old fritz and the new era-第32部分

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father　sprang　up　suddenly；　with　clinched　fist；　but　instead　of　bitter
invectives　only　a　fearful　shriek　of　pain　was　heard；　as　he　sank
groaning　and　whimpering　into　his　armchair。　The　gout　had　again　seized
its　victim。　Anger　had　excited　the　general's　blood；　and　had　also
brought　on　the　pain　in　his　leg　again。　His　wife　took　no　notice　of　his
cries　and　groans；　for　it　was　quite　as　agreeable　to　her　to　be　the
only　speaker；　and　have　her　moaning　husband　a　kind　of　assenting
chorus。　〃Leave　each　other！〃　she　commanded；　as　she　approached　the
lovers；　flourishing　her　long　shrivelled　arms　about。　〃Leave　each
other；　and　leave　my　house！〃

Laying　her　hand　on　Marie's　arm；　which　was　thrown　around　her　lover's
neck；　she　endeavored　to　tear　her　away；　and　draw　her　daughter　toward
herself。　But　Marie　clung　only　the　more　firmly；　and　Moritz　pressed
her　more　fervently　to　his　heart。　They　heeded　not　and　heard　not　the
outburst　of　anger　which　the　mother　gave　way　to。　They　read　in　each
other's　eyes　the　bliss；　the　joy　of　meeting　again；　and　the　assurance
of　constant；　imperishable　love。

〃You　are　pale　and　thin；　my　beloved！〃

〃Sorrow　for　you　is　consuming　me；　Marie；　but；　thank　Heaven；　you　are
unchanged；　and　beautiful　as　ever！〃

〃Hope　and　love　have　consoled　and　strengthened　me；　Philip。〃

〃Enough！　I　forbid　you　to　speak　another　word　to　each　other；〃　and　with
the　power　which　rage　lends；　the　mother　tore　Marie　away。　〃Herr
Moritz；　will　you　tell　me　by　what　right　you　force　yourself　into　our
house；　and　surprise　us　like　a　street…thief　in　our　peaceful　dwelling？
But　no！　you　need　not　tell　me；　I　will　not　listen　to　you。　Those　who
permit　themselves　to　enter　our　room　unasked　and　unwelcomedI　will
have　nothing　to　say　to　them。　Leave！　there　is　the　door！　Out　with　you；
off　the　threshold！〃

With　calm　demeanor；　Moritz　now　approached　Fran　von　Werrig；　demanding
her　pardon；　saying：　〃You　see；　madame；　that　I　am　not　so　unwelcome
here；　therefore　you　will　be　obliged　to　let　me　remain。〃

〃Yes；　that　she　will；〃　sneered　Trude；　outside　the　door。　〃It　will　be
difficult　for　her　to　send　him　off　so　long　as　I　am　unwilling。〃

〃No；　I　will　not　permit　it。　We　have　nothing　to　do　with　each　other。
Out　of　my　sight！Away！〃

〃Away！〃　cried　the　general。　〃Oh；　the　gout；　the　maddening　pains！　I
cannot　throw　the　bold　fellow　out　of　the　house！　I　must　lie　here；　and
writhe　like　a　worm！　I　cannot　be　master　of　my　house。　Oh；　oh！　what
pain！〃

〃Stay；　Philip；〃　whispered　Marie；　as　she　again　leaned　toward　Moritz。
〃They　wish　to　sell　me　and　force　me　to　a　hated　marriage。　Do　not
yield！　save　me！〃

〃You　are　mine；　Marie；　yon　have　sworn　to　me　eternal　constancy；　and　no
one　can　compel　you　to　marry　if　you　do　not　wish　to。〃

〃We　are　her　parents；　we　can；　and　we　will　compel　her；〃　triumphantly
cried　Frau　von　Werrig。　〃The　king　has　given　his　consent；　and　if　it　is
necessary　we　will　drag　her　to　the　altar　by　force！〃

〃Do　it；　mother；　and　I　will　say　no　before　all　the　world。〃

〃We　will　take　care　that　no　one　hears　you　but　the　priest；　and　he　will
not　listen；　as　he　knows　that　the　king　has　commanded　you　to　say　yes！〃

〃But　God　will　hear　her；　Frau　yon　Werrig；　and　He　will　take　vengeance
on　the　cruel；　heartless　mother。〃

〃I　will　await　this　vengeance；〃　she　sneered。　〃It　does　not　concern
you；　and　you　need　not　trouble　yourself　about　it。　Leave　the　house！〃

〃I　came　here　to　speak　with　you；　and　I　will　not　go　away　until　you
have　listened　to　me。〃

