NOTES TO SARDANAPALUS. 1. And thou, my own Ionian Myrrha. worth a fillip.' Supposing this version nearly exact, (for Arrian says it was not quite so,) whether the Page 349, line 60. purpose has not been to invite to civil order a people disposed to turbulence, rather than to recom "THE Ionian name had been still more compre-mend immoderate luxury, may perhaps reasonabiy hensive, having included the Achaians and the be questioned. What, indeed, could be the object Bœotians, who, together with those to whom it was of a king of Assyria in founding such towns in a afterwards confined, would make nearly the whole country so distant from his capital, and so divided of the Greek nation, and among the orientals it from it by an immense extent of sandy deserts and was always the general name for the Greeks."- lofty mountains, and, still more, how the inhabMilford's Greece, vol. 1. p. 199. itants could be at once in circumstances to abandon themselves to the intemperate joys which their prince has been supposed to have recommended, is not obvious; but it may deserve observation that, in that line of coast, the southern of Lesser Asia, ruins of cities, evidently of an age after Alexander yet barely named in history, at this day astonish the adventurous traveller by their magnificence and elegance. Amid the desolation which, under a "For this expedition he took not only a small singularly barbarian government, has for so many chosen body of the phalanx, but all his light troops. centuries been daily spreading in the finest countries In the first day's march he reached Anchialus, a of the globe, whether more from soil and climate, town said to have been founded by the king of or from opportunities for commerce, extraordinary Assyria, Sardanapalus. The fortifications, in their means must have been found for communities to magnitude and extent, still in Arrian's time, bore flourish there, whence it may seem that the measthe character of greatness, which the Assyrians ures of Sardanapalus were directed by juster views appear singularly to have affected in works of the than have been commonly ascribed to him: but kind. A monument representing Sardanapalus that monarch having been the last of a dynasty, was found there, warranted by an inscription in ended by a revolution, obloquy on his memory would Assyrian characters, of course in the old Assyrian follow of course from the policy of his successors language, which the Greeks, whether well or ill, and their partisans. interpreted thus: 'Sardanapalus, son of Anacyn- "The inconsistency of traditions concerning Sar daraxes, in one day founded Anchialus and Tarsus. danapalus is striking in Diodorus's account of him.' Eat, drink, play: all other human joys are not-Misford's Greece, vol ix. pp. 311, 312, and 313. 48 The whole is neither intended, nor in any shape adapted, for the stage. February, 1822. DRAMATIS PERSONE. Men.-WERNER. ULRIC. THE following Drama is taken entirely from the had sense enough to burn,) and had nearly com"German's Tale, Kruitzner," published many years pleted an act, when I was interrupted by circumago in Lee's Canterbury Tales; written (I believe) stances. This is somewhere among my papers in by two sisters, of whom one furnished only this England; but as it has not been found, I have restory and another, both of which are considered written the first, and added the subsequent acts. superior to the remainder of the collection. I have adopted the characters, plan, and even the language, of many parts of this story. Some of the characters are modified or altered, a few of the names changed, and one character (Ida of Stralenheim) added by myself; but in the rest the original is chiefly followed. When I was young, (about fourteen, I think,) I first read this tale, which made a deep impression upon me; and may, indeed, be said to contain the germ of much that I have since written. I am not sure that it ever was very popular; or, at any rate, its popularity has since been eclipsed by that of other great writers in the same department. But I have generally found that those who had read it, agreed with me in their estimate of the singular power of mind and conception which it developes. I should also add conception, rather than execution; for the story might, perhaps, have been developed with greater advantage. Among those whose opinions agreed with mine upon this story, I could mention some very high names; but it is not necessary, nor indeed of any use, for every one must judge according to his own feelings. I merely refer the reader to the original story, that he may see to what extent I have borrowed from it: and am not unwilling that he should find much greater Scene-Partly on the Frontier of Silcsia, and partly pleasure in perusing it than the drama which is founded upon its contents. I had begun a drama upon this tale so far back as STRALENHEIM. GABOR. FRITZ. MEISTER. RODOLPH. Women.