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diff --git a/old/minna10.txt b/old/minna10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b25b8ff --- /dev/null +++ b/old/minna10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5552 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext Minna von Barnhelm, by Gotthold Lessing + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + +*It must legally be the first thing seen when opening the book.* +In fact, our legal advisors said we can't even change margins. + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +Etext prepared by Dagny, dagnyj@hotmail.com +Emma Dudding, emma_302@hotmail.com +and John Bickers, jbickers@ihug.co.nz + + + + + +MINNA VON BARNHELM +OR +THE SOLDIER'S FORTUNE + +by GOTTHOLD EPHRAIM LESSING + + + + +Translated By +Ernest Bell + + + +INTRODUCTORY NOTE + + Gotthold Ephraim Lessing was born at Kamenz, Germany, January 22, + 1729, the son of a Lutheran minister. He was educated at Meissen + and Leipzic, and began writing for the stage before he was twenty. + In 1748 he went to Berlin, where he met Voltaire and for a time + was powerfully influenced by him. The most important product of + this period was his tragedy of "Miss Sara Samson," a modern + version of the story of Medea, which began the vogue of the + sentimental middle-class play in Germany. After a second sojourn + in Leipzic (1755-1758), during which he wrote criticism, lyrics, + and fables, Lessing returned to Berlin and began to publish his + "Literary Letters," making himself by the vigor and candor of his + criticism a real force in contemporary literature. From Berlin he + went to Breslau, where he made the first sketches of two of his + greatest works, "Laocoon" and "Minna von Barnhelm," both of which + were issued after his return to the Prussian capital. Failing in + his effort to be appointed Director of the Royal Library by + Frederick the Great, Lessing went to Hamburg in 1767 as critic of + a new national theatre, and in connection with this enterprise he + issued twice a week the "Hamburgische Dramaturgie," the two + volumes of which are a rich mine of dramatic criticism and theory. + + His next residence was at Wolfenbuttel, where he had charge of the + ducal library from 1770 till his death in 1781. Here he wrote his + tragedy of "Emilia Galotti," founded on the story of Virginia, and + engaged for a time in violent religious controversies, one + important outcome of which was his "Education of the Human Race." + On being ordered by the Brunswick authorities to give up + controversial writing, he found expression for his views in his + play "Nathan the Wise," his last great production. + + The importance of Lessing's masterpiece in comedy, "Minna von + Barnhelm," is difficult to exaggerate. It was the beginning of + German national drama; and by the patriotic interest of its + historical background, by its sympathetic treatment of the German + soldier and the German woman, and by its happy blending of the + amusing and the pathetic, it won a place in the national heart + from which no succeeding comedy has been able to dislodge it. + + + + + +MINNA VON BARNHELM +OR +THE SOLDIER'S FORTUNE + + + +DRAMATIS PERSONAE + + MAJOR VON TELLHEIM, a discharged officer. + MINNA VON BARNHELM. + COUNT VON BRUCHSAL, her uncle. + FRANZISKA, her lady's maid. + JUST, servant to the Major. + PAUL WERNER, an old Sergeant of the Major's. + The LANDLORD of an Inn. + A LADY. + An ORDERLY. + RICCAUT DE LA MARLINIERE. + + The scene alternates between the Parlour of an Inn, and a Room + adjoining it. + + + +ACT I. + + +SCENE I. +Just + +JUST (sitting in a corner, and talking while asleep). +Rogue of a landlord! You treat us so? On, comrade! hit hard! +(He strikes with his fist, and wakes through the exertion). +Ha! there he is again! I cannot shut an eye without fighting with him. +I wish he got but half the blows. Why, it is morning! I must just look +for my poor master at once; if I can help it, he shall not set foot in +the cursed house again. I wonder where he has passed the night? + + + +SCENE II. +Landlord, Just + +LAND. +Good-morning, Herr Just; good-morning! What, up so early! Or shall I +say--up so late? + +JUST. +Say which you please. + +LAND. +I say only--good-morning! and that deserves, I suppose, that Herr Just +should answer, "Many thanks." + +JUST. +Many thanks. + +LAND. +One is peevish, if one can't have one's proper rest. What will you bet +the Major has not returned home, and you have been keeping watch for +him? + +JUST. +How the man can guess everything! + +LAND. +I surmise, I surmise. + +JUST. (turns round to go). +Your servant! + +LAND. (stops him). +Not so, Herr Just! + +JUST. +Very well, then, not your servant! + +LAND. +What, Herr Just, I do hope you are not still angry about yesterday's +affair! Who would keep his anger over night? + +JUST. +I; and over a good many nights. + +LAND. +Is that like a Christian? + +JUST. +As much so as to turn an honourable man who cannot pay to a day, out +of doors, into the street. + +LAND. +Fie! who would be so wicked? + +JUST. +A Christian innkeeper.--My master! such a man! such an officer! + +LAND. +I thrust him from the house into the streets? I have far too much +respect for an officer to do that, and far too much pity for a +discharged one! I was obliged to have another room prepared for him. +Think no more about it, Herr Just. +(Calls) +--Hullo! I will make it good in another way. +(A lad comes.) +Bring a glass; Herr Just will have a drop; something good. + +JUST. +Do not trouble yourself, Mr. Landlord. May the drop turn to poison, +which . . . But I will not swear; I have not yet breakfasted. + +LAND. (to the lad, who brings a bottle of spirits and a glass). +Give it here; go! Now, Herr Just; something quite excellent; strong, +delicious, and wholesome. +(Fills, and holds it out to him.) +That can set an over-taxed stomach to rights again! + +JUST. +I hardly ought!--And yet why should I let my health suffer on account +of his incivility? +(Takes it, and drinks.) + +LAND. +May it do you good, Herr Just! + +JUST. (giving the glass back). +Not bad! But, Landlord, you are nevertheless an ill-mannered brute! + +LAND. +Not so, not so! . . . Come, another glass; one cannot stand upon one +leg. + +JUST. (after drinking). +I must say so much--it is good, very good! Made at home, Landlord? + +LAND. +At home, indeed! True Dantzig, real double distilled! + +JUST. +Look ye, Landlord; if I could play the hypocrite, I would do so for +such stuff as that; but I cannot, so it must out.--You are an ill- +mannered brute all the same. + +LAND. +Nobody in my life ever told me that before . . . But another glass, +Herr Just; three is the lucky number! + +JUST. +With all my heart!-- +(Drinks). +Good stuff indeed, capital! But truth is good also, and indeed, +Landlord, you are an ill-mannered brute all the same! + +LAND. +If I was, do you think I should let you say so? + +JUST. +Oh! yes; a brute seldom has spirit. + +LAND. +One more, Herr Just: a four-stranded rope is the strongest. + +JUST. +No, enough is as good as a feast! And what good will it do you, +Landlord? I shall stick to my text till the last drop in the bottle. +Shame, Landlord, to have such good Dantzig, and such bad manners! To +turn out of his room, in his absence--a man like my master, who has +lodged at your house above a year; from whom you have had already so +many shining thalers; who never owed a heller in his life--because he +let payment run for a couple of months, and because he does not spend +quite so much as he used. + +LAND. +But suppose I really wanted the room and saw beforehand that the Major +would willingly have given it up if we could only have waited some +time for his return! Should I let strange gentlefolk like them drive +away again from my door! Should I wilfully send such a prize into the +clutches of another innkeeper? Besides, I don't believe they could +have got a lodging elsewhere. The inns are all now quite full. Could +such a young, beautiful, amiable lady remain in the street? Your +master is much too gallant for that. And what does he lose by the +change? Have not I given him another room? + +JUST. +By the pigeon-house at the back, with a view between a neighbour's +chimneys. + +LAND. +The view was uncommonly fine, before the confounded neighbour +obstructed it. The room is otherwise very nice, and is papered-- + +JUST. +Has been! + +LAND. +No, one side is so still. And the little room adjoining, what is the +matter with that? It has a chimney which, perhaps, smokes somewhat in +the winter-- + +JUST. +But does very nicely in the summer. I believe, Landlord, you are +mocking us into the bargain! + +LAND. +Come, come; Herr Just, Herr Just-- + +JUST. +Don't make Herr Just's head hot-- + +LAND. +I make his head hot? It is the Dantzig does that. + +JUST. +An officer, like my master! Or do you think that a discharged officer, +is not an officer who may break your neck for you? Why were you all, +you Landlords, so civil during the war? Why was every officer an +honourable man then and every soldier a worthy, brave fellow? Does +this bit of a peace make you so bumptious? + +LAND. +What makes you fly out so, Herr Just! + +JUST. +I will fly out. + + + +SCENE III. +Major von Tellheim, Landlord, Just + +MAJ. T. (entering). +Just! + +JUST. (supposing the Landlord is still speaking). +Just? Are we so intimate? + +MAJ. T. +Just! + +JUST. +I thought I was "Herr Just" with you. + +LAND. (seeing the Major). +Hist! hist! Herr Just, Herr Just, look round; your master-- + +MAJ. T. +Just, I think you are quarreling! What did I tell you? + +LAND. +Quarrel, your honour? God forbid! Would your most humble servant dare +to quarrel with one who has the honour of being in your service? + +JUST. +If I could but give him a good whack on that cringing cat's back of +his! + +LAND. +It is true Herr Just speaks up for his master, and rather warmly; but +in that he is right. I esteem him so much the more: I like him for it. + +JUST. +I should like to knock his teeth out for him! + +LAND. +It is only a pity that he puts himself in a passion for nothing. For I +feel quite sure that your honour is not displeased with me in this +matter, since--necessity--made it necessary-- + +MAJ. T. +More than enough, sir! I am in your debt; you turn out my room in my +absence. You must be paid, I must seek a lodging elsewhere. Very +natural. + +LAND. +Elsewhere? You are going to quit, honoured sir? Oh, unfortunate +stricken man that I am. No, never! Sooner shall the lady give up the +apartments again. The Major cannot and will not let her have his room. +It is his; she must go; I cannot help it. I will go, honoured sir-- + +MAJ. T. +My friend, do not make two foolish strokes instead of one. The lady +must retain possession of the room-- + +LAND. +And your honour could suppose that from distrust, from fear of not +being paid, I . . . As if I did not know that your honour could pay me +as soon as you pleased. The sealed purse . . . five hundred thalers in +louis d'ors marked on it--which your honour had in your writing-desk +. . . is in good keeping. + +MAJ. T. +I trust so; as the rest of my property. Just shall take them into his +keeping, when he has paid your bill-- + +LAND. +Really, I was quite alarmed when I found the purse. I always +considered your honour a methodical and prudent man, who never got +quite out of money . . . but still, had I supposed there was ready +money in the desk-- + +MAJ. T. +You would have treated me rather more civilly. I understand you. Go, +sir; leave me. I wish to speak with my servant. + +LAND. +But, honoured sir-- + +MAJ. T. +Come, Just; he does not wish to permit me to give my orders to you in +his house. + +LAND. +I am going, honoured sir! My whole house is at your service. +(Exit.) + + + +SCENE IV. +Major Von Tellheim, Just + +JUST. (stamping with his foot and spitting after the Landlord). +Ugh! + +MAJ. T. +What is the matter? + +JUST. +I am choking with rage. + +MAJ. T. +That is as bad as from plethora. + +JUST. +And for you sir, I hardly know you any longer. May I die before your +eyes, if you do not encourage this malicious, unfeeling wretch. In +spite of gallows, axe, and torture I could . . . yes, I could have +throttled him with these hands, and torn him to pieces with these +teeth! + +MAJ. T. +You wild beast! + +JUST. +Better a wild beast than such a man! + +MAJ. T. +But what is it that you want? + +JUST. +I want you to perceive how much he insults you. + +MAJ. T. +And then-- + +JUST. +To take your revenge . . . No, the fellow is beneath your notice! + +MAJ. T. +But to commission you to avenge me? That was my intention from the +first. He should not have seen me again, but have received the amount +of his bill from your hands. I know that you can throw down a handful +of money with a tolerably contemptuous mien. + +JUST. +Oh! a pretty sort of revenge! + +MAJ. T. +Which, however, we must defer. I have not one heller of ready money, +and I know not where to raise any. + +JUST. +No money! What is that purse then with five hundred thalers' worth of +louis d'ors, which the Landlord found in your desk? + +MAJ. T. +That is money given into my charge. + +JUST. +Not the hundred pistoles which your old sergeant brought you four or +five weeks back? + +MAJ. T. +The same. Paul Werner's; right. + +JUST. +And you have not used them yet? Yet, sir, you may do what you please +with them. I will answer for it that-- + +MAJ. T. +Indeed! + +JUST. +Werner heard from me, how they had treated your claims upon the War +Office. He heard-- + +MAJ. T. +That I should certainly be a beggar soon, if I was not one already. I +am much obliged to you, Just. And the news induced Werner to offer to +share his little all with me. I am very glad that I guessed this. +Listen, Just; let me have your account, directly, too; we must part. + +JUST. +How! what! + +MAJ. T. +Not a word. There is someone coming. + + + +SCENE V. +Lady /in mourning/, Major von Tellheim, Just + +LADY. +I ask your pardon, sir. + +MAJ. T. +Whom do you seek, Madam? + +LADY. +The worthy gentleman with whom I have the honour of speaking. You do +not know me again. I am the widow of your late captain. + +MAJ. T. +Good heavens, Madam, how you are changed! + +LADY. +I have just risen from a sick bed, to which grief on the loss of my +husband brought me. I am troubling you at a very early hour, Major von +Tellheim, but I am going into the country, where a kind, but also +unfortunate friend, has for the present offered me an asylum. + +MAJ. T. (to Just). +Leave us. + + + +SCENE VI. +Lady, Major von Tellheim + +MAJ. T. +Speak freely, Madam! You must not be ashamed of your bad fortune +before me. Can I serve you in any way? + +LADY. +Major-- + +MAJ. T. +I pity you, Madam! How can I serve you? You know your husband was my +friend; my friend, I say, and I have always been sparing of this +title. + +LADY. +Who knows better than I do how worthy you were of his friendship how +worthy he was of yours? You would have been in his last thoughts, your +name would have been the last sound on his dying lips, had not natural +affection, stronger than friendship, demanded this sad prerogative for +his unfortunate son, and his unhappy wife. + +MAJ. T. +Cease, Madam! I could willingly weep with you; but I have no tears +to-day. Spare me! You come to me at a time when I might easily be +misled to murmur against Providence. Oh! honest Marloff! Quick, Madam, +what have you to request? If it is in my power to assist you, if it is +in my power-- + +LADY. +I cannot depart without fulfilling his last wishes. He recollected, +shortly before his death, that he was dying a debtor to you, and he +conjured me to discharge his debt with the first ready money I should +have. I have sold his carriage, and come to redeem his note. + +MAJ. T. +What, Madam! Is that your object in coming? + +LADY. +It is. Permit me to count out the money to you. + +MAJ. T. +No, Madam. Marloff a debtor to me! that can hardly be. Let us look, +however. +(Takes out a pocketbook, and searches.) +I find nothing of the kind. + +LADY. +You have doubtless mislaid his note; besides, it is nothing to the +purpose. Permit me-- + +MAJ. T. +No, Madam; I am careful not to mislay such documents. If I have not +got it, it is a proof that I never had it, or that it has been +honoured and already returned by me. + +LADY. +Major! + +MAJ. T. +Without doubt, Madam; Marloff does not owe me anything--nor can I +remember that he ever did owe me anything. This is so, Madam. He has +much rather left me in his debt. I have never been able to do anything +to repay a man who shared with me good and ill luck, honour and +danger, for six years. I shall not forget that he has left a son. He +shall be my son, as soon as I can be a father to him. The +embarrassment in which I am at present-- + +LADY. +Generous man! But do not think so meanly of me. Take the money, Major, +and then at least I shall be at ease. + +MAJ. T. +What more do you require to tranquillize you, than my assurance that +the money does not belong to me? Or do you wish that I should rob the +young orphan of my friend? Rob, Madam; for that it would be in the +true meaning of the word. The money belongs to him; invest it for him. + +LADY. +I understand you; pardon me if I do not yet rightly know how to accept +a kindness. Where have you learnt that a mother will do more for her +child than for the preservation of her own life? I am going-- + +MAJ. T. +Go, Madam, and may you have a prosperous journey! I do not ask you to +let me hear from you. Your news might come to me when it might be of +little use to me. There is yet one thing, Madam; I had nearly +forgotten that which is of most consequence. Marloff also had claims +upon the chest of our old regiment. His claims are as good as mine. If +my demands are paid, his must be paid also. I will be answerable for +them. + +LADY. +Oh! Sir . . . but what can I say? Thus to purpose future good deeds +is, in the eyes of heaven, to have performed them already. May you +receive its reward, as well as my tears. +(Exit.) + + + +SCENE VII. +Major von Tellheim + +MAJ. T. +Poor, good woman! I must not forget to destroy the bill. +(Takes some papers from his pocketbook and destroys them.) +Who would guarantee that my own wants might not some day tempt me to +make use of it? + + + +SCENE VIII. +Just, Major von Tellheim + +MAJ. T. +Is that you, Just? + +JUST. (wiping his eyes). +Yes. + +MAJ. T. +You have been crying? + +JUST. +I have been writing out my account in the kitchen, and the place is +full of smoke. Here it is, sir. + +MAJ. T. +Give it to me. + +JUST. +Be merciful with me, sir. I know well that they have not been so with +you; still-- + +MAJ. T. +What