Chapter 73

_COUNTESS, DUCHESS, MAX, and THEKLA._

_Countess (to the Duchess)._ Let them but see him--there is hope still, sister.

_Duchess._ Hope! I have none!

_Max (who during the last scene has been standing at a distance, advances)._ This can I not endure. With most determined soul did I come hither, My purposed action seemed unblameable To my own conscience--and I must stand here 5 Like one abhorred, a hard inhuman being; Yea, loaded with the curse of all I love! Must see all whom I love in this sore anguish, Whom I with one word can make happy--O! My heart revolts within me, and two voices 10 Make themselves audible within my bosom. My soul's benighted; I no longer can Distinguish the right track. O, well and truly Didst thou say, father, I relied too much On my own heart. My mind moves to and fro-- 15 I know not what to do.

_Countess._ What! you know not? Does not your own heart tell you? O! then I Will tell it you. Your father is a traitor, A frightful traitor to us--he has plotted Against our General's life, has plunged us all 20 In misery--and you're his son! 'Tis yours To make the amends--Make you the son's fidelity Outweigh the father's treason, that the name Of Piccolomini be not a proverb Of infamy, a common form of cursing 25 To the posterity of Wallenstein.

_Max._ Where is that voice of truth which I dare follow? It speaks no longer in my heart. We all But utter what our passionate wishes dictate: O that an angel would descend from Heaven, 30 And scoop for me the right, the uncorrupted, With a pure hand from the pure Fount of Light.

[_His eyes glance on THEKLA._

What other angel seek I? To this heart, To this unerring heart, will I submit it, Will ask thy love, which has the power to bless 35 The happy man alone, averted ever From the disquieted and guilty--canst thou Still love me, if I stay? Say that thou canst, And I am the Duke's----

_Countess._ Think, niece----

_Max._ Think nothing, Thekla! Speak what thou feelest.

_Countess._ Think upon your father. 40

_Max._ I did not question thee, as Friedland's daughter. Thee, the beloved and the unerring god Within thy heart, I question. What's at stake? Not whether diadem of royalty Be to be won or not--that might'st thou think on. 45 Thy friend, and his soul's quiet, are at stake; The fortune of a thousand gallant men, Who will all follow me; shall I forswear My oath and duty to the Emperor? Say, shall I send into Octavio's camp 50 The parricidal ball? For when the ball Has left its cannon, and is on its flight, It is no longer a dead instrument! It lives, a spirit passes into it, The avenging furies seize possession of it, 55 And with sure malice guide it the worst way.

_Thekla._ O! Max----

_Max._ Nay, not precipitately either, Thekla. I understand thee. To thy noble heart The hardest duty might appear the highest. The human, not the great part, would I act. 60 Ev'n from my childhood to this present hour, Think what the Duke has done for me, how loved me, And think too, how my father has repaid him. O likewise the free lovely impulses Of hospitality, the pious friend's 65 Faithful attachment, these too are a holy Religion to the heart; and heavily The shudderings of nature do avenge Themselves on the barbarian that insults them. Lay all upon the balance, all--then speak, 70 And let thy heart decide it.

_Thekla._ O, thy own Hath long ago decided. Follow thou Thy heart's first feeling----

_Countess._ Oh! ill-fated woman!

_Thekla._ Is it possible, that that can be the right, The which thy tender heart did not at first 75 Detect and seize with instant impulse? Go, Fulfil thy duty! I should ever love thee. Whate'er thou had'st chosen, thou would'st still have acted Nobly and worthy of thee--but repentance Shall ne'er disturb thy soul's fair peace.

_Max._ Then I 80 Must leave thee, must part from thee!

_Thekla._ Being faithful To thine own self, thou art faithful too to me: If our fates part, our hearts remain united. A bloody hatred will divide for ever The houses Piccolomini and Friedland; 85 But we belong not to our houses--Go! Quick! quick! and separate thy righteous cause From our unholy and unblessed one! The curse of heaven lies upon our head: 'Tis dedicate to ruin. Even me 90 My father's guilt drags with it to perdition. Mourn not for me: My destiny will quickly be decided.

[_MAX clasps her in his arms. There is heard from behind the Scene a loud, wild, long continued cry, 'Vivat Ferdinandus,' accompanied by warlike instruments._

LINENOTES:

[Before 3] _Max (who . . . distance in a visible struggle of feelings, advances)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[22] _amends_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[23] _Outweigh_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[28] _my_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[37] _can'st_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[40] _feelest_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[45] _think_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[46] _his_ _1800_.]

[57] _Max (interrupting her)._ Nay, &c. 1800, 1828, 1829.

[After 92] [_MAX . . . in extreme emotion. There is . . . instruments. MAX and THEKLA remain without motion in each other's embraces._ 1800, 1828, 1829.