Wallenstein/The Death of Wallenstein/A2S04

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The Death of Wallenstein, Act 2, Scene III

Wallenstein
by Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller, translated by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The Death of Wallenstein: Act 2, Scene IV.

The Death of Wallenstein, Act 2, Scene V

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4353863Wallenstein — The Death of Wallenstein: Act 2, Scene IV.Samuel Taylor ColeridgeJohann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller

SCENE IV.

To these enter Butler.

BUTLER. (passionately.)General! This is not right!

WALLENSTEIN.What is not right?

BUTLER.It must needs injure us with all honest men.

WALLENSTEIN.But what?

BUTLER.It is an open proclamationOf insurrection.

WALLENSTEIN.Well, well—but what is it?

BUTLER.Count Tertsky's regiments tear the Imperial EagleFrom off the banners, and instead of it,Have rear'd aloft thy arms.

ANSPESSADE. (abruptly to the Cuirassiers.)Right about! March!

WALLENSTEIN.Curs'd be this counsel, and accurs'd who gave it!(to the Cuirassiers, who are retiring.)Halt, children, halt! There's some mistake in this! Hark!-I will punish it severely. Stop! They do not hear. (to Illo.) Go after them, assure them, And bring them back to me, cost what it may. (Illo hurries out.) This hurls us headlong. Butler! Butler! You are my evil genius, wherefore must you Announce it in their presence? It was all In a fair way. They were half won, those madmen With their improvident over-readiness—A cruel game is Fortune playing with me. The zeal of friends it is that razes me, And not the hate of enemies.