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

Hark! Who speaks there?

GORDON. 'Tis better, I resign it to the hands Of Providence. For what am I, that I Should take upon myself so great a deed? I have not murdered him, if he be murdered; But all his rescue were my act and deed; Mine - and whatever be the consequences I must sustain them.

BUTLER (advances).
I should know that voice.

GORDON. Butler!

BUTLER.
'Tis Gordon. What do you want here? Was it so late, then, when the duke dismissed you?

GORDON. Your hand bound up and in a scarf?

BUTLER.
'Tis wounded. That Illo fought as he were frantic, till At last we threw him on the ground.

GORDON (shuddering).
Both dead?

BUTLER. Is he in bed?

GORDON.
Ah, Butler!

BUTLER.
Is he? speak.

GORDON. He shall not perish! Not through you! The heaven Refuses your arm. See - 'tis wounded!

BUTLER. There is no need of my arm.

GORDON.
The most guilty Have perished, and enough is given to justice.

[The GROOM OF THE CHAMBER advances from the gallery with his finger
on his mouth commanding silence.

GORDON. He sleeps! Oh, murder not the holy sleep!

BUTLER. No! he shall die awake.
[Is going.

GORDON. His heart still cleaves To earthly things: he's not prepared to step Into the presence of his God!

BUTLER (going).
God's merciful!

GORDON (holds him). Grant him but this night's respite.

BUTLER (hurrying of).
The next moment May ruin all.

GORDON (holds him still).
One hour!

BUTLER.
Unhold me! What Can that short respite profit him?

GORDON.
Oh, time Works miracles. In one hour many thousands Of grains of sand run out; and quick as they Thought follows thought within the human soul. Only one hour! Your heart may change its purpose, His heart may change its purpose - some new tidings May come; some fortunate event, decisive, May fall from heaven and rescue him. Oh, what May not one hour achieve!

BUTLER.
You but remind me How precious every minute is!

[He stamps on the floor.


SCENE VII.

To these enter MACDONALD and DEVEREUX, with the HALBERDIERS.

GORDON (throwing himself between him and them).
No, monster! First over my dead body thou shalt tread. I will Hot live to see the accursed deed!

BUTLER (forcing him out of the way). Weak-hearted dotard!

[Trumpets are heard in the distance.

DEVEREUX and MACDONALD.
Hark! The Swedish trumpets! The Swedes before the ramparts! Let us hasten!

GORDON (rushes out). Oh, God of mercy!

BUTLER (calling after him).
Governor, to your post!

GROOM OF THE CHAMBER (hurries in). Who dares make larum here? Hush! The duke sleeps.

DEVEREUX (with loud, harsh voice). Friend, it is time now to make larum.

GROOM OF THE CHAMBER.
Help! Murder!

BUTLER.
Down with him!

GROOM OF THE CHAMBER (run through the body by DEVEREUX, falls at
the entrance of the gallery).
Jesus Maria!

BUTLER. Burst the doors open.

[They rush over the body into the gallery - two doors are heard to
crash one after the other. Voices, deadened by the distance - clash
of arms - then all at once a profound silence:


SCENE VIII.

COUNTESS TERZKY (with a light). Her bedchamber is empty; she herself Is nowhere to be found! The Neubrunn too, Who watched by her, is missing. If she should Be flown - but whither flown? We must call up Every soul in the house. How will the duke Bear up against these worst bad tidings? Oh, If that my husband now were but returned Home from the banquet! Hark! I wonder whether The duke is still awake! I thought I heard Voices and tread of feet here! I will go And listen at the door. Hark! what is that? 'Tis hastening up the steps!


SCENE IX.

COUNTESS, GORDON.

GORDON (rushes in out of breath)
'Tis a mistake! 'Tis not the Swedes; ye must proceed no further - Butler! Oh, God! where is he?
[Observing the COUNTESS.
Countess! Say - -

COUNTESS. You're come then from the castle? Where's my husband?

GORDON (in an agony of affright). Your husband! Ask not! To the duke - -

COUNTESS.
Not till You have discovered to me - -

GORDON.
On this moment Does the world hang. For God's sake! to the duke. While we are speaking - -
[Calling loudly.
Butler! Butler! God!

COUNTESS. Why, he is at the castle with my husband.

[BUTLER comes from the gallery.

GORDON. 'Twas a mistake. 'Tis not the Swedes - it is The imperialists' lieutenant-general Has sent me hither - will be here himself Instantly. You must not proceed.

BUTLER.
He comes Too late.

[GORDON dashes himself against the wall.

GORDON.
Oh, God of mercy!

COUNTESS.
What, too late? Who will be here himself? Octavio In Egra? Treason! Treason! Where's the duke?

[She rushes to the gallery.


SCENE X.

Servants run across the stage full of terror. The whole scene
must be spoken entirely without pauses.

SENI (from the gallery). Oh, bloody, frightful deed!

COUNTESS.
What is it, Seni?

PAGE (from the gallery). Oh, piteous sight!

[Other servants hasten in with torches.

COUNTESS. What is it? For God's sake!

SENI.
And do you ask? Within the duke lies murdered - and your husband Assassinated at the castle.

[The COUNTESS stands motionless.

FEMALE SERVANT (rushing across the stage). Help! help! the duchess!

BURGOMASTER (enters).
What mean these confused Loud cries that wake the sleepers of this house?

GORDON. Your house is cursed to all eternity. In your house doth the duke lie murdered!

BURGOMASTER (rushing out)
Heaven forbid!

FIRST SERVANT. Fly! fly! they murder us all!

SECOND SERVANT (carrying silver-plate).
That way! the lower Passages are blocked up.

VOICE (from behind the scene). Make room for the lieutenant-general!

[At these words the COUNTESS starts from her stupor, collects
herself, and retires suddenly.

VOICE (from behind the scene). Keep back the people! Guard the door!


SCENE XI.

To these enter OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI with all his train. At the same
time DEVEREUX and MACDONALD enter from out the corridor with the
Halberdiers. WALLENSTEIN's dead body is carried over the back part
of the stage, wrapped in a piece of crimson tapestry.

OCTAVIO (entering abruptly). It must not be! It is not possible! Butler! Gordon! I'll not believe it. Say no!

[GORDON, without answering, points with his hand to the body of
WALLENSTEIN as it is carried over the back of the stage. OCTAVIO
looks that way, and stands overpowered with horror.

DEVEREUX (to BUTLER). Here is the golden fleece - the duke's sword - -

MACDONALD. Is it your order - -

BUTLER (pointing to OCTAVIO).
Here stands he who now Hath the sole power to issue orders.

[DEVEREUX and MACDONALD retire with marks of obeisance. One drops
away after the other, till only BUTLER, OCTAVIO, and GORDON remain
on the stage.

OCTAVIO (turning to BUTLER). Was that my purpose, Butler, when we parted? Oh, God of Justice! To thee I lift my hand! I am not guilty Of this foul deed.

BUTLER.
Your hand is pure. You have Availed yourself of mine.

OCTAVIO.
Merciless man! Thus to abuse the orders of thy lord - And stain thy emperor's holy name with murder, With bloody, most accursed assassination!

BUTLER (calmly). I've but fulfilled the emperor's own sentence.

OCTAVIO. Oh, curse of kings, Infusing a dread life into their words, And linking to the sudden, transient thought The unchanging, irrevocable deed. Was there necessity for such an eager Despatch? Couldst thou not grant the merciful A time for mercy? Time is man's good angel. To leave no interval between the sentence, And the fulfilment of it, doth beseem God only, the