1823.]
His Youth (1759-1784.)

393 was in vain that he discharged the number was the Freiherr von Dalhumble duties of his station with the berg, superintendant of the theatre most strict fidelity, and even, it is at Manheim, under whose encousaid, with superior skill: he was a ragement and countenance Schiller suspected person, and his most inno- remodelled the Robbers, altered it cent actions were misconstrued, his in some parts, and had it brought slightest faults were visited with the upon the stage, in 1781. The cor full measure of official severity. His respondence with Dalberg began in busy imagination aggravated the literary discussions, but gradually evil. He had seen poor Schubarl elevated itself into the expression of wearing out his tedious eight years more interesting sentiments.

Dalof durance in the fortress of Schön- berg loved and sympathized with the berg, because he had been “a rock generous enthusiast, involved in trouof offence to the powers that were. bles and perplexities which his inThe fate of this unfortunate author experience was so little adequate to appeared to Schiller as a type of his thread: he gave him advice and asown. His free spirit shrank at the sistance; and Schiller repaid this prospect of wasting its strength in favour with the gratitude due to his strife against the pitiful constraints, kind, his first, and then almost his the minute and endless persecutions only benefactor. His letters to this of men, who knew him not, yet had gentleman have been preserved, and his fortune in their hands: the idea lately published: they exhibited a of dungeons and jailors haunted and lively picture of Schiller's painful tortured his mind; and the means of situation at Stuttgard, and of his escaping them,-the renunciation of unskilful as well as eager anxiety to poetry, the source of all his joy, if be delivered from it. His darling likewise of many woes, the radiant project was that Dalberg, should guiding-star of his turbid and ob- bring him to Manheim, as theatrical scure existence,-seemed a sentence poet, by permission of the Duke: at of death to all that was dignified, one time, he even thought of turning and delightful, and worth retaining, player. in his character. Totally ignorant of Neither of these projects could what is called the world; conscious take immediate effect, and Schiller's too of the might that slumbered embarrassments became more presin his soul, and proud of it, as kings sing than ever. With the natural are of their sceptres; impetuous feeling of a young author, he had when roused, and spurning unjust ventured to go in secret, and witness restraint; yet wavering and timid the first representation of his tragedy, from the delicacy of his nature, and at Manheim. His incognito did not still more restricted in the freedom of conceal him ; he was put under his movements by the circumstances arrest, during a week, for this offence: of his father, whose all depended and as the punishment did not deter on the pleasure of the court, Schil- him from again transgressing in a ler felt himself embarrassed, and similar manner, he learned that it agitated, and tormented, in no com- was in contemplation to try more mon degree. Urged this way and rigorous measures with him. Dark that, by the most powerful and con- hints were given him of some exemflicting impulses; driven to despair plary as well as imminent severity: by the paltry shackles that chained and Dalberg's aid, the sole hope of him, yet forbidden by the most sa. averting it by quiet means, was discred considerations to break them, tant and dubious. Schiller saw himhe knew not on what he should re- self reduced to extremities. Besolve ; he reckoned himself “ the leaguered with present distresses, and most unfortunate of men.”

the most horrible forebodings, on Time at length gave him the so- every side; roused to the highest lution; circumstances occurred which pitch of indignation, yet forced to forced him to decide. The popula- keep silence, and wear the face of rity of the Robbers had brought him patience, he could endure this madinto correspondence with several dening constraint no longer. He refriends of literature, who wished to solved to be free, at whatever risk ; patronize the author, or engage him to abandon advantages which he in new undertakings. Among this could not buy at such a price; to

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Ang it in a life of Kiterature. By complexities of the conspiracy; we many safe and sagacious persons, the mingle, as among realities, in the prudence of his late proceedings pompous' and imposing movements might be more than questioned; it which lead to the catastrophe. The 'was natural for many to forebode catastrophe itself is displayed with that one who left the port so rashly, peouliar effect. 'The midnight sia and sailed with such precipitation, lence of the sleeping city, interruptwas likely to make shipwreck ere ed only by the distant sounds of the voyage had extended far: but watchmen, by the low hoarse mur. the lapse of a few months put a stop múr of the sea, or the stealthy footto such predictions. A year had not steps and disguised voice of Fiesco, passed since his departure, when is conveyed to our imagination by Schiller sent forth his Verschwörung some brief but graphic touches; we des Fiesco and Kabale und Liebe; seem to stand in the solitude and tragedies which testified that, dan- deep stillness of Genoa, awaiting the gerous and arduous as the life he had signal which is to burst so fearfully selected might be, he possessed re- upon its slumber. At length the gun sources more than adequate to its is fired; and the wild uproar which emergencies. Fiesco he had com- ensues is no less-strikingly exhibited. menced during the period of his ar- The deeds and sounds of violence, aga rest at Stuttgard : it was published, tonishment, and terror ; the volleying with the other play, in 1783; and cannon, the heavy toll of the alarmsoon after brought upon the Manheim bells, the acclamation of assembled theatre, with universal approbation. thousands, "thevoice of Genoa speak

