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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."
 

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.

(SCENE. – The Camp before Pilsen, in Bohemia.)

SCENE I

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.
 

FATHER

 
  How now, boy! the fellows wont eat us, though
  They may be a little unruly, or so.
  See, yonder, arriving a stranger train,
  Fresh comers are they from the Saal and Mayne;
  Much booty they bring of the rarest sort —
  'Tis ours, if we cleverly drive our sport.
  A captain, who fell by his comrade's sword,
  This pair of sure dice to me transferred;
  To-day I'll just give them a trial to see
  If their knack's as good as it used to be.
  You must play the part of a pitiful devil,
  For these roaring rogues, who so loosely revel,
  Are easily smoothed, and tricked, and flattered,
  And, free as it came, their gold is scattered.
  But we – since by bushels our all is taken,
  By spoonfuls must ladle it back again;
  And, if with their swords they slash so highly,
  We must look sharp, boy, and do them slyly.
 

[Singing and shouting in the tent.

 
  Hark, how they shout! God help the day!
  'Tis the peasant's hide for their sport must pay.
  Eight months in our beds and stalls have they
  Been swarming here, until far around
  Not a bird or a beast is longer found,
  And the peasant, to quiet his craving maw,
  Has nothing now left but his bones to gnaw.
  Ne'er were we crushed with a heavier hand,
  When the Saxon was lording it o'er the land:
  And these are the Emperor's troops, they say!
 

SON

 
  From the kitchen a couple are coming this way,
  Not much shall we make by such blades as they.
 

FATHER

 
  They're born Bohemian knaves – the two —
  Belonging to Terzky's carabineers,
  Who've lain in these quarters now for years;
  The worst are they of the worthless crew.
  Strutting, swaggering, proud and vain,
  They seem to think they may well disdain
  With the peasant a glass of his wine to drain
  But, soft – to the left o' the fire I see
  Three riflemen, who from the Tyrol should be
  Emmerick, come, boy, to them will we.
  Birds of this feather 'tis luck to find,
  Whose trim's so spruce, and their purse well lined.
 

[They move towards the tent.

SCENE II

The above – Sergeant-Major, Trumpeter, Hulan.

TRUMPETER

 
  What would the boor? Out, rascal, away!
 

PEASANT

 
  Some victuals and drink, worthy masters, I pray,
  For not a warm morsel we've tasted to day.
 

TRUMPETER

 
  Ay, guzzle and guttle – 'tis always the way.
 

HULAN (with a glass)

 
  Not broken your fast! there – drink, ye hound!
     He leads the peasant to the tent – the others come forward.
 

SERGEANT (to the Trumpeter)

 
  Think ye they've done it without good ground?
  Is it likely they double our pay to-day,
  Merely that we may be jolly and gay?
 

TRUMPETER

 
  Why, the duchess arrives to-day, we know,
  And her daughter too —
 

SERGEANT

 
             Tush! that's mere show —
  'Tis the troops collected from other lands
  Who here at Pilsen have joined our bands —
  We must do the best we can t' allure 'em,
  With plentiful rations, and thus secure 'em.
  Where such abundant fare they find,
  A closer league with us to bind.
 

TRUMPETER

 
  Yes! – there's something in the wind.
 

SERGEANT

 
  The generals and commanders too —
 

TRUMPETER

 
  A rather ominous sight, 'tis true.
 

SERGEANT

 
  Who're met together so thickly here —
 

TRUMPETER

 
  Have plenty of work on their hands, that's clear.
 

SERGEANT

 
  The whispering and sending to and fro —
 

TRUMPETER

 
  Ay! Ay!
 

SERGEANT

 
  The big-wig from Vienna, I trow,
  Who since yesterday's seen to prowl about
  In his golden chain of office there —
  Something's at the bottom of this, I'll swear.
 

TRUMPETER

 
  A bloodhound is he beyond a doubt,
  By whom the duke's to be hunted out.
 

SERGEANT

 
  Mark ye well, man! – they doubt us now,
  And they fear the duke's mysterious brow;
  He hath clomb too high for them, and fain
  Would they beat him down from his perch again.
 

TRUMPETER

 
  But we will hold him still on high —
  That all would think as you and I!
 

SERGEANT

 
  Our regiment, and the other four
  Which Terzky leads – the bravest corps
  Throughout the camp, are the General's own,
  And have been trained to the trade by himself alone
  The officers hold their command of him,
  And are all his own, or for life or limb.
 

SCENE III

Enter Croat with a necklace. Sharpshooter following him.

The above.

SHARPSHOOTER

 
  Croat, where stole you that necklace, say?
  Get rid of it man – for thee 'tis unmeet:
  Come, take these pistols in change, I pray.
 

