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

WALLENST.

I know you love them not—nor sire nor son—

Because that I esteem them, love them—visibly

Esteem them, love them more than you and others.

E'en as they merit. Therefore are they eye-blights,

Thorns in your foot-path. But your jealousies,

In what affect they me or my concerns?

Are they the worse to me because you hate them?

Love or hate one another as you will,

I leave to each man his own moods and likings;

Yet know the worth of each of you to me.

ILLO.

Von Questenberg, while he was here, was always

Lurking about with this Octavio.

WALLENST.

It happen'd with my knowledge and permission.

ILLO.

I know that secret messengers came to him

From Gallas—

WALLENSTEIN.

That's not true.

ILLO.

With thy deep-seeing eyes!

WALLENSTEIN.

My faith for me—my faith, which founds itself

On the profoundest science. If 'tis false,

Then the whole science of the stars is false;

For know, I have a pledge from Fate itself,

That he is the most faithful of my friends.

ILLO.

Hast thou a pledge, that this pledge is not false?

WALLENST.

There exist moments in the life of man,

When he is nearer the great Soul of the world

Than is man's custom, and possesses freely

The power of questioning his destiny:

And such a moment 'twas, when in the night

Before the action in the plains of Lützen,

Leaning against a tree, thoughts crowding thoughts,

I look'd out far upon the ominous plain.

My whole life, past and future, in this moment

Before my mind's eye glided in procession,

And to the destiny of the next morning

The spirit, fill'd with anxious presentiment,

Did knit the most removed futurity.

Then said I also to myself: "So many

Dost thou command. They follow all thy stars

And as on some great number set their All

Upon thy single head, and only man

The vessel of thy fortune. Yet a day

Will come when Destiny shall once more scatter

All these in many a several direction:

Few be they who will stand out faithful to thee."

I yearn'd to know which one was faithfullest

Of all, this camp included. Great Destiny,

Give me a sign! And he shall be the man,

Who, on the approaching morning, comes the first

To meet me with a token of his love.

And thinking this, I fell into a slumber.

Then midmost in the battle was I led

In spirit. Great the pressure and the tumult!

Then was my horse kil'd under me; I sank;

And over me away, all unconcernedly,

Drove horse and rider—and thus trod to pieces

I lay, and panted like a dying man;

Then seized me suddenly a savior arm;

It was Octavio's—I awoke at once;

'Twas broad day, and Octavio stood before me.

"My brother," said he, "do not ride today

The dapple, as you're wont; but mount the horse

Which I have chosen for thee. Do it, brother!

In love to me. A strong dream warn'd me so."

It was the swiftness of his horse that snatch'd me

From the hot pursuit of Bannier's dragoons.

My cousin rode the dapple on that day,

And never more saw I of horse or rider.

ILLO.

That was a chance.

WALLENSTEIN ( significantly ).

[And what to us seems merest accident

Springs from the deepest source of destiny.]

In brief, 'tis sign'd and seal'd that this Octavio

Is my good angel—and now no word more.

[ He is retiring .]

TERZKY.

This is my comfort—Max remains our hostage.

ILLO.

And he shall never stir from here alive.

WALLENSTEIN ( stops and turns himself round ).

Are ye not like the women who forever

Only recur to their first word, although

One had been talking reason by the hour!

Know that the human being's thoughts and needs

Are not like ocean billows, blindly moved.

The inner world, his microcosmus, is

The deep shaft out of which they spring eternally.

They grow by certain laws, like the tree's fruit—

No juggling chance can metamorphose them.

Have I the human kernel first examined?

Then I know, too, the future will and action.

[ Exeunt .]

Chamber in the residence of Piccolomini

OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI ( attired for traveling ), AN ADJUTANT

OCTAVIO.

Is the detachment here?

ADJUT.

It awaits below.

OCTAVIO.

And are the soldiers trusty, Adjutant?

Say, from what regiment hast thou chosen them?

ADJUT. From Tiefenbach's.

OCTAVIO.

Keep them in silence in the inner court,

Unseen by all, and when the signal peals

Then close the doors; keep watch upon the house,

And all ye meet be instantly arrested.

[ Exit Adjutant .]

I hope indeed I shall not need their service,

So certain feel I of my well laid plans;

But when an empire's safety is at stake

'Twere better too much caution than too little.

A Chamber in PICCOLOMINI's Dwelling-House .

OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, ISOLANI, entering

ISOLANI.

Here am I—Well! who comes yet of the others?

OCTAVIO ( with an air of mystery ).

But, first, a word with you, Count Isolani.

ISOLANI ( assuming the same air of mystery ).

Will it explode, ha?—Is the Duke about

To make the attempt? In me, friend, you may place

Full confidence—Nay, put me to the proof.

OCTAVIO.

That may happen.

ISOLANI.

Not one of those men who in words are valiant,

And when it comes to action skulk away.

The Duke has acted toward me as a friend.

God knows it is so; and I owe him all—

He may rely on my fidelity.

OCTAVIO.

That will be seen hereafter.

ISOLANI.

All think not as I think; and there are many

Who still hold with the Court—yes, and they say

That those stolen signatures bind them to nothing.

[OCTAVIO.

Indeed! Pray name to me the chiefs that think so.

ISOLANI.

Plague upon them! all the Germans think so;

Esterhazy, Kaunitz, Deodati, too,

Insist upon obedience to the Court.]

OCTAVIO.

I am rejoiced to hear it.

ISOLANI.

You rejoice

OCTAVIO.

That the Emperor has yet such gallant servants,

And loving friends!

ISOLANI.

They are no such worthless fellows, I assure you.

OCTAVIO.

I am assured already. God forbid

That I should jest!—In very serious earnest,

I am rejoiced to see an honest cause

So strong.

ISOLANI.

Are you not, then—For what, then, am I here?