Duch.

No! Here is yet

Some frightful mystery that is hidden from me.
Why does my sister shun me? Don't I see her
Full of suspense and anguish roam about

From room to room ?-Art thou not full of terror?

And what import these silent nods and gestures
Which stealthwise thou exchangest with her?

Thek.

Nothing, dear mother!

Duch. (to the Countess)

Nothing;

Sister, I will know.

Coun. What boots it now to hide it from her? Sooner

Or later she must learn to hear and bear it.
'Tis not the time now to indulge infirmity;
Courage beseems us now, a heart collect,
And exercise and previous discipline

Of fortitude. One word, and over with it!

Sister, you are deluded. You believe,

The Duke has been depos'd-The Duke is not

Depos'd-he is

Thek. (going to the Countess)

wish to kill her?

Coun. The Duke is

What? do you

Thek. (throwing her arms around her mother) O stand
firm! stand firm, my mother!

Coun. Revolted is the Duke, he is preparing
To join the enemy; the army leave him,
And all has fail'd.

(During these words the Duchess totters, and falls
in a fainting-fit into the arms of her daughter.
While Thekla is calling for help, the curtain
drops.)

ACT II.

Scene-a spacious room in the Duke of Friedland's
Palace.

SCENE I.

Wal. (in armour) Thou hast gained thy point, Octavio! Once more am I

Almost as friendless as at Regensburg;

There I had nothing left me, but myself—

But what one man can do, you have now experience.
The twigs have you hew'd off, and here I stand
A leafless trunk. But in the sap within

Lives the creating power, and a new world
May sprout forth from it. Once already have I
Prov'd myself worth an army to you-I alone!
Before the Swedish strength your troops had melted;
Beside the Lech sunk Tilly, your last hope;
Into Bavaria, like a winter torrent,
Did that Gustavus pour, and at Vienna
In his own palace did the Emperor tremble.
Soldiers were scarce, for still the multitude
Follow the luck all eyes were turn'd on me,
Their helper in distress: the Emperor's pride
Bow'd itself down before the man he had injur❜d.
"Twas I must rise, and with creative word
Assemble forces in the desolate camps.

I did it. Like a god of war, my name

Went thro' the world. The drum was beat-and, lo!
The plough, the work-shop is forsaken, all
Swarm to the old familiar, long-lov'd banners;

And as the wood-choir rich in melody

Assemble quick around the bird of wonder,
When first his throat swells with his magic song,
So did the warlike youth of Germany
Croud in, around the image of my eagle.

I feel myself the being that I was.

It is the soul that builds itself a body;

And Friedland's camp will not remain unfill'd.
Lead then your thousands out to meet me―true!
They are accustom'd under me to conquer,
But not against me. If the head and limbs
Separate from each other, 'twill be soon

Made manifest, in which the soul abode,
(Illo and Tertsky enter.)

Courage, friends! Courage! We are still unvanquish'd;
I feel my footing firm; five regiments, Tertsky,
Are still our own, and Butler's gallant troops;
And a host of sixteen thousand Swedes to-morrow.
I was not stronger, when nine years ago

I march'd forth, with glad heart and high of hope,
To conquer Germany for the Emperor.

SCENE II.

Wallenstein, Illo, Tertsky. (To them enter Neumann, who leads Tertsky aside, and talks with him.)

Ter. What do they want?

Wal.

Ter.

What now?

Ten Cuirassiers

From Pappenheim request leave to address you

In the name of the regiment.

Wallenstein, Tertsky, Illo, Ten Cuirassiers, (led by an Anspessade,* march up and arrange themselves, after the word of command, in one front before the Duke, and make their obeisances. He takes his hat off, and immediately covers himself again.)

Ans. Halt! Front! Present!

Wal. (after he has run through them with his eye, to the Anspessade) I know thee well. Thou art out of Brüggin in Flanders:

Thy name is Mercy.

Ans.

Henry Mercy.

Wal. Thou wert cut off on the march, surrounded by the Hessians, and didst fight thy way with a hundred and eighty men thro' their thousand.

Ans. 'Twas even so, General!

Wal. What reward hadst thou for this gallant exploit ? Ans. That which I ask'd for: the honour to serve in this corps.

Wal. (turning to a second) Thou wert among the

Anspessade, in German, Gefreiter, a soldier inferior to a corporal, but above the centinels. The German name implies that he is exempt from mounting guard.

volunteers that seized and made booty of the Swedish battery at Altenburg.

Second Cuir. Yes, General!

Wal. I forget no one with whom I have exchanged words. (a pause) Who sends you ?

Ans. Your noble regiment, the Cuirassiers of Piccolumini.

Wal. Why does not your colonel deliver in your request, according to the custom of service?

Ans. Because we would first know whom we serve.
Wal. Begin your address.

Ans. (giving the word of command) Shoulder your arms!

Wal. (turning to a third) Thy name is Risbeck, Cologne is thy birth-place.

Third Cuir. Risbeck of Cologne.

Wal. It was thou that broughtest in the Swedish colonel, Diebald, prisoner, in the camp at Nurenburg. Third Cuir. It was not I, General!

Wal. Perfectly right! It was thy elder brother, thou hadst a younger brother too: Where did he stay?

Third Cuir. He is stationed at Olmutz with the Imperial army.

Wal. (to the Anspessade) Now then-begin.

Ans. There came to hand a letter from the Emperor Commanding us

Ans. There came to hand a letter from the Emperor Commanding us collectively, from thee

All duties of obedience to withdraw,
Because thou wert an enemy and traitor.