THEKLA

THEKLA.

COUNTESS.

MAX .

COUNTESS.

TIJEKLA.

Did you hear nothing ? Seem'd, as if I heard

THEKLA. Tumult and larum in the banquet-room.

Are we not happy now? Art thou not mine? [Erit COUNTESS. Am I not thine? There lives within my soul

A lofty courage—'t is love gives it me!

I ought to be less open-ought to hide
SCENE V.

My heart more from thee—so decorum dictates :

But where in this place couldst thou seek for truth, THEKLA and Max. PICCOLOMINI.

If in my mouth thou didst not find it? THEKLA (as soon as the Countess is out of sight, in a

quick low voice to PiccoloMINI). Don't trust them! They are false !

SCENE VI.
MAX.

To them enters the Countess TERTSKY.
Impossible!
COUNTESS (in a pressing manner).

Come!
Trust no one here but me. I saw at once,
They had a purpose.

My husband sends me for you— It is now

The latest moment.
MAX

Purpose! but what purpose ? [They not appearing to attend to what she says, And how can we be instrumental to it?

she steps between them.

Part you !
THEKLA.
I know no more than you ; but yet believe me :
There's some design in this! To make us happy,

0, not yet! To realize our union-trust me, love!

It has been scarce a moment.
They but pretend to wish it.

Ay! Then time
MAX.
But these Tertskys-

Flies swiftly with your Highness, Princess niece!
Why use we them at all? Why not your mother?
Excellent creature! she deserves from us

There is no hurry, aunt.
A full and filial confidence.

Away! away!
TIIEKLA.
She doth love you,

The folks begin to miss you. Twice already

His father has ask'd for him.”
Doth rate you high before all others-but-
But such a secret-she would never have

Ha! his father!
The courage to conceal it from my father.
For her own peace of mind we must preserve it

COUNTESS.
A secret from her too.

You understand thal, niece!
Why any secret ?

Why needs he
I love not secrets. Mark. what I will do..

To go at all to that society? I'll throw me at your father's feet-let him

"Tis not his proper company. They may Decide upon my fortunes !--He is true,

Be worthy men, but he's too young for them. He wears no mask--he hates all crooked ways-

In brief, he suits not such society.
He is so good, so noble!

COUNTESS,
THEKLA (falls on his neck).

You mean, you'd rather keep him wholly here?
That are you !

TUEKLA (with energy).

Yes! you have hit it, aunt! That is my meaning. You knew him only since this morn, but I

Leave him here wholly! Tell the company-
Have lived ten years already in his presence.
And who knows whether in this very moment What ? have you lost your senses, niece ?-
He is not merely waiting for us both

Count, you remember the conditions. Come! To own our loves, in order to unite us ?

MAX. (to T'HEKLA). You are silent !

Lady, I must obey. Farewell, dear lady! You look at me with such a hopelessness !

[THEKLA turns away from him with a quick molion. What have you to object against your father? What say you then, dear lady?

THEKLA (without looking at him).
I? Nothing. Only he's so occupied

Nothing. Go!
He has no leisure time to think about
The happiness of us two. [Taking his hand tenderly. Can I, when you are angry-
Follow me!

(Ile draws up to her, their eyes meet, she stands Let us not place too great a faith in men.

silent a moment, then throws herself into his These Tertskys--we will still be grateful to them

arms ; he presses her fast to his heart. For overy kindness, but not trust them further Than they deserve ;-and in all else rely- Off! Heavens! if any one should come! On our own hearts !

Hark! What's that noise! it comes this way.

-Off! Max. tears himself away out of her arms, and gies. O! shall we e'er be happy ?

The Countess accompanies him. THEKLA

MAX.

THEKLA.

MAX

COUNTESS.

TIEKLA.

MAX

COUNTESS.

MAX

THEKLA.

COUNTESS.

follows him with her eyes at first, walks rest

COUNTESS.
lessly across the room, then stops, and remains I mean, niece, that you should not have forgotten
standing, lost in thought. A guitar lies on the Who you are, and who he is. But perchance
table, she seizes à as by a sudden emotion, and That never once occurr’d to you.
after she has played a while an irregular and
melancholy symphony, she falls gradually into

What then!
the music, and sings
THEKLA (plays and sings).

