Ay, and why was the balcony-chamber countermanded, that with the great worked carpet?-there one can look about one. FIRST SERVANT. DUCHESS. I did even that Nay, that you must ask the mathematician there. And wish'd, ere yet you went into the field, SECOND SERVANT. WALLENSTEIN. Poh! stuff and nonsense! That's what I call a hum. And did they guess the choice which I had made? A chamber is a chamber; what much can the place signify in the affair? SENI (with gravity). My son, there's nothing insignificant, Nothing! But yet in every earthly thing First and most principal is place and time. FIRST SERVANT (to the second). Say nothing to him, Nat. The Duke himself must let him have his own will. SENI (counts the chairs, half in a loud, half in a low SECOND SERVANT. DUCHESS. They only hoped and wish'd it may have fallen WALLENSTEIN. And you-what do you wish, Elizabeth? DUCHESS. Your will, you know, was always mine. Well then? And in all else, of what kind and complexion [The DUCHESS casts her eyes on the ground, and Hide nothing from me. How were you received? DUCHESS. And what may you have to object against eleven? O! my dear Lord, all is not what it was. I should like to know that now. SENI. Eleven is transgression; eleven oversteps The ten commandments. SECOND SERVANT. That's good! and why do you call five a holy number? SENI. Five is the soul of man: for even as man A canker-worm, my Lord, a canker-worm WALLENSTEIN. Ay! is it so? What, they were lax? they fail'd of the old respect DUCHESS. Not of respect. No honors were omitted, I have been long accustom'd to defend you, No; no one rail'd at you. They wrapp'd them up, No transient pique, no cloud that passes over : WALLENSTEIN. Now she omitted it? DUCHESS (wiping away her tears, after a pause). But then first when I had already taken WALLENSTEIN (seizes her hand soothingly). DUCHESS (shaking her head). I saw none. WALLENSTEIN. The ambassador from Spain, who once was wont To plead so warmly for me?— DUCHESS. WALLENSTEIN. Silent, silent! WALLENSTEIN. Proceed! DUCHESS. They talk WALLENSTEIN. DUCHESS. Of a second-catches her voice and hesitates). -Dismission. WALLENSTEIN. Second DUCHESS. WALLENSTEIN. Talk they? More disgraceful [Strides across the Chamber in vehement agitation. O! they force, they thrust me With violence against my own will, onward! DUCHESS (presses near to him, in entreaty). Win down your proud heart to it! Tell that heart, SCENE VIII. Enter the Countess TERTSKY, leading in her hand the Princess THEKLA, richly adorned with Brilliants. COUNTESS, THEkla, WallenSTEIN, DUCHESS. COUNTESS. These suns then are eclipsed for us. Henceforward How, sister! What, already upon business! We in the field here gave our cares and toils Thou wouldst not have recognized thy father, When last she saw your face. THEKLA. O yes, yes, mother! WALLENSTEIN. The voice of my child! I was indignant at my destiny, I wrong'd my destiny. Here upon this head, Nor deem it lost, if only I can wreath it, No! 'twas not so intended, that my business [TERTSKY enters, and delivers letters to the DUKE COUNTESS (to MAX.). THEKLA. Then I too must have scruples of his love; ΜΑΧ. Yes; 'tis his nature ever to be giving [He grasps the hand of the DUCHESS with still in How my heart pours out In this name hath my destiny charm-bound me! My brother wishes us to leave him. Come. WALLENSTEIN (turns himself round quick, collects him self, and speaks with cheerfulness to the DUCHESS [He clasps her in his arms as PICCOLOMINI enters. Once more I bid thee welcome to the camp. SCENE IX. Enter MAX. PICCOLOMINI, and some time after Count COUNTESS. There comes the Paladin who protected us. WALLENSTEIN. Max.! Welcome, ever welcome! Always wert thou MAX. My General WALLENSTEIN. Till now it was the Emperor who rewarded thee, MAX. My prince! You made no common hurry to transfer it. Thou art the hostess of this court. You, Max., SCENE X. WALLENSTEIN, COUNT TERTSKY. It is the king of Hungary, Ferdinand, The Emperor's delicate son! he's now their savior, [As he turns round he observes TERTSKY, and give Count Altringer will have himself excused, TERTSKY. And if WALLENSTEIN. Altringer Is master of the Tyrol passes. I must forthwith Had you meant nothing further than to gull him For the Emperor's service. WALLENSTEIN (after a pause, during which he looks narrowly on TERTSKY). And from whence dost thou know Has shown himself again of late. What brings he That I'm not gulling him for the Emperor's service? From the Count Thur? Off with them, off! Thou understand'st not this. To come with stealthy tread, and filch away TERTSKY. You will deal, however, More fairly with the Saxons? They lose patience While you shift ground and make so many curves. Say, to what purpose all these masks? Your friends Are plunged in doubts, baffled, and led astray in you. There's Oxenstein, there's Arnheim-neither knows What he should think of your procrastinations, And in the end I prove the liar; all Passes through me. I have not even your handwriting. WALLENSTEIN. I never give my handwriting; thou knowest it. TERTSKY. But how can it be known that you're in earnest, Whence knowest thou that I'm not gulling all of you? Dost thou know me so well? When made I thee The intendant of my secret purposes? I am not conscious that I ever open'd My inmost thoughts to thee. The Emperor, it is true, I could repay him with usurious interest No wiselier than thy fellows. You'll find them in the very mood you wish. They know about the Emperor's requisitions, And are tumultuous. Declared himself? WALLENSTEIN. How hath Isolan ILLO. He's yours, both soul and body, Since you built up again his Faro-bank. WALLENSTEIN. And which way doth Kolatto bend? Hast thou Made sure of Tiefenbach and Deodate? ILLO. What Piccolomini does, that they do too. WALLENSTEIN. You mean, then, I may venture somewhat with them? ILLO. -If you are assured of the Piccolomini. WALLENSTEIN. Not more assured of mine own self. And yet I would you trusted not so much to Octavio, The fox! WALLENSTEIN. Thou teachest me to know my man? Sixteen campaigns I have made with that old warrior Besides, I have his horoscope: We both are born beneath like stars-in short, [With an air of mystery To this belongs its own particular aspect, If therefore thou canst warrant me the rest ILLO. There is among them all but this one voice, You must not lay down the command. I hear They mean to send a deputation to you. WALLENSTEIN. If I'm in aught to bind myself to them, Seize, seize the hour, Ere it slips from you. Seldom comes the moment In life, which is indeed sublime and weighty. To make a great decision possible, O! many things, all transient and all rapid, Must meet at once: and, haply, they thus met May by that confluence be enforced to pause Time long enough for wisdom, though too short, Far, far too short a time for doubt and scruple! This is that moment. See, our army chieftains, Our best, our noblest, are assembled around you, Their king-like leader! On your nod they wait. The single threads, which here your prosperous for tune Hath woven together in one potent web Thou speakest as thou understand'st. How oft [He walks across the chamber, then returns, and The heavenly constellations make not merely PAGE (entering). My Lords, the Generals. WALLENSTEIN. Let them come in. |