O that an angel would descend from Heaven,
And scoop for me the right, the uncorrupted,
With a pure hand from the pure Fount of Light.
[His eyes glance on Therla.
What other angel seek I? To this heart,
To this unerring heart, will I submit it; -
Will ask thy love, which has the power to bless
The happy man alone, averted ever
From the disquieted and guilty—canst thou
Still love me, if I stay? Say that thou canst,
And I am the Duke's——
count ess.
Think, niece——
MAX.
Think nothing, Thekla
Speak what thou feelest.
count Ess.
Think upon your father.
Max.
I did not question thee, as Friedland's daughter. .
Thee, the beloved and the unerring god
Within thy heart, I question. What's at stake?
Not whether diadem of royalty
Be to be won or not—that mightst thou think on.
Thy friend, and his soul's quiet, are at stake;
The fortune of a thousand gallant men,
Who will all follow me; shall I forswear
My oath and duty to the Emperor?
Say, shall I send into Octavio's camp
The parricidal ball? For when the ball
Has left its cannon, and is on its flight,
It is no longer a dead instrument'
It lives, a spirit passes into it,
The avenging furies seize possession of it,
And with sure malice guide it the worst way.
Thekl, A.
O! Max.--
Max. (interrupting her).
Nay, not precipitately either, Thekla.
I understand thce. To thy noble heart
The hardest duty might appear the highest.
The human, not the great part, would I act.
Even from my childhood to this present hour,
Think what the Duke has done for me, how loved me,
And think too, how my father has repaid him.
O likewise the free lovely impulses
Of hospitality, the pious friend's
Faithful attachment, these too are a holy
Religion to the heart; and heavily
The shudderings of nature do avenge
Themselves on the barbarian that insults them.
Lay all upon the balance, all—then speak,
And let thy heart decide it.
th. Ek L.A.
0, thy own
Hath long ago decided. Follow thou
Thy heart's first feeling——
countess.
Oh! ill-fated woman'
the ki.A.
Is it possible, that that can be the right,
The which thy tender heart did not at first
Detect and seize with instant impulse? Go,
Fulfil thy duty! I should ever love thee.
Whate'er thou hadst chosen, thou wouldst still have acted

Nobly and worthy of thee—but repentance
Shall ne'er disturb thy soul's fair peace.
MAX.
Then I
Must leave thee, must part from thee!
th Ek L.A.
Being faithful
To thine own self, thou art faithful too to me:
If our fates part, our hearts remain united.
A bloody hatred will divide for ever
The houses Piccolomini and Friedland;
But we belong not to our houses—Go!
Quick! quick! and separate thy righteous cause
From our unholy and unblessed one!
The curse of heaven lies upon our head :
"T is dedicate to ruin. Even me
My father's guilt drags with it to perdition.
Mourn not for me:
My destiny will quickly be decided.
[Max. clasps her in his arms in extreme emotion.

There is heard from behind the scene a loud,

wild, long continued cry, Vivar Fennis Annus,

accompanied by warlike Instruments. Max.

and Thekla remain without motion in each

- other's embraces.

wallenstein. o The Governor at Egra is your friend And countryman. Write to him instantly By a post courier. He must be advised, That we are with him early on the morrow. You follow us yourself, your regiment with you. but LEa. It shall be done, my General wallenstein (steps between Max. and Therla, who have remained during this time in each other's arms). Part! - MAX. - O God! [Cuirassiers enter with drawn swords, and assemble in the back-ground. At the same time there are heard from below some spirited passages out of the Pappenheim March, which seem to address Max. walless reis (to the Cuirassiers). Here he is, he is at liberty: I keep him No longer. [He turns away, and stands so that Max. cannot pass by him nor approach the Paiscess. MAx. Thou know'st that I have not yet learnt to live Without thee! I go forth into a desert, Leaving my all behind me. O do not turn Thine eyes away from me! 0 once more show me Thy ever dear and honour’d countenance. [Max. attempts to take his hand, but is repelled; he turns to the Count Ess. Is there no eye that has a look of pity for me? “ [The Countess turns away from him; he turns to the Duchess. My mother! Duchess. Go where duty calls you. Haply The time may come, when you may prove to us A true friend, a good angel at the throne Of the Emperor.

