Samuel Coleridge - The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge

firm, my mother!

Countess. Revolted is the Duke, he is preparing 20

To join the enemy, the army leave him,

And all has failed.

[After 22] [During these words the DUCHESS totters, and

falls in a fainting fit into the arms of her daughter. While THEKLA is

calling for help, the curtain drops. 1800, 1828, 1829.

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SCENE — A spacious Room in the DUKE OF FRIEDLAND’S Palace.

Wallenstein (in armour). Thou hast gained thy point, Octavio! Once

more am I

Almost as friendless as at Regenspurg.

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 5

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; 10

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 15

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. 20

I did it. Like a god of war, my name

Went through the world. The drum was beat — and, lo!

The plough, the workshop is forsaken, all

Swarm to the old familiar long-loved banners;

And as the wood-choir rich in melody 25

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. 30

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 35

Separate from each other, ‘twill be soon

Made manifest, in which the soul abode.

(ILLO and TERTSKY enter.)

Courage, friends! Courage! We are still unvanquished;

I feel my footing firm; five regiments, Tertsky,

Are still our own, and Butler’s gallant troops; 40

And a host of sixteen thousand Swedes tomorrow.

I was not stronger, when nine years ago

I marched forth, with glad heart and high of hope,

To conquer Germany for the Emperor.

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WALLENSTEIN, ILLO, TERTSKY. (To them enter NEUMANN, who leads TERTSKY

aside, and talks with him.)

Tertsky. What do they want?

Wallenstein. What now?

Tertsky. Ten Cuirassiers

From Pappenheim request leave to address you

In the name of the regiment.

Wallenstein (hastily to Neumann). Let them enter.

[Exit NEUMANN.

This

May end in something. Mark you. They are still

Doubtful, and may be won. 5

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WALLENSTEIN, TERTSKY, ILLO, Ten Cuirassiers (led by an

Anspessade, march up and arrange themselves, after the word of

command, in one front before the DUKE, and make their obeisance. He

takes his hat off, and immediately covers himself again).

Anspessade. Halt! Front! Present!

Wallenstein (after he has run through them with his eye, to the

Anspessade). I know thee well. Thou art out of Brüggin in Flanders:

Thy name is Mercy.

Anspessade. Henry Mercy.

Wallenstein. Thou wert cut off on the march, surrounded

by the Hessians, and didst fight thy way with a hundred and 5

eighty men through their thousand.

Anspessade. ‘Twas even so, General!

Wallenstein. What reward hadst thou for this gallant exploit?

Anspessade. That which I asked for: the honour to serve

in this corps. 10

Wallenstein (turning to a second). Thou wert among the

volunteers that seized and made booty of the Swedish battery

at Altenburg.

Second Cuirassier. Yes, General!

Wallenstein. I forget no one with whom I have exchanged 15

words. (A pause). Who sends you?

Anspessade. Your noble regiment, the Cuirassiers of

Piccolomini.

Wallenstein. Why does not your colonel deliver in your

request, according to the custom of service? 20

Anspessade. Because we would first know whom we serve.

Wallenstein. Begin your address.

Anspessade (giving the word of command). Shoulder your arms!

Wallenstein (turning to a third). Thy name is Risbeck, Cologne

is thy birthplace. 25

Third Cuirassier. Risbeck of Cologne.

Wallenstein. It was thou that broughtest in the Swedish

colonel, Diebald, prisoner, in the camp at Nuremberg.

Third Cuirassier. It was not I, General!

Wallenstein. Perfectly right! It was thy elder brother: 30

thou hadst a younger brother too: Where did he stay?

Third Cuirassier. He is stationed at Olmutz with the

Imperial army.

Wallenstein (to the Anspessade). Now then — begin.

Anspessade. There came to hand a letter from the Emperor 35

Commanding us ——

Wallenstein. Who chose you?

Anspessade. Every company

Drew its own man by lot.

Wallenstein. Now! to the business.

Anspessade. There came to hand a letter from the Emperor

Commanding us collectively, from thee

All duties of obedience to withdraw, 40

Because thou wert an enemy and traitor.

Wallenstein. And what did you determine?

Anspessade. All our comrades

At Brannau, Budweiss, Prague and Olmutz, have

Obeyed already, and the regiments here, 45

Tiefenbach and Toscana, instantly

Did follow their example. But — but we

Do not believe that thou art an enemy

And traitor to thy country, hold it merely

For lie and trick, and a trumped-up Spanish story! 50

Thyself shalt tell us what thy purpose is,

For we have found thee still sincere and true:

No mouth shall interpose itself betwixt

The gallant General and the gallant troops.

Wallenstein. Therein I recognize my Pappenheimers. 55

Anspessade. And this proposal makes thy regiment to thee:

Is it thy purpose merely to preserve

In thy own hands this military sceptre,

Which so becomes thee, which the Emperor

Made over to thee by a covenant? 60

Is it thy purpose merely to remain

Supreme commander of the Austrian armies? —

We will stand by thee, General! and guarantee

Thy honest rights against all opposition.

And should it chance, that all the other regiments 65

Turn from thee, by ourselves will we stand forth

Thy faithful soldiers, and, as is our duty,

Far rather let ourselves be cut to pieces,

Than suffer thee to fall. But if it be

As the Emperor’s letter says, if it be true, 70

That thou in traitorous wise wilt lead us over

To the enemy, which God in heaven forbid!

Then we too will forsake thee, and obey

That letter ——

Wallenstein. Hear me, children!

Anspessade. Yes, or no!

There needs no other answer.

Wallenstein. Yield attention. 75

You’re men of sense, examine for yourselves;

Ye think, and do not follow with the herd:

And therefore have I always shewn you honour

Above all others, suffered you to reason;

Have treated you as free men, and my orders 80

Were but the echoes of your prior suffrage. —