Into Bavaria, like a winter torrent, Did that Gustavus pour, and at Vienna In his own palace did the Emperor tremble. Soldiers were scarce, for still the multitude Follow the luck: all eyes were turn'd cn me, Their helper in distress: the Emperor's pride Bow'd itself down before the man he had injured. 'T was I must rise, and with creative word Assemble forces in the desolate camps. I did it. Like a god of war, my name Went through the world. The drum was beat—and, lo! The plough, the work-shop is forsaken, all Swarm to the old familiar long-loved banners; And as the wood-choir rich in melody Assemble quick around the bird of wonder, When first his throat swells with his magic song, So did the warlike youth of Germany Crowd in around the image of my eagle. I feel myself the being that I was. It is the soul that builds itself a body, And Friedland's camp will not remain unfill’d. Lead then your thousands out to meet me—true! They are accustom'd under me to conquer, But not against me. If the head and limbs Separate from each other, 't will be soon Made manifest, in which the soul abode. (Illo and Tehrsky enter). Courage, friends' Courage We are still unvanquish'd; I feel my footing firm; five regiments, Tertsky, Are still our own, and Butler's gallant troops; And an host of sixteen thousand Swedes to-morrow. I was not stronger, when nine years ago I marched forth, with glad heart and high of hope, To conquer Germany for the Emperor.
wallenstein (after he has run through them with his eye, to the ANspessape). I know thee well. Thou art out of Brüggin in Flanders: Thy name is Mercy. Anspessade. Henry Mercy. WALLENstein. Thou wert cut off on the march, surrounded by the Hessians, and didst fight thy way with an hundred and eighty men through their thousand. Anspess Ad E. "T was even so, General' wallenstrin. What reward hadst thou for this gallant exploit? Anspessa de. That which I askep for: the honour to serve in this corps. wallenstein (turning to a second). Thou wert among the volunteers that seized and made booty of the Swedish battery at Altenburg. SEcond cuirassif it. Yes, General! wallenstein. I forget no one with whom I have exchanged words. (A pause.) Who sends you? ANspessade. Your noble regiment, the Cuirassiers of Piccolomini. wat. Lenstein. Why does not your colonel deliver in your request, according to the custom of service? AnspESSA de. Because we would first know whom we serve. wall, Enstein. Begin your address. AnspEssade (giving the word of command). Shoulder your arms! wallenstein (turning to a third). Thy name is Risbeck; Cologne is thy birth-place. third cuik ASSieh. Risbeck of Cologne. wAllenstein. It was thou that broughtest in the Swedish colonel, Diebald, prisoner, in the camp at Nüremberg. thirid cuinassier. It was not I, General' wallenstein. Perfectly right! It was thy elder brother: thou hadst a younger brother too: where did he stay? Third cuirassie R. He is stationed at Olmütz with the Imperial army. wallenstein (to the ANspessade). Now then—begin. Anspessane. There came to hand a letter from the Emperor Commanding us—— wallenstein (interrupting him). Who chose you? AnspESSA de. Every company Drew its own man by lot. wallenstein. Now ! to the business. anspESSADE. There came to hand a letter from the Emperor Commanding us collectively, from thee
All duties of obedience to withdraw, Because thou wert an enemy and traitor. w ALLenstein. And what did you determine? Axspessa de. All our comrades At Bruannau, Budweiss, Prague and Olmutz, have Obey'd already; and the regiments here, Tiefenbach and Toscano, instantly Did follow their example. But—but we Do not believe that thou art an enemy And traitor to thy country, hold it merely For lie and trick, and a trumped up Spanish story ! [With warmth. Thyself shalt tell us what thy purpose is, For we have found thee still sincere and true: No mouth shall interpose itself betwixt The gallant General and the gallant troops. w Al. Lexistein. Therein I recognize my Pappenheimers. AnspEssade. And this proposal makes thy regiment to thee: Is it thy purpose merely to preserve In thy own hands this military sceptre, Which so becomes thee, which the Emperor Made over to thee by a covenant? Is it thy purpose merely to remain Supreme commander of the Austrian armies?