.Farewell!OCTAVIO.What! Would you draw this good and gallant swordIn such a cause? Into a curse would youTransform the gratitude which you have earnedBy forty years' fidelity from Austria?BUTLER (laughing with bitterness).Gratitude from the House of Austria![He is going.OCTAVIO (permits him to go as far as the door, then calls after him).Butler!BUTLER.What wish you?OCTAVIO.How was't with the count?BUTLER.Count? what?OCTAVIO (coldly).The title that you wished, I mean.BUTLER (starts in sudden passion).Hell and damnation!OCTAVIO (coldly).You petitioned for it—And your petition was repelled—was it so?BUTLER.Your insolent scoff shall not go by unpunished.Draw!OCTAVIO.Nay! your sword to its sheath! and tell me calmlyHow all that happened. I will not refuse youYour satisfaction afterwards. Calmly, Butler!BUTLER.Be the whole world acquainted with the weaknessFor which I never can forgive myself,Lieutenant-general! Yes; I have ambition.Ne'er was I able to endure contempt.It stung me to the quick that birth and titleShould have more weight than merit has in the army.I would fain not be meaner than my equal,So in an evil hour I let myselfBe tempted to that measure. It was folly!But yet so hard a penance it deserved not.It might have been refused; but wherefore barbAnd venom the refusal with contempt?Why dash to earth and crush with heaviest scornThe gray-haired man, the faithful veteran?Why to the baseness of his parentageRefer him with such cruel roughness, onlyBecause he had a weak hour and forgot himself?But nature gives a sting e'en to the wormWhich wanton power treads on in sport and insult.OCTAVIO.You must have been calumniated. Guess youThe enemy who did you this ill service?BUTLER.Be't who it will—a most low-hearted scoundrel!Some vile court-minion must it be, some Spaniard;Some young squire of some ancient family,In whose light I may stand; some envious knave,Stung to his soul by my fair self-earned honors!OCTAVIO.But tell me, did the duke approve that measure?BUTLER.Himself impelled me to it, used his interestIn my behalf with all the warmth of friendship.OCTAVIO.Ay! are you sure of that?BUTLER.I read the letter.OCTAVIO.And so did I—but the contents were different.[BUTLER is suddenly struck.By chance I'm in possession of that letter—Can leave it to your own eyes to convince you.[He gives him the letter.BUTLER.Ha! what is this?OCTAVIO.I fear me, Colonel Butler,An infamous game have they been playing with you.The duke, you say, impelled you to this measure?Now, in this letter, talks he in contemptConcerning you; counsels the ministerTo give sound chastisement to your conceit,For so he calls it.[BUTLER reads through the letter; his knees tremble, he seizes achair, and sinks clown in it.You have no enemy, no persecutor;There's no one wishes ill to you. AscribeThe insult you received to the duke only.His aim is clear and palpable. He wishedTo tear you from your emperor: he hopedTo gain from your revenge what he well knew(What your long tried fidelity convinced him)He ne'er could dare expect from your calm reason.A blind tool would he make you, in contemptUse you, as means of most abandoned ends.He has gained his point. Too well has he succeededIn luring you away from that good pathOn which you had been journeying forty years!BUTLER (his voice trembling).Can e'er the emperor's majesty forgive me?OCTAVIO.More than forgive you. He would fain compensateFor that affront, and most unmerited grievanceSustained by a deserving gallant veteran.From his free impulse he confirms the present,Which the duke made you for a wicked purpose.The regiment, which you now command, is yours.[BUTLER attempts to rise, sinks down again. He labors inwardlywith violent emotions; tries to speak and cannot. At lengthhe takes his sword from the belt, and offers it to PICCOLOMINI.OCTAVIO.What wish you? Recollect yourself, friend.BUTLER.Take it.OCTAVIO.But to what purpose? Calm yourself.BUTLER.O take it!I am no longer worthy of this sword.OCTAVIO.Receive it then anew, from my hands—andWear it with honor for the right cause ever.BUTLER.Perjure myself to such a gracious sovereign?OCTAVIO.You'll make amends. Quick! break off from the duke!BUTLER.Break off from him.OCTAVIO.What now? Bethink thyself.BUTLER (no longer governing his emotion).Only break off from him? He dies! he dies!OCTAVIO.Come after me to Frauenberg, where nowAll who are loyal are assembling underCounts Altringer and Gallas. Many othersI've brought to a remembrance of their dutyThis night be sure that you escape from Pilsen.BUTLER (strides up and down in excessive agitation, then steps up toOCTAVIO with resolved countenance).Count Piccolomini! dare that man speakOf honor to you, who once broke his troth.OCTAVIO.He who repents so deeply of it dares.BUTLER.Then leave me here upon my word of honor!OCTAVIO.What's your design?BUTLER.Leave me and my regiment.OCTAVIO.I have full confidence in you. But tell meWhat are you brooding?BUTLER.That the deed will tell you.Ask me no more at present. Trust me.Ye may trust safely. By the living God,Ye give him over, not to his good angel!Farewell.[Exit BUTLER.SERVANT (enters with a billet).A stranger left it, and is gone.The prince-duke's horses wait for you below.[Exit SERVANT.OCTAVIO (reads)."Be sure, make haste! Your faithful Isolani."—O that I had but left this town behind me.To split upon a rock so near the haven!Away! This is no longer a safe placeFor me! Where can my son be tarrying!
