minna von barnhelm-第7章

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r　the　winter；　but　which　the　good　soul　with　whom　he　makes　them；　looks　upon　for　life。　Then；　presto！　a　ring　is　suddenly　conjured　on　to　his　finger；　he　hardly　knows　himself　how　it　gets　there；　and　very　often　he　would　willingly　give　the　finger　with　it；　if　he　could　only　get　free　from　it　again。

FRAN。　Oh！　and　do　you　think　this　has　happened　to　the　Major？

WER。　Undoubtedly。　Especially　in　Saxony。　If　he　had　had　ten　fingers　on　each　hand；　he　might　have　had　all　twenty　full　of　rings。

FRAN。　（aside）。　That　sounds　important；　and　deserves　to　be　inquired　into。　Mr。　Freeholder；　or　Mr。　Sergeant

WER。　Little　woman；　if　it　makes　no　difference　to　you；　I　like　〃Mr。　Sergeant〃　best。

FRAN。　Well；　Mr。　Sergeant；　I　have　a　note　from　the　Major　to　my　mistress。　I　will　just　carry　it　in；　and　be　here　again　in　a　moment。　Will　you　be　so　good　as　to　wait？　I　should　like　very　much　to　have　a　little　talk　with　you。

WER。　Are　you　fond　of　talking；　little　woman？　Well；　with　all　my　heart。　Go　quickly。　I　am　fond　of　talking　too：　I　will　wait。

FRAN。　Yes；　please　wait。　（Exit。）



SCENE　VI。　Paul　Werner

WER。　That　is　not　at　all　a　bad　little　woman。　But　I　ought　not　to　have　promised　her　that　I　would　wait；　for　it　would　be　most　to　the　purpose；　I　suppose；　to　find　the　Major。　He　will　not　have　my　money；　but　rather　pawns　his　property。　That　is　just　his　way。　A　little　trick　occurs　to　me。　When　I　was　in　the　town；　a　fortnight　back；　I　paid　a　visit　to　Captain　Marloff's　widow。　The　poor　woman　was　ill；　and　was　lamenting　that　her　husband　had　died　in　debt　to　the　Major　for　four　hundred　thalers；　which　she　did　not　know　how　to　pay。　I　went　to　see　her　again　to…day；　I　intended　to　tell　her　that　I　could　lend　her　five　hundred　thalers；　when　I　had　received　the　money　for　my　property；　for　I　must　put　some　of　it　by；　if　I　do　not　go　to　Persia。　But　she　was　gone；　and　no　doubt　she　has　not　been　able　to　pay　the　Major。　Yes；　I'll　do　that；　and　the　sooner　the　better。　The　little　woman　must　not　take　it　ill　of　me；　I　cannot　wait。　（Is　going　in　thought；　and　almost　runs　against　the　Major；　who　meets　him。）



SCENE　VII。　Major　Von　Tellheim；　Paul　Werner

MAJ。　T。　Why　so　thoughtful；　Werner？

WER。　Oh！　that　is　you。　I　was　just　going　to　pay　you　a　visit　in　your　new　quarters；　Major。

MAJ。　T。　To　fill　my　ears　with　curses　against　the　Landlord　of　my　old　one。　Do　not　remind　me　of　it。

WER。　I　should　have　done　that　by　the　way：　yes。　But　more　particularly；　I　wish　to　thank　you　for　having　been　so　good　as　to　take　care　of　my　hundred　louis　d'ors。　Just　has　given　them　to　me　again。　I　should　have　been　very　glad　if　you　would　have　kept　them　longer　for　me。　But　you　have　got　into　new　quarters；　which　neither　you　nor　I　know　much　about。　Who　knows　what　sort　of　place　it　is？　They　might　be　stolen；　and　you　would　have　to　make　them　good　to　me；　there　would　be　no　help　for　it。　So　I　cannot　ask　you　to　take　them　again。

