Wallenstein. Speak freely.

Gordon. What if 'twere no mere creation
Of fear, if God's high providence vouchsaf'd
To interpose its aid for your deliverance,
And made that mouth its organ.

Wallenstein. Ye're both feverish! 35
How can mishap come to me from the Swedes?
They sought this junction with me—'tis their interest.

Gordon (with difficulty suppressing his emotion). But what if the arrival of these Swedes—
What if this were the very thing that winged
The ruin that is flying to your temples? 40
[Flings himself at his feet.
There is yet time, my Prince.

Seni. O hear him! hear him!

Gordon (rises). The Rhinegrave's still far off. Give but the orders,
This citadel shall close its gates upon him.
If then he will besiege us, let him try it.
But this I say; he'll find his own destruction 45
With his whole force before these ramparts, sooner
Than weary down the valour of our spirit.
He shall experience what a band of heroes,
Inspirited by an heroic leader,
Is able to perform. And if indeed [50]
It be thy serious wish to make amends
For that which thou hast done amiss,—this, this
Will touch and reconcile the Emperor,
Who gladly turns his heart to thoughts of mercy,
And Friedland, who returns repentant to him, 55
Will stand yet higher in his Emperor's favour,
Than e'er he stood when he had never fallen.

Wallenstein (contemplates him with surprise, remains silent
awhile, betraying strong emotion). Gordon—your zeal and fervour lead you far.
Well, well—an old friend has a privilege.
Blood, Gordon, has been flowing. Never, never 60
Can the Emperor pardon me: and if he could,
Yet I—I ne'er could let myself be pardoned.
Had I foreknown what now has taken place,
That he, my dearest friend, would fall for me,
My first death-offering: and had the heart 65
Spoken to me, as now it has done—Gordon,
It may be, I might have bethought myself.
It may be too, I might not. Might or might not,
Is now an idle question. All too seriously
Has it begun to end in nothing, Gordon! 70
[[803]]Let it then have its course. [Stepping to the window.
All dark and silent—at the castle too
All is now hushed—Light me, Chamberlain!

[The Groom of the Chamber, who had entered during the last dialogue, and had been standing at a distance and listening to it with visible expressions of the deepest interest, advances in extreme agitation, and throws himself at the Duke's feet.

And thou too! But I know why thou dost wish
My reconcilement with the Emperor. 75
Poor man! he hath a small estate in Cärnthen,
And fears it will be forfeited because
He's in my service. Am I then so poor,
That I no longer can indemnify
My servants? Well! To no one I employ 80
Means of compulsion. If 'tis thy belief
That fortune has fled from me, go! Forsake me.
This night for the last time mayst thou unrobe me,
And then go over to thy Emperor.
Gordon, good night! I think to make a long [85]
Sleep of it: for the struggle and the turmoil
Of this last day or two were great. May't please you!
Take care that they awake me not too early.