The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Iii Part 17

And this Bohemian land for which we fight-- [Loves not the master whom the chance of war, Not its own choice or will, hath given to it.

Men murmur at the oppression of their conscience, And power hath only awed but not appeased them; A glowing and avenging mem'ry lives Of cruel deeds committed on these plains; How can the son forget that here his father Was hunted by the blood-hound to the ma.s.s?

A people thus oppress'd must still be feared, Whether they suffer or avenge their wrongs.]

WRANGEL.

But then the n.o.bles and the Officers?

Such a desertion, such a felony, It is without example, my Lord Duke, In the world's history.

WALLENSTEIN.

They are all mine-- Mine unconditionally--mine on all terms.

Not me, your own eyes you must trust.

[_He gives him the paper containing the written oath._ WRANGEL _reads it through, and, having read it, lays it on the table, remaining silent_.]

So then?

Now comprehend you?

WRANGEL.

Comprehend who can!

My Lord Duke, I will let the mask drop--yes!

I've full powers for a final settlement.

The Rhinegrave stands but four days' march from here With fifteen thousand men, and only waits For orders to proceed and join your army.

Those orders _I_ give out, immediately We're compromised.

WALLENSTEIN.

What asks the Chancellor?

WRANGEL (_considerately_).

Twelve regiments, every man a Swede--my head The warranty--and all might prove at last Only false play--

WALLENSTEIN (_starting_).

Sir Swede!

WRANGEL (_calmly proceeding_).

Am therefore forced T' insist thereon, that he do formally, Irrevocably break with the Emperor, Else not a Swede is trusted to Duke Friedland.

WALLENST.

Come, brief, and open! What is the demand?

WRANGEL.

That he forthwith disarm the Spanish regiments Attached to the Emp'ror, that he seize on Prague, And to the Swedes give up that city, with The strong pa.s.s Egra.

WALLENSTEIN.

That is much indeed!

Prague!--Egra's granted--but--but Prague!--'T won't do.

I give you every security Which you may ask of me in common reason-- But Prague--Bohemia--these, Sir General, I can myself protect.

WRANGEL.

We doubt it not.

But 'tis not the protection that is now Our sole concern. We want security That we shall not expend our men and money All to no purpose.

WALLENSTEIN.

'Tis but reasonable.

WRANGEL.

And till we are indemnified, so long Stays Prague in pledge.

WALLENSTEIN.

Then trust you us so little?

WRANGEL (_rising_).

The Swede, if he would treat well with the German, Must keep a sharp look-out. We have been call'd Over the Baltic, we have saved the empire From ruin--with our best blood have we sealed The liberty of faith and gospel truth.

But now already is the benefaction No longer felt, the load alone is felt.

Ye look askance with evil eye upon us, As foreigners, intruders in the empire, And would fain send us, with some paltry sum Of money, home again to our old forests.

No, no! my Lord Duke! no!--it never was For Judas' pay, for c.h.i.n.king gold and silver, That we did leave our King by the Great Stone[24]

No, not for gold and silver have there bled So many of our Swedish n.o.bles--neither Will we, with empty laurels for our payment, Hoist sail for our own country. _Citizens_ Will we remain upon the soil, the which Our Monarch conquer'd for himself, and died.

WALLENST.

Help to keep down the common enemy, And the fair border land must needs be yours.

WRANGEL.

But when the common enemy lies vanquish'd, Who knits together our new friendship then?

We know, Duke Friedland! though perhaps the Swede Ought not to have known it, that you carry on Secret negotiations with the Saxons.

Who is our warranty, that _we_ are not The sacrifices in those articles Which 'tis thought needful to conceal from us?

WALLENSTEIN (_rises_).

Think you of something better, Gustave Wrangel!

Of Prague no more.

WRANGEL.

Here my commission ends.