The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 95

[_Two reports of cannon. ILLO and TERTSKY hurry to the window._

_Wallenstein._ What's that?

_Tertsky._ He falls.

_Wallenstein._ Falls! Who?

_Illo._ Tiefenbach's corps Discharged the ordnance.

_Wallenstein._ Upon whom?

_Illo._ On Neumann, Your messenger.

_Wallenstein (starting up)._ Ha! Death and h.e.l.l! I will--

_Tertsky._ Expose thyself to their blind frenzy?

_d.u.c.h.ess and Countess._ No!

For G.o.d's sake, no!

_Illo._ Not yet, my General! 40

_Countess._ O, hold him! hold him!

_Wallenstein._ Leave me----

_Max._ Do it not Not yet! This rash and b.l.o.o.d.y deed has thrown them Into a frenzy-fit--allow them time----

_Wallenstein._ Away! too long already have I loitered.

They are emboldened to these outrages, 45 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-feared commander? Let me see, Whether indeed they do no longer know 50 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. 55

[_Exit WALLENSTEIN; ILLO, TERTSKY, and BUTLER follow._

LINENOTES:

[48] _my_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

SCENE IX

_COUNTESS, d.u.c.h.eSS, MAX, and THEKLA._

_Countess (to the d.u.c.h.ess)._ Let them but see him--there is hope still, sister.

_d.u.c.h.ess._ Hope! I have none!

_Max (who during the last scene has been standing at a distance, advances)._ This can I not endure.

With most determined soul did I come hither, My purposed action seemed unblameable To my own conscience--and I must stand here 5 Like one abhorred, a hard inhuman being; Yea, loaded with the curse of all I love!

Must see all whom I love in this sore anguish, Whom I with one word can make happy--O!

My heart revolts within me, and two voices 10 Make themselves audible within my bosom.

My soul's benighted; I no longer can Distinguish the right track. O, well and truly Didst thou say, father, I relied too much On my own heart. My mind moves to and fro-- 15 I know not what to do.

_Countess._ What! you know not?

Does not your own heart tell you? O! then I Will tell it you. Your father is a traitor, A frightful traitor to us--he has plotted Against our General's life, has plunged us all 20 In misery--and you're his son! 'Tis yours To make the amends--Make you the son's fidelity Outweigh the father's treason, that the name Of Piccolomini be not a proverb Of infamy, a common form of cursing 25 To the posterity of Wallenstein.

_Max._ Where is that voice of truth which I dare follow?

It speaks no longer in my heart. We all But utter what our pa.s.sionate wishes dictate: O that an angel would descend from Heaven, 30 And scoop for me the right, the uncorrupted, With a pure hand from the pure Fount of Light.

[_His eyes glance on THEKLA._

What other angel seek I? To this heart, To this unerring heart, will I submit it, Will ask thy love, which has the power to bless 35 The happy man alone, averted ever From the disquieted and guilty--canst thou Still love me, if I stay? Say that thou canst, And I am the Duke's----

_Countess._ Think, niece----

_Max._ Think nothing, Thekla!

Speak what thou feelest.

_Countess._ Think upon your father. 40

_Max._ I did not question thee, as Friedland's daughter.

Thee, the beloved and the unerring G.o.d Within thy heart, I question. What's at stake?

Not whether diadem of royalty Be to be won or not--that might'st thou think on. 45 Thy friend, and his soul's quiet, are at stake; The fortune of a thousand gallant men, Who will all follow me; shall I forswear My oath and duty to the Emperor?

Say, shall I send into Octavio's camp 50 The parricidal ball? For when the ball Has left its cannon, and is on its flight, It is no longer a dead instrument!

It lives, a spirit pa.s.ses into it, The avenging furies seize possession of it, 55 And with sure malice guide it the worst way.

_Thekla._ O! Max----

_Max._ Nay, not precipitately either, Thekla.

I understand thee. To thy n.o.ble heart The hardest duty might appear the highest.

The human, not the great part, would I act. 60 Ev'n from my childhood to this present hour, Think what the Duke has done for me, how loved me, And think too, how my father has repaid him.

O likewise the free lovely impulses Of hospitality, the pious friend's 65 Faithful attachment, these too are a holy Religion to the heart; and heavily The shudderings of nature do avenge Themselves on the barbarian that insults them.

Lay all upon the balance, all--then speak, 70 And let thy heart decide it.

_Thekla._ O, thy own Hath long ago decided. Follow thou Thy heart's first feeling----

_Countess._ Oh! ill-fated woman!

_Thekla._ Is it possible, that that can be the right, The which thy tender heart did not at first 75 Detect and seize with instant impulse? Go, Fulfil thy duty! I should ever love thee.

Whate'er thou had'st chosen, thou would'st still have acted n.o.bly and worthy of thee--but repentance Shall ne'er disturb thy soul's fair peace.

_Max._ Then I 80 Must leave thee, must part from thee!

_Thekla._ Being faithful To thine own self, thou art faithful too to me: If our fates part, our hearts remain united.

A b.l.o.o.d.y hatred will divide for ever The houses Piccolomini and Friedland; 85 But we belong not to our houses--Go!

Quick! quick! and separate thy righteous cause From our unholy and unblessed one!

The curse of heaven lies upon our head: 'Tis dedicate to ruin. Even me 90 My father's guilt drags with it to perdition.

Mourn not for me: My destiny will quickly be decided.