[745:1] Anspessade, in German, Gefreiter, a soldier inferior to a corporal, but above the centinels. The German name implies that he is exempt from mounting guard.
LINENOTES:
[21]
whom 1800, 1828, 1829.
[36]
Wallenstein (interrupting him). Who chose you? 1800, 1828, 1829.
[46]
Toscana] Toscano 1828, 1829.
After 50: (With warmth.) 1800, 1828, 1829.
[141]
you 1800, 1828, 1829.
After 143 [Confidentially. 1800, 1828, 1829.
[147]
your] our 1800, 1828, 1829.
Scene IV
To these enter Butler.
Butler (passionately). General! This is not right!
Wallenstein. What is not right?
Butler. It must needs injure us with all honest men.
Wallenstein. But what?
Butler. It is an open proclamation
Of insurrection.
Of insurrection.
Wallenstein. Well, well—but what is it?
Butler. Count Tertsky's regiments tear the Imperial Eagle 5
From off the banners, and instead of it,
Have reared aloft thy arms.
From off the banners, and instead of it,
Have reared aloft thy arms.
Anspessade (abruptly to the Cuirassiers). Right about! March!
Wallenstein. Cursed be this counsel, and accursed who gave it!
[To the Cuirassiers, who are retiring.
Halt, children, halt! There's some mistake in this;
Hark!—I will punish it severely. Stop! 10
They do not hear. (To Illo.) Go after them, assure them,
And bring them back to me, cost what it may. [Illo hurries out.
This hurls us headlong. Butler! Butler!
You are my evil genius, wherefore must you
Announce it in their presence? It was all 15
In a fair way. They were half won, those madmen
With their improvident over-readiness—
A cruel game is fortune playing with me.
The zeal of friends it is that razes me,
And not the hate of enemies. 20
Halt, children, halt! There's some mistake in this;
Hark!—I will punish it severely. Stop! 10
They do not hear. (To Illo.) Go after them, assure them,
And bring them back to me, cost what it may. [Illo hurries out.
This hurls us headlong. Butler! Butler!
You are my evil genius, wherefore must you
Announce it in their presence? It was all 15
In a fair way. They were half won, those madmen
With their improvident over-readiness—
A cruel game is fortune playing with me.
The zeal of friends it is that razes me,
And not the hate of enemies. 20
Scene V
To these enter the Duchess, who rushes into the Chamber. Thekla and the Countess follow her.
Duchess. O Albrecht!
What hast thou done?
What hast thou done?
[751]Wallenstein. And now comes this beside.
Countess. Forgive me, brother! It was not in my power.
They know all.
They know all.
Duchess. What hast thou done?
Countess (to Tertsky). Is there no hope? Is all lost utterly? 5
Tertsky. All lost. No hope. Prague in the Emperor's hands,
The soldiery have ta'en their oaths anew.
The soldiery have ta'en their oaths anew.
Countess. That lurking hypocrite. Octavio!
Count Max is off too?
Count Max is off too?
Tertsky. Where can he be? He's
Gone over to the Emperor with his father. 10
Gone over to the Emperor with his father. 10
[Thekla rushes out into the arms of her mother, hiding her face in her bosom.
Duchess (enfolding her in her arms). Unhappy child! and more unhappy mother!
Wallenstein (aside to Tertsky). Quick! Let a carriage stand in readiness
In the court behind the palace. Scherfenberg
Be their attendant; he is faithful to us;
To Egra he'll conduct them, and we follow. [To Illo, who returns. 15
Thou hast not brought them back?
In the court behind the palace. Scherfenberg
Be their attendant; he is faithful to us;
To Egra he'll conduct them, and we follow. [To Illo, who returns. 15
Thou hast not brought them back?
Illo. Hear'st thou the uproar?
The whole corps of the Pappenheimers is
Drawn out: the younger Piccolomini,
Their colonel, they require; for they affirm,
That he is in the palace here, a prisoner; 20
And if thou dost not instantly deliver him,
They will find means to free him with the sword.
The whole corps of the Pappenheimers is
Drawn out: the younger Piccolomini,
Their colonel, they require; for they affirm,
That he is in the palace here, a prisoner; 20
And if thou dost not instantly deliver him,
They will find means to free him with the sword.
Tertsky. What shall we make of this?
Wallenstein. Said I not so?
O my prophetic heart! he is still here.
He has not betrayed me—he could not betray me. 25
I never doubted of it.
O my prophetic heart! he is still here.
He has not betrayed me—he could not betray me. 25
I never doubted of it.
