They are making preparations now to fire on us.

DUCHESS AND COUNTESS.

Merciful Heaven!

MAX (to Wallenstein).

Let me go to them!

WALLENSTEIN,

Not a step!

MAX. (pointing to Thekla and the Duchess).

But their life! Thine!

WALLENSTEIN.

What tidings bring'st thou, Tertsky?

SCENE VIII.

To these TERTSKY (returning).

TERTSKY.

Message and greeting from our faithful regiments.
Their ardour may no longer be curbed in.

They intreat permission to commence the attack,
And if thou would'st but give the word of onset,
They could now charge the enemy in rear,
Into the city wedge them, and with ease
O'erpower them in the narrow streets.

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.)

Well, how is it with thee?

Wilt thou attempt a heat with me. Away!
Thou art free to go. 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 had'st 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.)

Your messenger.

ILLO.

On Newmann,

WALLENSTEIN (starting up).

Ha! Death and hell! I will

TERTSKY.

Expose thyself to their blind frenzy ?

DUCHESS and COUNTESS.

For God's sake, no!

ILLO.

No!

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;