minna von barnhelm-第12章

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MIN。　（affected）。　They　were　not　meant　to　do　that；　Tellheim。　Forgive　me；　Tellheim。

MAJ。　T。　Ah！　that　friendly　tone　tells　me　you　are　yourself　again；　Minna：　that　you　still　love　me。

FRAN。　（exclaims）。　The　joke　would　soon　have　gone　a　little　too　far。

MIN。　（in　a　commanding　tone）。　Franziska；　you　will　not　interfere　in　our　affairs；　I　beg。

FRAN。　（aside；　in　a　surprised　tone）。　Not　enough　yet！

MIN。　Yes；　sir；　it　would　only　be　womanish　vanity　in　me　to　pretend　to　be　cold　and　scornful。　No！　Never！　You　deserve　to　find　me　as　sincere　as　yourself。　I　do　love　you　still；　Tellheim；　I　love　you　still；　but　notwithstanding

MAJ。　T。　No　more；　dearest　Minna；　no　more！　（Seizes　her　hand　again；　to　put　on　the　ring。）

MIN。　（drawing　back　her　hand）。　Notwithstanding；　so　much　the　more　am　I　determined　that　that　shall　never　be；never！Of　what　are　you　thinking；　Major？I　thought　your　own　distress　was　sufficient。　You　must　remain　here；　you　must　obtain　by　obstinacyno　better　phrase　occurs　to　me　at　the　momentthe　most　perfect　satisfaction；　obtain　it　by　obstinacy。　。　。　。　And　that　even　though　the　utmost　distress　should　waste　you　away　before　the　eyes　of　your　calumniators

MAJ。　T。　So　I　thought；　so　I　said；　when　I　knew　not　what　I　thought　or　said。　Chagrin　and　stifling　rage　had　enveloped　my　whole　soul；　love　itself；　in　the　full　blaze　of　happiness；　could　not　illumine　it。　But　it　has　sent　its　daughter；　Pity；　more　familiar　with　gloomy　misfortune；　and　she　has　dispelled　the　cloud；　and　opened　again　all　the　avenues　of　my　soul　to　sensations　of　tenderness。　The　impulse　of　self…preservation　awakes；　when　I　have　something　more　precious　than　myself　to　support；　and　to　support　through　my　own　exertions。　Do　not　let　the　word　〃pity〃　offend　you。　From　the　innocent　cause　of　our　distress　we　may　hear　the　term　without　humiliation。　I　am　this　cause；　through　me；　Minna；　have　you　lost　friends　and　relations；　fortune　and　country。　Through　me；　in　me；　must　you　find　them　all　again；　or　I　shall　have　the　destruction　of　the　most　lovely　of　her　sex　upon　my　soul。　Let　me　not　think　of　a　future　in　which　I　must　detest　myself。No；　nothing　shall　detain　me　here　longer。　From　this　moment　I　will　oppose　nothing　but　contempt　to　the　injustice　which　I　suffer。　Is　this　country　the　world？　Does　the　sun　rise　here　alone？　Where　can　I　not　go？　In　what　service　shall　I　be　refused？　And　should　I　be　obliged　to　seek　it　in　the　most　distant　clime；　only　follow　me　with　confidence；　dearest　Minnawe　shall　want　for　nothing。　I　have　a　friend　who　will　assist　me　with　pleasure。



SCENE　VI。　An　Orderly；　Major　von　Tellheim；　Minna；　Franziska

FRAN。　（seeing　the　Orderly）。　Hist；　Major！

MAJ。　T。　（to　the　Orderly）。　Who　do　you　want？

ORD。　I　am　looking　for　Major　von　Tellheim。　Ah！　you　are　the　Major；　I　see。　I　have　to　give　this　letter　from　his　Majesty　the　King　（taking　one　out　of　his　bag）。

MAJ。　T。　To　me？

ORD。　According　to　the　direction。

MIN。　Franziska；　do　you　hear？　The　Chevalier　spoke　the　truth　after　all。

ORD。　（whilst　Tellheim　takes　the　letter）。　I　beg　your　pardon；　Major；　you　should　properly　have　had　it　yesterday；　but　I　could　not　find　you　out。　I　learnt　your　address　this　morning　only　from　Lieutenant　Riccaut；　on　parade。

FRAN。　Do　you　hear；　my　lady？That　is　the　Chevalier's　minister。　〃What　is　the　name　of　de　ministre　out　dere；　on　de　broad　place？〃

MAJ。　T。　I　am　extremely　obliged　to　you　for　your　trouble。

ORD。　It　is　my　duty；　Major。　（Exit。）



SCENE　VII。　Major　von　Tellheim；　Minna；　Franziska

MAJ。　T。　Ah！　Minna；　what　is　this？　What　does　this　contain？

MIN。　I　am　not　entitled　to　extend　my　curiosity　so　far。

MAJ。　T。　What！　You　would　still　separate　my　fate　from　yours？But；　why　do　I　hesitate　to　open　it？　It　cannot　make　me　more　unhappy　than　I　am：　no；　dearest　Minna；　it　cannot　make　us　more　unhappybut　perhaps　more　happy！　Permit　me。　（While　he　opens　and　reads　the　letter；　the　Landlord　comes　stealthily　on　the　stage。）



