Wallenstein's Camp

TRUMPETER  You do well, sirs, to take a further walk,  Your company only disturbs our talk.

[Exeunt Arquebusiers.

FIRST CUIRASSIER  Plague take the fellows – they're brave, I know.FIRST YAGER  They haven't a soul 'bove a soapboiler's, though.SECOND YAGER  We're now alone, so teach us who can  How best we may meet and mar their plan.TRUMPETER  How? Why, let's tell them we will not go!FIRST CUIRASSIER  Despising all discipline! No, my lads, no,  Rather his corps let each of us seek,  And quietly then with his comrades speak,  That every soldier may clearly know,  It were not for his good so far to go;  For my Walloons to answer I'm free,  Every man of 'em thinks and acts with me.SERGEANT  The Terzky regiments, both horse and foot,  Will thus resolve, and will keep them to't.  SECOND CUIRASSIER (joining the first).  The Walloons and the Lombards one intent.FIRST YAGER  Freedom is Yagers' own element.SECOND YAGER  Freedom must ever with might entwine —  I live and will die by Wallenstein.FIRST SHARPSHOOTER  The Lorrainers go on with the strongest tide,  Where spirits are light and courage tried.DRAGOON  An Irishman follows his fortune's star.SECOND SHARPSHOOTER  The Tyrolese for their sovereign war.FIRST CUIRASSIER  Then, comrades, let each of our corps agree  A pro memoria to sign – that we,  In spite of all force or fraud, will be  To the fortunes of Friedland firmly bound,  For in him is the soldier's father found.  This we will humbly present, when done,  To Piccolomini – I mean the son —  Who understands these kind of affairs,  And the Friedlander's highest favor shares;  Besides, with the emperor's self, they say  He holds a capital card to play.SECOND YAGER  Well, then, in this, let us all agree,  That the colonel shall our spokesman be!  ALL (going).  Good! the colonel shall our spokesman be.SERGEANT  Hold, sirs – just toss off a glass with me  To the health of Piccolomini.  SUTLER-WOMAN (brings a flask).  This shall not go to the list of scores,  I gladly give it – success be yours!CUIRASSIER  The soldier shall sway!BOTH YAGERS              The peasant shall payDRAGOONS and SHARPSHOOTERS  The army shall flourishing stand!TRUMPETER and SERGEANT  And the Friedlander keep the command!SECOND CUIRASSIER (sings)     Arouse ye, my comrades, to horse! to horse!      To the field and to freedom we guide!     For there a man feels the pride of his force      And there is the heart of him tried.     No help to him there by another is shown,     He stands for himself and himself alone.

[The soldiers from the background have come forward during the singing of this verse and form the chorus.

CHORUS     No help to him by another is shown,     He stands for himself and himself alone.DRAGOON     Now freedom hath fled from the world, we find      But lords and their bondsmen vile     And nothing holds sway in the breast of mankind      Save falsehood and cowardly guile.     Who looks in death's face with a fearless brow,     The soldier, alone, is the freeman now.CHORUS     Who looks in death's face with a fearless brow,     The soldier, alone, is the freeman now.FIRST YAGER     With the troubles of life he ne'er bothers his pate,      And feels neither fear nor sorrow;     But boldly rides onward to meet with his fate —      He may meet it to-day, or to-morrow!     And, if to-morrow 'twill come, then, I say,     Drain we the cup of life's joy to-day!CHORUS     And, if to-morrow 'twill come, then, I say,     Drain we the cup of life's joy to-day!

[The glasses are here refilled, and all drink.

SERGEANT     'Tis from heaven his jovial lot has birth;      Nor needs he to strive or toil.     The peasant may grope in the bowels of earth,      And for treasure may greedily moil     He digs and he delves through life for the pelf,     And digs till he grubs out a grave for himself.CHORUS     He digs and he delves through life for the pelf,     And digs till he grubs out a grave for himself.FIRST YAGER     The rider and lightning steed – a pair      Of terrible guests, I ween!     From the bridal-hall, as the torches glare,      Unbidden they join theSCENE;     Nor gold, nor wooing, his passion prove;     By storm he carries the prize of love!CHORUS     Nor gold, nor wooing, his passion prove;     By storm he carries the prize of love!SECOND CUIRASSIER     Why mourns the wench with so sorrowful face?      Away, girl, the soldier must go!     No spot on the earth is his resting-place;      And your true love he never can know.     Still onward driven by fate's rude wind,     He nowhere may leave his peace behind.CHORUS     Still onward driven by fate's rude wind,     He nowhere may leave his peace behind.FIRST YAGER

He takes the two next to him by the hand – the others do the same – and form a large semi-circle.

     Then rouse ye, my comrades – to horse! to horse!      In battle the breast doth swell!     Youth boils – the life-cup foams in its force —      Up! ere time can dew dispel!     And deep be the stake, as the prize is high —     Who life would win, he must dare to die!CHORUS     And deep be the stake, as the prize is high —     Who life would win, he must dare to die!       [The curtain falls before the chorus has finished.