SCHILLER'S TRAGEDIES: THE PICCOLOMINI; AND THE DEATH OF WALLENSTEIN. Translated from the German, BY S. T. COLERIDGE. WITH AN INTRODUCTORY HISTORICAL SKETCH. 38739 THERE can be no doubt that this drama forms, in its original tongue, one of the most splendid specimens of tragic art the world has witnessed; and none at all that the execution of the version, from which we have quoted so largely, places Mr. Coleridge in the very first rank of poetical translators. He is, perhaps, the solitary example of a man of very great original genius, submitting to all the labours, and reaping all the honours, of this species of literary exertion.-Blackwood's Mag., vol. xiv. EIAN JODLE! 1935 BARY 1 INTRODUCTORY NOTICE. AT the period of the Reformation, when the world awoke from a sleep of ages at the trumpet-toned summons of the intrepid Luther, the inhabitants of Bohemia were among the first to embrace the doctrines he promulgated. Bohemia suffered, in common with other Protestant states, from the persecution of the Catholics; but, adhering closely to their religion, they absolutely refused to march against the Protestant princes who had associated together under the title of the Smalcaldic League, and, taking arms against their sovereign, Ferdinand of Austria, prepared to join their fellow Protestants; but so many delays took place, that the decisive battle of Muhlberg, fought in 1547, and in which Charles V. entirely defeated the princes of the League, occurred before the Bohemian troops had joined the army. They immediately dispersed, and supplicated the mercy of their incensed sovereign, but in vain. Ferdinand gladly seized the opportunity of establishing his power, and he abolished many of their privileges, abridged others, and new-modelled the constitution according to his pleasure. He punished many of the insurgents with death, others with confiscation of their goods, or perpetual banishment. He disarmed the whole population, established oppressive garrisons, and loaded his people with taxes; all which, although it produced the silence of terror, by no means served to extinguish the fire of freedom. The peace of Augsburg, which was finally ratified by the Emperor in 1555, put an end for a time to the contest between the Protestants and Catholics, but only to break out again with redoubled violence. Tranquillity was maintained throughout the reigns of Ferdinand, King of Bohemia, the successor of Charles V., and Maximilian II., whose mild sway went far to calm the stormy spirits of the age; but under the feeble administration of his son Rudolph, disputes again ran high, and the princes again began to band themselves together. Frederick IV., Elector of the Palatinate, headed the Protestant " Union," and Maximilian of Bavaria was the chief of the Catholic "League." The better to strengthen himself against his brother Mathias, who had rebelled against him, and finally possessed himself of all the power of the empire, Rudolph granted to the Bohemians a charter, known as "The Letter of Majesty," confirming all their ancient privileges and granting them entire freedom in their religion. Mathias succeeded to the titles of emperor and king, on the death of Rudolph, (the power he was already possessed of,) and, having no children, adopted Ferdinand of Gratz, Archduke of Carniola and Styria-a disciple of the Jesuits, and a staunch Catholic-as his successor on the throne of Bohemia; and he succeeded in persuading the people to ratify this choice, but not before Ferdinand had signed a document, freeing them from their allegiance as subjects, in the event of his infringing any of those rights which the coronation oath would call upon him to maintain. The violation of this agreement produced "the Thirty Years' War." The charter granted by Rudolph to the Bohemians provided that "the Protestants should have the full right to build new schools and churches, not only in the towns, but in the country." Two new churches, built at Brunau and Clostergraben, were violently seized upon by the Catholic clergy, who pulled down one and shut up the other. A complaint was made to the Lords of the Council, the Emperor's representatives at Prague, who threw the deputies into prison. The Protestant members of the states, then assembled at Prague, upon this sent a remonstrance to the Emperor, who refused all redress, and declared that the states had abused the charter, and that the deputies were rebels and traitors. A copy of the imperial letter, and permission to return the next day and deliver their reply, were conceded to the deputation from the Protestant states, who proceeded to hold a meeting at the house of Count Thurn, where it was resolved to inform the Lords of the Council, "that after the signature of the great charter by the Emperor, no order or decree, tending to endanger the liberties of the Protestant religion, could be received or obeyed;" and eight of the principal members were deputed to deliver this answer. On the next morning, the 23rd of May, 1618, the deputation, each man in full armour, proceeded to the castle, followed by an immense multitude, all in arms, calling aloud for vengeance, many of whom thrust themselves into the hall of audience along with the deputies. The discussion, although begun in a temperate tone, soon became stormy. There were present at the board two members particularly obnoxious, Slavata and Martinez, whom it had been previously determined to remove, should they appear. Reproaches were showered upon them, which were retorted; and at length the fiery Neuzel of Raupowna exclaimed, "Wherefore all this delay? Let them be thrown out of the window, according to the good old Bohemian fashion." The words were no sooner spoken than the deed was dono; and not only Slavata and Martinez, but Fabricius the secretary, who had crept under the table, were precipitated from the windows. Sternberg and Lob-Kowitz were saved by their friends, who hurried them into another room. Fortunately there was a large mound of loose rubbish under the windows, and the unlucky councillors received little damage from their tumble, and notwithstanding they were fired at, they all escaped. This unfortunate affair proved very injurious to the Protestant cause, and gave its enemies a handle against them which they did not fail to make use of. A humble apology and justification was sent to Vienna, but the states were careful to put themselves in a posture of defence. Some of the Catholic clergy were banished, and all the Jesuits were expelled. Count Thurn was put at the head of the army, and alliances were formed with Silesia and Lusatia, and application made to other |