Yet not a few, and for a meaner object, Have ventured even this, ay, and perform'd it. What is there in thy case so black and monstrous? Thou art accused of treason-whether with Or without justice is not now the question- Thou art lost if thou dost not avail thee quickly Of the power which thou possessest-Friedland! Duke! Tell me, where lives that thing so meek and tame, That doth not all his living faculties Put forth in preservation of his life! What deed so daring, which necessity And desperation will not sanctify?
Once was this Ferdinand so gracious to me: He loved me; he esteem'd me; I was placed The nearest to his heart. Full many a time We, like familiar friends, both at one table, Have banqueted together. He and I- And the young kings themselves held me the basin Wherewith to wash me-and is't come to this? COUNTESS.
So faithfully preservest thou each small favor, And hast no memory for contumelies? Must I remind thee, how at Regensburg This man repaid thy faithful services? All ranks and all conditions in the empire Thou hadst wrong'd, to make him great,-hadst
At Regensburg in the Diet-and he dropp'd thee! He let thee fall! He let thee fall a victim To the Bavarian, to that insolent! Deposed, stript bare of all thy dignity And power, amid the taunting of thy foes, Thou wert let drop into obscurity.— Say not, the restoration of thy honor Has made atonement for that first injustice. No honest good-will was it that replaced thee; The law of hard necessity replaced thee, Which they had fain opposed, but that they could not.
Not to their good wishes, that is certain, Nor yet to his affection, I'm indebted For this high office; and if I abuse it,
I shall therein abuse no confidence.
Affection! confidence!-They needed thee. Necessity, impetuous remonstrant!
Who not with empty names, or shows of proxy, Is served, who'll have the thing and not the symbol, Ever seeks out the greatest and the best, And at the rudder places him, e'en though
She had been forced to take him from the rabble- She, this Necessity, it was that placed thee In this high office; it was she that gave thee Thy letters-patent of inauguration.
For, to the uttermost moment that they can, This race still help themselves at cheapest rate With slavish souls, with puppets! At the approach Of extreme peril, when a hollow image Is found a hollow image and no more,
Then falls the power into the mighty hands
Of Nature, of the spirit giant-born, Who listens only to himself, knows nothing Of stipulations, duties, reverences, And, like the emancipated force of fire, Unmaster'd scorches, ere it reaches them, Their fine-spun webs, their artificial policy.
"Tis true! they saw me always as I am- Always! I did not cheat them in the bargain. I never held it worth my pains to hide The bold all-grasping habit of my soul.
Nay rather-thou hast ever shown thyself A formidable man, without restraint; Hast exercised the full prerogatives Of thy impetuous nature, which had been Once granted to thee. Therefore, Duke, not thou, Who hast still remain'd consistent with thyself, But they are in the wrong, who fearing thee, Intrusted such a power in hands they fear'd. For, by the laws of Spirit, in the right Is every individual character
That acts in strict consistence with itself. Self-contradiction is the only wrong.
Wert thou another being, then, when thou And sword, and desolation, through the Circles Eight years ago pursuedst thy march with fire Of Germany, the universal scourge,
Didst mock all ordinances of the empire, The fearful rights of strength alone exertedst, Trampledst to earth each rank, each magistracy, All to extend thy Sultan's domination? Then was the time to break thee in, to curb Thy haughty will, to teach thee ordinance. But no, the Emperor felt no touch of conscience: What served him pleased him, and without a murmur He stamp'd his broad seal on these lawless deeds. What at that time was right, because thou didst it For him, to-day is all at once become Opprobrious, foul, because it is directed
| Against him.-O most flimsy superstition!
WALLENSTEIN (rising).
I never saw it in this light before. "Tis even so. The Emperor perpetrated Deeds through my arm, deeds most unorderly. And even this prince's mantle, which I wear, I owe to what were services to him, But most high misdemeanors 'gainst the empire.
Then betwixt thee and him (confess it, Friedland!) The point can be no more of right and duty, Only of power and the opportunity. That opportunity, lo! it comes yonder Approaching with swift steeds; then with a swing Throw thyself up into the chariot-seat,
Seize with firm hand the reins, ere thy opponent Anticipate thee, and himself make conquest Of the now empty seat. The moment comes; It is already here, when thou must write The absolute total of thy life's vast sum. The constellations stand victorious o'er thee, The planets shoot good fortune in fair junctions, And tell thee," Now's the time!" The starry courses Hast thou thy life-long measured to no purpose? The quadrant and the circle, were they playthings? [Pointing to the different objects in the room.
