Wal. From what? But. That courier Wal. (with eager expectation.) Well? Is already here. Ter. and Illo. (at the same time.) Already here? Wal. My courier? Illo. (stamping with his foot.) Damnation! At Budweiss, Tabor, Brannau, Konigingratz, At Brun and Znaym, have forsaken you, And ta'en the oaths of fealty anew To the Emperor. Yourself, with Kinsky, Tertsky, And Illo have been sentenced. [Tertsky and Illo express alarm and fury. Wallenstein remains firm and collected. Wal. 'Tis decided! 'Tis well! I have received a sudden cure From all the pangs of doubt: with steady stream I drew the sword-'twas with an inward strife, Is lifted for my heart! Doubt disappears! I fight now for my head and for my life. [Exit Wallenstein; the others follow him. SCENE XI-Countess Tertsky (enters from a side room). I can endure no longer. No! [Looks around her. Where are they! No one is here. They leave me all alone, Alone in this sore anguish of suspense. And I must wear the outward show of calmness Before my sister, and shut in within me A proud commander with his army following; That day I will not see! And could himself SCENE XII. Countess, Duchess, Thekla. Thek. (endeavoring to hold back the Duchess.) Dear mother do stay here! Duch. No! Here is yet Some frightful mystery that is hidden from me. From room to room?-Art thou not full of terror? Thek. Nothing, dear mother! Nothing: Duch. (to the Countess.) Sister, I will know. Coun. What boots it now to hide it from her? Sooner Or later she must learn to hear and bear it. 'Tis not the time now to indulge infirmity ;— Courage beseems us now, a heart collected, And exercise and previous discipline Of fortitude. One word and over with it! Sister, you are deluded. You believe, The Duke has been deposed-The Duke is not Thek. (going to the Countess.) What? do you wish to kill her? Coun. The Duke is Thek. (throwing her arms round her mother.) O stand firm! stand firm, my mother! Coun. Revolted is the Duke, he is preparing To join the enemy, the army leave him, And all has failed. While [During these words the Duchess totters, and falls in a ACT II SCENE I-A spacious room in the Duke of Friedland's palace Wal. (in armor.) Thou hast gained thy point, Octavio! Once more am I Almost as friendless as at Regenspurg. There I had nothing left me, but myself— But what one man can do, you have now experience The twigs have you hewed off, and here I stand Lives the creating power, and a new world Assemble forces in the desolate camps. The drum was beat-and, lo! The plough, the work-shop is forsaken, all Assemble quick around the bird of wonder, It is the soul that builds itself a body, [Illo and Tertsky enter. Courage, friends! Courage! We are still unvanquished ; I feel my footing firm; five regiments, Tertsky, And a host of sixteen thousand Swedes to-morrow. I was not stronger, when nine years ago I marched forth, with glad heart and high of hope, To conquer Germany for the Emperor. SCENE II-Wallenstein, Illo, Tertsky. (To them enter Neumann, who leads Tertsky aside, and talks with him.) Ter. What do they want? Wal. Ter. What now? Ten Cuirassiers From Pappenheim request leave to address you Wal. (hastily to Neumann.) Let them enter. This [Exit Neumann. May end in something. Mark you. They are still SCENE III.-Wallenstein, Tertsky, Illo, ten Cuirassiers, (led by an Anspessade,* march up and arrange themselves, after the word of command, in one front before the Duke, and make their obeisance. He takes his hat off, and immediately covers himself again). Ans. Halt Front! Present! Wal. (after he has run through them with his eye, to the Anspessade.) I know thee well. in Flanders: Thy name is Mercy. Thou art out of Brüggin Wal. Thou wert cut off on the march, surrounded by the Hessians, and didst fight thy way with a hundred and eighty men through their thousand. Wal. What reward hadst thou for this gallant exploit ? Ans. That which I asked for the honor to serve in this corps. Wal. (turning to a second.) Thou wert among the volunteers that seized and made booty of the Swedish battery at Altenburg. 2d Cui. Yes, General! Wal. I forget no one with whom I have exchanged words. (A pause.) Who sends you? Ans. Your noble regiment, the Cuirassiers of Piccolomini. Wal. Why does not your colonel deliver in your request, according to the custom of service? Ans. Because we would first know whom we serve. Wal. Begin your address. Ans. (giving the word of command.) Shoulder your arms! Wal. (turning to a third.) Thy name is Risbeck, Cologne is hy birth-place. 3d Cui. Risbeck of Cologne. Wal. It was thou that broughtest in the Swedish colonel, Diebald, prisoner, in the camp at Nuremberg. 3d Cui It was not I, General! Wal. Perfectly right! It was thy elder brother: thou hadst a younger brother too: Where did he stay? *Anspessade, in German, Gefreiter, a soldier inferior to a corporal, but above the sentinels. The German name implies that he is exempt from mounting guard. |