CROAT

 
  Nay, nay, Master Shooter, you're trying to cheat.
 

SHARPSHOOTER

 
  Then I'll give you this fine blue cap as well,
  A lottery prize which just I've won:
  Look at the cut of it – quite the swell!
 

CROAT (twirling the Necklace in the Sun)

 
  But this is of pearls and of garnets bright,
  See, how it plays in the sunny light!
 

SHARPSHOOTER (taking the Necklace)

 
  Well, I'll give you to boot, my own canteen —
  I'm in love with this bauble's beautiful sheen.
 

[Looks at it.

TRUMPETER

 
  See, now! – how cleanly the Croat is done
  Snacks! Master Shooter, and mum's the word.
 

CROAT (having put on the cap)

 
  I think your cap is a smartish one.
 

SHARPSHOOTER (winking to the Trumpeter)

 
  'Tis a regular swop, as these gents have heard.
 

SCENE IV

The above. An Artilleryman.

ARTILLERYMAN (to the Sergeant)

 
  How is this I pray, brother carabineer?
  Shall we longer stay here, our fingers warming,
  While the foe in the field around is swarming?
 

SERGEANT

 
  Art thou, indeed, in such hasty fret?
  Why the roads, as I think, are scarce passable yet.
 

ARTILLERYMAN

 
  For me they are not – I'm snug enough here —
  But a courier's come, our wits to waken
  With the precious news that Ratisbon's taken.
 

TRUMPETER

 
  Ha! then we soon shall have work in hand.
 

SERGEANT

 
  Indeed! to protect the Bavarian's land,
  Who hates the duke, as we understand,
  We won't put ourselves in a violent sweat.
 

ARTILLERYMAN

 
  Heyday! – you'll find you're a wiseacre yet.
 

SCENE V

The above – Two Yagers. Afterwards Sutler-woman, Soldier-boy, Schoolmaster, Servant-girl.

FIRST YAGER

 
             See! see!
  Here meet we a jovial company!
 

TRUMPETER

 
  Who can these greencoats be, I wonder,
  That strut so gay and sprucely yonder!
 

SERGEANT

 
  They're the Yagers of Holk – and the lace they wear,
  I'll be sworn, was ne'er purchased at Leipzig fair.
 

SUTLER-WOMAN (bringing wine)

 
  Welcome, good sirs!
 

FIRST YAGER

 
            Zounds, how now?
  Gustel of Blasewitz here, I vow!
 

SUTLER-WOMAN

 
  The same in sooth – and you I know,
  Are the lanky Peter of Itzeho:
  Who at Glueckstadt once, in revelling night,
  With the wags of our regiment, put to flight
  All his father's shiners – then crowned the fun —
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  By changing his pen for a rifle-gun.
 

SUTLER-WOMAN

 
  We're old acquaintance, then, 'tis clear.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  And to think we should meet in Bohemia here!
 

SUTLER-WOMAN

 
  Oh, here to-day – to-morrow yonder —
  As the rude war-broom, in restless trace,
  Scatters and sweeps us from place to place.
  Meanwhile I've been doomed far round to wander.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  So one would think, by the look of your face.
 

SUTLER-WOMAN

 
  Up the country I've rambled to Temsewar,
  Whither I went with the baggage-car,
  When Mansfeld before us we chased away;
  With the duke near Stralsund next we lay,
  Where trade went all to pot, I may say.
  I jogged with the succors to Mantua;
  And back again came, under Feria:
  Then, joining a Spanish regiment,
  I took a short cut across to Ghent;
  And now to Bohemia I'm come to get
  Old scores paid off, that are standing yet,
  If a helping hand by the duke be lent —
  And yonder you see my sutler's tent.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  Well, all things seem in a flourishing way,
  But what have you done with the Scotchman, say,
  Who once in the camp was your constant flame?
 

SUTLER-WOMAN

 
  A villain, who tricked me clean, that same
  He bolted, and took to himself whate'er
  I'd managed to scrape together, or spare,
  Leaving me naught but the urchin there.
 

SOLDIER-BOY (springing forward)

 
  Mother, is it my papa you name?
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  Well, the emperor now must father this elf,
  For the army must ever recruit itself.
 

SCHOOLMASTER

 
  Forth to the school, ye rogue – d'ye hear?
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  He, too, of a narrow room has fear.
  SERVANT GIRL (entering).
  Aunt, they'll be off.
 

SUTLER-WOMAN

 
             I come apace.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  What gypsy is that with the roguish face?
 

SUTLER-WOMAN

 
  My sister's child from the south, is she.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  Ay, ay, a sweet little niece – I see.
  SECOND YAGER (holding the girl).
  Softly, my pretty one! stay with me.
 

GIRL

 
  The customers wait, sir, and I must go.
 

