Of all, this canip include. Great Destiny, Twas broad day, and Octavio stood before me.. And never more saw I or horse or rider. P. 193. In fpite, however, of the superstitious assurance of Wallen.' flein, Otavio employs the precious moments of delay in estranging from the general's interests Isolani and Butler, the latter of whom determines to remain in Wallenstein's camp for the purpose of revenging an injury, which, according to the representation of Piccolomini, the general had done him by a letter to the inperial court. The drama thus concludes with the refusal of Max. Piccolomini to quit the camp together with his father. • Ost. How? not one look P. 214. And truly may it be said, that this is a 'most lame and impotent conclufion.'. Nothing is decided the fate of the principal characters hangs in suspense--all is dark and uncertain : and upon a review of the whole drama we mast, however unwillingly, acknowledge that it is flat and tedious. The author. seems indeed to have intended it merely as an introduction to The Death of Wallenstein. Th emperor, and bind nini to induce f her father. In this latter tragedy, · Schiller is himself again. Its action is rapid; its events interesting. It abounds in pathetic incidents and moving speeches. The moral which it inculcates is correct and bighly important. The three first scenes of The Death of Wallenstein are of a domestic nature, and exhibit the countess Tertsky instigating Thekla to use her influence over Max. Piccolomini to induce him to desert his duty to the emperor, and bind himself to the fortunes of her father. The princess is unwilling to understand the true nature of Wallenstein's designs; but when at length the truth is plainly disclosed, she bursts forth into the following pathetic exclamation.' "O my fore-boding bosom! Even now, First of myself? My mother! O, my mother!' P. 6. The affectionate timidity of the duchess, the wife of Wallenstein, is feelingly depicted in the ensuing dialogue, which is interrupted by the intervention of Wallenstein and Illo. The former, oppressed with care, desires his daughter to soothe his fpirits by a song. • Come here, my sweet girl! Seat thee by me, That beats his black wings close above my head.' P. 13. Thekla, unable, on account of the agitation of her heart, co comply with her father's request, abruptly retires. This gives the countess Tertíky an opportunity of disclosing to her brother the mutual love of his daughter and the younger Pic. colomini. Of this passion Wallenstein sternly disapproves. The discussion of the matter, however, is clofed by the abrupt arrival of Tertíky to announce the revolt of several of the regiments, and among the rest ot the troops of Isolani, from the cause of their general. Tertíky is toon followed by Ilio, who communicates further particulars of the disaffection of the army. Wallenstein now looks for comfort and advice from the treacherous Butler, who remains with him apparently from nolives of friend:hip, but in reality with a determination to ensure his ruin. In this truly pathetic scene, Butler announces to the general the failure of his designs upon the city of Prague. On the receipt of this intelligence, Wallenstein thus expreffes the emotions of a determined mind. "Tis decided ! I fight now for my head and for my life.' P. 31. In the beginning of the second act, Wallenstein receives a deputation from the regiment of Pappenheim, who, on behalf of their constituents, demand from him a declaration of his intentions with respect to the emperor. In his conference with this deputation, the inperial coinmander displays all the arts of popularity. But when he has almost persuaded the delegated Foldiers to adopt his quarrel, he is interrupted by Butler, who designedly enters to announce an open declaration of insurrection which has been made by count Teruky's regiment. These tidings disgust the deputies, who retire; and, in the course of a few minutes the Pappenheimers are heard in uproar, demanding Max. Piccoloinini their colonel, whom they imagine to be detained as a prisoner in Wallenstein's palace. Max. has, in fact, concealed himself in the palace, and now comes forward avowing to her father his love for Thekla. The act closes with the departure of Max, who is torn from the arms of his mistress by his soldiers, who rush into the palace to rescue hin from apprehended danger. in the third act the scene is transferred to Egra, to which fortress the discomfited Wallenstein is determined to retire. He has dispatched Butler to prepare all things for his reception. Butler arrives, and intimates to Gordon, the governor, that Wallenstein is attainted of treason, and demands his co-operation in executing the sentence of death to which the einperor has doomed him. While Butler is thus endeavouring to inspirit the governor, who dislikes this commiflion, Wallenstein enters, and inquires into the state of the town and garrison. A courier now arrives with the tidings of the death of Max. Piccolomini, who, urged on by despair, was slain together with all his regiment in a furious onset on a superior body of Swedes. This intelligence haftens the designs of Butler, wlio resolves 10 murder the general that very night. At the commencement of the fourth act Butler thus opens the detail of his plot against the life of Wallenstein. • Find me twelve strong dragoons, arm them with pikes, May make its way to the duke.' P. 97. The subsequent conference between Butler and his subordinate agents is fpun out to an unwarrantable length ; but it contains many true touches of nature. Rich aniends are, how. ever, made for the faults of this scene by scenes III. and IV. than which we remember nothing more pathetic in the whole range of dramatic writing. In these scenes Thekla, who had accidentally heard of the death of her lover, is indulged with the particulars of the event from the messenger who brought the sad intelligence. In the first scene of the fifth act the reader is thus folemnly prepared for the approaching horrors. "Wal. (rises and Arides across the saloon.) The night's far spent. Betake thee to thy chamber. the heaven, distance.) 6 Wal. Methinks, • Counsels. Thoul't see him again. . "Wal. (remains for a while with absent mind, then assumes a livelier manner, and turns suddenly to the countess:) • Countess. How? Wal. He the more fortunate ! yea, he hath finish'd ! • Countess. Thou speakest Of Piccolomini.' P. 127. After a conversation with Gordon and Seni, in which bis confidence in his good fortune casts an additional interest upon his perilous circumstances, Wallenstein retires to repose. Butler and the assassins now enter reeking from the murder of Illo and Tertky, whom they had surprised while revelling in a midnight banquet. The merciful agony of Gordon on the fight of these villains is thus expressed. • Gor. He sleeps! O murder not the holy sleep! But. No! he shall die awake. (is going.) But, (going.) God's merciful! Gor. (holds him.) Grant him but this night's respite. Gor. (holds him fill.) One hour! • But. Unhold me! What o Gor: O_Time |