That you 're the daughter of the Prince, Duke

Friedland.
The cloud doth gather, the greenwood roar,

THEKLA.
The damsel paces along the shore ;
The billows they tumble with might, with might;

Well—and what farther?
And she flings out her voice to the darksome night;

COUNTESS Her bosom is swelling with sorrow;

What? a pretty question ! The world it is empty, the heart will die,

THEKLA.
There's nothing to wish for beneath the sky : He was born that which we have but become.
Thou Holy One, call thy child away!

He's of an ancient Lombard family,
I've lived and loved, and that was to-day Son of a reigning princess.
Make ready my grave
clothes to-morrow.*

Are you dreaming ?

Talking in sleep? An excellent jest, forsooth! SCENE VII.

We shall no doubt right courteously entreat him

To honor with his hand the richest heiress
COUNTESS (returns), THEKLA.

In Europe.

THEKLA.
COUNTESS
Fie, lady niece! to throw yourself upon him,

That will not be necessary.
Like a poor gift to one who cares not for it,
And so must be flung after him! For you,

Methinks 't were well though not to run the hazard.
Duke Friedland's only child, I should have thought,
It had been more beseeming to have shown yourself Flis father loves him: Count Octavio
More chary of your person.

Will interpose no difficulty-
THEKLA (rising).
And what mean you?

His!
His father! His ! but yours, niece, what yours?

COUNTESS

COUNTESS.

THEKLA.

COUNTESS.

THEKLA.

TIEKLA.

COUNTESS.

COUNTESS.

* I found it not in my power to translate this song with literal Why I begin to think you fear his father,
fidelity, preserving at the same time the Alcaic Movement; and So anxiously you hide it from the man!
have therefore added the original with a prose translation. Some His father, his, I mean.'
of my readers may be more fortunate.

COUNTESS (looks at her as scrutinizing).
THEKLA (spielt und singf).

Nicce, you are false.
Der Eichwald brauset, die Wolken ziehn,
Das Mægdlein wandelt an Ufers Grün,
Es bricht sich die Welle mit Macht, mit Macht, Are you then wounded ? 0, be friends with me!
Und sie singt hinaus in die finstre Nacht,
Das Auge von Weinen getrübet :

You hold your game for won already. Do not
Das Herz ist gestorben, die Welt ist leer,
Und weiter giebt sie dem Wunsche nichts mehr.

Triumph too soon!
Da Heilige, rufe dein Kind zurück,

THEKLA (interrupting her, and allempling to soothe
Ich habe genossen das irdische Glück,

her).
Ich habe gelebt und gelcibet.

Nay, now, be friends with me.
LITERAL TRANSLATION.
THEKLA (plays and sing 8).

It is not yet so far gone.
The oak-forest bellows, the clouds gather, the damsel walks

THEKLA. to and fro on the green of the shore; the wave breaks with

I believe you. might, with might, and she sings out into the dark night, hier eye discolored with weeping: the heart is dead, the world is

COUNTESS. empty, and further gives it nothing more to the wish. Thou Holy Did you suppose your father had laid out One, call thy child home. I have enjoyed the happiness of this His most important life in toils of war, world, I have lived and have loved.

Denied himself each quiet earthly bliss, · I cannot but add here an imitation of this song, with which Had banish'd slumber from his tent, devoted the author of "The Tale of Rosamund Gray and Blind Marfaret" has favored me. and which appears to me to have caught His noble head to care, and for this only, the happiest manner of our old ballads.

To make a happier pair of you? At length
The clouds are blackening, the storms threat'ning, To draw you from your convent, and conduct

The cavern doth mutter, the greenwood moan; In easy triumph to your arms the man
Billows are breaking, the damsel's heart aching.

That chanced to please your eyes! All this, methinks,
Thus in the dark night she singeth alone,
Her eye upward roving:

He might have purchased at a cheaper rate.
The world is empty, the heart is dead surely,

THEKLA.
In this world plainly all seemeth amiss ;
To thy heaven, Holy One, take home thy little one.

That which he did not plant for me might yet
I have partaken of all earth's bliss,

Bear me fair fruitage of its own accord.
Both living and loving.

