minna von barnhelm-第16章
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MIN。 I take that ring again！ That ring？
MAJ。 T。 Yes； dearest Minna； yes。
MIN。 What are you asking me？ that ring？
MAJ。 T。 You received it for the first time from my hand； when our positions were similar and the circumstances propitious。 They are no longer propitious； but are again similar。 Equality is always the strongest tie of love。 Permit me； dearest Minna！ （Seizes her hand to put on the ring。）
MIN。 What！ by force； Major！ No； there is no power in the world which shall compel me to take back that ring！ Do you think that I am in want of a ring？ Oh！ you may see （pointing to her ring） that I have another here which is in no way inferior to yours。
FRAN。 （aside）。 Well； if he does not see it now！
MAJ。 T。 （letting fall her hand）。 What is this？ I see Fraulein von Barnhelm； but I do not hear her。You are pretending。Pardon me； that I use your own words。
MIN。 （in her natural tone）。 Did those words offend you； Major？
MAJ。 T。 They grieved me much。
MIN。 （affected）。 They were not meant to do that； Tellheim。 Forgive me； Tellheim。
MAJ。 T。 Ah！ that friendly tone tells me you are yourself again； Minna： that you still love me。
FRAN。 （exclaims）。 The joke would soon have gone a little too far。
MIN。 （in a commanding tone）。 Franziska； you will not interfere in our affairs； I beg。
FRAN。 （aside； in a surprised tone）。 Not enough yet！
MIN。 Yes； sir； it would only be womanish vanity in me to pretend to be cold and scornful。 No！ Never！ You deserve to find me as sincere as yourself。 I do love you still； Tellheim； I love you still； but notwithstanding
MAJ。 T。 No more； dearest Minna； no more！ （Seizes her hand again； to put on the ring。）
MIN。 （drawing back her hand）。 Notwithstanding； so much the more am I determined that that shall never be；never！Of what are you thinking； Major？I thought your own distress was sufficient。 You must remain here； you must obtain by obstinacyno better phrase occurs to me at the momentthe most perfect satisfaction； obtain it by obstinacy。 。 。 。 And that even though the utmost distress should waste you away before the eyes of your calumniators
MAJ。 T。 So I thought； so I said； when I knew not what I thought or said。 Chagrin and stifling rage had enveloped my whole soul； love itself； in the full blaze of happiness； could not illumine it。 But it has sent its daughter； Pity； more familiar with gloomy misfortune； and she has dispelled the cloud； and opened again all the avenues of my soul to sensations of tenderness。 The impulse of self…preservation awakes； when I have something more precious than myself to support； and to support through my own exertions。 Do not let the word 〃pity〃 offend you。 From the innocent cause of our distress we may hear the term without humiliation。 I am this cause； through me； Minna； have you lost friends and relations； fortune and country。 Through me； in me； must you find them all again； or I shall have the destruction of the most lovely of her sex upon my soul。 Let me not think of a future in which I must detest myself。No； nothing shall detain me here longer。 From this moment I will oppose nothing but contempt to the injustice which I suffer。 Is this country the world？ Does the sun rise here alone？ Where can I not go？ In what service shall I be refused？ And should I be obliged to seek it in the most distant clime； only follow me with confidence； dearest Minnawe shall want for nothing。 I have a friend who will assist me with pleasure。
SCENE VI。 An Orderly； Major von Tellheim； Minna； Franziska
FRAN。 （seeing the Orderly）。 Hist； Major！
MAJ。 T。 （to the Orderly）。 Who do you want？
ORD。 I am looking for Major von Tellheim。 Ah！ you are the Major； I see。 I have to give this letter from his Majesty the King （taking one out of his bag）。
MAJ。 T。 To me？
ORD。 According to the direction。
MIN。 Franziska； do you hear？ The Chevalier spoke the truth after all。
ORD。 （whilst Tellheim takes the letter）。 I beg your pardon； Major； you should properly have had it yesterday； but I could not find you out。 I learnt your address this morning only from Lieutenant Riccaut； on parade。
