University of Virginia Library

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.