The large number of historical characters in the drama, who play a more or less important rôle in the dramatic action, and whose relations to Wallenstein can be found only in the more detailed histories of the period, has induced the editor to prepare a full Index of Persons and Places. The biographical sketches of this Index are generally concise, as the editor has limited himself to the presentation of such facts as are necessary to understand the drama. The Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie has been generally consulted for this part of the work. The numerous difficult and, in part, still unsolved historical problems in connection with the life and character of Wallenstein made it seem necessary to the editor to write a biographical sketch of Wallenstein's career, especially because the general histories and handbooks are, in this respect, inadequate, and also because even the larger histories often present a one-sided and partisan view of Wallenstein's aims and motives. In the preparation of this biographical sketch the editor has availed himself of the most important recent biographies and monographs on Wallenstein, and is especially indebted to the works of Ranke, Schweitzer, Schulze, and the carefully prepared article of Wittich in the Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (Vol. XLV). In view of the many perplexing and still unsettled questions, it would be presumption to take a dogmatic attitude respecting the character and aims of Wallenstein, but it seems to the editor that Ranke's biog raphy, written in a spirit of calm objectivity, comes nearest to the truth, and hence the general point of view of the biographical sketch leans toward that of Ranke. The sketch is written primarily to present the biographical and historical facts required for the understanding of the drama, and secondly to suggest an interpretation of these facts from the point of view of modern historical investigations. The effort to satisfy both these aims, and the necessary limitations of space, have inevitably led to inequalities in the distribution of the material. Thus, for instance, Wallenstein's negotiations with Sweden, Saxony and Brandenburg in 1633 are as perplexing as they are important, and in an independent historical sketch would require more fullness of treatment. The notes aim at literary interpretation. The editor has tried to avoid the discussion of all questions, literary or philological, that do not have an immediate bearing on the drama. The various editions mentioned in the bibliography have been consulted, and the editor wishes to acknowledge his special indebtedness to the editions of Bernd, Breul, Chuquet, and Funke. In the grammatical explanations and translations the editor has been guided by his experience in the class-room with students who have had about two and a half years of German in college. In the interpretation of the drama the editor has consulted the principal critical works and commentaries on the subject, and has found the works of Düntzer, Fielitz, Frick, Kühnemann, Werder, and especially of Bellermann, very helpful. The editor has tried to assume a definite position on the principal controverted points, and it is his opinion that a thorough study of Schiller's vast correspondence on the Wallenstein tragedy will serve as the best guide in interpretation, and guard the student against arbitrary and fanciful constructions. On most points Schiller himself is the best interpreter of his drama. The editor wishes to express here his thanks to Dr. H. D. Carrington of the University of Michigan for his careful reading of the proof, and especially to Professor W. T. Hewett of Cornell University, who has kindly read the manuscript and the proof, and whose suggestions and criticisms have been of great assistance in the preparation of this volume. ANN ARBOR, MICH., Dec. 15, 1900. MAX WINKLER. CONTENTS. The Max and Thekla Scenes and their Dramatic Function. Characters of Wallenstein, Octavio, Buttler, Countess Terzky The first Pilsen Revers, Jan. 1634. INTRODUCTION. LIFE OF WALLENSTEIN. ALBRECHT WENZEL EUSEBIUS VON WALDSTEIN was born Sept. 24, 1583, at Hermanic (German Hermanitz) in the northeastern part of Bohemia. His parents, though poor, belonged to the old aristocracy, and were connected with some of the wealthiest and most influential families in the kingdom. Both father and mother were Protestants, and the boy was at first brought up in the Protestant faith. Left an orphan at the age of twelve, he was taken charge of by his uncle Heinrich Slawata von Chlum and sent to the school of the Bohemian Brothers in Koschumberg, and in 1597 to the Protestant school at Goldberg in Silesia. The generally accepted statement that Wallenstein was sent to a Jesuit school in Olmütz and there converted to Catholicism has been recently disproved.2 In August, 1599, he was matriculated in the Protestant Academy of Altorf, from which he was dismissed early in 1600 on account of his many boyish escapades. Afterward he is said to have served as a page at the court of the margrave Karl of Burgau in Innsbruck, where, according to a widespread story, his fall from a window and his miraculous escape caused his conversion to Catholicism.3 Probably, however, he was influenced by the practical consideration that Catholicism would promote his interests better than Protestantism. His conversion was at all events a more or less formal matter, for he never showed any great zeal for Catholicism, nor for any other form of religion. After leaving the Court of Burgau he entered for several years upon extensive travels through Holland, France and Italy. In Italy he visited the universities of Bologna and Padua, where he studied military tactics and astrol I The correct form of the name is Waldstein, but, since he is best known by the name of Wallenstein, the latter form will be used in this Introduction. 2 Cf. Stieve, Wallensteins Übertritt zum Katholizismus, Münchener Sitzungsberichte of 1897, p. 199. According to Stieve, Wallenstein was never a disciple of the Jesuits in Olmütz. His conversion to Catholicism did not take place before 1602, according to some authorities not before 1606. 3 Cf. Murr, p. 304. |