The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Iii Part 46

ANSPESSADE (_abruptly to the_ Cuira.s.siers).

Right about! March!

WALLENST.

Cursed be this counsel, and accursed who gave it!

[_To the_ Cuira.s.siers, _who are retiring_.]

Halt, children, halt! There's some mistake in this; Hark!--I will punish it severely. Stop!

They do not hear. (_To_ ILLO.) Go after them, a.s.sure them, And bring them back to me, cost what it may.

[ILLO _hurries out_.]

This hurls us headlong. Butler! Butler!

You are my evil genius! Wherefore must you Announce it in their presence? It was all In a fair way. They were half won! those madmen With their improvident over-readiness-- cruel game is Fortune playing with me.

The zeal of friends it is that razes me, And not the hate of enemies.

SCENE XVII

_To these enter the_ d.u.c.h.eSS, _who rushes into the Chamber_ THEKLA _and the_ COUNTESS _follow her_.

d.u.c.h.eSS.

O Albrecht!

What hast thou done?

WALLENSTEIN.

And now comes this beside.

COUNTESS.

Forgive me, brother! It was not in my power-- They know all.

d.u.c.h.eSS.

What hast thou done?

COUNTESS (_to_ TERZKY).

Is there no hope? Is all lost utterly?

TERZKY.

All lost. No hope. Prague in the Emperor's hands, The soldiery have ta'en their oaths anew.

COUNTESS.

That lurking hypocrite, Octavio!

Count Max is off too.

TERZKY.

Where can he be? He's Gone over to the Emperor with his father.

[THEKLA _rushes out into the arms of her mother, hiding her face in her bosom_.]

d.u.c.h.eSS (_enfolding her in her arms_).

Unhappy child! and more unhappy mother!

WALLENSTEIN (_aside to_ TERZKY).

Quick! Let a carriage stand in readiness In the court behind the palace. Scherfenberg Be their attendant; he is faithful to us; To Egra he'll conduct them, and we follow.

[_To_ ILLO, _who returns_.]

Thou hast not brought them back?

ILLO.

Hear'st thou the uproar?

The whole corps of the Pappenheimers is Drawn out: the younger Piccolomini, Their colonel, they require: for they affirm That he is in the palace here, a prisoner; And if thou dost not instantly deliver him, They will find means to free him with the sword.

[_All stand amazed_.]

TERZKY.

What shall we make of this?

WALLENSTEIN.

Said I not so?

O my prophetic heart! he is still here.

He has not betray'd me--he could not betray me.

I never doubted of it.

COUNTESS.

If he be Still here, then all goes well; for I know what

[_Embracing_ THEKLA]

Will keep him here forever.

TERZKY.