going forward round me.I see it gathering, crowding, driving on,
In wild uncustomary movements. Well,
In due time, doubtless, it will reach even me.
Where think you I have been, dear lady? Nay, 45
No raillery. The turmoil of the camp,
The spring-tide of acquaintance rolling in,
The pointless jest, the empty conversation,
Oppress’d and stifled me. I gasped for air —
I could not breathe — I was constrain’d to fly, 50
To seek a silence out for my full heart;
And a pure spot wherein to feel my happiness.
No smiling, Countess! In the church was I.
There is a cloister here to the heaven’s gate,
Thither I went, there found myself alone. 55
Over the altar hung a holy mother;
A wretched painting ‘twas, yet ‘twas the friend
That I was seeking in this moment. Ah,
How oft have I beheld that glorious form
In splendour, mid ecstatic worshippers; 60
Yet, still it moved me not! and now at once
Was my devotion cloudless as my love.
Countess. Enjoy your fortune and felicity!
Forget the world around you. Meantime, friendship
Shall keep strict vigils for you, anxious, active. 65
Only be manageable when that friendship
Points you the road to full accomplishment.
How long may it be since you declared your passion?
Max. This morning did I hazard the first word.
Countess. This morning the first time in twenty days? 70
Max. ‘Twas at that hunting-castle, betwixt here
And Nepomuck, where you had joined us, and —
That was the last relay of the whole journey!
In a balcony we were standing mute,
And gazing out upon the dreary field: 75
Before us the dragoons were riding onward,
The safeguard which the Duke had sent us — heavy
The inquietude of parting lay upon me,
And trembling ventured I at length these words:
This all reminds me, noble maiden, that 80
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!’ 85
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 90
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.
Countess. And is it your excess of modesty;
Or are you so incurious, that you do not 95
Ask me too of my secret?
Max. Of your secret?
Countess. 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. Well? 100
SCENE IV
THEKLA (hurries forward), COUNTESS, MAX PICCOLOMINI.
Thekla (to the Countess). Spare yourself the trouble:
That hears he better from myself.
Max. My Princess!
What have you let her hear me say, aunt Tertsky?
Thekla (to the Countess). Has he been here long?
Countess. Yes; and soon
must go.
Where have you stayed so long?
Thekla. Alas! my mother 5
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 play’d round you 10
Hid the beloved from me.
Thekla. 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, 15
O! what
