University of Virginia Library

Scena tertia

Ferdinand, King of Hungary, Gallas, Questenberge.
Emper.
Crownes are perpetuall cares, and to their heads,
That weare the wreath Imperiall, are annext.
Forraigne invasions oft may shake a state,
But civill broyles are the impetuous fire-brands,
That burne up Common-wealths; to quench
A flame domesticke we are met, which will
Like fame increase, by going on; this late
Revolt of Wallenstein.

Hungar.
Perfidious slave!
On whom your plenteous bounties showr'd so fast,
They seem'd to drown him, he whose great commands,
Could not know ought above them, but your selfe,
The Generall of your forces of Gloyawe,
Mechlenburg, Sagan, Fridland, stil'd the Duke,
He to invert your owne Armes 'gainst your selfe,
Swels my vext soule to thinke on't.

Emper.
'Tis not words,
Or aëry threatnings will appease thy mischiefe,
It must be done by force; Matthias Gallas,
Have you according to our late commands,
Given order for the levying new forces,
To oppose this Traytor.

Matth.
Mighty Sir, I have,
And seen them mustred.

Emp.
To what amounts their number.

Gall.
Threescore thousand.

Hung.
A royall Armie, had they been train'd
In Military discipline, experience
Is halfe the soule of Armes, we will take order,
To have them taught the exercise of Armes,
By those Hungarians troupes which we brought hither.

Emp.
Now sir, your businesse.

Int. a messenger.
Messen.
Mighty sir,
The Governor of Egers, Colonell Gordon,
Attended by Lieutenant Colonell Butler,
And Colonell Lesle doe desire admittance
Into your presence.

Emp.
Let them enter,
They are his friends, and may perhaps discover
Some of his trecheries: Noble strangers welcome,
Int. Lesle, Gordon, Butler.
I doe conceive 'tis businesse of importance
Has drawne you hither, in Colonell Lesles lookes
I reade affaires of consequence, with which
His active braine does teeme, and faine would be
By's tongue deliver'd.

Lesle.
Most mighty Cæsar,
To indeare the service to you, I shall doe you,
By guilding o're each circumstance, its waight
And consequence, since 'tis my bounden duty,
To you, my royall Master, would but shew,
Pride and arrogant love in me the author,
To my owne act, and so 'twould rather lessen
Then amplifie my merit; how I've serv'd you
Under command of him; whom in due justice
I cannot mention now without foule curses,
Revolted Wallenstein is to these Lords,
And your great selfe best knowne.

Emp.
And our rewards
Shall strive to pay those services.

Lesle.
But when I saw him
Put off his faith, abandon his allegeance,
Accounting all your bounteous favors trifles,
Unto the mountainous pile of his deservings,
And like a black cloud hung o're all your Empire,
Uncertaine where to break and in's vast thoughts,
Aspir'd your sacred dignity and life,
I like his Genius skrewd into his counsels,
Explor'd his plots and treasons, and have found them
So full of eminent danger.

Gordon.
So malicious.

Lesle.
Empty of worth and honour, it had been
A sinne beyond the horridst punishments,
To have conceal'd them from you, and which most
Tortures my loyall thoughts, as't had not been
Sufficient for him to rebell himselfe,
He has firm'd a league defensive and offensive,
With your most eager enemies, Saxon Waymar,
Brandenburg, Arheim, and Gustavus Horne,
And had a personall meeting for that purpose.

Butler.
And 'tis to be fear'd,
That if sudden power stop not their progresse,
They will with speedy violence invade you,
Heere in your capitall City.

Emper.
Worthy strangers,
In this one act you've showne your selfe more faithfull,
Then all my home-borne subjects, but be sure
If gratitude can equall your deserts,
You shall injoy that amply: Noble Lesle,
The time is come now, and the delemma cast,
That must conclude our Empire, which we must
Unto thy care commit; to kill a Traytor,
Is a deserving action, for thou strik'st
Then with the Sword of Justice: wilt thou adde
This one act to thy former high deservings,
Kill this Arch-Rebell.

Lesle.
'Twas an office,
We should have beg'd, beleev't he's dead already,
Ile kill him in his pride, in all his glories,
With such security, as I would sleepe
After a tedious watching.

Emp.
And expect,
What e're your hopes can wish, so with all speed
Back to your charge, be carefull, come my Lords,
Fate now does smile upon us, and the storme
Which threatned us, is suddenly growne calme.

Exeunt, Emp. Hung. Quest. Gallas.
Lesle.
Now our hopes
May rest, best friends, assur'd of good successe,
'Tis in our hands, our fates, and we have hearts.
Date venter on this Giant Duke, and lift him
With as much ease from earth, as the bright Sun
Does dull and lazie vapors, nor let dangers
Fright us from the atchievement, since the justice,
The cause does carry, is a certaine armour,
'Gainst all the assaults of perill, which in it selfe
Is but an April storme, no sooner showne
To fright the ayre, but byth' next wind o're-blown.