Wallenstein/The Death of Wallenstein/A1S08

by Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller

SCENE VIII.

WALLENSTEIN. TERTSKY. ILLO.
(who enters agitated with rage.)

ILLO.
Treason and mutiny!

TERTSKY.
And what further now?

ILLO.
Tiefenbach's soldiers, when I gave the orders
To go off guard—Mutinous villains!

TERTSKY.
Well?

WALLENSTEIN.
What follow'd?

ILLO.
They refus'd obedience to them.

TERTSKY.
Fire on them instantly! Give out the order.

WALLENSTEIN.
Gently! What cause did they assign?

ILLO.
No other,
They said, had right to issue orders but
Lieutenant-General Piccolomini.

WALLENSTEIN. (in a convulsion of agony.)
What? How is that?

ILLO.
He takes that office on him by commission,
Under sign-manual of the Emperor.

TERTSKY.
From th' Emp'ror—hear'st thou, Duke?

ILLO.
At his incitement
The Generals made that stealthy flight—

TERTSKY.
Duke! hear'st thou?

ILLO.
Caraffa too, and Montecuculi,
Are missing, with six other Generals,
All whom he had induc'd to follow him.
This plot he has long had in writing by him
From the Emperor; but 'twas finally concluded
With all the detail of the operation
Some days ago with the Envoy Questenberg.
(Wallenstein sinks down into a chair and covers his face.)

TERTSKY.
O hadst thou but believed me!