On thee, the hate, the curse of the whole world.No friend existed for thee in all Germany,
And why? because thou hadst existed only
For the Emperor. To the Emperor alone 140
Clung Friedland in that storm which gathered round him
At Regenspurg in the Diet — and he dropped thee!
He let thee fall! He let thee fall a victim
To the Bavarian, to that insolent!
Deposed, stript bare of all thy dignity 145
And power, amid the taunting of thy foes,
Thou wert let drop into obscurity. —
Say not, the restoration of thy honour
Hath made atonement for that first injustice.
No honest good-will was it that replaced thee, 150
The law of hard necessity replaced thee,
Which they had fain opposed, but that they could not.
Wallenstein. Not to their good wishes, that is certain,
Nor yet to his affection I’m indebted
For this high office; and if I abuse it, 155
I shall therein abuse no confidence.
Countess. Affection! confidence! — They needed thee.
Necessity, impetuous remonstrant!
Who not with empty names, or shews of proxy,
Is served, who’ll have the thing and not the symbol, 160
Ever seeks out the greatest and the best,
And at the rudder places him, e’en though
She had been forced to take him from the rabble —
She, this Necessity, it was that placed thee
In this high office, it was she that gave thee 165
Thy letters patent of inauguration.
For, to the uttermost moment that they can.
This race still help themselves at cheapest rate
With slavish souls, with puppets! At the approach
Of extreme peril, when a hollow image 170
Is found a hollow image and no more,
Then falls the power into the mighty hands
Of Nature, of the spirit giant-born,
Who listens only to himself, knows nothing
Of stipulations, duties, reverences 175
And, like the emancipated force of fire,
Unmastered scorches, ere it reaches them,
Their fine-spun webs, their artificial policy.
Wallenstein. ‘Tis true! they saw me always as I am —
Always! I did not cheat them in the bargain. 180
I never held it worth my pains to hide
The bold all-grasping habit of my soul.
Countess. Nay rather — thou hast ever shewn thyself
A formidable man, without restraint;
Hast exercised the full prerogatives 185
Of thy impetuous nature, which had been
Once granted to thee. Therefore, Duke, not thou,
Who hast still remained consistent with thyself,
But they are in the wrong, who fearing thee,
Entrusted such a power in hands they feared. 190
For, by the laws of Spirit, in the right
Is every individual character
That acts in strict consistence with itself.
Self-contradiction is the only wrong.
Wert thou another being, then, when thou 195
Eight years ago pursuedst thy march with fire
And sword, and desolation, through the Circles
Of Germany, the universal scourge,
Didst mock all ordinances of the empire,
The fearful rights of strength alone exertedst, 200
Trampledst to earth each rank, each magistracy,
All to extend thy Sultan’s domination?
Then was the time to break thee in, to curb
Thy haughty will, to teach thee ordinance.
But no! the Emperor felt no touch of conscience, 205
What served him pleased him, and without a murmur
He stamped his broad seal on these lawless deeds.
What at that time was right, because thou didst it
For him, to-day is all at once become
Opprobrious, foul, because it is directed 210
Against him. — O most flimsy superstition!
Wallenstein (rising). I never saw it in this light before.
‘Tis even so. The Emperor perpetrated
Deeds through my arm, deeds most unorderly.
And even this prince’s mantle, which I wear, 215
I owe to what were services to him,
But most high misdemeanours ‘gainst the empire.
Countess. Then betwixt thee and him (confess it, Friedland!)
The point can be no more of right and duty,
Only of power and opportunity. 220
That opportunity, lo! it comes yonder,
Approaching with swift steeds; then with a swing
Throw thyself up into the chariot-seat,
Seize with firm hand the reins, ere thy opponent
Anticipate thee, and himself make conquest 225