And if my friendly and affectionate fate,

Out of his fearful and enormous being,
Will but prepare the joys of life for me-

COUNTESS.
Thou see'st it with a lovelorn maiden's eyes.
Cast thine eye round, bethink thee who thou art.
Into no house of joyance hast thou stepp'd,
For no espousals dost thou find the walls
Deck'd out, no guests the nuptial garland wearing.
Here is no splendor but of arms. Or think'st thou
That all these thousands are here congregated
To lead up the long dances at thy wedding !
Thou see'st thy father's forehead full of thought,
Thy mother's eye in lears : upon the balance
Lies the great destiny of all our house.
Leave now the puny wish, the girlish feeling,
O thrust it far behind thee! Give thou proof,
Thou'rt the daughter of the Mighty-his
Who where he moves creates the wonderful.
Not to herself the woman must belong,
Annex'd and bound to alien destinies :
But she performs the best part, she the wisest,
Who can transmute the alien into self,
Meet and disarm necessity by choice;
And what must be, take freely to her heart,
And bear and foster it with mother's love.

Unknown to me: 't is possible his aims
May have the same direction as thy wish.
But this can never, never be his will
That thou, the daughter of his haughty fortunes,
Should'st e'er demean thee as a love-sick maiden;
And like some poor cost-nothing, fling thyself
Toward the man, who, if that high prize ever

Be destined to await him, yet, with sacrifices
The highest love can bring, must pay for it.

(Erit COUNTESS, THEKLA (who during the lust speech had been standing

evidently lost in her reflections).
I thank thee for the hint. It turns
My sad presentiment to certainty.

And it is so !--Not one friend have we here,
Not one true heart! we've nothing but ourselves!
O she said rightly-no auspicious signs

Beam on this covenant of our affections.
This is no theatre, where hope abides:
The dull thick noise of war alone stirs here;

And Love himself, as he were arni'd in steel,
Steps forth, and girds him for the strife of death.

[Music from the banquet-room is heard.
There's a dark spirit walking in our house,
And swiftly will the Destiny close on us.

It drove me hither from my calm asylum,
It mocks my soul with charming witchery,
It lures me forward in a seraph's shape ;
I see it near, I see it nearer floating,
It draws, it pulls me with a godlike power-
And lo! the abyss-and thither am I moving-
I have no power within me not to move !

[The music from the banquet-room becomes louder.
O when a house is doom'd in fire to perish,
Many and dark, heaven drives his clouds together,

Yea, shoots his lightnings down from sunny heights, Flames burst from out the subterraneous chasms,

* And fiends and angels mingling in their fury, Sling fire-brands at the burning editice.

TIEKLA.

Such ever was my lesson in the convent.
I had no loves, no wishes, knew myself
Only as his—his daughter, his, the Mighty!
His fame, the echo of whose blast drove to me
From the far distance, waken'd in my soul
No other thought than this-I am appointed
To offer up myself in passiveness to him.

COUNTESS.

That is thy fate. Mould thou thy wishes to it.
I and thy mother gave thee the example.

TIEKLA.

My fate hath shown me him, to whom behoves it
That I should offer up myself. In gladness
Him will I follow.

(Ezil THEKLA

COUNTESS

TUEKLA.

COUNTESS.

Not thy fate hath shown him! Thy heart, say rather-'t was thy heari, my child!

SCENE VIII.

A large Saloon bighted up with festal Splendor ; in Fate hath no voice but the heart's impulses.

the midst of it, and in the Centre of the Stage, a I am all his! His present-his alone,

Table richly set out, at which eight Generals are Is this new life, which lives in me? He hath

silting, among whom are Octavio PICCOLOMINI, A right to his own creature. What was I

TERTSKY, and MARADAS. Right and left of this, Ere his fair love infused a soul into me?

but further back, two other Tables, at cach of which

six Persons are placed. The Middle Door, which Thou wouldst oppose thy father then, shoulil he

is standing open, gives to the Prospect a fourth Have otherwise determined with thy person ?

Table, with the same Number of Persons. More [THEKLA remains silent. The Countess continues.

forward stands the Sideboard. T'he whole front of Thou mean'st to force him to thy liking ?-Child,

the Stage is kepl open for the Pages and Servants in His name is Friedland.

waiting. All is in motion. The Band of Music

belonging to TERTSKY's Regiment march across the THEKLA.

Slage, and draw up round the Tables. Before they My name too is Friedland. He shall have found a genuine daughter in me.

are quite off from the Front of the Slage, Max.

Piccolomini appears, TERTSKÝ advances towards COUNTESS. What! he has vanquish'd all impediment, And in the wilful mood of his own daughter

• There are few, who will not have taste enough to laugh Shall a new struggle rise for him ? Child! child! at the two concluding lines of this soliloquy; and still lewer, 1 As yet thou hast seen thy father's smiles alone ;

would fain hope, who would not have been more disposed 10 The eye of his rage thou hast not seen. Dear child, of German I have added the original :

shudder, had I given a faithful translation. For the readers I will not frighten thee. To that extreme,

Blind withend schleudert selbst der Gott der Freude I trust, it ne'er shall come. His will is yet

Don Pechkranz in das brennende Gebæude.

