The Piccolomini, Friedrich Schiller [best e book reader android .txt] 📗

'gainst the court, Yet innocent its title, bearing simply That we support him only in command. But in the ardor of pursuit thou knowest Men soon forget the goal from which they started. The object I've in view is that the prince Shall either find them, or believe them ready For every hazard. Opportunity Will tempt him on. Be the great step once taken, Which at Vienna's court can ne'er be pardoned, The force of circumstances will lead him onward The farther still and farther. 'Tis the choice That makes him undecisive--come but need, And all his powers and wisdom will come with it.

TERZKY. 'Tis this alone the enemy awaits To change their chief and join their force with ours.

ILLO. Come! be we bold and make despatch. The work In this next day or two must thrive and grow More than it has for years. And let but only Things first turn up auspicious here below-- Mark what I say--the right stars, too, will show themselves. Come to the generals. All is in the glow, And must be beaten while 'tis malleable.

TERZKY. Do you go thither, Illo? I must stay And wait here for the Countess Terzky. Know That we, too, are not idle. Break one string, A second is in readiness.

ILLO.
Yes! yes! I saw your lady smile with such sly meaning. What's in the wind?

TERZKY.
A secret. Hush! she comes.

[Exit ILLO.


SCENE II.

The COUNTESS steps out from a closet.

COUNT and COUNTESS TERZKY.

TERZKY. Well--is she coming? I can keep him back No longer.

COUNTESS.
She will be here instantly, You only send him.

TERZKY.
I am not quite certain, I must confess it, countess, whether or not We are earning the duke's thanks hereby. You know No ray has broke out from him on this point. You have o'erruled me, and yourself know best How far you dare proceed.

COUNTESS.
I take it on me.
[Talking to herself while she is advancing. Here's no heed of full powers and commissions; My cloudy duke! we understand each other-- And without words. What could I not unriddle, Wherefore the daughter should be sent for hither, Why first he, and no other should be chosen To fetch her hither? This sham of betrothing her To a bridegroom [9], whom no one knows--No! no! This may blind others! I see through thee, brother! But it beseems thee not to draw a card At such a game. Not yet! It all remains Mutely delivered up to my finessing. Well--thou shalt not have been deceived, Duke Friedland, In her who is thy sister.

SERVANT (enters).
The commanders!
[Exit.

TERZKY (to the COUNTESS). Take care you heat his fancy and affections-- Possess him with a reverie, and send him, Absent and dreaming to the banquet; that He may not boggle at the signature.

COUNTESS. Take care of your guests! Go, send him hither.

TERZKY. All rests upon his undersigning.

COUNTESS (interrupting him). Go to your guests! Go----

ILLO (comes back).
Where art staying, Terzky? The house is full, and all expecting you.

TERZKY. Instantly! instantly!
[To the COUNTESS.
And let him not Stay here too long. It might awake suspicion In the old man----

COUNTESS.
A truce with your precautions!

[Exeunt TERZKY and ILLO.


SCENE III.

COUNTESS, MAX. PICCOLOMINI.

MAX. (peeping in on the stage slyly). Aunt Terzky! may I venture?
[Advances to the middle of the stage, and looks around
him with uneasiness.
She's not here! Where is she?

COUNTESS.
Look but somewhat narrowly In yonder corner, lest perhaps she lie Concealed behind that screen.

MAX.
There lie her gloves!

[Snatches at them, but the COUNTESS takes them herself.

You unkind lady! You refuse me this, You make it an amusement to torment me.

COUNTESS. And this the thanks you give me for my trouble?

MAX. O, if you felt the oppression at my heart! Since we've been here, so to constrain myself With such poor stealth to hazard words and glances. These, these are not my habits!

COUNTESS.
You have still Many new habits to acquire, young friend! But on this proof of your obedient temper I must continue to insist; and only On this condition can I play the agent For your concerns.

MAX.
But wherefore comes she not? Where is she?

COUNTESS.
Into my hands you must place it Whole and entire. Whom could you find, indeed, More zealously affected to your interest? No soul on earth must know it--not your father; He must not, above all.

