# Wallenstein/The Piccolomini/A1S02

SCENE II.
Enter Octavio Piccolomini, and Questenberg.
OCTAVIO (still in the distance)
Acknowledge, friend! that never was a camp, Which held at once so many heads of heroes.
(Approaching nearer.)
ISOLANI.
Even now am I arriv'd; it has been else my duty—
OCTAVIO.
Thus to renew acquaintance with a man Whose worth and services I know and honor. See, see, my friend! There might we place at once before our eyes The sum of war's whole trade and mystery— (To Questenberg, presenting Butler and Isolani at the same time to him.) These two the total sum—Strength and Dispatch.
QUESTENBERG (to Octavio).
OCTAVIO (presenting Questenberg to Butler and Isolani).
The bearer of the Emperor's behests, The long-tried friend and patron of all soldiers, We honor in this noble visitor. (Universal silence.)
ILLO. (moving towards Questenberg.)
You have shewn our camp this honor.
QUESTENBERG.
I stood before these colours.
ILLO.
It was at Znäim in Moravia, where You did present yourself upon the part Of th' Emperor to supplicate our Duke That he would straight assume the chief command.
QUESTENBERG.
So far extended neither my commission (At least to my own knowledge) nor my zeal.
ILLO.
I can remember me right well, Count Tilly Had suffered total rout upon the Lech. Bavaria lay all open to the enemy, Whom there was nothing to delay from pressing Onwards into the very heart of Austria. At that time you and Werdenberg appear'd Before our General, storming him with prayers, And menacing the Emperor's displeasure, Unless he took compassion on this wretchedness.
ISOLANI. (Steps up to them.)
Wherefore with your commission of to-day, You were not all too willing to remember Your former one.
QUESTENBERG.
No contradiction sure exists between them.
It was the urgent business of that time To snatch Bavaria from her enemy's hand; And my commission of to-day instructs me To free her from her good friends and protectors.
ILLO.
We have wrested this Bohemia from the Saxon, To be swept out of it is all our thanks, The sole reward of all our hard-won victories.
QUESTENBERG.
Only a change of evils, it must be Freed from the scourge alike of friend or foe.
ILLO.
Can answer fresh demands already.
QUESTENBERG.
If you discourse of herds and meadow-grounds—
ISOLANI.
The Emperor gains so many more new soldiers.
QUESTENBERG.
ISOLANI.
QUESTENBERG.
With profitable industry the purse, The others are well skill'd to empty it.
The sword has made the Emperor poor; the plough Must reinvigorate his resources.
ISOLANI.
Times are not yet so bad. Methinks I see  (Examining with his eye the dress and ornaments of Questenberg) Good store of gold that still remains uncoin'd.
QUESTENBERG.
Some little from the fingers of the Croats.
ILLO.
On whom the Emperor heaps his gifts and graces, To the heart-burning of all good Bohemians— Those minions of court favor, those court harpies, Who fatten on the wrecks of citizens Driven from their house and home—who reap no harvests Save in the general calamity— Who now, with kingly pomp, insult and mock The desolation of their country—these, Let these, and such as these, support the war, The fatal war, which they alone enkindled!
BUTLER.
So constantly beneath the Emperor's table, Who cannot let a benefice fall, but they Snap at it with dog's hunger—they, forsooth,
Would pare the soldier's bread, and cross his reckoning!
ISOLANI.
How when I went to court seven years ago, To see about new horses for our regiment, How from one antichamber to another They dragg'd me on, and left me by the hour To kick my heels among a croud of simpering, Feast-fatten'd slaves, as if I had come thither A mendicant suitor for the crumbs of favor That fall beneath their tables. And, at last, Whom should they send me but a Capuchin! Straight I began to muster up my sins For absolution—but no such luck for me! This was the man, this Capuchin, with whom I was to treat concerning th' army horses. And I was forc'd at last to quit the field, The business unaccomplish'd. Afterwards The Duke procur'd me in three days, what I Could not obtain in thirty at Vienna.
QUESTENBERG.
Too well I know we have still accounts to settle.
ILLO.
Finish one's work by soft means; every trifle Must not be blacken'd into sacrilege. If we should wait till you, in solemn council, With due deliberation had selected
The smallest out of four-and-twenty evils, I'faith we should wait long.— "Dash! and through with it!"—That's the better watch-word. Then after come what may come. 'Tis man's nature To make the best of a bad thing once past. A bitter and perplexed "What shall I do?" Is worse to man than worst necessity.
QUESTENBERG.
The troublesome task of chusing.
BUTLER.
Cares with a father's feelings for his troops; But how the Emperor feels for us, we see.
QUESTENBERG.
Nor will he offer one up to another.
ISOLANI.
As beasts of prey, that so he may preserve His dear sheep fattening in his fields at home.
QUESTENBERG (with a sneer).
BUTLER.
'Twere dangerous, sure, to give us liberty.
QUESTENBERG.
And therefore it becomes an urgent duty To rein it in with the curbs.
OCTAVIO (interposing and addressing Questenberg).
This is no more than a remembrancing That you are now in camp, and among warriors. The soldier's boldness constitutes his freedom. Could he act daringly, unless he dar'd Talk even so? One runs into the other. The boldness of this worthy officer, (Pointing to Butler) Which now has but mistaken in its mark, Preserv'd, when nought but boldness could preserve it, To the Emperor his capital city Prague, In a most formidable mutiny Of the whole garrison. (Military music at a distance.) Hah! here they come!
ILLO.
Announces the arrival of the Duchess.
OCTAVIO (to Questenberg).
Fetch'd and attended them from Carnthen hither.
ISOLANI (to Illo).
ILLO.
(To Octavio.)
The noble envoy at the General's palace. Exeunt all but Questenberg and Octavio.