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
SCENE III. WALLENSTEIN, TERTSKY.
Max. Piccolomini just left you?
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 ItalianTherefore is he well fitted for the business!
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.
Where is Wrangel? Von Questenberg, while he was here, was always
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.
My brother," said he, “ do not ride to-day
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 this 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 or horse or rider.
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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
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.
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.
That the Emperor has yet such gallant servants, And loving friends.
Nay, jeer not, I entreat you. They are no such worthless fellows, I assure you
I am assured already. God forbid
That I should jest!-In very serious earnest,
I am rejoiced to see an honest cause
So strong.
The Devil!-what!-why, what means this? Are you not, then-For what, then, am I here ?
Treason!-My God!-But who talks then of treason? You do me too much honor.
That is the case. The Prince-duke is a traitor
Means to lead over to the enemy
OCTAVIO (after both have seated themselves).
You have not
Return'd the advances which I made you yesterday
The Emperor's army.-Now, Count!-brief and Misunderstood them, as mere empty forms.
Say, will you break your oath to the Emperor?
Sell yourself to the enemy ?-Say, will you?
I am rejoiced that you're so well-disposed.
This night break off in the utmost secrecy
With all the light-arm'd troops-it must appear
As came the order from the Duke himself.
At Frauenberg's the place of rendezvous;
There will Count Galas give you further orders.
That wish proceeded from my heart-I was
In earnest with you-for 't is now a time
In which the honest should unite most closely.
The time is precious-let us talk openly.
You know how matters stand here. Wallenstein
Meditates treason-I can tell you further—
He has committed treason; but few hours
Have past, since he a covenant concluded
With the enemy. The messengers are now
Full on their way to Egra and to Prague.
It shall be done. But you'll remember me
With the Emperor-how well-disposed you found me. To-morrow he intends to lead us over
I will not fail to mention it honorably.
To the enemy. But he deceives himself;
For Prudence wakes-the Emperor has still
[Exit ISOLANI. A SERVANT enters. Many and faithful friends here, and they stand
What, Colonel Butler!-Show him up.
ISOLANI (returning).
Forgive me too my bearish ways, old father!
Lord God! how should I know, then, what a great
Person I had before me?
In closest union, mighty though unseen.
This manifesto sentences the Duke-
Recalls the obedience of the army from him,
And summons all the loyal, all the honest,
To join and recognize in me their leader.
Choose-will you share with us an honest cause?
Or with the evil share an evil lot.
Nay, but bethink you, Colonel Butler!
As yet you have time. Within my faithful breast
That rashly-utter'd word remains interr'd.
Recall it, Butler! choose a better party:
You have not chosen the right one.
Commands for me, Lieutenant-General?
What? Would you draw this good and gallant sword
In such a cause? Into a curse would you
Transform the gratitude which you have earn'd
By forty years' fidelity from Austria?
BUTLER (laughing with bitterness).
Ay? are you sure of that?
BUTLER.
I read the letter
And so did I-but the contents were different.
[BUTLER is suddenly struck
By chance I'm in possession of that letter-
Gratitude from the House of Austria! [He is going. Can leave it to your own eyes to convince you.
OCTAVIO (permits him to go as far as the door, then
I fear me, Colonel Butler,
An infamous game have they been playing with
How was't with the Count? The Duke, you say, impell'd you to this measure
Now, in this letter talks he in contempt
Concerning you, counsels the minister
To give sound chastisement to your conceit,
For so he calls it.
[BUTLER reads through the letter, his knees tremble
he seizes a chair, and sinks down in it.
You have no enemy, no persecutor;
There's no one wishes ill to you. Ascribe
The insult you received to the Duke only.
His aim is clear and palpable. He wish'd
To tear you from your Emperor-he hoped
To gain from your revenge what he well knew
(What your long-tried fidelity convinced him)
He ne'er could dare expect from your calm reasor.
A blind tool would he make you, in contempt
Use you, as means of most abandon'd ends.
He has gain'd his point. Too well has he succeeded
In luring you away from that good path
Be the whole world acquainted with the weakness On which you had been journeying forty years!
For which I never can forgive myself.
Lieutenant-General! Yes-I have ambition.
Ne'er was I able to endure contempt.
It stung me to the quick, that birth and title
Should have more weight than merit has in the army.
I would fain not be meaner than my equal.
So in an evil hour I let myself
Be tempted to that measure-It was folly!
But yet so hard a penance it deserved not.
It might have been refused; but wherefore barb
And venom the refusal with contempt?
Why dash to earth and crush with heaviest scorn
The gray-hair'd man, the faithful veteran?
Why to the baseness of his parentage
Refer him with such cruel roughness, only
Because he had a weak hour and forgot himself?
But Nature gives a sting e'en to the worm
Which wanton Power treads on in sport and insult.
Thy way is crooked-it is not my way.
[OCTAVIO drops his hand, and starts bad
O, hadst thou been but simple and sincere,
Ne'er had it come to this-all had stood otherwise.
He had not done that foul and horrible deed:
The virtuous had retain'd their influence o'er him:
He had not fallen into the snares of villains.
Wherefore so like a thief, and thief's accomplice,
Didst creep behind him-lurking for thy prey?
O, unblest falsehood! Mother of all evil!
Thou misery-making demon, it is thou
Sustainer of the world, had saved us all!
That sink'st us in perdition. Simple truth,
Father, I will not, I can not excuse thee!
Wallenstein has deceived me-O, most foully!
But thou hast acted not much better.
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O, woe is me! sure I have changed my nature.
How comes suspicion here-in the free soul?
Hope, confidence, belief, are gone; for all
Lied to me, all that I e'er loved or honor'd.
No! no! not all! She-she yet lives for me,
And she is true, and open as the heavens!
Deceit is everywhere, hypocrisy,
Murder, and poisoning, treason, perjury:
The single holy spot is our love,
The only unprofaned in human nature.
Max.!-we will go together. "T will be better.
What? ere I've taken a last parting leave,
The very last-no, never!
The pang of necessary separation.
Come with me! Come, my son!
[Attempts to take him with him.
Max. enters almost in a state of derangement from extreme agitation, his eyes roll wildly, his walk is unsteady, and he appears not to observe his father, who stands at a distance, and gazes at him with a No! as sure as God lives, no! countenance expressive of compassion. He paces with long strides through the chamber, then stands Come with me, I command thee! I, thy father.
still again, and at last throws himself into a chair, staring vacantly at the object directly before him. OCTAVIO (advances to him).
[Receiving no answer, he takes his hand.
My son, farewell.
Thou wilt soon follow me?
Command me what is human. I stay here.
Max. in the Emperor's name I bid thee come.
No Emperor has power to prescribe
Laws to the heart; and wouldst thou wish to rob me
Of the sole blessing which my fate has left me.
Her sympathy? Must then a cruel deed
Be done with cruelty? The unalterable
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