Wallenstein. What? he advanced? And I, his general,
Had given him orders, peremptory orders,
Not to desert his station! Stands it thus
With my authority? Is this the obedience
Due to my office, which being thrown aside 165
No war can be conducted? Chieftains, speak!
You be the judges, generals! What deserves
That officer, who of his oath neglectful
Is guilty of contempt of orders?
Illo. Death.
Wallenstein. Count Piccolomini! what has he deserved? 170
Max Piccolomini. According to the letter of the law,
Death.
Isolani. Death.
Butler. Death, by the laws of war.
[QUESTENBERG rises from his seat, WALLENSTEIN follows;
all the rest rise.
Wallenstein. To this the law condemns him, and not I.
And if I shew him favour, ‘twill arise
From the reverence that I owe my Emperor. 175
Questenberg. If so, I can say nothing further — here!
Wallenstein. I accepted the command but on conditions!
And this the first, that to the diminution
Of my authority no human being,
Not even the Emperor’s self, should be entitled 180
To do aught, or to say aught, with the army.
If I stand warranter of the event,
Placing my honour and my head in pledge,
Needs must I have full mastery in all
The means thereto. What rendered this Gustavus 185
Resistless, and unconquered upon earth?
This — that he was the monarch in his army!
A monarch, one who is indeed a monarch,
Was never yet subdued but by his equal.
But to the point! The best is yet to come. 190
Attend now, generals!
Questenberg. The prince Cardinal
Begins his route at the approach of spring
From the Milanese; and leads a Spanish army
Through Germany into the Netherlands.
That he may march secure and unimpeded, 195
‘Tis the Emperor’s will you grant him a detachment
Of eight horse-regiments from the army here.
Wallenstein. Yes, yes! I understand! — Eight regiments! Well,
Right well concerted, father Lamormain!
Eight thousand horse! Yes, yes! ‘Tis as it should be! 200
I see it coming!
Questenberg. There is nothing coming.
All stands in front: the counsel of state-prudence,
The dictate of necessity! ——
Wallenstein. What then?
What, my Lord Envoy? May I not be suffered
To understand, that folks are tired of seeing 205
The sword’s hilt in my grasp: and that your court
Snatch eagerly at this pretence, and use
The Spanish title, to drain off my forces,
To lead into the empire a new army
Unsubjected to my control. To throw me 210
Plumply aside, — I am still too powerful for you
To venture that. My stipulation runs,
That all the Imperial forces shall obey me
Where’er the German is the native language.
Of Spanish troops and of Prince Cardinals 215
That take their route, as visitors, through the empire,
There stands no syllable in my stipulation.
No syllable! And so the politic court
Steals in a-tiptoe, and creeps round behind it;
First makes me weaker, then to be dispensed with, 220
Till it dares strike at length a bolder blow
And make short work with me.
What need of all these crooked ways, Lord Envoy?
Straight-forward man! His compact with me pinches
The Emperor. He would that I moved off! — 225
Well! — I will gratify him!
[Here there commences an agitation among the Generals
which increases continually.
It grieves me for my noble officers’ sakes!
I see not yet, by what means they will come at
The moneys they have advanced, or how obtain
The recompense their services demand. 230
Still a new leader brings new claimants forward,
And prior merit superannuates quickly.
There serve here many foreigners in the army,
And were the man in all else brave and gallant,
I was not wont to make nice scrutiny 235
After his pedigree or catechism.
This will be otherwise, i’the time to come.
Well — me no longer it concerns. [He seats himself.
Max Piccolomini. Forbid it. Heaven, that it should come to this!
Our troops will swell in dreadful fermentation — 240
The Emperor is abused — it cannot be.
Isolani. It cannot be; all goes to instant wreck.
Wallenstein. Thou hast said truly, faithful Isolani!
What we with toil and foresight have built up,
Will go to wreck — all go to instant wreck. 245
What then? another chieftain is soon found,
Another army likewise (who dares doubt it?)
Will flock from all sides to the Emperor
At the first beat of his recruiting drum.
[During this speech, ISOLANI, TERTSKY, ILLO and MARADAS
talk confusedly with great agitation.
Max Piccolomini (busily and passionately going from one to
another, and soothing them). Hear, my commander! Hear me,
generals! 250
Let me conjure you, Duke! Determine nothing,
Till we have met and represented to you
Our joint remonstrances. — Nay, calmer! Friends!
I hope all may be yet set right again.
Tertsky. Away! let us away! in the antechamber 255
Find we the others. [They go.
Butler (to Questenberg). If good counsel gain
Due audience from your wisdom, my Lord Envoy!
You will be cautious