Wallenstein/The Death of Wallenstein/A2S08
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SCENE VIII.
To these Tertsky (returning.)
TERTSKY.
Message and greeting from our faithful reg'ments.
Their ardour may no longer be curb'd in.
They intreat permission to commence th' attack,
And if thou would'st but give the word of onset,
They could now charge the enemy in rear,
Into the city wedge them, and with ease
O'erpower them in the narrow streets.
ILLO.
O come!
Let not their ardour cool. The soldiery
Of Butler's corps stand by us faithfully;
We are the greater number. Let us charge them,
And finish here in Pilsen the revolt.
Message and greeting from our faithful reg'ments.
Their ardour may no longer be curb'd in.
They intreat permission to commence th' attack,
And if thou would'st but give the word of onset,
They could now charge the enemy in rear,
Into the city wedge them, and with ease
O'erpower them in the narrow streets.
ILLO.
O come!
Let not their ardour cool. The soldiery
Of Butler's corps stand by us faithfully;
We are the greater number. Let us charge them,
And finish here in Pilsen the revolt.
WALLENSTEIN.
What? shall this town become a field of slaughter,
And brother-killing Discord, fire-eyed,
Be let lose through its streets to roam and rage?
Shall the decision be deliver'd over
To deaf remorseless Rage, that hears no leader?
Here is not room for battle, only for butchery.
Well, let it be! I have long thought of it,
So let it burst then!
(turns to Max.)
Well, how is it with thee?
Wilt thou attempt a heat with me. Away!
Thou art free to go. Oppose thyself to me,
Front against front, and lead them to the battle;
Thou'rt skill'd in war, thou hast learn'd somewhat under me,
I need not be asham'd of my opponent,
And never hadst thou fairer opportunity
To pay me for thy schooling.
What? shall this town become a field of slaughter,
And brother-killing Discord, fire-eyed,
Be let lose through its streets to roam and rage?
Shall the decision be deliver'd over
To deaf remorseless Rage, that hears no leader?
Here is not room for battle, only for butchery.
Well, let it be! I have long thought of it,
So let it burst then!
(turns to Max.)
Well, how is it with thee?
Wilt thou attempt a heat with me. Away!
Thou art free to go. Oppose thyself to me,
Front against front, and lead them to the battle;
Thou'rt skill'd in war, thou hast learn'd somewhat under me,
I need not be asham'd of my opponent,
And never hadst thou fairer opportunity
To pay me for thy schooling.
COUNTESS.
Is it then,
Can it have come to this?—What! Cousin, Cousin!
Have you the heart?
Is it then,
Can it have come to this?—What! Cousin, Cousin!
Have you the heart?
MAX.
The regiments that are trusted to my care
I have pledg'd my troth to bring away from Pilsen
True to the Emperor, and this promise will I
Make good, or perish. More than this no duty
Requires of me. I will not fight against thee,
Unless compell'd; for though an enemy,
Thy head is holy to me still.
(Two reports of cannon, Illo and Tertsky
hurry to the window.)
The regiments that are trusted to my care
I have pledg'd my troth to bring away from Pilsen
True to the Emperor, and this promise will I
Make good, or perish. More than this no duty
Requires of me. I will not fight against thee,
Unless compell'd; for though an enemy,
Thy head is holy to me still.
(Two reports of cannon, Illo and Tertsky
hurry to the window.)
WALLENSTEIN.
What's that?
What's that?
TERTSKY.
He falls.
He falls.
WALLENSTEIN.
Falls! Who!
Falls! Who!
ILLO.
Tiefenbach's corps
Discharg'd the ordnance.
Tiefenbach's corps
Discharg'd the ordnance.
WALLENSTEIN.
Upon whom?
Upon whom?
ILLO.
On Neumann,
Your messenger.
On Neumann,
Your messenger.
WALLENSTEIN. (starting up.)
Ha! Death and hell! I will—
Ha! Death and hell! I will—
TERTSKY.
Expose thyself to their blind frenzy?
Expose thyself to their blind frenzy?
DUCHESS AND COUNTESS.
No!
For God's sake, No!
No!
For God's sake, No!
ILLO.
Not yet, my General!
Not yet, my General!
COUNTESS.
O, hold him! hold him!
O, hold him! hold him!
WALLENSTEIN.
Leave me———
Leave me———
MAX.
Do it not;
Not yet! This rash and bloody deed has thrown them
Into a frenzy-fit—allow them time———
Do it not;
Not yet! This rash and bloody deed has thrown them
Into a frenzy-fit—allow them time———
WALLENSTEIN.
Away! too long already have I loiter'd,
They are embolden'd to these outrages,
Beholding not my face. They shall behold
My countenance, shall hear my voice———
Are they not my troops? Am I not their General,
And their long-fear'd commander? Let me see,
Whether indeed they do no longer know
That countenance, which was their sun in battle!
From the balcony, (mark!) I shew myself
To these rebellious forces, and at once
Revolt is mounded, and the high-swoln current
Shrinks back into the old bed of obedience.
[Exit Wallenstein; Illo, Tertsky, and Butler follow.
Away! too long already have I loiter'd,
They are embolden'd to these outrages,
Beholding not my face. They shall behold
My countenance, shall hear my voice———
Are they not my troops? Am I not their General,
And their long-fear'd commander? Let me see,
Whether indeed they do no longer know
That countenance, which was their sun in battle!
From the balcony, (mark!) I shew myself
To these rebellious forces, and at once
Revolt is mounded, and the high-swoln current
Shrinks back into the old bed of obedience.
[Exit Wallenstein; Illo, Tertsky, and Butler follow.