MAJ。　T。　（smiling）。　When　did　you　begin　to　be　so　careful；　Werner？

WER。　One　learns　to　be　so。　One　cannot　now　be　careful　enough　of　one's　money。　I　have　also　a　commission　for　you；　Major；　from　Frau　Marloff；　I　have　just　come　from　her。　Her　husband　died　four　hundred　thalers　in　your　debt；　she　sends　you　a　hundred　ducats　here；　in　part　payment。　She　will　forward　you　the　rest　next　week。　I　believe　I　am　the　cause　that　she　has　not　sent　you　the　whole　sum。　For　she　also　owed　me　about　eighty　thalers；　and　she　thought　I　was　come　to　dun　her　for　themwhich；　perhaps；　was　the　factso　she　gave　them　me　out　of　the　roll　which　she　had　put　aside　for　you。　You　can　spare　your　hundred　thalers　for　a　week　longer；　better　than　I　can　spare　my　few　groschens。　There；　take　it！　（Hands　him　the　ducats。）

MAJ。　T。　Werner！

WER。　Well！　Why　do　you　stare　at　me　so？　Take　it；　Major！

MAJ。　T。　Werner！

WER。　What　is　the　matter　with　you？　What　annoys　you？

MAJ。　T。　（angrily　striking　his　forehead；　and　stamping　with　his　foot。）　That　。　。　。　the　four　hundred　thalers　are　not　all　there。

WER。　Come！　Major；　did　not　you　understand　me？

MAJ。　T。　It　is　just　because　I　did　understand　you！　Alas；　that　the　best　men　should　to…day　distress　me　most！

WER。　What　do　you　say？

MAJ。　T。　This　only　applies　partly　to　you。　Go；　Werner！　（Pushing　back　Werner's　hand　with　the　money　in　it。）

WER。　As　soon　as　I　have　got　rid　of　this。

MAJ。　T。　Werner；　suppose　I　tell　you　that　Frau　Marloff　was　here　herself　early　this　morning

WER。　Indeed？

MAJ。　T。　That　she　owes　me　nothing　now

WER。　Really？

MAJ。　T。　That　she　has　paid　me　every　pennyWhat　will　you　say　then？

WER。　（thinks　for　a　minute）。　I　shall　say　that　I　have　told　a　lie；　and　that　lying　is　a　low　thing；　because　one　may　be　caught　at　it。

MAJ。　T。　And　you　will　be　ashamed　of　yourself？

WER。　And　what　of　him　who　compels　me　to　lie？　Should　not　he　be　ashamed　too？　Look　ye；　Major；　if　I　was　to　say　that　your　conduct　has　not　vexed　me；　I　should　tell　another　lie；　and　I　won't　lie　any　more。

MAJ。　T。　Do　not　be　annoyed；　Werner。　I　know　your　heart；　and　your　affection　for　me。　But　I　do　not　require　your　money。

WER。　Not　require　it！　Rather　sell；　rather　pawn；　and　get　talked　about！

MAJ。　T。　Oh！　people　may　know　that　I　have　nothing　more。　One　must　not　wish　to　appear　richer　than　one　is。

WER。　But　why　poorer？　A　man　has　something　as　long　as　his　friend　has。

MAJ。　T。　It　is　not　proper　that　I　should　be　your　debtor。

WER。　Not　proper！　On　that　summer　day　which　the　sun　and　the　enemy　made　hot　for　us；　when　your　groom；　who　had　your　canteen；　was　not　to　be　found；　and　you　came　to　me　and　said〃Werner；　have　you　nothing　to　drink？〃　and　I　gave　you　my　flask；　you　took　it　and　drank；　did　you　not？　Was　that　proper？　Upon　my　life；　a　mouthful　of　dirty　water　at　that　time　was　often　worth　more　than　such　filth　（taking　the　purse　also　out　of　his　pocket；　and　holding　out　both　to　him）。　Take　them；　dear　Major！　Fancy　it　is　water。　God　has　made　this；　too；　for　all。

