University of Virginia Library

Actus secundus

Scena prima.

Wallenstein, Waymar, Brandenburge, Tertzki, Kintzki, Illawe, Newman, Gordon, Lesle, Butler.
Wallens.
The honour you have done me mighty Princes,
Electors of the sacred Romane Empire,
By this your personal visit does ingage
So much our gratitude, that what our selves,
And the most able forces of our friends,
Can in requitall act, shall be perform'd,
Mutuall discourses of ten mingle soules,
And as the Arteries convey the blood
Throughout the body, they from mind to mind
Convey affection: to this end we did
Intreat this meeting, that our conference might
Joyne in an individuall league our hearts.

Bran.
This happy treaty, glorious Duke, shall bring
Blest peace once more with turtles wings, to soare
Over the German Provinces; shall dry
Teares from the eyes of mothers, while the Virgins
Shall dedicate their houres to joyfull Hymnes,
In honour of your merit.

Waym,
The sturdy boore
Shall plough his fields in safety, and ascribe
To you, great Duke, that happinesse: 'twas you,
Who when Bellona thundred through the land,
Did stop the steel-wing'd Goddesse in her course,
Who when our Armies, like a raging floud,
Did beare downe all before them, did oppose,
The greedy torrent, boldly turn'd it backe,
Into its native body, and conjoyn'd
With you so inur'd to conquest, he were lesse
Then man, and more then coward, that could feare
Any insuing dangers.

Wall.
You doe me too much honor, mighty Princes:
And now my brave confederates in Armes,
Where businesse of import commands attendance,
That time's mis-spent, that's spent in uselesse words,
I shall so please you, therefore speake the cause,
(In briefe) which urg'd me to desire this conference,
And give you reasons for my strange revolt,
From my so long lov'd Master.

Bran.
'Twas the end
We onely came for.

Waym.
The sole reason
That drew us to this meeting.

Wallens.
Thus in briefe then,
How I have serv'd this Emperour, these wounds
That beautifie my body (cause the markes
Of my just loyalty) given by your swords,
Can beare me righteous witnesse; but good service
To a malicious and ingratefull Prince,
Are rather causes of suspect, then love,
And when mens actions doe transcend reward,
They then descend to punishment (my cause
Is rightly stated thus) for when my selfe,
(I well may speake it without partiall boast)
Had like his Eagle in my powerfull gripe,
Snatch'd up his Crowne that lay despis'd on earth,
And heav'd it up to Heaven, borne all the waight,
Which yours, the Danish and the Swedish force,
Could load these shoulders with; nay shooke it off
Lightly, as windes in Autumne doe from trees,
Their wither'd Summer garments: then, even then,
When my just hopes were pregnant with conceit
Of Wreathes and triumphes (as a brave reward)
My Souldiers by his Mandates were forbid,
To obey me as their Generall, and my selfe
Commanded straightway to resigne my charge,
All my great power which I had bought with blood,
Unto Matthias Gallas my Field-Marshall.

Saxon.
Insufferable injury!

Bran.
Inhumane and unhear'd of ingratitude!

Wallens.
Nay more,
As I had been a Traytor then in fact,
He did endevour my surprize, to bring me
A prisoner to Vienna: thinke then Lords,
When both my pricelesse honour and my life
Were at one stake propos'd, if I'de not cause
To play my game with cunning skill, when these
My brave Commanders from their martiall eyes,
Did for my wrongs shed teares of blood, cal'd on me,
As on their friend, their father, not to leave
My Sons my Souldiers: if I their request
Perform'd, I sav'd my honour and my life,
But if the Emperors, I gave up them both
To plaine perspicuous ruine; yet in not
Accomplishing my Masters harsh commands,
The name of treason brands me (but passe that,)
I of two evils chose to take the least,
Rather to draw upon me Cæsars hate,
Then to forsake my charge and souldiers loves:
And now being free in my owne soule as thought
Unsought to (Lords) and unconstrain'd, I offer
T'assist against this Emperor (this thing
Made onely up of name and voyce) whom we
Will breake as showers doe bubles, which themselves
Of nothing had created.

Saxon.
So welcome
Is this your proffer'd amity, no blessing
Heaven in its fullest bounty could have showr'd,
Could have arriv'd more pleasing, and to shew
How much we prize your friendship, your the son,
Young Fredericke be affianc'd to my daughter,
The tye of nature to the tye of blood,
Will make the union perfect.