* MAx. You give me hope; you would not Suffer me wholly to despair. No! no! Mine is a certain misery—Thanks to heaven That offers me a means of ending it. [The military music begins again. more and more with armed men. Butler and addresses him. And you here, Colonel Butler—and will you Not follow me? Well, then! remain more faithful To your new lord, than you have proved yourself To the Emperor. Come, Butler! promise me, Give me your hand upon it, that you'll be The guardian of his life, its shield, its watchman. Ilc is attainted, and his princely head Fair booty for each slave that trades in murder. Now he doth need the faithful eye of friendship, And those whom here I see— [Casting suspicious looks on Illo and Butler. ILLo. Go–seek for traitors In Galas', in your father's quarters. Here Is only one. Away! away ! and free us From his detested sight! Away! [Max, attempts once more to approach Therla. WAllensteix prevents him. Max. stands ir

The stage fills MAx. sees

resolute, and in apparent anguish. In the mean time the stage fills more and more; and the horns sound from below louder and louder, and each time after a shorter interval. MAx. Blow, blow! 0 were it but the Swedish Trumpets, And all the naked swords, which I see here, Were plunged into my breast! What purpose you? You come to tear me from this place! Beware, Ye drive me not to desperation.—Do it not : Ye may repent it! [The stage is entirely filled with armed men. Yet more! weight upon weight to drag me down! Think what ye're doing. It is not well done To chuse a man despairing for your leader; You tear me from my happiness. Well, then, I dedicate your souls to vengeance. Mark For your own ruin you have chosen me: Who goes with me, must be prepared to perish. [He turns to the back-ground, there ensues a sudden • and violent movement among the Cuirassiers; they surround him, and carry him off in wild tumult. WALLENsteix remains immonable. Thekla sinks into her mother's arms. The curtain falls. The music becomes loud and overpowering, and passes into a complete war-march—the orchestra joins it—and continues during the interval between the second and third Act.

The Duke himself, my scruples recommenced.
For truly, not like an attainted man,
Into this town did Friedland make his entrance;
His wonted majesty beam'd from his brow,
And calm, as in the days when all was right,
Did he receive from me the accounts of office.
'T is said, that fallen pride learns condescension:
But sparing and with dignity the Duke
Weigh'd every syllable of approbation,
As masters praise a servant who has done
His duty, and no more,
burier.
'T is all precisely
As I related in my letter. Friedland
Has sold the army to the enemy,
And pledged himself to give up Prague and Egra.
On this report the regiments all forsook him,
The five excepted that belong to Tertsky,
And which have follow'd him, as thou hast seen.
The sentence of attainder is pass'd on him,
And every loyal subject is required o
To give him in to justice, dead or living.
Gofadox.
A traitor to the Emperor—Such a noble!
Of such high talents! What is human greatness!
I often said, this can't end happily.
His might, his greatness, and this obscure power
Are but a cover'd pit-fall. The human being
May not be trusted to self-t;overnment.
The clear and written law, the deep trod foot-marks
Of ancient custom, are all necessary
To keep him in the road of faith and duty.
The authority entrusted to this man
Was unexampled and unnatural,
It placed him on a level with his Emperor,
Till the proud soul unlearn'd submission. Wo is me;
I mourn for him for where he fell, I deem
Might none stand firm. Alas! dear General,
We in our lucky mediocrity
Have ne'er experienced, cannot calculate,
What dangerous wishes such a height may breed
In the heart of such a man.
but Leit.
Spare your laments
Till he need sympathy; for at this present
He is still mighty, and still formidable.
The Swedes advance to Egra by forced marches,
And quickly will the junction be accomplish'd.
This must not be! The Duke must never leave
This strong-hold on free footing; for I have
Pledged life and honour here to hold him prisoner,
And your assistance "t is on which I calculate.
Goiano w.
O that I had not lived to see this day!
From his hand I received this dignity,
He did himself entrust this strong-hold to me,
Which I am now required to make his dungeon.
We subalterns have no will of our own :
The free, the mighty man alone may listen
To the fair impulse of his human nature.
Ah! we are but the poor tools of the law,
Obedience the sole virtue we dare aim at'
But LER.
Nay! let it not aftlict you, that your power
is circumscribed. Much liberty, much error!
The narrow path of duty is securest.