MAJ。　T。　You　torment　me：　don't　you　hear；　I　will　not　be　your　debtor。

WER。　At　first；　it　was　not　proper；　now；　you　will　not。　Ah！　that　is　a　different　thing。　（Rather　angrily。）　You　will　not　be　my　debtor？　But　suppose　you　are　already；　Major？　Or；　are　you　not　a　debtor　to　the　man　who　once　warded　off　the　blow　that　was　meant　to　split　your　head；　and；　at　another　time；　knocked　off　the　arm　which　was　just　going　to　pull　and　send　a　ball　through　your　breast？　How　can　you　become　a　greater　debtor　to　that　man？　Or；　is　my　neck　of　less　consequence　than　my　money？　If　that　is　a　noble　way　of　thinking；　by　my　soul　it　is　a　very　silly　one　too。

MAJ。　T。　To　whom　do　you　say　that；　Werner？　We　are　alone；　and　therefore　I　may　speak；　if　a　third　person　heard　us；　it　might　sound　like　boasting。　I　acknowledge　with　pleasure；　that　I　have　to　thank　you　for　twice　saving　my　life。　Do　you　not　think；　friend；　that　if　an　opportunity　occurred　I　would　have　done　as　much　for　you；　eh？

WER。　If　an　opportunity　occurred！　Who　doubts　it；　Major？　Have　I　not　seen　you　risk　your　life　a　hundred　times　for　the　lowest　soldier；　when　he　was　in　danger？

MAJ。　T。　Well！

WER。　But

MAJ。　T。　Why　cannot　you　understand　me？　I　say；　it　is　not　proper　that　I　should　be　your　debtor；　I　will　not　be　your　debtor。　That　is；　not　in　the　circumstances　in　which　I　now　am。

WER。　Oh！　so　you　would　wait　till　better　times。　You　will　borrow　money　from　me　another　time；　when　you　do　not　want　any：　when　you　have　some　yourself；　and　I　perhaps　none。

MAJ。　T。　A　man　ought　not　to　borrow；　when　he　has　not　the　means　of　repaying。

WER。　A　man　like　yourself　cannot　always　be　in　want。

MAJ。　T。　You　know　the　world　。　。　。　Least　of　all　should　a　man　borrow　from　one　who　wants　his　money　himself。

WER。　Oh！　yes；　I　am　such　a　one！　Pray；　what　do　I　want　it　for？　When　they　want　a　sergeant；　they　give　him　enough　to　live　on。

MAJ。　T。　You　want　it；　to　become　something　more　than　a　sergeantto　be　able　to　get　forward　in　that　path　in　which　even　the　most　deserving；　without　money；　may　remain　behind。

WER。　To　become　something　more　than　a　sergeant！　I　do　not　think　of　that。　I　am　a　good　sergeant；　I　might　easily　make　a　bad　captain；　and　certainly　a　worse　general。

MAJ。　T。　Do　not　force　me　to　think　ill　of　you；　Werner！　I　was　very　sorry　to　hear　what　Just　has　told　me。　You　have　sold　your　farm；　and　wish　to　rove　about　again。　Do　not　let　me　suppose　that　you　do　not　love　the　profession　of　arms　so　much　as　the　wild　dissolute　way　of　living　which　is　unfortunately　connected　with　it。　A　man　should　be　a　soldier　for　his　own　country；　or　from　love　of　the　cause　for　which　he　fights。　To　serve　without　any　purposeto…day　here；　to…morrow　thereis　only　travelling　about　like　a　butcher's　apprentice；　nothing　more。

WER。　Well；　then；　Major；　I　will　do　as　you　say。　You　know　better　what　is　right。　I　will　remain　with　you。　But；　dear　Major；　do　take　my　money　in　the　meantime。　Sooner　or　later　your　affairs　must　be　settled。　You　will　get　money　in　plenty　then；　and　then　you　shall　repay　me　with　interest。　I　only　do　it　for　the　sake　of　the　interest。

