frederick the great and his family-第26章

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r　shepherdesses；　and　her　shepherd；　Count　Kalkreuth；　was　feeding　the　swans　on　the　border　of　the　lake。　The　prince　was　alone；　and　Louise　rashly　resolved　to　approach　him。　He　greeted　her　with　a　slight　nod；　and　turning　his　eyes　again　upon　his　wife；　he　said；　carelessly；　〃Are　you　also　here；　Madame　du　Trouffle？〃

〃Your　royal　highness　did　me　the　honor　to　invite　meI　am　accustomed　to　obey　your　wishes；　and　I　am　here。〃

〃That　is　kind；〃　said　the　prince；　abstractedly；　still　glancing　at　the　princess。

Louise　sighed　deeply；　and　stepping　nearer；　she　said；　〃Are　you　still　angry　with　me；　my　prince？　Have　you　never　forgiven　me？〃

〃What？〃　said　the　prince；　quietly；　〃I　do　not　remember　that　I　have　any　thing　to　forgive。〃

〃Ah；　I　see！　you　despise　me　still；〃　said　Louise；　excitedly；　〃but　I　will　bear　this　no　longer！　I　will　no　longer　creep　about　like　a　culprit；　burdened　with　your　curse　and　your　scorn。　You　shall　at　least　know　what　it　cost　me　to　earn　your　contemptwhat　a　tearful　sacrifice　I　was　compelled　to　make　to　secure　your　supposed　personal　happiness。　I　gave　up　for　you　the　happiness　of　my　life；　but　I　can　and　will　no　longer　fill　a　place　of　shame　in　your　memory。　If；　from　time　to　time；　your　highness　thinks　of　me；　you　shall　do　me　justice！〃

〃I　think　no　longer　of　you　in　anger；〃　said　the　prince；　smiling。　〃That　sorrow　has　long　since　passed　away。〃

〃From　your　heart；　prince；　but　not　from　mine！　My　heart　bleeds；　and　will　bleed　eternally！　You　must　not　only　forgiveyou　must　do　me　justice。　Listen；　then：　and　so　truly　as　there　is　a　God　above　us；　I　will　speak　the　truth。　I　did　not　betray　youI　was　not　faithless。　My　heart　and　my　soul　I　laid　gladly　at　your　feet；　and　thanked　God　for　the　fulness　of　my　happiness。　My　thoughts；　my　existence；　my　future；　was　chained　to　you。　I　had　no　other　will；　no　other　wish；　no　other　hope。　I　was　your　slaveI　wanted　nothing　but　your　love。〃

〃Ah；　and　then　came　this　Monsieur　du　Trouffle；　and　broke　your　fettersgave　your　heart　liberty　and　wings　for　a　new　flight；〃　said　Prince　Henry。

〃No；　then　came　the　king　and　commanded　me　to　give　you　up；〃　murmured　Louise；　〃then　came　the　king；　and　forced　me　to　offer　up　myself　and　my　great　love　to　your　future　welfare。　Oh；　my　prince！　recall　that　terrible　hour　in　which　we　separated。　I　said　to　you　that　I　had　betrothed　myself　to　Captain　du　Troufflethat　of　my　own　free　choice；　and　influenced　by　love　alone；　I　gave　myself　to　him。〃

〃I　remember　that　hour。〃

〃Well；　then；　in　that　hour　we　were　not　alone。　The　king　was　concealed　behind　the　portiere；　and　listened　to　my　words。　He　dictated　them！he　threatened　me　with　destruction　if　I　betrayed　his　presence　by　look　or　word；　if　I　gave　you　reason　to　suspect　that　I　did　not；　of　my　own　choice　and　lovingly；　give　myself　to　this　unloved；　yes；　this　hated　man！　I　yielded　only　after　the　most　fearful　contest　with　the　king；　to　whom；　upon　my　knees　and　bathed　in　tears；　I　pleaded　for　pity。〃

〃What　means　could　the　king　use；　what　threats　could　he　utter；　which　forced　you　to　such　a　step？〃　said　the　prince；　incredulously。　〃Did　he　threaten　you　with　death　if　you　did　not　obey？　When　one　truly　loves；　death　has　no　terrors！　Did　he　say　he　would　murder　me　if　you　did　not　release　me？　You　knew　I　had　a　strong　arm　and　a　stronger　will；　you　should　have　trusted　both。　You　placed　your　fate　in　my　hands；　you　should　have　obeyed　no　other　commands　than　mine。　And　now　shall　I　speak　the　whole　truth？　I　do　not　believe　in　this　sacrifice　on　your　part；　it　would　have　required　more　than　mortal　strength；　and　it　would　have　been　cruel　in　the　extreme。　You　saw　what　I　suffered。　My　heart　was　torn　with　anguish！　No；　madame；　no；　you　did　not　make　this　sacrifice；　or；　if　you　did；　you　loved　me　not。　If　you　had　loved　me；　you　could　not　have　seen　me　suffer　so　cruelly；　you　would　have　told　the　truth；　even　in　the　presence　of　the　king。　No　earthly　power　can　control　true　love；　she　is　self…sustained　and　makes　her　own　laws。　No！　no！　I　do　not　believe　in　this　offering；　and　you　make　this　excuse　either　to　heal　my　sick　heart；　or　because　your　pride　is　mortified　at　my　want　of　consideration；　you　wish　to　recover　my　good　opinion。〃

