His first appearance wins our favour; his eloquence in sentiment prepares us to expect no common magnanimity in action. It is as follows: _Octavio_ and _Questenberg_ are consulting on affairs of state; _Max_ enters: he is just returned from convoying the _Princess Thekla_ and her mother, the daughter and the wife of _Friedland_, to the camp at Pilsen. ACT I. SCENE IV. MAX PICCOLOMINI, OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, QUESTENBERG. MAX. 'Tis he himself! My father, welcome, welcome! [_He embraces him: on turning round, he observes Questenberg, and draws coldly back._ Busied, I perceive? I will not interrupt you. OCT. How now, Max? View this stranger better! An old friend deserves regard and kindness; The Kaiser's messenger should be rever'd! MAX. [_drily_] Von Questenberg! If it is good that brings you To our head-quarters, welcome! QUEST. [_has taken his hand_] Nay, draw not Your hand away, Count Piccolomini! Not on mine own account alone I grasp it, And nothing common will I say therewith. Octavio, Max, Piccolomini! [_Taking both their hands._ Names of benignant solemn import! Never Can Austria's fortune fail while two such stars, To guide and guard her, gleam above our hosts. MAX. You play it wrong, Sir Minister! To praise, I wot, you come not hither; to blame and censure You are come. Let me be no exception. OCT. [_to Max._] He comes from Court, where every one is not So well contented with the Duke as here. MAX. And what new fault have they to charge him with? That he alone decides what he alone Can understand? Well! Should it not be so? It should and must! This man was never made To ply and mould himself like wax to others: It goes against his heart; he cannot do it, He has the spirit of a ruler, and The station of a ruler. Well for us It is so! Few can rule themselves, can use Their wisdom wisely: happy for the whole Where there is one among them that can be A centre and a hold for many thousands; That can plant himself like a firm column, For the whole to lean on safely! Such a one Is Wallenstein; some other man might better Serve the Court, none else could serve the Army. QUEST. The Army, truly! MAX. And it is a pleasure To behold how all awakes and strengthens And revives around him; how men's faculties Come forth; their gifts grow plainer to themselves! From each he can elicit his endowment, His peculiar power; and does it wisely; Leaving each to be the man he found him, Watching only that he always be so. I' th' proper place: and thus he makes the talents Of all mankind his own. QUEST. No one denies him Skill in men, and skill to use them. His fault is That in the ruler he forgets the servant, As if he had been born to be commander. MAX. And is he not? By birth he is invested With all gifts for it, and with the farther gift Of finding scope to use them; of acquiring For the ruler's faculties the ruler's office.