That thou, the daughter of his haughty fortunes,
Should'ft e'er demean thee as a love-fick maiden;
And like fome poor coft-nothing, fling thyself
Toward the man, who, if that high prize ever
Be deftin'd to await him, yet, with facrifices
The highest love can bring, muft pay for it.
[Exit COUNTESS.

THEKLA. (who during the laft Speech had been
Standing evidently loft in her reflections.)

I thank thee for the hint. It turns

My fad prefentiment to certainty.

And it is fo!-Not one friend have we here,
Not one true heart! we've nothing but ourselves!
O fhe faid rightly-no aufpicious figns

Beam on this convenant of our affections.
This is no theatre, where hope abides.
The dull thick noife of war alone, ftirs here.
And love himself, as he were arm'd in fteel,
Steps forth, and girds him for the ftrife of death.

(Mufic from the banquet room is heard.)
There's a dark spirit walking in our house,
And swiftly will the Destiny clofe on us.
It drove me hither from my calm afylum,
It mocks my foul with charming witchery,
It lures me forward in a feraph's shape,
I fee it near, I fee it nearer floating,
It draws, it pulls me with a god-like power-
And lo! the abyfs--and thither am I moving-
I have no power within me not to move!

(The mufic from the banquet room becomes louder.)

4

O when

O when a house is doom'd in fire to perish,
Many and dark heaven drives his clouds together,
Yea, fhoots his lightnings down from funny heights,
Flames burst from out the fubterraneous chafms,
* And fiends and angels, mingling in their fury,
Sling fire-brands at the burning edifice.

[Exit THEKLA.

*There are few, who will not have taste enough to laugh at the two concluding lines of this foliloquy; and still fewer, I would fain hope, who would not have been more disposed to fhudder, had I given a faithful translation. For the readers of German I have added the original :

Blind-wüthendfchleudert felbft der Gott der Freude
Den Pechkranz in das brennende Gebäude.

SCENE

SCENE VIII.

A large Saloon lighted up with feftal Splendour ; in the Midft of it, and in the Centre of the Stage, a Table richly fet out, at which eight Generals are fitting, among whom are OcTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, TERTSKY, and MARADAS. Right and left of this, but further back, two other Tables, at each of which fix Perfons are placed. The middle Door, which is ftanding open, gives to the Prospect a fourth Table, with the fame Number of Persons. More forward ftands 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 Mufic belonging to Tertfky'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, TertЛky advances towards him with a Paper, Ifolani comes up to meet him with a Beaker or Serviceсир.

TERTSKY, ISOLANI, MAX. PICCOLOMINI.

ISOLANI.

Here brother, what we love! Why, where haft been?

Off, to thy place-quick! Tertíky here has given The mother's holiday wine up to free booty.

Here it goes on as at the Heideberg castle.

Already haft thou loft the best. They're giving
At yonder table ducal crowns in fhares;
There's Sternberg's lands and chattels are put up,
With Eggenberg's, Stawata's, Lichtenftein's,
And all the great Bohemian feodalties.

Be nimble, lad! and fomething may turn up
For thee--who knows? Off-to thy place! quick!

march!

TIEFENBACH and GOETZ (call out from the Second and third tables.)

Count Piccolomini !

TERTSKY.

Stop, ye fhall have him in an inftant.-Read This oath here, whether as 'tis here fet forth, The wording fatisfies you. They've all read it, Each in his turn, and each one will fubfcribe His individual fignature.

MAX. (reads)

"Ingratis fervire nefas.”

ISOLANI.

That founds to my ears very much like Latin, And being interpreted, pray what may't mean?

TERTSKY.

No honeft man will ferve a thankless master.

MAX.

"Inafmuch as our fupreme Commander, the illuftrious Duke of Friedland, in confequence of the manifold affronts and grievances which he has received, had expreffed his determination to quit the Emperor, but on our unanimous entreaty has

graciously

graciously confented to remain still with the army, and not to part from us without our approbation thereof, fo we, collectively and each in particular, in the stead of an oath personally taken, do hereby oblige ourselves-likewife by him honourably and faithfully to hold, and in nowife whatsoever from him to part, and to be ready to shed for his interests the last drop of our blood, fo far, namely, as our oath to the Emperor will permit it. (Thefe laft words are repeated by Ifolani.) In teftimony of which we fubfcribe our names."

TERTSKY.

Now!-are you willing to subscribe this paper?

ISOLANI.

Why should he not? All officers of honour
Can do it, ay must do it.-Pen and ink here!

TERTSKY.

Nay, let it reft till after meal.

ISOLANI. (drawing Max. along.)
Come, Max.

(Both feat themselves at their table.)

SCENE IX.

TERTSKY, NEUMANN.

TERTSKY. (beckons to Neumann who is waiting at the fide-table, and feps forward with him

to the edge of the flage.)

you the copy

Have with you, Neumann? Give it. It may be chang'd for the other?