The Works of Frederick Schiller Part 156

How my heart pours out Its all of thanks to him! O! how I seem To utter all things in the dear name--Friedland.

While I shall live, so long will I remain The captive of this name: in it shall bloom My every fortune, every lovely hope.

Inextricably as in some magic ring In this name hath my destiny charm-bound me!

COUNTESS (who during this time has been anxiously watching the DUKE, and remarks that he is lost in thought over the letters).

My brother wishes us to leave him. Come.

WALLENSTEIN (turns himself round quick, collects himself, and speaks with cheerfulness to the d.u.c.h.eSS).

Once more I bid thee welcome to the camp, Thou art the hostess of this court. You, Max., Will now again administer your old office, While we perform the sovereign's business here.

[MAX. PICCOLOMINI offers the d.u.c.h.eSS his arm; the COUNTESS accompanies the PRINCESS.

TERZKY (calling after him).

Max., we depend on seeing you at the meeting.

SCENE V.

WALLENSTEIN, COUNT TERZKY.

WALLENSTEIN (in deep thought, to himself).

She has seen all things as they are--it is so, And squares completely with my other notices, They have determined finally in Vienna, Have given me my successor already; It is the King of Hungary, Ferdinand, The emperor's delicate son! he's now their savior, He's the new star that's rising now! Of us They think themselves already fairly rid, And as we were deceased, the heir already Is entering on possession--Therefore--despatch!

[As he turns round he observes TERZKY, and gives him a letter.

Count Altringer will have himself excused, And Gallas too--I like not this!

TERZKY.

And if Thou loiterest longer, all will fall away, One following the other.

WALLENSTEIN.

Altringer Is master of the Tyrol pa.s.ses. I must forthwith Send some one to him, that he let not in The Spaniards on me from the Milanese.

--Well, and the old Sesin, that ancient trader In contraband negotiations, he Has shown himself again of late. What brings he From the Count Thur?

TERZKY.

The count communicates He has found out the Swedish chancellor At Halberstadt, where the convention's held, Who says, you've tired him out, and that he'll have No further dealings with you.

WALLENSTEIN.

And why so?

TERZKY.

He says, you are never in earnest in your speeches; That you decoy the Swedes--to make fools of them; Will league yourself with Saxony against them, And at last make yourself a riddance of them With a paltry sum of money.

WALLENSTEIN.

So then, doubtless, Yes, doubtless, this same modest Swede expects That I shall yield him some fair German tract For his prey and booty, that ourselves at last On our own soil and native territory May be no longer our own lords and masters!

An excellent scheme! No, no! They must be off, Off, off! away! we want no such neighbors.

TERZKY.

Nay, yield them up that dot, that speck of land-- It goes not from your portion. If you win The game, what matters it to you who pays it?

WALLENSTEIN.

Off with them, off! Thou understand'st not this.

Never shall it be said of me, I parcelled My native land away, dismembered Germany, Betrayed it to a foreigner, in order To come with stealthy tread, and filch away My own share of the plunder--Never! never!

No foreign power shall strike root in the empire, And least of all these Goths! these hungry wolves!

Who send such envious, hot, and greedy glances Toward the rich blessings of our German lands!

I'll have their aid to cast and draw my nets, But not a single fish of all the draught Shall they come in for.

TERZKY.

You will deal, however, More fairly with the Saxons? they lose patience While you s.h.i.+ft round and make so many curves.

Say, to what purpose all these masks? Your friends Are plunged in doubts, baffled, and led astray in you.

There's Oxenstiern, there's Arnheim--neither knows What he should think of your procrastinations, And in the end I prove the liar; all Pa.s.ses through me. I've not even your handwriting.

WALLENSTEIN.

I never give handwriting; and thou knowest it.

TERZKY.

But how can it be known that you are in earnest, If the act follows not upon the word?

You must yourself acknowledge, that in all Your intercourses. .h.i.therto with the enemy, You might have done with safety all you have done.

Had you meant nothing further than to gull him For the emperor's service.

WALLENSTEIN (after a pause, during which he looks narrowly on TERZKY).

And from whence dost thou know That I'm not gulling him for the emperor's service?

Whence knowest thou that I'm not gulling all of you?

Dost thou know me so well? When made I thee The intendant of my secret purposes?

I am not conscious that I ever opened My inmost thoughts to thee. The emperor, it is true, Hath dealt with me amiss; and if I would I could repay him with usurious interest For the evil he hath done me. It delights me To know my power; but whether I shall use it, Of that I should have thought that thou couldst speak No wiser than thy fellows.

TERZKY.

So hast thou always played thy game with us.

[Enter ILLO.

SCENE VI.

ILLO, WALLENSTEIN, TERZKY.

WALLENSTEIN.

How stand affairs without? Are they prepared?

ILLO.

You'll find them in the very mood you wish.

They know about the emperor's requisition, And are tumultuous.

WALLENSTEIN.

How hath Isolani declared himself?

ILLO.

He's yours, both soul and body, Since you built up again his faro-bank.