The zodiacs, the rolling orbs of heaven, Hast pictured on these walls, and all around thee In dumb, foreboding symbols hast thou placed These seven presiding Lords of Destiny- For toys? Is all this preparation nothing? Is there no marrow in this hollow art, That even to thyself it doth avail Nothing, and has no influence over thee In the great moment of decision?—
WALLENSTEIN (during this last speech walks up and down with inward struggles, laboring with passion; stops suddenly, stands still, then interrupting the Countess).
Send Wrangel to me-I will instantly Dispatch three couriers
ILLO (hurrying out).
God in heaven be praised!
It is his evil genius and mine.
Our evil genius! It chastises him
Through me, the instrument of his ambition; And I expect no less, than that Revenge
E'en now is whetting for my breast the poniard. Who sows the serpent's teeth, let him not hope To reap a joyous harvest. Every crime Has, in the moment of its perpetration, Its own avenging angel-dark misgiving, An ominous sinking at the inmost heart. He can no longer trust me-Then no longer Can I retreat-so come that which must come.- Still Destiny preserves its due relations : The heart within us is its absolute Vicegerent.
[To TERTSKY. Go, conduct you Gustave Wrangel To my state-cabinet.-Myself will speak to The couriers. And dispatch immediately A servant for Octavio Piccolomini.
[To the COUNTESS, who cannot conceal her triumph. No exultation! woman, triumph not! For jealous are the Powers of Destiny. Joy premature, and shouts ere victory, Encroach upon their rights and privileges. We sow the seed, and they the growth determine. [While he is making his exit, the curtain drops.
Scene, as in the preceding Act. WALLENSTEIN, OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI.
WALLENSTEIN (coming forward in conversation). He sends me word from Linz, that he lies sick; But I have sure intelligence, that he Secretes himself at Frauenberg with Galas. Secure them both, and send them to me hither. Remember, thou takest on thee the command Of those same Spanish regiments,--constantly Make preparation, and be never ready; And if they urge thee to draw out against me, Still answer YES, and stand as thou wert fetter'd. I know, that it is doing thee a service To keep thee out of action in this business. Thou lovest to linger on in fair appearances;
Rather hope I To bind it nearer still and faster to me.
[He seats himself. Yes, Max., I have delay'd to open it to thee, Even till the hour of acting 'gins to strike. Youth's fortunate feeling doth seize easily The absolute right, yea, and a joy it is To exercise the single apprehension Where the sums square in proof;
But where it happens, that of two sure evils One must be taken, where the heart not wholly Brings itself back from out the strife of duties, There 't is a blessing to have no election, And blank necessity is grace and favor. -This is now present: do not look behind thee,- It can no more avail thee. Look thou forwards! Think not! judge not! prepare thyself to act! The Court-it hath determined on my ruin, Therefore I will to be beforehand with them. We'll join the Swedes-right gallant fellows are they,
With most implicit unconditional faith, Sure of the right path if I follow'd thee. To-day, for the first time, dost thou refer Me to myself, and forcest me to make Election between thee and my own heart.
Soft cradled thee thy Fortune till to-day; Thy duties thou couldst exercise in sport, Indulge all lovely instincts, act for ever With undivided heart. It can remain
No longer thus. Like enemies, the roads Start from each other. Duties strive with duties. Thou must needs choose thy party in the war Which is now kindling 'twixt thy friend and him Who is thy Emperor.
War! is that the name? War is as frightful as heaven's pestilence. Yet it is good, is it heaven's will as that is. Is that a good war, which against the Emperor Thou wagest with the Emperor's own army? O God of heaven! what a change is this! Beseems it me to offer such persuasion To thee, who like the fix'd star of the pole Wert all I gazed at on life's trackless ocean? O! what a rent thou makest in my heart! The ingrain'd instinct of old reverence, The holy habit of obediency, Must I pluck live asunder from thy name? Nay, do not turn thy countenance upon meIt always was as a god looking at me! Duke Wallenstein, its power is not departed: The senses still are in thy bonds, although, Bleeding, the soul hath freed itself.
O! do it not, I pray thee, do it not! There is a pure and noble soul within thee, Knows not of this unblest, unlucky doing. Thy will is chaste, it is thy fancy only Which hath polluted thee-and innocence, It will not let itself be driven away From that world-awing aspect. Thou wilt not, Thou canst not, end in this. It would reduce All human creatures to disloyalty Against the nobleness of their own nature. "T will justify the vulgar misbelief, Which holdeth nothing noble in free-will, And trusts itself to impotence alone, Made powerful only in an unknown power.
