Ancestors!  What? 
He is a subject, and my son-in-law
I will seek out upon the thrones of Europe.

DUCHESS.

O dearest Albrecht!  Climb we not too high
Lest we should fall too low.

WALLENSTEIN.

What! have I paid
A price so heavy to ascend this eminence,
And jut out high above the common herd,
Only to close the mighty part I play
In Life’s great drama, with a common kinsman? 
Have I for this—­

[Stops suddenly, repressing himself.]

She is the only thing
That will remain behind of me on earth;
And I will see a crown around her head,
Or die in the attempt to place it there. 
I hazard all—­all! and for this alone,
To lift her into greatness—­Yea,
in this moment, in the which we are
speaking—­

[He recollects himself.]

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!