Rol. Thou hast !

Cas. And I, in turn, have promised thee my aid time of need. Still I succeed not:-Rodolph, th surest marksman in the forest, has, by the power of the hunter's spirit, been deprived of all his boasted skill-he hits his mark no longer-so shall he lose tomorrow's prize, and her in whose love he has supplanted me:-but this is not enough. What will his

loss avail me, if I live not to witness it? Who shall enable me to yield him to the power of the spirit?

Rol. Thyself! It wants but perseverance, and thou wilt succeed. Thou hast still time.

Cas. You give me hope and courage !-Desert me not, Rollo. An awful presage lies heavy at my heartbut I will make one desperate effort more; and, should I succeed, the fall of Rodolph will at once prolong my term of life, and satisfy the vengeance of my heart.

[CASPAR rushes out, R., followed by ROLLO. After their exeunt, gun fired behind. Music as scene

changes.

SCENE II.-An open space, with a forest in the distance: in the back-ground, L., a target with a star. On L. U. E., a Village-Inn, with round table, three rustic chairs, tin japanned jug, and horn cup. On L. S. E. a bush.-At the change of scene RODOLPH is discovered with his rifle, disconcerted at having missed the mark, the Peasants sneering at him. KILLIAN aiming with his rifle on R., and fires at the eleventh bar of the music. The car falls from the target, and a general shout is given by the Jagers and Villager's.

CHORUS.-Jagers and Villagers.

Victoria! let fame to the master be given,
His rifle the star of the target hath riven:
He hath no peer,

Seek far or near

Victoria, Victoria!

[The target is taken down by the Villagers.

Rod. Go on; shout, shout! Have my eyes, then,

lost their sight, or my rifle its power?

[Music: a procession is formed.

[Sits L. S. E,

Six Peasant

boys, KILLIAN as king, with prize medal and a large bouquet fastened to his breast by some of the female peasantry. The procession passes, followed by Huntsmen and Peasants, and where

13

Rodolph is seated they all point sneeringly at
him. At last, KILLIAN struts up to RODOLPH.
SONG-KILLIAN.

Why, good people, are you gazing?
Whom, good people, are you praising?
Doff your hats,-I'm king to-day:
Do you hear me, eh, eh, eh?

[All pull off their hats but RODOLPH.

Never mind, I will not slight thee;
Come to-morrow, I invite thee;
Grant to others something, pray:
Look at this, sir, eh, eh, eh?

[Pointing to the nosegay and star.

How this star and flower adorn me!
Now what huntsman dares to scorn me?
So you lost the prize to-day?
So you miss'd it, eh, eh, eh?

Rod. [Starting up, seizes KILLIAN by the throat.] Taunt me no longer, or

[Peasants surround RODOLPH and KILLIAN.

Enter KUNO, L. U. E., followed by CASPAR and ROLLO. Kuno. Hold! hold! What may this mean? Shame, Who dared to shame! What! thirty against one? lift his hand against one of the Ranger's huntsmen? Kil. [Trembling.] Dear Mr. Ranger, there was no harm intended: he who misses every time must needs expect a little jeering on the occasion.

[Peasants laugh. Kuno. Silence! And who missed every time? surely, not Rodolph.

Kil. Ah! that is always the way, when the peasant gets the better of the huntsman :-but ask him himself [Consequentially. he cannot deny it.

Rod. [Holding his head down, and crossing to L.]

I cannot.

Cas. [Aside.] I shall succeed.

Kuno. Is it possible, Rodolph? Till within the last month you had not an equal in the whole country; but, since that time, you have not brought home a feather; and now-shame, shame!

Cas. Believe me, comrade, it is as I told you some one has bewitched you; and, unless you dissolve the charm, you may rely that you

Kuno. Nonsense!

Rod. And to-morrow is the trial-shot! What is to become of me to-morrow?

Kil. What is the trial-shot? We have often heard of it; but I could never learn the particulars. Tell us, Mr. Kuno.

[All the peasants draw near to listen. Kuno. Well, I will. The hounds of the prince having many years since started a stag on which a man was fettered, for having shot a royal deer, the prince, moved with compassion, offered a great reward and an hereditary rangership to him who should kill the stag without wounding the man. An ancestor of mine, named Kuno, in pity more than avarice, fired:-the stag fell, and the man remained unhurt.

Kil. Bravo, bravo! that was a shot.

Cas. Or a good chance-or perhaps, something more. [Mysteriously.

