WALLENSTEIN. Thou were cut off on the march, surrounded by the Hessians, and didst fight thy way with an hundred and eighty men through their thousand. ANSPESSADE. 'Twas even so, general! WALLENSTEIN. What reward hadst thou for this gallant exploit? ANSPESSADE. That which I asked for: the honor to serve in this corps. WALLENSTEIN (turning to a second). Thou wert among the volunteers that seized and made booty of the Swedish battery at Altenburg. SECOND CUIRASSIER. Yes, general! WALLENSTEIN. I forget no one with whom I have exchanged words. (A pause.) Who sends you? ANSPESSADE. Your noble regiment, the cuirassiers of Piccolomini. WALLENSTEIN. Why does not your colonel deliver in your request according to the custom of service? ANSPESSADE. Because we would first know whom we serve. WALLENSTEIN. Begin your address. ANSPESSADE (giving the word of command). Shoulder your arms! WALLENSTEIN (turning to a third). Thy name is Risbeck; Cologne is thy birthplace. THIRD CUIRASSIER. Risbeck of Cologne. WALLENSTEIN. It was thou that broughtest in the Swedish colonel Duebald, prisoner, in the camp at Nuremberg. THIRD CUIRASSIER. It was not I, general. WALLENSTRIN. Perfectly right! It was thy elder brother: thou hadst a younger brother, too: where did he stay? THIRD CUIRASSIER. He is stationed at Olmutz, with the imperial army. WALLENSTEIN (to the ANSPESSADE). Now then--begin. ANSPESSADE. There came to hand a letter from the emperor Commanding us---- WALLENSTEIN (interrupting him). Who chose you? ANSPESSADE. Every company Drew its own man by lot. WALLENSTEIN. Now! to the business. ANSPESSADE. There came to hand a letter from the emperor Commanding us, collectively, from thee All duties of obedience to withdraw, Because thou wert an enemy and traitor. WALLENSTEIN. And what did you determine? ANSPESSADE. All our comrades At Braunau, Budweiss, Prague, and Olmutz, have Obeyed already; and the regiments here, Tiefenbach and Toscano, instantly Did follow their example. But--but we Do not believe that thou art an enemy And traitor to thy country, hold it merely For lie and trick, and a trumped-up Spanish story! [With warmth. Thyself shall tell us what thy purpose is, For we have found thee still sincere and true No mouth shall interpose itself betwixt The gallant general and the gallant troops. WALLENSTEIN. Therein I recognize my Pappenheimers.