Wallenstein/The Death of Wallenstein/A1S10
SCENE X.
To these enter Butler.
TERTSKY. (meeting him.)O look there! Butler! Here we've still a friend!
WALLENSTEIN.(meets him with outspread arms, and embraceshim with warmth.)Come to my heart, old comrade! Not the sunLooks out upon us more revivinglyIn the earliest month of spring,Than a friend's countenance in such an hour.
BUTLER.My General! I come—
WALLENSTEIN.(leaning on Butler's shoulder.)Know'st thou already?That old man has betray'd me to the Emperor.What say't thou? Thirty years have we togetherLiv'd out, and held out, sharing joy and hardship.We have slept in one camp-bed, drunk from one glass, One morsel shar'd! I lean'd myself on him,As now I lean me on thy faithful shoulder.And now in the very moment, when, all love,All confidence, my bosom beat to his,He sees and takes the advantage, stabs the knifeSlowly into my heart.(he hides his face in Butler's breast.)
BUTLER.Forget the false one.What is your present purpose?
WALLENSTEIN.Well remember'd!Courage, my soul! I am still rich in friends,Still lov'd by Destiny; for in the moment,That it unmasks the plotting hypocrite,It sends and proves to me one faithful heart.Of the hypocrite no more! Think not, his lossWas that which struck the pang: O no! his treasonIs that which strikes this pang! No more of him!Dear to my heart, and honour'd were they both,And the young man—yes—he did truly love me,He—he—has not deceiv'd me. But enough,Enough of this—Swift counsel now beseems us.The Courier, whom Count Kinsky sent from Prague,I expect him every moment: and whateverHe may bring with him, we must take good careTo keep it from the mutineers. Quick, then!Dispatch some messenger you can rely onTo meet him, and conduct him to me.(Illo is going.)BUTLER. (detaining him.)My General, whom expect you then?
WALLENSTEIN.The CourierWho brings me word of the event at Prague.
BUTLER. (hesitating.)Hem!
WALLENSTEIN.And what now?
BUTLER.You do not know it?
WALLENSTEIN. Well?
BUTLER.From what that larum in the camp arose?
WALLENSTEIN.From what?
BUTLER.That Courier
WALLENSTEIN. (with eager expectation.)Well?
BUTLER.Is already here.
TERTSKY and ILLO. (at the same time.)Already here?
WALLENSTEIN.My Courier?
BUTLER.For some hours.
WALLENSTEIN.And I not know it?
BUTLER.The centinels detain himIn custody.
ILLO. (stamping with his foot.)Damnation!
BUTLER.And his letterWas broken open, and is circulatedThrough the whole camp.
WALLENSTEIN.You know what it contains?
BUTLER.Question me not!
TERTSKY.Illo! alas for us!
WALLENSTEIN.Hide nothing from me—I can hear the worst.Prague then is lost. It is. Confess it freely.
BUTLER.Yes! Prague is lost. And all the several regimentsAt Budweiss, Tabor, Braunau, Konigingratz,At Brun, and Znaym, have forsaken you,And ta'en the oaths of fealty anewTo the Emperor. Yourself, with Kinsky, Tertsky,And Illo have been sentenc'd.
(Tertsky and Illo express alarm and fury. Wallenstein remains firm and collected.)
WALLENSTEIN.Tis decided! 'Tis well! I have receiv'd a sudden cureFrom all the pangs of doubt: with steady streamOnce more my life-blood flows! My soul's secure!In the night only Friedland's stars can beam.Ling'ring, irresolute, with fitful fearsI drew the sword—'twas with an inward strife,While yet the choice was mine. The murd'rous knifeIs lifted for my heart! Doubt disappears!I fight now for my head and for my life.[Exit Wallenstein, the others follow him.