We did not hold ourselves too mean to grasp
After a monarch's crown-the crown did fate
Deny, but not the feeling and the spirit
That to the crown belong! We deem a
Courageous death more worthy of our free station
Than a dishonour'd life.-I have taken poison.

O house of death and horrors!

[An OFFICER enters, and brings a letter with the great seal. GORDON steps forward and meets him. What is this?

It is the Imperial Seal.

[He reads the address, and delivers the letter to OCTAVIO with a look of reproach, and with an emphasis on the word.

To the Prince Piccolomini.

[OCTAVIO, with his whole frame expressive of sudden anguish, raises his eyes to heaven.

The Curtain drops.

END OF THE DEATH OF WALLENSTEIN.

ACT I.

SCENE I.

A high rocky shore of the lake of Lucerne opposite Schwytz. The lake makes a bend into the land; a hut stands at a short distance from the shore; the fisher boy is rowing about in his boat. Beyond the lake are seen the green meadows, the hamlets and farms of Schwytz, lying in the clear sunshine. On the left are observed the peaks of the Hacken, surrounded with clouds; to the right, and in the remote distance, appear the Glaciers. The Ranz des Vaches, and the tinkling of cattle bells, continue for some time after the rising of the curtain.

FISHER BOY (sings in his boat).

Melody of the Ranz des Vaches.

The clear smiling lake woo'd to bathe in its deep,
A boy on its green shore had laid him to sleep;
Then heard he a melody
Flowing and soft,

And sweet, as when angels
Are singing aloft.

And as thrilling with pleasure he wakes from his rest,
The waters are murmuring over his breast;
And a voice from the deep cries,

"With me thou must go,

I charm the young shepherd,

I lure him below.".

HERDSMAN (on the mountains).

Air.-Variation of the Ranz des Vaches.
Farewell, ye green meadows,

Farewell, sunny shore,

The herdsman must leave you,

The summer is o'er.

We go to the hills, but you'll see us again,

When the cuckoo is calling, and woodnotes are gay,
When flow'rets are blooming in dingle and plain,
And the brooks sparkle up in the sunshine of May.
Farewell, ye green meadows;

Farewell, sunny shore,

The herdsman must leave you,
The summer is o'er.

CHAMOIS HUNTER (appearing on the top of a cliff)
Second Variation of the Ranz des Vaches.

On the heights peals the thunder, and trembles the bridge,
The huntsman bounds on by the dizzying ridge.
Undaunted he hies him

O'er ice-covered wild,

Where leaf never budded,

Nor Spring ever smiled;

And beneath him an ocean of mist, where his eye
No longer the dwellings of man can espy;
Through the parting clouds only
The earth can be seen,
Far down 'neath the vapour

The meadows of green.

[A change comes over the landscape. A rumbling, cracking noise is heard among the mountains. Shadows of clouds sweep across the scene.

[RUODI, the fisherman, comes out of his cottage. WERNI, the huntsman, descends from the rocks. KUONI, the

shepherd, enters, with a milkpail on his shoulders, followed by SEPPI, his assistant.

RUODI. Bestir thee, Jenni, haul the boat on shore.

The grizzly Vale-King* comes, the Glaciers moan,
The lofty Mytenstein† draws on his hood,

And from the Stormcleft chilly blows the wind;
The storm will burst, before we are prepared.
KUONI. "Twill rain ere long; my sheep browse eagerly,
And Watcher there is scraping up the earth.
WERNI. The fish are leaping, and the water-hen

Dives up and down. A storm is coming on KUONI (to his boy).

Look, Seppi, if the cattle are not straying. SEPPI. There goes brown Liesel, I can hear her bells. KUONI. Then all are safe; she ever ranges farthest. RUODI. You've a fine yoke of bells there, master herdsman. WERNI. And likely cattle, too. Are they your own?

*The German is, Thalvogt, Ruler of the Valley-the name given figuratively to a dense grey mist which the south wind sweeps into the valleys from the mountain tops. It is well known as the precursor of stormy weather. A steep rock, standing on the north of Rütli, and nearly opposite to Brumen,

KUONI. I'm not so rich. They are the noble lord's
Of Attinghaus, and trusted to my care.
RUODI. How gracefully yon heifer bears her ribbon!
KUONI. Ay, well she knows she's leader of the herd,
And, take it from her, she'd refuse to feed.
RUODI. You're joking now. A beast devoid of reason-
WERNI. That's easy said. But beasts have reason, too,—

And that we know, we men that hunt the chamois :
They never turn to feed-sagacious creatures!
Till they have placed a sentinel ahead,
Who pricks his ears whenever we approach,
And gives alarm with clear and piercing pipe.
RUODI (to the shepherd).

Are you for home?

KUONI,
The Alp is grazed quite bare.
WERNI. A safe return, my friend!
KUONI.

The same to you!

Men come not always back from tracks like yours. RUODI. But who comes here, running at topmost speed? WERNI. I know the man; 'tis Baumgart of Alzellen. KONRAD BAUMGARTEN (rushing in breathless).

For God's sake, ferryman, your boat!

RUODI.

How now?

Why all this haste?

BAUM.

Cast off! My life's at stake!

Set me across!

KUONI.

Why, what's the matter, friend?

WERNI. Who are pursuing you? First tell us that.
BAUM. (to the fisherman).

Quick, quick, e'en now they're close upon my heels!
The Viceroy's horsemen are in hot pursuit!

I'm a lost man, should they lay hands upon me.
RUODI. Why are the troopers in pursuit of you?
BAUM. First save my life, and then I'll tell you all.
WERNI. There's blood upon your garments-how is this?
BAUM. The imperial Seneschal, who dwelt at Rossberg—
KUONI. HOW! What! The Wolfshot? Is it he pursues you?

1

* In German, Wolfenschiessen-a young man of noble family, and a native of Unterwalden, who attached himself to the House of Austria, and was ap pointed Burgvogt, or Seneschal, of the Castle of Rossberg. He was killed by Baumgarten in the manner, and for the cause, mentioned in the text.