Enter PEASANT, with flask and two horn cups, from the inn, L., places them on the table, which he brings forward, with the three rustic chairs.

Cas. [Seats himself on L. of table, pours out wine from flask into horn cup.] Come, you must drink with me.

Rod. You must excuse me; my head is already too much confused.

Cas. Could I but prevail on him to drink !—[Calling aside.]-Help, Zamiel !

[ZAMIEL appears above the bush, L. Cas. [Starting.] You here! [ZAMIEL disappears. Rod. [Looking round, advances to his seat at table, R.] With whom did you speak?

Cas. I! with no one.-Ha! I see. [Aside.]-I only said, "You here!" as, while I was pouring out wine for you, I saw Rollo yonder.-Ho, Rollo ! join us, my friend.

Enter ROLLO, r.

Rol. Ah, comrade-what! wine afloat! a can with you, with all my heart.

[ROLLO sits in c. behind table, pours out wine, and drinks.

Rod. But I cannot drink.

Cas. Nay, nay, you must not refuse me- -[Apart to ROLLO.] Remember my instructions, and I will fulfil the promise I have made you. [Takes up the horn cup.] Well, here's to the Ranger: you will drink his health, surely?

Rod. I cannot refuse to join to our worthy master's health. [All drink. [Sings.

Cas. Now for a song.

"Noah when he drew his fill

[RODOLPH appears discontented.

Cas. Well, then, Rollo will sing us another,

Rol. With all my heart, brother. Wine warms the heart to love-love flies to wine in woe-so love and wine shall be the burthen of my song.

[ROLLO comes forward, with flask and cup.

SONG-ROLLO.

Life is darken'd o'er with woe,

Bid the ruddy nectar flow;

Wine's the soul of joy below:

Bless'd by Bacchus, rosy wine
Makes a mortal half divine.
Fill, O fill the cup before thee!
Bacchus, Bacchus, I adore thee!

[Fills and drinks while dancing to symphony
Life is darken'd o'er with woe
Bid the ruddy nectar flow;
Love's the soul of joy below:
Bless'd by beauty, rosy wine
Makes a mortal all divine.

Fill, O fill the cup before thee!
Venus, Venus, I adore thee!

[Again fills, drinks, and dances; afterwards
ROLLO returns to his seat.

Cas. Now here's to the health of Agnes; and he who can refuse to drink the health of his bride, is no better than a skulker.

Rod. To Agnes! Bless my sweet maid! I join you freely in that toast. [They all join and drink.

Cas. Can I make nothing of you?

Rod. What would you wish from me?

Cas. Why to see you drink and drown care. [Pours out wine.] Come, here is our prince! and he who does not join in this, is no better than a traitor.

Rod. Well, but this shall be the last. [All drink.] To be frank with you, I am in no humour to enjoy either your song or your company.

Rol. [Rising.] Not enjoy my song! If that's the case, be assured I shall not trouble you with my company, and so farewell-[Crosses to L., and whispers CASPAR-I see, by the temper he is in, you have but little chance with him:-but try him hard, and I will join you again presently. [Exit ROLLO, L.

Cas. How can you be offended at such trifles? Rollo is an honest fellow in the main, though a little mischievous.

[The village clock strikes seven-RODOLPH is going.

Cas. You are not surely going home already? [Rises. [The gradual darkness over the stage increasing. Rod. It is time-the clock has just struck seven. Cas. You are going to Agnes; but don't you think she will be disappointed to find you have not won a prize to-day? You know she expected one as a good omen for to-morrow.

Rod. Oh the poor girl!-and I to-morrow

Cas. But stay :-perhaps I may do something to relieve you. What would you say to me if I were to ensure you success for to-morrow ?

Rod. Ensure me success?

Cas. Yes; and to prove my friendship for you, I will tell you but let it go no farther-I have often dropped you a hint, but you would never take it:well, then, there certainly are some occult powers of nature-certain innocent hunting tricks, which might make your hunting chance a certainty. To-night there will be an eclipse of the moon immediately at twelve: -great things might be done then.

[ZAMIEL is seen listening, R., and almost instantly disappears.

Rod. You measure out the poison to me by dropsCas. Now, comrade, if I could secure you a successful shot to-night, to calm Agnes, and another to-morrow, to complete your happiness

Rod. You speak mysteriously. Are such things possible?

Cas. Seeing is believing :-there,-take my rifle. Rod. [Taking CASPAR's rifle.] What must I do with it?

Cas. Wait:-[Looking up towards the back of stage, R.]-do we see nothing? Yonder flies an eagle; fire!

