Whate'er is human to the human being Do I allow--and to the vehement And striving spirit readily I pardon The excess of action; but to thee, my general! Above all others make I large concession. For thou must move a world and be the master-- He kills thee who condemns thee to inaction. So be it then! maintain thee in thy post By violence. Resist the emperor, And if it must be force with force repel; I will not praise it, yet I can forgive it. But not--not to the traitor--yes! the word Is spoken out-- Not to the traitor can I yield a pardon. That is no mere excess! that is no error Of human nature--that is wholly different, Oh, that is black, black as the pit of hell! [WALLENSTEIN betrays a sudden agitation. Thou canst not hear it named, and wilt thou do it? O turn back to thy duty. That thou canst, I hold it certain. Send me to Vienna; I'll make thy peace for thee with the emperor. He knows thee not. But I do know thee. He Shall see thee, duke! with my unclouded eye, And I bring back his confidence to thee. (WALLENSTEIN: It is too late! Thou knowest not what has happened.) Were it too late, and were things gone so far, That a crime only could prevent thy fall, Then--fall! fall honorably, even as thou stoodest, Lose the command. Go from the stage of war! Thou canst with splendor do it--do it too With innocence. Thou hast lived much for others, At length live thou for thy own self. I follow thee. My destiny I never part from thine.

Max Piccolomini Monologue from The Death of Wallenstein

Rehearse Max Piccolomini's monologue