wn Angel. That I believe. So far would no one go Who was not forced to it. [After a pause. What may have impell'd Your princely Highness in this wise to act Toward 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, And all advantages in war are lawful. We take what offers without questioning; And if all have its due and just proportions—— wall exist e i N. of what then are ye doubting? Of my will or of my power: I pledged me to the Chancellor, Would he trust me with sixteen thousand men, That I would instantly go over to them with eighteen thousand of the Emperor's troops. wn ANGEL. Your Grace is known to be a mighty war-chief, To be a second Attila and Pyrrhus. 'T is talked of still with fresh astonishment, How some years past, beyond all human faith, You call d an army forth, like a creation : But yet— wal. Lenstein. But yet wn AN Gel. But still the Chancellor thinks, It might yet be an easier thing from nothing To call forth sixty thousand men of battle, Than to persuade one sixtieth part of them— wall. Exister N. What now 7 Out with it, friend ? waa NG eL. To break their oaths. wallenstein. And he thinks so?—He judges like a Swede, And like a Protestant. You Lutherans Fight for vour Bible. You are interested About the cause; and with your hearts you follow Your banners.-Among you, whoe'er deserts To the enemy, hath broken covenant With two Lords at one time.—We've no such fancies. wn Angel. Great God in Heaven! Have then the people here No house and home, no fire-side, no altar 1 wali.ensteix, 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, But then the Nobles and the Officers? wallenstein. They are all mine— Mine unconditionally—mine on all terms. Not me, your own eyes you must trust. [He gives him the paper containing the written oath. WRANgel reads it through, and, having read it, lays it on the table, remaining silent. So then 2 Now comprehend you? wn Ax gel. 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 here With fifteen thousand men, and only waits For orders to proceed and join your army. Those orders I give out, immediately We're compromised. wallensteix. What asks the Chancellor * wn ANGEL (considerately). Twelve Regiments, every man a Swede—my head The warranty—and all might prove at last Only false play—— wallenstein (starting). Sir Swede! wn angel (calmly proceeding). Am therefore forced T insist thereon, that he do formally, Irrevocably break with the Emperor, Else not a Swede is trusted to Duke Friedland. wal LENSTEIN. Come, brief, and open What is the demand? wn Angel. That he forthwith disarm the Spanish regiments Attach'd to the Emperor, that he seize Prague, And to the Swedes give up that city, with The strong pass Egra. wallenstein. That is much indeed Prague!—Egra's granted—But—but Prague!—T won't do. I give you every security which you may ask of me in common reason— But Prague–Bohemia—these, Sir General, I can myself protect. wn Angel. We doubt it not. But "t is not the protection that is now Our sole concern. We want security, That we shall not expend our men and money All to no purpose. wat, lensteix. 'T is but reasonable. wit A N G = 1. And till we are indemnified, so long Stays Prague in pledge. wallenstein. then trust you us so little? wn angel (rising). The Swede, if he would treat well with the German, Must keep a sharp look-out. We have been call’d Over the Baltic, we have saved the empire From ruin—with our best blood have we seal’d The liberty of faith, and gospel truth. But now already is the henefaction No longer felt, the load alone is felt.-Ye look askance with evil eye upon us, As foreigners, intruders in the empire, And would fain send us, with some paltry sum wn Axcel. Here my commission ends. wallensteix. Surrender up to you my capital! Far liever would I face about, and step Back to my Emperor. wr Axe rei. If time yet permits—— wallenstet N. That lies with me, even now, at any hour. wa-Neel. Some days ago, perhaps. To-day, no longer; No longer since Sesina's been a prisoner. [WAllenstein is struck, and silenced. My lord Duke, hear me—we believe that you At present do mean honourably by us. Since yesterday we're sure of that—and now This paper warrants for the troops, there's nothing Stands in the way of our full confidence. Prague shall not part us. Hear! The Chancellor Contents himself with Albstadt; to your Grace He 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 1 trust, and you not me? I will consider of your proposition. wn ANGru. I must entreat, that your consideration Occupy not too long a time. Already Has this negotiation, my Lord Duke! Crept on into the second year. If nothing Is settled this time, will the Chancellor Consider it as broken off for ever. • A great stone near Latzen, 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. ILLo. Is’t all right? reatsky. Are you compromised? I LL0. This Swede Went smiling from you. Yes! you're compromised. wallk-strix. As vet is nothing settled : and (well weigh'd) I feel myself inclined to leave it so. retarsky. | How! what is that: wallenstein. Come on me what will come, The doing evil to avoid an evil Cannot be good! TERTsky. Nay, but bethink you, Duke. wallex stel N. To live upon the mercy of these Swedes! Of these proud-hearted Swedes!—l could not bear it. 1 LLo. Goest thou as fugitive, as mendicant? Bringest thou not more to them than thou receivest? It lies with you now. Try. For I am silenced, When folks begin to talk to me of conscience, And of fidelity. count Ess. How? then, when all Lay in the far-off distance, when the road Stretch'd 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 ascertain'd, Dost thou begin to play the dastard now? Plann d merely, "t is a common felony; Accomplish'd, an immortal undertaking : And with success comes pardon hand in hand; For all event is God's arbitrement. servant (enters). The Colonel Piccolomini. countess (hastily). —Must wait. wal, lenstein. I cannot see him now. Another time. sERwant. But for two minutes he entreats an audience: Of the most urgent nature is his business. wallowstri N. who knows what he may bring us! I will hear him. countess (laughs). Urgent for him, no doubt; but thou mayest wait. WALLENstein. What is it? countriss. Thou shalt be inform'd hereafter. First let the Swede and thee be compromised. wat, Lenstein. If there were yet a choice' if yet some milder Way of escape were possible—I still Will chuse it, and avoid the last extreme. countess. Desirest thou nothing further? Such a way Lies still before thee. Send this Wrangel off. Forget thou thy old hopes, cast far away All thy past life; determine to commence A new one. Virtue hath her heroes too, As well as Fame and Fortune.