do you want? + +JUST. +I should sooner have expected my death, than my discharge. + +MAJ. T. +I cannot keep you any longer: I must learn to manage without servants. +(Opens the paper, and reads.) +"What my master, the Major, owes me:--Three months and a half wages, +six thalers per month, is 21 thalers. During the first part of this +month, laid out in sundries--1 thaler 7 groschen 9 pfennigs. Total, 22 +thalers 7gr. 9pf." Right; and it is just that I also pay your wages, +for the whole of the current month. + +JUST. +Turn over, sir. + +MAJ. T. +Oh! more? +(Reads.) +"What I owe my master, the Major:--Paid for me to the army-surgeon +twenty-five thalers. Attendance and nurse during my cure, paid for me, +thirty-nine thalers. Advanced, at my request, to my father--who was +burnt out of his house and robbed--without reckoning the two horses of +which he made him a present, fifty thalers. Total 114 thalers. Deduct +the above 22 thalers, 7gr. 9pf.; I remain in debt to my master, the +Major, 91 thalers, 16gr. 3pf." You are mad, my good fellow! + +JUST. +I willingly grant that I owe you much more; but it would be wasting +ink to write it down. I cannot pay you that: and if you take my livery +from me too, which, by the way, I have not yet earned,--I would rather +you had let me die in the workhouse. + +MAJ. T. +For what do you take me? You owe me nothing; and I will recommend you +to one of my friends, with whom you will fare better than with me. + +JUST. +I do not owe you anything, and yet you turn me away! + +MAJ. T. +Because I do not wish to owe you anything. + +JUST. +On that account? Only on that account? As certain as I am in your +debt, as certain as you can never be in mine, so certainly shall you +not turn me away now. Do what you will, Major, I remain in your +service; I must remain. + +MAJ. T. +With your obstinacy, your insolence, your savage boisterous temper +towards all who you think have no business to speak to you, your +malicious pranks, your love of revenge,-- + +JUST. +Make me as bad as you will, I shall not think worse of myself than of +my dog. Last winter I was walking one evening at dusk along the river, +when I heard something whine. I stooped down, and reached in the +direction whence the sound came, and when I thought I was saving a +child, I pulled a dog out of the water. That is well, thought I. The +dog followed me; but I am not fond of dogs, so I drove him away--in +vain. I whipped him away--in vain. I shut him out of my room at night; +he lay down before the door. If he came too near me, I kicked him; he +yelped, looked up at me, and wagged his tail. I have never yet given +him a bit of bread with my own hand; and yet I am the only person whom +he will obey, or who dare touch him. He jumps about me, and shows off +his tricks to me, without my asking for them. He is an ugly dog, but +he is a good animal. If he carries it on much longer, I shall at last +give over hating him. + +MAJ. T. (aside). +As I do him. No, there is no one perfectly inhuman. Just, we will not +part. + +JUST. +Certainly not! And you wanted to manage without servants! You forget +your wounds, and that you only have the use of one arm. Why, you are +not able to dress alone. I am indispensable to you; and I am--without +boasting, Major,--I am a servant who, if the worst comes to the worst, +can beg and steal for his master. + +MAJ. T. +Just, we will part. + +JUST. +All right, Sir! + + + +SCENE IX. +Servant, Major von Tellheim, Just + +SER. +I say, comrade! + +JUST. +What is the matter? + +SER. +Can you direct me to the officer who lodged yesterday in that room? +(Pointing to the one out of which he is coming). + +JUST. +That I could easily do. What have you got for him? + +SER. +What we always have, when we have nothing--compliments. My mistress +hears that he has been turned out on her account. My mistress knows +good manners, and I am therefore to beg his pardon. + +JUST. +Well then, beg his pardon; there he stands. + +SER. +What is he? What is his name? + +MAJ. T. +I have already heard your message, my friend. It is unnecessary +politeness on the part of your mistress, which I beg to acknowledge +duly. Present my compliments to her. What is the name of your +mistress? + +SER. +Her name! We call her my Lady. + +MAJ. T. +The name of her family? + +SER. +I have not heard that yet, and it is not my business to ask. I manage +so that I generally get a new master every six weeks. Hang all their +names! + +JUST. +Bravo, comrade! + +SER. +I was engaged by my present mistress a few days ago, in Dresden. I +believe she has come here to look for her lover. + +MAJ. T. +Enough, friend. I wished to know the name of your mistress, not her +secrets. Go! + +SER. +Comrade, he would not do for my master. + + + +SCENE X. +Major von Tellheim, Just + +MAJ. T. +Just! see that we get out of this house directly! The politeness of +this strange lady affects me more than the churlishness of the host. +Here, take this ring--the only thing of value which I have left--of +which I never thought such a use. Pawn it! get eighty louis d'ors for +it: our host's bill can scarcely amount to thirty. Pay him, and remove +my things. . . . Ah, where? Where you will. The cheaper the inn, the +better. You will find me in the neighbouring coffee-house. I am going; +you will see to it all properly? + +JUST. +Have no fear, Major! + +MAJ. T. (comes back). +Above all things, do not let my pistols be forgotten, which hang +beside the bed. + +JUST. +I will forget nothing. + +MAJ. T. (comes back again). +Another thing: bring your dog with you too. Do you hear, Just? + + + +SCENE XI. +Just + +JUST. +The dog will not stay behind, he will take care of that. Hem! My +master still had this valuable ring and carried it in his pocket +instead of on his finger! My good landlord, we are not yet so poor as +we look. To him himself, I will pawn you, you beautiful little ring! I +know he will be annoyed that you will not all be consumed in his +house. Ah! + + + +SCENE XII. +Paul Werner, Just + +JUST. +Hullo, Werner! good-day to you, Werner. Welcome to the town. + +WER. +The accursed village! I can't manage to get at home in it again. +Merry, my boys, merry; I have got some more money! Where is the Major? + +JUST. +He must have met you; he just went down stairs. + +WER. +I came up the back stairs. How is he? I should have been with you last +week, but-- + +JUST. +Well, what prevented you? + +WER. +Just, did you ever hear of Prince Heraclius? + +JUST. +Heraclius? Not that I know of. + +WER. +Don't you know the great hero of the East? + +JUST. +I know the wise men of the East well enough, who go about with the +stars on New Year's Eve. + +WER. + +Brother, I believe you read the newspapers as little as the Bible. You +do not know Prince Heraclius. Not know the brave man who seized +Persia, and will break into the Ottoman Porte in a few days? Thank +God, there is still war somewhere in the world! I have long enough +hoped it would break out here again. But there they sit and take care +of their skins. No, a soldier I was, and a soldier I must be again! In +short, (looking round carefully, to see if anyone is listening) +between ourselves, Just, I am going to Persia, to have a few campaigns +against the Turks, under his Royal Highness Prince Heraclius. + +JUST. +You? + +WER. +I myself. Our ancestors fought bravely against the Turks; and so ought +we too, if we would be honest men and good Christians. I allow that a +campaign against the Turks cannot be half so pleasant as one against +the French; but then it must be so much the more beneficial in this +world and the next. The swords of the Turks are all set with diamonds. + +JUST. +I would not walk a mile to have my head split with one of their +sabres. You will not be so mad as to leave your comfortable little +farm! + +WER. +Oh! I take that with me. Do you see? The property is sold. + +JUST. +Sold? + +WER. +Hist! Here are a hundred ducats, which I received yesterday towards +the payment: I am bringing them for the Major. + +JUST. +What is he to do with them? + +WER. +What is he to do with them? Spend them; play them, or drink them away, +or whatever he pleases. He must have money, and it is bad enough that +they have made his own so troublesome to him. But I know what I would +do, were I in his place. I would say--"The deuce take you all here; I +will go with Paul Werner to Persia!" Hang it! Prince Heraclius must +have heard of Major von Tellheim, if he has not heard of Paul Werner, +his late sergeant. Our affair at Katzenhauser-- + +JUST. +Shall I give you an account of that? + +WER. +You give me! I know well that a fine battle array is beyond your +comprehension. I am not going to throw my pearls before swine. Here, +take the hundred ducats; give them to the Major: tell him, he may keep +these for me too. I am going to the market now. I have sent in a +couple of loads of rye; what I get for them he can also have. + +JUST. +Werner, you mean it well; but we don't want your money. Keep your +ducats; and your hundred pistoles you can also have back safe, as soon +as you please. + +WER. +What, has the Major money still? + +JUST. +No. + +WER. +Has he borrowed any? + +JUST. +No. + +WER. +On what does he live, then? + +JUST. +We have everything put down in the bill; and when they won't put +anything more down, and turn us out of the house, we pledge anything +we may happen to have, and go somewhere else. I say, Paul, we must +play this landlord here a trick. + +WER. +If he has annoyed the Major, I am ready. + +JUST. +What if we watch for him in the evening, when he comes from his club, +and give him a good thrashing? + +WER. +In the dark! Watch for him! Two to one! No, that won't do. + +JUST. +Or if we burn his house over his head? + +WER. +Fire and burn! Why, Just, one hears that you have been baggage-boy and +not soldier. Shame! + +JUST. +Or if we ruin his daughter? But she is cursedly ugly. + +WER. +She has probably been ruined long ago. At any rate you don't want any +help there. But what is the matter with you? What has happened? + +JUST. +Just come with me, and you shall hear something to make you stare. + +WER. +The devil must be loose here, then? + +JUST. +Just so; come along. + +WER. +So much the better! To Persia, then; to Persia. + + + + +ACT II. + + +SCENE I. +Minna's Room. Minna, Franziska + +MIN. (in morning dress, looking at her watch). +Franziska, we have risen very early. The time will hang heavy on our +hands. + +FRAN. +Who can sleep in these abominable large towns? The carriages, the +watchmen, the drums, the cats, the soldiers, never cease to rattle, to +call, to roll, to mew, and to swear; just as if the last thing the +night is intended for was for sleep. Have a cup of tea, my lady! + +MIN. +I don't care for tea. + +FRAN. +I will have some chocolate made. + +MIN. +For yourself, if you like. + +FRAN. +For myself! I would as soon talk to myself as drink by myself. Then +the time will indeed hang heavy. For very weariness we shall have to +make our toilets, and try on the dress in which we intend to make the +first attack! + +MIN. +Why do you talk of attacks, when I have only come to require that the +capitulation be ratified? + +FRAN. +But the officer whom we have dislodged, and to whom we have +apologized, cannot be the best bred man in the world, or he might at +least have begged the honour of being allowed to wait upon you. + +MIN. +All officers are not Tellheims. To tell you the truth, I only sent him +the message in order to have an opportunity of inquiring from him +about Tellheim. Franziska, my heart tells me my journey will be a +successful one and that I shall find him. + +FRAN. +The heart, my lady! One must not trust to that too much. The heart +echoes to us the words of our tongues. If the tongue was as much +inclined to speak the thoughts of the heart, the fashion of keeping +mouths under lock and key would have come in long ago. + +MIN. +Ha! ha! mouths under lock and key. That fashion would just suit me. + +FRAN. +Rather not show the most beautiful set of teeth, than let the heart be +seen through them every moment. + +MIN. +What, are you so reserved? + +FRAN. +No, my lady; but I would willingly be more so. People seldom talk of +the virtue they possess, and all the more often of that which they do +not possess. + +MIN. +Franziska, you made a very just remark there. + +FRAN. +Made! Does one make it, if it occurs to one? + +MIN. +And do you know why I consider it so good? It applies to my Tellheim. + +FRAN. +What would not, in your opinion, apply to him? + +MIN. +Friend and foe say he is the bravest man in the world. But who ever +heard him talk of bravery? He has the most upright mind; but +uprightness and nobleness of mind are words never on his tongue. + +FRAN. +Of what virtues does he talk then? + +MIN. +He talks of none, for he is wanting in none. + +FRAN. +That is just what I wished to hear. + +MIN. +Wait, Franziska; I am wrong. He often talks of economy. Between +ourselves, I believe he is extravagant. + +FRAN. +One thing more, my lady. I have often heard him mention truth and +constancy toward you. What, if he be inconstant? + +MIN. +Miserable girl! But do you mean that seriously? + +FRAN. +How long is it since he wrote to you? + +MIN. +Alas! he has only written to me once since the peace. + +FRAN. +What!--A sigh on account of the peace? Surprising? Peace ought only to +make good the ill which war causes; but it seems to disturb the good +which the latter, its opposite, may have occasioned. Peace should not +be so capricious! . . . How long have we had peace? The time seems +wonderfully long, when there is so little news. It is no use the post +going regularly again; nobody writes, for nobody has anything to write +about. + +MIN. +"Peace has been made," he wrote to me, "and I am approaching the +fulfillment of my wishes." But since he only wrote that to me once, +only once-- + +FRAN. +And since he compels us to run after this fulfillment of his wishes +ourselves. . . If we can but find him, he shall pay for this! Suppose, +in the meantime, he may have accomplished his wishes, and we should +learn here that-- + +MIN. (anxiously). +That he is dead? + +FRAN. +To you, my lady; and married to another. + +MIN. +You tease, you! Wait, Franziska, I will pay you out for this! But talk +to me, or I shall fall asleep. His regiment was disbanded after the +peace. Who knows into what a confusion of bills and papers he may +thereby have been brought? Who knows into what other regiment, or to +what distant station, he may have been sent? Who knows what +circumstances--There's a knock at the door. + +FRAN. +Come in! + + + +SCENE II. +Landlord, Minna, Franziska + +LAND. (putting his head in at the door). +Am I permitted, your ladyship? + +FRAN. +Our landlord?--Come in! + +LAND. (A pen behind his ear, a sheet of paper and an inkstand in his +hand). +I am come, your ladyship, to wish you a most humble good-morning; +(to Franziska) +and the same to you, my pretty maid. + +FRAN. +A polite man! + +MIN. +We are obliged to you. + +FRAN. +And wish you also a good-morning. + +LAND. +May I venture to ask how your ladyship has passed the first night +under my poor roof? + +FRAN. +The roof is not so bad, sir; but the beds might have been better. + +LAND. +What do I hear! Not slept well! Perhaps the over-fatigue of the +journey-- + +MIN. +Perhaps. + +LAND. +Certainly, certainly, for otherwise. . . . Yet, should there be +anything not perfectly comfortable, my lady, I hope you will not fail +to command me. + +FRAN. +Very well, Mr. Landlord, very well! We are not bashful; and least of +all should one be bashful at an inn. We shall not fail to say what we +may wish. + +LAND. +I next come to . . . +(taking the pen from behind his ear). + +FRAN. +Well? + +LAND. +Without doubt, my lady, you are already acquainted with the wise +regulations of our police. + +MIN. +Not in the least, sir. + +LAND. +We landlords are instructed not to take in any stranger, of whatever +rank or sex he may be, for four-and-twenty hours, without delivering, +in writing, his name, place of abode, occupation, object of his +journey, probable stay, and so on, to the proper authorities. + +MIN. +Very well. + +LAND. +Will your ladyship then be so good . . . +(going to the table, and making ready to write). + +MIN. +Willingly. My name is-- + +LAND. +One minute! +(He writes.) +"Date, 22nd August, A. D., &C.; arrived at the King of Spain hotel." +Now your name, my lady. + +MIN. +Fraulein von Barnhelm. + +LAND. (writes). +"Von Barnhelm." Coming from. . . . where, your ladyship? + +MIN. +From my estate in Saxony. + +LAND. (writes). +"Estate in Saxony." Saxony! Indeed, indeed! In Saxony, your ladyship? +Saxony? + +FRAN. +Well, why not? I hope it is no sin in this country to come from Saxony! + +LAND. +A sin? Heaven forbid! That would be quite a new sin! From Saxony then? +Yes, yes, from Saxony, a delightful country, Saxony! But if I am +right, your ladyship, Saxony is not small, and has several--how shall +I call them? districts, provinces. Our police are very particular, +your ladyship. + +MIN. +I understand. From my estate in Thuringia, then. + +LAND. +From Thuringia! Yes, that is better, your ladyship; that is more +exact. +(Writes and reads.) +"Fraulein von Barnhelm, coming from her estate in Thuringia, together +with her lady in waiting and two men servants." + +FRAN. +Lady in waiting! That means me, I suppose! + +LAND. +Yes, my pretty maid. + +FRAN. +Well, Mr. Landlord, instead of "lady in waiting," write "maid in +waiting." You say, the police are very exact; it might cause a +misunderstanding, which might give me trouble some day when my banns +are read out. For I really am still unmarried, and my name is +Franziska, with the family name of Willig: Franziska Willig. I also +come from Thuringia. My father was a miller, on one of my lady's +estates. It is called Little Rammsdorf. My brother has the mill now. I +was taken very early to the manor, and educated with my lady. We are +of the same age--one-and-twenty next Candlemas. I learnt everything my +lady learnt. I should like the police to have a full account of me. + +LAND. +Quite right, my pretty maid; I will bear that in mind, in case of +future inquiries. But now, your ladyship, your business here? + +MIN. +My business here? + +LAND. +Have you any business with His Majesty the King? + +MIN. +Oh! no. + +LAND. +Or at our courts of justice? + +MIN. +No. + +LAND. +Or-- + +MIN. +No, no. I have come here solely on account of my own private affairs. + +LAND. +Quite right, your ladyship; but what are those private affairs? + +MIN. +They are . . . Franziska, I think we are undergoing an examination. + +FRAN. +Mr. Landlord, the police surely do not