amongst the princes, whether their in- answered by insulting embassies. Havestitures would be valid without the ving given more notice and more time accustomed form of touching that sym- than any one thinks necessary, he first bol of authority. Rudolph terminated affiances his eldest son to the daughter the discussion by taking the crucifix of his old brother in arms and rival, from the altar, and employing that Meinhard of the Tyrol, and then sets symbol of salvation in its stead. In forth to subdue his enemies. He sure the first scene, we find the Emperor prises the Swabian league, breaks its and Empress alone in their palace; power, and constrains its members to she lamenting their removal from their follow him with their troops against happy home, and fearing that her hus- their confederates. The Duke of Baband's new dignity will deprive her varia is frightened, submits, and also more than ever of his society. To this joins Rudolph against his chief adverhe replies, by dwelling upon the hap- sary, Ottocar, King of Bohemia. piness to be derived from the consci. The ninth period is wholly occupied entious discharge of the high duties with the war against Ottocar. He and Dow imposed upon him, and assuring his queen are loathsome pictures of her, that those duties having already perfidy, tyranny, and licentiousness, overpowered all his youthful love of unredeemed by any good quality exfighting, he shall henceforward live cept courage. Accordingly, his submore with her and his children than jugation is effected as much by his formerly. She doubts; and, as if in own dissatisfied subjects, as by the confirmation of her apprehensions, a Emperor's army. Austria is taken private audience is demanded for the from him almost without a blow, and Archbishop of Maintz, who, in grati- after one partial defeat he submits, tude for his gratuitous escort, had does homage, and is confined to his mainly contributed to Rudolph's elec- hereditary kingdoms of Bohemia and tion. The prelate, in a very long con- Moravia. But his submission is forced versation, urges to the Emperor the and deceptious; he employs the leisure necessity of conciliating the Pope, afforded him in preparing for revolt, whose sanction is yet wanting to his and the third part ends, leaving him confirmation, and the dangers that ready to fall upon Austria, which Ruwould accrue from his adopting the dolph had reincorporated with the emrival candidate for the Imperial crown, pire, committing its administration to Ottocar, King of Bohemia, who is als his sons and friends. ready supported by all those who have The opening of the tenth period any reason to dread a rigidly just Em- shews us the Imperial and Bohemian peror, with the Duke of Bavaria at their armies opposed to each other, the forhead. He then states the hard condi- mer not amounting to more than a tions upon which only the Pope will quarter of the numbers of the latter, probably agree to crown Rudolph, ad- owing to the treachery of some of the vising his Imperial Master to consent states of the empire, whom Ottocar to every thing, and afterwards to use had seduced or bribed. And here we his own pleasure respecting such of find, perhaps, the first idea of exhibitthe terms as he might deem unjust. ing a battle to the reader, through the This is done, we imagine, to display medium of deeply interested spectaRudolph'sinvariable adherence to truth tors, of which such happy use has and honour; but we must be allowed been made by an illustrious writer of to wish that Herr Schlenkert could our own days. Rudolph, upon being have found some other means of shew- attacked by the Bohemians, sends his ing his hero's virtues. It is revolting Empress and family to a place of seto see such advice put into the mouth curity behind his camp. When they of an ecclesiastic, who had been pre- have reached it, their conductor, Wala viously lauded as an exception to the ter of Klingen, informs her Majesty prevailing character of his order. Ru- that they are safe, as in case of the dolph of course rejects it, declaring worst, the road to Vienna is open. that if he must promise, he will keep Empress. Oh! I have no fears for his word. He accordingly makes terms myself, Father Walter. Could I purwith the holy father, and repeatedly chase my Rudolph's life with the last summonses the refractory princes and drop of my blood ! (Shuddering.)nobles to come and take the oaths ; Children, kneel and pray-pray for his invitations are either slighted, or your father! The battle begins feare

fully-fearfully! I will strive to sup- Princess Clementia. I will die with
port myself. I will not turn my eye you! Mother, I will die with you !
from that bloody, horrid spectacle, till Walter of Klingen. Cruel fate! That
it closes in death. Oh, Rudolph ! Ru- I should live to see this !
dolph !

