"T was one of Satan's imps, that grinn'd, and threaten'd you For your most impudent hope to cheat his master! LASKA. Was it then That timid eye, was it those maiden hands Pshaw! What, you think 'tis fear that makes me 'Twas a vision blazon'd on a cloud leave you? PESTALUTZ. Is't not enough to play the knave to others, But thou must lie to thine own heart? LASKA (pompously). Friend! Laska will be found at his own post, PESTALUTZ (with a sneer). What! the girl Whom Laska saw the war-wolf tear in pieces? LASKA (throwing down a bow and arrows). Well! there's my arms! Hark! should your javelin fail you, These points are tipt with venom. [Starts and sees GLYCINE without. By Heaven! Glycine! Now, as you love the king, help me to seize her! [They run out after GLYCINE, and she shrieks without: then enter BATHORY from the Cavern. The shriek came thence. By lightning, shaped into a passionate scheme him The coward turn'd, and at the self-same instant The braver villain fell beneath your sword. Enter ZAPOLYA. ZAPOLYA. Bethlen! my child! and safe too! BETHLEN. Mother! Queen! Royal Zapolya! name me Andreas! So do the Gods who lanch the thunderbolt! O Raab Kiuprili! Friend! Protector! Guide' A flash from Heaven hath touch'd the hidden incenseBETHLEN (hastily). ZAPOLYA. It was Raab Kiuprili; As sure as thou art Andreas, and the king. OLD BATHORY. [Clash of swords, and BETHLEN's voice heard from Hail Andreas! hail my king! behind the Scenes; GLYCINE enters alarmed; then, as seeing LASKA's bow and arrows. [She seizes them and rushes out. BATHORY following GLYCINE. Hark! sure the hunt approaches. Re-enter BATHORY, with the dead body of PESTALUTZ. OLD BATHORY. [Horn without, and afterwards distant thunder. Poor tool and victim of another's guilt! Manet BATHORY. OLD BATHORY. Thou follow'st heavily: a reluctant weight! Is this the place where Emerick's murderers lurk? CASIMIR. You bleeding corse, (pointing to PESTALUTZ's body) Strange providence! what then was he who fled me? may work us mischief still: Once seen, 't will rouse alarm and crowd the hunt From all parts towards this spot. Stript of its armor, I'll drag it hither. [Exit BATHORY. After a while several Hunters cross the stage as scattered. Some time after, enter KIUPRILI in his disguise, fainting with fatigue, and as pursued. RAAB KIUPRILI (throwing off his disguise). Since Heaven alone can save me, Heaven alone Shall be my trust. [Then speaking as to ZAPOLYA in the Cavern. Haste! haste! Zapolya, flee! [He enters the Cavern, and then returns in alarm. Gone! Seized perhaps? Oh no, let me not perish Despairing of Heaven's justice! Faint, disarm'd, Each sinew powerless, senseless rock sustain me! Thou art parcel of my native land. [Then observing the sword. Ha! and my sword! Zapolya hath escaped, [BATHORY points to the Cavern, whence KIUPRILI advances. Thy looks speak fearful things! Whither, old man! Would thy hand point me? CASIMIR. I kneel, I kneel!' Retract thy curse! O, by my mother's ashes, Yet for my country's sake, give my arm strength, KIUPRILI Son, I forgive thee! Take thy father's sword; Thy blessing did indeed descend upon me; Enter RUDOLPH, BATHORY, and Attendants. RUDOLPH and BATHORY (entering). CASIMIR. Rejoice, Illyrians! the usurper's fallen. RUDOLPH. [KIUPRILI and CASIMIR embrace; they all retire So perish tyrants! so end usurpation! to the Cavern supporting KIUPRILI. CASIMIR CASIMIR. as by accident drops his robe, and BATHORY Bear hence the body, and move slowly on! EMERICK (entering). One moment Devoted to a joy, that bears no witness, With the two best and fullest gifts of Heaven- Fools! Cowards! follow-or by Hell I'll make you I follow you, and we will greet our countrymen Then sees the body of PESTALUTZ, covered by Ha! 'tis done then! And is it not well? For though grafted on us, [AS EMERICK moves towards the body, enter from [Exeunt CASIMIR into the Cavern. The rest on the opposite side. Scene changes to a splendid Chamber in CASIMIR'S FIRST CONFEDERATE. It cannot but succeed, friends. From this palace What tidings from Temeswar? SECOND CONFEDERATE. With one voice OLD BATHORY (pointing to where the noise is, and aside Th' assembled chieftains have deposed the tyrant; to CASIMIR). Curses on it, and thee! Think'st thou that petty omen Would mar the wondrous tale. Wait we for him Dare whisper fear to Emerick's destiny? It is! it is! OTHER CONFEDERATES. ZAPOLYA. Heaven's work of grace is full! Kiuprili, thou art safe! RAAB KIUPRILI. Royal Zapolya! To the heavenly powers, pay we our duty first; Behold your King! And thank our country's genius, The powerful intercession of thy virtue, ZAPOLYA. Hear that from me, son! For ere she lived, her father saved thy life, CASIMIR. Chef Ragozzi! That the same means which have preserved our O shame upon my head! I would have given her sovereign, Have likewise rear'd him worthier of the throne ALL. Hail, Andreas! Hail, Illyria's rightful king! ANDREAS. Supported thus, O friends! 't were cowardice From the appointed charge. Yet, while we wait The child, the friend, the debtor!-Heroic mother! Of the sublimest friendship, let my youth Now, and from henceforth, thou shalt not forbid me To a base slave! ZAPOLYA. Heaven overruled thy purpose, And sent an angel (Pointing to SAROLTA) to thy house to guard her! Thou precious bark! freighted with all our treasures! (Pointing to GLYCINE). Take her, son! SAROLTA. A banquet waits!- The Piccolomini; or, the First Part of Wallenstein. A DRAMA. TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF SCHILLER. PREFACE. In the translation I endeavored 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 It was my intention to have prefixed a Life of Wal- meaning, have weakened the force. In the metre I lenstein to this translation; but I found that it must have availed myself of no other liberties than those either have occupied a space wholly disproportionate which Schiller had permitted to himself, except the to the nature of the publication, or have been merely occasional breaking-up of the line by the substitu a meagre catalogue of events narrated not more tion of a trochee for an iambic; of which liberty, so fully than they already are in the Play itself. The frequent in our tragedies, I find no instance in these recent translation, likewise, of Schiller's History of dramas the Thirty Years' War diminished the motives thereto. S. T. COLERIDGE ISOLANI (interrupting him). Max. Piccolomini here?-O bring me to him. We were engaged with Mansfeld hard by Dessau), ILLO. You'll see him yet ere evening. He conducts The Duchess Friedland hither, and the Princesst From Carnthen. We expect them here at noon. A town about 12 German miles N. E. of Ulm. The dukes in Germany being always reigning powers, their Bons and daughters are entitled Princes and Princesses. What, you mean, of his regiment? I hear, too, that to make the gift still sweeter The Duke has given him the very same In which he first saw service, and since then, Work'd himself, step by step, through each preferment, From the ranks upwards. And verily, it gives A precedent of hope, a spur of action To the whole corps, if once in their remembrance An old deserving soldier makes his way. BUTLER. I am perplex'd and doubtful, whether or no I dare accept this your congratulation. The Emperor has not yet confirm'd the appointment. ISOLANI. Seize it, friend! Seize it! The hand which in tha post Placed you, is strong enough to keep you there, Spite of the Emperor and his Ministers? |