ask to know a young lady's +secrets! + +LAND. +Certainly, my pretty maid; the police wish to know everything, and +especially secrets. + +FRAN. +What is to be done, my lady? . . . Well, listen, Mr. Landlord--but +take care that it does not go beyond ourselves and the police. + +MIN. +What is the simpleton going to tell him? + +FRAN. +We come to carry off an officer from the king. + +LAND. +How? What? My dear girl! + +FRAN. +Or to let ourselves be carried off by the officer. It is all one. + +MIN. +Franziska, are you mad? The saucy girl is laughing at you. + +LAND. +I hope not! With your humble servant indeed she may jest as much as +she pleases; but with the police-- + +MIN. +I tell you what; I do not understand how to act in this matter. +Suppose you postpone the whole affair till my uncle's arrival. I told +you yesterday why he did not come with me. He had an accident with his +carriage ten miles from here, and did not wish that I should remain a +night longer on the road, so I had to come on. I am sure he will not +be more than four-and-twenty hours after us. + +LAND. +Very well, madam, we will wait for him. + +MIN. +He will be able to answer your questions better. He will know to whom, +and to what extent, he must give an account of himself--what he must +relate respecting his affairs, and what he may withhold. + +LAND. +So much the better! Indeed one cannot expect a young girl +(looking at Franziska in a marked manner) +to treat a serious matter with serious people in a serious manner. + +MIN. +And his rooms are in readiness, I hope? + +LAND. +Quite, your ladyship, quite; except the one-- + +FRAN. +Out of which, I suppose, you will have to turn some other honourable +gentleman! + +LAND. +The waiting maids of Saxony, your ladyship, seem to be very +compassionate. + +MIN. +In truth, sir, that was not well done. You ought rather to have +refused us. + +LAND. +Why so, your ladyship, why so? + +MIN. +I understand that the officer who was driven out on our account-- + +LAND. +Is only a discharged officer, your ladyship. + +MIN. +Well, what then? + +LAND. +Who is almost done for. + +MIN. +So much the worse! He is said to be a very deserving man. + +LAND. +But I tell you he is discharged. + +MIN. +The king cannot be acquainted with every deserving man. + +LAND. +Oh! doubtless he knows them; he knows them all. + +MIN. +But he cannot reward them all. + +LAND. +They would have been rewarded if they had lived so as to deserve it. +But they lived during the war as if it would last for ever; as if the +words "yours" and "mine" were done away with altogether. Now all the +hotels and inns are full of them, and a landlord has to be on his +guard with them. I have come off pretty well with this one. If he had +no more money, he had at any rate money's worth; and I might indeed +have let him remain quiet two or three months longer. However, it is +better as it is. By-the-by, your ladyship, you understand about +jewels, I suppose? + +MIN. +Not particularly. + +LAND. +Of course your ladyship must. I must show you a ring, a valuable ring. +I see you have a very beautiful one on your finger; and the more I +look at it, the more I am astonished at the resemblance it bears to +mine. There! just look, just look! +(Taking the ring from its case, and handing it to her.) +What brilliancy! The diamond in the middle alone weighs more than five +carats. + +MIN. (looking at it). +Good heavens! What do I see? This ring-- + +LAND. +Is honestly worth fifteen hundred thalers. + +MIN. +Franziska! look! + +LAND. +I did not hesitate for a moment to advance eighty pistoles on it. + +MIN. +Do not you recognize it, Franziska? + +FRAN. +The same! Where did you get that ring, Mr. Landlord? + +LAND. +Come, my girl! you surely have no claim to it? + +FRAN. +We have no claim to this ring! My mistress' monogram must be on it, on +the inner side of the setting. Look at it, my lady. + +MIN. +It is! it is! How did you get this ring? + +LAND. +I! In the most honourable way in the world. You do not wish to bring +me into disgrace and trouble, your ladyship! How do I know where the +ring properly belongs? During the war many a thing often changed +masters, both with and without the knowledge of its owner. War was +war. Other rings will have crossed the borders of Saxony. Give it me +again, your ladyship; give it me again! + +FRAN. +When you have said from whom you got it. + +LAND. +From a man whom I cannot think capable of such things; in other +respects a good man. + +MIN. +From the best man under the sun, if you have it from its owner. Bring +him here directly! It is himself, or at any rate he must know him. + +LAND. +Who? who, your ladyship? + +FRAN. +Are you deaf? Our Major! + +LAND. +Major! Right! he is a Major, who had this room before you, and from +whom I received it. + +MIN. +Major von Tellheim! + +LAND. +Yes, Tellheim. Do you know him? + +MIN. +Do I know him! He is here! Tellheim here! He had this room! He! he +pledged this ring with you! What has brought him into this +embarrassment? Where is he? Does he owe you anything? Franziska, my +desk here! Open it! +(Franziska puts it on the table and opens it.) +What does he owe you? To whom else does he owe anything? Bring me all +his creditors! Here is gold: here are notes. It is all his! + +LAND. +What is this? + +MIN. +Where is he? Where is he? + +LAND. +An hour ago he was here. + +MIN. +Detested man! how could you act so rudely, so hardly, so cruelly +towards him? + +LAND. +Your ladyship must pardon-- + +MIN. +Quick! Bring him to me. + +LAND. +His servant is perhaps still here. Does your ladyship wish that he +should look for him? + +MIN. +Do I wish it? Begone, run. For this service alone I will forget how +badly you have behaved to him. + +FRAN. +Now then, quick, Mr. Landlord! Be off! fly! fly! +(Pushes him out.) + + + +SCENE III. +Minna, Franziska + +MIN. +Now I have found him again, Franziska! Do you hear? Now I have found +him again! I scarcely know where I am for joy! Rejoice with me, +Franziska. But why should you? And yet you shall; you must rejoice +with me. Come, I will make you a present, that you may be able to +rejoice with me. Say, Franziska, what shall I give you? Which of my +things would please you? What would you like? Take what you will; only +rejoice with me. I see you will take nothing. Stop! +(Thrusts her hand into the desk.) +There, Franziska, +(gives her money) +buy yourself what you like. Ask for more, if it be not sufficient; but +rejoice with me you must. It is so melancholy to be happy alone. +There, take it, then. + +FRAN. +It is stealing it from you, my lady. You are intoxicated, quite +intoxicated with joy. + +MIN. +Girl, my intoxication is of a quarrelsome kind. Take it, or +(forcing money into her hand) +. . . and if you thank me . . . Stay, it is well that I think of it. +(Takes more money from the desk.) +Put that aside, Franziska, for the first poor wounded soldier who +accosts us. + + + +SCENE IV. +Landlord, Minna, and Franziska + +MIN. +Well, is he coming? + +LAND. +The cross, unmannered fellow! + +MIN. +Who? + +LAND. +His servant. He refuses to go for him. + +FRAN. +Bring the rascal here, then. I know all the Major's servants. Which +one of them was it? + +MIN. +Bring him here directly. When he sees us he will go fast enough. +(Exit Landlord.) + + + +SCENE V. +Minna, Franziska + +MIN. +I cannot bear this delay. But, Franziska, how cold you are still! Why +will you not share my joy with me? + +FRAN. +I would from my heart, if only-- + +MIN. +If only what? + +FRAN. +We have found him again. But how have we found him? From all we hear, +it must go badly with him. He must be unfortunate. That distresses me. + +MIN. +Distresses you! Let me embrace you for that, my dear playmate! I shall +never forget this of you. I am only in love, you are good. + + + +SCENE VI. +Landlord, Just, Minna, Franziska + +LAND. +With great difficulty I have brought him. + +FRAN. +A strange face! I do not know him. + +MIN. +Friend, do you live with Major von Tellheim? + +JUST. +Yes. + +MIN. +Where is your master? + +JUST. +Not here. + +MIN. +But you could find him? + +JUST. +Yes. + +MIN. +Will you fetch him quickly? + +JUST. +No. + +MIN. +You will be doing me a favour. + +JUST. +Indeed! + +MIN. +And your master a service. + +JUST. +Perhaps not. + +MIN. +Why do you suppose that? + +JUST. +You are the strange lady who sent your compliments to him this +morning, I think? + +MIN. +Yes. + +JUST. +Then I am right. + +MIN. +Does your master know my name? + +JUST. +No; but he likes over-civil ladies as little as over-uncivil +landlords. + +LAND. +That is meant for me, I suppose? + +JUST. +Yes. + +LAND. +Well, do not let the lady suffer for it then; but bring him here +directly. + +MIN. (to Franziska). +Franziska, give him something + +FRAN. (trying to put some money into Just's hand). +We do not require your services for nothing. + +JUST. +Nor I your money without services. + +FRAN. +One in return for the other. + +JUST. +I cannot. My master has ordered me to pack up. That I am now about, +and I beg you not to hinder me further. When I have finished, I will +take care to tell him that he may come here. He is close by, at the +coffee-house; and if he finds nothing better to do there, I suppose he +will come. +(Going.) + +FRAN. +Wait a moment! My lady is the Major's . . . sister. + +MIN. +Yes, yes, his sister. + +JUST. +I know better; the Major has not a sister. He has sent me twice in six +months to his family in Courland. It is true there are different sorts +of sisters-- + +FRAN. +Insolent! + +JUST. +One must be so to get the people to let one alone. +(Exit.) + +FRAN. +That is a rascal. + +LAND. +So I said. But let him go! I know now where his master is. I will +fetch him instantly myself. I only beg your ladyship, most humbly, +that you will make an excuse for me to the Major, that I have been so +unfortunate as to offend a man of his merit against my will. + +MIN. +Pray go quickly. I will set all that right again. +(Exit the Landlord.) +Franziska, run after him, and tell him not to mention my name! +(Exit Franziska.) + + +SCENE VII. +Minna, /and afterwards/ Franziska + +MIN. +I have found him again!--Am I alone?--I will not be alone to no +purpose.-- +(Clasping her hands.) +Yet I am not alone! +(Looking upwards.) +One single grateful thought towards heaven, is the most perfect +prayer! I have found him! I have found him! +(With outstretched arms.) +I am joyful and happy! What can please the Creator more than a joyful +creature! +(Franziska returns.) +Have you returned, Franziska? You pity him! I do not pity him. +Misfortune too is useful. Perhaps heaven deprived him of everything-- +to give him all again, through me! + +FRAN. +He may be here at any moment.--You are still in your morning dress, my +lady. Ought you not to dress yourself quickly? + +MIN. +Not at all. He will now see me more frequently so, than dressed out. + +FRAN. +Oh! you know, my lady, how you look best. + +MIN. (after a pause). +Truly, girl, you have hit it again. + +FRAN. +I think women who are beautiful, are most so when unadorned. + +MIN. +Must we then be beautiful? Perhaps it was necessary that we should +think ourselves so. Enough for me, if only I am beautiful in his eyes. +Franziska, if all women feel as I now feel, we are--strange things. +Tender hearted, yet proud; virtuous, yet vain; passionate, yet +innocent. I dare say you do not understand me. I do not rightly +understand myself. Joy turns my head. + +FRAN. +Compose yourself, my lady, I hear footsteps. + +MIN. +Compose myself! What! receive him composedly? + + + +SCENE VIII. +Major von Tellheim, Landlord, Minna, and Franziska + +MAJ. T. (walks in, and the moment he sees Minna rushes towards her). +Ah! my Minna! + +MIN. (springing towards him). +Ah! my Tellheim! + +MAJ. T. (starts suddenly, and draws back). +I beg your pardon, Fraulein von Barnhelm; but to meet you here-- + +MIN. +Cannot surely be so unexpected! +(Approaching him, whilst he draws back still more.) +Am I to pardon you because I am still your Minna? Heaven pardon you, +that I am still Fraulein von Barnhelm! + +MAJ. T. +Fraulein . . . +(Looks fixedly at the Landlord, and shrugs his shoulders.) + +MIN. (sees the Landlord, and makes a sign to Franziska). +Sir-- + +MAJ. T. +If we are not both mistaken-- + +FRAN. +Why, Landlord, whom have you brought us here? Come, quick! let us go +and look for the right man. + +LAND. +Is he not the right one? Surely! + +FRAN. +Surely not! Come, quick! I have not yet wished your daughter good +morning. + +LAND. +Oh! you are very good +(still does not stir). + +FRAN. (takes hold of him). +Come, and we will make the bill of fare. Let us see what we shall +have. + +LAND. +You shall have first of all-- + +FRAN. +Stop, I say, stop! If my mistress knows now what she is to have for +dinner, it will be all over with her appetite. Come, we must talk that +over in private. +(Drags him off.) + + + +SCENE IX. +Minna, Major von Tellheim + +MIN. +Well, are we still both mistaken? + +MAJ. T. +Would to heaven it were so--But there is only one Minna, and you are +that one. + +MIN. +What ceremony! The world might hear what we have to say to one +another. + +MAJ. T. +You here? What do you want here, Madam? + +MIN. +Nothing now +(going to him with open arms). +I have found all that I wanted. + +MAJ. T. (drawing back). +You seek a prosperous man, and one worthy of your love; and you find-- +a wretched one. + +MIN. +Then do you love me no longer? Do you love another? + +MAJ. T. +Ah! he never loved you, who could love another afterwards. + +MIN. +You draw but one dagger from my breast; for if I have lost your heart, +what matters whether indifference or more powerful charms than mine +have robbed me of it? You love me no longer; neither do you love +another? Wretched man indeed, if you love nothing! + +MAJ. T. +Right; the wretched must love nothing. He merits his misfortunes, if +he cannot achieve this victory over himself--if he can allow the woman +he loves to take part in his misfortune . . . Oh! how difficult is +this victory! . . . Since reason and necessity have commanded me to +forget Minna von Barnhelm, what pains have I taken! I was just +beginning to hope that my trouble would not for ever be in vain--and +you appear. + +MIN. +Do I understand you right? Stop, sir; let us see what we mean before +we make further mistakes. Will you answer me one question? + +MAJ. T. +Any one. + +MIN. +But will you answer me without shift or subterfuge? With nothing but a +plain "Yes," or "No?" + +MAJ. T. +I will--if I can. + +MIN. +You can. Well, notwithstanding the pains which you have taken to +forget me, do you love me still, Tellheim? + +MAJ. T. +Madam, that question-- + +MIN. +You have promised to answer Yes, or No. + +MAJ. T. +And added, If I can. + +MIN. +You can. You must know what passes in your heart. Do you love me +still, Tellheim? Yes, or No? + +MAJ. T. +If my heart-- + +MIN. +Yes, or No? + +MAJ. T. +Well, Yes! + +MIN. +Yes? + +MAJ. T. +Yes, yes! Yet-- + +MIN. +Patience! You love me still; that is enough for me. Into what a mood +have we fallen! an unpleasant, melancholy, infectious mood! I assume +my own again. Now, my dear unfortunate, you love me still, and have +your Minna still, and are unhappy? Hear what a conceited, foolish +thing your Minna was--is. She allowed--allows herself, to imagine that +she makes your whole happiness. Declare all your misery at once. She +would like to try how far she can outweigh it.--Well? + +MAJ. T. +Madam, I am not accustomed to complain. + +MIN. +Very well. I know nothing in a soldier, after boasting, that pleases +me less than complaining. But there is a certain cold, careless way of +speaking of bravery and misfortune-- + +MAJ. T. +Which at the bottom is still boasting and complaining. + +MIN. +You disputant! You should not have called yourself unhappy at all +then. You should have told the whole, or kept quiet. Reason and +necessity commanded you to forget me? I am a great stickler for +reason; I have a great respect for necessity. But let me hear how +reasonable this reason, and how necessary this necessity may be. + +MAJ. T. +Listen then, Madam. You call me Tellheim; the name is correct. But +suppose I am not that Tellheim whom you knew at home; the prosperous +man, full of just pretensions, with a thirst for glory; the master of +all his faculties, both of body and mind; before whom the lists of +honour and prosperity stood open; who, if he was not then worthy of +your heart and your hand, dared to hope that he might daily become +more nearly so. This Tellheim I am now, as little as I am my own +father. They both have been. Now I am Tellheim the discharged, the +suspected, the cripple, the beggar. To the former, Madam, you promised +your hand; do you wish to keep your word? + +MIN. +That sounds very tragic . . . Yet, Major Tellheim, until I find the +former one again--I am quite foolish about the Tellheims--the latter +will have to help me in my dilemma. Your hand, dear beggar! +(Taking his hand). + +MAJ. T. (holding his hat before his face with the other hand, and +turning away from her). +This is too much! . . . What am I? . . . Let me go, Madam. Your +kindness tortures me! Let me go. + +MIN. +What is the matter? Where would you go? + +MAJ. T. +From you! + +MIN. +From me +(drawing his hand to her heart)? +Dreamer! + +MAJ. T. +Despair will lay me dead at your feet. + +MIN. +From me? + +MAJ. T. +From you. Never, never to see you again. Or at least determined, fully +determined, never to be guilty of a mean action; never to cause you to +commit an imprudent one. Let me go, Minna! +(Tears himself away, and Exit.) + +MIN. (calling after him). +Let you go, Minna? Minna, let you go? Tellheim! Tellheim! + + + + +ACT III. + + + +SCENE I. +The Parlour. Just (with a letter in his hand) + +JUST. +Must I come again into this cursed house! A note from my master to her +ladyship that would be his sister. I hope nothing will come of this, +or else there will be no end to letter carrying. I should like to be +rid of it; but yet I don't wish to go into the room. The women ask so +many questions, and I hate answering--Ah! the door opens. Just what I +wanted, the waiting puss! + + + +Scene II +Franziska and Just + +FRAN. (calling through the door by which she has just entered). +Fear not; I will watch. See! +(observing Just) +I have met with something immediately. But nothing is to be done with +that brute. + +JUST. +Your servant. + +FRAN. +I should not like such a servant. + +JUST. +Well, well, pardon the expression! There is a note from my master to +your mistress--her ladyship--his sister, wasn't it?