What, my Lord Envoy? May I not be sufferedTo understand, that folks are tired of seeing 205
The sword’s hilt in my grasp: and that your court
Snatch eagerly at this pretence, and use
The Spanish title, to drain off my forces,
To lead into the empire a new army
Unsubjected to my control. To throw me 210
Plumply aside, — I am still too powerful for you
To venture that. My stipulation runs,
That all the Imperial forces shall obey me
Where’er the German is the native language.
Of Spanish troops and of Prince Cardinals 215
That take their route, as visitors, through the empire,
There stands no syllable in my stipulation.
No syllable! And so the politic court
Steals in a-tiptoe, and creeps round behind it;
First makes me weaker, then to be dispensed with, 220
Till it dares strike at length a bolder blow
And make short work with me.
What need of all these crooked ways, Lord Envoy?
Straight-forward man! His compact with me pinches
The Emperor. He would that I moved off! — 225
Well! — I will gratify him!
[Here there commences an agitation among the Generals
which increases continually.
It grieves me for my noble officers’ sakes!
I see not yet, by what means they will come at
The moneys they have advanced, or how obtain
The recompense their services demand. 230
Still a new leader brings new claimants forward,
And prior merit superannuates quickly.
There serve here many foreigners in the army,
And were the man in all else brave and gallant,
I was not wont to make nice scrutiny 235
After his pedigree or catechism.
This will be otherwise, i’the time to come.
Well — me no longer it concerns. [He seats himself.
Max Piccolomini. Forbid it. Heaven, that it should come to this!
Our troops will swell in dreadful fermentation — 240
The Emperor is abused — it cannot be.
Isolani. It cannot be; all goes to instant wreck.
Wallenstein. Thou hast said truly, faithful Isolani!
What we with toil and foresight have built up,
Will go to wreck — all go to instant wreck. 245
What then? another chieftain is soon found,
Another army likewise (who dares doubt it?)
Will flock from all sides to the Emperor
At the first beat of his recruiting drum.
[During this speech, ISOLANI, TERTSKY, ILLO and MARADAS
talk confusedly with great agitation.
Max Piccolomini (busily and passionately going from one to
another, and soothing them). Hear, my commander! Hear me,
generals! 250
Let me conjure you, Duke! Determine nothing,
Till we have met and represented to you
Our joint remonstrances. — Nay, calmer! Friends!
I hope all may be yet set right again.
Tertsky. Away! let us away! in the antechamber 255
Find we the others. [They go.
Butler (to Questenberg). If good counsel gain
Due audience from your wisdom, my Lord Envoy!
You will be cautious how you shew yourself
In public for some hours to come — or hardly
Will that gold key protect you from maltreatment. 260
[Commotions heard from without.
Wallenstein. A salutary counsel —— Thou, Octavio!
Wilt answer for the safety of our guest.
Farewell, Von Questenberg! [QUESTENBERG is about to speak.
Nay, not a word.
Not one word more of that detested subject!
You have performed your duty — We know how 265
To separate the office from the man.
[As QUESTENBERG is going off with OCTAVIO, GOETZ,
TIEFENBACH, KOLATTO, press in; several other
Generals following them.
Goetz. Where’s he who means to rob us of our general?
Tiefenbach (at the same time). What are we forced to hear?
That thou wilt leave us?
Kolatto (at the same time). We will live with thee, we will die
with thee.
Wallenstein (pointing to Illo). There! the Field-Marshal knows
our will. [Exit. 270
ACT II
SCENE I
SCENE — A small Chamber.
ILLO