MAX.
Alas! what danger? Here is no face on which I might concentre All the enraptured soul stirs up within me. O lady! tell me, is all changed around me? Or is it only I?
I find myself, As among strangers! Not a trace is left Of all my former wishes, former joys. Where has it vanished to? There was a time When even, methought, with such a world as this, I was not discontented. Now how flat! How stale! No life, no bloom, no flavor in it! My comrades are intolerable to me. My father--even to him I can say nothing. My arms, my military duties--O! They are such wearying toys!

COUNTESS.
But gentle friend! I must entreat it of your condescension, You would be pleased to sink your eye, and favor With one short glance or two this poor stale world, Where even now much, and of much moment, Is on the eve of its completion.

MAX.
Something, I can't but know is going forward round me. I see it gathering, crowding, driving on, In wild uncustomary movements. Well, In due time, doubtless, it will reach even me. Where think you I have been, dear lady? Nay, No raillery. The turmoil of the camp, The spring-tide of acquaintance rolling in, The pointless jest, the empty conversation, Oppressed and stifled me. I gasped for air-- I could not breathe--I was constrained to fly, To seek a silence out for my full heart; And a pure spot wherein to feel my happiness. No smiling, countess! In the church was I. There is a cloister here "To the heaven's gate," [10] Thither I went, there found myself alone. Over the altar hung a holy mother; A wretched painting 'twas, yet 'twas the friend That I was seeking in this moment. Ah, How oft have I beheld that glorious form In splendor, 'mid ecstatic worshippers; Yet, still it moved me not! and now at once Was my devotion cloudless as my love.

COUNTESS. Enjoy your fortune and felicity! Forget the world around you. Meantime, friendship Shall keep strict vigils for you, anxious, active. Only be manageable when that friendship Points you the road to full accomplishment.

MAX. But where abides she then? Oh, golden time Of travel, when each morning sun united And but the coming night divided us; Then ran no sand, then struck no hour for us, And time, in our excess of happiness, Seemed on its course eternal to stand still. Oh, he hath fallen from out his heaven of bliss Who can descend to count the changing hours, No clock strikes ever for the happy!

COUNTESS. How long is it since you declared your passion?

MAX. This morning did I hazard the first word.

COUNTESS. This morning the first time in twenty days?

MAX. 'Twas at that hunting-castle, betwixt here And Nepomuck, where you had joined us, and That was the last relay of the whole journey; In a balcony we were standing mute, And gazing out upon the dreary field Before us the dragoons were riding onward, The safeguard which the duke had sent us--heavy; The inquietude of parting lay upon me, And trembling ventured at length these words: This all reminds me, noble maiden, that To-day I must take leave of my good fortune. A few hours more, and you will find a father, Will see yourself surrounded by new friends, And I henceforth shall be but as a stranger, Lost in the many--"Speak with my Aunt Terzky!" With hurrying voice she interrupted me. She faltered. I beheld a glowing red Possess her beautiful cheeks, and from the ground Raised slowly up her eye met mine--no longer Did I control myself.
[The Princess THEKLA appears at the door, and remains standing,
observed by the COUNTESS, but not by PICCOLOMINI.
With instant boldness I caught her in my arms, my lips touched hers; There was a rustling in the room close by; It parted us--'Twas you. What since has happened You know.

COUNTESS (after a pause, with a stolen glance at THEKLA).
And is it your excess of modesty Or are you so incurious, that you do not Ask me too of my secret?

MAX.
Of your secret?

COUNTESS. Why, yes! When in the instant after you I stepped into the room, and found my niece there; What she in this first moment of the heart Taken with surprise----

MAX. (with eagerness).
Well?


SCENE IV.

THEKLA (hurries forward), COUNTESS, MAX. PICCOLOMINI.

THEKLA (to the COUNTESS).
Spare yourself the trouble: That hears he better from myself.

MAX. (stepping backward).
My princess! What have you let her hear me say, Aunt Terzky?

THEKLA (to the COUNTESS). Has he been here long?

COUNTESS.