第 13 节
作者:
蒂帆 更新:2021-02-27 02:29 字数:9322
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MAJ。 T。 The Chevalier de la Marliniere! Who is he?
FRAN。 He may be a very honest man; Major von Tellheim; except that
MIN。 Silence; Franziska! Also a discharged officer from the Dutch service; who
MAJ。 T。 Ah! Lieutenant Riccaut!
MIN。 He assured us he was a friend of yours。
MAJ。 T。 I assure you that I am not his。
MIN。 And that some minister or other had told him; in confidence; that your business was likely to have the very best termination。 A letter from the king must now be on its way to you。
MAJ。 T。 How came Riccaut and a minister in company? Something certainly must have happened concerning my affair; for just now the paymaster of the forces told me that the king had set aside all the evidence offered against me; and that I might take back my promise; which I had given in writing; not to depart from here until acquitted。 But that will be all。 They wish to give me an opportunity of getting away。 But they are wrong; I shall not go。 Sooner shall the utmost distress waste me away before the eyes of my calumniators; than
MIN。 Obstinate man!
MAJ。 T。 I require no favour; I want justice。 My honour
MIN。 The honour of such a man
MAJ。 T。 (warmly)。 No; Madam; you may be able to judge of any other subject; but not of this。 Honour is not the voice of conscience; not the evidence of a few honourable men
MIN。 No; no; I know it well。 Honour is 。 。 。 honour。
MAJ。 T。 In short; Madam 。 。 。 You did not let me finish。I was going to say; if they keep from me so shamefully what is my own; if my honour be not perfectly rightedI cannot; Madam; ever be yours; for I am not worthy; in the eyes of the world; of being yours。 Minna von Barnhelm deserves an irreproachable husband。 It is a worthless love which does not scruple to expose its object to scorn。 He is a worthless man; who is not ashamed to owe a woman all his good fortune; whose blind tenderness
MIN。 And is that really your feeling; Major? (turning her back suddenly)。 Franziska!
MAJ。 T。 Do not be angry。
MIN。 (aside to Franziska)。 Now is the time! What do you advise me; Franziska?
FRAN。 I advise nothing。 But certainly he goes rather too far。
MAJ。 T。 (approaching to interrupt them)。 You are angry; Madam。
MIN。 (ironically)。 I? Not in the least。
MAJ。 T。 If I loved you less
MIN。 (still in the same tone)。 Oh! certainly; it would be a misfortune for me。 And hear; Major; I also will not be the cause of your unhappiness。 One should love with perfect disinterestedness。 It is as well that I have not been more open! Perhaps your pity might have granted to me what your love refuses。 (Drawing the ring slowly from her finger。)
MAJ。 T。 What does this mean; Madam?
MIN。 No; neither of us must make the other either more or less happy。 True love demands it。 I believe you; Major; and you have too much honour to mistake love。
MAJ。 T。 Are you jesting; Madam?
MIN。 Here! take back the ring with which you plighted your troth to me。 (Gives him the ring。) Let it be so! We will suppose we have never met。
MAJ。 T。 What do I hear?
MIN。 Does it surprise you? Take it; sir。 You surely have not been pretending only!
MAJ。 T。 (takes the ring from her)。 Heavens! can Minna speak thus?
MIN。 In one case you cannot be mine; in no case can I be yours。 Your misfortune is probable; mine is certain。 Farewell! (Is going。)
MAJ。 T。 Where are you going; dearest Minna?
MIN。 Sir; you insult me now by that term of endearment。
MAJ。 T。 What is the matter; Madam? Where are you going?
MIN。 Leave me。 I go to hide my tears from you; deceiver! (Exit。)
SCENE VII。 Major von Tellheim; Franziska
MAJ。 T。 Her tears? And I am to leave her。 (Is about to follow her。)
FRAN。 (holding him back)。 Surely not; Major。 You would not follow her into her own room!
MAJ。 T。 Her misfortune? Did she not speak of misfortune?
FRAN。 Yes; truly; the misfortune of losing you; after
MAJ。 T。 After? After what? There is more in this。 What is it; Franziska? Tell me! Speak!
FRAN。 After; I mean; she has made such sacrifices on your account。
MAJ。 T。 Sacrifices for me!
FRAN。 Well; listen。 It is a good thing for you; Major; that you are freed from your engagement with her in this manner。Why should I not tell you? It cannot remain a secret long。 We have fled from home。 Count von Bruchsal has disinherited my mistress; because she would not accept a husband of his choice。 On that every one deserted and slighted her。 What could we do? We determined to seek him; whom
MAJ。 T。 Enough! Come; and let me throw myself at her feet。
FRAN。 What are you thinking about! Rather go; and thank your good fortune。
MAJ。 T。 Pitiful creature! For what do you take me? Yet no; my dear Franziska; the advice did not come from your heart。 Forgive my anger!
