Overview

This verse play dramatizes an imaginary incident during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848-9. The elderly, kind Countess Rosmarin Ostenburg's daughter's former husband is a lazy Hungarian officer who alone seems impervious to the Countess's charm. As the play closes the Austrians are hammering at the door. He turns to escape but seeing the Countess dying turns to stand by her body as the knocking of the Austrians grows louder.