〃Then　I　will　leave；　for　I　will　not　hear　you；　and　I　command　you　to
follow　me；　Marie！〃

She　seized　Marie　with　irresistible　force；　and　drew　her　toward　the
side　door；　which　was　fast。　Then　hurried　toward　the　entrance；
dragging　her　daughter　after　her；　but　shook　it　in　vain；　that　door　was
fastened　also。

〃Oh！　I　could　kiss　myself；〃　murmured　Trude；　as　she　patted　her　old；
wrinkled　cheeks。　〃I　was　as　cunning　and　wise　as　Solomon。　There；
shriek　for　Trude；　order　her　to　open　it。　Trude　is　not　there；　and　she
has　no　ears　for　you！〃

〃This　is　a　plota　shameful　plot！〃　cried　Frau　yon　Werrig；　stamping
her　feet。　〃That　good…for…nothing　creature；　Trude；　is　in　it。　She　has
locked　the　doors；　and　the　schoolmaster　paid　her　for　it。〃

Trude　shook　her　fist　at　her　mistress　behind　the　door。　〃Wait！　that
good…for…nothing　creature　will　punish　you！　You　shall　have　something
to　be　angry　about　with　me　every　day。〃

〃I　swear　to　you　that　I　do　not　know　who　locked　the　doors；〃　replied
Moritz；　calmly。　〃But　whoever　did　it；　I　thank　them　from　the　depths　of
my　soul；　for　it　forces　you　to　listen　to　me；　and　may　love　give　my
words　the　power　to　soften　your　heart。　General　and　Frau　von　Werrig；　I
conjure　you　to　have　compassion　upon　us。　Is　it　possible　that　you　are
deaf　to　the　cry　of　grief　of　your　own　child？〃

Suddenly　assuming　a　contemptuous　calm；　Frau　von　Werrig　sank　back
upon　the　divan　with　great　dignity。　〃As　I　am　obliged　to　listen　to
you；　through　a　shameful　deception；　let　it　be　so。　Try　to　make　ears　in
my　heart；　which　you　say　is　deaf。　Let　me　listen　to　your　wonderful
eloquence！〃

〃Oh；　Philip！〃　said　Marie；　clasping　his　arms；　〃you　see　it　will　all　be
in　vain。〃

〃Let　me　hope　to　succeed　in　awakening　a　spark　of　loving　mercy；　as
Moses　caused　the　fountain　to　gush　from　the　rock。A　year　since　you
turned　me　insultingly　from　your　door；　Frau　von　Werrig；　and　you
forbade　me　with　scorn　and　contempt　to　ever　cross　your　threshold。　In
the　rebellious　pride　of　my　heart　I　swore　never　to　do　it　again；　never
to　speak　to　those　who　had　so　injured　me。　The　holy；　pure　love　which
binds　me　to　this　dear　girl　has　released　me　from　my　oath。　We　have
tried　to　live　separated　from　each　other　a　long　year；　an
inconsolable；　unhappy　year！　We　hoped　to　renounce　each　other；
although　we　could　not　forget。　Marie；　as　an　obedient　daughter；　obeyed
your　commands；　and　returned　the　ring；　which　I　gave　her　in　a　moment
of　affection　and　holy　trust。　I　released　her　from　the　oath　of
constancy；　and　made　her　free！　But　it　is　in　vain！　During　this　year　I
have　striven　with　sorrow　as　a　man；　helpless　in　a　desert；　who　writhes
in　the　folds　of　the　poisonous　serpent。　I　should　have　gone　mad　if　a
consoling　word　from　a　great　and　noble　mind　had　not　roused　me　from　my
desolation；　and　if　love　had　not　shed　a　ray　of　light　into　my
benighted　soul。　I　listened　no　longer　to　sickening　pride　and　humbled
sense　of　honor。　Love　commanded　me　to　come　here；　and　I　came　to　ask
you；　Marie；　in　the　presence　of　your　parents；　if　you　will　be　my　wife；
if　you　will　accept　my　poor；　insignificant　name；　and　be　contented　by
my　side　to　lead　a　quiet；　modest　existence。　I　can　only　earn
sufficient　to　assure　us　a　peaceful　life。　I　have　no　splendor；　no
treasures　to　offer　you；　but　only　my　love；　my　heart；　my　life；　my
whole　thought　and　being。　Will　you　accept　it；　Marie？〃