It was now about three years ing with Fiesco,"--all is made presince the composition of the Robbers sent to us with a force and clearness, had been finished ; five since the first which of itself were enough to show no sketch of it had been formed. With ordinary power of close and comprewhat zeal and success Schiller had, hensive conception, no ordinary skill in in that interval, pursued the work of arranging and expressing its results. his mental culture, these two drámas But it is not this felicitous delineare a striking proof. The first ar- ation of circumstances and visible dour of youth is still to be discerned scenes which constitutes our prinin them, but it is now chastened by cipal enjoyment. The faculty of pethe dictates of a maturer reason, and netrating through obscurity and con made to animate the products of a fusion, to seize the characteristic much happier and more skilful in- features of an object, abstract or mavention. Schiller's ideas of art had terial ; of producing a lively descripexpanded and grown clearer, his tion in the latter case, an accurate knowledge of life had enlarged. He and keen scrutiny in the former, is exhibits more acquaintance with the the essential property of intellect, fundamental principles of human and occupies in its best form a high nature, as well as with the circum- rank in the scale of mental gifts : stances under which it usually dis- but the creative faculty of the poet, plays itself; and far higher and juster and most of the dramatic poet, is views of the manner in which its ma- something superadded to this; it is nifestations should be represented. far rarer, and occupies a rank far

In the Conspiracy of Fiesco, we higher. In this particular, Fiesco, have to admire not only the energe without approaching the limits of tic animation which the author has perfection, yet moves in an elevated infused into all his characters, but range of excellence. The characters, the distinctness with which he has on the whole, are imagined and pour, discriminated, without aggravating trayed with great impressiveness and them; and the vividness with which vigour. Traces of old faults are he has contrived to depict the scene indeed still to be discovered ; there where they act and move. The po- still seems a want of pliancy about litical and personal relations of the the author's genius; a stiffness and Genoese nobility; the luxurious splen- heaviness in his motions. His sublidour, the intrigues, the feuds, and mity is not to be questioned ; but it jarring interest, which occupy them, does not always disdain the aid of are made visible before us: we un- rude contrasts, and mere theatrical derstand and may appreciate the effect. He paints in colours deep and glowing, but without sufficient sical exertion of his own: he would skill to blend them delicately : he lead us captive by the superior granamplifies nature more than purifies deur of his qualities, once fairly mait; he omits, but does not well con- nifested; and he aims at dominion, ceal the omission. Fiesco has not chiefly as it will enable him to manithe complete charm of a true though fest them. “ It is not the arena that embellished resemblance to reality, he values, but what lies in that its attraction rather lies in a kind of arena :” the sovereignty is enviable, colossal magnitude, which requires not for its adventitious splendour, it, if seen to advantage, to be viewed not because it is the object of coarse from a distance. Yet the pervading and universal wonder; but as it qualities of the piece do more than offers, in the collected force of a namake us pardon such defects. If tion, something, which the loftiest the dramatic imitation is not always mortal may find scope for all his entirely successful, it is never very powers in guiding. "Spread out distant from success; and a constant the thunder," Fiesco exclaims, “ into flow of powerful thought and senti- its single tones, and it becomes a ment counteracts or prevents us lullaby for children: pour it forth from noticing the failure. We find together in one quick peal, and the evidence of great philosophic pene- royal sound shall move the heavens." tration, great resources of invention, His affections are not less vehement directed by a skilful study of history than his other passions: his heart and men; and everywhere a bold can be melted into powerlessness and grandeur of feeling and imagery gives tenderness by the mild persuasions life to what study has combined. of his Leonora ; the idea of exalting The chief incidents have a dazzling this amiable being mingles largely magnificence; the chief characters, with the other motives to his enteran aspect of majesty and force which prize. He is, in fact, a great, and corresponds to it

. Fervour of heart, might have been a virtuous man; capaciousness of intellect and ima- and though in the pursuit of grangination, present themselves on all deur, he swerves from absolute recsides: the general effect is powerful titude, we still respect his splendid and exalting.

qualities, and admit the force of the Fiesco himself is a personage at allurements which have led him once probable and tragically interest- astray. It is but faintly that we ing. The luxurious dissipation, in condemn his sentiments, when, after which he veils his daring projects, a night spent in struggles between a softens the rudeness of that strength rigid and a more accommodating pawhich it half conceals. His immea- triotism, he looks out of his chamber, surable pride expands itself not only as the sun is rising in its calm beauty, into a disdain of subjection, but also and gilding the waves and mouninto the loftiest acts of magnanimity: tains, and all the innumerable pahis blind confidence in fortune seems laces, and domes, and spires of Gealmost warranted by the resources noa, he exclaims with rapture : which he finds in his own fearless- “ This majestic city-mine! To ness and imperturbable presence of flame over it like the kingly Day; mind. His ambition participates in to brood over it with a monarch's the nobleness of his other qualities; power; all these sleepless longings, he is less anxious that his rivals all these never-satiated wishes to should yield to him in power, than be drowned in that unfathomable in generosity and greatness of cha- ocean !” We admire Fiesco, we racter, attributes of which power is disapprove of him, and sympathize with him but the symbol and the fit with him : he is crushed in the ponemployment. Ambition in Fiesco is derous machinery which himself put indeed the common wish of every in motion and thought to control : mind to diffuse its individual influ- we lament his fate, but confess that ence, to see its own activity reflect- it was not undeserved. He is a fit ed back from the united minds of “ offering of individual free-will to millions ; but it is the common wish the force of social conventions.". acting on no common man. He does Fiesco is not the only striking not long to rule that he may sway character in the play which bears other wills, as it were, by the phy- his name. The narrow fanatical