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diff --git a/6784.txt b/6784.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6cd29a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/6784.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4841 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Love and Intrigue, by Frederich Schiller + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Love and Intrigue + A Play + +Author: Frederich Schiller + +Release Date: October 25, 2006 [EBook #6784] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LOVE AND INTRIGUE *** + + + + +Produced by Tapio Riikonen and David Widger + + + + + + LOVE AND INTRIGUE. + + A TRAGEDY. + + By Frederich Schiller + + + +DRAMATIS PERSONAE. + +PRESIDENT VON WALTER, Prime Minister in the Court of a German Prince. +FERDINAND, his son; a Major in the Army; in love with Louisa Miller. +BARON VON KALB, Court Marshal (or Chamberlain). +WORM, Private Secretary to the President. +MILLER, the Town Musician, and Teacher of Music. +MRS. MILLER, his wife. +LOUISA, the daughter of Miller, in love with Ferdinand. +LADY MILFORD, the Prince's Mistress. +SOPHY, attendant on Lady Milford. +An old Valet in the service of the Prince. +Officers, Attendants, etc. + + + + +ACT I. + +SCENE I. + + MILLER--MRS. MILLER. + +MILLER (walking quickly up and down the room). Once for all! The +affair is becoming serious. My daughter and the baron will soon be the +town-talk--my house lose its character--the president will get wind of +it, and--the short and long of the matter is, I'll show the younker the +door. + +MRS MILLER. You did not entice him to your house--did not thrust your +daughter upon him! + +MILLER. Didn't entice him to my house--didn't thrust the girl upon him! +Who'll believe me? I was master of my own house. I ought to have taken +more care of my daughter. I should have bundled the major out at once, +or have gone straight to his excellency, his papa, and disclosed all. +The young baron will get off merely with a snubbing, I know that well +enough, and all the blame will fall upon the fiddler. + +MRS MILLER (sipping her coffee). Pooh! nonsense! How can it fall upon +you? What have people to do with you? You follow your profession, and +pick up pupils wherever you can find them. + +MILLER. All very fine, but please to tell me what will be the upshot of +the whole affair? He can't marry the girl--marriage is out of the +question, and to make her his--God help us! "Good-by t'ye!" No, no--when +such a sprig of nobility has been nibbling here and there and everywhere, +and has glutted himself with the devil knows what all, of course it will +be a relish to my young gentleman to get a mouthful of sweet water. Take +heed! Take heed! If you were dotted with eyes, and could place a +sentinel for every hair of your head, he'll bamboozle her under your very +nose; add one to her reckoning, take himself off, and the girl's ruined +for life, left in the lurch, or, having once tasted the trade, will carry +it on. (Striking his forehead.) Oh, horrible thought! + +MRS MILLER. God in his mercy protect us! + +MILLER. We shall want his protection. You may well say that. What +other object can such a scapegrace have? The girl is handsome--well +made--can show a pretty foot. How the upper story is furnished matters +little. That's blinked in you women if nature has not played the niggard +in other respects. Let this harum-scarum but turn over this chapter--ho! +ho! his eyes will glisten like Rodney's when he got scent of a French +frigate; then up with all sail and at her, and I don't blame him for it-- +flesh is flesh. I know that very well. + +MRS MILLER. You should only read the beautiful billy-doux which the +baron writes to your daughter. Gracious me! Why it's as clear as the +sun at noonday that he loves her purely for her virtuous soul. + +MILLER. That's the right strain! We beat the sack, but mean the ass's +back. He who wishes to pay his respects to the flesh needs only a kind +heart for a go-between. What did I myself? When we've once so far +cleared the ground that the affections cry ready! slap! the bodies follow +their example, the appetites are obedient, and the silver moon kindly +plays the pimp. + +MRS MILLER. And then only think of the beautiful books that the major +has sent us. Your daughter always prays out of them. + +MILLER (whistles). Prays! You've hit the mark. The plain, simple food +of nature is much too raw and indigestible for this maccaroni gentleman's +stomach. It must be cooked for him artificially in the infernal +pestilential pitcher of your novel-writers. Into the fire with the +rubbish! I shall have the girl taking up with--God knows what all--about +heavenly fooleries that will get into her blood, like Spanish flies, and +scatter to the winds the handful of Christianity that cost her father so +much trouble to keep together. Into the fire with them I say! The girl +will take the devil's own nonsense into her head; amidst the dreams of +her fool's paradise she'll not know her own home, but forget and feel +ashamed of her father, the music-master; and, lastly, I shall lose a +worthy, honest son-in-law who might have nestled himself so snugly into +my connections. No! damn it! (Jumps up in a passion.) I'll break the +neck of it at once, and the major--yes, yes, the major! shall be shown +where the carpenter made the door. (Going.) + +MRS MILLER. Be civil, Miller! How many a bright shilling have his +presents---- + +MILLER (comes back, and goes up to her). The blood money of my daughter? +To Beelzebub with thee, thou infamous bawd! Sooner will I vagabondize +with my violin and fiddle for a bit of bread--sooner will I break to +pieces my instrument and carry dung on the sounding-board than taste a +mouthful earned by my only child at the price of her soul and future +happiness. Give up your cursed coffee and snuff-taking, and there will +be no need to carry your daughter's face to market. I have always had my +bellyful and a good shirt to my back before this confounded scamp put his +nose into my crib. + +MRS MILLER. Now don't be so ready to pitch the house out of window. How +you flare up all of a sudden. I only meant to say that we shouldn't +offend the major, because he is the son of the president. + +MILLER. There lies the root of the mischief. For that reason--for that +very reason the thing must be put a stop to this very day! The +president, if he is a just and upright father, will give me his thanks. +You must brush up my red plush, and I will go straight to his excellency. +I shall say to him,--"Your excellency's son has an eye to my daughter; my +daughter is not good enough to be your excellency's son's wife, but too +good to be your excellency's son's strumpet, and there's an end of the +matter. My name is Miller." + + + +SCENE II. + + Enter SECRETARY WORM. + +MRS MILLER. Ah! Good morning, Mr. Seckertary! Have we indeed the +pleasure of seeing you again? + +WORM. All on my side--on my side, cousin Miller! Where a high-born +cavalier's visits are received mine can be of no account whatever. + +MRS MILLER. How can you think so, Mr. Seckertary? His lordship the +baron, Major Ferdinand, certainly does us the honor to look in now and +then; but, for all that, we don't undervalue others. + +MILLER (vexed). A chair, wife, for the gentleman! Be seated, kinsman. + +WORM (lays aside hat and stick, and seats himself). Well, well--and how +then is my future--or past--bride? I hope she'll not be--may I not have +the honor of seeing--Miss Louisa? + +MRS MILLER. Thanks for inquiries, Mr. Seckertary, but my daughter is not +at all proud. + +MILLER (angry, jogs her with his elbow). Woman! + +MRS MILLER. Sorry she can't have that honor, Mr. Seckertary. My +daughter is now at mass. + +WORM. I am glad to hear it,--glad to hear it. I shall have in her a +pious, Christian wife! + +MRS MILLER (smiling in a stupidly affected manner). Yes--but, Mr. +Seckertary---- + +MILLER (greatly incensed, pulls her ears). Woman! + +MRS MILLER. If our family can serve you in any other way--with the +greatest pleasure, Mr. Seckertary---- + +WORM (frowning angrily). In any other way? Much obliged! much +obliged!--hm! hm! hm! + +MRS MILLER. But, as you yourself must see, Mr. Seckertary---- + +MILLER (in a rage, shaking his fist at her). Woman! + +MRS MILLER. Good is good, and better is better, and one does not like to +stand between fortune and one's only child (with vulgar pride). You +understand me, Mr. Seckertary? + +WORM. Understand. Not exac---. Oh, yes. But what do you really mean? + +MRS MILLER. Why--why--I only think--I mean--(coughs). Since then +Providence has determined to make a great lady of my daughter---- + +WORM (jumping from his chair). What's that you say? what? + +MILLER. Keep your seat, keep your seat, Mr. Secretary! The woman's an +out-and-out fool! Where's the great lady to come from? How you show +your donkey's ears by talking such stuff. + +MRS MILLER. Scold as long as you will. I know what I know, and what the +major said he said. + +MILLER (snatches up his fiddle in anger). Will you hold your tongue? +Shall I throw my fiddle at your head? What can you know? What can he +have said? Take no notice of her clack, kinsman! Away with you to your +kitchen! You'll not think me first cousin of a fool, and that I'm +looking out so high for the girl? You'll not think that of me, Mr. +Secretary? + +WORM. Nor have I deserved it of you, Mr. Miller! You have always shown +yourself a man of your word, and my contract to your daughter was as good +as signed. I hold an office that will maintain a thrifty manager; the +president befriends me; the door to advancement is open to me whenever I +may choose to take advantage of it. You see that my intentions towards +Miss Louisa are serious; if you have been won over by a fop of rank---- + +MRS MILLER. Mr. Seckertary! more respect, I beg---- + +MILLER. Hold your tongue, I say. Never mind her, kinsman. Things +remain as they were. The answer I gave you last harvest, I repeat +to-day. I'll not force my daughter. If you suit her, well and good; +then it's for her to see that she can be happy with you. If she shakes +her head--still better--be it so, I should say--then you must be content +to pocket the refusal, and part in good fellowship over a bottle with her +father. 'Tis the girl who is to live with you--not I. Why should I, out +of sheer caprice, fasten a husband upon the girl for whom she has no +inclination? That the evil one may haunt me down like a wild beast in my +old age--that in every drop I drink--in every bit of bread I bite, I +might swallow the bitter reproach: Thou art the villain who destroyed his +child's happiness! + +MRS MILLER. The short and the long of it is--I refuse my consent +downright; my daughter's intended for a lofty station, and I'll go to law +if my husband is going to be talked over. + +MILLER. Shall I break every bone in your body, you millclack? + +WORM (to MILLER). Paternal advice goes a great way with the daughter, +and I hope you know me, Mr. Miller? + +MILLER. Plague take you! 'Tis the girl must know you. What an old +crabstick like me can see in you is just the very last thing that a +dainty young girl wants. I'll tell you to a hair if you're the man for +an orchestra--but a woman's heart is far too deep for a music-master. +And then, to be frank with you--you know that I'm a blunt, +straightforward fellow--you'll not give thank'ye for my advice. I'll +persuade my daughter to no one--but from you Mr. Sec--I would dissuade +her! A lover who calls upon the father for help--with permission--is not +worth a pinch of snuff. If he has anything in him, he'll be ashamed to +take that old-fashioned way of making his deserts known to his +sweetheart. If he hasn't the courage, why he's a milksop, and no Louisas +were born for the like of him. No! he must carry on his commerce with +the daughter behind the father's back. He must manage so to win her +heart, that she would rather wish both father and mother at Old Harry +than give him up--or that she come herself, fall at her father's feet, +and implore either for death on the rack, or the only one of her heart. +That's the fellow for me! that I call love! and he who can't bring +matters to that pitch with a petticoat may--stick the goose feather in +his cap. + +WORM (seizes hat and stick and hurries out of the room). Much obliged, +Mr. Miller! + +MILLER (going after him slowly). For what? for what? You haven't taken +anything, Mr. Secretary! (Comes back.) He won't hear, and off he's +gone. The very sight of that quill-driver is like poison and brimstone +to me. An ugly, contraband knave, smuggled into the world by some lewd +prank of the devil--with his malicious little pig's eyes, foxy hair, and +nut-cracker chin, just as if Nature, enraged at such a bungled piece of +goods, had seized the ugly monster by it, and flung him aside. No! +rather than throw away my daughter on a vagabond like him, she may--God +forgive me! + +MRS MILLER. The wretch!--but you'll be made to keep a clean tongue in +your head! + +MILLER. Ay, and you too, with your pestilential baron--you, too, must +put my bristles up. You're never more stupid than when you have the most +occasion to show a little sense. What's the meaning of all that trash +about your daughter being a great lady? If it's to be cried out about +the town to-morrow, you need only let that fellow get scent of it. He is +one of your worthies who go sniffing about into people's houses, dispute +upon everything, and, if a slip of the tongue happen to you, skurry with +it straight to the prince, mistress, and minister, and then there's the +devil to pay. + + + +SCENE III. + + Enter LOUISA with a book in her hand. + +LOUISA. Good morning, dear father! + +MILLER (affectionately). Bless thee, my Louisa! I rejoice to see thy +thoughts are turned so diligently to thy Creator. Continue so, and his +arm will support thee. + +LOUISA. Oh! I am a great sinner, father! Was he not here, mother? + +MRS MILLER. Who, my child? + +LOUISA. Ah! I forgot that there are others in the world besides him--my +head wanders so. Was he not here? Ferdinand? + +MILLER (with melancholy, serious voice). I thought my Louisa had +forgotten that name in her devotions? + +LOUISA (after looking at him steadfastly for some time). I understand +you, father. I feel the knife which stabs my conscience; but it comes +too late. I can no longer pray, father. Heaven and Ferdinand divide my +bleeding soul, and I fear--I fear--(after a pause). Yet no, no, good +father. The painter is best praised when we forget him in the +contemplation of his picture. When in the contemplation of his +masterpiece, my delight makes me forget the Creator,--is not that, +father, the true praise of God? + +MILLER (throws himself in displeasure on a chair). There we have it! +Those are the fruits of your ungodly reading. + +LOUISA (uneasy, goes to the window). Where can he be now? Ah! the +high-born ladies who see him--listen to him----I am a poor forgotten +maiden. (Startles at that word, and rushes to her father.) But no, no! +forgive me. I do not repine at my lot. I ask but little--to think on +him--that can harm no one. Ah! that I might breathe out this little +spark of life in one soft fondling zephyr to cool his cheek! That this +fragile floweret, youth, were a violet, on which he might tread, and I +die modestly beneath his feet! I ask no more, father! Can the proud, +majestic day-star punish the gnat for basking in its rays? + +MILLER (deeply affected, leans on the arm of his chair, and covers his +face). My child, my child, with joy would I sacrifice the remnant of my +days hadst thou never seen the major. + +LOUISA (terrified.) How; how? What did you say? No, no! that could not +be your meaning, good father. You know not that Ferdinand is mine! You +know not that God created him for me, and for my delight alone! (After a +pause of recollection.) The first moment that I beheld him--and the +blood rushed into my glowing cheeks--every pulse beat with joy; every +throb told me, every breath whispered, "'Tis he!" And my heart, +recognizing the long-desired one, repeated "'Tis he!" And the whole +world was as one melodious echo of my delight! Then--oh! then was the +first dawning of my soul! A thousand new sentiments arose in my bosom, +as flowers arise from the earth when spring approaches. I forgot there +was a world, yet never had I felt that world so dear to me! I forgot +there was a God, yet never had I so loved him! + +MILLER (runs to her and clasps her to his bosom). Louisa! my beloved, my +admirable child! Do what thou wilt. Take all--all--my life--the baron-- +God is my witness--him I can never give thee! [Exit. + +LOUISA. Nor would I have him now, father! Time on earth is but a +stinted dewdrop in the ocean of eternity. 'Twill swiftly glide in one +delicious dream of Ferdinand. I renounce him for this life! But then, +mother--then when the bounds of separation are removed--when the hated +distinctions of rank no longer part us--when men will be only men--I +shall bring nothing with me save my innocence! Yet often has my father +told me that at the Almighty's coming riches and titles will be +worthless; and that hearts alone will be beyond all price. Oh! then +shall I be rich! There, tears will be reckoned for triumphs, and purity +of soul be preferred to an illustrious ancestry. Then, then, mother, +shall I be noble! In what will he then be superior to the girl of his +heart? + +MRS. MILLER (starts from her seat). Louisa! the baron! He is jumping +over the fence! Where shall I hide myself? + +LOUISA (begins to tremble). Oh! do not leave me, mother! + +MRS MILLER. Mercy! What a figure I am. I am quite ashamed! I cannot +let his lordship see me in this state! + + [Exit. + + + +SCENE IV. + + LOUISA--FERDINAND. (He flies towards her--she falls back into her + chair, pale and trembling. He remains standing before her--they + look at each other for some moments in silence. A pause.) + +FERDINAND. So pale, Louisa? + +LOUISA (rising, and embracing him). It is nothing--nothing now that you +are here--it is over. + +FERDINAND (takes her hand and raises it to his lips). And does my Louisa +still love me? My heart is yesterday's; is thine the same? I flew +hither to see if thou wert happy, that I might return and be so too. But +I find thee whelmed in sorrow! + +LOUISA. Not so, my beloved, not so! + +FERDINAND. Confess, Louisa! you are not happy. I see through your soul +as clearly as through the transparent lustre of this brilliant. No spot +can harbor here unmarked by me--no thought can cloud your brow that does +not reach your lover's heart. Whence comes this grief? Tell me, I +beseech you! Ah! could I feel assured this mirror still remained +unsullied, there'd seem to me no cloud in all the universe! Tell me, +dear Louisa, what afflicts you? + +LOUISA (looking at him with anxiety for a few moments). Ferdinand! +couldst thou but know how such discourse exalts the tradesman's +daughter---- + +FERDINAND (surprised). What say'st thou? Tell me, girl! how camest thou +by that thought? Thou art my Louisa! who told thee thou couldst be aught +else? See, false one, see, for what coldness I must chide thee! Were +indeed thy whole soul absorbed by love for me, never hadst thou found +time to draw comparisons! When I am with thee, my prudence is lost in +one look from thine eyes: when I am absent in a dream of thee! But thou +--thou canst harbor prudence in the sane breast with love! Fie on thee! +Every moment bestowed on this sorrow was a robbery from affection and +from me! + +LOUISA (pressing his hand and shaking her head with a melancholy air). +Ferdinand, you would lull my apprehensions to sleep; you would divert my +eyes from the precipice into which I am falling. I can see the future! +The voice of honor--your prospects, your father's anger--my nothingness. +(Shuddering and suddenly drops his hands.) Ferdinand! a sword hangs over +us! They would separate us! + +FERDINAND (jumps up). Separate us! Whence these apprehensions, Louisa? +Who can rend the bonds that bind two hearts, or separate the tones of one +accord? True, I am a nobleman--but show me that my patent of nobility is +older than the eternal laws of the universe--or my escutcheon more valid +than the handwriting of heaven in my Louisa's eyes? "This woman is for +this man?" I am son of the prime minister. For that very reason, what +but love can soften the curses which my father's extortions from the +country will entail upon me? + +LOUISA. Oh! how I fear that father! + +FERDINAND. I fear nothing--nothing but that your affection should know +bounds. Let obstacles rise between us, huge as mountains, I will look +upon them as a ladder by which to fly into the arms of my Louisa! The +tempest of opposing fate shall but fan the flame of my affection dangers +will only serve to make Louisa yet more charming. Then speak no more of +terrors, my love! I myself--I will watch over thee carefully as the +enchanter's dragon watches over buried gold. Trust thyself to me! thou +shalt need no other angel. I will throw myself between thee and fate-- +for thee receive each wound. For thee will I catch each drop distilled +from the cup of joy, and bring thee in the bowl of love. (Embracing +affectionately.) This arm shall support my Louisa through life. Fairer +than it dismissed thee, shall heaven receive thee back, and confess with +delight that love alone can give perfection to the soul. + +LOUISA (disengaging herself from him, greatly agitated). No more! I +beseech thee, Ferdinand! no more! Couldst thou know. Oh! leave me, +leave me! Little dost thou feel how these hopes rend my heart in pieces +like fiends! (Going.) + +FERDINAND (detaining her). Stay, Louisa! stay! Why this agitation? Why +those anxious looks? + +LOUISA. I had forgotten these dreams, and was happy. Now--now--from +this day is the tranquillity of my heart no more. Wild impetuous wishes +will torment my bosom! Go! God forgive thee! Thou hast hurled a +firebrand into my young peaceful heart which nothing can extinguish! +(She breaks from him, and rushes from the apartment, followed by +FERDINAND.) + + + +SCENE V.--A Chamber in the PRESIDENT.'S House. + + The PRESIDENT, with the grand order of the cross about his neck, + and a star at his breast--SECRETARY WORM. + +PRESIDENT. A serious attachment, say you? No, no, Worm; that I never +can believe. + +WORM. If your excellency pleases, I will bring proofs of my assertions. + +PRESIDENT. That he has a fancy for the wench--flatters her--and, if you +will, pretends to love her--all this is very possible--nay--excusable +--but--and the daughter of a musician, you say? + +WORM. Of Miller, the music-master. + +PRESIDENT. Handsome? But that, of course. + +WORM (with warmth). A most captivating and lovely blondine, who, without +saying too much, might figure advantageously beside the greatest beauties +of the court. + +PRESIDENT (laughs). It's very plain, Worm, that you have an eye upon the +jade yourself--I see that. But listen, Worm. That my son has a passion +for the fair sex gives me hope that he will find favor with the ladies. +He may make his way at court. The girl is handsome, you say; I am glad +to think my son has taste. Can he deceive the silly wench by holding out +honorable intentions--still better; it will show that he is shrewd enough +to play the hypocrite when it serves his purpose. He may become prime +minister--if he accomplishes his purpose! Admirable! that will prove to +me that fortune favors him. Should the farce end with a chubby +grandchild--incomparable! I will drink an extra bottle of Malaga to the +prospects of my pedigree, and cheerfully pay the wench's lying-in +expenses. + +WORM. All I wish is that your excellency may not have to drink that +bottle to drown your sorrow. + +PRESIDENT (sternly). Worm! remember that what I once believe, I believe +obstinately--that I am furious when angered. I am willing to pass over +as a joke this attempt to stir my blood. That you are desirous of +getting rid of your rival, I can very well comprehend, and that, because +you might have some difficulty in supplanting the son, you endeavor to +make a cat's-paw of the father, I can also understand--I am even +delighted to find that you are master of such excellent qualifications in +the way of roguery. Only, friend Worm, pray don't make me, too, the butt +of your knavery. Understand me, have a care that your cunning trench not +upon my plans! + +WORM. Pardon me, your excellency! If even--as you suspect--jealousy is +concerned, it is only with the eye, and not with the tongue. + +PRESIDENT. It would be better to dispense with it altogether. What can +it matter to you, simpleton, whether you get your coin fresh from the +mint, or it comes through a banker? Console yourself with the example of +our nobility. Whether known to the bridegroom or not, I can assure you +that, amongst us of rank, scarcely a marriage takes place but what at +least half a dozen of the guests--or the footmen--can state the +geometrical area of the bridegroom's paradise. + +WORM (bowing). My lord! Upon this head I confess myself a plebeian. + +PRESIDENT. And, besides, you may soon have the satisfaction of turning +the laugh most handsomely against your rival. At this very moment it is +under consideration in the cabinet, that, upon the arrival of the new +duchess, Lady Milford shall apparently be discarded, and, to complete the +deception, form an alliance. You know, Worm, how greatly my influence +depends upon this lady--how my mightiest prospects hang upon the passions +of the prince. The duke is now seeking a partner for Lady Milford. Some +one else may step in--conclude the bargain for her ladyship, win the +confidence of the prince, and make himself indispensable, to my cost. +Now, to retain the prince in the meshes of my family, I have resolved +that my Ferdinand shall marry Lady Milford. Is that clear to you? + +WORM. Quite dazzling! Your excellency has at least convinced me that, +compared with the president, the father is but a novice. Should the +major prove as obedient a son as you show yourself a tender father, your +demand may chance to be returned with a protest. + +PRESIDENT. Fortunately I have never yet had to fear opposition to my +will when once I have pronounced, "It shall be so!" But now, Worm, that +brings us back to our former subject! I will propose Lady Milford to my +son this very day. The face which he puts upon it shall either confirm +your suspicions or entirely confute them. + +WORM. Pardon me, my lord! The sullen face which he most assuredly will +put upon it may be placed equally to the account of the bride you offer +to him as of her from whom you wish to separate him. I would beg of you +a more positive test! Propose to him some perfectly unexceptionable +woman. Then, if he consents, let Secretary Worm break stones on the +highway for the next three years. + +PRESIDENT (biting his lips). The devil! + +WORM. Such is the case, you may rest assured! The mother--stupidity +itself--has, in her simplicity, betrayed all to me. + +PRESIDENT (pacing the room, and trying to repress his rage). Good! this +very morning, then! + +WORM. Yet, let me entreat your excellency not to forget that the major-- +is my master's son---- + +PRESIDENT. No harm shall come to him, Worm. + +WORM. And that my service in ridding you of an unwelcome +daughter-in-law---- + +PRESIDENT. Should be rewarded by me helping you to a wife? That too, +Worm! + +WORM (bowing with delight). Eternally your lordship's slave. (Going.) + +PRESIDENT (threatening him). As to what I have confided to you, Worm! If +you dare but to whisper a syllable---- + +WORM (laughs). Then your excellency will no doubt expose my forgeries! + + [Exit. + +PRESIDENT. Yes, yes, you are safe enough! I hold you in the fetters of +your own knavery, like a trout on the hook! + + Enter SERVANT. + +SERVANT. Marshal Kalb---- + +PRESIDENT. The very man I wished to see. Introduce him. + + [Exit SERVANT. + + + +SCENE VI. + + MARSHAL KALB, in a rich but tasteless court-dress, with + Chamberlain's keys, two watches, sword, three-cornered + hat, and hair dressed a la Herisson. He bustles up to + the PRESIDENT, and diffuses a strong scent of musk through + the whole theatre--PRESIDENT. + +MARSHAL. Ah! good morning, my dear baron! Quite delighted to see you +again--pray forgive my not having paid my respects to you at an earlier +hour--the most pressing business--the duke's bill of fare--invitation +cards--arrangements for the sledge party to-day--ah!