— We will stand by thee, General! and guarantee Thy honest rights against all opposition. And should it chance, that all the other regiments Turn from thee, by ourselves will we stand forth Thy faithful soldiers, and, as is our duty, Far rather let ourselves be cut to pieces, Than suffer thee to fall. But if it be As the Emperor's letter says, if it be true, That thou in traitorous wise wilt lead us over To the enemy, which God in heaven forbid Then we too will forsake thee, and obey That letter—— wallenstein. Hear me, children' ANSpessade. Yes, or no! There needs no other answer. w ALLENstein. Yield attention. You're men of sense, examine for yourselves; Ye think, and do not follow with the herd : And therefore have I always shown you honour Above all others, suffer'd you to reason; Have treated you as free men, and my orders Were but the echoes of your prior suffrage.— A nsPess A tor. Most fair and noble has thy conduct been To us, my General With thy confidence Thou hast honour'd us, and shown us grace and favour Beyond all other regiments; and thou see'st We follow not the common herd. We will Stand by thee faithfully. Speak but one word— Thy word shall satisfy us, that it is not A treason which thou meditatest—that Thou meanest not to lead the army over To the enemy; nor eer betray thy country. wall, knsteix. Me, me are they betraying. The Emperor
Hath sacrificed me to my enemies, And I must fall, unless my gallant troops Will rescue me. See I confide in you. And be your hearts my strong-hold! At this breast The aim is taken, at this hoary head. This is your Spanish gratitude, this is our Requital for that murderous fight at Lutzen! For this we threw the naked breast against The halbert, made for this the frozen earth Our bed, and the hard stone our pillow! never stream Too rapid for us, nor wood too impervious: With cheerful spirit we pursued that Mansfield Through all the turns and windings of his flight; Yea, our whole life was but one restless march; And homeless, as the stirring wind, we travell'd O'er the war-wasted earth. And now, even now, That we have well nigh finish'd the hard toil, The unthankful, the c laden toil of With faithful indefatigable arm Isave roll'd the heavy war-load up the hill, Behold ! this boy of the Emperor's bears away The honours of the peace, an easy prize! He ‘ll weave, forsooth, into his flaxen locks The olive branch, the hard-earn'd ornament Of this grey head, grown grey beneath the helmet. ANSPESSA de. That shall he not, while we can hinder it! No one, but thou, who hast conducted it With fame, shall end this war, this frightful war. Thou led'st us out into the bloody field Of death; thou and no other shalt conduct us home, Ilejoicing to the lovely plains of peace— Shalt share with us the fruits of the long toil– WAllenstein. What? Think you then at length in late old age To enjoy the fruits of toil? Believe it not. Never, no never, will you see the end Of the contest' you and me, and all of us, This war will swallow up! War, war, not peace, Is Austria's wish; and therefore, because I Endeavour'd after peace, therefore I fall. For what cares Austria, how long the war Wears out the armies and lays waste the world? She will but wax and grow amid the ruin, And still win new domains.
[The Cuirassiers express agitation by their qestures.
Ye're moved—I see A noble rage flash from your eyes, ye warriors! Oh that my spirit might possess you now Daring as once it led you to the battle! Ye would stand by me with your veteran arms, Protect me in my rights; and this is noble! But think not that you can accomplish it, Your scanty number to no purpose will you Have sacrificed you for your General
No! let us tread securely, seek for friends; The Swedes have proffer'd us assistance, let us Wear for a while the appearance of good will, And use them for your profit, till we both Carry the fate of Europe in our hands, And from our camp to the glad jubilant world Lead Peace forth with the garland on her head! ANs Prss A to E. 'T is then but mere appearances which thou Dost put on with the Sweden Thou it not betray
The Emperor? Wilt not turn us into Swedes? This is the only thing which we desire To learn from thee.
wallenstein.
What care I for the Swedes? I hate them as I hate the pit of hell, And under Providence I trust right soon To chase them to their homes across their Baltic. My cares are only for the whole: I have A heart—it bleeds within me for the miseries And piteous groaning of my fellow Germans. Ye are but common men, but yet ye think With minds not common; ye appear to me Worthy before all others, that I whisper ye A little word or two in confidence See now ! already for full fifteen years The war-torch has continued burning, yet No rest, no pause of conflict. Swede and German, Papist and Lutheran neither will give way To the other, every hand's against the other. Each one is party and no one a judge. Where shall this end? Where 's he that will unravel This tangle, ever tangling more and more. It must be cut asunder. I feel that I am the man of destiny, And trust, with your assistance, to accomplish it.
