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

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СКАЧАТЬ (holding him back). Nothing? Do I not see, that all the

       lifeblood

       Has left your cheeks — look you not like a ghost?

       That even my brother but affects a calmness? 10

      Page (enters). An Aid-de-Camp enquires for the Count Tertsky.

      [TERTSKY follows the Page.

      Wallenstein. Go, hear his business. [To ILLO.

       This could not have happened

       So unsuspected without mutiny.

       Who was on guard at the gates?

      Illo. ‘Twas Tiefenbach. 15

      Wallenstein. Let Tiefenbach leave guard without delay,

       And Tertsky’s grenadiers relieve him. [ILLO is going.

       Stop!

       Hast thou heard aught of Butler?

      Illo. Him I met.

       He will be here himself immediately.

       Butler remains unshaken.

      [ILLO exit. WALLENSTEIN is following him.

      Countess. Let him not leave thee, sister! go, detain him! 20

       There’s some misfortune.

      Duchess (clinging to him). Gracious heaven! What is it?

      Wallenstein. Be tranquil! leave me, sister! dearest wife!

       We are in camp, and this is nought unusual;

       Here storm and sunshine follow one another

       With rapid interchanges. These fierce spirits 25

       Champ the curb angrily, and never yet

       Did quiet bless the temples of the leader.

       If I am to stay, go you. The plaints of women

       Ill suit the scene where men must act.

      [He is going: TERTSKY returns.

      Tertsky. Remain here. From this window must we see it. 30

      Wallenstein (to the Countess). Sister, retire!

      Countess. No — never.

      Wallenstein. ‘Tis my will.

      Tertsky (leads the Countess aside, and drawing her attention to the

       Duchess). Theresa!

      Duchess. Sister, come! since he commands it.

SCENE VII

       Table of Contents

      WALLENSTEIN, TERTSKY.

      Wallenstein (stepping to the window). What now, then?

      Tertsky. There are strange movements among all the troops,

       And no one knows the cause. Mysteriously,

       With gloomy silentness, the several corps

       Marshal themselves, each under its own banners. 5

       Tiefenbach’s corps makes threatening movements; only

       The Pappenheimers still remain aloof

       In their own quarters, and let no one enter.

      Wallenstein. Does Piccolomini appear among them?

      Tertsky. We are seeking him: he is no where to be met with. 10

      Wallenstein. What did the Aid-de-Camp deliver to you?

      Tertsky. My regiments had dispatched him; yet once more

       They swear fidelity to thee, and wait

       The shout for onset, all prepared, and eager.

      Wallenstein. But whence arose this larum in the camp? 15

       It should have been kept secret from the army,

       Till fortune had decided for us at Prague.

      Tertsky. O that thou hadst believed me! Yester evening

       Did we conjure thee not to let that skulker,

       That fox, Octavio, pass the gates of Pilsen. 20

       Thou gav’st him thy own horses to flee from thee.

      Wallenstein. The old tune still! Now, once for all, no more

       Of this suspicion — it is doting folly.

      Tertsky. Thou did’st confide in Isolani too;

       And lo! he was the first that did desert thee. 25

      Wallenstein. It was but yesterday I rescued him

       From abject wretchedness. Let that go by.

       I never reckon’d yet on gratitude.

       And wherein doth he wrong in going from me?

       He follows still the god whom all his life 30

       He has worshipped at the gaming table. With

       My Fortune, and my seeming destiny,

       He made the bond, and broke it not with me.

       I am but the ship in which his hopes were stowed,

       And with the which well-pleased and confident 35

       He traversed the open sea; now he beholds it

       In imminent jeopardy among the coast-rocks,

       And hurries to preserve his wares. As light

       As the free bird from the hospitable twig

       Where it had nested, he flies off from me: 40

       No human tie is snapped betwixt us two.

       Yea, he deserves to find himself deceived,

       Who seeks a heart in the unthinking man.

       Like shadows on a stream, the forms of life

       Impress their characters on the smooth forehead, 45

       Nought sinks into the bosom’s silent depth:

       Quick sensibility of pain and pleasure

СКАЧАТЬ