LINENOTES:

[[14]]

you wish 1800, 1828, 1829.

[[15]]

Wallenstein (after a pause). Well, then? 1800, 1828, 1829.

After [17] [The Duchess casts her eyes on the ground and remains silent. 1800, 1828, 1829.

[[31]]

so 1800, 1828, 1829.

[[45]]

Now 1800, 1828, 1829. Duchess (wiping away her tears, after a pause). 1800, 1828, 1829. did 1800, 1828, 1829.

[[53]]

Duchess (shaking her head). 1800, 1828, 1829.

[[62]]

Wallenstein (eagerly). Lamormain, &c. 1800, 1828, 1829.

he 1800, 1828, 1829.

[[71]]

And people . . . Ah!— [Stifling extreme emotion.

1800, 1828, 1829.

[[73]]

Duchess. Of a second—— (catches her voice and hesitates).

1800, 1828, 1829.

[[74]]

Wallenstein. Talk they? [Strides across the chamber in vehement agitation.

1800, 1828, 1829.

before [76] Duchess (presses near to him, in entreaty). 1800, 1828, 1829.

Scene VIII

Enter the Countess Tertsky, leading in her hand the Princess Thekla, richly adorned with brilliants.

Countess, Thekla, Wallenstein, Duchess.

Countess. How, sister? What already upon business,
And business of no pleasing kind I see,
Ere he has gladdened at his child. The first
Moment belongs to joy. Here, Friedland! father!
This is thy daughter. 5

(Thekla approaches with a shy and timid air, and bends herself as about to kiss his hand. He receives her in his arms, and remains standing for some time lost in the feeling of her presence.)

Wallenstein. Yes! pure and lovely hath hope risen on me:
I take her as the pledge of greater fortune.

Duchess. 'Twas but a little child when you departed
To raise up that great army for the Emperor:
And after, at the close of the campaign, 10
When you returned home out of Pomerania,
Your daughter was already in the convent,
Wherein she has remain'd till now.

Wallenstein. The while
[[622]] We in the field here gave our cares and toils
To make her great, and fight her a free way 15
To the loftiest earthly good, lo! mother Nature
Within the peaceful silent convent walls
Has done her part, and out of her free grace
Hath she bestowed on the beloved child
The godlike; and now leads her thus adorned 20
To meet her splendid fortune, and my hope.

Duchess (to Thekla). Thou wouldst not have recognized thy father,
Wouldst thou, my child? She counted scarce eight years,
When last she saw your face.

Thekla. O yes, yes, mother!
At the first glance!—My father is not altered. 25
The form, that stands before me, falsifies
No feature of the image that hath lived
So long within me!

Wallenstein. The voice of my child! [Then after a pause.
I was indignant at my destiny
That it denied me a man-child to be 30
Heir of my name and of my prosperous fortune,
And re-illume my soon extinguished being
In a proud line of princes.
I wronged my destiny. Here upon this head
So lovely in its maiden bloom will I 35
Let fall the garland of a life of war,
Nor deem it lost, if only I can wreath it
Transmitted to a regal ornament,
Around these beauteous brows. [He clasps her in his arms as Piccolomini enters.