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SCH the duties of a regimental surgeon. It was soon afterwards acted at Manheim, and Schiller was naturally present at the performance, although without leave. The duke caused him to be arrested, and he was imprisoned for fourteen days. How far this persecution might have been carried, it is impossible to say. But Schiller, fearing that he might be doomed to perpetual imprisonment, and having before his eyes the fate of the poet Schubert, who for offences as venial had pined for eight years in an Austrian dungeon, resolved to escape from the dominions of Würtemburg. He went first to Manheim, where he consolidated his acquaintance and his theatrical relations with Dalberg and Meir, the managers of the theatre there. But Manheim was too near Würtemburg to be a safe city of refuge, so he proceeded to Frankfort and Oggersheim. His faithful companion in these wanderings was a musical friend called Streicher, whose good humour and accomplishments helped to cheer the gloom of their situation. They could muster between them at the start, only about fifty florins (£5); and when these were expended, they were reduced to sore straits. In this crisis Streicher received some little assistance from his mother; and Schiller was invited by an old schoolfellow, Wilhelm von Wolzogen, to pay him a visit at Bauerbach, near Meinungen, where his mother, an admirer of the poet, resided. Here Schiller found an asylum; here he fell in love with the daughter of his hostess, Charlotte von Wolzogen, who, however, did not reciprocate his passion; and here he commenced the composition of two new dramas, "Fiesco " and "Cabal and Love." Meanwhile the anger of the duke of Würtemburg had subsided. Though passionate, he was not vindictive. He may have felt, too, that it would ill become him to persecute a man whom all Germany was uniting to honour. Accordingly an intimation was conveyed to Schiller that he might henceforth reside where he pleased; and as he at this time received a letter from Dalberg inviting him to Manheim, he took up his abode in that town, where he was appointed poet to the theatre, then the most celebrated in Germany.

Schiller settled at Manheim in 1783, and there he remained until 1785. During this period he acquired, through his connection with the theatre and intimacy with Meier and Dalberg, much insight into the means by which plays are best adapted for effective representation. He completed his tragedy of "Fiesco," which, although at first not so successful as the "Robbers," obtained, after a time, a large share of popularity. This was followed by "Cabal and Love," which was also very favourably received. Both of these tragedies are deeply impressive, and eminently original. They show a marked improvement in the author's taste and knowledge of human nature since the date of "The Robbers," for though they still somewhat overstep the propriety of nature, their exaggerations are less prominent than those of the earlier composition. The first of these plays has the advantage of being historical. It represents the conspiracy by which Fiesco, a man with many noble qualities, aims at the possession of the supreme power in Genoa, and how he falls by the hand of the bitter and bigoted patriot Verrina. The other drama, "Cabal and Love," is a tragedy of domestic life. Schiller's fame was now assured. But his was one of those minds which are ever struggling towards perfection, and ever animated by the desire to be serviceable to their fellow-creatures. He strove, therefore, incessantly to improve himself in dramatic art, and to render the theatre at Manheim the instrument of a high moral purpose. He may have overestimated the power and the influence of theatrical representation; but he thought that, like the school and the pulpit, it might be made an effectual agent in the work of national instruction and civilization. To this noble end he bent all his powers, during his residence at Manheim. Here he commenced "Don Carlos," a historical subject of the deepest tragical interest, and one on which he has expended the finest resources of his genius. In this play there are no traces of the immaturity which marked his earlier efforts At this time he was raised to the rank of councillor to the duchy of Weimar. In obtaining this title, which was a mere nominal dignity, his purpose no doubt was to strengthen his chance of securing some office, diplomatic, legal, or medical, which might yield him a less precarious livelihood than that which he was earning in the service of the muses. With this practical object in view, and being embroiled with the actors, who frequently refused to adopt his suggestions, he resolved to leave Manheim, and to betake himself to Leipsic, the great meeting-place of all the forces of the empire, intellectual, moral, and material.

