DRAMATIS PERSONE.

WALLENSTEIN, Duke of Friedland, Generalissimo of the Imperial Forces in the Thirty-years' War.

DUCHESS OF FRIEDLAND, Wife of Wallenstein.
THEKLA, her Daughter, Princess of Friedland.
The COUNTESS TERTSKY, Sister of the Duchess.
LADY NEUBRUNN.

OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, Lieutenant General.

MAX. PICCOLOMINI, his Son, Colonel of a Regiment of Cuirassiers. COUNT TERTSKY, the Commander of several Regiments, and Brother-in-law of Wallenstein.

ILLO, Field Marshal, Wallenstein's Confidant.

BUTLER, an Irishman, Commander of a Regiment of Dragoons. GORDON, Governor of Egra.

MAJOR GERALDIN.

CAPTAIN DEvereux.

MACDONALD.

NEUMANN, Captain of Cavalry, Aide-de-camp to Tertsky.
SWEDISH CAPTAIN,

THE

DEATH OF WALLENSTEIN.

ACT I.-SCENE I.

SCENE-A Chamber in the House of the Duchess of Friedland.

COUNTESS TERTSKY, THEKLA, LADY NEUBRUNN (the two latter sit at the same table at work).

COUNTESS (watching them from the opposite side). So you have nothing, niece, to ask me? Nothing? I have been waiting for a word from you.

And could you then endure in all this time

Not once to speak his name?

[Thekla remaining silent, the Countess rises and

advances to her.

Why, how comes this?

Perhaps I am already grown superfluous,

And other ways exist, besides through me?

Confess it to me, Thekla! have you seen him?

THEKLA.

To-day and yesterday I have not seen him.

COUNTESS.

And not heard from him either? Come, be open!

May't please you, leave us, Lady Neubrunn !

[Exit Lady Neubrunn.

SCENE II.

The COUNTESS, THEKLA.

COUNTESS.

It does not please me, Princess! that he holds
Himself so still, exactly at this time.

THEKLA.

Exactly at this time?

COUNTESS.

He now knows all.

'Twere now the moment to declare himself.

THEKLA.

If I'm to understand you, speak less darkly.
COUNTESS.

'Twas for that purpose that I bade her leave us.
Thekla, you are no more a child. Your heart
Is now no more in nonage: for you love,

And boldness dwells with love-that you have proved. Your nature moulds itself

upon your father's

More than your mother's spirit. Therefore may you Hear, what were too much for her fortitude.

THEKLA.

Enough? no further preface, I entreat you.
At once, out with it? Be it what it may,
It is not possible that it should torture me
More than this introduction. What have you
To say to me? Tell me the whole and briefly!

COUNTESS.

Max. Piccolomini loves you. You can link him Indissolubly to your father.

THEKLA.

I?

What need of me for that? And is he not

Already linked to him?

COUNTESS.

He was.

THEKLA.

And wherefore

Should he not be so now-not be so always?

COUNTESS.

He cleaves to the Emperor too.

THEKLA.

Not more than duty

And honour may demand of him.

COUNTESS.

We ask

Proofs of his love, and not proofs of his honour.

Duty and honour !

Those are ambiguous words with many meanings.

You should interpret them for him: his love

Should be the sole definer of his honour.

How?

THEKLA.