〃I　do　accept　it；　Moritz；　as　the　greatest　happiness　of　my　life。　I
desire　only　your　love；　and　I　can　return　only　my　love　to　you！　Here　is
my　hand；　Philip；　it　belongs　to　you　alone！　Let　us　kneel　in　humility
before　my　parents；　and　implore　their　blessing。Oh；　my　father　and
mother；　have　pity　upon　us！　See　this　dear　man；　to　whom　my　whole　heart
belongs。　I　desire　only　to　live　and　toil　with　him。　There　are　no
riches；　no　treasures；　to　compare　with　his　love！〃

〃General　and　Frau　von　Werrig；　grant　me　the　wife　of　my　heart！〃　cried
Philip　Moritz；　deeply　moved。　〃It　is　true；　I　am　not　worthy　of　her；　I
have　no　name；　no　position；　to　offer　her；　but　I　swear　to　strive　to
gain　it　for　her。　I　will　win　by　my　talents　and　knowledge　a
distinguished　name；　and　perhaps　one　day　you　will　concede　to　my　fame
that　I　am　a　noble　man；　though　not　a　nobleman。　Will　you　separate　two
hearts　which　belong　to　each　other？　Take　me　for　your　son…in…law；　and
I　swear　to　be　devoted　and　faithful；　to　love　and　honor　you　for　your
daughter's　sake。　I　can　say　no　morewords　cannot　express　all　that　I
feel。　Love　causes　me　to　kneel　before　you；　love　makes　me　humble　as　a
child。　I　implore　you　to　give　me　your　daughter　in　marriage。〃

〃I　also　implore　you；〃　cried　Marie；　sinking　down　beside　Moritz；　〃give
to　me　this　man；　whom　I　love　and　honor；　for　my　husband。〃

It　was　a　beautiful　and　impressive　scenethese　two　young　beings
pleading　for　happiness；　their　eyes　flashing　with　the　inspiration　of
feeling；　conscious　that　they　were　one　in　affection；　and　ready　to
combat　the　whole　world　for　each　other。　But　Frau　von　Werrig　was
immovable；　and　the　general　was　too　much　occupied　with　his　gouty；
throbbing　leg　even　to　cast　a　look　upon　the　beautiful　group　of　youth；
love；　manly　determination；　and　tender　resignation。

Outside　the　door；　Trude　knelt　imploringly；　with　folded　hands；　while
the　tears　ran　down　her　old　cheeks　in　big　drops。　〃O　God；　I　well　know
that　they　have　no　pity；　have　mercy　Thou；　and　cause　my　dear　Marie　to
be　happy！　Suffer　not　that　that　hard…hearted　woman　should　sell　her；
and　marry　her　to　that　bad　man　my　Marie　despises。　I　well　know　that　I
am　a　poor　creature；　and　not　worthy　that　Thou　shouldst　listen　to　me；
O　Lord！　But　I　love　that　young　girl　as　if　she　were　my　own　child；　and
I　would　give　my　heart's　blood　for　her。　Oh；　my　God！　I　implore　Thee　to
let　my　Marie　be　happy！〃　Then　she　continued；　as　she　rose　from　her
knees。　〃Now；　I　have　spoken；　and　I　commit　every　thing　to　God；　and　He
will　do　what　is　best。　She　has　been　obliged　to　listen　to　him；　and　if
it　cannot　be　otherwise；　he　must　go。〃

Carefully　old　Trude　unlocked　both　doors；　and　then　stopped　to　listen。

Trude　was　right；　there　was　no　mercy　in　Frau　von　Werrig's　heart。
〃Have　you　finished？　Have　you　any　thing　more　to　say？〃　she　asked；　in
her　most　unsympathizing　manner。

〃Nothing　more　with　our　lips；　but　our　hearts　still　implore　you。〃

〃I　do　not　understand　this　language；　sir；　and　you　have　not　succeeded
in　giving　me　hearing；　or　ears　to　hear　with。　In　this　useless　strife　I
will　say　a　last　word；　which　I　hope　will　be　for　life。　You　shall　never
be　the　husband　of　my　daughter！　You　can　never　be　united。〃

Marie　and　Moritz　sprang　from　their　knees；　laying　their　hands　in　each
other's；　and　looked　what　words　could　not　have　better　expressed〃We
are　inseparable；　nothing　can　disunite　us　but　death！〃

〃I　desire　you　not　to　interrupt　me；〃　commanded　Frau　von　Werrig；　〃I
have　listened　to　you；　and　now　you　shall　listen　to　me。　I　promise　you
to　speak　with　more　brevity　than　you　have。　I　will　not　trouble　you
with　useless　phrases　and　tedious　lamentations。　I　will　speak　to　the
point。　Mar