| But was it where he fell two story high

Gottiyon. | And all then have deserted him, you say? | He has built up the luck of many thousands; For kingly was his spirit: his full hand Was ever open! Many a one from dust [With a sly glance on Butleh. Hath he selected, from the very dust Hath raised him into dignity and honour. And yet no friend, not one friend hath he purchased, Whose heart beats true to him in the evil hour. But Left. | Here 's one, I see. Goładox. - I have enjoy'd from him No grace or favour. I could almost doubt, If ever in his greatness he once thought on An old friend of his youth. For still my office Kept me at distance from him; and when first He to this citadel appointed me, He was sincere and serious in his duty. I do not then abuse his confidence, If I preserve my fealty in that Which to my fealty was first deliver'd. but LEa. Say, then, will you fulfil the attainder on him? Gondos (pauses reflecting—then as in deep dejection). If it be so—if all be as you say— If he've betray'd the Emperor, his master, Have sold the troops, have purposed to deliver The strong-holds of the country to the enemy— Yea, truly —there is no redemption for him : Yet it is hard, that me the lot should destine To be the instrument of his perdition; For we were pages at the court of Bergau At the same period; but I was the senior. But LEa.

I have heard so——

Gott now.
'T is full thirty years since then.

A youth who scarce had seen his twentieth year
Was Wallenstein, when he and I were friends:
Yet even then he had a daring soul: |
His frame of mind was serious and severe
Beyond his years: his dreams were of great objects.
Ile walk'd amidst us of a silent spirit,
Communing with himself; yet I have known him
Transported on a sudden into utterance
Of strange conceptions; kindling into splendour
His soul reveal’d itself, and he spake so
That we look'd round perplex'd upon each other,
Not knowing whether it were craziness,
Or whether it were a god that spoke in him.

But Leit.

From a window-ledge, on which he had fallen asleep;
And rose up free from injury From this day
(It is reported) he betrayed clear marks
Of a distemper'd fancy.

Gottiyon.

He became

Doubtless more self-enwrapt and melancholy;
He made himself a Catholic. Marvellously
His marvellous preservation had transform'd him.
Thenceforth he held himself for an exempted
And privileged being, and, as if he were
Incapable of dizziness or fall,

Ile ran along the unsteady rope of life.
But now our destinies drove us asunder;
He paced with rapid step the way of greatness,
Was Count, and Prince, Duke-regent, and Dictator.
And now is all, all this too little for him ;
He stretches forth his hands for a king's crown,
And plunges in unfathomable ruin.

but LErt. No more, he comes.

SCENE III.

To these enter WALLENstEix, in conversation with the Bungomaster of Egra.

wall, ENSrei N. You were at one time a free town. I see, Ye bear the half eagle in your city arms. Why the half eagle only 1 Bungom Asten. We were free, But for these last two hundred years has Egra Remain'd in pledge to the Bohemian crown; Therefore we bear the half eagle, the other half Being cancell'd till the empire ransom us, If ever that should be. wall exstrix. Ye merit freedom. Only be firm and dauntless. Lend your ears To no designing whispering court-minions. What may your imposts he? Burgom Astroit. So heavy that We totter under them. The garrison Lives at our costs. walleNst Ern. I will relieve you. Tell me, There are some Protestants among you still? [The bungo MASTER hesitates. Yes, yes; I know it. Many lie conceal’d Within these walls–Confess now—you yourself— [Fixes his eye on him. The Burgomasten alarmed. Be not alarin'd. I hate the Jesuits. Could my will have determined it, they had Been long ago expell'd the empire. Trust me— Mass-book or bible—"t is all one to me. Of that the world has had sufficient proof. I built a church for the reform'd in Glogau At my own instance. Harkye, Burgomaster! What is your name? BU ago MAster. Pachhalbel, may it please you. wall exstein. Harkye –– Butlet it go no further, what I now Disclose to you in confidence. [Laying his hand on the Bungom Asrea's shoulder with a certain solemnity. The times Draw near to their fulfilment, Burgomaster! The high will fall, the low will be exalted. Harkye! But keep it to yourself! The end Approaches of the Spanish double monarchy— A new arrangement is at hand. You saw The three moons that appear'd at once in the Heaven.

bungow. Aster. With wonder and affright! wAllenstein. Whereof did two Strangely transform themselves to bloody daggers, And only one, the middle moon, remain'd Steady and clear. buttgown Aster. We applied it to the Turks. wAi, Lewis TriN. The Turks! That all —I tell you, that two empires Will set in blood, in the East and in the West, And Luth ranism alone remain. [Observing Gondon and Burlem. I' faith, 'Twas a smart cannonading that we heard This evening, as we journey'd hitherward; 'Twas on our left hand. Did you hear it here?

Goft Don. Distinctly. The wind brought it from the South. BUT LEtt. It seem'd to come from Weiden or from Neustadt. wall.E.N.St.E. ix.

