The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Illustrated Edition). Samuel Taylor Coleridge

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      Wrangel. I must entreat, that your consideration

       Occupy not too long a time. Already

       Has this negotiation, my Lord Duke!

       Crept on into the second year. If nothing 180

       Is settled this time, will the Chancellor

       Consider it as broken off for ever.

      Wallenstein. Ye press me hard. A measure, such as this,

       Ought to be thought of.

      Wrangel. Ay! but think of this too,

       That sudden action only can procure it 185

       Success — think first of this, your Highness. [Exit WRANGEL.

       Table of Contents

      WALLENSTEIN, TERTSKY, and ILLO (re-enter).

      Illo. Is’t all right?

      Tertsky. Are you compromised?

      Illo. This Swede

       Went smiling from you. Yes! you’re compromised.

      Wallenstein. As yet is nothing settled: and (well weighed)

       I feel myself inclined to leave it so.

      Tertsky. How? What is that?

      Wallenstein. Come on me what will come, 5

       The doing evil to avoid an evil

       Cannot be good!

      Tertsky. Nay, but bethink you, Duke?

      Wallenstein. To live upon the mercy of these Swedes!

       Of these proud-hearted Swedes! I could not bear it.

      Illo. Goest thou as fugitive, as mendicant? 10

       Bringest thou not more to them than thou receivest?

       Table of Contents

      To these enter the COUNTESS TERTSKY.

      Wallenstein. Who sent for you? There is no business here

       For women.

      Countess. I am come to bid you joy.

      Wallenstein. Use thy authority, Tertsky, bid her go.

      Countess. Come I perhaps too early? I hope not.

      Wallenstein. Set not this tongue upon me, I entreat you. 5

       You know it is the weapon that destroys me.

       I am routed, if a woman but attack me.

       I cannot traffic in the trade of words

       With that unreasoning sex.

      Countess. I had already

       Given the Bohemians a king.

      Wallenstein. They have one, 10

       In consequence, no doubt.

      Countess. Ha! what new scruple?

      Tertsky. The Duke will not.

      Countess. He will not what he must!

      Illo. It lies with you now. Try. For I am silenced,

       When folks begin to talk to me of conscience,

       And of fidelity.

      Countess. How? then, when all 15

       Lay in the far-off distance, when the road

       Stretched out before thine eyes interminably,

       Then hadst thou courage and resolve; and now,

       Now that the dream is being realized,

       The purpose ripe, the issue ascertained, 20

       Dost thou begin to play the dastard now?

       Planned merely, ‘tis a common felony;

       Accomplished, an immortal undertaking:

       And with success comes pardon hand in hand;

       For all event is God’s arbitrement. 25

      Servant (enters). The Colonel Piccolomini.

      Countess. — Must wait.

      Wallenstein. I cannot see him now. Another time.

      Servant. But for two minutes he entreats an audience.

       Of the most urgent nature is his business.

      Wallenstein. Who knows what he may bring us? I will hear him. 30

      Countess. Urgent for him, no doubt; but thou mayest wait.

      Wallenstein. What is it?

      Countess. Thou shalt be informed hereafter.

       First let the Swede and thee be compromised. [Exit Servant.

      Wallenstein. If there were yet a choice! if yet some milder

       Way of escape were possible — I still 35

       Will choose it, and avoid the last extreme.

      Countess. Desir’st thou nothing further? Such a way

       Lies still before thee. Send this Wrangel off.

       Forget thou thy old hopes, cast far away

       All thy past life; determine to commence 40

       A new one. Virtue hath her heroes too,

       As well as Fame and Fortune. — To Vienna —

       Hence — to the Emperor — kneel before the throne;

       Take a full coffer with thee — say aloud,

       Thou did’st but wish to prove thy fealty; 45

       Thy whole intention but to dupe the Swede.

      Illo. For that too ‘tis too late. They know too much.

       He would but bear his own head to the

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