_Max._ Whate'er is human, to the human being Do I allow--and to the vehement And striving spirit readily I pardon The excess of action; but to thee, my General! 115 Above all others make I large concession. For thou must move a world, and be the master-- He kills thee, who condemns thee to inaction. So be it then! maintain thee in thy post By violence. Resist the Emperor, 120 And if it must be, force with force repel: I will not praise it, yet I can forgive it. But not--not to the traitor--yes!--the word Is spoken out---- Not to the traitor can I yield a pardon. 125 That is no mere excess! that is no error Of human nature--that is wholly different, O that is black, black as the pit of hell! Thou canst not hear it nam'd, and wilt thou do it? O turn back to thy duty. That thou canst, 130 I hold it certain. Send me to Vienna. I'll make thy peace for thee with the Emperor. He knows thee not. But I do know thee. He Shall see thee, Duke! with my unclouded eye, And I bring back his confidence to thee. 135 _Wallenstein._ It is too late. Thou knowest not what has happened. _Max._ Were it too late, and were things gone so far, That a crime only could prevent thy fall, Then--fall! fall honourably, even as thou stood'st. Lose the command. Go from the stage of war. 140 Thou canst with splendour do it--do it too With innocence. Thou hast liv'd much for others, At length live thou for thy own self. I follow thee. My destiny I never part from thine. _Wallenstein._ It is too late! Even now, while thou art losing 145 Thy words, one after the other are the mile-stones Left fast behind by my post couriers, Who bear the order on to Prague and Egra. Yield thyself to it. We act as we are forced. I cannot give assent to my own shame 150 And ruin. Thou--no--thou canst not forsake me! So let us do, what must be done, with dignity, With a firm step. What am I doing worse Than did famed Cæsar at the Rubicon, When he the legions led against his country, 155 The which his country had delivered to him? Had he thrown down the sword, he had been lost, As I were, if I but disarmed myself. I trace out something in me of his spirit. Give me his luck, that other thing I'll bear. 160 [_MAX quits him abruptly. WALLENSTEIN, startled and overpowered, continues looking after him, and is still in this posture when TERTSKY enters._ LINENOTES: [86] _saving . . . Keep_ 1800, 1828, 1829. [104] _property_ 1800, 1828, 1829. [116] _all_ 1800, 1828, 1829. [123] _traitor_ 1800, 1828, 1829. [After 128] [_WALLENSTEIN betrays a sudden agitation._ 1800, 1828, 1829. [129] _nam'd . . . do_ 1800, 1828, 1829.