Imatges de pàgina
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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,
That calls itself the Imperial, this that houses
Here in Bohemia, this has none—no country;
This is an outcast of all foreign lands,
Unclaim'd by town or tribe, to whom belongs
Nothing, except the universal sun.
wn Angel.

But then the Nobles and the Officers?
Such a desertion, such a felony,
It is without example, my Lord Duke,
In the world's history.

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
of money, home again to our old forests.
No, no! my Lord Duke! no!—it never was
For Judas' pay, for chinking gold and silver,
That we did leave our King by the Great Stone. '
No, not for gold and silver have there bled
So many of our Swedish Nobles—neither
will we, with empty laurels for our payment,
Hoist sail for our own country. Citizens
will we remain upon the soil, the which
Our Monarch conquer'd for himself, and died.
wallenstet N.
Help to keep down the common enemy,
And the fair border land must needs be yours.
wn ANGEL.
But when the common enemy lies vanquish'd,
Who knits together our new friendship then
We know, Duke Friedland! though perhaps the Swede
Ought not to have known it, that you carry on
Secret negotiations with the Saxons.
Who is our warranty, that we are not
The sacrifices in those articles
Which t is thought needful to conceal from us?
walls Nstrux (rises).
Think you of something better, Gustave Wrangel!
Of Prague no more.

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.

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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?

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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.
Let in the young Count Piccolomini.
countess.
Art thou in earnest? I entreat thee! Canst thou
Consent to bear thyself to thy own grave,
So ignominiously to be dried up?
Thy life, that arrogated such an height
To end in such a nothing ! To be nothing,
When one was always nothing, is an evil
That asks no stretch of patience, a light evil;
But to become a nothing, having been——
wallenstrun (starts up in violent agitation).
Show me a way out of this stilling crowd,
Ye powers of Aidance! Show me such a way
As I am capable of going.—l
Am no tongue-hero, no fine virtue-prattler;
I cannot warm by thinking; cannot say
To the good luck that turns her back upon me,
Magnanimously: . Go; I need thee not."
Cease I to work, I am annihilated.
Dangers nor sacrifices will I shun,
If so I may avoid the last extreme;
But ere I sink down into nothingness,
Leave off so little, who began so treat,
Ere that the world confuses me with those
Poor wretches, whom a day creates and crumbles,
This age and after ages' speak my name
With hate and dread; and Friedland be redemption
For each accursed deed!
countess.
What is there here, then,

So against nature? Help me to perceive it!
0 let not Superstition's nightly goblins
Subdue thy clear bright spirit Art thou bid
To murder?—with abhorr'd accursed poniard,
To violate the breasts that nourish'd thee?
That were against our nature, that might aptly
Make thy flesh shudder, and thy whole heart sicken.”

-

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,
Have ventured even this, ay, and perform'd it.
What is there in thy case so black and monstrous?
Thou art accused of treason—whether with
Or without justice is not now the question—
Thou art lost if thou dost not avail thee quickly
Of the power which thou possessest—Friedland! Duke!
Tell me, where lives that thing so meek and tame,
That doth not all his living faculties
Put forth in preservation of his life?
What deed so daring, which necessity
And desperation will not sanctify :

walle Nst hun.
Once was this Ferdinand so gracious to me:
He loved me; he esteem'd me; I was placed
The nearest to his heart. Full many a time
We like familiar friends, both at one table,
Have banquetted together. He and 1–
And the young kings themselves held me the bason
Wherewith to wash me—and is 't come to this?

coux ress.
So faithfully preservest thou each small favour,
And hast no memory for contumelies?
Must I remind thee, how at Regensburg
This man repaid thy faithful services?
All ranks and all conditions in the empire
Thou hadst wrongd, to make him great, hadst loaded
on thee,

On thee, the hate, the curse of the whole world.
No friend existed for thee in all Germany,
And why? because thou hadst existed only
For the Emperor. To the Emperor alone
Clung Friedland in that storm which gather'd round him
At Regensburg in the Diet—and he dropp'd thee!
He let thee fall. He let thee fall a victim
To the Bavarian, to that insolent!
Deposed, stript bare of all thy dignity
And power, amid the taunting of thy foes.
Thou wert let drop into obscurity.—
Say not, the restoration of thy honour
Has made atonement for that first injustice.
No honest good-will was it that replaced thee;
The law of hard necessity replaced thee,
Which they had fain opposed, but that they could not.

w Alt-Exstel N.
Not to their good wishes, that is certain,
Nor yet to his affection I 'm indebted
For this high office; and if I abuse it,
I shall therein abuse no confidence.

countess.

