OCTAVIO (trembling, and losing all self-command). Max.! Max.! if that most damned thing could be, If thou--my son--my own blood--(dare I think it?) Do sell thyself to him, the infamous, Do stamp this brand upon our noble house, Then shall the world behold the horrible deed, And in unnatural combat shall the steel Of the son trickle with the father's blood. MAX. Oh, hadst thou always better thought of men, Thou hadst then acted better. Curst suspicion, Unholy, miserable doubt! To him Nothing on earth remains unwrenched and firm Who has no faith. OCTAVIO. And if I trust thy heart, Will it be always in thy power to follow it? MAX. The heart's voice thou hast not o'erpowered--as little Will Wallenstein be able to o'erpower it. OCTAVIO. O, Max.! I see thee never more again! MAX. Unworthy of thee wilt thou never see me. OCTAVIO. I go to Frauenberg--the Pappenheimers I leave thee here, the Lothrings too; Tsokana And Tiefenbach remain here to protect thee. They love thee, and are faithful to their oath, And will far rather fall in gallant contest Than leave their rightful leader and their honor. MAX. Rely on this, I either leave my life In the struggle, or conduct them out of Pilsen. OCTAVIO. Farewell, my son! MAX. Farewell! OCTAVIO. How! not one look Of filial love? No grasp of the hand at parting? It is a bloody war to which we are going, And the event uncertain and in darkness. So used we not to part--it was not so! Is it then true? I have a son no longer? [MAX. falls into his arms, they hold each other for a long time in a speechless embrace, then go away at different sides. (The curtain drops.) ACT III. SCENE I. A chamber in the house of the Duchess of Friedland. COUNTESS TERZKY, THEKLA, LADY NEUBRUNN (the two latter sit at the same table at work). COUNTESS (watching them from the opposite side). So you have nothing to ask me--nothing? I have been waiting for a word from you. And could you then endure in all this time Not once to speak his name? [THEKLA remaining silent, the COUNTESS rises and advances to her. Why, how comes this? Perhaps I am already grown superfluous, And other ways exist, besides through me Confess it to me, Thekla: have you seen him? THEKLA. To-day and yesterday I have not seen him. COUNTESS. And not heard from him, either? Come, be open. THEKLA. No Syllable. COUNTESS. And still you are so calm? THEKLA. I am. COUNTESS. May it please you, leave us, Lady Neubrunn. [Exit LADY NEUBRUNN. SCENE II. The COUNTESS, THEKLA. COUNTESS. It does not please me, princess, that he holds Himself so still, exactly at this time. THEKLA. Exactly at this time? COUNTESS. He now knows all 'Twere now the moment to declare himself. THEKLA. If I'm to understand you, speak less darkly.