Das Mädchen von Orleans.

THE original title of this poem was sufficiently descriptive of its design, which was to expose to utter contempt the miserable ribaldry of the school of Voltaire and the French Philosophists-Voltaire's Pucelle und die Jungfrau von Orleans. It is deserving of notice as the latest instance of Schiller's addiction to his favourite figure of antithesis. The sentiment also has reference to one of Schiller's earlier compositions-the Mädchen aus der Fremde, which ought to be read in conjunction with it.

To heap man's godlike form with foul derision Hath mockery roll'd thee thro' the deepest dust. With Beauty Wit for ever makes division,

Nor God, nor Angel, holds in reverent trust: The treasures of the heart it seeks to plunder, With Fancy wars, and rends pure Faith asunder. Yet, like to thee, of childlike race descended, Herself a lowly shepherdess, like thee— To thee her crown hath Poesy extended,

And plac'd thee in the heavenly galaxy ; Thy brows hath circled with a wreath of glory, And given thine heart to live in deathless story. The world delights to blot the Daystar's splendour, To lay in dust the high and lofty low; Yet fear not! still are hearts that homage render

To deeds sublime, and feel heroic glow. Momus may please the busy mart that courts him— The nobler soul in nobler forms disports him.

Thekla. Cine Geisterstimme.

THE Voice of a Spirit, in answer to the question, What became of Thekla after her disappearance from the stage, in the last part of the Drama of Wallenstein?

"WHERE I am ?-or whitherward I wended When my flitting shadow swept thee by ?"Had I not my task fulfill'd and ended—

Lov'd and liv'd ?-what was there, but to die?

Seek the nightingale's sequester'd bower,
Who, with her soul-pouring melody,
So bewitch'd thee in the vernal hour!—
When she ceas'd to love, she ceas'd to be.

"Him, the lost one, whether I have founden?"Trust me, I with him united go,

Where those never part who once were bounden;
Where the mourner's tears no longer flow.

There ev'n thou again may'st haply meet us,
If thy Love have learn'd to match with ours;
There too, freed from crime, my Sire shall greet us,
Where no cloud of blood-stain'd murder lowers.

Now he feels, his sight no phantom cheated,
When he upward gaz'd into the sphere;
For to each shall, as he metes, be meted-
Who believes-to him is Heaven near.

Faith will keep in those bright regions yonder,
All pure trustful souls who there resort.
-Be thou free to dream, and free to wander-
Meaning deep oft lurks in childish sport.

THEKLA'S SONG.

FROM THE DRAMA OF THE PICCOLOMINI,
ACT. III. SCENE 7.

THIS prophetic burst of melancholy inspiration is here introduced, on account of its connexion with the sentiment of

the preceding poem. It forms, in the original, the first stanza of the poem, of which a different version is printed in p. 262 of the present Volume, entitled Des Mädchens Klage; and I may be permitted, in anticipation, to refer to another in a forth-coming Volume of Poems by Miss Lowe, whose beautiful specimens of translation from the kindred works of Novalis, leave no room to doubt her success with Schiller.

THE Oak forest waileth

The sudden cloud saileth

Forth wanders the maiden the green shore along ; Whilst breakers are roaring,

Their fury out-pouring,

She weeps in the night-gloom, and warbles her song.

"This heart of mine dieth

The hollow world flieth

No more of its pleasures remain to be prov'd;

Thou Holy One take me!

No longer forsake me !

Earth's joys have I tasted-have liv'd and have lov'd.'

FLORENCE.

Wilhelm Tell.

(THESE dedicatory Verses were inscribed by the Poet in the presentation copy of his Drama to the Arch-Chancellor Dalberg.)

WHEN rugged forces break in hostile fractions, And blind resentment stirs the flames of war; When 'mid the strife of fierce contending factions The voice of Justice scarce is heard from far; When rage unchain'd all crimes and shameless actions,

When daring Will would reach the furthest star; The anchor lost that form'd the State's dependance; No season this for joyful song's attendance.

But when a race content with Pastoral blessing,
Its flocks depasturing on the accustom'd plains,
Hath spurn'd the yoke of tyrant power oppressing,
Yet pays the tribute reverend use ordains;
In joy, in misery, still itself possessing ;

-This-this is praise that asks immortal strains :
The picture this I fain would bid thee see—
Thou know'st it-all that's great belongs to thee !

FROM THE TRAGEDY OF

WILLIAM TELL.

ACT I. SC. 1.

"There was, and I believe still is, a popular belief in this part of the world, that on the festival of St. Jude, [on which the play opens] some one was destined to be drowned in the lake. This superstition is alluded to in the verses sung by the fisher-boy."-WILLIAM TELL, London, 1829.

"The mist partially clearing away for a few moments, revealed a portion of the scenery below, wherein we could discover the towns of Lucerne and Zug, Immensee and Küssnacht, with the lakes of Zug, Sempach, Hallwyll, Baldegg, and Lucerne."-DOWNES's Letters from Continental Countries.

SCENE--The elevated rocky shore of the lake of the Four Forest Cantons, opposite Schwitz. The lake forms a creek in the land: a hut is seen at a short distance from the shore-a Fisher-boy is rowing by, on the lake in a boat. At some distance over the lake, the green meadows, villages, and farms of Schwitz, are seen reposing in clear sunshine. To the left the peaks of the Hacken, enveloped in clouds, and to the right, the Glaciers in the remote distance. Before the curtain rises, the RANZ DES VACHES and the musical sound of the cattle-bells are heard, and continue for some time while the scene is opening.

FISHER-BOY in his boat.

TUNE-Ranz des Vaches.

THE lake smiles bright in stirring light;

The little boy sleeps on the sunny flowers;