Part 187 (1/2)

TERZKY.

Thou wilt not do this! No! I pray thee, no!

WALLENSTEIN.

Ye are whimsical.

ILLO.

O but for this time, duke, Yield to our warning! Let him not depart.

WALLENSTEIN.

And why should I not trust him only this time, Who have always trusted him? What, then, has happened That I should lose my good opinion of him?

In complaisance to your whims, not my own, I must, forsooth, give up a rooted judgment.

Think not I am a woman. Having trusted him E'en till to-day, to-day too will I trust him.

TERZKY.

Must it be he--he only? Send another.

WALLENSTEIN.

It must be he, whom I myself have chosen; He is well fitted for the business.

Therefore I gave it him.

ILLO.

Because he's an Italian-- Therefore is he well fitted for the business!

WALLENSTEIN.

I know you love them not, nor sire nor son, Because that I esteem them, love them, visibly Esteem them, love them more than you and others, E'en as they merit. Therefore are they eye-blights, Thorns in your footpath. But your jealousies, In what affect they me or my concerns?

Are they the worse to me because you hate them?

Love or hate one another as you will, I leave to each man his own moods and likings; Yet know the worth of each of you to me.

ILLO.

Von Questenberg, while he was here, was always Lurking about with this Octavio.

WALLENSTEIN.

It happened with my knowledge and permission.

ILLO.

I know that secret messengers came to him From Gallas----

WALLENSTEIN.

That's not true.

ILLO.

O thou art blind, With thy deep-seeing eyes!

WALLENSTEIN.

Thou wilt not shake My faith for me; my faith, which founds itself On the profoundest science. If 'tis false, Then the whole science of the stars is false; For know, I have a pledge from Fate itself, That he is the most faithful of my friends.

ILLO.

Hast thou a pledge that this pledge is not false?

WALLENSTEIN.