SCENE i W. To these enter Burlek.
butlem (passionately). General! This is not right ! wall. ENstein. What is not right : routi.en. It must needs injure us with all honest men. WALLEinstein. But what? but left. It is an open proclamation Of insurrection. wat. Lexistrin. Well, well—but what is it? a UT Left. Count Tertsky's regiments tear the Imperial Eagle From off the banners, and instead of it, Have rear'd aloft thy arms. ANspessade (abruptly to the Cuirassiers). Right about' March wal, i.enstein. Cursed be this counsel, and accursed who gave it! [To the Cuirassiers, who are retiring. Halt, children, halt! There's some mistake in this; Hark!—I will punish it severely. Stop! They do not hear. (To Illo). Go after them, assure them, And bring them back to me, cost what it may. [Illo hurries out. This hurls us headlong. Butler! Butler! You are my evil genius, wherefore must you Announce it in their presence? It was all In a fair way. They were half won, those madmen with their improvident over-readiness— A cruel game is Fortune playing with me. The zeal of friends it is that razes me, And not the hate of enemies.
To these enter the Duchess, who rushes into the Chamber. Thekla and the Countess follow her.
Ducaess. O Albrecht! What hast thou done? wall, kinstein. And now comes this beside. countess. Forgive me, brother! It was not in my power. They know all. puchess. What hast thou done? countess (to Tearsky). Is there no hope? Is all lost utterly? Tearsk. Y. All lost. No hope. Prague in the Emperor's hands, The soldiery have ta'en their oaths anew. countess. That lurking hypocrite, Octavio ! Count Max. is off too? tentsky. Where can he be? He's Gone over to the Emperor with his father. [Thekla rushes out into the arms of her mother, hiding her face in her bosom. duchess (enfolding her in her arms). Unhappy child! and more unhappy mother! wallenstein (aside to Teatsky). Quick | Let a carriage stand in readiness In the court behind the palace. Scherfenberg Be their attendant; he is faithful to us; To Egra he'll conduct them, and we follow. [To illo, who returns. Thou hast not brought them back? ii. Lo. Hear'st thou the uproar! The whole corps of the Pappenheimers is Drawn out: the younger Piccolonini, Their colonel, they require : for they affirm, That he is in the palace here, a prisoner; And if thou dost not instantly deliver him, They will find means to free him with the sword. [All stand amazed. TFRtsky. - What shall we make of this? wallenstein. Said I not so? O my prophetic heart! he is still here. He has not betray'd me—he could not betray me. I never doubted of it. countess. If he be Still here, then all goes well; for I know what [Embracing Thekla. will keep him here for ever. teatsky. It can't be. His father has betray'd us, is gone over To the Emperor—the son could not have ventured To stay behind. ruekla (her eye fixed on the door). There he is"
SchNE WI. To these enter MAx. Piccolomini.
MAx. Yes! here he is! I can endure no longer To creep on tiptoe round this house, and lurk In ambush for a favourable moment: This loitering, this suspense exceeds my powers. [Advancing to Thekla, who has thrown herself into her mother's arms. Turn not thine eyes away. O look upon me! Confess it freely before all. Fear no one. Let who will hear that we both love cach other. Wherefore continue to conceal it? Secrecy Is for the happy—misery, hopeless misery, Needeth no veil! Beneath a thousand suns It dares act openly. [He observes the Countrss looking on Therl. A with expressions of triumph. No, Lady! No! Expect not, hope it not. I am not come To stay: to bid farewell, farewell for ever. For this I come! T is over! I must leave thee! Thekla, I must—must leave thee! Yet thy hatred Let me not take with me. I pray thee, grant me One look of sympathy, only one look. Say that thou dost not hate me. Say it to me, Thekla! [Grasps her hand. O God! I cannot leave this spot—I cannot! Cannot let go this hand. O tell me, Thekla' That thou dost suffer with me, art convinced That I can not act otherwise. [Therla, avoiding his look, points with her hand to her father. Max. turns round to the Duke, whom he had not till then perceived. Thou here? It was not thou, whom here I sought. I trusted never more to have beheld thee. My business is with her alone. Here will I Receive a full acquittal from this heart– For any other I am no more concern'd. wallenstein. Think'st thou, that fool-like, I shall let thee go, And act the mock-magnanimous with thee? Thy father is become a villain to me; I hold thee for his son, and nothing more: Nor to no purpose shalt thou have been given Into my power. Think not, that I will honour That ancient love, which so remorselessly He mangled. They are now past by, those hours Of friendship and forgiveness. Hate and vengeance Succeed—"t is now their turn—I too can throw All feelings of the man aside—can prove Myself as much a monster as thy father! Max. (calmly). Thou wilt proceed with me, as thou hast power. Thou know'st, I neither brave nor fear thy rage. What has detain'd me here, that too thou know'st. [Taking Thekla by the hand. See, Duke! All–all would I have owed to thee, Would have received from thy paternal hand The lot of blessed spirits. This hast thou Laid waste for ever—that concerns not thee. Indifferent thou tramplest in the dust Their happiness, who most are thine. The god whom thou dost serve, is no benignant deity.
