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 WALLENSTEII 
 
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WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 A DRAMA 
 
 IN TWO PARTS. 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OP 
 
 FREDERICK SCHILLER 
 
 BY 
 
 S T. COLERIDGE. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED FOR T. N. LONGMAN AND 0. REES, PATERNOSTER-ROW» 
 
 By C. Wood/all, No. az, Paterrtofter-Reiv. 
 1800 
 
PREFACE /( ^ 
 
 OF THE 
 
 TRANSLATOR. 
 
 HE two Dramas, Piccolomini, or the firft 
 part of Wallenstein, and Wallenstein, 
 are introduced in the original manufcript by a 
 Prelude in one Ad, entitled Wallenstein's 
 Camp. This is written in rhyme, and in nine 
 fyllable verfe, in the fame lilting metre (if that 
 expreffion may be permitted) with the fecond 
 Eclogue of Spencer's Shepherd's Calendar. 
 
 This Prelude pofTefles a fort of broad humour, 
 and is not deficient in character ; but to have 
 tranflated it into profe, or into any other metre 
 than that of the original, would have given a 
 falle idea both of its ftyle and purport ; to have 
 tranflated it into the fame metre would have been 
 incompatible with a faithful adherence to the 
 fenfe of the German, from the comparative po- 
 verty of our language in rhymes ; and it would 
 have been unadvifeable from the incongruity of 
 thofe lax verfes with the prefent tafte of the Eng- 
 lifti Public. Schiller's intention feems to have 
 been merely to have prepared his reader for the 
 Tragedies by a lively picture of the laxity of dis- 
 cipline, and the mutinous difpofitions of Wallen- 
 ftein's foldiery. It is not necefiary as a prelimi- 
 nary explanation. For thefe reafons it has been 
 thought expedient not to tranflate it. 
 
 The. 
 
 bö 4 lo 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The admirers of Schiller, who have abstracted 
 their idea of that author from the Robbers, and 
 the Cabal and Love» plays in which the main in- 
 terefl is produced by the excitement of curiofity, 
 and in which the curiofity is excited by terrible 
 and extraordinary incident, will not have perufed 
 without fome portion of difappointment the 
 Dramas, which it has been my employment to 
 tranilate. They fliould, however, reflect, that 
 thefe are Hiftorical Dramas, taken from a po- 
 pular German Hiftory ; that we muft therefore 
 judge of them in fome meafure with the feelings 
 of Germans ; or by analogy, with the intereft 
 excited in us by fimilar Dramas in our own 
 language. Few, I truft, would be rafh or igno- 
 rant enough to compare Schiller with Shakefpeare; 
 yet, merely as illuftration, I would fay that we 
 (hould proceed to the perufai of Wallenftein, not 
 from Lear or Othello, but from Richard the 
 Second, or the three parts of Henry the Sixth. 
 We fcarcely expect rapidity in an Hiftorical 
 Drama ; and many prolix fpeeches are pardoned 
 from characters, whofe names and actions have 
 formed the mod amufing tales of our early life. 
 On the other hand, there exift in thefe plays more 
 individual beauties, more paflages, whofe excel- 
 lence will bear reflection, than in the former 
 productions of Schiller. The defcription of the 
 Aftrological Tqwer, and the reflections of the 
 Young Lover, which follow it, form in the ori- 
 ginal a fine poem ; and my tranilation muft have 
 been wretched indeed, if it can have wholly over- 
 clouded the beauties of the Scene in the firft 
 Act of the firft Play between Queftenberg, Majc. 
 and Octavio Piccolomini. If we except the Scene 
 of the fetting fun in the Robbers, I know of no 
 part in Schiller's Plays which equals the whole of 
 the firft Scene of the fifth Act of the concluding 
 
 Play. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Play. It would be unbecoming in me to be more 
 diffufe on this fubject. A Tranflator (lands con- 
 nected with the original Author by a certain law 
 of fubordination, which makes it more decorous 
 to point oat «asceltenoies t-haia defects-: indeed he 
 is not likely to be a fair judge of either. The 
 pleafure or difguft from his own labour will 
 mingle with the feelings "that arife from an after- 
 view of the original. Even in the fhft peruiai 
 of ä work 'ra any foreign language whic'h we 
 underftand, we are apt to attribute to it more 
 excellence than it really potTerTes from our own 
 pleafurable fenfe of difficulty overcome without 
 effort. Translation of poetry into poetry is diffi- 
 cult, becaufe the Tranflatormuft give a brilliancy 
 to 'his 'language without that warmth of original 
 Conception, from which fiach brilliancy would 
 follow of its own accord. But the Translator of 
 a living Author is incumbered with additional 
 mcbrrveniences. If he render his original faith- 
 fully, as to the fenfe of each pafTage, he muft 
 necefTarily deftroy a considerable portion of the 
 fpirit j if he endeavour to give a work executed 
 according to laws of comperifation, he fubjecls 
 himfelf to imputations of vanity, or mifreprefenta- 
 iior». I have thought it my duty to remain bound 
 by the fenfe of my original, with as few exceptions 
 #s .the nature of the languages rendered poflibie. 
 
 opnn 1 o DRAMATIS 
 
DRAMATIS PERSONjE. 
 
 Wallenstein, Duke of Friedland, Generalißmo of the Imfe. 
 
 rial Forces in the Thirty-years War. 
 Duchess of Friedland, Wife of Wallenßein. 
 Thekla, her Daughter, Princefs of Friedland. 
 The Countess Tertsky, Sifier of the Duchefs. 
 Lady Neubrunn.' 
 
 Octavio Piccolomini, Lieutenant General. 
 Max. Piccolomini, his Son, Colonelof a Regiment of Cuiraßers. 
 Count Tertsky, the Commander of federal Regiments, and 
 
 Brother-in-law of Wallenßein. 
 Illo, Field Marfbal, Wallenßein'- 's Confidant. 
 B ut ler, an Irifiman, Commander of a Regiment of Dragoons. 
 Gordon, Governor of.Egra. 
 Major Ceraldin. 
 Captain Devereux. 
 
 Macdonald. 
 
 Neumann, Captain of Cavalry, Aide-,de-camf to Tertßy. 
 
 Swedish Captain. 
 
 Seni. 
 
 Burgomaster, ofEgra. 
 
 Anspessade of the Cuiraßers. 
 
 Groom of the Chamber A Bele „ ging t0 the Dvke . 
 
 A Page, J 
 
 Cuirassiers, Dragoons, Sertants, 
 
TRANSLATED 
 FROM A MANUSCRIPT COPY ATTESTED BY THE AUTHOR, 
 
 THE 
 
 PICCOLOMINI, 
 
 OR THE 
 
 FIRST PART OF WALLEXSTEIN 
 
 PRINTEJ} EY C, WOODF.UL, PATERNOSTER ROW. 
 
THE 
 
 PICCOLOMINI. 
 
 OR THE 
 
 FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN, 
 
 A DRAMA 
 
 IN FIVE ACTS. 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF 
 
 FREDERICK SCHILLER 
 S. T. COLERIDGE. 
 
 LONDON; 
 
 PRiNTrp tor t. n. Longman and o. rees, paternoster ro$\ 
 
 18ÜQ, 
 
PREFACE 
 
 or 
 
 THE TRANSLATOR. 
 
 JLT was my intention to have prefixed a 
 Life of Wallenftein to this tranflation; but 
 I found that it muft either have occupied a 
 fpace wholly difpropor donate to the nature 
 of the publication, or have been merely a 
 meagre catalogue of events narrated not more 
 fully than they already are in the Play itfelf. 
 The recent tranflation, like wife, of Schiller's 
 History of the Thirty Years' War di- 
 minifhed the motives thereto. In the tranf- 
 lation I endeavoured to render mv Author 
 literally wherever I was not prevented by 
 abfolute differences of idiom ; but I am 
 coijfcious, that in two or three ihort paffages 
 
 a 3 I have 
 
li PREFACE OF THE TRANSLATOR. 
 
 I have been guilty of dilating the original; 
 and, from anxiety to give the full meaning* 
 have weakened the force. In the metre I 
 have availed myfelf of no other liberties 
 than thofe which Schiller had permitted to 
 Inmfelf, except the occafional breaking-up 
 of the line by the»fubftitution of a trochee 
 for an iambic; of which liberty, fo frequent 
 in our tragedies, I find no in fiance in thefe 
 dramas. 
 
 S.T.COLERIDGE. 
 
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 9. MODERN ANTIQUE, a Farce ; by Ditto, is. 
 
 10. LOVE IN A CAMP ; or, PATRICK IN PRUSSIA, m 
 
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 22. The POOR SOLDIER, an Opera; by Ditto, is. 
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DRAMATIS PERSONS. 
 
 Wallen stein, Duke of Friedland, Gener aliß mo of the Impe- 
 rial Forcer in the Thirty-years War. 
 
 Octavio Piccolomini, Lieutenant General. 
 
 Max. Piccolomini, his Son, Colonel of a Regiment oj 'Cuiraßers. 
 
 Count TertskyI the Commander of federal Regiments, and 
 Brother-in-laiv of Wallenflein. 
 
 Illo, Field Marßal, Wallenßein's Confidant. 
 
 IsOLANI, General of the Croats. 
 
 Butler,«» Irißman, Commander of a Regiment of Dragotns. 
 
 TlEFENBACH, ~> 
 
 Don Maradas, f _ , ,,„-„». 
 _, > Generals under Wallenßein. 
 
 Goetz, I 
 
 Kolatto, J 
 
 Neumann, Captain of Cavalry, Aide-de-camp to Tertßy, 
 The War Commijioner Von Qu est en berg, Imperial Envo».,, 
 General Wrangel, Sivediß Envoy. 
 Baptist a Sen i, Aßrologer. 
 
 Duchess of Friedland, Wife of Wallenßein. 
 Thekla, her Daughter, Princefs of Friedland. 
 The Countess Tertsky, Sißer of the Ducbeß. 
 
 A Cornet. 
 
 Several Colonels as*/ Generals. 
 Pages and Attendants belonging to Wallenßein. 
 Attendants and Hoboists belonging to Tertßy. 
 The Master of the Cellar to Count Tertßy. 
 Valet de Chambre of Count Piccolomini. 
 
THE 
 
 PICCOLOMINI, &c. 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 An old Gothic Chamber in the Council Houfe at 
 Pilfen, decorated with Colours and other War 
 Infignia. 
 
 Illo with Butler and Isolani. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 iE have come late — but ye are come! The 
 
 diftance, 
 Count Ifolan, excufes your delay. 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 Add this too, that we come not empty-handed. 
 At * Donau wert it was reported to us, 
 A Swedifh caravan was on it's way . 
 
 Tranfporting a rich cargo of provifion, 
 Almoft fix hundred waggons. This my Croats 
 
 * A town about 12 German miles N. E. of Ulm. 
 
 b Plung'd 
 
2 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 Plung'd down upon and feiz'd, this weighty 
 
 prize !- 
 
 We bring it hither 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Juft in time to banquet 
 The illuftrious company afTembled here. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 'Tis all alive ! a ftirring fcene here ! 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 Ay! 
 The very churches are all full of foldiers. 
 
 (Cafis his eye round) 
 And in the Council-houfe too, I obferve, 
 You're fettled, quite at home ! Well, well ! we 
 
 foldiers 
 Muft fhift and fuit us in what way we can. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 We have the Colonels here of thirty regiments. 
 You'll find Count Tertfky here, and Tiefenbach, 
 Kolatto, Goetz, Maradas, Hinnerfam, 
 
 The Piccolomini, both fon and father ^ 
 
 You'll meet with many an unexpected greeting 
 From many an old friend and acquaintance. Only 
 Galas is wanting ftill, and Altringer. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 ExpecT: not Galas. 
 
 ILLO. {hefitating) 
 How fo ? Do you know 
 
 isolani. {interrupting him) 
 Max. Piccolomini here ? — O bring me to him. 
 I fee him yet, ('tis now ten years ago, 
 
 We 
 
FIRS? PART OF WALLEttSTMiN* 3 
 
 We were engaged with Mansfeld hard by Deffau) 
 1 fee the youth, in my mind's eye I fee him, 
 Leap his black war-horfe from the bridge adown, 
 And t'ward his father, then in extreme peril, 
 Beat up againft the ftrong tide of the Elbe. 
 The down was fcarce upon his chin ! I hear 
 He has made good the promife of his youth, 
 And the full hero now is finifh'd in him. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 You'll fee him yet ere evening. He conducts 
 The Duchefs Friedland hither, and the *Princefs 
 From Carnthen. We expect them here at noon. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Both wife and daughter does the Duke call hither ? 
 He crowds in vifitants from all fides. 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 Hm! 
 So much the better! I had fram'd my mind 
 To hear of naught but warlike circumflance, 
 Of marches, and attacks, and batteries : 
 And lo ! the Duke provides, that fomething too 
 Of gentler fort, and lovely, lhould be prefent 
 To feaft our eyes. 
 illo. {who has been ßanding in the attitude of 
 
 meditation, to Butler, whom he leads a little 
 
 on one ßde.) 
 
 And how came you to know, 
 That the Count Galas joins us not ? 
 
 * The Dukes in Germany being always reigning powers," their 
 fons and daughters are entitled Princes and Princefles. 
 
 B 2 BUT- 
 
4 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Becaufe 
 He importun'd me to remain behind. 
 
 illo. [with ivarmth). 
 And you ? — You hold out firmly ? 
 
 [Grafping his hand, with affection!) 
 
 Noble Butler! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 After the obligation which the Duke 
 Had lay'd fo newly on me 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 I had forgotten 
 A pleafant duty — Major General, 
 I with you joy ! 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 What, you mean, of his regiment ? 
 I hear, too, that, to make the gift flill fweeter, 
 The Duke has given him the very fame 
 In which he flrft faw fervice, and fince then, 
 Work'd himfelf, ftep by ftep, thro' each prefer- 
 ment 
 From the ranks upwards. And verily, it gives 
 A precedent of hope, a fpur of action 
 To the whole corps, if once in their remembrance 
 An old deferving foldier makes his way. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 I am perplexed and doubtful, whether or no 
 I dare accept this your congratulation. 
 The Emperor has not yet confirm'd th' appoint- 
 ment. 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN, 5 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 Seize it, friend ! Seize in ! The hand which in 
 
 that poft 
 Plac'd you, is ftrong enough to keep you there, 
 Spite of the Emperor and his Minifters ! 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Ay, if we would but fo confider it ! — 
 
 If we would all of us confider it fo ! 
 
 The Emperor gives us nothing ; from the Duke 
 
 Comes all — whate'er we hope, whate'er we have. 
 
 ISOLANI. (to Illo) 
 My noble brother ! did I tell you how 
 The Duke will fatisfy my creditors ? 
 Will be himfelf my banker for the future, 
 
 Make me once more a creditable man ! 
 
 And this is now the third time, think of that ! 
 This kingly-minded man has refcued me 
 .* From abiolute ruin, and reftor'd my honour. 
 
 ILLO. i 
 
 O that his power but kept pace with his wifhes f 
 Why, friend ! he'd give the whole world to his 
 
 foldiers. 
 Eut at Vienna, brother! — there's the grievance ! — 
 What politic fchemes do they not lay to {horten 
 His arm, and, where they can, to clip his pinions. 
 Then thefe new dainty requifitions! thefe, 
 Which this fame Queftenberg brings hither ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Ay! 
 
 Thefe requifitions of the Emperor, 
 
 B 3 J to© 
 
6 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 I too have heard about them; but I hope 
 The Duke will not draw back a fingle inch ) 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Not from his right mod furely, unlefs firft 
 — From office ! 
 
 butler, (f locked and confufed) 
 Know you aught then? You alarm me. 
 
 isoLANi. (at the fame time with Butler y and in 
 
 a hurrying voice.) 
 We mould be ruin'd, every one of us ! 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 No more \ 
 Yonder I fee our worthy friend* approaching 
 With the Lieutenant-General, Piccolomini. 
 
 butler, (ßiaking his head fignificantly ) 
 I fear we fhall not go hence as we came. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 '• 
 
 Enter Octavio Piccolomini, and QuES" 
 
 TENBERG. 
 
 p c t a v i o . (fill in th e difian cej 
 Ay, ay ! more Hill ! Still more new vifitors ! 
 Acknowledge, friend ! that never was a camp, 
 Which held at once fo many heads of heroes, 
 
 (Approaching nearer.') 
 Welcome, Count Ilblani! 
 
 ? Spoken with a fnee^. 
 
 ISOLAN^ 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 7 
 
 I SOL AN I. 
 
 My noble brother, 
 Even now am I arriv'd ; it had been elfe my duty— 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 And Colonel Butler — truft me, I rejoice 
 Thus to renew acquaintance with a man 
 Whofe worth and fervices I know and honor. 
 See, fee, my friend ! 
 
 There might we place at once before our eyes 
 Thefum of war's whole trade and myftery — 
 {To Queßenberg, prefenting Butler and Ifolani 
 
 at the fame time to him.) 
 Thefe two the total fum — Strength and Dis- 
 patch, 
 
 questenberg{/0 Octavio). 
 
 And lo! betwixt them both experienc'd Prudence! 
 
 octavio (prefenting Queßenberg to Butler and 
 
 Ifolani). 
 The Chamberlain and War-commiffioner Quef- 
 
 tenberg, 
 The bearer of the Emperor's behefts, 
 The long- tried friend and patron of a|l foldjers. 
 We honor in this noble vifitor. 
 
 (Univerfal ßlence.) 
 
 jllo. {moving towards 2ueßenberg.) 
 'Tis not the firft time, noble Minifter, 
 You have Ihewn our camp this honor. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 Once befor^ 
 I flood before thefe colours. 
 
 b 4 ii ,1.0 
 
8 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 ILLO. 
 Perchance too you remember where that was. 
 It was at Znäim * in Moravia, where 
 You did prefent yourfeif upon the part 
 Of th' Emperor, to {implicate our Duke 
 That he would ftraight aflume the chief command. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 To fupplicate f Nay, noble General ! 
 
 So far extended neither my commiffion 
 
 (At leafl to my own knowledge) nor my zeal. 
 
 ILLO, 
 
 Well, well then — to compel him, if you chufe, 
 
 I can remember me right well, Count Tilly 
 
 Had fuffered total rout upon the Lech. 
 
 Bavaria lay all open to the enemy, 
 
 Whom there was nothing to delay from preffing 
 
 Onwards into the very heart of Auftria. 
 
 At that time you and Werdenberg appear'd 
 
 Before our General, ftorming him with prayers, 
 
 And menacing the Emperor's difpleafure, 
 
 Unlefs he took companion on this wretchednefs. 
 
 isolani. {Steps ap to them.) 
 Yes, yes, 'tis comprehenfible enough, 
 Wherefore with your commiflion of to-day 
 You were not all too willing to remember 
 Your former one. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 Why not, Count Ifolan ? 
 
 No contradiction fure exifls between them. 
 
 ■ 
 
 * A town not far from the Mine-mountains, on the high 
 road from Vienna to Prague. 
 
 It 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN". 9 
 
 It was the urgent bufinefs of that time 
 To fnatch Bavaria from her enemy's hand ; 
 And my commiffion of to-day inftrufts me 
 To free her from her good friends and prote&ors. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 A worthy office ! After with our blood 
 
 We have wrefted this Bohemia from the Saxon, 
 
 To be fwept out of it is all our thanks, 
 
 The fole reward of all our hard-won victories. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 Unlefs that wretched land be doom'd to fuffer 
 •Only a change of evils, it muft be 
 Freed from the fcourge alike of friend and foe. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 What ? 'Twas a favorable year; the Boors 
 Can anfwer frefh demands already. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 Nay, 
 If you difcourfe of herds and meadow-grounds — 
 
 isolani. 
 The war maintains the war. Are the Boors ruin'd 
 The Emperor gains fo many more new fcldiers. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 And is the poorer by even fo many fubjects. 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 Poh ! We are all his fubjects, 
 
 v QUESTENBERG, 
 
 Yet with a difference, General ! The one fill 
 With profitable irrduftry the purfe, 
 The others are well fkilFd to empty it. 
 
 V ' 
 
 The 
 
10 THE PICC0L0MINI, OR THE 
 
 The fword has made the Emperor poor; the plough 
 Mud reinvigorate his refources. 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 Sure! 
 Times are not yet fo bad. Methinks I fee 
 {examining with his eye the drefs and ornaments 
 
 of Queßenberg) 
 Good flore of gold that (till remains uncoin'd. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 Thank Heaven ! that means have been found out 
 
 to hide 
 Some little from the fingers of the Croats. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 There ! The Stawata and the Martinitz, 
 
 On whom the Emperor heaps his gifts and graces, 
 
 To the heart-burning of all good Bohemians — 
 
 Thofe minions of court favor, thofe court harpies, 
 
 Who fatten on the wrecks of citizens 
 
 Driven from their houfe and home — who reap no 
 
 harvefls 
 Save in the general calamity— 
 Who now, with kingly pomp, infult and mock 
 The defolation of their country — thefe, 
 Let thefe, and fuch as thefe, fupport the war, 
 The fatal war, which they alone enkindled ! 
 
 BUTLER, 
 
 And thofe flate-parafites, who have their feet 
 So conftantly beneath the Emperor's table, 
 AVho cannot let a benefice fall, but they 
 Snap at it with dog's hunger — they, forfooth, 
 
 Would 
 
FIRST PART OF. WALLENSTEIN. II 
 
 Would pare the foldier's bread, and crofs his 
 reckoning ! 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 My life long will it anger me to think, 
 How when I went to court feven years ago, 
 To fee about new horfes for our regiments, 
 How from one antichamber to another 
 They dragg'd me on, and left me by the hour 
 To kick my heels among a croud of fimpering, 
 Feaft-fatten'd flaves, as if I had come thither 
 A mendicant fuitor for the crumbs of favor 
 That fall beneath their tables. And, at lad, 
 Whom mould they fend me but a Capuchin ! 
 Straight I began to mufter up my fins 
 For abfolution— -but no fuch luck for me ! 
 This was the man, this Capuchin, with whom 
 I was to treat concerning tn* army horfes. 
 And I was forc'd at laft to quit the field, 
 The bufinefs unaccomplished. Afterwards 
 The Duke procur'd me in three days, what I 
 Could not obtain in thirty at Vienna. 
 
 QTJESTENBERG. 
 
 Yes, yes ! your travelling bills foon found their 
 
 way to us : 
 Too well I know we have ftill accounts to fettle. 
 
 JLLO. 
 
 War is a violent trade \ one cannot always 
 Finifh one's work by foft means ; every trifle • 
 Mud not be blacken'd into facrilege. 
 If we fhould wait till you, in folemn council, 
 With due deliberation had felecled 
 
 The 
 
12 THE PICCOLOMINI, Oß THE 
 
 The fmallefl out of four-and-twenty evils, 
 
 I'faith we (hould wait long. — 
 
 " Dafh ! and through with it !" — That's the 
 
 better watch- word. 
 Then after come what may come. 'Tis man's 
 
 nature 
 To make the beft of a bad thing once pafL 
 A bitter and perplexed " What mail I do?" 
 Is worfe to man than worft neceffity. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 Ay, doubtlefs, it is true; the Duke does {pare us 
 The troublefome talk of chufing. 
 
 butler. 
 
 Yes, the Duke 
 Cares with a father's feelings for his troops ; 
 But how the Emperor feels for us, we fee. 
 
 QUESTENBERG, 
 
 His cares and feelings all ranks (hare alike, 
 Nor will he offer one up to another, 
 
 isolani. 
 And therefore thrufts he us into the defarts 
 As beads of prey, that fo he may preferve 
 His dear fheep fattening in his fields at home, 
 
 questenberg (with a fneer). 
 Count, this comparifon you make, not I, 
 
 EUTLER, 
 
 Why, were we all the Court fuppofes us, 
 *Twere dangerous, fure, to give us liberty, 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 You have taken liberty — it was not given you. 
 
 And 
 
FIRST PART OF .WALLENSTEIN. 15 
 
 And therefore it becomes an urgent duty 
 To rein it in with curbs. 
 
 octavio {inte.rpofi.ng and addr effing Stießen-? 
 
 berg). 
 
 My noble friend, 
 This is no more than a reniembrancing 
 That you are now in camp, and among warriors. 
 The foldier's boldnefs conftitutes his freedom. 
 Could he act daringly, unlefs he dar'd 
 Talk even fo ? One runs into the other. 
 The boldnefs of this worthy officer, 
 {pointing to Butler) 
 Which now has but miftaken in its mark, 
 Preferv'd, when nought but boldnefs could pre- 
 
 ferve it, 
 To the Emperor his capital city Prague, 
 In a moft formidable mutiny 
 Of the whole garrifon. 
 
 [Military miific at a dißance.) 
 Hah ! here they come ! 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 The fentries are faluting them : this fignal 
 Announces the arrival of the Duchefs. 
 
 octavio (to Quefienberg). 
 Then my fon Max. too has return'd. 'Twas he 
 Fetch'd and attended them from Carnthen hither. 
 
 i solan i (to lllo). 
 Shall we not go in company to greet them ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Well, let us go.— Ho ! Colonel Butler, come. 
 
 You'll 
 
14 ?H£ PICCOLOMlNI, ÖR TUE 
 
 (To Octavio.) 
 You'll not forget, that yet ere noon we meet 
 The noble Envoy at the General's palace. 
 
 Exeunt all but 2ueßenberg and Octavid 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Questenberg and Octavio» 
 
 qu estenberg {with figns of averfion and afio* 
 
 nijhment). 
 What have I not been forc'd to hear, Odavio ! 
 What fentiments ! what fierce, uncurb'd defiance ! 
 And were this fpirit univerfal — 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Hm! 
 
 You are now acquainted with three fourths of the 
 army. 
 
 questenberg. 
 Where muft we feek then for a fecond hofl 
 To have the cuftody of this ? That Ilio 
 Thinks worfe, I fear me, than he fpeaks. And 
 
 then 
 This Butler too — he cannot even conceal 
 The paffionate workings of his ill intentions. 
 
 octavio. 
 Quicknefs of temper — irritated pride; 
 'Twas nothing more. I cannot give up Butler. 
 I know a fpell that will foon difpoffefs 
 The evil fpirit in him. 
 
 4 questenberg 
 
FIRST PART OF VVALLENSTErN. 15 
 
 questenberg (walking up and doivn in evident 
 
 dif quiet). 
 
 Friend, friend ! 
 O ! this is worfe, far worfe, than we had fuffer'd 
 Ourfelves to dream of at Vienna. There 
 We faw it only with the courtier's eyes, 
 Eyes dazzled by the fplendor of the throne. 
 We had not feen the War-chief, the Commander, 
 The man all-powerful in his camp. Here, here, 
 'Tis quite another tiling. 
 
 Here is no Emperor more — the Duke is Emperor. 
 Alas, my friend ! alas, my noble friend ! 
 This walk which you have ta'en me through the 
 
 camp 
 Strikes my hopes proflrate. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Now you fee yourfelf 
 Of what a perilous kind the office is, 
 Which you deliver to me from the Court. 
 The lead fufpicion of the General 
 Cofts me my freedom and my life, and would 
 But haften his moil defperate enterprife. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 Where was our reaibn lleeping when we trufled 
 This madman with the fword, and plac'd fuch. 
 
 power 
 In fuch a hand ? I tell you, he'll refufe, 
 Flatly refufe, t'obey the Imperial orders. 
 Friend, he can do't 5 and what he can, he will. 
 And then th' impunity of his defiance — 
 O ! what a proclamation of our weaknefs ! 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
16 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR TH£ 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 D'ye think too, he has brought his wife and 
 
 daughter 
 Without a purpofe hither ? Here in camp ! 
 And at the very point of time, in which 
 We're arming for the war ? That he has taken 
 Thefe, the laft pledges of his loyalty, 
 Away from out the Emperor's domains — 
 This is no doubtful token of the nearnefs 
 Of fome eruption ! 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 How mail we hold footing 
 Beneath this tempeft, which collects itfelf 
 And threats us from all quarters ? Th' enemy 
 Of th' empire on our borders, now already 
 The mafter of the Danube, and ftill farther, 
 And farther ftill, extending every hour ! 
 In our interior the alarum-bells 
 Of infurre&ion — peafantry in arms— — 
 All orders difcontented — and the army, 
 Juftin the moment of our expectation 
 Of aidance from it — lo ! this very army 
 Seduc'd, run wild, loft to all difcipline, 
 Loofen'd, and rent afunder from the ftate 
 And from their fov'reign, the blind inftrument 
 Of the moil daring of mankind, a weapon 
 Of fearful power, which at his will he wields 1 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Nay, nay, friend ! let us not defpair too foon. 
 Men's words are ever bolder than their deeds : 
 And many a refolute, who now appears 
 
 Made 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 17 
 
 Made up to all extremes, will, on a fudden, 
 Find in his breaft a heart he wot not of, 
 Let but a fingle honeft man fpeak out 
 The true name of his crime ! Remember too, 
 We (land not yet fo wholly unprotefted. 
 Counts Altringer and Galas have maintain'd 
 Their little army faithful to it's duty, 
 And daily it becomes more numerous. 
 Nor can he take us by furprize : you know, 
 I hold him all encompafs'd by my lift'ners. 
 Whate'er he does, is mine, even while 'tis doing- — 
 No ftep fo fmall, but inftantly I hear it i 
 Yea, his own mouth difclofes it. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 'Tis quite 
 Incomprehenfible, that he detects not 
 The foe fo near ! 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Beware, you do not think, 
 That I by lying arts, and complaifant 
 Hypocrify, have fkulk'd into his graces ^ 
 Or with the fuftenance of fmooth profeffions 
 Nourifh his all-confiding friend fhip ! No — ► 
 Compell'd alike by prudence, and that duty 
 Which we all owe our country, and our fovereign, 
 To hide my genuine feelings from him, yet 
 Ne'er have I dup'd him with bafe counterfeits ! 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 It is the vifible ordinance of heaven. 
 
 C • OCTAVIO. 
 
IS THE PlCCOLOMINI,*bR THE 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 I know not what it is that To attra&s 
 
 And links him both to me and to my fon. 
 
 Comrades and friends we always were — long habit, 
 
 Adventurous deeds perform'd in company, 
 
 And all thofe many and various incidents 
 
 Which flore a foldier's memory with affections, 
 
 Had bound us long and early to each other — 
 
 Yet I can name the day, when all at once 
 
 His heart rofe on me, and his confidence 
 
 Shot out in fudden growth. It was the morning 
 
 Before the memorable fight at Lützner. 
 
 Urg'd by an ugly dream, I fought him out, 
 
 To prefs him to accept another charger. 
 
 At diftance from the tents, beneath a tree, 
 
 I found him in a fleep. When I had wak'd him, 
 
 And had related all my bodings to him, 
 
 Long time he ftar'd upon me, like a man 
 
 Aftounded ; thereon fell upon my neck, 
 
 And manifefted to me an emotion 
 
 That far outftripp'd the worth ofthat fmall fervice. 
 
 Since then his confidence has follow'd me 
 
 With the fame pace that mine has fled from him. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 You lead your fon into the fecret ? 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 No ! 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 What ? and not warn him either what bad hands 
 His lot has plac'd him in ? 
 
 5 OCTAVIO. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 19' 
 
 OCTAVIÖ. 
 
 I muft perforce 
 Leave him in wardship to his innocence. 
 His young and open foul — diffimulation 
 Is foreign to it's habits ! Ignorance 
 Alone can keep alive the cheerful air. 
 The unembarrafs'd fenfe and light free fpirit, 
 That make the Duke fecure. 
 
 QU ESTEN BERG. ( dnXWllfiy ) 
 
 My honour'd friend ! moft highly do I deem 
 Of Colonel Piccolomini — yet — i f 
 Reflect a little 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 I muft venture it. 
 Hufh ! — There he comes ! 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 Max. Piccolomini, OctavioPiccolomini, 
 
 questenberg. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Ha ! there he is himfelf. Welcome, my father 1 
 (He embraces his father. As he turns round, 
 
 he obferves Queßenberg, and draws back 
 
 zvith a cold and referved air.) 
 You are engag'd, I fee. I'll not difturb you. 
 
 C 2 OCTAVIO. 
 
20 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 How, Max. ? Look clofer at this vifitor 
 Attention, Max. an old friend merits — Rev'rence 
 Belongs of right to the envoy of your fov'reign. 
 
 max. (drily) 
 Von Queftenberg ! — Welcome — if you bring with 
 
 you 
 Aught good to our head quarters. 
 
 questenberg. (feizing his hand) 
 
 Nay, draw not 
 Your hand away, Count Piccolomini ! 
 Not on mine own account alone I feiz'd it, 
 And nothing common will I fay therewith. 
 
 (taking the hands of both) 
 Odtavio — Max. Piccolomini ! 
 
 faviour names, and full of happy omen ! 
 Ne'er will her profperous genius turn from Auftria, 
 While two fuch ftars, with blefTed influences 
 Beaming protection, mine above her hofts. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Heh ! — Noble minifter ! You mils your part. 
 
 You came not here to act a panegyric. 
 
 You're fent, I know, to find fault and to fcold us — 
 
 1 muft not be beforehand with my comrades. 
 
 octavio. (to Max.) 
 He comes from court, where people are not quite 
 So well contented with the duke, as here. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 What now have they contriv'd to find out in him ? 
 
 That he alone determines for himfelf 
 
 What 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 21 
 
 What he himfelf alone doth understand ? 
 
 Well, therein he does right, and will perfift in't. 
 
 Heaven never meant him for that paflive thing 
 
 That can be ftruck and hammer'd out to fuit 
 
 Another's tafte and fancy. He'll not dance 
 
 To every tune of every minifter. 
 
 It goes againft his nature — he can't do iL 
 
 He is poffefs'd by a commanding fpirit, 
 
 And his too is the ftation of command. 
 
 And well for us it is fo ! There exift 
 
 Few fit to rule themfelves, but few that ufe 
 
 Their intellects intelligently. — Then 
 
 Well for the whole, if there be found a man, 
 
 Who makes himfelf what nature deftin'd him, 
 
 The paufe, the central point of thoufand thou- 
 
 fands- 
 
 Stands fix'd and {lately, like a firm-built column, 
 Where all may prefs with joy and confidence. 
 Now fuch a man is Wallenftein ; and if 
 Another better fuits the court — no other 
 But fuch a one as he can ferve the army, 
 
 QUESTENBERG, 
 
 The army ? Doubtlefs ! 
 
 octavio. (to Quefienberg) 
 
 Hum ! Supprefs it friend ! 
 Unlets fome end were anfwer'd by the utterance. — 
 Of him there you'll make nothing. 
 
 max. (continuing) 
 
 In their diftrefs 
 They call a fpirit up, and when he comes, 
 
 c 3 Stra 
 
Ü2 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 Straight their flefti creeps and quivers, and they 
 
 dread him 
 More than the ills for which they call'd him up. 
 Th' uncommon, the fublime, muft feem and be 
 . Like things of every day. — But in the field, 
 Aye, there the Prefent Being makes itfelf felt. 
 The perfonal muft command, the actual eye 
 Examine. If to be the chieftain alks 
 All that is great in nature, let it be 
 Likewife his privilege to move and act 
 In all the correfpondencies of greatnefs. 
 The oracle within him, that which lives, 
 He muft invoke and queftion — not dead books, 
 Not ordinances, not mould -rotted papers. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 My fon ! of thofe old narrow ordinances 
 
 Let us not hold too lightly. They are weights 
 
 Of pricelefs value, which opprefs'd mankind 
 
 Tied to the volatile will of their opprefibrs. 
 
 For always formidable was the league 
 
 And partnership of free power with free will. 
 
 The way of ancient ordinance, tho' it winds, 
 
 Is yet no devious way. Straight forwards goes 
 
 The lightning's path, and ftraight the fearful path 
 
 Of the cannon-ball. Direct it flies and rapid, 
 
 Shatt'ring that it may reach, and (hatt'ring what 
 
 it reaches. 
 My fon ! the road, the human being travels, 
 That, on which blessin.g comes and goes, doth 
 
 follow 
 The river's courfe, the valley's playful windings, 
 Curves round the corn-field and the hill of vines, 
 
 Honour- 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 23 
 
 Honouring the holy bounds of property ! 
 And thug fecure, tho' late, leads to its end. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 O hear your father, noble youth ! hear Jtf&n, 
 Who is at once the hero and the man. 
 
 OCTAVIO. . , 
 
 My fon, the nurfling of the campfpoke in thee ! 
 
 A war of fifteen years 
 
 Hath been thy education and thy fchool. j*t 
 
 Peace haft thou never witnefs'd ! There exifts 
 
 An higher than the warrior's excellence. 
 
 In war itfelf war is no ultimate purpofe, 
 
 The vaft and fudden deeds of violence, 
 
 Adventures wild, and wonders of the moment, 
 
 Thefe are not they, my fon, that generate 
 
 The Calm, the Blifsful, and th' enduring Mighty ! 
 
 Lo there ! the foldier, rapid architect ! 
 
 Builds his light town of canvafs, and at once 
 
 The whole fcene moves and buflles momently., 
 
 With arms, and neighing deeds, and mirth and 
 
 quarrel ! 
 The motley market fills; the roads, the ftreams 
 Are crowded with new freights, trade ftirs and 
 
 hurries ! 
 But on fome morrow morn, all fuddenly, 
 The tents drop down, the hord renews its march. 
 Dreary, and folitary as a church -yard * 
 
 • The meadow and down-trodden feed-plot lie, 
 And the year's harveft is gone utterly. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 O let the Emperor make peace, my father ! 
 
 c 4 Moll 
 
'24- THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 Moft gladly would I give the blood-flain'd laurel 
 For the firft violet * of the leaflefs fpring, 
 Pluck'd in thofe quiet fields where I have 
 journey'd ! 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 What ails thee ? What fo moves thee all at once ? 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Peace have I ne'er beheld ? I have beheld it. 
 From thence am I come hither : O ! that fight, 
 It glimmers (till before me, like fome landfcape- 
 Left in the di (lance, — fome delicious landfcape ! 
 My road conducted me thro' countries where 
 The war has not yet reach'd. Life, life, my 
 
 father— — 
 My venerable father, Life has charms 
 Which we have ne'er experienc'd. We have been 
 But voyaging along it's barren coafls, 
 Like fome poor ever-roaming horde of pirates, 
 That, crowded in the rank and narrow fhip, 
 Houfe on the wild fea with wild ufages, 
 Nor know aught of the main land, but the bays 
 Where fafelieft they may venture a thieves' landing. 
 Whate'er in th' inland dales the land conceals 
 Of fair and exquifite, O ! nothing, nothing, 
 Do we behold of that in our rude voyage. 
 
 * In the original, 
 
 Den blutger. Lorbeer, geb ich hin, mit Freuden 
 Fürs erfte veilchen, das der merz uns bringt, 
 Da?, duftige Pffand der neuverjüngten Erde. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 25 
 
 gctavio. (attentive, with an appearance of 
 
 mieafinefs) 
 — And fo your journey has reveal'd this to you? 
 
 MAX. 
 
 'Twas the firft leifure of my life. O tell me, 
 
 What is the meed arid purpofe of the toil, 
 
 The painful toil, which robb'd me of my youth, 
 
 Left me an heart unfoul'd and folitary, 
 
 A fpirit uninform'd, unornamented. 
 
 For the camp's flir and crowd and ceafelefs larum, 
 
 The neighing war-horfe, the air-fhatt'ring trumpet, 
 
 The unvaried, ftill-returning hour of duty, 
 
 Word of command, and exercife of arms — 
 
 There's nothing here, there's nothing in all this 
 
 To fatisfy the heart, the gafping heart i 
 
 Mere buttling nothingnefs, where the foul is not — « 
 
 This cannot be the fole felicity, 
 
 Thefe cannot be man's bed and only pleafures ! 
 
 OCTAVIO k 
 
 Much has thou learnt, my fon> in this Ihort 
 journey. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 O ! day thrice lovely ! when at length the foldier 
 
 Returns home into life ; when he becomes 
 
 A fellow-man among his fellow-men. 
 
 The colours are unfurl'd, the cavalcade 
 
 Marlhals, and now the buz is hufli'd, and hark I 
 
 Now the foft peace-march beats, home, brothers, 
 
 home ! 
 The caps and helmets are all garjanded 
 
 With 
 
26 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 With green boughs, the laft plund'ring of the 
 
 fields. 
 The city gates fly open of themfelves, 
 They need no longer the petard to tear them. 
 The ramparts are all fill'd with men and women, 
 With peaceful men and women, that fend onwards 
 Kifles and welcomings upon the air, 
 Which they make breezy with affectionate geftures. 
 From all the towers rings out the merry peal, 
 The joyous vefpers of a bloody day. 
 
 happy man, O fortunate ! for whom 
 
 The well-known door, the faithful arms are open, 
 The faithful tender arms with mute embracing. 
 
 questenberg [apparently much affected). 
 O ! that you mould fpeak 
 Of fuch a diftant, diftant time, and not 
 Of the to-morrow, not of this to-day, 
 
 max. [turning round to him quick and vehement.) 
 Where lies the fault but on you in Vienna ? 
 
 1 will deal openly with you, Queftenberg. 
 Jufl now, as flrft I faw you Handing .here, 
 (IT1 own it to you freely) indignation 
 Crowded and pre ft my inmoft foul together. 
 *Tis ye that hinder peace, ye! — and the warrior, 
 It is the warrior that mufl force it from you. 
 
 Ye fret the General's life out, blacken him, 
 Hold him up as a rebel, and Heaven knows 
 What elfe Hill worfe, becaufe he fpares the Saxons, 
 And tries to awaken confidence in th* enemy ; 
 Which yet's the only way to peace : for if 
 
 War 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 27 
 
 War intermit not during war, how then 
 
 And whence can peace come ? — Your own plagues 
 
 fall on you ! 
 Even as I love what's virtuous, hate I you. 
 And here make I this vow, here pledge myfelf.; 
 My blood mail fpurt out for this Wallenftein, 
 And my heart drain off, drop by drop, ere ye 
 Shall revel and dance jubilee o'er his ruin. 
 
 [Exit. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 QUESTENBERG, OcTAVIO PlCCOLOMINI. 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 Alas, alas ! and Hands it fo ? 
 
 {then in prejfing and impatient tones.) 
 What, friend ! and do we let him go away 
 In this delufion — let him go away ? 
 Not call him back immediately, not open 
 His eyes upon the fpot ? 
 
 ocTAVio {recovering himfelf out of a deep fiudy)> 
 
 He has now open'd mine, 
 And I fee more than pleafes me. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 What is it ? 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Curfe on this journey i 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 But why io ? What is it ? 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
28 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Gome, come along, friend ! I mud follow up 
 The ominous track immediately. Mine eyes 
 Are open'd now, and I muft ufe them. Come ! 
 {draws 2ueße?iberg on with hi?n.) 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 What now ? Where go you then \ 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 To her herfelf. 
 
 QUESTENEERG. 
 
 To 
 
 octavio {interrupting him, and correcting him- 
 
 fdf.) 
 To the Duke. Come, let us go« — 'Tis done, 
 
 'tis done ! 
 I fee the net that is thrown over him. 
 1 he returns not to me as he went. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 Nay, but explain ypurfelf. . 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 And that I mould not 
 Forefee it, not prevent this journey ! Wherefore 
 Did I keep it from him ? — You were in the right. 
 I mould have warn'd him ! Now it is too late. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 But zvhafs too late ? Bethink yourfelf, my friend. 
 That you are talking abfolute riddles to me. 
 
 octavio (more collected). 
 Come ! — to the Duke's. 'Tis clofe upon the 
 
 hour 
 
 Which 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 29 
 
 Which he appointed you for audience. Come ! 
 A curfe, a threefold curfe, upon this journey ! 
 
 {He leads Queßenberg ■off.') 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 
 Changes to a fpacious chamber in the houfe of 
 the Duke of Friedland. — Servants employed 
 in putting the tables and chairs in order. 
 During this enters Seni, like an old Italian 
 doctor, in black, and clothed Jbmewhat fantaf- 
 tically. He carries a white flqff, with which 
 he marks out the quarters of the heaven. 
 
 FIRST SERVANT. 
 
 Come — to it, lads, to it ! Make an end of it. I 
 hear the fentry call out, " Stand to your arms !" 
 They will be there in a minute. 
 
 SECOND SERVANT. 
 
 Why were we not told before that the audience 
 would be held here ? Nothing prepared — no or- 
 ders — no inftructions — 
 
 THIRD SERVANT. 
 
 Ay, and why was the balcony-chamber counter- 
 manded, that with the great worked carpet ? — 
 there one can look about one. 
 
 FIRST SERVANT. 
 
 Nay, that you muft afk the mathematician 
 there. He lays it is an unlucky chamber. 
 
 SECOND 
 
30 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 SECOND SERVANT. 
 
 Poh r fluff and nonfenfe ! That's what I call a 
 hum. A chamber is a chamber ; what much can 
 the place fignify in the affair ? 
 
 s e n i [with gravity ). 
 My fon, there's nothing insignificant, 
 Nothing! But yet in every earthly thing 
 Firfb and more, principal is place and time. 
 
 FIRST SERVANT (to the SeCOlld'). 
 
 Say nothing to him, Nat. The Duke himfelf 
 muft let him have his own will. 
 
 sent {counts the chairs, half in a loud, half in 
 a low voice, till he comes to eleven, which he 
 repeats). 
 
 Eleven ! an evil number ! Set twelve chairs. 
 
 Twelve ! twelve ligns hath the zodiac: five and 
 feven, 
 
 The holy numbers, include themfelves in twelve. 
 
 second servant. 
 And what may you have to object againft eleven ? 
 I fliould like to know that now. 
 
 seni. 
 Eleven is — tranfgrefHon ; eleven overiteps 
 The ten commandments. 
 
 second servant. 
 That's good 1 and why do you call live an holv 
 number ? 
 
 SENT. ■ 
 
 Five is the foul of man ; for even a^> man 
 
 h 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 31 
 
 Is mingled up of good and evil, fo 
 
 The five is the firft number that's made up 
 
 Of even and odd. 
 
 SECOND SERVANT. 
 
 The foolifh old coxcomb ! 
 
 FIRST SERVANT. 
 
 Ey t let him alone though. I like to hear him ; 
 there is more in his words than can be feen at firft; 
 fight. 
 
 THIRD SERVANT. 
 
 Off! They come. 
 
 SECOND SERVANT. 
 
 There ! Out at the fide-door. 
 
 {They harry off. Seni follows jlowly . A page 
 brings the ß off of command on a red cnfliion^ 
 and places it on the table near the Duke's 
 chair. They are announced from without^ 
 and the zvings of the door fly open. ) 
 
 SCENE VII. 
 Wallenstein, Duchess. 
 
 wallenstein. 
 You went then through Vienna, were prefented 
 To the Queen of Hungary ? 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Yes ; and to the Emprefs too. 
 And by both Majefties were we admitted 
 To kifs the hand. 
 
 WALLEN 
 
32 THE PICCOLOMINT, OR THE 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 And how was it receiv'd, 
 That I had fent for wife and daughter hither 
 To the camp, in winter time ? 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 I did even that 
 Which you commiffion'd me to do. I toid them„ 
 You had determin'd on our daughter's marriage, 
 And wifh'd, ere yet you went into the field, 
 To inew th' elected hufband his betroth'd. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 And did they guefs the choice which I had made? 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 They only hop'd and wifh'd it may have fallen 
 Upon no foreign nor yet Lutheran noble. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 And you — what do you with, Elizabeth? 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Your will, you know, was always mine. 
 
 wallenstein {after a paafe). 
 
 Well then I 
 And in all elfe, of what kind and complexion 
 Was your reception at the court ? 
 {The Duchcfs caßs her eyes on the ground, and 
 
 remains fileni.) 
 Hide nothing from me. How were you receiv'd ? 
 
 v duchess. 
 
 O ! my dear lord, all is not what it was. 
 A cankerworm, my lord, a cankerworm 
 Has ftolen into the bud. 
 
 WALLEN- 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 33 
 
 i 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Ay ! is it fo ? 
 What, they were lax ? they fail'd of th' old refpect ? 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Not of refpedt.. No honors were omitted, 
 No outward courtefy ; but in the place 
 Of condefcending, confidential kindnefs, 
 Familiar and endearing, there were given me 
 Only thefe honors and that folemn courtefy. 
 Ah ! and the tendernefs which was put on, 
 It was the guife of pity, not of favor. 
 No ! Albrecht's wife, Duke Albrecht's princely 
 
 wife, 
 Count Harrach's noble daughter, mould not fo — < 
 Not wholly fo mould fhe have been receiv'd. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Yes, yes ; they have ta'en offence. My lateft 
 
 conduct, 
 They rail'd at it, no doubt. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 O thaf they had ! " 
 I have been long accuftom'd to defend you, 
 To heal and pacify diftemper*d fpirits. 
 No ; no one railM at you. They wrapp'd them up, 
 O Heaven ! in fuch oppreffive, folemn filence ! — ■ 
 Here is no every-da'y mifunderftanding, 
 No tranfient pique, no cloud that paffes over j 
 Something moil lucklefs, moft unhealable, 
 Has taken place. The Queen of Hungary 
 Us'd formerly to call rne her dear aunt, 
 And ever at departure to embrace me-— 
 
 D WALLEN- 
 
34 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Now fhe omitted it ? 
 
 duchess {wiping away her tears, after a paufe.) 
 
 She did embrace me, 
 But then firft when I had already taken 
 My formal leave, and when the door already 
 Had clos'd upon me, then did (he come out 
 In hafte, as fhe had fuddenly bethought herfelf, 
 And prefs'd me to her bofom, more with anguifh 
 Than tcndernefs. 
 wallenstein (feizes her handfooth ingly . ) 
 Nay now, collect yourfelf. 
 And what of Eggenberg and Lichtenftein, 
 And of our other friends there ? 
 
 duchess (Jliaking her head.) 
 
 I faw none. 
 
 wallenstein. 
 Th' AmbafTador from Spain, who once was wont 
 To plead fo warmly for me ?-— 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Silent, filent ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Thefe funs then are eclipfed for us. Henceforward 
 Muft we roll on, our own fire, our own light. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 And were it — were it, my dear lord, in that 
 Which mov'd about the Court in buz and whifper, 
 But in the country let itfelf be heard 
 Aloud — in that which Father Lamormain 
 In fundry hints and 
 
 WALLEN- 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 35 
 
 wallenstein {eagerly). 
 Lamormain ! what faid he ? 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 That you 're accufed of having daringly 
 O'erftepp'd the powers entrufted to you, charg'd 
 With traiterous contempt of th' Emperor 
 And his fupreme behefts. The proud Bavarian, 
 He and the Spaniards ftand up your accufers.— ? 
 That there's a ftorm collecting over you 
 Of far more fearful menace than that former onC 
 Which whirl'd you headlong down at Regenfburg. 
 
 And people talk, faid he, of -Ah ! — 
 
 {flifling extreme emotion.) 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Proceed ! 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 I cannot utter it ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Proceed ! 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 They talk i, u..> 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Well ! 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Of a fecond (catches kef 
 
 voice and hefitates.) 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Second 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 More difgraceful 
 -Difmiffion. 
 
 D 2 WALLEN- 
 
36 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Talk they ? 
 [Strides acrofs the chamber in vehement agitation) 
 
 O ! they force, they thruft me 
 With violence, againfl my own will, onward ! 
 
 duchess, (prejfes near to him, in entreaty.") 
 O ! if there yet be time, my hufband ! If 
 By giving way and by fubmiffion, this 
 Can be averted — my dear lord, give way ! 
 Win down your proud heart to it ! Tell that 
 
 heart, 
 It is your fovereign lord, your Emperor 
 Before whom you retreat. O let no longer 
 Low tricking malice blacken your good meaning 
 With abhor'd venomous glories. Stand you up 
 Shielded and helm'd and weapon' d with the truth, 
 And drive before you into uttermofl fhame 
 Thefe flanderous liars ! Few firm friends have we. 
 You know it ! — The fwift growth a£ our good 
 
 fortune 
 It hath but fet us up, a mark for hatred. 
 What are we, if the fovereign's grace and favour 
 Stand not before us ! 
 
 SCENE 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN, 37 
 
 SCENE VIII. 
 
 Enter the Countefs Tertsky, leading in her 
 hand the Princefs The k la, richly adorned 
 zvith brilliants. 
 
 Countess, Thekla, Wallenstein, 
 Duchess. 
 
 countess. 
 How, filler ? What already upon bufinefs, 
 
 (obferving the countenance of the Duchefs) 
 And bufinefs of no pleafing kind I fee, 
 Ere he has gladden'd at his child. The firft 
 Moment belongs to joy. Here, Friedland! father! 
 This is thy daughter, 
 
 {Thekla approaches with afhij and timid air, 
 and bends herfelf as about to kifs his hand, 
 he receives her in his arms, and remains 
 flanding for fome time lofi in the feeling of 
 her prefence.) 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Yes ; pure and lovely hath hope rifen on me : 
 I take her as the pledge of greater fortune. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 'Twas but a little child when you departed 
 To raife up that great army for the Emperor : 
 And after, at the clofe of the campaign, 
 When you return'd home out of Pomerania, 
 Your daughter was already in the convent, 
 Wherein (he has remain'd till now. 
 
