Коллектив авторов - The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 03

Stands in the way of our full confidence.

Prague shall not part us. Hear! The Chancellor

Contents himself with Altstadt; 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 therefore must I trust, and not you me?

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

Is settled this time, will the Chancellor

Consider it as broken off for ever.

WALLENST.

Ye press me hard. A measure such as this,

Ought to be thought of.

WRANGEL.

That sudden action only can procure it

Success—think first of this, your Highness.

[ Exit WRANGEL.]

WALLENSTEIN, TERZKY, and ILLO ( re-enter )

ILLO.

It's all right?

TERZKY.

Are you compromised?

ILLO.

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

WALLENST.

As yet is nothing settled: and (well weighed)

I feel myself inclined to leave it so.

TERZKY.

How? What is that?

WALLENSTEIN.

The doing evil to avoid an evil

Cannot be good!

TERZKY.

Nay, but bethink you, Duke.

WALLENST.

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?

Bringest thou not more to them than thou receivest?

WALLENST.

How fared it with the brave and royal Bourbon

Who sold himself unto his country's foes,

And pierced the bosom of his father-land?

Curses were his reward, and men's abhorrence

Avenged th' unnatural and revolting deed.

ILLO.

Is that thy case?

WALLENSTEIN.

Must ever be the dearest friend of man:

His nature prompts him to assert its rights.

The enmity of sects, the rage of parties,

Long cherish'd envy, jealousy, unite;

And all the struggling elements of evil

Suspend their conflict, and together league

In one alliance 'gainst their common foe—

The savage beast that breaks into the fold,

Where men repose in confidence and peace.

For vain were man's own prudence to protect him.

'Tis only in the forehead nature plants

The watchful eye—the back, without defence,

Must find its shield in man's fidelity.

TERZKY.

Think not more meanly of thyself than do

Thy foes, who stretch their hands with joy to greet thee;

Less scrupulous far was the Imperial Charles,

The powerful head of this illustrious house;

With open arms he gave the Bourbon welcome;

For still by policy the world is ruled.

To these enter the COUNTESS TERZKY

WALLENST.

Who sent for you? There is no business here

For women.

COUNTESS.

I am come to bid you joy.

WALLENST.

Use thy authority, Terzky; bid her go.

COUNTESS.

Come I perhaps too early? I hope not.

WALLENST.

Set not this tongue upon me, I entreat you:

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.

Given the Bohemians a king.

WALLENSTEIN ( sarcastically ).

In consequence, no doubt.

COUNTESS ( to the others ).

Ha! what new scruple?

TERZKY.

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.

Lay in the far-off distance, when the road

Stretch'd 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 ascertain'd,

Dost thou begin to play the dastard now?

Plann'd merely, 'tis a common felony;

Accomplish'd, an immortal undertaking:

And with success comes pardon hand in hand,

For all event is God's arbitrament.

SERVANT ( enters ).

The Colonel Piccolomini.

COUNTESS ( hastily ).

Must wait.

WALLENST.

I cannot see him now. Another time.

SERVANT.

But for two minutes he entreats an audience:

Of the most urgent nature is his business.

WALLENST.

Who knows what he may bring us! I will hear him.

COUNTESS ( laughs ).

Urgent for him, no doubt? but thou may'st wait.

WALLENST.

What is it?

COUNTESS.

First let the Swede and thee be compromised.

[ Exit SERVANT.]

WALLENST.

If there were yet a choice! if yet some milder

Way of escape were possible—I still

Will choose it, and avoid the last extreme.

COUNTESS.

Desirest 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

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,

Thou didst but wish to prove thy fealty;

Thy whole intention but to dupe the Swede.

ILLO.

For that too 'tis too late. They know too much;

He would but bear his own head to the block.

COUNTESS.

I fear not that. They have not evidence

To attaint him legally, and they avoid

The avowal of an arbitrary power.

They'll let the Duke resign without disturbance.

I see how all will end. The King of Hungary

Makes his appearance, and 'twill of itself

Be understood that then the Duke retires.

There will not want a formal declaration;

The young King will administer the oath

To the whole army; and so all returns

To the old position. On some morrow morning

The Duke departs; and now 'tis stir and bustle

Within his castles. He will hunt, and build,

And superintend his horses' pedigrees;

Creates himself a court, gives golden keys,

And introduces strictest ceremony

In fine proportions, and nice etiquette;

Keeps open table with high cheer: in brief,

Commences mighty King—in miniature.

And while he prudently demeans himself,

And gives himself no actual importance,

He will be let appear whate'er he likes;