FRAN。 Do not detain me any longer。 I must see what she is about。 How easily something might happen to her。 Go now; and come again; if you like。 (Follows Minna。)
SCENE VIII。 Major von Tellheim
MAJ。 T。 But; Franziska! Oh! I will wait your return here。No; that is more torturing!If she is in earnest; she will not refuse to forgive me。 Now I want your aid; honest Werner!No; Minna; I am no deceiver! (Rushes off。)
ACT V。
SCENE I。 Major von Tellheim (from one side); Werner (from the other)
MAJ。 T。 Ah! Werner! I have been looking for you everywhere。 Where have you been?
WER。 And I have been looking for you; Major; that is always the way。I bring you good news。
MAJ。 T。 I do not want your news now; I want your money。 Quick; Werner; give me all you have; and then raise as much more as you can。
WER。 Major! Now; upon my life; that is just what I said〃He will borrow money from me; when he has got it himself to lend。〃
MAJ。 T。 You surely are not seeking excuses!
WER。 That I may have nothing to upbraid you with; take it with your right hand; and give it me again with your left。
MAJ。 T。 Do not detain me; Werner。 It is my intention to repay you; but when and how; God knows!
WER。 Then you do not know yet that the treasury has received an order to pay you your money? I just heard it at
MAJ。 T。 What are you talking about? What nonsense have you let them palm off on you? Do you not see that if it were true I should be the first person to know it? In short; Werner; money! money!
WER。 Very well; with pleasure。 Here is some! A hundred louis d'ors there; and a hundred ducats there。 (Gives him both。)
MAJ。 T。 Werner; go and give Just the hundred louis d'ors。 Let him redeem the ring again; on which he raised the money this morning。 But whence will you get some more; Werner? I want a good deal more。
WER。 Leave that to me。 The man who bought my farm lives in the town。 The date for payment is a fortnight hence; certainly; but the money is ready; and by a reduction of one half per cent
MAJ。 T。 Very well; my dear Werner! You see that I have had recourse to you aloneI must also confide all to you。 The young lady you have seen is in distress
WER。 That is bad!
MAJ。 T。 But to…morrow she shall be my wife。
WER。 That is good!
MAJ。 T。 And the day after; I leave this place with her。 I can go; I will go。 I would sooner throw over everything here! Who knows where some good luck may be in store for me? If you will; Werner; come with us。 We will serve again。
WER。 Really? But where there is war; Major!
MAJ。 T。 To be sure。 Go; Werner; we will speak of this again。
WER。 Oh! my dear Major! The day after to…morrow! Why not to…morrow? I will get everything ready。 In Persia; Major; there is a famous war; what do you say?
MAJ。 T。 We will think of it。 Only go; Werner!
WER。 Hurrah! Long live Prince Heraclius! (Exit。)
SCENE II。 Major von Tellheim
MAJ。 T。 How do I feel! 。 。 。 My whole soul has acquired a new impulse。 My own unhappiness bowed me to the ground; made me fretful; short…sighted; shy; careless: her unhappiness raises me。 I see clearly again; and feel myself ready and capable of undertaking anything for her sake。 Why do I tarry? (Is going towards Minna's room; when Franziska comes out of it。)
SCENE III。 Franziska; Major von Tellheim
FRAN。 Is it you? I thought I heard your voice。 What do you want; Major?
MAJ。 T。 What do I want? What is she doing? Come!
FRAN。 She is just going out for a drive。
MAJ。 T。 And alone? Without me? Where to?
FRAN。 Have you forgotten; Major?
MAJ。 T。 How silly you are; Franziska! I irritated her; and she was angry。 I will beg her pardon; and she will forgive me。
FRAN。 What! After you have taken the ring back; Major!
MAJ。 T。 Ah! I did that in my confusion。 I had forgotten about the ring。 Where did I put it? (Searches for it。) Here it is。
FRAN。 Is that it? (Aside; as he puts it again in his pocket。) If he would only look at it closer!
MAJ。 T。 She pressed it upon me so bitterly。 But I have forgotten that。 A full heart cannot weigh words。 She will not for one moment refuse to take it again。 And have I not hers?
FRAN。 She is now waiting for it in return。 Where is it; Major? Show it to me; do!
MAJ。 T。 (embarrassed)。 I have 。 。 。 forgotten to put it on。 JustJust will bring it directly。
FRAN。 They are something alike; I suppose; let me look at that one。 I am very fond of such things。
MAJ。 T。 Another time; Franziska。 Come now。