The Death of Wallenstein by Friedrich Schiller (best time to read books txt) 📖

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COUNTESS.
This suspense, This horrid fear - I can no longer bear it. For heaven's sake tell me what has taken place?

ILLO. The regiments are falling off from us.

TERZKY. Octavio Piccolomini is a traitor.

COUNTESS. O my foreboding!

[Rushes out of the room.

TERZKY.
Hadst thou but believed me! Now seest thou how the stars have lied to thee.

WALLENSTEIN. The stars lie not; but we have here a work Wrought counter to the stars and destiny. The science is still honest: this false heart Forces a lie on the truth-telling heaven, On a divine law divination rests; Where nature deviates from that law, and stumbles Out of her limits, there all science errs. True I did not suspect! Were it superstition Never by such suspicion to have affronted The human form, oh, may the time ne'er come In which I shame me of the infirmity. The wildest savage drinks not with the victim, Into whose breast he means to plunge the sword. This, this, Octavio, was no hero's deed 'Twas not thy prudence that did conquer mine; A bad heart triumphed o'er an honest one. No shield received the assassin stroke; thou plungest Thy weapon on an unprotected breast - Against such weapons I am but a child.


SCENE X.

To these enter BUTLER.

TERZKY (meeting him). Oh, look there, Butler! Here we've still a friend!

WALLENSTEIN (meets him with outspread arms and embraces him with warmth). Come to my heart, old comrade! Not the sun Looks out upon us more revivingly, In the earliest month of spring, Than a friend's countenance in such an hour.

BUTLER. My general; I come - -

WALLENSTEIN (leaning on BUTLER'S shoulder).
Knowest thou already That old man has betrayed me to the emperor. What sayest thou? Thirty years have we together Lived out, and held out, sharing joy and hardship. We have slept in one camp-bed, drank from one glass, One morsel shared! I leaned myself on him, As now I lean me on thy faithful shoulder, And now in the very moment when, all love, All confidence, my bosom beat to his He sees and takes the advantage, stabs the knife Slowly into my heart.

[He hides his face on BUTLER's breast.

BUTLER.
Forget the false one. What is your present purpose?

WALLENSTEIN.
Well remembered! Courage, my soul! I am still rich in friends, Still loved by destiny; for in the moment That it unmasks the plotting hypocrite It sends and proves to me one faithful heart. Of the hypocrite no more! Think not his loss Was that which struck the pang: Oh, no! his treason Is that which strikes the pang! No more of him! Dear to my heart, and honored were they both, And the young man - yes - he did truly love me, He - he - has not deceived me. But enough, Enough of this - swift counsel now beseems us. The courier, whom Count Kinsky sent from Prague, I expect him every moment: and whatever He may bring with him we must take good care To keep it from the mutineers. Quick then! Despatch some messenger you can rely on To meet him, and conduct him to me.

[ILLO is going.

BUTLER (detaining him). My general, whom expect you then?

WALLENSTEIN.
The courier Who brings me word of the event at Prague.

BUTLER (hesitating). Hem!

WALLENSTEIN.
And what now?

BUTLER.
You do not know it?

WALLENSTEIN. Well?

BUTLER. From what that larum in the camp arose?

WALLENSTEIN. From what?

BUTLER.
That courier - -

WALLENSTEIN (with eager expectation).
Well?

BUTLER.
Is already here.

TERZKY and ILLO (at the same time). Already here?

WALLENSTEIEN.
My courier?

BUTLER.
For some hours.

WALLENSTEIN. And I not know it?

BUTLER.
The sentinels detain him In custody.

ILLO (stamping with his foot).
Damnation!

BUTLER.
And his letter Was broken open, and is circulated Through the whole camp.

WALLENSTEIN.
You know what it contains?

BUTLER. Question me not.

TERZKY.
Illo! Alas for us.

WALLENSTEIN. Hide nothing from me - I can bear the worst. Prague then is lost. It is. Confess it freely.

BUTLER. Yes! Prague is lost. And all the several regiments At Budweiss, Tabor, Braunau, Koenigingratz, At Brunn, and Znaym, have forsaken you, And taken the oaths of fealty anew To the emperor. Yourself, with Kinsky, Terzky, And Illo have been sentenced.

