Why does my mother weep? Have I alarmed her?
It is gone by-I recollect myself-

(she casts her eyes round the room, as seeking

some one.)

Where is he? Please you, do not hide him from me.
You see I have strength enough: now I will hear him.
DUCHESS.

No, never shall this messenger of evil
Enter again into thy presence, Thekla!

My father

THEKLA.

WALLENSTEIN.

Dearest daughter!

THEKLA.

I'm not weak

Shortly I shall be quite myself again.

You'll grant me one request?

WALLENSTEIN.

Name it, my daughter.

THEKLA.

Permit the stranger to be called to me,

And grant me leave, that by myself I may

Hear his report and question him.

"Tis not adviseable-assent not to it.

Knowing the whole, I shall be more collected;

I will not be deceived. My mother wishes
Only to spare me. I will not be spared.

The worst is said already: I can hear

Nothing of deeper anguish !

COUNTESS and DUCHESS.

Do it not.

THEKLA.

The horror overpowered me by surprize.

My heart betrayed me in the stranger's presence;
He was a witness of my weakness, yea,

I sank into his arms; and that has shamed me.

I must replace myself in his esteem,

And I must speak with him, perforce, that he,
The stranger, may not think ungently of me.
WALLENSTEIN.

I see she is in the right, and am inclined

To grant her this request of her's. Go, call him.

(Lady Neubrunn goes to call him.)

DUCHESS.

But I, thy mother, will be present

THEKLA.

"Twere

More pleasing to me, if alone I saw him:
Trust me, I shall behave myself the more
Collectedly.

WALIENSTEIN.

Permit her her own will.

Leave her alone with him: for there are sorrows,
Where of necessity the soul must be

Its own support. A strong heart will rely

On its own strength alone. In her own bosom,
Not in her mother's arms, must she collect
The strength to rise superior to this blow.
It is mine own brave girl. I'll have her treated
Not as the woman, but the heroine.

(going.)

COUNTESS (detaining him).

Where art thou going? I heard Tertsky say
That 'tis thy purpose to depart from hence.
To-morrow early, but to leave us here.

WALLENSTEIN.

Yes, ye stay here, placed under the protection

Of gallant men.

COUNTESS.

O take us with you, brother.

Leave us not in this gloomy solitude

To brood o'er anxious thoughts. The mists of doubt

Magnify evils to a shape of horror.

WALLENSTEIN.

Who speaks of evil? I entreat you, sister,

Use words of better omen.

COUNTESS.

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! WALLENSTEIN.

The place's evil omens will I change

Making it that which shields and shelters for me
My best beloved,

LADY NEUBRUNN (returning).

The Swedish officer.

WALLENSTEIN.

Leave her alone with me.

[Exit.

DUCHESS (to Thekla, who starts and shivers).

There-pale as death !—Child, 'tis impossible

That thou should'st speak with him. Follow thy

mother.

THEKLA

The Lady Neubrunn then may stay with me.

[Exeunt Duchess and Countess.

SCENE IV.

THEKLA, THE SWEDISH CAPTAIN, LADY
NEUBRUNN.

CAPTAIN (respectfully approaching her).
Princess-I must entreat your gentle pardon-
My inconsiderate rash speech-How could I-
THEKLA (with dignity).

You have beheld me in my agony.
A most distressful accident occasioned
You from a stranger to become at once
My confidant.

CAPTAIN.

I fear you

hate my presence,

For my tongue spake a melancholy word.

THEKLA.

The fault is mine. Myself did wrest it from

The horror which came o'er me interrupted

you.

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