 * 3 
 
 WAL- 
 
38 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 The whiie 
 We in the field here gave our cares and toils 
 To make her great, and fight her a free way 
 To the loftieft earthly good ; lo! mother Nature 
 Within the peaceful filent convent walls 
 Has done her part, and out of her free grace 
 Hath fhe bellowed on the beloved child 
 The godlike ; and now leads her thus adorned 
 To meet her fplendid fortune, and my hope. 
 
 duchess, (to Thekla) 
 Thou wouldeft not have recogniz'd thy father, 
 Would'il thou, my child ? She counted fcarce 
 
 eight years, 
 When lad fhe faw your face-. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 O yes, yes, mother ! 
 At the firfl glance ! — My father is not alter'd. 
 The form, that {lands before me, falsifies 
 No feature of the image that hath liv'd 
 So long within me ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 The voice of my child ! 
 (then after a paufej 
 I was indignant at my defliny 
 That it denied me a man-child to be 
 Heir of my name and of my profperous fortune, 
 And re-illume my foon extinguilh'd being 
 In a proud line of princes. 
 I wrong'd my deftiny. Here upon this head 
 So lovely in its maiden bloom will '! 
 
 Let 
 
FIRST PART OF WÄLLENSTEIN. 39 
 
 Let fall the garland of a life of war, 
 
 Nor deem it loft, if only I can wreath it 
 
 Tranfmitted to a regal ornament, 
 
 Around thefe beauteous brows. 
 
 {He clafps her in his arms as Piccolomini enters.) 
 
 SCENE IX. 
 
 Enter Max. Piccolomini, and fometime after 
 Count Tertsky, the others remaining as* 
 before. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 There comes the Palladin who protected us. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Max ! Welcome, ever welcome ! Always wert thou 
 The morning ftar of my beft joys ! 
 
 MAX. 
 
 My General— — 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 'Till now it was the Emperor who rewarded thee, 
 I but the inftrument. This day thou haft bound 
 The father to thee, Max ! the fortunate father, 
 And this debt Friedland's felf muft pay. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 My prince ! 
 You made no common hurry to transfer it. 
 I come with fhame. Yea, not without a pang ! 
 For fcarce have I arriv'd here, fcarce deliver'd 
 The mother and the daughter to your arms, 
 
 d 4 But 
 
40 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 But there is brought to me from your equerry 
 A fplendid richly-plated hunting drefs 
 
 So to remunerate' me for my trouble ■ 
 
 Yes, yes, remunerate me ! Since a trouble 
 It muft be, a mere office, not a favour 
 Which I leapt forward to receive, and which 
 I came already with full heart to thank you for. 
 No ! 'twas not fo intended, that my bufinefs 
 Should be my higheft beft good fortune ! 
 
 (Tertfay enters, and delivers letters to the 
 Duke, which he breaks open hurryingly . ) 
 
 countess, (to Max.) 
 Remunerate your trouble ! For his joy 
 He makes you recompenfe. 'Tis not unfitting 
 For you, Count Piccolomini, to feel 
 So tenderly — my brother it befeems 
 To fhew himfelf for ever great and princely. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Then I too mud have fcruples of his love : 
 For his munificent hands did ornament me 
 Ere yet the father's heart had fpoken to me. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Yes 5 'tis his nature ever to be giving 
 And making happy. 
 
 [He grafps the hand of the Duchefs loith ßill 
 increaßng warmth . ) 
 
 How my heart pours out 
 Its all of thanks to him : O ! how I feem 
 To utter all things in the dear name Friedland. 
 While I mail live, fo long will I remain 
 The captive of this name : in it (hall bloom 
 
 * Mv 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 41 
 
 My every fortune, every lovely hope. 
 
 Inextricably as in fome magic ring 
 
 In this name hath my deftiny charm-bound me ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 (JVho during this time has been anxioufixj 
 watching the uke, and remarks that he is 
 lofi in thought over the letters.) 
 My brother withes us to leave him. Come, 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 [Turns himfelf round quick, collects him/elf, 
 and /peaks with chearfulnefs to the Duchefs.) 
 Once more I bid thee welcome to the camp, 
 Thou art the hoftefs of this court. You, Max. 
 Will now again adminifter your old office, 
 While we perform the fovereign's bufinefs here. 
 (Max. Piccolomini offers the Duchefs his arm, 
 the Countefs accompanies the Princefs.) 
 
 tertsky. (calling after him.) 
 Max. we depend on feeing you at the meeting. 
 
 SCENE X. 
 
 Wallenstein, Count Tertsky. 
 
 wallenstein, (in deep thought to himfelf.') 
 She hath feen all things as they are — It is fo, 
 And fquares completely with my other notices. 
 They have determin'd finally in Vienna, 
 Have given me my fucceflor rlready; 
 It is the king of Hungary, Ferdinand, 
 
 The 
 
42 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 The Emperor's delicate fon ! he's now their faviour, 
 He's the new ftar that's riling now ! Of us 
 They think themfelves already fairly rid, 
 And as we were deceas'd, the heir already 
 Is entering on poffeffion. — Therefore — difpatch ! 
 (As he turns round he objerves Tert/Ay, and 
 gives him a letter.) 
 Count Altringer will have himfelf excus'd, 
 And Galas too — I like not this ! 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 And if 
 
 Thou loiterefr. longer, all will fall away, 
 One following the other. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Altringer 
 Is mailer of the Tyrole paffes. I mult forthwith 
 Send fome one to him, that he let not in 
 The Spaniards on me from the Milanefe. 
 
 Well, and the old Sefin, that ancient trader 
 
 In contraband negotiations, he 
 
 Has (hewn himfelf again of late. What brings he 
 
 From the Count Thur? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 The Count communicates, 
 He has found out the Swedifh chancellor 
 At Halberftadt, where the convention's held, 
 Who fays, you've tir'd him out, and that he'll 
 
 have 
 No further dealings with you. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 And why fo ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 43 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 He fays, you are never in earneft in your fpeeches, 
 That you decoy the Swedes — to make fools of them, 
 Will league yourfelf with Saxony againft them, 
 And at lafifmake yourfelf a riddance of them 
 With a paltry fum of money. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 So then, doubtlefs, 
 Yes, doubtlefs, this fame modelt Swede expects 
 That I Ihall yield him fome fair German tra<ft 
 For his prey and booty, that ourfelves at laft^ 
 On our own foil and native territory, 
 May be no longer our own lords and matters ! 
 An excellent fcheme ! — No, no ! They muft be ofl^. 
 Off, off ! away ! — we want no fuch neighbours. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Nay, yield them up that dot, that fpeck of land — 
 
 It goes not from your portion. If you win 
 
 The game, what matters it to you who pays it ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Off with them, off! Thou underftand'ft not this. 
 Never Ihall it be faid of me, I parcell'd 
 My native land away, difmember'd Germany, 
 Betray'd it to a foreigner, in order 
 To come with ftealthy tread, and filch away 
 My own (hare of the plunder. — Never ! never ! — ■ 
 No foreign power Ihall ftrike root in the empire, 
 And leaft of all, thefe Goths ! thefe hunger- 
 wolves ! 
 Who fend fuch envious, hot and greedy glances 
 T'wards the rich bleffings of our German lands r 
 
 I'll 
 
4-fc -THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 I'll have their aid to call and draw my nets, 
 But not a Tingle fifli of all the draught 
 Shall they come in for. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 , You will deal, however, 
 
 More fairly with the Saxons ? They lofe patience 
 
 While you (hift ground and make fo many curves. 
 
 Say, to what purpofe all thefe mafks ? Your 
 friends 
 
 Are plung'd in doubts, baffled, and led aftray in 
 you. 
 
 There's Öxenftein, there's Arnheim — neither 
 knows 
 
 What he mould think of your procraftinations. 
 
 And in the end I prove the liar ; all 
 
 Paffes through me. J have not even your hand- 
 writing. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 I never give my hand-writing \ thou know'ft it. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 But how can it ho., known that you're in earneft, 
 If the act follows not upon the word ? 
 You muft yourfclf acknowledge, that in all 
 Your intercourfes hitherto with th' enemy 
 You might have done with fafety all you have done, 
 Had you meant nothing further than to gull him 
 For th' Emperor's fervice. 
 
 wallenstein ( after a paufe, during which he 
 
 looks narrowly on Terfjky.) 
 
 And from whence doll thou know 
 
 That I'm not gulling him for th' Emperor's fervice? 
 
 Whence 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 45 
 
 Whence knoweft thou that I'm not gulling -all of 
 
 you ? 
 Doft thou know me fo well ? When made I thee 
 Th' intendant of my fecret purpofes ? 
 I am not confcious that I ever open'd 
 My inmoft thoughts to thee. Th' Emperor, it is 
 
 true, 
 Hath dealt with me amifs ; and if I would* 
 I could repay him with ufurious intereft 
 For th' evil he hath done me. It delights me 
 To know my power s but whether I fhall ufe it, 
 Of that, I mould have thought that thou could'fl 
 
 fpeak 
 No wifelier than thy fellows. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 So haft thou always play'd thy game with us. 
 
 Enter illo. 
 
 SCENE XL 
 
 Illo, Wallenstein, Tertsky. 
 
 wallenstein. 
 Kow fland affairs without ? Are they prepar'd ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 You'll find them in the very mood you wifh. 
 They know about the Emperor's requifitions, 
 And are tumultuous. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 How hath Ifolan 
 Declar'd himfclf ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
46 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 He's your's, both foul and body, 
 Since you built up again his Faro-bank. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 And which way doth Kolatto bend ? Haft thou 
 Made fure of Tiefenbach and Deodate ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 What Piccolomini does, that they do too. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 You mean then I may venture fomewhat with 
 them ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 —If you are allured of the Piccolomini. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Not more afTur'd of mine own felf. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 And yet 
 I would you trufted not fo much to Octavio, 
 The fox ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Thou teacheft me to know my man ? 
 Sixteen campaigns I have made with that old 
 
 warrior. 
 Befides, I have his horofcope, 
 We both are born beneath like ftars — in (hort 
 
 {with an air of myßery) 
 To this belongs its own particular afpect.. 
 If therefore thou canft warrant me the reft — — 
 
 "V, 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 There is among them all but this one voice, 
 
 You 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 47 
 
 You muß not lay down the command. I hear 
 They mean to fend a deputation to you. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 If I'm in aught to bind myfelf to them, 
 They too muft bind themfelves to me. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Of courfe. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Their words of honor they muft give, their oaths, 
 Give them in writing to me, prominng 
 Devotion to my fervice unconditional. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Why not ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Devotion unconditional? 
 The exception of their duties towards Auflria 
 They'll always place among the premifes. 
 With this referve 
 
 wallenstein {Jhdking his head.) 
 All unconditional ! 
 No premifes, no referves. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 A thought has (truck me. 
 Does not Count Tertfky give us a fet banquet 
 This evening ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Yes ; and all the Generals 
 Have been invited. 
 
 ILLO 
 
48 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 illo (to Wallenßein:) 
 Say, will you here fully 
 Commiffion me to ufe my own difcretion ? 
 I'll gain for you the Generals' words of honor, 
 Even as you wifh. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Gain me their fignatures ! 
 How you come by them, that is your concern. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 And if I bring it to you, black on white* 
 That all the leaders who are prefent here 
 Give themfelves up to you, without condition ; 
 Say, will you then — then will you fhew yourfelf 
 In earneft, and with fome deciiive action 
 Make trial of your luck ? 
 
 . WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 The fignatures I 
 Gain me the fignatures. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Seize, feize the hour 
 Ere it flips from you. Seldom comes the moment 
 In life, which is indeed fublime and weighty. 
 To make a great decifion poffible, 
 O ! many things, all tranfient and all rapid, 
 Muft meet at once : and, haply, they thus met 
 May by that confluence be enforc'd to paufe 
 Time long enough for wifdom, though too fhort, 
 Far, far too fhort a time for doubt and fcruple ! 
 This is that moment. See, our army chieftains, 
 Our beft, our nobleft, are afiembled round you, 
 
 Their 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 49 
 
 Their kinglike leader ! On your nod they wait. 
 The fingle threads, which here your profperous 
 
 fortune 
 Hath woven together in one potent web 
 Inftindt with deftiny, O let them not 
 Unravel of themfelves. If you permit 
 Thefe chiefs to feparate, fo unanimous 
 Bring you them not a fecond time together. 
 'Tis the high tide that heaves the ftranded fhip, 
 And every individual's fpirit waxes 
 In the great ftream of multitude. Behold, 
 They are flill here, here ftill ! But foon the war 
 Burfts them once more afunder, and in fmall 
 Particular anxieties and interests 
 Scatters their fpirit, and the fympathy 
 Of each man with the whole. He, who to-day 
 Forgets himfelf, forc'd onward with the ftreanij 
 Will become fober, feeing but himfelf, 
 Feel only his own weaknefs, and with Ipeect 
 Will face about, and march on in the old 
 High road of duty, the old broad-trodden road, 
 And feek but to make fhelter in good plight. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 The time is not yet come. 
 
 TERTSKYi 
 
 So you fay always. 
 But when will it be time ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 When I Ihall fay it. 
 
 1LL0. 
 
 You'll wait upon the ftars, and on their hours, 
 
 e Till 
 
50 THE PlCCOLOMlKI, OR THE 
 
 Till the earthly hour efcapes you. O, believe me, 
 In your own bofom are your defdny's (tars. 
 Confidence in yourfelf, prompt refolution, 
 This is your Venus ! and the ible malignant, 
 The only one that harmeth. you» is Doubt. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Thou fpeakeft as thou underftand'ft. How oft 
 And many a time I've told thee, Jupiter, 
 That iuflrous god, was letting at thy birth. 
 Thy vifual power fubdues no myfteries; 
 Mole ey'd, thou may'ft but burrow in the earth, 
 Blind as that fubterrefirial, who with wan, 
 Lead-colour'd mine lighted thee into life. 
 The common, the terreflrial, thou may'ft fee, 
 With ierviceable cunning; knit tog-ether 
 The neareft with the neareit ; and therein 
 I trull thee and believe thee 1 but whate'er 
 Full of -myfterious import Nature weaves, 
 And faihions in the depths — the fpirit's ladder, 
 That from this grofe and vifible world of dull 
 Even to the Harry world, with thou fand rounds, 
 Builds itfelf up ; on which the unfeen powers 
 Move up and down on heavenly minifteries — 
 The circles in the circles, that approach 
 
 The central fun with ever-narrowing orbit 
 
 Thefe fees the glance alone, the unfeal'd eye, 
 
 Of Jupiter's glad children born in luftre. 
 
 (lie walks acrofs the chamber, then returns, and, 
 
 /landing flill, proceeds.) 
 The heavenly conftellations make not merely 
 The day and night, fummer and fpring, not merely 
 
 Signify 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 51 
 
 Signify to the hufbandman the feafons 
 Of fowing and of harvcft. Human action* 
 That is the feed too of contingencies, 
 Strew'd on the dark land of futurity 
 In hopes to reconcile the powers of fate. 
 Whence it behoves us to feck out the feed-time, 
 To watch the ftars, felect their proper hours, 
 And trace with fearching eye the heavenly houfes. 
 Whether the enemy of growth and thriving 
 Hide himfelf not, malignant, in his corner. 
 Therefore permit me my own time. Meanwhile 
 Do you your part. As yet I cannot fay 
 What / (hall do — only, give way I will not. 
 Depofe me too they fhall not. On thefe points 
 You may rely. 
 
 page [entering.) 
 
 My Lords, the Generals. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Let them come in. 
 
 e 2 SCENE 
 
52 TOE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 SCENE XII. 
 
 Walfenßein, Tertfiy, Illo. — To them enter 2uef- 
 tenberg, Octavio and Max. Piccolomini, But- 
 ler, Ifolani, Maradas, and three other Ge- 
 nerals. Wallenflein motions Quejlenberg, zvho 
 in confequence takes the Chair directly oppofite 
 to him ; the others follow, arranging them- 
 felves according to their Raiik. There reigns a 
 momentary Silence. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 I have underftood, 'tis true, the fum and import' 
 Of your inftructions, Queftenberg, have weigh'd 
 
 them, 
 And form'd my final, abfolute refolve ; 
 Yet it feems fitting, that the Generals 
 Should hear the will of th' Emperor from your 
 
 mouth. 
 May't pleafe you then to open your commiffion 
 Before thefe noble Chieftains. 
 
 QITESTENBERG. 
 
 I am ready 
 To obey you; but will firft entreat your Highnefs, 
 And all thefe noble Chieftains, to confider, 
 Th' Imperial dignity and fov'reign right 
 Speaks from my mouth, and not my own pre- 
 fumption. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 We excufe all preface. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
FIRST PART OF WÄLLENSTEltt. 53 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 When his Majefty 
 The Emperor to his courageous armies 
 Preferred in the perfon of Duke Friedland 
 A molt experienc'd and renown'd commander, 
 He did it in glad hope and confidence 
 To give thereby to the fortune of the wai 
 A rapid and aufpicious change. The onfet 
 "Was favourable to his royal willies. 
 Bohemia was deliver'd from the Saxons, 
 The Swede's career of conqueft check'd ! Thcfe 
 
 lands 
 Began to draw breath freely, as Duke Friedland 
 From all the ftreams of Germany forc'd hither 
 The fcatter'd armies of the enemy, 
 Hither invok'd as round one mas;ic circle 
 The Rhinegrave, Bernhard, Banner, Oxenftirn, 
 Yea, and that never-conquer'd King himfelf ; 
 Here finally, before the eye of Nürnberg, 
 The fearful game of battle to decide. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 May't pleafe you, to the point. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 In Nürnberg's camp the Swedifh monarch left 
 His fame — in Lützen's plains his life. But who 
 Stood not aftounded, when victorious Friedland 
 After this day of triumph, this proud day 3 
 March'd toward Bohemia with the fpeed of flight. 
 And vanifrYd from the theatre of war; 
 While the young Weimar hero forc'd his way 
 Into Franconia, to the Danube, like 
 
 e 3 Some 
 
54? THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 Some delving winter-ftream, which, where it rufhes, 
 Makes its own channel ; with fuch fudden fpeed 
 He march'd, and now at once 'fore Regenfpurg 
 Stood to th' affright of all good Catholic Chriftians. 
 Then did Bavaria's well-deferving Prince 
 Entreat fwift aidance in his extreme need ; 
 The Emperor fends feven horfemen to Duke 
 
 Friedland, 
 Seven horfemen couriers fends he with th' entreaty; 
 He fuperadds his own, and fupplicates 
 Where as the (bvereign lord he can command. 
 In vain his mpplication ! At this moment 
 The Duke hears only his old hate and grudge, 
 Barters the general good to gratify 
 Private revenge — and fo falls Regenfpurg. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Max. to what period of the war alludes he f 
 My recollection fails me here. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 He means 
 When we were in Silefia. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Ay ! Is it fo ? 
 But what had we to do there f 
 
 MAX. 
 
 To beat out 
 The Swedes and Saxons from the province. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 True. 
 
 In that defcription which the Minifter gave 
 
 I feem'd to have forgotten the whole war. 
 
 (to 
 
FIRST PART OF WALI.ENSTEZ3F. 55 
 
 (to 2ueßenbergJ 
 Well, but proceed a little, 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 Yes I at length 
 Befide the river Oder did the Duke 
 Affert his ancient fame, Upon the fields 
 Of Steinau did the Swedes lay down their arms, 
 Subdued without a blow. And here, with others, 
 The righteoufnefs of Heaven to his avenger 
 Delivered that long-praftxs'd itirrer-up 
 Of infurrection, that curfe-Iaden torch 
 And kindler of this war, Matthias Thur» 
 But he had fallen into magnanimous hands; 
 Inftead of punilhment he found reward , 
 And with rich prefents did the Duke difmifs 
 The arch-foe of his Emperor, 
 
 wallensteis, (laughs) 
 
 I know, 
 I know you had already in Vienna 
 Your windows and balconies all foreitalFd 
 To fee him ori the executioner's cart» 
 I might have loft the battle, loft it too 
 With infamy, and ftill retain'd your graces — 
 But, to have cheated them of ä fpeftacle, 
 Oh ! that the good folks of Vienna never, 
 No, never can forgive me. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 So Silefia 
 Was freed, and all things loudly call'd the Duke 
 Into Bavaria, now prefs'd hard on all fides. 
 
 e 4 And 
 
56 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 And he did put his troops in motion : flowly, 
 
 Quite at his eafe, and by the longeft road 
 
 He traverfes Bohemia ; but ere ever 
 
 He hath once feen the enemy, faces round, 
 
 Breaks up the march, and takes to winter quarters. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 The troops were pitiably deftitute 
 Of every neceflary, every comfort. 
 The winter came. What thinks his Majefty 
 His troops are made of? An't we men ? fubje&e4 
 Like other men to wet, and cold, and all 
 The circumftances of neceflity ? 
 O miferable lot of the poor foldier 1 
 Wherever he comes in, all flee before him, 
 And when he goes away, the general curfe 
 Follows him on his rout. AW muft be feiz'd, 
 Nothing is given him. And compell'd to feize 
 From every man, he's every man's abhorrence. 
 Behold, here ftand my Generals. KarafFa ! 
 Count Deodate ! Butler \ Tell this man 
 How long the foldiers' pay is in arrears. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Already a fulj year. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 And 'tis the hire 
 That constitutes the hireling's name and duties. 
 The foldier's pay is the foldier's covenant *. 
 
 i ' QUES- 
 
 * The original is not tranflatable into Englifh : 
 
 ' ! Und fein fold 
 
 Mufs dem foldaten werden, darnach heifst er, 
 
 It 
 
. FIRST PART OF WÄLLENSTEIN. 57 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 Ah ! this is a far other tone from that 
 
 In which the Duke fpoke eight, nine years ago. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Yes ! 'tis my fault, I know it : I myfelf 
 
 Have fpoilt the Emperor by indulging him. 
 
 Nine years ago, during the Danim war, 
 
 I rais'd him up a force, a mighty force, 
 
 Forty or fifty thoufand men, that coft him 
 
 Of his own purfe no doit. Through Saxony 
 
 The fury goddefs of the war march'd on, 
 
 E'en to the furf-rocks of the Baltic, bearing 
 
 The terrors of his name. That was a time ! 
 
 In the whole Imperial realm no name like mine 
 
 Honor'd with feftival and celebration — 
 
 And Albrecht Wallenstein, it was the title 
 
 Of the third jewel in his crown ! 
 
 But at the Diet, when the Princes met 
 
 At Regenfpurg, there, there the whole broke out, 
 
 There 'twas laid open, there it was made known, 
 
 Out of what money-bag I had paid the hoft. 
 
 And what was now my thank, what had I now, 
 
 That I, a faithful fervant of the Sovereign, 
 
 Had loaded on myfelf the people's curfes, 
 
 And let the Princes of the empire pay 
 
 The expences of this war, that aggrandizes 
 
 It might perhaps have been thus rendered: 
 
 " And that for which he fold his fervices, 
 " The foldier muft receive." 
 
 But a falfe or doubtful etymology is no -rnor * than a dull pun. 
 
 The 
 
5S THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 The Emperor alone — What thanks had 1 1 
 What ? I was offer'd up to their complaints» 
 Difmifs'd, degraded ! 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 But your Highnefs knows 
 What little freedom he pofTefs'd of action 
 In that difa,ftrous diet. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Death and hell I 
 /had that which could have procur'd him freedom. 
 No 1 Since 'twas prov'd fo inaufpicious to me 
 To ferve the Emperor at the empire's cod, 
 I have been taught far other trains of thinking 
 Of th' empire, and the diet of the empire. 
 From th' Emperor» doubtlefs, I receiv'd this ftafT^ 
 But now I hold it as the empire's general — 
 For the common weal, the univerlal int'reft, 
 And no more for that one man's aggrandizement ! 
 But to the point. What is it that's defir'd of me f 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 Firft, his Imperial Majefly hath will'd 
 That without pretexts of delay the army 
 Evacuate Bohemia. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 In this feafon ? 
 And to what quarter, wills the Emperor, 
 That we direct our courfe ? 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 To the enemy. 
 
 His Majefty refolves, that Regenfpurg 
 
 Be purified from the enemy, ere Ealler, 
 
 That 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 59 
 
 That Luth'ranifm may be no longer preach'd 
 In that cathedral, nor heretical 
 Defilement defacrate the celebration 
 Of that pure feftival. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 My generals, 
 jCan this be realiz'd ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 'Tis not poflible. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 It can't be realiz'd. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 The Emperor 
 Already hath commanded colonel Suys 
 To advance toward Bavaria ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What did Suys ? 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 That which his duty prompted. He advanc'd ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What ? he advanc'd ? And I, his general, 
 Had given him orders, peremptory orders, 
 Not to defert his flation ! Stands it thus 
 With my authority ? Is this th' obedience 
 Due to my office, which being thrown afide 
 No war can be conducted ? Chieftains, fpeak ! 
 You be the judges, generals ! What deferves 
 That officer, who of his oath neglectful 
 Is guilty of contempt of orders ? 
 
 2 JLLO. 
 
60 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Death. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 [raifing his mice, as all, but Jllo, had re- 
 mained filent, andfeemingly fcrupulous) 
 Count Piccolomini ! what has he deferv'd ? 
 
 Max. Piccolomini. (After a long paufe) 
 According to the letter of the law, 
 Death. 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 Death. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Death, by the laws of war. 
 {ßneßenberg rifes from his feat, Wallenßein 
 follows, all the refi rife) 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 To this the law condemns him, and not I. 
 And if I (hew him favour, 'twill arife 
 From the rev'rence that I owe my Emperor. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 \(fo, I can fay nothing further — here I 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 I accepted the command but on conditions ! 
 
 And this the firft, that to the diminution 
 
 Of my authority no human being, 
 
 Not even the Emperor's felf, mould be entitled 
 
 To do aught, or to fay aught, with the army. 
 
 If T Hand warranter of the event, 
 
 Placing my honour and my head in pledge, 
 
 Needs muft I have full maflery in all 
 
 The k 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 61 
 
 The means thereto. What render'd this Guftavus 
 Refiftlefs, and unconquer'd upon earth ? 
 This : that he was the monarch in his army j 
 A monarch, one who is indeed a monarch, 
 Was never yet fubdued but by his equal. 
 But to the point ! The beft is yet to come. 
 Attend now, generals ! 
 
 * QUESTENBERG. 
 
 The prince Cardinal 
 Begins his route at the approach of fpring 
 From the Milanefe ; and leads a Spanifli army 
 Thro' Germany into the Netherlands. 
 That he may march fecure and unimpeded, 
 'Tis. th' Emperor's will, you grant him a detach- 
 ment 
 Of eight horfe-regiments from the army here. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Yes, yes ! I underftand '.—Eight regiments ! Well, 
 Right well concerted, father Lamormain ! 
 Eight thoufand horfe ! Yes, yes ! 'Tis as it mould 
 
 . be ! 
 I fee it coming. 
 
 QUESTENBERG. 
 
 There is nothing coming. 
 All ftands in front : the counfel of ftate-prudence, 
 The diclate of neceffity ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What then ? 
 What, my Lord Envoy ? May I not be fuffer'd 
 To underftand, that folks are tir'd of feeing 
 
 The 
 
62 THE PICCOLOMlNI, OR THE 
 
 The fword's hilt in my grafp : and that your court 
 
 Snatch eagerly at this pretence, and ufe 
 
 The Spanifh title, to drain off my forces, 
 
 To lead into the empire a new army 
 
 Unfubjected to my controul. To throw me 
 
 Plumply afide,- — I am flill too powerful for you 
 
 To venture that. My ftipulation runs, 
 
 That all the Imperial forces (hall obey me 
 
 Where-e'er the German is the native language. 
 
 Of Spanifh troops and of Prince Cardinals 
 
 That take their route, asvifitors, thro' the empire,- 
 
 There ftands no fyllable in my ftipulation. 
 
 No fyllable ! And lb the politic court 
 
 Steals in a tiptoe, and creeps round behind it: 
 
 Firft makes me weaker, then to be difpens'd with» 
 
 Till it dares ftrike at length a bolder blow 
 
 And make fhort work with me. 
 
 What need of all thefe crooked ways, Lord Envoy ? 
 
 Straight-forward, man ! His compact with me 
 
 pinches 
 The Emperor. He would that I mov'd off ! — 
 
 Well !— I will gratify him ! 
 
 {Here there commences an agitaiionamong th 
 generals which increafes continually.) 
 It grieves me for my noble officers fakes ! 
 I fee not yet, by what means they will come at 
 The moneys they have advanced, or how obtain 
 The recompence their fervices demand. 
 Still a new leader brings new claimants forward, 
 And prior merit fuperannuates quickly. 
 There ferve here many foreigners in th' army, 
 
 And 
 
FIRST PART OF WAJ-LENSTEIN. €3 
 
 And were the man in all elfe brave and gallant, 
 I was not wont to make nice fcnitiny 
 After his pedigree or catechiim. 
 This will be otherwife, i'the time to come. 
 Well — me no longer it concerns. 
 
 {He feats h wißt If) 
 
 MAX. PICCQLOMINI. 
 
 Forbid it Heaven, that it mould come to this ! 
 Our troops will fwell in dreadful fermentation — 
 The Emperor is abus'd — it cannot be. 
 
 ISOLANL. 
 
 It cannot be ; all goes to inftant wreck. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Thou haft faid truly, faithful Ifolani 1 
 What we with toil and forefight have built up, 
 Will go to wreck — all go to inftant wreck. 
 What then ? another chieftain is. foon found, 
 Another army likewife (who dares doubt it?) 
 Will flock from all fides to the Emperor 
 At the firft beat of his recruiting drum. 
 
 (Daring this Jpeecli, Ifolani, Tertfky, lib, and 
 Maradas, talk confufedly with great agi- 
 tation. ) 
 
 MAX. PICCOLOMINI. 
 
 {Bufily, and pajjionately going from one to 
 another, and foothing them.) 
 
 Hear, my commander ! Hear me, generals ! 
 Let me conjure you, Duke ! Determine nothing, 
 Till we have met and reprefented to you 
 
 Our 
 
64? THE PICCOLOMINI, OR TUB 
 
 > 
 
 Our joint remonftrances. — Nay, calmer! Friends! 
 J hope all may be yet fet right again. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Away ! let us away ! in th' antichamber 
 
 Find we the others. [They go, 
 
 butler, (to Queflenberg.) 
 
 If good counfel gain 
 Due audience from your wifdom, my Lord Envoy I 
 You will be cautious how you fhew yourfelf 
 In public for fome hours to come — or hardly 
 Will that gold key protect you from mal-treat- 
 ment. 
 
 (Commotions heard from zvithont.) 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 A falutary counfel Thou, Octavio ! 
 
 Wilt anfwer for the fafety of our gueft. 
 Farewell, Von Queftenberg ! 
 
 {ßueßenberg is about to /peak.) 
 Nay, not a word. 
 Not one word more of that detefted fubject ! 
 You have perform'd your duty — We know how 
 To feparate the office from the man. 
 (AsQuefienberg is going off with Octavio, Goetz, 
 Tiefenbach, Kollatto, prefs in, feveral other 
 genera Is fo lloxving th em . ) 
 
 GOETZ. 
 
 Where's he, who means to rob us of our general ? 
 
 tiefe-nbach. (at the fame time.) 
 What are we forc'd to hear ? That thou wilt 
 leave us ? 
 
 KOL- 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. ,65 
 
 kolatto. (at the fame time.) 
 We will live with thee, we will die with thee. 
 
 wallenstein, (with ßatelinefs, and pointing 
 
 to Illo.) 
 There ! the Field-Marlhal knows our will. 
 
 [Exit, 
 (While all are going off the flage, the curtain 
 drops.) 
 
 £ND OF ACT I. 
 
 ACT II, 
 
66 THE PICCOLOMrNI, OR THE 
 
 ACT IL 
 
 «& 
 Scene a fmall Chamber .- 
 
 SCENE I. 
 Illo and Tertsky. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Now for this evening's bufinefs J How intend you-' 
 To manage with the generals at the banquet ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Attend ! We frame a formal declaration,. 
 Wherein we to the Duke eonfign ourfelves 
 Collectively, to be and to remain 
 His both with life and limb, and not to fpare. 
 The lafl drop of our blood for him, provided 
 So doing we infringe no oath or duty,. 
 We may be under to the Emp'ror. — Mark ! 
 This refervation we exprefsly make 
 In a particular claufe, and fave the confcience. 
 Now hear ! This formula fo fram'd and worded 
 Will be prefented to them for perufal. 
 Before the banquet. No one will find in it 
 Caufe of offence or fcruple. Hear now further t 
 After the feaft,. when now the vap'ring wine 
 
 , Opens 
 
FIRS? PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 61 
 
 Opens the heart, and fhuts the eyes, we let 
 A counterfeited paper, in the which 
 This one particular claufe has been left out r 
 Go round for fignatures. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 How ? think you then 
 That they'll believe themfelves bound by an oath, 
 Which we had trick'd them into by a juggle ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 We {hall have caught and cag'd them ! Let them 
 
 then 
 Beat their wings bare againft the wires, and rave 
 Loud as they may againft our treachery, 
 At court their fignatures will be believ'd 
 Far more than their moft holy affirmations. 
 Traitors they are, and muft be ; therefore wifely 
 Will make a virtue of neceffity. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Well, well, it fhall content me j let but fomething 
 Ee done, let only fome decifive blow 
 Set us in motion. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Befides, 'tis of fubordinate importance 
 How, or how far, we may thereby propel 
 The generals. 'Tis enough that we perfuade 
 The Duke, that they are his — Let him but ad 
 In his determin'd mood, as if he had them, 
 And he will have them. Where he plunges in, 
 He makes a whirlpool, and all ftream down to it. 
 
 F 2. TERTSKY. 
 
#8 THE FICCQLOMINIj OR THE 
 
 TER.TSKV'. 
 
 His policy is fuch a labyrinth, 
 That many a time when I have thought myfelf 
 Ciofe at his fide, he's gone at once, and left me- 
 Ignorant of the ground where I was (landing. 
 He lends the enemy his ear, permits me 
 To write to them, to Aniheim ; to Sefina 
 Himfelf comes forward blank and undifguis'd ; 
 Talks with us by the hour about his plans, 
 
 And when I think I have him — off at once 
 
 He has flipp'd from me, and appears as if 
 He had no fcheme, but to retain his place. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 He give up his old plans ! I'll tell you, friend r v 
 
 His foul is occupied with nothing elfe, 
 
 Even in his fleep — They are his thoughts, his 
 
 dreams 
 
 That day by day he queftions for this purpofe 
 The motions of the planets 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Ay I yoxi know 
 This night, that is now coming, he with Seni 
 Shuts himfelf up in the aftrological tower 
 To make joint obfervations — for I hear, 
 It is to be a night of weight and crifis, 
 And fomething great, and of long expectation, 
 Is to make its proceffion in the heaven. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Come ! be we bold and make difpatch. The work 
 In this next day or two muft thrive and grow 
 
 More 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIJT. $9 
 
 More than it has for years. And let but only 
 Things firfl turn up aufpicious here beiow- 
 
 Mark what I fay — the right ftars too will fhew 
 
 themfelves. 
 Come, to the generals. All is in the glow, 
 And mull be beaten while 'tis malleable. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Do you go thither, Illo. I muft öay 
 And wait here for the Countefs Tertfky. Know, 
 That we too are not idle. Break one firing, 
 A fecond is in readinefs. 
 
 I LL.O. 
 
 Yes! Yes! 
 I faw your Lady fmile with fueh fly meaning, 
 What's in the wind ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 A fecret. Hu(h ! (he comes. 
 
 [Exit lib. 
 
 SCENE If. 
 
 (The Countefs fieps out from a clofet.) 
 Count and Countess Tertsky. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Well— is (he coming — I can keep him back 
 No longer. 
 
 COUNTESS, 
 
 She will be there inllantly. 
 You only fend him. 
 
 F 3 TERTSKY. 
 
70 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 I am not quite certain 
 I muft confefs it, Countefs, whether or no 
 We are earning the Duke's thanks hereby. You 
 
 know, 
 No ray has broke out from him on this point. 
 You have o'er ruPd me, and yourfelf know beft, 
 How far you dare proceed. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 I take it on me. 
 (talking to herfelf, while Jhe is advancing.) 
 Here's no need of full powers and commiffions — 
 My cloudy Duke ! we underfland each other — 
 And without words. What, could I not unriddle, 
 Wherefore the daughter mould be fent for hither, 
 Why firft he, and no other, fhould be chofen 
 To fetch her hither ! This (ham of betrothing her 
 To a bridegroom * when no one knows — No ! 
 
 no ! 
 
 This may blind others ! I fee thro' thee, Brother ! 
 
 But it befeems thee not, to draw a card 
 
 At fuch a game. Not yet ! — It all remains 
 
 Mutely deliver'd up to my fineffing 
 
 Well — thou (halt not have been deceiv'd, Duke 
 
 Fried land ! 
 In her who is thy filler. 1 
 
 * In Germany, after honourable addrefTes have been paid 
 and formally accepted, the lover are called Bride and Bride- 
 groom, even though the marriage fhuuld not take place till 
 years afterwards. 
 
 SERVANT. 
 
FIRST TART OF WALLENSTEIN. 11 
 
 servant, {enters.) 
 
 The commanders ! 
 
 tertsky. (to the Countefs.) 
 Take care you heat his fancy and affections — • 
 PoiTefs him with a reverie, and fend him, 
 Abfent, and dreaming, to the banquet ; that 
 He may not boggle at the fignature. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Take you care of your guefts ! — Go, fend hin* 
 hither. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 All refts upon his underfigning. 
 
 countess, (interrupting him.) 
 Go to your guefb ! Go 
 
 iLLO. (comes back.) 
 Where art flaying, Tertfky ? 
 The houfe is full, and all expecting you, 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Inftantly'i inftantlyi 
 
 (To the Countefs.) 
 And let him not 
 Stay here too long. It might awake fufpicion 
 In the old man 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 A truce with your precautions ! 
 
 [Exeunt Tertßy and Illo, 
 
 * 4 SCENE 
 
72 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Countess, Max. Piccolomini. 
 
 max. (peeping in on the fiage Jliily .) 
 Aunt Tertfky !■ may I venture ? 
 
 (Advances to the middle of theßage, and looks 
 around him ivith uneafinefsJ) 
 
 She's not here • 
 Where is ihe ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Look but fomewhat narrowly 
 In yonder corner, left perhaps Ihe lie 
 Conceai'd behind that fcreen. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 There lie her gloves ! 
 
 (Snatches at them, but the Countefs takes them 
 her/elf.) 
 
 You unkind Lady ! You refufe me this — 
 
 You make it an amufement to torment me. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 And this the thank you give me for my trouble ? 
 
 MAX. 
 
 O, if you felt the oppreffion at my heart ' 
 Since we've been here, fo to conftrain myfelf — 
 With fuch poor ftealth to hazard words and 
 
 glances — 
 Thefe, thefe are not my habits ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 You have ftill 
 Many new habits to acquire, young friend ! 
 
 But 
 
FIRST PART OF WAlLENSTEtN. 73 
 
 But on this proof of your obedient temper 
 I-müft continue to infift ; and only 
 On this condition can I play the agent 
 For your concerns. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 But wherefore comes fhe not ? 
 Where is (lie ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Into my hands you muft place it 
 Whole and entire. Whom could you find, indeed, 
 More zealoufly affected to your intereft ? 
 No foul on earth muft know it — not your father. 
 He muft not above all. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Alas 1 what danger ? 
 Here is no face on which I might concenter 
 All, the enraptur'd foul ftirs up within me. 
 O Lady ! tell me. Is all chang'd around me ; 
 Or is it only I ? 
 
 I find myfelf, 
 As among ftrangers ! Not a trace is left 
 
 Of all my former wilhes, former joys. 
 
 Where has it vanifh'd to ? There was a time 
 
 Whenev'n,methought, with fuch a world, as this, 
 
 I was not difcontented. Now how flat ! 
 
 How ftale ! No life, no bloom, no flavour in it 1 
 
 My comrades are intolerable to me. 
 
 My father — Even to him I can fay nothing. 
 
 My arms, my military duties — O ! 
 
 They are fuch wearying toys ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
74 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 But, gentle friend ! 
 i muft entreat it of your condefcenfion, 
 You would be pleas'd to fink your eye, and favour 
 With one fhort glance or two this poor ftale 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. 
 1 fee it gath'ring, crowding, driving on, 
 In wild uncuftomary movements. Well, 
 In due time, doubtlefs, it will reach even me. 
 Where think you I have been, dear lady ? Nay, 
 No raillery. The turmoil of the camp, 
 The fpring-tide of acquaintance rolling in, 
 The pointlefs je ft, the empty converfation, 
 Opprefs'd and ftifled me. I gafp'd for air — 
 I could not breathe — I was conftrain'd to fly, 
 To feek a filence out for my full heart - y 
 And a pure fpot wherein to feel niy happinefs. 
 No fmiling, Countefs ! In the church was L 
 There is a cloifter here to the * heaven's gate, 
 Thither I went, there found myfelf alone. 
 Over the altar hung an holy mother ; 
 A wretched painting 'twas, yet 'twas the friend 
 
 * I am doubtful whether this be the dedication of the cloifter, 
 or the name of one of the city gates, near which it Hood. I 
 have tranllated it in the former fenfe ; but fearful of having made 
 fome blunder, I add the original. — Es ift ein Klofter hier zur 
 
 Himmel/pforte. 
 
 That ' 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLE NSTEIN-. 75' 
 
 That I was feeking in this moment. Ah, ' 
 How oft have I beheld that glorious form 
 In fplendour, mid extatic worfhippers; 
 Yet, Hill it mov'd me not ! and now at once 
 Was my devotion cloudlefs as my love. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Enjoy your fortune and felicity ! 
 
 Forget the world around you. Meantime, friend- 
 
 fhip 
 Shall keep ftric~r. vigils for you, anxious, acTive. 
 Only be manageable when that friend (hip 
 Points you the road to full accomplifhment. 
 How long may it be fmce you declared your paflion ? 
 
 MAX. 
 
 This morning did I hazard the firft word. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 This morning the firft time in twenty days ? 
 
 MAX. 
 
 'Twas at that hunting-caftle, betwixt here 
 
 And Nepomuck, where you hadjoin'd us, and— ** 
 
 That was thelaft relay of the whole journey ! 
 
 In a balcony we were Handing mute, 
 
 And gazing out upon the dreary field : 
 
 Before us the dragoons were riding onward, 
 
 The fafe-guard which the Duke had lent us — heavy 
 
 The inquietude of parting lay upon me, 
 
 And trembling ventur'd I at length thefe words : 
 
 This all reminds me, noble maiden, that 
 
 To-day I mull take leave of my good fortune. 
 
 3 A few 
 
Tö THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 A few hours more, and you will find a father,' 
 Will fee yourfelf furrounded by new friends, 
 And I henceforth (hall be but as a ftranger, 
 Loft in the many — "Speak with my aunt Tertfky !** 
 With hurrying voice (he interrupted me. 
 She faulter'd. I beheld a glowing red 
 Poflefs her beautiful cheeks, and from the ground 
 Rais'd ilowly up her eye met mine — no longer 
 Did I controul myfelf. 
 
 {The Princefs Thekla appears at the door> and 
 remains ßanding, obferoed by the Countefs* 
 but not by Piccolomini.) 
 
 With inftant boldnefs ; 
 I caught her in my arms, my mouth touched her's ; 
 There was a ruftling in the room clofe by ; 
 It parted us — *Twas you. What fince has hap- 
 pened, 
 You know. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 {after a paufe, with a Jiolen glance at TheHa,\ 
 
 And is it your excefs of modefty ; 
 
 Or are you fo incurious, that you do not 
 
 Afk me too of my fecret ? 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Of your fecret ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Why, yes ! When in the inftant after you 
 
 I ftepp'd into the room, and found my niece there, 
 
 What fhe in this firft moment of the heart 
 
 Ta'en with furprife — 
 
 max. (with eager nef s.) 
 
 Well ? 
 
 SCENE 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLEKsTEIN» 77 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 Thekla (hurries forward) , Countess, Max. 
 
 PlCCOLOMINI. 
 
 thekla. (to the. Countefs) 
 
 Spare yourfelf the trouble. 
 
 That hears he better from myfelf. 
 
 max. (fiepping backward) 
 
 My Princefs! 
 
 What have you let her hear me fay, aunt Tertlky ! 
 
 thekla. (to the Countefs) 
 Has he been here long ? 
 
 COUNTESS- 
 
 Yes ; and loon muft go. 
 Where have you ftay'd io long ? 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Alas ! my mother 
 Wept fo again ! and I — I fee her fuffer, 
 Yet cannot keep myfelf from being happy. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Now once again I have courage to look on you. 
 To-day at noon I could not. 
 The dazzle of the jewels that play'd round you 
 Hid the beloved from me. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Then you faw me 
 With your eye only — and not with your heart ? 
 
 MAX. 
 
 This morning, when I found you in the circle 
 
 Of all your kindred, in your father's arms, 
 
 Behejd myfelf an alien in this circle, 
 
 O ! what an impulfe felt I in that moment 
 
 To 
 
78 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE' 
 
 To fall upon his neck, to call him father ! 
 But his flern eye o'erpower'd the fwelling paffion-^-* 
 It dar'd not but be filent. And thofe brilliants, 
 That like a crown of flars enwreath'd your brows* 
 They fcar'd me too ! O wherefore, wherefore 
 
 mould he 
 At the firfl meeting Ipread as 'twere the bann 
 Of excommunication round vou, wherefore 
 Drefs up the angel as for facrifice,- 
 And call upon the light and joyous heart 
 The mournful burthen of his ftation ? Fitly 
 May love dare woo for love; but fuch a fplendour 
 Might none but monarchs venture to approach. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Hum ! not a word more of this mummer}'. 
 You fee how foon the burthen is thrown off. 
 
 (to the Countefs.) 
 He is not in fpirits. Wherefore is he not ? 
 'Tis you, aunt, that have made him all fo gloomy ! 
 He had quite another nature on the journey — 
 So calm, fo bright, fo joyous eloquent. 
 
 (to Max.) 
 It was my wifh to fee you always fo, 
 And never otherwife ! 
 
 MAX. 
 
 You find yourfelf 
 In your great father's arms, beloved lady ! 
 All in a new world, which does homage to you, 
 And which, were't only by its novelty, 
 Delights your eye. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Yes ; I confefs to you 
 
 That 
 
FIRST. PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 79 
 
 That many things (Might me here : this camp, 
 
 This motley ftage of warriors, which renews 
 
 So manifold the image' of my fancy, 
 
 And binds to life, binds to reality, 
 
 What hitherto had but been prefent to mc 
 
 As a [weet dream ! 
 
 MAX.. 
 
 Alas ! not fo to me. 
 It makes a dream of my reality. 
 Upon fome ifland in the etherial heights 
 I've liv'd for thefe lafl days. This mafs of mm 
 Forces me down to earth. It is a bridge 
 That, reconducting to my former life, 
 Divides me and my heaven. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 The game of life 
 Looks cheerful, when one carries in one's heart 
 The unalienable treafure. 'Tis a game, 
 Which having once reviewed, I turn more joyous 
 Back to my deeper and appropriate bliis. 
 
 (breaking of, and in afportive tone) 
 In this fliort time that I've been prefent here, 
 What new unheard-of things have I not feen ? 
 And yet they all muft give place to the wonder 
 Which this myfterious caflle guards. 
 
 countess, (recollecting) 
 
 And what 
 Can this be then ? Methought I was acquainted 
 With alL the dufky corners of this houfe. 
 
 the K la. (Jmiling) 
 Ay, but the road thereto is watch'd by fpirits, 
 Two griffins ftill ftand fentry at the door. 
 
 CO UN* 
 
80 the prccoLoMiNr, or Ttfg 
 
 ;i 
 
 countess, (laughs) 
 The aftrological tower ! — How happens it 
 That this fame fan&uary, whofe accefs 
 Is to all others fo impracticable, 
 Opens before you e'en at your approach ? 
 
 THEKL.A. 
 
 A dwarfifh old man with a friendly face 
 
 And fnow- white hairs, whofe gracious fervices 
 
 Were mine -at firft fight, open'd me the doors. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 That is the Duke's aftrologer, old Seni. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 He queftion'd me on many points ; for inftance/ 
 When I was born, what month, and on what day, 
 Whether by day or in the night. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 He wiGYd 
 To erect a figure for your horofcope. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 My hand too he examin'd, (hook his head 
 With much fad meaning, and the lines, methought, 
 Did not fquare over truly with his wifhes. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Well, Princefs, and what found you in this tower? 
 My higheft privilege has been to match 
 A fide-glance, and away ! 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 It was a ftrange 
 
 Senfation that came o'er me, when at firft 
 
 From the broad funihine I ftepp'd in j and now 
 
 The narrowing line of day-light, that ran after 
 
 The clofing door, was gone j and all about me 
 
 'Twas pale and duiky night, with many fhadows 
 
 Fantaf- 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 81 
 
 Fantaftically caft. Here fix or feven 
 
 Coloflal flatues, and all kings, flood round me 
 
 In a half-circle. Each one in his hand 
 
 A fceptre bore, and on his head a flar, 
 
 And in the tower no other light was there 
 
 But from thefe liars ; all feem'd to come from them, 
 
 e Thefe are the planets/ faid that low old man, 
 
 ' They govern worldly fates, and for that caufe 
 
 ■ Are imag'd here as kings. He fartheil from you, 
 
 ' Spiteful and cold, an old man melancholy, 
 
 c With bent and yellow forehead, he is Saturn. 
 
 ' He oppofite, the king with the red light, 
 
 4 An arm'd man for the battle, that is Mars : 
 
 ' And both thefe bring but little luck to man.' 
 
 But at his fide a lovely lady flood, 
 
 The flar upon her head was foft and bright, 
 
 And that was Venus, the bright flar of joy. 
 
 On the left hand, lo ! Mercury, with wings. 
 
 Quite in the middle glitter'd filver-bright 
 
 A cheerful man, and with a monarch's mien j 
 
 And this was Jupiter, my father's flar : 
 
 And at his fide I faw the Sun and Moon. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 O never rudely will I blame his faith 
 In the might of flars and angels ! 'Tis not merely 
 The human being's pride that peoples fpace 
 With life and myflical predominance ; 
 Since likewife for the flricken heart of Love 
 This vifible nature, and this common world, 
 Is all too narrow : yea, a deeper import 
 Lurks in the legend told my infant years 
 Than lies upon that truth, we live to learn. 
 
 g For 
 
82 tHE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 For fable is Love's world, his home, his birth-place: 
 Delightedly dwells he 'mong fays and talifrhans, 
 And fpirits; and delightedly believes 
 Divinities, being himfelf divine. 
 The intelligible forms of ancient poets, 
 The fair humanities of old religion, 
 The Power, the Beauty, and the Majefty, 
 That had their haunts in dale, or piny mountain, 
 Or forefl by flow ftream, or pebbly fpring, 
 Or chafms and wat'ry depths ; allthefe have vanifh'd. 
 They live no longer in the faith of reafon ! 
 But iiill the heart doth need a language, flill 
 Doth the old inftincl bring back the old names. 
 And to yon ftarry world they now are gone, 
 * Spirits or gods, that üs'd to fhare this earth 
 With man as with their friend ; and to the lover 
 Yonder they move, from yonder vifible Iky 
 Shoot influence down : and even at this day 
 'Tis Jupiter who brings whate'er is great, 
 And Venus who brings every thing that's fair! 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 And if this be the fcience of the ftars, 
 
 I too, with glad and zealous induftry, 
 
 Will learn acquaintance with this cheerful faith. 
 
 It is a gentle and affectionate thought. 
 
 That in immeafurable heights above us, 
 
 At our full birth, the wreath of love was woven, 
 
 With fparkling ftars for flowers. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Not only rofes, 
 But thorns too hath the heaven; and well for you, 
 
 * No more of talk, where god or angel gueft 
 With friäfa, as with his friend familiar, us'd 
 To fit indulgent. paradise lost, b. ix. 
 
 Leavfr 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 83 
 
 Leave they your wreath of love inviolate. 
 What Venus twin'd, the bearer of glad fortune, 
 The füllen orb of Mars foon tears to pieces. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Soon will his gloomy empire reach its clofe. 
 Bleft be the General's zeal : into the laurel 
 Will he inweave the olive-branch, prefenting 
 Peace to the fhouting nations. Then no wifh 
 Will have remain'd for his great heart ! Enough 
 Has he perform'd for glory, and can now 
 Live for himfelf and his. To his domains 
 Will he retire ; he has a ftately feat 
 Of fairefl view at Gitfchin ; Reichenberg, 
 And Friedland Caftle, both lie pleafantly — 
 Even to the foot of the huge mountains here 
 Stretches the chafe and covers of his forefls : 
 His ruling paffion, to create the fplendid, 
 He can indulge without reflraint ; can give 
 A princely patronage to every art, 
 And to all worth a Sovereign's protection. 
 Can build, can plant, can watch the ftarry courfes— • 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Yet I would have you look, and look again, 
 Before you lay afide your arms, young friend ! 
 A gentle bride, as (he is, is well worth it 
 That you mould woo and win her with the fword. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 O, that the fword could win her ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 What was that ? 
 
 Did you hear nothing ? Seem'd, as if I heard 
 
 Tumult and larum in the banquet-room. 
 
 [Exit Counteß. 
 g 2 SCENE 
 
84 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Thekla and Max. Piccolomini. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 {Asfoon as the Countefs is out of fight, in a 
 quick foiv voice to Piccolomini) 
 Don't truft them ! They are falfe ! 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Impofiible ! 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Truft no one here but me. I Taw at once, 
 They had a purpofe. . 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Purpofe ! but what purpofe ? 
 And how can we be inftrumental to it ? 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 I know no more than you ; but yet, believe me : 
 There's fome defign in this.! To make us happy, 
 To realize our union — trufb me, love ! 
 They but pretend to wifh it. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 But thefe Tertfkies 
 
 Why ufe we them at all ? Why not your mother ? 
 Excellent creature ! fhe deferves from us 
 A full and filial confidence. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 She doth love you, 
 Doth rate you high before all others — but — 
 But fuch a fecret — (he would never have 
 The courage to conceal it from my father. 
 