Like as the blind irreconcilcable Fierce element, incapable of compact, Thy heart's wild impulse only dost thou follow. " wall, Enstein.
Thou art describing thy own father's heart. The adder! 0, the charms of hell o'erpower'd me. He dwelt within me, to my inmost soul Still to and fro he pass'd, suspected never? On the wide ocean, in the starry heaven Did mine eyes seek the enemy, whom I In my heart's heart had folded ! Had I been To Ferdinand what Octavio was to me, War had I ne'er denounced against him. No, I never could have done it. The Emperor was My austere master only, not my friend. There was already war 'twixt him and me When he deliver'd the Commander's Staff Into my hands; for there's a natural Unceasing war 'twixt cunning and suspicion; Peace exists only betwixt confidence And faith. Who poisons confidence, he murders The future generations.
MAx.
I will not Defend my father. Woe is me, I cannot! Hard deeds and luckless have ta'en place; one crime Drags after it the other in close link.
" I have here ventured to omit a considerable number of lines. I fear that I should not have done amiss, had I taken this liberty more frequently. It is, however, incumbent on me to give the oriGinal with a literal translation.
Weh denen, die muf Dich vertraun, an Dich Die sichre Hütte ibres Glückes lehnen, Gelocki von Deiner geistlichen Gestalt. Schnell unverhofst, bei naechtlich stiller Weile Gabris in dem tackschen Feuerschlunde, ladet Sich aus mit to bender Gewalt, und wet, Treibt aber otle Pflanzungen der Menschen Der wilde Strom in trausender Zerstarrung.
wall-Notrix. Du schilderst Deines Waters Herr. Wie Du's Beschreibst, so its's in seinem Eingeweide, In dieser schwarzen Heuchlers Brust gestaltet. 0, mich hat Harllenkunst getarnscht: Mir sandte Der Abgrund den verflecktesten der Geister, Den Lngenkundigsten herauf, und stellt' ibn Als Freund an meine Seite. Wer vermas; Der Boelle Macht zu widerstehn Ich log Den Basilisken ans an meinem Busen, Mit meinem Herablut nahrt ich ihn, er sog Sich schwelgend voll an meiner Liebe Bråsten, Ich batte nimmer Arges gegen ibn, Weit offen liess ich des Gedankens Thore. Und warf die Schlüssel weiser Worsichi wog. Am Sternenhimmel, etc.
Lirror AL to Axislatiow.
Alas! for those who place their confidence on thee, against thee lean the secure but of their fortune, allured by thy hospitable forum. Suddenly, unexpectedly, in a moment still as night, there is a fermentation in the treacherous gulf of fire; it disaharges itself with raging force, and away over all the plantations of men drives the wild stream in frightsul devastation. Thou art portraying thy father's heart ; as thou describest, even no is it shaped in his entrails, in this black hypocrite's breast, 0, the art of hell has deceived me: The Abyss sent up to one the most spoued of the spirits, the most skilful in lies, and placed him as a friend by my side. Who may withstand the power of heit * I took the basilisk to my bosom, with my heart's blood I pouri-bed him; he sucked himself glutfull at the breasts of my love. I never harboured evil towards him; wide open did I leave the door of my thoughts; I threw away the key of wise foreight. In the starry heaven, etc.—we find a difficulty in believing this to have been written by Schullen.
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