-JOSEPHINE. IDA STRALENHEIM. in Siegendorf Castle, near Prague. Time-The Close of the Thirty Years' War. Yes, but not to thyself: thy pace is hurried, Wer. 'Tis chill; the tapestry lets through The wind to which it waves: my blood is frozen. Jos. Ah, no! Wer. (smiling.) Why! wouldst thou have it so? Have it a healthful current. Let it flow I would Wer. Something beyond our outward sufferings (though These were enough to gnaw into our souls) Jos. (abruptly.) My son our son-our Ulric He was, and beautiful he must be now. My Ulric! my adored! I have been full oft Comfort! We have struggled long; and they wha strive Wer. (approaching her slowly.) But for thee I had Jos. And I had not outlived thee; but pray take been-no matter what, But much of good and evil; what I am, Thou knowest; what I might or should have been, With fortune win or weary her at last. Shall aught divide us. So that they find the goal or cease to feel Further. Take comfort, we shall find our boy Wer. We were in sight of him, of every thing Which could bring compensation for past sorrow [WERNER walks on abruptly, and then approaches JOSEPHINE. And to be baffled thus! Jos. We are not baffled. The storm of the night, Perhaps, affects me; I'm a thing of feelings, And have of late been sickly, as, alas! Wer. Are we not pennyless ? We ne'er were wealthy. Wer. But I was born to wealth, and rank, and power; Enjoy'd them, loved them, and, alas! abused them Where hast thou seen such? And forfeited them by my father's wrath, In my o'er-fervent youth; but for the abuse The fluttering bird, hath ere this time outstept me. Who knows? our son Wer. A beggar, and should know the thing thou talk'st of. Since his strange disappearance from my father's, Jos. And art thou not now shelter'd from them all? Wer. Yes. And from these alone. Jos. And that is something. Entailing, as it were, my sins upon Wer. True to a peasant. Jos. Of early delicacy render more Needful than to the peasant, when the ebb To claim her stern prerogative, and visit Jos. I must hope better still.-at least we have yet Baffled the long pursuit of Stralenheim. Had such been my inheritance; but now, Wer. We should have done, but for this fatal sick- Chasten'd, subdued, out-worn, and taught to know ness, More fatal than a mortal malady, By the snares of this avaricious fiend ; How do I know he hath not track'd us here? Jos. He does not know thy person; and his spies, Who so long watch'd thee, have been left at Hamburgh. Our unexpected journey, and this change None hold us here for aught save what we seem. Wer. Save what we seem! save what we are sick beggars, Even to our very hopes.-Ha! ha! That bitter laugh! Alas! Who would read in this form The high soul of the son of a long line? Wer. An exile's daughter with an outcast son Jos. Your father did not think so, though 'twas noble; But had my birth been all my claim to match Has done in our behalf, nothing. Iden. Better or worse, like matrimony: what All which it Here in the prince's palace-(to be sure, How, nothing? And rats these twelve years-but 'tis still a palace) You see I am poor, and sick, and will not see Keep up the stove-I will myself to the cellar- Iden. You don't know what has happened, then? Iden. The river is o'erflow'd. How should we? Alas! we have known That to our sorrow for these five days; since It keeps us here. Kien. But what you don't know is, Jos. Poor creatures! are you sure? Shall furnish forth the bed-apparel; for, Gab. Yes, of the monkey, A traveller's appetite. And the valet, and the cattle; but as yet It may turn out with the live or dead body. Jos. And where will you receive him? here, I hope, af we can be of service-say the word. Iden. Here? no; but in the prince's own apartment, As fits a noble guest:-'tis damp, no doubt, So scarcely will catch cold in't, if he be Still liable to cold-and if not, why He'll be worse lodged to-morrow: ne'ertheless, I have ordered fire and all appliances To be got ready for the worst-that is, In case he should survive. Iden. How many? Gab. Sufficient. I did not count them. We came up by mere accident, and just In time to drag him through his carriage window. Iden. Well, what would I give to save a great man, No doubt you'll have a swinging sum as recompense. Gab. Perhaps. Iden. Now, how much do you reckon on ? Gab. I have not yet put up myself to sale: In the mean time, my best reward would be A glass of your Hockheimer-a green glass, Wreath'd with rich grapes and Bacchanal devices, O'erflowing with the oldest of your vintage; For which I promise you, in case you e'er Run hazard of being drown'd, (although I own It seems, of all deaths, the least likely for you,) I'll pull you out for nothing. Quick, my friend, And think, for every bumper I shall quaff, A wave the less may roll above your head. Iden. (aside.) I don't much like this fellow-close and dry He seems, two things which suit me not; however, [Exit IDENSTEIN. Gab. (to WERNER.) This master of the ceremonies is The intendant of the palace, I presume. 'Tis a fine building, but decay'd. |