MAJ。　T。　Do　not　talk　of　it。

WER。　Upon　my　life；　I　only　do　it　for　the　sake　of　the　interest。　Many　a　time　I　have　thought　to　myself〃Werner；　what　will　become　of　you　in　your　old　age？　when　you　are　crippled？　when　you　will　have　nothing　in　the　world？　when　you　will　be　obliged　to　go　and　beg！〃　And　then　I　thought　again　〃No；　you　will　not　be　obliged　to　beg：　you　will　go　to　Major　Tellheim；　he　will　share　his　last　penny　with　you；　he　will　feed　you　till　you　die；　and　with　him　you　can　die　like　an　honest　fellow。〃

MAJ。　T。　（taking　Werner's　hand）。　And；　comrade；　you　do　not　think　so　still？

WER。　No；　I　do　not　think　so　any　longer。　He　who　will　not　take　anything　from　me；　when　he　is　in　want；　and　I　have　to　give；　will　not　give　me　anything　when　he　has　to　give；　and　I　am　in　want。　So　be　it。　（Is　going。）

MAJ。　T。　Man；　do　not　drive　me　mad！　Where　are　you　going？　（Detains　him。）　If　I　assure　you　now；　upon　my　honour；　that　I　still　have　moneyIf　I　assure　you；　upon　my　honour；　that　I　will　tell　you　when　I　have　no　more　that　you　shall　be　the　first　and　only　person　from　whom　I　will　borrow　anythingwill　that　content　you？

WER。　I　suppose　it　must。　Give　me　your　hand　on　it；　Major。

MAJ。　T。　There；　Paul！　And　now　enough　of　that；　I　came　here　to　speak　with　a　certain　young　woman。



SCENE　VIII。　Franziska　（coming　out　of　Minna's　room）；　Major　von　Tellheim；　Paul　Werner

FRAN。　（entering）。　Are　you　there　still；　Mr。　Sergeant？　（Seeing　Tellheim。）　And　you　there　too；　Major？　I　will　be　at　your　service　instantly。　（Goes　back　quickly　into　the　room。）



SCENE　IX。　Major　von　Tellheim；　Paul　Werner

MAJ。　T。　That　was　she！　But　it　seems　you　know　her；　Werner。

WER。　Yes；　I　know　her。

MAJ。　T。　Yet；　if　I　remember　rightly；　when　I　was　in　Thuringia　you　were　not　with　me。

WER。　No；　I　was　seeing　after　the　uniforms　in　Leipsic。

MAJ。　T。　Where　did　you　make　her　acquaintance；　then？

WER。　Our　acquaintance　is　very　young。　Not　a　day　old。　But　young　friendship　is　warm。

MAJ。　T。　Have　you　seen　her　mistress；　too？

WER。　Is　her　mistress　a　young　lady？　She　told　me　you　are　acquainted　with　her　mistress。

MAJ。　T。　Did　not　you　hear？　She　comes　from　Thuringia。

WER。　Is　the　lady　young？

MAJ。　T。　Yes。

WER。　Pretty？

MAJ。　T。　Very　pretty。

WER。　Rich？

MAJ。　T。　Very　rich。

WER。　Is　the　mistress　as　fond　of　you　as　the　maid　is？　That　would　be　capital！

MAJ。　T。　What　do　you　mean？



SCENE　X。　Franziska　（with　a　letter　in　her　hand）；　Major　von　Tellheim；　Paul　Werner

FRAN。　Major

MAJ。　T。　Franziska；　I　have　not　yet　been　able　to　give　you　a　〃Welcome〃　here。

FRAN。　In　thought；　I　am　sure　that　you　have　done　it。　I　know　you　are　friendly　to