Den Lügekundigsten herauf, und stellt’ ihnAls Freund an meine Seite. Wer vermag
Der Hölle Macht zu widerstehn! Ich zog
Den Basilisken auf an meinem Busen,
Mit meinem Herzblut nährt’ ich ihn, er sog
Sich schwelgend voll an meiner Liebe Brüsten.
Ich hatte nimmer Arges gegen ihn,
Weit offen Hess ich des Gedankens Thore,
Und warf die Schlüssel weiser Vorsicht weg,
Am Sternenhimmel, &c.
LITERAL TRANSLATION.
Alas! for those who place their confidence on thee, against thee lean
the secure hut of their fortune, allured by thy hospitable form.
Suddenly, unexpectedly, in a moment still as night, there is a
fermentation in the treacherous gulf of fire; it discharges itself with
raging force, and away over all the plantations of men drives the wild
stream in frightful devastation. WALLENSTEIN. Thou art portraying thy
father’s heart; as thou describest, even so is it shaped in his
entrails, in this black hypocrite’s breast. O, the art of hell has
deceived me! The Abyss sent up to me the most spotted of the spirits,
the most skilful in lies, and placed him as a friend by my side. Who may
withstand the power of hell? I took the basilisk to my bosom, with my
heart’s blood I nourished him; he sucked himself glutfull at the breasts
of my love. I never harboured evil towards him; wide open did I leave
the door of my thoughts; I threw away the key of wise foresight. In the
starry heaven, &c. — We find a difficulty in believing this to have been
written by Schiller. 1800, 1828, 1829. I have here ventured to
omit a considerable number of lines, which it is difficult to believe
that Schiller could have written. 1834.
simplicity of the original —
Sie alle waren Fremdlinge, Du warst
Das Kind des Hauses.
Indeed the whole speech is in the best style of Massinger. O si sic
omnia!
[After 4] [Advancing to THEKLA, who has thrown herself into her
mother’s arms. 1800, 1828, 1829.
[Before 40] Max (calmly). 1800, 1828, 1829.
SCENE VII
To these enter NEUMANN.
Wallenstein. What now?
Neumann. The Pappenheimers are dismounted,
And are advancing now on foot, determined
With sword in hand to storm the house, and free
The Count, their colonel.
Wallenstein (to Tertsky). Have the cannon planted.
I will receive them with chain-shot. [Exit TERTSKY. 5
Prescribe to me with sword in hand! 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? 10
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! 15
Wallenstein. What tidings bring’st thou, Tertsky?
SCENE VIII
To these TERTSKY (returning).
Tertsky. Message and greeting from our faithful regiments.
Their ardour may no longer be curbed in.
They intreat permission to commence the attack,
And if thou would’st but give the word of onset,
They could now charge the enemy in rear, 5
Into the city wedge them, and with ease
O’erpower them in the narrow streets.
Illo. O come!
Let not their ardour cool. The soldiery
Of Butler’s corps stand by us faithfully;
We are the greater number. Let us charge them, 10
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 15
To deaf remorseless Rage, that hears no leader?
Here is not room for battle, only for butchery.
