The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 111

The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 111

I too have sacrific'd to him--For me There fell the dearest friend, and through my fault 85 He fell! No joy from favourable fortune Can overweigh the anguish of this stroke.

The envy of my destiny is glutted: Life pays for life. On his pure head the lightning Was drawn off which would else have shattered me. 90

SCENE III

_To these enter SENI._

_Wallenstein._ Is not that Seni? and beside himself, If one may trust his looks! What brings thee hither At this late hour, Baptista?

_Seni._ Terror, Duke!

On thy account.

_Wallenstein._ What now?

_Seni._ Flee ere the day-break!

Trust not thy person to the Swedes!

_Wallenstein._ What now 5 Is in thy thoughts?

_Seni (with louder voice)._ Trust not thy person to these Swedes.

_Wallenstein._ What is it then?

_Seni (still more urgently)._ O wait not the arrival of these Swedes!

An evil near at hand is threatening thee From false friends. All the signs stand full of horror! 10 Near, near at hand the net-work of perdition-- Yea, even now 'tis being cast around thee!

_Wallenstein._ Baptista, thou art dreaming!--Fear befools thee.

_Seni._ Believe not that an empty fear deludes me.

Come, read it in the planetary aspects; 15 Read it thyself, that ruin threatens thee From false friends!

_Wallenstein._ From the falseness of my friends Has risen the whole of my unprosperous fortunes.

The warning should have come before! At present I need no revelation from the stars 20 To know that.

_Seni._ Come and see! trust thine own eyes!

A fearful sign stands in the house of life; An enemy, a fiend lurks close behind The radiance of thy planet--O be warned!

Deliver not thyself up to these heathens 25 To wage a war against our holy church.

_Wallenstein (laughing gently)._ The oracle rails that way! Yes, yes! Now I recollect. This junction with the Swedes Did never please thee--lay thyself to sleep, Baptista! Signs like these I do not fear. 30

_Gordon (who during the whole of this dialogue has shewn marks of extreme agitation, and now turns to Wallenstein)._ My Duke and General! May I dare presume?

_Wallenstein._ Speak freely.

_Gordon._ What if 'twere no mere creation Of fear, if G.o.d's high providence vouchsaf'd To interpose its aid for your deliverance, And made that mouth its organ.

_Wallenstein_. Ye're both feverish! 35 How can mishap come to me from the Swedes?

They sought this junction with me--'tis their interest.

_Gordon (with difficulty suppressing his emotion)._ But what if the arrival of these Swedes-- What if this were the very thing that winged The ruin that is flying to your temples? 40

[_Flings himself at his feet._

There is yet time, my Prince.

_Seni._ O hear him! hear him!

_Gordon (rises)._ The Rhinegrave's still far off. Give but the orders, This citadel shall close its gates upon him.

If then he will besiege us, let him try it.

But this I say; he'll find his own destruction 45 With his whole force before these ramparts, sooner Than weary down the valour of our spirit.

He shall experience what a band of heroes, Inspirited by an heroic leader, Is able to perform. And if indeed 50 It be thy serious wish to make amends For that which thou hast done amiss,--this, this Will touch and reconcile the Emperor, Who gladly turns his heart to thoughts of mercy, And Friedland, who returns repentant to him, 55 Will stand yet higher in his Emperor's favour, Than e'er he stood when he had never fallen.

_Wallenstein (contemplates him with surprise, remains silent awhile, betraying strong emotion)._ Gordon--your zeal and fervour lead you far.

Well, well--an old friend has a privilege.

Blood, Gordon, has been flowing. Never, never 60 Can the Emperor pardon me: and if he could, Yet I--I ne'er could let myself be pardoned.

Had I foreknown what now has taken place, That he, my dearest friend, would fall for me, My first death-offering: and had the heart 65 Spoken to me, as now it has done--Gordon, It may be, I might have bethought myself.

It may be too, I might not. Might or might not, Is now an idle question. All too seriously Has it begun to end in nothing, Gordon! 70 Let it then have its course. [_Stepping to the window._ All dark and silent--at the castle too All is now hushed--Light me, Chamberlain!

[_The_ Groom of the Chamber, _who had entered during the last dialogue, and had been standing at a distance and listening to it with visible expressions of the deepest interest, advances in extreme agitation, and throws himself at the DUKE'S feet._

And thou too! But I know why thou dost wish My reconcilement with the Emperor. 75 Poor man! he hath a small estate in Carnthen, And fears it will be forfeited because He's in my service. Am I then so poor, That I no longer can indemnify My servants? Well! To no one I employ 80 Means of compulsion. If 'tis thy belief That fortune has fled from me, go! Forsake me.

This night for the last time mayst thou unrobe me, And then go over to thy Emperor.

Gordon, good night! I think to make a long 85 Sleep of it: for the struggle and the turmoil Of this last day or two were great. May't please you!

Take care that they awake me not too early.

[_Exit WALLENSTEIN, the_ Groom of the Chamber _lighting him. SENI follows. GORDON remains on the darkened stage, following the DUKE with his eye, till he disappears at the farther end of the gallery: then by his gestures the old man expresses the depth of his anguish, and stands leaning against a pillar._

LINENOTES:

[51] amends] amend 1800, 1828, 1829.

[87] were] was 1800, 1828, 1829.

SCENE IV

_GORDON, BUTLER (at first behind the scenes)._

_Butler (not yet come into view of the stage)._ Here stand in silence till I give the signal.

_Gordon (starts up)._ 'Tis he, he has already brought the murderers.

_Butler._ The lights are out. All lies in profound sleep.

_Gordon._ What shall I do, shall I attempt to save him?

Shall I call up the house? Alarm the guards? 5