 For 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 85 
 
 For her own peace of mind we mufl preferve it 
 A fecret from her too. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Why any fecret ? 
 I love not fecrets. Mark, what I will do. 
 I'll throw me at your father's feet — let him 
 Decide upon my fortunes ! — He is true, 
 He wears no maik — he hates all crooked ways — 
 He is'fo good, fo noble ! 
 
 the k la. (falls on his neck.) 
 
 That are you ! 
 
 MAX. 
 
 You knew him only fince this morn ; but I 
 Have liv'd ten years already in his prefence, 
 And who knows whether in this very moment 
 He is not merely waiting for us both 
 To own our loves, in order to unite us. 
 
 You are filent ? ■ 
 
 You look at me with fuch a hopeleflhefs ! 
 What have you to object againil your father ? 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 I ? Nothing. Only he's fo occupied- 
 He has no leifure time to think about 
 The happinefs of us two. 
 
 (Taking his hand tenderly.) 
 
 Follow me ! 
 Let us not place too great a faith in men. 
 Thefe Tert Ikies — we will ftill be grateful to them 
 For every kindnefs, but not truft them further 
 
 Than they deferve ; — and in all elfe rely 
 
 On our own hearts ! 
 
 G 3 MAX. 
 
86 TJ*E PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 MAX. 
 
 O ! fhall we e'er be happy ? 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Are we not happy now ? Art thou not mine ? 
 
 Am I not thine ? There lives within my foul 
 
 A lofty courage— 'tis love gives it me ! 
 
 I ought to be lefs open — ought to hide 
 
 My heart more from thee — fo decorum dictates. 
 
 But where in this place could'fx thou feek for truth. 
 
 If in my mouth thou did'ft not find it ? 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 
 To them enters the Countefs Tertskt, 
 
 c o u n t es s . (in a prejfing manner?) 
 
 Come ! 
 My hufband fends me for you — It is now 
 The lateft moment. 
 
 {They not appearing to attend to what Jlie 
 fays, Jhe ßeps between them.) 
 
 Part you ! 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 O, not yet ! 
 
 It has been fcarce a moment, 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Aye ? Then time 
 Flies fwiftly with your Highnefs, Princefs niece ! 
 
 MAX. 
 
 There is no hurry, aunt. 
 
 COUN- 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 87 
 C JUNTESS. 
 
 Away ! away ! 
 The folks begin to mifs you. Twice already 
 His father has aik'd for him. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Ha ! his father ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 You underftand that, niece ! 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Why needs he 
 To go at all to that fociety ? 
 *Tis not his proper company. They may 
 Be worthy men, but he's too young for them. 
 In brief, he fuits not fuch fociety. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 You mean, you'd rather keep him wholly here ? 
 
 thekla. [zvith energy.) 
 Yes ! you have hit it, aunt ! That is my meaning. 
 Leave him here wholly ! Tell the company 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 What ? have you loft your fenfes, niece ? 
 
 Count, you remember the conditions. Come ! 
 
 max. {to Thekla.) 
 Lady, I muft obey. Farewell, dear lady ! 
 
 {Thekla turns away from him zvith a quick 
 motion.) 
 What fay you then, dear lady ? 
 
 thekla. {without looking at him.) 
 
 Nothing. G9 ! 
 
 G 4 , MAX. 
 
88 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Can I, when you are angry 
 
 (He digitus up to her, their eyes meet, Jlie 
 fiands filent a moment, then throws her/elf 
 into his arms ; he pre//'es her faß to his 
 heart. ) 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Off ! Heavens ! if any one mould come ! 
 
 Hark ! What's that noife ? It comes this way. — 
 Off! 
 (Max. tears himf elf away out of her arms, and 
 goes. The Countefs accompanies him. 
 Thekla follows him with her eyes at firfi, 
 walks reßlefsly acrofs the room, then flops, 
 and remains ßanding, lofl in thought. A 
 guitar lies on the table, fhefeizes it as by -a 
 fudden emotion, and after fie has played 
 a while an irregular and melancholy fym- 
 phony, f he falls gradually into the mufic and 
 fings.) 
 
 thekla. (plays and fings,) 
 
 The cloud doth gather, the greenwood roar, 
 The damfel paces along the fhore ; 
 The billows they tumble with might, with might ; 
 And (he flings out her voice to the darkfome night, 
 
 Her bofom is fwelling with furrow? ; 
 The world it is empty, the heart will die, 
 There's nothing to wifh for beneath the (ky : 
 Thou Holy One, call thy child away ! 
 I've lived and loved, and that was to-day 
 
 Make ready my grave-clothes to-morrow *. 
 
 * I found it not in my power to tranflate this fong with literal 
 fidelity, preferving at the fame time the Alcaic Movement ; and 
 
 have 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 89 
 
 have therefore added the original with a profe translation. Some 
 ef my readers may be more fortunate. 
 
 THEKLA. ffpielt und fingt . J 
 Der Eichwald braufet, die Wolken ziehn, 
 Das Mägdlein wandelt an Ufers Grün, 
 Es bricht ficht die Welle mit Macht, mit Macht, 
 Und fie fingt hinaus in die finftre Nacht, 
 
 Das Auge von Weinen getrübet : 
 Das Herz ift geftorben, die Welt ift leer, 
 Und weiter giebt f\e dem Wunfche nichts mehr. 
 Du Heilige, rufe dein Kind zurück, 
 Ich habe genoffen das irdifche Glück, 
 Ich habe gelebt und geliebet. 
 
 Literal Tranfiation. 
 THEKLA. (flays and ßngs.} 
 The oak-foreft bellows, the clouds gather, the damfel walks 
 to and fro on the green of the fhore ; the wave breaks with 
 might, with might, and file fings out into the dark night, her 
 eye difcolour'd with weeping : the heart is dead, the world is 
 empty, and further gives it nothing more to the wifh. Thou 
 Holy One, call thy child home, I have enjoyed the happinefs 
 of this world, I have lived and have loved. 
 
 I cannot but add here an imitation of this fong, with which 
 the author of " The Tale of Rofamund Gray and Blind Mar- 
 garet," has favoured me, and which appears to me to have 
 caught the happieft manner of our old ballads. 
 
 The clouds are black'ning, the ftorms threat'ning, 
 
 The cavern doth mutter, the greenwood moan j 
 Billows are breaking, the damfels' heart aching, 
 
 Thus in the dark night (he fingeth alone, 
 Her eye upward roving : 
 The world is empty, the heart is dead furely, 
 
 In this world plainly all feemeth amifs ; 
 To thy heaven, Holy One, take home thy little one, 
 
 I have partaken of all earth's blifs, 
 Both living and loving. 
 
 SCENE 
 
90 THE FICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 SCENE VII. 
 Countess (returns) The k la. 
 
 countess. 
 Fie, lady niece ! to throw yourfelf upon him, 
 Like a poor gift to one who cares not for it, 
 And (o muft be flung after him ! For you, 
 Duke Friedland's only child, I mould have thought, 
 It had been more befeeming to have (hewn yourfelf 
 More chary of your pcrfon. 
 
 THEKLA. (fifing) 
 
 And what mean you ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 I mean, niece, that you fhould not have forgot ten. 
 Who you are, and who he is. But perchance 
 That never once occurr'd to you. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 What then ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 That you're the daughter of the Prince-duke 
 Friedland. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Well — and what farther ? 
 
 CX)UNTESS. 
 
 What ? a pretty queflion ! 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 He was born that which we have but become* 
 He's of an ancient Lombard family, 
 Son of a reigning princefs. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 91 
 COÜNTESS. 
 
 Are you dreaming ? 
 Talking in fleep ? An excellent jell, forfooth ! 
 We fhall no doubt right courteoufly entreat him 
 To honour with his hand the richell heirefs 
 In Euicpe. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 That will not be neceffary. 
 
 countess. 
 Methinks 'twere well tho' not to run the hazard. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 His father loves him, Count Ocravio 
 Will interpofe no difficulty 
 
 countess. 
 
 His I 
 His father ! .his ! But your's, niece, what of yourV 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Why I begin to think you fear his father, 
 So anxioufly you hide it from the man ; 
 His father, his, I mean. 
 
 countess, (looks at her, as fcrutinizing) 
 
 Niece, you arefaife. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Are you then wounded ? O, be friends with me ! 
 
 countess. 
 You hold your game for won already. Do not 
 Triumph too foon ! — 
 
 thekla (interrupting her, and attempting to 
 
 footh her.) 
 Nay now, be friends with me. 
 
 countess. 
 
92 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 It is not yet fo far gone. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 I believe you. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Did you fuppofe your father had laid out 
 His mod important life in toils of war, 
 Denied himfelf each quiet earthly blifs, 
 Had banifh'd flumber from his tent, devoted 
 His noble head to care, and for this only, 
 To make a happy pair of you ? At length 
 To draw you from your convent, and conduct 
 In eafy triumph to your arms the man 
 That chanc'd to pleafe your eyes ! AU this, 
 
 methinks, 
 He might have purchased at a cheaper rate, 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 That which he did not plant for me, might yet 
 Bear me fair fruitage of its own accord. 
 And if my friendly and affectionate fate, 
 Out of his fearful and enormous being, 
 Will but prepare the joys of life for me — 
 
 countess. 
 Thou feeft it with a lovelorn maiden's eyes. 
 Call thine eye round, bethink thee who thou art. 
 Into no houfe of joyance haft thou ftepp'd, 
 For no efpoufals doft thou find the walls 
 Deck'd out, no guefls the nuptial garland wearing. 
 Here is no folendour but of arms. Or think'ft thou 
 
 Tha* 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 93 
 
 That all thefe thoufands are here congregated 
 To lead up the long dances at thy wedding ? 
 Thou fee'it thy father's forehead full of thought, 
 Thy mother's eye in tears : upon the balance 
 Lies the great deftiny of all our houfe. 
 Leave now the puny wifb, the girlifh feeling - , 
 
 thruftit far behind thee ! Give thou proof, 
 That thou'rt the daughter of the Mighty — his. 
 Who where he moves creates the wonderful. 
 Not to herfelf the woman mult belong, 
 Annex'd and bound to alien deftinies. 
 
 But fhe performs the belt part, (he the wifeft, 
 Who can tranfmute the alien into felf, 
 Meet and difarm neceffity by choice; 
 And what muft be, take freely to her heart, 
 And bear and fofter it with mother's love. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Such ever was my lefTon in the convent. 
 
 1 had no loves, no wiihes, knew myfelf 
 Only as his — his daughter — his, the Mighty ! 
 His fame, the echo of whofe blafl drove to me 
 From the far diflance, waken'd in my foul 
 No other thought than this — I am appointed 
 To offer up myfelf in paflivenefs to him. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 That i? thy fate. Mould thoa thy wiihes to it. 
 I and thy mother gave thee the example. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 My fate hath {hewn me him, to whom behoves it 
 That I fhould offer up myfelf. In gladnefs 
 Him will I follow. I 
 
 COUN- 
 
94 TH£ PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Not thy fate hath fhewn him ! 
 Thy heart, fay rather — 'twas thy heart, my child! 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Fate hath no voice but the heart's impulfes. 
 I am all his ! His Prefent — his alone, 
 Is this new life, which lives in me. He hath 
 A right to his own creature. What was I 
 Ere his fair love infus'd a foul into me ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Thou would'ft oppofe thy father then, fhould he 
 Have otherwife determin'd with thy perfon? 
 (Thekla remains filent. The Countefs continues.) 
 Thou mean'fh to force him to thy liking ? — Child, 
 His name is Friedland. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 My name too is Friedland. 
 He fhall have found a genuine daughter in me. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 What ? he has vanquifh'd all impediment, 
 And in the wilful mood of his own daughter 
 Shall a new ftruggle rife for him ? Child J child '• 
 As yet thou haft feen thy father's fmiles alone , 
 The eye of his rage thou haft not feen. Dear 
 
 child, 
 I will not frighten thee. To that extreme, 
 I truft, it ne'er fhall come. His will is yet 
 Unknown tome: 'tis poffible, his aims 
 May have the fame direction as thy wifli. 
 But this can never, never be his will, 
 
 That 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 95 
 
 That thou, the daughter of his haughty fortunes, 
 Shöuld'ft e'er demean thee as a love-lick maiden; 
 And like forrie poor cod-nothing, fling thyfelf 
 Toward the man, who, ?/that high prize ever 
 Be deftin'd to await him, yet, with facrifices 
 The higheft love can bring, muß: pay for it. 
 
 [Exit Countess, 
 th'ekla. (who during the laß fpeech had beer, 
 
 ßanding evidently laß in her reflections.) 
 I thank thee for the hint. It turns 
 My fad prefentiment to certainty. 
 And it is fc»! — Not one friend have we here, 
 Not one true heart ! we've nothing but ourfelves t 
 
 me faid rightly — no aufpicious figns 
 Beam on this convenant of our affections. 
 This is no theatre, where hope abides. 
 The dull thick noife of war alone ftirs here. 
 And love himfelf, as he were arm'd in fleel, 
 Steps forth, and girds him for the flrife'of death. 
 
 (Muße from the banquet room is heard.) 
 There's a dark fpirit walking in our houfe, 
 And fwiftly will the Deftiny clofe on us. 
 It drove me hither from my calm afylum, 
 It mocks my foul with charming witchery, 
 It lures me forward in a feraph's fhape, 
 
 1 fee it near, I fee it nearer floating, 
 
 It draws, it pulls me with a god-like power — 
 
 And lo ! the abyfs — and thither am I moving — 
 
 I have no power within me not to move ! 
 
 (The mitflc from the banquet room becomes 
 
 louder.) 
 • 4 O when. 
 
96 THE PICCOLOMINr, OR THE 
 
 O when a houfe is doom'd in fire to perifh, 
 
 Many and dark heaven drives his clouds together, 
 
 Yea, moots his lightnings down from funny heights, 
 
 Flames burft from out the fubterraneous chafms, 
 
 * And fiends and angels, mingling in their fury, 
 
 Sling fire-brands at the burning edifice. 
 
 [Exit The k la. 
 
 * There are few, who will not have tafte enough to laugh at 
 the two concluding lines of this foliloquy ; and ftill fewer, I 
 would fain hope, who would not have been more difpofed 
 to fliudder, had I given a faithful tranflation. For the readers 
 of German I have added the original : 
 
 Blind-wüthendfchleudert felbft der Gott der Freude 
 Den Pechkranz in das brennende Gebäude. 
 
 SCENE 
 
£j.RST PART OF WALLENSTEItf. 91 
 
 SCENE VIIL 
 
 Ä large Saloon lighted üp withfefiäl Splendour ; 
 in the Midß of it, and in the Centre of the 
 Stage y a Table richly fel out, at ■which eight 
 Generals are fitting, among whom are Oc- 
 tavio Piccol'omini, Tertsky, and Mä- 
 radas, llight and left of this*, but further 
 back, two other Tables, at each of which fix 
 Perfons are placed. The middle Door, which 
 isfianding open, gives to the Profpect a fourth 
 Table, with the fame Number of Perfons. 
 More forward fiands the Sideboard. The 
 whole Front of the Stage is kept open for the 
 Pages and Servants in waiting. All is in 
 Motion. The Band of Mttfic belonging to 
 Tertflcy's Regiment march acrofs the Stage, 
 mid draw up round the Tables. Before they 
 are quite off from the Front of the Stagey 
 Max. PiccolomIni appears, Tertfky ad- 
 vances towards him with a Paper, Ifolani 
 comes up to meet him with a Beaker or Service- 
 cup. 
 
 Tertsky^ Isolani, Max. Pi£coi.oMtNn 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 Here brother* what We love ! Why, where haft 
 
 been ? 
 Off, tö tliy place— quick ! Tertfky here has given 
 The mother's holiday wine up to free booty. 
 Here it goes on as at the Heideberg caftlei 
 
 -H Already 
 
98 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 Already haft thou loft the beft. They're giving 
 
 At yonder table ducal crowns in fhares ; 
 
 There's Sternberg's lands and chattels are put up, 
 
 With Eggenberg's, Stawata's, Lichtenftein's, 
 
 And all the great Bohemian feodakies. 
 
 Be nimble, lad I and fomething may turn up 
 
 For thee— who knows ? Off — to thy place ! quick f 
 
 march ! 
 
 Tiefenbach and goetz (call out from the 
 fecond and third tables.) 
 
 Count Piccolomini ! 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Stop, ye (hall have him in an inftant. — Read 
 This oath here, whether as 'tis here fet forth, 
 The wording fatisfies you. They've all read it, 
 Each in his turn, and each one will fubfcribe 
 His individual fignature. 
 
 max. (reads) 
 " Ingratis fervire nefas." 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 That founds to my ears very much like Latin, 
 And being interpreted, pray what may't mean? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 No honeft man will ferve a thanklefs mafter. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 * Inafmueh äs our fupreme Commander, the 
 illuftrious Duke of Friedland, in confequence of 
 the manifold affronts and grievances which he has 
 received, had expreffed his determination to quit 
 the Emperor, but on our unanimous entreaty has 
 
 gracioufly 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 99 
 
 gracioufly confented to remain ftill with the army, 
 and not to part from us without our approbation 
 thereof, fo we, collectively and each in particular*, 
 in the flead of an oath perfonally taken, do hereby 
 oblige ourfelves— likewife by him honourably and 
 faithfully to hold, and in nowife whatfoever from 
 him to part, and to be ready to fhed for his 
 interefts the laft drop of our blood, fo far, namely, 
 as our oath to the Emperor will permit it. (Thefe 
 ■laß words are repeated by Jfolani.) In teftimony 
 of which we fubfcribe our names.'* 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Now !— are you willing to fubfcribe this paper? 
 
 ISOLANl. 
 
 Why mould he not? All officers of honour 
 Can do it, ay müft do it. — Pen and ink here ! 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Nay, let it reft till after meal. 
 
 i so lan i. ( drawing Max. aloiig.) 
 
 Come, Max. 
 (Both feat them/elves at their table.) 
 
 SCENE IX. 
 
 Tertsky, Neumann. 
 
 tertskY. (beckons to Neumann who is waiting 
 at the fide-table, and fieps forward with him 
 to the edge of the finge.) 
 
 Have you the copy with you, Neumann? Give it» 
 
 It may be chang'd for the other? 
 
 H 2 NEIT- 
 
100 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 NEUMANN. 
 
 I have copied it 
 Letter by letter, line by line ; no eye 
 Would e'er difcover other difference, 
 Save only the omiffion of that claufe, 
 According to your Excellency's order. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Right ! Lay it yonder, and away with this — 
 It has perform'd its bufinefs — to the fire with it — 
 (Neumann lays the copy on the table> and 
 ßeps back again to the fide-table.) 
 
 SCENE X. 
 
 Illo (comes out from the fecond chamber), 
 
 Tertsky. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 How goes it with young Piccolomini ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 All right, I think. He has ftarted no objection. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 He is the only one I fear about — 
 
 He and his father. Have an eye on both ! 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 How looks it at your table ? You forget not 
 To keep them warm and ftirring ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Ö, quite cordial, 
 
 They 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 101 
 
 They are quite cordial in the feheme. We have 
 
 them» 
 And 'tis as I predi&ed too. Already 
 It is the talk, not merely to maintain 
 The Duke in ftation. " Since we're once for all 
 Together and unanimous, why not," 
 Says Montecuculi, " ay, why not onward ? 
 And make conditions with the Emperor 
 There in his own Vienna ?" Trull me, Count* 
 Were it not for thefe faid Piccolomini, 
 We might have fpar'd ourfelves the cheat. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 And Butler ? 
 How goes it there ? Hum J 
 
 SCENE XL 
 To them enter Butler from the fecond table. 
 
 BUTLER, 
 
 Don't difturb yourfelves. 
 Field Marfhal, I have underftood you perfectly. 
 Good luck be to the fcheme ; and as to me, 
 
 (with an air of myfiery) 
 You may depend upon me. 
 
 i l l o . (with vivacity) 
 
 May we, Butler ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 With or without the claufe, all one to me ! 
 You underftand me ? My fidelity 
 
 ff 3 The 
 
102 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 The Duke may put to any proof — I'm with him ! 
 
 Tell him fo ! I'm the Emperor's officer. 
 
 As long as 'tis his pleafure to remain 
 
 The Emperor's general ! and Friedland 's fervant, 
 
 As foon as it (hall pleafe him to become 
 
 His own lord. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 You would make a good exchange. 
 £Ia {tern economift, no Ferdinand, 
 Is he to whom you plight your fervices. 
 
 bittler. (with a haughty look) 
 I do not put up my fidelity 
 To fale, Count Tertfky ! Half a year ago 
 I would not have advis'd you to have made me 
 An overture to that, to which I now 
 Offer myfelf of my own free accord. — 
 But that is pafl ! and to the Duke, Field Marfhal, 
 I bring myfelf together with my regiment. 
 And mark you, 'tis my humour to believe, 
 The example which I give will not remain 
 Without an influence. 
 
 IELO. 
 
 Who is ignorant, 
 That the whole army look to Colonel Butler, 
 As to a light that moves before them ? 
 
 butler. 
 
 Ey? 
 
 Then I repent me not of that fidelity 
 
 Which for the length of forty years I held, 
 
 If in my fixtieth year my old good name 
 
 Can purchafe for me a revenge fo full. 
 
 Start 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 1Q3 
 
 Start not at what I fay, fir Generals ! . 
 My real motives — they concern not you. 
 And you yourfelves, I truft, could not expert 
 That this your game had crook'd ^judgment — or 
 That ficklenefs, quick blood, or fuch light caufe, . 
 Has driven the old man from the track of honour, 
 Which he fo long had trodden. — Come, my friends! 
 I'm not thereto determin'd with lefs firmnefs, , 
 Becaufe I know and have look'd fleadily 
 At that on which I have determin'd. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Say, 
 And fpeak roundly, what are we to deem you ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 ■ 
 
 A friend ! I give you here my hand ! I'm your's 
 With all I have. Not only men, but money 
 
 Will the Duke want. Go, tell him, firs ! 
 
 I've earn'd and laid up fomewhat in his fervice, 
 
 I lend it him ; and is he my furvivor. 
 
 It has been already long ago bequeath'd him. 
 
 He is my heir. For me, I ftand alone 
 
 Here in the world ; nought know I of the feeling 
 
 That bind the hufband to a wife and children. 
 
 My name dies with me, my exiftence ends. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 'Tis not your money that he needs— a heart 
 Like your's weighs tons of gold down, weighs down 
 millions ! 
 
 butler. 
 I came a fimple foldier's boy from Ireland 
 
 To Prague — and with a mafter, whom I buried. 
 
 h 4 From 
 
104? THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 From lowed. ftable duty I cjimb'd up, 
 Such was the fate of war, to this high rank, 
 The plaything of a whimfical good fortune. 
 And Wallenftein too is a child of luck, 
 I love a fortune that is like my own. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 All powerful fouls have kindred with each other. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 This is an awful moment ! to the brave, 
 To the determin'd, an aufpicious moment. 
 The Prince of Weimar arms, upon the Main 
 To found a mighty dukedom. He of Halberftadt, 
 That Mansfeld, wanted but a longer life 
 To have mark'd out with his good fword a lordfihip 
 That fhould reward his courage. Who of thefe 
 Equals our Friedland ? There is nothing, nothing 
 So high, but he may fet the ladder to it ! 
 
 TERTSKV. 
 
 That's fpoken like a man ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Do you fecure the Spaniard and Italian — 
 I'll be your warrant for the Scotchman Lefty. 
 Come ! to the company ! 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Where is the mafter of the cellar ? Ho ! 
 Let the bed wines come up. Ho ! cheerly, boy ! 
 Luck comes to-day, fo give her hearty welcome. 
 
 [Exeunt, each to his table. 
 
 moil SCENE 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 105 
 
 SCENE XII. 
 
 The Master of the Cellar advancing with 
 Neumann, Servants pajfing backwards and 
 forwards. 
 
 MASTER OF THE CELLAR, 
 
 The beft wine ! O 1 if my old miftrefs, his lady 
 mother, could but fee thefe wild goings on, me 
 \yould turn herfelf round in her grave. Yes, yes, fir 
 officer! 'tis all down the hill with this noble houfel 
 no end, no moderation ! And this marriage with 
 the Duke's filler, a fplendid connexion, a very 
 fplendid connection ! but I tell you, fir officer, it 
 bodes no good. 
 
 NEUMANN. 
 
 Heaven forbid ! Why, at this very moment the 
 whole proipect is in bud and bloflom ! 
 
 MASTER OF THE CELLAR. 
 
 You think fo I — Well, well ! much may be faid 
 on that head. 
 
 FIRST SERVANT, (comes) 
 
 Burgundy for the fourth table. 
 
 MASTER OF THE CELLAR. 
 
 Now, fir lieutenant, if this an't the feventietfy 
 flafk— 
 
 FIRST SERVANT. 
 
 Why, the reafon is, that German lord, Tiefen- 
 bach, fits at that table. 
 
 master of the cellar. ( ' continuing his dif- 
 courfe to Neumann.) 
 
 They are foaring too high. They would rival 
 
 kings and electors in their pomp and fplendour; 
 
 and 
 
106 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 and wherever the Duke leaps, not a minute does 
 my gracious mailer, the Count, loiter on the 
 
 brink. (to the Servants) — What do you ftand 
 
 there liftening for ? I will let you know you have 
 legs prefently. Off ! fee to the tables, fee to the 
 flalks ! Look there ! Count Palfi has an empty 
 glafs before him ! 
 
 runner, (comes) 
 The great fervice-cup is wanted, fir ; that rich 
 gold cup with the Bohemian arms on it. The 
 Count fays you know which it is. 
 
 RASTER OF THE CELLAR. 
 
 Ay ! that was made for Frederick's coronation 
 by the artift William— there was not fuch another 
 prize in the whole booty at Prague. 
 
 RUNNER. 
 
 The fame ! — a heakh is to go round in him. 
 
 master of the cellar. (Jfiaking his head 
 while he fetches and rinfes the cup.) 
 This will be fomething for the tale-bearers — 
 this goes to Vienna. 
 
 NEUMANN. 
 
 Permit me to look at it. — Well, this is a cup 
 indeed ! How heavy ! as well it may be, being all 
 gold.— And what neat things are embofs'd on it! 
 how natural and elegant they look ! — There, on 
 that firft quarter, let me fee. That proud Amazon 
 there on horfeback, fhe that is taking a leap over 
 the crofier and mitres, and carries on a wand a hat 
 together with a banner, on which there's a goblet 
 
 repre- 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 107 
 
 reprefented. Can you tell me what all this fig- 
 nifies ? 
 
 MASTER OF THE CELLAR. 
 
 The woman whom you fee there on horfeback, 
 is the Free Election of the Bohemian Crown. 
 That is fignified by the round hat, and by that fiery 
 freed on which (he is riding. The hat is the pride 
 of man ; for he who cannot keep his hat on before 
 K?ings and emperors is no free man. 
 
 NEUMANN. : 
 
 But what is the cup there on the banner ? 
 
 MASTER OF THE CELLAR. 
 
 The cup fignifies the freedom of the Bohemian 
 Church, as it was in our forefathers' times. Our 
 forefathers in the wars of the Huffites forced from 
 the Pope this noble privilege ; for the Pope, you 
 .know, will not grant the cup to any layman. 
 Your true Moravian values nothing beyond the 
 cup ; it is his coftly jewel, and has coft the Bohe- 
 mians their precious blood in many and . many a 
 battle. 
 
 NEUMANN. 
 
 And what fays that chart that hangs in the air 
 there, over it all? 
 
 WASTER OF THE CELLAR. 
 
 That fignifies the Bohemian letter royal, which 
 we forced from the Emperor Rudolph— a precious, 
 never to be enough valued parchment, that fecurcs 
 to the new Church the old privileges of free ring- 
 ing and open pfalmocfy. But fince he of Steier- 
 3 mark 
 
10S THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 mark has ruled over us, that is at an end -, and 
 after the battle at Prague, in which Count Pala- 
 tine Frederic loft crown and empire, our faith 
 hangs upon the pulpit and the altar — and our 
 brethren look at their homes over their fhoulders ; 
 but the letter royal the Emperor himfelf cut to 
 pieces with his fciffars. 
 
 NEUMANN. 
 
 Why, my good Matter of the Cellar ! you are 
 «deep read in the chronicles of your country ! 
 
 MASTER OF THE CELLAR. 
 
 So were my forefathers, and for that reafon 
 were they minftrels, and ferved under Procopius 
 and Ziika. Peace be with their aOies ! Well, well ! 
 they fought for a good caufe tho' — There ' carry- 
 it up * 
 
 NEUMANN. 
 
 Stay ! let me but look at this fecond quarter. 
 Look there ! That is, when at Prague Caftle the 
 Imperial Counfellors, Martinitz and Stawata were 
 Burl'd down head over heels. 'Tis even fo ! there 
 ftands Count Thur who commands it. 
 {Runner takes the fervice-cup and goes off with it.) 
 
 MASTER OF THE CELLAR. 
 
 O let me never more hear of that day. It was 
 
 the three and twentieth of May, in the year of 
 
 our Lord one thoufand, fix hundred, and eighteen. 
 
 It feems to me as it were but yefterday — from that 
 
 unlucky day it all began, all the heart-aches of 
 
 the country. Since that day it is now iixteen 
 
 years, and there has never once been peace on the 
 
 earth. 
 
 (Health 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIK. 109 
 
 (Health drank aloud at the fecond table.) 
 The Prince of Weimar ! Hurra ! 
 
 (At the third and fourth table.) 
 Long live Prince William ! Long live Duke 
 Bernard ! Hurra ' 
 
 (Mufic firikes up.) 
 
 FIRST SERVANT. 
 
 Hear'em • Hear'em ! What an uproar I 
 
 second servant, (comes in running.) 
 Did you hear ? They have drank the Prince of 
 Weimar's health. 
 
 THIRD SERVANT. 
 
 The Swedifh Chief Commander ! 
 
 first servant, (/peaking at the fame time.) 
 The Lutheran ! 
 
 second servant. 
 Juft before, when Count Deodategave out the 
 Emperor's health, they were all as mum as a 
 nibbling moufe. 
 
 master of the cellar. 
 Po, po | When the wine goes in, ftrange things 
 come out. A good fervant hears, and hears not ! — 
 You (hould be nothing but eyes and feet, except 
 when you're called to. 
 
 SECOND SERVANT, 
 
 (To the Runner, to whom he gives fecretly a 
 
 flafk of wine, keeping his eye on the Maßer 
 
 of the Cellar, fianding betzveen him and the 
 
 Runner. ) 
 
 Quick, Thomas! before the Matter of the 
 
 Cellar 
 
110 THE PICCOLÖMINI, OR THE 
 
 Cellar looks this way — 'tis a flafk of Frontigmc I 
 
 — Snapp'd it up at the third table — Canft go off 
 
 with it ? 
 
 runner, (h ides, it in h is pocket. ) 
 
 All right ! 
 
 [Exit, the Second Servant. 
 
 third servant, (afide, to theßrß.) 
 Be on the hark, Jack! that we may have right 
 plenty to tell to father Quivoga — He will give 
 us right plenty of abfolution in return for it«. 
 
 FIRST SERVANT. 
 
 For that very purpofe I am always having fome- 
 thing to do behind Illo's chain — He is the mari 
 for fpeeches to make you flare with F 
 
 MASTER OF THE CELLAR. [to Nei'mailll.) 
 
 Who, pray, may that fwarthy man be, he with 
 the crofs, that is chatting fo confidentially with 
 Efterhats ? 
 
 NEUMANN. 
 
 Ay \ he too is one of thofe to whom they con- 
 fide too much. He calls himlelf Maradas, a 
 Spaniard is he. 
 
 master of the cellar, {impatiently.) 
 Spaniard ! Spaniard I — I tell you, friend j 
 nothing good comes of thofe Spaniards. All thefe 
 outlandilh * fellows are little better than rogues: 
 
 * There is a humour in the original which cannot be given 
 in the translation.' " Die nuelfchen alle," Sea which word in 
 clafltcal German means the Italians alone 5 but in its firft fenfe, 
 'and at prefent in the vulgar ufe of the word, Signifies foreigners 
 in general. Our word wall-nuts, I fuppofe, means cutlandijh 
 nuts— Wall« nuces, in German «' Wclfch-nüHe." T. 
 
 NEUMANN* 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. Ill 
 
 NEUMANN. 
 
 Fy, fy ! you mould not fay fo, friend. There 
 are among them our very beft generals, and thofe 
 on whom the Duke at this moment relies the mod. 
 
 MASTER OF THE CELLAR. 
 
 {Taking the faß out of the Runner's pocket.) 
 My fon, it will be broken to pieces in your 
 pocket. 
 
 ( Tertßy hurries in, fetches away the paper, 
 and calls to a fervant for pen and ink, and 
 goes to the back of the ßage.) 
 
 master of the cellar, (to the fervants.) 
 The Lieutenant-General ftands up.— Be on the 
 watch. — Now ! They break up. — Off, and move 
 back the forms ! 
 
 (They rife at all the tables, the fervants hurry 
 off" the front of the ßage to the tables ; part 
 of the guejls comeforzvard.) 
 
 SCENE 
 
112 THE PICCOLOMINI,- OR THE 
 
 SCENE XIII. 
 
 (Octavio Piccölomini enters in converfa- 
 tion with Ma rad as, and both place them* 
 felves quite on the edge of the ßage on one 
 fide of the profcenium. On the fi 'de direct ly 
 oppofite. Max. Piccolomini, by himfelf 
 lofi in thought, and taking no part in any 
 thing that is going forward. The middle 
 fpace between both, but rather more diflant 
 from the edge of the ßage, is filled up by 
 Butler, Isolani, Goetz, Tiefen- 
 bach, and Kolatto.) 
 
 isolani. {while the company is coming forward.) 
 
 Good night, good night, Kolatto I Good night* 
 
 Lieutenant- General 1 — I mould rather fay* good 
 
 morning. 
 
 goetz. (to Tiefenbach.) 
 
 Noble brother 1 [making the ufual compliment 
 
 after ?neals.) 
 
 TIEFENBACII. 
 
 Ay ! 'twas a royal feaft indeed. 
 
 GOETZ« 
 
 Yes, my Lady Countefs underflands thefe mat» 
 ters. Her mother~in-laWj heaven reft her foul* 
 taught her I — Ah ! that was ä hoüfewife for you ! 
 
 TIEFENBACH. 
 
 There was not her like in all Bohemia for fetting 
 out a table. 
 
 octavio. [afide to Maradas:) 
 Do me the favour to talk to me — talk of what 
 
 you 
 
FIRST PART OF 1VALLENSTEIN. 113 
 
 you will — or of nothing; Only preferve the ap- 
 pearance at leaft of talking. I would not wifh to 
 fland by myfelf, and yet I conjecture that there 
 will be goings on here worthy of our attentive 
 obfervation. (He continues to fix his eye on the 
 whole following fcene.) 
 
 isolani. (on the point of going.) 
 Lights ! lights ! 
 
 tertsky. ( advances with the paper to Ifolani. ) 
 Noble brother ! two minutes longer ! — Here is 
 fomething to fubfcribe. 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 Subfcribe as much as you like— but you rnuft 
 excufe me from reading it. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 There is no need. It is the oath which you 
 have already read.— Only a few marks of your 
 pen ! {Ifolani hands over the paper to Octavio, 
 refpectfully.) 
 
 TEKTSKY. 
 
 Nay, nay, firft come firft ferved. There is no 
 precedence here. [Octavio runs over the paper 
 with apparent indifference. Tertfky watches him 
 atfome di/la?ice.) 
 
 goetz. (to Tertfky. ) 
 Noble Count | with your permiflion — Good 
 night, 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Where's the hurry ? Come, one other compofing 
 draught, {to the fervants)—-Y\Q ! 
 
 I GOETZ. 
 
114 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 GOETZ. 
 
 Excufe me— an't able. . 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 A thimble-full ! 
 
 GOETZ. 
 
 Excufe me. 
 
 TIEFENBACH. (fits doWH.) 
 
 Pardon me, nobles ! — This Handing does not 
 agree with me. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Confult only your own convenience, General ! 
 
 TIEFENBACH. 
 
 Clear at head, found in ftomach — only my legs 
 won't carry me any longer. 
 
 i sol an i. (pointing at his corpulence.) 
 Poor legs ' how JJiould they ? Such an unmer- 
 ciful load ! {Octavio fubfcribes his name, and 
 reaches over the paper to Tert/ky, who gives it 
 to Ifolani; and he goes to the table to fign his 
 name.) 
 
 TIEFENBACH. 
 
 'Twas that war in Pomerania that firft brought 
 it on. Out in all weathers^ — ice and fnow — no help 
 for it. — I fhall never get the better of it all the 
 days of my life. 
 
 GOETZ. 
 
 Why, in fimple verity, your Swede makes no 
 nice enquiries about the feafon. 
 
 tertsky. [obferuing Ifolani, whofe hand trem- 
 bles excejively, fo that he canfcarce direct his 
 pen.) Have you had that ugly complaint 
 
 long, noble brother ? — Difpatch it. 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
FIRST PART OP WAtLENSTEIN. 115 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 The fins of youth •' I have already tried the 
 Chalybeate waters. Well — I muft bear it. 
 {Tertfky gives the paper to Maradas-, he fieps to 
 the table to fubfcribe.) 
 
 octavio. {advancing to Butler.) 
 You are not over fond of the orgies of Bacchus, 
 Colonel ! I have obferved it. You would, I 
 think, find yourfelf more to your liking in the 
 uproar of a battle, than of a feaft. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 I muft confefs, 'tis not in my way, 
 
 octavio. (fiepping nearer to him friendlili) .) 
 Nor in mine either, I can aflure you ; and I am 
 not a little glad, my much honoured Colonel 
 Butler, that we agree fo well in our opinions. A 
 half dozen good friends at moft, at a fmall round 
 table, a glafs of genuine Tokay, open hearts, and 
 a rational converfation — that's my tafte ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 And mine too, when it can be had. (The 
 paper comes to Tiefenbach, who glances over it 
 at the fame time with Goetz and Kolatto. Mara- 
 das in the mean time returns to Octavio, all this 
 takes place, the converfation with Butler proceed- 
 ing uninterrupted.) 
 
 octavio. [introducing Maradas to Butler.) 
 Don Balthafar Maradas ! likewife a man of our 
 
 (lamp, and long ago your admirer. [Butler 
 
 bows) 
 
 I 2, OCTAVIO. 
 
116 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 o c t A v i o . ( continuing. ) 
 You are a ftranger here — 'twas but yefterday 
 you arrived ; — you are ignorant of the ways and 
 means here. 'Tis a wretched place — I know, at 
 our age, one loves to be fnug and quiet — What 
 if you moved your lodgings ? — Come, be my 
 vifitor. (Butler makes a lozv bow.) Nay, with- 
 out compliment 1 — For a friend like you, I have 
 flill a corner remaining. 
 
 butler, (coldly.) 
 Your obliged humble fervant, my Lord Lieu- 
 tenant-General ! (The paper comes to Butler, 
 zuho goes to the table to fubfcribe it. The front 
 of the flage is vacant, fo that both the Piccolo- 
 minis, each on the fide where he had been from 
 the commencement of the fcene, remain alone. 
 
 octavio. (After having fome time watched 
 his fon in Jilence, advances fomewhat nearer 
 to him.) You were long abfent from us, friend ! 
 
 MAX. 
 
 I urgent bufinefs detained me. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 And, I obferve, you are flill abfent f 
 
 MAX. 
 
 You know this croud and buftle always makes 
 me filent. 
 
 octavio. (advancing fill nearer. ) 
 May I be permitted to afk what the bufinefs 
 was that detained you ? — Tertfiy knows it without 
 
 aiking !• 
 
 MAX. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 117 
 MAX. 
 
 What does Tertfky know ? 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 He was the only one who did not mifs you. 
 
 isolani. (who has been attending to them from 
 fome dißance, fleps up.) Well done, father ! 
 Rout out his baggage ! Beat up his quarters ! There 
 is fomething there that mould not be. 
 
 tertsky. (zuith the paper,) 
 Is there none wanting ? Have the whole fub- 
 fqribed ? 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 All. 
 
 tertsky. {calling aloud.) 
 Ho! Who fubfcribes ? 
 
 butler, (to TertJJey.) 
 Count the names. There ought to be juft thirty. 
 
 tertsky. 
 Here is a crofs. 
 
 TJEFENBACH, 
 
 That's my mark. 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 He cannot write ; but his crofs is a good crofs, 
 and is honoured by Jews as well as Chriftians. 
 
 octavio. (prejfes on to Max.) 
 Come, Genera] ! let us go. It is late. 
 
 tertsky. 
 One Piccolomini only has figned. 
 
 isolani. (poin ting to Max. ) 
 Look ! that is your man, that ftatue there, who 
 
 i 3 has 
 
118 THE PICCOLÖMINI, OR THE 
 
 has had neither eye, ear, nor tongue for us the 
 whole evening. (Max. receives the paper from 
 Terfjky, which he looks upon vacantly.) 
 
 SCENE XIV, 
 
 (To t liefe enter Illo from the inner room. He 
 has in his hand the golden Jefvice-cup, and is 
 extremely diflempered with drinking : Goet^ 
 and Butler follow him-, endeavouring to keep 
 him back.) 
 
 ILLO, 
 
 What do you want ? Let me go, 
 
 goetz and butler. 
 
 Drink no more, Illo ! For heav'n's fake, drink 
 no more, 
 
 illo. (goes up to Octavio, and fhakes him cor- 
 dially by the hand, arid then drinks.) 
 Oftavio ! I bring this to you ! Let all grudge 
 be drowned in this friendly bowl ! I know 
 well enough, ye never loved me — Devil take 
 me ! — and I never loved you ! — I am always 
 even with people in that way !• — Let what's 
 paft be paft — that is, you underftand — forgotten! 
 I efteem you infinitely, {embracing him re- 
 peatedly.) You |iave not a dearer friend on earth 
 than I — but that you know. The fellow that cries 
 rogue to you calls me villain — and I'll ftrangle 
 him ! — my dear friend • 
 
 TERTSKY, 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 119 
 
 tertsky. (whijpering to htm.) 
 Art in thy fenfes ? For heaven's fake, Illo - 
 think where you are. 
 
 illo. (aloud.) . 
 
 What do you mean? — There are none but friends 
 here, are there ? (looks round the whole circle 
 with a jolly and triumphant air.) Not a meeker 
 among us, thank heaven • 
 
 tertsky. (to Butler, eagerly.) 
 Take him off with you, force him off, I entreat 
 you, Butler! 
 
 BUTLER. (to Illo.) 
 
 Field Marfhal ! a word with you. (leads him 
 to the fide-board.) 
 
 illo. (cordia lly.) 
 A thoufand for one! Fill — Fill it once more 
 up to the brim. — To this gallant man's health ! 
 isolani. (to Max. who all the while has been 
 fiaring on the paper with fixed but vacant eyes.) 
 
 Slow and fure, my noble brother ! — Haft parfed 
 it all yet ? — Some words yet to go thro' ? — Ha ?— 
 
 max. (zvafcing as from a dream.) 
 What am I to do ? 
 
 tertsky, and at the fame time isolani. 
 Sign your name. (Octavio directs his eyes on 
 him zvith intenfe anxiety.) 
 
 max. (returns the paper.) 
 Let it ftay till to-morrow. It is bufinefs-*- 
 to-day I am not fumciently collected. Send it to 
 
 me to-morrow. 
 
 i 4 tertsky* 
 
120 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Nay, cplleft yourfelf a. little. 
 
 1SOLANI. ' 
 
 Awake, man! awake' — Come, thy fignature, 
 and have done with it ! What ? Thou art the 
 youngeft in the whole company, and wouldefl be 
 wirer than all of us together ? Look there ! thy 
 father has figned — we have all figned. 
 
 TERTSKY. (to Ot'tdvio.) 
 
 pfe your influence. Inflrqä: him. 
 
 ocTAvro. 
 My fon is at the age of difcretion. 
 
 ill p. (leaves the fervice-cifp on the fide^board.) 
 What's the difpute ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 He declines fubfcribing the paper. 
 
 - MAX. 
 
 J fay, it may as well flay till to-morrow. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 ' It cannot flay. We have all fubfcribed to it — - 
 and iq mufl you.— You mufl fubfcribe. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Illo, good night ! 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 No! — You come not off fo ! The Duke fhall 
 learn who are his friends, (all collect round lib 
 and Max.) 
 
 max. 
 . What my fentiments are towards the Duke, the 
 Puke knows, , every one knows — what need of 
 fhis wild fluff?' 
 
 IIXO. 
 
FIBST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 121 
 ILLO. 
 
 This is the thanks the Duke gets for his par- 
 tialty to Italians and foreigners. — Us Bohemians 
 he holds for little better than dullards — nothing 
 pleafes him but what's outlandilh, 
 
 tertsky. (in extreme embarrqfment, to thecom- 
 yianders, who at IUo''s zvords gave a fudden jhirt y 
 as preparing to refent them.) It is the wine that 
 fpeaks, and not his reafon. Attend not to him, 
 I entreat you. 
 
 ' isolani. (zvith a bitter laugh.) 
 Wine invents nothing : it only tattles, 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 He who is not with me is againft me- Your 
 tender coniciences I Unlefs they -can flip out by 
 a back-door, by a puny provifo-' — 
 
 tertsky. ( interrupting him.) 
 He is ftark mad — don't liften to him I 
 
 jllo. (raifing his voice] to the higheß pitch.) 
 Unlefs they can flip out by a provifo, — What 
 of the provifo ? The devil take this provifo 1 
 
 max. (has his attention ronfed, and looks again 
 into the paper.) 
 What is there here then of fuch perilous im- 
 port ? You make me curious — I mull look clofer 
 at it. 
 
 tertsky. (in a low voice to Illo.) 
 
 What are you doing, Illo ? You are ruining us. 
 
 TIEFENBACH. (to Kolatto.) 
 
 I 
 
 Ay, ay ! I obferved, that before we fat down 
 
 to fupper, it was read differently. 
 
 goetz 
 
122 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 ' GOETZ. 
 
 ' Why, I feemed to think fo too. 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 What do I care for that ? Where there fland 
 other names, mine can ftand too. 
 
 TIEFENBACH. 
 
 Before fupper there was a certain provifo there- 
 in, or fliort claufe concerning our duties to the 
 Emperor. 
 
 butler, [to one of the commanders. ) 
 For fhame, for fhame ! Bethink you. What 
 is the main bufinefs here ? The queftion now is, 
 whether we fhall keep our General, or let him 
 retire. One mud not take thefe things too nicely 
 and over-fcrupuloufly. 
 
 isoLANi. [to one of the generals.) 
 Did the Duke make any of thefe provifoe§ 
 when he gave you your regiment ? 
 
 TERTSKY. (to Goetz.) 
 
 Or when he gave you the office of army-pur- 
 veyancer, which brings you in yearly a thoufandi 
 piftoles ! 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 He is a rafcal who makes us out to be rogues. 
 If there be any one that wants fatisfadion, let 
 him fay fo. — I am his man. 
 
 TIEFENBACH. 
 
 Softly, foftly ! 'Twas but a word or two. 
 
 max. (having read the paper gives it back.} 
 Till to-morrow therefore [ 
 
 ILLO. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 123 
 
 ILLO. (ßammering with rage and fury, lofes 
 all command over himfelf, and prefents the paper 
 to Max. imth one hand, and his /word in the 
 other.) Subfcribe — Judas I 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 Out upon you, IIlo ! 
 
 ocTAvio, tertsky, eutler. (all together.) 
 Down with the fword ! 
 
 jmax. [rajhes on him fuddenly and difarms him, 
 then to Count Tertjky.) 
 Take him off to bed. 
 
 (Max. leaves the fiage. Illo carfing and raving 
 is held back byjbme of the officers, and amidß 
 an univerfal confufion the curtain drops. 
 
 E^D OF ACT II. 
 
 ACT m 
 
124- THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 Scene a Chamber in PiccolominV s Manfion. — 
 
 It is Night. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Octavio Piccolomini. A Valet de Chambre, 
 
 with Lights. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 And when my fon comes in, conduct him 
 
 hither. 
 What is the hour ? 
 
 VALET. 
 
 "Tis on the point of morning. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Set down the light. We mean not to undrefs. 
 
 You may retire to fleep. 
 
 [Exit Valet. Octavio paces, mnßng, acrofs the 
 chamber. Max. Piccolomini enters nnob- 
 fei^ued, and looks at his father for fome mo- 
 merits infilence. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Art thou offended with me ? Heav'n knows 
 That odious bufmefs was no fault of mine. 
 
 'Tis 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 125 
 
 'Tis true, indeed, I faw thy fignature. 
 
 What thou hadft fan&ion'd, mould not, it might 
 
 feerm 
 Have come amifs to me. But — 'tis my nature — 
 Thou know'ft, that in fuch matters I muft follow 
 My own light, not another's. 
 octavio. (goes up to him, and embraces him.) 
 
 Follow it, 
 O follow it ftill further, my beft fon ! 
 To night, dear boy ! it hath more faithfully 
 Guided thee than th' example of thy father. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Declare thyfelf lefs darkly. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 I will do fo. 
 For after what has taken place this night, 
 There muft remain no fecrets 'twixt us two. 
 
 (Both feat them/elves. J 
 Max. Piccolomini ! what think'ft thou of 
 The oath that was fent round for fignatures? 
 
 MAX. 
 
 I hold it for a thing of harmlefs import, 
 Altho' I love not thefe fet declarations. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 And on no other ground hadft thou refus'd 
 The fignature they fain had wrefted from thee ? 
 
 MAX. 
 
 It was a ferious bufinefs 1 was abfent — 
 
 The affair itfelf feem'd not fo urgent to me. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Be open, Max. Thou hadft then no fufpicion ? 
 
 5 . MAX, 
 
126 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Sufpicion ! what fufpicion ? Not the leaft. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Thank thy good angel, Piccolomini ; 
 
 He drew thee back unconfcious from the abyfs. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 I know not what thou meaneft. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 I will tell thee. 
 Fain would they have extorted from thee, fon, 
 The fandtion of thy name to villainy j 
 Yea, with a fingle flourifh of thy pen, 
 Made thee renounce thy duty and thy honour ! 
 
 max. (rifes) 
 Oftavio ! 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Patience ! — Seat yourfelf. Much yet 
 Haft thou to hear from me, friend 1— haft for years 
 Liv'd in incomprehenfible illufion. 
 Before thine eyes is Treafon drawing out 
 As black a web as e'er was fpun from venom : 
 A power of hell o'erclouds thy underftanding. 
 I dare no longer ftand in filence — dare 
 No longer fee thee wandering ©n in darknefs, 
 Nor pluck the bandage from thine eyes. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 My father ! 
 Yet, ere thou fpeak'ft, a moment's paufe of thought! 
 If your difclofures mould appear to be 
 Conjectures only — and almoft I fear 
 
 They 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 127 
 
 They will be nothing further — fpare them ! I 
 Am not in that collected mood at prefent, 
 That I could liften to them quietly. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 The deeper caufe thou haft to hate this light, 
 
 The more impatient caufe have I, my fon, 
 
 To force it on thee. To the innocence 
 
 And wifdom of thy heart I could have trufted thee 
 
 With calm affurance — but I fee the net 
 
 Preparing — and it is thy heart itfelf 
 
 Alarms me for thine innocence — that fecret, 
 
 (fixing his eye fiedfafily on his fori 's face) 
 Which thou concealeft, forces mine from me. 
 (Max. attempts to anfwer, but hefitates, and 
 cafis his eyes to the ground embarrajfed.) 
 o c t a v i o . (after a paufe) 
 Know, then, they are duping thee! — a mofl foul 
 
 game 
 With thee and with us all — nay, hear me calmly— 
 The Duke even now is playing. He aflumes 
 The mafk, as if he would forfake the army ; 
 And in this moment makes he preparations 
 That army from the Emperor — to ßeal, 
 And carry it over to the enemy ! 
 
 MAX. 
 
 That low Prieft's legend I know well, but did not 
 Expect to hear it from thy mouth. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 That mouth, 
 From which thou hear' ft it at this prefent moment, 
 Doth warrant thee that it is no Prieft's legend. 
 
 4 MAX. 
 
128 THE PICCOLOMINI, OK THE' 
 
 MAX. 
 