Countess. If he be
Still here, then all goes well; for I know what [Embracing Thekla.
Will keep him here for ever.
Still here, then all goes well; for I know what [Embracing Thekla.
Will keep him here for ever.
Tertsky. It can't be.
His father has betrayed us, is gone over
To the Emperor—the son could not have ventured 30
To stay behind.
His father has betrayed us, is gone over
To the Emperor—the son could not have ventured 30
To stay behind.
Thekla (her eye fixed on the door). There he is!
LINENOTES:
[9]
he 1800.
After 22 [All stand amazed. 1800, 1828, 1829.
Scene VI
To these enter Max Piccolomini.
Max. Yes! here he is! I can endure no longer
To creep on tiptoe round this house, and lurk
In ambush for a favourable moment.
This loitering, this suspense exceeds my powers. [Advancing to Thekla.
Turn not thine eyes away. O look upon me! 5
Confess it freely before all. Fear no one,
Let who will hear that we both love each other.
Wherefore continue to conceal it? Secrecy
Is for the happy—misery, hopeless misery,
Needeth no veil! Beneath a thousand suns 10
It dares act openly.
[He observes the Countess looking on Thekla with expressions of triumph.
No, Lady! No!
Expect not, hope it not. I am not come
To stay: to bid farewell, farewell for ever.
For this I come! 'Tis over! I must leave thee!
Thekla, I must—must leave thee! Yet thy hatred 15
Let me not take with me. I pray thee, grant me
One look of sympathy, only one look.
Say that thou dost not hate me. Say it to me, Thekla! [Grasps her hand.
O God! I cannot leave this spot—I cannot!
Cannot let go this hand. O tell me, Thekla! 20
That thou dost suffer with me, art convinced
That I cannot act otherwise.
To creep on tiptoe round this house, and lurk
In ambush for a favourable moment.
This loitering, this suspense exceeds my powers. [Advancing to Thekla.
Turn not thine eyes away. O look upon me! 5
Confess it freely before all. Fear no one,
Let who will hear that we both love each other.
Wherefore continue to conceal it? Secrecy
Is for the happy—misery, hopeless misery,
Needeth no veil! Beneath a thousand suns 10
It dares act openly.
[He observes the Countess looking on Thekla with expressions of triumph.
No, Lady! No!
Expect not, hope it not. I am not come
To stay: to bid farewell, farewell for ever.
For this I come! 'Tis over! I must leave thee!
Thekla, I must—must leave thee! Yet thy hatred 15
Let me not take with me. I pray thee, grant me
One look of sympathy, only one look.
Say that thou dost not hate me. Say it to me, Thekla! [Grasps her hand.
O God! I cannot leave this spot—I cannot!
Cannot let go this hand. O tell me, Thekla! 20
That thou dost suffer with me, art convinced
That I cannot act otherwise.
[Thekla, avoiding his look, points with her hand to her father. Max turns round to the Duke, whom he had not till then perceived.
Thou here? It was not thou, whom here I sought.
I trusted never more to have beheld thee.
My business is with her alone. Here will I 25
Receive a full acquittal from this heart—
For any other I am no more concerned.
I trusted never more to have beheld thee.
My business is with her alone. Here will I 25
Receive a full acquittal from this heart—
For any other I am no more concerned.
Wallenstein. Think'st thou, that fool-like, I shall let thee go,
And act the mock-magnanimous with thee?
Thy father is become a villain to me; 30
[753] I hold thee for his son, and nothing more:
Nor to no purpose shalt thou have been given
Into my power. Think not, that I will honour
That ancient love, which so remorselessly
He mangled. They are now past by, those hours 35
Of friendship and forgiveness. Hate and vengeance
Succeed—'tis now their turn—I too can throw
All feelings of the man aside—can prove
Myself as much a monster as thy father!
And act the mock-magnanimous with thee?
Thy father is become a villain to me; 30
[753] I hold thee for his son, and nothing more:
Nor to no purpose shalt thou have been given
Into my power. Think not, that I will honour
That ancient love, which so remorselessly
He mangled. They are now past by, those hours 35
Of friendship and forgiveness. Hate and vengeance
Succeed—'tis now their turn—I too can throw
All feelings of the man aside—can prove
Myself as much a monster as thy father!
Max. Thou wilt proceed with me, as thou hast power. 40
Thou know'st, I neither brave nor fear thy rage.
What has detained me here, that too thou know'st. [Taking Thekla by the hand.