Kil. So that is the origin of the trial-shot' Kuno. Hear the end. It was even then as it is now : [Looking at CASPAR]-the wicked always slander the good, and the enemies of Kuno endeavoured to persuade the prince that my ancestor had made use of a magic ball.

Cas. [Aside.] I thought so.

Kil. A magic ball! [To the Peasants.] These are snares of the devil. A magic ball!-my grandmother told me all about it- six hit, the seventh misses-that is, Zamiel, the forest spirit, directs the seventh wherever he pleases.

Cas. Nonsense !-'tis nothing but natural skill.

:

Kuno. For this cause the trial-shot was instituted :it is likewise customary that the successful candidate shall, on the same day, be married to the most beautiful and virtuous girl of the village. But enough of this: you may now home, Rodolph, and see if the beaters have returned. Courage, man; the enchantment that affects you may be only love. I expect you at court before sunrise.

Rod.

Rol.

DUET-RODOLPH and ROLLO.

Oh, how dark and dreary

Will to-morrow o'er me rise!

Now in thy rifle

Future joy or sorrow lies.

Chorus. Fortune may return to-morrow;
Chase then every fear away.

Rod.

Rol.

Cho.

Ah, what guilt thus chills me with dismay?
How my soul is chill'd with sorrow!
Life the loss can never bear.

Place in Heaven thy firm reliance,

Then thou canst have nought to fear.
Then up to the cliffs and the mountains
To-morrow, ere dawning of day.
Each bird and beast that there wanders,
Our rifles shall give us for prey.
Let merry-toned horns then be sounded,
And peal through yon hill's rocky side;
To-morrow, ere evening, their echoes

Shall welcome the bridegroom and bride. [Exeunt KUNO, CASPAR, ROLLO, and HUNTSMEN, only, L.

[While last symphony is played, the Peasants form themselves in centre, back of stage. During the above duet and chorus, the stage becomes progressively dark.

Kil. A good, worthy gentleman, that Ranger:—but it is already nearly dark. Let us away to the tap. Come, [To RODOLPH] we will remain good friends, my brave fellow. I wish you better luck to-morrow, with all my heart. Cheer up-come along with us, and dance away sorrow.

Rod. I thank you.

[Turns up stage, and sits, L. Kil. Well, as you please. Come, friends, while you waltz, I'll play.

[KILLIAN takes up pandean pipes, and plays during the waltzing. The Peasants exeunt, L. to the inn-the dancers waltz off severally— RODOLPH rises.

GRAND SCENA-RODOLPH.

Oh! I can bear my fate no longer,-
E'en hope is banish'd from my soul:
What unknown guilt thus haunts my spirit,
And o'er me works its dark control?
Through the forests, through the meadows,
Joy was wont with me to stray,
While my rifle, never-failing,

Made each bird and beast my prey.

B

When at length from chace loaded,
Ere home rose before my sight,
Agnes smiling came to meet me,
Clothed in beauty's heavenly light.
And am I now by Heaven forsaken,

And left, the power of chance to know ?

[ZAMIEL Crosses behind from L. to R.
Will Hope's long slumber ever waken,-
Or am I doom'd to endless woe?
Now, methinks, beside her lattice
my lovely Agnes see;

While her ear seems fondly listening
Every coming sound for me:
See, she fondly waves a welcome,
Fancy's eye her lover sees-
But her signal gains no answer,

Save the sigh of whispering trees!

What dark'ning power is ruling o'er me?

[ZAMIEL re-enters, R., watching RODOLPH.

My anxious bosom fear hath riven;

Despair hath spread her snares before me :
Does fate rule blindly? aid me, Heaven!
[RODOLPH kneels-ZAMIEL shudders, starts, and
disappears, L

Enter CASPAR, L., with loaded rifle.

Cas. Are you still here, comrade? I was fearful I should not meet you.

Rod. Why are you thus for ever dogging my steps? Cas. This is the return I always meet! but still my kindness binds me to your fortune. I thought I could be of service to you; and, after running myself out of breath for your sake, these are my only thanks.

Rod. Of service to me?

Cas. Yes with the friendship I profess, do you think I do not feel for you? Have you not been the jest of these churls to-day! Rouse your manly resolution, and drive your disappointment from your mind, my dear fellow. [Goes to the table:-taking the jug up.] But what have you here? it is mere water: this will never kill care, boy. [Calling at inn door.] Ho, ho, there! some of your best wine! Should it cost me my last farthing, comrade, I would not see you melancholy while a drop of wine could be got to cheer you.