But Prague-Bohemia-these, Sir General,

Wran. And till we are indemnified, so long Stays Prague in pledge.

Wal.

Then trust you us so little?

Wran. (rising) The Swede, if he would treat well with

the German,

Must keep a sharp look-out.

We have been call'd

Over the Baltic, we have sav'd the empire

From ruin-with our best blood have we seal'd

The liberty of faith, and gospel truth.

But now already is the benefaction
No longer felt, the load alone is felt.-
Ye look askance with evil eye upon us,
As foreigners, intruders in the empire,
And would fain send us, with some paltry sum
Of money, home again to our old forests.
No, no! my Lord Duke! no!-it never was
For Judas' pay, for chinking gold and silver,
That we did leave our King by the *Great Stone.
No, not for gold and silver have there bled
So many of our Swedish nobles-neither
Will we, with empty laurels for our payment,
Hoist sail for our own country. Citizens

A great stone near Lützen, since called the Swede's Stone, the body of their great king having been found at the foot of it, after the battle in which he lost his life.

Will we remain upon the soil, the which
Our monarch conquer'd for himself, and died.
Wal. Help to keep down the common enemy,
And the fair border land must needs be your's.
Wran. But when the common enemy lies vanquish'd,
Who knits together our new friendship then?

We know, Duke Friedland! though perhaps the Swede
Ought not t' have known it, that you carry on
Secret negociations with the Saxons.

Who is our warranty, that we are not

The sacrifices in those articles

Which 'tis thought needful to conceal from us?

Wal. (rises) Think you of something better, Gustave Wrangel!

Of Prague no more.

Wran.

Here my commission ends.

Wal. Surrender up to you my capital! Far liever would I face about, and step

Back to my Emperor.

Wran.

If time yet permits

Wal. That lies with me, even now, at any hour.

Wran. Some days ago, perhaps. To-day, no longer ; No longer since Sesina's been a prisoner,

(Wallenstein is struck, and silenced.)
My Lord Duke, hear me-We believe that you
At present do mean honourably by us.
Since yesterday we're sure of that—and now
This paper warrants for the troops, there's nothing
Stands in the way of our full confidence.

Prague shall not part us. Hear! The Chancellor
Contents himself with Albstadt; to your Grace

He gives up Ratschin and the narrow side,
But Egra, above all, must open to us,

Ere we can think of any junction.

You therefore must I trust, and you not me?
I will consider of your proposition.

Wran. I must entreat, that your consideration
Occupy not too long a time. Already
Has this negociation, my Lord Duke!
Crept on into the second year. If nothing

Is settled this time, will the Chancellor

Consider it as broken off for ever.

Wal. Ye press me hard. A measure, such as this, Ought to be thought of.

Wran.

Ay! but think of this too,

That sudden action only can procure it

Success-think first of this, your Highness.

[Exit Wrangel.

SCENE VI.

Wallenstein, Tertsky, and Illo (re-enter).

Wal. As yet is nothing settled: and (well weigh'd)

I feel myself inclin'd to leave it so.

Ter. How? What is that?

Wal.

Come on me what will come,

The doing evil to avoid an evil

Cannot be good!

Ter.

Nay, but bethink you, Duke?

Wal. To live upon the mercy of these Swedes!

Of these proud-hearted Swedes! I could not bear it.
Illo. Goest thou as fugitive, as mendicant?
Bring'st thou not more to them than thou receiv'st?

SCENE VII.

To these enter the Countess Tertsky.

Wal. Who sent for you? There is no business here For women.

Coun.

I am come to bid you joy.

Wal. Use thy authority, Tertsky, bid her go. Coun. Come I perhaps too early? I hope not. Wal. Set not this tongue upon me, I entreat you.

You know it is the weapon that destroys me.

I am routed, if a woman but attack me.

I cannot traffic in the trade of words

With that unreasoning sex.

Coun.

Giv'n the Bohemians a king.

Wal. (sarcastically,)
In consequence, no doubt.
Coun. (to the others,)
Ter. The Duke will not.
Coun.

I had already

They have one,

Ha! what new scruple?

He will not what he must!
Try. For I am silenced,

Illo. It lies with you now.
When folks begin to talk to me of conscience,
And of fidelity."

Coun.

How? then, when all

Lay in the far off distance, when the road
Stretch'd out before thine eyes interminably,
Then hadst thou courage and resolve; and now,

Now that the dream is being realized,
The purpose ripe, the issue ascertained,
Dost thou begin to play the dastard now?
Plann'd merely, 'tis a common felony;
Accomplish'd, an immortal undertaking;
And with success comes pardon hand in hand;
For all event is God's arbitrement.

Ser. (enters.) The Colonel Piccolomini.

Coun. (hastily,)

-Must wait.

Wal. I cannot see him now. Another time.

Ser. But for two minutes he entreats an audience;

Of the most urgent nature is his business.

Wal. Who knows what he may bring us? I will hear

him.

Coun. (laughs,) Urgent for him, no doubt; but thou may'st wait.

Wal. What is it?

Coun.

Thou shalt be inform'd hereafter.

First let the Swede and thee be compromised.

[Exit Servant.

Wal. If there were yet a choice; if yet some milder Way of escape were possible-I still

Will choose it, and avoid the last extreme.

Coun. Desir'st thou nothing further? Such a way Lies still before thee. Send this Wrangel off. Forget thou thy old hopes, cast far away All thy past life; determine to commence A new one. Virtue hath her heroes too, As well as Fame and Fortune.-To ViennaHence to the Emperor-kneel before the throne Take a full coffer with thee-say aloud, Thou did'st but wish to prove thy fealty;

Thy whole intention but to dupe the Swede.