--besides it was +necessary for me to be at the levee, to inform his highness of the state +of the weather. + +PRESIDENT. True, marshal! Such weighty concerns were not to be +neglected! + +MARSHAL. Then a rascally tailor, too, kept me waiting for him! + +PRESIDENT. And yet ready to the moment? + +MARSHAL. Nor is that all! One misfortune follows at the heels of the +other to-day! Only hear me! + +PRESIDENT (absent). Can it be possible? + +MARSHAL. Just listen! Scarce had I quitted my carriage, when the horses +became restive, and began to plunge and rear--only imagine!--splashed my +breeches all over with mud! What was to be done? Fancy, my dear baron, +just fancy yourself for a moment in my predicament! There I stood! the +hour was late! a day's journey to return--yet to appear before his +highness in this--good heavens! What did I bethink me of? I pretended +to faint! They bundle me into my carriage! I drive home like mad-- +change my dress--hasten back--and only think!--in spite of all this I was +the first person in the antechamber! What say you to that? + +PRESIDENT. A most admirable impromptu of mortal wit--but tell me, Kalb, +did you speak to the duke? + +MARSHAL (importantly). Full twenty minutes and a half. + +PRESIDENT. Indeed? Then doubtless you have important news to impart +to me? + +MARSHAL (seriously, after a pause of reflection). His highness wears a +Merde d'Oye beaver to-day. + +PRESIDENT. God bless me!--and yet, marshal, I have even greater news to +tell you. Lady Milford will soon become my daughter-in-law. That, I +think will be new to you? + +MARSHAL. Is it possible! And is it already agreed upon? + +PRESIDENT. It is settled, marshal--and you would oblige me by forthwith +waiting upon her ladyship, and preparing her to receive Ferdinand's +visit. You have full liberty, also, to circulate the news of my son's +approaching nuptials. + +MARSHAL. My dear friend! With consummate pleasure! What can I desire +more? I fly to the baroness this moment. Adieu! (Embracing him.) In +less than three-quarters of an hour it shall be known throughout the +town. [Skips off. + +PRESIDENT (smiling contemptuously). How can people say that such +creatures are of no use in the world? Now, then, Master Ferdinand must +either consent or give the whole town the lie. (Rings--WORM enters.) +Send my son hither. (WORM retires; the PRESIDENT walks up and down, full +of thought.) + + + +SCENE VII. + + PRESIDENT--FERDINAND. + +FERDINAND. In obedience to your commands, sir---- + +PRESIDENT. Ay, if I desire the presence of my son, I must command it-- +Ferdinand, I have observed you for some time past, and find no longer +that open vivacity of youth which once so delighted me. An unusual +sorrow broods upon your features; you shun your father; you shun society. +For shame, Ferdinand! At your age a thousand irregularities are easier +forgiven than one instant of idle melancholy. Leave this to me, my son! +Leave the care of your future happiness to my direction, and study only +to co-operate with my designs--come, Ferdinand, embrace me! + +FERDINAND. You are most gracious to-day, father! + +PRESIDENT. "To-day," you rogue? and your "to-day" with such a vinegar +look? (Seriously.) Ferdinand! For whose sake have I trod that +dangerous path which leads to the affections of the prince? For whose +sake have I forever destroyed my peace with Heaven and my conscience? +Hear me, Ferdinand--I am speaking to my son. For whom have I paved the +way by the removal of my predecessor? a deed which the more deeply gores +my inward feelings the more carefully I conceal the dagger from the +world! Tell me, Ferdinand, for whose sake have I done all this? + +FERDINAND (recoiling with horror). Surely not for mine, father, not for +mine? Surely not on me can fall the bloody reflection of this murder? +By my Almighty Maker, it were better never to have been born than to be +the pretext for such a crime! + +PRESIDENT. What sayest thou? How? But I will attribute these strange +notions to thy romantic brain, Ferdinand; let me not lose my temper-- +ungrateful boy! Thus dost thou repay me for my sleepless nights? Thus +for my restless anxiety to promote thy good? Thus for the never-dying +scorpion of my conscience? Upon me must fall the burden of +responsibility; upon me the curse, the thunderbolt of the Judge. Thou +receivest thy fortune from another's hand--the crime is not attached to +the inheritance. + +FERDINAND (extending his right hand towards heaven). Here I solemnly +abjure an inheritance which must ever remind me of a parent's guilt! + +PRESIDENT. Hear me, sirrah! and do not incense me! Were you left to +your own direction you would crawl through life in the dust. + +FERDINAND. Oh! better, father, far, far better, than to crawl about a +throne! + +PRESIDENT (repressing his anger). So! Then compulsion must make you +sensible of your good fortune! To that point, which, with the utmost +striving a thousand others fail to reach, you have been exalted in your +very sleep. At twelve you received a commission; at twenty a command. I +have succeeded in obtaining for you the duke's patronage. He bids you +lay aside your uniform, and share with me his favor and his confidence. +He spoke of titles--embassies--of honors bestowed but upon few. A +glorious prospect spreads itself before you! The direct path to the +place next the throne lies open to you! Nay, to the throne itself, if +the actual power of ruling is equivalent to the mere symbol. Does not +that idea awaken your ambition? + +FERDINAND. No! My ideas of greatness and happiness differ widely from +yours. Your happiness is but seldom known, except by the misery of +others. Envy, terror, hatred are the melancholy mirrors in which the +smiles of princes are reflected. Tears, curses, and the wailings of +despair, the horrid banquet that feasts your supposed elect of fortune; +intoxicated with these they rush headlong into eternity, staggering to +the throne of judgment. My ideas of happiness teach me to look for its +fountain in myself! All my wishes lie centered in my heart! + +PRESIDENT. Masterly! Inimitable! Admirable! The first schooling I +have received these thirty years! Pity that the brain at fifty should be +so dull at learning! But--that such talent may not rust, I will place +one by your side on whom you can practise your harlequinade follies at +pleasure. You will resolve--resolve this very day--to take a wife. + +FERDINAND (starting back amazed). Father! + +PRESIDENT. Answer me not. I have made proposals, in your name, to Lady +Milford. You will instantly determine upon going to her, and declaring +yourself her bridegroom. + +FERDINAND. Lady Milford! father? + +PRESIDENT. I presume she is not unknown to you! + +FERDINAND (passionately). To what brothel is she unknown through the +dukedom? But pardon me, dearest father! It is ridiculous to imagine +that your proposal can be serious. Would you call yourself father of +that infamous son who married a licensed prostitute? + +PRESIDENT. Nay, more. I would ask her hand myself, if she would take a +man of fifty. Would not you call yourself that infamous father's son? + +FERDINAND. No! as God lives! that would I not! + +PRESIDENT. An audacity, by my honor! which I pardon for its excessive +singularity. + +FERDINAND. I entreat you, father, release me from a demand which would +render it insupportable to call myself your son. + +PRESIDENT. Are you distracted, boy? What reasonable man would not +thirst after a distinction which makes him, as one of a trio, the equal +and co-partner of his sovereign? + +FERDINAND. You are quite an enigma to me, father! "A distinction," do +you call it? A distinction to share that with a prince, wherein he +places himself on a level with the meanest of his subjects? (The +PRESIDENT bursts into a loud laugh.) You may scoff--I must submit to it +in a father. With what countenance should I support the gaze of the +meanest laborer, who at least receives an undivided person as the portion +of his bride? With what countenance should I present myself before the +world? before the prince? nay, before the harlot herself, who seeks to +wash out in my shame the brandmarks of her honor? + +PRESIDENT. Where in the world couldst thou collect such notions, boy? + +FERDINAND. I implore you, father, by heaven and earth! By thus +sacrificing your only son you can never become so happy as you will make +him miserable! If my life can be a step to your advancement, dispose of +it. My life you gave me; and I will never hesitate a moment to sacrifice +it wholly to your welfare. But my honor, father! If you deprive me of +this, the giving me life was a mere trick of wanton cruelty, and I must +equally curse the parent and the pander. + +PRESIDENT (tapping him on the shoulder in a friendly manner). That's as +it should be, my dear boy! Now I see that you are a brave and noble +fellow, and worthy of the first woman in the dukedom. You shall have +her. This very day you shall be affianced to the Countess of Ostheim. + +FERDINAND (in new disorder). Is this, then, destined to be the hour of +my destruction? + +PRESIDENT (regarding him with an eye of suspicion). In this union, I +imagine, you can have no objection on the score of honor? + +FERDINAND. None, father, none whatever. Frederica of Ostheim would make +any other the happiest of men. (Aside, in the greatest agitation.) His +kindness rends in pieces that remnant of my heart which his cruelty left +unwounded. + +PRESIDENT (his eye still fixed upon him). I expect your gratitude, +Ferdinand! + +FERDINAND (rushes towards him and kisses his hands). Father, your +goodness awakens every spark of sentiment in my bosom. Father! receive +my warmest thanks for your kind intentions. Your choice is +unexceptionable! But I cannot--I dare not--pity me, father, I never can +love the countess. + +PRESIDENT (draws back). Ha! ha! now I've caught you, young gentleman! +The cunning fox has tumbled into the trap. Oh, you artful hypocrite! It +was not then honor which made you refuse Lady Milford? It was not the +woman, but the nuptials which alarmed you! (FERDINAND stands petrified +for a moment; then recovers himself and prepares to quit the chamber +hastily.) Whither now? Stay, sir. Is this the respect due to your +father? (FERDINAND returns slowly.) Her ladyship expects you. The duke +has my promise! Both court and city believe all is settled. If thou +makest me appear a liar, boy! If, before the duke--the lady--the court +and city--thou shouldst make me appear a liar!--tremble, boy!--or when I +have gained information of certain circumstances--how now? Why does the +color so suddenly forsake your cheeks? + +FERDINAND (pale and trembling). How? What? Nothing--it is nothing, my +father! + +PRESIDENT (casting upon him a dreadful look). Should there be cause. If +I should discover the source whence this obstinacy proceeds! Boy! boy! +the very suspicion drives me distracted! Leave me this moment. 'Tis now +the hour of parade. As soon as the word is given, go thou to her +ladyship. At my nod a dukedom trembles; we shall see whether a +disobedient son dare dispute my will! (Going, returns.) Remember, sir! +fail not to wait on Lady Milford, or dread my anger! + + [Exit. + +FERDINAND (awakens, as if from a dream). Is he gone? Was that a +father's voice? Yes, I will go--I will see her--I will say such things +to her--hold such a mirror before her eyes. Then, base woman, shouldst +thou still demand my hand--in the presence of the assembled nobles, the +military, and the people--gird thyself with all the pride of thy native +Britain--I, a German youth, will spurn thee! + + [Exit. + + + + +ACT II. + +SCENE I.--A room in LADY MILFORD'S house. On the right of the stage +stands a sofa, on the left a pianoforte. + + LADY MILFORD, in a loose but elegant negligee, is running her hand + over the keys of the pianoforte as SOPHY advances from the window. + +SOPHY. The parade is over, and the officers are separating, but I see no +signs of the major. + +LADY MILFORD (rises and walks up and down the room in visible agitation). +I know not what ails me to-day, Sophy! I never felt so before--you say +you do not see him! It is evident enough that he is by no means +impatient for this meeting--my heart feels oppressed as if by some heavy +crime. Go! Sophy, order the most spirited horse in the stable to be +saddled for me--I must away into the open air where I may look on the +blue sky and hear the busy hum of man. I must dispel this gloominess by +change and motion. + +SOPHY. If you feel out of spirits, my lady, why not invite company! Let +the prince give an entertainment here, or have the ombre table brought to +you. If the prince and all his court were at my beck and call I would +let no whim or fancy trouble me! + +LADY MILFORD (throwing herself on the couch). Pray, spare me. I would +gladly give a jewel in exchange for every hour's respite from the +infliction of such company! I always have my rooms tapestried with these +creatures! Narrow-minded, miserable beings, who are quite shocked if by +chance a candid and heartfelt word should escape one's lips! and stand +aghast as though they saw an apparition; slaves, moved by a single +puppet-wire, which I can govern as easily as the threads of my +embroidery! What can I have in common with such insipid wretches, whose +souls, like their watches, are regulated by machinery? What pleasure can +I have in the society of people whose answers to my questions I know +beforehand? How can I hold communion with men who dare not venture on an +opinion of their own lest it should differ from mine! Away with them--I +care not to ride a horse that has not spirit enough to champ the bit! +(Goes to the window.) + +SOPHY. But surely, my lady, you except the prince, the handsomest, the +wittiest, and the most gallant man in all his duchy. + +LADY MILFORD (returning). Yes, in his duchy, that was well said--and it +is only a royal duchy, Sophy, that could in the least excuse my weakness. +You say the world envies me! Poor thing! It should rather pity me! +Believe me, of all who drink of the streams of royal bounty there is none +more miserable than the sovereign's favorite, for he who is great and +mighty in the eyes of others comes to her but as the humble suppliant! +It is true that by the talisman of his greatness he can realize every +wish of my heart as readily as the magician calls forth the fairy palace +from the depths of the earth! He can place the luxuries of both Indies +upon my table, turn the barren wilderness to a paradise, can bid the +broad rivers of his land play in triumphal arches over my path, or expend +all the hard-earned gains of his subjects in a single feu-de-joie to my +honor. But can he school his heart to respond to one great or ardent +emotion? Can he extort one noble thought from his weak and indigent +brain? Alas! my heart is thirsting amid all this ocean of splendor; what +avail, then, a thousand virtuous sentiments when I am only permitted to +indulge in the pleasures of the senses. + +SOFHY (regarding her with surprise). Dear lady, you amaze me! how long +is it since I entered your service? + +LADY MILFORD. Do you ask because this is the first day on which you have +learnt to know me? I have sold my honor to the prince, it is true, but +my heart is still my own--a heart, dear Sophy, which even yet may be +worth the acceptance of an honorable man--a heart over which the +pestilential blast of courtly corruption has passed as the breath which +for a moment dims the mirror's lustre. Believe me my spirit would long +since have revolted against this miserable thraldom could my ambition +have submitted to see another advanced to my place. + +SOPHY. And could a heart like yours so readily surrender itself to mere +ambition? + +LADY MILFORD (with energy). Has it not already been avenged? nay, is it +not even at this very moment making me pay a heavy atonement (with +emphasis laying her hand on SOPHY'S shoulder)? Believe me, Sophy, woman +has but to choose between ruling and serving, but the utmost joy of power +is a worthless possession if the mightier joy of being slave to the man +we love be denied us. + +SOPHY. A truth, dear lady, which I could least of all have expected to +hear from your lips! + +LADY MILFORD. And wherefore, Sophy? Does not woman show, by her +childish mode of swaying the sceptre of power, that she is only fit to go +in leading-strings! Have not my fickle humors--my eager pursuit of wild +dissipation--betrayed to you that I sought in these to stifle the still +wilder throbbings of my heart? + +SOPHY (starting back with surprise). This from you, my lady? + +LADY MILFORD (continuing with increasing energy). Appease these +throbbings. Give me the man in whom my thoughts are centered--the man I +adore, without whom life were worse than death. Let me but hear from his +lips that the tears of love with which my eyes are bedewed outvie the +gems that sparkle in my hair, and I will throw at the feet of the prince +his heart and his dukedom, and flee to the uttermost parts of the earth +with the man of my love! + +SOPHY (looking at her in alarm). Heavens! my lady! control your +emotion---- + +LADY MILFORD (in surprise). You change color! To what have I given +utterance? Yet, since I have said thus much, let me say still more--let +my confidence be a pledge of your fidelity,--I will tell you all. + +SOPHY (looking anxiously around). I fear my lady--I dread it--I have +heard enough! + +LADY MILFORD. This alliance with the major--you, like the rest of the +world, believe to be the result of a court intrigue--Sophy, blush not--be +not ashamed of me--it is the work of--my love! + +SOPHY. Heavens! As I suspected! + +LADY MILFORD. Yes, Sophy, they are all deceived. The weak prince--the +diplomatic baron--the silly marshal--each and all of these are firmly +convinced that this marriage is a most infallible means of preserving me +to the prince, and of uniting us still more firmly! But this will prove +the very means of separating us forever, and bursting asunder these +execrable bonds. The cheater cheated--outwitted by a weak woman. Ye +yourselves are leading me to the man of my heart--this was all I sought. +Let him but once be mine--be but mine--then, oh, then, a long farewell to +all this despicable pomp! + + + +SCENE II.--An old valet of the DUKE'S, with a casket of jewels. The +former. + +VALET. His serene highness begs your ladyship's acceptance of these +jewels as a nuptial present. They have just arrived from Venice. + +LADY MILFORD (opens the casket and starts back in astonishment). What +did these jewels cost the duke? + +VALET. Nothing! + +LADY MILFORD. Nothing! Are you beside yourself? (retreating a step or +two.) Old man! you fix on me a look as though you would pierce me +through. Did you say these precious jewels cost nothing? + +VALET. Yesterday seven thousand children of the land left their homes to +go to America--they pay for all. + +LADY MILFORD (sets the casket suddenly down, and paces up and down the +room; after a pause, to the VALET). What distresses you, old man? you +are weeping! + +VALET (wiping his eyes, and trembling violently). Yes, for these jewels. +My two sons are among the number. + +LADY MILFORD. But they went not by compulsion? + +VALET (laughing bitterly). Oh! dear no! they were all volunteers! There +were certainly some few forward lads who pushed to the front of the ranks +and inquired of the colonel at what price the prince sold his subjects +per yoke, upon which our gracious ruler ordered the regiments to be +marched to the parade, and the malcontents to be shot. We heard the +report of the muskets, and saw brains and blood spurting about us, while +the whole band shouted--"Hurrah for America!" + +LADY MILFORD. And I heard nothing of all this! saw nothing! + +VALET. No, most gracious lady, because you rode off to the bear-hunt +with his highness just at the moment the drum was beating for the march. +'Tis a pity your ladyship missed the pleasure of the sight--here, crying +children might be seen following their wretched father--there, a mother +distracted with grief was rushing forward to throw her tender infant +among the bristling bayonets--here, a bride and bridegroom were separated +with the sabre's stroke--and there, graybeards were seen to stand in +despair, and fling their very crutches after their sons in the New World +--and, in the midst of all this, the drums were beating loudly, that the +prayers and lamentations might not reach the Almighty ear. + +LADY MILFORD (rising in violent emotion). Away with these jewels--their +rays pierce my bosom like the flames of hell. Moderate your grief, old +man. Your children shall be restored to you. You shall again clasp them +to your bosom. + +VALET (with warmth). Yes, heaven knows! We shall meet again! As they +passed the city gates they turned round and cried aloud: "God bless our +wives and children--long life to our gracious sovereign. At the day of +judgment we shall all meet again!" + +LADY MILFORD (walks up and down the room in great agitation). Horrible! +most horrible!--and they would persuade me that I had dried up all the +tears in the land. Now, indeed, my eyes are fearfully opened! Go--tell +the prince that I will thank him in person! (As the valet is going she +drops the purse into his hat.) And take this as a recompense for the +truth you have revealed to me. + +VALET (throws the purse with contempt on the table). Keep it, with your +other treasures. [Exit. + +LADY MILFORD (looking after him in astonishment). Sophy, follow him, +and inquire his name. His sons shall be restored to him. (SOPHY goes. +LADY MILFORD becomes absorbed in thought. Pause. Then to SOPHY as she +returns.) Was there not a report that some town on the frontier had +been destroyed by fire, and four hundred families reduced to beggary? +(She rings.) + +SOPHY. What has made your ladyship just think of that? Yes--such was +certainly the fact, and most of these poor creatures are either compelled +to serve their creditors as bondsmen, or are dragging out their miserable +days in the depths of the royal silver mines. + +Enter a SERVANT. What are your ladyship's commands? + +LADY MILFORD (giving him the case of jewels). Carry this to my treasurer +without delay. Let the jewels be sold and the money distributed among +the four hundred families who were ruined by the fire. + +SOPHY. Consider, my lady, the risk you run of displeasing his highness. + +LADY MILFORD (with dignity). Should I encircle my brows with the curses +of his subjects? (Makes a sign to the servant, who goes away with the +jewel case.) Wouldst thou have me dragged to the earth by the dreadful +weight of the tears of misery? Nay! Sophy, it is better far to wear +false jewels on the brow, and to have the consciousness of a good deed +within the breast! + +SOPHY. But diamonds of such value! Why not rather give some that are +less precious? Truly, my lady, it is an unpardonable act. + +LADY MILFORD. Foolish girl! For this deed more brilliants and pearls +will flow for me in one moment than kings ever wore in their richest +diadems! Ay, and infinitely more beautiful! + +SERVANT enters. Major von Walter! + +SOPHY (running hastily to the help of LADY MILFORD, who seems fainting). +Heavens, my lady, you change color! + +LADY MILFORD. The first man who ever made me tremble. (To the SERVANT.) +I am not well--but stay--what said the major?