Wallenstein/The Death of Wallenstein/A2S11
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SCENE XI.
To these enter Wallenstein, accompanied by Illo and Butler.
WALLENSTEIN. (as he enters.)
Tertsky!
Tertsky!
TERTSKY.
My General?
My General?
WALLENSTEIN.
Let our regiments hold themselves
In readiness to march; for we shall leave
[Exit Tertsky.Pilsen ere evening.
Butler!
Let our regiments hold themselves
In readiness to march; for we shall leave
[Exit Tertsky.Pilsen ere evening.
Butler!
BUTLER.
Yes, my General.
Yes, my General.
WALLENSTEIN.
The Governor at Egra is your friend
And countryman. Write to him instantly
By a Post Courier. He must be advis'd,
That we are with him early on the morrow.
You follow us yourself, your regiment with you.
The Governor at Egra is your friend
And countryman. Write to him instantly
By a Post Courier. He must be advis'd,
That we are with him early on the morrow.
You follow us yourself, your regiment with you.
BUTLER.
It shall be done, my General!
It shall be done, my General!
WALLENSTEIN. (steps between Max. and Thekla,
who have remained during this time in each
others arms.)
Part!
who have remained during this time in each
others arms.)
Part!
MAX.
O God!
(Cuirassiers enter with drawn swords, and
assemble in the back-ground. At the same
time there are heard from below some spirited
passages out of the Pappenheim March, which
seem to address Max.)
O God!
(Cuirassiers enter with drawn swords, and
assemble in the back-ground. At the same
time there are heard from below some spirited
passages out of the Pappenheim March, which
seem to address Max.)
WALLENSTEIN. (to the Cuirassiers.)
Here he is, he is at liberty: I keep him
No longer.
(He turns away, and stands so that Max. cannot
pass by him nor approach the Princess.)
Here he is, he is at liberty: I keep him
No longer.
(He turns away, and stands so that Max. cannot
pass by him nor approach the Princess.)
MAX.
Thou know'st that I have not yet learnt to live
Without thee! I go forth into a desart,
Leaving my all behind me. O do not turn
Thine eyes away from me! O once more shew me
Thy ever dear and honour'd countenance.
(Max. attempts to take his hand, but is repelled;
he turns to the Countess.)
Is there no eye that has a look of pity for me?
(The Countess turns away from him; he turns to
the Duchess.)
My mother!
Thou know'st that I have not yet learnt to live
Without thee! I go forth into a desart,
Leaving my all behind me. O do not turn
Thine eyes away from me! O once more shew me
Thy ever dear and honour'd countenance.
(Max. attempts to take his hand, but is repelled;
he turns to the Countess.)
Is there no eye that has a look of pity for me?
(The Countess turns away from him; he turns to
the Duchess.)
My mother!
DUCHESS.
Go where duty calls you. Haply
The time may come, when you may prove to us
A true friend, a good Angel at the throne
Of the Emperor.
Go where duty calls you. Haply
The time may come, when you may prove to us
A true friend, a good Angel at the throne
Of the Emperor.
MAX.
You give me hope; you would not
Suffer me wholly to despair. No! No!
Mine is a certain misery—Thanks to heaven
That offers me a means of ending it.
(The military music begins again. The stage fills
more and more with armed men. Max. sees
Butler, and addresses him.)
And you here, Colonel Butler—and will you
Not follow me? Well, then! remain more faithful
To your new lord, than you have prov'd yourself
To the Emperor. Come, Butler! promise me,
Give me your hand upon it, that you'll be
The guardian of his life, its shield, its watchman.
He is attainted, and his princely head
Fair booty for each slave that trades in murder.
Now he doth need the faithful eye of friendship,
And those whom here I see—
(casting suspicious looks on Illo and Butler)
You give me hope; you would not
Suffer me wholly to despair. No! No!
Mine is a certain misery—Thanks to heaven
That offers me a means of ending it.
(The military music begins again. The stage fills
more and more with armed men. Max. sees
Butler, and addresses him.)
And you here, Colonel Butler—and will you
Not follow me? Well, then! remain more faithful
To your new lord, than you have prov'd yourself
To the Emperor. Come, Butler! promise me,
Give me your hand upon it, that you'll be
The guardian of his life, its shield, its watchman.
He is attainted, and his princely head
Fair booty for each slave that trades in murder.
Now he doth need the faithful eye of friendship,
And those whom here I see—
(casting suspicious looks on Illo and Butler)
ILLO.
Go—seek for traitors
In Galas', in your father's quarters. Here
Is only one. Away! away! and free us
From his detested sight! Away!
Go—seek for traitors
In Galas', in your father's quarters. Here
Is only one. Away! away! and free us
From his detested sight! Away!
(Max. attempts once more to approach Thekla.
Wallenstein prevents him. Max. stands irresolute,
and in apparent anguish. In the mean time
the stage fills more and more; and the horns
sound from below louder and louder, and each
time after a shorter interval.)
Wallenstein prevents him. Max. stands irresolute,
and in apparent anguish. In the mean time
the stage fills more and more; and the horns
sound from below louder and louder, and each
time after a shorter interval.)
MAX.
Blow, blow! O were it but the Swedish Trumpets,
And all the naked swords, which I see here,
Were plunged into my breast! What purpose you?
You come to tear me from this place! Beware,
Ye drive me not to desperation.—Do it not!
Ye may repent it!
(the stage is entirely fill 'd with armed men.)
Yet more! weight upon weight to drag me down!
Think what ye're doing. It is not well done
To choose a man despairing for your leader;
You tear me from my happiness. Well, then,
I dedicate your souls to vengeance. Mark!
For your own ruin you have chosen me:
Who goes with me, must be prepar'd to perish.
(He turns to the back-ground, there ensues a
sudden and violent movement among the
Cuirassiers; they surround him, and carry him
off in wild tumult. Wallenstein remains immoveable.
Thekla sinks into her mother's arms.
The curtain falls. The music becomes loud
and overpowering, and passes into a complete
war-march—the orchestra joins it—and continues
during the interval between the second and
third Act.)
Blow, blow! O were it but the Swedish Trumpets,
And all the naked swords, which I see here,
Were plunged into my breast! What purpose you?
You come to tear me from this place! Beware,
Ye drive me not to desperation.—Do it not!
Ye may repent it!
(the stage is entirely fill 'd with armed men.)
Yet more! weight upon weight to drag me down!
Think what ye're doing. It is not well done
To choose a man despairing for your leader;
You tear me from my happiness. Well, then,
I dedicate your souls to vengeance. Mark!
For your own ruin you have chosen me:
Who goes with me, must be prepar'd to perish.
(He turns to the back-ground, there ensues a
sudden and violent movement among the
Cuirassiers; they surround him, and carry him
off in wild tumult. Wallenstein remains immoveable.
Thekla sinks into her mother's arms.
The curtain falls. The music becomes loud
and overpowering, and passes into a complete
war-march—the orchestra joins it—and continues
during the interval between the second and
third Act.)