The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (2 of 2), by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Wallenstein. Be tranquil! leave me, sister! dearest wife!
We are in camp, and this is nought unusual;
Here storm and sunshine follow one another
With rapid interchanges. These fierce spirits 25
Champ the curb angrily, and never yet
Did quiet bless the temples of the leader.
If I am to stay, go you. The plaints of women
Ill suit the scene where men must act.
[He is going: Tertsky returns.

Tertsky. Remain here. From this window must we see it. 30

Wallenstein (to the Countess). Sister, retire!

Countess. No—never.

Wallenstein. 'Tis my will.

Tertsky (leads the Countess aside, and drawing her attention to the Duchess).
Theresa!

Duchess. Sister, come! since he commands it.

LINENOTES:

[4]

Wallenstein (winks to them). 1800.

Scene VII

Wallenstein, Tertsky.

Wallenstein (stepping to the window). What now, then?

Tertsky. There are strange movements among all the troops,
And no one knows the cause. Mysteriously,
With gloomy silentness, the several corps
Marshal themselves, each under its own banners. 5
Tiefenbach's corps makes threatening movements; only
The Pappenheimers still remain aloof
In their own quarters, and let no one enter.

Wallenstein. Does Piccolomini appear among them?

Tertsky. We are seeking him: he is no where to be met with. 10

Wallenstein. What did the Aid-de-Camp deliver to you?

Tertsky. My regiments had dispatched him; yet once more
They swear fidelity to thee, and wait
The shout for onset, all prepared, and eager.

Wallenstein. But whence arose this larum in the camp? 15
It should have been kept secret from the army,
Till fortune had decided for us at Prague.

Tertsky. O that thou hadst believed me! Yester evening
[738] Did we conjure thee not to let that skulker,
That fox, Octavio, pass the gates of Pilsen. 20
Thou gav'st him thy own horses to flee from thee.

Wallenstein. The old tune still! Now, once for all, no more
Of this suspicion—it is doting folly.

Tertsky. Thou did'st confide in Isolani too;
And lo! he was the first that did desert thee. 25

Wallenstein. It was but yesterday I rescued him
From abject wretchedness. Let that go by.
I never reckon'd yet on gratitude.
And wherein doth he wrong in going from me?
He follows still the god whom all his life 30
He has worshipped at the gaming table. With
My Fortune, and my seeming destiny,
He made the bond, and broke it not with me.
I am but the ship in which his hopes were stowed,
And with the which well-pleased and confident 35
He traversed the open sea; now he beholds it
In imminent jeopardy among the coast-rocks,
And hurries to preserve his wares. As light
As the free bird from the hospitable twig
Where it had nested, he flies off from me: 40
No human tie is snapped betwixt us two.
Yea, he deserves to find himself deceived,
Who seeks a heart in the unthinking man.
Like shadows on a stream, the forms of life
Impress their characters on the smooth forehead, 45
Nought sinks into the bosom's silent depth:
Quick sensibility of pain and pleasure
Moves the light fluids lightly; but no soul
Warmeth the inner frame.

Tertsky. Yet, would I rather
Trust the smooth brow than that deep furrowed one. 50

LINENOTES:

[6]

makes] make 1800, 1828, 1829.

[11]

Aid-de-Camp] Aide-de-Camp 1800.

[32]

Fortune 1800, 1828, 1829.

Scene VIII

Wallenstein, Tertsky, Illo.

Illo. Treason and mutiny!

Tertsky. And what further now?

Illo. Tiefenbach's soldiers, when I gave the orders
To go off guard—Mutinous villains!

Tertsky. Well!

Wallenstein. What followed?

Illo. They refused obedience to them. 5

Tertsky. Fire on them instantly! Give out the order.

Wallenstein. Gently! what cause did they assign?

Illo. No other,
They said, had right to issue orders but
Lieutenant-General Piccolomini.

Wallenstein. What? How is that? 10

Illo. He takes that office on him by commission,
Under sign-manual of the Emperor.

Tertsky. From the Emperor—hear'st thou, Duke?

Illo. At his incitement
The Generals made that stealthy flight—

Tertsky. Duke! hearest thou?

