FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN.
179
And even this prince's mantle, which I wear,
I owe to what were services to him,
But most high misdemeanours 'gainst the empire.
I owe to what were services to him,
But most high misdemeanours 'gainst the empire.
COUNTESS.
Then betwixt thee and him (confess it, Friedland!)
The point can be no more of right and duty,
Only of power and th' opportunity.
That opportunity, lo! it comes yonder,
Approaching with swift steeds; then with a swing
Throw thyself up into the chariot seat,
Seize with firm hand the reins, ere thy opponent
Anticipate thee, and himself make conquest
Of the now empty seat. The moment comes,
It is already here, when thou must write
The absolute total of thy life's vast sum.
The constellations stand victorious o'er thee,
The planets shoot good fortune in fair junctions,
And tell thee, "Now's the time!" The starry courses
Hast thou thy life-long measur'd to no purpose?
The quadrant and the circle, were they play things?
(pointing to the different objects in the room)
The zodiacs, the rolling orbs of heaven,
Hast pictur'd on these walls, and all around thee
In dumb, foreboding symbols hast thou plac'd
These seven presiding Lords of destiny—
For toys? Is all this preparation nothing?
Is there no marrow in this hollow art,
That even to thyself it doth avail
Nothing, and has no influence over thee
Then betwixt thee and him (confess it, Friedland!)
The point can be no more of right and duty,
Only of power and th' opportunity.
That opportunity, lo! it comes yonder,
Approaching with swift steeds; then with a swing
Throw thyself up into the chariot seat,
Seize with firm hand the reins, ere thy opponent
Anticipate thee, and himself make conquest
Of the now empty seat. The moment comes,
It is already here, when thou must write
The absolute total of thy life's vast sum.
The constellations stand victorious o'er thee,
The planets shoot good fortune in fair junctions,
And tell thee, "Now's the time!" The starry courses
Hast thou thy life-long measur'd to no purpose?
The quadrant and the circle, were they play things?
(pointing to the different objects in the room)
The zodiacs, the rolling orbs of heaven,
Hast pictur'd on these walls, and all around thee
In dumb, foreboding symbols hast thou plac'd
These seven presiding Lords of destiny—
For toys? Is all this preparation nothing?
Is there no marrow in this hollow art,
That even to thyself it doth avail
Nothing, and has no influence over thee
In
