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THE CAMP OF WALLENSTEIN
Translated by James Churchill.
The Camp of Wallenstein is an introduction to the celebrated tragedy of that name; and, by its vivid portraiture of the state of the general's army, gives the best clue to the spell of his gigantic power. The blind belief entertained in the unfailing success of his arms, and in the supernatural agencies by which that success is secured to him; the unrestrained indulgence of every passion, and utter disregard of all law, save that of the camp; a hard oppression of the peasantry and plunder of the country, have all swollen the soldiery with an idea of interminable sway. But as we have translated the whole, we shall leave these reckless marauders to speak for themselves.
Of Schiller's opinion concerning the Camp, as a necessary introduction to the tragedy, the following passage taken from the prologue to the first representation, will give a just idea, and may also serve as a motto to the work:--
"Not he it is, who on the tragic scene Will now appear--but in the fearless bands Whom his command alone could sway, and whom His spirit fired, you may his shadow see, Until the bashful Muse shall dare to bring Himself before you in a living form; For power it was that bore his heart astray His Camp, alone, elucidates his crime."
THE CAMP OF WALLENSTEIN.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE.
Sergeant-Major | of a regiment of Recruit. Trumpeter | Terzky's carabineers. Citizen. Artilleryman, Peasant. Sharpshooters. Peasant Boy. Mounted Yagers, of Holk's corps. Capuchin. Dragoons, of Butler's regiment. Regimental Schoolmaster. Arquebusiers, of Tiefenbach's regiment. Sutler-Woman. Cuirassier, of a Walloon regiment. Servant Girl. Cuirassier, of a Lombard regiment. Soldiers' Boys. Croats. Musicians. Hulans.
Sutlers' tents--in front, a Slop-shop. Soldiers of all colors and uniforms thronging about. Tables all filled. Croats and Hulans cooking at a fire. Sutler-woman serving out wine. Soldier-boys throwing dice on a drum-head. Singing heard from the tent.
Enter a Peasant and his Son.
SON. Father, I fear it will come to harm, So let us be off from this soldier swarm; But boist'rous mates will ye find in the shoal-- 'Twere better to bolt while our skins are whole.
DRAGOON . Comrade--give over this sport, I pray.
SECOND YAGER. Why, who the devil shall say me nay!
DRAGOON. I've only to tell you the girl's my own.
FIRST YAGER. Such a morsel as this, for himself alone!-- Dragoon, why say, art thou crazy grown?
SECOND YAGER. In the camp to be keeping a wench for one! No! the light of a pretty girl's face must fall, Like the beams of the sun, to gladden us all. DRAGOON . I tell you again, that it shan't be done.
FIRST YAGER. The pipers are coming, lads! now for fun!
SECOND YAGER . I shan't be far off, should you look for me.
SERGEANT. Peace, my good fellows!--a kiss goes free.
Enter Miners, and play a waltz--at first slowly, and afterwards quicker. The first Yager dances with the girl, the Sutler-woman with the recruit. The girl springs away, and the Yager, pursuing her, seizes hold of a Capuchin Friar just entering.
FIRST YAGER. Sir priest, 'gainst ourselves rail on as you will-- Of the general we warn you to breathe no ill.
CAPUCHIN. Ne custodias gregem meam! An Ahab is he, and a Jerobeam, Who the people from faith's unerring way, To the worship of idols would turn astray,
TRUMPETER and RECRUIT. Let us not hear that again, we pray.
CAPUCHIN. Such a Bramarbas, whose iron tooth Would seize all the strongholds of earth forsooth! Did he not boast, with ungodly tongue, That Stralsund must needs to his grasp be wrung, Though to heaven itself with a chain 'twere strung?
TRUMPETER. Will none put a stop to his slanderous bawl?
CAPUCHIN. A wizard he is!--and a sorcerer Saul!-- Holofernes!--a Jehu!--denying, we know, Like St. Peter, his Master and Lord below; And hence must he quail when the cock doth crow--
BOTH YAGERS. Now, parson, prepare; for thy doom is nigh.
CAPUCHIN. A fox more cunning than Herod, I trow--
TRUMPETER and both YAGERS . Silence, again,--if thou wouldst not die!
CROATS Stick to it, father; we'll shield you, ne'er fear; The close of your preachment now let's hear.
CAPUCHIN . A Nebuchadnezzar in towering pride! And a vile and heretic sinner beside! He calls himself rightly the stone of a wall; For faith! he's a stumbling-stone to us all. And ne'er can the emperor have peace indeed, Till of Friedland himself the land is freed.
The above, without the Capuchin.
FIRST YAGER .
But, tell us, what meant he about chanticleer; Whose crowing the general dares to hear? No doubt it was uttered in spite and scorn.
SERGEANT. Listen--'Tis not so untrue as it appears; For Friedland was rather mysteriously born, And is 'specially troubled with ticklish ears; He can never suffer the mew of a cat; And when the cock crows he starts thereat.
FIRST YAGER. He's one and the same with the lion in that.
PEASANT'S VOICE. Help!--mercy--help!
OTHERS. Peace! peace! begone!
FIRST YAGER. Deuce take me, but yonder the swords are out!
SECOND YAGER. Then I must be off, and see what 'tis about.
SUTLER-WOMAN . A scandalous villain!--a scurvy thief!
TRUMPETER. Good hostess, the cause of this clamorous grief?
SUTLER-WOMAN. A cut-purse! a scoundrel! the-villain I call. That the like in my tent should ever befall! I'm disgraced and undone with the officers all.
SERGEANT. Well, coz, what is it?
SUTLER-WOMAN. Why, what should it be? But a peasant they've taken just now with me-- A rogue with false dice, to favor his play.
TRUMPETER. See I they're bringing the boor and his son this way.
Soldiers dragging in the peasant, bound.
FIRST YAGER. He must hang!
SHARPSHOOTERS and DRAGOONS. To the provost, come on!
SERGEANT. 'Tis the latest order that forth has gone.
SUTLER-WOMAN. In an hour I hope to behold him swinging!
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