The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Iii Part 16

[WALLENST.

You pluck'd the Admiral's hat from off my head.

WRANGEL.

I come to place a diadem thereon.]

WALLENSTEIN (_makes the motion for him to take a seat, and seats himself_).

And where are your credentials?

Come you provided with full powers, Sir General?

WRANGEL.

There are so many scruples yet to solve--

WALLENSTEIN (_having read the credentials_).

An able letter!--Ay--he is a prudent Intelligent master whom you serve, Sir General!

The Chancellor writes me, that he but fulfils His late departed Sovereign's own idea In helping me to the Bohemian crown.

WRANGEL.

He says the truth. Our great King, now in heaven, Did ever deem most highly of your Grace's Preeminent sense and military genius; And always the commanding Intellect, He said, should have command, and be the King.

WALLENST.

Yes, he _might_ say it safely.--General Wrangel,

[_Taking his hand affectionately._]

Come, fair and open. Trust me, I was always A Swede at heart. Eh! that did you experience Both in Silesia and at Nuremberg; I had you often in my power, and let you Always slip out by some back door or other.

'Tis this for which the Court can ne'er forgive me, Which drives me to this present step: and since Our interests so run in one direction, E'en let us have a thorough confidence Each in the other.

WRANGEL.

Confidence will come Has each but only first security.

WALLENST.

The Chancellor still, I see, does not quite trust me; And, I confess--the game does not lie wholly To my advantage. Without doubt he thinks, If I can play false with the Emperor, Who is my sovereign, I can do the like With the enemy, and that _the one_ too were Sooner to be forgiven me than the _other_.

Is not this your opinion, too, Sir General?

WRANGEL.

I have here a duty merely, no opinion.

WALLENST.

The Emperor hath urged me to the uttermost: I can no longer honorably serve him; For my security, in self-defence, I take this hard step, which my conscience blames.

WRANGEL.

That I believe. So far would no one go Who was not forced to it.

[_After a pause_.]

What may have impell'd Your princely Highness in this wise to act Toward your Sovereign Lord and Emperor, Beseems not us to expound or criticise.

The Swede is fighting for his good old cause, With his good sword and conscience. This concurrence, This opportunity, is in our favor, And all advantages in war are lawful.

We take what offers without questioning; And if all have its due and just proportions--

WALLENST.

Of what then are ye doubting? Of my will?

Or of my power? I pledged me to the Chancellor, Would he trust _me_ with sixteen thousand men, That I would instantly go over to them With eighteen thousand of the Emperor's troops.

WRANGEL.

Your Grace is known to be a mighty war-chief, To be a second Attila and Pyrrhus.

'Tis talked of still with fresh astonishment, How some years past, beyond all human faith, You call'd an army forth, like a creation: But yet--

WALLENSTEIN.

But yet?

WRANGEL.

But still the Chancellor thinks It might yet be an easier thing from nothing To call forth sixty thousand men of battle, Than to persuade one sixtieth part of them--

WALLENST.

What now? Out with it, friend!

WRANGEL.

To break their oaths.

WALLENST.

And he thinks _so_? He judges like a Swede, And like a Protestant. You Lutherans Fight for your Bible. You are interested About the cause; and with your _hearts_ you follow Your banners. Among _you_, whoe'er deserts To the enemy hath broken covenant With two Lords at one time. We've no such fancies.

WRANGEL.

Great G.o.d in Heaven! Have then the people here No house and home, no fireside, no altar?

WALLENST.

I will explain that to you, how it stands:-- The Austrian _has_ a country, ay, and loves it, And has good cause to love it--but this army, That calls itself the Imperial, this that houses Here in Bohemia, this has none--no country; This is an outcast of all foreign lands, Unclaim'd by town or tribe, to whom belongs Nothing except the universal sun.