PREFACE.

Ir was my intention to have prefixed a Life of Wallenstein to this translation; but I found that it must either have occupied a space wholly disproportionate to the nature of the publication, or have been merely a meagre catalogue of events narrated not more fully than they already are in the Play itself. The recent translation, likewise, of Schiller's History of the Thirty Years' War diminished the motives thereto. In the translation I endeavoured to render my author literally wherever I was not prevented by absolute differences of idiom; but I am conscious, that in two or three short passages I have been guilty of dilating the original; and, from anxiety to give the full meaning, have weakened the force. In the metre I have availed myself of no other liberties than those which Schiller had permitted to himself, except the occasional breaking up of the line by the substitution of a trochee for an iambic; of which liberty, so frequent in our tragedies, I find no instance in these dramas.

S. T. COLERIDGE.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

WALLENSTEIN, Duke of Friedland, Generalissimo of the
Imperial forces in the Thirty-years' War.

DUCHESS OF FRIEDLAND, Wife of Wallenstein.
THEKLA, her Daughter, Princess of Friedland.
COUNTESS TERT SKY, Sister of the Duchess.
COUNT ISOLANI.

OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, Lieutenant-General.

MAX. PICCOLOMINI, his Son, Colonel of a Regiment of Cuirassiers.

COUNT TERTSKY, the Commander of several Regiments, and Brother-in-law of Wallenstein.

QUESTENBERG, Chamberlain and War Commissioner of the Emperor.

ILLO, Field Marshal, Wallenstein's Confidant.

BUTLER, an Irishman, Commander of a Regiment of Dragoons.

MARADAS,

GOETZ,

TIEFENBACH,

}

Generals in the Imperial Army.

KOLATTO,

GORDON, Governor of Egra.

WRANGEL, a Swedish General.

NEUMANN, Captain of Cavalry, Aid-de-camp to Tertsky.

SENI, an Astrologer.

MASTER OF THE CELLAR.

SERVANTS, &c.

THE PICCOLOMINI, ETC.

ACT I.

SCENE I-An old Gothic Chamber in the CouncilHouse at Pilsen, decorated with Colours and other War Insignia.

Illo with Butler and Isolani.

Illo. Ye have come late-but ye are come! The distance,

Count Isolan, excuses your delay.

Isol. Add this too, that we come not empty-handed. At Donauwert1 it was reported to us,

A Swedish caravan was on its way
Transporting a rich cargo of provision,

Almost six hundred wagons. This my Croats

Plunged down upon and seized, this weighty prize!We bring it hither

Illo.

Just in time to banquet

The illustrious company assembled here.

But. "Tis all alive! a stirring scene here!

And in the council-house too, I observe,

A town about twelve German miles N. E. of Ulm.