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Bohemian crown.

      Wrangel. He says the truth. Our great King, now in heaven,

       Did ever deem most highly of your Grace’s

       Preeminent sense and military genius; 20

       And always the commanding Intellect,

       He said, should have command, and be the King.

      Wallenstein. Yes, he might say it safely. — General Wrangel,

      [Taking his hand.

      Come, fair and open — Trust me, I was always

       A Swede at heart. Ey! that did you experience 25

       Both in Silesia and at Nuremburg;

       I had you often in my power, and let you

       Always slip out by some back door or other.

       ‘Tis this for which the Court can ne’er forgive me,

       Which drives me to this present step: and since 30

       Our interests so run in one direction,

       E’en let us have a thorough confidence

       Each in the other.

      Wrangel. Confidence will come

       Has each but only first security.

      Wallenstein. The Chancellor still, I see, does not quite trust

       me; 35

       And, I confess — the gain does not wholly lie

       To my advantage — Without doubt he thinks

       If I can play false with the Emperor,

       Who is my Sov’reign, I can do the like

       With the enemy, and that the one too were 40

       Sooner to be forgiven me than the other.

       Is not this your opinion too, Sir General?

      Wrangel. I have here an office merely, no opinion.

      Wallenstein. The Emperor hath urged me to the uttermost.

       I can no longer honourably serve him. 45

       For my security, in self-defence,

       I take this hard step, which my conscience blames.

      Wrangel. That I believe. So far would no one go

       Who was not forced to it. [After a pause.

       What may have impelled

       Your princely Highness in this wise to act 50

       Toward your Sovereign Lord and Emperor,

       Beseems not us to expound or criticize.

       The Swede is fighting for his good old cause.

       With his good sword and conscience. This concurrence,

       This opportunity, is in our favour, 55

       And all advantages in war are lawful.

       We take what offers without questioning;

       And if all have its due and just proportions ——

      Wallenstein. Of what then are ye doubting? Of my will?

       Or of my power? I pledged me to the Chancellor, 60

       Would he trust me with sixteen thousand men,

       That I would instantly go over to them

       With eighteen thousand of the Emperor’s troops.

      Wrangel. Your Grace is known to be a mighty war-chief,

       To be a second Attila and Pyrrhus. 65

       ‘Tis talked of still with fresh astonishment,

       How some years past, beyond all human faith,

       You called an army forth, like a creation:

       But yet ——

      Wallenstein. But yet?

      Wrangel. But still the Chancellor thinks,

       It might yet be an easier thing from nothing 70

       To call forth sixty thousand men of battle,

       Than to persuade one sixtieth part of them —

      Wallenstein. What now? Out with it, friend!

      Wrangel. To break their oaths.

      Wallenstein. And he thinks so? — He judges like a Swede,

       And like a Protestant. You Lutherans 75

       Fight for your Bible. You are interested

       About the cause; and with your hearts you follow

       Your banners. — Among you, whoe’er deserts

       To the enemy, hath broken covenant

       With two Lords at one time. — We’ve no such fancies. 80

      Wrangel. Great God in Heaven! Have then the people here

       No house and home, no fireside, no altar?

      Wallenstein. I will explain that to you, how it stands —

       The Austrian has a country, ay, and loves it,

       And has good cause to love it — but this army, 85

       That calls itself the Imperial, this that houses

       Here in Bohemia, this has none — no country;

       This is an outcast of all foreign lands,

       Unclaimed by town or tribe, to whom belongs

       Nothing, except the universal sun. 90

      Wrangel. But then the Nobles and the Officers?

       Such a desertion, such a felony,

       It is without example, my Lord Duke,

       In the world’s history.

      Wallenstein. They are all mine —

       Mine unconditionally — mine on all terms. 95

       Not me, your own eyes you must trust.

      [He gives him the paper containing the written oath.

       WRANGEL reads it through, and, having read it,

       lays it on the table, remaining silent.

      So then?

       Now comprehend you?

      Wrangel. Comprehend who can!

       My Lord Duke; I will let the mask drop — yes!

       I’ve full powers for a final settlement.

       The Rhinegrave stands but four days’ march from here 100

       With fifteen thousand men, and only waits

       For orders to proceed and join your army.

       Those orders I give out, immediately

       We’re compromised.

      Wallenstein. What asks the Chancellor?

      Wrangel. Twelve Regiments, every man a Swede — my head 105

       The warranty — and all might prove at last

       Only false play ——

      Wallenstein (starting). Sir Swede!

      Wrangel. Am therefore forced

       T’ insist thereon, that he do formally,

       Irrevocably break with the Emperor,

       Else not a Swede is trusted to Duke Friedland. 110

      Wallenstein. Come, brief and open! What is the demand?

      Wrangel. That he forthwith disarm the Spanish regiments

       Attached to the Emperor, that he seize Prague,

       And to the Swedes give up that city, with

       The strong pass Egra.

      Wallenstein.

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