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

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СКАЧАТЬ For this great Monarch-spirit, if he fall,

       Will drag a world into the ruin with him.

       And as a ship (that midway on the ocean

       Takes fire) at once, and with a thunder-burst 65

       Explodes, and with itself shoots out its crew

       In smoke and ruin betwixt sea and heaven;

       So will he, falling, draw down in his fall

       All us, who’re fixed and mortised to his fortune.

       Deem of it what thou wilt; but pardon me, 70

       That I must bear me on in my own way.

       All must remain pure betwixt him and me;

       And, ere the daylight dawns, it must be known

       Which I must lose — my father, or my friend.

      [During his exit the curtain drops.

      [Before 3] Max (who through the whole of the foregoing scene has been

       in a violent and visible struggle of feelings, at length starts as one

       resolved). 1800, 1828, 1829.

      [Before 6] Octavio (alarmed). 1800, 1828, 1829.

      [Before 7] Max (returning). 1800, 1828, 1829.

ACT IV

       Table of Contents

SCENE I

       Table of Contents

      SCENE — A Room fitted up for astrological Labours, and provided with

       celestial Charts, with Globes, Telescopes, Quadrants, and other

       mathematical Instruments. — Seven Colossal Figures, representing the

       Planets, each with a transparent Star of a different Colour on its Head,

       stand in a Semicircle in the Background, so that Mars and Saturn are

       nearest the Eye. — The remainder of the Scene, and its Disposition, is

       given in the Fourth Scene of the Second Act. — There must be a Curtain

       over the Figures, which may be dropped, and conceal them on Occasions.

      [In the Fifth Scene of this Act it must be dropped; but in the Seventh

       Scene, it must be again drawn up wholly or in part.]

      WALLENSTEIN at a black Table, on which a Speculum Astrologicum is

       described with Chalk. SENI is taking Observations through a window.

      Wallenstein. All well — and now let it be ended, Seni. — Come,

       The dawn commences, and Mars rules the hour.

       We must give o’er the operation. Come,

       We know enough.

      Seni. Your Highness must permit me

       Just to contemplate Venus. She’s now rising: 5

       Like as a sun, so shines she in the east.

      Wallenstein. She is at present in her perigee,

       And shoots down now her strongest influences.

      [Contemplating the figure on the table.

      Auspicious aspect! fateful in conjunction,

       At length the mighty three corradiate; 10

       And the two stars of blessing, Jupiter

       And Venus, take between them the malignant

       Slily-malicious Mars, and thus compel

       Into my service that old mischief-founder;

       For long he viewed me hostilely, and ever 15

       With beam oblique, or perpendicular,

       Now in the Quartile, now in the Secundan,

       Shot his red lightnings at my stars, disturbing

       Their blessed influences and sweet aspects.

       Now they have conquered the old enemy, 20

       And bring him in the heavens a prisoner to me.

      Seni (who has come down from the window). And in a corner house,

       your Highness — think of that!

       That makes each influence of double strength.

      Wallenstein. And sun and moon, too, in the Sextile aspect,

       The soft light with the vehement — so I love it. 25

       Sol is the heart, Luna the head of heaven,

       Bold be the plan, fiery the execution.

      Seni. And both the mighty Lumina by no

       Maleficus affronted. Lo! Saturnus,

       Innocuous, powerless, in cadente Domo. 30

      Wallenstein. The empire of Saturnus is gone by;

       Lord of the secret birth of things is he;

       Within the lap of earth, and in the depths

       Of the imagination dominates;

       And his are all things that eschew the light. 35

       The time is o’er of brooding and contrivance;

       For Jupiter, the lustrous, lordeth now,

       And the dark work, complete of preparation,

       He draws by force into the realm of light.

       Now must we hasten on to action, ere 40

       The scheme, and most auspicious positure

       Parts o’er my head, and takes once more its flight;

       For the heavens journey still, and sojourn not.

      [There are knocks at the door.

      There’s some one knocking there. See who it is.

      Tertsky (from without). Open, and let me in.

      Wallenstein. Aye—’tis СКАЧАТЬ