--sister. + +FRAN. +Give it me! +(Snatches it from his hand.) + +JUST. +You will be so good, my master begs, as to deliver it. Afterwards you +will be so good, my master begs, as not to think I ask for anything! + +FRAN. +Well? + +JUST. +My master understands how to manage the affair. He knows that the way +to the young lady is through her maid, methinks. The maid will +therefore be so good, my master begs, as to let him know whether he +may not have the pleasure of speaking with the maid for a quarter of +an hour. + +FRAN. +With me? + +JUST. +Pardon me, if I do not give you your right title. Yes, with you. Only +for one quarter of an hour; but alone, quite alone, in private tete-a- +tete. He has something very particular to say to you. + +FRAN. +Very well! I have also much to say to him. He may come; I shall be at +his service. + +JUST. +But when can he come? When is it most convenient for you, young woman? +In the evening? + +FRAN. +What do you mean? Your master can come when he pleases; and now be off. + +JUST. +Most willingly! +(Going.) + +FRAN. +I say! one word more! Where are the rest of the Major's servants? + +JUST. +The rest? Here, there, and everywhere. + +FRAN. +Where is William? + +JUST. +The valet? He has let him go for a trip. + +FRAN. +Oh! and Philip, where is he? + +JUST. +The huntsman? Master has found him a good place. + +FRAN. +Because he does not hunt now, of course. But Martin? + +JUST. +The coachman? He is off on a ride. + +FRAN. +And Fritz? + +JUST. +The footman? He is promoted. + +FRAN. +Where were you then, when the Major was quartered in Thuringia with us +that winter? You were not with him, I suppose! + +JUST. +Oh! yes, I was groom; but I was in the hospital. + +FRAN. +Groom! and now you are-- + +JUST. +All in all; valet and huntsman, footman and groom. + +FRAN. +Well, I never! To turn away so many good, excellent servants, and to +keep the very worst of all! I should like to know what your master +finds in you! + +JUST. +Perhaps he finds that I am an honest fellow. + +FRAN. +Oh! one is precious little if one is nothing more than honest. William +was another sort of a man! So your master has let him go for a trip! + +JUST. +Yes, he . . . let him--because he could not prevent him. + +FRAN. +How so? + +JUST. +Oh! William will do well on his travels. He took master's wardrobe +with him. + +FRAN. +What! he did not run away with it? + +JUST. +I cannot say that exactly; but when we left Nurnberg, he did not +follow us with it. + +FRAN. +Oh! the rascal! + +JUST. +He was the right sort! he could curl hair and shave--and chatter and +flirt--couldn't he? + +FRAN. +At any rate, I would not have turned away the huntsman, had I been in +the Major's place. If he did not want him any longer as huntsman, he +was still a useful fellow. Where has he found him a place? + +JUST. +With the Commandant of Spandau. + +FRAN. +The fortress! There cannot be much hunting within the walls either. + +JUST. +Oh! Philip does not hunt there. + +FRAN. +What does he do, then? + +JUST. +He rides--on the treadmill. + +FRAN. +The treadmill! + +JUST. +But only for three years. He made a bit of a plot amongst master's +company, to get six men through the outposts. + +FRAN. +I am astonished; the knave! + +JUST. +Ah! he was a useful fellow; a huntsman who knew all the foot paths and +by-ways for fifty miles round, through forests and bogs. And he could +shoot! + +FRAN. +It is lucky the Major has still got the honest coachman. + +JUST. +Has he got him still? + +FRAN. +I thought you said Martin was off on a ride: of course he will come +back! + +JUST. +Do you think so? + +FRAN. +Well, where has he ridden to? + +JUST. +It is now going on for ten weeks since he rode master's last and only +horse--to water. + +FRAN. +And has not he come back yet? Oh! the rascal! + +JUST. +The water may have washed the honest coachman away. Oh! he was a +famous coachman! He had driven ten years in Vienna. My master will +never get such another again. When the horses were in full gallop, he +only had to say "Wo!" and there they stood, like a wall. Moreover, he +was a finished horse-doctor! + +FRAN. +I begin now to be anxious about the footman's promotion. + +JUST. +No, no; there is no occasion for that. He has become a drummer in a +garrison regiment. + +FRAN. +I thought as much! + +JUST. +Fritz chummed up with a scamp, never came home at night, made debts +everywhere in master's name, and a thousand rascally tricks. In short, +the Major saw that he was determined to rise in the world +(pantomimically imitating the act of hanging), +so he put him in the right road. + +FRAN. +Oh! the stupid! + +JUST. +Yet a perfect footman, there is no doubt of that. In running, my +master could not catch him on his best horse if he gave him fifty +paces; but on the other hand, Fritz could give the gallows a thousand +paces, and, I bet my life, he would overhaul it. They were all great +friends of yours, eh, young woman? . . . William and Philip, Martin +and Fritz! Now, Just wishes you good day. +(Exit.) + + + +SCENE III. +Franziska, /and afterwards the/ Landlord + +FRAN. (looking after him seriously). +I deserve the hit! Thank you, Just. I undervalued honesty. I will not +forget the lesson. Ah! our unfortunate Major! +(Turns round to enter her mistress' room, when the Landlord comes.) + +LAND. +Wait a bit, my pretty maid. + +FRAN. +I have not time now, Mr. Landlord. + +LAND. +Only half a moment! No further tidings of the Major? That surely could +not possibly be his leave-taking! + +FRAN. +What could not? + +LAND. +Has not our ladyship told you? When I left you, my pretty maid, below +in the kitchen, I returned accidentally into this room-- + +FRAN. +Accidentally--with a view to listen a little. + +LAND. +What, girl! how can you suspect me of that? There is nothing so bad in +a landlord as curiosity. I had not been here long, when suddenly her +ladyship's door burst open: the Major dashed out; the lady after him; +both in such a state of excitement; with looks--in attitudes--that +must be seen to be understood. She seized hold of him; he tore himself +away; she seized him again--"Tellheim." "Let me go, Madam." "Where?" +Thus he drew her as far as the staircase. I was really afraid he would +drag her down; but he got away. The lady remained on the top step; +looked after him; called after him; wrung her hands. Suddenly she +turned round; ran to the window; from the window to the staircase +again; from the staircase into the room, backwards and forwards. There +I stood; she passed me three times without seeing me. At length it +seemed as if she saw me; but heaven defend us! I believe the lady took +me for you. "Franziska," she cried, with her eyes fixed upon me, "am I +happy now?" Then she looked straight up to the ceiling, and said again +--"Am I happy now?" Then she wiped the tears from her eyes, and +smiled, and asked me again--"Franziska, am I happy now?" I really +felt, I know not how. Then she ran to the door of her room, and turned +round again towards me, saying--"Come, Franziska, whom do you pity +now?" and with that she went in. + +FRAN. +Oh! Mr. Landlord, you dreamt that. + +LAND. +Dreamt! No, my pretty maid; one does not dream so minutely. Yes, what +would not I give--I am not curious: but what would not I give--to have +the key to it! + +FRAN. +The key? Of our door? Mr. Landlord, that is inside; we took it in at +night; we are timid. + +LAND. +Not that sort of key; I mean, my dear girl, the key--the explanation, +as it were; the precise connexion of all that I have seen. + +FRAN. +Indeed! Well, good-bye, Mr. Landlord. Shall we have dinner soon? + +LAND. +My dear girl, not to forget what I came to say-- + +FRAN. +Well? In as few words as possible. + +LAND. +Her ladyship has my ring still. I call it mine-- + +FRAN. +You shall not lose it. + +LAND. +I have no fear on that account: I merely put you in mind. Do you see, +I do not wish to have it again at all. I can guess pretty well how she +knew the ring, and why it was so like her own. It is best in her +hands. I do not want it any more; and I can put them down--the hundred +pistoles which I advanced for it, to the lady's bill. Will not that +do, my pretty maid? + + + +SCENE IV. +Paul Werner, Landlord, Franziska + +WER. +There he is! + +FRAN. +A hundred pistoles? I thought it was only eighty. + +LAND. +True, only ninety, only ninety. I will do so, my pretty maid, I will +do so. + +FRAN. +All that will come right, Mr. Landlord. + +WER. (coming from behind, and tapping Franziska on the shoulder). +Little woman--Little woman. + +FRAN. (frightened). +Oh! dear! + +WER. +Don't be alarmed! I see you are pretty, and a stranger, too. And +strangers who are pretty must be warned. Little woman! little woman! I +advise you to beware of that fellow! +(Pointing to the Landlord). + +LAND. +Ah! What an unexpected pleasure! Herr Werner! Welcome, welcome! Yes, +you are just the same jovial, joking, honest Werner! So you are to +beware of me, my pretty maid. Ha! ha! ha! + +WER. +Keep out of his way everywhere! + +LAND. +My way? Am I such a dangerous man? Ha! ha! ha! Hear him, my pretty +maid! A good joke, isn't it? + +WER. +People like him always call it a joke, if one tells them the truth. + +LAND. +The truth. Ha! ha! ha! Better and better, my pretty maid, isn't it? He +knows how to joke! I dangerous? I? Twenty years ago there might have +been something in it. Yes, yes, my pretty maid, then I was a dangerous +man: many a one knew it; but now-- + +WER. +Oh! the old fool! + +LAND. +There it is! When we get old, danger is at an end! It will be so with +you too, Herr Werner! + +WER. +You utter old fool!--Little woman, you will give me credit for enough +common sense not to speak of danger from him. That one devil has left +him, but seven others have entered into him. + +LAND. +Oh! hear him! How cleverly he can turn things about. Joke upon joke, +and always something new! Ah! he is an excellent man, Paul Werner is. +(To Franziska, as if whispering.) +A well-to-do man, and a bachelor still. He has a nice little freehold +three miles from here. He made prize-money in the war, and was a +sergeant to the Major. Yes, he is a real friend of the Major's; he is +a friend who would give his life for him. + +WER. +Yes; and that is a friend of the Major's--that is a friend . . . whose +life the Major ought to take +(Pointing to the Landlord). + +LAND. +How! What! No, Herr Werner, that is not a good joke. I no friend to +the Major! I don't understand that joke. + +WER. +Just has told me pretty things. + +LAND. +Just! Ah! I thought Just was speaking through you. Just is a nasty, +ill-natured man. But here on the spot stands a pretty maid--she can +speak, she can say if I am no friend of the Major's--if I have not +done him good service. And why should not I be his friend? Is not he a +deserving man? It is true, he has had the misfortune to be discharged; +but what of that? The king cannot be acquainted with all deserving +officers; and if he knew them, he could not reward them all. + +WER. +Heaven put those words into your mouth. But Just . . . certainly there +is nothing remarkable about Just, but still Just is no liar; and if +that what he has told me be true-- + +LAND. +I don't want to hear anything about Just. As I said, this pretty maid +here can speak. +(Whispering to her.) +You know, my dear; the ring! Tell Herr Werner about it. Then he will +learn better what I am. And that it may not appear as if she only said +what I wish, I will not even be present. I will go; but you shall tell +me after, Herr Werner, you shall tell me, whether Just is not a foul +slanderer. +(Exit.) + + + +SCENE V. +Werner, Franziska + +WER. +Little woman, do you know my Major? + +FRAN. +Major von Tellheim? Yes, indeed, I do know that good man. + +WER. +Is he not a good man? Do you like him? + +FRAN. +From the bottom of my heart. + +WER. +Indeed! I tell you what, little woman, you are twice as pretty now as +you were before. But what are the services, which the landlord says he +has rendered our Major? + +FRAN. +That is what I don't know; unless he wished to take credit to himself +for the good result which fortunately has arisen from his knavish +conduct. + +WER. +Then what Just told me is true? +(Towards the side where the Landlord went off.) +A lucky thing for you that you are gone! He did really turn him out of +his room?--To treat such a man so, because the donkey fancied that he +had no more money! The Major no money! + +FRAN. +What! Has the Major any money? + +WER. +By the load. He doesn't know how much he has. He doesn't know who is +in his debt. I am his debtor, and have brought him some old arrears. +Look, little woman, in this purse +(drawing it out of one pocket) +are a hundred louis d'ors; and in this packet +(drawing it out of another pocket) +a hundred ducats. All his money! + +FRAN. +Really! Why then does the Major pawn his things? He pledged a ring, +you know-- + +WER. +Pledged! Don't you believe it. Perhaps he wanted to get rid of the +rubbish. + +FRAN. +It is no rubbish; it is a very valuable ring; which, moreover, I +suspect, he received from a loving hand. + +WER. +That will be the reason. From a loving hand! Yes, yes; such a thing +often puts one in mind of what one does not wish to remember, and +therefore one gets rid of it. + +FRAN. +What! + +WER. +Odd things happen to the soldier in winter quarters. He has nothing to +do then, so he amuses himself, and to pass the time he makes +acquaintances, which he only intends for the winter, but which the +good soul with whom he makes them, looks upon for life. Then, presto! +a ring is suddenly conjured on to his finger; he hardly knows himself +how it gets there; and very often he would willingly give the finger +with it, if he could only get free from it again. + +FRAN. +Oh! and do you think this has happened to the Major? + +WER. +Undoubtedly. Especially in Saxony. If he had had ten fingers on each +hand, he might have had all twenty full of rings. + +FRAN. (aside). +That sounds important, and deserves to be inquired into. Mr. +Freeholder, or Mr. Sergeant-- + +WER. +Little woman, if it makes no difference to you, I like "Mr. Sergeant" +best. + +FRAN. +Well, Mr. Sergeant, I have a note from the Major to my mistress. I +will just carry it in, and be here again in a moment. Will you be so +good as to wait? I should like very much to have a little talk with +you. + +WER. +Are you fond of talking, little woman? Well, with all my heart. Go +quickly. I am fond of talking too: I will wait. + +FRAN. +Yes, please wait. +(Exit.) + + + +SCENE VI. +Paul Werner + +WER. +That is not at all a bad little woman. But I ought not to have +promised her that I would wait, for it would be most to the purpose, I +suppose, to find the Major. He will not have my money, but rather +pawns his property. That is just his way. A little trick occurs to me. +When I was in the town, a fortnight back, I paid a visit to Captain +Marloff's widow. The poor woman was ill, and was lamenting that her +husband had died in debt to the Major for four hundred thalers, which +she did not know how to pay. I went to see her again to-day; I +intended to tell her that I could lend her five hundred thalers, when +I had received the money for my property; for I must put some of it +by, if I do not go to Persia. But she was gone; and no doubt she has +not been able to pay the Major. Yes, I'll do that; and the sooner the +better. The little woman must not take it ill of me; I cannot wait. +(Is going in thought, and almost runs against the Major, who meets +him.) + + + +SCENE VII. +Major Von Tellheim, Paul Werner + +MAJ. T. +Why so thoughtful, Werner? + +WER. +Oh! that is you. I was just going to pay you a visit in your new +quarters, Major. + +MAJ. T. +To fill my ears with curses against the Landlord of my old one. Do not +remind me of it. + +WER. +I should have done that by the way: yes. But more particularly, I wish +to thank you for having been so good as to take care of my hundred +louis d'ors. Just has given them to me again. I should have been very +glad if you would have kept them longer for me. But you have got into +new quarters, which neither you nor I know much about. Who knows what +sort of place it is? They might be stolen, and you would have to make +them good to me; there would be no help for it. So I cannot ask you to +take them again. + +MAJ. T. (smiling). +When did you begin to be so careful, Werner? + +WER. +One learns to be so. One cannot now be careful enough of one's money. +I have also a commission for you, Major, from Frau Marloff; I have +just come from her. Her husband died four hundred thalers in your +debt; she sends you a hundred ducats here, in part payment. She will +forward you the rest next week. I believe I am the cause that she has +not sent you the whole sum. For she also owed me about eighty thalers, +and she thought I was come to dun her for them--which, perhaps, was +the fact--so she gave them me out of the roll which she had put aside +for you. You can spare your hundred thalers for a week longer, better +than I can spare my few groschens. There, take it! +(Hands him the ducats.) + +MAJ. T. +Werner! + +WER. +Well! Why do you stare at me so? Take it, Major! + +MAJ. T. +Werner! + +WER. +What is the matter with you? What annoys you? + +MAJ. T. (angrily striking his forehead, and stamping with his foot.) +That . . . the four hundred thalers are not all there. + +WER. +Come! Major, did not you understand me? + +MAJ. T. +It is just because I did understand you! Alas, that the best men +should to-day distress me most! + +WER. +What do you say? + +MAJ. T. +This only applies partly to you. Go, Werner! +(Pushing back Werner's hand with the money in it.) + +WER. +As soon as I have got rid of this. + +MAJ. T. +Werner, suppose I tell you that Frau Marloff was here herself early +this morning-- + +WER. +Indeed? + +MAJ. T. +That she owes me nothing now-- + +WER. +Really? + +MAJ. T. +That she has paid me every penny--What will you say then? + +WER. (thinks for a minute). +I shall say that I have told a lie, and that lying is a low thing, +because one may be caught at it. + +MAJ. T. +And you will be ashamed of yourself? + +WER. +And what of him who compels me to lie? Should not he be ashamed too? +Look ye, Major; if I was to say that your conduct has not vexed me, I +should tell another lie, and I won't lie any more. + +MAJ. T. +Do not be annoyed, Werner. I know your heart, and your affection for +me. But I do not require your money. + +WER. +Not require it! Rather sell, rather pawn, and get talked about! + +MAJ. T. +Oh! people may know that I have nothing more. One must not wish to +appear richer than one is. + +WER. +But why poorer? A man has something as long as his friend has. + +MAJ. T. +It is not proper that I should be your debtor. + +WER. +Not proper! On that summer