The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Illustrated Edition). Samuel Taylor Coleridge

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СКАЧАТЬ To realize our union — trust me, love!

       They but pretend to wish it.

      Max. But these Tertskys ——

       Why use we them at all? Why not your mother?

       Excellent creature! she deserves from us 10

       A full and filial confidence.

      Thekla. She doth love you,

       Doth rate you high before all others — but —

       But such a secret — she would never have

       The courage to conceal it from my father.

       For her own peace of mind we must preserve it 15

       A secret from her too.

      Max. Why any secret?

       I love not secrets. Mark, what I will do.

       I’ll throw me at your father’s feet — let him

       Decide upon my fortunes! — He is true,

       He wears no mask — he hates all crooked ways — 20

       He is so good, so noble!

      Thekla (falls on his neck). That are you!

      Max. You knew him only since this morn; but I

       Have liv’d ten years already in his presence,

       And who knows whether in this very moment

       He is not merely waiting for us both 25

       To own our loves, in order to unite us.

       You are silent! ——

       You look at me with such a hopelessness!

       What have you to object against your father?

      Thekla. I? Nothing. Only he’s so occupied — 30

       He has no leisure time to think about

       The happiness of us two. [Taking his hand tenderly.

       Follow me!

       Let us not place too great a faith in men.

       These Tertskys — we will still be grateful to them

       For every kindness, but not trust them further 35

       Than they deserve; — and in all else rely ——

       On our own hearts!

      Max. O! shall we e’er be happy?

      Thekla. Are we not happy now? Art thou not mine?

       Am I not thine? There lives within my soul

       A lofty courage—’tis love gives it me! 40

       I ought to be less open — ought to hide

       My heart more from thee — so decorum dictates:

       But where in this place could’st thou seek for truth,

       If in my mouth thou did’st not find it?

SCENE VI

       Table of Contents

      To them enters the COUNTESS TERTSKY.

      Countess. Come!

       My husband sends me for you — It is now

       The latest moment.

       Part you!

      Thekla. O, not yet!

       It has been scarce a moment.

      Countess. Aye! Then time

       Flies swiftly with your Highness, Princess niece! 5

      Max. There is no hurry, aunt.

      Countess. Away! Away!

       The folks begin to miss you. Twice already

       His father has asked for him.

      Thekla. Ha! his father?

      Countess. You understand that, niece!

      Thekla. Why needs he

       To go at all to that society? 10

       ‘Tis not his proper company. They may

       Be worthy men, but he’s too young for them.

       In brief, he suits not such society.

      Countess. You mean, you’d rather keep him wholly here?

      Thekla. Yes! you have hit it, aunt! That is my meaning. 15

       Leave him here wholly! Tell the company —

      Countess. What? have you lost your senses, niece? —

       Count, you remember the conditions. Come!

      Max (to Thekla). Lady, I must obey. Farewell, dear lady!

      [THEKLA turns away from him with a quick motion.

      What say you then, dear lady?

      Thekla (without looking at him). Nothing. Go! 20

      Max. Can I, when you are angry ——

      [He draws up to her, their eyes meet, she stands silent

       a moment, then throws herself into his arms; he

       presses her fast to his heart.

      Countess. Off! Heavens! if any one should come!

       Hark! What’s that noise? It comes this way. —— Off!

      [MAX tears himself away out of her arms, and goes. The

       COUNTESS accompanies him. THEKLA follows him with

       her eyes at first, walks restlessly across the

       room, then stops, and remains standing, lost in

       thought. A guitar lies on the table, she seizes it

       as by a sudden emotion, and after she has played a

       while an irregular and melancholy symphony, she

       falls gradually into the music and sings.

      Thekla (plays and sings).

      The СКАЧАТЬ