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Thou’rt the daughter of the Mighty — his

       Who where he moves creates the wonderful.

       Not to herself the woman must belong, 60

       Annexed and bound to alien destinies.

       But she performs the best part, she the wisest,

       Who can transmute the alien into self,

       Meet and disarm necessity by choice;

       And what must be, take freely to her heart, 65

       And bear and foster it with mother’s love.

      Thekla. Such ever was my lesson in the convent.

       I had no loves, no wishes, knew myself

       Only as his — his daughter — his, the Mighty!

       His fame, the echo of whose blast drove to me 70

       From the far distance, wakened in my soul

       No other thought than this — I am appointed

       To offer up myself in passiveness to him.

      Countess. That is thy fate. Mould thou thy wishes to it.

       I and thy mother gave thee the example. 75

      Thekla. My fate hath shewn me him, to whom behoves it

       That I should offer up myself. In gladness

       Him will I follow.

      Countess. Not thy fate hath shewn him!

       Thy heart, say rather—’twas thy heart, my child!

      Thekla. Fate hath no voice but the heart’s impulses. 80

       I am all his! His Present — his alone,

       Is this new life, which lives in me. He hath

       A right to his own creature. What was I

       Ere his fair love infused a soul into me?

      Countess. Thou would’st oppose thy father then, should he 85

       Have otherwise determined with thy person?

      [THEKLA remains silent. The COUNTESS continues.

      Thou mean’st to force him to thy liking? — Child,

       His name is Friedland.

      Thekla. My name too is Friedland.

       He shall have found a genuine daughter in me.

      Countess. What? he has vanquished all impediment, 90

       And in the wilful mood of his own daughter

       Shall a new struggle rise for him? Child! child!

       As yet thou hast seen thy father’s smiles alone;

       The eye of his rage thou hast not seen. Dear child,

       I will not frighten thee. To that extreme, 95

       I trust, it ne’er shall come. His will is yet

       Unknown to me: ‘tis possible his aims

       May have the same direction as thy wish.

       But this can never, never be his will,

       That thou, the daughter of his haughty fortunes, 100

       Should’st e’er demean thee as a love-sick maiden;

       And like some poor cost-nothing, fling thyself

       Toward the man, who, if that high prize ever

       Be destined to await him, yet, with sacrifices

       The highest love can bring, must pay for it. [Exit COUNTESS. 105

      Thekla. I thank thee for the hint. It turns

       My sad presentiment to certainty.

       And it is so! — Not one friend have we here,

       Not one true heart! we’ve nothing but ourselves!

       O she said rightly — no auspicious signs 110

       Beam on this covenant of our affections.

       This is no theatre, where hope abides.

       The dull thick noise of war alone stirs here.

       And love himself, as he were armed in steel,

       Steps forth, and girds him for the strife of death. 115

      [Music from the banquet-room is heard.

      There’s a dark spirit walking in our house,

       And swiftly will the Destiny close on us.

       It drove me hither from my calm asylum,

       It mocks my soul with charming witchery,

       It lures me forward in a seraph’s shape, 120

       I see it near, I see it nearer floating,

       It draws, it pulls me with a godlike power —

       And lo! the abyss — and thither am I moving —

       I have no power within me not to move!

      [The music from the banquet-room becomes louder.

      O when a house is doomed in fire to perish, 125

       Many a dark heaven drives his clouds together,

       Yea, shoots his lightnings down from sunny heights,

       Flames burst from out the subterraneous chasms,

       And fiends and angels mingling in their fury,

       Sling fire-brands at the burning edifice. 130

      [Exit THEKLA.

      SCENE VIII

      A large Saloon lighted up with festal Splendour; in the midst of it,

       and in the Centre of the Stage, a Table richly set out, at which eight

       Generals are sitting, among whom are OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, TERTSKY, and

      MARADAS. Right and left of this, but farther back, two other Tables, at

       each of which six Persons are placed. The Middle Door, which is standing

       open, gives to the Prospect a Fourth Table, with the same Number of

       Persons. More forward stands the sideboard. The whole front of the Stage

       is kept open for the Pages and Servants in waiting. All is in Motion.

       The Band of Music belonging to Tertsky’s Regiment march across the

       Stage, and draw up round the Tables. Before they are quite off from the

       Front of the Stage, MAX PICCOLOMINI appears, TERTSKY advances towards

       him with a Paper, ISOLANI comes up to meet him with a Beaker or

       Service-cup.

      TERTSKY, ISOLANI, MAX PICCOLOMINI.

      Isolani. Here brother, what we love! Why, where hast been?

       Off to thy place — quick! Tertsky here has given

       The mother’s holiday wine up to free booty.

       Here it goes on as at the Heidelberg castle.

       Already hast thou lost the best. They’re giving 5

       At yonder table ducal crowns in shares;

       There’s Sternberg’s lands and chattels are put up,

       With Egenberg’s, Stawata’s, Lichtenstein’s,

       And all the great Bohemian feodalities.

       Be nimble, lad! and something may turn up 10

       For thee — who knows? off — to thy place! quick! march!

      Tiefenbach and Goetz (call out from the second and third tables).

       Count Piccolomini!

      Tertsky. Stop, ye shall have him in an instant. — Read

       This

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