WALLENST.
I know you love them notnor sire nor son
Because that I esteem them, love themvisibly
Esteem them, love them more than you and others.
E'en as they merit. Therefore are they eye-blights,
Thorns in your foot-path. But your jealousies,
In what affect they me or my concerns?
Are they the worse to me because you hate them?
Love or hate one another as you will,
I leave to each man his own moods and likings;
Yet know the worth of each of you to me.
ILLO.
Von Questenberg, while he was here, was always
Lurking about with this Octavio.
WALLENST.
It happen'd with my knowledge and permission.
ILLO.
I know that secret messengers came to him
From Gallas
WALLENSTEIN.
That's not true.
ILLO.
O thou art blind,
With thy deep-seeing eyes!
WALLENSTEIN.
Thou wilt not shake
My faith for memy faith, which founds itself
On the profoundest science. If 'tis false,
Then the whole science of the stars is false;
For know, I have a pledge from Fate itself,
That he is the most faithful of my friends.
ILLO.
Hast thou a pledge, that this pledge is not false?
WALLENST.
There exist moments in the life of man,
When he is nearer the great Soul of the world
Than is man's custom, and possesses freely
The power of questioning his destiny:
And such a moment 'twas, when in the night
Before the action in the plains of Lützen,
Leaning against a tree, thoughts crowding thoughts,
I look'd out far upon the ominous plain.
My whole life, past and future, in this moment
Before my mind's eye glided in procession,
And to the destiny of the next morning
The spirit, fill'd with anxious presentiment,
Did knit the most removed futurity.
Then said I also to myself: "So many
Dost thou command. They follow all thy stars
And as on some great number set their All
Upon thy single head, and only man
The vessel of thy fortune. Yet a day
Will come when Destiny shall once more scatter
All these in many a several direction:
Few be they who will stand out faithful to thee."
I yearn'd to know which one was faithfullest
Of all, this camp included. Great Destiny,
Give me a sign! And he shall be the man,
Who, on the approaching morning, comes the first
To meet me with a token of his love.
And thinking this, I fell into a slumber.
Then midmost in the battle was I led
In spirit. Great the pressure and the tumult!
Then was my horse kil'd under me; I sank;
And over me away, all unconcernedly,
Drove horse and riderand thus trod to pieces
I lay, and panted like a dying man;
Then seized me suddenly a savior arm;
It was Octavio'sI awoke at once;
'Twas broad day, and Octavio stood before me.
"My brother," said he, "do not ride today
The dapple, as you're wont; but mount the horse
Which I have chosen for thee. Do it, brother!
In love to me. A strong dream warn'd me so."
It was the swiftness of his horse that snatch'd me
From the hot pursuit of Bannier's dragoons.
My cousin rode the dapple on that day,
And never more saw I of horse or rider.
ILLO.
That was a chance.
WALLENSTEIN (significantly).
There's no such thing as chance.
[And what to us seems merest accident
Springs from the deepest source of destiny.]
In brief, 'tis sign'd and seal'd that this Octavio
Is my good angeland now no word more.
[He is retiring.]
TERZKY.
This is my comfortMax remains our hostage.
ILLO.
And he shall never stir from here alive.
WALLENSTEIN (stops and turns himself round).
Are ye not like the women who forever
Only recur to their first word, although
One had been talking reason by the hour!
Know that the human being's thoughts and needs
Are not like ocean billows, blindly moved.
The inner world, his microcosmus, is
The deep shaft out of which they spring eternally.
They grow by certain laws, like the tree's fruit
No juggling chance can metamorphose them.
Have I the human kernel first examined?
Then I know, too, the future will and action.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE IV
Chamber in the residence of Piccolomini
OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI (attired for traveling), AN ADJUTANT
OCTAVIO.
Is the detachment here?
ADJUT.
It awaits below.
OCTAVIO.
And are the soldiers trusty, Adjutant?
Say, from what regiment hast thou chosen them?
ADJUT. From Tiefenbach's.
OCTAVIO.
That regiment is loyal;
Keep them in silence in the inner court,
Unseen by all, and when the signal peals
Then close the doors; keep watch upon the house,
And all ye meet be instantly arrested.
[Exit Adjutant.]
I hope indeed I shall not need their service,
So certain feel I of my well laid plans;
But when an empire's safety is at stake
'Twere better too much caution than too little.
SCENE V
A Chamber in PICCOLOMINI's Dwelling-House.
OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, ISOLANI, entering
ISOLANI.
Here am IWell! who comes yet of the others?
OCTAVIO (with an air of mystery).
But, first, a word with you, Count Isolani.
ISOLANI (assuming the same air of mystery).
Will it explode, ha?Is the Duke about
To make the attempt? In me, friend, you may place
Full confidenceNay, put me to the proof.
OCTAVIO.
That may happen.
ISOLANI.
Noble brother, I am
Not one of those men who in words are valiant,
And when it comes to action skulk away.
The Duke has acted toward me as a friend.
God knows it is so; and I owe him all
He may rely on my fidelity.
OCTAVIO.
That will be seen hereafter.
ISOLANI.
Be on your guard,
All think not as I think; and there are many
Who still hold with the Courtyes, and they say
That those stolen signatures bind them to nothing.
[OCTAVIO.
Indeed! Pray name to me the chiefs that think so.
ISOLANI.
Plague upon them! all the Germans think so;
Esterhazy, Kaunitz, Deodati, too,
Insist upon obedience to the Court.]
