The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 91

SCENE III

_WALLENSTEIN, TERTSKY, ILLO, Ten_ Cuira.s.siers _(led by an_ Anspessade,[745:1] _march up and arrange themselves, after the word of command, in one front before the DUKE, and make their obeisance. He takes his hat off, and immediately covers himself again)._

_Anspessade._ Halt! Front! Present!

_Wallenstein (after he has run through them with his eye, to the Anspessade)._ I know thee well. Thou art out of Bruggin in Flanders: Thy name is Mercy.

_Anspessade._ Henry Mercy.

_Wallenstein._ Thou wert cut off on the march, surrounded by the Hessians, and didst fight thy way with a hundred and 5 eighty men through their thousand.

_Anspessade._ 'Twas even so, General!

_Wallenstein._ What reward hadst thou for this gallant exploit?

_Anspessade._ That which I asked for: the honour to serve in this corps. 10

_Wallenstein (turning to a second)._ Thou wert among the volunteers that seized and made booty of the Swedish battery at Altenburg.

_Second Cuira.s.sier._ Yes, General!

_Wallenstein._ I forget no one with whom I have exchanged 15 words. (_A pause_). Who sends you?

_Anspessade._ Your n.o.ble regiment, the Cuira.s.siers of Piccolomini.

_Wallenstein._ Why does not your colonel deliver in your request, according to the custom of service? 20

_Anspessade._ Because we would first know whom we serve.

_Wallenstein._ Begin your address.

_Anspessade (giving the word of command)._ Shoulder your arms!

_Wallenstein (turning to a third)._ Thy name is Risbeck, Cologne is thy birthplace. 25

_Third Cuira.s.sier._ Risbeck of Cologne.

_Wallenstein._ It was thou that broughtest in the Swedish colonel, Diebald, prisoner, in the camp at Nuremberg.

_Third Cuira.s.sier._ It was not I, General!

_Wallenstein._ Perfectly right! It was thy elder brother: 30 thou hadst a younger brother too: Where did he stay?

_Third Cuira.s.sier._ He is stationed at Olmutz with the Imperial army.

_Wallenstein (to the Anspessade)._ Now then--begin.

_Anspessade._ There came to hand a letter from the Emperor 35 Commanding us----

_Wallenstein._ Who chose you?

_Anspessade._ Every company Drew its own man by lot.

_Wallenstein._ Now! to the business.

_Anspessade._ There came to hand a letter from the Emperor Commanding us collectively, from thee All duties of obedience to withdraw, 40 Because thou wert an enemy and traitor.

_Wallenstein._ And what did you determine?

_Anspessade._ All our comrades At Brannau, Budweiss, Prague and Olmutz, have Obeyed already, and the regiments here, 45 Tiefenbach and Toscana, instantly Did follow their example. But--but we Do not believe that thou art an enemy And traitor to thy country, hold it merely For lie and trick, and a trumped-up Spanish story! 50 Thyself shalt tell us what thy purpose is, For we have found thee still sincere and true: No mouth shall interpose itself betwixt The gallant General and the gallant troops.

_Wallenstein._ Therein I recognize my Pappenheimers. 55

_Anspessade._ And this proposal makes thy regiment to thee: Is it thy purpose merely to preserve In thy own hands this military sceptre, Which so becomes thee, which the Emperor Made over to thee by a covenant? 60 Is it thy purpose merely to remain Supreme commander of the Austrian armies?-- We will stand by thee, General! and guarantee Thy honest rights against all opposition.

And should it chance, that all the other regiments 65 Turn from thee, by ourselves will we stand forth Thy faithful soldiers, and, as is our duty, Far rather let ourselves be cut to pieces, Than suffer thee to fall. But if it be As the Emperor's letter says, if it be true, 70 That thou in traitorous wise wilt lead us over To the enemy, which G.o.d in heaven forbid!

Then we too will forsake thee, and obey That letter----

_Wallenstein._ Hear me, children!

_Anspessade._ Yes, or no!

There needs no other answer.

_Wallenstein._ Yield attention. 75 You're men of sense, examine for yourselves; Ye think, and do not follow with the herd: And therefore have I always shewn you honour Above all others, suffered you to reason; Have treated you as free men, and my orders 80 Were but the echoes of your prior suffrage.--

_Anspessade._ Most fair and n.o.ble has thy conduct been To us, my General! With thy confidence Thou hast honoured us, and shewn us grace and favour Beyond all other regiments; and thou seest 85 We follow not the common herd. We will Stand by thee faithfully. Speak but one word-- Thy word shall satisfy us, that it is not A treason which thou meditatest--that Thou meanest not to lead the army over 90 To the enemy; nor e'er betray thy country.

_Wallenstein._ Me, me are they betraying. The Emperor Hath sacrificed me to my enemies, And I must fall, unless my gallant troops Will rescue me. See! I confide in you. 95 And be your hearts my strong hold! At this breast The aim is taken, at this h.o.a.ry head.

This is your Spanish grat.i.tude, this is our Requital for that murderous fight at Lutzen!

For this we threw the naked breast against 100 The halbert, made for this the frozen earth Our bed, and the hard stone our pillow! never stream Too rapid for us, nor wood too impervious: With cheerful spirit we pursued that Mansfield Through all the turns and windings of his flight; 105 Yea, our whole life was but one restless march; And homeless, as the stirring wind, we travelled O'er the war-wasted earth. And now, even now, That we have well-nigh finished the hard toil, The unthankful, the curse-laden toil of weapons, 110 With faithful indefatigable arm Have rolled the heavy war-load up the hill, Behold! this boy of the Emperor's bears away The honours of the peace, an easy prize!

He'll weave, forsooth, into his flaxen locks 115 The olive branch, the hard-earn'd ornament Of this grey head, grown grey beneath the helmet.

_Anspessade._ That shall he not, while we can hinder it!

No one, but thou, who hast conducted it With fame, shall end this war, this frightful war. 120 Thou led'st us out into the b.l.o.o.d.y field Of death, thou and no other shalt conduct us home, Rejoicing, to the lovely plains of peace-- Shalt share with us the fruits of the long toil--

_Wallenstein._ What? Think you then at length in late old age 125 To enjoy the fruits of toil? Believe it not.

Never, no never, will you see the end Of the contest! you and me, and all of us, This war will swallow up! War, war, not peace, Is Austria's wish; and therefore, because I 130 Endeavoured after peace, therefore I fall.

For what cares Austria, how long the war Wears out the armies and lays waste the world?

She will but wax and grow amid the ruin, And still win new domains.

[_The Cuira.s.siers express agitation by their gestures._

Ye're moved--I see 135 A n.o.ble rage flash from your eyes, ye warriors!

Oh that my spirit might possess you now Daring as once it led you to the battle!

Ye would stand by me with your veteran arms, Protect me in my rights; and this is n.o.ble! 140 But think not that you can accomplish it, Your scanty number! to no purpose will you Have sacrificed you for your General.

No! let us tread securely, seek for friends; The Swedes have proffered us a.s.sistance, let us 145 Wear for a while the appearance of good will, And use them for your profit, till we both Carry the fate of Europe in our hands, And from our camp to the glad jubilant world Lead Peace forth with the garland on her head! 150

_Anspessade._ 'Tis then but mere appearances which thou Dost put on with the Swede? Thou'lt not betray The Emperor? Wilt not turn us into Swedes?

This is the only thing which we desire To learn from thee.