T is likely. That's the route the Swedes are taking.
How strong is the garrison?
Goa do N.
Not quite two hundred
Competent men, the rest are invalids.
w Ali.r.o. St El N.
Good! And how many in the vale of Jochim.
Gondon.
Two hundred arquebussiers have I sent thither
To fortify the posts against the Swedes.
w Ali,LEx St Eiw.
Good! I commend your foresight. At the works too
You have done somewhat?
Gontrox.
Two additional batteries
I caused to be run up. They were needless.
The Rhine-Grave presses hard upon us, General:
wA LLENSTri N.
You have been watchful in your Emperor's service.
I am content with you, Lieutenant-Colonel.
[To Burler.
Release the outposts in the vale of Jochim
With all the stations in the enemy's route.
[To Gonoox.
Governor, in your faithful hands I leave
My wife, my daughter, and my sister. I
Shall make no stay here, and wait but the arrival
Of letters to take leave of you, together
With all the regiments.

SC E N E I W. To these enter Count Tearsky.

Teatsky. Joy, General; joy! I bring you welcome tidings. wa LLENst Ein. And what may they be! teritsky. There has been an engagement At Neustadt; the Swedes gain'd the victory. w A Llexister N. From whence did you receive the intelligence?

tentsky. A countryman from Tirschenseil convey'd it. Soon after sunrise did the fight begin! A troop of the Imperialists from Fachau Had forced their way into the Swedish camp; The cannonade continued full two hours; There were left dead upon the field a thousand Imperialists, together with their Colonel; Further than this he did not know. WALLenstein. How came Imperial troops at Neustadt. Altringer, But yesterday, stood sixty miles from there. Count Galas force collects at Frauenberg, And have not the full complement. Is it possible, That Suys perchance had ventured so far onward? It cannot be. Teatsky.

We shall soon know the whole,

For here comes Illo, full of haste, and joyous.

SCEN E V. To these enter Illo.

illo (to WAllenstein). A courier, Duke! he wishes to speak with thee. tentsky (eagerly). Does he bring confirmation of the victory? walless reis (at the same time). What does he bring Whence comes he? illo. From the Rhine-Grave. And what he brings I can announce to you Beforehand. Seven leagues distant are the Swedes; At Neustadt did Max. Piccolomini Throw himself on them with the cavalry; A murderous fight took place! o'erpower'd by numbers The Pappenheimers all, with Max, their leader, [WAllensteix shudders and turns pale. Were left dead on the field. wallensreis (after a pause in a low voice). Where is the messenger? Conduct me to him. [WAlless rein is going, when Lady Neubau NN rushes into the room. Some servants follow her and run across the stage. Neubaut NN. Help! Help! illo and tentsky (at the same time). What now? NEuhr UNN. The Princes! walleNSTEIN and TERTsKY. Does she know it? Neubrunn (at the same time with them). She is dying! [Hurries off the stage, when Waltexstein and Tehrsky follow her.

SCENE WI. Butler, and Gohoon.

Gondon. What's this? birtlett. She has lost the man she loved— Young Piccolomini who fell in the battle.

Is here instead of judgment.

GoRDon. Unfortunate Lady! BUtLeR. You have heard what Illo Reporteth, that the Swedes are conquerors, And marching hitherward. Gondo N. Too well I heard it. Butlett. They are twelve regiments strong, and there are five Close by us to protect the Duke. We have Only my single regiment; and the garrison Is not two hundred strong. GoRDon. T is even so. Butlett. It is not possible with such small force To hold in custody a man like him. Gofado N. I grant it. butler. Soon the numbers would disarm us, And liberate him. Goanon. It were to be fear'd. Butler (after a pause). Know, I am warranty for the event; with my head have I pledged myself for his, Must make my word good, cost it what it will, And if alive we cannot hold him prisoner, Why—death makes all things certain' Gotal) ow. * Butler What? Do I understand you? Gracious God! I'ou could

isutler. He must not live.

GoRidoN.

And you can do the deed!

buTLeR. Either you or I. This morning was his last.

GoRD0N. You would assassinate him.

Butlen.

"- T is my purpose.

Gorado N.
Who leans with his whole confidence upon you!

But LeR.
Such is his evil destiny!

Goft don.

Your General The sacred person of your General! - butler.

My General he has been.

Gordon.

That “t is only An - has been - washes out no villany. And without judgment pass'd? Butleh. The execution

Gott do N. This were murder, Not justice. The most guilty should be heard. but Leit. His guilt is clear, the Emperor has pass'd judgment, And we but execute his will.