The Death of Wallenstein by Friedrich Schiller (life changing books to read .TXT) 📕

Go, Neumann! 'Tis my command that they retreat this moment, And in their ranks in silence wait my pleasure.

[NEUMANN exit. ILLO steps to the window.

COUNTESS. Let him go, I entreat thee, let him go.

ILLO (at the window). Hell and perdition!

WALLENSTEIN.
What is it?

ILLO. They scale the council-house, the roof's uncovered, They level at this house the cannon - -

MAX.
Madmen

ILLO. They are making preparations now to fire on us.

DUCHESS and COUNTESS. Merciful heaven!

MAX. (to WALLENSTEIN).
Let me go to them!

WALLENSTEIN.
Not a step!

MAX. (pointing to THEKLA and the DUCHESS). But their life! Thine!

WALLENSTEIN.
What tidings bringest thou, Terzky?


SCENE XX.

To these TERZKY returning.

TERZKY. Message and greeting from our faithful regiments. Their ardor may no longer be curbed in. They entreat permission to commence the attack; And if thou wouldst but give the word of onset They could now charge the enemy in rear, Into the city wedge them, and with ease O'erpower them in the narrow streets.

ILLO.
Oh come Let not their ardor cool. The soldiery Of Butler's corps stand by us faithfully; We are the greater number. Let us charge them And finish here in Pilsen the revolt.

WALLENSTEIN. What? shall this town become a field of slaughter, And brother-killing discord, fire-eyed, Be let loose through its streets to roam and rage? Shall the decision be delivered over To deaf remorseless rage, that hears no leader? Here is not room for battle, only for butchery. Well, let it be! I have long thought of it, So let it burst then!
[Turns to MAX.
Well, how is it with thee? Wilt thou attempt a heat with me. Away! Thou art free to go. Oppose thyself to me, Front against front, and lead them to the battle; Thou'rt skilled in war, thou hast learned somewhat under me, I need not be ashamed of my opponent, And never hadst thou fairer opportunity To pay me for thy schooling.

COUNTESS.
Is it then, Can it have come to this? What! Cousin, cousin! Have you the heart?

MAX. The regiments that are trusted to my care I have pledged my troth to bring away from Pilsen True to the emperor; and this promise will I Make good, or perish. More than this no duty Requires of me. I will not fight against thee, Unless compelled; for though an enemy, Thy head is holy to me still,

[Two reports of cannon. ILLO and TERZKY hurry to the window.

WALLENSTEIN. What's that?

TERZBY.
He falls.

WALLENSTEIN.
Falls! Who?

ILLO.
Tiefenbach's corps Discharged the ordnance.

WALLENSTEIN.
Upon whom?

ILLO.
On - Neumann, Your messenger.

WALLENSTEIN (starting up).
Ha! Death and hell! I will - -

TERZKY. Expose thyself to their blind frenzy?

DUCHESS and COUNTESS.
No! For God's sake, no!

ILLO.
Not yet, my general! Oh, hold him! hold him!

WALLENSTEIN.
Leave me - -

MAX.
Do it not; Not yet! This rash and bloody deed has thrown them Into a frenzy-fit - allow them time - -

WALLENSTEIN. Away! too long already have I loitered. They are emboldened to these outrages, Beholding not my face. They shall behold My countenance, shall hear my voice - Are they not my troops? Am I not their general, And their long-feared commander! Let me see, Whether indeed they do no longer know That countenance which was their sun in battle! From the balcony (mark!) I show myself To these rebellious forces, and at once Revolt is mounded, and the high-swollen current Shrinks back into the old bed of obedience.

[Exit WALLENSTEIN; ILLO, TERZKY, and BUTLER follow.


SCENE XXI.

COUNTESS, DUCHESS, MAX., and THEKLA.

COUNTESS (to the DUCHESS). Let them but see him - there is hope still, sister.

DUCHESS. Hope! I have none!

