minna von barnhelm-第3章

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　thing　of　value　which　I　have　leftof　which　I　never　thought　such　a　use。　Pawn　it！　get　eighty　louis　d'ors　for　it：　our　host's　bill　can　scarcely　amount　to　thirty。　Pay　him；　and　remove　my　things。　。　。　。　Ah；　where？　Where　you　will。　The　cheaper　the　inn；　the　better。　You　will　find　me　in　the　neighbouring　coffee…house。　I　am　going；　you　will　see　to　it　all　properly？

JUST。　Have　no　fear；　Major！

MAJ。　T。　（comes　back）。　Above　all　things；　do　not　let　my　pistols　be　forgotten；　which　hang　beside　the　bed。

JUST。　I　will　forget　nothing。

MAJ。　T。　（comes　back　again）。　Another　thing：　bring　your　dog　with　you　too。　Do　you　hear；　Just？



SCENE　XI。　Just

JUST。　The　dog　will　not　stay　behind；　he　will　take　care　of　that。　Hem！　My　master　still　had　this　valuable　ring　and　carried　it　in　his　pocket　instead　of　on　his　finger！　My　good　landlord；　we　are　not　yet　so　poor　as　we　look。　To　him　himself；　I　will　pawn　you；　you　beautiful　little　ring！　I　know　he　will　be　annoyed　that　you　will　not　all　be　consumed　in　his　house。　Ah！



SCENE　XII。　Paul　Werner；　Just

JUST。　Hullo；　Werner！　good…day　to　you；　Werner。　Welcome　to　the　town。

WER。　The　accursed　village！　I　can't　manage　to　get　at　home　in　it　again。　Merry；　my　boys；　merry；　I　have　got　some　more　money！　Where　is　the　Major？

JUST。　He　must　have　met　you；　he　just　went　down　stairs。

WER。　I　came　up　the　back　stairs。　How　is　he？　I　should　have　been　with　you　last　week；　but

JUST。　Well；　what　prevented　you？

WER。　Just；　did　you　ever　hear　of　Prince　Heraclius？

JUST。　Heraclius？　Not　that　I　know　of。

WER。　Don't　you　know　the　great　hero　of　the　East？

JUST。　I　know　the　wise　men　of　the　East　well　enough；　who　go　about　with　the　stars　on　New　Year's　Eve。

WER。

Brother；　I　believe　you　read　the　newspapers　as　little　as　the　Bible。　You　do　not　know　Prince　Heraclius。　Not　know　the　brave　man　who　seized　Persia；　and　will　break　into　the　Ottoman　Porte　in　a　few　days？　Thank　God；　there　is　still　war　somewhere　in　the　world！　I　have　long　enough　hoped　it　would　break　out　here　again。　But　there　they　sit　and　take　care　of　their　skins。　No；　a　soldier　I　was；　and　a　soldier　I　must　be　again！　In　short；　（looking　round　carefully；　to　see　if　anyone　is　listening）　between　ourselves；　Just；　I　am　going　to　Persia；　to　have　a　few　campaigns　against　the　Turks；　under　his　Royal　Highness　Prince　Heraclius。

JUST。　You？

WER。　I　myself。　Our　ancestors　fought　bravely　against　the　Turks；　and　so　ought　we　too；　if　we　would　be　honest　men　and　good　Christians。　I　allow　that　a　campaign　against　the　Turks　cannot　be　half　so　pleasant　as　one　against　the　French；　but　then　it　must　be　so　much　the　more　beneficial　in　this　world　and　the　next。　The　swords　of　the　Turks　are　all　set　with　diamonds。

JUST。　I　would　not　walk　a　mile　to　have　my　head　split　with　one　of　their　sabres。　You　will　not　be　so　mad　as　to　leave　your　comfortable　little　farm！

WER。　Oh！　I　take　that　with　me。　Do　you　see？　The　property　is　sold。

JUST。　Sold？

WER。　Hist！　Here　are　a　hundred　ducats；　which　I　received　yesterday　towards　the　payment：　I　am　bringing　them　for　the　Major。

JUST。　What　is　he　to　do　with　them？

WER。　What　is　he　to　do　with　them？　Spend　them；　play　them；　or　drink　them　away；　or　whatever　he　pleases。　He　must　have　money；　and　it　is　bad　enough　that　they　have　made　his　own　so　troublesome　to　him。　But　I　know　what　I　would　do；　were　I　in　his　place。　I　would　say〃The　deuce　take　you　all　here；　I　will　go　with　Paul　Werner　to　Persia！〃　Hang　it！　Prince　Heraclius　must　have　heard　of　Major　von　Tellheim；　if　he　has　not　heard　of　Paul　Werner；　his　late　sergeant。　Our　affair　at　Katzenhauser

JUST。　Shall　I　give　you　an　account　of　that？

WER。　You　give　me！　I　know　well　that　a　fine　battle　array　is　beyond　your　comprehension。　I　am　not　going　to　throw　my　pearls　before　swine。　Here；　take　the　hundred　ducats；　give　them　to　the　Major：　tell　him；　he　may　keep　these　for　me　too。　I　am　going　to　the　market　now。　I　have　sent　in　a　couple　of　loads　of　rye；　what　I　get　for　them　he　can　also　have。

