[655:1]_Countess._ Thou seest it with a love-lorn maiden's eyes. 45 Cast thine eye round, bethink thee who thou art. Into no house of joyance hast thou stepped, For no espousals dost thou find the walls Deck'd out, no guests the nuptial garland wearing. Here is no splendour but of arms. Or think'st thou 50 That all these thousands are here congregated To lead up the long dances at thy wedding? Thou see'st thy father's forehead full of thought, Thy mother's eye in tears: upon the balance Lies the great destiny of all our house. 55 Leave now the puny wish, the girlish feeling, O thrust it far behind thee! Give thou proof, Thou'rt the daughter of the Mighty--his Who where he moves creates the wonderful. Not to herself the woman must belong, 60 Annexed and bound to alien destinies. But she performs the best part, she the wisest, Who can transmute the alien into self, Meet and disarm necessity by choice; And what must be, take freely to her heart, 65 And bear and foster it with mother's love. _Thekla._ Such ever was my lesson in the convent. I had no loves, no wishes, knew myself Only as his--his daughter--his, the Mighty! His fame, the echo of whose blast drove to me 70 From the far distance, wakened in my soul No other thought than this--I am appointed To offer up myself in passiveness to him. _Countess._ That is thy fate. Mould thou thy wishes to it. I and thy mother gave thee the example. 75 _Thekla._ My fate hath shewn me him, to whom behoves it That I should offer up myself. In gladness Him will I follow. _Countess._ Not thy fate hath shewn him! Thy heart, say rather--'twas thy heart, my child! _Thekla._ Fate hath no voice but the heart's impulses. 80 I am all his! His Present--his alone, Is this new life, which lives in me. He hath A right to his own creature. What was I Ere his fair love infused a soul into me? _Countess._ Thou would'st oppose thy father then, should he 85 Have otherwise determined with thy person? [_THEKLA remains silent. The COUNTESS continues._ Thou mean'st to force him to thy liking?--Child, His name is Friedland. _Thekla._ My name too is Friedland. He shall have found a genuine daughter in me.