NEUMANN.

kim with a Paper, ISOLANI comes up to meet him

SCENE IX. with a Beaker or Service-Cup. TERTSKY, ISOLANI, Max. PICCOLOMINI.

TERTSKY, NEUMANN.

TERTSKY (beckons to NEUMANN who is waiting at the ISOLANI.

side-table, and steps forward with him to the edge of Here brother, what we love! Why, where hast been?

the stage). Off to thy place-quick! Tertsky here has given

Have you

the

copy with you, Neumann? Give it. The mother's holiday wine up to free booty.

It may be changed for the other!
Here it goes on as at the Heidelberg castle.
Already hast thou lost the best. They're giving

I have copied it At yonder table ducal crowns in shares;

Letter by letter, line by line; no eye There Sternberg's lands and chattels are put up,

Would e'er discover other difference,
With Eggenberg's, Stawata's, Lichtenstein's,

Save only the omission of that clause,
And all the great Bohemian feodalities.
Be nimble, lad! and something may turn up

According to your Excellency's order.
For thee-who knows? off—Lo thy place! quick!
march:

Right! lay it yonder, and away with this TIEFENBACH and Goetz (call out from the second and It has perform'd its business to the fire with it third tables).

[NEUMANN lays the copy on the table, and steps Count Piccolomini !

back again to the side-table.

TERTSKY.

TERTSKY.

ILLO.

TERTSKY.

ILLO.

ISOLANI.

TERTSKY.

MAX.

Stop, ye shall have him in an instant.-Read

SCENE X
This oath here, whether as 't is here set forth,
The wording satisfies you. They've all read it,

ILLO (comes out from the second chamber), TERTSKY.
Each in his turn, and each one will subscribe
His individual signature.

How goes it with young Piccolomini ? MAX. (reads). * Ingratis servire nefas.”

All right, I think. He has started no objection,

He is the only one I fear about
That sounds to my ears very much like Latin, He and his father. Have an eye on both !
And being interpreted, pray what may't mean?

How looks it at your table ? you forget not
TERTSKY.
No honest man will serve a thankless master. To keep them warm and stirring?

ILLO. * Inasmuch as our supreme Cornmander, the illus

O, quite cordial, trious Duke of Friedland, in consequence of the man

They are quite cordial in the scheme. We have them. ifold affronts and grievances which he has received, it is the talk, not merely to maintain

And 't is as I predicted too. Already had expressed his determination to quit the Emperor, The Duke in station. « Since we're once for all but on our unanimous entreaty has graciously consented to remain still with the army, and not to part

Together and unanimous, why not," from us without our approbation thereof, so we, col. Says Montecuculi, “ ay, why not onward, lectively and each in particular, in the stead of an oath There in his own Vienna?" Trust me, Count,

And make conditions with the Emperor personally taken, do hereby oblige ourselves-like

Were it not for these said Piccolomini, wise by him honorably and faithfully to hold, and in

We might have spared ourselves the cheat. nowise whatsoever from him to part, and to be ready to shed for his interests the last drop of our blood, so

And Butler ? far, nanely, as our oath to the Emperor will permit. (These last words are repeated by Isolani.) In testi. How goes it there? Hush ! thony of which we subscribe our names."

TERTSKY.
Now !-are you willing to subscribe this paper ?

SCENE XI.
ISOLANI.

To them enter BUTLER from the second table.
Why should he not? All officers of honor
Can do it, ay, must do it.-Pen and ink here!

Don't disturb yourselves.

Field Marshal, I have understood you perfectly. Nay, let it rest till after meal.

Good luck be to the scheme; and as for me,

( With an air of mystery. ISOLANI (drawing Max. along).

You may depend upon me.
Come, Max.

ILLO (with vivacity).
[Both seat themselves at their table.

May we, Butler ?

TERTSKY.

BUTLER

TERTSKY.

BUTLER

With or without the clause, all one to me!
You understand me? My fidelity
The Duke may put to any proof-I'm with him!
Tell him so! I'm the Emperor's officer,

153

As long as 't is his pleasure to remain
The Emperor's general! and Friedland's servant,
As soon as it shall please him to become
His own lord.

