To these enter the Duchess, who rushes into the
Chamber. Thekla and the Countess follow her.
DUCHESS.
O Albrecht!
What haft 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 Tertsky.)
Is there no hope? Is all lost utterly?
TERTSKY.
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?
TERTSKY.
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 Tertsky.)
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?
ILLO.
Hear'st thou the uproar?
The whole corps of the Pappenheimers is
Drawn out the younger Piccolomini,
Their colonel, they require; for they affirm,
That he is in the palace here, a prisoner;
And if thou dost not instantly deliver him,
They will find means to free him with the sword.
(all stand amazed.)
TERTSKY.
What shall we make of this?
WALLENSTEIN.
Said I not so?
O my prophetic heart! he is still here.
He has not betray'd me—he could not betray me.
I never doubted of it.
COUNTESS.
If he be
Still here, then all goes well; for I know what
(embracing Thekla.)
Will keep him here for ever.
TERTSKY.
It can't be.
His father has betray'd us, is gone over
To the Emperor—the son could not have ventur'd
To stay behind.
THEKLA. (her eye fixed on the door.)
There he is!