Off! Heavens! if any one should come! 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 THEKLA (plays and sings). The cloud doth gather, the greenwood roar, The billows they tumble with might, with might; The oak-forest bellows, the clouds gather, the damsel walks to and fro on the green of the shore; the wave breaks with might, with might, and she sings out into the dark night, her eye discolored with weeping: the heart is dead, the world is empty, and further gives it nothing more to the wish. Thou Holy One, call thy child home. I have enjoyed the happiness of this world, I have lived and have loved. I cannot but add here an imitation of this song, with which the author of "The Tale of Rosamund Gray and Blind Mar garet" has favored me, and which appears to me to have caught The clouds are blackening, the storms threat'ning, The world is empty, the heart is dead surely, To thy heaven, Holy One, take home thy little one. Both living and loving. THEKLA. COUNTESS. What then? That you're the daughter of the Prince, Duke THEKLA. Well-and what farther? COUNTESS What? a pretty question! THEKLA. He was born that which we have but become Son of a reigning princess. COUNTESS. 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. THEKLA. Such ever was my lesson in the convent. COUNTESS. That is thy fate. Mould thou thy wishes to it. I and thy mother gave thee the example. THEKLA. My fate hath shown me him, to whom behoves it COUNTESS Not thy fate hath shown him! Thy heart, say rather-'t was thy heart, my child! THEKLA. Fate hath no voice but the heart's impulses. COUNTESS. Thou wouldst oppose thy father then, should he THEKLA. My name too is Friedland. He shall have found a genuine daughter in me. COUNTESS. What! he has vanquish'd all impediment, Unknown to me: 'tis possible his aims [Erit COUNTESS. THEKLA (who during the last speech had been standing evidently lost in her reflections). I thank thee for the hint. It turns And it is so!-Not one friend have we here, [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 edifice. SCENE VIII. [Exit THEKLA. A large Saloon lighted up with festal Splendor; in the midst of it, and in the Centre of the Stage, a Table richly set out, at which eight Generals are sitting, among whom are OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, TERTSKY, and MARADAS. Right and left of this, but farther back, two other Tables, at each of which six Persons are placed. The Middle Door, which is standing open, gives to the Prospect a fourth Table, with the same Number of Persons. Mare forward stands the Sideboard. The whole front of the Stage is kept open for the Pages and Servants in waiting. All is in motion. The Band of Music belonging to TERTSKY'S Regiment march across the Stage, and draw up round the Tables. Before they are quite off from the Front of the Stage, MAX. PICCOLOMINI appears, TERTSKY advances towards There are few, who will not have taste enough to laugh at the two concluding lines of this soliloquy; and still fewer, I would fain hope, who would not have been more disposed to shudder, had I given a faithful translation. For the readers The eye of his rage thou hast not seen. Dear child, of German I have added the origina: I will not frighten thee. To that extreme, I trust, it ne'er shall come, His will is yet Blind-wüthend schleudert selbst der Gott der Freude Den Pechkranz in das brennende Gebæude. him with a Paper, ISOLANI comes up to meet him with a Beaker or Service-Cup. TERTSKY, ISOLANI, MAX. PICCOLOMINI. ISOLANI. Here brother, what we love! Why, where hast been? Be nimble, lad! and something may turn up MEFENBACH and GOETZ (call out from the second and TERTSKY. Stop, ye shall have him in an instant.-Read MAX. (reads). "Ingratis servire nefas.” ISOLANI. That sounds to my ears very much like Latin, TERTSKY. No honest man will serve a thankless master. MAX. “Inasmuch as our supreme Commander, the illus O, quite cordial, trious Duke of Friedland, in consequence of the man- They are quite cordial in the scheme. We have them. TERTSKY. Now!-are you willing to subscribe this paper? ISOLANI. Why should he not? All officers of honor TERTSKY. Nay, let it rest till after meal. ISOLANI (drawing Max. along). [Both seat themselves at their table. As long as 'tis his pleasure to remain 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 But that is past! and to the Duke, Field Marshal, ILLO. Who is ignorant, That the whole army look to Colonel Butler, As to a light that moves before them? BUTLER. Ey? Then I repent me not of that fidelity If in my sixtieth year my old good name ILIO. Say, And speak roundly, what are we to deem you? BUTLER. A friend! I give you here my hand! I'm your's ILLO. "Tis not your money that he needs a heart Like yours weighs tons of gold down, weighs down millions! BUTLER. I came a simple soldier's boy from Ireland ILLO. All powerful souls have kindred with each other. BUTLER. This is an awful moment! to the brave, TERTSKY That's spoken like a man! BUTLER. Do you secure the Spaniard and Italian- 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. [Exeunt, each to his table SCENE XII. The MASTER OF THE CELLAR advancing with NEUMANN. Servants passing backwards and forwards. MASTER OF THE CELLAR. The best wine! O: if my old mistress, his lady mother, could but see these wild goings on, she would turn herself round in her grave. Yes, yes, sir officer. 't is all down the hill with this noble house! no end. no moderation! And this marriage with the Duke's sister, a splendid connexion, a very splendid connex. ion! but I will tell you, sir officer, it looks no good. NEUMANN. Heaven forbid! Why, at this very moment the whole prospect is in bud and blossom! MASTER OF THE CELLAR. You think so?-Well, well! much may be said on that head. FIRST SERVANT (comes). Burgundy for the fourth table. MASTER OF THE CELLAR. Now, sir lieutenant, if this an't the seventieth flask FIRST SERVANT. Why, the reason is, that German lord, Tiefenbach, sits at that table. MASTER OF THE CELLAR (continuing his discourse to NEUMANN). They are soaring too high. They would rival kings and electors in their pomp and splendor; and wherever the Duke leaps, not a minute does my gra cious master, the count, loiter on the brink-(to the Servants.)-What do you stand there listening for? I will let you know you have legs presently. Off! see to the tables, see to the flasks! Look there! Count Palfi has an empty glass before him! RUNNER (comes). The great service-cup is wanted, sir; that rich gold cup with the Bohemian arms on it. The Count says you know which it is. MASTER OF THE CELLAR. Ay! that was made for Frederick's coronation by |