--how? O Sophy! I look +sadly ill, do I not? + +SOPHY. I entreat you, my lady, compose yourself. + +SERVANT. Is it your ladyship's wish that I should deny you to the major? + +LADY MILFORD (hesitating). Tell him--I shall be happy to see him. (Exit +SERVANT.) What shall I say to him, Sophy? how shall I receive him? I +will be silent--alas! I fear he will despise my weakness. He will--ah, +me! what sad forebodings oppress my heart! You are going Sophy! stay, +yet--no, no--he comes--yes, stay, stay with me---- + +SOPHY. Collect yourself, my lady, the major---- + + + +SCENE III.--FERDINAND VON WALTER. The former. + +FERDINAND (with a slight bow). I hope I do not interrupt your ladyship? + +LADY MILFORD (with visible emotion). Not at all, baron--not in the +least. + +FERDINAND. I wait on your ladyship, at the command of my father. + +LADY MILFORD. Therein I am his debtor. + +FERDINAND. And I am charged to announce to you that our marriage is +determined on. Thus far I fulfil the commission of my father. + +LADY MILFORD (changing color and trembling). And not of your own heart? + +FERDINAND. Ministers and panders have no concern with hearts. + +LADY MILFORD (almost speechless with emotion). And you yourself--have +you nothing to add? + +FERDINAND (looking at SOPHY). Much! my lady, much! + +LADY MILFORD (motions to SOPHY to withdraw). May I beg you to take a +seat by my side? + +FERDINAND. I will be brief, lady. + +LADY MILFORD. Well! + +FERDINAND. I am a man of honor! + +LADY MILFORD. Whose worth I know how to appreciate. + +FERDINAND. I am of noble birth! + +LADY MILFORD. Noble as any in the land! + +FERDINAND. A soldier! + +LADY MILFORD (in a soft, affectionate manner). Thus far you have only +enumerated advantages which you share in common with many others. Why +are you so silent regarding those noble qualities which are peculiarly +your own? + +FERDINAND (coldly). Here they would be out of place. + +LADY MILFORD (with increasing agitation). In what light am I to +understand this prelude? + +FERDINAND (slowly, and with emphasis). As the protest of the voice of +honor--should you think proper to enforce the possession of my hand! + +LADY MILFORD (starting with indignation). Major von Walter! What +language is this? + +FERDINAND (calmly). The language of my heart--of my unspotted name--and +of this true sword. + +LADY MILFORD. Your sword was given to you by the prince. + +FERDINAND. 'Twas the state which gave it, by the hands of the prince. +God bestowed on me an honest heart. My nobility is derived from a line +of ancestry extending through centuries. + +LADY MILFORD. But the authority of the prince---- + +FERDINAND (with warmth). Can he subvert the laws of humanity, or stamp +glory on our actions as easily as he stamps value on the coin of his +realm? He himself is not raised above the laws of honor, although he may +stifle its whispers with gold--and shroud his infamy in robes of ermine! +But enough of this, lady!--it is too late now to talk of blasted +prospects--or of the desecration of ancestry--or of that nice sense of +honor--girded on with my sword--or of the world's opinion. All these I +am ready to trample under foot as soon as you have proved to me that the +reward is not inferior to the sacrifice. + +LADY MILFORD (in extreme distress turning away). Major! I have not +deserved this! + +FERDINAND (taking her hand). Pardon me, lady--we are without witnesses. +The circumstance which brings us together to-day--and only to-day-- +justifies me, nay, compels me, to reveal to you my most secret feelings. +I cannot comprehend, lady, how a being gifted with so much beauty and +spirit--qualities which a man cannot fail to admire--could throw herself +away on a prince incapable of valuing aught beyond her mere person--and +yet not feel some visitings of shame, when she steps forth to offer her +heart to a man of honor! + +LADY MILFORD (looking at him with an air of pride). Say on, sir, without +reserve. + +FERDINAND. You call yourself an Englishwoman--pardon me, lady, I can +hardly believe you. The free-born daughter of the freest people under +heaven--a people too proud to imitate even foreign virtues--would surely +never have sold herself to foreign vices! It is not possible, lady, that +you should be a native of Britain, unless indeed your heart be as much +below as the sons of Britannia vaunt theirs to be above all others! + +LADY MILFORD. Have you done, sir? + +FERDINAND. Womanly vanity--passions--temperament--a natural appetite for +pleasure--all these might, perhaps, be pleaded in extenuation--for virtue +often survives honor--and many who once trod the paths of infamy have +subsequently reconciled themselves to society by the performance of noble +deeds, and have thus thrown a halo of glory round their evil doings--but +if this were so, whence comes the monstrous extortion that now oppresses +the people with a weight never before known? This I would ask in the +name of my fatherland--and now, lady, I have done! + +LADY MILFORD (with gentleness and dignity). This is the first time, +Baron von Walter, that words such as these have been addressed to me--and +you are the only man to whom I would in return have vouchsafed an answer. +Your rejection of my hand commands my esteem. Your invectives against my +heart have my full forgiveness, for I will not believe you sincere, since +he who dares hold such language to a woman, that could ruin him in an +instant--must either believe that she possesses a great and noble heart-- +or must be the most desperate of madmen. That you ascribe the misery of +this land to me may He forgive, before whose throne you, and I, and the +prince shall one day meet! But, as in my person you have insulted the +daughter of Britain, so in vindication of my country's honor you must +hear my exculpation. + +FERDINAND (leaning on his sword). Lady, I listen with interest. + +LADY MILFORD. Hear, then, that which I have never yet breathed to +mortal, and which none but yourself will ever learn from my lips. I am +not the low adventurer you suppose me, sir! Nay! did I listen to the +voice of pride, I might even boast myself to be of royal birth; I am +descended from the unhappy Thomas Norfolk, who paid the penalty of his +adherence to the cause of Mary, Queen of Scots, by a bloody death on the +scaffold. My father, who, as royal chamberlain, had once enjoyed his +sovereign's confidence, was accused of maintaining treasonable relations +with France, and was condemned and executed by a decree of the Parliament +of Great Britain. Our estates were confiscated, and our family banished +from their native soil. My mother died on the day of my father's +execution, and I--then a girl of fourteen--fled to Germany with one +faithful attendant. A casket of jewels, and this crucifix, placed in my +bosom by my dying mother, were all my fortune! + + [FERDINAND, absorbed in thought, surveys LADY MILFORD with looks of + compassion and sympathy. + +LADY MILFORD (continuing with increased emotion). Without a name-- +without protection or property--a foreigner and an orphan, I reached +Hamburg. I had learnt nothing but a little French, and to run my fingers +over the embroidery frame, or the keys of my harpsichord. But, though I +was ignorant of all useful arts, I had learnt full well to feast off gold +and silver, to sleep beneath silken hangings, to bid attendant pages obey +my voice, and to listen to the honeyed words of flattery and adulation. +Six years passed away in sorrow and in sadness--the remnant of my scanty +means was fast melting away--my old and faithful nurse was no more--and-- +and then it was that fate brought your sovereign to Hamburg. I was +walking beside the shores of the Elbe, wondering, as I gazed on its +waters, whether they or my sorrows were the deeper, when the duke crossed +my path. He followed me, traced me to my humble abode, and, casting +himself at my feet, vowed that he loved me. (She pauses, and, after +struggling with her emotion, continues in a voice choked by tears.) All +the images of my happy childhood were revived in hues of delusive +brightness--while the future lowered before me black as the grave. My +heart panted for communion with another--and I sank into the arms opened +to receive me! (Turning away.) And now you condemn me! + +FERDINAND (greatly agitated, follows her and leads her back). Lady! +heavens! what do I hear! What have I done? The guilt of my conduct is +unveiled in all its deformity! It is impossible you should forgive me. + +LADY MILFORD (endeavoring to overcome her emotion). Hear me on! The +prince, it is true, overcame my unprotected youth, but the blood of the +Howards still glowed within my veins, and never ceased to reproach me; +that I, the descendant of royal ancestors, should stoop to be a prince's +paramour! Pride and destiny still contended in my bosom, when the duke +brought me hither, where scenes the most revolting burst upon my sight! +The voluptuousness of the great is an insatiable hyena--the craving of +whose appetite demands perpetual victims. Fearfully had it laid this +country waste separating bridegroom and bride--and tearing asunder even +the holy bonds of marriage. Here it had destroyed the tranquil happiness +of a whole family--there the blighting pest had seized on a young and +inexperienced heart, and expiring victims called down bitter imprecations +on the heads of the undoers. It was then that I stepped forth between +the lamb and the tiger, and, in a moment of dalliance, extorted from the +duke his royal promise that this revolting licentiousness should cease. + +FERDINAND (pacing the room in violent agitation). No more, lady! No +more! + +LADY MILFORD. This gloomy period was succeeded by one still more gloomy. +The court swarmed with French and Italian adventurers--the royal sceptre +became the plaything of Parisian harlots, and the people writhed and bled +beneath their capricious rule. Each had her day. I saw them sink before +me, one by one, for I was the most skilful coquette of all! It was then +that I seized and wielded the tyrant's sceptre whilst he slumbered +voluptuously in my embrace--then, Walter, thy country, for the first +time, felt the hand of humanity, and reposed in confidence on my bosom. +(A pause, during which she gazes upon him with tenderness.) Oh! 'that +the man, by whom, of all others, I least wish to be misunderstood, should +compel me to turn braggart and parade my unobtrusive virtues to the glare +of admiration! Walter, I have burst open the doors of prisons--I have +cancelled death-warrants and shortened many a frightful eternity upon the +galleys. Into wounds beyond my power to heal I have at least poured +soothing balsam. I have hurled mighty villains to the earth, and oft +with the tears of a harlot saved the cause of innocence from impending +ruin. Ah! young man, how sweet were then my feelings! How proudly did +these actions teach my heart to support the reproaches of my noble blood! +And now comes the man who alone can repay me for all that I have +suffered--the man, whom perhaps my relenting destiny created as a +compensation for former sorrows--the man, whom with ardent affection, I +already clasped in my dreams. + +FERDINAND (interrupting her). Hold, lady, hold! You exceed the bounds of +our conference! You undertook to clear yourself from reproach, and you +make me a criminal! Spare me, I beseech you! Spare a heart already +overwhelmed by confusion and remorse! + +LADY MILFORD (grasping his hand). You must hear me, Walter! hear me now +or never. Long enough has the heroine sustained me; now you must feel +the whole weight of these tears! Mark me, Walter! Should an +unfortunate--impetuously, irresistibly attracted towards you--clasp you +to her bosom full of unutterable, inextinguishable love--should this +unfortunate--bowed down with the consciousness of shame--disgusted with +vicious pleasures--heroically exalted by the inspiration of virtue--throw +herself--thus into your arms (embracing him in an eager and supplicating +manner); should she do this, and you still pronounce the freezing word +"Honor!" Should she pray that through you she might be saved--that +through you she might be restored to her hopes of heaven! (Turning away +her head, and speaking in a hollow, faltering voice.) Or should she, her +prayer refused, listen to the voice of despair, and to escape from your +image plunge herself into yet more fearful depths of infamy and vice---- + +FERDINAND (breaking from her in great emotion). No, by heaven! This is +more than I can endure! Lady, I am compelled--Heaven and earth compels +me--to make the honest avowal of my sentiments and situation. + +LADY MILFORD (hastening from him). Oh! not now! By all that is holy I +entreat you--spare me in this dreadful moment when my lacerated heart +bleeds from a thousand wounds. Be your decision life or death--I dare +not--I will not hear it! + +FERDINAND. I entreat you, lady! I insist! What I have to say will +mitigate my offence, and warmly plead your forgiveness for the past. I +have been deceived in you, lady. I expected--nay, I wished to find you +deserving my contempt. I came determined to insult you, and to make +myself the object of your hate. Happy would it have been for us both had +my purpose succeeded! (He pauses; then proceeds in a gentle and +faltering voice.) Lady, I love!--I love a maid of humble birth--Louisa +Miller is her name, the daughter of a music-master. (LADY MILFORD turns +away pale and greatly agitated.) I know into what an abyss I plunge +myself; but, though prudence bids me conceal my passion, honor overpowers +its precepts. I am the criminal--I first destroyed the golden calm of +Louisa's innocence--I lulled her heart with aspiring hopes, and +surrendered it, like a betrayer, a prey to the wildest of passions. You +will bid me remember my rank--my birth--my father--schemes of +aggrandisement. But in vain--I love! My hopes become more fervent as +the breach widens between nature and the mere conventions of society-- +between my resolution and worldly prejudices! We shall see whether love +or interest is victorious. (LADY MILFORD during this has retired to the +extreme end of the apartment, and covers her face with both hands. +FERDINAND approaches her.) Have you aught to answer, lady? + +LADY MILFORD (in a tone of intense suffering). Nothing! Nothing! but +that you destroy yourself and me--and, with us yet a third. + +FERDINAND. A third? + +LADY MILFORD. Never can you marry Louisa; never can you be happy with +me. We shall all be the victims of your father's rashness. I can never +hope to possess the heart of a husband who has been forced to give me his +hand. + +FERDINAND. Forced, lady? Forced? And yet given? Will you enforce a +hand without a heart? Will you tear from a maiden a man who is the whole +world to her? Will you tear a maiden from a man who has centered all his +hopes of happiness on her alone? Will you do this, lady? you who but a +moment before were the lofty, noble-minded daughter of Britain? + +LADY MILFORD. I will because I must! (earnestly and firmly). My +passions, Walter, overcome my tenderness for you. My honor has no +alternative. Our union is the talk of the whole city. Every eye, every +shaft of ridicule is bent against me. 'Twere a stain which time could +never efface should a subject of the prince reject my hand! Appease your +father if you have the power! Defend yourself as you best may! my +resolution is taken. The mine is fired and I abide the issue. + + [Exit. FERDINAND remains in speechless astonishment for some + moments; then rushes wildly out. + + + +SCENE IV.--Miller's House. + + MILLER meeting LOUISA and MRS. MILLER. + +MILLER. Ay! ay! I told you how it would be! + +LOUISA (hastening to him with anxiety). What, father? What? + +MILLER (running up and down the room). My cloak, there. Quick, quick! +I must be beforehand with him. My cloak, I say! Yes, yes! this was just +what I expected! + +LOUISA. For God's sake, father! tell me? + +MRS. MILLER. What is the matter, Miller? What alarms you? + +MILLER (throwing down his wig). Let that go to the friezer. What is the +matter, indeed? And my beard, too, is nearly half an inch long. What's +the matter? What do you think, you old carrion. The devil has broke +loose, and you may look out for squalls. + +MRS. MILLER. There, now, that's just the way! When anything goes wrong +it is always my fault. + +MILLER. Your fault? Yes, you brimstone fagot! and whose else should it +be? This very morning when you were holding forth about that confounded +major, did I not say then what would be the consequence? That knave, +Worm, has blabbed. + +MRS. MILLER. Gracious heavens! But how do you know? + +MILLER. How do I know? Look yonder! a messenger of the minister is +already at the door inquiring for the fiddler. + +LOUISA (turning pale, and sitting down). Oh! God! I am in agony! + +MILLER. And you, too, with that languishing air? (laughs bitterly). +But, right! Right! There is an old saying that where the devil keeps a +breeding-cage he is sure to hatch a handsome daughter. + +MRS. MILLER. But how do you know that Louisa is in question? You may +have been recommended to the duke; he may want you in his orchestra. + +MILLER (jumping up, and seizing his fiddlestick). May the sulphurous +rain of hell consume thee! Orchestra, indeed! Ay, where you, you old +procuress, shall howl the treble whilst my smarting back groans the base +(Throwing himself upon a chair.) Oh! God in heaven! + +LOUISA (sinks on the sofa, pale as death). Father! Mother! Oh! my +heart sinks within me. + +MILLER (starting up with anger). But let me only lay hands on that +infernal quill-driver! I'll make him skip--be it in this world or the +next; if I don't pound him to a jelly, body and soul; if I don't write +all the Ten Commandments, the seven Penitential Psalms, the five books of +Moses, and the whole of the Prophets upon his rascally hide so distinctly +that the blue hieroglyphics shall be legible at the day of judgment--if I +don't, may I---- + +MRS. MILLER. Yes, yes, curse and swear your hardest! That's the way to +frighten the devil! Oh, dear! Oh, dear! Oh, gracious heavens! What +shall we do? Who can advise us? Speak, Miller, speak; this silence +distracts me! (She runs screaming up and down the room.) + +MILLER. I will instantly to the minister! I will open my mouth boldly, +and tell him all from beginning to end. You knew it before me, and ought +to have given me a hint of what was going on! The girl might yet have +been advised. It might still have been time to save her! But, no! +There was something for your meddling and making, and you must needs add +fuel to the fire. Now you have made your bed you may lie on it. As you +have brewed so you may drink; I shall take my daughter under my arm and +be off with her over the borders. + + + +SCENE V. + + MILLER, MRS. MILLER, LOUISA, FERDINND. + +(All speaking together). + + FERDINAND (rushes in, terrified, and out of breath). Has my father + been here? + + LOUISA (starts back in horror). His father? Gracious heaven! + + MRS. MILLER (wringing her hands). The minister here? Then it's all + over with us! + + MILLER (laughs bitterly). Thank God! Thank God! Now comes our + benefit! + +FERDINAND (rushing towards LOUISA, and clasping her in his arms). Mine +thou art, though heaven and hell were placed between us! + +LOUISA. I am doomed! Speak, Ferdinand! Did you not utter that dreaded +name? Your father? + +FERDINAND. Be not alarmed! the danger has passed! I have thee again! +again thou hast me! Let me regain my breath on thy dear bosom. It was a +dreadful hour! + +LOUISA. What was a dreadful hour? Answer me, Ferdinand! I die with +apprehension! + +FERDINAND (drawing back, gazing upon her earnestly, then in a solemn +tone). An hour, Louisa, when another's form stepped between my heart and +thee--an hour in which my love grew pale before my conscience--when +Louisa ceased to be all in all to Ferdinand! + + [LOUISA sinks back upon her chair, and conceals her face. + +(FERDINAND stands before her in speechless agitation, then turns away +from her suddenly and exclaims). Never, never! Baroness, 'tis +impossible! you ask too much! Never can I sacrifice this innocence at +your shrine. No, by the eternal God! I cannot recall my oath, which +speaks to me from thy soul--thrilling eyes louder than the thunders of +heaven! Behold, lady! Inhuman father, look on this! Would you have me +destroy this angel? Shall my perfidy kindle a hell in this heavenly +bosom? (turning towards her with firmness). No! I will bear her to thy +throne, Almighty Judge! Thy voice shall declare if my affection be a +crime. (He grasps her hand, and raises her from the sofa.) Courage, my +beloved!--thou hast conquered--and I come forth a victor from the +terrible conflict! + +LOUISA. No, no, Ferdinand, conceal nothing from me! Declare boldly the +dreadful decree! You named your father! You spoke of the baroness! The +shivering of death seizes my heart! 'Tis said she is about to be +married! + +FERDINAND (quite overcome, throws himself at her feet). Yes, and to me, +dear unfortunate. Such is my father's will! + +LOUISA (after a deep pause, in a tremulous voice, but with assumed +resignation). Well! Why am I thus affrighted? Has not my dear father +often told me that you never could be mine? But I was obstinate, and +believed him not. (A second pause; she falls weeping into her father's +arms.) Father, thy daughter is thine own again! Father, forgive me! +'Twas not your child's fault that the dream was so heavenly--the waking +so terrible! + +MILLER. Louisa! Louisa! O merciful heaven! she has lost her senses! +My daughter! My poor child! Curses upon thy seducer! Curses upon the +pandering mother who threw thee in his way! + +MRS. MILLER (weeping on LOUISA'S neck). Daughter, do I deserve this +curse? God forgive you, major! What has this poor lamb done that you +bring this misery upon her? + +FERDINAND (with resolution). I will unravel the meshes of these +intrigues. I will burst asunder these iron chains of prejudice. As a +free-born man will I make my choice, and crush these insect souls with +the colossal force of my love! [Going. + +LOUISA (rises trembling from the sofa, and attempts to follow him). +Stay, oh, stay! Whither are you going? Father! Mother! He deserts us +in this fearful hour! + +MRS. MILLER (hastens towards him, and detains him). The president is +coming hither? He will ill-use my child! He will ill-use us all,--and +yet, major, you are going to leave us. + +MILLER (laughs hysterically). Leave us. Of course he is! What should +hinder him? The girl has given him all she had. (Grasping FERDINAND +with one hand, and LOUISA with the other.) Listen to me, young +gentleman. The only way out of my house is over my daughter's body. If +you possess one single spark of honor await your father's coming; tell +him, deceiver, how you stole her young and inexperienced heart; or, by +the God who made me! (thrusting LOUISA towards him with violence and +passion) you shall crush before my eyes this trembling worm whom love for +you has brought to shame and infamy! + +FERDINAND (returns, and walks to and fro in deep thought). 'Tis true, +the President's power is great--parental authority is a mighty word--even +crimes claim respect when concealed within its folds. He may push that +authority far--very far! But love goes beyond it. Hear me, Louisa; give +me thy hand! (clasping it firmly). As surely as I hope for Heaven's +mercy in my dying hour, I swear that the moment which separates these +hands shall also rend asunder the thread that binds me to existence! + +LOUISA. You terrify me! Turn from me! Your lips tremble! Your eyes +roll fearfully! + +FERDINAND. Nay, Louisa! fear nothing! It is not madness which prompts +my oath! 'tis the choicest gift of Heaven, decision, sent to my aid at +that critical moment, when an oppressed bosom can only find relief in +some desperate remedy. I love thee, Louisa! Thou shalt be mine! 