Chapter 47

_WALLENSTEIN, DUCHESS._

_Wallenstein._ You went then through Vienna, were presented To the Queen of Hungary?

_Duchess._ Yes, and to the Empress too, And by both Majesties were we admitted To kiss the hand.

_Wallenstein._ And how was it received, That I had sent for wife and daughter hither 5 To the camp, in winter time?

_Duchess._ I did even that Which you commissioned me to do. I told them, You had determined on our daughter's marriage, And wished, ere yet you went into the field, To shew the elected husband his betrothed. 10

_Wallenstein._ And did they guess the choice which I had made?

_Duchess._ They only hoped and wished it may have fallen Upon no foreign nor yet Lutheran noble.

_Wallenstein._ And you--what do you wish, Elizabeth?

_Duchess._ Your will, you know, was always mine.

_Wallenstein._ Well, then? 15 And in all else, of what kind and complexion Was your reception at the court? Hide nothing from me. How were you received?

_Duchess._ O! my dear lord, all is not what it was. A cankerworm, my lord, a cankerworm 20 Has stolen into the bud.

_Wallenstein._ Ay! is it so! What, they were lax? they failed of the old respect?

_Duchess._ Not of respect. No honours were omitted, No outward courtesy; but in the place Of condescending, confidential kindness, 25 Familiar and endearing, there were given me Only these honours and that solemn courtesy. Ah! and the tenderness which was put on, It was the guise of pity, not of favour. No! Albrecht's wife, Duke Albrecht's princely wife, 30 Count Harrach's noble daughter, should not so-- Not wholly so should she have been received.

_Wallenstein._ Yes, yes; they have ta'en offence. My latest conduct, They railed at it, no doubt.

_Duchess._ O that they had! I have been long accustomed to defend you, 35 To heal and pacify distempered spirits. No; no one railed at you. They wrapped them up, O Heaven! in such oppressive, solemn silence!-- Here is no every-day misunderstanding, No transient pique, no cloud that passes over; 40 Something most luckless, most unhealable, Has taken place. The Queen of Hungary Used formerly to call me her dear aunt, And ever at departure to embrace me--

_Wallenstein._ Now she omitted it?

_Duchess._ She did embrace me, 45 But then first when I had already taken My formal leave, and when the door already Had closed upon me, then did she come out In haste, as she had suddenly bethought herself, And pressed me to her bosom, more with anguish 50 Than tenderness.

_Wallenstein (seizes her hand soothingly)._ Nay, now collect yourself, And what of Eggenberg and Lichtenstein, And of our other friends there?

_Duchess._ I saw none.

_Wallenstein._ The Ambassador from Spain, who once was wont To plead so warmly for me?--

_Duchess._ Silent, Silent! 55

_Wallenstein._ These suns then are eclipsed for us. Henceforward Must we roll on, our own fire, our own light.

_Duchess._ And were it--were it, my dear lord, in that Which moved about the court in buzz and whisper, But in the country let itself be heard 60 Aloud--in that which Father Lamormain In sundry hints and----

_Wallenstein._ Lamormain! what said he?

_Duchess._ That you're accused of having daringly O'erstepped the powers entrusted to you, charged With traitorous contempt of the Emperor 65 And his supreme behests. The proud Bavarian, He and the Spaniards stand up your accusers-- That there's a storm collecting over you Of far more fearful menace than that former one Which whirled you headlong down at Regensburg. 70 And people talk, said he, of----Ah!--

_Wallenstein._ Proceed!

_Duchess._ I cannot utter it!

_Wallenstein._ Proceed!

_Duchess._ They talk----

_Wallenstein._ Well!

_Duchess._ Of a second----

_Wallenstein._ Second----

_Duchess._ More disgraceful ----Dismission.

_Wallenstein._ Talk they? O! they force, they thrust me With violence, against my own will, onward! 75

_Duchess_. O! if there yet be time, my husband! if By giving way and by submission, this Can be averted--my dear lord, give way! Win down your proud heart to it! Tell that heart It is your sovereign lord, your Emperor 80 Before whom you retreat. O let no longer Low tricking malice blacken your good meaning With abhorred venomous glosses. Stand you up Shielded and helm'd and weapon'd with the truth, And drive before you into uttermost shame 85 These slanderous liars! Few firm friends have we-- You know it!--The swift growth of our good fortune It hath but set us up, a mark for hatred. What are we, if the sovereign's grace and favour Stand not before us? 90

LINENOTES:

[14] _you_ wish 1800, 1828, 1829.

[15] _Wallenstein (after a pause)._ Well, then? 1800, 1828, 1829.

[After 17] [_The DUCHESS casts her eyes on the ground and remains silent._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[31] _so_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[45] _Now_ 1800, 1828, 1829. _Duchess (wiping away her tears, after a pause)._ 1800, 1828, 1829. _did_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[53] _Duchess (shaking her head)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[62] _Wallenstein (eagerly)._ Lamormain, &c. 1800, 1828, 1829. _he_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[71]

And people . . . Ah!-- [_Stifling extreme emotion._

1800, 1828, 1829.

[73] _Duchess._ Of a second---- (_catches her voice and hesitates_). 1800, 1828, 1829.

[74]

_Wallenstein._ Talk they? [_Strides across the chamber in vehement agitation._

1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 76] _Duchess (presses near to him, in entreaty)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.