—To Vienna— Itence—to the Emperor—kneel before the throne; Take a full coffer with thee—say aloud, Thou didst but wish to prove thy fealty; Thy whole intention but to dupe the Swede. it. Lo. For that too "t is too late. They know too much : He would but bear his own head to the block. countros. I fear not that. They have not evidence To attaint him legally, and they avoid The avowal of an arbitrary power. They'll let the Duke resign without disturbance. I see how all will end. The King of Hungary Makes his appearance, and 't will of itself He understood, that then the Duke retires. There will not want a formal declaration: The young King will administer the oath To the whole army; and so all returns [Exit Servant. counress. To the old position. On some morrow morning He will not what he must! The Duke departs; and now "t is stir and bustle I LLo. Within his castles. He will hunt, and build; Superintend his horses' pedigrees, Creates himself a court, gives golden keys, And introduceth strictest ceremony In fine proportions, and nice etiquette; Keeps 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: And who dares doubt, that Friedland will appear A nighty Prince to his last dying hour? Well now, what then? Duke Friedland is as others, A fire-new Noble, whom the war hath raised To price and currency, a Jonah's gourd, An over-night creation of court-favour, Which with an undistinguishable ease Makes Baron or makes Prince. wallenstein (in extreme agitation). Take her away. So against nature? Help me to perceive it! - Could I have hazarded such a Germanism, as the use of the word after-world, for posterity, -- Es spreche Welt und Nachwest meinen Namen--might have seen rendered with nore literal fidelity:—Lei world and aster-world speak out my name, etc. * I have not ventured to affront the fastidious delicacy of our age with a literal translat on of this line, werth Die Eingeweide schaudernd aufzuregen. Yet not a few, and for a meaner object, walle Nst hun. coux ress. On thee, the hate, the curse of the whole world. w Alt-Exstel N. countess. Affection! confidence –They needed thee. Then falls the power into the mighty hands Of Nature, of the spirit giant-born, Countess). Send Wrangel to me—I will instantly Dispatch three couriers— illo (hurrying out). God in heaven be praised! wallenstein. It is his evil genius and mine. Our evil genius! It chastises him Through me, the instrument of his ambition; And I expect no less, than that Revenge Een now is whetting for my breast the poniard. Who sows the serpent's teeth, let him not hope To reap a joyous harvest. Every crime Ilas, in the moment of its perpetration, Its own avenging angel—dark misgiving, An orninous sinking at the inmost heart. He can no longer trust me—Then no longer Can I retreat—so come that which must come.— Still destiny preserves its due relations, The heart within us is its absolute Vicegerent. [To Tearsky. Go, conduct you Gustave Wrangel To my state-cabinet.—Myself will speak to [To the Countess, who cannot conceal her triumph. [While he is making his exit the curtain drops. ACT V. SCENE I. scene, as in the preceding Act. wallensreix, Octavio Piccolomixi. Wallenstein (coming forward in conversation). He sends me word from Linz, that he lies sick; But I have sure intelligence, that he Secretes himself at Frauenberg with Galas. Secure thern both, and send them to me hither. Remember, thou takest on thee the command of those same Spanish regiments, constantly Make preparation, and be never ready : And if they urge thee to draw out against me, still answer vis, and stand as thou wert fetter'd I know, that it is doint; thee a service To 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 me By thy inertness. The mean time, if fortune Declare itself on my side, thou wilt know What is to do. Enter MAx. Piccolomini. Now go, Octavio. This night must thou be off, take my own horses: Him here I keep with me—make short farewell— Trust me, I think we all shall meet again In joy and thriving fortunes. octavio (to his son). I shall see you Yet ere I go. SCEN e ii. WAllenstein, MAx. Piccolomini. Max. (advances to him). My General! wallenstein. That am I no longer, if Thou stylest thyself the Emperor's officer. MAx. Then thou wilt leave the army, General? vv ALLENstein. I have renounced the service of the Emperor. MAX. And thou wilt leave the army wall ENstein. Rather hope I To bind it nearer still and faster to me. [He seats himself. Yes, Max., I have delay'd to open it to thee, Even till the hour of acting 'gins to strike. Youth's fortunate feeling doth seize easily The absolute right, yea, and a joy it is To exercise the single apprehension Where the sums square in proof; But where it happens, that of two sure evils One must be taken, where the heart not wholly Brings itself back from out the strife of duties, There 'tis a blessing to have no election, And blank necessity is grace and favour. —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 to 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 ta'en thee by surprise. Answer me not. I grant thee time to recollect thyself. [he rises, and retires at the back of the stage. Max, remains for a long time motionless, in a trance of excessive anquish. At his first motion WAllenstein returns, and places himself before him. MAX. My General, this day thou makest ine of age to speak in my own right and person, For till this day I have been spared the trouble To find out my own road. Thee have 1 follow'd |