'Tis +resolved! And now for my father! + + [He rushes out, and is met by the PRESIDENT. + + + +SCENE VI. + + MILLER, MRS. MILLER, LOUISA, FERDINAND, PRESIDENT, with SERVANTS. + +PRESIDENT (as he enters). So! here he is! (All start in terror.) + +FERDINAND (retiring a few paces). In the house of innocence! + +PRESIDENT. Where a son learns obedience to his father! + +FERDINAND. Permit me to---- + +PRESIDENT (interrupting him, turns to MILLER). The father, I presume? + +MILLER. I am Miller, the musician. + +PRESIDENT (to MRS. MILLER). And you, the mother? + +MRS. MILLER. Yes, alas! her unfortunate mother! + +FERDINAND (to MILLER.) Father, take Louisa to her chamber--she is +fainting. + +PRESIDENT. An unnecessary precaution! I will soon arouse her. (To +LOUISA.) How long have you been acquainted with the President's son? + +LOUISA (with timidity). Of the President's son I have never thought. +Ferdinand von Walter has paid his addresses to me since November last. + +FERDINAND. And he adores her! + +PRESIDENT (to LOUISA). Has he given you any assurance of his love? + +FERDINAND. But a few minutes since, the most solemn, and God was my +witness. + +PRESIDENT (to his son angrily). Silence! You shall have opportunity +enough of confessing your folly. (To LOUISA.) I await your answer. + +LOUISA. He swore eternal love to me. + +FERDINAND. And I will keep my oath. + +PRESIDENT (to FERDINAND). Must I command your silence? (To LOUISA). +Did you accept his rash vows? + +LOUISA (with tenderness). I did, and gave him mine in exchange. + +FERDINAND (resolutely). The bond is irrevocable---- + +PRESIDENT (to FERDINAND). If you dare to interrupt me again I'll teach +you better manners. (To LOUISA, sneeringly.) And he paid handsomely +every time, no doubt? + +LOUISA. I do not understand your question. + +PRESIDENT (with an insulting laugh). Oh, indeed! Well, I only meant to +hint that--as everything has its price--I hope you have been more +provident than to bestow your favors gratis--or perhaps you were +satisfied with merely participating in the pleasure? Eh? how was it? + +FERDINAND (infuriated). Hell and confusion! What does this mean? + +LOUISA (to FERDINAND, with dignity and emotion). Baron von Walter, now +you are free! + +FERDINAND. Father! virtue though clothed in a beggar's garb commands +respect! + +PRESIDENT (laughing aloud). A most excellent joke! The father is +commanded to honor his son's strumpet! + +LOUISA. Oh! Heaven and earth! (Sinks down in a swoon.) + +FERDINAND (drawing his sword). Father, you gave me life, and, till now, +I acknowledged your claim on it. That debt is cancelled. (Replaces his +sword in the scabbard, and points to LOUISA.) There lies the bond of +filial duty torn to atoms! + +MILLER (who has stood apart trembling, now comes forward, by turns +gnashing his teeth in rage, and shrinking back in terror). Your +excellency, the child is the father's second self. No offence, I hope! +Who strikes the child hits the father--blow for blow--that's our rule +here. No offence, I hope! + +MRS. MILLER. God have mercy on us! Now the old man has begun--we shall +all catch it with a vengeance! + +PRESIDENT (who has not understood what MILLER said). What? is the old +pander stirred up? We shall have something to settle together presently, +Mr. Pander! + +MILLER. You mistake me, my lord. My name is Miller, at your service for +an adagio--but, as to ladybirds, I cannot serve you. As long as there is +such an assortment at court, we poor citizens can't afford to lay in +stock! No offence, I hope! + +MRS. MILLER. For Heaven's sake, man, hold your tongue! would you ruin +both wife and child? + +FERDINAND (to his father). You play but a sorry part here, my lord, and +might well have dispensed with these witnesses. + +MILLER (coming nearer, with increasing confidence). To be plain and +above board--No offence, I hope--your excellency may have it all your own +way in the Cabinet--but this is my house. I'm your most obedient, very +humble servant when I wait upon you with a petition, but the rude, +unmannerly intruder I have the right to bundle out--no offence, I hope! + +PRESIDENT (pale with anger, and approaching MILLER). What? What's that +you dare to utter? + +MILLER (retreating a few steps). Only a little bit of my mind sir--no +offence, I hope! + +PRESIDENT (furiously). Insolent villain! Your impertinence shall +procure you a lodging in prison. (To his servants). Call in the +officers of justice! Away! (Some of the attendants go out. The +PRESIDENT paces the stage with a furious air.) The father shall to +prison; the mother and her strumpet daughter to the pillory! Justice +shall lend her sword to my rage! For this insult will I have ample +amends. Shall such contemptible creatures thwart my plans, and set +father and son against each other with impunity? Tremble, miscreants! I +will glut my hate in your destruction--the whole brood of you--father, +mother, and daughter shall be sacrificed to my vengeance! + +FERDINAND (to MILLER, in a collected and firm manner). Oh! not so! Fear +not, friends! I am your protector. (Turning to the PRESIDENT, with +deference). Be not so rash, father! For your own sake let me beg of you +no violence. There is a corner of my heart where the name of father has +never yet been heard. Oh! press not into that! + +PRESIDENT. Silence, unworthy boy! Rouse not my anger to greater fury! + +MILLER (recovering from a stupor). Wife, look you to your daughter! I +fly to the duke. His highness' tailor--God be praised for reminding me +of it at this moment--learns the flute of me--I cannot fail of success. +(Is hastening off.) + +PRESIDENT. To the duke, will you? Have you forgotten that I am the +threshold over which you must pass, or failing, perish? To the duke, you +fool? Try to reach him with your lamentations, when, reduced to a living +skeleton, you lie buried in a dungeon five fathoms deep, where light and +sound never enter; where darkness goggles at hell with gloating eyes! +There gnash thy teeth in anguish; there rattle thy chains in despair, and +groan, "Woe is me! This is beyond human endurance!" + + + +SCENE VII. + + Officers of Justice--the former. + +FERDINAND (flies to LOUISA, who, overcome with fear, faints in his arms.) +Louisa!--Help, for God's sake! Terror overpowers her! + + [MILLER, catching up his cane and putting on his hat, + prepares for defense. MRS. MILLER throws herself on her + knees before the PRESIDENT. + +PRESIDENT (to the officers, showing his star). Arrest these offenders in +the duke's name. Boy, let go that strumpet! Fainting or not--when once +her neck is fitted with the iron collar the mob will pelt her till she +revives. + +MRS. MILLER. Mercy, your excellency! Mercy! mercy! + +MILLER (snatching her from the ground with violence). Kneel to God, you +howling fool, and not to villains--since I must to prison any way! + +PRESIDENT (biting his lips.) You may be out in your reckoning, +scoundrel! There are still gallows to spare! (To the officers.) Must I +repeat my orders? + + [They approach LOUISA--FERDINAND places himself before her. + +FERDINAND (fiercely). Touch her who dare! (He draws his sword and +flourishes it.) Let no one presume to lay a finger on her, whose life is +not well insured. (To the PRESIDENT.) As you value your own safety, +father, urge me no further! + +PRESIDENT (to the officers in a threatening voice). At your peril, +cowards! (They again attempt to seize LOUISA.) + +FERDINAND. Hell and furies! Back, I say! (Driving them away.) Once +more, father, I warn you--have some thought for your own safety! Drive +me not to extremity! + +PRESIDENT (enraged to the officers). Scoundrels! Is this your +obedience? (The officers renew their efforts.) + +FERDINAND. Well, if it must be so (attacking and wounding several of +them), Justice forgive me! + +PRESIDENT (exasperated to the utmost). Let me see whether I, too, must +feel your weapon! (He seizes LOUISA and delivers her to an officer.) + +FERDINAND (laughing bitterly). Father! father! Your conduct is a +galling satire upon Providence, who has so ill understood her people as +to make bad statesmen of excellent executioners! + +PRESIDENT (to the officers). Away with her! + +FERDINAND. Father, if I cannot prevent it, she must stand in the +pillory--but by her side will also stand the son of the president. Do +you still insist? + +PRESIDENT. The more entertaining will be the exhibition. Away with her! + +FERDINAND. I will pledge the honor of an officer's sword for her. Do +you still insist? + +PRESIDENT. Your sword is already familiar with disgrace. Away! away! +You know my will. + +FERDINAND (wrests LOUISA from the officer and holds her with one arm, +with the other points his sword at her bosom.) Father, rather than +tamely see my wife branded with infamy I will plunge this sword into her +bosom. Do you still insist? + +PRESIDENT. Do it, if the point be sharp enough! + +FERDINAND (releases LOUISA, and looks wildly towards heaven). Be thou +witness, Almighty God, that I have left no human means untried to save +her! Forgive me now if I have recourse to hellish means. While you are +leading her to the pillory (speaking loudly in the PRESIDENT'S ear), I +will publish throughout the town a pleasant history of how a president's +chair may be gained! [Exit. + +PRESIDENT (as if thunder-struck). How? What said he? Ferdinand! +Release her instantly! (Rushes after his son.) + + + + +ACT III. + +SCENE I. + + Room at the President's. Enter PRESIDENT and WORM. + +PRESIDENT. That was an infernal piece of business! + +WORM. Just what I feared, your excellency. Opposition may inflame the +enthusiast, but never converts him. + +PRESIDENT. I had placed my whole reliance upon the success of this +attempt. I made no doubt but if the girl were once publicly disgraced, +he would be obliged as an officer and a gentleman to resign her. + +WORM. An admirable idea!--had you but succeeded in disgracing her. + +PRESIDENT. And yet--when I reflect on the matter coolly--I ought not to +have suffered myself to be overawed. It was a threat which he never +could have meant seriously. + +WORM. Be not too certain of that! There is no folly too gross for +excited passion! You say that the baron has always looked upon +government with an eye of disapprobation. I can readily believe it. The +principles which he brought with him from college are ill-suited to our +atmosphere. What have the fantastic visions of personal nobility and +greatness of soul to do in court, where 'tis the perfection of wisdom to +be great and little by turns, as occasion demands? The baron is too +young and too fiery to take pleasure in the slow and crooked paths of +intrigue. That alone can give impulse to his ambition which seems +glorious and romantic! + +PRESIDENT (impatiently). But how will these sagacious remarks advance +our affairs? + +WORM. They will point out to your excellency where the wound lies, and +so, perhaps, help you to find a remedy. Such a character--pardon the +observation--ought never to have been made a confidant, or should never +have been roused to enmity. He detests the means by which you have risen +to power! Perhaps it is only the son that has hitherto sealed the lips +of the betrayer! Give him but a fair opportunity for throwing off the +bonds imposed upon him by nature! only convince him, by unrelenting +opposition to his passion, that you are no longer an affectionate father, +and that moment the duties of a patriot will rush upon him with +irresistible force! Nay, the high-wrought idea of offering so +unparalleled a sacrifice at the shrine of justice might of itself alone +have charms sufficient to reconcile him to the ruin of a parent! + +PRESIDENT. Worm! Worm! To what a horrible abyss do you lead me! + +WORM. Never fear, my lord, I will lead you back in safety! May I speak +without restraint? + +PRESIDENT (throwing himself into a seat). Freely, as felon with felon. + +WORM. Forgive me, then. It seems to me that you have to ascribe all +your influence as president to the courtly art of intrigue; why not +resort to the same means for attaining your ends as a father? I well +remember with what seeming frankness you invited your predecessor to a +game at piquet, and caroused half the night with him over bumpers of +Burgundy; and yet it was the same night on which the great mine you had +planned to annihilate him was to explode. Why did you make a public +exhibition of enmity to the major? You should by no means have let it +appear that you knew anything of his love affair. You should have made +the girl the object of your attacks and have preserved the affection of +your son; like the prudent general who does not engage the prime of the +enemy's force but creates disaffection among the ranks? + +PRESIDENT. How could this have been effected? + +WORM. In the simplest manner--even now the game is not entirely lost! +Forget for a time that you are a father. Do not contend against a +passion which opposition only renders more formidable. Leave me to +hatch, from the heat of their own passions, the basilisk which shall +destroy them. + +PRESIDENT. I am all attention. + +WORM. Either my knowledge of human character is very small, or the major +is as impetuous in jealousy as in love. Make him suspect the girl's +constancy,--whether probable or not does not signify. One grain of +leaven will be enough to ferment the whole mass. + +PRESIDENT. But where shall we find that grain? + +WORM. Now, then, I come to the point. But first explain to me how much +depends upon the major's compliance. How far is it of consequence that +the romance with the music-master's daughter should be brought to a +conclusion and the marriage with Lady Milford effected? + +PRESIDENT. How can you ask me, Worm? If the match with Lady Milford is +broken off I stand a fair chance of losing my whole influence; on the +other hand, if I force the major's consent, of losing my head. + +WORM (with animation). Now have the kindness to listen to me. The major +must be entangled in a web. Your whole power must be employed against +his mistress. We must make her write a love-letter, address it to a +third party, and contrive to drop it cleverly in the way of the major. + +PRESIDENT. Absurd proposal! As if she would consent to sign her own +death-warrant. + +WORM. She must do so if you will but let me follow my own plan. I know +her gentle heart thoroughly; she has but two vulnerable sides by which +her conscience can be attacked; they are her father and the major. The +latter is entirely out of the question; we must, therefore, make the most +of the musician. + +PRESIDENT. In what way? + +WORM. From the description your excellency gave me of what passed in his +house nothing can be easier than to terrify the father with the threat of +a criminal process. The person of his favorite, and of the keeper of the +seals, is in some degree the representative of the duke himself, and he +who offends the former is guilty of treason towards the latter. At any +rate I will engage with these pretences to conjure up such a phantom as +shall scare the poor devil out of his seven senses. + +PRESIDENT. But recollect, Worm, the affair must not be carried so far as +to become serious. + +WORM. Nor shall it. It shall be carried no further than is necessary to +frighten the family into our toils. The musician, therefore, must be +quietly arrested. To make the necessity yet more urgent, we may also +take possession of the mother;--and then we begin to talk of criminal +process, of the scaffold, and of imprisonment for life, and make the +daughter's letter the sole condition of the parent's release. + +PRESIDENT. Excellent! Excellent! Now I begin to understand you! + +WORM. Louisa loves her father--I might say even to adoration! The +danger which threatens his life, or at least his freedom--the reproaches +of her conscience for being the cause of his misfortunes--the +impossibility of ever becoming the major's wife--the confusion of her +brain, which I take upon myself to produce--all these considerations make +our plan certain of success. She must be caught in the snare. + +PRESIDENT. But my son--will he not instantly get scent of it? Will it +not make him yet more desperate? + +WORM. Leave that to me, your excellency! The old folks shall not be set +at liberty till they and their daughter have taken the most solemn oath +to keep the whole transaction secret, and never to confess the deception. + +PRESIDENT. An oath! Ridiculous! What restraint can an oath be? + +WORM. None upon us, my lord, but the most binding upon people of their +stamp. Observe, how dexterously by this measure we shall both reach the +goal of our desires. The girl loses at once the affection of her lover, +and her good name; the parents will lower their tone, and, thoroughly +humbled by misfortune, will esteem it an act of mercy, if, by giving her +my hand, I re-establish their daughter's reputation. + +PRESIDENT (shaking his head and smiling). Artful villain! I confess +myself outdone--no devil could spin a finer snare! The scholar excels +his master. The next question is, to whom must the letter be addressed-- +with whom to accuse her of having an intrigue? + +WORM. It must necessarily be some one who has all to gain or all to lose +by your son's decision in this affair. + +PRESIDENT (after a moment's reflection). I can think of no one but the +marshal. + +WORM (shrugs his shoulders). The marshal! He would certainly not be my +choice were I Louisa Miller. + +PRESIDENT. And why not? What a strange notion! A man who dresses in +the height of fashion--who carries with him an atmosphere of eau de mille +fleurs and musk--who can garnish every silly speech with a handful of +ducats--could all this possibly fail to overcome the delicacy of a +tradesman's daughter? No, no, my good friend, jealousy is not quite so +hard of belief. I shall send for the marshal immediately. (Rings.) + +WORM. While your excellency takes care of him, and of the fiddler's +arrest, I will go and indite the aforesaid letter. + +PRESIDENT (seats himself at his writing-table). Do so; and, as soon as +it is ready, bring it hither for my perusal. + + [Exit WORM. + + [The PRESIDENT, having written, rises and hands the paper + to a servant who enters. + +See this arrest executed without a moment's delay, and let Marshal von +Kalb be informed that I wish to see him immediately. + +SERVANT. The marshal's carriage has just stopped at your lordship's +door. + +PRESIDENT. So much the better--as for the arrest, let it be managed with +such precaution that no disturbance arise. + +SERVANT. I will take care, my lord. + +PRESIDENT. You understand me? The business must be kept quite secret. + +SERVANT. Your excellency shall be obeyed. + + [Exit SERVANT. + + + +SCENE II. + + The PRESIDENT--MARSHALL KALB. + +MARSHAL (hastily). I have just looked in, en passant, my dear friend! +How are you? How do you get on? We are to have the grand opera Dido +to-night! Such a conflagration!--a whole town will be in flames!--you +will come to the blaze of course--eh? + +PRESIDENT. I have conflagration enough in my own house, one that +threatens the destruction of all I possess. Be seated, my dear marshal. +You arrive very opportunely to give me your advice and assistance in a +certain business which will either advance our fortunes or utterly ruin +us both! + +MARSHAL. Don't alarm me so, my dear friend! + +PRESIDENT. As I said before, it must exalt or ruin us entirely! You +know my project respecting the major and Lady Milford--you are not +ignorant how necessary this union is to secure both our fortunes! +Marshal, our plans threaten to come to naught. My son refuses to marry +her! + +MARSHAL. Refuses! Refuses to marry her? But, my goodness! I have +published the news through the whole town. The union is the general +topic of conversation. + +PRESIDENT. Then you will be talked of by all the town as a spreader of +false reports,--in short, Ferdinand loves another. + +MARSHAL. Pooh! you are joking! As if that were an obstacle? + +PRESIDENT. With such an enthusiast a most insurmountable one! + +MARSHAL. Can he be mad enough to spurn his good-fortune? Eh? + +PRESIDENT. Ask him yourself and you'll hear what he will answer. + +MARSHAL. But, mon Dieu! what can he answer? + +PRESIDENT. That he will publish to the world the crime by which we rose +to power--that he will denounce our forged letters and receipts--that he +will send us both to the scaffold. That is what he can answer. + +MARSHAL. Are you out of your mind? + +PRESIDENT. Nay, that is what he has already answered? He was actually +on the point of putting these threats into execution; and it was only by +the most abject submission that I could persuade him to abandon his +design. What say you to this, marshal? + +MARSHAL (with a look of bewildered stupidity). I am at my wits' end! + +PRESIDENT. That might have blown over. But my spies have just brought +me notice that the grand cupbearer, von Bock, is on the point of offering +himself as a suitor to her ladyship. + +MARSHAL. You drive me distracted! Whom did you say? Von Bock? Don't +you know that we are mortal enemies? And don't you know why? + +PRESIDENT. The first word that I ever heard of it! + +MARSHAL. My dear count! You shall hear--your hair will stand on end! +You must remember the famous court ball--it is now just twenty years ago. +It was the first time that English country-dances were introduced--you +remember how the hot wax trickled from the great chandelier on Count +Meerschaum's blue and silver domino. Surely, you cannot have forgotten +that affair! + +PRESIDENT. Who could forget so remarkable a circumstance! + +MARSHAL. Well, then, in the heat of the dance Princess Amelia lost her +garter. The whole ball, as you may imagine, was instantly thrown into +confusion. Von Bock and myself--we were then fellow-pages--crept through +the whole saloon in search of the garter. At length I discovered it. +Von Bock perceives my good-fortune--rushes forward--tears it from my +hands, and, just fancy--presents it to the princess, and so cheated me of +the honor I had so fortunately earned. What do you think of that? + +PRESIDENT. 'Twas most insolent! + +MARSHAL. I thought I should have fainted upon the spot. A trick so +malicious was beyond the powers of mortal endurance. At length I +recovered myself; and, approaching the princess, said,--"Von Bock, 'tis +true, was fortunate enough to present the garter to your highness; but he +who first discovered that treasure finds his reward in silence, and is +dumb!" + +PRESIDENT. Bravo, marshal! Admirably said! Most admirable! + +MARSHAL. And is dumb! But till the day of judgment will I remember his +conduct--the mean, sneaking sycophant! And as if that were not +aggravation enough, he actually, as we were struggling on the ground for +the garter, rubbed all the powder from one side of my peruke with his +sleeve, and ruined me for the rest of the evening. + +PRESIDENT. This is the man who will marry Lady Milford, and consequently +soon take the lead at court. + +MARSHAL. You plunge a dagger in my heart! But why must he? Why should +he marry her? Why he? Where is the necessity? + +PRESIDENT. Because Ferdinand refuses her, and there is no other +candidate. + +MARSHAL. But is there no possible method of obtaining your son's +consent? Let the measure be ever so extravagant or desperate--there is +nothing to which I should not willingly consent in order to supplant the +hated von Bock. + +PRESIDENT. I know but one means of accomplishing this, and that rests +entirely with you. + +MARSHAL. With me? Name it, my dear count, name it! + +PRESIDENT. You must set Ferdinand and his mistress against each other. + +MARSHAL. Against each other? How do you mean?--and how would that be +possible. + +PRESIDENT. Everything is ours could we make him suspect the girl. + +MARSHAL. Ah, of theft, you mean? + +PRESIDENT. Pshaw!--he would never believe that! No, no--I mean that she +is carrying on an intrigue with another. + +MARSHAL. And this other, who is he to be? + +PRESIDENT. Yourself! + +MARSHAL. How? Must I be her lover? Is she of noble birth? + +PRESIDENT. What signifies that? What an idea!--she is the daughter of a +musician. + +MARSHAL. A plebeian?--that will never do! + +PRESIDENT. What will never do? Nonsense, man! Who in the name of +wonder would think of asking a pair of rosy cheeks for their owner's +pedigree? + +MARSHAL. But consider, my dear count, a married man! And my reputation +at court! + +PRESIDENT. Oh! that's quite another thing! I beg a thousand pardons, +marshal; I was not aware that a man of unblemished morals held a higher +place in your estimation than a man of power! Let us break up our +conference. + +MARSHAL. Be not so hasty, count. I did not mean to say that. + +PRESIDENT (coldly.) No--no! You are perfectly right. I, too, am weary +of office. I shall throw up the game, tender my resignation to the duke, +and congratulate von Bock on his accession to the premiership. This +duchy is not all the world. + +MARSHAL. And what am I to do? It is very fine for you to talk thus! +You are a man of learning! But I--mon Dieu! What shall I be if his +highness dismisses me? + +PRESIDENT. A stale jest!--a thing out of fashion! + +MARSHAL. I implore you, my dearest, my most valued friend. Abandon +those thoughts. I will consent to everything! + +PRESIDENT. Will you lend your name to an assignation to which this +Louisa Miller shall invite you in writing? + +MARSHAL. Well, in God's name let it be so! + +PRESIDENT. And drop the letter where the major cannot fail to find it. + +MARSHAL. For instance, on the parade, where I can let it fall as if +accidentally in drawing out my handkerchief. + +PRESIDENT. And when the baron questions you will you assume the +character of a favored rival? + +MARSHAL. Mort de ma vie! I'll teach him manners! I'll cure him of +interfering in my amours! + +PRESIDENT. Good! Now you speak in the right key. The letter shall be +written immediately! Come in the evening to receive it, and we will talk +over the part you are to play. + +MARSHAL. I will be with you the instant I have paid sixteen visits of +the very highest importance. Permit me, therefore, to take my leave +without delay. (Going.) + +PRESIDENT (rings). I reckon upon your discretion, marshal. + +MARSHAL (calls back). Ah, mon Dieu! you know me! + + [Exit MARSHAL. + + + +SCENE III. + + The PRESIDENT and WORM. + +WORM. The music-master and his wife have been arrested without the least +disturbance. Will your excellency read this letter? + +PRESIDENT (having read it). Excellent! Excellent, my dear secretary! +poison like this would convert health itself into jaundiced leprosy. The +marshal, too, has taken the bait. Now then away with my proposals to the +father, and then lose no time--with the daughter. + + [Exeunt on different sides. + + + +SCENE IV.