JUST。　Werner；　you　mean　it　well；　but　we　don't　want　your　money。　Keep　your　ducats；　and　your　hundred　pistoles　you　can　also　have　back　safe；　as　soon　as　you　please。

WER。　What；　has　the　Major　money　still？

JUST。　No。

WER。　Has　he　borrowed　any？

JUST。　No。

WER。　On　what　does　he　live；　then？

JUST。　We　have　everything　put　down　in　the　bill；　and　when　they　won't　put　anything　more　down；　and　turn　us　out　of　the　house；　we　pledge　anything　we　may　happen　to　have；　and　go　somewhere　else。　I　say；　Paul；　we　must　play　this　landlord　here　a　trick。

WER。　If　he　has　annoyed　the　Major；　I　am　ready。

JUST。　What　if　we　watch　for　him　in　the　evening；　when　he　comes　from　his　club；　and　give　him　a　good　thrashing？

WER。　In　the　dark！　Watch　for　him！　Two　to　one！　No；　that　won't　do。

JUST。　Or　if　we　burn　his　house　over　his　head？

WER。　Fire　and　burn！　Why；　Just；　one　hears　that　you　have　been　baggage…boy　and　not　soldier。　Shame！

JUST。　Or　if　we　ruin　his　daughter？　But　she　is　cursedly　ugly。

WER。　She　has　probably　been　ruined　long　ago。　At　any　rate　you　don't　want　any　help　there。　But　what　is　the　matter　with　you？　What　has　happened？

JUST。　Just　come　with　me；　and　you　shall　hear　something　to　make　you　stare。

WER。　The　devil　must　be　loose　here；　then？

JUST。　Just　so；　come　along。

WER。　So　much　the　better！　To　Persia；　then；　to　Persia。




ACT　II。


SCENE　I。　Minna's　Room。　Minna；　Franziska

MIN。　（in　morning　dress；　looking　at　her　watch）。　Franziska；　we　have　risen　very　early。　The　time　will　hang　heavy　on　our　hands。

FRAN。　Who　can　sleep　in　these　abominable　large　towns？　The　carriages；　the　watchmen；　the　drums；　the　cats；　the　soldiers；　never　cease　to　rattle；　to　call；　to　roll；　to　mew；　and　to　swear；　just　as　if　the　last　thing　the　night　is　intended　for　was　for　sleep。　Have　a　cup　of　tea；　my　lady！

MIN。　I　don't　care　for　tea。

FRAN。　I　will　have　some　chocolate　made。

MIN。　For　yourself；　if　you　like。

FRAN。　For　myself！　I　would　as　soon　talk　to　myself　as　drink　by　myself。　Then　the　time　will　indeed　hang　heavy。　For　very　weariness　we　shall　have　to　make　our　toilets；　and　try　on　the　dress　in　which　we　intend　to　make　the　first　attack！

MIN。　Why　do　you　talk　of　attacks；　when　I　have　only　come　to　require　that　the　capitulation　be　ratified？

FRAN。　But　the　officer　whom　we　have　dislodged；　and　to　whom　we　have　apologized；　cannot　be　the　best　bred　man　in　the　world；　or　he　might　at　least　have　begged　the　honour　of　being　allowed　to　wait　upon　you。

MIN。　All　officers　are　not　Tellheims。　To　tell　you　the　truth；　I　only　sent　him　the　message　in　order　to　have　an　opportunity　of　inquiring　from　him　about　Tellheim。　Franziska；　my　heart　tells　me　my　journey　will　be　a　successful　one　and　that　I　shall　find　him。

FRAN。　The　heart；　my　lady！　One　must　not　trust　to　that　too　much。　The　heart　echoes　to　us　the　words　of　our　tongues。　If　the　tongue　was　as　much　inclined　to　speak　the　thoughts　of　the　heart；　the　fashion　of　keeping　mouths　under　lock　and　key　would　have　come　in　long　ago。

MIN。　Ha！　ha！　mouths　under　lock　and　key。　That　fashion　would　just　suit　me。

FRAN。　Rather　not　show　the　most　beautiful　set　of　teeth；　than　let　the　heart　be　seen　through　them　every　moment。

MIN。　What；　are　you　so　reserved？

FRAN。　No；　my　lady；　but　I　would　willingly　be　more　so。　People　seldom　talk　of　the　virtue　they　possess；　and　all　the　more　often　of　that　which　they　do　not　possess。

MIN。　Franziska；　you　made　a　very　just　remark　there。

FRAN。　Made！　Does　one　make　it；　if　it　occurs　to　one？

MIN。　And　do　you　know　why　I　consider　it　so　good？　It　applies　to　my　Tellheim。

FRAN。　What　would　not；　in　your　opinion；　apply　to　him？

MIN。　Friend　and　foe　say　he　is　the　bravest　man　in　the　world。　But　who　ever　heard　him　talk　of　bravery？　He　has　the　most　upright　mind；　but　uprightness　and　nobleness　of　mind　are　words　never　on　his　tongue。