day which the sun and the enemy made hot +for us, when your groom, who had your canteen, was not to be found, +and you came to me and said--"Werner, have you nothing to drink?" and +I gave you my flask, you took it and drank, did you not? Was that +proper? Upon my life, a mouthful of dirty water at that time was often +worth more than such filth +(taking the purse also out of his pocket, and holding out both to +him). +Take them, dear Major! Fancy it is water. God has made this, too, for +all. + +MAJ. T. +You torment me: don't you hear, I will not be your debtor. + +WER. +At first, it was not proper; now, you will not. Ah! that is a +different thing. +(Rather angrily.) +You will not be my debtor? But suppose you are already, Major? Or, are +you not a debtor to the man who once warded off the blow that was +meant to split your head; and, at another time, knocked off the arm +which was just going to pull and send a ball through your breast? How +can you become a greater debtor to that man? Or, is my neck of less +consequence than my money? If that is a noble way of thinking, by my +soul it is a very silly one too. + +MAJ. T. +To whom do you say that, Werner? We are alone, and therefore I may +speak; if a third person heard us, it might sound like boasting. I +acknowledge with pleasure, that I have to thank you for twice saving +my life. Do you not think, friend, that if an opportunity occurred I +would have done as much for you, eh? + +WER. +If an opportunity occurred! Who doubts it, Major? Have I not seen you +risk your life a hundred times for the lowest soldier, when he was in +danger? + +MAJ. T. +Well! + +WER. +But-- + +MAJ. T. +Why cannot you understand me? I say, it is not proper that I should be +your debtor; I will not be your debtor. That is, not in the +circumstances in which I now am. + +WER. +Oh! so you would wait till better times. You will borrow money from me +another time, when you do not want any: when you have some yourself, +and I perhaps none. + +MAJ. T. +A man ought not to borrow, when he has not the means of repaying. + +WER. +A man like yourself cannot always be in want. + +MAJ. T. +You know the world . . . Least of all should a man borrow from one who +wants his money himself. + +WER. +Oh! yes; I am such a one! Pray, what do I want it for? When they want +a sergeant, they give him enough to live on. + +MAJ. T. +You want it, to become something more than a sergeant--to be able to +get forward in that path in which even the most deserving, without +money, may remain behind. + +WER. +To become something more than a sergeant! I do not think of that. I am +a good sergeant; I might easily make a bad captain, and certainly a +worse general. + +MAJ. T. +Do not force me to think ill of you, Werner! I was very sorry to hear +what Just has told me. You have sold your farm, and wish to rove about +again. Do not let me suppose that you do not love the profession of +arms so much as the wild dissolute way of living which is +unfortunately connected with it. A man should be a soldier for his own +country, or from love of the cause for which he fights. To serve +without any purpose--to-day here, to-morrow there--is only travelling +about like a butcher's apprentice, nothing more. + +WER. +Well, then, Major, I will do as you say. You know better what is +right. I will remain with you. But, dear Major, do take my money in +the meantime. Sooner or later your affairs must be settled. You will +get money in plenty then; and then you shall repay me with interest. I +only do it for the sake of the interest. + +MAJ. T. +Do not talk of it. + +WER. +Upon my life, I only do it for the sake of the interest. Many a time I +have thought to myself--"Werner, what will become of you in your old +age? when you are crippled? when you will have nothing in the world? +when you will be obliged to go and beg!" And then I thought again-- +"No, you will not be obliged to beg: you will go to Major Tellheim; he +will share his last penny with you; he will feed you till you die; and +with him you can die like an honest fellow." + +MAJ. T. (taking Werner's hand). +And, comrade, you do not think so still? + +WER. +No, I do not think so any longer. He who will not take anything from +me, when he is in want, and I have to give, will not give me anything +when he has to give, and I am in want. So be it. +(Is going.) + +MAJ. T. +Man, do not drive me mad! Where are you going? +(Detains him.) +If I assure you now, upon my honour, that I still have money--If I +assure you, upon my honour, that I will tell you when I have no more-- +that you shall be the first and only person from whom I will borrow +anything--will that content you? + +WER. +I suppose it must. Give me your hand on it, Major. + +MAJ. T. +There, Paul! And now enough of that, I came here to speak with a +certain young woman. + + + +SCENE VIII. +Franziska (coming out of Minna's room), Major von Tellheim, Paul Werner + +FRAN. (entering). +Are you there still, Mr. Sergeant? +(Seeing Tellheim.) +And you there too, Major? I will be at your service instantly. +(Goes back quickly into the room.) + + + +SCENE IX. +Major von Tellheim, Paul Werner + +MAJ. T. +That was she! But it seems you know her, Werner. + +WER. +Yes, I know her. + +MAJ. T. +Yet, if I remember rightly, when I was in Thuringia you were not with +me. + +WER. +No; I was seeing after the uniforms in Leipsic. + +MAJ. T. +Where did you make her acquaintance, then? + +WER. +Our acquaintance is very young. Not a day old. But young friendship is +warm. + +MAJ. T. +Have you seen her mistress, too? + +WER. +Is her mistress a young lady? She told me you are acquainted with her +mistress. + +MAJ. T. +Did not you hear? She comes from Thuringia. + +WER. +Is the lady young? + +MAJ. T. +Yes. + +WER. +Pretty? + +MAJ. T. +Very pretty. + +WER. +Rich? + +MAJ. T. +Very rich. + +WER. +Is the mistress as fond of you as the maid is? That would be capital! + +MAJ. T. +What do you mean? + + + +SCENE X. +Franziska (with a letter in her hand), Major von Tellheim, Paul Werner + +FRAN. +Major-- + +MAJ. T. +Franziska, I have not yet been able to give you a "Welcome" here. + +FRAN. +In thought, I am sure that you have done it. I know you are friendly +to me; so am I to you. But it is not at all kind to vex those who are +friendly to you so much. + +WER. (aside). +Ah! now I see it. It is so! + +MAJ. T. +My destiny, Franziska! Did you give her the letter? + +FRAN. +Yes; and here I bring you . . . +(holding out a letter). + +MAJ. T. +An answer! + +FRAN. +No, your own letter again. + +MAJ. T. +What! She will not read it! + +FRAN. +She would have liked, but--we can't read writing well. + +MAJ. T. +You are joking! + +FRAN. +And we think that writing was not invented for those who can converse +with their lips whenever they please. + +MAJ. T. +What an excuse! She must read it. It contains my justification--all +the grounds and reasons-- + +FRAN. +My mistress wishes to hear them all from you yourself, not to read +them. + +MAJ. T. +Hear them from me myself! That every look, every word of hers, may +embarrass me; that I may feel in every glance the greatness of my +loss. + +FRAN. +Without any pity! Take it. +(Giving him his letter.) +She expects you at three o'clock. She wishes to drive out and see the +town; you must accompany her. + +MAJ. T. +Accompany her! + +FRAN. +And what will you give me to let you drive out by yourselves? I shall +remain at home. + +MAJ. T. +By ourselves! + +FRAN. +In a nice close carriage. + +MAJ. T. +Impossible! + +FRAN. +Yes, yes, in the carriage, Major. You will have to submit quietly; you +cannot escape there! And that is the reason. In short, you will come, +Major, and punctually at three. . . . Well, you wanted to speak to me +too alone. What have you to say to me? Oh! we are not alone. +(Looking at Werner.) + +MAJ. T. +Yes, Franziska; as good as alone. But as your mistress has not read my +letter, I have nothing now to say to you. + +FRAN. +As good as alone! Then you have no secrets from the Sergeant? + +MAJ. T. +No, none. + +FRAN. +And yet I think you should have some from him. + +MAJ. T. +Why so? + +WER. +How so, little woman? + +FRAN. +Particularly secrets of a certain kind. . . . All twenty, Mr. +Sergeant! +(Holding up both her hands, with open fingers.) + +WER. +Hist! hist! girl. + +MAJ. T. +What is the meaning of that? + +FRAN. +Presto! conjured on to his finger, Mr. Sergeant +(as if she was putting a ring on her fingers). + +MAJ. T. +What are you talking about? + +WER. +Little woman, little woman, don't you understand a joke? + +MAJ. T. +Werner, you have not forgotten, I hope, what I have often told you; +that one should not jest beyond a certain point with a young woman! + +WER. +Upon my life I may have forgotten it! Little woman, I beg-- + +FRAN. +Well, if it was a joke, I will forgive you this once. + +MAJ. T. +Well, if I must come, Franziska, just see that your mistress reads my +letter beforehand? That will spare me the pain of thinking again--of +talking again, of things which I would willingly forget. There, give +it to her! +(He turns the letter in giving it to her, and sees that it has been +opened.) +But do I see aright? Why it has been opened. + +FRAN. +That may be. +(Looks at it.) +True, it is open. Who can have opened it? But really we have not read +it, Major; really not. And we do not wish to read it, because the +writer is coming himself. Come; and I tell you what, Major! don't come +as you are now--in boots, and with such a head. You are excusable, you +do not expect us. Come in shoes, and have your hair fresh dressed. You +look too soldierlike, too Prussian for me as you are. + +MAJ. T. +Thank you, Franziska. + +FRAN. +You look as if you had been bivouacking last night. + +MAJ. T. +You may have guessed right. + +FRAN. +We are going to dress, directly too, and then have dinner. We would +willingly ask you to dinner, but your presence might hinder our +eating; and observe, we are not so much in love that we have lost our +appetites. + +MAJ. T. +I will go. Prepare her somewhat, Franziska, beforehand, that I may not +become contemptible in her eyes, and in my own. Come, Werner, you +shall dine with me. + +WER. +At the table d'hote here in the house? I could not eat a bit there. + +MAJ. T. +With me, in my room. + +WER. +I will follow you directly. One word first with the little woman. + +MAJ. T. +I have no objection to that. +(Exit.) + + + +SCENE XI. +Paul Werner, Franziska + +FRAN. +Well, Mr. Sergeant! + +WER. +Little woman, if I come again, shall I too come smartened up a bit? + +FRAN. +Come as you please: my eyes will find no fault with you. But my ears +will have to be so much the more on their guard. Twenty fingers, all +full of rings. Ah! ah! Mr. Sergeant! + +WER. +No, little woman; that is just what I wished to say to you. I only +rattled on a little. There is nothing in it. One ring is quite enough +for a man. Hundreds and hundreds of times I have heard the Major say-- +"He must be a rascally soldier, who can mislead a young girl." So +think I too, little woman. You may trust to that! I must be quick and +follow him. A good appetite to you. +(Exit.) + +FRAN. +The same to you! I really believe, I like that man! +(Going in, she meets Minna coming out.) + + + +SCENE XII. +Minna, Franziska + +MIN. +Has the Major gone already, Franziska? I believe I should have been +sufficiently composed again now to have detained him here. + +FRAN. +And I will make you still more composed. + +MIN. +So much the better! His letter! oh! his letter! Each line spoke the +honourable noble man. Each refusal to accept my hand declared his love +for me. I suppose he noticed that we had read his letter. I don't mind +that, if he does but come. But are you sure he will come? There only +seems to me to be a little too much pride in his conduct. For not to +be willing to be indebted for his good fortune, even to the woman he +loves, is pride, unpardonable pride! If he shows me too much of this, +Franziska-- + +FRAN. +You will discard him! + +MIN. +See there! Do you begin to pity him again already! No, silly girl, a +man is never discarded for a single fault. No; but I have thought of a +trick to pay him off a little for this pride, with pride of the same +kind. + +FRAN. +Indeed, you must be very composed, my lady, if you are thinking of +tricks again. + +MIN. +I am so; come. You will have a part to play in my plot. +(Exeunt.) + + + + +ACT IV. + + + +SCENE I. +Minna's Room. + + Minna (dressed handsomely and richly, but in good taste), Franziska + (They have just risen from a table, which a servant is clearing.) + +FRAN. +You cannot possibly have eaten enough, my lady. + +MIN. +Don't you think so, Franziska? Perhaps I had no appetite when I sat +down. + +FRAN. +We had agreed not to mention him during dinner. We should have +resolved likewise, not to think of him. + +MIN. +Indeed, I have thought of nothing but him. + +FRAN. +So I perceived. I began to speak of a hundred different things, and +you made wrong answers to each. +(Another servant brings coffee.) +Here comes a beverage more suited to fancies--sweet, melancholy +coffee. + +MIN. +Fancies! I have none. I am only thinking of the lesson I will give +him. Did you understand my plan, Franziska? + +FRAN. +Oh! yes; but it would be better if he spared us the putting it in +execution. + +MIN. +You will see that I know him thoroughly. He who refuses me now with +all my wealth, will contend for me against the whole world, as soon as +he hears that I am unfortunate and friendless. + +FRAN. (seriously). +That must tickle the most refined self-love. + +MIN. +You moralist! First you convict me of vanity--now of self-love. Let me +do as I please, Franziska. You, too, shall do as you please with your +Sergeant. + +FRAN. +With my Sergeant? + +MIN. +Yes. If you deny it altogether, then it is true. I have not seen him +yet; but from all you have said respecting him, I foretell your +husband for you. + + + +SCENE II. +Riccaut De La Marliniere, Minna, Franziska + +RIC. (before he enters). +Est-il permis, Monsieur le Major? + +FRAN. +Who is that? Any one for us? +(going to the door). + +RIC. +Parbleu! I am wrong. Mais non--I am not wrong. C'est la chambre-- + +FRAN. +Without doubt, my lady, this gentleman expects to find Major von +Tellheim here still. + +RIC. +Oui, dat is it! Le Major de Tellheim; juste, ma belle enfant, c'est +lui que je cherche. Ou est-il? + +FRAN. +He does not lodge here any longer. + +RIC. +Comment? Dere is four-and-twenty hour ago he did lodge here, and not +lodge here any more? Where lodge he den? + +MIN. (going up to him). +Sir-- + +RIC. +Ah! Madame, Mademoiselle, pardon, lady. + +MIN. +Sir, your mistake is quite excusable, and your astonishment very +natural. Major von Tellheim has had the kindness to give up his +apartments to me, as a stranger, who was not able to get them +elsewhere. + +RIC. +Ah! voila de ses politesses! C'est un tres-galant homme que ce Major! + +MIN. +Where has he gone now?--truly I am ashamed that I do not know. + +RIC. +Madame not know? C'est dommage; j'en suis fache. + +MIN. +I certainly ought to have inquired. Of course his friends will seek +him here. + +RIC. +I am vary great his friend, Madame. + +MIN. +Franziska, do you not know? + +FRAN. +No, my lady. + +RIC. +It is vary necessaire dat I speak him. I come and bring him a +nouvelle, of which he will be vary much at ease. + +MIN. +I regret it so much the more. But I hope to see him perhaps shortly. +If it is a matter of indifference from whom he hears this good news, I +would offer, sir-- + +RIC. +I comprehend. Mademoiselle parle francais? Mais sans doute; telle que +je la vois! La demande etait bien impolie; vous me pardonnerez, +Mademoiselle. + +MIN. +Sir-- + +RIC. +No! You not speak French, Madame? + +MIN. +Sir, in France I would endeavour to do so; but why here? I perceive +that you understand me, sir; and I, sir, shall doubtless understand +you; speak as you please. + +RIC. +Good, good! I can also explain me in your langue. Sachez donc, +Mademoiselle, you must know, Madame, dat I come from de table of de +ministre, ministre de, ministre de . . . What is le ministre out dere, +in de long street, on de broad place? + +MIN. +I am a perfect stranger here. + +RIC. +Si, le ministre of de war departement. Dere I have eat my dinner; I +ordinary dine dere, and de conversation did fall on Major Tellheim; et +le ministre m'a dit en confidence, car Son Excellence est de mes amis, +et il n'y a point de mysteres entre nous; Son Excellence, I say, has +trust to me, dat l'affaire from our Major is on de point to end, and +to end good. He has made a rapport to de king, and de king has +resolved et tout a fait en faveur du Major. "Monsieur," m'a dit Son +Excellence, "vous comprenez bien, que tout depend de la maniere, dont +on fait envisager les choses au roi, et vous me connaissez. Cela fait +un tres-joli garcon que ce Tellheim, et ne sais-je pas que vous +l'aimez? Les amis de mes amis sont aussi les miens. Il coute un peu +cher au Roi ce Tellheim, mais est-ce que l'on sert les rois pour rien? +Il faut s'entr'aider en ce monde; et quand il s'agit de pertes, que ce +soit le Roi qui en fasse, et non pas un honnete homme de nous autres. +Voila le principe, dont je ne me depars jamais." But what say Madame +to it? N'est pas, dat is a fine fellow! Ah! que Son Excellence a le +coeur bien place! He assure me au reste, if de Major has not recu +already une lettre de la main--a royal letter, dat to-day +infailliblement must he receive one. + +MIN. +Certainly, sir, this news will be most welcome to Major von Tellheim. +I should like to be able to name the friend to him, who takes such an +interest in his welfare. + +RIC. +Madame, you wish my name? Vous voyez en moi--you see, lady, in me, le +Chevalier Riccaut de la Marliniere, Seigneur de Pret-au-val, de la +branche de Prens d'or. You remain astonished to hear me from so great, +great a family, qui est veritablement du sang royal. Il faut le dire; +je suis sans doute le cadet le plus aventureux que la maison n'a +jamais eu. I serve from my eleven year. Une affaire d'honneur make me +flee. Den I serve de holy Papa of Rome, den de Republic St. Marino, +den de Poles, den de States General, till enfin I am brought her. Ah! +Mademoiselle, que je voudrais n'avoir jamais vu ce pays-ci! Had one +left me in de service of de States General, should I be now at least +colonel. But here always to remain capitaine, and now also a +discharged capitaine. + +MIN. +That is ill luck. + +RIC. +Oui, Mademoiselle, me voila reforme, et par la mis sur le pave! + +MIN. +I am very sorry for you. + +RIC. +Vous etes bien bonne, Mademoiselle. . . . No, merit have no reward +here. Reformer a man, like me! A man who also have ruin himself