MAX. (who during the last scene has been standing at a distance, in a visible struggle of feelings advances).
This can I not endure. With most determined soul did I come hither; My purposed action seemed unblamable To my own conscience - and I must stand here Like one abhorred, a hard, inhuman being: Yea, loaded with the curse of all I love! Must see all whom I love in this sore anguish, Whom I with one word can make happy - O! My heart revolts within me, and two voices Make themselves audible within my bosom. My soul's benighted; I no longer can Distinguish the right track. Oh, well and truly Didst thou say, father, I relied too much On my own heart. My mind moves to and fro - I know not what to do.

COUNTESS.
What! you know not? Does not your own heart tell you? Oh! then I Will tell it you. Your father is a traitor, A frightful traitor to us - he has plotted Against our general's life, has plunged us all In misery - and you're his son! 'Tis yours To make the amends. Make you the son's fidelity Outweigh the father's treason, that the name Of Piccolomini be not a proverb Of infamy, a common form of cursing To the posterity of Wallenstein.

MAX. Where is that voice of truth which I dare follow! It speaks no longer in my heart. We all But utter what our passionate wishes dictate: Oh that an angel would descend from heaven, And scoop for me the right, the uncorrupted, With a pure hand from the pure Fount of light.
[His eyes glance on THEKLA. What other angel seek I? To this heart, To this unerring heart, will I submit it; Will ask thy love, which has the power to bless The happy man alone, averted ever From the disquieted and guilty - canst thou Still love me, if I stay? Say that thou canst, And I am the duke's - -

COUNTESS.
Think, niece - -

MAX.
Think nothing, Thekla! Speak what thou feelest.

COUNTESS.
Think upon your father.

MAX. I did not question thee, as Friedland's daughter. Thee, the beloved and the unerring God Within thy heart, I question. What's at stake? Not whether diadem of royalty Be to be won or not - that mightest thou think on. Thy friend, and his soul's quiet are at stake: The fortune of a thousand gallant men, Who will all follow me; shall I forswear My oath and duty to the emperor? Say, shall I send into Octavio's camp The parricidal ball? For when the ball Has left its cannon, and is on its flight, It is no longer a dead instrument! It lives, a spirit passes into it; The avenging furies seize possession of it, And with sure malice, guide it the worst way.

THEKLA. Oh! Max. - -

MAX. (interrupting her).
Nay, not precipitately either, Thekla. I understand thee. To thy noble heart The hardest duty might appear the highest. The human, not the great part, would I act. Even from my childhood to this present hour, Think what the duke has done for me, how loved me And think, too, how my father has repaid him. Oh likewise the free lovely impulses Of hospitality, the pious friend's Faithful attachment, these, too, are a holy Religion to the heart; and heavily The shudderings of nature do avenge Themselves on the barbarian that insults them. Lay all upon the balance, all - then speak, And let thy heart decide it.

THEKLA.
Oh, thy own Hath long ago decided. Follow thou Thy heart's first feeling - -

COUNTESS.
Oh! ill-fated woman!

THEKLA. Is it possible, that that can be the right, The which thy tender heart did not at first Detect and seize with instant impulse? Go, Fulfil thy duty! I should ever love thee. Whate'er thou hast chosen, thou wouldst still have acted Nobly and worthy of thee - but repentance Shall ne'er disturb thy soul's fair peace.

MAX.
Then I Must leave thee, must part from thee!

THEKLA.
Being faithful To thine own self, thou art faithful, too, to me: If our fates part, our hearts remain united. A bloody hatred will divide forever The houses Piccolomini and Friedland; But we belong not to our houses. Go! Quick! quick! and separate thy righteous cause From our unholy and unblessed one! The curse of heaven lies upon our head: 'Tis dedicate to ruin. Even me My father's guilt drags with it to perdition. Mourn not for me: My destiny will quickly be decided.

[MAX. clasps her in his arms in extreme emotion. There is heard
from behind the scene a loud, wild, long-continued cry, Vivat
Ferdinandus! accompanied by warlike instruments. MAX. and THEKLA
remain without motion in each other's embraces.


SCENE XXII.

To the above enter TERZKY.

COUNTESS (meeting him). What meant that cry? What was it?

TERZKY.
All is lost!

COUNTESS. What! they regarded not his countenance?

TERZKY. 'Twas all in