 How mere a maniac they fuppofe the Duke ! 
 What, he can meditate ?— the Duke?— K:andrearri 
 That he can lure away full thirty thoufand 
 Tried troops and true, all honourable foldiers, 
 More than a thoufand noblemen among them, 
 From oaths, from duty, from their honour lure 
 
 them, 
 And make them all unanimous to do 
 A deed that brands them fcoundrels ? 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Such a deed, 
 With fuch a front of infamy, the Duke 
 No ways defires — what he requires of us 
 Bears a far gentler appellation. Nothing 
 He wifhes, but to give the Empire peace. ( 
 And fo, becaufe the Emperor hates this peace, 
 Therefore the Duke — the Duke will force him 
 
 to it. 
 All parts of the Empire will he pacify, 
 And for his trouble will retain in payment 
 (What he has already in his gripe) — Bohemia ! 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Has he, O&avio, merited of us, 
 
 That we — that we Ihould think fo vilely of him? 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 What we would think is not the queftion here. 
 The affair {peaks for itfelf — and cleared proofs ! 
 Hear me, my fon — 'tis not unknown to thee, 
 In what ill credit with the Court we ftand. 
 But little doft thou know, or gueis, what tricks, 
 
 What 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 129 
 
 What bafe intrigues, what lying artifices, 
 Have been employ'd — for this fole end — to fow 
 Mutiny in the camp ! All bands are loos'd — 
 Loos'd all the bands, that link the officer 
 To his liege Emperor, all that bind the foldier 
 Affectionately to the citizen. \ 
 
 Lawlefs he ftands, and threat'ningly beleaguers 
 The flate he's bound to guard. To fuch a height 
 'Tis fwoln, that at this hour the Emperor 
 Before his armies — hii own armies — trembles s 
 Yea, in his capital, his palace, fears 
 The traitors' poniards, and is meditating 
 
 To hurry off and hide his tender offspring 
 
 Not from the Swedes, not from the Lutherans — 
 
 No ! from his own troops hide and hurry them ! 
 
 i 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Ceafe, ceafe ! thou tortur'ft, (hatter'ft me. I know 
 That oft we tremble at an empty terror; 
 But the falfe phantafm brings a real mifery,. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 It is no phantafm. An interline war, 
 Of all the moft unnatural and cruel, 
 Will burft out into flames, ifinftantly 
 We do not fly and ftifle it. The Generals 
 Are many of them long ago won over; 
 The fubalterns are vacillating — whole 
 Regiments and garrifons are vacillating. 
 To foreigners our ftfong holds are entrufted ; 
 To that fufpc&ed Schafgotch is the whole 
 Force of Silefia given up: to Tertlky 
 
 K Five 
 
130 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 Five regiments, foot and horfe — to Ifolani, 
 To Ilio, Kiniky, Butler, the beft troops. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Likewife to both of us. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Becaufe the Duke 
 Believes he has fecur'd us — means to lure us 
 Still further on by fplendid promifes. 
 To me he portions forth the princedoms, Glatz 
 And Sagan; and too plain I fee the angel 
 With which he doubts not to catch thee. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 No ! no ! 
 I tell thee — no ! 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 O open yet thine eyes ! 
 And to what purpofe think'ft thou he has caU'd us 
 Hither to Pilfen ? — To avail himfelf 
 Of our advice? — O when did Friedland ever 
 Need our advice ? — Be calm, and liften to me. 
 To fell ourfelves are we call'd hither, and 
 Decline we that — to be his hoflages. 
 Therefore doth noble Galas fland aloof; 
 Thy father, too, thou would'fl not have feen here, 
 If higher duties had not held him fetter'd. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 He makes no fecret of it — needs make none — 
 That we're call'd hither for his fake — he owns it. 
 He needs our aidance to maintain himfelf — 
 He did fo much for us j and *tis but fair 
 That we too fliould do fomewhat now for him. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
1FIRST 4 £AfcT Ott WALLENSTEffcT. 131 
 0CTAVIÖ. 
 
 And know'ft thou what it is which we muft do? 
 That Illo's drunken mood betray'd it to thee. 
 Bethink thyfelf — what haft thou heard, what ken? 
 The counterfeited paper — the omiflion 
 Of that particular claufe, fo full of meaning, 
 Does it not prove, that they would bind us down 
 To nothing good ? 
 
 MAX. 
 
 That counterfeited paper 
 Appears to me no other than a trick 
 Of Illo's own device. Thefe underhand 
 Traders in great mens' interefts ever ufe 
 To urge and hurry all things to the extreme. 
 They fee the Duke at variance with the Court, 
 And fondly think to ferve him, when they widen 
 The breach irreparably. Truft me, father, 
 The Duke knows nothing of all this, 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 It grieves me 
 That I muft dam to earth, that I muft matter 
 A faith fo fpecious; but I may not fpare thee ! 
 For this is not a, time for tenderncfs. 
 Thou muft take meafures, fpeedy ones — muft a&. 
 I therefore will confefs to thee, that all 
 Which I've entrufted to thee now— that all 
 Which feems to thee fo unbelievable, 
 That — yes, I will tell thee— fa paitfe) — Max. ! I 
 
 had it all 
 From his own mouth — from the Duke's mouth I 
 
 had it. 
 
 K 2 MAX, 
 
132 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 max. (in excejive agitation) 
 No ! — no ! — never ! 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Himfelf confided to me 
 What I, 'tis true, had long before difcover'd 
 By other means — himfelf confided to me, 
 That 'twas his fettled plan to join the Swedes; 
 And, at the head of the united armies, 
 Compel the Emperor 
 
 MAX. 
 
 He is paffionate. 
 The Court has flung him — he is fore all over 
 With injuries and affronts; and in a moment 
 Of irritation, what if he, for once, 
 Forgot himfelf ? He's an impetuous man. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Nay, in cold blood he did confefs this to me ; 
 And having conflrued my aftonifhment 
 Into a fcruple of his power, he fhew'd me 
 His 'written evidences — fhew'd me letters, 
 Both from the Saxon and the Swede, that gave 
 Promife of aidance, and defin'd th' amount. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 It cannot be ! — can not be ! — can not be ! 
 
 Doft thou not fee, it cannot! 
 
 Thou wouldeft of neceffity have fhewn him 
 
 Such horror, fuch deep loathing — that or he 
 
 Had tak'n thee for his better genius, or 
 
 Thou flood'fl not now a living man before me — 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 I have laid open my objections to him, 
 Diifuaded him with prefling earneftnefs; 
 
 But 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 133 
 
 But my abhorrence, the full fentiment 
 
 Of my whole heart — that I have ftill kept facred 
 
 To my own confcioufnefs. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 And thou haft been 
 So treacherous ? That looks not like my father ! 
 I trufted not thy words, when thou didft tell me 
 Evil of him ; much lefs can I now do it, 
 That thou calumniateft thy own felf. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 I did not thruft myfelf into his fecrefy. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Uprightnefs merited his confidence. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 He was no longer worthy of fincerity. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Diffimulation, fure, was ftill lefs worthy 
 Of thee, Odavio ! 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Gave I him a caufe 
 To entertain a fcruple of my honour ? 
 
 MAX. 
 
 That he did not, evinc'd his confidence. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Dear fon, it is not always poffible 
 
 Still to preferve that infant purity 
 
 Which the voice teaches in our inmoft heart. 
 
 Still in alarm, for ever on the watch 
 
 Againft the wiles of wicked men, e'en Virtue 
 
 Will fometimes bear away her outward robeS 
 
 Soil'd in the wreftle with Iniquity. 
 
 k 3 This 
 
134? THE PICCOLOMlNI, OR THE 
 
 This is the curfe of every evil deed, 
 That, propagating ftill, it brings forth evil. 
 J do not cheat my better foul with fophifms: 
 I but perform my orders ; the Emperor 
 Prefcribes my conduct to me. Deareft boy, 
 Far better were it, doubtlefs, if we all 
 Obey'd the heart at all times; but fo doing, 
 In this our prefent fojourn with bad men, 
 We muft abandon many an hon eft object. 
 'Tis now our call to ferve the Emperor, 
 By what means he can bed be ferv'd — the heart 
 May whifper what it will^-rthis is our call ! 
 
 MAX. 
 
 It feems a thing appointed,, that to-day 
 
 I fhouldnot comprehend, not underftand thee. 
 
 The Duke, thou fay'ft, did honeflly pour out 
 
 His heart to thee, but for an evil purpofe; 
 
 And thou difhoneftly haft cheated him 
 
 For a good purpofe ! Silence, I entreat thee — - 
 
 My friend thou ftealeft not from me— 
 
 Let me not lofe my father! 
 
 octavio. (fupprejjing reftntment) 
 
 As yet thou know'ft not all, my fon. I have 
 Yet fomewhat to difclofe to thee. 
 (Ajter a panfe) 
 
 Duke Friedland 
 Hath made his preparations. He relies 
 Upon his ftars. He deems us unprovided, 
 And thinks to fail upon us by furprize. 
 Yea, in his dream of hope* he grafps already 
 The golden circle in his hand. He errs. 
 
 4 W* 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 135 
 
 We too have been in action — he but grafps 
 His evil fate, moft evil, molt myfterious ! 
 
 MAX. 
 
 O nothing rafti, my fire ! By all that's good 
 Let me invoke thee- — no precipitation! 
 
 octaVio. 
 With light tread ftole he on his evil way, 
 And light of tread hath Vengeance Hole on after 
 
 him. 
 Unfeen (he ftands already, dark behind him — • 
 But one flep more — he (hudders in her grafp ! 
 — Thou haft feen Queftenberg with me. As yet 
 Thou know'ft but his oftenfible commiffion— - 
 He brought with him a private one, my fon ! 
 And that was for me only. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 May I know it ? 
 octavio. ( fefees the patent.) 
 
 Max^ 
 (A paufe.) 
 
 • In this difclofure place I in thy hands 
 
 The Empire's welfare and thy father's life. 
 Dear to thy inmoft heart is Wallenftein: 
 A powerful tie of love, of veneration, 
 Hath knit thee to him from thy earlieft youth. 
 Thou nouriiheft the wi/h—O let me ftill 
 Anticipate thy loitering confidence ! 
 The hope thou nourifheft to knit thyfelf 
 Yet clofer to him 
 
 k 4 max. 
 
136 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Father 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 O my fon ! 
 I truft thy heart undoubtingly. But am I 
 Equally fure of thy collectednefs ? 
 Wilt thou be able, with calm countenance, 
 To enter this man's prefence, when that I 
 Have trufted to thee his whole fate ? 
 
 MAX. 
 
 According 
 As thou doft truft me, father, with his crime, 
 
 (Octavio takes a paper out of his efcrutoire^ 
 and gives it to him.) 
 
 MAX. 
 
 What ? how ? — a full Imperial patent ! 
 
 pCTAVIO. 
 
 Read it. 
 ' max. (jufi glances on it) 
 
 Duke Friedland fentenc'd and condemn'd ! 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Even fo. 
 max. (throws down the paper) 
 O this is too much ! — O unhappy error ! 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Read on. Collefl thyfelf. 
 
 max. (after he has read further, with a look 
 of affright and aßonifliment on his father). 
 
 How ! — what ! — Thou ! — thou ! 
 
 i . 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 1ST 
 OCTAVIO, 
 
 But for the prefent moment, till the King 
 Of Hungary may fafely join the army, 
 h the command aifign'd to me. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 And think'ft thou, 
 Doft thou believe, that thou wilt tear it from him? 
 O never hope it ! — Father! father •' father? 
 An inaufpicious omce is.,enjoin'd thee. 
 This paper here — this ! and wilt thou enforce it ? 
 The mighty, in the"} middle of his hoft, 
 Surrounded by his thoufands, him would'fl thou 
 Difarm — degrade ! Thou art loft, both thou and 
 " all of us, 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 What hazard I incur thereby, I know. 
 In the great hand of God I (land. The Almighty 
 Will cover with his fhield the Imperial houle, 
 And (hatter, in his wrath, the work of darknefs. 
 The Emperor hath true fervants ftill ; and, even 
 Here in the camp, there are enough brave men, 
 Who for the good caufe will fight gallantly. 
 The faithful have been warn'd — the dangerous 
 Are clofely watch'd. I wait but the firft ftep, 
 And then immediately— — r - 
 
 MAX* 
 
 What ! on fufpicion ? 
 Immediately ? 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 The Emperor is no. tyrant. 
 The deed alone he'll punifh, not the wifh. 
 
 The 
 
13& THE PICCOI.OMINJ, OR THE 
 
 The Duke hath yet his defliny in his power. 
 
 Let him but leave the treafon uncompleted, 
 
 He will be filently difplac'd from office, 
 
 And make way to his Emperor's royal Ton. 
 
 An honourable exile to his caftles 
 
 Will be a benefaction to him rather 
 
 Than puniQiment. But the firft open ftep 
 
 MAX. 
 
 What call'ft thou fuch a ftep ? A wicked flep 
 Ne'er will he take j but thou might'ft eafily, 
 Yea, thou haft done it, mirmterpret him. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Nay, howfoever punifhable were 
 
 Duke Friedland's purpofes, yet ftill the fteps . 
 
 Which he hath taken openly, permit 
 
 A mild conftru&ion. It is my intention 
 
 To leave this paper wholly uninforc'd 
 
 Till fome ad is committed which convicts him 
 
 Of. an high-treafon, without doubt or plea, 
 
 And that mail fentence him. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 But who the judge ? 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Thyfelf. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 For ever, then, this paper will lie idle. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Too foon, I fear, its powers mud all be prov'd. 
 After the counter-promife of this evening, 
 It cannot be but he muft deem himfelf 
 
 Secure 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 139 
 
 Secure of the majority with us; 
 And of the army's general fentiment 
 He hath a pleating proof in that petition 
 Which thou deliver'ft to him from the regiments. 
 Add this to® — I have letters that the Rhinegrave 
 Hath chang'd his route, and travels by forc'd 
 
 marches 
 To the Bohemian Foreft. What this purports, 
 Remains unknown; and, to confirm fufpicion, 
 This night a Swedifli nobleman arriv'd here. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 I have thy word. Thou'lt not proceed to aclion 
 Before thou haft convinc'd me — me myfelf. 
 
 octavio. 
 Is it poflible? Still, after all thou know'ft, 
 Canftthou believe ftill in his innocence? 
 
 max. (with enthußafm) 
 
 Thy judgment may miftake: my heart can not. 
 
 (moderates his voice and manner) 
 
 Thefe reafohs might expound thy fpirit or mine ; 
 
 But they expound not Friedland — I have faith : 
 
 For as he knits his fortunes to the ftars, 
 
 Even fo doth he refemble them in fecret, 
 
 Wonderful, ftill inexplicable courfes ! 
 
 Truft me, they do him wrong. All will be folv'd. 
 
 Thefe fmokes, at once, will kindle into flame — 
 
 The edges of this black and ftormy cloud 
 
 Will brighten fuddenly, and we fhall view 
 
 The Unapproachable glide out in fplendour. 
 
 octavio. 
 I will await it. 
 
 SCENE 
 
140 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 Octavio and Max. as before. To them the 
 Valet of the Chamber. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 « * 
 
 How now, then ? , 
 
 VALET. 
 
 A difpatch is at the door. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 So early ? From whom comes he then ? Who is it! 
 
 VALET. 
 
 That he refus'd to tell me. 
 
 OCTAVIO, 
 
 Lead him in : 
 And, hark you — let it not tranfpire. 
 
 [Exit Valet — the Cornet ßeps in. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Ha? Cornet — is it you? and from Count Galas? 
 Give me your letters. 
 
 CORNET. 
 
 The Lieutenant-general 
 Trufted it not to letters. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 And what is it ? 
 
 CORNET. 
 
 He bade me tell you — Dare I fpeak openly here ? 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 My fon knows all. 
 
 CORNET. 
 
FIRST PART OF WAi,LEN£TEIN, 141 
 CORNET. 
 
 We have him. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Whom? 
 
 CORNET. 
 
 Sefina, 
 The old negoclator. 
 
 octavio. (eagerly) 
 
 And you have him? 
 
 CORNET. 
 
 In the Bohemian Foreft Captain Mohrbrand 
 Found and fecur'd him yefter morning early: 
 He was proceeding then to Regenfpurg, 
 And on him were difpatches for the Swede. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 And the difpatches— — 
 
 CORNET. 
 
 The Lieutenant-general 
 Sent them that inflant to Vienna, and 
 The prifoner with them. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 This. is, indeed, a tiding! 
 That fellow is a precious cafket to us, 
 Enclofing weighty things. — Was much found on 
 him? 
 
 CORNET. 
 
 I think, fix packets, with Count Tertfky's arms, 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 None in the Duke's own hand ? 
 
 C CORNET. 
 
142 THE PICCOLOMINI* OR THK 
 
 CORNET» 
 
 Not that I know. 
 
 OCTAVIO» 
 
 And old Sefina? 
 
 CORNET. 
 
 He was forely frighten'd, 
 When it was told him he muft to Vienna. 
 But the Count Altringer bade him take heart, 
 Would he but make a full and free confeflion. 
 
 OCTAVIO. v 
 
 Is Altringer then with your Lord ? I heard 
 That he lay lick at Linz. 
 
 CORNET. 
 
 Thefe three days paft 
 He's with my mailer, the Lieutenant-general, 
 At Frauemburg. Already have they lixty 
 Small companies together, chofen men: 
 Refpectfully they greet you with aflurances, 
 That they are only waiting your commands. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 In a few days may great events take place. 
 And when muß: you return ? 
 
 CORNET. 
 
 I wait your orders. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Remain till evening. 
 
 .{Cornet fignißes his ajfent and, obetfance, and is 
 
 going.) 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 No one faw you — ha ? 
 
 CORNET. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 143 
 CORNET. 
 
 No living creature. Thro' the cloifler wicket 
 The Capuchins, as ufual, let me in. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Go, reft your limbs, and keep yourfelf conceaFd. 
 
 I hold it probable, that yet ere evening 
 
 I fhall difpatch you. The developernent 
 
 Of this affair approaches : ere the day, 
 
 That even now is dawning in the heaven. 
 
 Ere this eventful day hath fet, the lot 
 
 That muft decide our fortunes will be drawn. 
 
 [Exit Cornet. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 Octavio and Max. Piccolomini. 
 
 octavio. 
 
 Weil — and what now, fon ? All will foon be clear j 
 For all, I'm certain, went thro* that Sefma. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 {Who through the whole of the foregoing fcene 
 has been in a violent and vifible flruggle of 
 feelings, at length fiarts as out refolved) 
 
 I will procure me light a ftiorter way. 
 Farewell. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Where now ? — Remain here. • 
 
 MAX. 
 
 To the Duke. 
 
 OCTAVIO, 
 
144? THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 octavio. {alarmed) 
 
 What 
 
 max. {returning) 
 If thou haft believ'd that I (hall ad 
 
 A part in this thy play 
 
 Thou haft mifcalculated on me grievoufly. 
 
 My way muft be ftraight on. True with the tongue, 
 
 Falfe with the heart — I may not, cannot be : 
 
 Nor can I fuffer that a man mould truft me — 
 
 As his friend truft me — and then lull my confcience 
 
 With fuch low pleas as thefe : — " I aik'd him not — 
 
 .He did it all at his own hazard — and 
 
 My mouth has never lied to him." — No, no } 
 
 What a friend takes me for, that' I muft be. 
 
 — I'll to the Duke ; ere yet this day is ended 
 
 Will I demand of him that he do lave 
 
 His good name from the world, and with one ftride 
 
 Break through and rend this fine-fpun web of 
 
 your's. 
 He can, he will ! — J ftill am his believer. 
 Yet I'll not pledge myfelf, but that thofe letters 
 May furnifh you, perchance, with proofs againft 
 
 him. 
 How far may not this Tertfky have proceeded — 
 What may not he himielf too have permitted 
 Himfelf to do, to fnare the enemy, 
 The laws of war excufing ? Nothing, lave 
 His own mouth (hall convict him — nothing lefs ! 
 And face to face will I go queftion him. 
 
 octavio. 
 Thou wilt ? 
 
 MAX. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 145 
 
 MAX. 
 
 I will, as fure as this heart beats. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 I have, indeed, mifcalculated on thee. 
 
 I calculated on a prudent fon, 
 
 Who would have bleft the hand beneficent 
 
 That pluck'd him back from the abyfs — and lo ! 
 
 A fafcinated being I difcover, 
 
 Whom his two eyes befool, whom paffion wilders, 
 
 Whom not the broadeft light of noon can heal. 
 
 Go, queftion him ! — Be mad enough, I pray thee. 
 
 The purpofe of thy father, of thy Emperor, 
 
 Go, give it up free booty ! — Force me, drive me 
 
 To an open breach before the time. And now, 
 
 Now that a miracle of heaven had guarded 
 
 My fecret purpofe even to this hour, 
 
 And laid to fleep Sufpicion's piercing eyes, 
 
 Let me have liv'd to fee that mine own fon, 
 
 With frantic enterprife, annihilates 
 
 My toilfome labours and ftate-policy. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Aye — this ftate-policy ! O how I curfe it ! 
 You will fome time, with your ftate-policy, 
 Compel him to the meafure : it may happen, 
 Becaufe ye are determined that he is guilty, 
 Guilty ye'll make him. All retreat cut off. 
 You clofe up every outlet, hem him in 
 Narrower and narrower, till at length ye force him — 
 Yes, ?/e, — ye force him, in his defperation, 
 To fet fire to his prifon. — Father! father! 
 That never can end well — it cannot — will not ! 
 
 h And 
 
146* THE PICC0L0MIN1, OR THE 
 
 And let it be decided as it may, 
 I fee with boding heart the near approach 
 Of an ill-ftarr'd, unbleft cataflrophe. 
 For this great Monarch-fpirit, if he fall, 
 Will drag a world into the ruin with him. 
 And as a fliip (that midway on the ocean 
 Takes fire) at once, and with a thunder-burll 
 Explodes, and with itfelf moots out its crew 
 In fmoke and ruin betwixt fea and heaven $ 
 So will he, falling, draw down in his fall 
 All us, who're fix'd and mortic'd to his fortune. 
 Deem of it what thou wilt j but pardon me, 
 That 1 muft bear me on in my own way. 
 All muft remain pure betwixt him and me ; 
 And, ere the day- light dawns, it muft be known 
 Which I muft lofe — my father, or my friend. 
 
 {During has exit the curtain drops.) 
 
 END OF ACT HI. 
 
 ACT 
 
FIRST PART OP WALLENSTEIN. 147 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 Scene a Room fitted up- for aßrological Labours, 
 and provided zvith celeßial Charts, with Globes, 
 Tele/copes, Quadrants, and other mathematical 
 Tnßruments. — Seven Colo/fal Figures, repre- 
 fenting the Planets, each zvith a tranfparenl 
 Star of a different Colour on its Head, fand 
 in a Semi- circle in the Back-ground, fo that 
 Mars and Saturn are nearefi the Eye. — The 
 Remainder of the Scene, and its Difpoßtion, is 
 given in the Fourth Scene of the Second Act. — I 
 There muß be a Curtain over the Figures, 
 which may be dropped, and conceal them on 
 Occafions. 
 
 [In the Fifth Scene of this Act it muß be dropped; 
 but, in the Seventh Scene, it muß be again 
 drawn up wholly or in part.~\ 
 
 SCENE I, 
 
 Wallenstein at a black Table, on which a 
 Speculum Aßrologicum is defcribed with Chalk. 
 Sen i is taking Obfervations through a Window. 
 
 WAL'LENSTEIN. 
 
 All well — and now let it be ended, Seni. — Come, 
 The dawn commences, and Mars rules the hour. 
 
 l % We 
 
148 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 r 
 
 We muft give o'er the operation. Come, 
 We know enough. 
 
 SENT. 
 
 Your Highnefs muft permit me 
 Juft to contemplate' Venus. She's now rifing: 
 Like as a fun, fo (nines (he in the eaft. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN". 
 
 She is at prefent in her perigee, 
 
 And (hoots down now her ftrongeft influences. 
 
 (Contemplating the figure on the table.) 
 
 Aufpicious afpedt ! fateful in conjunction, 
 At length the mighty three corradiate; 
 And the two ftars of blefling, Jupiter 
 And Venus, take between them the malignant 
 Slily-malicious Mars, and thus compel 
 Into my fervice that old mifchief-founder : 
 For long he view'd me hoftilely, and ever 
 With beam oblique, or perpendicular, 
 Now in the Quartile, now in the Secundan, 
 Shot his red lightnings at my ftars, disturbing 
 Their blefTed influences g,nd fweet afpects. 
 Now they have conquer'd the old enemy, 
 And bring him in the heavens a prifoner to me. 
 
 s e n i . [who has come down from the zvindow) 
 
 And in a corner houfe, your Highnefs — think o^ 
 
 that ! 
 That makes each influence of double ftrength. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 And fun and moon, too, in the Sextile afpecl, 
 The foft light with the veh'ment— fo I love it. 
 
 Soi 
 
FIRST PART OP WALLENSTEIN. 149 
 
 Sol is the heart, Luna the head of heaven. 
 Bold be the plan, fiery the execution. 
 
 SENI. 
 
 And both the mighty Lumina by no 
 Maleficus affronted. Lo! Saturnus, 
 Innocuous, powerlefs, in cadente Domo. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN, 
 
 The empire of Saturnus is gone by : 
 
 Lord of the fecret birth of things is he ; 
 
 Within the lap of earth, and in the depths 
 
 Of the imagination dominates ; 
 
 And his are all things that efchew the light. 
 
 The time is o'er of brooding and contrivance j 
 
 For Jupiter, the luftrous, lordeth now, 
 
 And the dark work, complete of preparation, 
 
 He draws by force into the realm of light. 
 
 Now mull we haften on to adion, ere 
 
 The fcheme, and moll aufpicious pofiture 
 
 Parts o'er my head, and takes once more its flight ; 
 
 For the heavens journey ft ill, and fojourn not. 
 
 (There are knocks at the door) 
 
 There's fome one knocking there. "See who it is. 
 
 tertsky. (from without) 
 Open, and let me in. 
 
 i 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Aye — 'tis Tertiky. 
 What is there of fuch urgence ? We are bufy. 
 
 tertsky. (from without) 
 Lay all afide at prefent, I entreat you. 
 Jt fuffers no delaying. 
 
 L 3 WA.LLENSTEIN. 
 
150 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Open, Seni I 
 (While Seni opens the door for Tertßy, Wallen- 
 fiein draws the curtain over the figures. 
 
 tertsky. (enters) 
 
 Haft thou already heard it ? He is taken. 
 Galas has giv'n him up to the Emperor. 
 
 [Seni draws off the black table ^ and exit. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 WALLEXSTEIN. COUNT TERTSKY. 
 WALLENSTEIN. ( to Tertfkl/J 
 
 Who has .been taken ? — Who is given up ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 The man who knows our fecrets, who knows every 
 
 Negociation with the Swede and Saxon, 
 
 Thro' whofe hands all and every thing has pafs'd — 
 
 wallenstein, {drawing back) 
 Nay, not Sefina?— Say, No! I entreat thee.. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 All on his road for Regenfpurg to the Swede 
 He was plung'd down upon by Galas' agent, 
 Who had been long in ambulh, lurking for him. 
 There muft I]ave been found on him my whoje 
 
 packet 
 To Thur, to Kinfky, to Oxenftirn, to Arnheim : 
 All this is in their hands ; they have now an infight 
 Into the whole — our meafures, and our motives. 
 
 SCENE 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 151 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 To them enters Illo. 
 
 illo. {to Tertjky) 
 
 Has he heard it ? 
 
 tertskY. 
 
 He has heard it. 
 
 illo. (to Wallenfiein) 
 
 Think'ft thou flill 
 To make thy peace with the Emp'ror, to regain 
 His confidence ? — E'en were it now thy wifh 
 To abandon all thy plans, yet ftill they know 
 What thou haft; wiih'd ; then forwards thou muß 
 
 prefs ; 
 Retreat is'now no longer in thy power* 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 They have documents againft us, and in hands, 
 Which fhew beyond all power of contradiction— 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Of my hand-writing— *no iota. Thee 
 I puriifh for thy lies. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 And thou believ'ft 
 That what this man, that what thy lifter's hufband, 
 Did in thy name, will not ftaiirfon thy reck'ning? 
 His worcl muft pafs for thy word with the Swede, 
 And not with thofe that hate thee at Vienna. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 In writing thou gav'ft nothing — But bethink thee, 
 How far thou ventured'ft by word of mouth 
 
 l 4 With 
 
152 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 With this Sefina ? And will he be filent ? 
 If he can fave himfelf by yielding up 
 Thy fecret purpofes, will he retain them ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Thyfelf doft not conceive it pofllble; 
 And fince they now have evidence authentic 
 How far thou haft already gone, fpeak ! — tell us, 
 What art thou waiting for? Thou canft no longer 
 Keep thy command j and beyond hope of refcue 
 Thou'rt loft, if thou refign'ft it. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 In the army 
 Lies my fecurity. The army will not 
 Abandon me. Whatever they may know, 
 The power is mine, and they muft gulp it down— 
 And fubftitute I caution for my fealty, 
 They muft be fatisfied, at leaft appear fo. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 The army, Duke, is thine now — for this moment — 
 'Tis thine: but think with terror on the flow, 
 The quiet power of time. From open vi'lence 
 The attachment of ( hy foldiery fecures thee 
 To-day — to-morrow ; but grant'ft thou them a 
 
 refpite, 
 Üiiheard, unfeen, they'll undermine that love 
 On which thou now doft feel fo firm a footing, 
 With wily theft will draw away from thee 
 One after th' other — , 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. - 
 
 'Tis a curfed accident 1 
 
 ILLO. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN, 153 
 
 ILLO. 
 O I will call it a moil bleffed one, 
 If it work on thee as it ought to do, 
 Hurry thee on to action- — to decifion — 
 The Swedifh Generals 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 He's arriv'd ! — Know'ft thou 
 What his commiffion is 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 To thee alone 
 Will he entruft the purpofe of his coming. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 A curfed, curfed accident ! — Yes, yes, 
 Sefina knows too much, and won't be filent. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 He's a Bohemian fugitive and rebel, 
 
 His neck is forfeit. Can he fave himfelf 
 
 At thy coft, think you he will fcruple it ? 
 
 And if they put him to the torture, will he, 
 
 Will he, that daftardling, have ftrength enough — -. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN, {lofi ill thought) 
 
 Their confidence is loft — irreparably ! 
 And I may act what way I will, I fhall 
 Be and remain for ever in their thought 
 A traitor to my country. How fincerely 
 Soever I return back to my duty, 
 It will no longer help me 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Ruin thee, 
 That it will do ! Not thy fidelity, 
 Thy weaknefs will be deem'd the lble occafion— * 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
154r THE PICCOLOMINIjOK THE 
 
 ■wallenstein, (pacing up and dow?i in ex~ 
 treme agitation} 
 What ! I muft realize it now in earneft, 
 Becaufe I toy'd too freely with the thought ? 
 Accurfed he who dallies with a devil I 
 And muft I — I muß realize it now — 
 Now, while I have the power, it muß take place ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Now — now — ere they can ward and parry it \ 
 
 wallenstein, (looking at the paper ofßg- 
 natures) 
 I have the General's, words — a written promife I 
 Max. Piccolomini Hands not here— how's that ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 It was; he fancied ■ — 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Mere felf- willed nefs. 
 There needed no fuch thing 'twixt him and you. 
 
 wallenstein. 
 He is quite right — there needeth no fuch thing. 
 The regiments, too, deny to march for Flanders — 
 Have fent me in a paper of remonftrance, 
 And openly refill the Imperial orders. 
 The firffc ftep to revolt *s already taken. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Believe me, thou wilt find it far more eaiy 
 To lead them over to the enemy 
 Than to the Spaniard. 
 
 WALLEXSTEIJf. 
 
 I will hear, ho\Vever y 
 What the Swede has to lay to me. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 155 
 
 illo. {eagerly to Terf/ky.) 
 Go, call him ! 
 He ftands without the dcor in waiting. 
 
 WALLEXSTEIN, 
 
 Stay ! 
 Stay yet a little. It hath taken me 
 All by furprize, — it came too quick upon me ; 
 'Tis wholly novel, that an accident, 
 With its dark lord (hip, and blind agency, 
 Should force me on with it. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Firft hear him only, 
 And after weigh it. 
 
 [Exeunt TertJJcy and Illo. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 Wallekstei n. {in foliloquy . ) 
 Is it poffible ? 
 Is't io ? I can no longer what I would ß 
 No longer draw back at my liking ? I 
 Mull do the deed, becaufe I thought of it, 
 And fed this heart here with a dream ? Becaufe 
 I did not fcowl temptation from my prefence, 
 Dallied with thoughts of poffible fulfilment, 
 Commenced no movement, left all time uncertain, 
 And only kept the road, the accefs open ? \ 
 By the great God of Heaven ! It was not 
 My ferious meaning, it was ne'er re folve. 
 I but amus'd myfelf with thinking of it> 
 
 .3 The 
 
156 THE PICCOIX)MINI, OR THE 
 
 The free-will tempted me, the power to do 
 
 Or not to do it. — Was it criminal 
 
 To make the fancy minifter to hope, 
 
 To fill the air with pretty toys of air, 
 
 And clutch fantaftic fceptres moving t'ward me ? 
 
 Was not the will kept free ? Beheld I not 
 
 The road of duty clofe befide me — but 
 
 One little ftep, and once more I was in it ! 
 
 Where am I ? Whither have I been tranfported ? 
 
 No road, no track behind me, but a wall, 
 
 Impenetrable, infurmountable, 
 
 Rifes obedient to the fpells I mutter'd 
 
 And meant not — my own doings tower behind me. 
 
 (Paufes and remains in deep thought.') 
 A punilhable man I Teem, the guilt, 
 Try what I will, I cannot roll off from me ; 
 The equivocal demeanour of my life 
 Bears witnefs on my profecutor's party, 
 And even my pureft acts from pureft motives 
 Sufpicion poifons with malicious glofs. 
 Were I that thing, for which I pafs, that traitor, 
 A goodly outfide I had fure referv'd, 
 Had drawn the cov'rings thick and double round 
 
 me, 
 Been calm and chary of my utterance. 
 But being confeious of the innocence 
 Of my intent, my uncorrupted will, 
 I gave way to my humours, to my paffion : 
 BoJd were my words, becaufe my deeds were not. 
 Now every planlefs meafure, chance event, 
 The threat of rage, the vaunt of joy and triumph, 
 
 And 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 157 
 
 And all the May-games of a heart o'erflowing, 
 Will they connect, .and weave them all together 
 Into one web- of trealon ; all will be plan, 
 My eye ne'er abfent from the far- off mark, 
 Step tracing ftep, each ftep a politic progrefs ; 
 And out of all they'll fabricate a charge 
 So fpecious, that I muft myfelf ftand dumb„ 
 I am caught in my own net, and only force, 
 J^aught but a fudden rent can liberate me. 
 
 {Paufesr again.) 
 How elfe ! fince that the heart's unbias'd inftinct 
 Impell'd me to the daring deed, which now 
 Neceffity, felf-prefervation, orders. 
 Stern is the On-look of neceffity, 
 Not without fhudder may a human hand 
 Grafp the myfterious urn of deftiny. 
 My deed was' mine, remaining in my bofom, 
 Once fuffer'd to efcape from it's fafe corner 
 Within the heart, it's nurfery and birth-place, 
 Sent forth into the Foreign, it belongs 
 For ever to thofe fly malicious powers 
 Whom never art of man conciliated. 
 
 (Paces in agitation through the chamber, 
 then paufes, a?id, after thepaufe, breaks 
 out again into audible foliloquy .) 
 What is thy enterprize ? thy aim ? thy object ? 
 fcfaft honeftly confefs'd it to thyfelf ? 
 Power feated on a quiet throne thou'dft (hake, 
 Power on an ancient confecrated throne, 
 Strong inpoffeffion, founded in old cuftom; 
 fowei by a thoufand tough and ftringy roots 
 
 Fix'd 
 
15$ THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 Fix'd to the people's pious nurfery-faith. 
 This, this will be no ftrife of ftrength with ftrength. 
 That fear'd I not. I brave each combatant, 
 Whom I can look on, fixing eye to eye, 
 Who full himfelf of courage kindles courage 
 In me too. 'Tis a foe invifible, 
 The which I fear — a fearful enemy, 
 "Which in the human heart oppofes me, 
 By it's coward fear alone made fearful to me. 
 Not that, which full of life, inftinct with pow'r» 
 Makes known it's prefent being, that is not 
 The true, the periloufly formidable. 
 O no ! it is the common, the quite common, 
 The thing of an eternal yefterday, 
 W r hat ever was, and ever more returns, 
 Sterling to-morrow, for to-day 'twas fterling • 
 For of the wholly common is man made,' 
 And cuftom is his nurfe ! Woe then to them, 
 Who lay irreverent hands upon his old 
 Houfe furniture, the dear inheritance 
 From his forefathers. For time confecrates ; 
 And what is grey with age becomes religion. 
 Be in pofleffion, and thou hall the right, 
 And facred'will the many guard it for thee ! 
 
 (To the Page, who here enters.) 
 The Swedifh officer ?— -Well, let him enter. 
 
 ( The Page exit, Wallenfi ein fixes his eye in 
 deep thought on the door.) 
 Yet is it pure — as yet ! — the crime has come 
 Not o'er this threfliold yet — fo flender is 
 The boundary that divideth life's two paths. 
 
 SCENE 
 

 FIRST PART OF GALLENSTEIN. 159 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Wallenstein and Wrangel. 
 
 wallenstein. ( after having fixed a fearcli- 
 . big look on him J 
 Your name is Wrangel ? 
 
 WRANGEL, 
 
 Guftave Wrangel, General 
 Of the Sudermanian Blues. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 It was a Wrangel 
 Who injur'd me materially at Stralfund, 
 And by his brave refiftance was the caufe 
 Of th' oppofition which that fea-port made. 
 
 WRANGEL. 
 
 It was the doing of the element 
 
 With which you fought, my Lord ! and not my 
 
 merit. 
 The Baltic Neptune did affert his freedom, 
 The fea and land, it feem'd, were not to ferve 
 One and the fame. 
 
 wallen stein, {makes the motion for him 
 to take a feat, and feats him f elf.) 
 
 And where are your credentials ? 
 Come you provided with full powers, Sir General ? 
 
 WRANGEL. 
 
 There are fo many fcruples yet to folve 
 
 wallenstein, (having read the credentials.) 
 An able letter ! — Ay— he is a prudent 
 
 Intelligent 
 
WO THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 Intelligent mafier, whom you ferve, Sir General ! 
 The Chancellor writes me, that he but fulfils 
 His late departed Sovereign's own idea 
 In helping me to the Bohemian crown. 
 
 WRANGEL. 
 
 He fays the truth. Our great King, now in 
 
 heaven, 
 Did ever deem mofl highly of your Grace's 
 Pre-eminent fenfe and military genius ; 
 And always the commanding Intellect, 
 He faid, fhould have command, and be the King. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Yes, he might fay it fafely. — General Wrangel, 
 
 ( Taking his hand affectionately .) 
 Come, fair and open. — Truft me, I was always 
 A Swede at heart. Ey ! that did you experience 
 Both in Silefia and at Nuremburg ; 
 I had you often in my power, and let you 
 Always flip out by fome back door or, other. 
 'Tis this for which the Court can ne'er forgive me, 
 Which drives me to this prefent fiep : and fince 
 Our interefls fo run in one direction, 
 E'n let us have a thorough confidence 
 Each in the other, 
 
 wrangel. 
 
 Confidence will come 
 Has each but only firfl fecurity. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 The Chancellor flill, I fee, does not quite truft me, 
 
 And, I confefs — the game does not lie wholly 
 
 To my advantage — Without doubt he thinks 
 
 If I can play falfe with the Emperor, 
 
 5 Who 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 161 
 
 Who is my Sov' reign, I can do the like 
 With th' enemy, and that the one too were 
 Sooner to be forgiven me than the other. 
 Is not this your opinion too, Sir General ? 
 
 WRANGEL. 
 
 I have here an office merely, no opinion. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 The Emperor hath urged me to the uttermoft 
 
 I can no longer honourably ferve him. 
 
 For my fecurity, in felf-defence, 
 
 I take this hard ftep, which my confcience blames. 
 
 WRANG EL, 
 
 That I believe. So far would no one go 
 Who was not forc'd to it, 
 
 {After a paufe.) 
 What may have impelled 
 Your princely Highnefs in this wife to act 
 Toward your Sovereign Lord and Emperor, 
 Befeems not us to expound or criticize. 
 The Swede is fighting for his good old caufe. 
 With his good fword and confcience. This con- 
 currence, 
 This opportunity, 19 in our favour, 
 And all advantages in war are lawful. 
 We take what offers without queftioning ; 
 And if all have its due and juft proportions— — - 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Of what then are ye doubting ? Of my will ? 
 Or of my power ? I pledg'd me to the Chancellor, 
 Would he truft me with fixteen thoufand men, 
 
 M That 
 
102 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 That I would inftantly go over to them 
 
 With eighteen thoufand of the Emperor's troops. 
 
 WRANGEL. 
 
 Your Grace is known to be a mighty war-chief, 
 To be a fecond Attila and Pyrrhus. 
 'Tis talk'd of flill with frelh aftonimment, 
 How fome years paft, beyond all human faith, 
 You called an army forth, like a creation: 
 But yet 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 But yet ? 
 
 WRANGEL. 
 
 But flill the Chancellor thinks, 
 It might yet be an ealier thing from nothing 
 To call forth fixty thoufand men of battle, 
 Than to perfuade one fixtieth part of them — 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What now ? Out with it, friend ? 
 
 WRANGEL. 
 
 To break their oaths. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 And he thinks fo f — He judges like a Swede. 
 
 And like a Proteftant. You Lutherans 
 
 Fight for your Bible. You are int'refted 
 
 About the caufe ; and with your hearts you follow 
 
 Your ban ners.— Among you, whoe'er deferts 
 
 To the enemy, hath broken covenant 
 
 With two Lords at one time.— We've no fuch 
 
 fancies. 
 
 
 WRANGEL, 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN, 16 
 
 
 
 wrange'l. ■ 
 Great God in Heaven ! Have then. the people here 
 No houfe and home, no fire-fide, no altar ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 I will explain that to you, how it {lands— 
 The Auftrian has a country, ay, and loves it, 
 And has good caufe to love it'— but this army* . 
 That calls itfelf th' Imperial, this that houfes 
 Here in Bohemia, this has none — no country ; 
 This is an outcaft of all foreign lands,. 
 Unclaim'd by town or tribe, to whom belongs 
 Nothing, except the univerfal fun. 
 
 WRANGEL. 
 
 But then the Nobles and the Officers ? 
 Such a defertion, fuch a felony, 
 It is without example, my Lord Duke, 
 In the world's hiftorv. 
 
 J 
 
 Wallenstein. 
 
 They are all mine- 
 Mine unconditionally — mine on all terms. 
 Not me, your own eyes you may truft. 
 
 [He gives him the paper containing the 
 written oath. Wrangel reads it through, 
 and, having read it, lavs it on the table, 
 remaining filent.~\ 
 
 So then ? 
 Now comprehend you ? 
 
 WRANGEL. 
 
 * ' Comprehend, who can \ 
 
 My Lord Duke ! I will let the malk drop— yes V 
 
 m 2 I have 
 
 K 
 
i#4 THE fciCGÖLÖMlNl, OR THE 
 
 I've full powers for a final fettlement. 
 
 The Rhinegrave {lands but four days march from 
 
 here, 
 With fifteen thoufand men, and only waits 
 For orders to proceed and join your army. 
 Thofe orders / give out, immediately 
 We're compromis'd. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What aiks the Chancellor ? 
 
 wrangle, (confiderately.) 
 Twelve Regiments, every man a Swede — my head 
 The warranty — and all might prove at laft 
 Only falfe play— — 
 
 WALLENSTEIN, (ßarting.) 
 
 Sir Swede ! 
 w r a n g E l . (Jcalm ly proceeding. ) 
 
 Am therefore forc'd 
 T' infift thereon, that he do formally, 
 Irrevocably break with th' Emperor, 
 Elfe not a Swede is trufled to Duke Friedland. 
 
 wallenstein. 
 Come, brief, and open ! What is the demand ? 
 
 w ran gel. 
 That he forthwith difarm the Spanifh regiments 
 Attach'd to th' Emperor, that he feize Prague, 
 And to the Swedes give up that city, with 
 The ftrong pafs Egra. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 That is much indeed ! 
 
 Prague'!— Egra's granted— JSut — but Prague !— 
 'TwonVCio, 
 
 I give 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 1G5 
 
 I give you every fecurity 
 
 Which you may aik qf me in common reafon-- 
 But Prague — Bohemia — :thefe, Sir Greneral, 
 I can myfelf protect. 
 
 WRANGEL. 
 
 We doubt it nq$. 
 But 'tis not the protection that is now 
 Our fole concern. We want fecurity, 
 That we (hall not expend our men and money 
 AH tonopurpofe. 
 
 WAJ.LENSTEIN. 
 
 'Tis but reafonable. 
 
 WRANGEL. 
 
 And till we are indemnified, (o long 
 Stays Prague in pledge. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Then truft you us To little ? 
 wrangel. (rifing.) 
 The Swede, if he would treat well with the Ger- 
 
 man, 
 Mult keep a fharp look-out. We have beencal^d 
 Over the Baltic, we have fay'd the empire 
 from ruin-r-^with our beft blood have we feal'd 
 The liberty of faith, andgofpel truth. 
 But now already is the benefaction 
 
 No longer felt, the. load alone is felt. 
 
 Ye look afkance with evil eye upon us, 
 As foreigners, intruders in the empire, 
 .4nd would fam fend us, with fome paltry fum 
 Of money, home ajgain to our old forefts. 
 No, no ! my Lord Duke ! no ! — it never was 
 
 m 3 For 
 
166 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 For Judas pay, for chinking gold and iilver, 
 That we' did leave our King by the * Great Stone. 
 No, not for gold and filver have there bled 
 So many of our Swedilh Nobles — neither 
 Will we, with empty laurels for our payment, 
 Hoift fail- for our own country. Citizens 
 Will we remain upon the foil, the which 
 Our Monarch conquer' d for himfelf, and died. 
 
 ' : " ■ WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Help to keep down the common enemy, 
 And the fair border land mult needs be your's, 
 
 WRANGEL. 
 
 But when the common enemy lies vanquilh'd, 
 Who knits together our new friendfhip then ? 
 We know, Duke F-iiedland ! though perhaps the 
 
 Swede 
 Ought not t' have known it, that you carry on 
 Secret negociations'with the Saxons. 
 Who is our warranty, that we are not 
 The facrifices in thofe articles 
 'Which' 'tis thought needful to conceal from us ? 
 
 wällenstein, (rifes.) 
 Think you of fomething better, Guftave Wrangel ! 
 Of Prague ho more. 
 
 WRANGEL. 
 
 Here my commiffion ends, 
 
 I A great ftqne pear Lützen, fince 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 loit his life. 
 
 • • » 
 
 WAL- 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 1$7 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Surrender up to you my capital ! 
 
 Far liever would I face about, and ftep 
 
 Back to my Emperor. 
 
 WRANGEL. 
 
 If time yet permits- 
 
 WALLENSTEIN, 
 
 That lies with me, even now, at any hour. 
 
 WRANGEL. 
 
 Some days ago, perhaps. To-day,, no longer, 
 No longer fince Sefina's been a prifoner. 
 
 (Wallenflein is finicky and ßlenced.') 
 My Lord Duke, hear me — We believe that you 
 At prefent do mean honourably by us. 
 Since yefierday we're fure of that — and now . 
 This paper warrants for the troops, there's nothing 
 Stands in the way of our full confidence. 
 Prague (hall not part us. Hear ! The Chancellor 
 Contents himfelf with Albftadt, to your Grace 
 He gives up Ratfchin and the narrow fide, 
 But Egra, above all, muft open to us, 
 E're we can think of any junction. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 You, . 
 You therefore mufti trufl, and you not me I 
 I will confider of your propolition. 
 
 WRANGEL, 
 
 I muft entreat, that your confideration 
 Occupy not too long a time. Already 
 Has this negociatiön, my Lord Duke ! 
 Crept on into the fecond year. If nothing 
 
 n 4 is 
 
168 THE FICeo&OMINL, OR THE 
 
 Is fettled this time, will the Chancellor 
 Confider it as broken off for ever. 
 
 WALLE-NSTEIN. 
 
 Ye prefs me hard. A meafure, fuch as this, 
 Ought to be thought of. 
 
 WRANGEL. 
 
 Ay ! but think of this too, 
 That fudden action only can procure it 
 Succefs — think firft öf this, your Highnefs. 
 
 [Exit WrangeL 
 
 — " ss 
 
 *r^*Hm^m*f 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 
 Wallenstein, Tertsky» and lno (re^ 
 
 enter.) 
 
 illo. 
 IsH all right ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Arc you compromis'd ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 This Swede 
 Went fmiling from you. Yes ! you're compro- 
 mised, 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 As yet is nothing fettled : and (well weigh'cf) 
 I feel myfelf inclin'd to leave it fo, 
 
 TERTSKJ. 
 
 Howi What is that? 
 
 4 WAL- 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. l$9 
 WALlENSTEIN. 
 
 Come on me what wjlj come a 
 The doing; evil to avpid an evil 
 Cannot be good ! 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Nay, but Ipethinjk you, Duke ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 To live upon the mercy of thefe Swedes ! 
 
 Of thefe proud-hearted Sweden ! I coultf not bear it. 
 
 illo. 
 Goeft thou as fugitive, as mendicant ? 
 Bring'ft thou not more to them than thou receiv'ß;? 
 
 SCENE VII. 
 To thefe enter the Countess Tertsk y. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Who fent for you ? There is no bufinefs here 
 For women, 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 I am come to bid you joy. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Ufe thy authority, Tertfky, bid her go^ 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Come I perhaps too early ? I hope not, 
 
 WALLENSTEIN, 
 
170 THE PICCOLOMINT, OR THE 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Set not this tongue upon me, I entreat you. 
 You know it is the weapon that deftroys me. 
 I am routed, if a woman but attack me. 
 I cannot traffic in the trade of words 
 With that unreafoning fex. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 I had already 
 Giv'n the Bohemians a king. 
 
 wallenstein, (farcaßically .) 
 
 They have one, 
 In confequence, no doubt; : . 
 
 countess (to the others.) 
 
 Ha I what new fcruple r 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 The Duke will not. 
 
 countess. 
 
 He will not what he maß I 
 illo. 
 It lies with you now. Try. For I am filenced, 
 When folks begin to talk to me of confcience, 
 And of fidelity. 
 
 countess. 
 
 How ? then, when all 
 3Lay in the far off diftance, when the road 
 Stretch'd out'before thine eyes interminably, 
 Then hadfl thou courage and refolve ; and now, 
 Now that the dream is being; realized, 
 
 s The 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN, 171 
 
 The purpofe ripe, the iflue afcertained, 
 Doft thou begin to play the daftard now ? 
 Plann'd merely, 'tis a common felony; 
 AccomplifrYd, an immortal undertaking ; 
 And with fuccefs comes pardon hand in hand y 
 For all event is God's arbitrement. 
 
 servant, {enters.) 
 The Colonel Piccolomini. 
 
 countess, (haflily.) 
 
 . — Muft wait, 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 I cannot fee him now. Another time. 
 
 SERVANT. 
 
 But for two minutes he entreats an audience. 
 Of the moft urgent nature is his bufinefs. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Who knows what he may bring us ? I will hear him, 
 
 countess, (laughs.) 
 Urgent for him, no doubt ; but thou may'fl wait. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What is it? ' 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Thou (halt be informed hereafter. 
 Firft let the Swede and thee be compromifed. 
 
 [Exit Servant. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 If there were yet a choice; if yet fome milder 
 Way of efcape were poffible — I ftill 
 Will chufe it, and avoid the laft extreme. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
172 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 DenVft thou nothing further ? Such a way 
 Lies ftill before thee. Send this Wrangel off. 
 Forget thou thy old hopes, caft far away 
 All thy pall life ; determine to commence 
 A new one. Virtue hath her heroes too, 
 As well as Fame and Fortune. — To Vienna — 
 Hence— to the Emperor — kneel before the throne - 
 Take a full coffer with thee — fay aloud, 
 Thou did'ft but with to prove thy fealty; 
 Thy whole intention but to dupe the Swede. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 For that too 'tis too late. They know too much. 
 He would but bear his own head to the block. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 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 refign without diflurbance, 
 
 I fee how all will end, The King of Hungary 
 
 Makes his appearance, and 'twill of itfelf 
 
 Be underflood, that then the Duke retires. 
 
 There will not want a formal declaration. 
 
 The young King will adminifter the oath 
 
 To the whole army ; and fo all returns 
 
 To the old pofition. Qn fome morrow morning 
 
 The Duke departs; and now 'tis ftir and buftle 
 
 Within his caftles. He will hunt, and build, 
 
 Superintend his horfes' pedigrees, 
 
 ( ... 
 
 Create 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLKNSTEItf. 173 
 
 Creates himfelf a court, gives golden keys, 
 
 And ihtroduceth firideft 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 himfelf, 
 
 And gives himfelf no aclual importance, 
 
 He will be let appear what e'er he likes ; 
 
 And who dares doubt, that Friedland will appear 
 
 A mighty Prince to his laft dying hour? 
 
 Well now, what then ? Duke Friedland is, as 
 
 others, 
 A fire-new Noble, whom the war hath rais'd 
 To price and currency, a Jonah's Gourd, 
 An over-night creation of court-favour, 
 With which an undiftinguifhable eafe 
 Makes Baron or makes Prince. 
 
 wal'lenstein. (in extreme agitation.) 
 
 Take her away. 
 Let in the young Count Piccolomini. 
 
 COUNTESS 
 
 Art thou in earned ? I entreat thee ! Can'ft thou 
 Confent to bear thyfelf to thy own grave, 
 So ignoniiniouily to be dried up ? 
 Thy life, that arrogated iuch an height, 
 To end in fuch a nothing ! To be nothing, 
 When one was always nothing, is an evil 
 That afks no ftretch of patience, a light evil, 
 But to become a nothing, having been— 
 
 WALJLENSTEZN 
 
114f THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 wallenstein. {Harts up in violent agitation.) 
 
 Shew me a way out of this ftifling crowd, 
 
 Ye Powers of Aidance !■ Shew me fuch a way 
 
 As / am capable of going. — I 
 
 Am no tongue-hero, no fine virtue-prattler ; 
 
 I can not warm by thinking ; cannot fay 
 
 To the good luck that turns her back upon me, 
 
 Magnanimously : " Go ! I need thee not." 
 
 Ceafe I to work, I am annihilated. 
 
