Go to your guests! Go- ILLO (comes back). As among strangers! Not a trace is left Of all my former wishes, former joys. When even, methought, with such a world, as this, I was not discontented. Now how flat! Where art staying, Tertsky? How stale! No life, no bloom, no flavour in it! The house is full, and all expecting you. Instantly! Instantly! Stay here too long. TERTSKY. My comrades are intolerable to me. My father-Even to him I can say nothing. My arms, my military duties-O! [To the COUNTESS. They are such wearying toys! And let him not COUNTESS. A truce with your precautions! SCENE III. COUNTESS, MAX. PICCOLOMINI. MAX. (peeping in on the stage shily). Aunt Tertsky! may I venture? I can't but know, is going forward round me. I see it gathering, crowding, driving on, In wild uncustomary movements. Well, [Advances to the middle of the stage, and looks In due time, doubtless, it will reach even me. Where think you I have been, dear lady? Nay, A wretched painting 't was, yet 't was the friend And Nepomuck, where had join'd us, I am doubtful whether this be the dedication of the cloister or the name of one of the city gates, near which it stood. I have translated it in the former sense; but fearful of having made some blunder, I add the original.-Es ist ein Kloster hier zur Himmelspforte. 1 In a balcony we were standing mute, [The Princess THEKLA appears at the door, and MAX. This morning, when I found you in the circle And cast upon the light and joyous heart Then you saw me With your eye only-and not with your heart? And what Can this be then? Methought I was acquainted With all the dusky corners of this house. THEKLA (smiling). Ay, but the road thereto is watch'd by spirits, The astrological tower!-How happens it THEKLA. A dwarfish old man with a friendly face MAX. That is the Duke's astrologer, old Seni. THEKLA. He question'd me on many points; for instance, When I was born, what month, and on what day, Whether by day or in the night. COUNTESS. He wish'd To erect a figure for your horoscope. THEKLA. My hand too he examined, shook his head With much sad meaning, and the lines, methought, Did not square over truly with his wishes. COUNTESS. Well, Princess, and what found you in this tower? THEKLA. It was a strange Sensation that came o'er me, when at first From the broad sunshine I stepp'd in; and now The narrowing line of day-light, that ran after The closing door, was gone; and all about me 'T was pale and dusky night, with many shadows Fantastically cast. Here six or seven Colossal statues, and all kings, stood round me In a half-circle. Each one in his hand A sceptre bore, and on his head a star; And in the tower no other light was there But from these stars: all seem'd to come from them. These are the planets,» said that low old man, They govern worldly fates, and for that cause Are imaged here as kings. He farthest from you, Spiteful, and cold, an old man melancholy, With bent and yellow forehead, he is Saturn. He opposite, the king with the red light, An arm'd man for the battle, that is Mars: And both these bring but little luck to man." But at his side a lovely lady stood, The star upon her head was soft and bright, On that was Venus, the bright star of joy. And the left hand, lo! Mercury, with wings. Quite in the middle glitter'd silver bright A cheerful man, and with a monarch's mien ; And this was Jupiter, my father's star : And at his side I saw the Sun and Moon. MAX. O never rudely will I blame his faith In the might of stars and angels! "T is not merely Is all too narrow: yea, a deeper import Lurks in the legend told my infant years Than lics upon that truth, we live to learn. The intelligible forms of ancient poets, The Power, the Beauty, and the Majesty, Or chasms and wat'ry depths; all these have vanish'd. THEKLA. And if this be the science of the stars, I too, with glad and zealous industry, Will learn acquaintance with this cheerful faith. At our first birth, the wreath of love was woven, COUNTESS. Not only roses, But thorns too hath the heaven; and well for you MAX. Soon will his gloomy empire reach its close. And to all worth a Sovereign's protection. 1? Nothing. Only he's so occupiedHe has no leisure time to think about MAX. The happiness of us two. [Taking his hand tenderly. Can I, when you are angry—— Follow me! Let us not place too great a faith in men. These Tertskys-we will still be grateful to them MAX. O! shall we e'er be happy? Nothing. Go! [He draws up to her, their eyes meet, she stands silent a moment, then throws herself into his arms; he presses her fast to his heart. lows him with her eyes at first, walks restlessly across the room, then stops, and remains standing, lost in thought. A guitar lies on the table, she seizes it as by a sudden emotion, and after she has played a while an irregular and melancholy symphony, she falls gradually into the music and sings. THEKLA (plays and sings). The cloud doth gather, the greenwood roar, The damsel paces along the shore; The billows they tumble with might, with might; Are you dreaming? Talking in sleep? An excellent jest, forsooth! We shall no doubt right courteously entreat him To honour with his hand the richest heiress In Europe. THEKLA. That will not be necessary. Methinks 't were well though not to run the hazard. THEKLA. His father loves him; Count Octavio Will interpose no difficulty- COUNTESS. His! His father! his! But yours niece, what of yours? THEKLA. So anxiously you hide it from the man! COUNTESS (looks at her as scrutinizing).、 THEKLA. Are you then wounded? O, be friends with me! COUNTESS. You hold your game for won already. Do not THEKLA (interrupting her, and attempting to soothe her.) Nay now, be friends with me. COUNTESS. It is not yet so far gone. THEKLA. I believe you. COUNTESS. Did you suppose your father had laid out In easy triumph to your arms the man That chanced to please your eyes! All this, methinks, He might have purchased at a cheaper rate. THEKLA. That which he did not plant for me might yet Bear me fair fruitage of its own accord. |