To brood o'er anxious thoughts. The mists of doubt
Magnify evils to a shape of horror.

Wal. Who speaks of evil? I entreat you, sister,
Use words of better omen.

Coun.

Then take us with you.

O leave us not behind you in a place

That forces us to such sad omens. Heavy

And sick within me is my heart

These walls breathe on me, like a church-yard vault.

I cannot tell you, brother, how this place

Doth go against my nature. Take us with you.

Come, sister, join you your entreaty !-Niece,

Your's too. We all entreat you, take us with you!
Wal. The place's evil omens will I change,

Making it that which shields and shelters for me
My best-belov'd.

Neub. (returning)

The Swedish officer.

[Exit.

Wal. Leave her alone with him.

Duch. (to Thekla, who starts and shivers) There-pale

as death!-Child, 'tis impossible

That thou should'st speak with him. Follow thy mother. Thek. The Lady Neubrunn then may stay with me.

[Exeunt Duchess and Countess.

SCENE IV.

Thekla, the Swedish Captain, Lady Neubrunn.

Capt. (respectfully approaching her) Princess—I must entreat your gentle pardon

My inconsiderate rash speech-How could I

Thek. (with dignity) You have beheld me in my agony.

A most distressful accident occasion'd

You, from a stranger to become at once

My confidant.

Capt.

I fear you hate my presence,

For my tongue spake a melancholy word.

Thek. The fault is mine. Myself did wrest it from you. The horror which came o'er me interrupted

Your tale at its commencement. May it please you,
Continue it to the end.

Capt.

Renew your anguish.

Thek.

Princess, 'twill

I am firm.

I will be firm. Well-how began the engagement?
Capt. We lay, expecting no attack, at Neustadt,
Intrench'd but insecurely in our camp,

When towards evening rose a cloud of dust
From the wood thitherward; our vanguard fled
Into the camp, and sounded the alarm.

Scarce had we mounted, ere the Pappenheimers,
Their horses at full speed, broke thro' the lines,
And leapt the trenches; but their heedless courage
Had borne them onward far before the others-
The infantry were still at distance, only
The Pappenheimers followed daringly
Their daring leader-

(Thekla betrays agitation in her gestures. The
officer pauses till she makes a sign to him to
proceed.)

Both in van and flanks

With our whole cavalry we now receiv'd them,
Back to the trenches drove them, where the foot
Stretch'd out a solid ridge of pikes to meet them.
They neither could advance, nor yet retreat;

And as they stood on every side wedg'd in,
The Rhinegrave to their leader call'd aloud,
Inviting a surrender; but their leader,
Young Piccolomini-

(Thekla, as giddy, grasps a chair.)
Known by his plume,

And his long hair, gave signal for the trenches;
Himself leapt first, the regiment all plung'd after.-
His charger, by an halbert gor'd, rear'd up,
Flung him with violence off, and over him
The horses, now no longer to be curb'd –

(Thekla, who has accompanied the last speech with
all the marks of increasing agony, trembles
through her whole frame, and is falling. The
Lady Neubrunn runs to her, and receives her in
her arms.)

Inspir'd the troops with frenzy when they saw

Their leader perish; every thought of rescue

Was spurn'd; they fought like wounded tigers; their
Frantic resistance rous'd our soldiery;

A murderous fight took place, nor was the contest
Finish'd before their last man fell.

Thek. (faltering)

Where is You have not told me all.

Capt. (after a pause)

And where

This morning

We buried him. Twelve youths of noblest birth
Did bear him to interment; the whole army
Follow'd the bier. A laurel deck'd his coffin;
The sword of the deceas'd was plac'd upon it,

In mark of honour, by the Rhinegrave's self.
Nor tears were wanting; for there are among us
Many, who had themselves experienced

The greatness of his mind, and gentle manners;
All were affected at his fate. The Rhinegrave
Would willingly have sav'd him; but himself
Made vain th' attempt-'tis said he wish'd to die.
Neub. (to Thekla, who has hidden her countenance)
Look up, my dearest Lady

Thek.

Where is his grave?

Capt. At Neustadt, Lady; in a cloister church Are his remains deposited, until

We can receive directions from his father.

Thek. What is the cloister's name?

(Thekla steps to the table, and takes a ring from a casket.)

Thek. You have beheld me in my agony,

And shown a feeling heart. Please you, accept (giving him the ring)

A small memorial of this hour. Now go!

Capt. (confused) Princess

(Thekla silently makes signs to him to go, and turns from him. The Captain lingers, and is about to speak. Lady Neubrunn repeats the signal, and he retires.)

SCENE V.

Thekla, Lady Neubrunn.

Thek. (falls on Lady Neubrunn's neck) Now, gentle
Neubrunn, show me the affection

Which thou hast ever promis'd-prove thyself
My own true friend and faithful fellow-pilgrim.
This night we must away!

Neub.

Away! and whither ?

Thek. Whither! There is but one place in the world. Thither where he lies buried! To his coffin !

Neub. What would you do there?

That wouldst thou not have ask'd, hadst thou e'er lov'd.

There, there is all that still remains of him.

That single spot is the whole earth to me.
Neub. That place of death-

Thek.

Is now the only place,

Where life yet dwells for me: detain me not!
Come and make preparations : let us think
Of means to fly from hence.

Neub.

Your father's rage

Thek. That time is past

And now I fear no human being's rage.

Neub. The sentence of the world!

calumny !

Thek. Whom am I seeking?

more.

Am I then hastening to the arms

The tongue of

Him who is no

-O God!

I haste but to the grave of the beloved.

Neub. And we alone, two helpless feeble women?