Schiller took up his abode at Leipsic in 1785. He went thither, as has been said, with the view of obtaining, if possible, some employment less precarious in its returns than literature. He hoped through the influence of the duke of Weimar, who was interested in his fortunes, to procure some appointment either in law or in medicine. The chief motive which urged him to this has now to be told. While residing at Manheim he had fallen in love with Margaret Schwann, the daughter of a bookseller in that town. Margaret seems to have been a very attractive person, and in all respects worthy of the poet's affection and admiration. But the uncertainty of his position and prospects interposed, at present, an insuperable bar to their union. "A bookseller," as Bulwer remarks, "is generally the last person to choose, as his son-in-law, an author. He has seen too much of the vicissitudes of an author's life, and of the airy basis of an author's hopes in the future, to be flattered by the proposals of a suitor, who finds it easier to charm the world than to pay the butcher." Hence the elder Schwann had looked rather grave on the growing intimacy between Margaret and Schiller; and it was to overcome his scruples that the poet had bethought him of turning his abilities into a more practical channel. He now wrote a letter from Leipsic to the father of the lady, explaining his intentions and prospects, and making a formal proposal for her hand. But whether it was that the bookseller distrusted the business talents of the poet, or had misgivings on some other score, he refused his consent, and all intercourse between the parties was broken off. They met at Heidelberg many years afterwards, when Margaret was married to another man, and their emotion showed how deep and intense their early attachment had been. In consequence of this disappointment, Schiller gave up his intention of devoting himself to a professional calling; and in order by a change of scene to alleviate his distress, he removed to Dresden in the autumn of 1785.

At Dresden Schiller completed "Don Carlos," wrote "Philosophical letters between Julius and Raphael," and most of the poems which in his collected works are entitled "Poems of the second period." The "Poems of the first period" had been written some time before. It was while residing at Dresden that Schiller got entangled in an intimacy, that, had it not been timeously broken off, might have exercised a very sinister influence on his life and character. He met at Dresden an old acquaintance, Sophia Albrecht, who was now a celebrated actress. By her he was introduced to one who is described as "a young blue-eyed stranger named Julia." Julia resided with her mother, who was a widow of very questionable reputation. Julia was equally treacherous and designing, and her character was equally indifferent. But she so wove her meshes around the heart of the susceptible poet, and cast such a spell over his imagination, that it required all the entreaties of his friends, backed probably by some suspicion in his own mind of the fair lady's honesty, to induce him to dissolve the connection. The struggle between reason and passion was fierce, but the poet at last gave her up.

Dresden had no longer any attractions for the disenchanted lover. He resolved therefore to shift his residence to Weimar, which, though politically insignificant, was at this time the intellectual capital of Germany. Not to mention minor celebrities, here were to be found Göthe, Wieland, and Herder, assembled under the friendly patronage of the reigning duke and his amiable mother the Princess Amelia. In the adjacent town of Jena there were professors strong in philosophy and the sciences. Schiller came to Weimar in 1787; at first he was rather shy and constrained in his new position, but ere long he felt quite at home in a society which was polished without being stiff, and courtly without ceasing to be cordial. An event was now impending which was to make amends to him for his previous miscarriages in love. He made an excursion to Meinungen to visit his sister, who was married there. Here he fell in with his old friend Wilhelm von Wolzogen, with whom he paid a visit to Madame von Lengefeld at Rudolstadt. This lady had two interesting daughters, Caroline and Charlotte von Lengefeld. Schiller was won by the grace of Charlotte's manner and appearance, and by the amiability of her disposition; she had a strong sympathy with genius, so that they felt every day more and more convinced that they were fitted to make each other happy. But the poet's income was too scanty and precarious to enable them as yet to marry. Many, however, and happy were the visits which Schiller paid to Rudolstadt, and many and beautiful were the love-inspired poems which he wrote, during the three years of