Samuel Coleridge - The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge

From the Emperor; but ‘twas finally concluded

With all the detail of the operation 20

Some days ago with the Envoy Questenberg.

[WALLENSTEIN sinks down into a chair and covers

his face.

Tertsky. O hadst thou but believed me!

[Before 1] Illo (who enters agitated with rage). 1800, 1828, 1829.

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To them enter the COUNTESS.

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 all falling off from us.

Tertsky. Octavio Piccolomini is a traitor. 5

Countess. O my foreboding! [Rushes out of the room.

Tertsky. 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 10

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 15

Never by such suspicion t’ have affronted

The human form, O may that 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. 20

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 — 25

Against such weapons I am but a child.

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To these enter BUTLER.

Tertsky (meeting him). O 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. 5

Butler. My General: I come —

Wallenstein (leaning on Butler’s shoulders). Know’st thou

already?

That old man has betrayed me to the Emperor.

What say’st thou? Thirty years have we together

Lived out, and held out, sharing joy and hardship.

We have slept in one camp-bed, drunk from one glass, 10

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 15

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, 20

It sends and proves to me one faithful heart.

Of the hypocrite no more! Think not, his loss

Was that which struck the pang: O no! his treason

Is that which strikes this pang! No more of him!

Dear to my heart, and honoured were they both, 25

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 30

He may bring with him, we must take good care

To keep it from the mutineers. Quick, then!

Dispatch 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 35

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. Well?

Butler. Is already here.

Tertsky and Illo (at the same time). Already here?

Wallenstein. My Courier?

Butler. For some hours. 40

Wallenstein. And I not know it?

Butler. The centinels detain him

In custody.

Illo. 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.

Tertsky. Illo! alas for us. 45

Wallenstein. Hide nothing from me — I can hear the worst.

Prague then is lost. It is. Confess it freely.

Butler. Yes! Prague is lost. And all the several regiments

At Budweiss, Tabor, Brannau, Konigingratz,

At Brun and Znaym, have forsaken you, 50

And ta’en the oaths of fealty anew

To the Emperor. Yourself, with Kinsky, Tertsky,

And Illo have been sentenced.

[TERTSKY 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 55

Once more my lifeblood flows! My soul’s secure!

In the night only Friedland’s 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 60

Is lifted for my heart! Doubt disappears!

I fight now for my head and for my life.

[Exit WALLENSTEIN; the others follow him.

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Countess Tertsky (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 shew of calmness

Before my sister, and shut in within me 5

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, 10

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 15

Endure to sink so low, I would not bear

To see him so low sunken.

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COUNTESS, DUCHESS, THEKLA.

Thekla (endeavouring 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? 5

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. 10

‘Tis not the time now to indulge infirmity,

Courage beseems us now, a heart collected,

And exercise and previous discipline

Of fortitude. One word, and over with it!

Sister, you are deluded. You believe, 15

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). O stand firm! stand