in dis +service! I have lost in it so much as twenty thousand livres. What +have I now? Tranchons le mot; je n'ai pas le sou, et me voila +exactement vis-a-vis de rien. + +MIN. +I am exceedingly sorry. + +RIC. +Vous etes bien bonne, Mademoiselle, But as one say--misfortune never +come alone! qu'un malheur ne vient jamais seul: so it arrive with me. +What ressource rests for an honnete homme of my extraction, but play? +Now, I always played with luck, so long I not need her. Now I very +much need her, je joue avec un guignon, Mademoiselle, que surpasse +toute croyance. For fifteen days, not one is passed, dat I always am +broke. Yesterday, I was broke dree times. Je sais bien, qu'il y avait +quelque chose de plus que le jeu. Car parmi mes pontes se trouvaient +certaines dames. I will not speak more. One must be very galant to les +dames. Dey have invite me again to-day, to give me revanche; mais-- +vous m'entendez, Mademoiselle,--one must first have to live, before +one can have to play. + +MIN. +I hope, sir-- + +RIC. +Vous etes bien bonne, Mademoiselle. + +MIN. (Takes Franziska aside.) +Franziska, I really feel for the man. Would he take it ill, if I offer +him something? + +FRAN. +He does not look to me like a man who would. + +MIN. +Very well! Sir, I perceive that--you play, that you keep the bank; +doubtless in places where something is to be won. I must also confess +that I . . . am very fond of play. + +RIC. +Tant mieux, Mademoiselle, tant mieux! Tous les gens d'esprit aiment le +jeu a la fureur. + +MIN. +That I am very fond of winning; that I like to trust my money to a +man, who--knows how to play. Are you inclined, sir, to let me join +you? To let me have a share in your bank? + +RIC. +Comment, Mademoiselle, vous voulez etre de moitie avec moi? De tout +mon coeur. + +MIN. +At first, only with a trifle. +(Opens her desk and takes out some money.) + +RIC. +Ah! Mademoiselle, que vous etes charmante! + +MIN. +Here is what I won a short time back; only ten pistoles. I am ashamed, +so little-- + +RIC. +Donnez toujours, Mademoiselle, donnez. +(Takes it.) + +MIN. +Without doubt, your bank, sir, is very considerable. + +RIC. +Oh! yes, vary considerable. Ten pistoles! You shall have, Madame, an +interest in my bank for one third, pour le tiers. Yes, one third part +it shall be--something more. With a beautiful lady one must not be too +exac. I rejoice myself, to make by that a liaison with Madame, et de +ce moment je recommence a bien augurer de ma fortune. + +MIN. +But I cannot be present, sir, when you play. + +RIC. +For why it necessaire dat you be present? We other players are +honourable people between us. + +MIN. +If we are fortunate, sir, you will of course bring me my share. If we +are unfortunate-- + +RIC. +I come to bring recruits, n'est pas, Madame? + +MIN. +In time recruits might fail. Manage our money well, sir. + +RIC. +What does Madame think me? A simpleton, a stupid devil? + +MIN. +I beg your pardon. + +RIC. +Je suis des bons, Mademoiselle. Savez vous ce que cela veut dire? I am +of the quite practised-- + +MIN. +But still, sir,-- + +RIC. +Je sais monter un coup-- + +MIN. (amazed). +Could you? + +RIC. +Je file la carte avec une adresse. + +MIN. +Never! + +RIC. +Je fais sauter la coupe avec une dexterite. + +MIN. +You surely would not, sir!-- + +RIC. +What not, Madame; what not? Donnes moi un pigeonneau a plumer, et-- + +MIN. +Play false! Cheat! + +RIC. +Comment, Mademoiselle? Vous appelez cela cheat? Corriger la fortune, +l'enchainer sous ses doigts, etre sur de son fait, dat you call cheat? +Cheat! Oh! what a poor tongue is your tongue! what an awkward tongue! + +MIN. +No, sir, if you think so-- + +RIC. +Laissez-moi faire, Mademoiselle, and be tranquille! What matter to you +how I play! Enough! to-morrow, Madame, you see me again or with +hundred pistol, or you see no more. Votre tres-humble, Mademoiselle, +votre tres humble. +(Exit quickly.) + +MIN. (looking after him with astonishment and displeasure). +I hope the latter, sir. + + + +SCENE III. +Minna and Franziska + +FRAN. (angrily). +What can I say? Oh! how grand! how grand! + +MIN. +Laugh at me; I deserve it. +(After reflecting, more calmly.) +No, do not laugh; I do not deserve it. + +FRAN. +Excellent! You have done a charming act--set a knave upon his legs +again. + +MIN. +It was intended for an unfortunate man. + +FRAN. +And what is the best part of it, the fellow considers you like +himself. Oh! I must follow him, and take the money from him. +(Going.) + +MIN. +Franziska, do not let the coffee get quite cold; pour it out. + +FRAN. +He must return it to you; you have thought better of it; you will not +play in partnership with him. Ten pistoles! You heard, my lady, that +he was a beggar! +(Minna pours out the coffee herself.) +Who would give such a sum to a beggar? And to endeavour, into the +bargain, to save him the humiliation of having begged for it! The +charitable woman who, out of generosity, mistakes the beggar, is in +return mistaken by the beggar. It serves you right, my lady, if he +considers your gift as--I know not what. +(Minna hands a cup of coffee to Franziska.) +Do you wish to make my blood boil still more? I do not want any. +(Minna puts it down again.) +"Parbleu, Madame, merit have no reward here" +(imitating the Frenchman). +I think not, when such rogues are allowed to walk about unhanged. + +MIN. (coldly and slowly, while sipping her coffee). +Girl, you understand good men very well; but when will you learn to +bear with the bad? And yet they are also men; and frequently not so +bad as they seem. One should look for their good side. I fancy this +Frenchman is nothing worse than vain. Through mere vanity he gives +himself out as a false player; he does not wish to appear under an +obligation to one; he wishes to save himself the thanks. Perhaps he +may now go, pay his small debts, live quietly and frugally on the rest +as far as it will go, and think no more of play. If that be so, +Franziska, let him come for recruits whenever he pleases. +(Gives her cup to Franziska.) +There, put it down! But, tell me, should not Tellheim be here by this +time? + +FRAN. +No, my lady, I can neither find out the bad side in a good man, nor +the good side in a bad man. + +MIN. +Surely he will come! + +FRAN. +He ought to remain away! You remark in him--in him, the best of me--a +little pride; and therefore you intend to tease him so cruelly! + +MIN. +Are you at it again? Be silent! I will have it so. Woe to you if you +spoil this fun of mine . . . if you do not say and do all, as we have +agreed. I will leave you with him alone; and then--but here he comes. + + + +SCENE IV. + +Paul Werner (comes in, carrying himself very erect as if on duty), +Minna, Franziska + + +FRAN. +No, it is only his dear Sergeant. + +MIN. +Dear Sergeant! Whom does the "dear" refer to? + +FRAN. +Pray, my lady, do not make the man embarrassed. Your servant, Mr. +Sergeant; what news do you bring us? + +WER. (goes up to Minna, without noticing Franziska). +Major von Tellheim begs to present, through me, Sergeant Werner, his +most respectful compliments to Fraulein von Barnhelm, and to inform +her that he will be here directly. + +MIN. +Where is he then? + +WER. +Your ladyship will pardon him; we left our quarters before it began to +strike three; but the paymaster met us on the way; and because +conversation with those gentlemen has no end, the Major made me a sign +to report the case to your ladyship. + +MIN. +Very well, Mr. Sergeant. I only hope the paymaster may have good news +for him. + +WER. +Such gentlemen seldom have good news for officers.--Has your ladyship +any orders? +(Going.) + +FRAN. +Why, where are you going again, Mr. Sergeant? Had not we something to +say to each other? + +WER. (In a whisper to Franziska, and seriously). +Not here, little woman; it is against respect, against discipline. +. . . Your ladyship-- + +MIN. +Thank you for your trouble. I am glad to have made your acquaintance. +Franziska has spoken in high praise of you to me. +(Werner makes a stiff bow, and goes.) + + + +SCENE V. +Minna, Franziska + +MIN. +So that is your Sergeant, Franziska? + +FRAN. (aside). +I have not time to reproach her for that jeering /your/. +(Aloud.) +Yes, my lady, that is my Sergeant. You think him, no doubt, somewhat +stiff and wooden. He also appeared so to me just now; but I observed, +he thought he must march past you as if on parade. And when soldiers +are on parade, they certainly look more like wooden dolls than men. +You should see and hear him when he is himself. + +MIN. +So I should, indeed! + +FRAN. +He must still be in the next room; may I go and talk with him a +little? + +MIN. +I refuse you this pleasure unwillingly: but you must remain here, +Franziska. You must be present at our conversation. Another thing +occurs to me. +(Takes her ring from her finger.) +There, take my ring; keep it for me, and give me the Major's in the +place of it. + +FRAN. +Why so? + +MIN. (whilst Franziska is fetching the ring). +I scarcely know, myself; but I fancy I see, beforehand, how I may make +use of it. Some one is knocking. Give it to me, quickly. +(Puts the ring on.) +It is he. + + + +SCENE VI. + +Major von Tellheim (in the same coat, but otherwise as Franziska +advised), Minna, Franziska + + +MAJ. T. +Madam, you will excuse the delay. + +MIN. +Oh! Major, we will not treat each other in quite such a military +fashion. You are here now; and to await a pleasure, is itself a +pleasure. Well +(looking at him and smiling) +dear Tellheim, have we not been like children? + +MAJ. T. +Yes, Madam; like children, who resist when they ought to obey quietly. + +MIN. +We will drive out, dear Major, to see a little of the town, and +afterwards to meet my uncle. + +MAJ. T. +What! + +MIN. +You see, we have not yet had an opportunity of mentioning the most +important matters even. He is coming here to-day. It was accident that +brought me here without him, a day sooner. + +MAJ. T. +Count von Bruchsal! Has he returned? + +MIN. +The troubles of the war drove him into Italy: peace has brought him +back again. Do not be uneasy, Tellheim; if we formerly feared on his +part the greatest obstacle to our union-- + +MAJ. T. +To our union! + +MIN. +He is now your friend. He has heard too much good of you from too many +people, not to become so. He longs to become personally acquainted +with the man whom his heiress has chosen. He comes as uncle, as +guardian, as father, to give me to you. + +MAJ. T. +Ah! dear lady, why did you not read my letter? Why would you not read +it? + +MIN. +Your letter! Oh! yes, I remember you sent me one. What did you do with +that letter, Franziska? Did we, or did we not read it? What was it you +wrote to me, dear Tellheim? + +MAJ. T. +Nothing but what honour commands me. + +MIN. +That is, not to desert an honourable woman who loves you. Certainly +that is what honour commands. Indeed, I ought to have read your +letter. But what I have not read, I shall hear, shall not I? + +MAJ. T. +Yes, you shall hear it. + +MIN. +No, I need not even hear it. It speaks for itself. As if you could be +guilty of such an unworthy act, as not to take me! Do you know that I +should be pointed at for the rest of my life? My countrywomen would +talk about me, and say. "That is she, that is the Fraulein von +Barnhelm, who fancied that because she was rich could marry the noble +Tellheim; as if such men were to be caught with money." That is what +they would say, for they are all envious of me. That I am rich, they +cannot deny; but they do not wish to acknowledge that I am also a +tolerably good girl, who would prove herself worthy of her husband. Is +that not so, Tellheim? + +MAJ. T. +Yes, yes, Madam, that is like your countrywomen. They will envy you +exceedingly a discharged officer, with sullied honour, a cripple, and +a beggar. + +MIN. +And are you all that? If I mistake not, you told me something of the +kind this forenoon. Therein is good and evil mixed. Let us examine +each charge more closely. You are discharged? So you say. I thought +your regiment was only drafted into another. How did it happen that a +man of your merit was not retained? + +MAJ. T. +It has happened, as it must happen. The great ones are convinced that +a soldier does very little through regard for them, not much more from +a sense of duty, but everything for his own advantage. What then can +they think they owe him? Peace has made a great many, like myself +superfluous to them; and at last we shall all be superfluous. + +MIN. +You talk as a man must talk, to whom in return the great are quite +superfluous. And never were they more so than now. I return my best +thanks to the great ones that they have given up their claims to a man +whom I would very unwillingly have shared with them. I am your +sovereign, Tellheim; you want no other master. To find you discharged, +is a piece of good fortune I dared scarcely dream of! But you are not +only discharged; you are more. And what are you more? A cripple, you +say! Well! +(looking at him from head to foot), +the cripple is tolerably whole and upright--appears still to be pretty +well, and strong. Dear Tellheim, if you expect to go begging on the +strength of your limbs, I prophesy that you will be relieved at very +few doors; except at the door of a good-natured girl like myself. + +MAJ. T. +I only hear the joking girl now, dear Minna. + +MIN. +And I only hear the "dear Minna" in your chiding. I will not joke any +longer; for I recollect that after all you are something of a cripple. +You are wounded by a shot in the right arm; but all things considered, +I do not find much fault with that. I am so much the more secure from +your blows. + +MAJ. T. +Madam! + +MIN. +You would say, "You are so much the less secure from mine." Well, +well, dear Tellheim, I hope you will not drive me to that. + +MAJ. T. +You laugh, Madam. I only lament that I cannot laugh with you. + +MIN. +Why not? What have you to say against laughing? Cannot one be very +serious even whilst laughing? Dear Major, laughter keeps us more +rational than vexation. The proof is before us. Your laughing friend +judges of your circumstances more correctly than you do yourself. +Because you are discharged, you say your honour is sullied; because +you are wounded in the arm, you call yourself a cripple. Is that +right? Is that no exaggeration? And is it my doing that all +exaggerations are so open to ridicule? I dare say, if I examine your +beggary that it will also be as little able to stand the test. You may +have lost your equipage once, twice, or thrice; your deposits in the +hands of this or that banker may have disappeared together with those +of other people; you may have no hope of seeing this or that money +again which you may have advanced in the service; but are you a beggar +on that account? If nothing else remained to you but what my uncle is +bringing for you-- + +MAJ. T. +Your uncle, Madam, will bring nothing for me. + +MIN. +Nothing but the two thousand pistoles which you so generously advanced +to our government. + +MAJ. T. +If you had but read my letter, Madam! + +MIN. +Well, I did read it. But what I read in it, on this point, is a +perfect riddle. It is impossible that any one should wish to turn a +noble action into a crime. But explain to me, dear Major. + +MAJ. T. +You remember, Madam, that I had orders to collect the contribution for +the war most strictly in cash in all the districts in your +neighbourhood. I wished to forego this severity, and advanced the +money that was deficient myself. + +MIN. +I remember it well. I loved you for that deed before I had seen you. + +MAJ. T. +The government gave me their bill, and I wished, at the signing of the +peace, to have the sum entered amongst the debts to be repaid by them. +The bill was acknowledged as good, but my ownership of the same was +disputed. People looked incredulous, when I declared that I had myself +advanced the amount in cash. It was considered as bribery, as a +douceur from the government, because I at once agreed to take the +smallest sum with which I could have been satisfied in a case of the +greatest exigency. Thus the bill went from my possession, and if it be +paid, will certainly not be paid to me. Hence, Madam, I consider my +honour to be suspected! not on account of my discharge, which, if I +had not received, I should have applied for. You look serious, Madam! +Why do you not laugh? Ha! ha! ha! I am laughing. + +MIN. +Oh! stifle that laugh, Tellheim, I implore you! It is the terrible +laugh of misanthropy. No, you are not the man to repent of a good +deed, because it may have had a bad result for yourself. Nor can these +consequences possibly be of long duration. The truth must come to +light. The testimony of my uncle, of our government-- + +MAJ. T. +Of your uncle! Of your government! Ha! ha! ha! + +MIN. +That laugh will kill me, Tellheim. If you believe in virtue and +Providence, Tellheim, do not laugh so! I never heard a curse more +terrible than that laugh! But, viewing the matter in the worst light, +if they are determined to mistake your character here, with us you +will not be misunderstood. No, we cannot, we will not, misunderstand +you, Tellheim. And if our government has the least sentiment of +honour, I know what it must do. But I am foolish; what would that +matter? Imagine, Tellheim, that you have lost the two thousand +pistoles on some gay evening. The king was an unfortunate card for +you: the queen +(pointing to herself) +will be so much the more favourable. Providence, believe me, always +indemnifies a man of honour--often even beforehand. The action which +was to cost you two thousand pistoles, gained you me. Without that +action, I never should have been desirous of making your acquaintance. +You know I went uninvited to the first party where I thought I should +meet you. I went entirely on your account. I went with a fixed +determination to love you--I loved you already! with the fixed +determination to make you mine, if I should find you as dark and ugly +as the Moor of Venice. So dark and ugly you are not; nor will you be +so jealous. But, Tellheim, Tellheim, you are yet very like him! Oh! +the unmanageable, stubborn man, who always keeps his eye fixed upon +the phantom of honour, and becomes hardened against every other +sentiment! Your eyes this way! Upon me,--me, Tellheim! +(He remains thoughtful and immovable, with his eyes fixed on one +spot.) +Of what are you thinking? Do you not hear me? + +MAJ. T. (absent). +Oh, yes; but tell me, how came the Moor into the service of Venice? +Had the Moor no country of his own? Why did he hire his arm and his +blood to a foreign land? + +MIN. (alarmed). +Of what are you thinking, Tellheim? It is time to break off. Come! +(taking him by the hand). +Franziska, let the carriage be brought round. + +MAJ. T. (disengaging his hand, and following Franziska). +No, Franziska; I cannot have the honour of accompanying your mistress. +Madam, let me still retain my senses unimpaired for to-day, and give +me leave to go. You are on the right way to deprive me of them. I +resist it as much as I can. But hear, whilst I am still myself, what I +have firmly determined, and from which nothing in the world shall turn +me. If I have not better luck in the game of life; if a complete +change in my fortune does not take place; if-- + +MIN. +I must interrupt you, Major. We ought to have told him that at first, +Franziska.