Rod. [Advancing towards L.] You are out of your senses-or take me to be so. It is almost dark, and the bird appears like a black speck in the clouds.

Cas. Never mind :-in the name of the mystery, fire!

[RODOLPH, raising the rifle, and doubtfully touching the trigger, it goes off.

Zam. [Behind, R., laughs aloud.] Ha! ha! ha! ha! [RODOLPH looks at CASPAR with dreads Rod. You may well laugh at the madness of my attempt.

Cas. See, you have hit it: its nerveless pinions no longer aid its flight, headlong it falls; behold, 'tis at your feet!

[RODOLPH looks upwards; the eagle, circling, descends, and falls dead at his feet.

Rod. What is this?

Cas. [Examining the bird.] The largest eagle I ever beheld. What claws! and how well hit! immediately under the wing; and not a feather hurt.

Rod. An eagle! This, you know, is a fearful omen!

I cannot conceive how it was shot:-this rifle is like my own.

Cas. That shot will make the churls respect you, and Agnes leap with joy. [Plucks some of the feathers, and places them in RODOLPH's hat.] These, comrade, are omens of returning success.

Rod. What is it you are doing? I feel awe-struck. With what did you load? what kind of a ball was it? [Returns rifle to CASPAR.

Cas. What ball? Why therein lies the secret :-but such balls never miss. Are you so ignorant as not to know what a charmed ball means?

Rod. Nonsense!

Cas. I learnt better than that in the army.

Rod. [Looking at the eagle.] This shot is inconceivable-it is dark twilight, and the eagle was sailing through the clouds. There is, then, some truth in it, after all. Have you more balls of the kind?

Cas. No-that was the last:-they have just served their turn. [In a significant manner. Rod. Served their turn!-what mean you? Cas. Because we may get a fresh supply to-night. Rod. To-night?

} Cas. Yes, this very night. Comrade, your fate stands under the influence of a happy constellationyou are destined for higher objects the very night before you are to make the trial-shot in order to gain your office and bride-the moment you stand in need of assistance from the invisible powers, nature herself is prepared to help you.

Rod. You promise largely, and, truth to speak, my fate appears to will it. Can you really procure me such balls?

Cas. Ay, Rodolph, as many as you wish :-but does a man want assistance to do that which he himself can accomplish?

Rod. How are they to be obtained?

Cas. That I will teach you. Meet me by the first stroke of twelve in the wolf's glen.

Rod. At midnight! In the wolf's glen! No:strange stories are told about that spot, and at midnight they say the gates of hell are open, and the fiends of darkness have power in the earth.

Cus. Shame, Rodolph !-shame on your manhood!— but I will not desert you in your need. I will help you to cast the balls-but this must be done in secret; and, * midnight, in a charmed circle, in the wolf's glen

Rod. It seems already, when perhaps I know not half the conjurations that may be needful, an act forbidden. [Crosses to L.] No-I dare not cast these balls.

Cas. Tush, man! Why, I will stand your friend. I will cast for you; but you must be present.

Rod. No, no; if not unlawful, what need of all this mystery? A virtuous man has never need of midnight and the silent hour of darkness to conceal his acts. Give me some balls, if you can really, as you say, ensure me success; but bid me not to join you in obtaining them.

Cas. Are you, then, a coward, to wish to purchase your success by other people's danger, if there were any danger in the deed? Do you think the crime, if there were any, would so be lessened? In a word, do you think, if there were any guilt, that it is not already upon you? [Taking up the eagle.] Do you imagine this bird was given to you by chance? No :-a hidden and superhuman power guided the ball that pierced it: -that ball was charmed.

Rod. Dreadful! Can it be possible?

Cas. Can you doubt it?-yet ingratitude is the reward of the world. But I will cut off a wing, that I, at least, may have something of it. [CASPAR, taking out his hunting-knife, kneels, cuts off a wing, and rises with it.] It is very strange that you should risk the shot to comfort Agnes, and then not have the courage to repeat it once more, in order to make her yours for ever. The poor thing, who rejected me on your account, would not believe it were she told; nor would she till now have thought that Rodolph was a coward.

Rod. Who dares to doubt my courage?

Cas. Prove it, then :-if you have used a magic ball, it can be but a trifle to cast one. If you do not, you must know what will follow: you will miss to-morrow; the girl will be refused you: she will die in despair; and you will become the jest of all mankind—if some rash act does not lead you to do worse. [CASPAR turns aside, and calls, in an under tone.] Help, Zamiel !

Rod. Agnes die! yes-yes-it must. [Giving his hand to CASPAR.] Comrade, I will meet you.

Cas, Mention then our meeting to no one-it might