See, Duke! All—all would I have owed to thee,
Would have received from thy paternal hand
The lot of blessed spirits. This hast thou 45
Laid waste for ever—that concerns not thee.
Indifferent thou tramplest in the dust
Their happiness, who most are thine. The god
Whom thou dost serve, is no benignant deity.
Like as the blind irreconcileable 50
Fierce element, incapable of compact,
Thy heart's wild impulse only dost thou follow.[753:1]
Thou know'st, I neither brave nor fear thy rage.
What has detained me here, that too thou know'st. [Taking Thekla by the hand.
See, Duke! All—all would I have owed to thee,
Would have received from thy paternal hand
The lot of blessed spirits. This hast thou 45
Laid waste for ever—that concerns not thee.
Indifferent thou tramplest in the dust
Their happiness, who most are thine. The god
Whom thou dost serve, is no benignant deity.
Like as the blind irreconcileable 50
Fierce element, incapable of compact,
Thy heart's wild impulse only dost thou follow.[753:1]
Wallenstein. Thou art describing thy own father's heart.
[754] The adder! O, the charms of hell o'erpowered me.
He dwelt within me, to my inmost soul 55
Still to and fro he passed, suspected never!
On the wide ocean, in the starry heaven
Did mine eyes seek the enemy, whom I
In my heart's heart had folded! Had I been
To Ferdinand what Octavio was to me, 60
War had I ne'er denounced against him. No,
I never could have done it. The Emperor was
My austere master only, not my friend.
There was already war 'twixt him and me
When he delivered the Commander's Staff 65
Into my hands; for there's a natural
Unceasing war 'twixt cunning and suspicion;
Peace exists only betwixt confidence
And faith. Who poisons confidence, he murders
The future generations.
[754] The adder! O, the charms of hell o'erpowered me.
He dwelt within me, to my inmost soul 55
Still to and fro he passed, suspected never!
On the wide ocean, in the starry heaven
Did mine eyes seek the enemy, whom I
In my heart's heart had folded! Had I been
To Ferdinand what Octavio was to me, 60
War had I ne'er denounced against him. No,
I never could have done it. The Emperor was
My austere master only, not my friend.
There was already war 'twixt him and me
When he delivered the Commander's Staff 65
Into my hands; for there's a natural
Unceasing war 'twixt cunning and suspicion;
Peace exists only betwixt confidence
And faith. Who poisons confidence, he murders
The future generations.
Max. I will not 70
Defend my father. Woe is me, I cannot!
Hard deeds and luckless have ta'en place, one crime
Drags after it the other in close link.
[755] But we are innocent: how have we fallen
Into this circle of mishap and guilt? 75
To whom have we been faithless? Wherefore must
The evil deeds and guilt reciprocal
Of our two fathers twine like serpents round us?
Why must our fathers'
Unconquerable hate rend us asunder,
Who love each other?
Defend my father. Woe is me, I cannot!
Hard deeds and luckless have ta'en place, one crime
Drags after it the other in close link.
[755] But we are innocent: how have we fallen
Into this circle of mishap and guilt? 75
To whom have we been faithless? Wherefore must
The evil deeds and guilt reciprocal
Of our two fathers twine like serpents round us?
Why must our fathers'
Unconquerable hate rend us asunder,
Who love each other?
Wallenstein. Max, remain with me. 80
Go you not from me, Max! Hark! I will tell thee—
How when at Prague, our winter quarters, thou
Wert brought into my tent a tender boy,
Not yet accustomed to the German winters;
Thy hand was frozen to the heavy colours; 85
Thou would'st not let them go.—
At that time did I take thee in my arms,
And with my mantle did I cover thee;
I was thy nurse, no woman could have been
A kinder to thee; I was not ashamed 90
To do for thee all little offices,
However strange to me; I tended thee
Till life returned; and when thine eyes first opened,
I had thee in my arms. Since then, when have I
Altered my feelings towards thee? Many thousands 95
Have I made rich, presented them with lands;
Rewarded them with dignities and honours;
Thee have I loved: my heart, my self, I gave
To thee! They all were aliens: thou wert
Our child and inmate.[755:1] Max! Thou canst not leave me; 100
It cannot be; I may not, will not think
That Max can leave me.
