To them enter ILLO.
ILLO.
Has Tertsky told thee?
TERTSKY.
He knows all.
ILLO.
And likewise
That Esterhatzy, Goetz, Maradas, Kaunitz,
Kolatto, Palfi, have forsaken thee.
TERTSKY.
Damnation!
WALLENSTEIN (winks at them.)
Hush!
COUNTESS.
(who has been watching them anxiously from the
distance, and now advances to them).
Terzky! Heaven! What is it? What has happened?
WALLENSTEIN. (scarcely suppressing his emotions.)
Nothing! let us be gone!
TERTSKY. (following him.)
Theresa, it is nothing.
COUNTESS. (holding him back.)
Nothing? Do I not see, that all the life blood
Has left your cheeks—look you not like a ghost?
That even my brother but affects a calmness?
PAGE. (enters.)
An Aide-de-Camp enquires for the Count Tertsky.
(Tertsky follows the Page)
WALLENSTEIN.
Go, hear his business.
(to Illo)
This could not have happened
So unsuspected without mutiny.
Who was on guard at the gates?
ILLO.
'Twas Tiefenbach.
WALLENSTEIN.
Let Tiefenbach leave guard without delay,
And Tertsky's grenadiers relieve him.
(Illo is going)
Stop!
Hast thou heard aught of Butler?
ILLO.
Him I met.
He will be here himself immediately.
Butler remains unshaken.
(Illo exit. Wallenstein is following him.)
COUNTESS.
Let him not leave thee, sister! go, detain him!
There's some misfortune.
DUCHESS. (clinging to him.)
Gracious heaven! What is it?
WALLENSTEIN.
Be tranquil! leave me, sister! dearest wife!
We are in camp, and this is nought unusual;
Here storm and sunshine follow one another
With rapid interchanges. These fierce spirits
Champ the curb angrily, and never yet
Did quiet bless the temples of the leader.
If I am to stay, go you. The plaints of women
Ill suit the scene where men must act.
(He is going: Tertsky returns.)
TERTSKY.
Remain here. From this window must we see it.
WALLENSTEIN. (to the Countess.)
Sister, retire!
COUNTESS.
No—never.
WALLENSTEIN.
'Tis my will.
TERTSKY. (leads the Countess aside, and drawing her attention to the Duchess.)
Theresa !
DUCHESS.
Sister, come! since he commands it.