In the case of Seckendorf, the technical, or, I might say, the symphonic composition of the play, which allots the parts as arbitrarily as in the Midsummer Night's Dream does Peter Quince, who says to highly respectable people: "You play the Lion, and you play the Ass," necessitates making a victim of a man who was a mediocre diplomat, but for a time, at least, a fairly good soldier.

Fortunately, according to Chevalier Lang and other more reliable authorities, this particular Seckendorf was both vain and tyrannous.

It is not necessary for the actor to present Seckendorf as an imbecile.

And still rarer is it to see a Seckendorf who, in spite of his clumsy "combinations," did not quite sink to the level of the Marshal von Kalb.

COUNT WARTENSLEBEN } COUNT SECKENDORF, Imperial Ambassador BARONET HOTHAM, Envoy of Great Britain FRAU VON VIERECK FRAU VON HOLZENDORF The Queen's Ladies.

ACT II GRUMBKOW and SECKENDORF come in with EVERSMANN.

It was a dispatch, you say, Eversmann? SECKENDORF.

His Majesty ordered these immediately after the arrival of the dispatch. SECKENDORF.

SECKENDORF.

That looks like a wedding. SECKENDORF.

Good morning, Grumbkow and Seckendorf.

Your Majesty is in such a merry mood SECKENDORF.

From Hanover. SECKENDORF.

English affairs! SECKENDORF.

SECKENDORF (aside, going out).

Has Seckendorf, or any of the others, been talking to him?

SCENE VI GRUMBKOW and SECKENDORF come in.

SECKENDORF.

These immoral French writings are all marked with the initials of His Highness the Crown Prince. SECKENDORF.

A satire on us allon meon Seckendorf, Grumbkow, Eversmann. EVERSMANN.

That's you, Seckendorf. SECKENDORF.

That's you, Seckendorf. SECKENDORF.

GRUMBKOW AND SECKENDORF (together, aside).

GRUMBKOW, SECKENDORF, EVERSMANN (aside).

Almost worthy of a Seckendorf, isn't it?