Chapter 87

SCENE--_A Gothic Apartment at the DUCHESS FRIEDLAND'S. THEKLA on a seat, pale, her eyes closed. The DUCHESS and LADY NEUBRUNN busied about her. WALLENSTEIN and the COUNTESS in conversation._

_Wallenstein._ How knew she it so soon?

_Countess._ She seems to have Foreboded some misfortune. The report Of an engagement, in the which had fallen A colonel of the Imperial army, frighten'd her. I saw it instantly. She flew to meet 5 The Swedish Courier, and with sudden questioning, Soon wrested from him the disastrous secret. Too late we missed her, hastened after her, We found her lying in his arms, all pale And in a swoon.

_Wallenstein._ A heavy, heavy blow! 10 And she so unprepared! Poor child! How is it?

[_Turning to the DUCHESS._

Is she coming to herself?

_Duchess._ Her eyes are opening.

_Countess._ She lives.

_Thekla (looking around her)._ Where am I?

_Wallenstein (steps to her, raising her up in his arms)._ Come, cheerly, Thekla! be my own brave girl! See, there's thy loving mother. Thou art in 15 Thy father's arms.

_Thekla (standing up)._ Where is he? Is he gone?

_Duchess._ Who gone, my daughter?

_Thekla._ He--the man who uttered That word of misery.

_Duchess._ O! think not of it, My Thekla!

_Wallenstein._ Give her sorrow leave to talk! Let her complain--mingle your tears with hers, 20 For she hath suffered a deep anguish; but She'll rise superior to it, for my Thekla Hath all her father's unsubdued heart.

_Thekla._ I am not ill. See, I have power to stand. Why does my mother weep? Have I alarmed her? 25 It is gone by--I recollect myself--

[_She casts her eyes round the room, as seeking some one._

Where is he? Please you, do not hide him from me. You see I have strength enough: now I will hear him.

_Duchess._ No, never shall this messenger of evil Enter again into thy presence, Thekla! 30

_Thekla._ My father--

_Wallenstein._ Dearest daughter!

_Thekla._ I'm not weak-- Shortly I shall be quite myself again. You'll grant me one request?

_Wallenstein._ Name it, my daughter.

_Thekla._ Permit the stranger to be called to me, And grant me leave, that by myself I may 35 Hear his report and question him.

_Duchess._ No, never!

_Countess._ 'Tis not advisable--assent not to it.

_Wallenstein._ Hush! Wherefore would'st thou speak with him, my daughter?

_Thekla._ Knowing the whole, I shall be more collected; I will not be deceived. My mother wishes 40 Only to spare me. I will not be spared. The worst is said already: I can hear Nothing of deeper anguish!

_Countess and Duchess._ Do it not.

_Thekla._ The horror overpowered me by surprise. My heart betrayed me in the stranger's presence; 45 He was a witness of my weakness, yea, I sank into his arms; and that has shamed me. I must replace myself in his esteem, And I must speak with him, perforce, that he, The stranger, may not think ungently of me. 50

_Wallenstein._ I see she is in the right, and am inclined To grant her this request of hers. Go, call him.

[_LADY NEUBRUNN goes to call him._

_Duchess._ But I, thy mother, will be present--

_Thekla._ 'Twere More pleasing to me, if alone I saw him: Trust me, I shall behave myself the more 55 Collectedly.

_Wallenstein._ Permit her her own will. Leave her alone with him: for there are sorrows, Where of necessity the soul must be Its own support. A strong heart will rely On its own strength alone. In her own bosom, 60 Not in her mother's arms, must she collect The strength to rise superior to this blow. It is mine own brave girl. I'll have her treated Not as the woman, but the heroine. [_Going._

_Countess (detaining him)._ Where art thou going? I heard Tertsky say 65 That 'tis thy purpose to depart from hence To-morrow early, but to leave us here.

_Wallenstein._ Yes, ye stay here, placed under the protection Of gallant men.

_Countess._ O take us with you, brother. Leave us not in this gloomy solitude 70 To brood o'er anxious thoughts. The mists of doubt Magnify evils to a shape of horror.

_Wallenstein._ Who speaks of evil? I entreat you, sister, Use words of better omen.

_Countess._ Then take us with you. O leave us not behind you in a place 75 That forces us to such sad omens. Heavy And sick within me is my heart---- These walls breathe on me, like a church-yard vault. I cannot tell you, brother, how this place Doth go against my nature. Take us with you. 80 Come, sister, join you your entreaty!--Niece, Yours too. We all entreat you, take us with you!

_Wallenstein._ The place's evil omens will I change, Making it that which shields and shelters for me My best beloved.

_Lady Neubrunn (returning)._ The Swedish officer. 85

_Wallenstein._ Leave her alone with him. [_Exit._

_Duchess (to Thekla who starts and shivers)._ There--pale as death!--Child, 'tis impossible That thou should'st speak with him. Follow thy mother.

_Thekla._ The Lady Neubrunn then may stay with me.

[_Exeunt DUCHESS and COUNTESS._

LINENOTES:

SCENE--_A Gothic and gloomy, &c._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[66] _thy_ 1800, 1828, 1829.