bitious nature of one who hopes to rise still higher in the world, but feels his career obstructed by a passion which made him happy in the obscure days of penniless youth. The popular author and court favorite aspires to some woman of rank; an aspiration in which he is encouraged by his friend Carlos, who mockingly strips off the garlands with which the poet's imagination had decked his mistress.

Marie is a weak, sensitive creature, without much individuality, and is perhaps the poorest sketch Goethe has given of a woman. There is, however, one little touch which shows the poet; it is a sentence which escapes Marie, when Clavigo returns repentant to her feet, appealing to her affection: she throws herself on his neck, exclaiming, Ah, sister, whence knows he that I love him ·woher weiss er dass ich ihn so liebe!'

SO

Marie is overjoyed at Clavigo's return, but her joy is brief. The demon of ambition, aided by the cold sarcasms of Carlos (in whom we see the germ of Mephistopheles), once more troubles Clavigo, and turns him from a marriage so ill suited to his hopes. Carlos bitterly, but truly, says to him, 'There is nothing in the world so pitiable as an undecided man, who wavers between two feelings, hoping to reconcile them.' He suggests that Beaumarchais should be assassinated. He who orders the assassination of the brother, pantomimically intimates that he will have nothing to do with the sister;' adds Carlos, quite in the Mephistophelic tone. They determine on a contemptible plan. Beaumarchais is to be imprisoned for having insulted and threatened Clavigo under his own roof. The order for arrest arrives, and Marie dies

broken-hearted at the treachery of her lover.

Up to this point

short at least of the death of Marie Beaumarchais' Mémoire has been faithfully followed; a

fifth act is added, with a dénouement to fit it for the stage. This is so brief, and yet so effective, that I give it here, in Taylor's translation.

SCENE I.

ACT V.

The Street before the House of Gilbert.— Night.

(The house is open. Before the door stand three men clad in black mantles, holding torches. Clavigo enters, wrapt in a cloak, his sword under his arm; a servant goes before him with a torch.)

Clavigo. I thought I told you to avoid this street.

Servant. We must have gone a great way round, sir, and you are in such haste. It is not far hence where Don Carlos is lodged.

Clavigo. Torches there!

Servant. A funeral. Come on, sir.

Clavigo. Maria's abode! A funeral! A death-agony shudders through all my limbs. Go, ask, whom they are going to bury. Servant (to the men). Whom are you going to bury?

The Men. Maria de Beaumarchais.

Clavigo (sits down on a stone and covers himself in a cloak). Servant (comes back). They are going to bury Maria de Beau

marchais.

Clavigo (springing up). Traitor, must thou repeat it? Repeat that word of thunder, which strikes all the marrow out of my bones? Servant. Peace, sir! Come on, sir. Consider the danger by which you are surrounded.

Clavigo. To hell with thee; reptile! I remain.

Servant. O, Carlos! O, that I could find thee!

Carlos! he [Exit.

The mutes in the distance.

Clavigo. Dead! Maria dead! Torches! her dismal attendants ! It is a trick of enchantment, a night vision which terrifies me; which holds up to me a picture, in which I may see anticipated the end of all my treacheries. But there is still time. Still! I tremble my heart melts with horror! No! no! thou shall not die-I come, I come! -Vanish, ye spirits of the night, which with your horrible terrors set yourselves in my way. (He goes up to them.)

Vanish! They remain! Ha! they look around after me! Woe! woe is me! They are men like myself. It is true! true! - Canst thou comprehend it? She is dead! - It seizes me amid all the horror of midnight the feeling that she is dead. There she lies, the flowers at her feet! and thou-O have mercy on me God in heaven - I have murdered her? Hide yourselves, ye stars, look not down! You who have so often beheld the villain, in feelings of the most heartfelt happiness leave this threshold; through this street float along in golden dreams with music and song, and enrapture his maiden listening at the secret casement and lingering in transport. And now I fill the house with wailing and sorrow - and this scene of my bliss with the funeral song- Maria! Maria! take me with thee! take me with thee! (A mournful music utters a few sounds from within.) They are beginning the way to the grave. Stop! Stop! Shut not the coffin - Let me see her yet once. (He runs up to the house.) Ha! into whose presence am I rushing? whom to face amid their horrible sorrows? Her friends! Her brother! Whose breast is panting with raging grief. (The music recommences.) She calls me! She calls me! I come! What anguish is this which overwhelms me! What shuddering withholds me!

SCENE III.

