Читать книгу The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Illustrated Edition) - Samuel Taylor Coleridge - Страница 210

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Enter MAX PICCOLOMINI, and some time after COUNT TERTSKY, the others

remaining as before.

Countess. There comes the Paladin who protected us.

Wallenstein. Max! Welcome, ever welcome! Always wert thou

The morning star of my best joys!

Max. My General ——

Wallenstein. ‘Till now it was the Emperor who rewarded thee,

I but the instrument. This day thou hast bound 5

The father to thee, Max! the fortunate father,

And this debt Friedland’s self must pay.

Max. My prince!

You made no common hurry to transfer it.

I come with shame: yea, not without a pang!

For scarce have I arrived here, scarce delivered 10

The mother and the daughter to your arms,

But there is brought to me from your equerry

A splendid richly-plated hunting dress

So to remunerate me for my troubles ——

Yes, yes, remunerate me! Since a trouble 15

It must be, a mere office, not a favour

Which I leapt forward to receive, and which

I came already with full heart to thank you for.

No! ‘twas not so intended, that my business

Should be my highest best good fortune! 20

[TERTSKY enters, and delivers letters to the DUKE, which

he breaks open hurryingly.

Countess (to Max). Remunerate your trouble! For his joy

He makes you recompense. ‘Tis not unfitting

For you, Count Piccolomini, to feel

So tenderly — my brother it beseems

To shew himself for ever great and princely. 25

Thekla. Then I too must have scruples of his love:

For his munificent hands did ornament me

Ere yet the father’s heart had spoken to me.

Max. Yes; ‘tis his nature ever to be giving

And making happy.

How my heart pours out 30

Its all of thanks to him: O! how I seem

To utter all things in the dear name Friedland.

While I shall live, so long will I remain

The captive of this name: in it shall bloom

My every fortune, every lovely hope. 35

Inextricably as in some magic ring

In this name hath my destiny charm-bound me!

Countess. My brother wishes us to leave him. Come.

Wallenstein (turns himself round quick, collects himself, and

speaks with cheerfulness to the Duchess). Once more I

bid thee welcome to the camp,

Thou art the hostess of this court. You, Max, 40

Will now again administer your old office,

While we perform the sovereign’s business here.

[MAX PICCOLOMINI offers the DUCHESS his arm, the

COUNTESS accompanies the PRINCESS.

Tertsky (calling after him). Max, we depend on seeing you at the

meeting.

And making happy. [He grasps the hand of the DUCHESS with still

increasing warmth.

1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 38] Countess (who during this time has been anxiously watching

the Duke, and remarks that he is lost in thought over the letters).

1800, 1828, 1829.