And ta'en the oaths of fealty anew

To the Emperor. Yourself, with Kinsky, Tertsky,
And Illo have been sentenced.

(Tertsky and Illo express alarm and fury. Wallenstein remains firm and collected.)

WALLENSTEIN.

'Tis decided!

'Tis well! I have received a sudden cure

From all the pangs of doubt: with steady stream
Once more my life-blood flows! My soul's secure !
In the night only Friedland's stars can beam.
Lingering, irresolute, with fitful fears

I drew the sword-'twas with an inward strife,
While yet the choice was mine. The murderous knife
Is lifted for my heart! Doubt disappears!

I fight now for my head and for my life.

[Exit Wallenstein; the others follow him.

SCENE XI.

COUNTESS TERTSKY, (enters from a side-room.) I can endure no longer. No!

(looks around her.)

Where are they !

No one is here. They leave me all alone,

-Alone in this sore anguish of suspense.

And I must wear the outward shew of calmness

Before my sister, and shut in within me
The pangs and agonies of my crowded bosom.
It is not to be borne.-If all should fail;
If-if he must go over to the Swedes,
An empty-handed fugitive, and not
As an ally, a covenanted equal,

A proud commander with his army following;
If we must wander on from land to land,
Like the Count Palatine, of fallen greatness
An ignominious monument-But no!
That day I will not see! And could himself
Endure to sink so low, I would not bear
To see him so low sunken.

SCENE XII.

COUNTESS, DUCHESS, THEKLA.

THEKLA. (endeavouring to hold back the Duchess.) Dear mother, do stay here!

DUCHESS.

No! Here is yet

Some frightful mystery that is hidden from me.
Why does my sister shun me? Don't I see her
Full of suspense and anguish roam about

From room to room?-Art thou not full of terror?
And what import these silent nods and gestures
Which stealthwise thou exchangest with her?

THEKLA.

Nothing, dear mother!

Nothing;

DUCHESS. (to the Countess.)

Sister, I will know.

COUNTESS.

What boots it now to hide it from her? Sooner

Or later she must learn to hear and bear it.
"Tis not the time now to indulge infirmity,
Courage beseems us now, a heart collect,
And exercise and previous discipline

Of fortitude. One word, and over with it!
Sister, you are deluded. You believe,

The Duke has been deposed-The Duke is not
Deposed-he is-

THEKLA. (going to the Countess.)

The Duke is

THEKLA.

What? do you wish to kill her?
COUNTESS.

(Throwing her arms round her mother.)

O stand firm! stand firm, my mother!

COUNTESS.

Revolted is the Duke, he is preparing

To join the enemy, the army leave him,
And all has failed.

ACT II.-SCENE I.

SCENE-A spacious Room in the Duke of Fried

land's Palace.

WALLENSTEIN. (in armour.)

Thou hast gained thy point, Octavio! Once more

am I

Almost as friendless as at Regenspurg.

There I had nothing left me, but myself—

But what one man can do, you have now experience.
The twigs have you hewed off, and here I stand
A leafless trunk. But in the sap within

Lives the creating power, and a new world
May sprout forth from it. Once already have I
Proved myself worth an army to you—I alone!
Before the Swedish strength your troops had melted;
Beside the Lech sunk Tilly, your last hope;

Into Bavaria, like a winter torrent,

Did that Gustavus pour, and at Vienna

In his own palace did the Emperor tremble.

Soldiers were scarce, for still the multitude
Follow the luck all eyes were turned on me,
Their helper in distress: the Emperor's pride
Bowed itself down before the man he had injured.
'Twas I must rise, and with creative word
Assemble forces in the desolate camps.

I did it. Like a god of war, my name

Went through the world. The drum was beatand, lo!

The plough, the work-shop is forsaken, all
Swarm to the old familiar long-loved banners;
And as the wood-choir rich in melody
Assemble quick around the bird of wonder,
When first his throat swells with his magic song,
So did the warlike youth of Germany
Crowd in around the image of my eagle.

I feel myself the being that I was.

It is the soul that builds itself a body,

And Friedland's camp will not remain unfilled.
Lead then your thousands out to meet me-true!
They are accustomed under me to conquer,
But not against me. If the head and limbs
Separate from each other, 'twill be soon
Made manifest, in which the soul abode.

(Illo and Tertsky enter.)

Courage, friends! Courage! We are still unvan

quished;