Go you not from me, Max! Hark! I will tell thee—
How when at Prague, our winter quarters, thou
Wert brought into my tent a tender boy,
Not yet accustomed to the German winters;
Thy hand was frozen to the heavy colours; 85
Thou would'st not let them go.—
At that time did I take thee in my arms,
And with my mantle did I cover thee;
I was thy nurse, no woman could have been
A kinder to thee; I was not ashamed 90
To do for thee all little offices,
However strange to me; I tended thee
Till life returned; and when thine eyes first opened,
I had thee in my arms. Since then, when have I
Altered my feelings towards thee? Many thousands 95
Have I made rich, presented them with lands;
Rewarded them with dignities and honours;
Thee have I loved: my heart, my self, I gave
To thee! They all were aliens: thou wert
Our child and inmate.[755:1] Max! Thou canst not leave me; 100
It cannot be; I may not, will not think
That Max can leave me.
Max. O my God!
Wallenstein. I have
Held and sustained thee from thy tottering childhood.
What holy bond is there of natural love?
What human tie, that does not knit thee to me? 105
I love thee, Max! What did thy father for thee,
[756] Which I too have not done, to the height of duty?
Go hence, forsake me, serve thy Emperor;
He will reward thee with a pretty chain
Of gold; with his ram's fleece will he reward thee; 110
For that the friend, the father of thy youth,
For that the holiest feeling of humanity,
Was nothing worth to thee.
Held and sustained thee from thy tottering childhood.
What holy bond is there of natural love?
What human tie, that does not knit thee to me? 105
I love thee, Max! What did thy father for thee,
[756] Which I too have not done, to the height of duty?
Go hence, forsake me, serve thy Emperor;
He will reward thee with a pretty chain
Of gold; with his ram's fleece will he reward thee; 110
For that the friend, the father of thy youth,
For that the holiest feeling of humanity,
Was nothing worth to thee.
Max. O God! how can I
Do otherwise? Am I not forced to do it?
My oath—my duty—honour—
Do otherwise? Am I not forced to do it?
My oath—my duty—honour—
Wallenstein. How? Thy duty? 115
Duty to whom? Who art thou? Max! bethink thee
What duties may'st thou have? If I am acting
A criminal part toward the Emperor,
It is my crime, not thine. Dost thou belong
To thine own self? Art thou thine own commander? 120
Stand'st thou, like me, a freeman in the world,
That in thy actions thou should'st plead free agency?
On me thou'rt planted, I am thy Emperor;
To obey me, to belong to me, this is
Thy honour, this a law of nature to thee! 125
And if the planet, on the which thou liv'st
And hast thy dwelling, from its orbit starts,
It is not in thy choice, whether or no
Thou'lt follow it. Unfelt it whirls thee onward
Together with his ring and all his moons. 130
With little guilt stepp'st thou into this contest,
Thee will the world not censure, it will praise thee,
For that thou heldst thy friend more worth to thee
Than names and influences more removed.
For justice is the virtue of the ruler, 135
Affection and fidelity the subject's.
Not every one doth it beseem to question
The far-off high Arcturus. Most securely
Wilt thou pursue the nearest duty—let
The pilot fix his eye upon the pole-star. 140
Duty to whom? Who art thou? Max! bethink thee
What duties may'st thou have? If I am acting
A criminal part toward the Emperor,
It is my crime, not thine. Dost thou belong
To thine own self? Art thou thine own commander? 120
Stand'st thou, like me, a freeman in the world,
That in thy actions thou should'st plead free agency?
On me thou'rt planted, I am thy Emperor;
To obey me, to belong to me, this is
Thy honour, this a law of nature to thee! 125
And if the planet, on the which thou liv'st
And hast thy dwelling, from its orbit starts,
It is not in thy choice, whether or no
Thou'lt follow it. Unfelt it whirls thee onward
Together with his ring and all his moons. 130
With little guilt stepp'st thou into this contest,
Thee will the world not censure, it will praise thee,
For that thou heldst thy friend more worth to thee
Than names and influences more removed.
For justice is the virtue of the ruler, 135
Affection and fidelity the subject's.
Not every one doth it beseem to question
The far-off high Arcturus. Most securely
Wilt thou pursue the nearest duty—let
The pilot fix his eye upon the pole-star. 140
FOOTNOTES:
[753:1] I have here ventured to omit a considerable number of lines. I fear that I should not have done amiss, had I taken this liberty more frequently. It is, however, incumbent on me to give the original with a literal translation.
Weh denen die auf dich vertraun, an Dich
Die sichre Hütte ihres Glückes lehnen,
Gelockt von deiner gastlichen Gestalt.
Schnell, unverhofft, bei nächtlich stiller Weile
Gährt's in dem tückschen Feuerschlunde, ladet
Sich aus mit tobender Gewalt, und weg
Treibt über alle Pflanzungen der Menschen
Der wilde Strom in grausender Zerstörung.