SCENE　VIII。　Landlord；　Major　von　Tellheim；　Minna；　Franziska

LAND。　（to　Franziska。）　Hist！　my　pretty　maid！　A　word！

FRAN。　（to　the　Landlord）。　Mr。　Landlord；　we　do　not　yet　know　ourselves　what　is　in　the　letter。

LAND。　Who　wants　to　know　about　the　letter！　I　come　about　the　ring。　The　lady　must　give　it　to　me　again；　directly。　Just　is　there；　and　wants　to　redeem　it。

MIN。　（who　in　the　meantime　has　approached　the　Landlord）。　Tell　Just　that　it　is　already　redeemed；　and　tell　him　by　whomby　me。

LAND。　But

MIN。　I　take　it　upon　myself。　Go！

（Exit　Landlord。）



SCENE　IX。　Major　von　Tellheim；　Minna；　Franziska

FRAN。　And　now；　my　lady；　make　it　up　with　the　poor　Major。

MIN。　Oh！　kind　intercessor！　As　if　the　difficulties　must　not　soon　explain　themselves。

MAJ。　T。　（after　reading　the　letter；　with　much　emotion。）　Ah！　nor　has　he　herein　belied　himself！　Oh！　Minna；　what　justice！　what　clemency！　This　is　more　than　I　expected；　more　than　I　deserved！My　fortune；　my　honour；　all　is　reestablished！Do　I　dream？　（Looking　at　the　letter；　as　if　to　convince　himself。）　No；　no　delusion　born　of　my　own　desires！　Read　it　yourself；　Minna；　read　it　yourself！

MIN。　I　would　not　presume；　Major。

MAJ。　T。　Presume！　The　letter　is　to　me；　to　your　Tellheim；　Minna。　It　contains　what　your　uncle　cannot　take　from　you。　You　must　read　it！　Do　read　it。

MIN。　If　it　affords　you　pleasure；　Major。　（Takes　the　letter　and　reads。）

　〃My　dear　Major　von　Tellheim；

　〃I　hereby　inform　you；　that　the　business　which　caused　me　some　　　anxiety　on　account　of　your　honour；　has　been　cleared　up　in　your　　　favour。　My　brother　had　a　more　detailed　knowledge　of　it；　and　his　　　testimony　has　more　than　proved　your　innocence。　The　Treasury　has　　　received　orders　to　deliver　again　to　you　the　bill　in　question；　and　　　to　reimburse　the　sum　advanced。　I　have　also　ordered　that　all　claims　　　which　the　Paymaster's　Office　brings　forward　against　your　accounts　　　be　nullified。　Please　to　inform　me　whether　your　health　will　allow　　　of　your　taking　active　service　again。　I　can　ill　spare　a　man　of　your　　　courage　and　sentiments。　I　am　your　gracious　King；〃　&c。

MAJ。　T。　Now；　what　do　you　say　to　that；　Minna？

MIN。　（folding　up　and　returning　the　letter）。　I？　Nothing。

MAJ。　T。　Nothing？

MIN。　Stayyes。　That　your　king；　who　is　a　great　man；　can　also　be　a　good　man。　But　what　is　that　to　me！　He　is　not　my　king。

MAJ。　T。　And　do　you　say　nothing　more？　Nothing　about　ourselves？

MIN。　You　are　going　to　serve　again。　From　Major；　you　will　become　Lieutenant…　Colonel；　perhaps　Colonel。　I　congratulate　you　with　all　my　heart。

MAJ。　T。　And　you　do　not　know　me　better？　No；　since　fortune　restores　me　sufficient　to　satisfy　the　wishes　of　a　reasonable　man；　it　shall　depend　upon　my　Minna　alone；　whether　for　the　future　I　shall　belong　to　any　one　else　but　her。　To　her　service　alone　my　whole　life　shall　be　devoted！　The　service　of　the　great　is　dangerous；　and　does　not　repay　the　trouble；　the　restraint；　the　humiliation　which　it　costs。　Minna　is　not　amongst　those　vain　people　who　love　nothing　in　their　husbands　beyond　their　titles　and　positions。　She　will　love　me　for　myself；　and　for　her　sake　I　will　forget　the　whole　world。　I　became　a　soldier　from　party　feelingI　do　not　myself　know　on　what　political　principlesand　from　the　whim　that　it　is　good　for　every　honourable　man　to　try　the　profession　of　arms　for　a　time；　to　make　himself　familiar　with　danger；　and　to　learn　coolness　and　determination。　Extreme　necessity　alone　could　have　compelled　me　to　make　this　trial　a　fixed　mode　of　life；　this　temporary　occupation　a　profession。　But　now　that　nothing　compels　me；　my　whole　and　sole　ambition　is　to　be　a　peaceful　and　a　contented　man。　This　with　you；　dearest　Minna；　I　shall　infallibly　become；　this　in　your　society　I　shall　unchangeably　remain。　Let　the　holy　bond　unite　us　to…morrow；　and　then　we　will　look　round　us；　and　in　the　whole　wide　habitable　world　seek　out　the　most　peaceful；　the　brightest；　most　smiling　nook　which　wants　but　a　happy　couple　to　be　a　Paradise。　There　we　will　dwell；　there　shall　each　day。　。　。　。　What　is　the　matter；　Minna？　（Minna　turns　away　uneasily；　and　endeavours　to　hide　her　emotion。）