[Disengages herself, and exit.

FIRST YAGER

 
  That maiden's a dainty morsel, I trow!
  And her aunt – by heaven! I mind me well, —
  When the best of the regiment loved her so,
  To blows for her beautiful face they fell.
  What different folks one's doomed to know!
  How time glows off with a ceaseless flow!
  And what sights as yet we may live to see!
 

(To the Sergeant and Trumpeter.)

 
  Your health, good sirs, may we be free,
  A seat beside you here to take?
 

SCENE VI

The Yagers, Sergeant, and Trumpeter.

SERGEANT

 
  We thank ye – and room will gladly make.
  To Bohemia welcome.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
             Snug enough here!
  In the land of the foe our quarters were queer.
 

TRUMPETER

 
  You haven't the look on't – you're spruce to view.
 

SERGEANT

 
  Ay, faith, on the Saal, and in Meissen, too,
  Your praises are heard from the lips of few.
 

SECOND YAGER

 
  Tush, man! why, what the plague d'ye mean?
  The Croat had swept the fields so clean,
  There was little or nothing for us to glean.
 

TRUMPETER

 
  Yet your pointed collar is clean and sightly,
  And, then, your hose that sit so tightly!
  Your linen so fine, with the hat and feather,
  Make a show of smartness altogether!
 

(To Sergeant.)

 
  That fortune should upon younkers shine —
  While nothing in your way comes, or mine.
 

SERGEANT

 
  But then we're the Friedlander's regiment
  And, thus, may honor and homage claim.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  For us, now, that's no great compliment,
  We, also, bear the Friedlander's name.
 

SERGEANT

 
  True – you form part of the general mass.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  And you, I suppose, are a separate class!
  The difference lies in the coats we wear,
  And I have no wish to change with you there.
 

SERGEANT

 
  Sir Yager, I can't but with pity melt,
  When I think how much among boors you've dwelt.
  The clever knack and the proper tone,
  Are caught by the general's side alone.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  Then the lesson is wofully thrown away, —
  How he hawks and spits, indeed, I may say
  You've copied and caught in the cleverest way;
  But his spirit, his genius – oh, these I ween,
  On your guard parade are but seldom seen.
 

SECOND YAGER

 
  Why, zounds! ask for us wherever you will,
  Friedland's wild hunt is our title still!
  Never shaming the name, all undaunted we go
  Alike through the field of a friend, or a foe;
  Through the rising stalk, or the yellow corn,
  Well know they the blast of Holk's Yager horn.
  In the flash of an eye, we are far or near,
  Swift as the deluge, or there or here —
  As at midnight dark, when the flames outbreak
  In the silent dwelling where none awake;
  Vain is the hope in weapons or flight,
  Nor order nor discipline thwart its might.
  Then struggles the maid in our sinewy arms,
  But war hath no pity, and scorns alarms.
  Go, ask – I speak not with boastful tongue —
  In Bareuth, Westphalia, Voigtland, where'er
  Our troops have traversed – go, ask them there —
  Children and children's children long,
  When hundreds and hundreds of years are o'er,
  Of Holk will tell and his Yager corps.
 

SERGEANT

 
  Why, hark! Must a soldier then be made
  By driving this riotous, roaring trade!
  'Tis drilling that makes him, skill and sense —
  Perception – thought – intelligence.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  'Tis liberty makes him! Here's a fuss!
  That I should such twaddle as this discuss.
  Was it for this that I left the school?
  That the scribbling desk, and the slavish rule,
  And the narrow walls, that our spirits cramp,
  Should be met with again in the midst of the camp?
  No! Idle and heedless, I'll take my way,
  Hunting for novelty every day;
  Trust to the moment with dauntless mind,
  And give not a glance or before or behind.
  For this to the emperor I sold my hide,
  That no other care I might have to bide.
  Through the foe's fierce firing bid me ride,
  Through fathomless Rhine, in his roaring flow,
  Where ev'ry third man to the devil may go,
  At no bar will you find me boggling there;
  But, farther than this, 'tis my special prayer,
  That I may not be bothered with aught like care.
 

SERGEANT

 
  If this be your wish, you needn't lack it,
  'Tis granted to all with the soldier's jacket.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  What a fuss and a bother, forsooth, was made
  By that man-tormentor, Gustavus, the Swede,
  Whose camp was a church, where prayers were said
  At morning reveille and evening tattoo;
  And, whenever it chanced that we frisky grew,
  A sermon himself from the saddle he'd read.
 

SERGEANT

 
  Ay, that was a man with the fear of God.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  Girls he detested; and what's rather odd,
  If caught with a wench you in wedlock were tacked, —
  I could stand it no longer, so off I packed.
 