FRAN。　Of　what　virtues　does　he　talk　then？

MIN。　He　talks　of　none；　for　he　is　wanting　in　none。

FRAN。　That　is　just　what　I　wished　to　hear。

MIN。　Wait；　Franziska；　I　am　wrong。　He　often　talks　of　economy。　Between　ourselves；　I　believe　he　is　extravagant。

FRAN。　One　thing　more；　my　lady。　I　have　often　heard　him　mention　truth　and　constancy　toward　you。　What；　if　he　be　inconstant？

MIN。　Miserable　girl！　But　do　you　mean　that　seriously？

FRAN。　How　long　is　it　since　he　wrote　to　you？

MIN。　Alas！　he　has　only　written　to　me　once　since　the　peace。

FRAN。　What！A　sigh　on　account　of　the　peace？　Surprising？　Peace　ought　only　to　make　good　the　ill　which　war　causes；　but　it　seems　to　disturb　the　good　which　the　latter；　its　opposite；　may　have　occasioned。　Peace　should　not　be　so　capricious！　。　。　。　How　long　have　we　had　peace？　The　time　seems　wonderfully　long；　when　there　is　so　little　news。　It　is　no　use　the　post　going　regularly　again；　nobody　writes；　for　nobody　has　anything　to　write　about。

MIN。　〃Peace　has　been　made；〃　he　wrote　to　me；　〃and　I　am　approaching　the　fulfillment　of　my　wishes。〃　But　since　he　only　wrote　that　to　me　once；　only　once

FRAN。　And　since　he　compels　us　to　run　after　this　fulfillment　of　his　wishes　ourselves。　。　。　If　we　can　but　find　him；　he　shall　pay　for　this！　Suppose；　in　the　meantime；　he　may　have　accomplished　his　wishes；　and　we　should　learn　here　that

MIN。　（anxiously）。　That　he　is　dead？

FRAN。　To　you；　my　lady；　and　married　to　another。

MIN。　You　tease；　you！　Wait；　Franziska；　I　will　pay　you　out　for　this！　But　talk　to　me；　or　I　shall　fall　asleep。　His　regiment　was　disbanded　after　the　peace。　Who　knows　into　what　a　confusion　of　bills　and　papers　he　may　thereby　have　been　brought？　Who　knows　into　what　other　regiment；　or　to　what　distant　station；　he　may　have　been　sent？　Who　knows　what　circumstancesThere's　a　knock　at　the　door。

FRAN。　Come　in！



SCENE　II。　Landlord；　Minna；　Franziska

LAND。　（putting　his　head　in　at　the　door）。　Am　I　permitted；　your　ladyship？

FRAN。　Our　landlord？Come　in！

LAND。　（A　pen　behind　his　ear；　a　sheet　of　paper　and　an　inkstand　in　his　hand）。　I　am　come；　your　ladyship；　to　wish　you　a　most　humble　good…morning；　（to　Franziska）　and　the　same　to　you；　my　pretty　maid。

FRAN。　A　polite　man！

MIN。　We　are　obliged　to　you。

FRAN。　And　wish　you　also　a　good…morning。

LAND。　May　I　venture　to　ask　how　your　ladyship　has　passed　the　first　night　under　my　poor　roof？

FRAN。　The　roof　is　not　so　bad；　sir；　but　the　beds　might　have　been　better。

LAND。　What　do　I　hear！　Not　slept　well！　Perhaps　the　over…fatigue　of　the　journey

MIN。　Perhaps。

LAND。　Certainly；　certainly；　for　otherwise。　。　。　。　Yet；　should　there　be　anything　not　perfectly　comfortable；　my　lady；　I　hope　you　will　not　fail　to　command　me。

FRAN。　Very　well；　Mr。　Landlord；　very　well！　We　are　not　bashful；　and　least　of　all　should　one　be　bashful　at　an　inn。　We　shall　not　fail　to　say　what　we　may　wish。

LAND。　I　next　come　to　。　。　。　（taking　the　pen　from　behind　his　ear）。

FRAN。　Well？

LAND。　Without　doubt；　my　lady；　you　are　already　acquainted　with　the　wise　regulations　of　our　police。

MIN。　Not　in　the　least；　sir。

LAND。　We　landlords　are　instructed　not　to　take　in　any　stranger；　of　whatever　rank　or　sex　he　may　be；　for　four…and…twenty　hours；　without　delivering；　in　writing；　his　name；　place　of　abode；　occupation；　object　of　his　journey；　probable　stay；　and　so　on；　to　the　proper　authorities。

MIN。　Very　well。

LAND。　Will　your　ladyship　then　be　so　good　。　。　。　（going　to　the　table；　and　making　ready　to　write）。

MIN。　Willingly。　My　name　is

LAND。　One　minute！　（He　writes。）　〃Date；　22nd　August；　A。　D。；　&C。；　arrived　at　the　King　of　Spain　hotel。〃　Now　your　name；　my　lady。

MIN。　Fraulein　von　Barnhelm。

LAND。　（writes）。