1821.] 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
THE GERMAN STUDENT. 
No. XXI. 
( Continued from page 226. J 
N EXT ill the order of composition, 
it is said, though not in the order 
of publication, should be arranged the 
tragedy entitled Cabal and Love, which 
was first translated into English in 
1795, by Mr. Peter Colombine, of Nor¬ 
wich, and afterwards in 1797, by Mr. 
Lewis, with less fidelity and more elo¬ 
quence, under the title of the Minister. 
Already in 1790, Dr. Ash, in the Spe¬ 
culator, had published some scenes of it. 
The action of the play is laid in a 
petty court of Germany; whose prince, 
attached to Lady Milford, an English 
woman of brilliant accomplishments, 
is about to contract a marriage of state 
policy. Herr von Kalb, conceiving the 
influence of Lady Milford to be by no 
means on the wane, is desirous of a 
matrimonial connection with her, as a 
step to advancement at court. Presi¬ 
dent Falkner, from similar motives, 
wishes to secure this alliance for his 
son Ferdinand: but the high-minded 
young man resolves to defeat this dirty 
cabal. to sacrifice every thing to love , 
and to unite himself with Louisa, the 
beautiful and amiable, but ignoble 
daughter of a music master. By means 
of Worm, an agent of the president, 
Louisa is persuaded to write a letter of 
assignation to Herr von Kalb, which is 
exhibited to Ferdinand just after he 
has rejected the advances of Lady Mil¬ 
ford. As soon as he is convinced of 
Louisa s perfidy, he determines to 
poison her and himself, and, having 
effected this purpose, learns too late, 
by what foul means the letter had been 
obtained. 
The scene Which opens the fifth act, 
wherein Miller dissuades his daughter 
from suicide, may best deserve tran¬ 
scription. 
Act. V.— Scene 1. 
[Dusk. A room in Miller’s house , where 
Louisa sits mute and still in the darkest 
corner , with her head sunk upon her arm. 
After a deep pause, the father enters with 
a lantern, looks round without perceiving 
Louisa, then lays his hat on the table and 
sets the lantern down.'] 
Miller. She is not here then. I have 
traced every street, been to every acquain¬ 
tance, enquired at every gate. My child 
has been seen no where. Patience, poor 
unhappy father. Wait till it dawns, then 
perhaps thy only one will come swimming 
at last to shore. O God, if my heart has 
hung on this daughter too idolatrous!y— 
Monthly Mao. No. 361. 
393 
surely the punishment is hard. Heavenly 
father, I would not murmur, but the punish, 
ment is hard. ( throws himself sorrowfully 
OW CL chcLIT• ^ 
Louisa, (from the corner where she sits.) 
Thou dost well, poor old man, to learn be¬ 
times what it is to lose. 
Miller. (jumps up.) Art thou there, my 
child; but why so lonesome and without 
a light. 
Louisa. I am not lonesome. When all 
around me is thus black, the visitors J like 
best are here. 
Miller. God shield thee. Only the 
worm of conscience strolls before the owl; 
guilt and evil spirits shun the light. 
Louisa. Eternity also, which holds con- 
verse with the helpless soul. 
Miller. Daughter, daughter, what are 
you meditating ? 
Louisa, (rising and coming forward.) 
I have fought a hard battle, you know, 
father. God gave me strength, and the 
strife is over. They call our sex soft and 
weak. Believe it not. We shake off a 
spider with trepidation, but ’tis in sport. 
The black monster—dissolution_we can 
hug. So much for intimation, father, thy 
Louisa is in spirits. 
Miller. I would rather hear thee sob: 
I should be easier. 
Louisa. Howl will overreach him, father, 
how I will cheat the tyrant. Love is cun- 
ninger and bolder too than malice. That 
the man with the star was not aware of. 
They come off with flying colours while 
they have only the head to deal with; but 
when they engage with the heart they are 
put to a stand. Did he think to cover his 
treachery by an oath. Oaths, father, may 
bind the living, but death dissolves the 
iron bonds of a sacrament. Ferdinand 
shall then know his Louisa. Will you take 
charge of this letter, father? 
Miller. To whom, daughter. 
Louisa. Strange question. Infinitude 
and my heart together have room but for 
a single thought of him—to whom else 
could I write. 
Miller, (alarmed.) Hear me, Louisa, I 
shall open this letter. 
Louisa. As you will. You can learn 
but little there. The characters are dead 
cold carcases, which only the eyes of love 
can animate. 
Miller, (reads.) “ Ferdinand thou hast 
been betrayed. A villainy without parallel 
has rent asunder the bond of our hearts : 
but a tremendous oath has fettered my 
tongue, and thy father’s listeners watch 
around. But if thou hast courage, my be¬ 
loved, I know a third place, where oaths 
bind no longer, and where no listener 
lurks, fMiller stops and looks earnestly 
in her face.) 
Louisa. Why do you stare so at me? 
read, read on. 
3 D Miller. 
The German Student , iVo. XXI—Schiller. 
