old fritz and the new era-第66部分

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you　areone　lost　in　sin　and　an　apostate！the　crown　prince　of
Prussia；　a　future　king；　who　will　be　called　to　govern　a　people；　and
knows　not　self…government！　Turn　from　the　path　of　vice　while　it　is
yet　time；　rise　from　the　dust；　that　the　ashes　of　retribution　do　not
bury　you　in　a　living　tomb；　like　the　sinful　Pompeians。　No　monument
marks　the　place　of　the　sinful；　he　sinks　into　the　night　of　oblivion；
or　he　is　cursed　by　succeeding　generations。　Therefore　turn　from　the
errors　of　sin。　Rise　to　virtue；　that　the　blessed　may　approach　you。　I
shudder　in　your　presence。　Woe　to　you！　woe！　woe！〃

The　cloud…portrait　vanished；　and　darkness　reigned　for　a　moment。　The
prince　cried　in　anguish：　〃I　will　hear　no　more；　this　air　oppresses
meopen　the　doorI　renounce　communion　with　the　spirits；　I　will　go
out！〃

The　light　reappeared　in　the　dark　room　and　another　form　hovered　over
the　princeof　grave；　obscure　face；　with　a　great　peruke；　staring　at
him。　He　recognized　the　distinguished　philosopher　Leibnitz；　whom　he
had　desired　to　see；　but　who　now　filled　him　with　unspeakable　terror。
Like　the　former　spirit；　he　also；　when　unanswered；　reproached　the
erring　prince；　conjuring　him　to　return　to　virtue。

As　the　menacing　ghost　disappeared；　the　prince　felt　for　the　door；　and
shook　it　with　the　power　which　terror　lends；　crying；　〃Open；　open！〃　It
opened　not；　and　the　third　summoned；　the　great　elector；　Frederick
William；　appeared；　with　high；　up…lifted　arm；　glittering　eyes；
advancing　with　angry　mien；　shaking　his　lion's　mane　against　the
erring　son　of　his　house；　whom　he　menaced　with　curses　and　revenge；　if
he　did　not　renounce　the　courtesan　who　had　seduced　him　to　vice　and
unchastity。

〃I　will　become　better；〃　groaned　the　prince。　〃I　will　perform　the　wish
of　the　spirits。　Only　have　mercy　on　mefree　me。　Help！　help！　Open　the
door；　Bischofswerder；　I　will　do　better。　Open　the　door！〃

This　time　it　really　opened；　and　a　long　train　of　dark；　masked　forms
entered　the　dusky　room　surrounding　the　prince；　wringing　their　hands；
imploring　him　to　turn　from　sin；　and　forsake　the　unholy　woman。

They　whimpered；　they　implored；　sinking　upon　their　knees；　beating
their　clinched　hands；　and　weeping：　〃Turn；　beloved　elect！　Renounce
Wilhelmine　Enke；　renounce　vice！　Repulse　the　seductress；　and　turn
your　countenance　to　Virtue　which　you　have　seen　in　all　her　beauty！〃

〃I　will　perform　that　which　you　demand；〃　wept　the　prince；　as　the
deathly　terror　and　nervous　excitement　made　him　yielding。

〃Swear！〃　cried　the　chorus　of　masks。

〃I　swear　that　Wilhelmine　Enke　shall　no　longer　be　my　mistress。　I
swear　by　all　that　is　holy　that　I　will　renounce　her！　I〃

Voice　failed　him；　there　was　a　ringing　and　buzzing　in　his　ears；　every
thing　swam　before　his　eyes；　and　he　sank　fainting。　The　prince　awoke
after　long　unconsciousness；　and　found　himself　upon　his　bed　in　the
new　palace　at　Potsdam；　Bischofswerder　at　his　side；　watching　him　with
the　tenderest　sympathy。　He　bent　over　him　and　pressed　his　hand　to　his
lips　with　a　cry　of　delight。　〃Heaven　be　praised；　my　dear　prince；　you
have　awaked　to　commence　a　new　life！　You　now　belong　to　the　virtuous
and　honorable；　whom　the　Invisible　Fathers　bless！〃