Die sichre Hütte ihres Glückes lehnen,
Gelockt von deiner gastlichen Gestalt.
Schnell, unverhofft, bei nächtlich stiller Weile
Gährt's in dem tückschen Feuerschlunde, ladet
Sich aus mit tobender Gewalt, und weg
Treibt über alle Pflanzungen der Menschen
Der wilde Strom in grausender Zerstörung.
Wallenstein.
Du schilderst deines Vaters Herz. Wie Du's
Beschreibst, so ist's in seinem Eingeweide,
In dieser schwarzen Heuchlersbrust gestaltet.
O mich hat Höllenkunst getäuscht. Mir sandte
Der Abgrund den verstecktesten der Geister,
Den Lügekundigsten herauf, und stellt' ihn
Als Freund an meine Seite. Wer vermag
Der Hölle Macht zu widerstehn! Ich zog
Den Basilisken auf an meinem Busen,
Mit meinem Herzblut nährt' ich ihn, er sog
Sich schwelgend voll an meiner Liebe Brüsten.
Ich hatte nimmer Arges gegen ihn,
Weit offen Hess ich des Gedankens Thore,
Und warf die Schlüssel weiser Vorsicht weg,
Am Sternenhimmel, &c.
Beschreibst, so ist's in seinem Eingeweide,
In dieser schwarzen Heuchlersbrust gestaltet.
O mich hat Höllenkunst getäuscht. Mir sandte
Der Abgrund den verstecktesten der Geister,
Den Lügekundigsten herauf, und stellt' ihn
Als Freund an meine Seite. Wer vermag
Der Hölle Macht zu widerstehn! Ich zog
Den Basilisken auf an meinem Busen,
Mit meinem Herzblut nährt' ich ihn, er sog
Sich schwelgend voll an meiner Liebe Brüsten.
Ich hatte nimmer Arges gegen ihn,
Weit offen Hess ich des Gedankens Thore,
Und warf die Schlüssel weiser Vorsicht weg,
Am Sternenhimmel, &c.
Literal Translation.
Alas! for those who place their confidence on thee, against thee lean the secure hut of their fortune, allured by thy hospitable form. Suddenly, unexpectedly, in a moment still as night, there is a fermentation in the treacherous gulf of fire; it discharges itself with raging force, and away over all the plantations of men drives the wild stream in frightful devastation. Wallenstein. Thou art portraying thy father's heart; as thou describest, even so is it shaped in his entrails, in this black hypocrite's breast. O, the art of hell has deceived me! The Abyss sent up to me the most spotted of the spirits, the most skilful in lies, and placed him as a friend by my side. Who may withstand the power of hell? I took the basilisk to my bosom, with my heart's blood I nourished him; he sucked himself glutfull at the breasts of my love. I never harboured evil towards him; wide open did I leave the door of my thoughts; I threw away the key of wise foresight. In the starry heaven, &c.—We find a difficulty in believing this to have been written by Schiller. 1800, 1828, 1829. I have here ventured to omit a considerable number of lines, which it is difficult to believe that Schiller could have written. 1834.
[755:1] This is a poor and inadequate translation of the affectionate simplicity of the original—
Sie alle waren Fremdlinge, Du warst
Das Kind des Hauses.
Das Kind des Hauses.
Indeed the whole speech is in the best style of Massinger. O si sic omnia!
LINENOTES:
After 4 [Advancing to Thekla, who has thrown herself into her mother's arms. 1800, 1828, 1829.
[14]
must leave 1800, 1828, 1829.
Before 40 Max (calmly). 1800, 1828, 1829.
[60]
Ferdinand . . . me 1800, 1828, 1829.
[98]
lov'd 1800, 1828, 1829.
[117]
thou 1800, 1828, 1829.
[124]
me . . . belong 1800, 1828, 1829.
Scene VII
To these enter Neumann.
Wallenstein. What now?
Neumann. The Pappenheimers are dismounted,
[757] And are advancing now on foot, determined
With sword in hand to storm the house, and free
The Count, their colonel.
[757] And are advancing now on foot, determined
With sword in hand to storm the house, and free
The Count, their colonel.
Wallenstein (to Tertsky). Have the cannon planted.
I will receive them with chain-shot. [Exit Tertsky. 5
Prescribe to me with sword in hand! Go, Neumann!
'Tis my command that they retreat this moment,
And in their ranks in silence wait my pleasure.
