The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 85

[_Both follow the PRINCESS, and endeavour to detain her.

During this WALLENSTEIN appears, engaged in conversation with ILLO._

LINENOTES:

[Between 14, 15] [_THEKLA, in extreme agitation, throws herself, &c._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[28] _fate_ 1800.

[40] _flame_ 1800.

[53] _your_ 1800.

[56] be soon] soon be 1828, 1829.

[57] _her_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[65] _Thekla (to the Countess, with marks of great oppression of spirits)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 72] _d.u.c.h.ess (anxiously)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

SCENE IV

_WALLENSTEIN, ILLO, COUNTESS, d.u.c.h.eSS, THEKLA._

_Wallenstein._ All quiet in the camp?

_Illo._ It is all quiet.

_Wallenstein._ In a few hours may couriers come from Prague With tidings, that this capital is ours.

Then we may drop the mask, and to the troops a.s.sembled in this town make known the measure 5 And its result together. In such cases Example does the whole. Whoever is foremost Still leads the herd. An imitative creature Is man. The troops at Prague conceive no other, Than that the Pilsen army has gone through 10 The forms of homage to us; and in Pilsen They shall swear fealty to us, because The example has been given them by Prague.

Butler, you tell me, has declared himself.

_Illo._ At his own bidding, unsolicited, 15 He came to offer you himself and regiment.

_Wallenstein._ I find we must not give implicit credence To every warning voice that makes itself Be listened to in the heart. To hold us back, Oft does the lying spirit counterfeit 20 The voice of Truth and inward Revelation, Scattering false oracles. And thus have I To intreat forgiveness, for that secretly I've wrong'd this honourable gallant man, This Butler: for a feeling, of the which 25 I am not master (fear I would not call it), Creeps o'er me instantly, with sense of shuddering, At his approach, and stops love's joyous motion.

And this same man, against whom I am warned, This honest man is he, who reaches to me 30 The first pledge of my fortune.

_Illo._ And doubt not That his example will win over to you The best men in the army.

_Wallenstein._ Go and send Isolani hither. Send him immediately.

He is under recent obligations to me. 35 With him will I commence the trial. Go. [_ILLO exit._

_Wallenstein (turns himself round to the females)._ Lo, there the mother with the darling daughter!

For once we'll have an interval of rest-- Come! my heart yearns to live a cloudless hour In the beloved circle of my family. 40

_Countess._ 'Tis long since we've been thus together, brother.

_Wallenstein (to the Countess aside)._ Can she sustain the news? Is she prepared?

_Countess._ Not yet.

_Wallenstein._ Come here, my sweet girl! Seat thee by me, For there is a good spirit on thy lips.

Thy mother praised to me thy ready skill: 45 She says a voice of melody dwells in thee, Which doth enchant the soul. Now such a voice Will drive away from me the evil demon That beats his black wings close above my head.

_d.u.c.h.ess._ Where is thy lute, my daughter? Let thy father 50 Hear some small trial of thy skill.

_Thekla._ My mother!

I--

_d.u.c.h.ess._ Trembling? Come, collect thyself. Go, cheer Thy father.

_Thekla._ O my mother! I--I cannot.

_Countess._ How, what is that, niece?

_Thekla (to the Countess)._ O spare me--sing--now--in this sore anxiety, 55 Of the o'erburthen'd soul--to sing to him, Who is thrusting, even now, my mother headlong Into her grave!

_d.u.c.h.ess._ How, Thekla? Humoursome?

What! shall thy father have expressed a wish In vain?

_Countess._ Here is the lute.

_Thekla._ My G.o.d! how can I-- 60

[_The orchestra plays. During the ritornello THEKLA expresses in her gestures and countenance the struggle of her feelings: and at the moment that she should begin to sing, contracts herself together, as one shuddering, throws the instrument down, and retires abruptly._

_d.u.c.h.ess._ My child! O she is ill--

_Wallenstein._ What ails the maiden?

Say, is she often so?

_Countess._ Since then herself Has now betrayed it, I too must no longer Conceal it.

_Wallenstein._ What?

_Countess._ She loves him!

_Wallenstein._ Loves him! Whom?

_Countess._ Max does she love! Max Piccolomini. 65 Hast thou ne'er noticed it? Nor yet my sister?

_d.u.c.h.ess._ Was it this that lay so heavy on her heart?

G.o.d's blessing on thee, my sweet child! Thou needest Never take shame upon thee for thy choice.

_Countess._ This journey, if 'twere not thy aim, ascribe it 70 To thine own self. Thou shouldest have chosen another To have attended her.