FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN.
173
Creates himself a court, gives golden keys,
And introduceth strictest ceremony
In fine proportions, and nice etiquette;
Keeps open table with high cheer; in brief
Commenceth mighty King—in miniature.
And while he prudently demeans himself,
And gives himself no actual importance,
He will be let appear whate'er he likes;
And who dares doubt, that Friedland will appear
A mighty Prince to his last dying hour?
Well now, what then? Duke Friedland is, as others,
A fire-new Noble, whom the war hath rais'd
To price and currency, a Jonah's Gourd,
An over-night creation of court-favour,
With which an undistinguishable ease
Makes Baron or makes Prince.
And introduceth strictest ceremony
In fine proportions, and nice etiquette;
Keeps open table with high cheer; in brief
Commenceth mighty King—in miniature.
And while he prudently demeans himself,
And gives himself no actual importance,
He will be let appear whate'er he likes;
And who dares doubt, that Friedland will appear
A mighty Prince to his last dying hour?
Well now, what then? Duke Friedland is, as others,
A fire-new Noble, whom the war hath rais'd
To price and currency, a Jonah's Gourd,
An over-night creation of court-favour,
With which an undistinguishable ease
Makes Baron or makes Prince.
WALLENSTEIN. (in extreme agitation.)
Take her away.
Let in the young Count Piccolomini.
Take her away.
Let in the young Count Piccolomini.
COUNTESS.
Art thou in earnest? I entreat thee! Can'st thou
Consent to bear thyself to thy own grave,
So ignominiously to be dried up?
Thy life, that arrogated such an height,
To end in such a nothing! To be nothing,
When one was always nothing, is an evil
That asks no stretch of patience, a light evil,
But to become a nothing, having been—
Art thou in earnest? I entreat thee! Can'st thou
Consent to bear thyself to thy own grave,
So ignominiously to be dried up?
Thy life, that arrogated such an height,
To end in such a nothing! To be nothing,
When one was always nothing, is an evil
That asks no stretch of patience, a light evil,
But to become a nothing, having been—
WALLENSTEIN.