The Death of Wallenstein (play)

SCENE IX.

[A gothic and gloomy 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 which had fallen

A colonel of the imperial army, frightened her.

I saw it instantly. She flew to meet

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!

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

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.

Oh, think not of it!

My Thekla!

WALLENSTEIN.

Give her sorrow leave to talk!

Let her complain-mingle your tears with hers,

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?

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!

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

Hear his report and question him.

DUCHESS.

No, never!

COUNTESS.

'Tis not advisable-assent not to it.

WALLENSTEIN.

Hush! Wherefore wouldst thou speak with him, my daughter?

THEKLA.

Knowing the whole, I shall be more collected;

I will not be deceived. My mother wishes

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:

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.

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

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,

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 Terzky say

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.

Oh, take us with you, brother.

Leave us not in this gloomy solitude.

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.

Oh leave us not behind you in a place

That forces us to such sad omens. Heavy

And sick within me is my heart-

These walls breathe on me like a churchyard vault.

I cannot tell you, brother, how this place

Doth go against my nature. Take us with you.

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.

WALLENSTEIN.

Leave her alone with me.

DUCHESS (to THEKLA, who starts and shivers).

There-pale as death! Child, 'tis impossible

That thou shouldst speak with him. Follow thy mother.

THEKLA.

The Lady Neubrunn then may stay with me.

[Exeunt DUCHESS and COUNTESS.