Samuel Coleridge - The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge

With fifteen thousand men, and only waits

For orders to proceed and join your army.

Those orders I give out, immediately

We’re compromised.

Wallenstein. What asks the Chancellor?

Wrangel. Twelve Regiments, every man a Swede — my head 105

The warranty — and all might prove at last

Only false play ——

Wallenstein (starting). Sir Swede!

Wrangel. Am therefore forced

T’ insist thereon, that he do formally,

Irrevocably break with the Emperor,

Else not a Swede is trusted to Duke Friedland. 110

Wallenstein. Come, brief and open! What is the demand?

Wrangel. That he forthwith disarm the Spanish regiments

Attached to the Emperor, that he seize Prague,

And to the Swedes give up that city, with

The strong pass Egra.

Wallenstein. That is much indeed! 115

Prague! — Egra’s granted — But — but Prague!—’Twon’t do.

I give you every security

Which you may ask of me in common reason —

But Prague — Bohemia — these, Sir General,

I can myself protect.

Wrangel. We doubt it not. 120

But ‘tis not the protection that is now

Our sole concern. We want security,

That we shall not expend our men and money

All to no purpose.

Wallenstein. ‘Tis but reasonable.

Wrangel. And till we are indemnified, so long 125

Stays Prague in pledge.

Wallenstein. Then trust you us so little?

Wrangel (rising). The Swede, if he would treat well with the

German,

Must keep a sharp look-out. We have been called

Over the Baltic, we have saved the empire

From ruin — with our best blood have we seal’d 130

The liberty of faith, and gospel truth.

But now already is the benefaction

No longer felt, the load alone is felt. ——

Ye look askance with evil eye upon us,

As foreigners, intruders in the empire, 135

And would fain send us, with some paltry sum

Of money, home again to our old forests.

No, no! my Lord Duke! no! — it never was

For Judas’ pay, for chinking gold and silver,

That we did leave our King by the Great Stone. 140

No, not for gold and silver have there bled

So many of our Swedish Nobles — neither

Will we, with empty laurels for our payment,

Hoist sail for our own country. Citizens

Will we remain upon the soil, the which 145

Our Monarch conquered for himself, and died.

Wallenstein. Help to keep down the common enemy,

And the fair border land must needs be yours.

Wrangel. But when the common enemy lies vanquished,

Who knits together our new friendship then? 150

We know, Duke Friedland! though perhaps the Swede

Ought not t’ have known it, that you carry on

Secret negotiations with the Saxons.

Who is our warranty, that we are not

The sacrifices in those articles 155

Which ‘tis thought needful to conceal from us?

Wallenstein (rises). Think you of something better, Gustave

Wrangel!

Of Prague no more.

Wrangel. Here my commission ends.

Wallenstein. Surrender up to you my capital!

Far liever would I face about, and step 160

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 since Sesina is a prisoner.

My Lord Duke, hear me — We believe that you 165

At present do mean honourably by us.

Since yesterday we’re sure of that — and now

This paper warrants for the troops, there’s nothing

Stands in the way of our full confidence.

Prague shall not part us. Hear! The Chancellor 170

Contents himself with Albstadt, to your Grace

He gives up Ratschin and the narrow side,

But Egra above all must open to us,

Ere we can think of any junction.

Wallenstein. You,

You therefore must I trust, and you not me? 175

I will consider of your proposition.

Wrangel. I must entreat, that your consideration

Occupy not too long a time. Already

Has this negotiation, my Lord Duke!

Crept on into the second year. If nothing 180

Is settled this time, will the Chancellor

Consider it as broken off for ever.

Wallenstein. Ye press me hard. A measure, such as this,

Ought to be thought of.

Wrangel. Ay! but think of this too,

That sudden action only can procure it 185

Success — think first of this, your Highness. [Exit WRANGEL.

Table of Contents

WALLENSTEIN, TERTSKY, and ILLO (re-enter).

Illo. Is’t all right?

Tertsky. Are you compromised?

Illo. This Swede

Went smiling from you. Yes! you’re compromised.

Wallenstein. As yet is nothing settled: and (well weighed)

I feel myself inclined to leave it so.

Tertsky. How? What is that?

Wallenstein. Come on me what will come, 5

The doing evil to avoid an evil

Cannot be good!

Tertsky. Nay, but bethink you, Duke?

Wallenstein. To live upon the mercy of these Swedes!

Of these proud-hearted Swedes! I could not bear it.

Illo. Goest thou as fugitive, as mendicant? 10

Bringest thou not more to them than thou receivest?

Table of Contents

To these enter the COUNTESS TERTSKY.

Wallenstein. Who sent for you? There is no business here

For women.

Countess. I am come to bid you joy.

Wallenstein. Use thy authority, Tertsky, bid her go.

Countess. Come I perhaps too early? I hope not.

Wallenstein. Set not this tongue upon me, I entreat you. 5

You know it is the weapon that destroys me.

I am routed, if a woman but attack me.

I cannot traffic in the trade of words

With that unreasoning sex.

Countess. I had already

Given the Bohemians a king.

Wallenstein. They have one, 10

In consequence, no doubt.

Countess. Ha! what new scruple?

Tertsky. The Duke will not.

Countess. He will not what he must!

Illo. It lies with you now. Try. For I am silenced,

When folks begin to talk to me of conscience,

And of fidelity.

Countess. How? then, when all 15

Lay in the far-off distance, when the road

Stretched out before thine eyes interminably,

Then hadst thou courage and resolve; and now,

Now that the dream is being realized,

The purpose ripe, the issue ascertained, 20

Dost thou begin to play the dastard now?

Planned merely, ‘tis a common felony;

Accomplished, an immortal undertaking:

And with success comes pardon hand in hand;

For all event is God’s arbitrement. 25

Servant (enters). The Colonel Piccolomini.

Countess. — Must wait.

Wallenstein. I cannot see him now. Another time.

Servant. But for two minutes he entreats an audience.

Of the most urgent nature is his business.

Wallenstein. Who knows what he may bring us? I will hear him. 30

Countess. Urgent for him, no doubt; but thou mayest wait.

Wallenstein. What is it?

Countess. Thou shalt be informed hereafter.

First let the Swede and thee be compromised. [Exit Servant.

Wallenstein. If there were yet a choice! if yet some milder

Way of escape were possible — I still 35

Will choose it, and avoid the last extreme.

Countess. Desir’st thou nothing further? Such a way

Lies still before thee. Send this Wrangel off.

Forget thou thy old hopes, cast far away

All thy past life; determine to commence 40

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 — say aloud,