--Room in MILLER'S House. + + LOUISA and FERDINAND. + +LOUISA. Cease, I implore you! I expect no more days of happiness. All +my hopes are levelled with the dust. + +FERDINAND. All mine are exalted to heaven! My father's passions are +roused! He will direct his whole artillery against us! He will force me +to become an unnatural son. I will not answer for my filial duty. Rage +and despair will wring from me the dark secret that my father is an +assassin! The son will deliver the parent into the hands of the +executioner. This is a moment of extreme danger, and extreme danger +alone could prompt my love to take so daring a leap! Hear me, Louisa! A +thought, vast and immeasurable as my love, has arisen in my soul--Thou, +Louisa, and I, and Love! Lies not a whole heaven within this circle? Or +dost thou feel that there is still something wanting? + +LOUISA. Oh! cease! No more! I tremble to think what you would say. + +FERDINAND. If we have no longer a claim upon the world, why should we +seek its approbation? Why venture where nothing can be gained and all +may be lost? Will thine eyes sparkle less brightly reflected by the +Baltic waves than by the waters of the Rhine or the Elbe? Where Louise +loves me there is my native land! Thy footsteps will make the wild and +sandy desert far more attractive than the marble halls of my ancestors. +Shall we miss the pomp of cities? Be we where we may, Louisa, a sun will +rise and a sun will set--scenes before which the most glorious +achievements of art grow pale and dim! Though we serve God no more in +his consecrated churches, yet the night shall spread her solemn shadows +round us; the changing moon shall hear our confession, and a glorious +congregation of stars join in our prayers! Think you our talk of love +can ever be exhausted! Oh, no! One smile from Louisa were a theme for +centuries--the dream of life will be over ere I can exhaust the charms of +a single tear. + +LOUISA. And hast thou no duty save that of love? + +FERDINAND (embracing her). None so sacred as thy peace of mind! + +LOUISA (very seriously). Cease, then, and leave me. I have a father who +possesses no treasure save one only daughter. To-morrow he will be sixty +years old--that he will fall a victim to the vengeance of the President +is most certain! + +FERDINAND (interrupting her). He shall accompany us. Therefore no more +objections, my beloved. I will go and convert my valuables into gold, +and raise money on my father's credit! It is lawful to plunder a robber, +and are not his treasures the price for which he has sold his country? +This night, when the clock strikes one, a carriage will stop at your +door--throw yourself into it, and we fly! + +LOUISA. Pursued by your father's curse! a curse, unthinking one, which +is never pronounced in vain even by murderers--which the avenging angel +hears when uttered by a malefactor in his last agony--which, like a fury, +will fearfully pursue the fugitives from shore to shore! No, my beloved! +If naught but a crime can preserve you to me, I still have courage to +resign you! + +FERDINAND (mutters gloomily). Indeed! + +LOUISA. Resign you? Oh! horrible beyond all measure is the thought. +Horrible enough to pierce the immortal spirit and pale the glowing cheeks +of joy! Ferdinand! To resign you! Yet how can one resign what one +never possessed? Your heart is the property of your station. My claim +was sacrilege, and, shuddering, I withdraw it! + +FERDINAND (with convulsed features, and biting his underlip). You +withdraw it! + +LOUISA. Nay! look upon me, dearest Ferdinand. Gnash not your teeth so +bitterly! Come, let my example rouse your slumbering courage. Let me be +the heroine of this moment. Let me restore to a father his lost son. I +will renounce a union which would sever the bonds by which society is +held together, and overthrow the landmarks of social order. I am the +criminal. My bosom has nourished proud and foolish wishes, and my +present misery is a just punishment. Oh! leave me then the sweet, the +consoling idea that mine is the sacrifice. Canst thou deny me this last +satisfaction? (FERDINAND, stupefied with agitation and anger, seizes a +violin and strikes a few notes upon it; and then tears away the strings, +dashes the instrument upon the ground, and, stamping it to pieces, bursts +into a loud laugh.) Walter! God in Heaven! What mean you? Be not thus +unmanned! This hour requires fortitude; it is the hour of separation! +You have a heart, dear Walter; I know that heart--warm as life is your +love--boundless and immeasurable--bestow it on one more noble, more +worthy--she need not envy the most fortunate of her sex! (Striving to +repress her tears.) You shall see me no more! Leave the vain +disappointed girl to bewail her sorrow in sad and lonely seclusion; where +her tears will flow unheeded. Dead and gone are all my hopes of +happiness in this world; yet still shall I inhale ever and anon the +perfumes of the faded wreath! (Giving him her trembling hand, while her +face is turned away.) Baron Walter, farewell! + +FERDINAND (recovering from the stupor in which he was plunged). Louisa, +I fly! Do you indeed refuse to follow me? + +LOUISA (who has retreated to the further end of the apartment, conceals +her countenance with her hands). My duty bids me stay, and suffer. + +FERDINAND. Serpent! thou liest--some other motive chains thee here! + +LOUISA (in a tone of the most heartfelt sorrow). Encourage that belief. +Haply it may make our parting more supportable. + +FERDINAND. What? Oppose freezing duty to fiery love! And dost thou +think to cheat me with that delusion? Some rival detains thee here, and +woe be to thee and him should my suspicions be confirmed! + + [Exit. + + + +SCENE V. + +LOUISA (she remains for some time motionless in the seat upon which she +has thrown herself. At length she rises, comes forward, and looks +timidly around). Where can my parents be? My father promised to return +in a few minutes; yet full five dreadful hours have passed since his +departure. Should any accident----good Heavens! What is come over me? +Why does my heart palpitate so violently? (Here WORM enters, and remains +standing unobserved in the background.) It can be nothing real. 'Tis +but the terrible delusion of my over-heated blood. When once the soul is +wrapped in terror the eye behold spectres in every shadow. + + + +SCENE VI. + + LOUISA and WORM. + +WORM (approaches her). Good evening, miss. + +LOUISA. Heavens! who speaks! (Perceives him, and starts back in +terror.) Ha! Dreadful! dreadful! I fear some dire misfortune is even +now realizing the forebodings of my soul! (To WORM, with a look of +disdain.) Do you seek the president? he is no longer here. + +WORM. 'Tis you I seek, miss! + +LOUISA. I wonder, then, that you did not direct your steps towards the +market-place. + +WORM. What should I do there? + +LOUISA. Release your betrothed from the pillory. + +WORM. Louisa, you cherish some false suspicion---- + +LOUISA (sharply interrupting him). What is your business with me? + +WORM. I come with a message from your father. + +LOUISA (agitated). From my father? Oh! Where is my father? + +WORM. Where he would fain not be! + +LOUISA. Quick, quick, for God's sake! Oh! my foreboding heart! Where +is my father! + +WORM. In prison, if you needs must know! + +LOUISA (with a look towards heaven). This, too! This, too! In prison, +said you? And why in prison? + +WORM. It is the duke's order. + +LOUISA. The duke's? + +WORM. Who thinking his own dignity offended by the insults offered to +the person of his representative---- + +LOUISA. How? How? Oh ye Almighty Powers! + +WORM.----Has resolved to inflict the most exemplary punishment. + +LOUISA. This was still wanting! This! Yes, in truth. I now feel that +my heart does love another besides Ferdinand! That could not be allowed +to escape! The prince's dignity offended? Heavenly Providence! Save, +oh! save my sinking faith! (After a moment's pause, she turns to WORM.) +And Ferdinand? + +WORM. Must choose between Lady Milford's hand and his father's curse and +disinheritance. + +LOUISA. Terrible choice!--and yet--yet is he the happier of the two. He +has no father to lose--and yet to have none is misery enough! My father +imprisoned for treason--my Ferdinand compelled to choose between Lady +Milford's hand or a parent's curse and disinheritance! Truly admirable! +for even villany so perfect is perfection! Perfection? No! something is +still wanting to complete that. Where is my mother? + +WORM. In the house of correction. + +LOUISA (with a smile of despair). Now the measure is full! It is full, +and I am free--released from all duties--all sorrows--all joys! Released +even from Providence! I have nothing more to do with it! (A dreadful +pause.) Have you aught else to communicate? Speak freely--now I can +hear anything with indifference. + +WORM. All that has happened you already know. + +LOUISA. But not that which is yet to happen! (Another pause, during +which she surveys WORM from head to foot.) Unfortunate man! you +have entered on a melancholy employment, which can never lead you to +happiness. To cause misery to others is sad enough--but to be the +messenger of evil is horrible indeed--to be the first to shriek the +screech-owl's song, to stand by when the bleeding heart trembles upon +the iron shaft of necessity, and the Christian doubts the existence of a +God--Heaven protect me! Wert thou paid a ton of gold for every tear of +anguish which thou must witness, I would not be a wretch like thee! What +is there yet to happen? + +WORM. I know not. + +LOUISA. You pretend not to know? This light-shunning embassy trembles +at the sound of words, but the spectre betrays itself in your ghastly +visage. What is there yet to happen? You said the duke will inflict +upon him a most exemplary punishment. What call you exemplary? + +WORM. Ask me no more. + +LOUISA. Terrible man! Some hangman must have schooled thee! Else thou +hast not so well learned to prolong the torture of thy victim before +giving the finishing stroke to the agonized heart! Speak! What fate +awaits my father? Death thou canst announce with a laughing sneer--what +then must that be which thou dost hesitate to disclose? Speak out! Let +me at once receive the overwhelming weight of thy tidings! What fate +awaits my father? + +WORM. A criminal process. + +LOUISA. But what is that? I am an ignorant, innocent girl, and +understand but little of your fearful terms of law. What mean you by a +criminal process? + +WORM. Judgment upon life or death. + +LOUISA (firmly). Ah! I thank you. + + [Exit hastily by a side door. + +WORM (alarmed). What means this? Should the simpleton perchance-- +confusion! Surely she will not--I must follow her. I am answerable for +her life. (As he is going towards the door, LOUISA returns, wrapped in a +cloak.) + +LOUISA. Your pardon, Mr. Secretary, I must lock the door. + +WORM. Whither in such haste? + +LOUISA (passing him). To the duke. + +WORM (alarmed, detains her). How? Whither? + +LOUISA. To the duke. Do you not hear? Even to that very duke whose +will is to decide upon my father's life or death. Yet no?--'tis not his +will that decides, but the will of wicked men who surround his throne. +He lends naught to this process, save the shadow of his majesty, and his +royal signature. + +WORM (with a burst of laughter). To the duke! + +LOUISA. I know the meaning of that sneering laugh--you would tell me +that I shall find no compassion there. But though I may meet (God +preserve me!) with nothing but scorn--scorn at my sorrows--yet will I to +the duke. I have been told that the great never know what misery is; +that they fly from the knowledge of it. But I will teach the duke what +misery is; I will paint to him, in all the writhing agonies of death, +what misery is; I will cry aloud in wailings that shall creep through the +very marrow of his bones, what misery is; and, while at my picture his +hairs shall stand on end like quills upon the porcupine, will I shriek +into his affrighted ear, that in the hour of death the sinews of these +mighty gods of earth shall shrivel and shrink, and that at the day of +judgment beggars and kings shall be weighed together in the same balance +(Going.) + +WORM (ironically). By all means go to the duke! You can really do +nothing more prudent; I advise you heartily to the step. Only go, and I +give you my word that the duke will grant your suit. + +LOUISA (stopping suddenly). What said you? Do you yourself advise the +step? (Returns hastily). What am I about to do? Something wicked +surely, since this man approves it--how know you that the prince will +grant my suit? + +WORM. Because he will not have to grant it unrewarded. + +LOUISA. Not unrewarded? And what price does he set on his humanity? + +WORM. The person of the fair suppliant will be payment enough! + +LOUISA (stopping for a moment in mute dismay--in a feeble voice). +Almighty God! + +WORM. And I trust that you will not think your father's life over-valued +when 'tis purchased at so gracious a price. + +LOUISA (with great indignation). True, oh! true! The great are +entrenched from truth behind their own vices, safely as behind the swords +of cherubim. The Almighty protect thee, father! Your child can die-- +but not sin for thee. + +WORM. This will be agreeable news for the poor disconsolate old man. +"My Louisa," says he, "has bowed me down to the earth; but my Louisa will +raise me up again." I hasten to him with your answer. (Affects to be +about to depart.) + +LOUISA (flies after him and holds him back). Stay! stay! one moment's +patience! How nimble this Satan is, when his business is to drive +humanity distracted! I have bowed him to the earth! I must raise him up +again! Speak to me! Counsel me! What can I, what must I do? + +WORM. There is but one means of saving him! + +LOUISA. What is that means? + +WORM. And your father approves of it---- + +LOUISA. My father? Oh! name that means. + +WORM. It is easy for you to execute. + +LOUISA. I know of nothing harder than infamy! + +WORM. Suppose you were to release the major from his engagement? + +LOUISA. Release him! Do you mock me? Do you call that a choice to +which force compelled me? + +WORM. You mistake me, dear girl! The major must resign you willingly, +and be the first to retract his engagement. + +LOUISA. That he will never do. + +WORM. So it appears. Should we, do you think, have had recourse to you +were it not that you alone are able to help us? + +LOUISA. I cannot compel him to hate me. + +WORM. We will try! Be seated. + +LOUISA (drawing back). Man! What is brooding in thy artful brain? + +WORM. Be seated. Here are paper, pens, and ink. Write what I dictate. + +LOUISA (sitting down in the greatest uneasiness). What must I write? To +whom must I write? + +WORM. To your father's executioner. + +LOUISA. Ah! How well thou knowest to torture souls to thy purpose. +(Takes a pen.) + +WORM (dictating to her). "My dear Sir (LOUISA writes with a trembling +hand,) three days, three insupportable days, have already passed--already +passed--since last we met." + +LOUISA (starts, and lays down her pen). To whom is the letter? + +WORM. To your father's executioner. + +LOUISA. Oh! my God! + +WORM. "But for this you must blame the major--the major--who watches me +all day with the vigilance of an Argus." + +LOUISA (starting up). Villany! Villany beyond all precedent! To whom +is the letter? + +WORM. To your father's executioner. + +LOUISA (paces to and fro, wringing her hands). No, no, no! This is +tyrannical! Oh Heaven! If mortals provoke thee, punish them like +mortals; but wherefore must I be placed between two precipices? +Wherefore am I hurled by turns from death to infamy, from infamy to +death? Wherefore is my neck made the footstool of this blood-sucking +fiend? No; do what thou wilt, I will never write that! + +WORM (seizing his hat). As you please, miss! It rests entirely on your +own pleasure! + +LOUISA. Pleasure, say'st thou? On my own pleasure? Go, barbarian! +Suspend some unfortunate over the pit of hell; then make your demands, +and ask your victim if it be his pleasure to grant your request! Oh! +Thou knowest but too well that the bonds of nature bind our hearts as +firmly as chains! But all is now alike indifferent. Dictate! I cease +to think! Artifices of hell, I yield to ye! (She resumes her seat at +the table.) + +WORM. "With the vigilance of an Argus." Have you written it? + +LOUISA. Proceed, proceed! + +WORM. "The president was here yesterday. It was amusing to see how warm +the poor major was in defence of my honor." + +LOUISA. Excellent! Excellent! Oh! Admirable! Quick! quick, go on! + +WORM. "I had recourse to a swoon--a swoon--that I might not laugh +aloud"---- + +LOUISA. Oh, Heavens! + +WORM. "But the mask which I have worn so long is becoming insupportable +--insupportable. Oh! if I could but rid myself of him." + +LOUISA (rises, and walks a few turns with her head bent down, as if she +sought something upon the floor: then returns to her place, and continues +to write). "Rid myself of him." + +WORM. "He will be on duty to-morrow--observe when he leaves me, and +hasten to the usual place." Have you written "the usual place?" + +LOUISA. Everything, everything! + +WORM. "To the usual place, to meet your devotedly attached Louisa." + +LOUISA. Now then, the address? + +WORM. "To Marshal von Kalb." + +LOUISA. Eternal Providence! A name as foreign to my ear as these +scandalous lines are to my heart! (She rises, and for some moments +surveys the writing with a vacant gaze. At length she hands it to WORM, +speaking in a voice trembling and exhausted.) Take it, Sir! What I now +put into your hands is my good name. It is Ferdinand--it is the whole +joy of my life! You have it, and now I am a beggar---- + +WORM. Oh! Not so! Despair not, dear girl! You inspire me with the +most heartfelt pity! Perhaps--who knows? I might even now overlook +certain parts of your conduct--yes! Heaven is my witness, how deeply I +compassionate your sorrows! + +LOUISA (giving him a piercing look). Do not explain yourself! You are +on the point of asking something more terrible than all. + +WORM (attempting to kiss her hand). What if I asked this little hand? +Would that be terrible, Louisa? + +LOUISA (with great indignation). Yes! for I should strangle you on the +bridal night: and for such a deed I would joyfully yield my body to be +torn on the rack! (She is going, but comes hurriedly back.) Is all +settled between us, sir? May the dove be released? + +WORM. A trifle yet remains, maiden! You must swear, by the holy +sacrament, to acknowledge this letter for your free and voluntary act. + +LOUISA. Oh God! Oh God! And wilt thou grant thine own seal to confirm +the works of hell? (WORM leads her away.) + + + + +ACT IV. + +SCENE I. Saloon in the PRESIDENT'S House. + + FERDINAND VON WALTER enters in great excitement with an open letter + in his hand, and is met by a SERVANT. + +FERDINAND. Is the marshal here? + +SERVANT. My lord, his highness the president is inquiring for you. + +FERDINAND. Fire and fury! I ask is the marshal here? + +SERVANT. His honor is engaged at the faro-table, above stairs. + +FERDINAND. Tell his honor, in the name of all the devils in hell, to +make his appearance this instant! + + [Exit SERVANT. + + + +SCENE II. + +FERDINAND (hastily reading the letter, at one moment seeming petrified +with astonishment, at the next pacing the room with fury). Impossible! +quite impossible! A form so heavenly cannot hide so devilish a heart. +And yet!--and yet! Though all the angels of heaven should descend on +earth and proclaim her innocence--though heaven and earth, the Creator +and the created, should, with one accord, vouch for her innocence--it is +her hand, her own hand! Treachery, monstrous, infernal treachery, such +as humanity never before witnessed! This, then, was the reason she so +resolutely opposed our flight! This it was--Oh, God! Now I awake from +my dream! Now the veil is lifted! This, then, is why she surrendered +with so much seeming heroism her claims on my affection, and all but +cheated me with her saint-like demeanor! (He traverses the chamber +rapidly, and then remains for some moments in deep thought.) To fathom +my heart to its very core! To reciprocate every lofty sentiment, every +gentle emotion, every fiery ebullition! To sympathize with every secret +breathing of my soul! To study me even in her tears! To mount with me +to the sublimest heights of passion--to brave with me, undaunted, each +fearful precipice! God of heaven! And was all this deceit? mere +grimace? Oh, if falsehood can assume so lovely an appearance of truth +why has no devil yet lied himself back into heaven? + +When I unfolded to her the dangers which threatened our affection, with +what convincing artifice did the false one turn pale! With what +overpowering dignity did she repulse my father's licentious scoffs! yet +at that very moment the deceiver was conscious of her guilt! Nay, did +she not even undergo the fiery ordeal of truth? Forsooth, the hypocrite +fainted! What must now be thy language, sensibility, since coquettes +faint? How wilt thou vindicate thyself, innocence?