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.

This suspense,
This horrid fear—­I can no longer bear it. 
For heaven’s sake tell me what has taken place?

ILLO.

The regiments are all falling off from us.

TERZKY.

Octavio Piccolomini is a traitor.

COUNTESS.

O my foreboding! [Rushes out of the room.]

TERZKY.

Hadst thou but believed me! 
Now seest thou how the stars have lied to thee.