O that thou hadst believed me! Yester evening Did we conjure thee not to let that skulker, That fox, Octavio, pass the gates of Pilsen. Thou gavest him thy own horses to flee from thee. WALLENST. The old tune still! Now, once for all, no more Of this suspicion--it is doting folly. TERZKY. Thou didst confide in Isolani too; And lo! he was the first that did desert thee. WALLENST. It was but yesterday I rescued him From abject wretchedness. Let that go by; I never reckon'd yet on gratitude. And wherein doth he wrong in going from me? He follows still the god whom all his life He has worship'd at the gaming-table. With My fortune, and my seeming destiny, He made the bond, and broke it not with me. I am but the ship in which his hopes were stow'd And with the which, well-pleased and confident, He traversed the open sea; now he beholds it In eminent jeopardy among the coast-rocks, And hurries to preserve his wares. As light As the free bird from the hospitable twig Where it had nested, he flies off from me: No human tie is snapp'd betwixt us two. Yea, he deserves to find himself deceived Who seeks a heart in the unthinking man. Like shadows on a stream, the forms of life Impress their characters on the smooth forehead, Nought sinks into the bosom's silent depth; Quick sensibility of pain and pleasure Moves the light fluids lightly; but no soul Warmeth the inner frame. TERZKY. Yet, would I rather Trust the smooth brow than that deep furrow'd one. SCENE VIII WALLENSTEIN, TERZKY, ILLO ILLO (_who enters agitated with rage_). Treason and mutiny! TERZKY. And what further now? ILLO. Tiefenbach's soldiers, when I gave the orders, To go off guard--Mutinous villains! TERZKY. Well! WALLENST. What followed? ILLO. They refused obedience to them. TERZKY. Fire on them instantly! Give out the order. WALLENST. Gently! what cause did they assign? ILLO. No other, They said, had right to issue orders but Lieutenant-General _Piccolomini_. WALLENSTEIN (_in a convulsion of agony_). What? How is that? ILLO. He takes that office on him by commission, Under sign-manual of the Emperor. TERZKY. From the Emperor--hear'st thou, Duke? ILLO. At his incitement The Generals made that stealthy flight-- TERZKY. Duke! hear'st thou? ILLO. Caraffa too, and Montecuculi, Are missing, with six other generals, All whom he had induced to follow him. This plot he has long had in writing by him From the Emperor; but 'twas finally concluded, With all the detail of the operation, Some days ago with the Envoy Questenberg. [WALLENSTEIN _sinks down into a chair and covers his face_.] TERZKY. O hadst thou but believed me! SCENE IX _To them enter the_ COUNTESS COUNTESS.