--for even strumpets +faint? + +She knows her power over me--she has seen through my very heart! My soul +shone conspicuous in my eyes at the blush of her first kiss. And that +she should have felt nothing! or perhaps felt only the triumph of her +art; whilst my happy delirium fancied that in her I embraced a whole +heaven, my wildest wishes were hushed! No thought but of her and +eternity was present to my mind. Oh, God! and yet she felt nothing? +Nothing? but that her artifice had triumphed! That her charms were +flattered! Death and vengeance! Nothing, but that I was betrayed! + + + +SCENE III. + + FERDINAND, the MARSHAL. + +MARSHAL (tripping into the room). I am told, my dear baron, that you +have expressed a wish---- + +FERDINAND (muttering to himself). To break your rascally neck. (Aloud.) +Marshal, this letter must have dropped out of your pocket on parade. +(With a malicious smile.) And I have been the fortunate finder. + +MARSHAL. You? + +FERDINAND. By a singular coincidence! Now, balance thy account with +heaven! + +MARSHAL. You quite alarm me, baron! + +FERDINAND. Read it, sir, read it! (Turning from him.) If I am not good +enough for a lover perhaps I may do for a pimp. (While the MARSHAL +reads, FERDINAND goes to the wall and takes down the pistols.) + +KALB (throws the letter upon the table, and rushes off). Confusion! + +FERDINAND (leads him back by the arm). Wait a little, my dear marshal! +The intelligence contained in that letter appears to be agreeable! The +finder must have his reward. (Showing him the pistols.) + +MARSHAL (starts back in alarm). Have you lost your senses, baron? + +FERDINAND (in a terrible voice). I have more than enough left to rid the +world of such a scoundrel as you! Choose one of these instantly! (He +forces a pistol into the MARSHAL'S hand, and then draws out his +handkerchief.) And now take the other end of this handkerchief! It was +given me by the strumpet herself! + +MARSHAL. What, shoot over the handkerchief? Baron, are you mad? What +can you be thinking of? + +FERDINAND. Lay hold of it, I say! or you will be sure to miss your aim, +coward! How the coward trembles! You should thank God, you pitiful +coward, that you have a chance for once of getting something in your +empty brain-box. (The MARSHAL takes to his heels.) Gently, gently! +I'll take care of that. (Overtakes him and bolts the door.) + +MARSHAL. Surely you will not fight in the chamber? + +FERDINAND. As if you were worth the trouble of a walk beyond the +boundaries! The report, my dear fellow, will be louder, and, for the +first time, you will make some noise in the world. Now, then, take hold! + +MARSHAL (wiping his forehead). Yet consider, I entreat. Would you risk +your precious life, young and promising as you are, in this desperate +manner? + +FERDINAND. Take hold, I say! I have nothing more to do in this world! + +MARSHAL. But I have much, my dearest, most excellent friend! + +FERDINAND. Thou, wretch--thou? What hast thou to do, but to play the +stop-gap, where honest men keep aloof! To stretch or shrink seven times +in an instant, like the butterfly on a pin? To be privy registrar in +chief and clerk of the jordan? To be the cap-and-bell buffoon on which +your master sharpens his wit? Well, well, let it be so. I will carry you +about with me, as I would a marmot of rare training. You shall skip and +dance, like a tamed monkey, to the howling of the damned; fetch, carry, +and serve; and with your courtly arts enliven the wailings of everlasting +despair! + +MARSHAL. Anything you please, dear major! Whatever you please! Only +take away the pistols! + +FERDINAND. How he stands there, poor trembling wretch! There he stands, +a blot on the sixth day of creation. He looks as if he were a piratical +counterfeit of the Almighty original. Pity, eternal pity! that an atom +of brains should lie wasting in so barren a skull! That single atom +bestowed upon a baboon might have made him a perfect man, whereas it is +now a mere useless fragment. And that she should share her heart with a +thing like this! Monstrous! Incredible! A wretch more formed to wean +from sin than to excite it! + +MARSHAL. Praised be Heaven! he is getting witty. + +FERDINAND. I will let him live! That toleration which spares the +caterpillar shall be extended to him! Men shall look on him in wonder, +and, shrugging their shoulders, admire the wise dispensation of +Providence, which can feed its creatures with husks and scourings; which +spreads the table for the raven on the gallows, and for the courtier in +the slime of majesty. We wonder at the wisdom of Providence, which even +in the world of spirits maintains its staff of venomous reptiles for the +dissemination of poison. (Relapsing into rage.) But such vermin shall +not pollute my rose; sooner will I crush it to atoms (seizing the MARSHAL +and shaking him roughly), thus--and thus--and thus---- + +MARSHAL. Oh! God, that I were away from here! hundreds of miles away in +the asylum for maniacs at Paris! Anywhere but near this man! + +FERDINAND. Villain! If she be no longer pure! Villain! If thou hast +profaned where I worshipped! (with increased fury). If thou hast +polluted, where I believed myself the god! (Pausing suddenly; then in a +solemn terrible voice.) It were better for thee, villain, to flee to +hell, than to encounter my wrath in heaven! Confess! To what extent has +your unhallowed love proceeded? + +MARSHAL. Let me go! I will confess everything. + +FERDINAND. Oh! it must be more rapturous even to be her licentious +paramour than to burn with the purest flame for any other! Would she +surrender her charms to unlicensed pleasure she might dissolve the soul +itself to sin, and make voluptuousness pass for virtue (pressing his +pistol against the MARSHAL'S breast). To what extremities have you +proceeded? Confess this instant or I fire! + +MARSHAL. There is nothing at all in it, I assure you! There is not a +syllable of truth in the whole business! Have but a moment's patience! +You are deceived, indeed you are! + +FERDINAND (furiously). And dare you remind me of that, villain? To what +extremities have you proceeded? Confess, or you are a dead man! + +MARSHAL. Mon Dieu! My God! You mistake my words! Only listen for a +moment. When a father---- + +FERDINAND (still more enraged). No doubt! He threw his daughter into +your arms? And how far have you proceeded? Confess, or I will murder +you! + +MARSHAL. You rave! You will not listen! I never saw her! I don't know +her! I know nothing at all about her! + +FERDINAND (drawing back). You never saw her? You don't know her? Know +nothing at all about her? Louisa is lost to me forever on thy account, +and yet in one breath hast thou denied her thrice. Go, wretch, go (he +gives him a blow with the pistol, and thrusts him out of the chamber); +powder were thrown away on such a miscreant. + + [Exit MARSHAL. + + + +SCENE IV. + +FERDINAND (after a long silence, during which his countenance declares +him to be agitated by some dreadful idea). Forever lost? Yes, false +unfortunate, both are lost! Ay, by the Almighty God! if I am lost, thou +art so too. Judge of the world, ask her not from me! She is mine. For +her sake I renounced the whole world--abandoned all thy glorious +creation. Leave me the maid, great Judge of the world! Millions of +souls pour out their plaints to thee--turn on them thine eye of +compassion, but leave me, Almighty Judge--leave me to myself. (Clasping +his hands in agony.) Can the bountiful, the munificent Creator be +covetous of one miserable soul, and that soul the worst of his creation? +The maiden is mine! Once I was her god, but now I am her devil! + + (Fixes his eyes with terrible expression.) + +An eternity passed with her upon the rack of everlasting perdition! Her +melting eye-balls riveted on mine! Our blazing locks entwined together! +Our shrieks of agony dissolving into one! And then to renew to her my +vows of love, and chant unceasingly her broken oaths! God! God! The +union is dreadful--and eternal! (As he is about to rush off, the +PRESIDENT meets him.) + + + +SCENE V. + + FERDINAND, the PRESIDENT. + +FERDINAND (starting back). Ha! my father. + +PRESIDENT. I am glad to meet with you, Ferdinand! I come to bring you +some pleasant news--something that will certainly surprise you, my dear +son. Shall we be seated? + +FERDINAND (after gazing upon him for some time with a vacant stare). My +father! (Going to him with emotion, and grasping his hand.) My father! +(Kissing it, and falling at his feet.) Oh, father! + +PRESIDENT. What is the matter? Rise, my son. Your hand burns and +trembles! + +FERDINAND (wildly). Forgive my ingratitude, father! I am a lost man! I +have misinterpreted your kindness! Your meaning was so truly--truly +paternal! Oh! you had a prophetic soul! Now it is too late! Pardon! +pardon! Your blessing, my dear father! + +PRESIDENT (feigning astonishment). Arise, my son! Recollect that your +words to me are riddles! + +FERDINAND. This Louisa, dear father! Oh! You understand mankind! Your +anger was so just, so noble, so truly the zeal of a father! had not its +very earnestness led you to mistake the way. This Louisa! + +PRESIDENT. Spare me, dear boy! Curses on my severity! come to entreat +your forgiveness---- + +FERDINAND. Forgiveness from me! Curse me rather. Your disapproval was +wisdom! Your severity was heavenly mercy! This Louisa, father---- + +PRESIDENT. Is a noble, a lovely girl! I recall my too rash suspicions! +She has won my entire esteem! + +FERDINAND (starting up). What? You, too? Father, even you? And is she +not, father, the very personification of innocence? And is it not so +natural to love this maiden? + +PRESIDENT. Say, rather, 'twere a crime not to love her. + +FERDINAND. Incredible! wonderful! And you, too, who can so thoroughly +see through the heart! And you, who saw her faults with the eyes of +hatred! Oh, unexampled hypocrisy! This Louisa, father! + +PRESIDENT. Is worthy to be my daughter! Her virtues supply the want of +ancestry, her beauty the want of fortune. My prudential maxims yield to +the force of your attachment. Louisa shall be yours! + +FERDINAND. Naught but this wanting! Father, farewell! (Rushes out of +the apartment.) + +PRESIDENT (following him). Stay, my son, stay! Whither do you fly? + + + +SCENE VI.--A magnificent Saloon in LADY MILFORD'S House. + + Enter LADY MILFORD and SOPHIA. + +LADY MILFORD. You have seen her then? Will she come? + +SOPHIA. Yes, in a moment! She was in dishabille, and only requested +time to change her dress. + +LADY MILFORD. Speak not of her. Silence! I tremble like a criminal at +the prospect of beholding that fortunate woman whose heart sympathizes +thus cruelly with my own. And how did she receive my invitation? + +SOPHIA. She seemed surprised, became thoughtful, fixed her eyes on me +steadfastly, and for a while remained silent. I was already prepared for +her excuses, when she returned me this answer with a look that quite +astonished me; "Tell your mistress that she commands what I myself +intended to request to-morrow." + +LADY MILFORD. Leave me, Sophia! Pity me! I must blush if she is but an +ordinary woman--despair if she is more! + +SOPHIA. But, my lady! it is not in this spirit that a rival should be +received! Remember who you are! Summon to your aid your birth, your +rank, your power! A prouder soul should heighten the gorgeous splendor +of your appearance. + +LADY MILFORD (in a fit of absence). What is the simpleton babbling +about? + +SOPHIA (maliciously). Or, is it, perhaps, by chance that to-day, in +particular, you are adorned with your most costly brilliants? by chance +that you are to-day arrayed in your most sumptuous robes? that your +antechamber is crowded with guards and pages; and that the tradesman's +daughter is to be received in the most stately apartment of the palace? + +LADY MILFORD (angry and nettled). This is outrageous! Insupportable! +Oh that woman should have such argus-eyes for woman's weakness! How low, +how irretrievably low must I have fallen when such a creature has power +to fathom me! + + LADY MILFORD, SOPHIA, a SERVANT. + +SERVANT (entering). Ma'mselle Miller waits. + +LADY MILFORD (to SOPHIA). Hence with you! Leave the room instantly! +(Imperiously, as the latter hesitates.) Must I repeat my orders? +(SOPHIA retires--LADY MILFORD takes a few turns hastily.) So; 'tis well +that I have been excited! I am in the fitter mood for this meeting. (To +the SERVANT.) Let her approach. + + [Exit SERVANT. LADY MILFORD throws herself upon the sofa, + and assumes a negligent but studied attitude. + + + +SCENE VII. + + LADY MILFORD, LOUISA. + + LOUISA enters timidly, and remains standing at a great distance + from LADY MILFORD, who has turned her back towards her, and for + some time watches her attentively in the opposite looking-glass. + After a pause----- + +LOUISA. Noble lady, I await your commands. + +LADY MILFORD (turning towards LOUISA, and making a slight and distant +motion with her head.) Oh! Are you there? I presume the young lady--a +certain----. Pray what is your name? + +LOUISA (somewhat sensitively). My father's name is Miller. Your +ladyship expressed a wish to see his daughter. + +LADY MILFORD. True, true! I remember. The poor musician's daughter, of +whom we were speaking the other day. (Aside, after a pause.) Very +interesting, but no beauty! (To LOUISA.) Come nearer, my child. (Again +aside.) Eyes well practised in weeping. Oh! How I love those eyes! +(Aloud.) Nearer--come nearer! Quite close! I really think, my good +child, that you are afraid of me! + +LOUISA (with firmness and dignity). No, my lady--I despise the opinion +of the multitude! + +LADY MILFORD (aside). Well, to be sure! She has learnt this boldness +from him. (To LOUISA.) You have been recommended to me, miss! I am +told that you have been decently educated, and are well disposed. I can +readily believe it; besides, I would not, for the world, doubt the word +of so warm an advocate. + +LOUISA. And yet I remember no one, my lady, who would be at the trouble +to seek your ladyship's patronage for me! + +LADY MILFORD (significantly). Does that imply my unworthiness, or your +humility? + +LOUISA. Your words are beyond my comprehension, lady. + +LADY MILFORD. More cunning than I should have expected from that open +countenance. (To LOUISA.) Your name is Louisa, I believe? May I +inquire your age? + +LOUISA. Sixteen, just turned. + +LADY MILFORD (starting up). Ha! There it is! Sixteen! The first +pulsation of love! The first sweet vibration upon the yet unsounded +harp! Nothing is more fascinating. (To LOUISA.) Be seated, lovely +girl--I am anxious about you. (To herself.) And he, too, loves for the +first time! What wonder, if the ruddy morning beams should meet and +blend? (To LOUISA, taking her hand affectionately.) 'Tis settled: I +will make your fortune. (To herself.) Oh! there is nothing in it: +nothing, but the sweet transient vision of youth! (To LOUISA, patting +her on the cheek.) My Sophy is on the point of leaving me to be married: +you shall have her place. But just sixteen? Oh! it can never last. + +LOUISA (kissing her hand respectfully). Receive my thanks, lady, for +your intended favors, and believe me not the less grateful though I may +decline to accept them. + +LADY MILFORD (relapsing into disdain and anger). Only hear the great +lady! Girls of your station generally think themselves fortunate to +obtain such promotion. What is your dependence, my dainty one? Are +these fingers too delicate for work?--or is it your pretty baby-face that +makes you give yourself these airs? + +LOUISA. My face, lady, is as little of my own choice as my station! + +LADY MILFORD. Perhaps you believe that your beauty will last forever? +Poor creature! Whoever put that into your head--be he who he may--has +deceived both you and himself! The colors of those cheeks are not burnt +in with fire: what your mirror passes off upon you as solid and enduring +is but a slight tinselling, which, sooner or later, will rub off in the +hands of the purchaser. What then, will you do? + +LOUISA. Pity the purchaser, lady, who bought a diamond because it +appeared to be set in gold. + +LADY MILFORD (affecting not to hear her). A damsel of your age has ever +two mirrors, the real one, and her admirer. The flattering complaisance +of the latter counterbalances the rough honesty of the former. What the +one proclaims frightful pock-marks, the other declares to be dimples that +would adorn the Graces. The credulous maid believes only so much of the +former as is confirmed by the latter, and hies from one to the other till +she confounds their testimonies, and concludes by fancying them to be +both of one opinion. Why do you stare at me so? + +LOUISA. Pardon me, lady! I was just then pitying those gorgeous +sparkling brilliants, which are unconscious that their possessor is so +strenuous a foe to vanity. + +LADY MILFORD (reddening). No evasion, miss. Were it not that you depend +upon personal attractions, what in the world could induce you to reject a +situation, the only one where you can acquire polish of manners and +divest yourself of your plebeian prejudices? + +LOUISA. And with them, I presume, my plebeian innocence! + +LADY MILFORD. Preposterous objection! The most dissolute libertine +dares not to disrespect our sex, unless we ourselves encourage him by +advances. Prove what you are; make manifest your virtue and honor, and I +will guarantee your innocence from danger. + +LOUISA. Of that, lady, permit me to entertain a doubt! The palaces of +certain ladies are but too often made a theatre for the most unbridled +licentiousness. Who will believe that a poor musician's daughter could +have the heroism to plunge into the midst of contagion and yet preserve +herself untainted? Who will believe that Lady Milford would perpetually +hold a scorpion to her breast, and lavish her wealth to purchase the +advantage of every moment feeling her cheeks dyed with the crimson blush +of shame? I will be frank, lady!--while I adorned you for some +assignation, could you meet my eye unabashed? Could you endure my glance +when you returned? Oh! better, far better, would it be that oceans +should roll between us--that we should inhabit different climes! Beware, +my lady!--hours of temperance, moments of satiety might intrude; the +gnawing worm of remorse might plant its sting in your bosom, and then +what a torment would it be for you to read in the countenance of your +handmaid that calm serenity with which virtue ever rewards an uncorrupted +heart! (Retiring a few steps.) Once more, gracious lady, I entreat your +pardon! + +LADY MILFORD (extremely agitated). Insupportable, that she should tell +me this! Still more insupportable, that what she tells is true! +(Turning to LOUISA, and looking at her steadfastly.) Girl! girl! this +artifice does not blind me. Mere opinions do not speak out so warmly. +Beneath the cloak of these sentiments lurks some far dearer interest. +'Tis that which makes my service particularly distasteful--which gives +such energy to your language. (In a threatening voice.) What it is I am +determined to discover. + +LOUISA (with calm dignity). And what if you do discover it? Suppose the +contemptuous trampling of your foot should rouse the injured worm, which +its Creator has furnished with a sting to protect it against misusage. I +fear not your vengeance, lady! The poor criminal extended on the rack +can look unappalled even on the dissolution of the world. My misery is +so exquisite that even sincerity cannot draw down upon me any further +infliction! (After a pause.) You say that you would raise me from the +obscurity of my station. I will not examine the motives of this +suspicious favor. I will only ask, what could induce you to think me so +foolish as to blush at my station? What could induce you to become the +architect of my happiness, before you knew whether I was willing to +receive that happiness at your hands? I had forever renounced all claims +upon the pleasures of the world. I had forgiven fortune that she had +dealt with me so niggardly. Ah! why do you remind me of all this. If +the Almighty himself hides his glory from the eyes of his creatures, lest +the highest seraph should be overwhelmed by a sense of his own +insignificance, why should mortals be so cruelly compassionate? Lady, +lady! why is your vaunted happiness so anxious to excite the envy and +wonder of the wretched? Does your bliss stand in need of the exhibition +of despair for entertainment? Oh! rather grant me that blindness which +alone can reconcile me to my barbarous lot! The insect feels itself as +happy in a drop of water as though that drop was a paradise: so happy, +and so contented! till some one tells it of a world of water, where +navies ride and whales disport themselves! But you wish to make me +happy, say you? (After a pause, she advances towards LADY MILFORD, and +asks her suddenly.) Are you happy, lady? (LADY MILFORD turns from her +hastily, and overpowered. LOUISA follows her, and lays her hand upon her +bosom.) Does this heart wear the smile of its station? Could we now +exchange breast for breast, and fate for fate--were I, in childlike +innocence, to ask you on your conscience--were I to ask you as a mother-- +would you really counsel me to make the exchange? + +LADY MILFORD (greatly excited, throwing herself on the sofa). +Intolerable! Incomprehensible! No, Louisa, no! This greatness of +thought is not your own, and your conceptions are too fiery, too full of +youth, to be inspired by your father. Deceive me not! I detect another +teacher---- + +LOUISA (looking piercingly at her). I cannot but wonder, my lady, that +you should have only just discovered that other teacher, and yet have +previously shown so much anxiety to patronize me! + +LADY MILFORD (starting up). 'Tis not to be borne! Well, then, since I +cannot escape you, I know him--know everything--know more than I wish to +know! (Suddenly restraining herself, then continuing with a violence +which by degrees increases to frenzy.) But dare, unhappy one!--dare but +still to love, or be beloved by him! What did I say? Dare but to think +of him, or to be one of his thoughts! I am powerful, unhappy one!-- +dreadful in my vengeance! As sure as there is a God in heaven thou art +lost forever! + +LOUISA (undaunted). Past all redemption, my lady, the moment you succeed +in compelling him to love you! + +LADY MILFORD. I understand you--but I care not for his love! I will +conquer this disgraceful passion. I will torture my own heart; but thine +will I crush to atoms! Rocks and chasms will I hurl between you. I will +rush, like a fury, into the heaven of your joys. My name shall affright +your loves as a spectre scares an assassin. That young and blooming form +in his embrace shall wither to a skeleton. I cannot be blest with him-- +neither shalt thou. Know, wretched girl; that to blast the happiness of +others is in itself a happiness! + +LOUISA. A happiness, my lady, which is already beyond your reach! Seek +not to deceive your own heart! You are incapable of executing what you +threaten! You are incapable of torturing a being who has done you no +wrong--but whose misfortune it is that her feelings have been sensible to +impressions like your own. But I love you for these transports, my lady! + +LADY MILFORD (recovering herself). Where am I? What have I done? What +sentiments have I betrayed? To whom have I betrayed them? Oh, Louisa, +noble, great, divine soul, forgive the ravings of a maniac! Fear not, my +child! I will not injure a hair of thy head! Name thy wishes! Ask what +thou wilt! I will serve thee with all my power; I will be thy friend-- +thy sister! Thou art poor; look (taking off her brilliants), I will sell +these jewels--sell my wardrobe--my carriages and horses--all shall be +thine--grant me but Ferdinand! + +LOUISA (draws back indignantly). Does she mock my despair?--or is she +really innocent of participation in that cruel deed? Ha! then I may yet +assume the heroine, and make my surrender of him pass for a sacrifice! +(Remains for a while absorbed in thought, then approaches LADY MILFORD, +seizes her hand, and gazes on her with a fixed and significant look.) +Take him, lady! I here voluntarily resign the man whom hellish arts have +torn from my bleeding bosom! Perchance you know it not, my lady! but you +have destroyed the paradise of two lovers; you have torn asunder two +hearts which God had linked together; you have crushed a creature not +less dear to him than yourself, and no less created for happiness; one by +whom he was worshipped as sincerely as by you; but who, henceforth, will +worship him no more. But the Almighty is ever open to receive the last +groan of the trampled worm. He will not look on with indifference when +creatures in his keeping are murdered. Now Ferdinand is yours. Take +him, lady, take him! Rush into his arms! Drag him with you to the +altar! But forget not that the spectre of a suicide will rush between +you and the bridal kiss. God be merciful! No choice is left me! +(Rushes out of the chamber.) + + + +SCENE VIII. + + LADY MILFORD alone, in extreme agitation, gazing on the door by + which LOUISA left. At length she recovers from her stupor. + +LADY MILFORD. What was that? What preys so on my heart? What said the +unhappy one? Still, O heaven, the dreadful, damning words ring in my +ears! "Take him! Take him!" What should I take, unfortunate? the +bequest of your dying groan--the fearful legacy of your despair? +Gracious heaven! am I then fallen so low? Am I so suddenly hurled from +the towering throne of my pride that I greedily await what a beggar's +generosity may throw me in the last struggle of death? "Take him! Take +him!" And with what a tone was it uttered!--with what a look! What! +Amelia! is it for this thou hast overleaped the bounds of thy sex? For +this didst thou vaunt the glorious title of a free-born Briton, that thy +boasted edifice of honor might sink before the nobler soul of a despised +and lowly maiden? No, proud unfortunate! No! Amelia Milford may blush +for shame,--but shall never be despised. I, too, have courage to resign. +(She walks a few paces with a majestic gait.) Hide thyself, weak, +suffering woman! Hence, ye sweet and golden dreams of love! Magnanimity +alone be now my guide. These lovers are lost, or Amelia must withdraw +her claim, and renounce the prince's heart. (After a pause, with +animation.) It is determined! The dreadful obstacle is removed--broken +are the bonds which bound me to the duke--torn from my bosom this raging +passion. Virtue, into thy arms I throw myself. Receive thy repentant +daughter. Ha! how happy do I feel! How suddenly relieved my heart, and +how exalted! Glorious as the setting sun, will I this day descend from +the pinnacle of my greatness; my grandeur shall expire with my love, and +my own heart be the only sharer of my proud exile! (Going to her +writing-table with a determined air.) It must be done at once--now, on +the spot--before the recollection of Ferdinand renews the cruel conflict +in my bosom! (She seats herself, and begins to write). + + + +SCENE IX. + + LADY MILFORD, an ATTENDANT, SOPHIA, afterwards the MARSHAL, + and then SERVANTS. + +SERVANT. Marshal von Kalb is in the ante-chamber, and brings a message +from his highness. + +LADY MILFORD (not hearing him in the eagerness of writing). How the +illustrious puppet will stare! The idea is singular enough, I own, the +presuming to astonish his serene numskull. In what confusion will his +court be thrown! The whole country will be in a ferment. + +SERVANT and SOPHIA. Marshal von Kalb, my lady! + +LADY MILFORD (turning round). Who? the marshal? So much the better! +Such creatures were designed by nature to carry the ass' panniers. + + [Exit SERVANT. + +SOPHIA (approaching anxiously). If I were not fearful, my lady, that you +would think it presumption. (LADY MILFORD continuing to write eagerly.) +Louisa Miller rushed madly to the hall--you are agitated--you speak to +yourself. (LADY MILFORD continues writing.) I am quite alarmed. What +can have happened? (The MARSHAL enters, making repeated bows at LADY +MILFORD'S back; as she takes no notice of him, he comes nearer, stands +behind her chair, touches the hem of her dress, and imprints a kiss on +it, saying in a tremulous voice.) His serene highness---- + +LADY MILFORD (while she peruses hastily what she has written). He will +tax me with black ingratitude! "I was poor and forsaken! He raised me +from misery! From misery." Detestable exchange! Annul my bond, +seducer! The blush of my eternal shame repays my debt with interest. + +MARSHAL (after endeavoring in vain to catch her eye). Your ladyship +seems somewhat absent. I take the liberty of permitting myself the +boldness (very loud)--his serene highness, my lady, has sent me to +inquire whether you mean to honor this evening's gala with your presence, +or the theatre? + +LADY MILFORD (rising, with a laugh). One or the other, sweet sir. In +the meantime take this paper to your duke for his dessert. (To SOPHIA.) +Do you, Sophia, give directions to have my carriage brought to the door +without delay, and call my whole household together in this saloon. + +SOPHIA (goes out in great astonishment). Heavens! What do I forebode? +What will this end in? + +MARSHAL. You seem excited, my lady! + +LADY MILFORD. The greater the chance of my letting you into a little +truth. Rejoice, my Lord Marshal! There is a place vacant at court. A +fine time for panders. (As the MARSHAL throws a look of suspicion upon +the paper.) Read it, read it! 