〃Alas！　alas！　he　does　not　believe　me；〃　cried　Louise。

〃No；　I　do　not　believe　you；〃　said　the　prince；　kindly；　〃and　yet　you　must　not　think　that　I　am　still　angry。　I　not　only　forgive；　but　I　thank　you。　It　is　to　you；　indeed；　Louise；　that　I　owe　my　present　happiness；　all　those　noble　and　pure　joys　which　a　true　love　bestows。　I　thank　you　for　thisyou　and　the　king。　It　was　wise　in　the　king　to　deny　me　that　which　I　then　thought　essential　to　my　happiness；　but　which　would；　at　last；　have　brought　us　both　to　shame　and　to　despair。　The　love；　which　must　shun　the　light　of　day　and　hide　itself　in　obscurity；　pales；　and　withers；　and　dies。　Happy　love　must　have　the　sunlight　of　heaven　and　God's　blessing　upon　it！　All　this　failed　in　our　case；　and　it　was　a　blessing　for　us　both　that　you　saw　it　clearly；　and　resigned　a　doubtful　happiness　at　my　side　for　surer　peace　with　Monsieur　du　Trouffle。　From　my　soul　I　thank　you；　Louise。　See　what　a　costly　treasure　has　bloomed　for　me　from　the　grave　of　my　betrayed　love。　Look　at　that　lovely　young　woman　who；　although　disguised　as　a　shepherdess；　stands　out　in　the　midst　of　all　other　women；　an　imperial　queen！　a　queen　of　beauty；　grace；　and　fascination！　This　charming；　innocent；　and　modest　young　woman　belongs　to　me；　she　is　my　wife；　and　I　have　your　inconstancy　to　thank　you　for　this　rare　gem。　Oh；　madame；　I　have　indeed　reason　to　forgive　you　for　the　past；　to　be　grateful　to　you　as　long　as　I　live。　But　for　you　I　should　never　have　married　the　Princess　Wilhelmina。　What　no　menaces；　no　entreaties；　no　commands　of　the　king　could　accomplish；　your　faithlessness　effected。　I　married！　God；　in　his　goodness；　chose　you　to　be　a　mediator　between　me　and　my　fate；　it　was　His　will　that；　from　your　hand；　I　should　receive　my　life's　blessing。　You　cured　me　of　a　wandering　and　unworthy　passion；　that　I　might　feel　the　truth　and　enjoy　the　blessing　of　a　pure　love；　and　a　love　which　now　fills　my　heart　and　soul；　my　thoughts；　my　existence　for　my　darling　wife。〃

〃Ah；　you　are　very　cruel；〃　said　Louise；　scarcely　able　to　suppress　her　tears　of　rage。

〃I　am　only　true；　madame；〃　said　the　prince；　smiling。　〃You　wished　to　know　of　me　if　I　were　still　angry　with　you；　and　I　reply　that　I　have　not　only　forgiven；　but　I　bless　your　inconstancy。　And　now；　I　pray　you　let　us　end　this　conversation；　which　I　will　never　renew。　Let　the　past　die　and　be　buried！　We　have　both　of　us　commenced　a　new　life　under　the　sunshine　of　a　new　love；　we　will　not　allow　any　cloud　of　remembrances　to　cast　a　shadow　upon　it。　Look；　the　beautiful　shepherdesses　are　seeking　flowers　in　the　meadows；　and　my　wife　stands　alone　upon　the　borders　of　the　lake。　Allow　me　to　join　her；　if　only　to　see　if　the　clear　waters　of　the　lake　reflect　back　her　image　as　lovely　and　enchanting　as　the　reality。〃

The　prince　bowed；　and　with　hasty　steps　took　the　path　that　led　to　the　lake。

Louise　looked　at　him　scornfully。　〃He　despises　me　and　he　loves　her　fondly；　but　shedoes　the　princess　love　him？not　so！　her　glance　is　cold；　icy；　when　she　looks　upon　him；　and　to…day　I　saw　her　turn　pale　as　the　prince　approached　her。　No；　she　loves　him　not；　but　who　then　who？　she　is　young；　ardent；　and；　it　appears　to　me；　impressible；　she　cannot　live　without　love。　I　will　find　out；　a　day　will　come　when　I　will　take　vengeance　for　this　hour。　I　await　that　day！〃

