WALLENSTEIN (_contemplates him with surprise, remains awhile, betraying strong emotion_).
Gordon--your zeal and fervor lead you far. Well, well--an old friend has a privilege. Blood, Gordon, has been flowing. Never, never Can the Emperor pardon me; and if he could, Yet I--I never could let myself be pardon'd. Had I foreknown what now has taken place, That he, my dearest friend, would fall for me My first death-offering; and had the heart Spoken to me, as now it has done--Gordon, It may be, I might have bethought myself; It may be too, I might not. Might or might not Is now an idle question. All too seriously Has it begun to end in nothing, Gordon! Let it then have its course.
All dark and silent-at the castle too All is now hush'd--Light me, Chamberlain!
[_The_ GROOM OF THE CHAMBER, _who had entered during the last dialogue, and had been standing at a distance and listening to it with visible expressions of the deepest interest, advances in extreme agitation, and throws himself at the_ DUKE'S _feet._]
And thou too! But I know why thou dost wish My reconcilement with the Emperor. Poor man! he hath a small estate in Carinthia, And fears it will be forfeited because He's in my service. Am I then so poor That I no longer can indemnify My servants? Well! to no one I employ Means of compulsion. If 'tis thy belief That fortune has fled from me, go! forsake me. This night for the last time mayst thou unrobe me, And then go over to thy Emperor. Gordon, good night! I think to make a long Sleep of it: for the struggle and the turmoil Of this last day or two was great. May't please you! Take care that they awake me not too early.
[_Exit_ WALLENSTEIN, _the_ GROOM OF THE CHAMBER _lighting him_.SENI _follows_, GORDON _remains on the darkened stage, following the_ DUKE _with his eye, till he disappears at the farther end of the gallery: then by his gestures the old man expresses the depth of his anguish and stands leaning against a pillar._]
GORDON, BUTLER (_at first behind the scenes_)
BUTLER (_not yet come into view of the stage_).
Here stand in silence till I give the signal.
'Tis he! he has already brought the murderers.
The lights are out. All lies in profound sleep.
GORDON. What shall I do? Shall I attempt to save him? Shall I call up the house? alarm the guards?