I hear the very Gordon that of old Was wont to preach, now once more preaching; I know well that all sublunary things Are still the vassals of vicissitude. The unpropitious gods demand their tribute; This long ago the ancient Pagans knew: And therefore of their own accord they offer'd To themselves injuries, so to atone The jealousy of their divinities: And human sacrifices bled to Typhon. [_After a pause, serious, and in a more subdued manner._] I too have sacrificed to him--For me There fell the dearest friend, and through my fault He fell! No joy from favorable fortune Can overweight the anguish of this stroke. The envy of my destiny is glutted Life pays for life. On his pure head the lightning Was drawn off which would else have shatter'd _me_. SCENE V _To these enter_ SENI WALLENST. Is not that Seni! and beside himself, If one may trust his looks? What brings thee hither At this late hour, Baptista? SENI. Terror, Duke! On thy account. WALLENSTEIN. What now? SENI. Flee ere the day break! Trust not thy person to the Swedes! WALLENSTEIN. What now Is in thy thoughts? SENI (_with louder voice_). Trust not thy person to the Swedes. WALLENSTEIN. What is it, then? SENI (_still more urgently_). O wait not the arrival of these Swedes! An evil near at hand is threatening thee From false friends. All the signs stand full of horror! Near, near at hand the net-work of perdition-- Yea, even now 'tis being cast around thee! WALLENST. Baptista, thou art dreaming!--Fear befools thee. SENI. Believe not that an empty fear deludes me. Come, read it in the planetary aspects; Read it thyself that ruin threatens thee From false friends. WALLENSTEIN. From the falseness of my friends Has risen the whole of my unprosperous fortunes. The warning should have come before! At present I need no revelation from the stars To know that. SENI. Come and see! trust thine own eyes! A fearful sign stands in the house of life-- An enemy; a fiend lurks close behind The radiance of thy planet.--O be warn'd! Deliver not up thyself to these heathens, To wage a war against our holy church. WALLENSTEIN (_laughing gently_). The oracle rails that way! Yes, yes! Now I recollect. This junction with the Swedes Did never please thee--lay thyself to sleep, Baptista! Signs like these I do not fear. GORDON (_who during the whole of this dialogue has shown marks of extreme agitation, and now turns to_ WALLENSTEIN). My Duke and General! May I dare presume? WALLENST. Speak freely. [Illustration: WALLENSTEIN WARNED BY HIS FRIENDS As performed at the Municipal Theatre, Hamburg, 1906] GORDON. What if 'twere no mere creation Of fear, if God's high providence vouchsafed To interpose its aid for your deliverance, And made that mouth its organ? WALLENSTEIN.