I will receive them with chain-shot. [Exit Tertsky. 5
Prescribe to me with sword in hand! Go, Neumann!
'Tis my command that they retreat this moment,
And in their ranks in silence wait my pleasure.
[Neumann exit. Illo steps to the window.
Countess. Let him go, I entreat thee, let him go.
Illo (at the window). Hell and perdition!
Wallenstein. What is it? 10
Illo. They scale the council-house, the roof's uncovered.
They level at this house the cannon——
They level at this house the cannon——
Max. Madmen!
Illo. They are making preparations now to fire on us.
Duchess and Countess. Merciful Heaven!
Max (to Wallenstein). Let me go to them!
Wallenstein. Not a step!
Max (pointing to Thekla and the Duchess). But their life! Thine! 15
Wallenstein. What tidings bring'st thou, Tertsky?
Scene VIII
To these Tertsky (returning).
Tertsky. Message and greeting from our faithful regiments.
Their ardour may no longer be curbed in.
They intreat permission to commence the attack,
And if thou would'st but give the word of onset,
They could now charge the enemy in rear, 5
Into the city wedge them, and with ease
O'erpower them in the narrow streets.
Their ardour may no longer be curbed in.
They intreat permission to commence the attack,
And if thou would'st but give the word of onset,
They could now charge the enemy in rear, 5
Into the city wedge them, and with ease
O'erpower them in the narrow streets.
Illo. O come!
Let not their ardour cool. The soldiery
Of Butler's corps stand by us faithfully;
We are the greater number. Let us charge them, 10
And finish here in Pilsen the revolt.
Let not their ardour cool. The soldiery
Of Butler's corps stand by us faithfully;
We are the greater number. Let us charge them, 10
And finish here in Pilsen the revolt.
Wallenstein. What? shall this town become a field of slaughter,
And brother-killing Discord, fire-eyed,
Be let loose through its streets to roam and rage?
[758] Shall the decision be delivered over 15
To deaf remorseless Rage, that hears no leader?
Here is not room for battle, only for butchery.
Well, let it be! I have long thought of it,
So let it burst then! [Turns to Max.
Well, how is it with thee?
Wilt thou attempt a heat with me. Away! 20
Thou art free to go. Oppose thyself to me,
Front against front, and lead them to the battle;
Thou'rt skilled in war, thou hast learned somewhat under me,
I need not be ashamed of my opponent,
And never had'st thou fairer opportunity 25
To pay me for thy schooling.
And brother-killing Discord, fire-eyed,
Be let loose through its streets to roam and rage?
[758] Shall the decision be delivered over 15
To deaf remorseless Rage, that hears no leader?
Here is not room for battle, only for butchery.
Well, let it be! I have long thought of it,
So let it burst then! [Turns to Max.
Well, how is it with thee?
Wilt thou attempt a heat with me. Away! 20
Thou art free to go. Oppose thyself to me,
Front against front, and lead them to the battle;
Thou'rt skilled in war, thou hast learned somewhat under me,
I need not be ashamed of my opponent,
And never had'st thou fairer opportunity 25
To pay me for thy schooling.
Countess. Is it then,
Can it have come to this?—What! Cousin, Cousin!
Have you the heart?
Can it have come to this?—What! Cousin, Cousin!
Have you the heart?
Max. The regiments that are trusted to my care
I have pledged my troth to bring away from Pilsen 30
True to the Emperor, and this promise will I
Make good, or perish. More than this no duty
Requires of me. I will not fight against thee,
Unless compelled; for though an enemy,
Thy head is holy to me still. 35
I have pledged my troth to bring away from Pilsen 30
True to the Emperor, and this promise will I
Make good, or perish. More than this no duty
Requires of me. I will not fight against thee,
Unless compelled; for though an enemy,
Thy head is holy to me still. 35
[Two reports of cannon. Illo and Tertsky hurry to the window.
Wallenstein. What's that?
Tertsky. He falls.
Wallenstein. Falls! Who?
Illo. Tiefenbach's corps
Discharged the ordnance.
Discharged the ordnance.
Wallenstein. Upon whom?
Illo. On Neumann,
Your messenger.
Your messenger.
Wallenstein (starting up). Ha! Death and hell! I will—
Tertsky. Expose thyself to their blind frenzy?
Duchess and Countess. No!
For God's sake, no!
For God's sake, no!
Illo. Not yet, my General! 40
Countess. O, hold him! hold him!