SERGEANT

 
  Their discipline now has a trifle slacked.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  Well, next to the League I rode over; their men
  Were mustering in haste against Magdeburg then.
  Ha! that was another guess sort of a thing!
  In frolic and fun we'd a glorious swing;
  With gaming, and drinking, and girls at call,
  I'faith, sirs, our sport was by no means small.
  For Tilly knew how to command, that's plain;
  He held himself in but gave us the rein;
  And, long as he hadn't the bother of paying,
  "Live and let live!" was the general's saying.
  But fortune soon gave him the slip; and ne'er
  Since the day of that villanous Leipzig affair
  Would aught go aright. 'Twas of little avail
  That we tried, for our plans were sure to fail.
  If now we drew nigh and rapped at the door,
  No greeting awaited, 'twas opened no more;
  From place to place we went sneaking about,
  And found that their stock of respect was out;
  Then touched I the Saxon bounty, and thought
  Their service with fortune must needs be fraught.
 

SERGEANT

 
  You joined them then just in the nick to share
  Bohemia's plunder?
 

FIRST YAGER

 
            I'd small luck there.
  Strict discipline sternly ruled the day,
  Nor dared we a foeman's force display;
  They set us to guard the imperial forts,
  And plagued us all with the farce of the courts.
  War they waged as a jest 'twere thought —
  And but half a heart to the business brought,
  They would break with none; and thus 'twas plain
  Small honor among them could a soldier gain.
  So heartily sick in the end grew I
  That my mind was the desk again to try;
  When suddenly, rattling near and far,
  The Friedlander's drum was heard to war.
 

SERGEANT

 
  And how long here may you mean to stay?
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  You jest, man. So long as he bears the sway,
  By my soul! not a thought of change have I;
  Where better than here could the soldier lie?
  Here the true fashion of war is found,
  And the cut of power's on all things round;
  While the spirit whereby the movement's given
  Mightily stirs, like the winds of heaven,
  The meanest trooper in all the throng.
  With a hearty step shall I tramp along
  On a burgher's neck as undaunted tread
  As our general does on the prince's head.
  As 'twas in the times of old 'tis now,
  The sword is the sceptre, and all must bow.
  One crime alone can I understand,
  And that's to oppose the word of command.
  What's not forbidden to do make bold,
  And none will ask you what creed you hold.
  Of just two things in this world I wot,
  What belongs to the army and what does not,
  To the banner alone is my service brought.
 

SERGEANT

 
  Thus, Yager, I like thee – thou speakest, I vow,
  With the tone of a Friedland trooper now.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  'Tis not as an office he holds command,
  Or a power received from the emperor's hand;
  For the emperor's service what should he care,
  What better for him does the emperor fare?
  With the mighty power he wields at will,
  Has ever he sheltered the land from ill?
  No; a soldier-kingdom he seeks to raise,
  And for this would set the world in a blaze,
  Daring to risk and to compass all —
 

TRUMPETER

 
  Hush – who shall such words as these let fall?
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  Whatever I think may be said by me,
  For the general tells us the word is free.
 

SERGEANT

 
  True – that he said so I fully agree,
  I was standing by. "The word is free —
  The deed is dumb – obedience blind!"
  His very words I can call to mind.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  I know not if these were his words or no,
  But he said the thing, and 'tis even so.
 

SECOND YAGER

 
  Victory ne'er will his flag forsake,
  Though she's apt from others a turn to take:
  Old Tilly outlived his fame's decline,
  But under the banner of Wallenstein,
  There am I certain that victory's mine!
  Fortune is spell-bound to him, and must yield;
  Whoe'er under Friedland shall take the field
  Is sure of a supernatural shield:
 

 
  For, as all the world is aware full well,
  The duke has a devil in hire from hell.
 

SERGEANT

 
  In truth that he's charmed is past a doubt,
  For we know how, at Luetzen's bloody affair,
  Where firing was thickest he still was there,
  As coolly as might be, sirs, riding about.
  The hat on his head was shot thro' and thro',
  In coat and boots the bullets that flew
  Left traces full clear to all men's view;
  But none got so far as to scratch off his skin,
  For the ointment of hell was too well rubbed in.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  What wonders so strange can you all see there?
  An elk-skin jacket he happens to wear,
  And through it the bullets can make no way.
 

SERGEANT

 
  'Tis an ointment of witches' herbs, I say,
  Kneaded and cooked by unholy spell.
 

TRUMPETER

 
  No doubt 'tis the work of the powers of hell.
 

SERGEANT

 
  That he reads in the stars we also hear,
  Where the future he sees – distant or near —
  But I know better the truth of the case
  A little gray man, at the dead of night,
  Through bolted doors to him will pace —
  The sentinels oft have hailed the sight,
  And something great was sure to be nigh,
  When this little gray-coat had glided by.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  Ay, ay, he's sold himself to the devil,
  Wherefore, my lads, let's feast and revel.
 

