Well, let it be! I have long thought of it,So let it burst then! [Turns to MAX.
Well, how is it with thee?
Wilt thou attempt a heat with me. Away! 20
Thou art free to go. Oppose thyself to me,
Front against front, and lead them to the battle;
Thou’rt skilled in war, thou hast learned somewhat under me,
I need not be ashamed of my opponent,
And never had’st thou fairer opportunity 25
To pay me for thy schooling.
Countess. Is it then,
Can it have come to this? — What! Cousin, Cousin!
Have you the heart?
Max. The regiments that are trusted to my care
I have pledged my troth to bring away from Pilsen 30
True to the Emperor, and this promise will I
Make good, or perish. More than this no duty
Requires of me. I will not fight against thee,
Unless compelled; for though an enemy,
Thy head is holy to me still. 35
[Two reports of cannon. ILLO and TERTSKY hurry to the
window.
Wallenstein. What’s that?
Tertsky. He falls.
Wallenstein. Falls! Who?
Illo. Tiefenbach’s corps
Discharged the ordnance.
Wallenstein. Upon whom?
Illo. On Neumann,
Your messenger.
Wallenstein (starting up). Ha! Death and hell! I will —
Tertsky. Expose thyself to their blind frenzy?
Duchess and Countess. No!
For God’s sake, no!
Illo. Not yet, my General! 40
Countess. O, hold him! hold him!
Wallenstein. Leave me ——
Max. Do it not
Not yet! This rash and bloody deed has thrown them
Into a frenzy-fit — allow them time ——
Wallenstein. Away! too long already have I loitered.
They are emboldened to these outrages, 45
Beholding not my face. They shall behold
My countenance, shall hear my voice ——
Are they not my troops? Am I not their General,
And their long-feared commander? Let me see,
Whether indeed they do no longer know 50
That countenance, which was their sun in battle!
From the balcony (mark!) I shew myself
To these rebellious forces, and at once
Revolt is mounded, and the high-swoln current
Shrinks back into the old bed of obedience. 55
[Exit WALLENSTEIN; ILLO, TERTSKY, and BUTLER follow.
SCENE IX
COUNTESS, DUCHESS, MAX, and THEKLA.
Countess (to the Duchess). Let them but see him — there is hope
still, sister.
Duchess. Hope! I have none!
Max (who during the last scene has been standing at a distance,
advances). This can I not endure.
With most determined soul did I come hither,
My purposed action seemed unblameable
To my own conscience — and I must stand here 5
Like one abhorred, a hard inhuman being;
Yea, loaded with the curse of all I love!
Must see all whom I love in this sore anguish,
Whom I with one word can make happy — O!
My heart revolts within me, and two voices 10
Make themselves audible within my bosom.
My soul’s benighted; I no longer can
Distinguish the right track. O, well and truly
Didst thou say, father, I relied too much
On my own heart. My mind moves to and fro — 15
I know not what to do.
Countess. What! you know not?
Does not your own heart tell you? O! then I
Will tell it you. Your father is a traitor,
A frightful traitor to us — he has plotted
Against our General’s life, has plunged us all 20
In misery — and you’re his son! ‘Tis yours
To make the amends — Make you the son’s fidelity
Outweigh the father’s treason, that the name
Of Piccolomini be not a proverb
Of infamy, a common form of cursing 25
To the posterity of Wallenstein.
Max. Where is that voice of truth which I dare follow?
It speaks no longer in my heart. We all
But utter what our passionate wishes dictate:
O that an angel would descend from Heaven, 30
And scoop for me the right, the uncorrupted,