(The music begins for the third time, and continues. The torches move before the door; three others come out to them, who range themselves in order, to inclose the funeral procession, which now comes out of the house. Six bearers carry the bier, upon which lies the coffin, covered. Gilbert and Buenco follow next in deep mourning.) Clavigo (coming forward with majesty). Halt!

Gilbert. What voice is that?

Clavigo. Halt! (The bearers stop.)

Buenco. Who dares to interrupt the solemn funeral?
Clavigo. Set it down. (The bearers set it down.)

Gilbert. Ha!

Buenco. Wretch! are thy deeds of shame not yet ended? Is thy victim not safe from thee in the coffin?

Clavigo. No more! make me not frantic. The miserable are dangerous; I must see her. (He tears off the pall and the lid of the coffin. Maria is seen lying within it, clad in white, her hands clasped before her; Clavigo steps back, and covers his face.)

Buenco. Wilt thou awake her, to murder her again?

Clavigo. Poor mocker! — Maria!

coffin.)

(He falls down before the

SCENE IV.-BEAUMARCHAIS comes up the street. The former.

They say she is dead. I must
Ha! torches! a funeral. (He

Beaumarchais. Buenco has left me. see her; spite of hell, I must see her. runs hastily up to it, gazes on the coffin and falls down speechless. They raise him up; he is deprived of sense; Gilbert holds him.)

Clavigo (who is standing on the other side of the coffin). Maria! Maria!

Beaumarchais (springing up). That is his voice. Who calls Maria? At the sound of that voice what burning rage starts into my veins!

Clavigo. It is I.

Beaumarchais (staring wildly around and grasping his sword. Gilbert holds him.)

Clavigo. I fear not thy blazing eyes, nor the point of thy sword. Oh! look here, here, on these closed eyes - these clasped hands.

Beaumarchais. Dost thou show me that sight? (He tears himself loose, runs upon Clavigo, who instantly draws ; they fight; Beaumarchais pierces him through the breast.)

Clavigo. I thank thee, brother; thou marriest us. (He falls upon the coffin.)

Beaumarchais (tearing him away). Hence from this saint, thou

fiend!

Clavigo. Alas! (The bearers raise up his body and support him.) Beaumarchais. His blood! Look up, Maria, look upon thy bridal ornaments, and then close thine eyes forever. See! how I have consecrated thy place of rest with the blood of thy murderer! Charming! glorious!

SCENE V.-SOPHIA from the house. The former.

Sophia. My brother? O, my God!-what is the matter? Beaumarchais. Draw near, my love, and see! I hoped to have strewn her bridal bed with roses; see the roses with which I adorn her on her way to heaven.

Sophia. We are lost!

Clavigo. Save yourself, inconsiderate young man! save yourself,

ere the dawn of day. May God, who sent you for an avenger, conduct you! Sophia, forgive me. Brothers, friends, forgive me.

Beaumarchais. How the sight of his gushing blood extinguishes all the burning vengeance within me! how with his departing life vanishes all my rage! (Going up to him.) Die, I forgive thee. Clavigo. Your hand! and your's, Sophia — and your's! (Buenco hesitates.)

Sophia. Give it him, Buenco.

Clavigo. I thank you; you are still as good as ever; I thank you. And thou, O spirit of my beloved, if thou still hoverest around this place, look down, see these heavenly kindnesses, bestow thy blessing, and do thou too forgive me. I come! I come! —Save yourself, my brother. Tell me, did she forgive me? How did she die ? Sophia. Her last word was thy unhappy name. without taking leave of us.

She departed

Clavigo. I will follow her, and bear your farewells to her.

Clavigo. Hear me, Carlos! Thou seest here the victim of thy prudence; and now I conjure thee, for the sake of that blood, in which my life irrevocably flows away -save my brother.

Carlos. O, my friend? (to the servant) are you standing there? Fly for a surgeon. [Servant exit.

Clavigo. It is in vain ; save, save my unhappy brother; thy hand in assurance of it. They have forgiven me, and so I forgive thee. Accompany him to the frontiers, and — oh!

Carlos (stamping with his feet). Clavigo! Clavigo!

Clavigo (Drawing nearer to the coffin, upon which they lay him down). Maria ! - Thy hand! (He uncloses her hands, and grasps her right hand.)

Sophia (to Beaumarchais). Hence, unhappy one, away.

Clavigo. I have her hand, her cold dead hand. Thou art mine. Yet this last bridegroom's kiss.

Sophia. He is dying. Save thyself, brother.

(Beaumarchais falls on Sophia's neck. She returns the embrace, and makes a sign for him to withdraw.)

Powerful as this scene is in theatrical effect, one cannot