Affection! confidence –They needed thee.
Necessity, impetuous remonstrant!
Who not with empty names, or shows of proxy,
ls served, who 'll have the thing and not the symbol,
Ever seeks out the greatest and the best,
And at the rudder places him, een though
She had been forced to take him from the rabble—
She, this Necessity, it was that placed thee
In this high office; it was she that gave thee
Thy letters patent of inauguration.
For, to the uttermost moment that they can,
This race still help themselves at cheapest rate
With slavish souls, with puppets! At the approach
Of extreme peril, when a hollow image
ls found a hollow image and no more,

Then falls the power into the mighty hands

Of Nature, of the spirit giant-born,
Who listens only to himself, knows nothing
Of stipulations, duties, reverences,
And, like the emancipated force of fire,
Unmaster'd scorches, ere it reaches them,
Their fine-spun webs, their artificial policy.
w ALLENs reix.
'T is true! they saw me always as I am—
Always! I did not cheat them in the bargain.
I never held it worth my pains to hide
The bold all-grasping habit of my soul.
cot Nress.
Nay rather—thou hast ever shown thyself
A formidable man, without restraint;
Ilast exercised the full prerogatives
Of thy impetuous nature, which had been
Once granted to thee. Therefore, Duke, not thou,
Who hast still remain'd consistent with thyself,
But they are in the wrong, who fearing thee,
Entrusted such a power in hand they feard.
For, by the laws of Spirit, in the right
Is every individual character
That acts in strict consistence with itself.
Self-contradiction is the only wrong.
Wert thou another being, then, when thou
Eight years ago pursuedst thy march with fire
And sword, and desolation, through the Circles
Of Germany, the universal scourge,
Didst mock all ordinances of the empire,
The fearful rights of strength, alone exertedst,
Trampledst to earth each rank, each magistracy,
All to extend thy Sultan's domination?
Then was the time to break thee in, to curb
Thy haughty will, to teach thee ordinance.
But no, the Emperor felt no touch of conscience :
What served him pleased him, and without a murmur
He stamp'd his broad seal on these lawless deeds.
What at that time was right, because thou didst it
For him, to day is all at once become
Opprobrious, foul, because it is directed
Against him.— O most timsy superstition!
wallenstein (rising).
I never saw it in this light before,
'T is even so. The Emperor perpetrated
Deeds through my arm, deeds most unorderly.
And even this prince's mantle, which I wear,
I owe to what were services to him,
But most high misdemeanours 'gainst the empire.
cot Norrss.
Then betwixt thee and him (confess it Friedland')
The point can be no more of right and duty,
Only of power and the opportunity.
That opportunity, lo! it comes yonder
Approaching with swift steeds, then with a swing
Throw thyself up into the chariot-seat,
Seize with firm hand the reins, ere thy opponent
Anticipate thee, and himself make conquest
Of the now empty seat. The moment comes;
It is already here, when thou must write
The absolute total of thy life's vast sum.
The constellations stand victorious o'er thee,
The planets shoot good fortune in fair junctions,
And tell thee, “Now is the time!. The starry courses
tlast thou thy life-long measured to no purpose?
The quadrant and the circle, were they playthings?
[Pointing to the different objects in the room.

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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
The couriers.-And dispatch immediately
A servant for Octavio Piccolomini.

[To the Countess, who cannot conceal her triumph.
No exultation! woman, triumph not!
For jealous are the Powers of Destiny.
Joy premature, and shouts ere victory,
Encroach upon their rights and privileges.
We sow the seed, and they the growth determine.

[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

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