[TERZKY and ILLO express alarm and fury. WALLENSTEIN remains
firm and collected.

WALLENSTEIN. 'Tis decided! 'Tis well! I have received a sudden cure From all the pangs of doubt: with steady stream Once more my life-blood flows! My soul's secure! In the night only Friedland stars can beam. Lingering irresolute, with fitful fears I drew the sword - 'twas with an inward strife, While yet the choice was mine. The murderous knife Is lifted for my heart! Doubt disappears! I fight now for my head and for my life.

[Exit WALLENSTEIN; the others follow him.


SCENE XI.

COUNTESS TERZKY (enters from a side 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 sore anguish of suspense. And I must wear the outward show of calmness Before my sister, and shut in within me The pangs and agonies of my crowded bosom. It is not to be borne. If all should fail; If - if he must 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 must wander on from land to land, Like the Count Palatine, of fallen greatness An ignominious monument. But no! That day I will not see! And could himself Endure to sink so low, I would not bear To see him so low sunken.


SCENE XII.

COUNTESS, DUCHESS, THEKLA.

THEKLA (endeavoring to hold back the DUCHESS) Dear mother, do stay here!

DUCHESS.
No! Here is yet Some frightful mystery that is hidden from me. Why does my sister shun me? Don't I see her Full of suspense and anguish roam about From room to room? Art thou not full of terror? And what import these silent nods and gestures Which stealthwise thou exchangest with her?

THEKLA.
Nothing Nothing, dear mother!

DUCHESS (to the COUNTESS).
Sister, I will know.

COUNTESS. What boots it now to hide it from her? Sooner Or later she must learn to hear and bear it. 'Tis not the time now to indulge infirmity; Courage beseems us now, a heart collect, And exercise and previous discipline Of fortitude. One word, and over with it! Sister, you are deluded. You believe The duke has been deposed - the duke is not Deposed - he is - -

THEKLA (going to the COUNTESS),
What? do you wish to kill her?

COUNTESS. The duke is - -

THEKLA (throwing her arms round her mother).
Oh, stand firm! stand firm, my mother!

COUNTESS. Revolted is the duke; he is preparing To join the enemy; the army leave him, And all has failed.


SCENE XIII.

A spacious room in the Duke of Friedland's palace.

WALLENSTEIN (in armor). Thou hast gained thy point, Octavio! Once more am I Almost as friendless as at Regensburg. There I had nothing left me but myself; But what one man can do you have now experience. The twigs have you hewed off, and here I stand A leafless trunk. But in the sap within Lives the creating power, and a new world May sprout forth from it. Once already have I Proved myself worth an army to you - I alone! Before the Swedish strength your troops had melted; Beside the Lech sank Tilly, your last hope; Into Bavaria, like a winter torrent, Did that Gustavus pour, and at Vienna In his own palace did the emperor tremble. Soldiers were scarce, for still the multitude Follow the luck: all eyes were turned on me, Their helper in distress; the emperor's pride Bowed itself down before the man he had injured. 'Twas I must rise, and with creative word Assemble forces in the desolate camps. I did it. Like a god of war my name Went through the world. The drum was beat; and, to The plough, the workshop is forsaken, all Swarm to the old familiar long loved banners; And as the wood-choir rich in melody Assemble quick around the bird of wonder, When first his throat swells with his magic song, So did the warlike youth of Germany Crowd in around the image of my eagle. I feel myself the being that I was. It is the soul that builds itself a body, And Friedland's camp will not remain unfilled. Lead then your thousands out to meet me - true! They are accustomed under me to conquer, But not against me. If the head and limbs Separate from each other, 'twill be soon Made manifest in which the soul abode.

(ILLO and TERZKY enter.)

Courage, friends! courage! we are still unvanquished; I feel my footing firm; five regiments, Terzky, Are still our own, and Butler's gallant troops; And an host of sixteen thousand Swedes to-morrow. I was not stronger when, nine years ago, I marched forth, with glad heart and high of hope, To conquer Germany for the emperor.


SCENE XIV.

WALLENSTEIN, ILLO, TERZKY.

(To them enter NEUMANN, who leads TERZKY aside,
and talks with him.)

TERZKY. What do they want?

WALLENSTEIN.