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.
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 after weigh it.
[Exeunt TERZKY and ILLO.]
SCENE IV
WALLENSTEIN (in soliloquy).
Is it possible?