WALLENSTEIN.

That's not true.

ILLO.

O thou art blind, With thy deep-seeing eyes!

WALLENSTEIN.

Thou wilt not shake My faith for me--my faith, which founds itself On the profoundest science. If 'tis false, Then the whole science of the stars is false; For know, I have a pledge from Fate itself, That he is the most faithful of my friends.

ILLO.

Hast thou a pledge, that this pledge is not false?

WALLENST.

There exist moments in the life of man, When he is nearer the great Soul of the world Than is man's custom, and possesses freely The power of questioning his destiny: And such a moment 'twas, when in the night Before the action in the plains of Lutzen, Leaning against a tree, thoughts crowding thoughts, I look'd out far upon the ominous plain.

My whole life, past and future, in this moment Before my mind's eye glided in procession, And to the destiny of the next morning The spirit, fill'd with anxious presentiment, Did knit the most removed futurity.

Then said I also to myself: "So many Dost thou command. They follow all thy stars And as on some great number set their All Upon thy single head, and only man The vessel of thy fortune. Yet a day Will come when Destiny shall once more scatter All these in many a several direction: Few be they who will stand out faithful to thee."

I yearn'd to know which one was faithfullest Of all, this camp included. Great Destiny, Give me a sign! And he shall be the man, Who, on the approaching morning, comes the first To meet me with a token of his love.

And thinking this, I fell into a slumber.

Then midmost in the battle was I led In spirit. Great the pressure and the tumult!

Then was my horse kil'd under me; I sank; And over me away, all unconcernedly, Drove horse and rider--and thus trod to pieces I lay, and panted like a dying man; Then seized me suddenly a savior arm; It was Octavio's--I awoke at once; 'Twas broad day, and _Octavio_ stood before me.

"My brother," said he, "do not ride today The dapple, as you're wont; but mount the horse Which I have chosen for thee. Do it, brother!

In love to me. A strong dream warn'd me so."

It was the swiftness of his horse that s.n.a.t.c.h'd me From the hot pursuit of Bannier's dragoons.

My cousin rode the dapple on that day, And never more saw I of horse or rider.

ILLO.

That was a chance.

WALLENSTEIN (_significantly_).

There's no such thing as chance.

[And what to us seems merest accident Springs from the deepest source of destiny.]

In brief, 'tis sign'd and seal'd that this Octavio Is my good angel--and now no word more.

[_He is retiring_.]

TERZKY.

This is my comfort--Max remains our hostage.

ILLO.

And he shall never stir from here alive.

WALLENSTEIN (_stops and turns himself round_).

Are ye not like the women who forever Only recur to their first word, although One had been talking reason by the hour!

Know that the human being's thoughts and needs Are not like ocean billows, blindly moved.

The inner world, his microcosmus, is The deep shaft out of which they spring eternally.

They grow by certain laws, like the tree's fruit-- No juggling chance can metamorphose them.

Have I the human _kernel_ first examined?

Then I know, too, the future will and action.

[_Exeunt_.]

SCENE IV

_Chamber in the residence of Piccolomini_

OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI (_attired for traveling_), AN ADJUTANT

OCTAVIO.

Is the detachment here?

ADJUT.

It awaits below.

OCTAVIO.

And are the soldiers trusty, Adjutant?

Say, from what regiment hast thou chosen them?

ADJUT. From Tiefenbach's.

OCTAVIO.

That regiment is loyal; Keep them in silence in the inner court, Unseen by all, and when the signal peals Then close the doors; keep watch upon the house, And all ye meet be instantly arrested.

[_Exit Adjutant_.]

I hope indeed I shall not need their service, So certain feel I of my well laid plans; But when an empire's safety is at stake 'Twere better too much caution than too little.

SCENE V

_A Chamber in PICCOLOMINI's Dwelling-House_.

OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, ISOLANI, _entering_