Wallens.
'Tis an honour,
We are bound in duty to accept, my Lords,
In noble soules no thought should once admit
Sullen delay, our progresse should be swift,
As is the passage of unlimited fire
In populous Cities; or as windes, whose force
Does at their birth rend ope the stubborne wombe
Of the dull earth their mother; great designes
Should by great spirits onely be pursu'd,
And our last businesse is our speedy conference
With Chancelor Oxenstern, and the French Embassador.
Actions that carry an unusuall weight,
Ought still to flye at an unusuall height.

Exeunt Wallens. Bran. Waym. Tert. Kint. Illaw.
Lesle.
So, let the dull
Halfe-spirited soules, who strive on reremice wings,
By that which fooles terme honesty, to climbe
Toth' top of honour, in their silly vertue
Boast, while ingenious and more active spirits,
In a direct line without stop or hindrance,
Mount to their wishes, yet ith' worlds esteeme,
Are held as reall, and indu'd with goodnesse.
This Wallenstein, like a good easie Mule,
Have I led on byth' nose to this rebellion,
Fir'd with such venome as will spread,
Like swift infection through his soule: these two
Shall be my agents to atchieve my ends,
Factors in cunning to vent forth my intentions,
Lieutenant Colonell Gordon, and my good
Captaine Butler.

Gordon.
We were musing,
What serious thought it was, that could so long
Detaine you from our conference.

Lesle.
Faith I was studying
On our great Generals fortunes, upon which
Our hopes and lives depend; what thinke you of them?

Gordon.
Well at least, wee'r bound
To hope the best, he's in himselfe so mighty,
He seemes above his fate.

Butler.
His plots doe carry
A faire and specious outside.

Lesle.
'Tis a signe,
Corruption is within them, noble friends,
You are my country-men, and if my life
May preserve yours from ruine, I shall deem it
Religiously imploy'd: if you discover
What I intend to utter, 'twill but send
My age some houres before its destin'd minute,
Unto my grave, and I most willingly,
Shall dye the causes martyr.

Gordon.
By our honours,
No syllable shall ever passe our lips,
What you in love reveale to us.

Lesle.
Thus then friends,
Rebellion never yet could boast a happy
Or prosperous period, Wallensteins designes
Are built on sand, and with the Emperours breath
Will be disperst into the ayre; I speak not this,
That I doe hate the man, heavens know I love
His person, but detest the cause he justifies.

Gord.
True, the dignity of Princes,
Does make what ever quarrels subjects raise
Against their Soveraigns, odious.

Lesle.
Shall we then,
Here in a strange country, violate
The Lawes of hospitality, unmake the ancient faith
Ascrib'd unto our Nation, by assisting
A Traytor 'gainst his lawfull Prince, a Generall
Against that power which gave him that command,
Betray that royall Master, to whose bounty
We owe our lives: first rather let's resolve,
To open all his treasons, his proceedings,
Unto our Lord the Emperour.

Gord.
'Tis very just,
And in my judgement requisite.

Butler.
I doe approve it.

Lesle.
'Twere meere madnesse,
And he that does mislike it, beares no braine,
No soule about him: Instead of slight preferment,
Which (should our Generall prosper) we at best,
Could but expect, we shall have
Castles, Lordships, Earledomes, nay Provinces,
Be stil'd the savers,
Preservers of the Empire, have our names,
As 'twere in triumph sung about the streets,
In popular acclamations, thinke then friends,
How farre these certain honours will surpasse
Our aëry expectations: come let's post
Straight to Vienna, and informe the Emperour
Of all's proceedings, in this great affaire,
We must not use our fortune, but our care.

Exeunt.

Scena secunda

Frederick, Albertus, Newman.
Newm.
Pish, perish still in ignorance, am I,
Who am grand master in the art of Love,
Not able to instruct a limber youth
Of the first growth, your brother here makes love
In all ill favor'd tone, and skrewes his countenance,
As he were singing of lamentable Ballads
Of Tillies overthrow, but you for your part,
(I've knowne you of an urchin) are so fiery,
You speake all squibs and crackers, carry a Canon
In your mouth, you'l fright the Lady, she'l imagine
You come to ravish her.

Albert.
The Colonell
Tells you, your owne, good brother.

New.
I've told you yours too, or I'm much mistaken,
You love, 't should seeme, the faire Emilia,
A pretty wench, they say, but that's no matter,
Your fathers are agreed on't, and you'd have me
Shew you the readiest way, how to accost her
Negatively, I will observe demonstrate instantly.

Fred.
I shall observe your doctrine most exactly.

