[_Fixing his eye on GORDON._ Was ne'er a hypocrite's mask. [_The_ Groom of the Chamber _takes off his mantle, collar and scarf._ _Wallenstein._ Take care--what is that? _Groom of the Chamber._ The golden chain is snapped in two. _Wallenstein._ Well, it has lasted long enough. Here--give it. [_He takes and looks at the chain._ 'Twas the first present of the Emperor. 15 He hung it round me in the war of Friule, He being then Archduke; and I have worn it Till now from habit---- From superstition if you will. Belike, It was to be a talisman to me, 20 And while I wore it on my neck in faith, It was to chain to me all my life long The volatile fortune whose first pledge it was. Well, be it so! Henceforward a new fortune Must spring up for me; for the potency 25 Of this charm is dissolved. [Groom of the Chamber _retires with the vestments. WALLENSTEIN rises, takes a stride across the room, and stands at last before GORDON in a posture of meditation._ How the old time returns upon me! I Behold myself once more at Burgau, where We two were pages of the Court together. We oftentimes disputed: thy intention 30 Was ever good; but thou wert wont to play The moralist and preacher, and would'st rail at me That I strove after things too high for me, Giving my faith to bold unlawful dreams, And still extol to me the golden mean. 35 --Thy wisdom hath been proved a thriftless friend To thy own self. See, it has made thee early A superannuated man, and (but That my munificent stars will intervene) Would let thee in some miserable corner 40 Go out like an untended lamp. _Gordon._ My Prince! With light heart the poor fisher moors his boat, And watches from the shore the lofty ship Stranded amid the storm. _Wallenstein._ Art thou already In harbour then, old man? Well! I am not. 45 The unconquered spirit drives me o'er life's billows; My planks still firm, my canvas swelling proudly. Hope is my goddess still, and youth my inmate; And while we stand thus front to front almost, I might presume to say, that the swift years 50 Have passed by powerless o'er my unblanched hair. [_He moves with long strides across the saloon, and remains on the opposite side over against GORDON._