 Dangers nor facrifices wili I fhun* 
 
 If fo I may avoid the laft extreme ; 
 
 But ere I fink down into nothingnefs, 
 
 Leave off fo little, who begun fo great, 
 
 Ere that the world confufes me with thofe 
 
 Poor wretches, whom a day creates and crumbles, 
 
 This age and * after-ages fpeak my name 
 
 With hate and dread ; and Friedland be redemption 
 
 For each, accurfed deed ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 What is there here, thel^, 
 So againft nature ? Help me to perceive it ! 
 O let not Superftition's nightly goblins 
 Subdue thy clear bright fpirit ! Art thou bid 
 To murder ? — with abhorr'd accurfed poinard, 
 
 * Could I have hazarded fuch a Germanifm, as the ufe of the 
 word after-world, for pofteriiy.— " Es fpreche Welt un<i 
 Nachwelt meinen Nahmen" — might have been rendered with' 
 more literal fidelity :— Let world and after-world fpeak out my 
 
 T« 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 175 
 
 To violate the breads that nouriuYd thee ? 
 That were againft our nature, that might aptly 
 * Make thy flefli fhuckter, and thy whole heart 
 
 ficken. 
 Yet not a few, and for-a meaner object 
 Have ventur'd even this, ay, and perform'd it. 
 What is there in thy cafe fo black and monftrous? 
 Thou art accus'd of treafon — whether with 
 Or without juftice is not now the queftion — 
 Thou art loft if thou doll not avail thee quickly 
 Of the power which thou pofTefTeft. — Friedland ! 
 
 Duke ! 
 Tell me, where lives that thing fo meek and tame, 
 That doth not all his living faculties 
 Put forth in prefervation of his life ? 
 What deed fo daring, which neceffity 
 And defperation will not fanclify ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Once was this Ferdinand fo gracious to me : 
 He lov'd me ; he efteem'd me ; I was plac'il 
 The neareft to his heart. Full many a time 
 We like familiar friends, both at one table, 
 Have banqueted together. He and I — 
 And the young kings themfelves held me the bafon 
 Where with to wafli me — and is't come to this •? 
 
 countess. 
 So faithfully preferv'ft thou each fmall favour, 
 And haft no memory for contumelies ? 
 
 * I have not ventured to affront the faftidious delicacy of ou.r 
 age with a literal translation of this line. 
 
 " werth 
 (i Die Eingeweide fchaudernd aufzuregen." 
 
 Muft 
 
H6 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 Muft I remind thee, how at Regenfpurg 
 This man repaid thy faithful fervices ? 
 AH ranks and all conditions in the empire 
 Thou hadft wrong'd, to make him great,— hadft 
 
 loaded on thee, 
 On thee> the hate, the curfe of the whole world. 
 No friend exifted for thee in all Germany, 
 And why ? becaufe thou hadft exifted only 
 For th* Emperor. To th' Emperor alone 
 Clung Friedland in that ftorm which gather'd 
 
 round him 
 At Regenfpurg in the Diet — and he dropp'd thee ! 
 He let thee fall ! He let thee fall a victim 
 To the Bavarian, to that infolent ! 
 Depos'd, ftript bare of all thy dignity 
 And power, amid the taunting of thy foes, 
 Thou wert let drop into obfcurity. — 
 Say not, the reftoration of thy honour 
 Has made atonement for that firft injuftice. 
 No honeft good -will was it that replac'd thee, 
 The law of hard neceflity replac'd thee, 
 Which they had fain oppos'd, but that they could 
 
 not. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Not to their good withes, that is certain, 
 Nor yet to his affection I'm indebted 
 For this high office ; and if I abufe it, 
 I fhall therein abufe no confidence. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Affection ! confidence ! — They needed thee» 
 Neceflity, impetuous remonftrant ! 
 
 Who 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIK. 177 
 
 Who not with empty names, or mews of proxy, 
 Is ferv'd, who'll have the thing and not the fymbol, 
 Ever feeks out the greateft and the beft, 
 And at the rudder places him, e'en though 
 She had been forc'd to take him from the rabble- 
 She, this Neceflity, it was that plac'd thee 
 In this high office, it was (he that gave thee 
 Thy letters patent of inauguration. 
 For, to the uttermoft moment that they can, 
 This race ftill help themfelves at cheaper! rate 
 With flavilh fouls, with puppets ! At the approach, 
 Of extreme peril, when a hollow image 
 Is found a hollow image and no more, • 
 Then falls the power into the mighty hands 
 Of Nature, of the fpirit giant-born, 
 Who liftens only to himfelf, knows nothing 
 Of ftipulations, duties, reverences, 
 And, like th' emancipated force of fire, 
 Unmafter'd fcorches, ere it it reaches them, 
 Their fine-fpun webs, their artificial policy. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 'Tis true ! they faw 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 ali-grafping habit of my foul. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Nay rather — thou hajft ever (hewn thyfelf 
 A formidable man, without reftraintj 
 Jrlaft exercis'd the full prerogatives 
 
 N Of 
 
178 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 Of thy impetuous nature, which had been 
 Once granted to thee. Therefore, Duke, not thou, 
 Who haft (till remain'd confident with thyfelf, 
 But they are in the wrong, who fearing thee, 
 Entrufted fuch a power in hands, they fear'd. 
 For, by. the laws of Spirit, in the right 
 Is every individual character 
 That acts in Uriel: confidence with itfelf. 
 Self -contradiction is the only wrong. 
 Wert thou another being, then, when thou 
 Eight years ago purfuedft thy march with fire 
 And fword, and defolation, through the Circles 
 Of Germany, the univerfal fcourge, 
 Didft mock all ordinances of the empire, 
 The fearful rights of ftrength alone exertedft, 
 Trampledft to earth each rank, each magiftracy, 
 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 confeience, 
 Whatferv'd him pleas'd him, and without a murmur 
 He ftamp'd his broad feal on thefe lawlefs deeds. 
 What at that time was right, becaufe thou didft it 
 For him, to day is all at once become 
 Opprobrious, foul, becaufe it is directed 
 Againß him. — O molt flimfy fuperflition ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN, (rifillg) 
 
 I never faw it in this light before. 
 
 'Tis even lb. The Emperor perpetrated 
 
 Deeds through my arm, deeds mofl unorderly. 
 
 Anol 
 
F!RST PAR? OF WALfcfcNSTEIN. 179 
 
 And even this prince's mantle, which I wear, 
 
 I owe to what were fervices to him, 
 
 But moft high mifdemeanours 'gainft the empire." 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Then betwixt thee and him (confefs it, Friedland !) 
 The point can be no more of right and duty, 
 Only of power and th' opportunity* 
 That opportunity, lo ! it comes yonder, 
 Approaching with fwift fteeds j then with a fwing 
 Throw thyfelf up into the chariot feat, 
 Seize with firm hand the reins, ere thy opponent 
 Anticipate thee, and himfelf make conqueft 
 Of the now empty feat. The moment comes, 
 It is already here, when thou mud: write 
 The abfolute total of thy life's vaft fum. 
 The conftellations ftand victorious o'er thee, 
 The planets (hoot good fortune in fair junctions, 
 And tell thee, " Now's the time !" The ftarry 
 
 courfes 
 Haft thou thy life-long meafur'd to no purpofe ? 
 The quadrant and the circle, were they play things ? 
 v (pointing to the different objects in the room) 
 The zodiacs, the rolling orbs of heaven, 
 Haft pictur'd on thefe walls, and all around thee 
 In dumb, foreboding fymbols haft thou plac'd 
 Thefe feven prefiding Lords of deftiny — 
 For toys ? Is all this preparation nothing ? 
 Is there no marrow in this hollow art, 
 That even to thyfelf it doth avail 
 Nothing, and has no influence over thee 
 
 n 2 in 
 
ISO THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 In the great moment of decifion ? 
 
 wallenstein, (during this laß fpeech zvalks 
 up and down with inward ßruggles, labouring 
 with pajfwns ; fiops fuddenly, ßandsßill, then 
 interrupting the CounlefsJ 
 
 Send Wrangel to me — I will inftantly 
 
 Difpatch three couriers 
 
 illo. (hurrying out) 
 
 God in heaven be prais'd ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 It is his evil genius and mine. 
 
 Our evil genius ! It chaftifes him 
 
 Through me, the inftrument of his ambition;- 
 
 And I expect no lefs, than that Revenge 
 
 E'en now is whetting for my breaft the poniard. 
 
 Who fows the ferpent's teeth, let him not hope 
 
 To reap a joyous harveft. Every crime 
 
 Has, in the moment of its perpetration, 
 
 Its own avenging angel — dark Mifgiving, 
 
 An ominous Sinking at the inmoft heart. 
 
 He can no longer truft me. — Then no longer , 
 
 Can I retreat — focome that which muftcome, — • 
 
 Still deftiny preferves its due relations, 
 
 The heart within us is its abfolute 
 
 Vicegerent. 
 
 (to Tertjky) 
 
 Go, conduct you Guftave Wrangel 
 
 To my ftate-cabinet. — Myfelf will fpeak to 
 
 The couriers. — And difpatch immediately 
 
 A fervant for Octavio Piccolomini. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 181 
 
 (to the Countefs, who cannot conceal her triumph) 
 
 No exultation! — woman, triumph not! 
 
 For jealous are the Powers of Deftiny. 
 
 Joy premature, and Shouts ere victory, 
 
 Incroach upon their rights and privileges. 
 
 We fow the feed, and they the growth determine. 
 
 [While he is making his exit, the curtain drops.] 
 
 END OF ACT IV. 
 
 n 3 AC? 
 
J 82 TUE PICCQLÖMJNI, OR THE 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 Scene, as in the preceding Act. 
 
 SCENE I 
 
 Wallenstein, Octavio Piccolomini. 
 
 wallenstein, (coming forward in coivoerfation. ) 
 
 He fends me word from Linz, that he lies fick \ 
 
 But I have fare intelligence, that he 
 
 Secretes himfelf at Frauenberg with Galas. 
 
 Secure them both, and fend them to me hither. 
 
 Remember, thou tak'ft on thee the command 
 
 Of thofe fame Spanifh regiments,— conftantly 
 
 IVlake preparation, and be never ready ; 
 
 And if they urge thee to draw out againft me, 
 
 Still anfwer yes, and ftand as thou wert fetter'd. 
 
 I know, that it is doing thee a feryice 
 
 To keep thee out of action in this bufinefs. 
 
 Thou lov'fl to linger on in fair appearances ; 
 
 Steps of extremity are not thy province, 
 
 Therefore have J fought out this part for thee, 
 
 Thou wilt this time be of moft fervice to me 
 
 By thy inertnefs. The mean time, it fortune 
 
 Declare itfelf on my fide, thou wilt know 
 
 What is to do. 
 
 [Enter 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 183 
 
 {Enter max, piccolo-mini.) 
 Now go, O&avio. 
 This night muft thou be off, take my own horfes : 
 Him here I keep with me — make fhort farewell— 
 Traft. me, I think we all mall meet again 
 In joy and thriving fortunes. 
 
 octavio. (to his fon.) 
 
 I (hall fee you 
 Yet e'er I go. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 Wallenstein, Max. Piccolomini. 
 
 max. [advances to him.) 
 My General I 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 That am I no longer, if 
 Thou ftyl'ft thyfelf the Emperor's officer. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Then thou wilt leave the army, General ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 I have renounc'd the fervice of the Emperor. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 And thou wilt leave the army ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Rather hope I 
 To bind it nearer ftill and fafter to me. - 
 
 (He feats himfelf.J 
 Yes, Max, I have delay'd to open it to thee, 
 Even till the hour of acting 'gins to ftrike. 
 
 n 4 Youth's 
 
184 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 Youth's fortunate feeling doth feize eafily 
 
 The abfolute right, yea, and a joy it is 
 
 To exe reife the fingle apprehenfion 
 
 Where the fums fquare in proof; 
 
 But where it happens, that of two fure evils 
 
 One muft be taken, where the heart not wholly 
 
 Brings itfelf back from out the ftrife of duties, 
 
 There 'tis a bleffing to have no election, 
 
 And blank neceffity is grace and favour. 
 
 — This is now prefent : do not look behind thee, — 
 
 It can no more avail thee. Look thou forwards ! 
 
 Think not ! judge not \ prepare thyfelf to aft f 
 
 The Court — it hath determin'd 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. 
 
 (ffe flops him/elf, expecting Piccolomini's 
 anfwer.) 
 1 have ta'en thee by furprife. Anfwer me not. 
 I grant thee time to recollect thyfelf. 
 {He ri/es, and retires at the hack of the flage. 
 Max. remains for a long time tnotionhfs, in 
 d trance of exceffive angnifh. At his fir Jl mo- 
 tion Wallenfiein returns^ and places himfelf 
 before him.) 
 
 MAX. 
 
 My General, this day thou makeft me 
 Of age, to fpeak in my own right and perfon, 
 For till this day I have been fpared the rrouble 
 To find out my own road. Thee have I follow '4 
 
 With 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 185 
 
 With mofl implicit unconditional faith, 
 Sure of the right path if I follow'd thee. 
 To day, for the firft time, doft thou refer 
 Me to myfelf, and forced me to make 
 Ele&ion between thee and my own hearf . 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Soft cradled thee thy Fortune till to day ; 
 Thy duties thou couldft exercife in fport, 
 Indulge all lovely inftincts, act for ever 
 With undivided heart. It can remain 
 No longer thus Like enemies, the roads 
 Start from each other. Duties ftrive with duties. 
 Thou muft needs chufe thy party in the war , 
 Which is now kindling 'twixt thy friend and him 
 'Who is thy Emperor. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 War! is that the name ? 
 War is as frightful as heaven's peftilence* 
 Yet it is good, is it heaven s will as that is. 
 Is that a good war, which againft the Emperor 
 Thou wageft with the Emperor's own army? 
 O God of heaven ! what a change is this. 
 Befeems it me to offer fuch perfuafion 
 To thee, who like the fix'd ftar of the pole 
 Wert all, I gaz'd at, on life's tracklefs ocean? 
 O! what a rent thou makeflinmy heart! 
 The ingrained inftinct of old reverence, 
 The holy habit of obediency, 
 Muft I pluck live afunder from thy name ? 
 Nay, do not turn thy countenance upon me — - 
 
 It 
 
186 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 It always was a god looking at me ! 
 Duke Wallenftein, its power is not departed : 
 The fenfes ftill are in thy bonds, although, 
 Bleeding, the foul hath freed itfelf. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Max, hear me. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 O! do it not, I pray thee, do it not! 
 There is a pure and noble foul within thee, 
 Knows not of this unbleft, unlucky doing. 
 Thy will is chafte, it is thy fancy only 
 Which hath polluted thee — and innocence, 
 It will not let itfelf be driv'n away 
 From that world-awing afpect. Thou wilt not, 
 Thou canfb not, end in this. It would reduce 
 All human creatures to difloyalty 
 A^ainft the noblenefs of their own nature. 
 'Twill juftify the vulgar mifbelief, 
 Which holdeth nothing noble in free will, 
 And truils itfelf to impotence alone 
 Made powerful only in an unknown power. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 The world will judge me fternly, I expect it. 
 Already have I faid to my own felf 
 All thou canft fay to me. Who but avoids 
 Th' extreme, — can he by going round avoid it ? 
 But here there is no choice. Yes — I muft ufe 
 Or fuffer violence — fö Hands the cafe, 
 There remains nothing poßible but that. 
 
 MAX. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 187 
 
 MAX. 
 
 O that is never pofiible for thee* 
 Tis the laft defperate reiource of thofe 
 Cheap fguls, to whom their honor, their good name 
 Is their poor faving, their laft worthlefs Keep) 
 Which having ftak'd and loft, they ftake themfelves 
 In the mad rage of gaming. Thou art rich, 
 And glorious -, with an unpolluted heart 
 Thou canft make conqueft of whate'er feems 
 
 higheft! 
 But he, who once hath acted infamy, 
 Does nothing more in this world. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. (grafpS his kcind) 
 
 Calmly, Max! 
 Much that is great and excellent will we 
 Perform together yet. And if we only 
 Stand on the height with dignity, 'tis foon 
 Forgotten, Max, by what road we afcended. 
 Believe me, many a crown mines fpotlefs now, 
 That yet was deeply fullied in the winning. 
 To the evil fpirit doth the earth belong, 
 Not to the good. All, that the powers divine 
 Send from above, are univerfal bleffings : 
 Their light rejoices us, their air refrefhes, 
 But never yet was manenrich'd by them: 
 In their eternal realm no property 
 }s to be ftruggled for — all there is general. 
 The jewel, the all-valued gold we win 
 From the deceiving- Powers, deprav'd in nature, 
 That dwell beneath the day and blefTed fun-light. 
 Not without facrifices are they render*! 
 
 £ Propitious 
 
188 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 Propitious, and there lives no foul on earth 
 That e'er retir'd unfullied from their fervice. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Whate'er is human, to the human being 
 
 Do I allow — and to the vehement 
 
 And ftriving fpirit readily I pardon 
 
 TV excefs of action; but to thee, my general! 
 
 Above all others make I large conceflion. 
 
 For thou muft move a world, and be the mafter — 
 
 He kills thee, who condemns thee to inaction. 
 
 So be it then ! maintain thee in thy poft 
 
 By violence. Refift the Emperor, 
 
 And if it muft be, force with force repel : 
 
 I will not praife it, yet I can forgive it. 
 
 But not — not to the traitor — yes ! — the word 
 
 Is fpoken out 
 
 Not to the traitor can I yield a pardon. 
 That is no mere excefs ! that is no error 
 Of human nature — that is wholly difTrent, 
 
 that is black, black as the pit of hell ! 
 
 (Wallenßein betrays a fudden agitation,.) 
 
 Thou canft not hear it namd, and wilt thou do it ? 
 Ö turn back to thy duty. That thou canft, 
 
 1 hold it certain. Send me to Vienna. 
 
 I'll make thy peace for thee with th' Emperor. 
 He knows thee not. But I do know thee. He 
 Shall fee thee, Duke ! with my unclouded eye. 
 And I bring back his confidence to thee. 
 
 WALL^NSTEI-N'. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 189 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 It is too late. Thou know'ft not what has happen'd. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Were it too late, and were gone fo far, 
 That a crime only could prevent thy fall, 
 Then — fall ! fall honourably, even as thou ftood'ft. 
 Lofe the command. Go from the ftage of war. 
 Thou canft with fplendour do it — do it too 
 With innocence. Thou haft liv'd much for others. 
 At length live thou for thy own felf. I follow 
 
 thee. 
 My deftiny I never part from thine. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 It is too late ! Even now, while thou art lofing 
 Thy words, one after the other are the mile-ftones 
 Left fall behind by my poll couriers, 
 Who bear the order on to Prague and Egra. 
 
 (Max.fiands as convuls'd, with a gefcure and 
 countenance exprejing the mofi intenfe an- 
 guiß. ) 
 
 Yield thyfelf to it. We aft as we are forc'd. 
 / cannot give affent to my own fliame 
 And ruin. Thou — no — thou canft not forfake me! 
 So let us do, what muft be done, with dignity, 
 With a firm ftep. What am I doing worfe 
 Than did fam'd Csefar at the Rubicon, 
 When he the legions led againft his country, 
 The which his country had deliver'd to him ? 
 Had he thrown down the fword, he had been loft, 
 . v As 
 
\90 THE PICCOLÖMINL, OR THE 
 
 As I were, if I but difarm'd myfelE. 
 
 I trace out fomething in me of his fpirit. 
 
 Give me his luck, that other thing I'll bear. 
 
 {Max. quits him abruptly. Wallenßei?i t ßartled 
 and overpowered^ continues looking after him, 
 and is Jiill in this pojlure when Tertßcy en- 
 ters. ) 
 
 SCENE III. 
 Wallenstein. Tertsky. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Max Piccolomini juft left you ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Where is Wrangel ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 He is already gone. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 In fuch a hurry ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 It is as if the earth had fwallow'd him. 
 
 He had fcarce left thee, when I went to feek him. 
 
 I wifh'd fome words with him — but he was gone. 
 
 How, when, and where, could no one tell me. Nay^ 
 
 I half believe it was the devil himfelf; 
 
 A human creature could not fo at once 
 
 Have vaniüYd. 
 
 illo. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 191 
 
 -ILLO. (tnters) 
 Is it true that thou wilt fend 
 O&avio? 
 
 TERTSKY". 
 
 How, O&avio ! Whither fend him ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 He goes to Frauenberg, and will lead hither 
 The Spaniih and Italian regiments. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 No!— 
 Nay, Heaven forbid ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 And why (hould Heaven forbid ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Him ! — that deceiver ! Would'ft thou truft to him 
 The foldiery ? Him wilt thou let flip from thee, 
 Now, in the very inftant that decides us 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Thou wilt not do this ! — No ! I pray thee, no ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Ye are whimfical. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 O but for this time, Duke, 
 Yield to our warning ! Let him not depart. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 And why fliould I not truft him only this time, 
 Who have always trufted him ? What, then, has 
 
 happen'd, 
 That I mould lofe my good opinion of him ? 
 In complaifance to your whims, not my own, 
 
 I mull, 
 
192 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 I muft, forfooth, give up a rooted judgment. 
 Think not I am a woman. Having trufted him 
 E'en 'till to-day, to-day too will I truft him. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 1 
 
 Muft it be he — he only ? Send another. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 It muft be he, whom I myfelf have chofen ; 
 He is well fitted for the bufinefs. Therefore 
 I gave it him. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Becaufe he's an Italian— 
 Therefore is he well fitted for the bufinefs. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 I know you love them not — nor lire nor fon — 
 
 Becaufe that I efteem them, love them — vifibly 
 
 Efteem them, love them more than you and others. 
 
 E'en as they merit. Therefore are they eye-blights, 
 
 Thorns in your foot-path. But your jealoufies, 
 
 In what affect they me or my concerns ? 
 
 Are they the worfe to me becaufe you hate them? 
 
 Eove or hate one another as you will, 
 
 I leave to each man his own moods and likings ; 
 
 Yet know the worth of each of you to me. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Von Queftenberg, while he was here, was always 
 Lurking about with this Octavio. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 It happen'd with my knowledge and permiffion. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 I know that fecret mefiengers came to him 
 From Gaks-< — 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
FIRST J?ART OF WALLENSTEIN, 193 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 That's not true. 
 
 1LLO. 
 
 O thou art blind 
 With thy deep-feeing eyes. 
 
 • (TIJ ' I 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Thou wilt not (hake 
 My faith for me — my faith, which founds itfelf 
 On the profoundeft fcience. If 'tis falfe, 
 Then the whole fcience of the ftars is falfe., 
 For know, I have a pledge from Fate itfelf, 
 
 That he is the moft faithful of my friends. 
 
 - 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Haft thou a pledge, that this pledge is not falfe ?, 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 There exift moments in the life of man, 
 
 When he is nearer the great Soul of the «world 
 
 Than is man's cuftom, and poffeffes freely 
 
 The power of queftioning his deftiny; 
 
 And fuch a moment 'twas, when in the night 
 
 Before the action in the plains of Lützen, 
 
 Leaning againft a tree, thoughts crowding thoughts, 
 
 I look'd out far upon the ominous plain. 
 
 My whole life, paft and future, in this moment „ 
 
 Before my mind's eye glided in proceffion» 
 
 And to the deftiny of the next morning 
 
 The fpirit, flll'd with anxious prefentiment, 
 
 Did knit the moft remov'd futurity. 
 
 Then faid I alfo to myfelf, " So many 
 
 Doft thou command. They follow all thy ftars, 
 
 And as on forae great number fe£ "their All 
 
 o Upon 
 
 hLl\ 
 
194 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 Upon thy fingle head, and only man 
 
 The veflel of thy fortune. Yet a day 
 
 Will come, when Deftiny mall once more fcatter 
 
 All thefe in many a feveral direction : 
 
 Few be they who will ftand out faithful to thee.'" 
 
 I vearn'd to know which one was faithfulleft 
 
 Of all, this camp include. Great Deftiny, 
 
 Give, me a fign ! And he (hall be the man, 
 
 Who, on.th' approaching morning, comes the firfl 
 
 To meet me with fome token of his love : 
 
 And dunking this, I fell ,into a {lumber. 
 
 Then midmoft in the battle was I led 
 
 In fpirit. Great the preflure and the tumult! 
 
 Then was my horfe kill'd under me : I fank ; 
 
 And over me away, all unconcernedly, 
 
 Drove horfe and rider— and thus trod to pieces 
 
 I lay, and panted like a dying man. 
 
 Then feiz'd me fuddenly a faviour arm. 
 
 It was O&avio's — I awoke at once. 
 
 'Twas broad day, and Oct avio flood before me. 
 
 " My brother,*' faid he, " do not ride to-day 
 
 " The dapple, as you're wont; but mount the 
 
 " horfe 
 *' Which I have chofen for thee. Do it, brother! 
 " In love to me. A ftrong dream warn'd me fo." 
 It was the fwiftnefs of this horfe that fhatch'd me 
 From the hot purfuit of Bannier's dragoons. 
 My coufin rode the dapple on that day, 
 And never more faw I or horfe or rider. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 That was a chance. 
 
 noc 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN* 195 
 
 wallenstein, (fi'gnificantly ) 
 There's no fuch thing as chance» 
 In brief, 'tis fign'd and feal'd that this Oftavio 
 Is my good angel—and now no word more. 
 ( He is retiring* ) 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 This is my comfort— Max, remains our hoftage, 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 And he fhall never ftir from here alive. 
 
 wallenstein, (ßops, and turns him/elf 
 round ) 
 Are ye not like the women, who for ever 
 Only recur to their firft word, altho' 
 One had been talking reafon by the hour ? 
 Know, that the human being's thoughts and deeds 
 Are not, like ocean billows, blindly mov'd. 
 The inner world, his microcofmus, is 
 The deep fliaft, out of which they fpring eternally. 
 They grow by certain laws, like the tree's fruit- 
 No juggling chance can metamorphofe them. 
 Have I the human kernel firft examin'd ? 
 Then I know, too, the future will and ad ion. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 Scene a Chamber in PiccolominVs Dwelling* 
 
 Houfe. 
 
 Octavio Piccolgmini, Isolani, entering* 
 
 isolani. 
 Here am I— *Well ! who comes yet of the others ? 
 
 O 2 OCTAVIO 
 
1Ö& THE PICGOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 o c t A V I o . ( with an air of my fiery ) 
 But, firft, a word with you, Count Ifolani. 
 
 isol ani. [ajfuming the fame air ofmyflery ) 
 Will it explode* ha ? — Is the Duke about 
 To make th' attempt ? In 1 me, friend, you may- 
 place 
 Full confidence. ---Nay, put me to the proof. 
 
 
 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 That 
 
 may 
 
 happen. 
 
 
 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 Noble brother, lam 
 Not one of thofe men who in words are valiant^ 
 And when it Comes to action fkulk away. 
 The Duke has acted towards me as a friend. 
 Gods knows it is fo ; and I owe him al l 
 He may rely on my fidelity. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 That will be feen hereafter. 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 Be on your guard. 
 All think not as I think; and there are many 
 Who ftill hold with the Court — yes, and they fey 
 That thofe ftol'ni fignatüres bind them to nothing, 
 
 ÖCTAVIQ. 
 
 I am rejoic'd to hear it. 
 n 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 You rejoice! 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 That the Emperor has yet fuch gallant fervants 
 And loving friends. 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 197 
 I SO LAN I. 
 
 Nay, jeer not, I entreat you. 
 They are no fuch worthlefs fellows, I aflure you. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 I am affur'd already. God forbid 
 That I mould jeft !— In very ferious earneft 
 I am rejoic'd to fee an honeft caufe 
 So ftrong. 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 The devil !— what ! — why, what means this ? 
 Are you not, then- — -For what, then, am I here ? 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 That you may make full declaration, whether 
 You will be caU'd. the friend or enemy 
 Of th' Emperor, 
 
 isoLANi. {with un air qf defiance) 
 That declaration, friend, 
 I'll make to him in whom a right is plac'd 
 To put that queftion to me. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Whether, Count, 
 That right is mine, this paper may inftruct you. 
 
 isoLANi. ( flammering ) 
 Why — why — what! this is the Emperor's hand 
 
 and feal ! (Reads.) 
 
 •• Whereas the officers collectively 
 " Throughout our army wilj obey the orders 
 " Of the Lieutenant-general Piccolomini, 
 " As from ourfelves."— *-*~ Hem! — Yes! fo!— 
 
 Yes ! yes ! — 
 I — I give you joy, Lieutenant-general ! 
 
 O 3 OCTAVIO 
 
198 THE PICCOLÖMINI, OR THE 
 
 OCTAVIQ. 
 
 And you fubmit you to the order ? 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 I 
 
 But you have taken me fo by furprize — 
 Time for reflection one maß have 
 
 octavio. 
 
 Two minutes, 
 
 ISOLANI, 
 
 My God ! But then the cafe is 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Plain and fimple. 
 You muft declare you, whether you determine 
 To act a treafon 'gainft your Lord and Sovereign 
 Or whether you will ferve him faithfully. 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 Treafon! — My God !— But who talks then of 
 treafon? 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 That is the cafe. The Prince-duke is a traitor — « 
 
 Means to lead over to the enemy 
 
 The Emperor's army. — Now, Count ! — brief and 
 
 full- 
 Say, will you break your oath to th' Emperor } 
 Sell yourfelf to the enemy ?— Say, will you ? 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 What mean you ? I — I break my oath, d'ye fay, 
 
 To his Imperial Majefty ? 
 
 pid I fay fo ? — When, when have I faid that ? 
 
 OCTAVIO, 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 199 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 You have not faid it yet— not yet. This inftant 
 I wait to hear, Count, whether you will fay it. 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 Aye! that delights me now, that you yourfelf 
 Bear witnefs for me that I never faid fo. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 And you renounce the Duke then ? 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 If he's planning 
 Treafon — why, treafon breaks all bonds afunder* 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 And are determin'd, too, to fight againft him ? 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 He has done me fervice — but if he's a villain, 
 Perdition feize him ! — All fcores are rubb'd off. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 I am rejoic'd that you're fo well difpos'd. 
 This night break off in th' utmoft fecrefy 
 With all the light-arm'd troops — it mult appear 
 As came the order from the Duke himfelf. 
 At Frauenberg's the place of rendezvous ; 
 There will Count Galas give you further orders. 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 It lhall be done. But you'll remember me 
 With th' Emperor — how well-difpos'd you found 
 me. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 I will not fail to mention it honourably. 
 
 [Exit Ifolani. A Servant enters. 
 What, Cojonel Butler !-— Shew him up. 
 
 O 4 ISOLANI. 
 
200 THE PIQCQLQAfflNI, Qjt THE. 
 
 i so i, an i. {returning) 
 Forgive me too my bearifli ways, old father I 
 Lord God ! how mould I know, then, what a great 
 
 Perfon I had before me. 
 
 .... 
 
 OCTAVIO, 
 
 No excufes ! 
 
 ISOLANI. 
 
 I am a merry lad, and if at time 
 A rafh word might efcape me 'gainft the court 
 Aniidft my wine — you know no harm was meant. 
 
 [Exit. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 You need not be uneafy on that fcore. 
 That has fucceeded. Fortune favour us 
 With all the others only but as much ! 
 
 ■ 
 SCENE V. 
 
 OcTAVlOPlCCOLOMINI. BüTLER. 
 SUTLER. 
 
 At your command, Lieutenant General. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Welcome, as honor'd friend and vifitor. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 You do me too much honour. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
FJRST PART* OF WALLENSTEIST. 201 
 
 octavio. {after both have Jeated themf elves.) 
 
 You have not 
 Return'd the advances which I made yon y efterday— 
 Mifunderftood them, as mere empty forms. 
 That with proceeded from my heart— I was 
 In earnefl with you — for 'tis now a time 
 In which the hobelt fhould unite mofl clofely. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 "Tis only the like-minded can unite. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 True ! and I name all honeft men like-minded. 
 
 I never charge a man but with thofe ads 
 
 To which his character deliberately 
 
 Impels him ; for alas ! the violence 
 
 Of blind mifünderftandings often thrufrs 
 
 The very beft of us from the right track. 
 
 You came thro* Frauenberg. Did the Count Galas 
 
 Say nothing to you ? Tell me. He's my friepd. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 His words were loft on me. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 It grieves me forely 
 To hear it : for his counfel was moll wife. 
 I had myfelf the like to offer. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Spare 
 Yourfelf the trouble— -me th' embarraffment, 
 To have deferv'd fo ill your good opinion. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
202 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 The time is precious — let us talk openly. 
 You know how matters Hand here. Wallenftein 
 Meditates treafon- — I can tell you further — 
 He has committed treafon; but few hours 
 Have paft, fince he a covenant concluded 
 With th' enemy. The mefTengers are now 
 Full on their way to Egra and to' Prague. 
 To-morrow he intends to lead us over 
 To th' enemy. But he deceives himfelf ; 
 For Prudence wakes — the Emperor has ftill 
 Many and faithful friends here, and they ftand 
 In clofefl union, mighty tho* unfeen. 
 This manifefto fentences the Duke — 
 Recals the obedience of the army from him, 
 And fummons all the loyal, all the honeft, 
 To join and recognize in me their leader. 
 Choofe — will you (hare with us an honefl caufe ? 
 Or with the evil (hare an evil lot. 
 
 butler, (rifes.) 
 His lot is mine. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Is that your lafl refolve ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 It is. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Nay, but bethink you, Colonel Butler ! 
 
 As yet you have time. Within my faithful breaft 
 
 That rathly utter' d word remains interr'd. 
 
 Recal it; Butler ! chufe a better party. 
 
 You haive not cholen the right one. 
 
 4 BUTLER, 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 203 
 BUTLER, (going.) 
 
 Any other 
 Commands for me, Lieutenant General ? 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 See your white hairs ! Recal that word .' 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Farewell ! 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 What would you draw this good and gallant (Word 
 In fuch a caufe ? Into a curfe would you 
 Transform the gratitude which you have earn'd 
 By forty years' fidelity from Auftria ? 
 
 butler, {laughing with bitternefs.) 
 
 Gratitude from the houfe of Auftria. 
 
 (he is going.) 
 
 octavio. (permits him to go as far as the door, 
 
 (ken calls after him.) 
 Butler! 
 
 butler. 
 
 What wilh you ? 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 How was't with the Count ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Count ? what ? 
 
 octavio. (coldly J 
 The title that you wifh'd I mean. 
 
 butler, (flarts in fudden pajfwn.) 
 Hell and damnation ! 
 
 octavio. (coldly.) 
 
 You petition'd for it — 
 And your petition was repell'd — Was it fo ? 
 
 sutler. 
 
tQAt THE PICCOLOMTNI, OR TBE 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Your infolent feoflF fliall not go by uiipuniuVd. 
 Draw I 
 
 OCTAVI0. 
 
 Nay I your fword to 'ts (heath ! and tell me calmly 
 How all that happen'd. I will not refufe you 
 Your fatisfaction afterwards. — Calmly, Butler ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Be the whole world acquainted with the weaknefs 
 For which I never can forgive myfelf. 
 Lieutenant General ! Yes — I have ambition. 
 Ne'er was I able to endure contempt. % 
 It flung me to the quick, that birth and title 
 Should have more weight than merit has in th* 
 
 army. 
 I would fain not be meaner than my equal, 
 So in an evil hour I let myfelf 
 Be tempted to that meafure — It was folly ! - 
 But yet fo hard a penance it deferv'd not. 
 It might have been refus'd -, but wherefore barb 
 And venom the refufal with contempt ? 
 Why dafti to earth and crufh with heavieft fcorn 
 The grey-hair'd man, the faithful Veteran ? 
 Why to the bafenefs of his parentage 
 Refer him with fuch cruel .roughnefs, only 
 Becaufe he had a weak hour and forgot himfelfr 
 But nature gives a fling e'en to the worm 
 Which wanton Power treads on in fport and infult. 
 
 OCT AVI o. 
 
 You mull have been calumniated. Guefs you 
 The enemy, who die} you this jllfervice? 
 
 k S BUTLER. 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 203 
 BUTLER« 
 
 Be't who it will — a moft low-hearted fcoundrel, 
 Some vile court-minion muft it become Spaniard, 
 Some young fquire of Tome ancient family, 
 In whofe light I may ftand, fome envious knave, 
 Stung to his foul by my fair felf-earn'd honours 1 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 But tell me ! Did the Duke approve that meafure? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Himfelf impell'd me to it» ufed his interefi 
 
 In my behalf with all the warmth of friendfliip. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Ay ? Are you fure of that ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 I read the letter. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 And fo did I — but the contents were different. 
 
 (Butler is fnddenly ßruck) 
 By chance I'm in pofTeffion of that letter — 
 Can leave it to your own eyes to convince you. 
 
 (he gives him the letter) 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Ha! what is this? 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 I fear me, Colonel Butler, 
 An infamous game have they been playing witr* 
 you. " 
 
 The Duke, you fay, impell'd you to this meafure ? 
 Now, in this letter talks he in contempt 
 Concerning you, counfels the Minilter 
 
 ■ "" to 
 
206 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 To give found chaftifement to your conceit, 
 For To he calls it. 
 
 (Butler reads through the letter, his knees 
 tremble, he feizes a chair, and finks down 
 in it.) 
 
 You have no enemy, no perfecutor; 
 There's no one wifhes ill to you. Afcribe 
 The infult you receiv'd to the Duke only. 
 His aim is clear and palpable. He wifh'd 
 To tear you from your Emperor — he hop'd 
 To gain from your revenge what he well knew 
 (What your long-tried fidelity convinc'd him) 
 He n'er could dare expect from your calm reafon. 
 A blind tool would he make you, in contempt 
 Ufe you, as means of mod abandon'd ends. 
 He has gain'd his point. Too well has he fucceeded 
 In luring you away from that good path 
 On which you had been journeying forty years ! 
 
 butler. ( his voice trembling ) 
 Can e'er the Emperor's Majefty forgive me ? 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 More than forgive you. He would fain com- 
 
 penfate 
 For that affront, and mofl unmerited grievance 
 Suftain'd by a deferving, gallant veteran. 
 From his free impulfe he confirms the prefent, 
 "Which the Duke made you for a wicked purpofe. 
 Xhe regiment, which you now command, is your's. 
 
 {Butler attempts to rife, finks down again. He 
 labours inward'y with violent emotions ; tries 
 
 to, 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 207 
 
 to f peaky and cannot. At length he takes his 
 /word from the belt, and offers it to Pic- 
 colomini. ) 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 What wifh you? Recoiled yourfelf, friend. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Take it. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 But to what purpofe ? Calm yourfelf. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 O take It ! 
 "I am no longer worthy of this fword. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Receive it then anew from my hands — and 
 Wear it with honour for the right caufe ever^ 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 « Perjure myfelf to fuch a gracious Sovereign ! 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 You'll make amends. Quick! break off from the 
 Duke! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Break off from him ! 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 What now?, Bethink thyfelf. 
 
 Butler. ( no longer governing his emotion ) 
 Only break off from him ! — He dies ! he dies ! 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Come after me to JFrauenberg, where now . 
 All, who are loyal, are affembling under 
 Counts Altringer and Galas. Many others 
 
 I've 
 
208 THE PICC0LOMINI, OR THE 
 
 I've brought to a remembrance of their duty. 
 This night be fure, that you efcape from Pilfen. 
 eutler. (fir ides up and dotun in exceftve 
 agitation^ thenfieps up to Octavio zvith re- 
 folued countenance.) 
 Count Piccolomini ! Dare that man fpeak 
 Of honour to you, who once broke his troth. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 He, who repents fo deeply of it, dares. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Then leave me here, upon my word of honour I 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 What's your defign ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Leave me and my regiment. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 1 have full confidence in you. But tell me 
 What are you brooding r 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 That the deed will tell you. 
 Aik me no more at prefent. Truft to me. 
 Ye may truft fafely. By the living God 
 Ye give him over, not to his good angel ! 
 Farewell ! [Exit Butler» 
 
 servant. ( enters with a billet. ) 
 A ftranger left it, and is gone. 
 The Prince-Duke's horfes wait for you below. 
 
 [Exit Servant. 
 octavio. (reads.) 
 " Be fure, make hafte ! Your faithful Ifolan." 
 — O that I had but left this town behind me. 
 
 To 
 
FIRST PART OP WALLENSTEIN. 209 
 
 To fplit upon a rock fo near the haven l-^- 
 Away ! This is no longer a fafe place for me ! 
 Where can my fon be tarrying ? 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 
 ÖCTAvtü and Max. Piccolomini. 
 
 (Max. enters almofi in afiate of derangement 
 
 from extreme agitation, his eyes roll mildly-* 
 
 his walk is mifieady, and he appears not to 
 
 obferve his father ; who fiands at a difiance-, 
 
 , and gazes at him with a countenance exprefi- 
 
 five of companion. He paces with long 
 
 ßrides through the chamber, then fiands 
 
 fiill again, and at lafi throws himfelf into a 
 
 chair, flaring vacantly at the object directly 
 
 before him.) 
 
 octaviov (advances to him.) 
 I am going off, my fon. 
 
 (Receiving no anfwer, he takes his hand.) 
 My fon, farewell. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Farewell. 
 
 OCTAVIO. - . 
 
 Thou wilt foon follow me ? 
 
 MAX. 
 
 I follow thee ? 
 
 •Thy way is crooked— »it is not my way! 
 
 • • - p (Octavio 
 
216 TÜ£ PICCÖLÖM1N1, OR THE 
 
 {Ottävio drops his hand, and ßarts back.) 
 Ö, hadft thou been but fimple and fincere, 
 Ne'er bad it come to this*— all had flood otherwife. 
 He had not done that foul and horrible deed, 
 The virtuous had retained their influence o'er him : 
 He had not fallen into the fnares of villains. 
 Wherefore fo like a thief, and thief's accomplice 
 Did'ft creep behind him — lurking for thy prey ? 
 O, unbleft falfehood ! Mother of all evil ! 
 Thou mifery-making daemon, it is thou 
 That ftnk'ft us in perdition. Simple truth, 
 Suftainer of the world, had fav'd us all I 
 Father, I will not, I cannot excufe thee ! 
 Wallenftein has deceiv'd me — O, moft foully ! 
 But thou haft a<5ted not much better. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Son f 
 My fon, ah ! I forgive thy agony ! 
 max. (rifes > and contemplates his father with 
 looks of fufpicioji.) 
 Was't poffible ? had'ft thou the heart, my father, 
 Had'ft thou the heart to drive it to fucb lengths, 
 With cold premeditated pürpofe ? Thou — 
 Had'ft thou the heart, to wifli to fee him guilty, 
 Rather than fav'd ? Thou rifeft by his falL 
 O&avio, 'twill not pleafe me. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 God in Heaven I 
 
 MAX. 
 
 ■ 
 
 O, wqe is me ! fure I have chang'd my nature. 
 
 4 How 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN, 2\l 
 
 How comes fufpicion here— in the free foul ? 
 Hope, confidence, belief, are gone ; for all 
 Lied to me, all what I e'er lov'd or honoured. 
 No ! No ! Not all ! She — (he yet lives for me, 
 And (he is true, and open as the Heavens ! 
 Deceit is every where, hypocrify, 
 Murder, and poifoning, treafon, perjury : 
 The fingle holy fpot is our love, 
 The only unprofan'd in human nature. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Max ! — we will go together. 'Twill be better, 
 
 MAX. 
 
 What ? ere I've taken a lad parting leave, 
 The very laft — no never ! 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Spare thyfelf 
 The pang of neceffary feparation. 
 Come with me ! Come, my fon ! 
 
 [Attempts to take him ivith him.) 
 
 MAX. 
 
 No ! as fure as God lives, no ! 
 
 octavio. [more urgently.) 
 Come with me, I command thee ! I, thy father. 
 
 max. 
 Command me what is human, I (lay here. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Max ! in the Emperor's name I bid thee come. 
 
 max. 
 No Emperor hath power to prefcribe 
 
 ? 2 Laws 
 
212 THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE f 
 
 Laws to the heart , and would'ft thou wifh to rob 
 
 me 
 Of the fole blefllng which my fate has left me, 
 Her fympathy. Muft then a cruel deed 
 Be done with, cruelty ? The unalterable 
 Shall I perform ignobly — fleal away, 
 With ftealthy coward flight forfake her ? No \ 
 She (hall behold my fuffering, my fore anguifh, 
 Hear the complaints of the difparted foul, 
 And weep tears o'er me. Q ! the human race 
 Have fteely fouta — but (he is as an angel. 
 From the black deadly madnefs of defpair 
 Will The redeem my foul, and in foft words 
 Of comfort, plaining, loofe this pang of death ? 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Thou will not tear thyfelf away, thou can'ft not. 
 O, come, my fon ! I bid thee (ave thy virtue. 
 
 MAX- 
 
 Squander not- thou thy words in vain. 
 The heart I follow, for I dare traft to it. 
 
 octavio. (trembling, and lofing all felf- 
 
 command.) 
 Max ! Max ! if that mod damned thing could be, 
 If thou— my fon — my own blood — (dare I think 
 
 ■ it?) 
 Do fell thyfelf to him, the infamous, 
 Do (lamp this brand upon our noble houfe, 
 Then (hall the world behold the horrible deed» 
 And in unnatural combat (hall the fteel 
 Of the fon trickle with, the father's blood, 
 
 MAX, 
 
FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN. 2I§ 
 
 MAX. 
 O hadft thou always better thought of men, 
 Thou hadft then acted better. Curft fufpicion ! 
 Unholy miferable doubt ! To him 
 Nothing on earth remains unwrench'd and firm, 
 Who has no faith. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 And if I truft thy heart, 
 Will it be always in thy power to follow it ? 
 
 MAX. 
 
 The heart's voice thou haft not o'erpower'd— • a» 
 
 little 
 Will Wallenftein be able to overpower it, 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 O, Max ! I fee thee never more again ! 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Unworthy of thee wilt thou never fee me. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 J go to Frauenberg — the Pappenheimers 
 
 I leave thee here, the Lothrings too ; Tofkana 
 
 And Tiefenbach remain here to protect thee. 
 
 They love thee, and are faithful to their oath, 
 
 JK.n& will far rather fall in gallant conteft 
 
 Than leave their rightful leader^and their honour, 
 
 max. 
 Rely on this, J either leave my life 
 Jn the ftruggle, or conduct them out of Pilfen. 
 
 OCTAVIO, 
 
 Farewe}!, my fon ! 
 
 max. 
 
 Farewell ! 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
214» THE PICCOLOMINI, OR THE 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 How ? not one look 
 Of filial love ? No grafp of th* hand at parting f 
 It is a bloody war, to which we are going. 
 And the event uncertain and in darknefs. 
 So us'd we not to part — it was not fo I 
 Is it then true ? I have a fon no longer ? 
 
 {Max. falls into his arms, they hold each for 
 a long time in a fpeechlefs embrace, then 
 go away at different fides,) 
 
 THE CURTAIN DROPS, 
 
 Printed by G. Woodfall, No. zz, Päternoßer-Roiu, London. 
 
THE 
 
 DEATH 
 
 OF 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 A TRAGEDY 
 
 IN FIVE ACTS. 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OP 
 
 FREDERICK SCHILLER 
 
 BY 
 
 S. T. COLERIDGE. 
 
 LONDON ; 
 
 FAINTED FOR T. N. LONGMAN AND O. REES, PATERNOSTER ROW, 
 
 By C, Woodfall, No. 22, Paterneßjer-Roiu. 
 1800. 
 
. THE 
 
 DEATH 
 
 OF 
 
 WALLENSTEIN, 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 Scene-, a Chamber in the Houfe of the Duchefi 
 
 of Friedland. 
 
 SCENE I; 
 
 Countess Tertsky. Theklä. Lady 
 
 Neubrunn. 
 
 (the two tatter fit at the fame table at work.) 
 
 countess, (watchhtg them from the oppofitefide.) 
 
 So you have nothing, niece, to afk me ? Nothing ? 
 I have been waiting for a word from you. 
 And could you then endure in all this time 
 Not once to fpeak his name ? 
 [Thekla remaining fileht, the Couniefs rifts and 
 advances to her.) 
 
 Why, how comes this ? 
 Perhaps I am already grown fuperflüoüs, 
 And other ways exift, befides through me ? 
 Confefs it to me, Thekla ! have you feen him ? 
 
 k thekla; 
 
c 2 THE DEATH OF 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 To-day and'yefterday I have not feen him. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 And not heard from him either ? Come, be open ! 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 No fyllablc. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 And ftill you are fo calm ? 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 X am. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 May't pleafe you, leave us, Lady Neubrunn ! 
 
 [Exit Lady Neubrunn. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 The Countess. Thekla. 
 
 countess. 
 It does not pleafe me, Princefs ! that he holds 
 Himfelf foßill, exactly at this time. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Exactly at this time} 
 
 countess. 
 
 He now knows all. 
 
 J Twere now the moment to declare himfelf. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 If I'm to underftand you, fpeak lefs darkly. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 'Twas for that purpofe that I bade her leave us. 
 
 3 Thekla, 
 
WALLENSTElN. 3 
 
 Thekla, you are no more a child. Your heart 
 
 Is now no more in nonage : for you love, 
 
 And boldnefs dwells with love— that you have 
 
 prov'd. 
 Your nature moulds itfelf upon your father's 
 More than your mother's fpirit. Therefore may you 
 Hear, what were too much for her fortitude. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Enough ! no further preface, I intreat you. 
 At once, out with it ! Be it what it may, 
 It is not poflible that it mould torture me 
 More than this introduction. What have you 
 To fay to me ? Tell me the whole, and briefly ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 You'll not be frighten'd — 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Name it, t intreat you, 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 It lies within your power to do your father 
 
 A weighty fervice— ■ 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Lies within my power ? 
 
 COUNTESS, 
 
 Max. Piccolomini loves you. You can link him 
 IndifTolubly to your father. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 I? 
 
 What need of me for that ? And is he not 
 Already link'd to him ? 
 
 2 2 
 
 COUNTESS« 
 
4 THE DEATH OF 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 He was. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 And wherefore 
 Should he not be fo now — not be fo always ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 He cleaves to th' Emp'ror too. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Not more than duty 
 And honour may demand of him. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 We aft ; 
 
 Proofs of his love, and not proofs of his honour. 
 Duty and honour ! 
 
 Thofe are ambiguous words with many meanings. 
 You fhould interpret them for him : his love 
 Should be the fole definer of his honour. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 How ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Th' Emperor or you muft he renounce. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 He will accompany my father gladly 
 
 In his retirement. From himfelf you heard* 
 
 How much he wiftYd to lay alide the fword. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 He muft not lay the fword afide, we mean ; 
 He muft unfheath it in your father's caufe. 
 
 THEKLA, 
 
WALLENSTEItf. 5 
 
 THERLA.. 
 
 He'll fpend with gladnefs and alacrity 
 
 His life, his heart's blood in my father's caufe, 
 
 If fhame or injury be intended him. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 You will not understand me. Well, hear then ! 
 Your father has fallen off from the Emperor, 
 And is about to join the enemy 
 With the whole foldiery — 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Alas, my mother! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 There needs a great example to draw on 
 The army after him. The Piccolomini 
 PofTefs the love and rev'rence of the troops -, 
 They govern all opinions, and wherever 
 They lead the way, none hefitate to follow. 
 The fon fecures the father to our interefts — » 
 You've much in your hands at this moment. 
 
 TUEKLA. 
 
 Ab, 
 
 My miferable mother ! what a death- ftroke 
 Awaits thee ! — No ! She never will furviveit. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 / 
 
 She will accommodate her foul to that 
 
 Which is and rauft be. I do know your mother. 
 
 The far-off future weighs upon her heart 
 
 With torture of anxiety ; but is it 
 
 Unalterably, actually prefent, 
 
 She foon refigns herlelf, and bears it calmly. 
 
 B 3 , THEKLA. 
 
<y THE DEATH OF 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 my fore-boding bofom ! Even now, 
 E'en now 'tis here, that icv hand of horror ! 
 And my young hope lies fhuddering in its grafp. 
 
 1 knew it well— no fooner had I enter'd, 
 An heavy ominous prefentiment 
 
 ReveaPd to me, that fpirits of death were hov'ring 
 Over my happy fortune. But why think I 
 Firft of myfelf ? My mother ! Q my mother ! 
 
 countess. 
 Calm yourfelf 1 Break not out in vain lamenting \ 
 Preferve you for your father the firm friend, 
 And for yourfelf the lover, all will yet 
 Prove good and fortunate. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Prove good ? What good ? 
 Muft we not part \ Part ne'er to meet again ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 He parts not from you ! He can not part from you. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Alas for his fore anguifh i It will rend 
 His heart afunder. 
 
 countess. 
 
 If indeed he loves you, 
 His refolution will be fpeedily taken. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 His refolution will be fpeedily taken — 
 O do not doubt of that ! A refolution ! 
 Does there remain one to be taken f 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
WALLENSTEIN, 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Hufli i 
 Collect yourfelf ! I hear your mother coming. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 How fhall I bear to fee her ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Collect yourfelf. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 To them enter the Duchess. 
 
 duchess, (to the Count 'efs.J 
 
 ■ ■ 
 Who was here, fifter ? I heard fome one talking, 
 
 And pafiionately too. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Nay ! There was no one- 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 I am grown fo timorous, every trifling noife 
 Scatters my fpirits, and announces to me 
 The footftep of fome meffenger of evil. ' 
 And can you tell me, lifter, what the event is r 
 Will he agree to do the Emperor's pleaflire, 
 And fend th* horfe- regiments to the Cardinal } 
 Teil me, has he difmifs'd Von Queftenberg 
 With a favourable anfwer ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 No, he. ha's not. 
 
