The Death of Wallenstein Part 32

GORDON.

O that I had not lived to see this day!

From his hand I received this dignity, He did himself intrust this stronghold to me, Which I am now required to make his dungeon.

We subalterns have no will of our own: The free, the mighty man alone may listen To the fair impulse of his human nature.

Ah! we are but the poor tools of the law, Obedience the sole virtue we dare aim at!

BUTLER.

Nay! let it not afflict you, that your power Is circ.u.mscribed. Much liberty, much error!

The narrow path of duty is securest.

And all then have deserted him you say?

He has built up the luck of many thousands For kingly was his spirit: his full hand Was ever open! Many a one from dust [With a sly glance on BUTLER.

Hath he selected, from the very dust Hath raised him into dignity and honor.

And yet no friend, not one friend hath he purchased, Whose heart beats true to him in the evil hour.

BUTLER.

Here's one, I see.

GORDON.

I have enjoyed from him No grace or favor. I could almost doubt, If ever in his greatness he once thought on An old friend of his youth. For still my office Kept me at distance from him; and when first He to this citadel appointed me, He was sincere and serious in his duty.

I do not then abuse his confidence, If I preserve my fealty in that Which to my fealty was first delivered.

BUTLER.

Say, then, will you fulfil the attainder on him, And lend your aid to take him in arrest?

GORDON (pauses, reflecting--then as in deep dejection).

If it be so--if all be as you say-- If he've betrayed the emperor, his master, Have sold the troops, have purposed to deliver The strongholds of the country to the enemy-- Yea, truly!--there is no redemption for him!

Yet it is hard, that me the lot should destine To be the instrument of his perdition; For we were pages at the court of Bergau At the same period; but I was the senior.

BUTLER.

I have heard so----

GORDON.

'Tis full thirty years since then, A youth who scarce had seen his twentieth year Was Wallenstein, when he and I were friends Yet even then he had a daring soul: His frame of mind was serious and severe Beyond his years: his dreams were of great objects He walked amidst us of a silent spirit, Communing with himself; yet I have known him Transported on a sudden into utterance Of strange conceptions; kindling into splendor His soul revealed itself, and he spake so That we looked round perplexed upon each other, Not knowing whether it were craziness, Or whether it were a G.o.d that spoke in him.

BUTLER.

But was it where he fell two story high From a window-ledge, on which he had fallen asleep And rose up free from injury? From this day (It is reported) he betrayed clear marks Of a distempered fancy.

GORDON.

He became Doubtless more self-enwrapped and melancholy; He made himself a Catholic. [7] Marvellously His marvellous preservation had transformed him.

Thenceforth he held himself for an exempted And privileged being, and, as if he were Incapable of dizziness or fall, He ran along the unsteady rope of life.

But now our destinies drove us asunder; He paced with rapid step the way of greatness, Was count, and prince, duke-regent, and dictator, And now is all, all this too little for him; He stretches forth his hands for a king's crown, And plunges in unfathomable ruin.

BUTLER.

No more, he comes.

SCENE III.

To these enter WALLENSTEIN, in conversation with the BURGOMASTER of Egra.

WALLENSTEIN.

You were at one time a free town. I see Ye bear the half eagle in your city arms.

Why the half eagle only?

BURGOMASTER.

We were free, But for these last two hundred years has Egra Remained in pledge to the Bohemian crown; Therefore we bear the half eagle, the other half Being cancelled till the empire ransom us, If ever that should be.

WALLENSTEIN.

Ye merit freedom.

Only be firm and dauntless. Lend your ears To no designing whispering court-minions.

What may your imposts be?

BURGOMASTER.

So heavy that We totter under them. The garrison Lives at our costs.

WALLENSTEIN.

I will relieve you. Tell me, There are some Protestants among you still?

[The BURGOMASTER hesitates.

Yes, yes; I know it. Many lie concealed Within these walls. Confess now, you yourself---- [Fixes, his eye on him. The BURGOMASTER alarmed.

Be not alarmed. I hate the Jesuits.

Could my will have determined it they had Been long ago expelled the empire. Trust me-- Ma.s.s-book or Bible, 'tis all one to me.

Of that the world has had sufficient proof.

I built a church for the Reformed in Glogau At my own instance. Hark ye, burgomaster!

What is your name?

BURGOMASTER.

Pachhalbel, my it please you.

WALLENSTEIN.

Hark ye! But let it go no further, what I now Disclose to you in confidence.

[Laying his hand on the BURGOMASTER'S shoulder with a certain solemnity.

The times Draw near to their fulfilment, burgomaster!

The high will fall, the low will be exalted.

Hark ye! But keep it to yourself! The end Approaches of the Spanish double monarchy-- A new arrangement is at hand. You saw The three moons that appeared at once in the heaven?

BURGOMASTER.

With wonder and affright!

WALLENSTEIN.

Whereof did two Strangely transform themselves to b.l.o.o.d.y daggers, And only one, the middle moon, remained Steady and clear.

BURGOMASTER.

We applied it to the Turks.

WALLENSTEIN.

The Turks! That all? I tell you that two empires Will set in blood, in the East and in the West, And Lutherism alone remain.

[Observing GORDON and BUTLER.

I'faith, 'Twas a smart cannonading that we heard This evening, as we journeyed hitherward: 'Twas on our left hand. Did ye hear it here?