The Works of Frederick Schiller Part 160

WALLENSTEIN.

I accepted the command but on conditions!

And this the first, that to the diminution Of my authority no human being, Not even the emperor's self, should be ent.i.tled To do aught, or to say aught, with the army.

If I stand warranter of the event, Placing my honor and my head in pledge, Needs must I have full mastery in all The means thereto. What rendered this Gustavus Resistless, and unconquered upon earth?

This--that he was the monarch in his army!

A monarch, one who is indeed a monarch, Was never yet subdued but by his equal.

But to the point! The best is yet to come, Attend now, generals!

QUESTENBERG.

The Prince Cardinal Begins his route at the approach of spring From the Milanese; and leads a Spanish army Through Germany into the Netherlands.

That he may march secure and unimpeded, 'Tis the emperor's will you grant him a detachment Of eight horse-regiments from the army here.

WALLENSTEIN.

Yes, yes! I understand! Eight regiments! Well, Right well concerted, Father Lanormain!

Eight thousand horse! Yes, yes! 'tis as it should be I see it coming.

QUESTENBERG.

There is nothing coming.

All stands in front: the counsel of state-prudence, The dictate of necessity!

WALLENSTEIN.

What then?

What, my lord envoy? May I not be suffered To understand that folks are tired of seeing The sword's hilt in my grasp, and that your court s.n.a.t.c.h eagerly at this pretence, and use The Spanish t.i.tle, and drain off my forces, To lead into the empire a new army Unsubjected to my control? To throw me Plumply aside,--I am still too powerful for you To venture that. My stipulation runs, That all the imperial forces shall obey me Where'er the German is the native language.

Of Spanish troops and of prince cardinals, That take their route as visitors, through the empire, There stands no syllable in my stipulation.

No syllable! And so the politic court Steals in on tiptoe, and creeps round behind it; First makes me weaker, then to be dispensed with, Till it dares strike at length a bolder blow, And make short work with me.

What need of all these crooked ways, lord envoy?

Straightforward, man! his compact with me pinches The emperor. He would that I moved off!

Well! I will gratify him!

[Here there commences an agitation among the generals, which increases continually.

It grieves me for my n.o.ble officers' sakes; I see not yet by what means they will come at The moneys they have advanced, or how obtain The recompense their services demand.

Still a new leader brings new claimants forward, And prior merit superannuates quickly.

There serve here many foreigners in the army, And were the man in all else brave and gallant, I was not wont to make nice scrutiny After his pedigree or catechism.

This will be otherwise i' the time to come.

Well; me no longer it concerns.

[He seats himself.

Forbid it, Heaven, that it should come to this!

Our troops will swell in dreadful fermentation-- The emperor is abused--it cannot be.

ISOLANI.

It cannot be; all goes to instant wreck.

WALLENSTEIN.

Thou hast said truly, faithful Isolani!

What we with toil and foresight have built up Will go to wreck--all go to instant wreck.

What then? Another chieftain is soon found, Another army likewise (who dares doubt it?) Will flock from all sides to the emperor, At the first beat of his recruiting drum.

[During this speech, ISOLANI, TERZKY, ILLO, and MARADAS talk confusedly with great agitation.

MAX. PICCOLOMINI (busily and pa.s.sionately going from one to another, and soothing them).

Hear, my commander' Hear me, generals!

Let me conjure you, duke! Determine nothing, Till we have met and represented to you Our joint remonstrances! Nay, calmer! Friends!

I hope all may yet be set right again.

TERZKY.

Away! let us away! in the antechamber Find we the others.

[They go.

BUTLER (to QUESTENBERG).

If good counsel gain Due audience from your wisdom, my lord envoy, You will be cautious how you show yourself In public for some hours to come--or hardly Will that gold key protect you from maltreatment.

[Commotions heard from without.

WALLENSTEIN.

A salutary counsel--Thou, Octavio!

Wilt answer for the safety of our guest.

Farewell, von Questenberg!

[QUESTENBURG is about to speak.

Nay, not a word.

Not one word more of that detested subject!

You have performed your duty. We know now To separate the office from the man.

[AS QUESTENBERG is going off with OCTAVIO, GOETZ, TIEFENBACH, KOLATTO, press in, several other generals following them.

GOETZ.

Where's he who means to rob us of our general?

TIEFENBACH (at the same time).

What are we forced to bear? That thou wilt leave us?

KOLATTO (at the same time).

We will live with thee, we will die with thee.

WALLENSTEIN (with stateliness, and pointing to ILLO).

There! the field-marshal knows our will.

[Exit.

[While all are going off the stage, the curtain drops.

ACT III.

SCENE I.

A Small Chamber.

ILLO and TERZKY.