 B 4 DUCHES& 
 
$ THE DEATH OF 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Alas •! then all is loft ! I fee it coming, 
 The word that can come ! Yes, they will depofe him ; 
 The accurfed bufinefs of the Regenfpurg diet 
 Will all be a&ed o'er again ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 f ... . ■ , 
 
 No ! never ! 
 Make your heart eafy, filler, as to that. 
 (Thekla, in extreme agitation, throws herfelf Upon 
 
 her mother, and enfolds her in her arms, zueep- 
 
 ™g.) 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Yes, my poor child ! 
 
 Thou too haft loft a moft affectionate godmother 
 
 In th' Emprefs. O that ftern unbending man ! 
 
 In this unhappy marriage what have I 
 
 Not fufFer'd, not endur'd. For ev'n as if 
 
 I had been link'd on to fome wheel of fire 
 
 That reftlefs, ceafelefs, whirls impetuous onward, 
 
 I have paft a life of frights and horrors with him, 
 
 And ever to the brink of fome Abyfs 
 
 With dizzy headlong violence he whirls me. 
 
 Nay, do not weep, my child ! Let not my furP rings 
 
 Prefignify unhappinefs to thee, 
 
 Nor blacken with their fhade, the fate that waits 
 
 thee. 
 There lives no fecorid Friedland : thou, my child, 
 Haft not to fear thy mother's deftiny. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 O let us fupplicate him, deareft mother ! 
 Quick ! quick ! here's no abiding-place for us. 
 
 Here 
 
WALLENSTEItf, 9 
 
 Here every coming hour broods into life 
 Some new affrightful monfter. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Thou wilt mare 
 An eafier, calmer lot, my child ! We too, 
 I and thy father, witnefs'd happy days. 
 Still think I with delight of thofe firft years, 
 When he was making progrefs with glad effort, 
 When his ambition was a genial fire, 
 Not that conüim'mg ßa??ie which now it is. 
 The Emperor lov'd him, trufted him ; and all 
 He undortook, could not but be fuccefsful. 
 But fince that ill-ftarr'd day at Regenfpurg, 
 Which plung'd him headlong from his dignity, 
 A gloomy uncompanionable fpirit, 
 Unfteady and fufpicious, has poffefs'd him. 
 His quiet mind forfook him, and no longer 
 Did he yield up himfelf in joy and faith 
 To his old luck, and individual power; 
 But thenceforth turn'd his heart and beft affections 
 All to thofe cloudy fciences, which never 
 Have yet made happy him who followed them., 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 You fee it, filler ! as your eyes permit you. 
 JSut furely this is not the converfation 
 To pafs the time in which we are waiting for him. 
 You know he will be fooa here. Would you have 
 
 him 
 Find her in this condition ? 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
10 THE DEATH OF 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Come, my child! 
 Come wipe away thy tears, and fhew thy father 
 A chearful countenance. See, the tie-knot here 
 Is off — this hair mult not hang fo difhevell'd. 
 Come, deareft ! dry thy tears up. They deform 
 Thy gentle eye — well now — what was I faying ? 
 Yes, in good truth, this Piccolomini 
 Is a moft noble and deferring gentleman. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 That is he, filler ! 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 {to the Comitefsy with marks of great oppreßionof 
 
 Spirits) 
 Aunt, you will excufe me ? (is going) 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 But whither ? See, your father comes. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 I cannot fee him now» 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Nay, but bethink you. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Believe me, I cannot fuftain his prefence. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 But he will mifs you, will afk after you. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 What now ? Why is fhe going ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 She's not well. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 11 
 
 duchess, (anxioußy.) 
 
 Yvhat ails then my beloved child ? 
 
 {both follow the Princefs, and endeavour to detain 
 her. During this Wallenflein appear s* en- 
 gaged in conversation zvith Illo.) 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 Wallenstein. Illo. Countess. Duchess. 
 
 Thekla. 
 wallenstein. 
 AH quiet in the camp ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 It is all quiet. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 In a few hours may couriers come from Prague 
 
 With tidings, that this capital is ours. 
 
 Then we may drop the mafk, and to the troops 
 
 Affembled in this town make known themeafure 
 
 And it's refult together. In fuch cafes 
 
 Example does the whole. Whoever is foremoft 
 
 Still leads the herd. An imitative creature 
 
 Is man. The troops at Prague conceive no other, 
 
 Than that the Pilfen army has gone through 
 
 The forms of homage to üs ; and in Pilfen 
 
 They mall fwear fealty to us, becaufe 
 
 The example has been given them by Prague. 
 
 Butler, you tell me, has declared himfelf. 
 
 ILLO, 
 
 At his own bidding, unfolicited, 
 
 He came to offer you himfelf and regiment. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
12 THE DEATH OF 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 I find we muft not give implicit credence 
 
 To every warning voice that makes itfelf 
 
 Be liften'd to in th' heart. To hold us back, 
 
 Oft does the lying fpirit counterfeit 
 
 The voice of Truth and inward Revelation, 
 
 Sc^tt'ring falfe oracles. And thus have I 
 
 To intreat forgivenefs, for that fecretly 
 
 Tve wrong'd this honourable gallant man, 
 
 This Butler: for a feeling, of the which 
 
 I am not mafter, (fear I would not call it) 
 
 Creeps o'er me inftantly, with fenfe of fhudd'ring, 
 
 At his approach, and flops love's joyous motion. 
 
 And this fame man, againfl whom I am warn'd, 
 
 This honeft man is he, who reaches to me 
 
 The firfl pledge of my fortune. 
 
 illo. <% 
 
 And doubt no$ 
 That his example will win over to you 
 The bell men in the army. 
 
 GALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Go and fend 
 Ifolani hither. Send him immediately. 
 He is under recent obligations to me. 
 With him will I commence the trial. Go. 
 
 [illo. Exit. 
 
 wal l ens te i n. (turns himfelfroundto thefitmales) 
 Lo, there the mother with the darling daughter, 
 For once we'll have an interval of reft — 
 Come ! my heart yearns to live a cloudlefs hour 
 In the beloved circle of my family. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
WALLENSTE.IN. 13 
 
 • 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 'Tis long fince we've been thus together, brother. 
 
 wallenstein, (to the Countefs, aßde.) 
 Can flie fuftain the news ? Is (he prepar'd ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Not yet. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Come here, my fweet girl ! Seat thee by me. 
 For there is a good fpirit on thy lips. 
 Thy mother prais'd to me thy ready ikill : 
 She fays a voice of melody dwells in thee, 
 Which doth enchant the foul. Now fuch a voice 
 Will drive away for me the evil daemon 
 That beats his black wings clofe above my head. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Where is thy lute, my daughter ? Let thy father 
 Hear fome fmall trial of thy fkill. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 My mother ! 
 I— 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Trembling ? Come, collect thyfelf. Go, cheer 
 Thy father. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 O my mother ! I — I cannot. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 How, what is that, niece ? 
 
 thekla. (to the Countefs.) 
 O fpare me — ling — now— 4n this fore anxiety, 
 
 Of the o'erburthen'd foul — to ling to him, 
 
 Who 
 
14 THE ÜEATH OP 
 
 Who is thrufting, even now, my mother headlong 
 Into her grave. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 How, Thekla ? Humourfome ? 
 What ! fhall thy father have exprefs'd a wifh 
 In vain ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Here is the lute. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 My God ! how can I — • 
 (The or che fir a plays. During the ritornello 
 Thekla exprejfesin her gefiures and countenance 
 the firuggle of her feelings j and at the mo- 
 merit that J)ie fhould begin to fing , contracts 
 herfelf together, as one fauddering y throws the 
 infirument down, and retires abruptly.) 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 My child ! O (he is ill— 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What ails the maiden ? 
 Say, is (he often fo ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Since then herfelf 
 Has now betray'd it, I too mult no longer 
 Conceal it. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What I 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 She loves him ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 15 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Loves him ! Whom ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Max. does flie love ? Max. Piccolomini. 
 Hall thou ne'er notic'd it ? Nor yet my filler ? 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Was it this that lay fo heavy on her heart ? 
 God's bleffing on thee, my fweet child ! Thou 
 
 need' ft 
 Never take fhame upon thee for thy choice. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 This journey, if 'twere not thy aim, afcribe it 
 To thine own {elf. Thou mould'ft have chofen 
 
 another 
 To have attended her. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 And does he know it ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Yes, and he hopes to win her. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Hopes to win her ! 
 Is the boy mad ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Well — hear it from themfelves. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 He thinks to carry off Duke Friedland's daughter ! 
 
 Ay ? — The thought pleafes me. 
 
 The young man has no grovelling fpirit. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
16* THE DEATH Ö? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Since 
 Such and fuch conftant favour you have fhewn him« 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 He chufes finally to be my heir. 
 And true it is, I love the youth; yea, honour him. 
 But muft he therefore be my daughter's hufband ? 
 Is it daughters only ? Is it only children 
 That we muft fhew our favour by ? 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 His noble difpofition and his manners — 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Win him my heart, but not my daughter. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Then 
 His rank, his anceflors — 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Anceflors! What? 
 He is a fubjecr., and my fon-in-law 
 I will leek out upon the thrones of Europe. 
 
 duchess. 
 O deareft Anrecht ! Climb we not too high* 
 Left we fhould fall too low. 
 
 wallenstein. 
 
 What ? have I paid 
 A price fo heavy to afcend this eminence, 
 And jut out high above the common herd. 
 Only to clofe the mighty part I play 
 
 In 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 1 
 
 i 
 
 In Life's great Drama, with a common kinfman ? 
 Have I for this — 
 
 (flops fuddenly , reprejing himfelf) 
 
 She is the only thing 
 That will remain behind of me on earth ; 
 And I will fee 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 greatnefs — 
 Yea, in this moment, in the which we are fpeaking— 
 
 {he recollects himfelf) 
 And I mud now, like a foft -hearted father, 
 Couple together in good peafant fafhion 
 The pair, that chance to fuit each other's liking — ■ 
 And I muft do it now, even now, when I 
 Arn flretching out the wreath, that is to twine 
 My full accomplifrYd work — no ! Ihe is the jewel, 
 Which I have treafur'd long, my laft, my nobleft, 
 And 'tis my purpofe not to let her from me 
 For lefs than a king's fceptre. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 O my huiband ! 
 You're ever building, building to the clouds, 
 Still building higher, and ftill higher building, 
 And ne'er reflect, that the poor narrow bafis 
 Cannot fuftain the giddy tottering column. 
 
 wallenstein, (to- the Countefs.\ 
 Have you announc'd the place of refidence 
 Which I have deftin'd for her ? 
 
 c COUNTESS, 
 
18 THE DEATH OP 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 No \ not yet. 
 'Twere better, you yourfelf difclos'd it to her. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 How ? Do we not return to Kärn then ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 No. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 And to no other of your lands or feats ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 You would not be fecure there. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Not fecure 
 In the Emperor's realms, beneath the Emperor's 
 
 Protection ? 
 
 WALLENSTELN. 
 
 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 fend us into Lutheran countries ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Duke Franz of Lauenburg conducts you thither. 
 
 DUCHESS, 
 
WALLLENSTEIN* 19 
 
 Duchess. 
 Duke Franz of Lauenberg ? 
 The ally of Sweden, the Emperor's enemy. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 The Emperor's enemies are mine no longer. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 (cafiing a look of terror on the Duke and the 
 
 Countefs.J 
 Is it then true ? It is. You are degraded ? 
 Depos'd from the command ? O God in heaven ! 
 
 countess, (afide to the Duke.) 
 Leave her in this belief. Thou feeft fhe cannot 
 Support the real truth. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 To them enter Count Tertsky. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 —TERTSKY ! 
 
 What ails him ? What an image of affright I 
 He looks as he had feen a ghoft. . 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 (leading Wallenjlein afide.') 
 Is it thy command that all the Croats— 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Mine! 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 We are betray'd. 
 
 C a WAL- 
 
2*0 THE DEATH OF 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 They are off!. This night 
 The Jägers likewife — all the villages 
 In the whole round are empty. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Ifolani ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Him thou haft (ent away, Yes,, finely. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 I? 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 No ! Haft thou not Tent him off? Nor Deodate I 
 They are vanifh'd both of them. 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 To them enter III a. 
 
 IL L0. 
 
 Has Tertfky told thee ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 He knows all. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 And likewife- 
 That Efterhatzy r Goetz, Maradas, Kaunitz,. 
 
 Kolatto, P-atfi, have foriaken thee. 
 
 * TERTSKY. 
 
 Damnation ! 
 
 walienstein. {toinks to them. ) 
 Hum ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
WALLENSTEIN, 21 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 \who has been loatching them anxioußii from the 
 
 di/lance, and now advances to them.) 
 Tertfky ! Heaven ! What is it ? What has hap- 
 pened ? 
 
 wal lenstein. (fcarcelyfnppreßng his emotions. ) 
 Nothing ! Let us be gone 1 
 
 tertsky. (following him.) 
 
 There fa, it is nothing. 
 
 countess, (holding him back.) 
 Nothing ? Do I not fee, that all the life blood 
 Has left your cheeks — look you not like a ghoft ? 
 That even my brother but affects a calmnefs ? 
 
 page, {enters.) 
 
 An Aid-de-Camp enquires for the Count Tertfky. 
 
 (Ter tjky follows the Page) 
 
 wallenstein. 
 Go, hear his bufinefs. 
 
 (to Illo) 
 This could not have happened 
 So unfufpected without mutiny. 
 Who was on guard at the gates ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 'Twas Tiefenbach. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Let Tiefenbach leave guard without delay, 
 And Tertfky's grenadiers relieve him, 
 
 (Illo is going) 
 
 Stop ! 
 
 Haft thou heard aught of Butler? 
 
 C 3 
 
 1 L L . 
 
22 THE DEATH OP 
 
 ILLOi 
 
 Him I met. 
 He will be here himfelf immediately. 
 Butler remains unfhaken. 
 
 \Illo exit. Wallenfiein is following him-) 
 
 countess. 
 Let him not leave thee, fifler ! go, detain him ! 
 There's fome misfortune. 
 
 duchess, {clinging to him.) 
 
 Gracious heaven \ What is it ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN, 
 
 Be tranquil ! leave me, filler ! deareft wife ! 
 We are in camp, and this is nought unufual ; 
 •Here florm and funfhine follow one another 
 With rapid interchanges. Thefe fierce fpirits 
 Champ the curb angrily, and never yet 
 Did quiet blefs the temples of the leader. 
 If I am to flay, go you. The plaints of women 
 111 fuit the fcene where men mull act. 
 
 (He is going : Tertflcy returns.) 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Remain here. From this window mufl we fee it, 
 
 • wallenstein, (to the Countefs.) 
 Sjfler, retire ! 
 
 countess. 
 
 No — never, 
 
 wallenstein. 
 • 'Tis my will. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
WALLENSTEIN, 23 
 
 TERTSKY. {leads the Countefs aßde, and draw- 
 ing her attention to the Duchefs.) 
 Therefa ! x 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Sifter, come ! fince he commands it. 
 
 SCENE VII. 
 
 Wallenstein. Tertsky. 
 
 wallenstein, (ßepping to the window,) 
 What now, then ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 There are ftrange movements among all the troops, 
 And no one knows the caufe. Myfterioufly, 
 With gloomy filentnefs, the feveral corps 
 Marfhal themfelves, each under its own banners. 
 Tiefenbach's corps make threatening movements j 
 
 only 
 The Pappenheimers flill remain aloof 
 In their own quarters, and let no one enter. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Poes Piccolomini appear among them ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 We are feekins; him : he is no where to be met with. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What did the Aide-de-Camp deliver {o you ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 My regiments had difpatched him y yet pnce more 
 
 c 4 They 
 
24 THE DEATH OF 
 
 They {wear fidelity to thee, and wait 
 
 The fhout for onfet, all prepar'd, and eager. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 But whence arofe this larum in the camp ? 
 
 It mould have been kept fecret from the army, 
 
 Till fortune had decided for us at Prague. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 that thou hadft believ'd me ! Yefler evening 
 Did we conjure thee not to let that fkulker, 
 That fox, Octavio, pafs the gates of Pilfen. 
 Thou gav'fl him thy own horfes to flee from thee, 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 The old tune ftill ! Now, once for all, no more 
 Of this fufpicion — it is doting folly. . 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Thou did'ft confide in Ilblani too ; 
 
 And lo ! he was the firft that did defert thee. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 It was but yefterday I refcued him 
 
 From abjecv. wretchednefs. Let that go by. 
 
 1 never reckon'd yet on gratitude. 
 
 And wherein doth he wrong in going from me ? 
 
 He follows ftill the s:od whom all his life 
 
 He has worfhipp'd at the gaming table. With 
 
 My Fortune, and my feerning de (liny, 
 
 He made the bond, and broke it not with me. 
 
 I am but the (hip in which his hopes were ftow'd, 
 
 And with the which well-pleas'd and confident 
 
 He travers'd the open fea ; now he beholds it 
 
 In eminent jeopardy among the coaft-rocks, 
 
 And 
 
WALLENSTEIN. SS5 
 
 And hurries to preferve his wares. As light 
 As the free bird from the holpitable twig 
 Where it had nefted, he flies off from me : 
 No human tie is fnapp'd betwixt us two. 
 Yea, he deferves to find himfeif deceiv'd, 
 Who feeks a heart in the unthinking man. 
 Like fhadows on a flream, the forms of life 
 Imprefs their characters on the imooth forehead, 
 Nought finks into the bofom's illent depth : 
 Quick fenfibility of pain and pleafure 
 Moves the light fluids lightly 5 but no foul 
 Warmet h the inner frame. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Yet, would I rather 
 Truft the fmooth brow than that deep furrow'done. 
 
 SCENE VIII. 
 
 Wallenstein. Tertsky. Illo. 
 
 {who enters agitated with rage.) 
 
 illo. 
 ■Treafon and mutiny ! 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 And what further now ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Tiefenbach's foldiers, when I gave the orders 
 7?o go off guard — Mutinous villains ! 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Well? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What follow'd ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 They refus'd obedience to them. 
 
 TERTSKY» 
 
26 THE DEATH OF 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Fire on them inftantly ! Give out the order, 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Gently ! What caufe did they affign ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 No other» 
 They faid, had right to iflue orders but 
 Lieutenant-General Piccolomini. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN, {ill a COlWulfioil of €gO?lV.J 
 
 What ? How is that ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 He takes that office on him by commiffion* 
 Under fign-manual of the Emperor. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 From th' Emp'ror — hear'ft thou, Duke ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 At his incitement 
 The Generals made that ftealthy flight — 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 , Duke! hear'ft thou? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Caraffa too, and Montecuculi, 
 Are miffing, with fix other Generals, 
 All whom he had indue 'd 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 Queftenberg. 
 (Wallenfiein finks down into a chair and covers 
 
 his face.) 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 O hadft thou but believed me ! 
 
 SCENE 
 
WALLENSTEIN, 27 
 
 SCENE IX. 
 To them enter the Countess. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 This fufpenfe, 
 This horrid fear — I can no longer bear it. 
 For heaven's fake, tell me, what has taken place 
 
 TLLO. 
 
 The regiments are all falling off from us, 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Octavio Piccolomirii is a traitor. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 O my foreboding ! {rußies out of the room.') 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Hadft thou but believed me I 
 Now feeft thou how the ftars have lied to thee. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 The ftars lie not ; but we have here a work 
 
 Wrought counter to the ftars and deftiny. 
 
 The fcience is ftill honeft : this falfe heart 
 
 Forces a lie on the truth-telling heaven. 
 
 On a divine law divination refts ; 
 
 Where nature deviates from that law, and ftumbles 
 
 Out of her limits, there all fcience errs. 
 
 True, I did not fufped ! Were it fuperftition 
 
 Never by fuch fufpicion t' have affronted 
 
 The human form, O may that time ne'er come 
 
 In which I (name me of th' infirmity. 
 
 TThe wildeft favage drinks not with the vidim, 
 
 Into 
 
28 v THE DEATH OF 
 
 In whofe bread he means to plunge the fword. 
 
 This, this, Otftavio, was no hero's deed : 
 
 'Twas not thy prudence that did conquer mine ; 
 
 A bad heart triumph'd o'er an honed one. 
 
 No fliield receiv'd the afTaffm ftroke ; thou plunged 
 
 Thy weapon on an unprotected bread — 
 
 Againd Tuch weapons I am but a child. 
 
 SCENE X. 
 
 To thefe enter Butler, 
 tertsky. {meeting him.) 
 O look there ! Butler ! Here we've flill a friend ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 {meets him with outfpread anus, and embraces 
 
 him with warmth.) 
 Come to my heart, old comrade ! Not the fun 
 Looks out upon us more revivingly 
 In the earlied month of fpring, 
 Than a friend's countenance in fuch an hour. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 My General- I come — 
 
 -WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 {leaning on Butler 's Jhoitlder.) 
 
 Know' ft thou already ? 
 
 That old man hasbetray'd me to the Emperor. 
 
 What fay 'ft thou ? Thirty years have we together 
 
 Liv'd out, and held out, (haring joy and hardfhip. 
 
 We have flept in one camp-bed, drunk from one 
 
 glafs, 
 
 One 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 29 
 
 One morfel fhar'd ! I lean'd myfelf on him, 
 As now I lean me on thy faithful moulder. 
 And now in the very moment, when, all love, 
 All confidence, my bofom beat to his, 
 He fees and takes the advantage, ilabs the knife 
 Slowly into my heart. 
 
 [he hides his face in Butler's breaß.) 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Forget the falfe one. 
 What is your prefent purpofe ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Well remember'd ! 
 Courage, my foul ! I am ftill rich in friends, 
 Still lov'd by Deftiny ; for in the moment, 
 That it unmafks the plotting hypocrite, 
 It fends and proves to me one faithful heart. 
 Of the hypocrite no more ! Think not, his lofs 
 Was that which ftruck the pang: O no ! his treafon 
 Is that which ftrikes this pang ! No more of him! 
 Dear to my heart, and honour'd were they both, 
 And the young man — yes — he did truly love me, 
 He — he — has not deceiv'd me. But enough, 
 Enough of this — Swift counfel now befeems us. 
 The Courier, whom Count Kin&y fent from Prague, 
 I expect him every moment : and whatever 
 He may bring with him, we muft take good care 
 To keep it from the mutineers. Quick, then ! 
 Difpatch fome meffenger you can rely on 
 To meet him, and conduct him to me. 
 
 (Illo is going.) 
 butler, (det a ining h im . ) 
 My General, whom expect you then-? 
 
 WAL- 
 
SO THE DEATH OF 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 The Courier 
 
 Who brings me word of the event at Prague* 
 
 butler, (liefitating.) 
 Hem t 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 And what now ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 You do not know it ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Well ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 From what that larum in the camp arofe ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 From what ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 That Courier 
 
 wallenstein, {with eage?' expectation.) 
 
 Well r 
 
 butler: 
 
 Is already here. 
 
 tertsky and illo. {at the fame time.) 
 Already here ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 My Courier ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 For fome hours. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN, 
 
 And I not know it ? 
 
 a BUTLER. 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 31 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 The centinels detain him 
 In cuftody. 
 
 illo. [fiamping zvith his foot.) 
 Damnation I 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 And his letter 
 Was broken open, and is circulated 
 Through the whole camp. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 You know what it contains ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Queflion me not I 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Illo ! alas for us ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Hide nothing from me — I can hear the worft. 
 Prague then is loft. It is. Confefs it freely. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Yes ! Prague is loft. And all the feveral regiments 
 At Budweifs, Tabor, Braunau, Konigingratz, 
 At Brun, and Znaym, have forfaken you, 
 And ta'en the oaths of fealty anew 
 To the Emperor. Yourfelf, with Kiniky, Tertiky, 
 And Illo have been fentenc'd. 
 
 {Tert/ky and Illo exprefs alarm and fury. Wal- 
 lenßein remains firm and collected.) 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Tis decided ! 
 
 'Tis 
 
32 THE DEATH OF 
 
 'Tis well ! I have receiv'd a fudden cure 
 
 From all the pangs of doubt : with ftcady ftreani 
 
 Once more my life-blood flows ! My foul's fecure I 
 
 In the night only Friedland's ftars can beam. 
 
 Ling'ring, irrefolute, with fitful fears 
 
 I drew the fword — 'twas with an inward fixife, 
 
 While yet the choice was mine. The murd'rous 
 
 knife 
 Is lifted for my heart ! Doubt difappears '• 
 I fight now for my head and for my life. 
 
 [Exit Wallenßein, the others follow him. 
 
 SCENE XI. 
 
 Countess Tertsky. [enters from a fide room.) 
 
 I can endure no longer. No!' 
 
 ( looks around her.) 
 
 Where are they ? 
 No one is here. They leave me all alone, 
 Alone in this. fore anguifti of fufpenfe. 
 And I muft wear the outward fhew of calmnefs 
 Before my lifter, and fhut in within me 
 The pangs and agonies of my crowded bofom. 
 It is not to be borne. — If all mould fail ; 
 If — if he muft go over to the Swedes, 
 An empty-handed fugitive, and not 
 As an ally, a covenanted equal, 
 A proud commander with his army following ; 
 If we muft wander on from land to land, 
 Like the Count Palatine, of fallen greatnefs 
 
 3 An 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 33 
 
 An ignominious monument — But no ! 
 That day I will not fee ! And could himfelf 
 Endure to link fo low, I would not bear 
 To fee him fo low funken* 
 
 SCENE XII. 
 
 Countess, Duchess, Thekla. 
 
 thekla. (endeavouring to hold back the 
 Duchefs. ) 
 Dear mother, do flay here ! 
 
 duchess. 
 
 No ! Here is yet 
 Some frightful myftery that is hidden from me. 
 Why does my lifter fhun me ? Don't I fee her 
 Full of fufpenfe and anguifh roam about 
 From room to room ? — Art thou not full of 
 
 terror ? 
 And what import thefe filent nods and geftures 
 Which flealthwife thou exchangeft with her ? 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Nothing 5 
 Nothing, dear mother ! 
 
 duchess, (to the Countefs.) 
 Sifter, I will know. 
 
 countess. 
 What boots it now to hide it from her ? Sooner 
 Or later fhe muß learn to hear and bear it. 
 'Tis not the time now to indulge infirmity, 
 
 d Courage 
 
34- THE DEATH OF 
 
 Courage befeems us now, a heart collect, 
 And exercife and previous difcipline 
 Of fortitude. One word, and over with it ! 
 Sifter, you are deluded. You believe, 
 The Duke has been depos'd — The Duke is not 
 iDepos'd — he is 
 
 the k la. (going to the Countefs.) 
 
 What ? do you wilh to kill her ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 The Duke is 
 
 thekla. ( Tlirowing her arms round her mother.) 
 O ftand firm ! ftand firm, my mother ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Revolted is the Duke, he is preparing 
 To join the enemy, the army leave him, 
 And all has fail'd. 
 
 {During thefe zvords the Duchefs totters, and 
 falls in a fainting-fit into the arms of her 
 daughter. While Thekla is calling for help, 
 the curtain drops.) 
 
 END OF ACT 1. 
 
 ACT 
 
WALLENSTEIJST. 35 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 Scene, a fpaciotis Room in the Duke of Fried- 
 
 land's Palace, 
 
 SCENE I; 
 
 wallenstein, (in armour.) 
 Thou haft gain'd thy point, Octavio ! Once more 
 
 am I 
 Almofl as ffiendlefs as at Regenfpurg. 
 There I had nothing left me, but myfelf-— 
 But what one man ban do, you have now ex- 
 perience; 
 The twigs have you hew'd off, and here I (land 
 A leaflefs trunk. But in the fap within 
 Lives the creating power* arid a hew world 
 May fprout forth from it. Once already have I 
 Prov'd myfelf worth an army to you — I alone ! 
 Before theSwediih ftrength your troops had melted ; 
 Befide the Lech funk Tilly, your laft hope j 
 Into Bavaria, like ä winter torrent, - 
 t>id that Guftavus pour, and at Vienna 
 In his own palace did the Emperor tremble* 
 Soldiers were icarce, for Hill the multitude 
 Follow the luck : all eyes were türn'd on mej 
 Their helper in diftrefs : the Emperor's pride 
 Bow'd itfelf down before the man he had injur'd. 
 ? Twas I muft rife, and with creative word 
 
 d 2 AfTemble 
 
3tf THE DEATH OF 
 
 Affemble forces in the defolate camps. 
 
 I did it. Like a god of war, my name 
 
 Went thro' the world. The drum was beat — 
 
 and, lo ! 
 The plough, the work-mop is forfaken, all 
 Swarm to the old familiar long-lov'd banners - y 
 And as the wood-choir rich in melody 
 Affemble quick around the bird of wonder, 
 When firft his throat fwells with his magic fong, 
 So did the warlike youth of Germany 
 Croud in around the image of my eagle. 
 I feel myfelf the being that I was. 
 It is the foul that builds itfelf a body, 
 And Friedland's camp will not remain unfill'd. 
 Lead then your thoufands out to meet me- — true ! 
 They are accuftom'd under me to conquer, 
 But not againft me. If the head and limbs 
 Separate from each other, 'twill be foon 
 Made manifeft, in which the foul abode. 
 
 flllo and Terfßcy enter.) 
 Courage, friends ! Courage ! We are ftill un- 
 
 vanquifh'd ; 
 I feel my footing firm ; five regiments, Tertfky* 
 Are ftill our own, and Butler's gallant troops ; 
 And an holt of fixteen thoufand Swedes to-morrow, 
 I was not ftronger, when nine years ago 
 I march'd forth, with glad heart and high of hope» 
 To conquer Germany for the Emperor. 
 
 SCENE 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 31 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 Wallensteinn, Illo, Tertsky. (To them 
 enter Neumann, zoho leads Tertßy aßde, and 
 talks with him.) 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 What do they want ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN, 
 
 What now ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Ten Cuiraffiers 
 From Pappenheim requeft leave to addrefs you 
 in the name of the regiment. 
 
 wallenstein. {Jfajtilp. to Neumann.) 
 
 Let them enter. 
 
 [Exit Neumann. 
 This 
 May end in foinething. Mar|c you. They are (til! 
 Doubtful, and may be won. 
 
 x> % SCENE 
 
38 • THE DEATH OF 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 ^Vallenstein, Tertsky, Illo, Ten Cui- 
 rassiers, (lecl by an Anfpeffade*, march up 
 and arrange them/elves, after the word of com- 
 mand, in one front before the Duke, and make, 
 their pbeifances. He takes his hat off, and 
 immediately covers him/ elf again.) 
 
 ^.NSPESSADE. 
 
 Halt ! Front ! Prefent ! 
 
 wallenstein- (after he has run through them 
 zvith his eye, to the Anfpeffade.) 
 
 I know tnee well. Thou art out of Brüggin in 
 Flanders ; 
 
 Thy name is Mercy. 
 
 ANSPESSADE- 
 
 Henry Mercy. 
 
 wallenstein. 
 Thou wert cut off on the march, furrounded 
 by the Heffians, and didft fight thy way with an 
 hundred and eighty men thro' their thoufand. 
 
 ANSPESSADE. 
 
 'Twas even fo, General ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN- 
 
 What reward hadft thou for this gallant ex- 
 ploit ? 
 
 * Anfpeffade, in German, Gefreiter, a foldier inferior to 
 a corporal, but above the centinels. The German name 
 implies- that he is exempt from mounting guard. 
 
 ANSPES- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 39 
 
 ANSPESSADE.' 
 
 That which I afk'd for : the honour to ferve in 
 this corps. 
 
 wallenstein, (turning to afecond.) 
 , Thou wert among the volunteers that feized 
 and made booty of the Swedifh battery at Alten- 
 burg. 
 
 SECOND CUIRASSIER. 
 
 Yes, General ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 I forget no one with whom I have exchanged 
 words, (a paiife.) Who lends you ? 
 
 ANSPESSADE. 
 
 Your noble regiment, the Cuirafliers of Picco- 
 lomini. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Why does not your colonel deliver in your re- 
 queft, according to the cuftom of fervice ? 
 
 ANSPESSADE. 
 
 Becaufe we would firft know whom we ferve. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Begin your addrefs. 
 
 anspessade. (giving the wo rd of command. ) 
 Shoulder your arms ! 
 
 wallenstein, (turning to a third.) 
 
 Thy name is Rifbeck, Cologne is thy birth- 
 place. 
 
 THIRD CUIRASSIER, 
 
 Rifbeck of Cologne. 
 
 D 4 * WAL* 
 
40 THE DEATH OF 
 
 \VALLENSTEIN. 
 
 It was thou that broughteft in the Swedifh 
 colonel, Diebald, prifoner, in the camp at Nu- 
 renburg. 
 
 THIRD CUIRASSIER. 
 
 It was not I, General ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Perfectly right ! It was thy elder brother, thou 
 hadft a younger brother too : Where did he flay ? 
 
 THIRD CUIRASSIER. 
 
 He is ftationed at Olmutz with the Imperial 
 army. 
 
 wallenstein, [to the Ajifpejade.) 
 Now then— begin. 
 
 ANSPESSADE. 
 
 There came to hand a letter from the Emperor 
 Commanding us 
 
 wallenstein, (interrupting him.) 
 
 Who chofe you ? 
 
 ANSPESSADE. 
 
 Every company 
 Drew its own man by lot. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Now ! to the bufinefs. 
 
 ANSPESSADE. 
 
 There came to hand a letter from the Emperor 
 Commanding us collectively, from thee 
 All duties of obedience to withdraw, 
 Becaufe thou wert an enemy and traitor. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 And what did you determine ? 
 
 ANSPES- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 41 
 
 ANSPESSADE, 
 
 All our comrades 
 At Brunau, Budweifs, Prague and Olmutz, have 
 Obey'd already, and the regiments here, 
 Tiefenbach and Tofcana, inftantly 
 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 trump'd up Spanifh ftory! 
 
 (with warmth.) 
 Thyfelf (halt tell us what thy purpofe is, 
 For we have found thee flill fincere and true : 
 No mouth mail interpofe itfelf betwixt 
 The gallant General aud the gallant troops. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Therein I recognize my Pappenheimers. 
 
 ANSPESSADE. 
 
 And this propofal makes thy regiment to thee J 
 Is it thy purpofe merely to preferve 
 In thy own hands this military fceptre, 
 Which fo becomes thee, which the Emperor 
 Made over to thee by a covenant ; 
 Is it thy purpofe merely to remain 
 Supreme commander of the Auftrian armies ; 
 We will (land by thee, General ! and guarantee 
 Thy honeft: rights againft all oppofition. 
 And mould it chance, that all the other regiments 
 Turn from thee, by ourfelves will we ftand forth 
 Thy faithful fbldiers, and, as is our duty, 
 Far rather let ourfelves be cut to pieces, 
 Than fuffer thee to fall. But if it be 
 
 As 
 
42 THE DEATH OF 
 
 As the Emperor's letter fays, if it be true, 
 That thou in trait'rous wife wilt lead us over 
 To the enemy, which God in heaven forbid ! 
 Then we too will forfake thee, and obey 
 That letter 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Hear me, children ! 
 
 ANSPESSADE. 
 
 Yes, or no ! 
 There needs no other anfwer. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Yield attention. 
 You're men of fenfe, examine for yourfelves ; 
 Ye think, and do not follow with the herd : 
 And therefore have I always fhewn you honour 
 Above all others, fuffer'd you to reafon ; 
 Have treated you as free men, and my orders 
 Were but the echoes of your prior fuff'rage. — 
 
 ANSPESSADE. 
 
 Mod fair and noble has thy conduct been 
 To us, my General ! With thy confidence 
 Thou haft honour'd us, and fhewn us grace and 
 
 favour 
 Beyond all other regiments ; and thou fee'ft 
 We follow not the common herd. We will 
 Stand by thee faithfully. Speak but one word — 
 Thy word (hall fatisfy us, that it is not 
 A treafon which thou meditated — that 
 Thou meanefl not to lead the army over 
 To the enemy j nor e'er betray thy country. 
 
 WAL- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 43 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Me, me, are they betraying. TV Emperor 
 
 Hath facrificed me to my enemies, 
 
 .And I mud fall, unlefs my gallant troops 
 
 Will refcue me. See ! I confide in you. 
 
 And be your hearts my drong hold ! At this bread 
 
 The aim is taken, at this hoary head. 
 
 This is your Spanifh gratitude, this is our 
 
 Requital for that murderous fight at Lutzen ! 
 
 For this we threw the naked bread againd 
 
 The halbert, made for this the frozen earth 
 
 Our bed, and the hard done our pillow ! neve* 
 
 dream 
 Too rapid for us, no wood too impervious; 
 With chearful fpirit we purfued that Mansfield 
 Through all the turns and windings of his flight ; 
 Yea, our whole life was but one redlefs march ; 
 And homelefs, as the dirring wind, we travell'd 
 .O'er the war- waded earth. And now, even now, 
 That we have well nigh finifh'd the hard toil, 
 The unthankful, the curfe-laden toil of weapons, 
 With faithful indefatigable arm 
 Have rqll'd the heavy war-load up the hill, 
 Behold ! this boy of the Emperor's bears away 
 •The honours of the peace, an eafy prize 1 
 He'll weave, forfooth, into his flaxen locks 
 The olive branch, the,hard-eam'd ornament 
 Of this grey head, grown grey beneath the helmet. 
 
 ANSPESSADE. 
 
 That (hall he not, while we can hinder it ! 
 No one, but thou, who had conducted it 
 
 With 
 
44? THE DEATH OF 
 
 With fame, fliall end this war, this frightful war 
 Thou led 'ft us out into the bloody field 
 Of death, thou and no other (halt conduct us home, 
 Rejoicing to the lovely plains of peace — 
 Shalt Chare 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 fee the end 
 Of the con teil I you and me, and all of us, 
 This war will fwallow up ! War, war, not peace, 
 Is Auflria's wifh ; and therefore, becaufe I 
 JEndeavour'd after peace, therefore I fall. 
 For what cares Auftria, how long the war 
 Wears out the armies and lays wafte the world ? 
 She will but wax and grow amid the ruin, 
 And ftill win new domains. 
 [the Ctärajßers expreß agitation by their geßttres.) 
 
 Yc'ie mov'd^— I fee 
 A noble rage flam from your eyes, ye warriors ! 
 Oh that my fpirit might poflefs you now 
 Daring as once it led you to the battle.! 
 Ye would ftand by me with your veteran arms, 
 Protect me in my rights ; and this is noble \ 
 But think not that you can accomplifh it, 
 Your fcanty number! to no purpofe will you 
 Have facrifked you for your General. 
 
 fco nfide n tia 11 y . ) 
 No ! let us tread fecurelv, feek for friends ; 
 The Swedes have proffer'd us affiftance, let us 
 Wear' for a while the appearance of good will, 
 
 And 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 45 
 
 And ufe them for our profit, till we both 
 Cany 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 \ 
 
 ANSPESSADE. 
 
 'Tis then but mere appearances which thou 
 Doft put on with the Swede ? Thou'lt not betray 
 The Emperor ? Wilt not turn us into Swedes ? 
 This is the only thing which we delire 
 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 truft right foon 
 To chafe them to their homes acrofs their Baltic. 
 My cares are only for the whole : I have 
 A heart — it bleeds within me for the miferies 
 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 whifper ye 
 A little word or two in confidence ! 
 See now ! already for full fifteen years 
 The war-torch has continu'd burning, yet 
 No reft, no paufe of conflict. Swede and German ] 
 Papifl and Lutheran ! neither will give way 
 To the other, every hand's againft the other. 
 Each one is party and no one a judge. 
 Where fhall this end ? Where's he that will unravel 
 Xhis tangle, ever tangling more and more. 
 
 It 
 
4(J THE DEATH OF 
 
 It muft be cut afunder. 
 
 I feel that I am the man of deflinv, 
 
 And truft, with your afiiftance, to accompli fh it* 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 To thefe enter Butler. 
 
 butler, (pajfionately.) 
 General ! This is not right ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What is not right ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 It rriuft needs injure us with all honeft men. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 But what \ 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 It is an open proclamation 
 Of infurrecrion. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Well, well — but what is it ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Count Tertfky's regiments tear the Imperial Eagle 
 From off the banners, and inftead of it, 
 Have rear'd aloft thy arms. 
 
 ANSPEssade. (abruptly to the Cuiraßiers.) 
 
 Right about ! March ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Curs'd be this counfel, and accurs'd who gave it ! 
 
 (to the Cuiraßiers, who are retiring. J 
 Halt, children, halt ! There's fome miftake in this ! 
 
 Harkl 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 47 
 
 Hark ! — I will puniih it feverely. Stop ! 
 
 They do not hear, (to Illo.J Go after them, allure 
 
 them, 
 And bring them back to me, coft what it may. 
 
 (Illo hurries out.) 
 This hurls us headlong. Butler ! Butler ! 
 You are my evil genius, wherefore muft you 
 Announce it in their pre fence ? It was all 
 In a fair way. They were half won, thofe madmen. 
 With their improvident over-readinefs — 
 A cruel game is Fortune playing with me. 
 The zeal of friends it is that razes me, 
 And not the hate of enemies. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 To thefe enter the Duchess, zoho ritflies into the 
 Chamber^ Thekla and the Countess fol- 
 low her, 
 
 duchess. 
 
 O Albrecht ! 
 What haft thou done ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 And now comes this befide. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Forgive me, brother ! It was not in my power. 
 They know all. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 What haft thou done ? 
 
 COUNTESS, 
 
48 THE DEATH OF 
 
 countess, (to Tertßy.) 
 Is there no hope ? Is all loft utterly ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 All loft. No hope. Prague in the Emperor's hands. 
 The foldiery have ta'en their oaths anew. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 That lurking hypocrite, O&avio ! 
 Count Max. is off too ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Where can he be ? He's 
 Gone over to the Emperor with his father. 
 (Thekla ruJJies oat into the arms of her mother» 
 hiding her face in her bofom.) 
 
 duchess, {enfolding her in her arms.) 
 Unhappy child"! and more unhappy mother ! 
 
 "wallenstein. ( afide to Tertjky.) 
 Quick ! Let a carriage ftand in readinefs 
 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 haft not brought them back ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Hear'ft thou the uproar ? 
 The whole corps of the Pappenheimers is 
 Drawn out : the younger Piccolomini, 
 Their colonel, they require ; for they affirm, 
 That he is in the palace here, a prifoner ; 
 And if thou doft not inftantly deliver him, 
 r They will find means to free him with the fword. 
 (allßand amazed.) 
 
 3 , TERTSKY. 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 49 
 
 fERTSKY. 
 
 What mall we make of this ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Said I not fo ? 
 
 my prophetic heart ! he is ftill here. 
 
 He has not betray'd me — -he could not betray me. 
 
 1 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. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 It can't be. 
 His father has betray'd us, is gone over 
 To the Emperor— the fon could not have ventur'd 
 To flay behind. 
 
 thekla. (her eye fixed on the door.) 
 
 There he is ! 
 
 SCENE VII. 
 
 To thefe enter Max. Piccolomini. 
 max. 
 Yes ! here he is ! I can endure no longer 
 To creep on tiptoe round this houfe, and lurk 
 In ambulh for a favourable moment. 
 This loitering, this fufpenfe exceeds my powers. 
 (advancing to Thekla, who has thrown herfelfinto 
 her mother's arms.) 
 
 e Turn 
 
50 THE DEATH OF 
 
 Turn not thine eyes away. O look upon me I 
 Confefs it freely before all. Fear no one. 
 Let who will hear that we both love each other. 
 Wherefore continue to conceal it ? Secrecy 
 Is for the happy — mifery, hopelefs mifery, 
 Needeth no veil ! Beneath a thoufand funs 
 It dares aft openly. 
 
 (he ohferves the Countefs looking on Thekla with 
 exprejjions of triumph.) 
 
 • No, Lady ! No ! 
 Expect not, hope it not. I am not come 
 To flay : to bid farewel, farewel for ever, 
 For this I come ! 'Tis over ! I muft leave thee ! 
 Thekla, I muft — muß leave thee ! Yet thy hatred 
 Let me not take with me. I pray thee, grant me 
 One look of fympathy, only one look. 
 Say that thou doft not hate me. Say it to me, 
 Thekla! 
 
 (grafps her hand.) 
 
 God ! I cannot leave this fpot — I cannot I 
 Cannot let go this hand. O tell me, Thekla 1 
 That thou doft fuffer with me, art convinc'd 
 That I can not ad otherwhe. 
 
 (Thekla, avoiding his look, points with her hand 
 to her father. Max. turns round to the Duke* 
 whom ke had not till then perceived.) 
 
 Thou here ? It was not thou, whom here I fought. 
 
 1 trufted never more to have beheld thee. 
 My bufinefs is with her alone. Here will I 
 Receive a full acquittal from this heart — 
 For any other I am no more concern'd. 
 
 W*AL- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 5^ 
 
 WALLENSTEIN'. 
 
 Think'ft thou, that fool-like, I (hall let thee go, 
 And act the mock-magnanimous with thee ? 
 Thy father is become a villain to me ; 
 I hold thee for his fon, and nothing more; 
 Nor to no purpofe (halt thou have been given 
 Into my power. Think not, that I will honour 
 That ancient love, which fo remorfelefsly 
 He mangled. They are now pad by, thofe hours 
 Of friendlhip and forgivenefs. Hate and vengeance 
 Succeed — 'tis now their turn— I too can throw 
 All feelings of the man afide — can prove 
 Myfelf as muchamonfter as thy father ! 
 
 max. (calmly.) 
 Thou wilt proceed with me, as thou haft power. 
 Thou know'ft, I neither brave nor fear thy rage. 
 What hail detain'd me here, that too thou know'ft. 
 
 (taking Thekla by the hand.) 
 See, Duke ! All — all would I have owed to thee, 
 Would have receiv'd from thy paternal hand 
 The lot of bleffed fpirits. This haft thou 
 Laid wafte for ever — that concerns not thee. 
 Indifferent thou trampled: in the duft 
 Their happinefs, who moft are thine. The god 
 Whom thou doft ferve, is no benignant deity. 
 Like as the blind irreconcileable 
 Fierce element, incapable of compact, 
 Thy heart's wild impulfe only doft thou follow *, 
 
 WAL- 
 
 * I have here ventured to omit a confiderable number of 
 ■lines. I fear that I fhould not have done amifs, had I taken 
 
 e 2 this 
 
52 THE DEATH OF 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Thou art defcribing thy own father's heart. 
 The adder ! O, the charms of hell o'erpowerd me. 
 
 He 
 
 this liberty more frequently. It is r however, incumbent on 
 me to give the original with a literal tranflatioru 
 
 Weh denen die auf dich vertraun, an Dich 
 
 Die fichre Hütte ihres Glückes lehnen, 
 
 Gelockt von deiner gaftlichen Geftalt. 
 
 Schnell unver hofft, by nächtlich ftiller Weile 
 
 Gährts in dem tückfcMln Feuerfchlunde, ladet 
 
 Sich aus mit tobender Gervalt, und weg 
 
 Treibt über alle Pflanzunger der Menfchen 
 
 Der wilde Strom in graulender zerftöhrung.. 
 
 WALEENSTEIN. 
 
 Du fchilderft deines Vaters Herz. Wie Du's 
 Befchreibft, fo ifts in feinem Eingeweide,, 
 In diefer fchwarzen Heuchlers Bruft geftaltet. 
 O mich hat Höllenkunft getäufcht. Mir fandte 
 Der Abgrund den verfleckteften der Geifter, 
 Den Lügekundigften herauf, und {teilt* ihn 
 Als Freund an meine Seite. Wer vermag 
 Der Hölle Macht zu widerftehn ! Ich zog 
 Den Bafilifken auf an meinem Bufen, 
 Mit meinem Herzblut nährt ich ihn, er fog 
 Sich fchwelgend voll an meiner Liebe Brüfleny 
 Ich hatte nimmer Arges gegen ihn, 
 Weit offen liefs ich des Gedankens Thore, 
 Und warft die SchlüiTel weifer Vorficht weg» 
 Am Sternenhimmel, &c. 
 
 Literal Translation. 
 Alas ! for thofe who place their confidence on thee, agairtft 
 thee lean the fecure hut of their fortune, allured by thy hof- 
 pitable form. Suddenly, unexpectedly, in a moment (till as 
 night, there is a fermentation in the treacherous gulf of 
 f-re ; it difcharges itfelf with raging force, and x away over 
 
 all 
 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 5 
 
 o 
 
 He dwelt within me, to my inmoft foul 
 
 Still to and fro he pafs'd, fufpe&ed never ! 
 
 On the wide ocean, in the ftarry heaven 
 
 Did mine eyes feek the enemy, whom I 
 
 In my heart's heart had folded ! Had I been 
 
 To Ferdinand what Odavio was to me, 
 
 War had I ne'er denounc'd againft him. No, 
 
 I never could have done it. The Emp'ror was 
 
 My auftere mailer 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 
 
 Unceafing war 'twixt cunning and fufpicion ; 
 
 Peace exifts only betwixt confidence 
 
 And faith. Who poifons confidence, he murders 
 
 The future generations. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 I will not 
 Defend my father. Woe is me, I cannot ! 
 Hard deeds andlucklefs have ta'en place, one crime 
 
 all the plantations of men drives the wild ftream in fright- 
 ful devaftation. Wall en stein. Thou art portraying thy 
 father's heart, as thou defcribeft, even fo is it lhaped in his 
 entrails, in this black hypocrite's breaft. O, the art of hell 
 has deceiv'd me ! The Abyfs fent up to me the molt fpotted 
 of the fpirits, the moft fkilful in lies, and placed him as a 
 friend at my fide. Who may withftand the power of hell ? 
 I took the bafilifk to my bofom, with my heart's blood I 
 nourifhed him ; he fucked himfelf glut-full at the breafts of 
 ly love. I never harboured evil towards him j wide open 
 lid I leave the door of my thoughts; I threw, away the key 
 )f wife forefight. In the ftarry heaven, &c. — We find a diffi- 
 :ulty in believing this to have been written by Schiller. 
 
 e 3 Drags 
 
54? THE DEATH OF 
 
 Drags after it the other in clofe link, 
 
 But we are innocent : how have we fallen 
 
 Into this circle of mif-hapand guilt ? 
 
 To whom have we been faithlefs ? Wherefore muft 
 
 The evil deeds and guilt reciprocal 
 
 Of our two fathers twine like ferpents rounds us ? 
 
 Why muft our fathers' 
 Unconquerable hate rend us afunder, 
 Who love each other ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Max. remain with me. 
 Go you not from me, Max ! Hark ! I will tell 
 
 thee — 
 How when at Prague, our winter quarters, thou 
 Wert brought into my tent a tender boy, 
 Not yet accuftom'd to the German winters ; 
 Thy hand was frozen to the heavy colours j 
 Thou would'ft not let them go — 
 At that time did I take thee in my arms, 
 And with my mantle did I cover thee : 
 I was thy nurfe, no woman could have been 
 A kinder to thee ; I was not afliam'd 
 To do for thee all little offices, 
 However ftrange to me ; I tended thee 
 Till life return 'd ; and when thine eyes firft open'd, 
 I had thee in my arms. Since then, when have I 
 Alter'd my feelings towards thee ? Many thoufands 
 Have I made rich, prefented them with lands ; 
 Rewarded them with dignities and honours; 
 Thee have I lo'v'd : my heart, my felf, I gave 
 
 To 
 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 55 
 
 To thee \ They all were aliens : thou wert 
 Our child and inmate *. Max. ! Thou can'ft not 
 
 leave me , 
 It cannot be ; I may not, will not think 
 That Max. can leave me. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 O my God ! 
 
 WALXENSTEIN. 
 
 I have 
 Held and fuftain'd thee from thy tott'ring child- 
 hood. 
 What holy bond is there of natural love ? 
 What human tie, that does not knit thee to me ? 
 I love thee, Max ! What did thy father for thee, 
 Which I too have not done, to the height of duty ? 
 Go hence, forfake me, ferve thy Emperor; 
 He will reward thee with a pretty chain 
 Of gold ; with his ram's fleece will he reward thee ; 
 For that the friend, the father of thy youth, 
 For that the holieft feeling of humanity, 
 Was nothing worth to thee. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 O God ! How can I 
 Do otherwife ? Am I not forc'd to do it ? 
 My oath— my duty — honour — 
 
 * This is a poor and inadequate tranflation of the affec- 
 tionate fimplicity of the original— 
 
 Sie alle waren Fremdlinge, Du warft 
 
 Das kind des Haufes. 
 
 Indeed the whole fpeech is in the beft ftyle of Maflinger. 
 O fi fie omnia ! 
 
 E 4 WAL- 
 
56 THE DEATH OF 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 How ? Thy duty 2 
 Duty to whom? Who art thou ? Max ! bethink 
 
 thee 
 What duties may'ft thou have ? If I am acting 
 A criminal part toward the Emperor, 
 It is my crime, not thine. Doft thou belong 
 To thine own felf ? Art thou thine own com- 
 mander ? 
 Stand'ft thou, like me, a freeman in the world, 
 That in thy actions thou fhould'ft plead free 
 
 agency ? 
 On me thou 'rt planted, I am thy Emperor j 
 To obey me> to belong to me, this is 
 Thy honour, this a law of nature to thee ! 
 And if the planet, on the which thou liv'ft 
 And haft thy dwelling, from its orbit flarts, 
 It is not in thy choice, whether or no 
 Thou'lt follow it. Unfelt it whirls thee onward 
 Together with his ring and all his moons. 
 With little guilt ftepp'ft thou into this conteft, 
 Thee will the world not cenfure, it will praife 
 
 thee, 
 For that thou heldft thy friend more worth to thee 
 Than names and influences more remov'd. 
 For juftice is the virtue of the ruler, 
 Affecrion and fidelity the fubjecVs. 
 Not every one doth it befeem to queftion 
 The far-off high Arcturus. Moft fecurely 
 Wilt thou purfue the neareft; duty — let 
 The pilot fix his eye upon the pole-flar» 
 
 SCENE 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 57 
 
 SCENE VII. 
 