SCENE VII

The above – Recruit, Citizen, Dragoon.

(The Recruit advances from the tent, wearing a tin cap on his head, and carrying a wine-flask.)

RECRUIT

 
  To father and uncle pray make my bow,
  And bid 'em good-by – I'm a soldier now.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  See, yonder they're bringing us something new,
 

CITIZEN

 
  Oh, Franz, remember, this day you'll rue.
 

RECRUIT (sings)

 
     The drum and the fife,
      War's rattling throng,
     And a wandering life
      The world along!
     Swift steed – and a hand
     To curb and command —
     With a blade by the side,
     We're off far and wide.
     As jolly and free,
     As the finch in its glee,
     On thicket or tree,
     Under heaven's wide hollow —
  Hurrah! for the Friedlander's banner I'll follow!
 

SECOND YAGER

 
  Foregad! a jolly companion, though.
 

[They salute him.

CITIZEN

 
  He comes of good kin; now pray let him go.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  And we wern't found in the streets you must know.
 

CITIZEN

 
  I tell you his wealth is a plentiful stock;
  Just feel the fine stuff that he wears for a frock.
 

TRUMPETER

 
  The emperor's coat is the best he can wear.
 

CITIZEN

 
  To a cap manufactory he is the heir.
 

SECOND YAGER

 
  The will of a man is his fortune alone.
 

CITIZEN

 
  His grandmother's shop will soon be his own.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  Pish! traffic in matches! who would do't?
 

CITIZEN

 
  A wine-shop his grandfather leaves, to boot,
  A cellar with twenty casks of wine.
 

TRUMPETER

 
  These with his comrades he'll surely share.
 

SECOND YAGER

 
  Hark ye, lad – be a camp-brother of mine.
 

CITIZEN

 
  A bride he leaves sitting, in tears, apart.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  Good – that now's a proof of an iron heart.
 

CITIZEN

 
  His grandmother's sure to die with sorrow.
 

SECOND YAGER

 
  The better – for then he'll inherit to-morrow.
 

SERGEANT (advances gravely, and lays his hand on the Recruit's tin cap)

 
  The matter no doubt you have duly weighed,
  And here a new man of yourself have made;
  With hanger and helm, sir, you now belong
  To a nobler and more distinguished throng.
  Thus, a loftier spirit 'twere well to uphold —
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  And, specially, never be sparing of gold.
 

SERGEANT

 
  In Fortune's ship, with an onward gale,
  My friend, you have made up your mind to sail.
  The earth-ball is open before you – yet there
  Naught's to be gained, but by those who dare.
  Stupid and sluggish your citizen's found,
  Like a dyer's dull jade, in his ceaseless round,
  While the soldier can be whatever he will,
  For war o'er the earth is the watchword still.
  Just look now at me, and the coat I wear,
  You see that the emperor's baton I bear —
  And all good government, over the earth,
  You must know from the baton alone has birth;
  For the sceptre that's swayed by the kingly hand
  Is naught but a baton, we understand.
  And he who has corporal's rank obtained,
  Stands on the ladder where all's to be gained,
  And you, like another, may mount to that height —
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  Provided you can but read and write.
 

SERGEANT

 
  Now, hark to an instance of this from me,
  And one, which I've lived myself to see
  There's Butler, the chief of dragoons, why he,
  Whose rank was not higher a whit than mine,
  Some thirty years since, at Cologne on Rhine,
  Is a major-general now – because
  He put himself forward and gained applause;
  Filling the world with his martial fame,
  While slept my merits without a name.
  And even the Friedlander's self – I've heard —
  Our general and all-commanding lord,
  Who now can do what he will at a word,
  Had at first but a private squire's degree;
  In the goddess of war yet trusting free,
  He reared the greatness which now you see,
  And, after the emperor, next is he.
  Who knows what more he may mean or get?
 

(Slyly.)

 
  For all-day's evening isn't come yet.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  He was little at first, though now so great —
  For at Altorf, in student's gown he played
  By your leave, the part of a roaring blade,
  And rattled away at a queerish rate.
  His fag he had well nigh killed by a blow,
  And their Nur'mburg worships swore he should go
  To jail for his pains – if he liked it or no.
  'Twas a new-built nest to be christened by him
  Who first should be lodged. Well, what was his whim?
  Why, he sent his dog forward to lead the way,
  And they call the jail from the dog to this day.
  That was the game a brave fellow should play,
  And of all the great deeds of the general, none
  E'er tickled my fancy, like this one.
 

[During this speech, the second Yager has begun toying with the girl who has been in waiting.]

