Wallenstein/The Piccolomini/A1S09

by Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller

SCENE IX.

Enter Max. Piccolomini, and some time after
Count Tertsky, the others remaining as
before.

COUNTESS.

There comes the Palladin who protected us.

WALLENSTEIN.

Max! Welcome, ever welcome! Always wert thou

The morning star of my best joys!

MAX.

My General———

WALLENSTEIN.

'Till now it was the Emperor who rewarded thee,

I but the instrument. This day thou hast bound
The father to thee, Max! the fortunate father,
And this debt Friedland's self must pay.

MAX.

My prince!

You made no common hurry to transfer it.
I come with shame. Yea, not without a pang!
For scarce have I arriv'd here, scarce deliver'd
The mother and the daughter to your arms,

But there is brought to me from your equerry
A splendid richly-plated hunting dress
So to remunerate me for my trouble———
Yes, yes, remunerate me! Since a trouble
It must be, a mere office, not a favour
Which I leapt forward to receive, and which
I came already with full heart to thank you for.
No! 'twas not so intended, that my business
Should be my highest best good fortune!

(Tertsky enters, and delivers letters to the
Duke, which he breaks open hurryingly.)

COUNTESS. (to Max.)

Remunerate your trouble! For his joy

He makes you recompense. 'Tis not unfitting
For you, Count Piccolomini, to feel
So tenderly—my brother it beseems
To shew himself forever great and princely.

THEKLA.

Then I too must have scruples of his love:

For his munificent hands did ornament me
Ere yet the father's heart had spoken to me.

MAX.

Yes; 'tis his nature ever to be giving

And making happy.

(He grasps the hand of the Duchess with still
increasing warmth.)

How my heart pours out

Its all of thanks to him: O! how I seem
To utter all things in the dear name Friedland.
While I shall live, so long will I remain
The captive of this name: in it shall bloom

My every fortune, every lovely hope.
Inextricably as in some magic ring
In this name hath my destiny charm-bound me!

COUNTESS.

(Who during this time has been anxiously
watching the Duke, and remarks that he is lost in
thought over the letters.)

My brother wishes us to leave him. Come.

WALLENSTEIN.

(Turns himself round quick, collects himself,
and speaks with chearfulness to the Duchess.)

Once more I bid thee welcome to the camp,

Thou art the hostess of this court. You, Max.
Will now again administer your old office,
While we perform the sovereign's business here.

(Max. Piccolomini offers the Duchess his arm,
the Countess accompanies the Princess.)

TERTSKY. (calling after him.)

Max. we depend on seeing you at the meeting.

 

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