[Max. clasps her in his arms in extreme emotion. There is heard from behind the Scene a loud, wild, long-continued cry-Vivat Ferdinandus, accompanied by warlike instruments. Max. and Thekla remain without motion in each other's embrace.

SCENE X.

To these enter TERTSKY.

Coun. (meeting him). What meant that cry? What

Ter.

was it?

All is lost!

Coun. What! they regarded not his countenance? Ter. 'Twas all in vain.

Duch. They shouted vivat!

Ter.

Coun. The traitors!

Ter.

To the Emperor.

Nay! he was not once permitted

Even to address them. Soon as he began,

With deafening noise of warlike instruments
They drown'd his words. But here he comes.

And countryman. Write to him instantly
By a post courier. He must be advis'd,
That we are with him early on the morrow.
You follow us yourself, your regiment with you.
But. It shall be done, my General !

Wal. (steps between Max. and Thekla, who have remained during this time in each other's arms).

Max.

Part!

O God! [Cuirassiers enter with drawn swords, and assemble in the back-ground. At the same time there are heard from below some spirited passages out of the Pappenheim march, which seem to address Max.

Wal. (to the Cuirassiers). Here he is, he is at liberty; I keep him

No longer.

[He turns away, and stands so that Max. cannot pass by him nor approach the Princess.

Max. Thou know'st that I have not yet learnt to

live

Without thee! I go forth into a desert,

Leaving my all behind me.
Thine eyes away from me!

O do not turn

O once more show me

Thy ever dear and honour'd countenance.

[Max. attempts to take his hand, but is repelled; he turns to the Countess.

Is there no eye that has a look of pity for me?

The Countess turns away from him; he turns to the Duchess.

My mother!

Duch.

Go where duty calls you. Haply The time may come, when you may prove to us A true friend, a good angel at the throne

Of the Emperor.

DD

Max.

You give me hope; you would not

Suffer me wholly to despair. No! No!

Mine is a certain misery-Thanks to heaven
That offers me a means of ending it.

The stage

Мах.

[The military music begins again.
fills more and more with armed men.

sees Butler, and addresses him.

And you here, Colonel Butler--and will you

Not follow me? Well, then, remain more faithful
To your new lord, than you have prov'd yourself
To the Emperor. Come, Butler, promise me,
Give me your hand upon it, that you'll be
The guardian of his life, its shield, its watchman.
He is attainted, and his princely head

Fair booty for each slave that trades in murder.
Now he doth need the faithful eye of friendship,
And those whom here I see-

Illo.

[Casting suspicious looks on Illo and Butter
Go-seek for traitors

In Galas', in your father's quarters. Here
Is only one. Away! away! and free us
From his detested sight. Away!

[Max. attempts once more to approach Thekla.
Wallenstein prevents him. Max. stands irr☛
solute, and in apparent anguish. In the mean-
time the stage fills more and more; and the
horns sound from below, louder and louder, ana
each time after a shorter interval.

Max. Blow, blow! O were it but the Swedish trumpets,

And all the naked swords, which I see here,

Were plunged into my breast! What purpose you?

You come to tear me from this place! Beware
Ye drive me not to desperation.--Do it not !
Ye may repent it!

[The stage is entirely filled with armed men. Yet more! weight upon weight to drag me down! Think what ye're doing. It is not well done To choose a man despairing for your leader; You tear me from my happiness. Well, then, I dedicate your souls to vengeance. Mark! For your own ruin you have chosen me : Who goes with me, must be prepar❜d to perish.

[He turns to the back-ground, there ensues a sudden and violent movement among the Cuirassiers; they surround him, and carry him off in wild tumult. Wallenstein remains immoveable. Thekla sinks into her mother's arms. The curtain falls. The music becomes loud and overpowering, and passes into a complete war-march-the orchestra joins it--and continues during the interval between the second and third Act.

ACT III.

Scene, the BURGOMASTER'S House at Egra

SCENE I.

But. (just arrived). Here then he is, by his destiny conducted.

Here, Friedland, and no farther! From Bohemia
Thy meteor rose, travers'd the sky awhile,

And here upon the borders of Bohemia

Must sink.

Thou hast fors worn the ancient colours,

Blind man! yet trustest to thy ancient fortunes.

D D

Profaner of the altar and the hearth,

Against thy Emperor and fellow-citizens

Thou mean'st to wage the war. Friedland, beware-
The evil spirit of revenge impels thee-
Beware, thou, that revenge destroy thee not.

SCENE II.

BUTLER and GORDON.

Gor. Is it you?

How my heart sinks! The Duke a fugitive traitor! His princely head attainted! O my God!

But. You have receiv'd the letter which I sent you By a post courier.

Gor.

Yes! and in obedience to it

Open'd the strong-hold to him without scruple.
For an imperial letter orders me

To follow your commands implicitly.

But yet forgive me: when even now I saw
The Duke himself, my scruples recommenced.
For truly, not like an attainted man,

Into this town did Friedland make his entrance;
His wonted majesty beam'd from his brow,
And calm, as in the days when all was right,
Did he receive from me the accounts of office;
'Tis said, that fallen pride learns condescension;
But, sparing and with dignity, the Duke
Weigh'd every syllable of approbation,
As masters praise a servant who has done
His duty and no more.

But.

'Tis all precisely

As I related in my letter. Friedland

Has sold the army to the enemy,

And pledg'd himself to give up Prague and Egra.

On this report the regiments all forsook him.