The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Iii Part 23

WALLENSTEIN, TERZKY

TERZKY.

Max Piccolomini just left you?

WALLENSTEIN.

Where is Wrangel?

TERZKY.

He is already gone.

WALLENSTEIN.

In such a hurry?

TERZKY.

It is as if the earth had swallow'd him.

He had scarce left thee when I went to seek him.

I wish'd some words with him--but he was gone.

How, when, and where, could no one tell me. Nay, I half believe it was the devil himself; A human creature could not so at once Have vanish'd.

ILLO (_enters_).

Is it true that thou wilt send Octavio?

TERZKY.

How, Octavio! Whither send him?

WALLENST.

He goes to Frauenburg, and will lead hither The Spanish and Italian regiments.

ILLO.

No!

Nay, Heaven forbid!

WALLENSTEIN.

And why should Heaven forbid?

ILLO.

Him!--that deceiver! Wouldst thou trust to him The soldiery? Him wilt thou let slip from thee, Now in the very instant that decides us--

TERZKY.

Thou wilt not do this--No! I pray thee, no!

WALLENST.

Ye are whimsical.

ILLO.

O but for this time, Duke, Yield to our warning! Let him not depart.

WALLENST.

And why should I not trust him only this time, Who have always trusted him? What, then, has happen'd That I should lose my good opinion of him?

In complaisance to your whims, not my own, I must, forsooth, give up a rooted judgment.

Think not I am a woman. Having trusted him E'en till today, today too will I trust him.

TERZKY.

Must it be he--he only? Send another.

WALLENST.

It must be he whom I myself have chosen; He is well fitted for the business. Therefore I gave it him.

ILLO.

Because he's an Italian-- Therefore is he well fitted for the business!

WALLENST.

I know you love them not--nor sire nor son-- Because that I esteem them, love them--visibly Esteem them, love them more than you and others.

E'en as they merit. Therefore are they eye-blights, Thorns in your foot-path. But your jealousies, In what affect they me or my concerns?

Are they the worse to _me_ because you hate them?

Love or hate one another as you will, I leave to each man his own moods and likings; Yet know the worth of each of you to me.

ILLO.

Von Questenberg, while he was here, was always Lurking about with this Octavio.

WALLENST.

It happen'd with my knowledge and permission.

ILLO.

I know that secret messengers came to him From Gallas--