Love and Intrigue. Friedrich von Schiller

Чтение книги онлайн.

      SOPHY. Heavens! As I suspected!

      LADY MILFORD. Yes, Sophy, they are all deceived. The weak prince – the diplomatic baron – the silly marshal – each and all of these are firmly convinced that this marriage is a most infallible means of preserving me to the prince, and of uniting us still more firmly! But this will prove the very means of separating us forever, and bursting asunder these execrable bonds. The cheater cheated – outwitted by a weak woman. Ye yourselves are leading me to the man of my heart – this was all I sought. Let him but once be mine – be but mine – then, oh, then, a long farewell to all this despicable pomp!

       SCENE II. – An old valet of the DUKE'S, with a casket of jewels. The former

      VALET. His serene highness begs your ladyship's acceptance of these jewels as a nuptial present. They have just arrived from Venice.

      LADY MILFORD (opens the casket and starts back in astonishment). What did these jewels cost the duke?

      VALET. Nothing!

      LADY MILFORD. Nothing! Are you beside yourself? (retreating a step or two.) Old man! you fix on me a look as though you would pierce me through. Did you say these precious jewels cost nothing?

      VALET. Yesterday seven thousand children of the land left their homes to go to America – they pay for all.

      LADY MILFORD (sets the casket suddenly down, and paces up and down the room; after a pause, to the VALET). What distresses you, old man? you are weeping!

      VALET (wiping his eyes, and trembling violently). Yes, for these jewels. My two sons are among the number.

      LADY MILFORD. But they went not by compulsion?

      VALET (laughing bitterly). Oh! dear no! they were all volunteers! There were certainly some few forward lads who pushed to the front of the ranks and inquired of the colonel at what price the prince sold his subjects per yoke, upon which our gracious ruler ordered the regiments to be marched to the parade, and the malcontents to be shot. We heard the report of the muskets, and saw brains and blood spurting about us, while the whole band shouted – "Hurrah for America!"

      LADY MILFORD. And I heard nothing of all this! saw nothing!

      VALET. No, most gracious lady, because you rode off to the bear-hunt with his highness just at the moment the drum was beating for the march. 'Tis a pity your ladyship missed the pleasure of the sight – here, crying children might be seen following their wretched father – there, a mother distracted with grief was rushing forward to throw her tender infant among the bristling bayonets – here, a bride and bridegroom were separated with the sabre's stroke – and there, graybeards were seen to stand in despair, and fling their very crutches after their sons in the New World – and, in the midst of all this, the drums were beating loudly, that the prayers and lamentations might not reach the Almighty ear.

      LADY MILFORD (rising in violent emotion). Away with these jewels – their rays pierce my bosom like the flames of hell. Moderate your grief, old man. Your children shall be restored to you. You shall again clasp them to your bosom.

      VALET (with warmth). Yes, heaven knows! We shall meet again! As they passed the city gates they turned round and cried aloud: "God bless our wives and children – long life to our gracious sovereign. At the day of judgment we shall all meet again!"

      LADY MILFORD (walks up and down the room in great agitation). Horrible! most horrible! – and they would persuade me that I had dried up all the tears in the land. Now, indeed, my eyes are fearfully opened! Go – tell the prince that I will thank him in person! (As the valet is going she drops the purse into his hat.) And take this as a recompense for the truth you have revealed to me.