His policy is such a labyrinth,
That many a time when I have thought myself
Close at his side, he's gone at once, and left me
Ignorant of the ground where I was standing.
He lends the enemy his ear, permits me
To write to them, to Arnheim; to Sesina
Himself comes forward blank and undisguised;
Talks with us by the hour about his plans,
And when I think I have him-off at once-
He has slipp'd from me, and appears as if
He had no scheme, but to retain his place.
He give up his old plans! I'll tell you, friend!
His soul is occupied with nothing else,
Even in his sleep-They are his thoughts, his dreams,
That day by day he questions for this purpose
The motions of the planets-
This night, that is now coming, he with SENI
Shuts himself up in the astrological tower
To make joint observations--for I hear,
Well-is she coming?—I can keep him back No longer.
She will be there instantly,
I am not quite certain, I must confess it, Countess, whether or not We are earning the Duke's thanks hereby. You know No ray has broke out from him on this point. You have o'erruled me, and yourself know best How far you dare proceed.
[Talking to herself, while she is advancing Here's no need of full powers and commissionsMy cloudy Duke! we understand each otherAnd without words. What, could I not unriddle, Wherefore the daughter should be sent for hither, Why first he, and no other, should be chosen To fetch her hither? This sham of betrothing her To a bridegroom,* when no one knows-No! no!This may blind others! I see through thee, Brother' But it beseems thee not, to draw a card At such a game.
Not yet! It all remains Mutely deliver'd up to my finessing
Well-thou shalt not have been deceived, Duke Friedland'
In her who is thy sister.
SERVANT (enters).
The commanders!
TERTSKY (to the COUNTESS).
Take care you heat his fancy and affections
In Germany, after honorable addresses have been paid and formally accepted, the lovers are called Bride and Bridegroom. even though the marriage should not take place till years after wards.
Possess him with a reverie, and send him,
Absent and dreaming, to the banquet; that
He may not boggle at the signature.
Take you care of your guests!-Go, send him hither.
All rests upon his undersigning.
COUNTESS (interrupting him).
Here is no face on which I might concentre
All the enraptured soul stirs up within me.
O Lady! tell me. Is all changed around me?
Or is it only I?
I find myself,
As among strangers! Not a trace is left
Of all my former wishes, former joys.
Where has it vanish'd to? There was a time
When even, methought, with such a world as this
I was not discontented. Now, how flat!
How stale! No life, no bloom, no flavor in it!
Where art staying, Tertsky? My comrades are intolerable to me.
The house is full, and all expecting you.
COUNTESS, MAX. PICCOLOMINI.
MAX. (peeping in on the stage shyly).
Aunt Tertsky! may I venture?
My father-Even to him I can say nothing.
My arms, my military duties-O!
They are such wearying toys!
I can't but know, is going forward round me.
I see it gathering, crowding, driving on,
In wild uncustomary movements. Well,
In due time, doubtless, it will reach even me.
Where think you I have been, dear lady? Nay,
[Advances to the middle of the stage, and looks No raillery. The turmoil of the camp,
around him with uneasiness.
Look but somewhat narrowly
In yonder corner, lest perhaps she lie
Conceal'd behind that screen.
The spring-tide of acquaintance rolling in,
The pointless jest, the empty conversation,
Oppress'd and stiffen'd me. I gasp'd for air-
I could not breathe-I was constrain'd to fly,
To seek a silence out for my full heart;
And a pure spot wherein to feel my happiness.
No smiling, Countess! In the church was I.
There is a cloister here to the heaven's gate,*
Thither I went, there found myself alone.
Over the altar hung a holy mother;
A wretched painting 't was, yet 't was the friend
That I was seeking in this moment. Ah,
How oft have I beheld that glorious form
In splendor, 'mid ecstatic worshippers;
Yet, still it moved me not! and now at once.
Was my devotion cloudless as my love.
Enjoy your fortune and felicity!
Forget the world around you. Meantime, friendship
Shall keep strict vigils for you, anxious, active.
Only be manageable when that friendship
Points you the road to full accomplishment.
How long may it be since you declared your passion?
In a balcony we were standing mute,
And gazing out upon the dreary field:
Before us the dragoons were riding onward,
The safeguard which the Duke had sent us-heavy
The inquietude of parting lay upon me,
And trembling ventured I at length these words:
This all reminds me, noble maiden, that
To-day I must take leave of my good fortune.
A few hours more, and you will find a father,
Will see yourself surrounded by new friends,
And I henceforth shall be but as a stranger,
Lost in the many-" Speak with my aunt Tertsky!"
With hurrying voice she interrupted me.
She falter'd. I beheld a glowing red
Possess her beautiful cheeks, and from the ground
Raised slowly up, her eye met mine-no longer
Did I control myself.
[The Princess THEKLA appears at the door, and
remains standing, observed by the COUNTESS,
but not by PICCOLOMINI.
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This morning, when I found you in the circle
Of all your kindred, in your father's arms,
Beheld myself an alien in this circle,
O! what an impulse felt I in that moment
To fall upon his neck, to call him father!
But his stern eye o'erpower'd the swelling passion—
It dared not but be silent. And those brilliants,
That like a crown of stars enwreathed your brows,
They scared me too! O wherefore, wherefore should he
At the first meeting spread as 't were the ban
Of excommunication round you,-wherefore
Dress up the angel as for sacrifice,
And cast upon the light and joyous heart
The mournful burthen of his station? Fitly
May love dare woo for love; but such a splendor
Might none but monarchs venture to approach.