Newm.
Pray observe,
You must not then accost her with a shrug,
As you were lowzie, with your Lady, sweet Lady,
Or most super-excellent Lady,
Nor in the Spanish garbe, with a state face,
As you had new been eating of a Raddish,
And meant to swallow her for mutton to't:
Nor let your words, as that I'm most afraid of,
('Cause 'tis your naturall mood) come rumbling forth,
Usher'd with a good full-mouth'd oath, I love you:
But speake the language of an overcomming Lover;
I doe not meane that strange pedanticke phrase,
Us'd by some gallants, who doe aime at wit,
And make themselves starke asses by't, praise their mistresses
By th'Sun and stars, while the poore girles imagine,
They meane their signes, their Mercers or Perfumers
Inhabit at (for sure beyond those Planets
They've studied no Astrologie) but you must
In gentle, free, and genuine phrase deliver
Your true affection, praise her eye, her lip,
Her nose, her cheeke, her chin, her neck, her brest,
Her hand, her foot, her leg, her every thing,
And leave your roses and your lillies for
Your country froes, to make nosegayes of:
But stay, here comes your Mistris, her father too,
In conference; fall on my Mirmidon,
While we retreat.

Int. Waymar, Emilia.
Alber.
Speed your endevors, brother.

Ex. Newm. Alber
Waym.
'Tis so concluded 'twixt me and her father,
For both our goods, be not you nice Emilia,
The noble youth's so furnish'd with all worth,
You needs must like him.

Emilia.
Good sir give me license,
To let my eye direct my heart to love,
And if young Fredericke be the master of
Such absolute gifts, doubt not but I shall find them.

Waym.
My Lord I'm glad
Of this faire interview, I and my daughter
Were even conferring of you; sir as yet
She's something timorous, dreads a Souldiers lookes.

Fred.
She needs not sir.
She beares a spell about her that would charme
A Scythians native fiercenesse into softnesse,
Those spirit-breathing eyes, my Lord, which can
Kill as they please, or quicken with a glance.

Waym.
Now they are enter'd,
Ile steale away and leave them.

Fred.
Gentle Lady,
To make the addresses of my love-sicke heart,
Plaine and apparent to you, that you may,
Search through my soule, and find it all your creature,
Give me your patient hearing.

Emil.
'Tis a request,
Might tax my manners, should I deny it to
One of your noble quality; use your pleasure.

Fred.
Which consists
In viewing your bright beauty, the idea
Of all perfections, which the jealous heavens
Durst ever lend to earth-divinest Lady,
The gentle ayre which circumscribes your cheeke,
Leaving its panting kisses on the flowres,
That in that Tempe blossome, does not love
Those fields of purity more then mine eyes do,
Mine, Lady, is a holy,
An intellectuall zeale, such as the Angels
And Saints, who know no sexes do affect by,
Past imitation too, should they who strive
To trace me, take the constancy of Swans,
Or never-changing Turtles; as their patternes.

Emilia.
Sir, it seemes
You've studied complement as well as Armes,
But he's a foolish Lover, who to gaine
His Mistris, dare not promise what you have utter'd, but I must
Have more then verball assurance of your love.

Fred.
By your faire selfe I'm reall, do intend,
What I've deliver'd with as much true zeale,
As Anchorits do their prayers: I love your minde,
Your excellent minde, and for its sake, the pure
Shrine, which containes that blessing, this fair building,
This pallace of all happinesse, and intreat you,
As you have mercy in you, to take pitty
Upon my loves stern sufferings, and redresse them,
By your consent to take me for your husband.

Emilia.
Sir you are an over-hasty Lover, to imagine
I can at first sight of your person, be
Surpriz'd and yeeld, they must be strong allurements,
Must tempt a bashfull Virgin still inur'd
To no companion but her feares and blushes,
To give her heart away, and live in thraldome,
Unto a stranger.

Fred.
Love, Madam, has Eagles eyes; it can beget acquaintance,
Even in a moment, suddenly as time,
The time that does succeed it. Farewell.
I will not have my over-hasty zeale,
Urge your mild sufferance further, pray think on me
As one who've plaid my full extent of blisse,
In your injoying, think you are the land wracke,
By which the brittle vessell of my hopes,
Must through Loves-swelling Ocean be directed,
To a safe harbor, honour me to kisse
Your faire hand; Lady now farewell, no blisse
Can be in Love, till we know what it is.

Exeunt.

Scena tertia

Ferdinand, King of Hungary, Gallas, Questenberge.
Emper.
Crownes are perpetuall cares, and to their heads,
That weare the wreath Imperiall, are annext.
Forraigne invasions oft may shake a state,
But civill broyles are the impetuous fire-brands,
That burne up Common-wealths; to quench
A flame domesticke we are met, which will
Like fame increase, by going on; this late
Revolt of Wallenstein.

