[MAX. tears himself away out of her arms and goes. The COUNTESS accompanies him. THEKLA follows him with her eyes at first, walks restlessly across the room, then stops, and remains standing, lost in thought. A guitar lies on the table, she seizes it as by a sudden emotion, and after she has played awhile an irregular and melancholy symphony, she falls gradually into the music and sings. SCENE VII. THEKLA (plays and sings). The cloud doth gather, the greenwood roar, The damsel paces along the shore; The billows, they tumble with might, with might; And she flings out her voice to the darksome night; Her bosom is swelling with sorrow; The world it is empty, the heart will die, There's nothing to wish for beneath the sky Thou Holy One, call thy child away! I've lived and loved, and that was to-day; Make ready my grave-clothes to-morrow. [12] SCENE VIII. COUNTESS (returns), THEKLA. COUNTESS. Fie, lady niece! to throw yourself upon him Like a poor gift to one who cares not for it, And so must be flung after him! For you, Duke Friedland's only child, I should have thought It had been more beseeming to have shown yourself More chary of your person. THEKLA (rising). And what mean you? DUCHESS. I mean, niece, that you should not have forgotten Who you are, and who he is. But perchance That never once occurred to you. THEKLA. What then? COUNTESS. That you're the daughter of the Prince Duke Friedland. THEKLA. Well, and what farther? DUCHESS. What? A pretty question! THEKLA. He was born that which we have but become. He's of an ancient Lombard family, Son of a reigning princess. COUNTESS. Are you dreaming? Talking in sleep? An excellent jest, forsooth! We shall no doubt right courteously entreat him To honor with his hand the richest heiress In Europe. THEKLA. That will not be necessary. COUNTESS. Methinks 'twere well, though, not to run the hazard. THEHLA. His father loves him; Count Octavio Will interpose no difficulty---- COUNTESS. His! His father! His! But yours, niece, what of yours? THERLA. Why, I begin to think you fear his father, So anxiously you hide it from the man! His father, his, I mean. COUNTESS (looks at her as scrutinizing). Niece, you are false. THEBLA. Are you then wounded? O, be friends with me! COUNTESS. You hold your game for won already. Do not Triumph too soon! THEKLA (interrupting her, and attempting to soothe her). Nay now, be friends with me. COUNTESS. It is not yet so far gone. THEKLA. I believe you.