Page:Wallenstein, a drama in 2 parts - Schiller (tr. Coleridge) (1800).djvu/43

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FIRST PART OF WALLENSTEIN.
21

What he himself alone doth understand?
Well, therein he does right, and will persist in't.
Heaven never meant him for that passive thing
That can be struck and hammer'd out to suit
Another's taste and fancy. He'll not dance
To every tune of every minister.
It goes against his nature—he can't do it.
He is possess'd by a commanding spirit,
And his too is the station of command.
And well for us it is so! There exist
Few fit to rule themselves, but few that use
Their intellects intelligently.—Then
Well for the whole, if there be found a man,
Who makes himself what nature destin'd him,
The pause, the central point of thousand thousands——
Stands fix'd and stately, like a firm-built column,
Where all may press with joy and confidence.
Now such a man is Wallenstein; and if
Another better suits the court—no other
But such a one as he can serve the army.

QUESTENBERG.

The army? Doubtless!


OCTAVIO. (to Questenberg)

Hush! Suppress it friend!

Unless some end were answer'd by the utterance.—
Of him there you'll make nothing.

MAX. (continuing)

In their distress

They call a spirit up, and when he comes,

c 3
Straight