COUNTESS. (laughs)

The aftrological tower!-How happens it
That this fame fanctuary, whofe access
Is to all others fo impracticable,

Opens before you e'en at your approach ?

THEKLA.

A dwarfish old man with a friendly face
And fnow-white hairs, whofe gracious fervices
Were mine at first fight, open'd me the doors.

MAX.

That is the Duke's aftrologer, old Seni.

THEKLA.

He question'd me on many points; for instance, When I was born, what month, and on what days Whether by day or in the night.

COUNTESS.

He wish'd

To erect a figure for

your horoscope.

THEKLA.

My hand too he examin'd, thook his head.

With much fad meaning, and the lines, methought, Did not fquare over truly with his withes.

COUNTESS.

Well, Princess, and what found you in this tower? My highest privilege has been to fnatch

A fide-glance, and away!

THEKLA.

It was a ftrange

Senfation that came o'er me, when at first
From the broad funthine I flepp'd in; and now
The narrowing line of day-light, that ran after
The clofing door, was gone; and all about me
'Twas pale and dufky night, with many fhadows

Fantaf

Fantastically caft. Here fix or seven
Coloffal ftatues, and all kings, ftood round me
In a half-circle. Each one in his hand
A fceptre 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,' faid that low old man,
They govern worldly fates, and for that cause
'Are imag'd here as kings. He fartheft from you,
Spiteful and cold, an old man melancholy,

• With bent and yellow forehead, he is SATURN.

He oppofite, 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 fide a lovely lady ftood,

The flar upon her head was foft and bright,
And that was VENUS, the bright star of joy.
On the left hand, lo! MERCURY, with wings.
Quite in the middle glitter'd filver-bright
A cheerful man, and with a monarch's mien ;
And this was JUPITER, my father's ftar:
And at his fide I faw the SUN and MoON.

MAX.

O never rudely will I blame his faith

In the might of ftars and angels! 'Tis not merely
The human being's PRIDE that peoples fpace
With life and mystical predominance;

Since likewife for the ftricken heart of LOVE
This visible nature, and this common world,
Is all too narrow: yea, a deeper import
Lurks in the legend told my infant years
Than lies upon that truth, we live to learn.

For fable is Love's world, his home, his birth-place:
Delightedly dwells he 'mong fays and talismans,
And fpirits; and delightedly believes
Divinities, being himself divine.

The intelligible forms of ancient poets,
The fair humanities of old religion,

The Power, the Beauty, and the Majesty,
That had their haunts in dale, or piny mountain,
Or foreft by flow ftream, or pebbly spring,
Orchafms and wat'ry depths; all these have vanish'd.
They live no longer in the faith of reafon!
But still the heart doth need a language, ftill
Doth the old instinct bring back the old names.
And to yon ftarry world they now are gone,
*Spirits or gods, that us'd to share this earth
With man as with their friend; and to the lover
Yonder they move, from yonder visible sky
Shoot influence down: and even at this day
'Tis Jupiter who brings whate'er is great,
And Venus who brings every thing that's fair!

THEKLA.

And if this be the science of the stars,

I too, with glad and zealous industry,
Will learn acquaintance with this cheerful faith.

It is a gentle and affectionate thought,

That in immeafurable heights above us,

At our first birth, the wreath of love was woven, With sparkling stars for flowers.

COUNTESS.

Not only rofes,

But thorns too hath the heaven; and well for

* No more of talk, where god or angel guest With man, as with his friend familiar, us'd To fit indulgent.

you,

PARADISE LOST, B. IX.

Leave

Leave they your wreath of love inviolate.
What Venus twin'd, the bearer of glad fortune,
The fullen orb of Mars foon tears to pieces..

MAX.

:

Soon will his gloomy empire reach its close.
Bleft be the General's zeal into the laurel
Will he inweave the olive-branch, presenting
Peace to the shouting nations. Then no wish
Will have remain'd for his great heart! Enough
Has he perform'd for glory, and can now
Live for himself and his. To his domains
Will he retire; he has a stately feat
Of faireft view at Gitfchin; Reichenberg,
And Friedland Castle, both lie pleasantly—
Even to the foot of the huge mountains here
Stretches the chafe and covers of his forefts:
His ruling paffion, to create the fplendid,
He can indulge without reftraint; can give
A princely patronage to every art,

And to all worth a Sovereign's protection.
Can build, can plant, can watch the ftarry courses-

COUNTESS.

Yet I would have you look, and look again,
Before you lay afide your arms, young friend!
A gentle bride, as fhe is, is well worth it
That you should woo and win her with the fword.

MAX.

O, that the fword could win her!

COUNTESS.

What was that?

Did

you hear nothing? Seem'd, as if I heard Tumult and larum in the banquet-room.

SCENE V.

THEKLA and MAX. PICCOLOMINI.

THEKLA.

(As foon as the Countess is out of fight, in a quick flow voice to Piccolomini)

Don't trust them! They are falfe!

Purpose! but what purpose ?

And how can we be inftrumental to it?

THEKLA.

I know no more than you; but yet, believe me: There's fome defign in this! To make us happy, To realize our union-truft me, love!

They but pretend to wifh it.

MAX.

But these Tertskies

Why use we them at all? Why not your mother? Excellent creature! fhe deserves from us

A full and filial confidence.

THEKLA.

She doth love you,

Doth rate you high before all others-but-
But fuch a fecret-she would never have

The courage to conceal it from

to conceal it from my father.

For