While　Louise　forced　herself　to　appear　gay；　in　order　to　meet　her　husband　without　embarrassment；　and　the　prince　walked　hastily　onward；　the　princess　stood　separated　from　her　ladies；　on　the　borders　of　the　lake；　with　the　Count　Kalkreuth　at　her　side。　The　count　had　been　appointed　her　cavalier　for　the　day；　by　the　prince　her　husband；　she　seemed　to　give　her　undivided　attention　to　the　swans；　who　were　floating　before　her；　and　stretching　out　their　graceful　necks　to　receive　food　from　her　hands。　As　she　bowed　down　to　feed　the　swans；　she　whispered　lightly；　〃Listen；　count；　to　what　I　have　to　say　to　you。　If　possible；　laugh　merrily；　that　my　ladies　may　hear；　let　your　countenance　be　gay；　for　I　see　the　prince　approaching。　In　ten　minutes　he　will　be　with　us；　do　you　understand　my　low　tones？〃

〃I　understand　you；　princess；　alas！　I　fear　I　understand　without　words；　I　have　read　my　sentence　in　the　eyes　of　your　husband。　The　prince　suspects　me。〃

〃No；〃　said　she；　sadly　bowing　down　and　plucking　a　few　violets；　which　she　threw　to　the　swans；　〃he　has　no　suspicion；　but　he　loves　me。〃

The　count　sprang　back　as　if　wounded。　〃He　loves　you！〃　he　cried；　in　a　loud；　almost　threatening　tone。　〃For　pity's　sake　speak　low；〃　said　the　princess。　〃Look；　the　ladies　turn　toward　us；　and　are　listening　curiously；　and　you　have　frightened　the　swans　from　the　shore。　Laugh；　I　pray　you；　speak　a　few　loud　and　jesting　words；　count；　I　implore　you。〃

〃I　cannot；〃　said　the　count。　〃Command　me　to　throw　myself　into　the　lake　and　I　will　obey　you　joyfully；　and　in　dying　I　will　call　your　name　and　bless　it；　but　do　not　ask　me　to　smile　when　you　tell　me　that　the　prince　loves　you。〃

〃Yes；　he　loves　me；　he　confessed　it　to…day；〃　said　the　princess；　shuddering。　〃Oh；　it　was　a　moment　of　inexpressible　horror；　a　moment　in　which　that　became　a　sin　which；　until　then；　had　been　pure　and　innocent。　So　long　as　my　husband　did　not　love　me；　or　ask　my　love；　I　was　free　to　bestow　it　where　I　would　and　when　I　would；　so　soon　as　he　loves　me；　and　demands　my　love；　I　am　a　culprit　if　I　refuse　it。〃

〃And　I　false　to　my　friend；〃　murmured　Kalkreuth。

〃We　must　instantly　separate；〃　whispered　she。　〃We　must　bury　our　love　out　of　our　sight；　which　until　now　has　lived　purely　and　modestly　in　our　hearts；　and　this　must　be　its　funeral　procession。　You　see　I　have　already　begun　to　deck　the　grave　with　flowers；　and　that　tears　are　consecrating　them。〃　She　pointed　with　her　jewelled　hand　to　the　bouquet　of　white　camelias　which　adorned　her　bosom。

〃It　was　cruel　not　to　wear　my　flowers；〃　said　the　count。　〃Was　it　not　enough　to　crush　me？must　you　also　trample　my　poor　flowers；　consecrated　with　my　kisses　and　my　whispers；　under　your　feet？〃

〃The　red　roses　which　you　gave　me；〃　said　she；　lightly；　〃I　will　keep　as　a　remembrance　of　the　beautiful　and　glorious　dream　which　the　rude　reality　of　life　has　dissipated。　These　camelias　are　superb；　but　without　fragrance；　and　colorless　as　my　sad　features。　I　must　wear　them；　for　my　husband　gave　them　to　me；　and　in　so　doing　I　decorate　the　grave　of　my　love。　Farewell！hereafter　I　will　live　for　my　duties；　as　I　cannot　accept　your　love；　I　will　merit　your　highest　respect。　Farewell；　and　if　from　this　time　onward　we　are　cold　and　strange；　never　forget　that　our　souls　belong　to　each　other；　and　when　I　dare　no　longer　think　of　the　past；　I　will　pray　for　you。〃

〃You　never　loved　me；〃　whispered　the　count；　with　pallid；　trembling　lips；　〃or　you　could　not　give　me　up　so　rashly；　you　would　not　have　the　cruel　courage　to　spurn　me　from　you。　You　are　weary　of　me；　and　since　the　prince　loves　you；　you　despise　the　poor　humble　heart　which　laid　itself　at　your　feet。　Yes；　yes；　I　cannot　compete　with　this　man；　who　is　a　prince　and　the　brother　of　a　king；　who〃

〃Who　is　my　husband；〃　cried　she；　proudly；　〃and　who；　while　he　loves　me；　dares　ask　that　I　shall　accept　his　love。〃

〃Ah；　now　you　are　angry　with　me；〃　stammered　the　count；　〃you〃

〃Hush！〃　whispered　she；　〃do　you　not　see　the　prince？　Do　laugh！　Bow　down　and　give　the　swans　these　flowers！〃

The　count　took　the　flowers；　and　as　he　gave　them　to　the　swans；　he　whispe