The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Illustrated Edition). Samuel Taylor Coleridge

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СКАЧАТЬ And let the Princes of the empire pay

       The expenses of this war, that aggrandizes

       The Emperor alone — What thanks had I! 130

       What? I was offered up to their complaints,

       Dismissed, degraded!

      Questenberg. But your Highness knows

       What little freedom he possessed of action

       In that disastrous diet.

      Wallenstein. Death and hell!

       I had that which could have procured him freedom. 135

       No! Since ‘twas proved so inauspicious to me

       To serve the Emperor at the empire’s cost,

       I have been taught far other trains of thinking

       Of the empire, and the diet of the empire.

       From the Emperor, doubtless, I received this staff, 140

       But now I hold it as the empire’s general —

       For the common weal, the universal interest,

       And no more for that one man’s aggrandizement!

       But to the point. What is it that’s desired of me?

      Questenberg. First, his imperial Majesty hath willed 145

       That without pretexts of delay the army

       Evacuate Bohemia.

      Wallenstein. In this season?

       And to what quarter wills the Emperor

       That we direct our course?

      Questenberg. To the enemy.

       His Majesty resolves, that Regenspurg 150

       Be purified from the enemy, ere Easter,

       That Lutheranism may be no longer preached

       In that cathedral, nor heretical

       Defilement desecrate the celebration

       Of that pure festival.

      Wallenstein. My generals, 155

       Can this be realized?

      Illo. ‘Tis not possible.

      Butler. It can’t be realized.

      Questenberg. The Emperor

       Already hath commanded Colonel Suys

       To advance toward Bavaria!

      Wallenstein. What did Suys?

      Questenberg. That which his duty prompted. He advanced! 160

      Wallenstein. What? he advanced? And I, his general,

       Had given him orders, peremptory orders,

       Not to desert his station! Stands it thus

       With my authority? Is this the obedience

       Due to my office, which being thrown aside 165

       No war can be conducted? Chieftains, speak!

       You be the judges, generals! What deserves

       That officer, who of his oath neglectful

       Is guilty of contempt of orders?

      Illo. Death.

      Wallenstein. Count Piccolomini! what has he deserved? 170

      Max Piccolomini. According to the letter of the law,

       Death.

      Isolani. Death.

      Butler. Death, by the laws of war.

      [QUESTENBERG rises from his seat, WALLENSTEIN follows;

       all the rest rise.

      Wallenstein. To this the law condemns him, and not I.

       And if I shew him favour, ‘twill arise

       From the reverence that I owe my Emperor. 175

      Questenberg. If so, I can say nothing further — here!

      Wallenstein. I accepted the command but on conditions!

       And this the first, that to the diminution

       Of my authority no human being,

       Not even the Emperor’s self, should be entitled 180

       To do aught, or to say aught, with the army.

       If I stand warranter of the event,

       Placing my honour and my head in pledge,

       Needs must I have full mastery in all

       The means thereto. What rendered this Gustavus 185

       Resistless, and unconquered upon earth?

       This — that he was the monarch in his army!

       A monarch, one who is indeed a monarch,

       Was never yet subdued but by his equal.

       But to the point! The best is yet to come. 190

       Attend now, generals!

      Questenberg. The prince Cardinal

       Begins his route at the approach of spring

       From the Milanese; and leads a Spanish army

       Through Germany into the Netherlands.

       That he may march secure and unimpeded, 195

       ‘Tis the Emperor’s will you grant him a detachment

       Of eight horse-regiments from the army here.

      Wallenstein. Yes, yes! I understand! — Eight regiments! Well,

       Right well concerted, father Lamormain!

       Eight thousand horse! Yes, yes! ‘Tis as it should be! 200

       I see it coming!

      Questenberg. There is nothing coming.

       All stands in front: the counsel of state-prudence,

       The dictate of necessity! ——

      Wallenstein. What then?

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