To these enter OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI with all his train. At the same time DEVEREUX and MACDONALD enter from out the corridor with the Halberdiers. WALLENSTEIN"s dead body is carried over the back part of the stage, wrapped in a piece of crimson tapestry.

OCTAVIO (entering abruptly).

It must not be! It is not possible!

Butler! Gordon!

I"ll not believe it. Say no!

[GORDON, without answering, points with his hand to the body of WALLENSTEIN as it is carried over the back of the stage. OCTAVIO looks that way, and stands overpowered with horror.

DEVEREUX (to BUTLER).

Here is the golden fleece--the duke"s sword----

MACDONALD.

Is it your order----

BUTLER (pointing to OCTAVIO).

Here stands he who now Hath the sole power to issue orders.

[DEVEREUX and MACDONALD retire with marks of obeisance. One drops away after the other, till only BUTLER, OCTAVIO, and GORDON remain on the stage.

OCTAVIO (turning to BUTLER).

Was that my purpose, Butler, when we parted?

Oh, G.o.d of Justice!

To thee I lift my hand! I am not guilty Of this foul deed.

BUTLER.

Your hand is pure. You have Availed yourself of mine.

OCTAVIO.

Merciless man!

Thus to abuse the orders of thy lord-- And stain thy emperor"s holy name with murder, With b.l.o.o.d.y, most accursed a.s.sa.s.sination!

BUTLER (calmly).

I"ve but fulfilled the emperor"s own sentence.

OCTAVIO.

Oh, curse of kings, Infusing a dread life into their words, And linking to the sudden, transient thought The unchanging, irrevocable deed.

Was there necessity for such an eager Despatch? Couldst thou not grant the merciful A time for mercy? Time is man"s good angel.

To leave no interval between the sentence, And the fulfilment of it, doth beseem G.o.d only, the immutable!

BUTLER.

For what Rail you against me? What is my offence?

The empire from a fearful enemy Have I delivered, and expect reward.

The single difference betwixt you and me Is this: you placed the arrow in the bow; I pulled the string. You sowed blood, and yet stand Astonished that blood is come up. I always Knew what I did, and therefore no result Hath power to frighten or surprise my spirit.

Have you aught else to order; for this instant I make my best speed to Vienna; place My bleeding sword before my emperor"s throne, And hope to gain the applause which undelaying And punctual obedience may demand From a just judge.

[Exit BUTLER.

SCENE XII.

To these enter the COUNTESS TERZKY, pale and disordered.

Her utterance is slow and feeble, and unimpa.s.sioned.

OCTAVIO (meeting her).

Oh, Countess Terzky! These are the results Of luckless, unblest deeds.

COUNTESS.

They are the fruits Of your contrivances. The duke is dead, My husband too is dead, the d.u.c.h.ess struggles In the pangs of death, my niece has disappeared; This house of splendor, and of princely glory, Doth now stand desolated: the affrighted servants Rush forth through all its doors. I am the last Therein; I shut it up, and here deliver The keys.

OCTAVIO (with a deep anguish).

Oh, countess! my house, too, is desolate.

COUNTESS.

Who next is to be murdered? Who is next To be maltreated? Lo! the duke is dead.

The emperor"s vengeance may be pacified!

Spare the old servants; let not their fidelity Be imputed to the faithful as a crime-- The evil destiny surprised my brother Too suddenly: he could not think on them.

OCTAVIO.

Speak not of vengeance! Speak not of maltreatment!

The emperor is appeased; the heavy fault Hath heavily been expiated--nothing Descended from the father to the daughter, Except his glory and his services.

The empress honors your adversity, Takes part in your afflictions, opens to you Her motherly arms. Therefore no further fears.

Yield yourself up in hope and confidence To the imperial grace!

COUNTESS (with her eye raised to heaven) To the grace and mercy of a greater master Do I yield up myself. Where shall the body Of the duke have its place of final rest?

In the Chartreuse, which he himself did found At Gitschin, rests the Countess Wallenstein; And by her side, to whom he was indebted For his first fortunes, gratefully he wished He might sometime repose in death! Oh, let him Be buried there. And likewise, for my husband"s Remains I ask the like grace. The emperor Is now the proprietor of all our castles; This sure may well be granted us--one sepulchre Beside the sepulchres of our forefathers!

OCTAVIO.

Countess, you tremble, you turn pale!

COUNTESS (rea.s.sembles all her powers, and speaks with energy and dignity).

You think More worthily of me than to believe I would survive the downfall of my house.

We did not hold ourselves too mean to grasp After a monarch"s crown--the crown did fate Deny, but not the feeling and the spirit That to the crown belong! We deem a Courageous death more worthy of our free station Than a dishonored life. I have taken poison.

OCTAVIO.

Help! Help! Support her!

COUNTESS.

Nay, it is too late.

In a few moments is my fate accomplished.

[Exit COUNTESS.

GORDON.

Oh, house of death and horrors!

[An OFFICER enters, and brings a letter with the great seal.

GORDON steps forward and meets him.