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ILLO.

O come!

Let not their ardour cool. The soldiery
Of Butler's corps stand by us faithfully;
We are the greater number.

Let us charge them,

And finish here in Pilsen the revolt.

WALLENSTEIN.

What? shall this town become a field of slaughter, And brother-killing Discord, fire-eyed,

Be let loose through its streets to roam and rage?
Shall the decision be delivered over

To deaf remorseless Rage, that hears no leader?
Here is not room for battle, only for butchery.
Well, let it be! I have long thought of it,

So let it burst then!

(turns to Max.)

Wilt thou attempt a

Thou art free to go.

Well, how is it with thee?

heat with me. Away!

Oppose thyself to me,

Front against front, and lead them to the battle;

Thou'rt skilled in war, thou hast learned somewhat

under me,

I need not be ashamed of my opponent,

And never hadst thou fairer opportunity
To pay me for thy schooling.

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 compelled; for though an enemy,
Thy head is holy to me still.

(Two reports of cannon. Illo and Tertsky hurry to the window.)

[blocks in formation]
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Expose thyself to their blind frenzy ?

DUCHESS AND COUNTESS.

No!

For God's sake, No!

ILLO.

Not yet, my General!
COUNTESS.

O, hold him! hold him!

WALLENSTEIN.

Leave me

MAX.

Do it not;

Not yet! This rash and bloody deed has thrown them Into a frenzy-fit-allow them time—

WALLENSTEIN.

Away! too long already have I loitered.
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-feared commander! Let me see,
Whether indeed they do no longer know

That countenance, which was their sun in battle!
From the balcony, (mark!) I shew 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, Tertsky, and Butler follow.

SCENE IX.

COUNTESS, DUCHESS, MAX. and THEKLA.

COUNTESS. (to the Duchess.)

Let them but see him—there is hope still, sister.
DUCHESS.

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 seemed unblameable
To my own conscience-and I must stand here
Like one abhorred, 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-
I 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 your's 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 passionate wishes dictate

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