The Death of Wallenstein Part 25

ANSPESSADE. That which I asked for: the honor to serve in this corps.

WALLENSTEIN (turning to a second). Thou wert among the volunteers that seized and made booty of the Swedish battery at Altenburg.

SECOND CUIRa.s.sIER. Yes, general!

WALLENSTEIN. I forget no one with whom I have exchanged words.

(A pause.) Who sends you?

ANSPESSADE. Your n.o.ble regiment, the cuira.s.siers of Piccolomini.

WALLENSTEIN. Why does not your colonel deliver in your request according to the custom of service?

ANSPESSADE. Because we would first know whom we serve.

WALLENSTEIN. Begin your address.

ANSPESSADE (giving the word of command). Shoulder your arms!

WALLENSTEIN (turning to a third). Thy name is Risbeck; Cologne is thy birthplace.

THIRD CUIRa.s.sIER. Risbeck of Cologne.

WALLENSTEIN. It was thou that broughtest in the Swedish colonel Duebald, prisoner, in the camp at Nuremberg.

THIRD CUIRa.s.sIER. It was not I, general.

WALLENSTRIN. Perfectly right! It was thy elder brother: thou hadst a younger brother, too: where did he stay?

THIRD CUIRa.s.sIER. He is stationed at Olmutz, with the imperial army.

WALLENSTEIN (to the ANSPESSADE). Now then--begin.

ANSPESSADE.

There came to hand a letter from the emperor Commanding us----

WALLENSTEIN (interrupting him).

Who chose you?

ANSPESSADE.

Every company Drew its own man by lot.

WALLENSTEIN.

Now! to the business.

ANSPESSADE.

There came to hand a letter from the emperor Commanding us, collectively, from thee All duties of obedience to withdraw, Because thou wert an enemy and traitor.

WALLENSTEIN.

And what did you determine?

ANSPESSADE.

All our comrades At Braunau, Budweiss, Prague, and Olmutz, have Obeyed already; and the regiments here, Tiefenbach and Toscano, instantly Did follow their example. But--but we Do not believe that thou art an enemy And traitor to thy country, hold it merely For lie and trick, and a trumped-up Spanish story!

[With warmth.

Thyself shall tell us what thy purpose is, For we have found thee still sincere and true No mouth shall interpose itself betwixt The gallant general and the gallant troops.

WALLENSTEIN.

Therein I recognize my Pappenheimers.

ANSPESSADE.

And this proposal makes thy regiment to thee: Is it thy purpose merely to preserve In thine own hands this military sceptre, Which so becomes thee, which the emperor Made over to thee by a covenant!

Is it thy purpose merely to remain Supreme commander of the Austrian armies?

We will stand by thee, general! and guarantee Thy honest rights against all opposition.

And should it chance, that all the other regiments Turn from thee, by ourselves we will stand forth Thy faithful soldiers, and, as is our duty, Far rather let ourselves be cut to pieces Than suffer thee to fall. But if it be As the emperor's letter says, if it be true, That thou in traitorous wise wilt lead us over To the enemy, which G.o.d in heaven forbid!

Then we too will forsake thee, and obey That letter----

WALLENSTEIN.

Hear me, children!

ANSPESSADE.

Yes, or no, There needs no other answer.

WALLENSTEIN.

Yield attention.

You're men of sense, examine for yourselves; Ye think, and do not follow with the herd: And therefore have I always shown you honor Above all others, suffered you to reason; Have treated you as free men, and my orders Were but the echoes of your prior suffrage.

ANSPESSADE.

Most fair and n.o.ble has thy conduct been To us, my general! With thy confidence Thou has honored us, and shown us grace and favor Beyond all other regiments; and thou seest We follow not the common herd. We will Stand by thee faithfully. Speak but one word-- Thy word shall satisfy us that it is not A treason which thou meditatest--that Thou meanest not to lead the army over To the enemy; nor e'er betray thy country.

WALLENSTEIN.

Me, me are they betraying. The emperor Hath sacrificed me to my enemies, And I must fall, unless my gallant troops Will rescue me. See! I confide in you.

And be your hearts my stronghold! At this breast The aim is taken, at this h.o.a.ry head.

This is your Spanish grat.i.tude, this is our Requital for that murderous fight at Luetzen!

For this we threw the naked breast against The halbert, made for this the frozen earth Our bed, and the hard stone our pillow! never stream Too rapid for us, nor wood too impervious; With cheerful spirit we pursued that Mansfeldt Through all the turns and windings of his flight: Yea, our whole life was but one restless march: And homeless, as the stirring wind, we travelled O'er the war-wasted earth. And now, even now, That we have well-nigh finished the hard toil, The unthankful, the curse-laden toil of weapons, With faithful indefatigable arm Have rolled the heavy war-load up the hill, Behold! this boy of the emperor's bears away The honors of the peace, an easy prize!

He'll weave, forsooth, into his flaxen locks The olive branch, the hard-earned ornament Of this gray head, grown gray beneath the helmet.

ANSPESSADE.

That shall he not, while we can hinder it!

No one, but thou, who has conducted it With fame, shall end this war, this frightful war.

Thou leadest us out to the b.l.o.o.d.y field Of death; thou and no other shalt conduct us home, Rejoicing, to the lovely plains of peace-- Shalt share with us the fruits of the long toil.

WALLENSTEIN.

What! Think you then at length in late old age To enjoy the fruits of toil? Believe it not.

Never, no never, will you see the end Of the contest! you and me, and all of us, This war will swallow up! War, war, not peace, Is Austria's wish; and therefore, because I Endeavored after peace, therefore I fall.

For what cares Austria how long the war Wears out the armies and lays waste the world!

She will but wax and grow amid the ruin And still win new domains.

[The CUIRa.s.sIERS express agitation by their gestures.

Ye're moved--I see A n.o.ble rage flash from your eyes, ye warriors!

Oh, that my spirit might possess you now Daring as once it led you to the battle Ye would stand by me with your veteran arms, Protect me in my rights; and this is n.o.ble!

But think not that you can accomplish it, Your scanty number! to no purpose will you Have sacrificed you for your general.