In the great moment of decifion?

WALLENSTEIN. (during this laft Speech walks up and down with inward ftruggles, labouring with paffions; ftops fuddenly, ftands fill, then interrupting the Countess,)

Send Wrangel to me-I will inftantly

Dispatch three couriers

ILLO. (hurrying out)

God in heaven be prais'd!

WALLENSTEIN.

It is his evil genius and mine.

Our evil genius! It chaftifes him

1

Through me, the inftrument of his ambition;
And I expect no lefs, than that Revenge
E'en now is whetting for my breast the poniard.
Who fows the ferpent's teeth, let him not hope
To reap a joyous harveft. Every crime
Has, in the moment of its perpetration,
Its own avenging angel-dark Mifgiving,
An ominous Sinking at the inmost heart.
"He can no longer truft me.-Then no longer
Can I retreat--fo come that which muft come-
Still destiny preferves its due relations,

The heart within us is its abfolute

Vicegerent.

(to Tertsky)

Go, conduct you Guftave Wrangel

To my state-cabinet.-Myfelf will speak to
The couriers. And difpatch immediately
A fervant for Octavio Piccolomini..

(to

(to the Countess, who cannot conceal her triumph) No exultation!-woman, triumph not!

For jealous are the Powers of Destiny.
Joy premature, and Shouts ere victory,
Incroach upon their rights and privileges.

We fow the feed, and they the growth determine. [While he is making his exit, the curtain drops.]

END OF ACT IV.

N 3

ACT

ACT V.

Scene, as in the preceding Act.

SCENE I.

WALLENSTEIN, OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI,

WALLENSTEIN. (coming forward in converfation.) He fends me word from Linz, that he lies fick; But I have fure intelligence, that he

Secretes himself at Frauenberg with Galas. Secure them both, and fend them to me hither. Remember, thou tak'ft on thee the command Of those fame Spanish regiments,-conftantly Make preparation, and be never ready;

And if they urge thee to draw out against me,
Still anfwer YES, and ftand as thou wert fetter'd,
I know, that it is doing thee a fervice

To keep thee out of action in this bufinefs.
Thou lov't to linger on in fair appearances
Steps of extremity are not thy province,
Therefore have I fought out this part for thee,
Thou wilt this time be of most service to me
By thy inertnefs. The mean time, if fortune
Declare itself on my fide, thou wilt know
What is to do.

(Enter

(Enter MAX PICCOLOMINI.)

Now go, Octavio.

This night muft thou be off, take my own horses:
Him here I keep with me-make short farewell→→→→
Truft me, I think we all fhall meet again.
In joy and thriving fortunes..

OCTAVIO. (to his fon.)
I fhall fee you

Yet e'er I go.

SCENE II.

WALLENSTEIN, MAX. PICCOLOMINI.

MAX. (advances to him.)

My General!

WALLENSTEIN.

That am I no longer, if

Thou ftyl'ft thyfelf the Emperor's officer.

Rather hope I

To bind it nearer ftill and faster to me.

(He feats himself.)

Yes, Max, I have delay'd to open it to thee,
Even till the hour of acting 'gins to strike."

Youth's fortunate feeling doth feize cafily

The abfolute right, yea, and a joy it is
To exercise the fingle apprehenfion
Where the fums fquare in proof;

But where it happens, that of two fure evils
One must be taken, where the heart not wholly
Brings itself back from out the ftrife of duties,
There 'tis a bleffing to have no election,
And blank neceffity is grace and favour.

-This is now prefent: do not look behind thee,-
It can no more avail thee. Look thou forwards!
Think not judge not! prepare thyself to act !
The Court-it hath determin'd on my ruin,
Therefore I will to be beforehand with them.
We'll join the Swedes-right gallant fellows are
they,

And our good friends.

(He flops himself, expecting Piccolomini's
anfwer.)

I have ta'en thee by furprise. Anfwer me not,
I grant thee time to recollect thyfelf.

(He rifes, and retires at the back of the fage. MAX. remains for a long time motionless, in a trance of exceffive anguish. At his firft motion Wallenftein returns, and places himself before him.)

MAX.

My General, this day thou makeft me
Of age, to speak in my own right and perfon,
For till this day I have been fpared the trouble
To find out my own road. Thee have I follow'd