The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Iii Part 14

He has heard it.

ILLO (_to_ WALLENSTEIN).

Thinkest thou still To make thy peace with the Emperor, to regain His confidence? E'en were it now thy wish To abandon all thy plans, yet still they know What thou hast wish'd: then forwards thou must press, Retreat is now no longer in thy power.

TERZKY.

They have doc.u.ments against us, and in hands, Which show beyond all power of contradiction--

WALLENST.

Of my handwriting--no iota. Thee I punish for thy lies.

ILLO.

And thou believest, That what this man, and what thy sister's husband, Did in thy name, will not stand on thy reck'ning?

_His_ word must pa.s.s for thy word with the Swede, And not with those that hate thee at Vienna?

TERZKY.

In writing thou gavest nothing--But bethink thee, How far thou ventured'st by word of mouth With this Sesina! And will he be silent?

If he can save himself by yielding up Thy secret purposes, will he retain them?

ILLO.

Thyself dost not conceive it possible; And since they now have evidence authentic How far thou hast already gone, speak!--tell us, What art thou waiting for? Thou canst no longer Keep thy command; and beyond hope of rescue Thou'rt lost, if thou resign'st it.

WALLENSTEIN.

In the army Lies my security. The army will not Abandon me. Whatever they may know, The power is mine, and they must gulp it down-- And if I give them caution for my fealty, They must be satisfied, at least appear so.

ILLO.

The army, Duke, _is_ thine now--for this moment-- 'Tis thine, but think with terror on the slow, The quiet power of time. From open violence The attachment of thy soldiery secures thee Today--tomorrow: but grant'st thou them a respite Unheard, unseen, they'll undermine that love On which thou now dost feel so firm a footing, With wily theft will draw away from thee One after the other other--

WALLENSTEIN.

'Tis a cursed accident!

ILLO.

Oh! I will call it a most blessed one, If it work on thee as it ought to do, Hurry thee on to action--to decision.

The Swedish General--

WALLENSTEIN.

He's arrived! Know'st thou What his commission is--

ILLO.

To thee alone Will he intrust the purpose of his coming.

WALLENST.

A cursed, cursed accident! Yes, yes, Sesina knows too much, and won't be silent.

TERZKY.

He's a Bohemian fugitive and rebel, His neck is forfeit. Can he save himself At thy cost, think you he will scruple it?

And if they put him to the torture, will he, Will _he_, that dastardling, have strength enough--

WALLENSTEIN (_lost in thought_).

Their confidence is lost, irreparably!

And I may act which way I will, I shall Be and remain forever in their thought A traitor to my country. How sincerely Soever I return back to my duty, It will no longer help me--

ILLO.

Ruin thee, That it will do! Not thy fidelity, Thy weakness will be deemed the sole occasion--

WALLENSTEIN (_pacing up and down in extreme agitation_).

What! I must realize it now in earnest, Because I toy'd too freely with the thought!

Accursed he who dallies with a devil!

And must I--I _must_ realize it now-- Now, while I have the power, it _must_ take place?

ILLO.

Now--now--ere they can ward and parry it!

WALLENSTEIN (_looking at the paper of signatures_).

I have the Generals' word--a written promise!

Max Piccolomini stands not here--how's that?

TERZKY.

It was--he fancied--

ILLO.

Mere self-willedness.

There needed no such thing 'twixt him and you.

WALLENST.

He is quite right; there needed no such thing.

The regiments, too, deny to march for Flanders-- Have sent me in a paper of remonstrance, And openly resist the Imperial orders.