OCTAVIO.
I am rejoiced to hear it.
ISOLANI.
You rejoice
OCTAVIO.
That the Emperor has yet such gallant servants,
And loving friends!
ISOLANI.
Nay, jeer not, I entreat you.
They are no such worthless fellows, I assure you.
OCTAVIO.
I am assured already. God forbid
That I should jest!In very serious earnest,
I am rejoiced to see an honest cause
So strong.
ISOLANI.
The Devil!what!Why, what means this?
Are you not, thenFor what, then, am I here?
OCTAVIO.
That you may make full declaration, whether
You will be call'd the friend or enemy
Of the Emperor.
ISOLANI (with an air of defiance).
That declaration, friend,
I'll make to him in whom a right is placed
To put that question to me.
OCTAVIO.
Whether, Count,
That right is mine, this paper may, instruct you.
ISOLANI (stammering).
Why,whywhat! this is the Emperor's hand and seal! [Reads.]
"Whereas, the officers collectively
Throughout our army will obey the orders
Of the Lieutenant-General Piccolomini.
As from ourselves."HemYes! so I
Yes! yes!
II give you joy, Lieutenant-General!
OCTAVIO.
And you submit you to the order?
ISOLANI.
I
But you have taken me so by surprise
Time for reflection one must have
OCTAVIO.
Two minutes.
ISOLANI.
My God! But then the case is
OCTAVIO.
Plain and simple
You must declare you, whether you determine
To act a treason 'gainst your Lord and Sovereign,
Or whether you will serve him faithfully.
ISOLANI.
Treason!My God!But who talks then of treason?
OCTAVIO.
That is the case. The Prince-duke is a traitor
Means to lead over to the enemy
The Emperor's army.Now, Count!brief
and full
Say, will you break your oath to the Emperor?
Sell yourself to the enemy?Say, will you?
ISOLANI.
What mean you? II break my oath, d'ye say,
To his Imperial Majesty?
Did I say so!When, when have I said that?
OCTAVIO.
You have not said it yetnot yet. This instant
I wait to hear, Count, whether you will say it.
ISOLANI.
Ay! that delights me now, that you yourself
Bear witness for me that I never said so.
OCTAVIO.
And you renounce the Duke then?
ISOLANI.
If he's planning Treasonwhy, treason breaks all bonds asunder.
OCTAVIO.
And are determined, too, to fight against him?
ISOLANI.
He has done me servicebut if he's a villain,
Perdition seize him!All scores are rubb'd off.
OCTAVIO.
I am rejoiced that you are so well disposed.
This night, break off in the utmost secrecy
With all the light-arm'd troopsit must appear
As came the order from the Duke himself.
At Frauenburg's the place of rendezvous;
There will Count Gallas give you further orders.
ISOLANI.
It shall be done.-But you'll remember me With the Emperorhow well-disposed you found me.
OCTAVIO.
I will not fail to mention it honorably.
[Exit ISOLANI. A Servant enters.]
What, Colonel Butler!Show him up.
ISOLANI (returning).
Forgive me too my bearish ways, old father!
Lord God! how should I know, then, what a great
Person I had before me.
OCTAVIO.
No excuses!
ISOLANI.
I am a merry lad, and if at time
A rash word might escape me 'gainst the Court
Amidst my wineYou know no harm was
meant.
[Exit.]
OCTAVIO.
You need not be uneasy on that score
That has succeeded. Fortune favor us
With all the others only but as much!
SCENE VI
OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, BUTLER
BUTLER.
At your command, Lieutenant-General.
OCTAVIO.
Welcome, as honor'd friend and visitor.
BUTLER.
You do me too much honor.
OCTAVIO (after both have seated themselves).
You have not
Return'd the advances which I made you yesterday
Misunderstood them as mere empty forms.
That wish proceeded from my heartI was
In earnest with youfor 'tis now a time
In which the honest should unite most closely.
BUTLER.
'Tis only the like-minded can unite.
OCTAVIO.
True! and I name all honest men like-minded.
I never charge a man but with those acts
To which his character deliberately
Impels him; for alas! the violence
Of blind misunderstandings often thrusts
The very best of us from the right track.
You came through Frauenburg. Did the Count Gallas
Say nothing to you? Tell me. He's my friend.
BUTLER.
His words were lost on me.
OCTAVIO.
It grieves me sorely,
To hear it: for his counsel was most wise.
I had myself the like to offer.
BUTLER.
Spare
Yourself the troubleme th' embarrassment,
To have deserved so ill your good opinion.
OCTAVIO.
The time is preciouslet us talk openly.
You know how matters stand here. Wallenstein
Meditates treasonI can tell you further,
He has committed treason; but few hours
Have past since he a covenant concluded
With the enemy. The messengers are now
Full on their way to Egra and to Prague.
Tomorrow he intends to lead us over
To the enemy. But he deceives himself;
For Prudence wakesThe Emperor has still
Many and faithful friends here, and they stand
In closest union, mighty though unseen.
This manifesto sentences the Duke
Recalls the obedience of the army from him,
And summons all the loyal, all the honest,
To join and recognize in me their leader.
Choosewill you share with us an honest cause?
Or with the evil share an evil lot?
BUTLER (rises).
His lot is mine.
OCTAVIO.
Is that your last resolve?
BUTLER.
It is.
OCTAVIO.
Nay, but bethink you, Colonel Butler!
As yet you have time. Within my faithful breast