I treasured my good name all my life long; The Duke has cheated me of life's best jewel, So that I blush before this poor weak Gordon! He prizes above all his fealty; His conscious soul accuses him of nothing; In opposition to his own soft heart He subjugates himself to an iron duty. Me in a weaker moment passion warp'd; I stand beside him, and must feel myself The worse man of the two. What, though the world Is ignorant of my purposed treason, yet _One_ man does know it, and can prove it too-- High-minded Piccolomini! There lives the man who can dishonor me! This ignominy blood alone can cleanse! Duke Friedland, thou or I--Into my own hands Fortune delivers me--The dearest thing a man has is himself. SCENE IX _A Gothic and gloomy Apartment at the_ DUCHESS FRIEDLAND'S. THEKLA _on a seat, pale, her eyes closed. The_ DUCHESS _and_ LADY NEUBRUNN _busied about her_. WALLENSTEIN _and the_ COUNTESS _in conversation_. WALLENST. How knew she it so soon? COUNTESS. She seems to have Foreboded some misfortune. The report Of an engagement, in the which had fallen A colonel of the Imperial army, frighten'd her. I saw it instantly. She flew to meet The Swedish courier, and with sudden questioning Soon wrested from him the disastrous secret. Too late we missed her, hasten'd after her, We found her lying in his arms, all pale And in a swoon. WALLENSTEIN. A heavy, heavy blow! And she so unprepared! Poor child! how is it? [_Turning to the_ DUCHESS.] Is she coming to herself? DUCHESS. Her eyes are opening. COUNTESS. She lives! THEKLA (_looking around her_). Where am I? WALLENSTEIN (_steps to her, raising her up in his arms_). Come, cheer'ly, Thekla! be my own brave girl! See, there's thy loving mother. Thou art in Thy father's arms. THEKLA (_standing up_). Where is he? Is he gone? DUCHESS. Who gone, my daughter? THEKLA. He--the man who utter'd That word of misery. DUCHESS. O! think not of it, My Thekla! WALLENSTEIN. Give her sorrow leave to talk! Let her complain--mingle your tears with hers, For she hath suffer'd a deep anguish; but She'll rise superior to it, for my Thekla Hath all her father's unsubdued heart. THEKLA. I am not ill. See, I have power to stand. Why does my mother weep? Have I alarm'd her? It is gone by--I recollect myself-- [_She casts her eyes round the room, as seeking some one._] Where is he? Please you, do not hide him from me. You see I have strength enough: now I will hear him. DUCHESS. No; never shall this messenger of evil Enter again into thy presence, Thekla! THEKLA. My father-- WALLENSTEIN. Dearest daughter! THEKLA. I'm not weak-- Shortly I shall be quite myself again. You'll grant me one request? WALLENSTEIN. Name it, my daughter. THEKLA.