〃Is　it　true；　Bischofswerder；〃　said　the　prince；　languidly；　〃that　I
have　sworn　to　renounce　Wilhelmine　Enke；　and　never　to　love　her　more？〃

〃You　have　sworn　it　by　all　that　is　holy；　and　all　in　heaven　and　on
earth　have　heard　your　oath；　and　there　is　joy　thereat。〃

The　prince　turned　his　head；　that　Bischofswerder　might　not　see　the
tears　streaming　down　his　cheeks。




CHAPTER　XXXIII。

THE　RETURN　HOME。


The　beautiful　house　which　Herr　Ebenstreit　von　Leuthen　possessed　upon
the　finest　street　in　Berlin；　〃Unter　den　Linden；〃　had　been　newly
arranged　and　splendidly　ornamented　since　his　marriage　and　elevation
to　a　title；　and　now　awaited　his　arrival。　For　many　weeks　mechanics
and　artists　had　been　busily　employed；　and　the　good　housekeeper；　old
Trude；　saw　with　bewildering　astonishment　the　daily　increasing
splendor　of　gilded　furniture；　costly　mirrors　and　chandeliers；　soft
carpets；　tapestries；　and　gold…embroidered　curtains；　exquisite
paintings　and　statuary；　which　the　possessor　had　forwarded　from
Italy；　and　many　other　objects　of　art　standing　upon　gilt　and　marble
tables。

Every　thing　was　completed。　The　bustle　of　the　busy　workmen　had
ceased；　and　Trude　slowly　wandered　through　the　solitary　rooms；
examining　every　article。　Her　face　bespoke　dissatisfaction；　and　a
smile　of　contempt　was　visible　there。

〃Miserable　trash；　for　which　they　have　sold　my　poor　child！〃　murmured
the　old　woman。　〃For　these　worthless；　glittering　toys　have　they
ruined　the　happiness　of　the　dear　innocent　heart；　and　on　them　the
guilt　will　fall　if　her　soul　is　lost！　I　remark　how　she　is　changed　in
her　letters　since　her　shameful；　mercenary　marriage。　She　writes　of
nothing　but　the　arrangement　of　her　house；　and　speaks　as　if　the
beauty　and　costliness　of　things　were　only　to　be　thought　of；　and
there　is　not　even　a　confidential；　heart…felt　word　for　her　old　Trude。
It　would　seem　as　if　she　had　forgotten　all　former　objects　of
interest。　Oh；　what　trouble　and　sorrows　the　rich　have！　That　good…for…
nothing　money　hardens　their　hearts　and　makes　them　evil　and　selfish。〃

The　loud　ringing　of　a　bell　sounded　through　the　solitary　drawing…
rooms。

〃That　is；　undoubtedly；　the　general's　wife；〃　said　Trude；　shaking　her
head。　〃She　rings　as　if　she　would　announce　the　king；　with　her　nose
turned　up　so　high；　or　as　if　she　were　the　money…sacks　of　her　son…in…
law！〃

Trude　was　right；　her　shrill　voice　was　heard　ordering　the　steward；
who　had　but　just　arrived。　〃It　is　abominable；　it　is　unheard　of！〃　she
cried；　as　with　a　heavy　push　she　burst　open　the　door；　〃this　man
presumes　to　contradict　me；　andah；　there　you　are；　Trude！〃

〃Here　I　am；〃　she　answered；　〃were　you　looking　for　me？〃

〃Yes；　and　I　would　ask　you　if　my　orders　are　not　the　same　as　if　given
by　Herr　Ebenstreit　von　Leuthen　or　his　wife；　or　have　you　instructed
the　new　steward　otherwise；　which；　it　is　laughable　to　say；　you　have
engaged？〃

〃No；　I　have　not　instructed　him　thus。　Dear　Marie　has　not　ordered　it
in　her　letter。〃

〃Dear　Marie；〃　repeated　Frau　von　Werrig。　〃How　can　you　permit　yourself
to　speak　so　intimately　of　the　rich　Baroness　von　Ebenstreit？〃