Illo. Caraffa too, and Montecuculi, 15
Are missing, with six other Generals,
All whom he had induced to follow him.
This plot he has long had in writing by him
From the Emperor; but 'twas finally concluded
With all the detail of the operation 20
Some days ago with the Envoy Questenberg.

[Wallenstein sinks down into a chair and covers his face.

Tertsky. O hadst thou but believed me!

LINENOTES:

Before 1 Illo (who enters agitated with rage). 1800, 1828, 1829.

[9]

Piccolomini 1800, 1828, 1829.

[10]

Wallenstein (in a convulsion of agony). 1800, 1828, 1829.

Scene IX

To them enter the Countess.

Countess. This suspense,
This horrid fear—I can no longer bear it.
For heaven's sake, tell me, what has taken place.

Illo. The regiments are all falling off from us.

Tertsky. Octavio Piccolomini is a traitor. 5

Countess. O my foreboding! [Rushes out of the room.

Tertsky. Hadst thou but believed me!
Now seest thou how the stars have lied to thee.

Wallenstein. The stars lie not; but we have here a work
Wrought counter to the stars and destiny.
The science is still honest: this false heart 10
Forces a lie on the truth-telling heaven.
On a divine law divination rests;
Where nature deviates from that law, and stumbles
Out of her limits, there all science errs.
[740] True, I did not suspect! Were it superstition 15
Never by such suspicion t' have affronted
The human form, O may that time ne'er come
In which I shame me of the infirmity.
The wildest savage drinks not with the victim
Into whose breast he means to plunge the sword. 20
This, this, Octavio, was no hero's deed:
'Twas not thy prudence that did conquer mine;
A bad heart triumphed o'er an honest one.
No shield received the assassin stroke; thou plungest
Thy weapon on an unprotected breast— 25
Against such weapons I am but a child.

Scene X

To these enter Butler.

Tertsky (meeting him). O look there! Butler! Here we've still a friend!

Wallenstein (meets him with outspread arms, and embraces him with warmth). Come to my heart, old comrade! Not the sun
Looks out upon us more revivingly
In the earliest month of spring,
Than a friend's countenance in such an hour. 5

Butler. My General: I come—

Wallenstein (leaning on Butler's shoulders). Know'st thou already?
That old man has betrayed me to the Emperor.
What say'st thou? Thirty years have we together
Lived out, and held out, sharing joy and hardship.
We have slept in one camp-bed, drunk from one glass, 10
One morsel shared! I leaned myself on him,
As now I lean me on thy faithful shoulder.
And now in the very moment, when, all love,
All confidence, my bosom beat to his,
He sees and takes the advantage, stabs the knife 15
Slowly into my heart. [He hides his face on Butler's breast.

Butler. Forget the false one.
What is your present purpose?

Wallenstein. Well remembered!
Courage my soul! I am still rich in friends,
[741] Still loved by Destiny; for in the moment,
That it unmasks the plotting hypocrite, 20
It sends and proves to me one faithful heart.
Of the hypocrite no more! Think not, his loss
Was that which struck the pang: O no! his treason
Is that which strikes this pang! No more of him!
Dear to my heart, and honoured were they both, 25
And the young man—yes—he did truly love me,
He—he—has not deceived me. But enough,
Enough of this—Swift counsel now beseems us.
The Courier, whom Count Kinsky sent from Prague
I expect him every moment: and whatever 30
He may bring with him, we must take good care
To keep it from the mutineers. Quick, then!
Dispatch some messenger you can rely on
To meet him, and conduct him to me. [Illo is going.

Butler (detaining him). My General, whom expect you then?

Wallenstein. The Courier 35
Who brings me word of the event at Prague.

Butler (hesitating). Hem!

Wallenstein. And what now?

Butler. You do not know it?

Wallenstein. Well?

Butler. From what that larum in the camp arose?

Wallenstein. From what?

Butler. That Courier.

Wallenstein. Well?

Butler. Is already here.

Tertsky and Illo (at the same time). Already here?

Wallenstein. My Courier?

Butler. For some hours. 40

Wallenstein. And I not know it?

