The Works of Frederick Schiller Part 155

WALLENSTEIN.

Well!

d.u.c.h.eSS.

Of a second---- (catches her voice and hesitates.)

WALLENSTEIN.

Second----

d.u.c.h.eSS.

Most disgraceful Dismission.

WALLENSTEIN.

Talk they?

[Strides across the chamber in vehement agitation.

Oh! they force, they thrust me With violence, against my own will, onward!

d.u.c.h.eSS (presses near him in entreaty).

Oh! if there yet be time, my husband, if By giving way and by submission, this Can be averted--my dear Lord, give way!

Win down your proud heart to it! Tell the heart, It is your sovereign lord, your emperor, Before whom you retreat. Oh! no longer Low trickling malice blacken your good meaning With abhorred venomous glosses. Stand you up s.h.i.+elded and helmed and weaponed with the truth, And drive before you into uttermost shame These slanderous liars! Few firm friends have we-- You know it! The swift growth of our good fortune It hath but set us up a mark for hatred.

What are we, if the sovereign's grace and favor Stand not before us!

SCENE III.

Enter the Countess TERZKY, leading in her hand the Princess THEKLA, richly adorned with brilliants.

COUNTESS, TEKLA, WALLENSTEIN, d.u.c.h.eSS.

COUNTESS.

How sister? What, already upon business?

[Observing the countenance of the d.u.c.h.eSS.

And business of no pleasing kind I see, Ere he has gladdened at his child. The first Moment belongs to joy. Here, Friedland! father!

This is thy daughter.

[THEKLA approaches with a shy and timid air, and bends herself as about to kiss his hand. He receives her in his arms, and remains standing for some time lost in the feeling of her presence.

WALLENSTEIN.

Yes! pure and lovely hath hope risen on me, I take her as the pledge of greater fortune.

d.u.c.h.eSS.

'Twas but a little child when you departed To raise up that great army for the emperor And after, at the close of the campaign, When you returned home out of Pomerania, Your daughter was already in the convent, Wherein she has remained till now.

WALLENSTEIN.

The while We in the field here gave our cares and toils To make her great, and fight her a free way To the loftiest earthly good; lo! mother Nature Within the peaceful, silent convent walls, Has done her part, and out of her free grace Hath she bestowed on the beloved child The G.o.d-like; and now leads her thus adorned To meet her splendid fortune, and my hope.

d.u.c.h.eSS (to THEKLA).

Thou wouldst not now have recognized thy father, Wouldst thou, my child? She counted scarce eight years When last she saw your face.

THEKLA.

O yes, yes, mother!

At the first glance! My father has not altered.

The form that stands before me falsifies No feature of the image that hath lived So long within me!

WALLENSTEIN.

The voice of my child!

[Then after a pause.

I was indignant at my destiny, That it denied me a man-child, to be Heir of my name and of my prosperous fortune, And re-illume my soon-extinguished being In a proud line of princes.

I wronged my destiny. Here upon this head, So lovely in its maiden bloom, will I Let fall the garland of a life of war, Nor deem it lost, if only I can wreath it, Trans.m.u.ted to a regal ornament, Around these beauteous brows.

[He clasps her in his arms as PICCOLOMINI enters.

SCENE IV.

Enter MAX. PICCOLOMINI, and some time after COUNT TERZKY, the others remaining as before.

COUNTESS.

There comes the Paladin who protected us.

WALLENSTEIN.

Max.! Welcome, ever welcome! Always wert thou The morning star of my best joys!

MAX.

My general----

WALLENSTEIN.

Till now it was the emperor who rewarded thee, I but the instrument. This day thou hast bound The father to thee, Max.! the fortunate father, And this debt Friedland's self must pay.

MAX.

My prince!

You made no common hurry to transfer it.

I come with shame: yea, not without a pang!

For scarce have I arrived here, scarce delivered The mother and the daughter to your arms, But there is brought to me from your equerry [6]

A splendid richly-plated hunting dress So to remunerate me for my troubles-- Yes, yes, remunerate me,--since a trouble It must be, a mere office, not a favor Which I leaped forward to receive, and which I came with grateful heart to thank you for.

No! 'twas not so intended, that my business Should be my highest best good fortune!

[TERZKY enters; and delivers letters to the DUKE, which he breaks open hurriedly.

COUNTESS (to MAX.).

Remunerate your trouble! For his joy, He makes you recompense. 'Tis not unfitting For you, Count Piccolomini, to feel So tenderly--my brother it beseems To show himself forever great and princely.

THEKLA.

Then I too must have scruples of his love: For his munificent hands did ornament me Ere yet the father's heart had spoken to me.

MAX Yes; 'tis his nature ever to be giving And making happy.

[He grasps the hand of the d.u.c.h.eSS with still increasing warmth.