TERTSKY.

You would make a good exchange.
No stern economist, no Ferdinand,
Is he to whom you plight your services.

BUTLER (with a haughty look).
I do not put up my fidelity
To sale, Count Tertsky! Half a year ago
I would not have advised you to have made me
An overture to that, to which I now
Offer myself of my own free accord.
But that is past! and to the Duke, Field Marshal,
I bring myself together with my regiment.
And mark you, 't is my humor to believe,
The example which I give will not remain
Without an influence.

ILLO.

Who is ignorant, That the whole army look to Colonel Butler, As to a light that moves before them?

ILLO.
All powerful souls have kindred with each other.

BUTLER.
This is an awful moment! to the brave,
To the determined, an auspicious moment.
The Prince of Weimar arms, upon the Maine
To found a mighty dukedom. He of Halberstadt,
That Mansfeld, wanted but a longer life
To have mark'd out with his good sword a lordship
That should reward his courage. Who of these
Equals our Friedland ? there is nothing, nothing
So high, but he may set the ladder to it!

TERTSKY
That's spoken like a man!

BUTLER.
Do you secure the Spaniard and Italian-
I 'll be your warrant for the Scotchman Lesly.
Come, to the company!

TERTSKY
Where is the master of the cellar? Ho!
Let the best wines come up. Ho! cheerly, boy!
Luck comes to-day, so give her hearty welcome.

(Ereunt, each to his table

BUTLER
Ey?

SCENE XII.
Then I repent me not of that fidelity
Which for the length of forty years I held, The MASTER OF THE CELLAR advancing with NETMANN,
If in my sixtieth year my old good name

Servants passing backwards and forwards. Can purchase for me a revenge so full.

MASTER OF THE CELLAR. Start not at what I say, sir Generals !

The best wine! 0: if my old mistres, his lady My real motives--they concerí not you.

mother, could but see these wild goings on, she would And you yourselves, I trust, could not expect turn herself round in her grave. Yes, yes, sir officer! That this your game had crook'd my judgment-or 't is all down the hill with this noble house ! no end, That fickleness, quick blood, or such like cause, no moderation! And this marriage with the Duke's Has driven the old man from the track of honor, sister, a splendid connexion, a very splendid connex. Which he so long had trodden.-Come, my friends! ion! but I will tell you, sir officer, it looks no good. I'm not thereto determined with less firmness,

NEUMANN. Because I know and have look'd steadily

Heaven forbid! Why, at this very moment the At that on which I have determined.

whole prospect is in bud and blossom!
IL10.

MASTER OF THE CELLAR.
Say,

You think so ?-Well, well! much may be said And speak roundly, what are we to deem you? on that head.

FIRST SERVANT (comes).
BUTLER

Burgundy for the fourth table.
A friend! I give you here my hand! I'm your's

MASTER OF THE CELLAR. With all I have. Not only men, but money

Now, sir lieutenant, if this an't the seventieth Will the Duke want.-Go, tell him, sirs !

flaskI've earn'd and laid up somewhat in his service.

FIRST SERVANT. I lend it him; and is he my survivor,

Why, the reason is, that German lord, TiefenIt has been already long ago bequeath'd him.

bach, sits at that table. Ile is my heir. For me, I stand alone Here in the world; naught know I of the feeling

MASTER OF THE CELLAR (continuing his discours

to NEUMANN). That binds the husband to a wife and children. My name dies with me, my existence ends.

They are soaring 100 high. They would rival

kings and electors in their pomp and splendor; and ILLO.

wherever the Duke leaps, not a minute does my gra. 'Tis not your money that he needs—a heart cious master, the count, loiter on the brink to the Like yours weighs tons of gold down, weighs down Servants.)-What do you stand there listening for! I millions!

will let you know you have legs presently. Off! see

to the tables, see to the flasks! Look there! Count BUTLER I came a simple soldier's boy from Ireland Palfi has an empty glass before him! To Prague-and with a master, whom I buried.

RUNNER (comes). From lowest stable duty I climb'd up,

The great service-cup is wanted, sir; that rich Such was the fate of war, to this high rank, gold cup with the Bohemian arms on it. The Count The plaything of a whimsical good fortune.

says you know which it is. And Wallenstein 100 is a child of luck;

MASTER OF THE CELLAR. I love a fortune that is like my own

Ay! that was made for Frederick's coronation by