DRAGOON (stepping between them)

 
  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.
 

(Kisses her.)

DRAGOON (tears her away)

 
  I tell you again, that it shan't be done.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  The pipers are coming, lads! now for fun!
 

SECOND YAGER (to Dragoon)

 
  I shan't be far off, should you look for me.
 

SERGEANT

 
  Peace, my good fellows! – a kiss goes free.
 

SCENE VIII

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.

CAPUCHIN

 
  Hurrah! halloo! tol, lol, de rol, le!
  The fun's at its height! I'll not be away!
  Is't an army of Christians that join in such works?
  Or are we all turned Anabaptists and Turks?
  Is the Sabbath a day for this sport in the land,
  As though the great God had the gout in his hand,
  And thus couldn't smite in the midst of your band?
  Say, is this a time for your revelling shouts,
  For your banquetings, feasts, and holiday bouts?
  Quid hic statis otiosi? declare
  Why, folding your arms, stand ye lazily there?
  While the furies of war on the Danube now fare
  And Bavaria's bulwark is lying full low,
  And Ratisbon's fast in the clutch of the foe.
  Yet, the army lies here in Bohemia still,
  And caring for naught, so their paunches they fill!
  Bottles far rather than battles you'll get,
  And your bills than your broad-swords more readily wet;
  With the wenches, I ween, is your dearest concern,
  And you'd rather roast oxen than Oxenstiern.
  In sackcloth and ashes while Christendom's grieving,
  No thought has the soldier his guzzle of leaving.
  'Tis a time of misery, groans, and tears!
  Portentous the face of the heavens appears!
  And forth from the clouds behold blood-red,
  The Lord's war-mantle is downward spread —
  While the comet is thrust as a threatening rod,
  From the window of heaven by the hand of God.
  The world is but one vast house of woe,
  The ark of the church stems a bloody flow,
  The Holy Empire – God help the same!
  Has wretchedly sunk to a hollow name.
  The Rhine's gay stream has a gory gleam,
  The cloister's nests are robbed by roysters;
  The church-lands now are changed to lurch-lands;
  Abbacies, and all other holy foundations
  Now are but robber-sees – rogues' habitations.
  And thus is each once-blest German state,
  Deep sunk in the gloom of the desolate!
  Whence comes all this? Oh, that will I tell —
  It comes of your doings, of sin, and of hell;
  Of the horrible, heathenish lives ye lead,
  Soldiers and officers, all of a breed.
  For sin is the magnet, on every hand,
  That draws your steel throughout the land!
  As the onion causes the tear to flow,
  So vice must ever be followed by woe —
  The W duly succeeds the V,
  This is the order of A, B, C.
  Ubi erit victoriae spes,
  Si offenditur Deus? which says,
  How, pray ye, shall victory e'er come to pass,
  If thus you play truant from sermon and mass,
  And do nothing but lazily loll o'er the glass?
  The woman, we're told in the Testament,
  Found the penny in search whereof she went.
  Saul met with his father's asses again,
  And Joseph his precious fraternal train,
  But he, who 'mong soldiers shall hope to see
  God's fear, or shame, or discipline – he
  From his toil, beyond doubt, will baffled return,
  Though a hundred lamps in the search he burn.
  To the wilderness preacher, th' Evangelist says,
  The soldiers, too, thronged to repent of their ways,
  And had themselves christened in former days.
  Quid faciemus nos? they said:
  Toward Abraham's bosom what path must we tread?
  Et ait illis, and, said he,
  Neminem concutiatis;
  From bother and wrongs leave your neighbors free.
  Neque calumniam faciatis;
  And deal nor in slander nor lies, d'ye see?
  Contenti estote – content ye, pray,
  Stipendiis vestris – with your pay —
  And curse forever each evil way.
  There is a command – thou shalt not utter
  The name of the Lord thy God in vain;
  But, where is it men most blasphemies mutter?
  Why here, in Duke Friedland's headquarters, 'tie plain
  If for every thunder, and every blast,
  Which blazing ye from your tongue-points cast,
  The bells were but rung, in the country round,
  Not a bellman, I ween, would there soon be found;
  And if for each and every unholy prayer
  Which to vent from your jabbering jaws you dare,
  From your noddles were plucked but the smallest hair,
  Ev'ry crop would be smoothed ere the sun went down,
  Though at morn 'twere as bushy as Absalom's crown.
  Now, Joshua, methinks, was a soldier as well —
  By the arm of King David the Philistine fell;
  But where do we find it written, I pray,
  That they ever blasphemed in this villanous way?
  One would think ye need stretch your jaws no more,
  To cry, "God help us!" than "Zounds!" to roar.
  But, by the liquor that's poured in the cask, we know
  With what it will bubble and overflow.
  Again, it is written – thou shalt not steal,
 

 
  And this you follow, i'faith! to the letter,
  For open-faced robbery suits ye better.
  The gripe of your vulture claws you fix
  On all – and your wiles and rascally tricks
  Make the gold unhid in our coffers now,
  And the calf unsafe while yet in the cow —
  Ye take both the egg and the hen, I vow.
  Contenti estote – the preacher said;
  Which means – be content with your army bread.
  But how should the slaves not from duty swerve?
  The mischief begins with the lord they serve,
  Just like the members so is the head.
  I should like to know who can tell me his creed.
 

