And trusts itself to impotence alone, Made powerful only in an unknown power. Wal. The world will judge me sternly, I expect it. Already have I said to my own self All thou canst say to me. Who but avoids Max. O that is never possible for thee! 'Tis the last desperate resource of those Cheap souls, to whom their honour, their good name And glorious; with an unpolluted heart Thou canst make conquest of whate'er seems highest! But he, who once hath acted infamy, Does nothing more in this world. Wal. (grasps his hand.) Calmly, Max.! Much that is great and excellent will we But never yet was man enrich'd by them: Is to be struggled for-all there is general. From the deceiving Powers, depraved in nature, Propitious, and there lives no soul on earth And striving spirit readily I pardon The excess of action; but to thee, my general! For thou must move a world, and be the master- By violence. Resist the emperor, And if it must be, force with force repel : Not to the traitor can I yield a pardon. [Wallenstein betrays a sudden agitation. Thou canst not hear it named, and wilt thou do it? O turn back to thy duty. That thou canst, 1 hold it certain. Send me to Vienna: I'll make thy peace for thee with the emperor. Wal. It is too late. Thou knowest not what has happen'd. Max. Were it too late, and were things gone so far, That a crime only could prevent thy fall, Then—fall! fall honourably, even as thou stood'st. Wal. It is too late! Even now, while thou art losing Thy words, one after the other are the mile-stones Left fast behind by my post couriers, Who bear the order on to Prague and Egra. [Max. stands as convulsed, with a gesture and countenance expressing the most intense anguish. Yield yourself to it. We act as we are forced. I cannot give assent to my own shame And ruin. Thou-no-thou canst not forsake me! I trace out something in me of his spirit; [Max. quits him abruptly. Wallenstein, startled Tert. It is as if the earth had swallow'd him. He had scarce left thee, when I went to seek him. I wish'd some words with him-but he was gone. How, when, and where, could no one tell me. Nay, I half believe it was the devil himself; A human creature could not so at once Have vanish'd Illo. (enters.) Is it true that thou wilt send Octavio ? Tert. How, Octavio! Whither send him? Wal. He goes to Frauenberg, and will lead hither The Spanish and Italian regiments. Illo. Nay, heaven forbid ? Wal. No! And why should heaven forbid? Illo. Him!-that deceiver! Wouldst thou trust to him The soldiery? Him wilt thou let slip from thee, [no! Tert. Thou wilt not do this!-No! I pray thee, Wal. Ye are whimsical. Illo. O but for this time, duke, Yield to our warning! Let him not depart. Wal. And why should I not trust him only this .time, Who have always trusted him? What, then, has happen'd, That I should lose my good opinion of him? Tert. Must it be he-he only? Send another. Wal. It must be he, whom I myself have chosen; He is well fitted for the business. Therefore Illo. Because he's an ItalianTherefore is he well fitted for the business! Wal. I know you love them not-nor sire nor son Because that I esteem them, love them-visibly Are they the worse to me because you hate them? |