'Tis my desire that the contents should +be made public. (While he reads it, the domestics enter, and range +themselves in the background.) + +MARSHAL (reading). "Your highness--an engagement, broken by you so +lightly, can no longer be binding on me. The happiness of your subjects +was the condition of my love. For three years the deception has lasted. +The veil at length falls from my eyes! I look with disgust on favors +which are stained with the tears of your subjects. Bestow the love which +I can no longer accept upon your weeping country, and learn from a +British princess compassion to your German people. Within an hour I +shall have quitted your dominions. JOANNA NORFOLK" + +SERVANTS (exclaiming to each other in astonishment). Quitted the +dominions! + +MARSHAL (replaces the letter upon the table in terror). God forbid, my +dear and most excellent lady! The bearer of such a letter would be as +mad as the writer! + +LADY MILFORD. That is your concern, you pink of a courtier! Alas! I am +sorry to know that you, and such as you, would choke even in the +utterance of what others dare to do. My advice is that you bake the +letter in a venison pasty, so that his most serene highness may find it +on his plate! + +MARSHAL. God preserve me! What presumption! Ponder well, I entreat +you. Reflect on the disgrace which you will bring down upon yourself, my +lady! + +LADY MILFORD (turning to the assembled domestics, and addressing them in +the deepest emotion). You seem amazed, good people; and anxiously +awaiting the solution of this riddle? Draw nearer, my friends! You have +served me truly and affectionately; have looked into my eyes rather than +my purse. My pleasure was your study, my approbation your pride! Woe is +me, that the remembrance of your fidelity must be the record of my +unworthiness! Unhappy fate, that the darkest season of my life should +have been the brightest of yours! (Her eyes suffused with tears.) We +must part, my children. Lady Milford has ceased to exist, and Joanna of +Norfolk is too poor to repay your love. What little wealth I have my +treasurer will share among you. This palace belongs to the duke. The +poorest of you will quit it far richer than his mistress! Farewell, my +children! (She extends her hand, which they all in turn kiss, with marks +of sorrow and affection.) I understand you, my good people! Farewell! +forever farewell! (Struggling with her feelings.) I hear the carriage +at the door. (She tears herself away, and is hurrying out when the +MARSHAL arrests her progress.) How, now? Pitiful creature, art thou +still there? + +MARSHAL (who all this while has been gazing in vacant astonishment at the +letter). And must I be the person to put this letter into the most +august hands of his most serene highness? + +LADY MILFORD. Pitiful creature, even thou! Thou must deliver into his +most august hands, and convey to his most august ears, that, as I cannot +go barefoot to Loretto, I will support myself by the labor of my hands, +that I may be purified from the disgrace of having condescended to rule +him. (She hurries off--the rest silently disperse.) + + + + +ACT V. + +SCENE I.--Twilight; a room in MILLER'S house. + + LOUISA sits silent and motionless in a dark corner of the room, + her head reclining upon her hand. After a long pause, MILLER + enters with a lantern, the light of which he casts anxiously + round the chamber, without observing LOUISA, he then puts his + hat on the table, and sets down the lantern. + + LOUISA, MILLER. + +MILLER. She is not here either. No, she is not here! I have wandered +through every street; I have sought her with every acquaintance; I have +inquired at every door! No one has seen my child! (A silence of some +moments.) Patience, poor unhappy father! Patience till morning; then +perhaps the corpse of your only one may come floating to shore. Oh, God +in heaven! What though my heart has hung too idolatrously upon this +daughter, yet surely the punishment is severe! Heavenly Father! Surely +it is severe! I will not murmur, Heavenly Father; but the punishment is +indeed severe! (Throws himself sorrowfully into a chair.) + +LOUISA (without moving from her seat). Thou dost well, wretched old man! +Learn betimes to lose. + +MILLER (starts up eagerly). Ah! art thou there, my child? Art thou +there? But wherefore thus alone, and without a light? + +LOUISA. Yet am I not alone. When all things around me are dark and +gloomy then have I the companionship which most I love. + +MILLER. God defend thee, my child! The worm of conscience alone wakes +and watches with the owl; none shun the light but criminals and evil +spirits. + +LOUISA. And eternity, father, which speaks to the soul in solitude! + +MILLER. Louisa, my child! What words are these? + +LOUISA (rises, and comes forward). I have fought a hard fight--you know +it, father! but God gave me the strength! The fight is over! Father, +our sex is called timid and weak; believe it no more! We tremble at a +spider, but the black monster, corruption, we hug to our arms in sport! +This for your edification, father. Your Louisa is merry. + +MILLER. I had rather you wept. It would, please me better. + +LOUISA. How I will outwit him, father! How I shall cheat the tyrant! +Love is more crafty than malice, and bolder--he knew not that, the man of +the unlucky star! Oh! they are cunning so long as they have but to do +with the head; but when they have to grapple with the heart the villains +are at fault. He thought to seal his treachery with an oath! Oaths, +father, may bind the living, but death dissolves even the iron bonds of +the sacrament! Ferdinand will learn to know his Louisa. Father, will +you deliver this letter for me? Will you do me the kindness? + +MILLER. To whom, my child? + +LOUISA. Strange question! Infinitude and my heart together had not +space enough for a single thought but of him. To whom else should I +write? + +MILLER (anxiously). Hear me, Louisa! I must read this letter! + +LOUISA. As you please, father! but you will not understand it. The +characters lie there like inanimate corpses, and live but for the eye of +love. + +MILLER (reading). "You are betrayed, Ferdinand! An unparalleled piece +of villany has dissolved the union of our hearts; but a dreadful vow +binds my tongue, and your father has spies stationed upon every side. +But, if thou hast courage, my beloved, I know a place where oaths no +longer bind, and where spies cannot enter." (MILLER stops short, and +gazes upon her steadfastly.) + +LOUISA. Why that earnest look, father? Read what follows. + +MILLER. "But thou must be fearless enough to wander through a gloomy +path with no other guides than God and thy Louisa. Thou must have no +companion but love; leave behind all thy hopes, all thy tumultuous +wishes--thou wilt need nothing on this journey but thy heart. Darest +thou come; then set out as the bell tolls twelve from the Carmelite +Tower. Dost thou fear; then erase from the vocabulary of thy sex's +virtues the word courage, for a maiden will have put thee to shame." +(MILLER lays down the letter and fixes his eyes upon the ground in deep +sorrow. At length he turns to LOUISA, and says, in a low, broken voice) +Daughter, where is that place? + +LOUISA. Don't you know it, father? Do you really not know it? 'Tis +strange! I have described it unmistakably! Ferdinand will not fail to +find it. + +MILLER. Pray speak plainer! + +LOUISA. I can think of no pleasing name for it just now! You must not +be alarmed, father, if the name I give it has a terrible sound. That +place,----Oh! why has no lover invented a name for it! He would have +chosen the softest, the sweetest--that place, my dear father--but you +must not interrupt me--that place is--the grave! + +MILLER (staggering to a seat). Oh, God! + +LOUISA (hastens to him, and supports him). Nay, father, be not alarmed! +These are but terrors which hover round an empty word! Take away the +name and the grave will seem to be a bridal-bed over which Aurora spreads +her golden canopy and spring strews her fairest flowers. None but a +groaning sinner pictures death as a skeleton; to others he is a gentle, +smiling boy, blooming as the god of love, but not so false--a silent, +ministering spirit who guides the exhausted pilgrim through the desert of +eternity, unlocks for him the fairy palace of everlasting joy, invites +him in with friendly smiles, and vanishes forever! + +MILLER. What meanest thou, my child? Surely, thou wilt not lay guilty +hands on thine own life? + +LOUISA. Speak not thus, father! To quit a community from which I am +already rejected, to fly voluntarily to a place from which I cannot much +longer be absent, is that a sin? + +MILLER. Suicide is the most horrible of sins, my child. 'Tis the only +one that can never he repented, since death arrives at the moment the +crime is committed. + +LOUISA (stands motionless with horror). That is dreadful! But my death +will not be so sudden, father. I will spring into the river, and while +the waters are closing over me, cry to the Almighty for mercy and +forgiveness! + +MILLER. That is to say, you will repent the theft as soon as the +treasure is secure! Daughter! Daughter! beware how you mock your God +when you most need his help! Oh! you have gone far, far astray! You have +forgotten the worship of your Creator, and he has withdrawn his +protecting hand from you! + +LOUISA. Is it, then, a crime to love, father? + +MILLER. So long as thou lovest God thou wilt never love man to idolatry. +Thou hast bowed me down low, my only one! low! very low! perhaps to the +grave! Yet will I not increase the sadness of thy heart. Daughter! I +gave vent to my feelings as I entered. I thought myself alone! Thou +hast overheard me! and why should I longer conceal the truth. Thou wert +my idol! Hear me, Louisa, if there is yet room in thy heart for a +father's feelings. Thou wert my all! Of thine own thou hast nothing +more to lose, but I have my all at stake! My life depends on thee! My +hairs are turning gray, Louisa; they show that the time is drawing nigh +with me when fathers look for a return of the capital invested in the +hearts of their children. Wilt thou defraud me of this, Louisa? Wilt +thou away and bear with thee all the wealth of thy father? + +LOUISA (kissing his hand in the deepest emotion). No, father, no! I go +from this world deeply in your debt, and will repay you with usury in the +world to come. + +MILLER. Beware, my child, lest thy reckoning should be false! (very +earnestly and solemnly). Art thou certain that we shall meet in that +world to come? Lo! how the color fades from thy cheek! My child must +feel that I can scarcely overtake her in that other world if she hurries +there before me. (LOUISA throws herself shuddering into his arms, he +clasps her warmly to his bosom, and continues in a tone of fervent +adjuration.) Oh! Louisa! Louisa! Fallen, perhaps already lost, +daughter! Treasure in thy heart the solemn counsels of a father! I +cannot eternally watch over thee! I may snatch the dagger from thy +hands; but thou canst let out life with a bodkin. I may remove poison +from thy reach; but thou canst strangle thyself with a necklace. Louisa! +Louisa! I can only warn thee. Wilt thou rush boldly forward till the +perfidious phantom which lured thee on vanishes at the awful brink of +eternity? Wilt thou dare approach the throne of the Omniscient with the +lie on thy lips? "At thy call am I here, Creator!" while thy guilty eyes +are in search only of their mortal idol! And when thou shalt see this +perishable god of thine own creation, a worm like thee, writhing at the +Almighty's feet; when thou shalt hear him in the awful moment give the +lie to thy guilty daring, and blast thy delusive hopes of eternal mercy, +which the wretch implores in vain for himself; what then! (Louder and +more fervently), What, then, unhappy one? (He clasps her still closer to +his bosom, and gazes upon her with wild and piercing looks; then suddenly +disengages himself.) I can do no more! (Raising his right hand towards +heaven.) Immortal Judge, I can do no more to save this soul from ruin! +Louisa, do what thou wilt. Offer up a sacrifice at the altar of this +idolized youth that shall make thy evil genius howl for transport and thy +good angels forsake thee in despair. Go on! Heap sin upon sin,--add to +them this, the last, the heaviest,--and, if the scale be still too light +throw in my curse to complete the measure. Here is a knife; pierce thy +own heart, and (weeping aloud and rushing away), and with it, thy +father's! + +LOUISA (following and detaining him). Stay! stay! Oh! father, father!-- +to think that affection should wound more cruelly than a tyrant's rage! +What shall I?--I cannot!--what must I do? + +MILLER. If thy lover's kisses burn hotter than thy father's tears--then +die! + +LOUISA (after a violent internal struggle, firmly). Father! Here is my +hand! I will--God! God! what am I doing! What would I?--father, I +swear. Woe is me! Criminal that I am where'er I turn! Father, be it +so! Ferdinand. God, look down upon the act! Thus I destroy the last +memorial of him. (Tearing the letter.) + +MILLER (throwing himself in ecstasy upon her neck). There spoke my +daughter! Look up, my child! Thou hast lost a lover, but thou hast made +a father happy. (Embracing her, and alternately laughing and crying.) +My child! my child! I was not worthy to live so blest a moment! God +knows how I, poor miserable sinner, became possessed of such an angel! +My Louisa! My paradise! Oh! I know but little of love; but that to rend +its bonds must be a bitter grief I can well believe! + +LOUISA. But let us hasten from this place, my father! Let us fly from +the city, where my companions scoff at me, and my good name is lost +forever--let us away, far away, from a spot where every object tells of +my ruined happiness,--let us fly if it be possible! + +MILLER. Whither thou wilt, my daughter! The bread of the Lord grows +everywhere, and He will grant ears to listen to my music. Yes! we will +fly and leave all behind. I will set the story of your sorrows to the +lute, and sing of the daughter who rent her own heart to preserve her +father's. We will beg with the ballad from door to door, and sweet will +be the alms bestowed by the hand of weeping sympathy! + + + +SCENE II. + + The former; FERDINAND. + +LOUISA (who perceives him first, throws herself shrieking into MILLER'S +arms). God! There he is! I am lost! + +MILLER. Who? Where? + +LOUISA (points, with averted face, to the MAJOR, and presses closer to +her father). 'Tis he! 'Tis he! himself! Look round, father, look +round!--he comes to murder me! + +MILLER (perceives him and starts back). How, baron? You here? + +FERDINAND (approaches slowly, stands opposite to LOUISA, and fixes a +stern and piercing look upon her. After a pause, he says). Stricken +conscience, I thank thee! Thy confession is dreadful, but swift and +true, and spares me the torment of an explanation! Good evening, Miller! + +MILLER. For God's sake! baron, what seek you? What brings you hither? +What means this surprise? + +FERDINAND. I knew a time when the day was divided into seconds, when +eagerness for my presence hung upon the weights of the tardy clock, and +when every pulse-throb was counted until the moment of my coming. How is +it that I now surprise? + +MILLER. Oh, leave us, leave us, baron! If but one spark of humanity +still linger in your bosom;--if you seek not utterly to destroy her whom +you profess to love, fly from this house, stay not one moment longer. +The blessing of God deserted us when your foot first crossed its +threshold. You have brought misery under a roof where all before was joy +and happiness. Are you not yet content? Do you seek to deepen the wound +which your fatal passion has planted in the heart of my only child? + +FERDINAND. Strange father, I have come to bring joyful tidings to your +daughter. + +MILLER. Perchance fresh hopes, to add to her despair. Away, away, thou +messenger of ill! Thy looks belie thy words. + +FERDINAND. At length the goal of my hopes appears in view! Lady +Milford, the most fearful obstacle to our love, has this moment fled the +land. My father sanctions my choice. Fate grows weary of persecuting +us, and our propitious stars now blaze in the ascendant--I am come to +fulfil my plighted troth, and to lead my bride to the altar. + +MILLER. Dost thou hear him, my child? Dost thou hear him mock at thy +cheated hopes? Oh, truly, baron! It is so worthy of the deceiver to +make a jest of his own crime! + +FERDINAND. You think I am jesting? By my honor I am not! My +protestations are as true as the love of my Louisa, and I will keep them +as sacred as she has kept her oaths. Nothing to me is more sacred. Can +you still doubt? Still no joyful blush upon the cheek of my fair bride? +'Tis strange! Falsehood must needs be here the current coin, since truth +finds so little credit. You mistrust my words, it seems? Then read this +written testimony. (He throws LOUISA her letter to the MARSHAL. She +opens it, and sinks upon the floor pale as death.) + +MILLER (not observing this). What can this mean, baron? I do not +understand you. + +FERDINAND. (leads him to LOUISA). But your daughter has understood me +well. + +MILLER (throws himself on his knees beside her). Oh, God! my child! + +FERDINAND. Pale as a corpse! 'Tis thus your daughter pleases me the +best. Your demure and virtuous daughter was never half so lovely as with +that deathlike paleness. The blast of the day of judgment, which strips +the varnish from every lie, has wafted the painted colors from her cheek, +or the juggler might have cheated even the angels of light. This is her +fairest countenance. Now for the first time do I see it in its truth. +Let me kiss it. (He approaches her.) + +MILLER. Back! Away, boy! Trifle not with a father's feelings. I could +not defend her from your caresses, but I can from your insults. + +FERDINAND. What wouldst thou, old man? With thee I have naught to do. +Engage not in a game so irrevocably lost. Or hast thou, too, been wiser +than I thought? Hast thou employed the wisdom of thy sixty years in +pandering to thy daughter's amours, and disgraced those hoary locks with +the office of a pimp? Oh! if it be not so, wretched old man, then lay +thyself down and die. There is still time. Thou mayest breathe by last +in the sweet delusion, "I was a happy father!" Wait but a moment longer +and thine own hand will dash to her infernal home this poisonous viper; +thou wilt curse the gift, and him who gave it, and sink to the grave in +blasphemy and despair. (To LOUISA.) Speak, wretched one, speak! Didst +thou write this letter? + +MILLER (to LOUISA, impressively). For God's sake, daughter, forget not! +forget not! + +LOUISA. Oh, father--that letter! + +FERDINAND. Oh! that it should have fallen into the wrong hands. Now +blessed be the accident! It has effected more than the most consummate +prudence, and will at the day of judgment avail more than the united +wisdom of sages. Accident, did I say? Oh! Providence directs, when a +sparrow falls, why not when a devil is unmasked? But I will be answered! +Didst thou write that letter? + +MILLER (to LOUISA, in a tone of entreaty). Be firm, my child, be firm! +But a single "Yes," and all will be over. + +FERDINAND. Excellent! excellent! The father, too, is deceived! All, +all are deceived by her! Look, how the perfidious one stands there; even +her tongue refuses participation in her last lie. I adjure thee by that +God so terrible and true--didst thou write that letter? + +LOUISA (after a painful struggle, with firmness and decision). I did! + +FERDINAND (stands aghast). No! As my soul liveth, thou hast lied. Even +innocence itself, when extended on the rack, confesses crime which it +never committed--I ask too passionately. Is it not so, Louisa? Thou +didst but confess, because I asked passionately? + +LOUISA. I confessed the truth! + +FERDINAND. No, I tell thee! No! no! Thou didst not write that letter! +It is not like thy hand! And, even though it were, why should it be more +difficult to counterfeit a writing than to undo a heart? Tell me truly, +Louisa! Yet no, no, do not! Thou mightest say yes again, and then I +were lost forever. A lie, Louisa! A lie! Oh! if thou didst but know +one now--if thou wouldst utter it with that open angelic mien--if thou +wouldst but persuade mine ear and eye, though it should deceive my heart +ever so monstrously! Oh, Louisa! Then might truth depart in the same +breath--depart from our creation, and the sacred cause itself henceforth +bow her stiff neck to the courtly arts of deception. + +LOUISA. By the Almighty God! by Him who is so terrible and true! I did! + +FERDINAND (after a pause, with the expression of the most heartfelt +sorrow). Woman! Woman! With what a face thou standest now before me! +Offer Paradise with that look, and even in the regions of the damned thou +wilt find no purchaser. Didst thou know what thou wert to me, Louisa? +Impossible! No! thou knewest not that thou wert my all--all! 'Tis a +poor insignificant word! but eternity itself can scarcely circumscribe +it. Within it systems of worlds can roll their mighty orbs. All! and to +sport with it so wickedly. Oh, 'tis horrible. + +LOUISA. Baron von Walter, you have heard my confession! I have +pronounced my own condemnation! Now go! Fly from a house where you have +been so unhappy. + +FERDINAND. 'Tis well! 'tis well! You see I am calm; calm, too, they +say, is the shuddering land through which the plague has swept. I am +calm. Yet ere I go, Louisa, one more request! It shall be my last. My +brain burns with fever! I need refreshment! Will you make me some +lemonade? + + [Exit LOUISA. + + + +SCENE III. + + FERDINAND and MILLER. + + They both pace up and down without speaking, on opposite sides + of the room, for some minutes. + +MILLER (standing still at length, and regarding the MAJOR with a +sorrowful air). Dear baron, perhaps it may alleviate your distress to +say that I feel for you most deeply. + +FERDINAND. Enough of this, Miller. (Silence again for some moments.) +Miller, I forget what first brought me to your house. What was the +occasion of it? + +MILLER. How, baron? Don't you remember? You came to take lessons on +the flute. + +FERDINAND (suddenly). And I beheld his daughter! (Another pause.) You +have not kept your faith with me, friend! You were to provide me with +repose for my leisure hours; but you betrayed me and sold me scorpions. +(Observing MILLER'S agitation.) Tremble not, good old man! (falling +deeply affected on his neck)--the fault was none of thine! + +MILLER (wiping his eyes). Heaven knows, it was not! + +FERDINAND (traversing the room, plunged in the most gloomy meditation). +Strange! Oh! beyond conception strange, are the Almighty's dealings with +us! How often do terrific weights hang upon slender, almost invisible +threads! Did man but know that he should eat death in a particular +apple! Hem! Could he but know that! (He walks a few more turns; then +stops suddenly, and grasps MILLER'S hand with strong emotion.) Friend, I +have paid dearly for thy lessons--and thou, too, hast been no gainer-- +perhaps mayst even lose thy all. (Quitting him dejectedly.) Unhappy +flute-playing, would that it never entered my brain! + +MILLER (striving to repress his feelings). The lemonade is long in +coming. I will inquire after it, if you will excuse me. + +FERDINAND. No hurry, dear Miller! (Muttering to himself.) At least to +her father there is none. Stay here a moment. What was I about to ask +you? Ay, I remember! Is Louisa your only daughter? Have you no other +child? + +MILLER (warmly). I have no other, baron, and I wish for no other. That +child is my only solace in this world, and on her have I embarked my +whole stock of affection. + +FERDINAND (much agitated). Ha! Pray see for the drink, good Miller! + + [Exit MILLER. + + + +SCENE IV. + + FERDINAND alone. + +FERDINAND. His only child! Dost thou feel that, murderer? His only +one! Murderer, didst thou hear, his only one? The man has nothing in +God's wide world but his instrument and that only daughter! And wilt +thou rob him of her? + +Rob him? Rob a beggar of his last pittance? Break the lame man's +crutch, and cast the fragments at his feet? How? Have I the heart to do +this? And when he hastens home, impatient to reckon in his daughter's +smiles the whole sum of his happiness; and when he enters the chamber, +and there lies the rose--withered--dead--crushed--his last, his only, his +sustaining hope. Ha! And when he stands before her, and all nature +looks on in breathless horror, while his vacant eye wanders hopelessly +through the gloom of futurity, and seeks God, but finds him nowhere, and +then returns disappointed and despairing! Great God! and has not my +father, too, an only son? an only child, but not his only treasure. +(After a pause.) Yet stay! What will the old man lose? She who could +wantonly jest with the most sacred feelings of love, will she make a +father happy? She cannot! She will not! And I deserve thanks for +crushing this viper ere the parent feels its sting. + + + +SCENE V. + + MILLER returning, and FERDINAND. + +MILLER. You shall be served instantly, baron! The poor thing is sitting +without, weeping as though her heart would break! Your drink will be +mingled with her tears. + +FERDINAND. 