The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 03: Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into English. in Twenty Volumes
General
The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 03: Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into English. in Twenty Volumes
German literature -- 19th century -- Translations into English; German literature -- 20th century -- Translations into English
COUNTESS (_who has been watching them anxiously from the
distance and now advances to them_).
Terzky! Heaven! What is it? What has happen'd?
WALLENSTEIN (_scarcely suppressing his emotions_).
Nothing! let us be gone!
TERZKY (_following him_).
Theresa, it is nothing.
COUNTESS (_holding him back_).
Nothing? Do I not see that all the life-blood
Has left your cheeks--look you not like a ghost?
That even my brother but affects a calmness?
PAGE (_enters_).
An Aide-de-camp inquires for the Count Terzky.
[TERZKY _follows the_ PAGE.]
WALLENST. Go, hear his business.
[_To_ ILLO.]
This could not have happen'd
So unsuspected without mutiny.
Who was on guard at the gates?
ILLO.
'Twas Tiefenbach.
WALLENST.
Let Tiefenbach leave guard without delay,
And Terzky's grenadiers relieve him.
[ILLO _is going_.]
Stop!
Hast thou heard aught of Butler?
ILLO.
Him I met;
He will be here himself immediately.
Butler remains unshaken.
[ILLO _exit_. WALLENSTEIN _is following him_.]
COUNTESS.
Let him not leave thee, sister! go, detain him!
There's some misfortune.
DUCHESS (_clinging to him_).
Gracious Heaven! What is it?
WALLENST.
Be tranquil! leave me, sister! dearest wife!
We are in camp, and this is nought unusual;
Here storm and sunshine follow one another
With rapid interchanges. These fierce spirits
Champ the curb angrily, and never yet
Did quiet bless the temples of the leader.
If I am to stay, go you. The plaints of women
Ill suit the scene where men must act.
[_He is going_. TERZHY _returns_.]
TERZHY.
Remain here. From this window must we see it.
WALLENSTEIN (_to the_ COUNTESS).
Sister, retire!
COUNTESS.
No--never.
WALLENSTEIN.
'Tis my will.
TERZKY (_leads the_ COUNTESS _aside, and drawing her
attention to the_ DUCHESS).
Theresa?
DUCHESS.
Sister, come! since he commands it.
SCENE VII
WALLENSTEIN, TERZKY
WALLENSTEIN (_stepping to the window_).
What now, then?
TERZKY.
There are strange movements among all the troops,
And no one knows the cause. Mysteriously,
With gloomy silentness, the several corps
Marshal themselves, each under its own banners.
Tiefenbach's corps make threat'ning movements; only
The Pappenheimers still remain aloof
In their own quarters, and let no one enter.
WALLENST.
Does Piccolomini appear among them?
TERZKY.
We are seeking him: he is nowhere to be met with.
WALLENST.
What did the Aide-de-camp deliver to you?
TERZKY.
My regiments had dispatch'd him; yet once more
They swear fidelity to thee, and wait
The shout for onset, all prepared, and eager.
WALLENST.
But whence arose this larum in the camp?
It should have been kept secret from the army,
Till fortune had decided for us at Prague.
TERZKY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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