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

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ href="#ulink_2fdc40f6-7513-50fa-8884-657c732ac6a1">Table of Contents

      COUNTESS, DUCHESS, THEKLA.

      Thekla (endeavouring to hold back the Duchess). Dear mother, do

       stay here!

      Duchess. No! Here is yet

       Some frightful mystery that is hidden from me.

       Why does my sister shun me? Don’t I see her

       Full of suspense and anguish roam about

       From room to room? — Art thou not full of terror? 5

       And what import these silent nods and gestures

       Which stealthwise thou exchangest with her?

      Thekla. Nothing:

       Nothing, dear Mother!

      Duchess (to the Countess). Sister, I will know.

      Countess. What boots it now to hide it from her? Sooner

       Or later she must learn to hear and bear it. 10

       ‘Tis not the time now to indulge infirmity,

       Courage beseems us now, a heart collected,

       And exercise and previous discipline

       Of fortitude. One word, and over with it!

       Sister, you are deluded. You believe, 15

       The Duke has been deposed — The Duke is not

       Deposed — he is ——

      Thekla (going to the Countess). What? do you wish to kill her?

      Countess. The Duke is ——

      Thekla (throwing her arms round her mother). O stand firm! stand

       firm, my mother!

      Countess. Revolted is the Duke, he is preparing 20

       To join the enemy, the army leave him,

       And all has failed.

      [After 22] [During these words the DUCHESS totters, and

       falls in a fainting fit into the arms of her daughter. While THEKLA is

       calling for help, the curtain drops. 1800, 1828, 1829.

ACT II

       Table of Contents

SCENE I

       Table of Contents

      SCENE — A spacious Room in the DUKE OF FRIEDLAND’S Palace.

      Wallenstein (in armour). Thou hast gained thy point, Octavio! Once

       more am I

       Almost as friendless as at Regenspurg.

       There I had nothing left me, but myself —

       But what one man can do, you have now experience.

       The twigs have you hewed off, and here I stand 5

       A leafless trunk. But in the sap within

       Lives the creating power, and a new world

       May sprout forth from it. Once already have I

       Proved myself worth an army to you — I alone!

       Before the Swedish strength your troops had melted; 10

       Beside the Lech sank Tilly, your last hope;

       Into Bavaria, like a winter torrent,

       Did that Gustavus pour, and at Vienna

       In his own palace did the Emperor tremble.

       Soldiers were scarce, for still the multitude 15

       Follow the luck: all eyes were turned on me,

       Their helper in distress; the Emperor’s pride

       Bowed itself down before the man he had injured.

       ‘Twas I must rise, and with creative word

       Assemble forces in the desolate camps. 20

       I did it. Like a god of war, my name

       Went through the world. The drum was beat — and, lo!

       The plough, the workshop is forsaken, all

       Swarm to the old familiar long-loved banners;

       And as the wood-choir rich in melody 25

       Assemble quick around the bird of wonder,

       When first his throat swells with his magic song,

       So did the warlike youth of Germany

       Crowd in around the image of my eagle.

       I feel myself the being that I was. 30

       It is the soul that builds itself a body,

       And Friedland’s camp will not remain unfilled.

       Lead then your thousands out to meet me — true!

       They are accustomed under me to conquer,

       But not against me. If the head and limbs 35

       Separate from each other, ‘twill be soon

       Made manifest, in which the soul abode.

      (ILLO and TERTSKY enter.)

      Courage, friends! Courage! We are still unvanquished;

       I feel my footing firm; five regiments, Tertsky,

       Are still our own, and Butler’s gallant troops; 40

       And a host of sixteen thousand Swedes tomorrow.

       I was not stronger, when nine years ago

       I marched forth, with glad heart and high of hope,

       To conquer Germany for the Emperor.

SCENE II

       Table of Contents

      WALLENSTEIN, ILLO, TERTSKY. (To them enter СКАЧАТЬ