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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!