OCTAVIO and MAX. PICCOLOMINI.MAX. enters almost in a state of derangement, from extremeagitation; his eyes roll wildly, his walk is unsteady, and heappears not to observe his father, who stands at a distance,and gazes at him with a countenance expressive of compassion.He paces with long strides through the chamber, then stands stillagain, and at last throws himself into a chair, staring vacantlyat the object directly before him.OCTAVIO (advances to him).I am going off, my son.[Receiving no answer, he takes his handsMy son, farewell.MAX.Farewell.OCTAVIO.Thou wilt soon follow me?MAX.I follow thee?Thy way is crooked—it is not my way.[OCTAVIO drops his hand and starts back.Oh, hadst thou been but simple and sincere,Ne'er had it come to this—all had stood otherwise.He had not done that foul and horrible deed,The virtuous had retained their influence over himHe had not fallen into the snares of villains.Wherefore so like a thief, and thief's accompliceDidst creep behind him lurking for thy prey!Oh, unblest falsehood! Mother of all evil!Thou misery-making demon, it is thouThat sinkest us in perdition. Simple truth,Sustainer of the world, had saved us all!Father, I will not, I cannot excuse thee!Wallenstein has deceived me—oh, most foully!But thou has acted not much better.OCTAVIO.SonMy son, ah! I forgive thy agony!MAX. (rises and contemplates his father with looks of suspicion).Was't possible? hadst thou the heart, my father,Hadst thou the heart to drive it to such lengths,With cold premeditated purpose? Thou—Hadst thou the heart to wish to see him guiltyRather than saved? Thou risest by his fall.Octavio, 'twill not please me.OCTAVIO.God in heaven!MAX.Oh, woe is me! sure I have changed my nature.How comes suspicion here—in the free soul?Hope, confidence, belief, are gone; for allLied to me, all that I e'er loved or honored.No, no! not all! She—she yet lives for me,And she is true, and open as the heavensDeceit is everywhere, hypocrisy,Murder, and poisoning, treason, perjury:The single holy spot is our love,The only unprofaned in human nature.OCTAVIO.Max.!—we will go together. 'Twill be better.MAX.What? ere I've taken a last parting leave,The very last—no, never!OCTAVIO.Spare thyselfThe pang of necessary separation.Come with me! Come, my son![Attempts to take him with him.MAX.No! as sure as God lives, no!OCTAVIO (more urgently).Come with me, I command thee! I, thy father.MAX.Command me what is human. I stay here.OCTAVIO.Max.! in the emperor's name I bid thee come.MAX.No emperor has power to prescribeLaws to the heart; and wouldst thou wish to rob meOf the sole blessing which my fate has left me,Her sympathy? Must then a cruel deedBe done with cruelty? The unalterableShall I perform ignobly—steal away,With stealthy coward flight forsake her? No!She shall behold my suffering, my sore anguish,Hear the complaints of the disparted soul,And weep tears o'er me. Oh! the human raceHave steely souls—but she is as an angel.From the black deadly madness of despairWill she redeem my soul, and in soft wordsOf comfort, plaining, loose this pang of death!OCTAVIO.Thou wilt not tear thyself away; thou canst not.Oh, come, my son! I bid thee save thy virtue.MAX.Squander not thou thy words in vain.The heart I follow, for I dare trust to it.OCTAVIO (trembling, and losing all self-command).Max.! Max.! if that most damned thing could be,If thou—my son—my own blood—(dare I think it?)Do sell thyself to him, the infamous,Do stamp this brand upon our noble house,Then shall the world behold the horrible deed,And in unnatural combat shall the steelOf the son trickle with the father's blood.MAX.Oh, hadst thou always better thought of men,Thou hadst then acted better. Curst suspicion,Unholy, miserable doubt! To himNothing on earth remains unwrenched and firmWho has no faith.OCTAVIO.And if I trust thy heart,Will it be always in thy power to follow it?MAX.The heart's voice thou hast not o'erpowered—as littleWill Wallenstein be able to o'erpower it.OCTAVIO.O, Max.! I see thee never more again!MAX.Unworthy of thee wilt thou never see me.OCTAVIO.I go to Frauenberg—the PappenheimersI leave thee here, the Lothrings too; TsokanaAnd Tiefenbach remain here to protect thee.They love thee, and are faithful to their oath,And will far rather fall in gallant contestThan leave their rightful leader and their honor.MAX.Rely on this, I either leave my lifeIn the struggle, or conduct them out of Pilsen.OCTAVIO.Farewell, my son!MAX.Farewell!OCTAVIO.How! not one lookOf filial love? No grasp of the hand at parting?It is a bloody war to which we are going,And the event uncertain and in darkness.So used we not to part—it was not so!Is it then true? I have a son no longer?[MAX. falls into his arms, they hold each other for a long timein a speechless embrace, then go away at different sides.(The curtain drops.)
