The inquietude of parting lay upon me,
And trembling ventured I at length these words:
This all reminds me, noble maiden, that
To-day, I must take leave of my good fortune.
A few hours more, and you will find a father,
Will see yourself surrounded by new friends,
And I henceforth shall be but as a stranger,
Lost in the many-" Speak with my Aunt
Tertsky!"

With hurrying voice she interrupted me.
She faltered. I beheld a glowing red

Possess her beautiful cheeks, and from the ground
Raised slowly up her eye met mine-no longer
Did I control myself.

[The PRINCESS THEKLA appears at the door, and remains standing, observed by the COUNTESS, but not by PICCOLOMINI.

With instant boldness I caught her in my arms, my mouth touched hers; There was a rustling in the room close by; It parted us-'Twas you. What since has happened,

You know.

Coun. [after a pause, with a stolen glance at THEKLA.] And is it your excess of modesty; Or are you so incurious, that you do not

Ask me too of my secret?

Max.

Of your secret?

Coun. Why, yes! When in the instant after you I stepped into the room, and found my niece there,

What she in this first moment of the heart,
Ta'en with surprise-

Max. [with eagerness] Well.

SCENE IV.-THEKLA (hurries forward,) COUNTESS, MAX PICCOLOMINI.

Thek. [to the COUNTESS.] Spare yourself the

trouble:

That hears he better from myself.

Max. [stepping backward.] My Princess! What have you let her hear me say, Aunt Tertsky?

Thek. [to the COUNTESS.] Has he been here

Wept so again! and I-I see her suffer,

Yet cannot keep myself from being happy.
Max. Now once again I have courage to look

on you.

To-day at noon I could not.

The dazzle of the jewels that played round you Hid the beloved from me.

Thek.

Then you saw me

With your eye only—and not with your heart?

Max. This morning, when I found you in the

circle

Of all your kindred, in your

father's arms,

Beheld myself an alien in this circle,

O! what an impulse felt I in that moment
To fall upon his neck, and call him father!
But his stern eye o'erpower'd the swelling passion,
It dared not but be silent. And those brilliants.
That like a crown of stars enwreathed your brows,
They scared me too! O wherefore, wherefore
should he

At the firs meeting spread as 'twere the ban
Of excommunication round you, wherefore
Dress up the angel as for sacrifice,

And cast upon the light and joyous heart
The mournful burthen of his station? Fitly
May love dare woo for love; but such a splen-
dour

Might none but monarchs venture to approach.
Thek. Hush! not a word more of this mummery,
You see how soon the burthen is thrown off.
[To the COUNTESS.] He is not in spirits. Where-
fore is he not?

'Tis you, aunt, that have made him all so gloomy! He had quite another nature on the journeySo calm, so bright, so joyous, eloquent.

[To MAX.] It was my wish to see you always so, And never otherwise!

Max.

You find yourself

In your great father's arms, beloved lady!

All in a new world, which does homage to you, And which, wer't only by its novelty,

Delights your eye.

Yes; I confess to you

Thek.
That many things delight me here: this camp,
This motley stage of warriors, which renews
So manifold the image of my fancy,
And binds to life, binds to reality,

What hitherto had but been present to me
As a sweet dream!

Max.

Alas! not so to me,

It makes a dream of my reality.

Upon some island in the ethereal heights

I've lived for these last days. This mass of men Forces me down to earth. It is a bridge

That, reconducting to my former life,

Divides me and my heaven.

Thek.

The game of life

Looks cheerful, when one carries in one's heart The inalienable treasure. 'Tis a game,

Which having once reviewed, I turn more joyous Back to my deeper and appropriate bliss.

[Breaking off, and in a sportive tone. In this short time that I've been present here, What new unheard-of things have I not seen! And yet they all must give place to the wonder Which this mysterious castle guards.

Coun. [recollecting.]

And what

Can this be then? Methought I was acquainted

With all the dusky corners of this house.

Thek. Ay, [smiling,] but the road thereto is watched by spirits.

Two griffins still stand sentry at the door.

Coun. [laughs]

The astrological tower!

How happens it

That this same sanctuary, whose access

Is to all others so impracticable,

Opens before you even at your approach?

Thek. A dwarfish old man with a friendly face And snow-white hairs, whose gracious services Were mine at first sight, opened me the doors. Max. That is the Duke's astrologer, old Seni. Thek. He questioned me on many points; for instance,

When I was born, what month, and on what day, Whether by day or in the night.

Coun.

He wished To erect a figure for your horoscope.

Thek. My hand too he examined, shook his head

With such sad meaning, and the lines, methought, Did not square over truly with his wishes.

Coun. Well, Princess, and what found you in

this tower?

My highest privilege has been to snatch

A side-glance, and away!

Thek. It was a strange Sensation that came o'er me, when at first From the broad sunshine I stept in; and now The narrowing line of day-light, that ran after The closing door, was gone; and all about me 'Twas pale and dusky night, with many shadows Fantastically cast. Here six or seven