FRAN。 Do you hear； my lady？That is the Chevalier's minister。 〃What is the name of de ministre out dere； on de broad place？〃
MAJ。 T。 I am extremely obliged to you for your trouble。
ORD。 It is my duty； Major。 （Exit。）
SCENE VII。 Major von Tellheim； Minna； Franziska
MAJ。 T。 Ah！ Minna； what is this？ What does this contain？
MIN。 I am not entitled to extend my curiosity so far。
MAJ。 T。 What！ You would still separate my fate from yours？But； why do I hesitate to open it？ It cannot make me more unhappy than I am： no； dearest Minna； it cannot make us more unhappybut perhaps more happy！ Permit me。 （While he opens and reads the letter； the Landlord comes stealthily on the stage。）
SCENE VIII。 Landlord； Major von Tellheim； Minna； Franziska
LAND。 （to Franziska。） Hist！ my pretty maid！ A word！
FRAN。 （to the Landlord）。 Mr。 Landlord； we do not yet know ourselves what is in the letter。
LAND。 Who wants to know about the letter！ I come about the ring。 The lady must give it to me again； directly。 Just is there； and wants to redeem it。
MIN。 （who in the meantime has approached the Landlord）。 Tell Just that it is already redeemed； and tell him by whomby me。
LAND。 But
MIN。 I take it upon myself。 Go！
（Exit Landlord。）
SCENE IX。 Major von Tellheim； Minna； Franziska
FRAN。 And now； my lady； make it up with the poor Major。
MIN。 Oh！ kind intercessor！ As if the difficulties must not soon explain themselves。
MAJ。 T。 （after reading the letter； with much emotion。） Ah！ nor has he herein belied himself！ Oh！ Minna； what justice！ what clemency！ This is more than I expected； more than I deserved！My fortune； my honour； all is reestablished！Do I dream？ （Looking at the letter； as if to convince himself。） No； no delusion born of my own desires！ Read it yourself； Minna； read it yourself！
MIN。 I would not presume； Major。
MAJ。 T。 Presume！ The letter is to me； to your Tellheim； Minna。 It contains what your uncle cannot take from you。 You must read it！ Do read it。
MIN。 If it affords you pleasure； Major。 （Takes the letter and reads。）
〃My dear Major von Tellheim；
〃I hereby inform you； that the business which caused me some anxiety on account of your honour； has been cleared up in your favour。 My brother had a more detailed knowledge of it； and his testimony has more than proved your innocence。 The Treasury has received orders to deliver again to you the bill in question； and to reimburse the sum advanced。 I have also ordered that all claims which the Paymaster's Office brings forward against your accounts be nullified。 Please to inform me whether your health will allow of your taking active service again。 I can ill spare a man of your courage and sentiments。 I am your gracious King；〃 &c。
MAJ。 T。 Now； what do you say to that； Minna？
MIN。 （folding up and returning the letter）。 I？ Nothing。
MAJ。 T。 Nothing？
MIN。 Stayyes。 That your king； who is a great man； can also be a good man。 But what is that to me！ He is not my king。
MAJ。 T。 And do you say nothing more？ Nothing about ourselves？
MIN。 You are going to serve again。 From Major； you will become Lieutenant… Colonel； perhaps Colonel。 I congratulate you with all my heart。
MAJ。 T。 And you do not know me better？ No； since fortune restores me sufficient to satisfy the wishes of a reasonable man； it shall depend upon my Minna alone； whether for the future I shall belong to any one else but her。 To her service alone my whole life shall be devoted！ The service of the great is dangerous； and does not repay the trouble； the restraint； the humiliation which it costs。 Minna is not amongst those vain people who love nothing in their husbands beyond their titles and positions。 She will love me for myself； and for her sake I will forget the whole world。 I became a soldier from party feelingI do not myself know on what political principlesand from the whim that it is good for every honourable man to try the profession of arms for a time； to make himself familiar with danger； and to learn coolness and determination。 Extreme necessity alone could have compelled me to make this trial a fixed mod