Wallenstein. Leave me——
Max. Do it not
Not yet! This rash and bloody deed has thrown them
Into a frenzy-fit—allow them time——
Not yet! This rash and bloody deed has thrown them
Into a frenzy-fit—allow them time——
[759]Wallenstein. Away! too long already have I loitered.
They are emboldened to these outrages, 45
Beholding not my face. They shall behold
My countenance, shall hear my voice——
Are they not my troops? Am I not their General,
And their long-feared commander? Let me see,
Whether indeed they do no longer know 50
That countenance, which was their sun in battle!
From the balcony (mark!) I shew myself
To these rebellious forces, and at once
Revolt is mounded, and the high-swoln current
Shrinks back into the old bed of obedience. 55
They are emboldened to these outrages, 45
Beholding not my face. They shall behold
My countenance, shall hear my voice——
Are they not my troops? Am I not their General,
And their long-feared commander? Let me see,
Whether indeed they do no longer know 50
That countenance, which was their sun in battle!
From the balcony (mark!) I shew myself
To these rebellious forces, and at once
Revolt is mounded, and the high-swoln current
Shrinks back into the old bed of obedience. 55
[Exit Wallenstein; Illo, Tertsky, and Butler follow.
LINENOTES:
[48]
my 1800, 1828, 1829.
Scene IX
Countess, Duchess, Max, and Thekla.
Countess (to the Duchess). Let them but see him—there is hope still, sister.
Duchess. Hope! I have none!
Max (who during the last scene has been standing at a distance,
advances). This can I not endure.
With most determined soul did I come hither,
My purposed action seemed unblameable
To my own conscience—and I must stand here 5
Like one abhorred, a hard inhuman being;
Yea, loaded with the curse of all I love!
Must see all whom I love in this sore anguish,
Whom I with one word can make happy—O!
My heart revolts within me, and two voices 10
Make themselves audible within my bosom.
My soul's benighted; I no longer can
Distinguish the right track. O, well and truly
Didst thou say, father, I relied too much
On my own heart. My mind moves to and fro— 15
I know not what to do.
advances). This can I not endure.
With most determined soul did I come hither,
My purposed action seemed unblameable
To my own conscience—and I must stand here 5
Like one abhorred, a hard inhuman being;
Yea, loaded with the curse of all I love!
Must see all whom I love in this sore anguish,
Whom I with one word can make happy—O!
My heart revolts within me, and two voices 10
Make themselves audible within my bosom.
My soul's benighted; I no longer can
Distinguish the right track. O, well and truly
Didst thou say, father, I relied too much
On my own heart. My mind moves to and fro— 15
I know not what to do.
Countess. What! you know not?
Does not your own heart tell you? O! then I
Will tell it you. Your father is a traitor,
[760] A frightful traitor to us—he has plotted
Against our General's life, has plunged us all 20
In misery—and you're his son! 'Tis yours
To make the amends—Make you the son's fidelity
Outweigh the father's treason, that the name
Of Piccolomini be not a proverb
Of infamy, a common form of cursing 25
To the posterity of Wallenstein.
Does not your own heart tell you? O! then I
Will tell it you. Your father is a traitor,
[760] A frightful traitor to us—he has plotted
Against our General's life, has plunged us all 20
In misery—and you're his son! 'Tis yours
To make the amends—Make you the son's fidelity
Outweigh the father's treason, that the name
Of Piccolomini be not a proverb
Of infamy, a common form of cursing 25
To the posterity of Wallenstein.
Max. Where is that voice of truth which I dare follow?
It speaks no longer in my heart. We all
But utter what our passionate wishes dictate:
O that an angel would descend from Heaven, 30
And scoop for me the right, the uncorrupted,
With a pure hand from the pure Fount of Light. [His eyes glance on Thekla.
What other angel seek I? To this heart,
To this unerring heart, will I submit it,
Will ask thy love, which has the power to bless 35
The happy man alone, averted ever
From the disquieted and guilty—canst thou
Still love me, if I stay? Say that thou canst,
And I am the Duke's——
It speaks no longer in my heart. We all
But utter what our passionate wishes dictate:
O that an angel would descend from Heaven, 30
And scoop for me the right, the uncorrupted,
With a pure hand from the pure Fount of Light. [His eyes glance on Thekla.
What other angel seek I? To this heart,
To this unerring heart, will I submit it,
Will ask thy love, which has the power to bless 35
The happy man alone, averted ever
From the disquieted and guilty—canst thou
Still love me, if I stay? Say that thou canst,
And I am the Duke's——
Countess. Think, niece——
Max. Think nothing, Thekla!