And glorious; with an unpolluted heart Thou canst make conquest of whate'er seems highest !
But he, who once hath acted infamy, Does nothing more in this world.
WALLENSTEIN (grasps his hand).
Calmly, Max.! Much that is great and excellent will we Perform together yet. And if we only Stand on the height with dignity, 't is soon Forgotten, Max., by what road we ascended. Believe me, many a crown shines spotless now, That yet was deeply sullied in the winning. To the evil spirit doth the earth belong, Not to the good. All, that the powers divine Send from above, are universal blessings: Their light rejoices us, their air refreshes, But never yet was man enrich'd by them: In their eternal realm no property
Is to be struggled for-all there is general. The jewel, the all-valued gold we win From the deceiving Powers, depraved in nature, That dwell beneath the day and blessed sun-light. Not without sacrifices are they render'd Propitious, and there lives no soul on earth That e'er retired unsullied from their service.
Whate'er is human, to the human being Do I allow-and to the vehement And striving spirit readily I pardon
The excess of action; but to thee, my General! Above all others make I large concession.
For thou must move a world, and be the master- He kills thee, who condemns thee to inaction. So be it then! maintain thee in thy post By violence. Resist the Emperor,
And if it must be, force with force repel: I will not praise it, yet I can forgive it. But not-not to the traitor-yes!—the word Is spoken out-
Not to the traitor can I yield a pardon. That is no mere excess! that is no error Of human nature-that is wholly different, O that is black, black as the pit of hell!
[WALLENSTEIN betrays a sudden agitation. Thou canst not hear it named, and wilt thou do it! O turn back to thy duty. That thou canst, I hold it certain. Send me to Vienna : I'll make thy peace for thee with the Emperor. He knows thee not. But I do know thee. He Shall see thee, Duke! with my unclouded eye, And I bring back his confidence to thee.
It is too late! Even now, while thou art losing Thy words, one after the other are the mile-stones Left fast behind by my post couriers,
Who bear the order on to Prague and Egra. [MAX. stands as convulsed, with a gesture and countenance expressing the most intense an- guish.
Yield thyself to it. We act as we are forced. I cannot give assent to my own shame
And ruin. Thou-no-thou canst not forsake me! So let us do, what must be done, with dignity, With a firm step. What am I doing worse Than did famed Cæsar at the Rubicon,
When he the legions led against his country, The which his country had deliver'd to him? Had he thrown down the sword, he had been lost, As I were, if I but disarm'd myself.
I trace out something in me of his spirit; Give me his luck, that other thing I'll bear. [MAX. quits him abruptly. WALLENSTEIN, startled and overpowered, continues looking after him, and is still in this posture when TERTSKY
Who have always trusted him? What, then, has happen'd,
That I should lose my good opinion of him? In complaisance to your whims, not my own, I must, forsooth, give up a rooted judgment. Think not I am a woman. Having trusted him E'en till to-day, to-day too will I trust him.
Must it be he-he only? Send another.
It must be he, whom I myself have chosen; He is well fitted for the business. Therefore I gave it him.
Because he's an Italian- Therefore is he well fitted for the business! WALLENSTEIN.
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.
There exist moments in the life of man, When he is nearer the great Soul of the world
And why should Heaven forbid? 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 kill'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.
And he shall never stir from here alive.
WALLENSTEIN (stops and turns himself round). Are ye not like the women, who for ever Only recur to their first word, although One had been talking reason by the hour! Know, that the human being's thoughts and deeds Are not, like ocean billows, blindly moved. The inner world, his microcosmus, is
Not one of those men who in words are valiant, And when it comes to action skulk away. The Duke has acted towards me as a friend. God knows it is so; and I owe him all- He may rely on my fidelity.
That will be seen hereafter.
Be on your guard. 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
I am rejoiced to hear it.
Whether, Count, That right is mine, this paper may instruct you. ISOLANI (stammering).
The deep shaft, out of which they spring eternally. Why-why-what! this is the Emperor's hand and
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.
"Whereas, the officers collectively
Throughout our army will obey the orders Of the Lieutenant-general Piccolomini.
As from ourselves". -Hem!-Yes! so!-Yes!
I--I give you joy, Lieutenant-general!.
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