O! they force, they thrust me With violence, against my own will, onward! By giving way and by submission, this What are we, if the sovereign's grace and favour SCENE VII.-Enter the COUNTESS TERTSKY, leading in her hand the PRINCESS THEKLA, richly adorned with brilliants. COUNTESS, THEKLA, WALLENSTEIN, DUCHESS. Coun. How sister? What already upon business, (observing the countenance of the Duchess.) And business of no pleasing kind I see, Ere he has gladden'd at his child. The first Moment belongs to joy. Here, Friedland! father! This is thy daughter. (Thekla approaches with a shy and timid air, and bends herself as about to kiss his hand, he receives her in his arms, and remains standing for some time lost in the feeling of her presence.) Wal. Yes; pure and lovely hath hope risen on me. I take her as the pledge of greater fortune. Duch. 'Twas but a little child when you departed To raise up that great army for the Emperor: And after, at the close of the campaign, When you return'd home out of Pomerania, Your daughter was already in the convent, Wherein she has remain'd till now. Wal. The while We in the field here gave our cares and toils To make her great, and fight her a free way To the loftiest earthly good; lo! mother Nature Within the peaceful silent convent walls Has done her part, and out of her free grace Hath she bestowed on the beloved child The godlike; and now leads her thus adorned To meet her splendid fortune and my hope. Duch. (to Thekla). Thou would'st not have recogAiz'd thy father, Would'st thou, my child? She counted scarce eight years When last she saw your face. Thek. O yes, yes, mother! At the first glance !-My father is not alter'd. The form, that stands before me, falsifies No feature of the image that hath liv'd So long within me ! Wal. The voice of my child! (then after a pause). I was indignant at my destiny That it denied me a man-child to be Heir of my name and of my prosperous fortune, In a proud line of princes. I wrong'd my destiny. Here upon this head, Let fall the garland of a life of war; Nor deem it lost, if only I wreath it, (He clasps her in his arms as Piccolomini enters.) SCENE IX. Enter MAX. PICCOLOMINI, and some time after COUNT TERTSKY, the others remaining as before. Coun. There comes the Palladin who protected us. wert thou The morning star of my best joys! Max. My General Wal. 'Till now it was the Emperor who rewarded thee, I but the instrument. This day thou hast bound Max. My prince! You made no common hurry to transfer it. I came already with full heart to thank you for, (Tertsky enters, and delivers letters to the Duke Coun. (to Max.) Remunerate your trouble! For his joy He makes you recompence. 'Tis not unfitting For you, Count Piccolomini, to feel So tenderly my brother it beseems To show himself for ever great and princely. Thek. 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. 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. In this name hath my destiny charm-bound me! My brother wishes us to leave him. Come. Wal. (turns himself round quickly, collects himself, and speaks with cheerfulness 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.) Ter. (calling after him.) Max., we depend on seeing you at the meeting. SCENE X. WALLENSTEIN, COUNT 1ERTSKY. Wal. (in deep thought to himself.) She hath seen . all things as they are—It is so, And squares completely with my other notices. They have determin'd finally in Vienna, Hath given me my successor already; It is the king of Hungary, Ferdinand, The Emperor's delicate son! he's now their saviour, And as we were deceas'd, the heir already Is entering on possession―Therefore—despatch! Count Altringer will have himself excus'd, Ter. Thou loiterest longer, all will fall away, One following the other. Wal. Altringer And if Is master of the Tyrole passes. I must forthwith Send some one to him, that he let not in The Spaniards on me from the Milanese. -Well, and the old Sesin, that ancient trader Has shown himself again of late. What brings he Ter. The Count communicates, He has found out the Swedish chancellor At Halberstadt, where the convention 's held, Who says, you've tir'd him out, and that he'll have No further dealings with you. Wal. And why so? |