--You remind me of nothing.--Our conversation would have +taken quite a different turn, Tellheim, if I had commenced with the +good news which the Chevalier de la Marliniere brought just now. + +MAJ. T. +The Chevalier de la Marliniere! Who is he? + +FRAN. +He may be a very honest man, Major von Tellheim, except that-- + +MIN. +Silence, Franziska! Also a discharged officer from the Dutch service, +who-- + +MAJ. T. +Ah! Lieutenant Riccaut! + +MIN. +He assured us he was a friend of yours. + +MAJ. T. +I assure you that I am not his. + +MIN. +And that some minister or other had told him, in confidence, that your +business was likely to have the very best termination. A letter from +the king must now be on its way to you. + +MAJ. T. +How came Riccaut and a minister in company? Something certainly must +have happened concerning my affair; for just now the paymaster of the +forces told me that the king had set aside all the evidence offered +against me, and that I might take back my promise, which I had given +in writing, not to depart from here until acquitted. But that will be +all. They wish to give me an opportunity of getting away. But they are +wrong, I shall not go. Sooner shall the utmost distress waste me away +before the eyes of my calumniators, than-- + +MIN. +Obstinate man! + +MAJ. T. +I require no favour; I want justice. My honour-- + +MIN. +The honour of such a man-- + +MAJ. T. (warmly). +No, Madam, you may be able to judge of any other subject, but not of +this. Honour is not the voice of conscience, not the evidence of a few +honourable men-- + +MIN. +No, no, I know it well. Honour is . . . honour. + +MAJ. T. +In short, Madam . . . You did not let me finish.--I was going to say, +if they keep from me so shamefully what is my own; if my honour be not +perfectly righted--I cannot, Madam, ever be yours, for I am not +worthy, in the eyes of the world, of being yours. Minna von Barnhelm +deserves an irreproachable husband. It is a worthless love which does +not scruple to expose its object to scorn. He is a worthless man, who +is not ashamed to owe a woman all his good fortune; whose blind +tenderness-- + +MIN. +And is that really your feeling, Major? +(turning her back suddenly). +Franziska! + +MAJ. T. +Do not be angry. + +MIN. (aside to Franziska). +Now is the time! What do you advise me, Franziska? + +FRAN. +I advise nothing. But certainly he goes rather too far. + +MAJ. T. (approaching to interrupt them). +You are angry, Madam. + +MIN. (ironically). +I? Not in the least. + +MAJ. T. +If I loved you less-- + +MIN. (still in the same tone). +Oh! certainly, it would be a misfortune for me. And hear, Major, I +also will not be the cause of your unhappiness. One should love with +perfect disinterestedness. It is as well that I have not been more +open! Perhaps your pity might have granted to me what your love +refuses. +(Drawing the ring slowly from her finger.) + +MAJ. T. +What does this mean, Madam? + +MIN. +No, neither of us must make the other either more or less happy. True +love demands it. I believe you, Major; and you have too much honour to +mistake love. + +MAJ. T. +Are you jesting, Madam? + +MIN. +Here! take back the ring with which you plighted your troth to me. +(Gives him the ring.) +Let it be so! We will suppose we have never met. + +MAJ. T. +What do I hear? + +MIN. +Does it surprise you? Take it, sir. You surely have not been +pretending only! + +MAJ. T. (takes the ring from her). +Heavens! can Minna speak thus? + +MIN. +In one case you cannot be mine; in no case can I be yours. Your +misfortune is probable; mine is certain. Farewell! +(Is going.) + +MAJ. T. +Where are you going, dearest Minna? + +MIN. +Sir, you insult me now by that term of endearment. + +MAJ. T. +What is the matter, Madam? Where are you going? + +MIN. +Leave me. I go to hide my tears from you, deceiver! +(Exit.) + + + +SCENE VII. +Major von Tellheim, Franziska + +MAJ. T. +Her tears? And I am to leave her. +(Is about to follow her.) + +FRAN. (holding him back). +Surely not, Major. You would not follow her into her own room! + +MAJ. T. +Her misfortune? Did she not speak of misfortune? + +FRAN. +Yes, truly; the misfortune of losing you, after-- + +MAJ. T. +After? After what? There is more in this. What is it, Franziska? Tell +me! Speak! + +FRAN. +After, I mean, she has made such sacrifices on your account. + +MAJ. T. +Sacrifices for me! + +FRAN. +Well, listen. It is a good thing for you, Major, that you are freed +from your engagement with her in this manner.--Why should I not tell +you? It cannot remain a secret long. We have fled from home. Count von +Bruchsal has disinherited my mistress, because she would not accept a +husband of his choice. On that every one deserted and slighted her. +What could we do? We determined to seek him, whom-- + +MAJ. T. +Enough! Come, and let me throw myself at her feet. + +FRAN. +What are you thinking about! Rather go, and thank your good fortune. + +MAJ. T. +Pitiful creature! For what do you take me? Yet no, my dear Franziska, +the advice did not come from your heart. Forgive my anger! + +FRAN. +Do not detain me any longer. I must see what she is about. How easily +something might happen to her. Go now, and come again, if you like. +(Follows Minna.) + + + +SCENE VIII. +Major von Tellheim + +MAJ. T. +But, Franziska! Oh! I will wait your return here.--No, that is more +torturing!--If she is in earnest, she will not refuse to forgive me. +Now I want your aid, honest Werner!--No, Minna, I am no deceiver! +(Rushes off.) + + + + +ACT V. + + + +SCENE I. +Major von Tellheim (from one side), Werner (from the other) + +MAJ. T. +Ah! Werner! I have been looking for you everywhere. Where have you +been? + +WER. +And I have been looking for you, Major; that is always the way.--I +bring you good news. + +MAJ. T. +I do not want your news now; I want your money. Quick, Werner, give me +all you have; and then raise as much more as you can. + +WER. +Major! Now, upon my life, that is just what I said--"He will borrow +money from me, when he has got it himself to lend." + +MAJ. T. +You surely are not seeking excuses! + +WER. +That I may have nothing to upbraid you with, take it with your right +hand, and give it me again with your left. + +MAJ. T. +Do not detain me, Werner. It is my intention to repay you; but when +and how, God knows! + +WER. +Then you do not know yet that the treasury has received an order to +pay you your money? I just heard it at-- + +MAJ. T. +What are you talking about? What nonsense have you let them palm off +on you? Do you not see that if it were true I should be the first +person to know it? In short, Werner, money! money! + +WER. +Very well, with pleasure. Here is some! A hundred louis d'ors there, +and a hundred ducats there. +(Gives him both.) + +MAJ. T. +Werner, go and give Just the hundred louis d'ors. Let him redeem the +ring again, on which he raised the money this morning. But whence will +you get some more, Werner? I want a good deal more. + +WER. +Leave that to me. The man who bought my farm lives in the town. The +date for payment is a fortnight hence, certainly; but the money is +ready, and by a reduction of one half per cent-- + +MAJ. T. +Very well, my dear Werner! You see that I have had recourse to you +alone--I must also confide all to you. The young lady you have seen is +in distress-- + +WER. +That is bad! + +MAJ. T. +But to-morrow she shall be my wife. + +WER. +That is good! + +MAJ. T. +And the day after, I leave this place with her. I can go; I will go. I +would sooner throw over everything here! Who knows where some good +luck may be in store for me? If you will, Werner, come with us. We +will serve again. + +WER. +Really? But where there is war, Major! + +MAJ. T. +To be sure. Go, Werner, we will speak of this again. + +WER. +Oh! my dear Major! The day after to-morrow! Why not to-morrow? I will +get everything ready. In Persia, Major, there is a famous war; what do +you say? + +MAJ. T. +We will think of it. Only go, Werner! + +WER. +Hurrah! Long live Prince Heraclius! +(Exit.) + + + +SCENE II. +Major von Tellheim + +MAJ. T. +How do I feel! . . . My whole soul has acquired a new impulse. My own +unhappiness bowed me to the ground; made me fretful, short-sighted, +shy, careless: her unhappiness raises me. I see clearly again, and +feel myself ready and capable of undertaking anything for her sake. +Why do I tarry? +(Is going towards Minna's room, when Franziska comes out of it.) + + + +SCENE III. +Franziska, Major von Tellheim + +FRAN. +Is it you? I thought I heard your voice. What do you want, Major? + +MAJ. T. +What do I want? What is she doing? Come! + +FRAN. +She is just going out for a drive. + +MAJ. T. +And alone? Without me? Where to? + +FRAN. +Have you forgotten, Major? + +MAJ. T. +How silly you are, Franziska! I irritated her, and she was angry. I +will beg her pardon, and she will forgive me. + +FRAN. +What! After you have taken the ring back, Major! + +MAJ. T. +Ah! I did that in my confusion. I had forgotten about the ring. Where +did I put it? +(Searches for it.) +Here it is. + +FRAN. +Is that it? +(Aside, as he puts it again in his pocket.) +If he would only look at it closer! + +MAJ. T. +She pressed it upon me so bitterly. But I have forgotten that. A full +heart cannot weigh words. She will not for one moment refuse to take +it again. And have I not hers? + +FRAN. +She is now waiting for it in return. Where is it, Major? Show it to +me, do! + +MAJ. T. (embarrassed). +I have . . . forgotten to put it on. Just--Just will bring it +directly. + +FRAN. +They are something alike, I suppose; let me look at that one. I am +very fond of such things. + +MAJ. T. +Another time, Franziska. Come now. + +FRAN. (aside). +He is determined not to be drawn out of his mistake. + +MAJ. T. +What do you say? Mistake! + +FRAN. +It is a mistake, I say, if you think my mistress is still a good +match. Her own fortune is far from considerable; by a few calculations +in their own favour her guardians may reduce it to nothing. She +expected everything from her uncle; but this cruel uncle-- + +MAJ. T. +Let him go! Am I not man enough to make it all good to her again! + +FRAN. +Do you hear? She is ringing; I must go in again. + +MAJ. T. +I will accompany you. + +FRAN. +For heaven's sake, no! She forbade me expressly to speak with you. +Come in at any rate a little time after me. +(Goes in.) + + + +SCENE IV. +Major von Tellheim + +MAJ. T. (calling after her). +Announce me! Speak for me, Franziska! I shall follow you directly. +What shall I say to her? Yet where the heart can speak, no preparation +is necessary. There is one thing only which may need a studied turn +. . . this reserve, this scrupulousness of throwing herself, +unfortunate as she is, into my arms; this anxiety to make a false show +of still possessing that happiness which she has lost through me. How +she is to exculpate herself to herself--for by me it is already +forgiven--for this distrust in my honour, in her own worth . . . Ah! +here she comes. + + +SCENE V. +Minna, Franziska, Major von Tellheim + +MIN. (speaking as she comes out, as if not aware of the Major's +presence). +The carriage is at the door, Franziska, is it not? My fan! + +MAJ. T. (advancing to her). +Where are you going, Madam? + +MIN. (with forced coldness). +I am going out, Major. I guess why you have given yourself the trouble +of coming back: to return me my ring.--Very well, Major von Tellheim, +have the goodness to give it to Franziska.--Franziska, take the ring +from Major von Tellheim!--I have no time to lose. +(Is going.) + +MAJ. T. (stepping before her). +Madam! Ah! what have I heard? I was unworthy of such love. + +MIN. +So, Franziska, you have-- + +FRAN. +Told him all. + +MAJ. T. +Do not be angry with me, Madam. I am no deceiver. You have, on my +account, lost much in the eyes of the world, but not in mine. In my +eyes you have gained beyond measure by this loss. It was too sudden. +You feared it might make an unfavourable impression on me; at first +you wished to hide it from me. I do not complain of this mistrust. It +arose from the desire to retain my affection. That desire is my pride. +You found me in distress; and you did not wish to add distress to +distress. You could not divine how far your distress would raise me +above any thoughts of my own. + +MIN. +That is all very well, Major, but it is now over. I have released you +from your engagement; you have, by taking back the ring-- + +MAJ. T. +Consented to nothing! On the contrary, I now consider myself bound +more firmly than ever. You are mine, Minna, mine for ever. +(Takes off the ring.) +Here, take it for the second time--the pledge of my fidelity. + +MIN. +I take that ring again! That ring? + +MAJ. T. +Yes, dearest Minna, yes. + +MIN. +What are you asking me? that ring? + +MAJ. T. +You received it for the first time from my hand, when our positions +were similar and the circumstances propitious. They are no longer +propitious, but are again similar. Equality is always the strongest +tie of love. Permit me, dearest Minna! +(Seizes her hand to put on the ring.) + +MIN. +What! by force, Major! No, there is no power in the world which shall +compel me to take back that ring! Do you think that I am in want of a +ring? Oh! you may see +(pointing to her ring) +that I have another here which is in no way inferior to yours. + +FRAN. (aside). +Well, if he does not see it now! + +MAJ. T. (letting fall her hand). +What is this? I see Fraulein von Barnhelm, but I do not hear her.--You +are pretending.--Pardon me, that I use your own words. + +MIN. (in her natural tone). +Did those words offend you, Major? + +MAJ. T. +They grieved me much. + +MIN. (affected). +They were not meant to do that, Tellheim. Forgive me, Tellheim. + +MAJ. T. +Ah! that friendly tone tells me you are yourself again, Minna: that +you still love me. + +FRAN. (exclaims). +The joke would soon have gone a little too far. + +MIN. (in a commanding tone). +Franziska, you will not interfere in our affairs, I beg. + +FRAN. (aside, in a surprised tone). +Not enough yet! + +MIN. +Yes, sir, it would only be womanish vanity in me to pretend to be cold +and scornful. No! Never! You deserve to find me as sincere as +yourself. I do love you still, Tellheim, I love you still; but +notwithstanding-- + +MAJ. T. +No more, dearest Minna, no more! +(Seizes her hand again, to put on the ring.) + +MIN. (drawing back her hand). +Notwithstanding, so much the more am I determined that that shall +never be,--never!--Of what are you thinking, Major?--I thought your +own distress was sufficient. You must remain here; you must obtain by +obstinacy--no better phrase occurs to me at the moment--the most +perfect satisfaction, obtain it by obstinacy. . . . And that even +though the utmost distress should waste you away before the eyes of +your calumniators-- + +MAJ. T. +So I thought, so I said, when I knew not what I thought or said. +Chagrin and stifling rage had enveloped my whole soul; love itself, in +the full blaze of happiness, could not illumine it. But it has sent +its daughter, Pity, more familiar with gloomy misfortune, and she has +dispelled the cloud, and opened again all the avenues of my soul to +sensations of tenderness. The impulse of self-preservation awakes, +when I have something more precious than myself to support, and to +support through my own exertions. Do not let the word "pity" offend +you. From the innocent cause of our distress we may hear the term +without humiliation. I am this cause; through me, Minna, have you lost +friends and relations, fortune and country. Through me, in me, must +you find them all again, or I shall have the destruction of the most +lovely of her sex upon my soul. Let me not think of a future in which +I must detest myself.--No, nothing shall detain me here longer. From +this moment I will oppose nothing but contempt to the injustice which +I suffer. Is this country the world? Does the sun rise here alone? +Where can I not go? In what service shall I be refused? And should I +be obliged to seek it in the most distant clime, only follow me with +confidence, dearest Minna--we shall want for nothing. I have a friend +who will assist me with pleasure. + + + +SCENE VI. +An Orderly, Major von Tellheim, Minna, Franziska + +FRAN. (seeing the Orderly). +Hist, Major! + +MAJ. T. (to the Orderly). +Who do you want? + +ORD. +I am looking for Major von Tellheim. Ah! you are the Major, I see. I +have to give this letter from his Majesty the King +(taking one out of his bag). + +MAJ. T. +To me? + +ORD. +According to the direction. + +MIN. +Franziska, do you hear? The Chevalier spoke the truth after all. + +ORD. (whilst Tellheim takes the letter). +I beg your pardon, Major; you should properly have had it yesterday, +but I could not find you out. I learnt your address this morning only +from Lieutenant Riccaut, on parade. + +FRAN. +Do you hear, my lady?--That is the Chevalier's minister. "What is the +name of de ministre out dere, on de broad place?" + +MAJ. T. +I am extremely obliged to you for your trouble. + +ORD. +It is my duty, Major. +(Exit.) + + + +SCENE VII. +Major von Tellheim, Minna, Franziska + +MAJ. T. +Ah! Minna, what is this? What does this contain? + +MIN. +I am not entitled to extend my curiosity so far. + +MAJ. T. +What! You would still separate my fate from yours?--But, why do I +hesitate to open it? It cannot make me more unhappy than I am: no, +dearest Minna, it cannot make us more unhappy--but perhaps more happy! +Permit me. +(While he opens and reads the letter, the Landlord comes stealthily on +the stage.) + + + +SCENE VIII. +Landlord, Major von Tellheim, Minna, Franziska + +LAND. (to Franziska.) +Hist! my pretty maid! A word! + +FRAN. (to the Landlord). +Mr. Landlord, we do not yet know ourselves what is in the letter. + +LAND. +Who wants to know about the letter! I come about the ring. The lady +must give it to me again, directly. Just is there, and wants to redeem +it. + +MIN. (who in the meantime has approached the Landlord). +Tell Just that it is already redeemed; and tell him by whom--by me. + +LAND. +But-- + +MIN. +I take it upon myself. Go! + +(Exit Landlord.) + + + +SCENE IX. +Major von Tellheim, Minna, Franziska + +FRAN. +And now, my lady, make it up with the poor Major. + +MIN. +Oh! kind intercessor! As if the difficulties must not soon explain +themselves. + +MAJ. T. (after reading the letter, with much emotion.) +Ah! nor has he herein belied himself! Oh! Minna, what justice! what +clemency! This is more than I expected; more than I deserved!