Empress. Rudolph! Rudolph !
Lady Gisela, (a friend of the Em- That I might die for thee, or with
press's youth.) Compose yourself, my thee!
dearest Anna. Would you had re- Lady Gisela. God of Heaven ! She
mained at Vienna!

is already writhing in the agonies of Empress. No, no! There anxiety death. would have crushed my heart. This Prince Wartman. I will never forday is too dreadful. I must see my give you, old knights for having kept Rudolph conquer-or fall!

me out of the battle.- I would have Lady Gisela. God will take him un- fought by my father's side, have inder his almighty protection. (Half tercepted the blow. I would have saaside.) Help, gracious God! they are ved him. engaged.

Walter of Klingen. You could as litWalter of Klingen. The encounter tle have saved him as I could, good begins furiously. The Bohemian ca- youth. But why immediately fear the valry hack and hew on all sides like worst? The fallen are not necessarily wild boars.

dead. Empress. The Austrians are hard Empress. (Starting up.) Is he not pressed-they give way-farther-still slain -Rudolph not slain ?-Not? farther-God! God !

Not? Walter of Klingen. There is no dan- Walter of Klingen. I have myself ger yet, dread lady. Perhaps that may often fallen in battle, my Lady Embe design. The flower of our forces press, and am still alive. See where a are not yet in the field.

knight comes from the field. Lady Gisela. Look up! Look up! Lady Giselda. See, see ! Is not that Now the Hungarians rush against the Rudolph's crest glittering at the head Bohemian rampart of carriages-now of yon victorious squadron? they break through!

Empress. It is he! (Hugh of WirWalter of Klingen. Now the engage- denbergh gallops in.) Is he alive?-ment becomes general.— The Emperor Is Rudolph alive? flies over the plain-Ha! That was a Sir Hugh answers in the affirmaterrible onset !

tive, adding that he is himself sent by Empress. Almighty God! now comes the Emperor to assure her of his safe the decision !-Oh, thanks, glowing, ty. He then gives her an account of heartfelt thanks for thy mercies, God the state of affairs, and returns to his of armies !- The enemies fly!

post. We are now conducted to the Walter of Klingen. They rally again field of battle itself,—to the Bohemian -Ottocar collects his cavalry—now he right wing. The general commanding falls upon the centre—the swords and here had been deeply offended by spears rage and massacre more dread- Ottacar's putting his brother to death, fully, more savagely, than I myself seducing his niece, and refusing to reever saw before.

pair the family honour by a leftLady Giselda. Heavens, what a handed marriage. In revenge, he perbloody conflict !

tinaciously disobeys repeated orders to Walter of Klingen. Frightful ! join the engagements, and thus inFrightful !"Imperial lady, avert your sures his tyrant's defeat. Ottocar fights eyes from the horrible sight.

in despair, and is killed. In the next Lady Gisela. (Half aside.) Is the scene, we find Rudolph alone in his Emperor in danger ?

tent, praying, lamenting over the blood Walter of Klingen. (Half aside.) shed in the late conflict, and bitterly He is. Do you not see that already half condemning himself as the cause of so his Swiss

much slaughter. A good bishop comes Empress. Do you see him fall ? Do to suinmon him to the solemn thanks. you see him fall? Merciful God! giving for the victory; he forbids the

(Sinks upon the ground. ceremony, and the prelate has infinite Princess Gutha. Oh, mother, mo- difficulty to convince him, that the ther! He is fallen!

