The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 87

The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 87

_Countess._ --Tertsky!

What ails him? What an image of affright!

He looks as he had seen a ghost.

_Tertsky (leading Wallenstein aside)._ Is it thy command that all the Croats--

_Wallenstein._ Mine! 5

_Tertsky._ We are betrayed.

_Wallenstein._ What?

_Tertsky._ They are off! This night The Jagers likewise--all the villages In the whole round are empty.

_Wallenstein._ Isolani?

_Tertsky._ Him thou hast sent away. Yes, surely.

_Wallenstein._ I?

_Tertsky._ No! Hast thou not sent him off? Nor Deodate? 10 They are vanished both of them.

SCENE VI

_To them enter ILLO._

_Illo._ Has Tertsky told thee?

_Tertsky._ He knows all.

_Illo._ And likewise That Esterhatzy, Goetz, Maradas, Kaunitz, Kolatto, Palfi, have forsaken thee?

_Tertsky._ d.a.m.nation!

_Wallenstein (winks at them)._ Hush!

_Countess (who has been watching them anxiously from the distance and now advances to them)._ Tertsky! Heaven! What is it? What has happened? 5

_Wallenstein (scarcely suppressing his emotions)._ Nothing! let us be gone!

_Tertsky (following him)._ Theresa, it is nothing.

_Countess (holding him back)._ Nothing? Do I not see, that all the lifeblood Has left your cheeks--look you not like a ghost?

That even my brother but affects a calmness? 10

_Page (enters)._ An Aid-de-Camp enquires for the Count Tertsky.

[_TERTSKY follows the Page._

_Wallenstein._ Go, hear his business. [_To ILLO._ This could not have happened So unsuspected without mutiny.

Who was on guard at the gates?

_Illo._ 'Twas Tiefenbach. 15

_Wallenstein._ Let Tiefenbach leave guard without delay, And Tertsky's grenadiers relieve him. [_ILLO is going._ Stop!

Hast thou heard aught of Butler?

_Illo._ Him I met.

He will be here himself immediately.

Butler remains unshaken.

[_ILLO exit. WALLENSTEIN is following him._

_Countess._ Let him not leave thee, sister! go, detain him! 20 There's some misfortune.

_d.u.c.h.ess (clinging to him)._ Gracious heaven! What is it?

_Wallenstein._ Be tranquil! leave me, sister! dearest wife!

We are in camp, and this is nought unusual; Here storm and sunshine follow one another With rapid interchanges. These fierce spirits 25 Champ the curb angrily, and never yet Did quiet bless the temples of the leader.

If I am to stay, go you. The plaints of women Ill suit the scene where men must act.

[_He is going: TERTSKY returns._

_Tertsky._ Remain here. From this window must we see it. 30

_Wallenstein (to the Countess)._ Sister, retire!

_Countess._ No--never.

_Wallenstein._ 'Tis my will.

_Tertsky (leads the Countess aside, and drawing her attention to the d.u.c.h.ess)._ Theresa!

_d.u.c.h.ess._ Sister, come! since he commands it.

LINENOTES:

[4] _Wallenstein (winks to them)._ 1800.

SCENE VII

_WALLENSTEIN, TERTSKY._

_Wallenstein (stepping to the window)._ What now, then?

_Tertsky._ There are strange movements among all the troops, And no one knows the cause. Mysteriously, With gloomy silentness, the several corps Marshal themselves, each under its own banners. 5 Tiefenbach's corps makes threatening movements; only The Pappenheimers still remain aloof In their own quarters, and let no one enter.