The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 03. Коллектив авторов

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СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      WALLENSTEIN (having read the credentials).

      An able letter!—Ay—he is a prudent

      Intelligent master whom you serve, Sir General!

      The Chancellor writes me, that he but fulfils

      His late departed Sovereign's own idea

      In helping me to the Bohemian crown.

      WRANGEL.

      He says the truth. Our great King, now in heaven,

      Did ever deem most highly of your Grace's

      Preëminent sense and military genius;

      And always the commanding Intellect,

      He said, should have command, and be the King.

      WALLENST.

      Yes, he might say it safely.—General Wrangel,

      [Taking his hand affectionately.]

      Come, fair and open. Trust me, I was always

      A Swede at heart. Eh! that did you experience

      Both in Silesia and at Nuremberg;

      I had you often in my power, and let you

      Always slip out by some back door or other.

      'Tis this for which the Court can ne'er forgive me,

      Which drives me to this present step: and since

      Our interests so run in one direction,

      E'en let us have a thorough confidence

      Each in the other.

      WRANGEL.

                  Confidence will come

      Has each but only first security.

      WALLENST.

      The Chancellor still, I see, does not quite trust me;

      And, I confess—the game does not lie wholly

      To my advantage. Without doubt he thinks,

      If I can play false with the Emperor,

      Who is my sovereign, I can do the like

      With the enemy, and that the one too were

      Sooner to be forgiven me than the other.

      Is not this your opinion, too, Sir General?

      WRANGEL.

      I have here a duty merely, no opinion.

      WALLENST.

      The Emperor hath urged me to the uttermost:

      I can no longer honorably serve him;

      For my security, in self-defence,

      I take this hard step, which my conscience blames.

      WRANGEL.

      That I believe. So far would no one go

      Who was not forced to it.

      [After a pause.]

                                What may have impell'd

      Your princely Highness in this wise to act

      Toward your Sovereign Lord and Emperor,

      Beseems not us to expound or criticise.

      The Swede is fighting for his good old cause,

      With his good sword and conscience. This concurrence,

      This opportunity, is in our favor,

      And all advantages in war are lawful.

      We take what offers without questioning;

      And if all have its due and just proportions—

      WALLENST.

      Of what then are ye doubting? Of my will?

      Or of my power? I pledged me to the Chancellor,

      Would he trust me with sixteen thousand men,

      That I would instantly go over to them

      With eighteen thousand of the Emperor's troops.

      WRANGEL.

      Your Grace is known to be a mighty war-chief,

      To be a second Attila and Pyrrhus.

      'Tis talked of still with fresh astonishment,

      How some years past, beyond all human faith,

      You call'd an army forth, like a creation:

      But yet—

      WALLENSTEIN.

      But yet?

      WRANGEL.

               But still the Chancellor thinks

      It might yet be an easier thing from nothing

      To call forth sixty thousand men of battle,

      Than to persuade one sixtieth part of them—

      WALLENST.

      What now? Out with it, friend!

      WRANGEL.

      To break their oaths.

      WALLENST.

      And he thinks so? He judges like a Swede,

      And like a Protestant. You Lutherans

      Fight for your Bible. You are interested

      About the cause; and with your hearts you follow

      Your banners. Among you, whoe'er deserts

      To the enemy hath broken covenant

      With two Lords at one time. We've no such fancies.

      WRANGEL.

      Great God in Heaven! Have then the people here

      No house and home, no fireside, no altar?

      WALLENST.

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