Wrangel. I must entreat, that your consideration
Occupy not too long a time. Already
Has this negotiation, my Lord Duke!
Crept on into the second year. If nothing 180
Is settled this time, will the Chancellor
Consider it as broken off for ever.
Wallenstein. Ye press me hard. A measure, such as this,
Ought to be thought of.
Wrangel. Ay! but think of this too,
That sudden action only can procure it 185
Success — think first of this, your Highness. [Exit WRANGEL.
SCENE VI
WALLENSTEIN, TERTSKY, and ILLO (re-enter).
Illo. Is’t all right?
Tertsky. Are you compromised?
Illo. This Swede
Went smiling from you. Yes! you’re compromised.
Wallenstein. As yet is nothing settled: and (well weighed)
I feel myself inclined to leave it so.
Tertsky. How? What is that?
Wallenstein. Come on me what will come, 5
The doing evil to avoid an evil
Cannot be good!
Tertsky. Nay, but bethink you, Duke?
Wallenstein. To live upon the mercy of these Swedes!
Of these proud-hearted Swedes! I could not bear it.
Illo. Goest thou as fugitive, as mendicant? 10
Bringest thou not more to them than thou receivest?
SCENE VII
To these enter the COUNTESS TERTSKY.
Wallenstein. Who sent for you? There is no business here
For women.
Countess. I am come to bid you joy.
Wallenstein. Use thy authority, Tertsky, bid her go.
Countess. Come I perhaps too early? I hope not.
Wallenstein. Set not this tongue upon me, I entreat you. 5
You know it is the weapon that destroys me.
I am routed, if a woman but attack me.
I cannot traffic in the trade of words
With that unreasoning sex.
Countess. I had already
Given the Bohemians a king.
Wallenstein. They have one, 10
In consequence, no doubt.
Countess. Ha! what new scruple?
Tertsky. The Duke will not.
Countess. He will not what he must!
Illo. It lies with you now. Try. For I am silenced,
When folks begin to talk to me of conscience,
And of fidelity.
Countess. How? then, when all 15
Lay in the far-off distance, when the road
Stretched out before thine eyes interminably,
Then hadst thou courage and resolve; and now,
Now that the dream is being realized,
The purpose ripe, the issue ascertained, 20
Dost thou begin to play the dastard now?
Planned merely, ‘tis a common felony;
Accomplished, an immortal undertaking:
And with success comes pardon hand in hand;
For all event is God’s arbitrement. 25
Servant (enters). The Colonel Piccolomini.
Countess. — Must wait.
Wallenstein. I cannot see him now. Another time.
Servant. But for two minutes he entreats an audience.
Of the most urgent nature is his business.
Wallenstein. Who knows what he may bring us? I will hear him. 30
Countess. Urgent for him, no doubt; but thou mayest wait.
Wallenstein. What is it?
Countess. Thou shalt be informed hereafter.
First let the Swede and thee be compromised. [Exit Servant.
Wallenstein. If there were yet a choice! if yet some milder
Way of escape were possible — I still 35
Will choose it, and avoid the last extreme.
Countess. Desir’st thou nothing further? Such a way
Lies still before thee. Send this Wrangel off.
Forget thou thy old hopes, cast far away
All thy past life; determine to commence 40
A new one. Virtue hath her heroes too,
As well as Fame and Fortune. — To Vienna —
Hence — to the Emperor — kneel before the throne;
Take a full coffer with thee — say aloud,
Thou did’st but wish to prove thy fealty; 45
Thy whole intention but to dupe the Swede.
Illo. For that too ‘tis too late. They know too much.
He would but bear his own head to the