Speak what thou feelest.
Speak what thou feelest.
Countess. Think upon your father. 40
Max. I did not question thee, as Friedland's daughter.
Thee, the beloved and the unerring god
Within thy heart, I question. What's at stake?
Not whether diadem of royalty
Be to be won or not—that might'st thou think on. 45
Thy friend, and his soul's quiet, are at stake;
The fortune of a thousand gallant men,
Who will all follow me; shall I forswear
My oath and duty to the Emperor?
Say, shall I send into Octavio's camp 50
The parricidal ball? For when the ball
Has left its cannon, and is on its flight,
It is no longer a dead instrument!
It lives, a spirit passes into it,
[761] The avenging furies seize possession of it, 55
And with sure malice guide it the worst way.
Thee, the beloved and the unerring god
Within thy heart, I question. What's at stake?
Not whether diadem of royalty
Be to be won or not—that might'st thou think on. 45
Thy friend, and his soul's quiet, are at stake;
The fortune of a thousand gallant men,
Who will all follow me; shall I forswear
My oath and duty to the Emperor?
Say, shall I send into Octavio's camp 50
The parricidal ball? For when the ball
Has left its cannon, and is on its flight,
It is no longer a dead instrument!
It lives, a spirit passes into it,
[761] The avenging furies seize possession of it, 55
And with sure malice guide it the worst way.
Thekla. O! Max——
Max. Nay, not precipitately either, Thekla.
I understand thee. To thy noble heart
The hardest duty might appear the highest.
The human, not the great part, would I act. 60
Ev'n from my childhood to this present hour,
Think what the Duke has done for me, how loved me,
And think too, how my father has repaid him.
O likewise the free lovely impulses
Of hospitality, the pious friend's 65
Faithful attachment, these too are a holy
Religion to the heart; and heavily
The shudderings of nature do avenge
Themselves on the barbarian that insults them.
Lay all upon the balance, all—then speak, 70
And let thy heart decide it.
I understand thee. To thy noble heart
The hardest duty might appear the highest.
The human, not the great part, would I act. 60
Ev'n from my childhood to this present hour,
Think what the Duke has done for me, how loved me,
And think too, how my father has repaid him.
O likewise the free lovely impulses
Of hospitality, the pious friend's 65
Faithful attachment, these too are a holy
Religion to the heart; and heavily
The shudderings of nature do avenge
Themselves on the barbarian that insults them.
Lay all upon the balance, all—then speak, 70
And let thy heart decide it.
Thekla. O, thy own
Hath long ago decided. Follow thou
Thy heart's first feeling——
Hath long ago decided. Follow thou
Thy heart's first feeling——
Countess. Oh! ill-fated woman!
Thekla. Is it possible, that that can be the right,
The which thy tender heart did not at first 75
Detect and seize with instant impulse? Go,
Fulfil thy duty! I should ever love thee.
Whate'er thou had'st chosen, thou would'st still have acted
Nobly and worthy of thee—but repentance
Shall ne'er disturb thy soul's fair peace.
The which thy tender heart did not at first 75
Detect and seize with instant impulse? Go,
Fulfil thy duty! I should ever love thee.
Whate'er thou had'st chosen, thou would'st still have acted
Nobly and worthy of thee—but repentance
Shall ne'er disturb thy soul's fair peace.
Max. Then I 80
Must leave thee, must part from thee!
Must leave thee, must part from thee!
Thekla. Being faithful
To thine own self, thou art faithful too to me:
If our fates part, our hearts remain united.
A bloody hatred will divide for ever
The houses Piccolomini and Friedland; 85
But we belong not to our houses—Go!
Quick! quick! and separate thy righteous cause
From our unholy and unblessed one!
The curse of heaven lies upon our head:
'Tis dedicate to ruin. Even me 90
My father's guilt drags with it to perdition.
Mourn not for me:
[762] My destiny will quickly be decided.
To thine own self, thou art faithful too to me:
If our fates part, our hearts remain united.
A bloody hatred will divide for ever
The houses Piccolomini and Friedland; 85
But we belong not to our houses—Go!
Quick! quick! and separate thy righteous cause
From our unholy and unblessed one!
The curse of heaven lies upon our head:
'Tis dedicate to ruin. Even me 90
My father's guilt drags with it to perdition.
Mourn not for me:
[762] My destiny will quickly be decided.
[Max clasps her in his arms. There is heard from behind the Scene a loud, wild, long continued cry, 'Vivat Ferdinandus,' accompanied by warlike instruments.