Hungar.
Perfidious slave!
On whom your plenteous bounties showr'd so fast,
They seem'd to drown him, he whose great commands,
Could not know ought above them, but your selfe,
The Generall of your forces of Gloyawe,
Mechlenburg, Sagan, Fridland, stil'd the Duke,
He to invert your owne Armes 'gainst your selfe,
Swels my vext soule to thinke on't.

Emper.
'Tis not words,
Or aëry threatnings will appease thy mischiefe,
It must be done by force; Matthias Gallas,
Have you according to our late commands,
Given order for the levying new forces,
To oppose this Traytor.

Matth.
Mighty Sir, I have,
And seen them mustred.

Emp.
To what amounts their number.

Gall.
Threescore thousand.

Hung.
A royall Armie, had they been train'd
In Military discipline, experience
Is halfe the soule of Armes, we will take order,
To have them taught the exercise of Armes,
By those Hungarians troupes which we brought hither.

Emp.
Now sir, your businesse.

Int. a messenger.
Messen.
Mighty sir,
The Governor of Egers, Colonell Gordon,
Attended by Lieutenant Colonell Butler,
And Colonell Lesle doe desire admittance
Into your presence.

Emp.
Let them enter,
They are his friends, and may perhaps discover
Some of his trecheries: Noble strangers welcome,
Int. Lesle, Gordon, Butler.
I doe conceive 'tis businesse of importance
Has drawne you hither, in Colonell Lesles lookes
I reade affaires of consequence, with which
His active braine does teeme, and faine would be
By's tongue deliver'd.

Lesle.
Most mighty Cæsar,
To indeare the service to you, I shall doe you,
By guilding o're each circumstance, its waight
And consequence, since 'tis my bounden duty,
To you, my royall Master, would but shew,
Pride and arrogant love in me the author,
To my owne act, and so 'twould rather lessen
Then amplifie my merit; how I've serv'd you
Under command of him; whom in due justice
I cannot mention now without foule curses,
Revolted Wallenstein is to these Lords,
And your great selfe best knowne.

Emp.
And our rewards
Shall strive to pay those services.

Lesle.
But when I saw him
Put off his faith, abandon his allegeance,
Accounting all your bounteous favors trifles,
Unto the mountainous pile of his deservings,
And like a black cloud hung o're all your Empire,
Uncertaine where to break and in's vast thoughts,
Aspir'd your sacred dignity and life,
I like his Genius skrewd into his counsels,
Explor'd his plots and treasons, and have found them
So full of eminent danger.

Gordon.
So malicious.

Lesle.
Empty of worth and honour, it had been
A sinne beyond the horridst punishments,
To have conceal'd them from you, and which most
Tortures my loyall thoughts, as't had not been
Sufficient for him to rebell himselfe,
He has firm'd a league defensive and offensive,
With your most eager enemies, Saxon Waymar,
Brandenburg, Arheim, and Gustavus Horne,
And had a personall meeting for that purpose.

Butler.
And 'tis to be fear'd,
That if sudden power stop not their progresse,
They will with speedy violence invade you,
Heere in your capitall City.

Emper.
Worthy strangers,
In this one act you've showne your selfe more faithfull,
Then all my home-borne subjects, but be sure
If gratitude can equall your deserts,
You shall injoy that amply: Noble Lesle,
The time is come now, and the delemma cast,
That must conclude our Empire, which we must
Unto thy care commit; to kill a Traytor,
Is a deserving action, for thou strik'st
Then with the Sword of Justice: wilt thou adde
This one act to thy former high deservings,
Kill this Arch-Rebell.

Lesle.
'Twas an office,
We should have beg'd, beleev't he's dead already,
Ile kill him in his pride, in all his glories,
With such security, as I would sleepe
After a tedious watching.

Emp.
And expect,
What e're your hopes can wish, so with all speed
Back to your charge, be carefull, come my Lords,
Fate now does smile upon us, and the storme
Which threatned us, is suddenly growne calme.

Exeunt, Emp. Hung. Quest. Gallas.
Lesle.
Now our hopes
May rest, best friends, assur'd of good successe,
'Tis in our hands, our fates, and we have hearts.
Date venter on this Giant Duke, and lift him
With as much ease from earth, as the bright Sun
Does dull and lazie vapors, nor let dangers
Fright us from the atchievement, since the justice,
The cause does carry, is a certaine armour,
'Gainst all the assaults of perill, which in it selfe
Is but an April storme, no sooner showne
To fright the ayre, but byth' next wind o're-blown.