COUNTESS.

Is it then, Can it have come to this?--What! Cousin, cousin!

Have you the heart?

MAX.

The regiments that are trusted to my care I have pledged my troth to bring away from Pilsen True to the Emperor; and this promise will I Make good, or perish. More than this no duty Requires of me. I will not fight against thee, Unless compell'd; for though an enemy, Thy head is holy to me still.

[_Two reports of cannon_. ILLO _and_ TERZKY _hurry to the window_.]

WALLENST.

What's that?

TERZKY.

He falls.

WALLENSTEIN.

Falls! Who?

ILLO.

Tiefenbach's corps Discharged the ordnance.

WALLENSTEIN.

Upon whom?

ILLO.

On Neumann, Your messenger.

WALLENSTEIN (_starting up_).

Ha! Death and h.e.l.l! I will--

TERZKY.

Expose thyself to their blind frenzy?

d.u.c.h.eSS _and_ COUNTESS.

No!

For G.o.d's sake, no!

ILLO.

Not yet, my General O hold him! hold him!

WALLENSTEIN.

Leave me.

MAX.

Do it not; Not yet! This rash and b.l.o.o.d.y deed has thrown them Into a frenzy-fit--allow them time--

WALLENST.

Away! too long already have I loiter'd.

They are emboldened to these outrages, Beholding not my face. They shall behold My countenance, shall hear my voice-- Are they not _my_ troops? Am I not their General, And their long-fear'd commander? Let me see Whether indeed they do no longer know That countenance, which was their sun in battle!

From the balcony (mark!) I show myself To these rebellious forces, and at once Revolt is mounded, and the high-swoln current Shrinks back into the old bed of obedience.

[_Exit_ WALLENSTEIN; ILLO, TERZKY, _and_ BUTLER _follow_.]

SCENE XXI

COUNTESS, d.u.c.h.eSS, MAX _and_ THEKLA

COUNTESS (_to the_ d.u.c.h.eSS).

Let them but see him--there is hope still, sister.

d.u.c.h.eSS.

Hope! I have none!

MAX (_who during the last scene has been standing at a distance, in a visible struggle of feelings, advances_).

This can I not endure.

With most determined soul did I come hither; My purposed action seem'd unblamable To my own conscience--and I must stand here Like one abhorr'd, a hard inhuman being: Yea, loaded with the curse of all I love!

Must see all whom I love in this sore anguish, Whom I with one word can make happy--O!

My heart revolts within me, and two voices Make themselves audible within my bosom.

My soul's benighted; I no longer can Distinguish the right track. O, well and truly Didst thou say, father, I relied too much On my own heart. My mind moves to and fro-- know not what to do.

COUNTESS.

What! you know not?

Does not your own heart tell you? O! then I Will tell it you. Your father is a traitor, A frightful traitor to us--he has plotted Against our General's life, has plunged us all In misery--and you're his son! 'Tis yours To make the _amends_--Make you the son's fidelity Outweigh the father's treason, that the name Of Piccolomini be not a proverb Of infamy, a common form of cursing To the posterity of Wallenstein.

MAX.

Where is that voice of truth which I dare follow!

It speaks no longer in _my_ heart. We all But utter what our pa.s.sionate wishes dictate: O that an angel would descend from heaven, And scoop for me the right, the uncorrupted, With a pure hand from the pure fount of Light!