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 (pressing against him)

 
  Silence, again, – if thou wouldst not die!
 

CROATS (interfering.)

 
  Stick to it, father; we'll shield you, ne'er fear;
  The close of your preachment now let's hear.
 

CAPUCHIN (still louder)

 
  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.
 

[During the last passages which he pronounces in an elevated

 
     voice, he has been gradually retreating, the Croats keeping
     the other soldiers off.
 

SCENE IX

The above, without the Capuchin.

FIRST YAGER (to the Sergeant)

 
  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.
 

SERGEANT

 
  Mouse-still must all around him creep,
  Strict watch in this the sentinels keep,
  For he ponders on matters most grave and deep.
 

[Voices in the tent. A tumult.

 
  Seize the rascal! Lay on! lay on!
 

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.
 

[Yagers enter the tent.

SUTLER-WOMAN (comes forward)

 
  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.
 

SCENE X

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!
 

SERGEANT

 
  Bad work bad wages will needs be bringing.
 

FIRST ARQUEBUSIER (to the others)

 
  This comes of their desperation. We
  First ruin them out and out, d'ye see;
  Which tempts them to steal, as it seems to me.
 

TRUMPETER

 
  How now! the rascal's cause would you plead?
  The cur! the devil is in you indeed!
 

FIRST ARQUEBUSIER

 
  The boor is a man – as a body may say.
 

FIRST YAGER (to the Trumpeter)

 
  Let 'em go! they're of Tiefenbach's corps, the railers,
  A glorious train of glovers and tailors!
  At Brieg, in garrison, long they lay;
  What should they know about camps, I pray?
 

SCENE XI

The above. – Cuirassiers.

FIRST CUIRASSIER

 
  Peace! what's amiss with the boor, may I crave?
 

FIRST SHARPSHOOTER

 
  He has cheated at play, the cozening knave!
 

FIRST CUIRASSIER

 
  But say, has he cheated you, man, of aught?
 

FIRST SHARPHOOTER

 
  Just cleaned me out – and not left me a groat.
 

FIRST CUIRASSIER

 
  And can you, who've the rank of a Friedland man,
  So shamefully cast yourself away,
  As to try your luck with the boor at play?
  Let him run off, so that run he can.
 

[The peasant escapes, the others throng together.

FIRST ARQUEBUSIER

 
  He makes short work – is of resolute mood —
  And that with such fellows as these is good.
  Who is he? not of Bohemia, that's clear.
 

SUTLER-WOMAN

 
  He's a Walloon – and respect, I trow,
  Is due to the Pappenheim cuirassier!
 

FIRST DRAGOON (joining)

 
  Young Piccolomini leads them now,
  Whom they chose as colonel, of their own free might,
  When Pappenheim fell in Luetzen's fight.
 

FIRST ARQUEBUSIER

 
  Durst they, indeed, presume so far?
 

FIRST DRAGOON

 
  This regiment is something above the rest.
  It has ever been foremost through the war,
  And may manage its laws, as it pleases best;
  Besides, 'tis by Friedland himself caressed.
  FIRST CUIRASSIER (to the Second.)
  Is't so in truth, man? Who averred it?
 

SECOND CUIRASSIER

 
  From the lips of the colonel himself I heard it.
 

FIRST CUIRASSIER

 
  The devil! we're not their dogs, I weep!
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  How now, what's wrong? You're swollen with spleen!
 

SECOND YAGER

 
  Is it anything, comrades, may us concern?
 

FIRST CUIRASSIER

 
  'Tis what none need be wondrous glad to learn.
         The Soldiers press round him.
  To the Netherlands they would lend us now —
  Cuirassiers, Yagers, and Shooters away,
  Eight thousand in all must march, they say.
 

SUTLER-WOMAN

 
  What! What! again the old wandering way —
  I got back from Flanders but yesterday!
 

SECOND CUIRASSIER (to the Dragoons)

 
  You of Butler's corps must tramp with the rest.
 

FIRST CUIRASSIER

 
  And we, the Walloons, must doubtless be gone.
 

SUTLER-WOMAN

 
  Why, of all our squadrons these are the best.
 

