Butler monologue (Act 4) — The Death of Wallenstein

It is too late. I suffer not myself to feel compassion, Dark thoughts and bloody are my duty now. [Grasping GORDON's hand. Gordon! 'tis not my hatred (I pretend not To love the duke, and have no cause to love him). Yet 'tis not now my hatred that impels me To be his murderer. 'Tis his evil fate. Hostile occurrences of many events Control and subjugate me to the office. In vain the human being meditates Free action. He is but the wire-worked [8] puppet Of the blind Power, which, out of its own choice, Creates for him a dread necessity. What too would it avail him if there were A something pleading for him in my heart-- Still I must kill him.