Butler. The centinels detain him
In custody.

Illo. Damnation!

Butler. And his letter
Was broken open, and is circulated
Through the whole camp.

Wallenstein. You know what it contains?

Butler. Question me not.

Tertsky. Illo! alas for us. 45

Wallenstein. Hide nothing from me—I can hear the worst.
Prague then is lost. It is. Confess it freely.

Butler. Yes! Prague is lost. And all the several regiments
At Budweiss, Tabor, Brannau, Konigingratz,
At Brun and Znaym, have forsaken you, 50
And ta'en the oaths of fealty anew
To the Emperor. Yourself, with Kinsky, Tertsky,
And Illo have been sentenced.

[Tertsky and Illo express alarm and fury. Wallenstein remains firm and collected.

Wallenstein. 'Tis decided!
'Tis well! I have received a sudden cure
From all the pangs of doubt: with steady stream 55
Once more my life-blood flows! My soul's secure!
In the night only Friedland's stars can beam.
Lingering irresolute, with fitful fears
I drew the sword—'twas with an inward strife,
While yet the choice was mine. The murderous knife 60
Is lifted for my heart! Doubt disappears!
I fight now for my head and for my life. [Exit Wallenstein; the others follow him.

LINENOTES:

[11]

him 1800, 1828, 1829.

[12]

thy 1800, 1828, 1829.

[21]

faithful 1800.

[26]

did 1800.

[39]

Wallenstein (with eager expectation). Well? 1800, 1828, 1829.

[42]

Illo (stamping with his foot). Damnation! 1800, 1828, 1829.

[48]

is 1800, 1828, 1829.

Scene XI

Countess Tertsky (enters from a side room). I can endure no
longer. No! [Looks around her.
Where are they?
No one is here. They leave me all alone,
Alone in this sore anguish of suspense.
And I must wear the outward shew of calmness
Before my sister, and shut in within me 5
The pangs and agonies of my crowded bosom.
It is not to be borne.—If all should fail;
If—if he must go over to the Swedes,
An empty-handed fugitive, and not
As an ally, a covenanted equal, 10
A proud commander with his army following;
If we must wander on from land to land,
Like the Count Palatine, of fallen greatness
An ignominious monument—But no!
That day I will not see! And could himself 15
Endure to sink so low, I would not bear
To see him so low sunken.

Scene XII

Countess, Duchess, Thekla.

Thekla (endeavouring to hold back the Duchess). Dear mother,
do stay here!

Duchess. No! Here is yet
Some frightful mystery that is hidden from me.
Why does my sister shun me? Don't I see her
Full of suspense and anguish roam about
From room to room?—Art thou not full of terror? 5
And what import these silent nods and gestures
Which stealthwise thou exchangest with her?

Thekla. Nothing:
Nothing, dear Mother!

Duchess (to the Countess). Sister, I will know.

Countess. What boots it now to hide it from her? Sooner
Or later she must learn to hear and bear it. 10
'Tis not the time now to indulge infirmity,
Courage beseems us now, a heart collected,
And exercise and previous discipline
Of fortitude. One word, and over with it!
Sister, you are deluded. You believe, 15
The Duke has been deposed—The Duke is not
Deposed—he is——

Thekla (going to the Countess). What? do you wish to kill her?

Countess. The Duke is——

Thekla (throwing her arms round her mother). O stand firm! stand firm, my mother!

Countess. Revolted is the Duke, he is preparing 20
To join the enemy, the army leave him,
And all has failed.

LINENOTES:

[10]

must 1800, 1828, 1829.

[12]

collected] collect 1800, 1828, 1829.

After 22 [During these words the Duchess totters, and falls in a fainting fit into the arms of her daughter. While Thekla is calling for help, the curtain drops. 1800, 1828, 1829.

ACT II

Scene I

Scene—A spacious Room in the Duke of Friedland's Palace.

