The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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Chapter 257 : _Countess._ --Tertsky!What ails him? What an image of affright!He looks as he had seen
_Countess._ --Tertsky!
What ails him? What an image of affright!
He looks as he had seen a ghost.
_Tertsky (leading Wallenstein aside)._ Is it thy command that all the Croats--
_Wallenstein._ Mine! 5
_Tertsky._ We are betrayed.
_Wallenstein._ What?
_Tertsky._ They are off! This night The Jagers likewise--all the villages In the whole round are empty.
_Wallenstein._ Isolani?
_Tertsky._ Him thou hast sent away. Yes, surely.
_Wallenstein._ I?
_Tertsky._ No! Hast thou not sent him off? Nor Deodate? 10 They are vanished both of them.
SCENE VI
_To them enter ILLO._
_Illo._ Has Tertsky told thee?
_Tertsky._ He knows all.
_Illo._ And likewise That Esterhatzy, Goetz, Maradas, Kaunitz, Kolatto, Palfi, have forsaken thee?
_Tertsky._ d.a.m.nation!
_Wallenstein (winks at them)._ Hus.h.!.+
_Countess (who has been watching them anxiously from the distance and now advances to them)._ Tertsky! Heaven! What is it? What has happened? 5
_Wallenstein (scarcely suppressing his emotions)._ Nothing! let us be gone!
_Tertsky (following him)._ Theresa, it is nothing.
_Countess (holding him back)._ Nothing? Do I not see, that all the lifeblood Has left your cheeks--look you not like a ghost?
That even my brother but affects a calmness? 10
_Page (enters)._ An Aid-de-Camp enquires for the Count Tertsky.
[_TERTSKY follows the Page._
_Wallenstein._ Go, hear his business. [_To ILLO._ This could not have happened So unsuspected without mutiny.
Who was on guard at the gates?
_Illo._ 'Twas Tiefenbach. 15
_Wallenstein._ Let Tiefenbach leave guard without delay, And Tertsky'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! 20 There's some misfortune.
_d.u.c.h.ess (clinging to him)._ Gracious heaven! What is it?
_Wallenstein._ Be tranquil! leave me, sister! dearest wife!
We are in camp, and this is nought unusual; Here storm and suns.h.i.+ne follow one another With rapid interchanges. These fierce spirits 25 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: TERTSKY returns._
_Tertsky._ Remain here. From this window must we see it. 30
_Wallenstein (to the Countess)._ Sister, retire!
_Countess._ No--never.
_Wallenstein._ 'Tis my will.
_Tertsky (leads the Countess aside, and drawing her attention to the d.u.c.h.ess)._ Theresa!
_d.u.c.h.ess._ Sister, come! since he commands it.
LINENOTES:
[4] _Wallenstein (winks to them)._ 1800.
SCENE VII
_WALLENSTEIN, TERTSKY._
_Wallenstein (stepping to the window)._ What now, then?
_Tertsky._ 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. 5 Tiefenbach's corps makes threatening movements; only The Pappenheimers still remain aloof In their own quarters, and let no one enter.