Yes; and soon must go. Where have you stay'd so long?
Alas! my mother Wept so again! and I-I see her suffer, Yet cannot keep myself from being happy.
Now once again I have courage to look on you. To-day at noon I could not.
The dazzle of the jewels that play'd round you Hid the beloved from me.
Then you saw me With your eye only-and not with your heart?
The game of life
Looks cheerful, when one carries in one's heart
The unalienable treasure. "Tis a game,
Which having once review'd, I turn more joyous
Back to my deeper and appropriate bliss.
[Breaking off, and in a sportive tone
In this short time that I've been present here,
What new unheard-of things have I not seen!
And yet they all must give place to the wonder
Which this mysterious castle guards.
And what Can this be then? Methought I was acquainted With all the dusky corners of this house
![[blocks in formation]](https://books.google.cat/books/content?id=LDtDAAAAIAAJ&hl=ca&output=html_text&pg=PA149&img=1&zoom=3&q=COUNTESS&cds=1&sig=ACfU3U0cCOfpnBOJ9C0kVn-94V_20bQ6Yw&edge=0&edge=stretch&ci=33,116,435,676)
It was a strange
Sensation that came o'er me, when at first
From the broad sunshine I stepp'd in; and now
The narrowing line of day-light, that ran after
The closing door, was gone; and all about me
'Twas pale and dusky night, with many shadows
Fantastically cast. Here six or seven
Colossal statues, and all kings, stood round me
In a half-circle. Each one in his hand
A sceptre bore, and on his head a star;
And in the tower no other light was there
But from these stars: all seem'd to come from them.
These are the planets," said that low old man,
"They govern worldly fates, and for that cause
Are imaged here as kings. He farthest from you,
Spiteful, and cold, an old man melancholy,
With bent and yellow forehead, he is Saturn.
He opposite, the king with the red light,
An arm'd man for the battle, that is Mars:
And both these bring but little luck to man."
But at his side a lovely lady stood,
The star upon her head was soft and bright,
And that was Venus, the bright star of joy.
On the left hand, lo! Mercury, with wings.
Quite in the middle glitter'd silver bright
A cheerful man, and with a monarch's mien;
And this was Jupiter, my father's star;
And at his side I saw the Sun and Moon.
O never rudely will I blame his faith
In the might of stars and angels! "Tis not merely
The human being's Pride that peoples space
With life and mystical predominance :
Since likewise for the stricken heart of Love
This visible nature, and this common world,
Is all too narrow: yea, a deeper import
Lurks in the legend told my infant years
Than lies upon that truth, we live to learn.
For fable is Love's world. his home, his birth-place
Delightedly dwells he 'mong fays and talismans,
And spirits; and delightedly believes
Divinities, being himself divine.
The intelligible forms of ancient poets,
The fair humanities of old religion,
The Power, the Beauty, and the Majesty,
That had her haunts in dale, or piny mountain,
Or forest by slow stream, or pebbly spring,
Or chasms and wat'ry depths; all these have vanish'd.
They live no longer in the faith of reason!
But still the heart doth need a language, still
Doth the old instinct bring back the old names,
And to yon starry world they now are gone,
Spirits or gods, that used to share this earth
With man as with their friend;* and to the lover
Yonder they move, from yonder visible sky
Shoot influence down: and even at this day
"Tis Jupiter who brings whate'er is great,
And Venus who brings every thing that's fair!
And if this be the science of the stars,
I too, with glad and zealous industry,
Will learn acquaintance with this cheerful faith.
It is a gentle and affectionate thought,
That in immeasurable heights above us,
At our first birth, the wreath of love was woven,
With sparkling stars for flowers.
Not only roses,
But thorns too hath the heaven; and well for you
Leave they your wreath of love inviolate:
What Venus twined, the bearer of glad fortune,
The sullen orb of Mars soon tears to pieces.
Soon will his gloomy empire reach its close.
Blest be the General's zeal: into the laurel
Will he inweave the olive-branch, presenting
Peace to the shouting nations. Then no wish
Will have remain'd for his great heart! Enough
Has he perform'd for glory, and can now
Live for himself and his. To his domains
Will he retire; he has a stately seat
Of fairest view at Gitschin; Reichenberg,
And Friedland Castle, both lie pleasantly-
Even to the foot of the huge mountains here
Stretches the chase and covers of his forests:
His ruling passion, to create the splendid,
He can indulge without restraint; can give
A princely patronage to every art,
And to all worth a sovereign's protection.
Can build, can plant, can watch the starry courses-
The happiness of us two. [Taking his hand tenderly. Can I, when you are angry
Let us not place too great a faith in men.
These Tertskys-we will still be grateful to them
For every kindness, but not trust them further
Than they deserve;-and in all else rely-
On our own hearts!
O shall we e'er be happy?
[He draws up to her, their eyes meet, she stands silent a moment, then throws herself into his arms; he presses her fast to his heart.
Off! Heavens! if any one should come.
Hark! What's that noise! it comes this way.- -Off
MAX. tears himself away out of her arms, and goes.
The COUNTESS accompanies him. THEKLA
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