The Death of Wallenstein

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 toyed 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?

TERZRY

It was – he fancied —

ILLO

Mere self-willedness.
There needed no such thing 'twixt him and you.

WALLENSTEIN

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.
The first step to revolt's already taken.

ILLO

Believe me, thou wilt find it far more easy
To lead them over to the enemy
Than to the Spaniard.

WALLENSTEIN

I will hear, however,
What the Swede has to say to me.

ILLO (eagerly to TERZKY)

Go, call him,
He stands without the door in waiting.

WALLENSTEIN

Stay!
Stay but a little. It hath taken me
All by surprise; it came too quick upon me;
'Tis wholly novel that an accident,
With its dark lordship, and blind agency,
Should force me on with it.

ILLO

First hear him only,
And then weigh it.

[Exeunt TERZKY and ILLO.

SCENE IV

WALLENSTEIN (in soliloquy)

Is it possible?
Is't so? I can no longer what I would?
No longer draw back at my liking? I
Must do the deed, because I thought of it?
And fed this heart here with a dream?
Because I did not scowl temptation from my presence,
Dallied with thoughts of possible fulfilment,
Commenced no movement, left all time uncertain,
And only kept the road, the access open?