The Works - of Frederick Schiller Author:Friedrich Schiller Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: W ALLEN STEIN'S CAMP, TRANSLATED HY JA5IES CHURCHILL. THE PICCOLOMINI, THE DEATH OF WALLENSTEIN, BY S T. COLEBIDGE. IHOIUDIHO SCENES AND PASSAGES ... more »HITHERTO EMITTED. " Upon the whole there can be no doubt that this trilogy forms, in its original tongue, one of the most splendid specimens of tragic art the world has witnessed; and none at all, that the execution of the version from which we have quoted so largely, places Mr. Coleridge in the very first rank of poetical translators. He is, perhaps, the solitary example of arnan of very great original genius submitting to all the labours, and re- mg aŁ the honours, of this species of literary exertion."— Blackwood, 1823. The Camp of Wallenstein is an introduction to the celebrated tragedy of that name ; and, by its vivid portraiture cf the state of the General's army, gives the best clue to the spell of his gigantic power. The blind belief entertained in the unfailing success of his arms, and in the supernatural agencies by which that success is secured to him; the unrestrained indulgence of every passion, and utter disregard of all law, save that of the camp; a hard oppression of the peasantry and plunder of the country ; have all swollen the soldiery with an idea of interminable sway. But, as we have translated the whole, we shall leave these reckless marauders to speak for themselves. Of Schiller's opinion concerning the Camp, as a necessary introduction to the tragedy, the following passage taken from the Prologue to the first representation, will give a just idea- and may also serve as a motto to the work :— "Not He it is, who on the tragic scene Will now appear—but in the fearless bands Whom his command alone could sway, and whom His spirit fired, you may his shadow see, Until the bashful Muse shall dar...« less