SCENE XVI

To these enter BUTLER

BUTLER (passionately).

General!  This is not right!

WALLENSTEIN.

What is not right?

BUTLER.

It must needs injure us with all honest men.

WALLENST.

But What?

BUTLER.

It is an open proclamation
Of insurrection.

WALLENSTEIN.

Well, well—­but what is it?

BUTLER.

Count Terzky’s regiments tear the Imperial Eagle
From off the banners, and instead of it
Have rear’d aloft their arms.

ANSPESSADE (abruptly to the Cuirassiers).

Right about!  March!

WALLENST.

Cursed be this counsel, and accursed who gave it!

     [To the Cuirassiers, who are retiring.]

Halt, children, halt!  There’s some mistake in this;
Hark!—­I will punish it severely.  Stop! 
They do not hear. (To ILLO.) Go after them, assure them,
And bring them back to me, cost what it may.

     [ILLO hurries out.]

This hurls us headlong.  Butler!  Butler! 
You are my evil genius!  Wherefore must you
Announce it in their presence?  It was all
In a fair way.  They were half won! those madmen
With their improvident over-readiness—­
cruel game is Fortune playing with me. 
The zeal of friends it is that razes me,
And not the hate of enemies.

SCENE XVII

To these enter the DUCHESS, who rushes into the Chamber THEKLA and the COUNTESS follow her.

DUCHESS.

O Albrecht! 
What hast thou done?

WALLENSTEIN.

And now comes this beside.

COUNTESS.

Forgive me, brother!  It was not in my power—­
They know all.

DUCHESS.

What hast thou done?

COUNTESS (to TERZKY).

Is there no hope?  Is all lost utterly?

TERZKY.

All lost.  No hope.  Prague in the Emperor’s hands,
The soldiery have ta’en their oaths anew.

COUNTESS.

That lurking hypocrite, Octavio! 
Count Max is off too.

TERZKY.

Where can he be?  He’s
Gone over to the Emperor with his father.

[THEKLA rushes out into the arms of her mother, hiding her face in her bosom.]

DUCHESS (enfolding her in her arms).

Unhappy child! and more unhappy mother!

WALLENSTEIN (aside to TERZKY).

Quick!  Let a carriage stand in readiness
In the court behind the palace.  Scherfenberg
Be their attendant; he is faithful to us;
To Egra he’ll conduct them, and we follow.

[To ILLO, who returns.]

Thou hast not brought them back?