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

the man of princely rank be saved? We all do stamp our value on ourselves: The price we challenge for ourselves is given us. There does not live on earth the man so stationed That I despise myself compared with him. Man is made great or little by his own will; Because I am true to mine therefore he dies!

GORDON. I am endeavoring to move a rock. Thou hadst a mother, yet no human feelings. I cannot hinder you, but may some God Rescue him from you!

[Exit GORDON. BUTLER [9] (alone). I treasured my good name all my life long; The duke has cheated me of life's best jewel, So that I blush before this poor weak Gordon! He prizes above all his fealty; His conscious soul accuses him of nothing; In opposition to his own soft heart He subjugates himself to an iron duty. Me in a weaker moment passion warped; I stand beside him, and must feel myself The worst man of the two. What though the world Is ignorant of my purposed treason, yet One man does know it, and can prove it, too - High-minded Piccolomini! There lives the man who can dishonor me! This ignominy blood alone can cleanse! Duke Friedland, thou or I. Into my own hands Fortune delivers me. The dearest thing a man has is himself.


SCENE IX.

[A gothic and gloomy apartment at the DUCHESS FRIEDLAND's.
THEKLA on a seat, pale, her eyes closed. The DUCHESS and LADY
NEUBRUNN busied about her. WALLENSTEIN and the COUNTESS in
conversation.

WALLENSTEIN. How knew she it so soon?

COUNTESS.
She seems to have Foreboded some misfortune. The report Of an engagement, in which had fallen A colonel of the imperial army, frightened her. I saw it instantly. She flew to meet The Swedish courier, and with sudden questioning, Soon wrested from him the disastrous secret. Too late we missed her, hastened after her, We found her lying in his arms, all pale, And in a swoon.

WALLENSTEIN.
A heavy, heavy blow! And she so unprepared! Poor child! how is it?
[Turning to the DUCHESS. Is she coming to herself?

DUCHESS.
Her eyes are opening - -

COUNTESS. She lives!

THEKLA (looking around her).
Where am I?

WALLENSTEIN (steps to her, raising 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 (standing up).
Where is he? Is he gone?

DUCHESS. Who gone, my daughter?

THEKLA.
He - the man who uttered That word of misery.

DUCHESS.
Oh, think not of it! My Thekla!

WALLENSTEIN.
Give her sorrow leave to talk! Let her complain - mingle your tears with hers, For she hath suffered a deep anguish; but She'll rise superior to it, for my Thekla Hath all her father's unsubdued heart.

THEKLA. I am not ill. See, I have power to stand. Why does my mother weep? Have I alarmed her? It is gone by - I recollect myself.
[She casts her eyes round the room, as seeking some one. Where is he? Please you, do not hide him from me. You see I have strength enough: now I will hear him.

DUCHESS. No; never shall this messenger of evil Enter again into thy presence, Thekla!

THEKLA. My father - -

WALLENSTEIN.
Dearest daughter!

THEKLA.
I'm not weak. Shortly I shall be quite myself again. You'll grant me one request?

WALLENSTEIN.
Name it, my daughter.

THEKLA. Permit the stranger to be called to me, And grant me leave, that by myself I may Hear his report and question him.

DUCHESS.
No, never!

COUNTESS. 'Tis not advisable - assent not to it.

WALLENSTEIN. Hush! Wherefore wouldst thou speak with him, my daughter?

THEKLA. Knowing the whole, I shall be more collected; I will not be deceived. My mother wishes Only to spare me. I will not be spared - The worst is said already: I can hear Nothing of deeper anguish!

COUNTESS and DUCHESS.
Do it not.

THEKLA. The horror overpowered me by surprise, My heart betrayed me in the stranger's presence: He was a witness of my weakness, yea, I sank into his arms; and that has shamed me. I must replace myself in his esteem, And I must speak with him, perforce, that he, The stranger, may not think ungently of me.

WALLENSTEIN. I see she is in the right, and am inclined To grant her this request of hers. Go, call him.

[LADY NEUBRUNN goes to call him.

DUCHESS. But I, thy mother, will be present - -

THEKLA.
'Twere More pleasing to me if alone I saw him; Trust me, I shall behave myself the more Collectedly.

