Samuel Coleridge - The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The pilot fix his eye upon the pole-star. 140

WALLENSTEIN.

Du schilderst deines Vaters Herz. Wie Du’s

Beschreibst, so ist’s in seinem Eingeweide,

In dieser schwarzen Heuchlersbrust gestaltet.

O mich hat Höllenkunst getäuscht. Mir sandte

Der Abgrund den verstecktesten der Geister,

Den Lügekundigsten herauf, und stellt’ ihn

Als Freund an meine Seite. Wer vermag

Der Hölle Macht zu widerstehn! Ich zog

Den Basilisken auf an meinem Busen,

Mit meinem Herzblut nährt’ ich ihn, er sog

Sich schwelgend voll an meiner Liebe Brüsten.

Ich hatte nimmer Arges gegen ihn,

Weit offen Hess ich des Gedankens Thore,

Und warf die Schlüssel weiser Vorsicht weg,

Am Sternenhimmel, &c.

LITERAL TRANSLATION.

Alas! for those who place their confidence on thee, against thee lean

the secure hut of their fortune, allured by thy hospitable form.

Suddenly, unexpectedly, in a moment still as night, there is a

fermentation in the treacherous gulf of fire; it discharges itself with

raging force, and away over all the plantations of men drives the wild

stream in frightful devastation. WALLENSTEIN. Thou art portraying thy

father’s heart; as thou describest, even so is it shaped in his

entrails, in this black hypocrite’s breast. O, the art of hell has

deceived me! The Abyss sent up to me the most spotted of the spirits,

the most skilful in lies, and placed him as a friend by my side. Who may

withstand the power of hell? I took the basilisk to my bosom, with my

heart’s blood I nourished him; he sucked himself glutfull at the breasts

of my love. I never harboured evil towards him; wide open did I leave

the door of my thoughts; I threw away the key of wise foresight. In the

starry heaven, &c. — We find a difficulty in believing this to have been

written by Schiller. 1800, 1828, 1829. I have here ventured to

omit a considerable number of lines, which it is difficult to believe

that Schiller could have written. 1834.

simplicity of the original —

Sie alle waren Fremdlinge, Du warst

Das Kind des Hauses.

Indeed the whole speech is in the best style of Massinger. O si sic

omnia!

[After 4] [Advancing to THEKLA, who has thrown herself into her

mother’s arms. 1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 40] Max (calmly). 1800, 1828, 1829.

Table of Contents

To these enter NEUMANN.

Wallenstein. What now?

Neumann. The Pappenheimers are dismounted,

And are advancing now on foot, determined

With sword in hand to storm the house, and free

The Count, their colonel.

Wallenstein (to Tertsky). Have the cannon planted.

I will receive them with chain-shot. [Exit TERTSKY. 5

Prescribe to me with sword in hand! Go, Neumann!

‘Tis my command that they retreat this moment,

And in their ranks in silence wait my pleasure.

[NEUMANN exit. ILLO steps to the window.

Countess. Let him go, I entreat thee, let him go.

Illo (at the window). Hell and perdition!

Wallenstein. What is it? 10

Illo. They scale the council-house, the roof’s uncovered.

They level at this house the cannon ——

Max. Madmen!

Illo. They are making preparations now to fire on us.

Duchess and Countess. Merciful Heaven!

Max (to Wallenstein). Let me go to them!

Wallenstein. Not a step!

Max (pointing to Thekla and the Duchess). But their life!

Thine! 15

Wallenstein. What tidings bring’st thou, Tertsky?

Table of Contents

To these TERTSKY (returning).

Tertsky. Message and greeting from our faithful regiments.

Their ardour may no longer be curbed in.

They intreat permission to commence the attack,

And if thou would’st but give the word of onset,

They could now charge the enemy in rear, 5

Into the city wedge them, and with ease

O’erpower them in the narrow streets.

Illo. O come!

Let not their ardour cool. The soldiery

Of Butler’s corps stand by us faithfully;

We are the greater number. Let us charge them, 10

And finish here in Pilsen the revolt.

Wallenstein. What? shall this town become a field of slaughter,

And brother-killing Discord, fire-eyed,

Be let loose through its streets to roam and rage?

Shall the decision be delivered over 15

To deaf remorseless Rage, that hears no leader?

Here is not room for battle, only for butchery.

Well, let it be! I have long thought of it,

So let it burst then! [Turns to MAX.

Well, how is it with thee?

Wilt thou attempt a heat with me. Away! 20

Thou art free to go. Oppose thyself to me,

Front against front, and lead them to the battle;

Thou’rt skilled in war, thou hast learned somewhat under me,

I need not be ashamed of my opponent,

And never had’st thou fairer opportunity 25

To pay me for thy schooling.

Countess. Is it then,

Can it have come to this? — What! Cousin, Cousin!

Have you the heart?

Max. The regiments that are trusted to my care

I have pledged my troth to bring away from Pilsen 30

True to the Emperor, and this promise will I

Make good, or perish. More than this no duty

Requires of me. I will not fight against thee,

Unless compelled; for though an enemy,

Thy head is holy to me still. 35

[Two reports of cannon. ILLO and TERTSKY hurry to the

window.

Wallenstein. What’s that?

Tertsky. He falls.

Wallenstein. Falls! Who?

Illo. Tiefenbach’s corps

Discharged the ordnance.

Wallenstein. Upon whom?

Illo. On Neumann,

Your messenger.

Wallenstein (starting up). Ha! Death and hell! I will —

Tertsky. Expose thyself to their blind frenzy?

Duchess and Countess. No!

For God’s sake, no!

Illo. Not yet, my General! 40

Countess. O, hold him! hold him!

Wallenstein. Leave me ——

Max. Do it not

Not yet! This rash and bloody deed has thrown them

Into a frenzy-fit — allow them time ——

Wallenstein. Away! too long already have I loitered.

They are emboldened to these outrages, 45

Beholding not my face. They shall behold

My countenance, shall hear my voice ——

Are they not my troops? Am I not their General,

And their long-feared commander? Let me see,

Whether indeed they do no longer know 50

That countenance, which was their sun in battle!

From the balcony (mark!) I shew myself

To these rebellious forces, and at once

Revolt is mounded, and the high-swoln current

Shrinks back into the old bed of obedience. 55

[Exit WALLENSTEIN; ILLO, TERTSKY, and BUTLER follow.

Table of Contents

COUNTESS, DUCHESS, MAX, and THEKLA.

Countess (to the Duchess). Let them but see him — there is hope

still, sister.

Duchess. Hope! I have none!

Max (who during the last scene has been standing at a distance,

advances). This can I not endure.

With most determined soul did I come hither,

My purposed action seemed unblameable

To my own conscience — and I must stand here 5

Like one abhorred, a hard inhuman being;

Yea, loaded with the curse of all I love!

Must see all whom I love in this sore anguish,

Whom I with one word can make happy — O!

My heart revolts within me, and two voices 10

Make themselves audible within my bosom.

My soul’s benighted; I no longer can

Distinguish the right track. O, well and truly

Didst thou say, father, I relied too much

On my own heart. My mind moves to and fro — 15