The Death of Wallenstein, Friedrich Schiller [learn to read books txt] 📗

himself.
She is the only thing That will remain behind of me on earth; And I will see a crown around her head, Or die in the attempt to place it there. I hazard all - all! and for this alone, To lift her into greatness. Yea, in this moment, in the which we are speaking
[He recollects himself. And I must now, like a soft-hearted father, Couple together in good peasant fashion The pair that chance to suit each other's liking - And I must do it now, even now, when I Am stretching out the wreath that is to twine My full accomplished work - no! she is the jewel, Which I have treasured long, my last, my noblest, And 'tis my purpose not to let her from me For less than a king's sceptre.

DUCHESS.
O my husband! You're ever building, building to the clouds, Still building higher, and still higher building, And ne'er reflect, that the poor narrow basis Cannot sustain the giddy tottering column.

WALLENSTEIN (to the COUNTESS). Have you announced the place of residence Which I have destined for her?

COUNTESS.
No! not yet, 'Twere better you yourself disclosed it to her.

DUCHESS. How? Do we not return to Carinthia then?

WALLENSTEIN.
No.

DUCHESS. And to no other of your lands or seats?

WALLENSTEIN. You would not be secure there.

DUCHESS.
Not secure. In the emperor's realms, beneath the emperor's Protection?

WALLENSTEIN.
Friedland's wife may be permitted No longer to hope that.

DUCHESS.
O God in heaven! And have you brought it even to this!

WALLENSTEIN.
In Holland You'll find protection.

DUCHESS
In a Lutheran country? What? And you send us into Lutheran countries?

WALLENSTEIN. Duke Franz of Lauenburg conducts you thither.

DUCHESS. Duke Franz of Lauenburg? The ally of Sweden, the emperor's enemy.

WALLENSTEIN. The emperor's enemies are mine no longer.

DUCHESS (casting a look of terror on the DUKE and the COUNTESS). Is it then true? It is. You are degraded Deposed from the command? O God in heaven!

COUNTESS (aside to the DUKE). Leave her in this belief. Thou seest she cannot Support the real truth.


SCENE V.

To them enter COUNT TERZKY.

COUNTESS.
Terzky! What ails him? What an image of affright! He looks as he had seen a ghost.

TERZKY (leading WALLENSTEIN aside). Is it thy command that all the Croats - -

WALLENSTEIN.
Mine!

TERZKY. We are betrayed.

WALLENSTEIN.
What?

TERZKY.
They are off! This night The Jaegers likewise - all the villages In the whole round are empty.

WALLENSTEIN.
Isolani!

TERZKY. Him thou hast sent away. Yes, surely.

WALLENSTEIN.
I?

TERZKY. No? Hast thou not sent him off? Nor Deodati? They are vanished, both of them.


SCENE VI.

To them enter ILLO.

ILLO. Has Terzky told thee?

TERZKY.
He knows all.

ILLO.
And likewise That Esterhatzy, Goetz, Maradas, Kaunitz, Kolatto, Palfi, have forsaken thee.

TERZKY. Damnation!

WALLENSTEIN (winks at them). Hush!

COUNTESS (who has been watching them anxiously from the distance and
now advances to them). Terzky! Heaven! What is it? What has happened?

WALLENSTEIN (scarcely suppressing his emotions). Nothing! let us be gone!

TERZKY (following him).
Theresa, it is nothing.

COUNTESS (holding him back). Nothing? Do I not see that all the life-blood Has left your cheeks - look you not like a ghost? That even my brother but affects a calmness?

PAGE (enters). An aide-de-camp inquires for the Count Terzky.

[TERZKY follows the PAGE.

WALLENSTEIN. Go, hear his business.
[To ILLO.
This could not have happened So unsuspected without mutiny. Who was on guard at the gates?

ILLO.
'Twas Tiefenbach.

WALLENSTEIN. Let Tiefenbach leave guard without delay, And Terzky's grenadiers relieve him.
[ILLO is going.
Stop! Hast thou heard aught of Butler?

ILLO.
Him I met He will be here himself immediately. Butler remains unshaken,

[ILLO exit. WALLENSTEIN is following him.

COUNTESS. Let him not leave thee, sister! go, detain him! There's some misfortune.

DUCHESS (clinging to him).
Gracious Heaven! What is it?

WALLENSTEIN. Be tranquil! leave me, sister! dearest wife! We are in camp, and this is naught unusual; Here storm and sunshine follow one another With rapid interchanges. These fierce spirits 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: TERZKY returns.

TERZKY. Remain here. From this window must we see it.

WALLENSTEIN (to the COUNTESS). Sister, retire!

COUNTESS.
No - never!

WALLENSTEIN.
'Tis my will.

TERZKY (leads the COUNTESS aside, and drawing her attention
to the DUCHESS). Theresa!

DUCHESS.
Sister, come! since he commands it.


SCENE VII.

WALLENSTEIN, TERZKY.

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

TERZKY. 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; Tiefenbach's corps make threatening movements; only The Pappenheimers still remain aloof In their own quarters and let no one enter.

WALLENSTEIN. Does Piccolomini appear among them?

TERZKY. We are seeking him: he is nowhere to be met with.

WALLENSTEIN. What did the aide-de-camp deliver to you?

TERZKY. My regiments had despatched 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? It should have been kept secret from the army Till fortune had decided for us at Prague.

TERZKY. Oh, that thou hadst believed me! Yester-evening Did we conjure thee not to let that skulker, That fox, Octavio, pass the gates of Pilsen. Thou gavest 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.

TERZKY. Thou didst confide in Isolani too; And lo! he was the first that did desert thee.

WALLENSTEIN. It was but yesterday I rescued him From abject wretchedness. Let that go by; I never reckoned yet on gratitude. And wherein doth he wrong in going from me? He follows still the god whom all his life 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, He traversed the open sea; now he beholds it In eminent 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: 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, Naught 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.

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


SCENE VIII.

WALLENSTEIN, TERZKY, ILLO.

ILLO (who enters agitated with rage). Treason and mutiny!

TERZKY.
And what further now?

ILLO. Tiefenbach's soldiers, when I gave the orders. To go off guard - mutinous villains!

TERZKY. Well!

WALLENSTEIN.
What followed?

ILLO. They refused obedience to them.

TERZKY. 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 (in a convulsion of agony). What? How is that?

ILLO. He takes that office on him by commission, Under sign-manual from the emperor.

TERZKY. From the emperor - hearest thou, duke?

ILLO.
At his incitement The generals made that stealthy flight - -

TERZKY.
Duke, hearest thou?

ILLO. Caraffa too, and Montecuculi, 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, Some days ago with the Envoy Questenberg.

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

TERZKY. Oh, hadst thou but believed me!


SCENE IX.

To them enter the COUNTESS.