The Piccolomini (play)

SCENE IV.

Enter MAX. PICCOLOMINI, and some time after COUNT TERZKY, the

others remaining as before.

COUNTESS.

There comes the Paladin who protected us.

WALLENSTEIN.

Max.! Welcome, ever welcome! Always wert thou

The morning star of my best joys!

MAX.

My general--

WALLENSTEIN.

Till now it was the emperor who rewarded thee,

I but the instrument. This day thou hast bound

The father to thee, Max.! the fortunate father,

And this debt Friedland's self must pay.

MAX.

My prince!

You made no common hurry to transfer it.

I come with shame: yea, not without a pang!

For scarce have I arrived here, scarce delivered

The mother and the daughter to your arms,

But there is brought to me from your equerry [6]

A splendid richly-plated hunting dress

So to remunerate me for my troubles-

Yes, yes, remunerate me,-since a trouble

It must be, a mere office, not a favor

Which I leaped forward to receive, and which

I came with grateful heart to thank you for.

No! 'twas not so intended, that my business

Should be my highest best good fortune!

[TERZKY enters; and delivers letters to the DUKE, which he

breaks open hurriedly.

COUNTESS (to MAX.).

Remunerate your trouble! For his joy,

He makes you recompense. 'Tis not unfitting

For you, Count Piccolomini, to feel

So tenderly-my brother it beseems

To show himself forever great and princely.

THEKLA.

Then I too must have scruples of his love:

For his munificent hands did ornament me

Ere yet the father's heart had spoken to me.

MAX

Yes; 'tis his nature ever to be giving

And making happy.

[He grasps the hand of the DUCHESS with still increasing warmth.

How my heart pours out

Its all of thanks to him! O! how I seem

To utter all things in the dear name-Friedland.

While I shall live, so long will I remain

The captive of this name: in it shall bloom

My every fortune, every lovely hope.

Inextricably as in some magic ring

In this name hath my destiny charm-bound me!

COUNTESS (who during this time has been anxiously watching the DUKE,

and remarks that he is lost in thought over the letters).

My brother wishes us to leave him. Come.

WALLENSTEIN (turns himself round quick, collects himself, and speaks

with cheerfulness to the DUCHESS).

Once more I bid thee welcome to the camp,

Thou art the hostess of this court. You, Max.,

Will now again administer your old office,

While we perform the sovereign's business here.

[MAX. PICCOLOMINI offers the DUCHESS his arm; the COUNTESS

accompanies the PRINCESS.

TERZKY (calling after him).

Max., we depend on seeing you at the meeting.