FIRST CUIRASSIER

 
  To march where that Milanese fellow leads on.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  The infant? that's queer enough in its way.
 

SECOND YAGER

 
  The priest – then, egad! there's the devil to pay.
 

FIRST CUIRASSIER

 
  Shall we then leave the Friedlander's train,
  Who so nobly his soldiers doth entertain —
  And drag to the field with this fellow from Spain!
  A niggard whom we in our souls disdain!
  That'll never go down – I'm off, I swear.
 

TRUMPETER

 
  Why, what the devil should we do there?
  We sold our blood to the emperor – ne'er
  For this Spanish red hat a drop we'll spare!
 

SECOND YAGER

 
  On the Friedlander's word and credit alone
  We ranged ourselves in the trooper line,
  And, but for our love to Wallenstein,
  Ferdinand ne'er had our service known.
 

FIRST DRAGOON

 
  Was it not Friedland that formed our force?
  His fortune shall still be the star of our course.
 

SERGEANT

 
  Silence, good comrades, to me give ear —
  Talking does little to help us here.
  Much farther in this I can see than you all,
  And a trap has been laid in which we're to fall;
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  List to the order-book! hush – be still!
 

SERGEANT

 
  But first, Cousin Gustel, I pray thee fill
  A glass of Melneck, as my stomach's but weak
  When I've tossed it off, my mind I'll speak.
 

SUTLER-WOMAN

 
  Take it, good sergeant. I quake for fear —
  Think you that mischief is hidden here?
 

SERGEANT

 
  Look ye, my friends, 'tis fit and clear
  That each should consider what's most near.
  But as the general says, say I,
  One should always the whole of a case descry.
  We call ourselves all the Friedlander's troops;
  The burgher, on whom we're billeted, stoops
  Our wants to supply, and cooks our soups.
  His ox, or his horse, the peasant must chain
  To our baggage-car, and may grumble in vain.
  Just let a lance-corp'ral, with seven good men,
  Tow'rd a village from far but come within ken,
  You're sure he'll be prince of the place, and may
  Cut what capers he will, with unquestioned sway.
  Why, zounds! lads, they heartily hate us all —
  And would rather the devil should give them a call,
  Than our yellow collars. And why don't they fall
  On us fairly at once and get rid of our lumber?
  They're more than our match in point of number,
  And carry the cudgel as we do the sword.
  Why can we laugh them to scorn? By my word
  Because we make up here a terrible horde.
 

FIRST YAGER

 
  Ay, ay, in the mass lies the spell of our might,
  And the Friedlander judged the matter aright,
  When, some eight or nine years ago, he brought
  The emperor's army together. They thought
  Twelve thousand enough for the general. In vain,
  Said he, such a force I can never maintain.
  Sixty thousand I'll bring ye into the plain,
  And they, I'll be sworn, won't of hunger die,
  And thus were we Wallenstein's men, say I.
 

SERGEANT

 
  For example, cut one of my fingers off,
  This little one here from my right hand doff.
  Is the taking my finger then all you've done?
  No, no, to the devil my hand is gone!
  'Tis a stump – no more – and use has none.
  The eight thousand horse they wish to disband
  May be but a finger of our army's hand.
  But when they're once gone may we understand
  We are but one-fifth the less? Oh, no —
  By the Lord, the whole to the devil will go!
  All terror, respect, and awe will be over,
  And the peasant will swell his crest once more;
  And the Board of Vienna will order us where
  Our troops must be quartered and how we must fare,
  As of old in the days of their beggarly care.
  Yes, and how long it will be who can say
  Ere the general himself they may take away?
  For they don't much like him at court I learn?
  And then it's all up with the whole concern!
  For who, to our pay, will be left to aid us?
  And see that they keep the promise they made us?
  Who has the energy – who the mind —
  The flashing thought – and the fearless hand —
  Together to bring, and thus fastly bind
  The fragments that form our close-knit band.
  For example, dragoon – just answer us now,
  From which of the countries of earth art thou?
 

DRAGOON

 
  From distant Erin came I here.
  SERGEANT (to the two Cuirassiers).
  You're a Walloon, my friend, that's clear,
  And you, an Italian, as all may hear.
 

FIRST CUIRASSIER

 
  Who I may be, faith! I never could say;
  In my infant years they stole me away.
 

SERGEANT

 
  And you, from what far land may you be?
 

FIRST ARQUEBUSIER

 
  I come from Buchau – on the Feder Sea.
 

SERGEANT

 
  Neighbor, and you?
 

SECOND ARQUEBUSIER

 
            I am a Swiss.
 

SERGEANT (to the second Yager)

 
  And Yager, let's hear where your country is?
 

SECOND YAGER

 
  Up above Wismar my fathers dwell.