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.
THE COUNTESS TERTSKY, Sister of the Duchess.
LADY NEUBRUNN.

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.

ILLO, Field-Marshal, Wallenstein's Confidant.

BUTLER, an Irishman, Commander of a Regiment of Dragoons. GORDON, Governor of Egra.

MAJOR GERALDIN.

CAPTAIN DEVEREUX.

CAPTAIN MACDONALD.

NEUMANN, Captain of Cavalry, Aide-de-Camp to Terisky.

THE DEATH OF WALLENSTEIN.

ACT I.

SCENE I-A Chamber in the House of the DUCHESS OF FRIEDLAND. COUNTESS TERTSKY, THEKLA, LADY NEUBRUNN. (The two latter sit at the same table at work.)

Coun. [watching them from the opposite side.]
So you have nothing, niece, to ask me?
Nothing?

I have been waiting for a word from you.
And could you then endure in all this time
Not once to speak his name?

[THEKLA remaining silent, the COUNTESS rises and ad

vances to her.

Why comes this?

Perhaps I am already grown superfluous,
And other ways exist, besides through me?
Confess it to me, Thekla! have you seen him?
Thek. To-day and yesterday I have not seen

him.

Coun. And not heard from him either? Come, be open!

Thek. No syllable.

Coun.

Thek. I am.

And still you are so calm?

Coun. May't please you, leave us, Lady Neu

brunn !

[Exit LADY Neubrunn.

SCENE II.-The COUNTESS, THEKLA.

Coun. It does not please me, Princess! that

he holds

Himself so still, exactly at this time.

Thek. Exactly at this time?
Coun.

He now knows all.

"Twere now the moment to declare himself.

Thek. If I'm to understand you, speak less

darkly.

Coun. 'Twas for that purpose that I bade her

leave us.

Thekla, you are no more a child. Your heart
Is now no more in nonage: for you love,

And boldness dwells with love-that you have proved.

Your nature moulds itself upon your father's More than your mother's spirit. Therefore may

you

Hear, what were too much for her fortitude.

Thek. Enough! no further preface, I entreat

you.

At once out with it! Be it what it may,

It is not possible that it should torture me
More than this introduction. What have you
To say to me? Tell me the whole and briefly!
Coun. You'll not be frightened-

Thek.

Name it, I entreat you.

Coun. It lies within your power to do your

father

A weighty service

Thek.

Lies within my power?

Coun. Max. Piccolomini loves you. You can

What need of me for that? And is he not

Already linked to him?

Coun.

Thek.

He was.

And wherefore

Should he not be so now-not be so always?

Coun. He cleaves to th' Emperor too.

Thek.

Not more than duty

We ask

And honour may demand of him.

Coun.

Proofs of his love, and not proofs of his honour. Duty and honour!

Those are ambiguous words with many meanings.

You should interpret them for him: his love

Should be the sole definer of his honour.

Thek. How?

Coun.

Th' Emperor or you must he re

nounce.

Thek. He will accompany my father gladly In his retirement. From himself you heard, How much he wished to lay aside the sword. Coun. He must not lay the sword aside, we

mean;

He must unsheath it in your father's cause.

Thek. He'll spend with gladness and alacrity His life, his heart's blood in my father's cause, If shame or injury be intended him.

Coun. You will not understand me. Well,
hear then!

Your father has fallen off from the Emperor.
And is about to join the enemy

With the whole soldiery

Thek.

Alas, my mother!

Coun. There needs a great example to draw on The army after him. The Piccolomini

Possess the love and reverence of the troops;
They govern all opinions, and wherever
They lead the way, none hesitate to follow.
The son secures the father to our interests-
You've much in your hands at this moment.
Thek.

Ah,

My miserable mother! what a death-stroke Awaits thee !-No! She never will survive it.

Coun. She will accommodate her soul to that Which is and must be. I do know your mother. The far-off future weighs upon her heart With torture of anxiety; but is it

Unalterably, actually present,