_Wallenstein._ Stay! 80 Stay yet 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, 85 And after weigh it. [_Exeunt TERTSKY and ILLO._ LINENOTES: [13] _His_ 1800, 1828, 1829. [31] _is_ 1800, 1828, 1829. [52] _he_ 1800, 1828, 1829. [Before 53] _Wallenstein (lost in thought)._ 1800, 1828, 1829. [Before 61] _Wallenstein (pacing up and down in extreme agitation)._ 1800, 1828, 1829. [64] I _must_ 1800, 1828, 1829. [65] _must_ 1800, 1828, 1829. [79] _Illo (eagerly to Tertsky)._ 1800, 1828, 1829. SCENE IV _Wallenstein._ Is it possible? Is't so? I can no longer what I would? No longer draw back at my liking? I Must do the deed, because I thought of it, And fed this heart here with a dream? Because 5 I did not scowl temptation from my presence, Dallied with thoughts of possible fulfilment, Commenced no movement, left all time uncertain, And only kept the road, the access open? By the great God of Heaven! it was not 10 My serious meaning, it was ne'er resolve. I but amused myself with thinking of it. The free-will tempted me, the power to do Or not to do it.--Was it criminal To make the fancy minister to hope, 15 To fill the air with pretty toys of air, And clutch fantastic sceptres moving t'ward me? Was not the will kept free? Beheld I not The road of duty close beside me--but One little step, and once more I was in it! 20 Where am I? Whither have I been transported? No road, no track behind me, but a wall, Impenetrable, insurmountable, Rises obedient to the spells I muttered And meant not--my own doings tower behind me. 25 A punishable man I seem, the guilt, Try what I will, I cannot roll off from me; The equivocal demeanour of my life Bears witness on my prosecutor's party; And even my purest acts from purest motives 30 Suspicion poisons with malicious gloss. Were I that thing, for which I pass, that traitor, A goodly outside I had sure reserved, Had drawn the coverings thick and double round me, Been calm and chary of my utterance. 35 But being conscious of the innocence Of my intent, my uncorrupted will, I gave way to my humours, to my passion: Bold were my words, because my deeds were not. Now every planless measure, chance event, 40 The threat of rage, the vaunt of joy and triumph, And all the May-games of a heart o'erflowing, Will they connect, and weave them all together Into one web of treason; all will be plan,