 To thefe enter Neumann. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What now ? 
 
 NEUMANN. 
 
 The Pappenheimers are difmounted, 
 And are advancing now on foot, determin'd 
 With fword in hand to ftorm the houfe, and free 
 The Count, their colonel. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. {to Tertflcy?) 
 
 Have the cannon planted. 
 J will receive them with chain-fhot. 
 
 [Exit Tertjkj. 
 Frefcribe to me with fword in hand ! Go, Neurj 
 
 mann ! 
 'Tis my command that they retreat this moment, 
 And in their ranks in filence wait my pleafure. 
 
 [Neumann exit. Illoßeps to the window. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Let him go, I entreat thee, let him go. 
 
 illo. [at the windoxv.) 
 Hell and perdition ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What is it ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 They fcale the council -houfe,. the roof's uncover'd, 
 They level at this houfe the cannon 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Madmen ! 
 
 , ILLO. 
 
 They are making preparations now to fire on us. 
 
 DUCHESS 
 
58 THE DEATH OF 
 
 DUCHESS AND COUNTESS. 
 
 Merciful Heaven ! 
 
 max. {to Wallenßein.) 
 
 Let me go to them F 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Not a ftep ! 
 
 max. (pointing to Thekla and the Duchefs, 
 But their life ! Thine ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What tidings bring'ft thou, Tertfky ? 
 
 SCENE VIII. 
 To thefe Tertsky (returning.) 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Meffage and greeting from our faithful reg'ments. 
 Their ardour may no longer be curb'd in. 
 They intreat permiflion to commence th' attack, 
 And if thou would'ft but give the word of onfet, 
 They could now charge the enemy in rear, 
 Into the city wedge them, and with eafe 
 O'erpower them in the narrow ftreets, 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 O come ! 
 Let not their ardour cool. The foldiery 
 Of Butler's corps fland by us faithfully ; 
 We are the greater number. Let us charge them, 
 And finifh here in Pilfen the revolt. 
 
 WAL- 
 
WALLENSTEIN, 59 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What ? fhall this town become a field of 
 
 ilaughter, 
 And brother-killing Difcord, fire-eyed, 
 Be let lofe through its ftreets to roam and rage ? 
 Shall the deciiion be deliver'd over 
 To deaf remorfelefs Rage, that hears po leader ? 
 Here is not room for battle, only for butchery. 
 Well, let it be ! I have long thought of it, 
 So let it burft then ! 
 
 (turns to Max.) 
 Well, how is it with thee ? 
 Wilt thou attempt a heat with me. Away I 
 Thou art free to go. Oppofe thyfelf to me, 
 Front againft front, and lead them to the battle ; 
 Thou'rt fkill'd in war, thou haft learn'd fomewhat 
 
 under me, 
 I need not be afham'd of my opponent, 
 And never hadft thou fairer opportunity 
 To pay me for thy fchooling. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Is it then, 
 Can it have come to this ? — What ! Coufin, 
 
 Coufin ! 
 Have you the heart ? 
 
 MAX. 
 
 The regiments that are trufted to my care 
 
 I have pledg'd my troth to bring away from 
 
 Pilfen 
 True to the Emperor, and this promife will I 
 Make good, or perim. More than this no duty 
 Requires of me. I will not fight againft thee, 
 
 Unlefs 
 
eO THE DEATH OF 
 
 Unlefs compell'd ; for though an enemy, 
 » Thy head is holy to me ftill. 
 
 (Two reports of cannon, Illo and Tertjky 
 hurry to the window.) 
 
 WALLENSTEIN". 
 
 What's that?, 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 He falls. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Falls! Who! 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Tiefenbach's corps 
 Difcharg'd the ordnance. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Upon whom ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 On Neumann, 
 Your meflenger. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN, (fiartillg tip.) 
 
 Ha ! Death and hell ! I will — 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Expofe thyfelf to their blind frenzy ? 
 
 DUCHESS AND COUNTESS. 
 
 No! 
 For God's fake, No ! 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Not yet, my General ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 O, hold him ! hold him ! 
 
 WAL- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 61 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Leave me 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Do it not ; 
 Not yet ! This rafh and bloody deed has thrown 
 
 them 
 Into a frenzy-fit — allow them time 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Away ! too long already have I loiter'd» 
 They are embolden'd to thefe outrages, 
 Beholding not my face. They fhall behold 
 
 My countenance, fhall hear my voice 
 
 Are they not my troops ? Am I not their General, 
 
 And their long-fear'd commander ? Let me fee, 
 
 Whether indeed they do no longer know 
 
 That countenance, which was their fun in battle ! 
 
 From the balcony, (mark !) I fhew myfelf 
 
 To thefe rebellious forces, and at once 
 
 Revolt is mounded, and the high-fwoln current 
 
 Shrinks back into the old bed of obedience. 
 
 [Exit Wallenßein ; Illo, Tertjky, and Butler 
 follow. 
 
 SCENE IX. 
 
 Countess, Duchess, Max. and Thekla. 
 
 countess, (to the Duchefs.) 
 Let them but fee him — there is hope ftill, filler. 
 
 duchess. - 
 
 Hope • * have none 1 
 
 3 max. 
 
62 THE DEATH OF 
 
 max. (who during the laß fcene has been fand-» 
 ing at a diflance in a mfible firuggle of feelings, 
 advances. ) 
 
 This can I not endure. 
 With moft determin'd foul did I come hither, 
 My purpos'd action feem'd unblameable 
 To my own confcience — and I mull (land here 
 Like one abhorr'd, a hard inhuman being; 
 Yea, loaded with the curfe of all I love ! 
 Muft fee all whom I love in this fore anguifh, 
 Whom I with one word can make happy — O ! 
 My heart revolts within me, and two voices 
 Make themfelves audible within my bofom. 
 My foul's benighted ; I no longer can 
 DiftinguiQi the right track. O, well and truly 
 Didft thou fay, father, I relied too much 
 On my own heart. My mind moves to and fro — 
 I know not what to do. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 What ! you know not ? 
 Does not your own heart tell you ? O ! then I 
 Will tell it you. Your father is a traitor, 
 A frightful traitor to us — he has plotted 
 Againft our General's life, has plung'd us all 
 In mifery — and you're his foil ! 'Tis your's 
 To make the amends — Make you the foil's 
 
 fidelity 
 Outweigh the father's treafon, that the nam® 
 Of Piccolomini be not a proverb 
 Of infamy, a common form of curling 
 To the pofterity of Wallenftein. 
 
 c MAX. 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 63 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Where Is that voice of truth which I dare follow ? 
 It fpeaks no longer in my heart. We all 
 But utter what our paflionate wifties dictate. 
 
 that an angel would defcend from Heaven, 
 And fcoop for me the right, the uncorrupted, 
 With a pure hand from the pure Fount of Light. 
 
 (His eyes glance on Thekla.) 
 What other angel feek I ? To this heart, 
 To this unerring heart, will I fubmit it, 
 Will afk thy love, which has the power to blefs 
 The happy man alone, averted ever 
 From the difquieted and guilty — carffi thou 
 Still love me, if I flay ? Say that thou can'ft, 
 And I am the Duke's 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Think, niece — — i 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Think nothing, Thekla i 
 Speak what thou fee lefl. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Think upon your father. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 1 did not queftion thee, as Friedland's daughter. 
 Thee, the beloved, and the unerring god 
 Within thy heart, I queftion. What's at flake ? 
 Not whether diadem of royalty 
 
 Be to be won or no — that might'ft thou think on. 
 Thy friend, and his foul's quiet, are at flake ; 
 The fortune of a thoufand gallant men, 
 
 Who will all follow me ; fhall I forfwear 
 
 My 
 
64t THE DEATH OF 
 
 My oath and duty to the Emperor ? 
 Say, (hall I fend into Octavio's camp 
 The parricidal ball ? For when the ball 
 Has left its cannon, and is on its flight, 
 It is no longer a dead inftrument ; 
 It lives, a fpirit paffes into it, 
 The avengiag furies feize poffeflion of it, 
 And with fure malice guide it the, worft way. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 O! Max.- 
 
 max. (interrupting her.) 
 Nay, not precipitately either, Thekla. 
 I underfland thee. To thy noble heart 
 The hardefl duty might appear the higheft. 
 The human, not the great part, would I acr. 
 Ev'n from my childhood to this prefent hour, 
 Think what the Duke has done for me, how lov'd 
 
 me, 
 And think too, how my father has repay'd him.. 
 O likewile the free lovely impulfes 
 Of hofpitality, the pious friend's 
 Faithful attachment, thefe too are a holy 
 Religion to the heart ; and heavily 
 The (hudderings of nature do avenge 
 Themfelves on the barbarian that infults them. 
 Lay all upon the balance, all — then fpeak, 
 And let thy heart decide it. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 O, thy own 
 Hath long ago decided. Follow -thou 
 Thy heart's firft feeling 
 
 COUN- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 65 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Oh ! ill-fated woman ! 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Is it poflible, that that can be the right, 
 The which thy tender heart did not at flrft 
 Detect and feize with inftant impulfe ? Go, 
 Fulfil thy duty ! I Ihould ever love thee. 
 What e'er thou hadft chofen, thou would'ft Hill 
 
 have acted 
 Nobly and worthy of thee — but repentance 
 Shall ne'er difturb thy foul's fair peace. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Then I 
 Muft leave thee, muft part from thee ! 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Being faithful 
 
 To thine own felf, thou art faithful too to me ; 
 
 If our fates part, our hearts remain united. 
 
 A bloody hatred will divide for ever 
 
 The houfes Piccolomini and Friedland ; 
 
 But we belong not to our houfes — Go ! 
 
 Quick ! quick ! and feparate thy righteous caufe 
 
 From our unholy and unblefsed one ! 
 
 The curfe of heaven lies upon our head : 
 
 'Tis dedicate to ruin. Even me 
 
 My father's guilt drags with it to perdition. 
 
 Mourn not for me : 
 
 My defliny will quickly be decided. 
 
 (Max. clafps her in his arms in extreme emotion. 
 There is heard from behind the Scene a loud, 
 wild, long continued cry. Vivat Ferdi- 
 
 F NANDUS, 
 
THE DEATH OP 
 
 I? and its, accompanied by warlike Infiruments. 
 Max. and Thekla remain without motion in 
 each others embraces.) 
 
 SCENE X. 
 To thefe enter Tertsky. 
 
 countess, (meeting him.) 
 What meant that cry ? What was it ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 All is loft ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 What ! they regarded not his countenance ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 s Twas all in vain. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 yhey ihouted Vivat ! 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 To the Emperor* 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 The traitors ! 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Nay ! he was not once permitted 
 Even to addrefs them. Soon as he began, 
 With deafening noife of warlike infiruments 
 They drown'd his words. But here he comes. 
 
 SCENE 
 
WALLLENSTEIN. 67 
 
 SCENE XI. 
 
 To thefe enter Wallenstein, accompanied by 
 
 Illo and Butler. 
 
 wallenstein, {as he enters.) 
 
 Tertiky ! 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 My General ? 
 
 wallenstein. 
 Let our regiments hold themfelves 
 In readinefs to march , for we mail leave 
 Pilfen ere evening. [Exit Tertfky. 
 
 Butler! 
 
 butler. 
 
 Yes, my General. 
 wallenstein. 
 The Governor at Egra is- your friend 
 And countryman. Write to him inftantly 
 By a Poft Courier. He mud be advis'd, 
 That we are with him early on the morrow. 
 You follow us yourfelf, your regiment with you. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 It mail be done, my General ! 
 
 wallenstein, {fleps between Max, andThekla, 
 
 who have remained during this time in each 
 
 others arms.) 
 
 Part! 
 
 MAX. 
 
 O God 1 
 
 (Cuirajfiers enter with drawn /words, and 
 
 ajfemble in the back-ground. At the fame 
 
 time there are heard from below fome fpirited 
 
 paffages out of the Pappenheim March, which 
 
 feem to addrefs Max.) 
 
 F 2, WAL- 
 
68 THE DEATH OF 
 
 wallenstein, (to the Cuirajfiers) 
 Here he is, he is at liberty : I keep him 
 No longer. 
 
 {He turns away, and fiands Jo that Max. cannot 
 pafs by him nor approach the Princefs. ) 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Thou know'ft that I have not yet learnt to live 
 
 Without thee ! I go forth into a defart, 
 
 Leaving my all behind me. O do not turn 
 
 Thine eyes away from me ! O once more mew me 
 
 Thy ever dear and honour'd countenance. 
 
 (Max. attempts to take his hand, but is repelled ; 
 
 he turns to the Countefs.) 
 
 Is there no eye that has a look of pity for me ? 
 
 (The Countefs turns away from him ; he turns to 
 
 the Due lief s.) 
 My mother ! 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Go where duty calls you. Haply 
 The time may come, when you may prove to us 
 A true friend, a good Angel at the throne 
 Of the Emperor. 
 
 MAX. 
 
 You give me hope ; you would not 
 Suffer me wholly to defpair. No ! No ! 
 Mine is a certain mifery — Thanks to heaven 
 That offers me a means of ending it. 
 ( The military mufic begins again. The fiage fills 
 
 more and more zvith armed men. Max. fees 
 
 Butler, and addreß'es him.) 
 And you here, Colonel Butler — and will you 
 Not follow me ? Well, then ! remain more faithful 
 
 To 
 

 WALLENSTEIN. 69 
 
 To your new lord, than you have prov'djourfelf 
 To the Emperor. Come, Butler ' promife me, 
 Give me your hand upon it, that you'll be 
 The guardian of his life, its fhield, its watchman. 
 He is attainted, and his princely head 
 Fair booty for each Have that trades in murder. 
 Now he doth need the faithful eye of friendmip, 
 And thofe whom here I fee — 
 
 (cajling fufpicious looks on Illo and Butler) 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Go — feek for traitors 
 In Galas', in your father's quarters. Here 
 Is only one. Away ! away ! and free us 
 From his detefted fight ! Away ! 
 [Max. attempts once more to approach Thekla. 
 Wallenfiein prevents him. Max. fiands irrefo- 
 lute, and in apparent anguijli. In the mean time 
 the flage fills more and more ; and the horns 
 found from below louder and louder, and each 
 time after afiiortev interval.) 
 
 MAX. 
 
 Blow, blow ! O were it but the Swedifh Trumpets, 
 And all the naked fwords, which I fee here, 
 Were plunged into my bread ! What purpofe you ? 
 You come to tear me from this place ! Beware, 
 Ye drive me not to defperation.— Do it not ! 
 Ye may repent it ! 
 
 {thefiage is entirely fill 'd with armed men.) 
 Yet more ! weight upon weight to drag me down ! 
 Think what ye're doing. It is not well done 
 To choofe a man defpairing for your leader; 
 
 f 3 You 
 
70 THE DEATH OF 
 
 You tear me from my happinefs. Well, then, 
 I dedicate your fouls to vengeance. Mark ! 
 For your own ruin you have chofen me : 
 Who goes with me, mull be prepar'd to perifli. 
 {He turns to the back-ground, there enfues a 
 fudden and violent movement among the 
 Cuiraffiers ; they fur round him, and carry him 
 off in wild tumult. Wallenfiein remains im- 
 moveable. Thekla finks into her mother's arms. 
 The curtain falls, The mufic becomes loud 
 and overpowering, and paffes into a complete 
 war-march — the orchefira joins it — and conti- 
 nues during the interval between thefecond and 
 third Act.) 
 
 ACT 
 
UV 
 
 WALLENSTEIX, 71 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 i 
 
 $cene, the Burgomaßer* s Houfe at Egra. 
 
 . SCENE I. 
 
 butler, (jufi arrived.) 
 
 Here then he is, by his deftiny conduced. 
 Here, Friedland ! and no farther ! From Bohemia 
 Thy meteor rofe, travers'd the fky awhile, 
 And here upon the borders of Bohemia 
 Muft fink. 
 
 Thou haft forfworn the ancient colours, 
 Blind man ! yet trufteft to thy ancient fortunes. 
 Profaner of the altar and the hearth, 
 Againft thy Emperor and fellow-citizens 
 Thou mean' ft to wage the war. Friedland, be-» 
 
 ware^ — 
 The evil fpirit of revenge impels thee — 
 Beware thou, that revenge deftroy thee not I 
 
 SCENE II. 
 Butler and Gordon,; 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Is it you ? 
 
 How my heart finks ! The Duke a fugitive traitor ! 
 
 His princely head attainted I Q my God ! 
 
 >4 BVT&ER« 
 
/72 THE DEATH Of 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 You have receiv'd the letter which I fent you 
 By a poft- courier. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Yes ! and in obedience to it 
 Open'd the flrong hold to him without fcruple. 
 For an imperial letter orders me 
 To follow your commands implicitly. 
 But yet forgive me ; when even now I faw 
 The Duke himfelf, my fcruples recommenced. 
 For truly, not like an attainted man, 
 Into this town did Friedland make his entrance ; 
 His wonted Majefty beam'd from his brow, 
 And calm, as in the days when all was right, 
 Did he receive from me the accounts of office ; 
 'Tis faid, that fallen pride learns condefcenfion : 
 But fparing and with dignity the Duke 
 Weigh'd every fyllable of approbation, 
 As matters praife a fervant who has done 
 His duty, and no more. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 'Tis all precifely 
 As I related in my letter. Friedland 
 Has fold the army to the enemy, 
 And pledg'd himfelf to give up Prague and Egra. 
 On this report the regiments all forfook him, 
 The five excepted that belong to Tertfky, 
 And which have follow'd him, v as thou haft feen. 
 The fentence of attainder is pafs'd on him, 
 
 c- ■■ And 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 73 
 
 And every loyal fubject is required 
 
 To give him in to juftice, dead or living. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 A traitor to the Emperor — Such a noble 1 
 
 Of fuch high talents ! What is human greatnefs ! 
 
 I often faid, this can't end happily. 
 
 His might, his greatnefs, and this obfcure power 
 
 Are but a cover'd pit-fall. The human being 
 
 May not be trufted to felf-government. 
 
 The clear and written law, the deep trod foot-marks 
 
 Of ancient cuftom, are all neceflary 
 
 To keep him in the road of faith and duty. 
 
 The authority entrufted to this man 
 
 Was unexampl'd and unnatural, 
 
 It plac'd him on a level with his Emperor, 
 
 Till the proud foul unlearn'd fubmiffion. Wo is 
 
 me; 
 I mourn for him ! for where he fell, I deem 
 Might none ftand firm. Alas ? dear General, 
 We in our lucky mediocrity 
 Have ne'er experienc'd, cannot calculate, 
 What dangerous wifhes fuch a height may breed 
 In the heart of fuch a man. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Spare your laments 
 Till he need fympathy ; for at this prefent 
 He is {till mighty, and ftill formidable. 
 The Swedes advance to Egraby forc'd marches, 
 And quickly will the junction be accomplifh'd. 
 This mull not be ! The Duke muft never leave 
 
 This 
 
74 THE DEATH OF 
 
 This ftrong hold on free footing ; for I have 
 Pledg'd life and honour here to hold him prisoner, 
 And your amftance 'tis on which I calculate. 
 
 GORDON. ' 
 
 O that I had not liv'd to fee this day ! 
 From his hand I receiv'd this dignity, 
 He did himfelf entrufl this flronghold to me, 
 Which I am now requir'd to make his dungeon. 
 We fubalterns have no will of our own : 
 The free, the mighty man alone may liften 
 To the fair impulfe of his human nature. 
 Ah ! we are but the poor tools of the law, 
 Obedience the fole virtue we dare aim at ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Nay, let it not afflict you, that your power 
 Is circumfcrib'd. Much liberty, much error t 
 The narrow path of duty is fecureft. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 And all then have deferted him, you fay ? 
 He has built up the luck of many thoufands, 
 For kingly was his fpirit : his full hand 
 Was ever open ! Many a one from duft 
 (with a fide glarice on Butler.) 
 Hath he felefted, from the very duft; 
 Hath rais'd him into dignity and honour. 
 And yet no friend, not one friend hath he purchas'd, 
 Whofe heart beats true to him in the evil hour. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Here's one, I fee 
 
 G^DR* 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 75 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 I have enjoy 'd from him 
 No grace or favour. I could almofl doubt, 
 If ever in his greatnefs he once thought on 
 An old friend of his youth. For ftill my office 
 Kept me at diftance from him ; and when firft 
 He to this citadel appointed me, 
 He was lincere and ferious in his duty. 
 I do not then abufe his confidence, 
 If I preferve my fealty in that 
 Which to my fealty was firft deliver'd, 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Say, then, will you fulfil th' attainder on him ? 
 
 Gordon, (paufes reflecting — then as in deep 
 
 dejection.) 
 If it be fo — if all be as you fay — 
 If he've betray'd the Emperor, his mafter, 
 Have fold the troops, have purpos'd to deliver 
 The ftrong holds of the country to the enemy — 
 Yea, truly ! — there is no redemption for him ! — 
 Yet it is hard, that me the lot mould deftine 
 To be the inftrument of his perdition ; 
 For we were pages at the court of Bergau 
 At the fame period - 3 but I was the fenior. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 I have heard fo — — 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 'Tis full thirty years fince then. 
 A youth who fcarce had feen his twentieth year 
 Was Wallenftein, when he and I were friends : 
 
 4 Yet 
 
70 THE DEATH OF 
 
 Yet even then he had a daring foul : 
 His frame of mind was ferious and fevere 
 Beyond his years ; his dreams were of great ob- 
 jects. 
 He walk'd amidfl us of a filent fpirit, 
 Communing with himfelf: yet I have known him 
 Tranfported on a fudden into utterance 
 Of ftrange conceptions -, kindling into fplendour 
 His foul reveal'd itfelf, and he (pake fo 
 That we look'd round perplex'd upon each other, 
 Not knowing whether it were crazinefs, 
 Or whether 't were a god that fpoke in him. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 But was it where he fell two ftory high 
 
 From a window-ledge, on which he had fallen 
 
 afleep ; 
 And rofe up free from injury ? From this day 
 (It is reported) he betray'd clear marks 
 Of a diflemper'd fancy. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 He became 
 Doubtlefs more felf-enwrapt and melancholy ; 
 He made himfelf a Catholic. Marvelloufly 
 His marvellous prefervation had transform'd him. 
 Thenceforth he held himfelf for an exempted 
 And privileg'd being, and, as if he were 
 Incapable of dizzinefs or fall, 
 He ran along the unfleady rope of life. 
 But now our deftinies drove us afunder : 
 He pac'd with rapid ftep the way of greatnefs, 
 
 Was 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 77 
 
 Was Count, and Prince, Duke regent, and Dic- 
 tator. 
 And now is all, all this too little for him ; 
 He ftretches forth his hands for a king's crown, 
 And plunges in unfathomable ruin. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 No more, he comes. 
 
 SCENE JII. 
 
 To thefe enter Wallenstein, in converfation 
 with the Burgomaster of Egra. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 You were at one time a free town. I fee, 
 Ye bear the half eagle in your city arms. 
 Why the half eagle only ? 
 
 burgomaster. 
 
 We were free, 
 But for thefe laft two hundred years has Egra 
 Remain'd in pledge to the Bohemian crown, 
 Therefore we bear the half eagle, the other half 
 Being cancelPd till the empire ranfom us, 
 If ever that mould be. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Ye merit freedom. 
 Only be firm and dauntlefs. Lend your ears 
 To no defigning whifpering court-minions. 
 What may your impofts be ? 
 
 BÜRGO- 
 
7Ä THE DEATH OP 
 
 BURGOMASTER. 
 
 So heavy that 
 We totter under them. The garrifon 
 Lives at our cofls. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 I will relieve you. Tell me, 
 There are fome Proteftants among you ftill ? 
 
 (The Burgomafler heßtates.) 
 Yes, yes ; I know it. Many lie conceaTd 
 Within thefe walls — Confefs now — you yourfelf-— 
 {Fixes his eye on him. The Burgomafler alarm' d.) 
 Be not alarm'd. I hate the Jefuits. 
 Could my will have determin'd it, they had 
 Been long ago expell'd the empire. Truft me — 
 Mafs-book or bible — 'tis all one to me. 
 Of that the world has had fufficient proof. 
 I built a church for the reform'd in Glogan 
 At my own inftance. Hark'e, Burgomafler ! 
 What is your name. 
 
 BURGOMASTER. 
 
 Pachhälbel, may it pleafe you. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Hark'e! 
 
 But let it go no further, what I now 
 Difclofe to you in confidence. 
 
 (Laying his hand on the Burgomafler* s ßoulder 
 with a certain folemnity.) 
 
 The times 
 Draw near to their fulfilment, Burgomafler ! 
 The high will fall, the low will be exalted. 
 Hark'e ! But keep it to yourfelf! The end 
 
 Approaches 
 

 WALLENSTEIN. 79 
 
 Approaches of the Spanilh double monarchy — 
 A new arrangement is at hand. You faw 
 The three moons that appear'd at once in the 
 Heaven. 
 
 BURGOMASTER. 
 
 With wonder and affright ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Whereof did two 
 Strangely transform themfelves to bloody daggers, 
 And only one, the middle moon, remain'd 
 Steady and clear. 
 
 BURGOMASTER. 
 
 We applied it to the Turks. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 The Turks ! That all ?— I tell you, that two 
 
 empires 
 Will fet in blood, in the Eaft and in the Weft, 
 And Luth'ranifm alone remain. 
 
 (obferving Gordon and Butler.) 
 
 I'faith, 
 'Twas a fmart cannonading that we heard 
 This evening, as we journey'd hitherward ; 
 'Twas on our left hand. Did you hear it here ? 
 
 GORBON. 
 
 Diftinctly. The wind brought it from the South. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 It feem'd to come from Weiden or from Neuftadt. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 'Tis likely. That's the route the Swedes are taking. 
 How ftrong is the garrifon ? 
 
 GORDON 
 
80 THE DEATH OF 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Not quite two hundred 
 Competent men, the reft are invalids. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Good ! And how many in the vale of Jochim. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Two hundred Arquebuffiers have I fent thither 
 To fortify the pofts againft the Swedes. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Good! I commend your forefight. At the works 
 
 too , 
 
 You have done fomewhat ? 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Two additional batteries 
 I caused to be run up. They were needlefs. 
 The Rhine- Grave preffes hard upon us, General ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 You have been watchful in your Emperor's fervice. 
 I am content with you, Lieutenant-Colonel. 
 
 {to Butler.) 
 Releafe the outpofts in the vale of Jochim 
 With all the flations in the enemy's route. 
 
 {to Gordon,) 
 Governor, in your faithful hands I leave 
 My wife, my daughter, and my fitter. I 
 Shall make no flay here, and wait but the arrival 
 Of letters, to take leave of you, together 
 With all the regiments. 
 
 SCENE 
 
WÄLLEtfSTEItt. 81 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 To thefe enter Count Tertsky. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 joy, General ; joy ! I bring you welcome tidings. 
 
 WALLENSTElNk 
 
 And what may they be ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 There has been an engagement 
 At Neuftadt ; the Swedes gain'd the viftory. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 From whence did you receive the intelligence ? 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 A countryman from TirfchenfeÜ convey'd it. 
 Soon after fun rife did the fight begin ! 
 A troop of the Imperialists from FachaU 
 Had forc'd their way into the Swedifh camp j 
 The cannonade continued full two hours j 
 There were left dead upon the field ä thoufand 
 Imperialifts together, with their Colonel j 
 Further than this he did not know: 
 
 wallenstein; 
 
 How earner 
 
 Imperial troops at Neuftadt ? Altringer 
 But yefterday, ftood fixty miles from there. 
 Count Galas' force colle&s at Frauenberg, 
 And have not the full complement. Is it poffible, 
 That Suys perchance had ventur'd fo far onward ? 
 It cannot be. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 We fhail foon know the whole, 
 For here comes Illo, full of hafte, and joyous. 
 
 g SCENE 
 
82 THE DEATH OF 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 To tkefe enter Illo. 
 
 illo. (to Wallenfiein.) 
 
 A courier, Duke ! he wifhes to fpeak with thee. 
 
 tertsky. (eagerly.) 
 Does he bring confirmation of the victory ? 
 
 wallenstein, {at the fame time.) 
 What does he bring ? Whence comes he ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 From the Rhine-grave. 
 And what he brings I can announce to you 
 Before hand. Seven leagues diftant are the Swedes; 
 At Neuftadt did Max. Piccolomini 
 Throw himfelf on them wilh the cavalry; 
 A murd'rous fight took place ; o'erpower'd by 
 
 numbers 
 The Pappenheimers all, with Max« their leader, 
 
 (Wallenfiein Jhudders and turns pale.) 
 Were left dead on the field. 
 
 wallenstein, (after a paufe in a low voice.) 
 Where is the meffenger ? Conduct me to him. 
 (Wallenfiein is going, token Lady Neubrunn 
 
 ruflies into the room. Some ferv ants follow her 
 
 and run acrofs the fiage.) , 
 
 neubrunn. 
 Help! Help! 
 
 illo and tertsky. (at the fame time .) 
 
 What now ? 
 
 2 NEU- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 83 
 
 NEUBRUNN; 
 
 The Princefs !■— < 
 
 WALLENSTEIN and TERTSKY. 
 
 Does fhe know it ? 
 
 Neubrunn, (at the fame time with them.) 
 She is dying ! (hurries off 'the ßage, and Wallen- 
 flein and T er tßy follow her.) 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 Butler and Gordon. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 What's this ? 
 
 BUTLRR. 
 
 She has loft the man (he lov'd — - 
 Young Piccolomini who fell in the battle. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Unfortunate Lady i 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 You have heard what Illo 
 Reporteth, that the Swedes are conquerors, 
 And marching hitherward. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Too well I heard it. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 They are twelve regiments ftrong, and there are 
 
 five 
 Clofe by us to proted the Duke. We have 
 Only my fingle regiment j and the garrifon 
 Is not two hundred ftrong. 
 
 G 2 GOR- 
 
84« THE DEATH OF 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 'Tis even fo. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 It is not poflible with fuch fmall force 
 To hold in cuftody a man like him. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 I grant it. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Soon the numbers would difarm us, 
 And liberate him. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 It were to be fear'd. 
 
 butler, (after a paufe.J 
 Know, I am warranty for the event ; 
 With my head have I pledg'd myfelf for his, 
 Muft make my word good, coll it what it will, 
 And if alive we cannot hold him prifoner, 
 Why — death makes all things certain ! 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Butler! What? 
 Do I underfland you ? Gracious God ! You could — 
 
 BUTLER* 
 
 He muft not live. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 And you can do the deed ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Either you or L This morning was his laft, 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 You would äffaffinate him ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 'Tis my purpofc. 
 
 GOR- 
 
WALLENSTEIN; 85 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Who leans with his whole confidence upon you ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Such is his evil deftiny ! 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Your General ! 
 The facred perfon of your General j 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 My General he has been. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 That 'tis only 
 An " has been" wafhes out no villainy. 
 And without judgment pafs'd ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 The execution 
 Is here irutead of judgment. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 This were murder, 
 Not juflice. The mofl guilty mould be heard. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 His guilt is clear, the Emperor has paft judgment, 
 And we but execute his will. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 We mould not 
 Hurry to realize a bloody fentence. 
 A word may be recalFd, a life can never be. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Difpatch in fervice pleafes fovereigns. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 No honeft man's ambitious to prefs forward 
 To the hangman's fervice. 
 
 g 3 BUT- 
 
85 THE DEATH OF 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 And no brave man lofes 
 His colour at a daring enterprize. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 A brave man hazards life, but not his confcience. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 What then ? Shall he go forth anew to kindle 
 The unextinguifhable flame of war ? 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Seize him, and hold him prifoner — do not kill him ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Had not the Emperor s army been defeated, 
 I might have done fo. — But 'tis now paft by. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 O, wherefore open'd I the ftrong hold to him ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 His deftiny and not the place deftroys him. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Upon thefe ramparts, as befeem'd a foldier, 
 I had fallen, defending the Emperor's citadel ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Yes ! and a thoufand gallant men have perim'd. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Doing their duty — that adorns the man ! 
 
 But murder's a black deed, and nature curfes it. 
 
 butler, (brings out a paper.) 
 Here is the manifefto which commands us 
 To gain poflemon of his perfon. See — 
 It is addrefs'd to you as well as me. 
 
 Are 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 87 
 
 Are you content to take the confequences, 
 If thro' our fault he efcape to the enemy. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 I ? — Gracious God ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Take it on yourfelf. 
 Come of it what it may, on you I lay it. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 God in heaven ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Can you advife aught elfe 
 Wherewith to execute the Emperor's purpofe ? 
 Say if you can. For I defire his fall, 
 Not his deft.ru ction. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 1 Merciful heaven ! what mufl be 
 
 1 fee as clear as you. Yet Hill the heart 
 Within my bofom beats with other feelings ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Mine is of harder fluff! Neceffity 
 
 In her rough fchool hath fteel'd me. And this Illo, 
 
 And Tertfky likewife, they muft not furvive him. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 I feel no pang for thefe. Their own bad heart 
 ImpelPd them, not the influence of the ftars. 
 'Twas they who ftrew'd the feeds of evil paflions 
 In his calm breaft, and with officious villainy 
 Water'd and nurs'd the pois'nous plants. May 
 
 they 
 Receive their earnefls to the uttermoft mite ! 
 
 g 4 BUT- 
 
88 THE DEATH OF 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 And their death (hall precede his ! 
 
 We meant to have taken them alive this evening 
 
 Amid the merry-making of a feaft, 
 
 And keep them prifoners in the citadels. 
 
 But this makes fhorter work. I go this inftant 
 
 To give the necefTary orders. 
 
 SCENE vir. 
 
 To theft 'enter • Illo öw^Tertsky. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Our luck is on the turn. To-morrow come 
 The Swedes — twelve thoufand gallant warriors, 
 
 lUo 
 Then flraightways for Vienna. Cheerily, friend ! 
 What ! meet fuch news with fuch a moody face ? 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 It lies with us at prefent to prefcribe 
 
 Laws, and take vengeance on thofe worthlefs trai- 
 
 tors, 
 Thofe fkulking cowards that deferted us ; 
 One has already done his bitter penance, 
 The Piccolomini, be his the fate 
 Of ail who wifib us evil ! This flies fure 
 To the old man's heart ; he has his wholelifelong 
 Fretted and toil'd to raife his ancient houfe 
 From a Count's title to the name of Prince jr 
 And now muft feek a gra\e for his only fon. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 89 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 *Twas pity tho' ! A youth of fuch heroic 
 And gentle temp'rament ! The Duke himfelf, 
 'Twas eafily feen, how near it went to his heart. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Hark'e, old friend ! That is the very point 
 That never pleas'd me in our General — 
 He ever gave the preference to the Italians. 
 Yea, at this very moment, by my foul ! 
 He'd gladly fee us all dead ten times over, 
 Could he thereby recal his friend to life. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Hum, hufh ! Let the dead reft! This evening's 
 
 bufinefs 
 Is, who can fairly drink the other down — 
 Your regiment, Illo ! gives the entertainment. 
 Come ! we will keep a merry carnival — 
 The night for once be day, and mid full glafTes 
 Will we expe<ft the Swedilh Avantgarde. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Yes, let us be of good chear for to-day, 
 For there's hot work before us, friends ! This fword 
 Shall have no reft, till it be bath'd to the hilt 
 In Auftrian blood. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Shame, fhame ! what talk is this, 
 My Lord Field Marfhal ? Wherefore foam you fo 
 Againft your Emperor ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Hope not too much 
 From this firft victory. Bethink you, firs ! 
 
 How 
 
90 THE DEATH OF 
 
 How rapidly the wheel of fortune turns. 
 The Emperor ftill is formidably ftrong. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 The Emperor has foldiers, no commander, 
 For this King Ferdinand of Hungary 
 Is but a Tyro. Galas ? He's no luck, 
 And was of old the ruiner of armies. 
 And then this Viper, this Octavio, 
 Is excellent at ftabbing in the back, 
 But ne'er meets Friedland in the open field. 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Truft me, my friends, it cannot but fucceed ; 
 Fortune, we know can ne'er forfake the Duke ! 
 And only under Wallenftein can Auftria 
 Be conqueror. 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 The Duke will foon affemble 
 A mighty army, all comes crowding, ftreaming 
 To banners, dedicate by deftiny, 
 To fame, and profperous fortune. I behold 
 Old times come back again, he will become 
 Once more the mighty Lord which he has' been. 
 How will the fools, who've now deferted him, 
 Look then ? I can't but laugh to think of them, 
 For lands will he prefent to all his friends, 
 And like a King and Emperor reward 
 True fervices ; but we've the neareft claims. 
 
 (To Gordon.) 
 You will not be forgotten, Governor ! 
 He'll take you from this neft and bid you fhine 
 
 - In 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 9\ 
 
 In higher ftation : your fidelity- 
 Well merits it. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 1 am content already, 
 And wifh to climb no higher ; where great height is 
 The fall muft needs be great. " Great height, 
 great depth." 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 Here you have no more bufinefs for to-morrow ; 
 The Swedes will take poffeflion of the citadel. 
 Come, Tertfky, it is fupper-time. What think 
 
 you ? 
 Say, (hall we have the State illuminated 
 In honour of the Swede ? And who refufes 
 To do it is a Spaniard and a traitor. . 
 
 TERTSKY. 
 
 Nay ! Nay ! not that, it not will pleafe the Duke — 
 
 ILLO. 
 
 What ! we are mafters here ; no foul fliall dare 
 Avow himfelf imperial where we've the rule. 
 Gordon ! Good night, and, for the laft time, take 
 A fair leave of the place. Send out patroles 
 To make fecure, the watch-word may be alter'd 
 At the ftroke of ten; deliver in the keys 
 To the Duke himfelf, and then you're quit for ever 
 Your wardfhip of the gates, for on to-morrow 
 The Swedes will take pofTeffion of the citadel. 
 
 tertsky. fas he is going, to Butler. J 
 You come though to the caftle. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 At the right time. 
 (Exeunt Tertßy and Illo.J 
 
 SCENE 
 
92 THE DEATH OF 
 
 SCENE VIII. 
 
 Gordon and Butler, 
 gordon. (looking after them.) 
 Unhappy man ! How free from all foreboding ! 
 They rudi into the outfpread net of murder, 
 In the blind drunkennefs of victory ; 
 I have no pity for their fate. This Illo, 
 This overflowing and fool-hardy villain 
 That would fain bathe himfelf in his Emperor's 
 blood. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Do as he order'd you. Send round patroles, 
 Take meafures for the citadel's fecurity ; 
 When they are within I clofe the caftle gate 
 That nothing may tranfpire. 
 
 gordon. [with earnefi anxiety.) 
 Oh ! hafte not fo ! 
 Nay, flop ; firft tell me 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 You have heard already, 
 To-morrow to the Swedes belongs. This night 
 Alone is ours. They make good expeditions 
 But we will make ftill greater. Fare you well. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Ah I your looks tell me nothing good. Nay, 
 
 Butler, 
 I pray you, promife me ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 The fun has fet ; 
 A fateful evening doth defcend upon us, 
 And brings on their Jong night ! Their evil flars 
 
 Deliver 
 
WÄLLENSTElfr, 93 
 
 Deliver them unarm'd into our hands, 
 
 And from their drunken dream of golden fortunes 
 
 The dagger at their heart {hall roufe them. Well, 
 
 The Duke was ever a great calculator ; 
 
 His fellow- men were figures on his chefs-board, 
 
 To move and ftation, as his game requir'd. 
 
 Other men's honour, dignity, good name, 
 
 Did he fhift like pawns, and made no confcience 
 
 of it : 
 Still calculating, calculating ftill, 
 And yet at laft his calculation proves 
 Erroneous ; the whole game is loft ; and lo ! 
 His own life will be found among the forfeits. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 think not of his errors now; remember 
 His greatnefs, his munificence, think on all 
 The lovely features of his character, 
 
 On all the noble exploits of his life, 
 ^And let them, like an angels' arm, unfeen 
 Arreft the lifted fword. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 It is too late. 
 
 1 fuffer not myfelf to feel companion, 
 
 Dark thoughts and bloody are my duty now : 
 
 (grafping Gordon's hand.) 
 Gordon ! 'Tis not my hatred (I pretend not 
 To love the Duke, and have no caufe to love him) 
 Yet 'tis not now my hatred that impels me 
 To be his murderer, 'Tis his evil fate, 
 Hoflile concurrences of many events 
 Control and fubyugate me to the office. 
 
 la 
 
94 THE DEATH OF 
 
 In vain the human being meditates 
 
 Free a&ion. He is but the wire-work'd * puppet 
 
 Of the blind power, which out of his own choice 
 
 Creates for him a dread neceffity. 
 
 What too would it avail him, if there were 
 
 A fomething pleading for him in my heart— 
 
 Still. I muft kill him. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 If your heart fpeak to you, 
 Follow its impulfe. 'Tis the voice of God, 
 Think you your fortunes will grow profperous 
 Bedew'd with blood, his blood ? Believe it not ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 You know not. Afk not ! Wherefore mould it 
 happen, 
 
 That the Swedes gain'd the victory, and haften 
 
 With fuch forc'd marches hitherward ? Fain 
 would I 
 
 Have given him to the Emperor's mercy. — Gor- 
 don ! 
 
 I do not wifh his blood — But I muft ranfom 
 
 The honour of my word — it lies in pledge — • 
 
 And he muft die, or — — 
 
 (pajfionately grafping Gordon s hand.) 
 Liften then, and know ! 
 
 I am di/honour'a if the Duke efcape us. , • 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 O J to fave fuch a man- — - 
 
 * We doubt the propriety of putting (o blafphemous a 
 fentiment in the mouth of any character. T. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 95 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 What ! 
 
 * GORDON. 
 
 It is worth 
 A facrifice. — Come, friend ! be noble-minded ! 
 Our own heart, and not other men's opinions, 
 Forms our true honour. 
 
 butler, (with a cold and haughty air) 
 
 He is a great Lord, 
 This Duke — and I am but of mean importance. 
 This is what you would fay ? Wherein concerns it 
 The world at large, you mean to hint to me, 
 Whether the man of low extraction keeps 
 Or blemifhes his honour — 
 So that the man of princely rank be fav'd. 
 We all do (lamp our value on ourfeives. 
 The price we challenge for ourfeives is given us. 
 There does not live on earth the man fo ftation'd, 
 That I defpife myfelf compar'd with him. 
 Man is made great or little by his own will, 
 Becaufe I am true to mine, therefore he dies. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 I am endeavouring to move a rock. 
 
 Thou hadft a mother, yet no human feelings. 
 
 I cannot hinder you, but may fome God 
 
 Refcue him from you ! 
 
 [Exit Gordon, 
 
 i 
 SCENE 
 
96 THE DEATH Öf 
 
 SCENE IX. 
 
 butler, [alone.) 
 I treafur'd my good name all my life long ; 
 The Duke has cheated me of life's beft jewel, 
 So that I bluQi before this poor-weak Gordon f 
 He prizes above all his fealty ; 
 His confcious foul accufes him of nothing ; 
 In opposition to his own foft heart 
 He fubjugates himfelf to an iron duty. 
 Me in a weaker moment paflion warp'd ; 
 I (land befide him, and muft feel myfelf 
 The worfe man of the two. What, though the 
 
 world 
 Is ignorant of my purpos'd treafon, yet 
 One man does know it, and can prove it too— » 
 High-minded Piccolomini ! 
 There lives the man who can diflionour me !■ 
 This ignominy blood alone can cleanfe ! 
 Puke Friedland, thou or I — Into my own hands 
 Fortune delivers me — The deareflthingamanhas 
 
 is himfelf. 
 
 [The curtain drops.) 
 
 ACT 
 
WALLENSTEIN* 97 
 
 ACT IF. 
 
 Scene, Butler's Chamber. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Butler, Major, and Geraldin. 
 
 butler. 
 Find me twelve ftrong Dragoons, arm them with 
 pikes, 
 
 For there muft be no firing - 
 
 Conceal them fomewhere near the banquet -room, 
 And foon as the defert is ferv'd up, rulh all in 
 And cry — Who is loyal to the Emperor ? 
 I will overturn the table — while you attack 
 Illo and Tertfky, and difpatch them both. 
 The caftle-palace is well barr'd and guarded, 
 That no intelligence of this proceeding 
 May make its way to the Duke. — Go inftantly ^ 
 Have you yet fent for Captain Devereux 
 And the Macdonald ? 
 
 geraldin. 
 
 They'll be here anon. 
 
 [Exit Geraldin. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Here's no room for delay. The citizens 
 Declare for him, a dizzy drunken fpirit 
 PorTefTes the whole town. They fee in the Duke 
 
 h A Prince 
 
98 THE DEATH OP 
 
 A Prince of peace, a founder of new ages 
 And golden times. Arms too have been given out 
 By the town-council, and an hundred citizens 
 Have volunteer'd themfelves to ftand on guard. 
 Difpatch then be the word. For enemies 
 Threaten us from without and from within.' 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 Butler, Captain Devereux, and 
 Macdonald. 
 
 macdonald. 
 Here we are, General. 
 
 devereux. 
 What's to be the watchword ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Long live the Emperor ! 
 
 both, (recoiling.) 
 How ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Live the Houfe of Auftria ! 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 Have we not fwore fidelity to Friedland ? 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 Have we not march'd to this place to protect 
 him ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Protect a traitor, and his country's enemy ! 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 Why, yes ! in his name you adminifter'd 
 Our oath. 
 
 MAC- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 99 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 And follow'd him yourfelf to Egra. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 I did it the more furely to deftroy him. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 So, then ! 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 An alter'd cafe ! 
 
 butler, (to Devereux.) 
 
 Thou wretched man ! 
 So cafily leav'ft thou thy oath and colours ? 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 The devil ! — I but follow'd your example, 
 If you could prove a villain, why not we ? 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 We've nought to do with thinking — that's your 
 
 bufinefs. 
 You are our General, and give out the orders ; 
 We follow you, tho' the track lead to hell. 
 
 butler, (appeafed. J 
 Good then ! we know each other. 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 I ihould hope fo. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 Soldiers of fortune are we — who bids moft, 
 He has us~. 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 'Tis e'en fo ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Well, for the prefent 
 Ye muft remain honeft and faithful foldiers. 
 
 H % DEVEREUX. 
 
100 THE DEATH OF 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 We wifh no other. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Aye, and make your fortunes. 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 That is ftill better. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Liften! 
 
 BOTH. 
 
 We attend. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 It is the Emperor's will and ordinance 
 
 To feize the perfon of the Prince-Duke Friedland, 
 
 Alive or dead. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 It runs fo in the letter. 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 Alive or dead- — thefe were the very words. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 And he '(hall be rewarded from the State 
 In land and gold, who proffers aid thereto. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 Ay ? That founds well. The zvords found always 
 
 well 
 That travel hither from the Court. Yes ! yes ! 
 We know already what Court- words import. 
 A golden chain perhaps in fign of favour, 
 Or an old charger, or a parchment patent, 
 And fuch like. — The Prince-Duke pays better. 
 
 MAC- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 101 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 Yes, 
 The Duke's a Iplendid pay maller. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 All over 
 With that, my friends ! His lucky ftars are fet, 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 And is that certain ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 You have my word for it. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 i 
 
 His lucky fortunes all pad by ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 For ever. 
 He is as poor as we. 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 As poor as we ? 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 Macdonald, we'll defert him. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 We'll defert him ? 
 Full twenty thoufand have done that already ; 
 We mull do more, my countrymen ! In fhort — ■ 
 Wer— we muft kill him. 
 
 both, (ßarting back.) 
 Kill him i 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Yes! muft kill him. 
 And for that purpofe have I chofen you. 
 
 h 3 BOTH, 
 
102 THE DEATH OF 
 
 BOTH. 
 
 Us! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 You, Captain Devereux, and the Macdonald. 
 
 Pevereux. (after a paufe.) 
 Chufe you fome other. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 What > art daflardly f 
 Thou, with full thirty lives to anfwer for*-— 
 Thou confcientious of a fudden ? 
 
 devereux. 
 
 Nay, 
 
 To affaffinate our Lord and General— *- 
 
 MACDONA1P. 
 
 To whom we've fworn a foldier's oath— * 
 
 butler. 
 
 The oath 
 Is null, for Friedland is a traitor. 
 
 devereux. 
 No, no 1 It is too bad I 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 Yes, by my foul ! 
 Jt is too bad. One has a conference too — 
 
 devereux. 
 If it were not our Chieftain, who fo long 
 Has iflued the commands, and claim'd our duty. 
 
 butler. 
 Is that the objection ? 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 Were it my own father, 
 And the Emperor's fervice Ihould demand it of me, 
 
 It 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 10$ 
 
 It might be done perhaps— But we are foldiers. 
 And to aflaflinate our Chief Commander, 
 That is a fin, a foul abomination, 
 From which no Monk or Confeflbr abfolves us. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 I am your Pope, and give you abfolution. 
 Determine quickly ! 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 'Twill not do ! 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 'Twont do ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Well, offthen ! and — fend Peftalutz to me, 
 
 devereux. (hejitates.) 
 The Peftalutz— 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 What may you want with him ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 If you reject it, we can find enough — 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 Nay, if he muft fall, we may earn the bounty 
 As well as any other. What think you, 
 Brother Macdonald ? 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 Why if he muß fall, 
 And will fall, and it can't be other wife, 
 One would not give place to this Peftalutz. 
 
 devereux. (after fome reflection.) 
 When do you purpofe he mould fall ? 
 
 h 4 BUT- 
 
104 THE DEATH OF 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 This night. 
 To-morrow will the Swedes be at our gates. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 You" take upon you all the confequences ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 I take the whole upon me. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 And it is 
 The Emperor's will, his exprefs abfolute will r* 
 For we have inftances, that folks may like 
 The murder, and yet hang the murderer, 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 The manifeflo fays— ^-alive or dead. 
 Alive- — 'tis not poflible — you fee it is not. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 Well, dead then ! dead ! But how can we come 
 
 at him ? 
 The town is fill'd with Tertfky's foldiery, 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 Ay ! and then Tertiky ftill remains, and Mo — ; 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 With thefe we fhall begin — you underftand me ? 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 How ? And muft they too perifh ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 They the firft. 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 Hear, Devereux ! A bloody evening this. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 Have you a man for that ? Commiflion me — 
 
 BUT- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 105 
 
 SUTLER. 
 
 'Tis given in truft to Major Geraldin ; 
 This is a carnival night, and there's a feaft 
 Given at the Caftle — there we fhall furprize them, 
 And hew them down. The Peftalutz, and Lefley, 
 Have that commiffion — foon as that is finiüYd— - 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 Hear, General ! It will be all one to you. 
 Hark'e ! let me exchange with Geraldin, 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 'Twill be the leffer danger with the Duke. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 Danger ! The devil ! What do you think me, Ge- 
 neral ? 
 'Tis the Duke's eye, and not his fword, I fear. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 What can his eye do to thee ? 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 Death and hell ! 
 Thou know'ft that I'm no milk-fop, General ! 
 But 'tis not eight days, fince the Duke did fend 
 
 me 
 Twenty gold pieces for this good warm coat 
 Which I have on ! and then for him to fee me 
 Standing before him with the pike, his murderer, 
 That eye of his looking upon this coat- 
 Why — why — the devil fetch me i I'm no milk- 
 
 4. BPT- 
 
106 THE DEATH OF 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 The Duke prefented thee this good warm coat, 
 
 And thou, a needy wight, haft pangs of confcience 
 
 To run him through the body in return. 
 
 A coat that is far better and far warmer 
 
 Did the Emperor give to him, the Prince's mantle. 
 
 How doth he thank the Emperor ? With revolt, 
 
 And treafon. 
 
 DEVEREÜX. 
 
 That is true. The devil take 
 Such thankers ! I'll difpatch him. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 And would'ft quiet 
 Thy confcience, thou haft nought to do but fimply 
 Pull off the coat ; fo can'ft thou do the deed 
 With light heart and good fpirits. 
 
 DEVEREUX, 
 
 You are right. 
 That did not ftrike me. I'll pull off the coat — 
 .So there's an end of it, 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 Yes, but there's another 
 Point to be thought of. 
 
 BUTLER, 
 
 And what's that, Macdonald ? 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 What avails fword or dagger againft liim ? 
 He is not to be wounded — he is— - 
 
 butler, (fiarting up.) 
 
 What ? 
 
 MAC- 
 
WALXENSTEIN. 107 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 Safe againft (hot, and flab and fja(h ! Hard frozen, 
 Secur'd, and warranted by the black art ! 
 His body is impenetrable, I tell you. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 In Ingleftadt there was juft another — 
 Jrlis whole fkin was the fame as fteel ; at laft 
 We were obliged to beat him down with gun- 
 ftpcks. 
 
 MACDONALD, 
 
 Hear what Til dp. 
 
 PEVEREUX. 
 
