And let the Princes of the empire payThe expenses of this war, that aggrandizes
The Emperor alone — What thanks had I! 130
What? I was offered up to their complaints,
Dismissed, degraded!
Questenberg. But your Highness knows
What little freedom he possessed of action
In that disastrous diet.
Wallenstein. Death and hell!
I had that which could have procured him freedom. 135
No! Since ‘twas proved so inauspicious to me
To serve the Emperor at the empire’s cost,
I have been taught far other trains of thinking
Of the empire, and the diet of the empire.
From the Emperor, doubtless, I received this staff, 140
But now I hold it as the empire’s general —
For the common weal, the universal interest,
And no more for that one man’s aggrandizement!
But to the point. What is it that’s desired of me?
Questenberg. First, his imperial Majesty hath willed 145
That without pretexts of delay the army
Evacuate Bohemia.
Wallenstein. In this season?
And to what quarter wills the Emperor
That we direct our course?
Questenberg. To the enemy.
His Majesty resolves, that Regenspurg 150
Be purified from the enemy, ere Easter,
That Lutheranism may be no longer preached
In that cathedral, nor heretical
Defilement desecrate the celebration
Of that pure festival.
Wallenstein. My generals, 155
Can this be realized?
Illo. ‘Tis not possible.
Butler. It can’t be realized.
Questenberg. The Emperor
Already hath commanded Colonel Suys
To advance toward Bavaria!
Wallenstein. What did Suys?
Questenberg. That which his duty prompted. He advanced! 160
Wallenstein. What? he advanced? And I, his general,
Had given him orders, peremptory orders,
Not to desert his station! Stands it thus
With my authority? Is this the obedience
Due to my office, which being thrown aside 165
No war can be conducted? Chieftains, speak!
You be the judges, generals! What deserves
That officer, who of his oath neglectful
Is guilty of contempt of orders?
Illo. Death.
Wallenstein. Count Piccolomini! what has he deserved? 170
Max Piccolomini. According to the letter of the law,
Death.
Isolani. Death.
Butler. Death, by the laws of war.
[QUESTENBERG rises from his seat, WALLENSTEIN follows;
all the rest rise.
Wallenstein. To this the law condemns him, and not I.
And if I shew him favour, ‘twill arise
From the reverence that I owe my Emperor. 175
Questenberg. If so, I can say nothing further — here!
Wallenstein. I accepted the command but on conditions!
And this the first, that to the diminution
Of my authority no human being,
Not even the Emperor’s self, should be entitled 180
To do aught, or to say aught, with the army.
If I stand warranter of the event,
Placing my honour and my head in pledge,
Needs must I have full mastery in all
The means thereto. What rendered this Gustavus 185
Resistless, and unconquered upon earth?
This — that he was the monarch in his army!
A monarch, one who is indeed a monarch,
Was never yet subdued but by his equal.
But to the point! The best is yet to come. 190
Attend now, generals!
Questenberg. The prince Cardinal
Begins his route at the approach of spring
From the Milanese; and leads a Spanish army
Through Germany into the Netherlands.
That he may march secure and unimpeded, 195
‘Tis the Emperor’s will you grant him a detachment
Of eight horse-regiments from the army here.
Wallenstein. Yes, yes! I understand! — Eight regiments! Well,
Right well concerted, father Lamormain!
Eight thousand horse! Yes, yes! ‘Tis as it should be! 200
I see it coming!
Questenberg. There is nothing coming.
All stands in front: the counsel of state-prudence,
The dictate of necessity! ——
Wallenstein. What then?