MIN。　（regaining　her　composure）。　It　is　cruel　of　you；　Tellheim；　to　paint　such　happiness　to　me；　when　I　am　forced　to　renounce　it。　My　loss

MAJ。　T。　Your　loss！　Why　name　your　loss？　All　that　Minna　could　lose　is　not　Minna。　You　are　still　the　sweetest；　dearest；　loveliest；　best　creature　under　the　sun；　all　goodness　and　generosity；　innocence　and　bliss！　Now　and　then　a　little　petulant；　at　times　somewhat　wilfulso　much　the　better！　So　much　the　better！　Minna　would　otherwise　be　an　angel；　whom　I　should　honour　with　trepidation；　but　not　dare　to　love。　（Takes　her　hand　to　kiss　it。）

MIN。　（drawing　away　her　hand）。　Not　so；　sir。　Why　this　sudden　change？　Is　this　flattering　impetuous　lover；　the　cold　Tellheim！Could　his　returning　good　fortune　alone　create　this　ardour　in　him？　He　will　permit　me　during　his　passionate　excitement　to　retain　the　power　of　reflection　for　us　both。　When　he　could　himself　reflect；　I　heard　him　say〃it　is　a　worthless　love　which　does　not　scruple　to　expose　its　object　to　scorn。〃True；　and　I　aspire　to　as　pure　and　noble　a　love　as　he　himself。　Now；　when　honour　calls　him；　when　a　great　monarch　solicits　his　services；　shall　I　consent　that　he　shall　give　himself　up　to　love…sick　dreams　with　me？　that　the　illustrious　warrior　shall　degenerate　into　a　toying　swain？　No；　Major；　follow　the　call　of　your　higher　destiny。

MAJ。　T。　Well！　if　the　busy　world　has　greater　charms　for　you；　Minna；　let　us　remain　in　the　busy　world！　How　mean；　how　poor　is　this　busy　world；　you　now　only　know　its　gilded　surface。　Yet　certainly；　Minna；　you　will。　。　。　。　But　let　it　be　so！　until　then！　Your　charms　shall　not　want　admirers；　nor　will　my　happiness　lack　enviers。

MIN。　No；　Tellheim；　I　do　not　mean　that！　I　send　you　back　into　the　busy　world；　on　the　road　of　honour；　without　wishing　to　accompany　you。　Tellheim　will　there　require　an　irreproachable　wife！　A　fugitive　Saxon　girl　who　has　thrown　herself　upon　him

MAJ。　T。　（starting　up；　and　looking　fiercely　about　him）。　Who　dare　say　that！　Ah！　Minna；　I　feel　afraid　of　myself；　when　I　imagine　that　any　one　but　yourself　could　have　spoken　so。　My　anger　against　him　would　know　no　bounds。

MIN。　Exactly！　That　is　just　what　I　fear。　You　would　not　endure　one　word　of　calumny　against　me；　and　yet　you　would　have　to　put　up　with　the　very　bitterest　every　day。　In　short；　Tellheim；　hear　what　I　have　firmly　determined；　and　from　which　nothing　in　the　world　shall　turn　me

MAJ。　T。　Before　you　proceed；　I　implore　you；　Minna；　reflect　for　one　moment；　that　you　are　about　to　pronounce　a　sentence　of　life　or　death　upon　me！

MIN。　Without　a　moment's　reflection！　。　。　。　As　certainly　as　I　have　given　you　back　the　ring　with　which　you　formerly　pledged　your　troth　to　me；　as　certainly　as　you　have　taken　back　that　same　ring；　so　certainly　shall　the　unfortunate　Minna　never　be　the　wife　of　the　fortunate　Tellheim！

MAJ。　T。　And　herewith　you　pronounce　my　sentence。

MIN。　Equality　is　the　only　sure　bond　of　love。　The　happy　Minna　only　wished　to　live　for　the　happy　Tellheim。　Even　Minna　in　misfortune　would　have　allowed　herself　to　be　persuaded　either　to　increase　or　to　assuage　the　misfortune　of　her　friend　through　herself。　。　。　。　He　must　have　seen；　before　the　arrival　of　that　letter；　which　has　again　destroyed　all　equality　between　us；　that　in　appearance　only　I　refused。

MAJ。　T。　Is　that　true？　I　thank　you；　Minna；　that　you　have　not　yet　pronounced　the　sentence。　You　will　only　marry　Tellheim　when　unfortunate？　You　may　have　him。　（Coolly。）　I　perceive　now　that　it　woul