The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Illustrated Edition). Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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thee, ‘Now’s the time!’ The starry courses
Hast thou thy life long measured to no purpose?
The quadrant and the circle, were they playthings?
[Pointing to the different objects in the room.
The zodiacs, the rolling orbs of heaven,
Hast pictured on these walls, and all around thee 235
In dumb, foreboding symbols hast thou placed
These seven presiding Lords of Destiny —
For toys? Is all this preparation nothing?
Is there no marrow in this hollow art,
That even to thyself it doth avail 240
Nothing, and has no influence over thee
In the great moment of decision? ——
Wallenstein (interrupting the Countess). Send Wrangel to me — I
will instantly
Dispatch three couriers ——
Illo (hurrying out). God in heaven be praised!
Wallenstein. It is his evil genius and mine. 245
Our evil genius! It chastises him
Through me, the instrument of his ambition;
And I expect no less, than that Revenge
E’en now is whetting for my breast the poniard.
Who sows the serpent’s teeth, let him not hope 250
To reap a joyous harvest. Every crime
Has, in the moment of its perpetration,
Its own avenging angel — dark misgiving,
An ominous sinking at the inmost heart.
He can no longer trust me — Then no longer 255
Can I retreat — so come that which must come. —
Still destiny preserves its due relations,
The heart within us is its absolute
Vicegerent. [To TERTSKY.
Go, conduct you Gustave Wrangel
To my state-cabinet. Myself will speak to 260
The couriers. — And dispatch immediately
A servant for Octavio Piccolomini. [To the COUNTESS.
No exultation — woman, triumph not!
For jealous are the Powers of Destiny.
Joy premature, and shouts ere victory, 265
Incroach upon their rights and privileges.
We sow the seed, and they the growth determine.
[While he is making his exit the curtain drops.
ACT V
SCENE I
SCENE — As in the preceding Act.
WALLENSTEIN, OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI.
Wallenstein (coming forward in conversation). He sends me word
from Linz, that he lies sick;
But I have sure intelligence, that he
Secretes himself at Frauenberg with Galas.
Secure them both, and send them to me hither.
Remember, thou tak’st on thee the command 5
Of those same Spanish regiments, — constantly
Make preparation, and be never ready;
And if they urge thee to draw out against me,
Still answer yes, and stand as thou wert fettered.
I know, that it is doing thee a service 10
To keep thee out of action in this business.
Thou lovest to linger on in fair appearances;
Steps of extremity are not thy province,
Therefore have I sought out this part for thee.
Thou wilt this time be of most service to me 15
By thy inertness. The mean time, if fortune
Declare itself on my side, thou wilt know
What is to do.
Enter MAX PICCOLOMINI.
Now go, Octavio.
This night must thou be off, take my own horses:
Him here I keep with me — make short farewell — 20
Trust me, I think we all shall meet again
In joy and thriving fortunes.
Octavio (to his son). I shall see you
Yet ere I go.
SCENE II
WALLENSTEIN, MAX PICCOLOMINI.
Max (advances to him). My General!
Wallenstein. That am I no longer, if
Thou styl’st thyself the Emperor’s officer.
Max. Then thou wilt leave the army, General?
Wallenstein. I have renounced the service of the Emperor.
Max. And thou wilt leave the army?
Wallenstein. Rather hope I 5
To bind it nearer still and faster to me. [He seats himself.
Yes, Max, I have delayed to open it to thee,
Even till the hour of acting ‘gins to strike.
Youth’s fortunate feeling doth seize easily
The absolute right, yea, and a joy it is 10
To exercise the single apprehension
Where the sums square in proof;
But where it happens, that of two sure evils
One must be taken, where the heart not wholly
Brings itself back from out the strife of duties, 15
There ‘tis a blessing to have no election,
And blank necessity is grace and favour.
— This is now present: do not look behind thee. —
It can no more avail thee. Look thou forwards!
Think not! judge not! prepare thyself to act! 20
The Court — it hath determined on my ruin,
Therefore I will to be beforehand with them.
We’ll join the Swedes — right gallant fellows are they,
And our good friends.
[He stops himself, expecting PICCOLOMINI’S answer.
I have ta’en thee by surprise. Answer me not. 25
I grant thee time to recollect thyself.
[He rises, and retires at the back of the stage. MAX
remains for a long time motionless, in a trance
of excessive anguish. At his first motion
WALLENSTEIN returns,