 Well? 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 In the Cloifter here 
 There's a Dominican, my countryman. 
 I'll make him dip my fword and pike for me 
 In holy water, and fay over them 
 One of his ftrongeft bleffings. That's probatum ! 
 Nothing can Hand 'gainft that. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 So do, Macdonald ! 
 But now go and felect from out the regiment 
 Twenty or thirty able-bodied fellows, 
 And let them take the oaths to the Emperor. 
 Then when it flrikes eleven, when the firft rounds 
 Are pafs'd, conduct them, filently as may be, 
 To th' houfe — I will myfelf be not far off. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 But how do we get through Hartfchier and Gordon 
 That ftand on guard there in the inner chamber .? 
 5 but- 
 
108 THE DEATH OF 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 I have made myfelf acquainted with the place. 
 I lead you through a back-door that's defended 
 By one man only. Me my rank and office 
 Give accefs to the Duke at every hour. 
 I'll go before you — with one poinard-ftroke 
 Cut Hartfchier's wind-pipe, and make way for you. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 And when we are there, by what means mall we 
 
 gain 
 The Duke's bed-chamber, without his alarming 
 The fervants of the Court ; for he has here 
 A numerous company of followers. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 The attendants fill the right wing ; he hates buftle. 
 And lodges in the left wing quite alone. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 Were it well over — hey, Macdonald ? I 
 Feel queerly on the occafion, devil knows ! 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 And I too. 'Tis too great a perfonage. 
 People will hold us for a brace of villains. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 In plenty, honour, fplendour. — You may fafely 
 Laugh at the people's babble. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 If the bufinefs 
 Squares with one's honour— if that be quite cer- 
 tain — 
 
 BUT- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 109 
 
 BUTLER. ' 
 
 Set your hearts quite at eafe. Ye lave for Ferdi- 
 nand 
 His Crown and Empire. The reward can be 
 Nofmallone. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 And 'tis his purpofe to dethrone the Emperor ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Yes ! — Yes ! — to rob him of his Crown and Life. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 And he muft fall by the executioner's hands, 
 Should we deliver him up to the Emperor 
 Alive ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 It were his certain defliny. 
 
 DEVEREUX. 
 
 Well! Well! Come then, Macdonald, he {hall not 
 Lie long in pain. 
 
 [Exeunt Butler through one door, Macdonald and 
 Devereux through the other. ~\ 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Scene, a gothic and gloomy Apartment at the 
 Duchefs Friedland's. Th eklaows feat, pale, 
 her eyes clofed. The Duchess a?id 1Lat>y 
 Neubrunn bufied about her. Wall en- 
 stein and the Countess in conxserfation. 
 
 wallenstein. 
 How knew fhe it fo foon ? 
 
 COUN- 
 
110 THE DEATH OF 
 
 C0UI>TTESS. 
 
 She feems to have 
 Foreboded fome misfortune. The report 
 Of an engagement, in the which had fallen 
 A Colonel of the Imperial Army, ffighten'd her. 
 I faw it inftantly. She flew to meet 
 The Swedim Courier, and with fudden queftion- 
 
 ing, 
 Soon wrefted from him the difaftrous fecret. 
 Too late we mifs'd her, haftened after her, 
 We found her lying in his arms, aU pale 
 And in afvvoon. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 A heavy, heavy blow ! 
 And me fo unprepar'd ! Poor child ! How is it ? 
 
 (turning to the Duchefs.) 
 Is (he coming to herfelf ? 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Her eyes are opening. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 She lives. 
 
 THEKLA. ( looking round her. J 
 
 Where am I ? 
 
 wallenstein, (fieps to her, raifing her up in 
 
 his arms.) 
 Come cheerly, Thekla ! be my own brave girl !.. 
 See, there's thy loving mother. Thou art in 
 -Thy father's arms. 
 
 thekla. (ßanding up.) 
 
 WheFe is he ? Is he gone ? 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
WALLENSTEIN. Ill 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 Who gone, my daughter ? 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 He — the man who utter'd 
 That word of mifery. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 O! think not of it, 
 MyThekla! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Give her forrow leave to talk ! 
 Let her complain — mingle your tears with her's, 
 For (he hath fuffer'd a deep anguilh ; but 
 She'll rife fuperior to it, for my Thekla 
 Hath all her father's unfubdued heart. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 I am not ill. See, I have power to ftand. 
 
 Why does my mother weep ? Have I alarm'd her ? 
 
 It is gone by — I recoiled: myfelf. 
 
 (Jhe cafis her eyes round the room, asfeekingfume 
 
 one.) 
 Where is he ? Pleafe you, do not hide him from 
 
 me. 
 You fee, I have ftrength enough : new I will hear 
 
 him. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 No, never fliall this mefienger of evil 
 Enter again into thy prefence, Thekla ! 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 My father— 
 
 WAL- 
 
112 THE DEATH OF 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Deareft daughter l 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 I'm not weak— 
 Shortly I fhall be quite myfelf again. 
 You'll grant me one requeft ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Name it, my daughter. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Permit the flranger to be call'd to me, 
 And grant me leave, that by myfelf I may 
 Hear his report and quefbion him. 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 No, never 1 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 'Tis not advifeable — aflent not to it. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Hum- 1 Wherefore would'ft thou fpeak with him, 
 my daughter ? 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Knowing the whole, I mail be more collected ; 
 I will not be deceiv'd. My mother wifhes 
 Only to fpare me. I will not be fpar'd. 
 The worft is faid already : I can hear 
 Nothing of deeper anguifli ! 
 
 countess and duchess. 
 
 Do it not. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 The horror overpower'd me by furprize. 
 
 My heart betray'd me in the flranger's prefence j 
 
 He was a witnefs of my weaknefs, yea, 
 
 I fank 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 113 
 
 I Tank into his arms ; and that has fliam'd me. 
 I muft replace myfelf in his efteem, 
 And I muft fpeak with him, perforce, that he, 
 The ftranger, may not think ungently of me. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 I fee flie is in the right, and am inclin'd 
 To grant her this requeft of her's. Go, call him. 
 {Lady Neubrunn goes to call him.) 
 
 DUCHESS. 
 
 But I, thy mother, will be prefent — 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 'Twere 
 More pleafing to me, if alone I faw him : 
 Truft me, I fhall behave myfelf the more 
 Collectedly. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Permit her her own will. 
 Leave her alone with him : for there are forrows, 
 Where of neceffity the foul muft be 
 Its own fupport. A ftrong heart will rely 
 On its own ftrength alone. In her own bofom, 
 Not in her mother's arms, muft fhe collect 
 The ftrength to rife fuperior to this blow. 
 It is mine own brave girl. I'll have her treated 
 Not as the woman, but the heroine. 
 
 (going.) 
 countess, {detaining him.) 
 Where art thou going ? I heard Tertfky fay 
 That 'tis thy purpofe to depart from hence 
 To-morrow early, but to leave us here. 
 
 I WAL- 
 
114 THE DEATH OF 
 
 WALLENSTEIN- 
 
 Yes, ye flay here, plac'd under the protection 
 Of gallant men. 
 
 o 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 O take us with you, brother. 
 Leave us not in this gloomy iolitude 
 To brood o'er anxious thoughts. The mifts of 
 
 doubt 
 Magnify evils to a fhape of horror. 
 
 WÄLLENSTEIN. 
 
 Who fpeaks of evil ? I entreat you, fifter, 
 Ufe words of better omen. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Then take us with you. 
 
 leave us not behind you in a place 
 That forces us to fuch fad omens. Heavy 
 And (ick within me is my heart 
 
 Thefe walls breathe on me, like a church-yard 
 vault. 
 
 1 cannot tell you, brother, how this place 
 Doth go againfr. my nature. Take us with you. 
 Come, lifter, join you your entreaty ! — Niece, 
 Your's too. We all entreat you, take us with 
 
 you ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 The place's evil omens will I change, 
 
 Making it that which lhields and Iheiters for me 
 
 My beft-beiov'd. 
 
 lady neubrunn. [returning ) 
 The Swedilh officer. 
 
 WAL- 
 
WALLEMSTEIN. 115 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Leave her alone with him. [Exit. 
 
 duchess, (to Thekla, ivho ßarts* and Jhivers) 
 There — pale as death ! — Child, 'tis impoffible 
 That thou (hould'ft fpeak with him.' Follow thy 
 mother. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 The Lady Neubrunn then may flay with me. • 
 [Exeunt Duchefs and Countefs. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 Thekla, the Swedish Captain, Lady 
 
 Neubrunn. 
 
 captain, [ref pect fully approaching her.) 
 Princefs — I muft entreat your gentle pardon — 
 My inconfiderate rafh fpeech — How could I— - 
 
 thekla. {with dignity.) 
 You have beheld me in my agony. 
 A moft diftrefsful accident occafion'd 
 You from a ftranger to become at once 
 My confidant. 
 
 CAPTAIN. 
 
 I fear you hate my prefence, 
 For my tongue fpake a melancholy word. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 The fault is mine. Myfelf did Wreft it from you. 
 The horror which came o'er me interrupted 
 Your tale at its commencement. May it pleafe you, 
 Continue it to the end. 
 
 i 2 CAP- 
 
116 THE DEATH OF 
 
 CAPTAIN. 
 
 Princefs, 'twill 
 Renew your anguifh. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 I am firm. — 
 
 I will be firm. Well — how began the engage- 
 ment ? 
 
 CAPTAIN. 
 
 We lay, expecting no attack, at Neuftadt, 
 Entrench'd but infecurely in our camp, 
 When towards evening rofe a cloud of dun: 
 From the wood thitherward ; our vanguard fled 
 Into the camp, and founded the alarm. 
 Scarce had we mounted, ere the Pappenheimers, 
 Their horfes at full fpeed, broke thro' the lines, 
 And leapt the trenches j but their heedlefs courage 
 Had borne them onward far before the others — 
 The infantry were (till at diftance, only 
 The Pappenheimers followed daringly 
 
 Their daring leader 
 
 (Thekla betrays agitation in her gefiures. The 
 officer paufes till Jlie makes a fign to him to 
 proceed.) 
 
 CAPTAIN. 
 
 Both in van and flanks 
 With our whole cavalry we now receiv'd them, 
 Back to the trenches drove them, where the foot 
 Stretch'd out a folid ridge of pikes to meet them. 
 They neither could advance, nor yet retreat ; 
 And as they ftood on every fide wedg'd in, 
 The Rhinegrave to their leader calPd aloud, 
 
 Inviting 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 117 
 
 Inviting a flirrender; but their leader, 
 
 Young Piccolomini- 
 
 (Thekla, as giddy, gTafps o, chair.) 
 Known by his plume, 
 And his long hair, gave fignal for the trenches; 
 Himfelf leapt firft, the regiment all plung'd after. — 
 His charger, by an h albert gor'd, rear'd up, 
 Flung him with violence off, and over him 
 
 The horfes, now no longer to be curb'd. 
 
 {Thekla, who has accompanied, the laß fpeech 
 
 with all the marks of increafing agony, 
 
 trembles through her whole frame, and is 
 
 falling. The Lady Neubrunn runs to her, 
 
 and receives her in her a?'?ns.) 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 My dearefl lady 
 
 CAPTAIN. 
 
 I retire. ' 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 'Tis over. 
 Proceed to the conclufion. 
 
 CAPTAIN. 
 
 Wild defpair 
 Infpir'd the troops with frenzy when they faw 
 Their leader perifh ; every thought of refcue 
 Was fpurn'd ; they fought like wounded tygers ; 
 
 their 
 Frantic refiftance rous'd our foldiery; 
 A murderous fight took place, nor was the conteft 
 FiniftYd before their lail man fell. 
 
 I 3 THEKLA. 
 
118 THE DEATH OF 
 
 thekla. (faltering.) 
 And where- 
 
 Where is — You have not told me all. 
 
 captain, [after a p auf e.) 
 This morning 
 We buried him. Twelve youths of nobleft birth 
 Did bear him to interment ; the whole army 
 Follow'd the bier. A laurel deck'd his coffin ; 
 The fword of the deceas'd was plac'd upon it, 
 In mark of honour, by the Rhinegrave's felf. 
 Nor tears were wanting : for there are among us 
 Many, who had themfelves experienced 
 The greatnefs of his mind, and gentle manners ; 
 All wece affected at his fate. The Rhinegrave 
 Would willingly have fav'd him ; but himfelf 
 Made vain th' attempt — 'tis faid he wiih'd to die. 
 neubrunn. (to Thekla, who has hidden her 
 
 countenance.) 
 Look up, 'my deareft lady 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Where is his grave \ 
 
 CAPTAIN. 
 
 At Neuftadt, lady ; in a cloifter church 
 
 Are his remains depofited, until 
 
 We can receive directions' from his father» 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 What is the cloiiler's name ? 
 
 CAPTAIN. 
 
 Saint Catharine's, 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 And how far is it thither ? 
 
 CAP- 
 
VVALLENSTEIN. 119 
 
 CAPTAIN. 
 
 Near twelve leagues. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 And which the way ? 
 
 CAPTAIN. 
 
 . ' You go by Tirfchenreit 
 And Falkenberg, thro' our advanced pofts. 
 
 ' THEKLA. 
 
 Who 
 Is their„commander ? 
 
 CAPTAIN. 
 
 Colonel Seckendorf. 
 (The/da fieps to the table, and takes a ring 
 fr%in a caßet.) 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 You have beheld me in my agony, 
 
 And fliewn a feeling heart. Pleafe you, accept 
 
 (giving him the ri?ig.) 
 A fmall memorial of this hour. Now go ! 
 
 captain. (confafed.) 
 
 Princefs 
 
 {Thekla filently makes figns to him to go, and 
 turns from him. The Captain lingers, and 
 is about to /peak. Lady Neubrunn repeats 
 thefignal, and he retires.) 
 
 i 4 SCENE 
 
120 THE DEATH OF 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Thekla, Lady Neubrunn. 
 
 thekla. (falls on Lady Nenbrnnri's neck.) 
 Now, gentle Neubrunn, fhew me the affection 
 Which thou haft ever promis'd — prove thyfelf 
 My own true friend and faithful fellow-pilgrim. - 
 This night we muft away ! 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 Away ! and whither ? 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Whither ! There is but one place in the world* 
 Thither where he lies buried ! To his coffin ! 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 What would you do there ? 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 What do there ? 
 That would'ft thou not have afk'd, hadfl thou 
 
 e'er lov'd. 
 There, there is all that flill remains of him. 
 That fingle fpot is the whole earth to me. 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 That place of death 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Is now the only place, 
 Where life yet dwells for me : detain me not ! 
 Come and make preparations : let us think 
 Of means to fly from hence. 
 
 NEU- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 121 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 Your father's rage 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 That time is paft 
 
 And now I fear no human being's rage. 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 The fentence of the world ! The tongue of 
 calumny ! 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Whom am I feeking ? Him who is no more. 
 
 Am I then haflening to the arms O God ! 
 
 I hafte but to the grave of the beloved. 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 And we alone, two Kelplefs feeble women ? 
 
 THEKLA. v 
 
 We will take weapons : my arm fhall protect thee. 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 In the dark night-time ? 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Darknefs will conceal us. 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 This rough tempeftuous night - 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Had he a foft bed 
 Under the hoofs of his war-horfes ? 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 Heaven ! 
 And then the many polls of the enemy ' — 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
122 THE DEATH OF 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 They are human beings. Mifery travels free 
 Through the whole earth. 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 The journey's weary length— 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 The pilgrim, travelling to a diftant fhrine 
 
 Of hope and healing, doth not count the leagues, 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 How can we pafs the gates ? 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Gold opens them. 
 Go, do but go. 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 Should we be recogniz'd — 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 In a defpairing woman, a poor fugitive, 
 
 Will no one feek the daughter of Duke Friedland. 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 And where procure we horfes for our flight ? 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 My equerry procures them. Go and fetch him. 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 Dares he, without the knowledge of his lord ? 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 He will. Go, only go. Delay no longer. 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 Dear lady ! and your mother ? 
 
 THEKLA. . 
 
 Oh ! my mother ! 
 
 NEU- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 123 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 So much as fhe has fuflfer'd too already j 
 Your tender mother — Ah ! how ill prepai'd 
 For this laft anguifh ! 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 Woe is me ! my mother ! 
 
 (paufes.) 
 Go inftantly. 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 But think what you are doing ! 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 What can be thought, already has been thought. 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 And being there, what purpofe you to do ? 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 There a Divinity will prompt my foul. 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 Your heart, dear lady, is difquieted ! 
 And this is not the way that leads to quiet. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 To a deep quiet, fuch as he has found. 
 
 It draws me on, I know not what to name it, 
 
 Refiftlefs does it draw me to his grave. 
 
 There will my heart be eas'd, my tears will flow. 
 
 O haften, make no further queftioning ! 
 
 There is no reft for me till I have left 
 
 Thefe walls — they fall in on me — A dim power 
 
 Drives me from hence — Oh mercy ! What a feel- 
 
 pg ! 
 
 What 
 
124? THE DEATH OF 
 
 What pale and hollow forms are thofe ! They fill, 
 They crowd the place I I have no longer room 
 
 here ! 
 Mercy ! Still more ! More ftill ! The hideous 
 
 fwarm ! 
 They prefs on me ; they chace me from thefe 
 
 walls 
 
 Thofe hollow, bodilefs forms of living men ! 
 
 NEUBRUNN. 
 
 You frighten me fo, lady, that no longer 
 I dare flay here myfelf. I go and call 
 Rofenberg inftantly. 
 
 [Exit Lady Neubrunn. 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 
 THEKLA. 
 
 His fpirit 'tis that calls me : 'tis the troop 
 Of his true followers, who offer'd up 
 Themfelves t' avenge his death : and they accufe 
 
 me 
 Of an ignoble loitering- — they would not 
 Forfake their leader even in death — they died for 
 
 him I 
 
 And fhall / live ? — 
 
 For me too was that laurel-garland twin'd 
 That decks his bier. Life is an empty cafket. 
 I throw it from me. O, my only hope ; 
 
 5 To 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 125 
 
 To die beneath the hoofs of trampling deeds — 
 That is the lot of heroes upon earth ! 
 
 [Exit Thekla. * 
 (The curtain drops.) 
 
 * The foliloquy of Thekla confifts in the original of fix 
 and twenty lines, twenty of which are in rhymes of irregular 
 recurrence. T thought it prudent to abridge it, Indeed the 
 whole fcene between Thekla and Lady Neubrunn might, 
 perhaps, have been omitted without injury to the play. 
 
 END OF ACT IV, 
 
 ACJ 
 
12Ö TtfE DEATH OF 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 Scenes a Saloon* terminated by a gallery which 
 extends far into the back-ground. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Wallenstein, {fitting at a table.) 
 The Swedish Captain, [fianding before him.) 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Commend me to your lord. I fympathize 
 In his good fortune ; and if you have feen me 
 Deficient in the expreffions of that joy, 
 Which fuch a victory might well demand. 
 Attribute it to no lack of good will, 
 For henceforth are our fortunes one. Farewell, 
 And for your trouble take my thanks. To-mor- 
 row 
 The citadel fhall be furrender'd to yöü 
 On your arrival. 
 
 [The Swedißi Captain retires. Wallenfiein fits 
 lofi in thought, his eyes fix* d vacantly* and his 
 headfufiain'd by his hand. The Countess 
 Tertsky enters, fiands before him awhile* 
 unobferved by him; at length lie far ts* fees 
 her* and recollects him felt ll 
 
 WAL- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 127 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Com' ft thou from her ? Is (lie reftor'd ? How is 
 (he? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 My filler tells me, fhe was more collected 
 After her converfation with the Swede. 
 She has now retired to reft. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 The pang will foften. 
 She will flied tears. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 I find thee alter' d too, 
 My brother ! After fach a victory 
 I had expected to have found in thee 
 A cheerful fpirit. O remain thou firm ! 
 Suftain, uphold us ! For our light thou art, 
 Our fun. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Be quiet. I ail nothing. Where's 
 Thy hufband. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 At a banquet — he and Mo. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 {rifes and fir ides a cr of $ the faloon.) 
 The night's far fpent. Betake thee to thy cham- 
 ber. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 JBid me not go, O let me Hay with thee ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 {moves to the window.) 
 There is a bufy motion in the Heaven, 
 
 3 The 
 
128 THE DEATH OF 
 
 The wind doth chace the flag upon the tower, 
 Faft fly the clouds, the * fickle of the moon, 
 Struggling, darts fnatches of uncertain light. 
 No form of ftar is vifible! That one 
 White (lain of light, that fingle glimm'ring yonder, 
 ' Is from Caffiopeia, and therein 
 Is Jupiter, (apaufe.) But now 
 The blacknefs of the troubled element hides him ! 
 [he finks into profound melancholy, and looks va- 
 cantly into the difiance.) 
 
 countess. - 
 (looks on him mournfully, then grafps his hand. J 
 
 What art thou brooding on ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Methinks, 
 If I but faw him, 'twould be well with me. 
 
 * Thefe four lines are expreffed in the orginal with exqui- 
 fite felicity. 
 
 Am Himmel ifl gefchäftige Bewegung, 
 Des Thurmes Fahne jagt der Wind, fchnell geht 
 .Der Wolken Zug, die Mondcs-ßchel wankt, 
 Und durch die Nacht zuckt ungewifie Helle. 
 The word " moon-fickle," reminds me of a paftage in 
 Harris, as quoted by Johnfon, under the word " falcated." 
 " The enlightened part. of the moon appears in the form 
 öf a fickle or reaping-hook, which is while fhe is moving 
 from the conjunction to the oppofition, or from the new 
 moon to the full ; but from full to a new again, the en- 
 lightened part appears gibbous, and the dark falcated.'''' 
 
 The words ei wanken" and u fchweben" are not eafily 
 traiulated. The Englifti words, by which we attempt to 
 render them, are either vulgar or pedantic, or not of fuffi- 
 ciently general application. 
 
 He 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 129 
 
 He is the ftar of my nativity, 
 
 And often marvelloufly hath his afpeft 
 
 Shot ftrength into my heart. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Thou 'It fee him again. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 [remains for a while ivith abfent mind, then af- 
 fumes a livelier manner, and turns fuddenly to 
 the Countefs.) 
 
 See him again ? O never, never again. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 How ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 He is gone — is dull. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Whom mean'ft thou then ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 He the more fortunate ! yea, he hath finiuYd ! 
 
 For him there is no longer any future — 
 
 His life is bright — bright without fpot it was. 
 
 And cannot ceafe to be. No ominous hour 
 
 Knocks at his door with tidings of mif-hap. 
 
 Far off is he, above defire and fear ; 
 
 No more fubmitted to the change and chance 
 
 Of the unfteady planets. O 'tis well 
 
 With him ! but who knows what the coming hour 
 
 Veil'd in thick darknefs brings for us ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Thou fpeakeft 
 Of Piccolomini. What was his death ? 
 
 k The 
 
130 THE DEATH OF • 
 
 The courier had juft left thee, as I came. 
 [Wallenßein by a motion of his hand makes figns 
 
 to her to befilent ) 
 Turn not thine eyes upon the backward view, 
 Let us look forward into funny days. 
 Welcome with joyous heart the victory, 
 Forget what it has coll thee. Not to day, 
 For the firft time, thy friend was to thee dead ; 
 To thee he died, when firft he parted from thee. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 This anguifh will be wearied down, * I know ; 
 What pang is permanent with man ? From th* 
 
 higheft, 
 As from the vileft thing of every day 
 He learns to wean himfelf : for the ftrong; hours 
 Conquer him. Yet I feel what I have loft . 
 In him. The bloom is vanifh'd from my life. 
 For O ! he flood betide me, like my youth, 
 Transform'd for me the real to a dream, 
 Cloathing the palpable and the familiar 
 With golden exhalations of the dawn. 
 Whatever fortunes wait my future toils, 
 The beautiful is vanifh'd — and returns not. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 O be not treacherous to thy own power. 
 Thy heart is rich enough to vivify 
 
 * A very inadequate tranflation of the original. 
 " Verfchmerzen werd ich diefen Schlag, das weifs ich, 
 Dennwas verschmerzte "nicht der Menfch !" 
 
 Literally. 
 I (hall grieve down this blow, of chat I'm confcious ; 
 What does not man grieve down ? 
 
 Itfelf. 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 131 
 
 Itfelf. Thou lov'ft and prizeft virtues in him, 
 The which thyfelf did'ft plant, thy felf unfold. 
 
 wallenstein, (ßepping to the door.) 
 Who interrupts us now at this late hour ? 
 It is the Governor. He brings the keys 
 Of the Citadel. 'Tis midnight. Leave me, 
 filler ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 'tis fo hard to me this night to leave thee — 
 A boding fear poffeffes me ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Fear ? Wherefore ? 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Should'ft thou depart this night, and we at waking 
 Never more find thee ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Fancies ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 O my foul 
 Has long been weigh'd down by thefe dark fore- 
 bodings. 
 And if I combat and repel them waking, 
 They flill rufh down upon my heart in dreams«. 
 
 1 faw thee yefternight with thy firft wife 
 Sit at a banquet gorgeoufly attir'd. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 This was a dream of favourable omen, 
 
 That marriage being the founder of my fortunes. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 To-day I dreamt that I was feeking thee 
 
 k 2 In 
 
132 THE DEATH OF 
 
 In thy own chamber. As I enter'd, lo ! 
 
 It was no more a chamber, the Chartreufe 
 
 At Gitfchin 'twas, which thou thyfelf haft founded, 
 
 And where it is thy will that thou fhould'ft be 
 
 Interr'd. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Thy foulis bufy with thefe thoughts. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 What doft thou not believe, that oft in dreams 
 A voice of warning fpeaks prophetic to us ?■ 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 There is no doubt that there exift fuch voices. 
 
 Yet I would not call them 
 
 Voices of warning that announce to us 
 
 Only the inevitable. As the fun, 
 
 Ere it is rifen, fometimes paints its image 
 
 In the atmofphere, fo often do the fpirits 
 
 Of great events ftride on before the events, 
 
 And in to-day already walks to-morrow. 
 
 That which we read of the fourth Henry's death, 
 
 Did ever vex and haunt me like a tale 
 
 Of my own future deftiny. The King 
 
 Felt in his breaft the phantom of the knife, 
 
 Long ere Ravaillac arm'd himfelf therewith. 
 
 His quiet mind forfook him : the Phantafma 
 
 Started him in his Louvre, chac'd him forth 
 
 Into the open air : like funeral Knells 
 
 Sounded that coronation feftival ; 
 
 And flill with boding fenfe he heard the tread 
 
 Of thofe feet, that ev'n then were feeking him 
 
 Through- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 133 
 
 Throughout the ftreets of Paris. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 And to thee 
 The voice within thy foul bodes nothing ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Nothing. 
 Be wholly tranquil. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 And another time 
 I haften'd after thee, and thou ran'ft from me 
 Thro' a long fuite, thro' many a fpacious lxall. 
 There feem'd no end of it — door creek'd and 
 
 clapp'd ; 
 I follow'd panting, but could not o'ertake thee j 
 When on a fudden did I feel myfelf 
 Grafp'd from behind — the hand was cold, that 
 
 grafp'd me — 
 'Twas thou, and thou did'ft kifs me, and there 
 
 feem'd 
 A crimfon covering to envelope us. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 That is the crimfon tap'flry of my chamber. 
 
 countess, (gazing on him.) 
 If it mould come to that — if I mould fee thee, 
 Who ftandeft now before me in the fullnefs 
 Of life— 
 
 {JJie falls on his breafi and weeps.) 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 The Emperor's proclamation weighs upon thee — 
 Alphabets wound not — and he finds no hands. 
 
 K 3 COUN- 
 
13^ THE DEATH OF 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 If hejliould find them, my refolve is taken — 
 I bear about me my fupport and refuge. 
 
 \Exlt Countefs. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 Wallenstein. Gordon. 
 
 wallenstein. 
 All quiet in the town ? 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 The town is quiet, 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 I hear a boifterous mufic ! and the Caftle 
 Is lighted up. Who are the revellers ? 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 There is a banquet given at the Caftle 
 
 To the Count Tertfky, and Field Marfhal Ulo. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 In honour of the vidory. — This tribe 
 Can (hew their joy in nothing elfe but feafting. 
 (Rings. The Groom of the Chamber enters.) 
 Unrobe nie. I will lay me down to fleep. 
 
 (Wallenfiein takes the keys from Gordon.) 
 So we are guarded from all enemies, 
 And fhut in with fure friends. 
 For all muft cheat me, or a face like this 
 (Fixing his eye on Gordon.) 
 
 Was 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 1.35 , 
 
 Was ne'er an hypocrite's mafk. 
 ( The Groom of the Chamber takes off his mantle, 
 collar and fear f.) 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Take care — what is that ? 
 
 GROOM Of the CHAMBER. 
 
 The golden chain is inapp'd in two. . 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Well, it has lafted long enough. Here — give it. 
 
 [He takes and looks at the chain.) 
 'Twas the firft prefent of the Emperor. 
 He hung it round me in the war of Friule, 
 He being then Archduke ; and I have worn it 
 
 Till now from habit- '■ 
 
 From fuperftition if you will. Belike, 
 It was to be a Talifman to me, 
 And while I wore it on my neck in faith, 
 It was to chain to me all my life long, 
 The volatile fortune, whofe firft pledge it was. 
 Well, be it fo ! Henceforward a new fortune 
 Muft fpring up for me ; for the potency 
 Of this charm is diflolv'd. 
 
 {Groom of the Chamber retires with the veßments. 
 Wallenftein rifes, takes aftride acrofs the room, 
 andfiands at laß before Gordon in a poßure of 
 meditation.) 
 How the old time returns upon me ! I 
 Behold myfelf once more at Burgau, where 
 We two were Pages of the Court together. 
 We oftentimes difputed : thy intention 
 Was ever good ; but thou wert wont to play 
 
 k 4 The 
 
1> 
 
 136 THE DEATH OF 
 
 The Moralift and Preacher, and would 'ft rail at 
 
 me — 
 That I ftrove after things too high for me, 
 Giving my faith to bold unlawful dreams, 
 And Hill extol to me the golden mean. 
 — Thy wifdom hath been prov'd a thriftlefs friend 
 To thy own felf. See, it has made thee early 
 A fuperannuated man, and (but 
 That my munificent ftars will intervene) 
 Would let thee in fome miferable corner 
 Go out, like an untended lamp. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 My Prince ! 
 With light heart the poor flfher moors his boat, 
 And watches from the fhore the lofty fliip 
 Stranded amid the ftorm. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Art thou already 
 In harbour then, old man ? Well ! I am not. 
 The unconquer'd fpirit drives me o'er life's billows; 
 My planks flill firm, my canvafs fwelling proudly. 
 Hope is my goddefs ftill, and youth my inmate ; 
 And while we ftand thus front to front almoft, 
 I might prefume to fay, that the fwift years 
 Have pafs'd by powerlefs o'er my unblanch'd hair. 
 (He moves with longßrides acrofs the faloon, and 
 remains on the oppofitefide over againji Gor- 
 don.) 
 Who now perfifts in calling fortune falfe ? 
 To me fhe has prov'd faithful, with fond love 
 Took me from out the common ranks of men, 
 
 And 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 137 
 
 And like a mother goddefs with flrong arm, 
 Carried me fwiftly up the fleps of life. 
 Nothing is common in my defliny, 
 Nor in the furrows of my hand. Who dares 
 Interpret then my life for me as 'twere 
 One of the und iflinguifh able many ? 
 True in this prefent moment I appear 
 Fallen low indeed ; but I fhall rife again. 
 The high flood will foon follow on this ebb \ 
 The fountain of my fortune, which now flops 
 Reprefs'd and bound by fome malicious ftar 3 
 Will foon in joy play forth from all its pipes. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 And yet remember I the good old proverb, 
 " Let the night come before we praife the day." 
 I would be flow from long-continued fortune 
 To gather hope : for hope is the companion 
 Given to the unfortunate by pitying Heaven. 
 Fear hovers round the head of profperous men ; 
 For flill unfleady are the fcales of fate. , 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. (fllliUng.) 
 
 I hear the very Gordon that of old 
 
 Was wont to preach to me, now once more 
 
 preaching; 
 I know well, that all fublunary things 
 Are flill the vafTals of viciffitude. 
 The unpropitious gods demand their tribute. 
 This long ago the ancient Pagans knew : 
 And therefore of their own accord they offer'd 
 To themfelves injuries, fo to atone 
 
 The 
 
138 THE DEATH OF 
 
 The jealoufy of their divinities : 
 
 And human facrifices bled to Typhon. 
 
 (after a paufe, ferious, and in a more fubdued. 
 
 manner.} 
 I too have facrific'd to him — For me 
 There fell the deareft friend, and through my 
 
 fault 
 He fell ! No joy from favourable fortune 
 Can overweigh the anguifh of this flroke. 
 The envy of my deftiny is glutted : 
 Life pays for life. On this pure head the 
 
 light'ning 
 Was drawn off, which would elfe have fhatter'd 
 
 me. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 To thefe enter Seni. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Is not that Seni ? and befide himfelf, 
 
 If one may truft his looks ! What brings thee hither 
 
 At this late hour, Baptifta ? 
 
 SENI. 
 
 Terror, Duke ! 
 On thy account. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What now ? 
 
 SENI. 
 
 Flee ere the day-break ! 
 Truft not thy perfon to the Swedes ! 
 
 WAL- 
 
WÄLLENST'EIN. ] 39 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What now 
 Is in thy thoughts ? 
 
 seni. {with louder voice.) 
 Truft not thy perfon to thefe Swedes. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 What is it then ? 
 seni. (fi ill mo re n rgen ihj.) 
 
 wait not 'the arrival of thefe Swedes ! 
 An evil near at hand is threatening thee 
 
 From falfe friends. All the figns (land full of 
 
 horror ! 
 Near, near at hand the net -work of perdition — 
 Yea, even now 'tis being call around thee ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Baptifla, thou art dreaming ! — Fear befools thee. 
 
 SENI. 
 
 Believe not that an empty fear deludes me. 
 Come, read it in the planetaty afpects ; 
 Read it thyfelf, that ruin threatens thee 
 From falfe friends ! 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 From the falfenefs of my friends 
 Has rifen the whole of my unprofperous fortunes. 
 The warning mould have come before ! At prefent 
 
 1 need no revelation from the liars 
 To know that. 
 
 SENI. 
 
 Come and fee ! truft thine own eyes ! 
 A fearful fign ftands in the houfe of life 
 An enemy ; a fiend lurks clofe behind 
 
 The 
 
140 THE DEATH OF 
 
 The radiance of thy planet — O be warn'd ! 
 Deliver not thyfelf up to thefe heathens 
 To wage a war againft our holy church. 
 
 wallenstein, (laugh ing gently. J 
 The oracle rails that way ! Yes, yes ! Now 
 I recollect. This junction with the Swedes 
 Did never pleafe thee — lay thyfelf to fleep, 
 Baptifta ! Signs like thefe I do not fear. 
 
 Gordon, {ivho during the whole of this dia- 
 logue has Jliewn marks of extreme agitation* 
 and now turns to Wallenflein.) 
 
 My Duke and General ! May I dare prefume ? 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Speak freely. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 What ? if 'twere no mere creation 
 Of fear, if God's high providence vouchfaf'd 
 To interpofe its aid for your deliv 'ranee, 
 And made that mouth its organ. 
 
 WALLENSTEIN. 
 
 Ye're both feverim ! 
 How can mifhap come to me from the Swedes ? 
 They fought this junction with me — 'tis their 
 
 intereft. 
 Gordon, {with difficulty fuppr effing his emotion.) 
 But what if the arrival of thefe Swedes — 
 What if this were the very thing that wing'd 
 The ruin that is flying to your temples ? 
 
 (flings himfelf at his feet.) 
 There is yet time, my Prince 
 
 SENT. 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 141 
 
 SENI. 
 
 O hear him ! hear him ! 
 
 Gordon, (rifes.) 
 The Rhinegrave's ftill far off. Give but the 
 
 orders 
 
 This citadel (hall clofe its gates upon him. 
 
 If then he will befiege us, let him try it. 
 
 But this I fay ; he'll find his own deftruction 
 
 With his whole force before thefe ramparts, fooner 
 
 Than weary down the valour of our fpirit. 
 
 He fhall experience what a band of heroes, 
 
 Infpirited by an heroic leader, 
 
 Is able to perform. And if indeed 
 
 It be thy ferious wifh to make amend 
 
 For that which thou haft done amifs, — this, this 
 
 Will touch and reconcile the Emperor, 
 
 Who gladly turns his heart to thoughts of mercy, 
 
 And Friedland, who returns repentant to him, 
 
 Will ftand yet higher in his Emperor's favour, 
 
 Than e'er he flood when he had never fallen. 
 
 wallenstein, [contemplates him withfurprize^ 
 remains filent awhile, betraying firong emo- 
 tion.) 
 Gordon — your zeal and fervour lead you far. 
 Well, well — an old friend has a privilege. 
 Blood, Gordon, has been flowing. Never, never 
 Can the Emperor pardon me : and if he could> 
 Yet I — I ne'er could let myfelf be pardon'd. 
 Had I foreknown what now has taken place, 
 That he, my deareft friend, would fall for me, 
 My firfl death -offering : and had the heart 
 
 5 Spoken 
 
142 THE DEATH OF 
 
 Spoken to me, as now it has done — Gordon, 
 
 It may be, I might have bethought myfelf. 
 
 It may be too, I might not. — Might, or might 
 
 not, 
 Is now an idle queflion. All too ferioufly 
 Has it begun to end in nothing, Gordon ! 
 Let it then have its courfe. 
 
 (fiepping to the window.) 
 All dark and filent — at the caftle too 
 All is now huih'd — Light me, Chamberlain ! 
 (The groom of the chamber, ivho had entered 
 during the laß dialogue, and had beenfiand- 
 ing. at a di fiance and lifiening to it with 
 vifible exprejfwns of the deepefi interefi, ad- 
 vances in extreme agitation, and throws 
 him/elf at the Duke' s feet,) 
 And thou too ! But I know why thou dofl wiih 
 My reconcilement with the Emperor. 
 Poor man ! he hath a fmäll eftate in Cärnthen, v 
 And fears it will be forfeited becaufe 
 He's in my fervice. Am I then fo poor, 
 That I no longer can indemnify 
 My fervants ? Well ! To no one I employ 
 Means of compulfion. If 'tis thy belief 
 That fortune has fled from me, go ! Forfake me. 
 This night for the laft time mayft thou unrobe me, 
 And then go over to thy Emperor. 
 Gordon, good night ! I think to make a long 
 Sleep of it : for the ftruggle and the turmoil 
 Of this laft day_ or two was great. May't pleafe 
 you 1 
 
 Take 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 143 
 
 Take care that they awake me not too early. 
 
 [Exit Wallenßein, the Groom of the Chamber 
 lighting him. Seni follows. Gordon re- 
 mains on the darken dßage, following the 
 Duke with his eye, tilt he difappears at 
 the farther end of the gallery : then by 
 his geflures the old man exprej/es the 
 depth of his anguijh, and ßands leaning 
 againfi a pillar. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 Gordon, Butler, [at firß behind the fcenes .) 
 
 Butler, {not yet come into view of the fiage. ) 
 
 Here (land in filence till I give the fignaL 
 
 gordon. (fiarts up.) 
 'Tis he, he has already brought the murderers. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 The lights are out. All lies in profound fleep. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 What fhall I do, fhall I attempt to fave him ? 
 Shall I call up the houfe ? Alarm the guards ? 
 
 butler, [appears, but fcarcely on the ßage.) 
 A light gleams hither from the corridor. 
 It leads directly to the Duke's bed-chamber. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 But then I break my oath to the Emperor ! 
 If he efcape and ftrengthen the enemy, • 
 
 3 D o 
 
144 THE DEATH OF 
 
 Do I not hereby call down on my head 
 All the dread confequences ? 
 
 butler, (fiepping forwa rd.J 
 
 Hark ! Who {peaks there ? 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 *Tis better, I refign it to the hands 
 Of Providence. For what am I, that / 
 Should take upon myfelf fo great a deed ? 
 /have not murder'd him, if he be murder'd -, 
 But all his refcue were my act and deed -, 
 Mine — and whatever be the confequences, 
 I muft fuftain them. 
 
 butler, (advances.) 
 I mould know that voice. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Butler ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 'Tis Gordon. What do you want here I 
 Was it fo late then, when the Duke difmifs'd 
 you ? 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Your hand bound up and in a fcarf ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 'Tis wounded. 
 That Illo fought as he was frantic, till 
 At laft we threw him on the ground. 
 
 gordon. (Jliuddering.) 
 
 Both dead ? 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Is he in bed ? 
 
 GOR- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 145 
 
 GORDON, 
 
 Ah, Butler ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 . Is he ? fpeak. 
 
 GORBON. 
 
 He fhall not perim ! Not through you ! The 
 
 Heaven 
 Refufes your arm. See — 'tis wounded !— 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 There is no need of my arm. 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 The molt guilty 
 Have perifiVd, and enough is given to juftice. 
 (The Groom of the Chamber advances from 
 the gallery, with his finger on his mouthy 
 commanding filence.) 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 He fleeps ! O murder not the holy fleep ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 No ! he (hall die awake. 
 
 (is going.) 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 His heart ftill cleaves 
 To earthly things : he's not prepar'd to flep 
 Into the prefence of his God ! 
 
 butler, (going.) 
 
 God's merciful ! 
 
 Gordon, (holds him.) 
 Grant him but this night's refpite. 
 
 L BUT- 
 
14Ö THE DEATH OP 
 
 butler, {hurrying off.) 
 The next moment 
 May ruin all. 
 
 Gordon, (holds himßill.) 
 One hour ! — 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Unhold me ! What 
 Can that fhort refpite profit him ? 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 O— Time 
 Works miracles. In one hour many thoufands 
 Of grains of fand run out ; and quick as they, 
 Thought follows thought within the human foul. 
 Only one hour ! Your heart may change its pur^ 
 
 pofe, 
 His heart may change its purpofe— fome new 
 
 tidings 
 May come j fome fortunate event, decifive, 
 May fall from Heaven and refcue him ! O what 
 May not one hour achieve ! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 You but remind me, 
 How precious every minute is ! 
 
 (he flumps on the floor.) 
 
 SCENE 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 14j7 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Tothefe enter Macdonald, and Devereux, 
 with the Halberdiers. 
 
 Gordon, (throwing himf elf between him and 
 
 them.) 
 
 No, monfter ! . 
 Firfl over my dead body thou fhalt tread. 
 I will not live to fee the accurfed deed ! 
 
 butler, (forcing him out of the way.) 
 Weak-hearted dotard ! 
 
 [trumpets are heard in the dißance.) 
 
 devereux and macdonald. 
 
 Hark ! The Swedifh trumpets ! 
 The Swedes before the ramparts ! Let us haften ■' 
 
 gordon. {nifties out.) 
 O God of mercy ! 
 
 butler, (calling after him.) 
 Governor, to your poft ! 
 
 GROOM OF THE CHAMBER, (harries Z?l.) 
 
 Who dares make larum here ? Hum ! The Duke 
 fleeps. 
 
 devereux. (with loud harfJi voice.) 
 Friend, it is time now to make larum. 
 
 GROOM OF THE CHAMBER. 
 
 Help ! 
 Murder ! 
 
 L 2 BUT- 
 
148 THE DEATH OF 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Down with him ! 
 
 groom of the chamber, (run through the 
 body by Devereux, falls at the entrance of the 
 gallery.) 
 
 Jefus Maria! 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Burfl the doors open ! 
 
 {they rufli over the body into the gallery — two 
 doors are heard to crafh one after the other 
 — Voices deadened by the difiance — Clafh of 
 arms — then all at once a profound filence.) 
 
 '.. I. 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 
 Countess Ter t sky. (with a light v)- 
 Her bed-chamber is empty ; fhe herfelf 
 Is nowhere to be found ! The Neubrunn too. 
 Who watch'd by her, is miffing. If (he ihould 
 Be flown — But whither flown ? We mult call up 
 Every foul in the houfe. How will the Duke 
 Bear up againft thefe worft bad tidings ? O 
 If that my hufband now were but return'd 
 Home from the banquet : Hark ! I wonder 
 
 whether 
 The Duke is ftill awake ! I thought I heard 
 Voices and tread of feet here ! I will go 
 And liften at the door. Hark ! What is that ? 
 •Tis haftening up the fteps ! 
 
 SCENE 
 
WALLENSTEIN". 1*9 
 
 SCENE VII. 
 
 Countess, Gordon. 
 
 Gordon, (rujkes in out of breath.) 
 
 'Tis a miftake, 
 'Tis not the Swedes — Ye muft proceed no further— 
 Butler ! O God ! Where is he ? 
 
 (then obferving the Countefs.) 
 Coüntefs ! Say 
 
 COUNTESS» 
 
 You are come then from the caftle ? Where's my 
 hufband ? , 
 
 Gordon, (in an agony of affright.) 
 Your hufband ! — Alk not ! — To the Duke— 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Not till 
 You have difcover'd to me 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 On this moment 
 Does the world hang. For God's fake ! to the Duke. 
 While we are fpeaking — 
 
 {calling loudly.) 
 
 Butler! Butler 1 God! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Why* he is at the caftle with my hufband. 
 (Butler comes from the gallery.) 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 - 
 'Twas a miftake — 'Tis not the Swedes^— It is 
 
 The Imperialift's Lieutenant-General 
 
 l $ Has 
 
150 THE DEATH OT 
 
 Has fent me hither, will be here himfelf 
 Inftantly. — You muft not proceed. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 He comes 
 Too late. 
 
 (Gordo?i daßies himfelf againfl the wall.) 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 O God of mercy ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 What too late ? 
 Who will be here himfelf? Oclavio 
 In Egra ? Treafon ! Treafon ! Where's the Duke ? 
 (She rufhes to the gallery.) 
 
 SCENE VIII. 
 
 {Servants run acrofs the ßage full of terror. The 
 whole Scene muß be fpoken entirely ivithont 
 paufes.) 
 
 sen i. (from the gallery.) 
 O bloody frightful deed ! 
 
 countess. 
 
 What is it, Seni ? 
 
 page, (from the gallery.) 
 O piteous fight ! 
 
 (Other fervants haßen in with torches.) 
 
 countess. 
 What is it ? For God's fake ! 
 
 seni. 
 
WALLENSTEItt. 151 
 
 SENI. 
 
 And do you afk ? 
 Within the Duke lies murder'd — and your huf- 
 
 band 
 Aflaffinated at the Caftle. 
 
 {The Countefs flands motionleß.) 
 female servant, {rufhing acrofs theßage.) 
 Help ! Help ! the Duchefs ! 
 
 burgomaster, {enters.) 
 
 What meant thefe confus'd 
 Loud cries, that wake the fleepers of this houfe ? 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 Your houfe is curs'd to all eternity. 
 
 In your houfe doth the Duke lie murdered ! 
 
 BURGOMASTER, (rilfllillg Ollt.) 
 
 Heaven forbid ! 
 
 FIRST SERVANT. 
 
 Fly ! fly ! they murder us all ! 
 
 second servant, (carrying filver plate.) 
 
 That way ! The lower 
 FafTages are block'd up. 
 
 voice, {from behind the Scene.) 
 Make room for the Lieutenant General ! 
 (At thefe words the Countefs fiarts from her ßu~ 
 por, collects herfelf, and retires fuddenly.) 
 
 voice, (from behind the Scene.) 
 Keep back the people ! Guard the door. 
 
 l 4 SCENE 
 
152 THE DEATH OF 
 
 SCENE IX. 
 
 To thefe enters Oct avi o Piccolomini with all 
 his train. At the fame time Devereux and 
 Macdonald enter from out the Corridor 
 with the Halberdiers. Wallenstein's dead 
 body is carried over the back part of the fi age > 
 wrapped in a piece of crimfon tapeßry. 
 
 octavio. {entering abruptly.) 
 It muft not be ! It is not poffible ! 
 Butler ! Gordon ! 
 I'll not believe it. Say no ! 
 
 GORDON, 
 
 (Without anfwering, points with his hand to the 
 body of Wallenfiein as it is carried over the 
 back of the fi age. Octavio looks that way, and 
 fiands overpowered with horror.) 
 
 devereux. (to Butler.) 
 Here is the golden fleece — the Duke's fword — 
 
 MACDONALD. 
 
 Is it your order ? 
 
 butler, (pointing to Octavio.) 
 
 Here ftands he who now 
 
 Hath the fole power to iffue orders. 
 
 (Devereux and Macdonald retire with marks 
 
 of obeifance. One drops azvay after the other, 
 
 till only Butler^ Octavio^ and Gordon remain 
 
 on thefiage .) 
 
 ©c- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 153 
 
 ocTAVio. (turning to Butler.) 
 Was that my purpofe, Butler, when we parted ? 
 O God of Juftice ! 
 
 To thee I lift my hand S .1 am not guilty 
 Of this foul deed. 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 Your hand is pure. You have 
 Avail'd yourfelf of mine. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Mercilefs man ! 
 Thus to abufe the orders of thy Lord — 
 And ftain thy Emperor's holy name with murder, 
 With bloody, mod accurs'd affaffination ? 
 
 butler, (calmly.) 
 I've but fulriU'd the Emperor's ownfentence, 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 O curfe of Kings, ; 
 
 Infufing a dread life into their words, 
 
 And linking to the fudden tranfeient thought 
 
 The unchangeable irrevocable deed. 
 
 Was there neceffity for fuch an eager 
 
 Defpatch ? Could'fl thou not grant the merciful 
 
 A time for mercy ? Time is man's good Angel. 
 
 To leave no interval between the fentence, 
 
 And the fulfilment of it, doth befeem 
 
 God only, the immutable 1 
 
 BUTLER. 
 
 For what 
 Rail you againfl me ? What is my offence ? 
 The Empire from a fearful enemy 
 
 Have 
 
I54 THE DEATH OP 
 
 Have I delivered, and expert reward. 
 
 The (ingle difference betwixt you and me 
 
 Is this : you plac'd the arrow in the bow ; 
 
 I pull'd the fifing. You iow'd blood, and yet 
 
 ftand 
 Aflonifh'd that blood is come up. I always 
 Knew what I did, and therefore no refult 
 Hath power to frighten or furprize my fpirit ; 
 Have you aught elfe to order; for this inftant 
 I make my foeft fpeed to Vienna ; place 
 My bleeding fword before my Emperor's Throne, 
 And hope to gain the applaufe which undelaying 
 And punctual obedience may demand 
 From a juft Judge, [Exit Butler. 
 
 SCENE X. 
 
 To t liefe enter the Cou xt ess Tertsky, pale and 
 difordered. Her utterance is Jlow and feeble, 
 and unempafßoned. 
 
 ocTAvio. {meeting her.) 
 O Countefs Tertfky ! Thefe are the refults 
 Of lucklefs unblefl deeds. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 They are the fruits 
 
 Of your contrivances. The Duke is dead, 
 
 My hufband too is dead, the Duchefs ftruggles 
 
 In the pangs of death, my niece has difappear'd. 
 
 This houfe of fplendour, and of princely glory, 
 
 Doth now Hand defolated ; the affrighted fervants 
 
 Rufh 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 155 
 
 Rudi forth thro' all its doors. I am the lafl 
 Therein ; I (hut it up, and here deliver 
 The keys. 
 
 oc t a v i o. {with a deep anguijli . ) 
 
 O Countefs ! my houfe too is defolate. 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Who next is to be murder'd ? Who is next 
 To be maltreated ? Lo ! The Duke is dead. 
 The Emperor's vengeance may be pacified ! 
 Spare the old fervants j let not their fidelity 
 Be imputed to the faithful as a crime — 
 The evil deftiny furpriz'd my brother 
 Too mddenly : he could not think on them. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Speak not of vengeance ! Speak not of maltreat- 
 ment ! 
 The Emp'ror is appeas'd ; the heavy fault 
 Hath heavily been expiated — nothing 
 Defcended from the father to the daughter, 
 Except his glory and his fervices. 
 The Emprefs honours your adverfity, 
 Takes part in your afflictions, opens to you 
 Her motherly arms ! Therefore no farther fears ! 
 Yield yourfelf up in hope and confidence 
 To the Imperial Grace ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 (with her eye raised to heaven.) 
 To the grace and mercy of a greater Mafler 
 Do I yield up myfelf. — Where (hall the body 
 Of the Duke have its place of final reft ? 
 
 4 In 
 
156 THE DEATH OF 
 
 In the Chartreufe, which he hinfelf did found 
 
 At Gitfchin, refts the Countefs Wallenftein ; 
 
 And by her fide, to whom he was indebted 
 
 For his firft fortunes, gratefully he wifh'd 
 
 He might fometime repofe in death ! O let him 
 
 Be buried there. And likewife, for my hufband's 
 
 Remains, I afk the like grace. The Emperor 
 
 Is now proprietor of all our Caftles. 
 
 This fure may well be granted us — one fepulchre 
 
 Befide the fepulchres of our forefathers ! 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Countefs, you tremble, you turn pale ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 (reajfembles all her powers, and /peaks with energy 
 
 and dignity. ) 
 
 You think 
 More worthily of me, than to believe 
 I would furvive the downfal of my houfe. 
 We did not hold ourfelves too mean, to grafp 
 After a monarch's crown — the crown did fate 
 Deny, but not the feeling and the fpirit 
 That to the crown belong ! We deem a 
 Courageous death more worthy of our free ftation 
 Than a difhonoured life. — I have taken poifon. 
 
 OCTAVIO. 
 
 Help ! Help ! Support her ! 
 
 COUNTESS. 
 
 Nay, it is too late. 
 In a few moments is my fate accompliuVd. 
 
 [Exit Countefs. 
 
 3 COR- 
 
WALLENSTEIN. 157 
 
 GORDON. 
 
 O Houfe of death and horrors ! 
 (An officer enters, and brings a letter with the 
 
 great Seal.) 
 gordou. (fieps forward and meets him.) 
 
 What is this ? 
 It is the Imperial Seal . 
 
 [He reads the Addrefs, and delivers the letter to 
 Octavio with a look of reproach, and zvith an 
 emphqfis on the word.) 
 To the Prince Piccolomini. 
 
 octavio. (with his whole frame exprej/ive offud- 
 den anguijh, raifes his eyes to heaven.) 
 
 The Curtain drops. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 Printed by G.Woodfalli No. 22, Palernoßer-Roiv, Lotdon. 
 
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