The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 92

_Wallenstein._ What care I for the Swedes? 155 I hate them as I hate the pit of h.e.l.l, And under Providence I trust right soon To chase them to their homes across their Baltic.

My cares are only for the whole: I have A heart--it bleeds within me for the miseries 160 And piteous groaning of my fellow-Germans.

Ye are but common men, but yet ye think With minds not common; ye appear to me Worthy before all others, that I whisper ye A little word or two in confidence! 165 See now! already for full fifteen years The war-torch has continued burning, yet No rest, no pause of conflict. Swede and German, Papist and Lutheran! neither will give way To the other, every hand's against the other. 170 Each one is party and no one a judge.

Where shall this end? Where's he that will unravel This tangle, ever tangling more and more.

It must be cut asunder.

I feel that I am the man of destiny, 175 And trust, with your a.s.sistance, to accomplish it.

FOOTNOTES:

[745:1] Anspessade, in German, _Gefreiter_, a soldier inferior to a corporal, but above the centinels. The German name implies that he is exempt from mounting guard.

LINENOTES:

[21] _whom_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[36] _Wallenstein (interrupting him)._ Who chose you? 1800, 1828, 1829.

[46] Toscana] Toscano 1828, 1829.

[After 50] (_With warmth._) 1800, 1828, 1829.

[141] _you_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[After 143] [_Confidentially._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[147] your] our 1800, 1828, 1829.

SCENE IV

_To these enter BUTLER._

_Butler (pa.s.sionately)._ General! This is not right!

_Wallenstein._ What is not right?

_Butler._ It must needs injure us with all honest men.

_Wallenstein._ But what?

_Butler._ It is an open proclamation Of insurrection.

_Wallenstein._ Well, well--but what is it?

_Butler._ Count Tertsky's regiments tear the Imperial Eagle 5 From off the banners, and instead of it, Have reared aloft thy arms.

_Anspessade (abruptly to the Cuira.s.siers)._ Right about! March!

_Wallenstein._ Cursed be this counsel, and accursed who gave it!

[_To the Cuira.s.siers, who are retiring._

Halt, children, halt! There's some mistake in this; Hark!--I will punish it severely. Stop! 10 They do not hear. (_To ILLO._) Go after them, a.s.sure them, And bring them back to me, cost what it may.

[_ILLO hurries out._

This hurls us headlong. Butler! Butler!

You are my evil genius, wherefore must you Announce it in their presence? It was all 15 In a fair way. They were half won, those madmen With their improvident over-readiness-- A cruel game is fortune playing with me.

The zeal of friends it is that razes me, And not the hate of enemies. 20

SCENE V

_To these enter the d.u.c.h.eSS, who rushes into the Chamber. THEKLA and the COUNTESS follow her._

_d.u.c.h.ess._ O Albrecht!

What hast thou done?

_Wallenstein._ And now comes this beside.

_Countess._ Forgive me, brother! It was not in my power.

They know all.

_d.u.c.h.ess._ What hast thou done?

_Countess (to Tertsky)._ Is there no hope? Is all lost utterly? 5

_Tertsky._ All lost. No hope. Prague in the Emperor's hands, The soldiery have ta'en their oaths anew.

_Countess._ That lurking hypocrite. Octavio!

Count Max is off too?

_Tertsky._ Where can he be? He's Gone over to the Emperor with his father. 10

[_THEKLA rushes out into the arms of her mother, hiding her face in her bosom._

_d.u.c.h.ess (enfolding her in her arms)._ Unhappy child! and more unhappy mother!

_Wallenstein (aside to Tertsky)._ Quick! Let a carriage stand in readiness In the court behind the palace. Scherfenberg Be their attendant; he is faithful to us; To Egra he'll conduct them, and we follow. 15

[_To ILLO, who returns._

Thou hast not brought them back?

_Illo._ Hear'st thou the uproar?

The whole corps of the Pappenheimers is Drawn out: the younger Piccolomini, Their colonel, they require; for they affirm, That he is in the palace here, a prisoner; 20 And if thou dost not instantly deliver him, They will find means to free him with the sword.