OCTAVIO. And that I should not But what's too late? Bethink yourself, my friend, OCTAVIO (more collected). Come! to the Duke's. "Tis close upon the hour, SCENE VI. Changes to a spacious Chamber in the House of the Duke of Friedland.-Servants employed in putting the tables and chairs in order. During this enters SENI, like an old Italian doctor, in black and clothed somewhat fantastically. He carries a white staff, with which he marks out the quarters of the heaven. FIRST SERVANT. Come to it, lads, to it! Make an end of it. I hear the sentry call out, “Stand to your arms!" They will be there in a minute. SECOND SERVANT. Why were we not told before that the audience would be held here? Nothing prepared-no orders -no instructions THIRD SERVANT. Ay, and why was the balcony-chamber countermanded, that with the great worked carpet?—there one can look about one. FIRST SERVANT. I did even that Nay, that you must ask the mathematician there. And wish'd, ere yet you went into the field, SECOND SERVANT. WALLENSTEIN. Poh! stuff and nonsense! That's what I call a hum. And did they guess the choice which I had made? A chamber is a chamber; what much can the place; signify in the affair? SENI (with gravity). My son, there's nothing insignificant, Nothing! But yet in every earthly thing First and most principal is place and time. FIRST SERVANT (to the second). Say nothing to him, Nat. The Duke himself must let him have his own will. BENI (counts the chairs, half in a loud, half in a low SECOND SERVANT. DUCHESS. They only hoped and wish'd it may have fallen WALLENSTEIN. And you-what do you wish, Elizabeth? DUCHESS. Your will, you know, was always mine. Well then? And in all else, of what kind and complexion [The DUCHESS casts her eyes on the ground, and Hide nothing from me. How were you received? DUCHESS. And what may you have to object against eleven? O! my dear Lord, all is not what it was. I should like to know that now. I have been long accustom'd to defend you, No; no one rail'd at you. They wrapp'd them up, No transient pique, no cloud that passes over: WALLENSTEIN. Now she omitted it? DUCHESS (wiping away her tears, after a pause). But then first when I had already taken WALLENSTEIN (seizes her hand soothingly). DUCHESS (shaking her head). I saw none. WALLENSTEIN. The ambassador from Spain, who once was wont To plead so warmly for me?— DUCHESS. WALLENSTEIN. Silent, silent! Of a second -Dismission. WALLENSTEIN. Proceed! DUCHESS. They talk WALLENSTEIN. DUCHESS. -(catches her voice and hesitates). WALLENSTEIN. Second DUCHESS. WALLENSTEIN. Talk they? More disgraceful [Strides across the Chamber in vehement agitatu O! they force, they thrust me With violence against my own will, onward! DUCHESS (presses near to him, in entreaty). O! if there yet be time, my husband! if By giving way and by submission, this Can be averted-my dear Lord, give way! Win down your proud heart to it! Tell that heart, It is your sovereign Lord, your Emperor, Before whom you retreat. O let no longer Low tricking malice blacken your good meaning With venomous glosses. Stand you up Shielded and helm'd and weapon'd with the truth. And drive before you into uttermost shame These slanderous liars! Few firm friends have weYou know it!-The swift growth of our good fortune It hath but set us up a mark for hatred. What are we, if the sovereign's grace and favor Stand not before us? SCENE VIII. Enter the Countess TERTSKY, leading in her hand the Princess THEKLA, richly adorned with Brilliants. COUNTESS, THEKLA, WALLENSTEIN, DUCHESS. COUNTESS. These suns then are eclipsed for us. Henceforward How, sister! What, already upon business! Must we roll on, our own fire, our own light. We in the field here gave our cares and toils Thou wouldst not have recognized thy father, years, When last she saw your face. THEKLA. O yes, yes, mother! WALLENSTEIN. The voice of my child! I was indignant at my destiny, I wrong'd my destiny. Here upon this head, So lovely in its maiden bloom, will I No! 'twas not so intended, that my business [TERTSKY enters, and delivers letters to the DUKE COUNTESS (to Max.). THEKLA. Then I too must have scruples of his love; MAX. Yes; 'tis his nature ever to be giving [He grasps the hand of the DUCHESS with still in How my heart pours out Its all of thanks to him! O! how I seem In this name hath my destiny charm-bound me! My brother wishes us to leave him. Come. WALLENSTEIN (turns himself round quick, collects himself, and speaks with cheerfulness to the DUCHESS). [He clasps her in his arms as PICCOLOMINI enters. Once more I bid thee welcome to the camp. SCENE IX. Enter MAX. PICCOLOMINI, and some time after Count COUNTESS. There comes the Paladin who protected us. WALLENSTEIN. Max.! Welcome, ever welcome! Always wert thou MAX. My General WALLENSTEIN. Till now it was the Emperor who rewarded thee, MAX. My prince! You made no common hurry to transfer it. Thou art the hostess of this court. You, Max., SCENE X. WALLENSTEIN, COUNT TERTSKY. It is the king of Hungary, Ferdinand, The Emperor's delicate son! he's now their savior Count Altringer will have himself excused. TERTSKY. And if WALLENSTEIN. Altringer Is master of the Tyrol passes. I must forthwith In contraband negotiations, he Had you meant nothing further than to gull him For the Emperor's service. WALLENSTEIN (after a pause, during which he looks narrowly on TERTSKY). And from whence dost thou know Has shown himself again of late. What brings he That I'm not gulling him for the Emperor's service? From the Count Thur? Off with them, off! Thou understand'st not this. To come with stealthy tread, and filch away TERTSKY. You will deal, however, More fairly with the Saxons? They lose patience While you shift ground and make so many curves. Say, to what purpose all these masks? Your friends Are plunged in doubts, baffled, and led astray in you. There's Oxenstein, there's Arnheim-neither knows What he should think of your procrastinations, And in the end I prove the liar; all Passes through me. I have not even your handwriting. WALLENSTEIN. I never give my handwriting; thou knowest it. TERTSKY. But how can it be known that you're in earnest, Whence knowest thou that I'm not gulling all of you? Dost thou know me so well? When made I thee The intendant of my secret purposes? I am not conscious that I ever open'd My inmost thoughts to thee. The Emperor, it is true. I could repay him with usurious interest No wiselier than thy fellows. TERTSKY. You'll find them in the very mood you wish They know about the Emperor's requisitions, And are tumultuous. Declared himself? WALLENSTEIN. How hath Isolan ILLO. If I'm in aught to bind myself to them, You might have done with safety all you have done. They too must bind themselves to me. Seize, seize the hour, Ere it slips from you. Seldom comes the moment In life, which is indeed sublime and weighty. To make a great decision possible, O! many things, all transient and all rapid, Must meet at once: and, haply, they thus met May by that confluence be enforced to pause Time long enough for wisdom, though too short, Far, far too short a time for doubt and scruple! This is that moment. See, our army chieftains, Our best, our noblest, are assembled around you, Their king-like leader! On your nod they wait. The single threads, which here your prosperous for tune Hath woven together in one potent web Thou speakest as thou understand'st. How oft [He walks across the chamber, then returns, and The heavenly constellations make not merely PAGE (entering). My Lords, the Generals. WALLENSTEIN. Let them come in, |