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the Emp'ror, that he seize on Prague,

      And to the Swedes give up that city, with

      The strong pass Egra.

      WALLENSTEIN.

                             That is much indeed!

      Prague!—Egra's granted—but—but Prague!—'T won't do.

      I give you every security

      Which you may ask of me in common reason—

      But Prague—Bohemia—these, Sir General,

      I can myself protect.

      WRANGEL.

                              We doubt it not.

      But 'tis not the protection that is now

      Our sole concern. We want security

      That we shall not expend our men and money

      All to no purpose.

      WALLENSTEIN.

      'Tis but reasonable.

      WRANGEL.

      And till we are indemnified, so long

      Stays Prague in pledge.

      WALLENSTEIN.

      Then trust you us so little?

      WRANGEL (rising).

      The Swede, if he would treat well with the German,

      Must keep a sharp look-out. We have been call'd

      Over the Baltic, we have saved the empire

      From ruin—with our best blood have we sealed

      The liberty of faith and gospel truth.

      But now already is the benefaction

      No longer felt, the load alone is felt.

      Ye look askance with evil eye upon us,

      As foreigners, intruders in the empire,

      And would fain send us, with some paltry sum

      Of money, home again to our old forests.

      No, no! my Lord Duke! no!—it never was

      For Judas' pay, for chinking gold and silver,

      That we did leave our King by the Great Stone[24]

      No, not for gold and silver have there bled

      So many of our Swedish Nobles—neither

      Will we, with empty laurels for our payment,

      Hoist sail for our own country. Citizens

      Will we remain upon the soil, the which

      Our Monarch conquer'd for himself, and died.

      WALLENST.

      Help to keep down the common enemy,

      And the fair border land must needs be yours.

      WRANGEL.

      But when the common enemy lies vanquish'd,

      Who knits together our new friendship then?

      We know, Duke Friedland! though perhaps the Swede

      Ought not to have known it, that you carry on

      Secret negotiations with the Saxons.

      Who is our warranty, that we are not

      The sacrifices in those articles

      Which 'tis thought needful to conceal from us?

      WALLENSTEIN (rises).

      Think you of something better, Gustave Wrangel!

      Of Prague no more.

      WRANGEL.

      Here my commission ends.

      WALLENST.

      Surrender up to you my capital!

      Far liever would I face about, and step

      Back to my Emperor.

      WRANGEL.

      If time yet permits—

      WALLENST.

      That lies with me, even now, at any hour.

      WRANGEL.

      Some days ago, perhaps. Today, no longer;

      No longer since Sesina's been a prisoner.

      [WALLENSTEIN is struck, and silenced.]

      My Lord Duke, hear me—We believe that you

      At present do mean honorably by us.

      Since yesterday we're sure of that—and now

      This paper warrants for the troops, there's nothing

      Stands in the way of our full confidence.

      Prague shall not part us. Hear! The Chancellor

      Contents himself with Altstadt; to your Grace

      He gives up Ratschin and the narrow side.

      But Egra above all must open to us,

      Ere we can think of any junction.

      WALLENSTEIN.

                                    You,

      You therefore must I trust, and not you me?

      I will consider of your proposition.

      WRANGEL.

      I must entreat that your consideration

      Occupy not too long a time. Already

      Has this negotiation, my Lord Duke,

      Crept on into the second year! If nothing

      Is settled this time, will the Chancellor

      Consider it as broken off for ever.

      WALLENST.

      Ye press me hard. A measure such as this,

      Ought to be thought of.

      WRANGEL.

                       Ay! but think of this too,

      That sudden action only can procure it

      Success—think first of this, your Highness.

      [Exit WRANGEL.]

      SCENE VI

      WALLENSTEIN, TERZKY, and ILLO (re-enter)

      ILLO.

      It's all right?

      TERZKY.

      Are you compromised?

      ILLO.

                                  This Swede

      Went smiling from you. Yes! you're compromised.

      WALLENST.

      As yet is nothing settled: and (well weighed)

      I feel myself inclined to leave it so.

      TERZKY.

      How? What is that?

      WALLENSTEIN.

                     Come on me what will come,

      The doing evil to avoid an evil

      Cannot be good!

      TERZKY.

      Nay,

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