And I must now, like a soft-hearted father, Couple together in good peasant-fashion The pair, that chance to suit each other's liking-- And I must do it now, even now, when I Am stretching out the wreath that is to twine My full accomplish'd work--no! she is the jewel, Which I have treasured long, my last, my noblest, And 'tis my purpose not to let her from me For less than a king's sceptre. DUCHESS. O my husband! You're ever building, building to the clouds, Still building higher, and still higher building, And ne'er reflect that the poor narrow basis Cannot sustain the giddy tottering column. WALLENSTEIN (_to the_ COUNTESS). Have you announced the place of residence Which I have destined for her? COUNTESS. No! not yet. 'Twere better you yourself disclosed it to her. DUCHESS. How? Do we not return to Carinthia then? WALLENSTEIN. No. DUCHESS. And to no other of your lands or seats? WALLENST. You would not be secure there. DUCHESS. Not secure In the Emperor's realms, beneath the Emperor's Protection? WALLENSTEIN. Friedland's wife may be permitted No longer to hope _that_. DUCHESS. O God in heaven! And have you brought it even to this! WALLENSTEIN. In Holland You'll find protection. DUCHESS. In a Lutheran country? What? And you send us into Lutheran countries? WALLENST. Duke Franz of Lauenburg conducts you thither. DUCHESS. Duke Franz of Lauenburg? The ally of Sweden, the Emperor's enemy. WALLENST. The Emperor's enemies are mine no longer. DUCHESS (_casting a look of terror on the_ DUKE _and the_ COUNTESS). Is it then true? It is. You are degraded-- Deposed from the command! O God in heaven! COUNTESS (_aside to the_ DUKE). Leave her in this belief. Thou seest she cannot Support the real truth. SCENE V _To them enter_ COUNT TERZKY. COUNTESS. --Terzky! What ails him? What an image of affright! He looks as he had seen a ghost. TERZKY (_leading_ WALLENSTEIN _aside_). Is it thy command that all the Croats-- WALLENSTEIN. Mine. TERZKY. We are betray'd. WALLENSTEIN. What? TERZKY. They are off! This night The Jägers likewise--all the villages In the whole round are empty. WALLENSTEIN. Isolani! TERZKY. Him thou hast sent away. Yes, surely. WALLENSTEIN. I? TERZKY. No! Hast thou not sent him off? Nor Deodati? They are vanish'd both of them. SCENE VI _To them enter_ ILLO. ILLO. Has Terzky told thee? TERZKY. He knows all. ILLO. And likewise That Esterhatzy, Goetz, Maradas, Kaunitz, Kolalto, Palfi, have forsaken thee. TERZKY. Damnation! WALLENSTEIN (_winks at them_). Hush!