enough ——
Wallenstein. Their confidence is lost — irreparably!
And I may act what way I will, I shall
Be and remain for ever in their thought 55
A traitor to my country. How sincerely
Soever I return back to my duty,
It will no longer help me ——
Illo. Ruin thee,
That it will do! Not thy fidelity,
Thy weakness will be deemed the sole occasion —— 60
Wallenstein. What! I must realize it now in earnest,
Because I toy’d too freely with the thought?
Accurséd he who dallies with a devil!
And must I — I must realize it now —
Now, while I have the power, it must take place? 65
Illo. Now — now — ere they can ward and parry it!
Wallenstein (looking at the paper of signatures). I have the
Generals’ word — a written promise!
Max Piccolomini stands not here — how’s that?
Tertsky. It was —— he fancied ——
Illo. Mere self-willedness.
There needed no such thing ‘twixt him and you. 70
Wallenstein. He is quite right — there needeth no such thing.
The regiments, too, deny to march for Flanders —
Have sent me in a paper of remonstrance,
And openly resist the Imperial orders.
The first step to revolt’s already taken. 75
Illo. Believe me, thou wilt find it far more easy
To lead them over to the enemy
Than to the Spaniard.
Wallenstein. I will hear, however,
What the Swede has to say to me.
Illo (to Tertsky). Go, call him!
He stands without the door in waiting.
Wallenstein. Stay! 80
Stay yet a little. It hath taken me
All by surprise, — it came too quick upon me;
‘Tis wholly novel, that an accident,
With its dark lordship, and blind agency,
Should force me on with it.
Illo. First hear him only, 85
And after weigh it. [Exeunt TERTSKY and ILLO.
[Before 53] Wallenstein (lost in thought). 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 61] Wallenstein (pacing up and down in extreme agitation).
1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE IV
Wallenstein. Is it possible?
Is’t so? I can no longer what I would?
No longer draw back at my liking? I
Must do the deed, because I thought of it,
And fed this heart here with a dream? Because 5
I did not scowl temptation from my presence,
Dallied with thoughts of possible fulfilment,
Commenced no movement, left all time uncertain,
And only kept the road, the access open?
By the great God of Heaven! it was not 10
My serious meaning, it was ne’er resolve.
I but amused myself with thinking of it.
The freewill tempted me, the power to do
Or not to do it. — Was it criminal
To make the fancy minister to hope, 15
To fill the air with pretty toys of air,
And clutch fantastic sceptres moving t’ward me?
Was not the will kept free? Beheld I not
The road of duty close beside me — but
One little step, and once more I was in it! 20
Where am I? Whither have I been transported?
No road, no track behind me, but a wall,
Impenetrable, insurmountable,
Rises obedient to the spells I muttered
And meant not — my own doings tower behind me. 25
A punishable man I seem, the guilt,
Try what I will, I cannot roll off from me;
The equivocal demeanour of my life
Bears witness on my prosecutor’s party;
And even my purest acts from purest motives 30
Suspicion poisons with malicious gloss.
Were I that thing, for which I pass, that traitor,
A goodly outside I had sure reserved,
Had drawn the coverings thick and double round me,
Been calm and chary of my utterance. 35
But being conscious of the innocence
Of my intent, my uncorrupted will,
I gave way to my humours, to my passion:
Bold were my words, because my deeds were not.
Now every planless measure, chance event, 40
The threat of rage, the vaunt of joy and triumph,
And all the May-games of a heart o’erflowing,
Will they connect, and weave them all together
