Samuel Coleridge - The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge

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 conscience, 205

What served him pleased him, and without a murmur

He stamped his broad seal on these lawless deeds.

What at that time was right, because thou didst it

For him, to-day is all at once become

Opprobrious, foul, because it is directed 210

Against him. — O most flimsy superstition!

Wallenstein (rising). I never saw it in this light before.

‘Tis even so. The Emperor perpetrated

Deeds through my arm, deeds most unorderly.

And even this prince’s mantle, which I wear, 215

I owe to what were services to him,

But most high misdemeanours ‘gainst the empire.

Countess. Then betwixt thee and him (confess it, Friedland!)

The point can be no more of right and duty,

Only of power and opportunity. 220

That opportunity, lo! it comes yonder,

Approaching with swift steeds; then with a swing

Throw thyself up into the chariot-seat,

Seize with firm hand the reins, ere thy opponent

Anticipate thee, and himself make conquest 225

Of the now empty seat. The moment comes —

It is already here, when thou must write

The absolute total of thy life’s vast sum.

The constellations stand victorious o’er thee,

The planets shoot good fortune in fair junctions, 230

And tell thee, ‘Now’s the time!’ The starry courses

Hast thou thy life long measured to no purpose?

The quadrant and the circle, were they playthings?

[Pointing to the different objects in the room.

The zodiacs, the rolling orbs of heaven,

Hast pictured on these walls, and all around thee 235

In dumb, foreboding symbols hast thou placed

These seven presiding Lords of Destiny —

For toys? Is all this preparation nothing?

Is there no marrow in this hollow art,

That even to thyself it doth avail 240

Nothing, and has no influence over thee

In the great moment of decision? ——

Wallenstein (interrupting the Countess). Send Wrangel to me — I

will instantly

Dispatch three couriers ——

Illo (hurrying out). God in heaven be praised!

Wallenstein. It is his evil genius and mine. 245

Our evil genius! It chastises him

Through me, the instrument of his ambition;

And I expect no less, than that Revenge

E’en now is whetting for my breast the poniard.

Who sows the serpent’s teeth, let him not hope 250

To reap a joyous harvest. Every crime

Has, in the moment of its perpetration,

Its own avenging angel — dark misgiving,

An ominous sinking at the inmost heart.

He can no longer trust me — Then no longer 255

Can I retreat — so come that which must come. —

Still destiny preserves its due relations,

The heart within us is its absolute

Vicegerent. [To TERTSKY.

Go, conduct you Gustave Wrangel

To my state-cabinet. Myself will speak to 260

The couriers. — And dispatch immediately

A servant for Octavio Piccolomini. [To the COUNTESS.

No exultation — woman, triumph not!

For jealous are the Powers of Destiny.

Joy premature, and shouts ere victory, 265

Incroach upon their rights and privileges.

We sow the seed, and they the growth determine.

[While he is making his exit the curtain drops.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

SCENE — As in the preceding Act.

WALLENSTEIN, OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI.

Wallenstein (coming forward in conversation). He sends me word

from Linz, that he lies sick;

But I have sure intelligence, that he

Secretes himself at Frauenberg with Galas.

Secure them both, and send them to me hither.

Remember, thou tak’st on thee the command 5

Of those same Spanish regiments, — constantly

Make preparation, and be never ready;

And if they urge thee to draw out against me,

Still answer yes, and stand as thou wert fettered.

I know, that it is doing thee a service 10

To keep thee out of action in this business.

Thou lovest to linger on in fair appearances;

Steps of extremity are not thy province,

Therefore have I sought out this part for thee.

Thou wilt this time be of most service to me 15

By thy inertness. The mean time, if fortune

Declare itself on my side, thou wilt know

What is to do.

Enter MAX PICCOLOMINI.

Now go, Octavio.

This night must thou be off, take my own horses:

Him here I keep with me — make short farewell — 20

Trust me, I think we all shall meet again

In joy and thriving fortunes.

Octavio (to his son). I shall see you

Yet ere I go.

Table of Contents

WALLENSTEIN, MAX PICCOLOMINI.

Max (advances to him). My General!

Wallenstein. That am I no longer, if

Thou styl’st thyself the Emperor’s officer.

Max. Then thou wilt leave the army, General?

Wallenstein. I have renounced the service of the Emperor.

Max. And thou wilt leave the army?

Wallenstein. Rather hope I 5

To bind it nearer still and faster to me. [He seats himself.

Yes, Max, I have delayed to open it to thee,

Even till the hour of acting ‘gins to strike.

Youth’s fortunate feeling doth seize easily

The absolute right, yea, and a joy it is 10

To exercise the single apprehension

Where the sums square in proof;

But where it happens, that of two sure evils

One must be taken, where the heart not wholly

Brings itself back from out the strife of duties, 15

There ‘tis a blessing to have no election,

And blank necessity is grace and favour.

— This is now present: do not look behind thee. —

It can no more avail thee. Look thou forwards!

Think not! judge not! prepare thyself to act! 20

The Court — it hath determined 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.

[He stops himself, expecting PICCOLOMINI’S answer.

I have ta’en thee by surprise. Answer me not. 25

I grant thee time to recollect thyself.

[He rises, and retires at the back of the stage. MAX

remains for a long time motionless, in a trance

of excessive anguish. At his first motion

WALLENSTEIN returns, and places himself before

him.

Max. My General, this day thou makest me

Of age to speak in my own right and person,

For till this day I have been spared the trouble

To find out my own road. Thee have I followed 30

With most implicit unconditional faith,

Sure of the right path if I followed thee.

To-day, for the first time, dost thou refer

Me to myself, and forcest me to make

Election between thee and my own heart. 35

Wallenstein. Soft cradled thee thy Fortune till to-day;

Thy duties thou couldst exercise in sport,

Indulge all lovely instincts, act for ever

With undivided heart. It can remain

No longer thus. Like enemies, the roads 40

Start from each other. Duties strive with duties.

Thou must needs choose 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 pestilence. 45

Yet it is good, is it heaven’s will as that is.

Is that a good war, which against the Emperor

Thou wagest with the Emperor’s own army?

O God of heaven! what a change is this.

Beseems it me to offer such persuasion 50