Читать книгу The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Illustrated Edition) - Samuel Taylor Coleridge - Страница 236

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To them enters ILLO.

Illo (to Tertsky). Has he heard it?

Tertsky. He has heard it.

Illo (to Wallenstein). Thinkest thou

still

To make thy peace with the Emperor, to regain

His confidence? — E’en were it now thy wish

To abandon all thy plans, yet still they know

What thou hast wished; then forwards thou must press; 5

Retreat is now no longer in thy power.

Tertsky. They have documents against us, and in hands,

Which shew beyond all power of contradiction —

Wallenstein. Of my handwriting — no iota. Thee

I punish for thy lies.

Illo. And thou believest, 10

That what this man, that what thy sister’s husband,

Did in thy name, will not stand on thy reck’ning?

His word must pass for thy word with the Swede,

And not with those that hate thee at Vienna.

Tertsky. In writing thou gav’st nothing — But bethink thee, 15

How far thou ventured’st by word of mouth

With this Sesina? And will he be silent?

If he can save himself by yielding up

Thy secret purposes, will he retain them?

Illo. Thyself dost not conceive it possible; 20

And since they now have evidence authentic

How far thou hast already gone, speak! — tell us,

What art thou waiting for? thou canst no longer

Keep thy command; and beyond hope of rescue

Thou’rt lost, if thou resign’st it.

Wallenstein. In the army 25

Lies my security. The army will not

Abandon me. Whatever they may know,

The power is mine, and they must gulp it down —

And substitute I caution for my fealty,

They must be satisfied, at least appear so. 30

Illo. The army, Duke, is thine now — for this moment —

‘Tis thine: but think with terror on the slow,

The quiet power of time. From open violence

The attachment of thy soldiery secures thee

To-day — tomorrow; but grant’st thou them a respite, 35

Unheard, unseen, they’ll undermine that love

On which thou now dost feel so firm a footing,

With wily theft will draw away from thee

One after the other ——

Wallenstein. ‘Tis a curséd accident!

Illo. O, I will call it a most blessed one, 40

If it work on thee as it ought to do,

Hurry thee on to action — to decision.

The Swedish General ——

Wallenstein. He’s arrived! Know’st thou

What his commission is ——

Illo. To thee alone

Will he entrust the purpose of his coming. 45

Wallenstein. A curséd, curséd accident! Yes, yes,

Sesina knows too much, and won’t be silent.

Tertsky. He’s a Bohemian fugitive and rebel,

His neck is forfeit. Can he save himself

At thy cost, think you he will scruple it? 50

And if they put him to the torture, will he,

Will he, that dastardling, have strength enough ——

Wallenstein. Their confidence is lost — irreparably!

And I may act what way I will, I shall

Be and remain for ever in their thought 55

A traitor to my country. How sincerely

Soever I return back to my duty,

It will no longer help me ——

Illo. Ruin thee,

That it will do! Not thy fidelity,

Thy weakness will be deemed the sole occasion —— 60

Wallenstein. What! I must realize it now in earnest,

Because I toy’d too freely with the thought?

Accurséd he who dallies with a devil!

And must I — I must realize it now —

Now, while I have the power, it must take place? 65

Illo. Now — now — ere they can ward and parry it!

Wallenstein (looking at the paper of signatures). I have the

Generals’ word — a written promise!

Max Piccolomini stands not here — how’s that?

Tertsky. It was —— he fancied ——

Illo. Mere self-willedness.

There needed no such thing ‘twixt him and you. 70

Wallenstein. He is quite right — there needeth no such thing.

The regiments, too, deny to march for Flanders —

Have sent me in a paper of remonstrance,

And openly resist the Imperial orders.

The first step to revolt’s already taken. 75

Illo. Believe me, thou wilt find it far more easy

To lead them over to the enemy

Than to the Spaniard.

Wallenstein. I will hear, however,

What the Swede has to say to me.

Illo (to Tertsky). Go, call him!

He stands without the door in waiting.

Wallenstein. Stay! 80

Stay yet a little. It hath taken me

All by surprise, — it came too quick upon me;

‘Tis wholly novel, that an accident,

With its dark lordship, and blind agency,

Should force me on with it.

Illo. First hear him only, 85

And after weigh it. [Exeunt TERTSKY and ILLO.

[Before 53] Wallenstein (lost in thought). 1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 61] Wallenstein (pacing up and down in extreme agitation).

1800, 1828, 1829.