[MAX. attempts to take his hand, but is repelled: he turns to the COUNTESS.
Is there no eye that has a look of pity for me?
[The COUNTESS turns away from him; he turns to the d.u.c.h.eSS.
My mother!
d.u.c.h.eSS.
Go where duty calls you. Haply The time may come when you may prove to us A true friend, a good angel at the throne Of the emperor.
MAX.
You give me hope; you would not Suffer me wholly to despair. No! no!
Mine is a certain misery. Thanks to heaven!
That offers me a means of ending it.
[The military music begins again. The stage fills more and more with armed men. MAX. sees BUTLER and addresses him.
And you here, Colonel Butler--and will you Not follow me? Well, then, remain more faithful To your new lord, than you have proved yourself To the emperor. Come, Butler! promise me.
Give me your hand upon it, that you"ll be The guardian of his life, its shield, its watchman.
He is attainted, and his princely head Fair booty for each slave that trades in murder.
Now he doth need the faithful eye of friendship, And those whom here I see----
[Casting suspicious looks on ILLO and BUTLER.
ILLO.
Go--seek for traitors In Gallas", in your father"s quarters. Here Is only one. Away! away! and free us From his detested sight! Away!
[MAX. attempts once more to approach THERLA. WALLENSTEIN prevents him. MAX. stands irresolute, and in apparent anguish, In the meantime the stage fills more and more; and the horns sound from below louder and louder, and each time after a shorter interval.
MAX.
Blow, blow! Oh, were it but the Swedish trumpets, And all the naked swords, which I see here, Were plunged into my breast! What purpose you?
You come to tear me from this place! Beware, Ye drive me not to desperation. Do it not!
Ye may repent it!
[The stage is entirely filled with armed men.
Yet more! weight upon weight to drag me down Think what ye"re doing. It is not well done To choose a man despairing for your leader; You tear me from my happiness. Well, then, I dedicate your souls to vengeance. Mark!
For your own ruin you have chosen me Who goes with me must be prepared to perish.
[He turns to the background; there ensues a sudden and violent movement among the CUIRa.s.sIERS; they surround him, and carry him off in wild tumult. WALLENSTEIN remains immovable. THERLA sinks into her mother"s arms. The curtain falls. The music becomes loud and overpowering, and pa.s.ses into a complete war-march--the orchestra joins it--and continues during the interval between the second and third acts.
ACT IV.
SCENE I.
The BURGOMASTER"s house at Egra.
BUTLER (just arrived).
Here then he is by his destiny conducted.
Here, Friedland! and no further! From Bohemia Thy meteor rose, traversed the sky awhile, And here upon the borders of Bohemia Must sink.
Thou hast forsworn the ancient colors, Blind man! yet trustest to thy ancient fortunes.
Profaner of the altar and the hearth, Against thy emperor and fellow-citizens Thou meanest to wage the war. Friedland, beware-- The evil spirit of revenge impels thee-- Beware thou, that revenge destroy thee not!
SCENE II.
BUTLER and GORDON.
GORDON.
Is it you?
How my heart sinks! The duke a fugitive traitor!
His princely head attainted! Oh, my G.o.d!
Tell me, general, I implore thee, tell me In full, of all these sad events at Pilsen.
BUTLER.
You have received the letter which I sent you By a post-courier?
GORDON.
Yes: and in obedience to it Opened the stronghold to him without scruple, For an imperial letter orders me To follow your commands implicitly.
But yet forgive me! when even now I saw The duke himself, my scruples recommenced.
For truly, not like an attainted man, Into this town did Friedland make his entrance; His wonted majesty beamed from his brow, And calm, as in the days when all was right, Did he receive from me the accounts of office.
"Tis said, that fallen pride learns condescension.
But sparing and with dignity the duke Weighed every syllable of approbation, As masters praise a servant who has done His duty and no more.
BUTLER.
"Tis all precisely As I related in my letter. Friedland Has sold the army to the enemy, And pledged himself to give up Prague and Egra.
On this report the regiments all forsook him, The five excepted that belong to Terzky, And which have followed him, as thou hast seen.
The sentence of attainder is pa.s.sed on him, And every loyal subject is required To give him in to justice, dead or living.
GORDON.
A traitor to the emperor. Such a n.o.ble!
Of such high talents! What is human greatness?
I often said, this can"t end happily.
His might, his greatness, and this obscure power Are but a covered pitfall. The human being May not be trusted to self-government.
The clear and written law, the deep-trod footmarks Of ancient custom, are all necessary To keep him in the road of faith and duty.
The authority intrusted to this man Was unexampled and unnatural, It placed him on a level with his emperor, Till the proud soul unlearned submission. Woe is me!
I mourn for him! for where he fell, I deem Might none stand firm. Alas! dear general, We in our lucky mediocrity Have ne"er experienced, cannot calculate, What dangerous wishes such a height may breed In the heart of such a man.
BUTLER.
Spare your laments Till he need sympathy; for at this present He is still mighty, and still formidable.
The Swedes advance to Egra by forced marches, And quickly will the junction be accomplished.
This must not be! The duke must never leave This stronghold on free footing; for I have Pledged life and honor here to hold him prisoner, And your a.s.sistance "tis on which I calculate.
GORDON.