Wallensteins Tod
Wallensteins Tod; Wallenstein’s Death (1799)
In Act One, Wallenstein consults with Seni, the astrologer. The stars seem favourable, but then Terzky arrives with the news that Wallenstein's messenger, Sesin, has been captured on to the Swedes: Vienna now knows about Wallenstein’s plans. Act One is particularly significant because it shows Wallenstein teetering on the brink of open rebellion. In Act One, Scene 4, Wallenstein has a great speech in which he expresses his realisation that his own actions have permanently barred his way back to his past life:
Es war nicht
Mein Ernst, beschloßne Sache war es nie.
In dem Gedanken bloß gefiel ich mir;
Die Freiheit reizte mich und das Vermögen.
War's unrecht, an dem Gaukelbilde mich
Der königlichen Hoffnung zu ergötzen?
Blieb in der Brust mir nicht der Wille frei,
Und sah ich nicht den guten Weg zur Seite,
Der mir die Rückkehr offen stets bewahrte?
Wohin denn seh ich plötzlich mich geführt?
Bahnlos liegt's hinter mir, und eine Mauer
Aus meinen eignen Werken baut sich auf,
Die mir die Umkehr türmend hemmt!
I did not
Mean it seriously, the case was never decided.
I only pleased myself with the thought;
Freedom excited me, and knowing I could do it.
Was it wrong to take delight in
The deceptive image of royal hopes?
Did I not still have a free will in my heart,
And did I not see the good path by my side,
Which always kept the way back open to me?
Where, then, do I suddenly find myself led?
The way behind me is barred, and a wall
Formed of my own deeds builds itself up,
Towering it stops me from turning back!
https://www.projekt-gutenberg.org/schiller/wallenst/chap012.html
Shortly afterwards the Swedish commander Wrangel arrives to negotiate the terms of an alliance: the Swedes must occupy Prague and Eger. Wallenstein hesitates but then, in Act One, Scene 7, Countess Terzky plays on his masculine pride, much as Lady Macbeth does with her husband in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Countess Terzky points out that if Wallenstein submits to the Emperor now, he will be remembered as just another adventurer. Her strategy succeeds: Wallenstein exclaims that he would rather be cursed than remembered as a mediocrity:
Eh' mich die Welt mit jenen Elenden
Verwechselt, die der Tag erschafft und stürzt,
Eh' spreche Welt und Nachwelt meinen Namen
Mit Abscheu aus, und Friedland sei die Losung
Für jede fluchenswerte Tat.
Rather than I should be confused with those wretches
Whom each passing day makes and unmakes,
I would rather that the world and its descendants
Speak my name with horror, and let Friedland be the byword
For every abominable deed.
https://www.projekt-gutenberg.org/schiller/wallenst/chap012.html
And so Wallenstein decides to agree the Swedish terms.
In Act Two, Wallenstein orders Octavio to take command of the Spanish regiments, but to ensure that they do nothing. Max arrives and Wallenstein tells him that he is declaring war on the Emperor. Now Max will have to decide which side he is on. Illo and Terzky tell Wallenstein that he cannot trust Octavio but Wallenstein insists that Octavio is the one who is most loyal to him. At that very moment, Octavio is meeting secretly with Isolani and then Buttler, and persuades them to support the Emperor rather than Wallenstein. Buttler bore a grudge against the Emperor because he was refused a noble title, but Octavio shows Buttler written proof that Wallenstein engineered this refusal so that Buttler would break with the Emperor. Buttler is now determined to revenge himself on Wallenstein. Octavio must leave, and bids farewell to Max, who insists that he will stay with Thekla no matter what.
In Act Three, Countess Terzky tells Thekla that she must ensure that Max gives up his loyalty to the Emperor, and fights on Wallenstein’s side. Thekla fears for her mother, the Duchess, who doesn’t know the truth yet. Countess Terzky tells Wallenstein that Max and Thekla are in love. Wallenstein replies that he will never let Max marry Thekla, because Thekla must marry a prince. Terzky arrives with the news that Isolani’s regiment and several others have abandoned Wallenstein. Wallenstein finally learns how Octavio has betrayed him. Buttler appears and pretends to be loyal. Countess Terzky tells the Duchess that Wallenstein has rebelled against the Emperor, she faints. The Pappenheimer come to ask Wallenstein whether the rumour is true that he has joined the Swedes. Wallenstein tries to persuade them to remain loyal to him, but Buttler bursts in and announces that Terzky’s regiment have torn down the imperial eagle from their standards. The Pappenheimer leave, but, hearing that their commander Max is still inside, they turn their guns on the castle. Max asks Thekla what he should do, she tells him to go. Wallenstein steps between the two of them: it is time for Max to rejoin the Pappenheimer and perform his duty to the Emperor. Max asks Buttler to protect Wallenstein but Buttler refuses to shake on it.
In Act Four, Buttler explains to Gordon, the commander of the fortress at Eger, that Wallenstein is now a traitor and that it is their duty to stop him. A herald brings the news that Max and his Pappenheimer have died in battle against the Swedes. The Swedes are now only five miles away, and so Buttler tells Gordon that the only way to stop Wallenstein is to kill him. Illo brags to Buttler and Gordon, not knowing their plans. Gordon begs Buttler to show mercy to Wallenstein but Buttler is determined to kill him. The Swedish captain tells Thekla exactly how Max died, and also that Max has been buried in a chapel near Neustadt. Thekla tells Neubrunn, her lady in waiting, that they must go there at once. Her loyal equerry agrees to take them there. Thekla bids goodnight to her mother, not telling her that she is about to run away.
In Act Five, Buttler tells Macdonald and Deveroux that they must help him to kill first Illo and Terzky, and then Wallenstein himself. Wallenstein tells Countess Terzky that Max was his pride and joy, and that he will miss him. Countess Terzky tells Wallenstein that she has dreamt that he too will die. Wallenstein tells Gordon that he has sacrificed Max so that fate will not be envious of him. Seni comes to warn Wallenstein of treachery: he must not trust the Swedes, but Wallenstein just laughs: since Seni is a Catholic it is only to be expected that he should suspect the Protestants. Wallenstein bids Gordon goodnight. Gordon hesitates as Buttler arrives, wounded – Illo and Terzky are already dead. Gordon begs for mercy for Wallenstein but then trumpets are heard and Gordon rushes off. Buttler, Macdonald and Deveroux assume it is the Swedes arriving and that they have no time to lose. They rush into Wallenstein’s bedroom and kill him (the murder occurs offstage). Gordon returns with the news that the approaching army is the imperial army, not the Swedes, and so there was no need to kill Wallenstein. Octavio arrives just as Wallenstein’s corpse is being carried across the back of the stage, wrapped in a red carpet. Octavio reproaches Buttler, who replies that he has perfomed his duty to the Emperor and deserves to be rewarded. Countess Terzky tells Octavio her last wishes; then she reveals that she has taken poison and is dying. A letter arrives from the Emperor addressed to Prince Piccolomini.