# Wallenstein/The Piccolomini/A4S3

SCENE III.
To them enters Illo.
ILLO. (to Tertsky)
TERTSKY.
ILLO. (to Wallenstein)
To make thy peace with the Emp'ror, to regain His confidence?—E'en were it now thy wish To abandon all thy plans, yet still they know What thou haft wish'd; then forwards thou must prefs; Retreat is now no longer in thy power.
TERTSKY.
Which shew beyond all power of contradiction—
WALLENSTEIN.
I punish for thy lies.
ILLO.
That what this man, that what thy sister's husband, Did in thy name, will not stand on thy reck'ning? His word must pass for thy word with the Swede, And not with those that hate thee at Vienna.
TERTSKY.
How far thou ventured'st by word of mouth
With this Sesina? And will he be silent? If he can save himself by yielding up Thy secret purposes, will he retain them?
ILLO.
And since they now have evidence authentic How far thou hast already gone, speak!—tell us, What art thou waiting for? Thou canst no longer Keep thy command; and beyond hope of rescue Thou'rt lost, if thou resign'st it.
WALLENSTEIN.
Lies my security. The army will not Abandon me. Whatever they may know, The power is mine, and they must gulp it down— And substitute I caution for my fealty, They must be satisfied, at least appear so.
ILLO.
'Tis thine: but think with terror on the slow, The quiet power of time. From open vi'lence The attachment of thy soldiery secures thee To-day—to-morrow; but grant'st thou them a respite, Unheard, unseen, they'll undermine that love On which thou now dost feel so firm a footing, With wily theft will draw away from thee One after th' other———
WALLENSTEIN.
ILLO.
If it work on thee as it ought to do, Hurry thee on to action—to decision— The Swedish General———
WALLENSTEIN.
What his commission is———
ILLO.
Will he entrust the purpose of his coming.
WALLENSTEIN.
Sesina knows too much, and won't be silent.
TERTSKY.
His neck is forfeit. Can he save himself At thy cost, think you he will scruple it? And if they put him to the torture, will he, Will he, that dastardling, have strength enough—
WALLENSTEIN. (lost in thought)
And I may act what way I will, I shall Be and remain for ever in their thought A traitor to my country. How sincerely Soever I return back to my duty, It will no longer help me———
ILLO.
That it will do! Not thy fidelity, Thy weakness will be deem'd the sole occasion—
WALLENSTEIN. (pacing up and down in extreme agitation)
Because I toy'd too freely with the thought? Accursed he who dallies with a devil! And must I—I must realize it now— Now, while I have the power, it must take place?
ILLO.
WALLENSTEIN. (looking at the paper of signatures}
Max. Piccolomini stands not here—how's that?
TERTSKY.
ILLO.
There needed no such thing 'twixt him and you.
WALLENSTEIN.
The regiments, too, deny to march for Flanders— Have sent me in a paper of remonstrance, And openly resist the Imperial orders. The first step to revolt 's already taken.
ILLO.
To lead them over to the enemy Than to the Spaniard.
WALLENSTEIN.
What the Swede has to say to me.
ILLO.(eagerly to Tertsky.)
He stands without the door in waiting.
WALLENSTEIN.
Stay yet a little. It hath taken me All by surprize,—it came too quick upon me; 'Tis wholly novel, that an accident, With its dark lordship, and blind agency, Should force me on with it.
ILLO.
And after weigh it.
[Exeunt Tertsky and Illo.