COUNTESS (to the others). Ha! what new scruple? TERZKY. The duke will not. COUNTESS. He will not what he must! ILLO. It lies with you now. Try. For I am silenced When folks begin to talk to me of conscience And of fidelity. COUNTESS. How? then, when all Lay in the far-off distance, when the road Stretched out before thine eyes interminably, Then hadst thou courage and resolve; and now, Now that the dream is being realized, The purpose ripe, the issue ascertained, Dost thou begin to play the dastard now? Planned merely, 'tis a common felony; Accomplished, an immortal undertaking: And with success comes pardon hand in hand, For all event is God's arbitrament. SERVANT (enters). The Colonel Piccolomini. COUNTESS (hastily). --Must wait. WALLENSTEIN. I cannot see him now. Another time. SERVANT. But for two minutes he entreats an audience Of the most urgent nature is his business. WALLENSTEIN. Who knows what he may bring us! I will hear him. COUNTESS (laughs). Urgent for him, no doubt? but thou may'st wait. WALLENSTEIN. What is it? COUNTESS. Thou shalt be informed hereafter. First let the Swede and thee be compromised. [Exit SERVANT. WALLENSTEIN. If there were yet a choice! if yet some milder Way of escape were possible--I still Will choose it, and avoid the last extreme. COUNTESS. Desirest thou nothing further? Such a way Lies still before thee. Send this Wrangel off. Forget thou thy old hopes, cast far away All thy past life; determine to commence A new one. Virtue hath her heroes too, As well as fame and fortune. To Vienna Hence--to the emperor--kneel before the throne; Take a full coffer with thee--say aloud, Thou didst but wish to prove thy fealty; Thy whole intention but to dupe the Swede. ILLO. For that too 'tis too late. They know too much; He would but bear his own head to the block.