--My +fortune, my honour, all is reestablished!--Do I dream? +(Looking at the letter, as if to convince himself.) +No, no delusion born of my own desires! Read it yourself, Minna; read +it yourself! + +MIN. +I would not presume, Major. + +MAJ. T. +Presume! The letter is to me; to your Tellheim, Minna. It contains-- +what your uncle cannot take from you. You must read it! Do read it. + +MIN. +If it affords you pleasure, Major. +(Takes the letter and reads.) + + "My dear Major von Tellheim, + + "I hereby inform you, that the business which caused me some + anxiety on account of your honour, has been cleared up in your + favour. My brother had a more detailed knowledge of it, and his + testimony has more than proved your innocence. The Treasury has + received orders to deliver again to you the bill in question, and + to reimburse the sum advanced. I have also ordered that all claims + which the Paymaster's Office brings forward against your accounts + be nullified. Please to inform me whether your health will allow + of your taking active service again. I can ill spare a man of your + courage and sentiments. I am your gracious King," &c. + +MAJ. T. +Now, what do you say to that, Minna? + +MIN. (folding up and returning the letter). +I? Nothing. + +MAJ. T. +Nothing? + +MIN. +Stay--yes. That your king, who is a great man, can also be a good man. +--But what is that to me! He is not my king. + +MAJ. T. +And do you say nothing more? Nothing about ourselves? + +MIN. +You are going to serve again. From Major, you will become Lieutenant- +Colonel, perhaps Colonel. I congratulate you with all my heart. + +MAJ. T. +And you do not know me better? No, since fortune restores me +sufficient to satisfy the wishes of a reasonable man, it shall depend +upon my Minna alone, whether for the future I shall belong to any one +else but her. To her service alone my whole life shall be devoted! The +service of the great is dangerous, and does not repay the trouble, the +restraint, the humiliation which it costs. Minna is not amongst those +vain people who love nothing in their husbands beyond their titles and +positions. She will love me for myself; and for her sake I will forget +the whole world. I became a soldier from party feeling--I do not +myself know on what political principles--and from the whim that it is +good for every honourable man to try the profession of arms for a +time, to make himself familiar with danger, and to learn coolness and +determination. Extreme necessity alone could have compelled me to make +this trial a fixed mode of life, this temporary occupation a +profession. But now that nothing compels me, my whole and sole +ambition is to be a peaceful and a contented man. This with you, +dearest Minna, I shall infallibly become; this in your society I shall +unchangeably remain. Let the holy bond unite us to-morrow; and then we +will look round us, and in the whole wide habitable world seek out the +most peaceful, the brightest, most smiling nook which wants but a +happy couple to be a Paradise. There we will dwell; there shall each +day. . . . What is the matter, Minna? +(Minna turns away uneasily, and endeavours to hide her emotion.) + +MIN. (regaining her composure). +It is cruel of you, Tellheim, to paint such happiness to me, when I am +forced to renounce it. My loss-- + +MAJ. T. +Your loss! Why name your loss? All that Minna could lose is not Minna. +You are still the sweetest, dearest, loveliest, best creature under +the sun; all goodness and generosity, innocence and bliss! Now and +then a little petulant; at times somewhat wilful--so much the better! +So much the better! Minna would otherwise be an angel, whom I should +honour with trepidation, but not dare to love. +(Takes her hand to kiss it.) + +MIN. (drawing away her hand). +Not so, sir. Why this sudden change? Is this flattering impetuous +lover, the cold Tellheim!--Could his returning good fortune alone +create this ardour in him? He will permit me during his passionate +excitement to retain the power of reflection for us both. When he +could himself reflect, I heard him say--"it is a worthless love which +does not scruple to expose its object to scorn."--True; and I aspire +to as pure and noble a love as he himself. Now, when honour calls him, +when a great monarch solicits his services, shall I consent that he +shall give himself up to love-sick dreams with me? that the +illustrious warrior shall degenerate into a toying swain? No, Major, +follow the call of your higher destiny. + +MAJ. T. +Well! if the busy world has greater charms for you, Minna, let us +remain in the busy world! How mean, how poor is this busy world; you +now only know its gilded surface. Yet certainly, Minna, you will. +. . . But let it be so! until then! Your charms shall not want +admirers, nor will my happiness lack enviers. + +MIN. +No, Tellheim, I do not mean that! I send you back into the busy world, +on the road of honour, without wishing to accompany you. Tellheim will +there require an irreproachable wife! A fugitive Saxon girl who has +thrown herself upon him-- + +MAJ. T. (starting up, and looking fiercely about him). +Who dare say that! Ah! Minna, I feel afraid of myself, when I imagine +that any one but yourself could have spoken so. My anger against him +would know no bounds. + +MIN. +Exactly! That is just what I fear. You would not endure one word of +calumny against me, and yet you would have to put up with the very +bitterest every day. In short, Tellheim, hear what I have firmly +determined, and from which nothing in the world shall turn me-- + +MAJ. T. +Before you proceed, I implore you, Minna, reflect for one moment, that +you are about to pronounce a sentence of life or death upon me! + +MIN. +Without a moment's reflection! . . . As certainly as I have given you +back the ring with which you formerly pledged your troth to me, as +certainly as you have taken back that same ring, so certainly shall +the unfortunate Minna never be the wife of the fortunate Tellheim! + +MAJ. T. +And herewith you pronounce my sentence. + +MIN. +Equality is the only sure bond of love. The happy Minna only wished to +live for the happy Tellheim. Even Minna in misfortune would have +allowed herself to be persuaded either to increase or to assuage the +misfortune of her friend through herself. . . . He must have seen, +before the arrival of that letter, which has again destroyed all +equality between us, that in appearance only I refused. + +MAJ. T. +Is that true? I thank you, Minna, that you have not yet pronounced the +sentence. You will only marry Tellheim when unfortunate? You may have +him. +(Coolly.) +I perceive now that it would be indecorous in me to accept this tardy +justice; that it will be better if I do not seek again that of which I +have been deprived by such shameful suspicion. Yes; I will suppose +that I have not received the letter. Behold my only answer to it! +(About to tear it up.) + +MIN. (stopping him). +What are you going to do, Tellheim? + +MAJ. T. +Obtain your hand. + +MIN. +Stop! + +MAJ. T. +Madam, it is torn without fail if you do not quickly recall your +words.--Then we will see what else you may have to object to in me. + +MIN. +What! In such a tone? Shall I, must I, thus become contemptible in my +own eyes? Never! She is a worthless creature, who is not ashamed to +owe her whole happiness to the blind tenderness of a man! + +MAJ. T. +False! utterly false! + +MIN. +Can you venture to find fault with your own words when coming from my +lips? + +MAJ. T. +Sophistry! Does the weaker sex dishonour itself by every action which +does not become the stronger? Or can a man do everything which is +proper in a woman? Which is appointed by nature to be the support of +the other? + +MIN. +Be not alarmed, Tellheim! . . . I shall not be quite unprotected, if I +must decline the honour of your protection. I shall still have as much +as is absolutely necessary. I have announced my arrival to our +ambassador. I am to see him to-day. I hope he will assist me. Time is +flying. Permit me, Major-- + +MAJ. T. +I will accompany you, Madam. + +MIN. +No, Major; leave me. + +MAJ. T. +Sooner shall your shadow desert you! Come Madam, where you will, to +whom you will everywhere, to friends and strangers, will I repeat in +your presence--repeat a hundred times each day--what a bond binds you +to me, and with what cruel caprice you wish to break it-- + + + +SCENE X. +Just, Major von Tellheim, Minna, Franziska + +JUST. (impetuously). +Major! Major! + +MAJ. T. +Well! + +JUST. +Here quick! quick! + +MAJ. T. +Why! Come to me. Speak, what is the matter? + +JUST. +What do you think? +(Whispers to him.) + +MIN. (aside to Franziska). +Do you notice anything, Franziska? + +FRAN. +Oh! you merciless creature! I have stood here on thorns! + +MAJ. T. (to Just). +What do you say? . . . That is not possible! . . . You? +(Looking fiercely at Minna.) +Speak it out; tell it to her face. Listen, Madam. + +JUST. +The Landlord says, that Fraulein von Barnhelm has taken the ring which +I pledged to him; she recognised it as her own, and would not return +it. + +MAJ. T. +Is that true, Madam? No, that cannot be true! + +MIN. (smiling). +And why not, Tellheim? Why can it not be true? + +MAJ. T. (vehemently). +Then it is true! . . . What terrible light suddenly breaks in upon me! +. . . Now I know you--false, faithless one! + +MIN. (alarmed). +Who, who is faithless? + +MAJ. T. +You, whom I will never more name! + +MIN. +Tellheim! + +MAJ. T. +Forget my name . . . You came here with the intention of breaking with +me . . . It is evident! . . . Oh, that chance should thus delight to +assist the faithless! It brought your ring into your possession. Your +craftiness contrived to get my own back into mine! + +MIN. +Tellheim, what visions are you conjuring up! Be calm, and listen to +me. + +FRAN. (aside). +Now she will catch it! + + +SCENE XI. + +Werner (with a purse full of gold), Just, Major von Tellheim, Minna, +Franziska + + +WER. +Here I am already, Major! + +MAJ. T. (without looking at him). +Who wants you? + +WER. +I have brought more money! A thousand pistoles! + +MAJ. T. +I do not want them! + +WER. +And to-morrow, Major, you can have as many more. + +MAJ. T. +Keep your money! + +WER. +It is your money, Major . . . I do not think you see whom you are +speaking to! + +MAJ. T. +Take it away! I say. + +WER. +What is the matter with you?--I am Werner. + +MAJ. T. +All goodness is dissimulation; all kindness deceit. + +WER. +Is that meant for me? + +MAJ. T. +As you please! + +WER. +Why I have only obeyed your commands. + +MAJ. T. +Obey once more, and be off! + +WER. +Major +(vexed). +I am a man-- + +MAJ. T. +So much the better! + +WER. +Who can also be angry. + +MAJ. T. +Anger is the best thing we possess. + +WER. +I beg you, Major. + +MAJ. T. +How often must I tell you? I do not want your money! + +WER. (in a rage). +Then take it, who will! +(Throws the purse on the ground, and goes to the side). + +MIN. (to Franziska). +Ah! Franziska, I ought to have followed your advice. I have carried +the jest too far.--Still, when he hears me . . . +(going to him). + +FRAN. (without answering Minna, goes up to Werner). +Mr. Sergeant-- + +WER. (pettishly). +Go along! + +FRAN. +Ah! what men these are. + +MIN. +Tellheim! Tellheim! +(Tellheim, biting his fingers with rage, turns away his face, without +listening.) +No, this is too bad . . . Only listen! . . . You are mistaken! . . . A +mere misunderstanding. Tellheim, will you not hear your Minna? Can you +have such a suspicion? . . . I break my engagement with you? I came +here for that purpose? . . . Tellheim! + + + +SCENE XII. + +Two Servants (running into the room from different sides), Werner, +Just, Major von Tellheim, Minna, Franziska + + +FIRST SER. +Your ladyship, his excellency the Count! + +SECOND SER. +He is coming, your ladyship! + +FRAN. (running to the window). +It is! it is he! + +MIN. +Is it? Now, Tellheim, quick! + +MAJ. T. (suddenly recovering himself). +Who, who comes? Your uncle, Madam! this cruel uncle! . . . Let him +come; just let him come! . . . Fear not! . . . He shall not hurt you +even by a look. He shall have to deal with me . . . You do not indeed +deserve it of me. + +MIN. +Quick, Tellheim! one embrace and forget all. + +MAJ. T. +Ah! did I but know that you could regret-- + +MIN. +No, I can never regret having obtained a sight of your whole heart! +. . . Ah! what a man you are! . . . Embrace your Minna, your happy +Minna: and in nothing more happy than in the possession of you. +(Embracing.) +And now to meet him! + +MAJ. T. +To meet whom? + +MIN. +The best of your unknown friends. + +MAJ. T. +What! + +MIN. +The Count, my uncle, my father, your father . . . My flight, his +displeasure, my loss of property--do you not see that all is a +fiction, credulous knight? + +MAJ. T. +Fiction! But the ring? the ring? + +MIN. +Where is the ring that I gave back to you? + +MAJ. T. +You will take it again? Ah! now I am happy . . . Here, Minna +(taking it from his pocket). + +MIN. +Look at it first! Oh! how blind are those who will not see! . . . What +ring is that? the one you gave me? or the one I gave to you? Is it not +the one which I did not like to leave in the landlord's possession? + +MAJ. T. +Heaven! what do I see! What do I hear! + +MIN. +Shall I take it again now? Shall I? Give it to me! give it! +(Takes it from him, and then puts it on his finger herself.) +There, now all is right! + +MAJ. T. +Where am I? +(Kissing her hand.) +Oh! malicious angel, to torture me so! + +MIN. +As a proof, my dear husband, that you shall never play me a trick +without my playing you one in return. . . . Do you suppose that you +did not torture me also? + +MAJ. T. +Oh you actresses! But I ought to have known you. + +FRAN. +Not I, indeed; I am spoilt for acting. I trembled and shook, and was +obliged to hold my lips together with my hand. + +MIN. +Nor was mine an easy part.--But come now-- + +MAJ. T. +I have not recovered myself yet. How happy, yet how anxious, I feel. +It is like awaking suddenly from a frightful dream. + +MIN. +We are losing time . . . I hear him coming now. + + +SCENE XIII. + +Count von Bruchsal (accompanied by several servants and the Landlord), +Two Servants, Werner, Just, Major von Tellheim, Minna, Franziska + + +COUNT. (entering). +She arrived in safety, I hope? + +MIN. (running to meet him). +Ah! my father! + +COUNT. +Here I am, dear Minna +(embracing her). +But what, girl +(seeing Tellheim), +only four-and-twenty hours here, and friends--company already! + +MIN. +Guess who it is? + +COUNT. +Not your Tellheim, surely! + +MIN. +Who else!--Come, Tellheim +(introducing him). + +COUNT. +Sir, we have never met; but at the first glance I fancied I recognised +you. I wished it might be Major von Tellheim.--Your hand, sir; you +have my highest esteem; I ask for your friendship. My niece, my +daughter loves you. + +MIN. +You know that, my father!--And was my love blind? + +COUNT. +No, Minna, your love was not blind; but your lover--is dumb. + +MAJ. T. (throwing himself in the Count's arms). +Let me recover myself, my father! + +COUNT. +Right, my son. I see your heart can speak, though your lips cannot. I +do not usually care for those who wear this uniform. But you are an +honourable man, Tellheim; and one must love an honourable man, in +whatever garb he may be. + +MIN. +Ah! did you but know all! + +COUNT. +Why should I not hear all?--Which are my apartments, landlord? + +LAND. +Will your Excellency have the goodness to walk this way? + +COUNT. +Come, Minna! Pray come, Major! +(Exit with the Landlord and servants.) + +MIN. +Come, Tellheim! + +MAJ. T. +I will follow you in an instant, Minna. One word first with this man +(turning to Werner). + +MIN. +And a good word, methinks, it should be. Should it not, Franziska? +(Exit.) + + + +SCENE XIV. +Major von Tellheim, Werner, Just, Franziska + +MAJ. T. (pointing to the purse which Werner had thrown down). +Here, Just, pick up the purse and carry it home. Go! +(Just takes it up and goes.) + +WER. (still standing, out of humour, in a corner, and absent till he +hears the last words). +Well, what now? + +MAJ. T. (in a friendly tone while going up to him). +Werner, when can I have the other two thousand pistoles? + +WER. (in a good humour again instantly). +To-morrow, Major, to-morrow. + +MAJ. T. +I do not need to become your debtor; but I will be your banker. All +you good-natured people ought to have guardians. You are in a manner +spendthrifts.--I irritated you just now, Werner. + +WER. +Upon my life you did! But I ought not to have been such a dolt. Now I +see it all clearly. I deserve a hundred lashes. You may give them to +me, if you will, Major. Only no more ill will, dear Major! + +MAJ. T. +Ill will! +(shaking him by the hand). +Read in my eyes all that I cannot say to you--Ah! let me see the man +with a better wife and a more trusty friend than I shall have.--Eh! +Franziska? +(Exit.) + + + +SCENE XV. +Werner, Franziska + +FRAN. (aside). +Yes, indeed, he is more than good!--Such a man will never fall in my +way again.--It must come out. +(Approaching Werner bashfully.) +Mr. Sergeant! + +WER. (wiping his eyes). +Well! + +FRAN. +Mr. Sergeant-- + +WER. +What do you want, little woman? + +FRAN. +Look at me, Mr. Sergeant. + +WER. +I can't yet; there is something, I don't know what, in my eyes. + +FRAN. +Now do look at me! + +WER. +I am afraid I have looked at you too much already, little woman! +There, now I can see you. What then? + +FRAN. +Mr. Sergeant--don't you want a Mrs. Sergeant? + +WER. +Do you really mean it, little woman? + +FRAN. +Really I do. + +WER. +And would you go with me to Persia even? + +FRAN. +Wherever you please. + +WER. +You will! Hullo, Major, no boasting! At any rate I have got as good a +wife, and as trusty a friend, as you.--Give me your hand, my little +woman! It's a match!--In ten years' time you shall be a general's +wife, or a widow! + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext Minna von Barnhelm, by Gotthold Lessing + diff --git a/old/minna10.zip b/old/minna10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c84f745 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/minna10.zip |