'Twere well for her were it only with tears! We were +speaking of my lessons, Miller. (Taking out a purse.) I remember that I +am still in your debt. + +MILLER. How? What? Go along with you, baron! What do you take me for? +There is time enough for payment. Do not put such an affront on me; we +are not together for the last time, please God. + +FERDINAND. Who can tell? Take your money. It is for life or death. + +MILLER (laughing). Oh! for the matter of that, baron! As regards that I +don't think I should run much risk with you! + +FERDINAND. You would run the greatest. Have you never heard that youths +have died. That damsels and youths have died, the children of hope, the +airy castles of their disappointed parents? What is safe from age and +worms has often perished by a thunderbolt. Even your Louisa is not +immortal. + +MILLER. God gave her to me. + +FERDINAND. Hear me! I say to you your Louisa is not immortal. That +daughter is the apple of your eye; you hang upon her with your whole +heart and soul. Be prudent, Miller! None but a desperate gamester +stakes his all upon a single cast. The merchant would be called a madman +who embarked his whole fortune in one ship. Think upon this, and +remember that I warned you. But why do you not take your money? + +MILLER. How, baron, how? All that enormous purse? What can you be +thinking of? + +FERDINAND. Upon my debt! There! (Throws a heavy purse on the table; +some gold drops out.) I cannot hold the dross to eternity. + +MILLER (astonished). Mercy on us! what is this? The sound was not of +silver! (Goes to the table and cries out in astonishment.) In heaven's +name, baron, what means this? What are you about? You must be out of +your mind! (Clasping his hands.) There it lies! or I am bewitched. +'Tis damnable! I feel it now; the beauteous, shining, glorious heap of +gold! No, Satan, thou shalt not catch my soul with this! + +FERDINAND. Have you drunk old wine, or new, Miller? + +MILLER (violently). Death and furies! Look yourself, then. It is gold! + +FERDINAND. And what of that? + +MILLER. Let me implore you, baron! In the name of all the saints in +heaven, I entreat you! It is gold! + +FERDINAND. An extraordinary thing, it must be admitted. + +MILLER (after a pause; addressing him with emotion). Noble sir, I am a +plain, straightforward man--do you wish to tempt me to some piece of +knavery?--for, heaven knows, that so much gold cannot be got honestly! + +FERDINAND (moved). Make yourself quite easy, dear Miller! You have well +earned the money. God forbid that I should use it to the corruption of +your conscience! + +MILLER (jumping about like a madman). It is mine, then! Mine indeed! +Mine with the knowledge and consent of God! (Hastening to the door.) +Daughter, wife, hurrah, come hither! (Returning.) But, for heaven's +sake, how have I all at once deserved this awful treasure? How am I to +earn it? How repay it, eh? + +FERDINAND. Not by your music lessons, Miller! With this gold do I pay +you for (stops suddenly, and shudders)--I pay you--(after a pause, with +emotion)--for my three months' unhappy dream of your daughter! + +MILLER (taking his hand and pressing it affectionately). Most gracious +sir! were you some poor and low-born citizen, and my daughter refused +your love, I would pierce her heart with my own hands. (Returning to the +gold in a sorrowful tone.) But then I shall have all, and you nothing-- +and I should have to give up all this glorious heap again, eh? + +FERDINAND. Let not that thought distress you, friend. I am about to +quit this country, and in that to which I am journeying such coin is not +current. + +MILLER (still fixing his eyes in transport on the money). Mine, then, it +remains? Mine? Yet it grieves me that you are going to leave us. Only +just wait a little and you shall see how I'll come out! I'll hold up my +head with the best of them. (Puts on his hat with an air, and struts up +and down the room.) I'll give my lessons in the great concert-room, and +won't I smoke away at the best puyke varinas--and, when you catch me +again fiddling at the penny-hop, may the devil take me! + +FERDINAND. Stay, Miller! Be silent, and gather up your gold. +(Mysteriously.) Keep silence only for this one evening, and do me the +favor henceforward to give no more music lessons. + +MILLER (still more vehemently grasping his hand, full of inward joy). +And my daughter, baron! my daughter! (Letting go.) No, no! Money does +not make the man--whether I feed on vegetables or on partridges, enough +is enough, and this coat will do very well as long as the sunbeams don't +peep in at the elbows. To me money is mere dross. But my girl shall +benefit by the blessing; whatever wish I can read in her eyes shall be +gratified. + +FERDINAND (suddenly interrupting him). Oh! silence! silence! + +MILLER (still more warmly). And she shall learn to speak French like a +born native, and to dance minuets, and to sing, so that people shall read +of her in the newspapers; and she shall wear a cap like the judge's +daughter, and a kidebarri [meaning, no doubt, Cul de Paris, a bustle], as +they call it; and the fiddler's daughter shall be talked of for twenty +miles round. + +FERDINAND. (seizing his hand in extreme agitation). No more! no more! +For God's sake be silent! Be silent but for this one night; 'tis the +only favor I ask of you. + + + +SCENE VI. + + LOUISA with a glass of lemonade; the former. + +LOUISA (her eyes swelled with weeping, and trembling voice, while she +presents the glass to FERDINAND). Tell me, if it be not to your taste. + +FERDINAND (takes the glass, places it on the table, and turns to MILLER). +Oh! I had almost forgotten! Good Miller, I have a request to make. Will +you do me a little favor? + +MILLER. A thousand with pleasure! What are your commands? + +FERDINAND. My father will expect me at table. Unfortunately I am in +very ill humor. 'Twould be insupportable to me just now to mix in +society. Will you go to my father and excuse my absence? + +LOUISA (terrified, interrupts him hastily). Oh, let me go! + +MILLER. Am I to see the president himself? + +FERDINAND. Not himself. Give your message to one of the servants in the +ante-chamber. Here is my watch as a credential that I sent you. I shall +be here when you return. You will wait for an answer. + +LOUISA (very anxiously). Cannot I be the bearer of your message? + +FERDINAND (to MILLER, who is going). Stay--one thing more! Here is a +letter to my father, which I received this evening enclosed in one to +myself. Perhaps on business of importance. You may as well deliver it +at the same time. + +MILLER (going). Very well, baron! + +LOUISA (stopping him, and speaking in a tone of the most exquisite +terror). But, dear father, I could do all this very well! Pray let +me go! + +MILLER. It is night, my child! and you must not venture out alone! + + [Exit. + +FERDINAND. Light your father down, Louisa. (LOUISA takes a candle and +follows MILLER. FERDINAND in the meantime approaches the table and +throws poison into the lemonade). Yes! she must die! The higher powers +look down, and nod their terrible assent. The vengeance of heaven +subscribes to my decree. Her good angels forsake her, and leave her to +her fate! + + + +SCENE VII. + + FERDINAND and LOUISA. + + LOUISA re-enters slowly with the light, places it on the table, + and stops on the opposite side of the room, her eyes fixed on + the ground, except when she raises them to him with timid, stolen + glances. He stands opposite, looking steadfastly on the earth--a + long and deep silence. + +LOUISA. If you will accompany me, Baron von Walter, I will try a piece +on the harpsichord! (She opens the instrument. FERDINAND makes no +answer. A pause.) + +LOUISA. You owe me a revenge at chess. Will you play a game with me, +Baron von Walter? (Another pause.) + +LOUISA. I have begun the pocketbook, baron, which I promised to +embroider for you. Will you look at the design? (Still a pause.) + +LOUISA. Oh! I am very wretched! + +FERDINAND (without changing his attitude). That may well be! + +LOUISA. It is not my fault, Baron von Walter, that you are so badly +entertained! + +FERDINAND (with an insulting laugh). You are not to blame for my bashful +modesty---- + +LOUISA. I am quite aware that we are no longer fit companions. I +confess that I was terrified when you sent away my father. I believe, +Baron von Walter, that this moment is equally insupportable to us both. +Permit me to ask some of my acquaintances to join us. + +FERDINAND. Yes, pray do so! And I too will go and invite some of mine. + +LOUISA (looking at him with surprise). Baron von Walter! + +FERDINAND (very spitefully). By my honor, the most fortunate idea that +in our situation could ever enter mortal brain? Let us change this +wearisome duet into sport and merriment, and by the aid of certain +gallantries, revenge ourselves on the caprices of love. + +LOUISA. You are merry, Baron von Walter! + +FERDINAND. Oh! wonderfully so! The very street-boys would hunt me +through the market-place for a merry-andrew! In fact, Louisa, your +example has inspired me--you shall be my teacher. They are fools who +prate of endless affection--never-ending sameness grows flat and insipid +--variety alone gives zest to pleasure. Have with you, Louisa, we are +now of one mind. We will skip from amour to amour, whirl from vice to +vice; you in one direction, I in another. Perhaps I may recover my lost +tranquillity in some brothel. Perhaps, when our merry race is run, and +we become two mouldering skeletons, chance again may bring us together +with the most pleasing surprise, and we may, as in a melodrama, recognize +each other by a common feature of disease--that mother whom her children +can never disavow. Then, perhaps, disgust and shame may create that +union between us which could not be effected by the most tender love. + +LOUISA. Oh, Walter! Walter! Thou art already unhappy--wilt thou +deserve to be so? + +FERDINAND (muttering passionately through his teeth). Unhappy? Who told +thee so? Woman, thou art too vile to have any feelings of thine own; +how, then, canst thou judge of the feelings of others? Unhappy, did she +say?--ha! that word would call my anger from the grave! She knew that I +must become unhappy. Death and damnation! she knew it, and yet betrayed +me! Look to it, serpent! That was thy only chance of forgiveness. This +confession has condemned thee. Till now I thought to palliate thy crime +with thy simplicity, and in my contempt thou hadst well nigh escaped my +vengeance (seizing the glass hastily). Thou wert not thoughtless, then-- +thou wert not simple--thou wert nor more nor less than a devil! (He +drinks.) The drink is bad, like thy soul! Taste it! + +LOUISA. Oh, heavens! 'Twas not without reason that I dreaded this +meeting. + +FERDINAND (imperiously). Drink! I say. + + [LOUISA, offended, takes the glass and drinks. The moment she + raises the cup to her lips, FERDINAND turns away with a sudden + paleness, and recedes to the further corner of the chamber.] + +LOUISA. The lemonade is good. + +FERDINAND (his face averted and shuddering.) Much good may it do thee! + +LOUISA (sets down the glass). Oh! could you but know, Walter, how +cruelly you wrong me! + +FERDINAND. Indeed! + +LOUISA. A time will come, Walter---- + +FERDINAND (advancing). Oh! we have done with time. + +LOUISA. When the remembrance of this evening will lie heavy on your +heart! + +FERDINAND (begins to walk to and fro more vehemently, and to become more +agitated; he throws away his sash and sword.) Farewell the prince's +service! + +LOUISA. My God! what mean you! + +FERDINAND. I am hot, and oppressed. I would be more at ease. + +LOUISA. Drink! drink! it will cool you. + +FERDINAND. That it will, most effectually. The strumpet, though, is +kind-hearted! Ay, ay, so are they all! + +LOUISA (rushing into his arms with the deepest expression of love). That +to thy Louisa, Ferdinand? + +FERDINAND (thrusting her from him). Away! away! Hence with those soft +and melting eyes! they subdue me. Come to me, snake, in all thy +monstrous terrors! Spring upon me, scorpion! Display thy hideous folds, +and rear thy proud coils to heaven! Stand before my eyes, hateful as the +abyss of hell e'er saw thee! but not in that angel form! Take any shape +but that! 'Tis too late. I must crush thee like a viper, or despair! +Mercy on thy soul! + +LOUISA. Oh! that it should come to this! + +FERDINAND (gazing on her). So fair a work of the heavenly artist! Who +would believe it? Who can believe it? (Taking her hand and elevating +it.) I will not arraign thy ordinations, oh! incomprehensible Creator! +Yet wherefore didst thou pour thy poison into such beauteous vessels? +Can crime inhabit so fair a region? Oh! 'tis strange! 'tis passing +strange! + +LOUISA. To hear this, and yet be compelled to silence! + +FERDINAND. And that soft, melodious voice! How can broken chords +discourse such harmony? (Gazing rapturously upon her figure.) All so +lovely! so full of symmetry! so divinely perfect! Throughout the whole +such signs that 'twas the favorite work of God! By heaven, as though all +mankind had been created but to practise the Creator, ere he modelled +this his masterpiece! And that the Almighty should have failed in the +soul alone? Is it possible that this monstrous abortion of nature should +have escaped as perfect? (Quitting her hastily.) Or did God see an +angel's form rising beneath his chisel, and balance the error by giving +her a heart wicked in proportion? + +LOUISA. Alas for this criminal wilfulness! Rather than confess his own +rashness, he accuses the wisdom of heaven! + +FERDINAND (falls upon her neck, weeping bitterly). Yet once more, my +Louisa! Yet once again, as on the day of our first kiss, when you +faltered forth the name of Ferdinand, and the first endearing "Thou!" +trembled on thy burning lips. Oh! a harvest of endless and unutterable +joys seemed to me at that moment to be budding forth. There lay eternity +like a bright May-day before our eyes; thousands of golden years, fair as +brides, danced around our souls. Then was I so happy! Oh! Louisa! +Louisa! Louisa! Why hast thou used me thus? + +LOUISA. Weep, Walter, weep! Your compassion will be more just towards +me than your wrath. + +FERDINAND. You deceive yourself. These are not nature's tears! not that +warm delicious dew which flows like balsam on the wounded soul, and +drives the chilled current of feeling swiftly along its course. They are +solitary ice-cold drops! the awful, eternal farewell of my love! (With +fearful solemnity, laying his hand on her head.) They are tears for thy +soul, Louisa! tears for the Deity, whose inexhaustible beneficence has +here missed its aim, and whose noblest work is cast away thus wantonly. +Oh methinks the whole universe should clothe itself in black, and weep at +the fearful example now passing in its centre. 'Tis but a common sorrow +when mortals fall and Paradise is lost; but, when the plague extends its +ravages to angels, then should there be wailing throughout the whole +creation! + +LOUISA. Drive me not to extremities, Walter. I have fortitude equal to +most, but it must not be tried by a more than human test. Walter! one +word, and then--we part forever. A dreadful fatality has deranged the +language of our hearts. Dared I unclose these lips, Walter, I could tell +thee things! I could----But cruel fate has alike fettered my tongue and +my heart, and I must endure in silence, even though you revile me as a +common strumpet. + +FERDINAND. Dost thou feel well, Louisa? + +LOUISA. Why that question? + +FERDINAND. It would grieve me shouldst thou be called hence with a lie +upon thy lips. + +LOUISA. I implore you, Walter---- + +FERDINAND (in violent agitation). No! no! That revenge were too +satanic! No! God forbid! I will not extend my anger beyond the grave! +Louisa, didst thou love the marshal? Thou wilt leave this room no more! + +LOUISA (sitting down). Ask what you will. I shall give no answer. + +FERDINAND (in a solemn voice). Take heed for thy immortal soul! Louisa! +Didst thou love the marshal? Thou wilt leave this room no more! + +LOUISA. I shall give no answer. + +FERDINAND (throwing himself on his knees before her in the deepest +emotion). Louisa! Didst thou love the marshal? Before this light burns +out--thou wilt stand--before the throne of God! + +LOUISA (starting from her seat in terror). Merciful Jesus! what was +that? And I feel so ill! (She falls back into her chair.) + +FERDINAND. Already? Oh, woman, thou eternal paradox! thy delicate +nerves can sport with crimes at which manhood trembles; yet one poor +grain of arsenic destroys them utterly! + +LOUISA. Poison! poison! Oh! Almighty God! + +FERDINAND. I fear it is so! Thy lemonade was seasoned in hell! Thou +hast pledged death in the draught! + +LOUISA. To die! To die! All-merciful God! Poison in my drink! And to +die! Oh! have mercy on my soul, thou Father in heaven! + +FERDINAND. Ay, be that thy chief concern: I will join thee in that +prayer. + +LOUISA. And my mother! My father, too! Saviour of the world! My poor +forlorn father! Is there then no hope? And I so young, and yet no hope? +And must I die so soon? + +FERDINAND. There is no hope! None!--you are already doomed! But be +calm. We shall journey together. + +LOUISA. Thou too, Ferdinand? Poison, Ferdinand! From thee! Oh! God +forgive him! God of mercy, lay not this crime on him! + +FERDINAND. Look to your own account. I fear it stands but ill. + +LOUISA. Ferdinand! Ferdinand! Oh! I can be no longer silent. Death-- +death absolves all oaths. Ferdinand! Heaven and earth contain nothing +more unfortunate than thou! I die innocent, Ferdinand! + +FERDINAND (terrified). Ah! What do I hear? Would she rush into the +presence of her Maker with a lie on her lips? + +LOUISA. I lie not! I do not lie! In my whole life I never lied but +once! Ugh! what an icy shivering creeps through my veins! When I wrote +that letter to the marshal. + +FERDINAND. Ha! That letter! Blessed be to God! Now I am myself again! + +LOUISA (her voice every moment becomes more indistinct. Her fingers +tremble with a convulsive motion). That letter. Prepare yourself for a +terrible disclosure! My hand wrote what my heart abhorred. It was +dictated by your father! (Ferdinand stands like a statue petrified with +horror. After a long silence, he falls upon the floor as if struck by +lightning.) Oh! that sorrowful act!----Ferdinand--I was compelled-- +forgive me--thy Louisa would have preferred death--but my father--his +life in danger! They were so crafty in their villany. + +FERDINAND (starting furiously from the ground). God be thanked! The +poison spares me yet! (He seizes his sword.) + +LOUISA (growing weaker by degrees). Alas! what would you? He is thy +father! + +FERDINAND (in the most ungovernable fury). A murderer--the murderer of +his son; he must along with us that the Judge of the world may pour his +wrath on the guilty alone. (Hastening away). + +LOUISA. My dying Redeemer pardoned his murderers,--may God pardon thee +and thy father! (She dies.) + +FERDINAND (turns quickly round, and perceives her in the convulsions of +death, throws himself distractedly on the body). Stay! stay! Fly not +from me, angel of light! (Takes her hand, but lets it fall again +instantly.) Cold! cold and damp! her soul has flown! (Starting up +suddenly.) God of my Louisa! Mercy! Mercy for the most accursed of +murderers! Such was her dying prayer! How fair, how lovely even in +death! The pitying destroyer has touched gently on those heavenly +features. That sweetness was no mask--the hand of death even has not +removed it! (After a pause.) But how is this? why do I feel nothing. +Will the vigor of my youth save me? Thankless care! That shall it not. +(He seizes the glass.) + + + +SCENE VIII. + + FERDINAND, the PRESIDENT, WORM, and SERVANTS, who all rush in alarm + into the room. Afterwards MILLER, with a crowd, and OFFICERS of + justice, who assemble in the background. + +PRESIDENT (an open letter in his hand). My son! what means this? I +never can believe---- + +FERDINAND (throwing the glass at his feet). Convince thyself, murderer! +(The PRESIDENT staggers back. All stand speechless. A dreadful pause.) + +PRESIDENT. My son! Why hast thou done this? + +FERDINAND (without looking at him). Why, to be sure I ought first to +have asked the statesman whether the trick suited his cards. Admirably +fine and skilful, I confess, was the scheme of jealousy to break the bond +of our hearts! The calculation shows a master-mind; 'twas pity only that +indignant love would not move on wires like thy wooden puppets. + +PRESIDENT (looking round the circle with rolling eyes). Is there no one +here who weeps for a despairing father? + +MILLER (calling behind the scenes). Let me in! For God's sake, let +me in! + +FERDINAND. She is now a saint in heaven! Her cause is in the hands of +another! (He opens the door for MILLER, who rushes in, followed by +officers of justice and a crowd of people.) + +MILLER (in the most dreadful alarm). My child! My child! Poison, they +cry--poison has been here! My daughter! Where art thou? + +FERDINAND (leading him between the PRESIDENT and LOUISA'S corpse). I am +innocent. Thank this man for the deed. + +MILLER (throwing himself on the body). Oh, Jesus! + +FERDINAND. In few words, father!--they begin to be precious to me. I +have been robbed of my life by villanous artifice--robbed of it by you! +How I may stand with God I tremble to think, but a deliberate villain I +have never been! Be my final judgment what it will, may it not fall on +thee! But I have committed murder! (In a loud and fearful voice.) A +murder whose weight thou canst not hope that I should drag alone before +the judgment-seat of God. Here I solemnly bequeath to thee the heaviest, +the bloodiest part; how thou mayst answer it be that thy care! (Leading +him to LOUISA.) Here, barbarian! Feast thine eyes on the terrible +fruits of thy intrigues! Upon this face thy name is inscribed in the +convulsions of death, and will be registered by the destroying angel! +May a form like this draw thy curtain when thou sleepest, and grasp thee +with its clay-cold hand! May a form like this flit before thy soul when +thou diest, and drive away thy expiring prayer for mercy! May a form +like this stand by thy grave at the resurrection, and before the throne +of God when he pronounces thy doom! (He faints, the servants receive him +in their arms.) + +PRESIDENT (extending his arms convulsively towards heaven). Not from me, +Judge of the world. Ask not these souls from me, but from him! +(Pointing to WORM.) + +WORM (starting). From me? + +PRESIDENT. Accursed villain, from thee! From thee, Satan! Thou gavest +the serpent's counsel! thine be the responsibility; their blood be not on +my head, but on thine! + +WORM. On mine! on mine! (laughing hysterically.) Oh! Excellent! Now I +understand the gratitude of devils. On mine, thou senseless villain! +Was he my son? Was I thy master? Mine the responsibility? Ha! by this +sight which freezes the very marrow in my bones! Mine it shall be! I +will brave destruction, but thou shalt perish with me. Away! away! Cry +murder in the streets! Awaken justice! Bind me, officers! Lead me +hence! I will discover secrets which shall make the hearer's blood run +cold. (Going.) + +PRESIDENT (detaining him). Surely, madman, thou wilt not dare? + +WORM (tapping him on the shoulder). I will, though,--comrade, I will! I +am mad, 'tis true; but my madness is thy work, and now I will act like a +madman! Arm in arm with thee will I to the scaffold! Arm in arm with +thee to hell! Oh! how it tickles my fancy, villain, to be damned with +thee! (The officers carry him off.) + +MILLER (who has lain upon LOUISA'S corpse in silent anguish, starts +suddenly up, and throws the purse before the MAJOR'S feet.) Poisoner, +take back thy accursed gold! Didst thou think to purchase my child with +it? (Rushes distractedly out of the chamber.) + +FERDINAND (in a voice scarcely audible). Follow him! He is desperate. +The gold must be taken care of for his use; 'tis the dreadful +acknowlegment of my debt to him. Louisa! I come! Farewell! On this +altar let me breathe my last. + +PRESIDENT (recovering from his stupor). Ferdinand! my son! Not one last +look for a despairing father? (FERDINAND is laid by the side of LOUISA.) + +FERDINAND. My last must sue to God for mercy on myself. + +PRESIDENT (falling down before him in the most dreadful agony). The +Creator and the created abandon me! Not one last look to cheer me in the +hour of death! (FERDINAND stretches out his trembling hand to him, and +expires.) + +PRESIDENT (springing up). He forgave me! (To the OFFICERS.) Now, lead +on, sirs! I am your prisoner. + + [Exit, followed by the OFFICERS; the curtain falls. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Love and Intrigue, by Frederich Schiller + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LOVE AND INTRIGUE *** + +***** This file should be named 6784.txt or 6784.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/6/7/8/6784/ + +Produced by Tapio Riikonen and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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