WALLENSTEIN.
Permit her her own will. Leave her alone with him: for there are sorrows, Where of necessity the soul must be Its own support. A strong heart will rely On its own strength alone. In her own bosom, Not in her mother's arms, must she collect The strength to rise superior 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 Terzky say That 'tis thy purpose to depart from hence To-morrow early, but to leave us here.

WALLENSTEIN. Yes, ye stay here, placed under the protection Of gallant men.

COUNTESS.
Oh, take us with you, brother. Leave us not in this gloomy solitude. To brood o'er anxious thoughts. The mists of doubt Magnify evils to a shape of horror.

WALLENSTEIN. Who speaks of evil? I entreat you, sister, Use words of better omen.

COUNTESS.
Then take us with you. Oh leave us not behind you in a place That forces us to such sad omens. Heavy And sick within me is my heart - These walls breathe on me like a churchyard vault. I cannot tell you, brother, how this place Doth go against my nature. Take us with you. Come, sister, join you your entreaty! Niece, Yours too. We all entreat you, take us with you!

WALLENSTEIN. The place's evil omens will I change, Making it that which shields and shelters for me My best beloved.

LADY NEUBRUNN (returning).
The Swedish officer.

WALLENSTEIN. Leave her alone with me.

DUCHESS (to THEKLA, who starts and shivers). There - pale as death! Child, 'tis impossible That thou shouldst speak with him. Follow thy mother.

THEKLA. The Lady Neubrunn then may stay with me.

[Exeunt DUCHESS and COUNTESS.


SCENE X.

THEKLA, THE SWEDISH CAPTAIN, LADY NEUBRUNN.

CAPTAIN (respectfully approaching her). Princess - I must entreat your gentle pardon - My inconsiderate rash speech. How could! - -

THEKLA (with dignity). You have beheld me in my agony. A most distressful accident occasioned You from a stranger to become at once My confidant.

CAPTAIN.
I fear you hate my presence, For my tongue spake a melancholy word.

THEKLA. The fault is mine. Myself did wrest it from you. The horror which came o'er me interrupted Your tale at its commencement. May it please you, Continue it to the end.

CAPTAIN.
Princess, 'twill Renew your anguish.

THEKLA.
I am firm, - I will be firm. Well - how began the engagement?

CAPTAIN. We lay, expecting no attack, at Neustadt, Intrenched but insecurely in our camp, When towards evening rose a cloud of dust From the wood thitherward; our vanguard fled Into the camp, and sounded the alarm. Scarce had we mounted ere the Pappenheimers, Their horses at full speed, broke through the lines, And leaped the trenches; but their heedless courage Had borne them onward far before the others - The infantry were still at distance, only The Pappenheimers followed daringly Their daring leader - -

[THEKLA betrays agitation in her gestures. The officer pauses
till she makes a sign to him to proceed.

CAPTAIN.
Both in van and flanks With our whole cavalry we now received them; Back to the trenches drove them, where the foot Stretched out a solid ridge of pikes to meet them. They neither could advance, nor yet retreat; And as they stood on every side wedged in, The Rhinegrave to their leader called aloud, Inviting a surrender; but their leader, Young Piccolomini - -
[THEKLA, as giddy, grasps a chair.
Known by his plume, And his long hair, gave signal for the trenches; Himself leaped first: the regiment all plunged after. His charger, by a halbert gored, reared up, Flung him with violence off, and over him The horses, now no longer to be curbed, - -

[THEKLA, who has accompanied the last speech with all
the marks of increasing agony, trembles through her whole
frame and is falling. The LADY NEUBRUNN runs to her, and
receives her in her arms.

NEUBRUNN. My dearest lady!

CAPTAIN.
I retire.

THERLA.
'Tis over. Proceed to the conclusion.

CAPTAIN.
Wild despair Inspired the troops with frenzy when they saw Their leader perish; every thought of rescue Was spurned; they fought like wounded tigers; their Frantic resistance roused our soldiery; A murderous fight took place, nor was the contest Finished before their last man fell.

THEKLA (faltering).
And where - Where is - you have not told me all.