A chamber in the house of the Duchess of Friedland.COUNTESS TERZKY, THEKLA, LADY NEUBRUNN (the two latter sitat the same table at work).COUNTESS (watching them from the opposite side).So you have nothing to ask me—nothing?I have been waiting for a word from you.And could you then endure in all this timeNot once to speak his name?[THEKLA remaining silent, the COUNTESS rises and advances to her.Why, how comes this?Perhaps I am already grown superfluous,And other ways exist, besides through meConfess it to me, Thekla: have you seen him?THEKLA.To-day and yesterday I have not seen him.COUNTESS.And not heard from him, either? Come, be open.THEKLA.No Syllable.COUNTESS.And still you are so calm?THEKLA.I am.COUNTESS.May it please you, leave us, Lady Neubrunn.[Exit LADY NEUBRUNN.
The COUNTESS, THEKLA.COUNTESS.It does not please me, princess, that he holdsHimself so still, exactly at this time.THEKLA.Exactly at this time?COUNTESS.He now knows all'Twere now the moment to declare himself.THEKLA.If I'm to understand you, speak less darkly.COUNTESS.'Twas for that purpose that I bade her leave us.Thekla, you are no more a child. Your heartIs no more in nonage: for you love,And boldness dwells with love—that you have provedYour nature moulds itself upon your father'sMore than your mother's spirit. Therefore may youHear what were too much for her fortitude.THEKLA.Enough: no further preface, I entreat you.At once, out with it! Be it what it may,It is not possible that it should torture meMore than this introduction. What have youTo say to me? Tell me the whole, and briefly!COUNTESS.You'll not be frightened——THEKLA.Name it, I entreat you.COUNTESS.Lies within my power to do your fatherA weighty service——THEKLA.Lies within my power.COUNTESS.Max. Piccolomini loves you. You can link himIndissolubly to your father.THEKLA.I?What need of me for that? And is he notAlready linked to him?COUNTESS.He was.THEKLA.And whereforeShould he not be so now—not be so always?COUNTESS.He cleaves to the emperor too.THEKLA.Not more than dutyAnd honor may demand of him.COUNTESS.We askProofs of his love, and not proofs of his honor.Duty and honor!Those are ambiguous words with many meanings.You should interpret them for him: his loveShould be the sole definer of his honor.THEKLA.How?COUNTESS.The emperor or you must he renounce.THEKLA.He will accompany my father gladlyIn his retirement. From himself you heard,How much he wished to lay aside the sword.COUNTESS.He must not lay the sword aside, we mean;He must unsheath it in your father's cause.THEKLA.He'll spend with gladness and alacrityHis life, his heart's blood in my father's cause,If shame or injury be intended him.COUNTESS.You will not understand me. Well, hear then:Your father has fallen off from the emperor,And is about to join the enemyWith the whole soldiery——THEKLA.Alas, my mother!COUNTESS.There needs a great example to draw onThe army after him. The PiccolominiPossess the love and reverence of the troops;They govern all opinions, and whereverThey lead the way, none hesitate to follow.The son secures the father to our interests—You've much in your hands at this moment.THEKLA.Ah,My miserable mother! what a death-strokeAwaits thee! No! she never will survive it.COUNTESS.She will accommodate her soul to thatWhich is and must be. I do know your mother:The far-off future weighs upon her heartWith torture of anxiety; but is itUnalterably, actually present,She soon resigns herself, and bears it calmly.THEKLA.O my foreboding bosom! Even now,E'en now 'tis here, that icy hand of horror!And my young hope lies shuddering in its grasp;I knew it well—no sooner had I entered,An heavy ominous presentimentRevealed to me that spirits of death were hoveringOver my happy fortune. But why, think IFirst of myself? My mother! O my mother!COUNTESS.Calm yourself! Break not out in vain lamenting!Preserve you for your father the firm friend,And for yourself the lover, all will yetProve good and fortunate.THEKLA.Prove good! What good?Must we not part; part ne'er to meet again?COUNTESS.He parts not from you! He cannot part from you.THEKLA.Alas, for his sore anguish! It will rendHis heart asunder.COUNTESS.If indeed he loves you.His resolution will be speedily taken.THEKLA.His resolution will be speedily taken—Oh, do not doubt of that! A resolution!Does there remain one to be taken?COUNTESS.Hush!Collect yourself! I hear your mother coming.THERLA.How shall I bear to see her?COUNTESS.Collect yourself.