guilt rests with him who wrongfully (Throws herself upon the Empress. attacked, not with him who defended

himself and his subjects. We can take no more trouble, but enjoy himscarcely recognise our chivalrous friend self for the rest of his life, and dies of the first and second parts, in this soon afterwards. quaker-like tenderness of conscience. The events which we have succincta We may be told that men's characters ly sketched, are evidently pretty desalter with their years and circumstan- titute of romantic interest, and it is a ces, a fact not to be disputed; but we curious characteristic of this author's suspect that scruples of this descrip- style of writing, that when detailed tion were very little known to any with the utmost minuteness, and, as class of persons, warriors, theologians, we have before said, tediousness, they or even gentle maidens, in the thir- actually do acquire a sort of interest teenth century. We the rather make quite sufficient to prevent the book's this remark, because it appears to us being thrown aside, though it may at to be one of the most ordinary mis- first sight appear wonderful, that any takes of the best modern German wri« mortal reader can be found endued ters, to attribute the philosophy, the with patience to persevere through four sentiments, and even the sentimenta- volumes of elucidation and developebility of their own times, to the rough- ment of such facts. We must again er knights and dames of the middle refer to Richardson for the explanation ages.

of the phenomenon. The characters, Our limits will not allow any detail as in his novels, are at once pourtrayof the remainder of the work. We ed with a fulness and distinctness, must content ourselves with stating that gives a vivid impression of their shortly, that the Emperor settles the reality; and when they are all thus affairs of Bohemia with great libera- presented to our acquaintance, and we lity,--pardons the revolted Duke of are thoroughly possessed of all that Bavaria at the intercession of his own they did and said, and thought and daughter, who was married to the felt, upon every occasion, we are acted Duke's son,- breaks the Swabian upon much in the same manner that league for the second time, subduing we should be, if, after the fashion of now even the hearts of its members, – Le Diable Boiteur, we could be predetects an impostor who was raising a sent at the cabinent deliberations, the rebellion, by passing himself for the private reflections, and the domestic deceased Emperor Frederick the Se transactions of any remarkable histocond, and goes about the empire doing rical or political personage. If we do justice, composing disputes between not suffer the painful anxiety respecte high and low, and destroying noble ing the solution of difficulties and tere robbers, together with their strong- minations of dangers, which constiholds, by fifties and sixties at a time,- tutes the charm of romance, a desire that the Empress Anna dies, and he to know what will happen next, and marries the young and beautiful Eli- how our friends will feel and act, is zabeth of Burgundy. May we pause excited, quite strong enough to carry to observe, en passant, that although us forward. Nay, we will confess that we could not desire an author, who the simple expression of natural emoprofesses to be guided by history, to tions by persons with whom we were suppress such an act of high treason so intimate, has occasionally drawn against the spirit of romance, we wish tears into our own eyes; and that had he had rather attributed it to motives the author indulged us with the inof policy, than have exhibited our troduction of more of the pleasing hero falling in love at sixty-six; traits recorded of this founder of the that he obtains the concurrence of the House of Austria, we should boldly States of the Empire to the grants of pronounce this Historical Romantic Austria, to his eldest son Albert; of Picture,' to be calculated to afford very Swabia, to his son Rudolph ; and of considerable gratification, notwithCarinthia, to his old friend Meinhard standing a certain homeliness in the of the Tyrol, but fails to obtain the execution, which constantly reminds election of Albert as his King of the us that the high hand of a master is Romans,-breaks out into complaints wanting. of human ingratitude, declares he will

S. A.

THE RING AND THE STREAM.

A DRAMA.

SCENE,--A Valley in the Isle of Paros.- Time-Day.

ANDRONICUS and BASIL.
Andronicus. What hath inspired this happy change, my thought
Hath not divined, yet doth it sooth my soul,
And fall as dew upon my aching heart,
Soft’ning its rugged sorrows.-Since the hour
When the great King of Shadows mark’d the maid-
His beautiful betroth’d, and, in the pride
Of his omnipotent rivalship, he woo'd,
And won the virgin to his icy bed ;-
Till latterly, he hath not smiled nor spoke,
But sat, a very emblem of despair-
A statue of the loveliest, but most sad.
Chisell’d by misery's hand-seem'd he, as were
The current of his anguish in its course
Frozen in his young bosom ; but, at once,
A kindly sun-beam struck upon the ice,
Melted the stream, and gently bade it flow
Away from his rent bosom. He did sinile,
And breath soft.cadences of mournful airs,
In such enchanting inelancholy mood,
That I did weep for very happiness,
Almost too much of joy; he spake to me
Of resignation, and of sacred bliss,
Known only to the sufferer, and of joys
Not of this coarser world ; and then again
He smiled and sang-and so accordant were
That smile and song, and both so breath'd of Heaven,
That, for a moment, I did think my son
Had pass'd away from earth, and that I saw
His happy wandering spirit.
Basil.

