The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 70

SCENE III

_To them enters ILLO._

_Illo (to Tertsky)._ Has he heard it?

_Tertsky._ He has heard it.

_Illo (to Wallenstein)._ Thinkest thou still To make thy peace with the Emperor, to regain His confidence?--E'en were it now thy wish To abandon all thy plans, yet still they know What thou hast wished; then forwards thou must press; 5 Retreat is now no longer in thy power.

_Tertsky._ They have doc.u.ments against us, and in hands, Which shew beyond all power of contradiction--

_Wallenstein._ Of my hand-writing--no iota. Thee I punish for thy lies.

_Illo._ And thou believest, 10 That what this man, that what thy sister's husband, Did in thy name, will not stand on thy reck'ning?

His word must pa.s.s for thy word with the Swede, And not with those that hate thee at Vienna.

_Tertsky._ In writing thou gav'st nothing--But bethink thee, 15 How far thou ventured'st by word of mouth With this Sesina? And will he be silent?

If he can save himself by yielding up Thy secret purposes, will he retain them?

_Illo._ Thyself dost not conceive it possible; 20 And since they now have evidence authentic How far thou hast already gone, speak!--tell us, What art thou waiting for? thou canst no longer Keep thy command; and beyond hope of rescue Thou'rt lost, if thou resign'st it.

_Wallenstein._ In the army 25 Lies my security. The army will not Abandon me. Whatever they may know, The power is mine, and they must gulp it down-- And subst.i.tute I caution for my fealty, They must be satisfied, at least appear so. 30

_Illo._ The army, Duke, is thine now--for this moment-- 'Tis thine: but think with terror on the slow, The quiet power of time. From open violence The attachment of thy soldiery secures thee To-day--to-morrow; but grant'st thou them a respite, 35 Unheard, unseen, they'll undermine that love On which thou now dost feel so firm a footing, With wily theft will draw away from thee One after the other----

_Wallenstein._ 'Tis a cursed accident!

_Illo._ O, I will call it a most blessed one, 40 If it work on thee as it ought to do, Hurry thee on to action--to decision.

The Swedish General----

_Wallenstein._ He's arrived! Know'st thou What his commission is----

_Illo._ To thee alone Will he entrust the purpose of his coming. 45

_Wallenstein._ A cursed, cursed accident! Yes, yes, Sesina knows too much, and won't be silent.

_Tertsky._ He's a Bohemian fugitive and rebel, His neck is forfeit. Can he save himself At thy cost, think you he will scruple it? 50 And if they put him to the torture, will he, Will he, that dastardling, have strength enough----

_Wallenstein._ Their confidence is lost--irreparably!

And I may act what way I will, I shall Be and remain for ever in their thought 55 A traitor to my country. How sincerely Soever I return back to my duty, It will no longer help me----

_Illo._ Ruin thee, That it will do! Not thy fidelity, Thy weakness will be deemed the sole occasion---- 60

_Wallenstein._ What! I must realize it now in earnest, Because I toy'd too freely with the thought?

Accursed he who dallies with a devil!

And must I--I must realize it now-- Now, while I have the power, it must take place? 65

_Illo._ Now--now--ere they can ward and parry it!

_Wallenstein (looking at the paper of signatures)._ I have the Generals' word--a written promise!

Max Piccolomini stands not here--how's that?

_Tertsky._ It was----he fancied----

_Illo._ Mere self-willedness.

There needed no such thing 'twixt him and you. 70

_Wallenstein._ He is quite right--there needeth no such thing.

The regiments, too, deny to march for Flanders-- Have sent me in a paper of remonstrance, And openly resist the Imperial orders.

The first step to revolt's already taken. 75

_Illo._ Believe me, thou wilt find it far more easy To lead them over to the enemy Than to the Spaniard.

_Wallenstein._ I will hear, however, What the Swede has to say to me.

_Illo (to Tertsky)._ Go, call him!

He stands without the door in waiting.

_Wallenstein._ Stay! 80 Stay yet a little. It hath taken me All by surprise,--it came too quick upon me; 'Tis wholly novel, that an accident, With its dark lords.h.i.+p, and blind agency, Should force me on with it.

_Illo._ First hear him only, 85 And after weigh it. [_Exeunt TERTSKY and ILLO._

LINENOTES:

[13] _His_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[31] _is_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[52] _he_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 53] _Wallenstein (lost in thought)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 61] _Wallenstein (pacing up and down in extreme agitation)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[64] I _must_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[65] _must_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[79] _Illo (eagerly to Tertsky)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

SCENE IV

_Wallenstein._ Is it possible?

Is't so? I can no longer what I would?

No longer draw back at my liking? I Must do the deed, because I thought of it, And fed this heart here with a dream? Because 5 I did not scowl temptation from my presence, Dallied with thoughts of possible fulfilment, Commenced no movement, left all time uncertain, And only kept the road, the access open?

By the great G.o.d of Heaven! it was not 10 My serious meaning, it was ne'er resolve.