The Works of Frederick Schiller Part 206

Go hence, forsake me, serve thy emperor; He will reward thee with a pretty chain Of gold; with his ram's fleece will he reward thee; For that the friend, the father of thy youth, For that the holiest feeling of humanity, Was nothing worth to thee.

MAX.

O G.o.d! how can I Do otherwise. Am I not forced to do it, My oath--my duty--my honor----

WALLENSTEIN.

How? Thy duty?

Duty to whom? Who art thou? Max.! bethink thee What duties may'st thou have? If I am acting A criminal part toward the emperor, It is my crime, not thine. Dost thou belong To thine own self? Art thou thine own commander?

Stand'st thou, like me, a freeman in the world, That in thy actions thou shouldst plead free agency?

On me thou art planted, I am thy emperor; To obey me, to belong to me, this is Thy honor, this a law of nature to thee!

And if the planet on the which thou livest And hast thy dwelling, from its...o...b..t starts.

It is not in thy choice, whether or no Thou'lt follow it. Unfelt it whirls thee onward Together with his ring, and all his moons.

With little guilt steppest thou into this contest; Thee will the world not censure, it will praise thee, For that thou held'st thy friend more worth to thee Than names and influences more removed For justice is the virtue of the ruler, Affection and fidelity the subject's.

Not every one doth it beseem to question The far-off high Arcturus. Most securely Wilt thou pursue the nearest duty: let The pilot fix his eye upon the pole-star.

SCENE XIX.

To these enter NEUMANN.

WALLENSTEIN.

What now?

NEUMANN.

The Pappenheimers are dismounted, And are advancing now on foot, determined With sword in hand to storm the house, and free The count, their colonel.

WALLENSTEIN (to TERZKY).

Have the cannon planted.

I will receive them with chain-shot.

[Exit TERZKY.

Prescribe to me with sword in hand! Go, Neumann!

'Tis my command that they retreat this moment, And in their ranks in silence wait my pleasure.

[NEUMANN exit. ILLO steps to the window.

COUNTESS.

Let him go, I entreat thee, let him go.

ILLO (at the window).

h.e.l.l and perdition!

WALLENSTEIN.

What is it?

ILLO.

They scale the council-house, the roof's uncovered, They level at this house the cannon----

MAX.

Madmen

ILLO.

They are making preparations now to fire on us.

d.u.c.h.eSS and COUNTESS.

Merciful heaven!

MAX. (to WALLENSTEIN).

Let me go to them!

WALLENSTEIN.

Not a step!

MAX. (pointing to THEKLA and the d.u.c.h.eSS).

But their life! Thine!

WALLENSTEIN.

What tidings bringest thou, Terzky?

SCENE XX.

To these TERZKY returning.

TERZKY.

Message and greeting from our faithful regiments.

Their ardor may no longer be curbed in.

They entreat permission to commence the attack; And if thou wouldst but give the word of onset They could now charge the enemy in rear, Into the city wedge them, and with ease O'erpower them in the narrow streets.

ILLO.

Oh come Let not their ardor cool. The soldiery Of Butler's corps stand by us faithfully; We are the greater number. Let us charge them And finish here in Pilsen the revolt.

WALLENSTEIN.

What? shall this town become a field of slaughter, And brother-killing discord, fire-eyed, Be let loose through its streets to roam and rage?

Shall the decision be delivered over To deaf remorseless rage, that hears no leader?

Here is not room for battle, only for butchery.

Well, let it be! I have long thought of it, So let it burst then!

[Turns to MAX.

Well, how is it with thee?

Wilt thou attempt a heat with me. Away!

Thou art free to go. Oppose thyself to me, Front against front, and lead them to the battle; Thou'rt skilled in war, thou hast learned somewhat under me, I need not be ashamed of my opponent, And never hadst thou fairer opportunity To pay me for thy schooling.

COUNTESS.

Is it then, Can it have come to this? What! Cousin, cousin!

Have you the heart?

MAX.

The regiments that are trusted to my care I have pledged my troth to bring away from Pilsen True to the emperor; and this promise will I Make good, or perish. More than this no duty Requires of me. I will not fight against thee, Unless compelled; for though an enemy, Thy head is holy to me still,