This is wild-
Dreamings of Fancy, spectre-circled power-
Who holds as strong an empire o'er thy brain
As o'er the young Leontine's. I would learn
Whence comes this wondrous change. It is not well
That I, his friend, who shared in all his grief,
Should not partake his pleasures. Pray you, strive
To win the secret from him.
Andronicus.

No!—for me,
It is enough that I no more behold

The stillness of despair.—Once more, he lives.-
To force into his secrets,-to intrude
Into his bosom's counsels, were to break
Again the slender links of that light chain
Which binds him to mortality.-Oh, no!
I cannot, and I will not pain my son
By this unhallow'd wondering.—'Tis enough
That he is mine again.-Some friendly hand
Hath pour’d, perchance, soft balm upon the wound
Of his poor bleeding heart; or, kindlier Heaven
Hath, in its mercy, heal’d the bitter stripes
Its wisdom had inflicted.--He doth love,
And from his boyhood, was his soul entranced
By Nature's majesty; and now he drinks
Deeper of her intoxicating cup,
Of love, and is, for his repose, become

Dehrious with her beauty.-He doth roam
Nightly by hill and valley.- Near the stream
Which wanders round Marpesus' marble caves
Goes he by night, and with the silver waves,
Singing unto the pale lamp of the heaven,
He doth unite his low and mournful song ;
And then, upon its bank he lieth down,
List’ning the flowers grow; and they do tell
Their secrets to his ear; for he replies,
And holds sweet converse with them.-He is now
A fair celestial thing, like those which fill
The air when it is clearest-when the gales
Come laden with ambrosial odours, brought
From flowery beds of Paradise upon
The spirits' golden wings.- Disturb him not
He who can treasure for himself a source
Of happiness, unsought of brother man,
Is surely wise. So, in his wisdom, let
My loved Leontine rest.
Basil.

Not so, old man-
He who doth in the dungeons of his soul
His pains and pleasures thus in bondage bide;
Disdaining help and pity from mankind,
Is of mankind no longer; he hath loosed
The girdle of mortality, and stands
Without its friendly circle. He who hath
No friends deserves them not.-Thy son hath thrown
Human compassion from him, and hath found
Peace, where man should not seek it.-Were his bliss
Thus innocent, as thou deem'st it, would it be
Veil'd from his tender father, and his friend,
By the huge marble curtains of the caves
Of high Marpesús' mountain ? It is said
Thy son bath union made with that wild man
From the far distant East, who hid his crimes
From justice in those caverns. It is said,
That when some few weeks since he closed his eyes,
And yielded to the demons his dark soul,
It was on thy son's bošom, who became
His pupil and his heir, and from his lip
Received the secrets of another world,
To outrage things of this.-His wanderings
Are not alone, for he hath still been heard
In invocation loud; but 'tis decreed
This crime shall not endure, since we will spy
Upon his wand'rings; and, if he have done
That which the angels shriek at, he shall die.
The church, the state, alike demand his life-
The sorcerer shall perish!-Look where comes
Thy Leontine.—Now rend the secret from him,
Or dread the arm of justice.

[Erit.
Ènter LEONTINE.
Leontine.

How the day
Lingers upon the world !-Methinks it knows
That I would have it gone, and stays to mark
How I will curb my spirit, and resign
My will in silence, and by patience prove
My worthiness of that most precious gift
Which is my nourishment of life--my sire !
Ah, pardon me, and on this thoughtless head

Freathe a fond father's blessing.
VOL. XI.

G