Wallenstein (in armour). Thou hast gained thy point, Octavio! Once more am I
Almost as friendless as at Regenspurg.
[744] There I had nothing left me, but myself—
But what one man can do, you have now experience.
The twigs have you hewed off, and here I stand 5
A leafless trunk. But in the sap within
Lives the creating power, and a new world
May sprout forth from it. Once already have I
Proved myself worth an army to you—I alone!
Before the Swedish strength your troops had melted; 10
Beside the Lech sank Tilly, your last hope;
Into Bavaria, like a winter torrent,
Did that Gustavus pour, and at Vienna
In his own palace did the Emperor tremble.
Soldiers were scarce, for still the multitude 15
Follow the luck: all eyes were turned on me,
Their helper in distress; the Emperor's pride
Bowed itself down before the man he had injured.
'Twas I must rise, and with creative word
Assemble forces in the desolate camps. 20
I did it. Like a god of war, my name
Went through the world. The drum was beat—and, lo!
The plough, the work-shop is forsaken, all
Swarm to the old familiar long-loved banners;
And as the wood-choir rich in melody 25
Assemble quick around the bird of wonder,
When first his throat swells with his magic song,
So did the warlike youth of Germany
Crowd in around the image of my eagle.
I feel myself the being that I was. 30
It is the soul that builds itself a body,
And Friedland's camp will not remain unfilled.
Lead then your thousands out to meet me—true!
They are accustomed under me to conquer,
But not against me. If the head and limbs 35
Separate from each other, 'twill be soon
Made manifest, in which the soul abode.

(Illo and Tertsky enter.)

Courage, friends! Courage! We are still unvanquished;
I feel my footing firm; five regiments, Tertsky,
Are still our own, and Butler's gallant troops; 40
And a host of sixteen thousand Swedes to-morrow.
I was not stronger, when nine years ago
[745] I marched forth, with glad heart and high of hope,
To conquer Germany for the Emperor.

LINENOTES:

[11]

sank] sunk 1800, 1828, 1829.

Scene II

Wallenstein, Illo, Tertsky. (To them enter Neumann, who leads Tertsky aside, and talks with him.)

Tertsky. What do they want?

Wallenstein. What now?

Tertsky. Ten Cuirassiers
From Pappenheim request leave to address you
In the name of the regiment.

Wallenstein (hastily to Neumann). Let them enter. [Exit Neumann.
This
May end in something. Mark you. They are still
Doubtful, and may be won. 5

Scene III

Wallenstein, Tertsky, Illo, Ten Cuirassiers (led by an Anspessade,[745:1] march up and arrange themselves, after the word of command, in one front before the Duke, and make their obeisance. He takes his hat off, and immediately covers himself again).

Anspessade. Halt! Front! Present!

Wallenstein (after he has run through them with his eye, to the Anspessade). I know thee well. Thou art out of Brüggin in Flanders:
Thy name is Mercy.

Anspessade. Henry Mercy.

Wallenstein. Thou wert cut off on the march, surrounded
by the Hessians, and didst fight thy way with a hundred and 5
eighty men through their thousand.

Anspessade. 'Twas even so, General!

Wallenstein. What reward hadst thou for this gallant exploit?

Anspessade. That which I asked for: the honour to serve
in this corps. 10

Wallenstein (turning to a second). Thou wert among the
volunteers that seized and made booty of the Swedish battery
at Altenburg.

Second Cuirassier. Yes, General!

Wallenstein. I forget no one with whom I have exchanged 15
words. (A pause). Who sends you?

Anspessade. Your noble regiment, the Cuirassiers of
Piccolomini.

Wallenstein. Why does not your colonel deliver in your
request, according to the custom of service? 20

Anspessade. Because we would first know whom we serve.

Wallenstein. Begin your address.

Anspessade (giving the word of command). Shoulder your arms!

Wallenstein (turning to a third). Thy name is Risbeck, Cologne
is thy birthplace. 25

Third Cuirassier. Risbeck of Cologne.

Wallenstein. It was thou that broughtest in the Swedish
colonel, Diebald, prisoner, in the camp at Nuremberg.

Third Cuirassier. It was not I, General!

Wallenstein. Perfectly right! It was thy elder brother: 30
thou hadst a younger brother too: Where did he stay?

Third Cuirassier. He is stationed at Olmutz with the
Imperial army.

Wallenstein (to the Anspessade). Now then—begin.