The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Illustrated Edition). Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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The wildest savage drinks not with the victim
Into whose breast he means to plunge the sword. 20
This, this, Octavio, was no hero’s deed:
‘Twas not thy prudence that did conquer mine;
A bad heart triumphed o’er an honest one.
No shield received the assassin stroke; thou plungest
Thy weapon on an unprotected breast — 25
Against such weapons I am but a child.
SCENE X
To these enter BUTLER.
Tertsky (meeting him). O look there! Butler! Here we’ve still a
friend!
Wallenstein (meets him with outspread arms, and embraces him with
warmth). Come to my heart, old comrade! Not the sun
Looks out upon us more revivingly
In the earliest month of spring,
Than a friend’s countenance in such an hour. 5
Butler. My General: I come —
Wallenstein (leaning on Butler’s shoulders). Know’st thou
already?
That old man has betrayed me to the Emperor.
What say’st thou? Thirty years have we together
Lived out, and held out, sharing joy and hardship.
We have slept in one camp-bed, drunk from one glass, 10
One morsel shared! I leaned myself on him,
As now I lean me on thy faithful shoulder.
And now in the very moment, when, all love,
All confidence, my bosom beat to his,
He sees and takes the advantage, stabs the knife 15
Slowly into my heart. [He hides his face on BUTLER’S breast.
Butler. Forget the false one.
What is your present purpose?
Wallenstein. Well remembered!
Courage my soul! I am still rich in friends,
Still loved by Destiny; for in the moment,
That it unmasks the plotting hypocrite, 20
It sends and proves to me one faithful heart.
Of the hypocrite no more! Think not, his loss
Was that which struck the pang: O no! his treason
Is that which strikes this pang! No more of him!
Dear to my heart, and honoured were they both, 25
And the young man — yes — he did truly love me,
He — he — has not deceived me. But enough,
Enough of this — Swift counsel now beseems us.
The Courier, whom Count Kinsky sent from Prague
I expect him every moment: and whatever 30
He may bring with him, we must take good care
To keep it from the mutineers. Quick, then!
Dispatch some messenger you can rely on
To meet him, and conduct him to me. [ILLO is going.
Butler (detaining him). My General, whom expect you then?
Wallenstein. The
Courier 35
Who brings me word of the event at Prague.
Butler (hesitating). Hem!
Wallenstein. And what now?
Butler. You do not know it?
Wallenstein. Well?
Butler. From what that larum in the camp arose?
Wallenstein. From what?
Butler. That Courier.
Wallenstein. Well?
Butler. Is already here.
Tertsky and Illo (at the same time). Already here?
Wallenstein. My Courier?
Butler. For some hours. 40
Wallenstein. And I not know it?
Butler. The centinels detain him
In custody.
Illo. Damnation!
Butler. And his letter
Was broken open, and is circulated
Through the whole camp.
Wallenstein. You know what it contains?
Butler. Question me not.
Tertsky. Illo! alas for us. 45
Wallenstein. Hide nothing from me — I can hear the worst.
Prague then is lost. It is. Confess it freely.
Butler. Yes! Prague is lost. And all the several regiments
At Budweiss, Tabor, Brannau, Konigingratz,
At Brun and Znaym, have forsaken you, 50
And ta’en the oaths of fealty anew
To the Emperor. Yourself, with Kinsky, Tertsky,
And Illo have been sentenced.
[TERTSKY and ILLO express alarm and fury. WALLENSTEIN
remains firm and collected.
Wallenstein. ‘Tis decided!
‘Tis well! I have received a sudden cure
From all the pangs of doubt: with steady stream 55
Once more my lifeblood flows! My soul’s secure!
In the night only Friedland’s stars can beam.
Lingering irresolute, with fitful fears
I drew the sword—’twas with an inward strife,
While yet the choice was mine. The murderous knife 60
Is lifted for my heart! Doubt disappears!
I fight now for my head and for my life.
[Exit WALLENSTEIN; the others follow him.
SCENE XI
Countess Tertsky (enters from a side room). I can endure no
longer. No! [Looks around her.
Where are they?
No one is here. They leave me all alone,
Alone in this sore anguish of suspense.
And I must wear the outward shew of calmness
Before my sister, and shut in within me 5
The pangs and agonies of my crowded bosom.
It is not to be borne. — If all should fail;
If — if he must go over to the Swedes,
An empty-handed fugitive, and not
As an ally, a covenanted equal, 10
A proud commander with his army following;
If we must wander on from land to land,