〃Very　true；　it　is　not　right；〃　sighed　Trude；　〃I　beg　pardon。〃

〃I　came　here　to　see　if　every　thing　was　in　readiness；　and　ordered　the
steward　to　ornament　the　doors　and　corridors　with　garlands　of
flowers；　he　has　had　the　boldness　to　tell　me　he　dares　not　do　it！〃

〃He　is　right；　Frau　von　Leuthen。　Baroness　Ebenstreit　von　Leuthen
（have　I　got　the　title　right？）　wrote　and　expressly　forbade　any
festivity　to　greet　her　arrival。　Here　is　the　letterI　carry　it
around　with　me；　I　will　read　it　to　you：　'I　expressly　forbid　any
manifestation　whatever　to　be　made　at　our　return；　whether　of　garlands
or　flowers；　as　they　are　only　hypocrisy　and　falsehood。　I　wish　no　one
there　to　receive　meremember；　Trude；　no　one！　Inform　my　family　that；
as　soon　as　I　have　recovered　from　the　fatigue　of　the　journey；　I　will
make　them　the　visit　of　duty　with　the　baron。'〃

〃What　cold；　heartless　words　are　these！　One　could　hardly　believe　that
a　daughter　was　writing　of　her　parents。〃

〃On　her　wedding…day　she　perhaps　forgot　that　she　had　any；〃　said
Trude；　shrugging　her　shoulders；　〃and　she　should　not　be　at　once
reminded　of　that　trying　occasion　on　her　return。　I　expect　her　every
moment；　as　the　courier　has　already　arrived　an　hour　ago；　and　it　would
be　better〃

〃You　cannot　be　so　impudent　as　to　tell　me　to　leave？　Indeed；　I　will
not　be　prevented　from　waiting　to　receive　my　only　child　that　I　have
not　seen　for　three　years。　One　can　well　believe　that　a　mother　would
be　impatient　to　embrace　her　dear　daughter！　I　have　no　other　happiness
but　my　beloved　child；　and　I　long；　unspeakably；　to　press　her　to　my
heart　and　tell　her　my　sorrow。〃

〃Sorrow！　is　it　possible　that　Frau　von　Werrig　has　any　griefs？　I
supposed　there　was　nothing　in　the　world　troubled　her。〃

〃And　yet　I　am　very　much　tormented。　I　can　well　tell　you；　Trude；　as
you　are　familiar　with　our　circumstances；〃　sighed　the　countess。　〃You
know　the　general　is　tolerably　well；　the　journeys　to　Wiesbaden　and
Teplitz　have　cured　him　of　the　gout　unfortunately；　so　that　he　can　go
about。〃

〃Are　you　sorry　for　that；　Frau　von　Werrig？〃

〃Certainly　I　am；　Trude；　as　he　has　returned　to　his　former　habits；
frequenting　the　society　of　drinking…houses　and　gamblers。　Imagine　the
general　played　yesterday；　lost　all　his　ready　money；　and　that　was　not
enough；　but　signed　away　the　year's　pension　from　Herr　von　Ebenstreit；
during　which　time　we　have　nothing　but　the　miserable　army　annuity　to
live　upon。〃

〃Then　your　income　will　be　less　to　live　upon　than　formerly；　for　dear
Marie　earned　something　with　her　flowers　and　lessons　which　she　gave
to　you；　although　she　was　never　thanked　for　it。　She　was　then　my　dear
good　Marie；　so　industrious　and　patient；　and　worked　untiringly　for
her　parents！　Then　she　forgot　them　not；　and　toiled　early　and　late；
and；　oh；　it　breaks　my　heart　to　think　of　it；　and　I　must　cry　in　your
presence！

She　raised　the　corner　of　her　dark…blue　apron　and　dried　her　eyes；
holding　it　there　as　she　continued　to　weep。

〃What　an　ugly　apron！〃　cried　the　countess；　〃and　how　meanly　you　are
dressed　altogether！　Is　that　the　way　you　intend　to　go　looking　as　the
housekeeper　of　a　rich　and　genteel　family？　Go；　Trude；　quickly；　and
put　something　better　on；　that　you　may　receive　your　master　and
mistress　in　a　suitable　dress。〃

〃I　shall　remain　as　I　am；　for　I　am　very　properly　dressed。　It　may　not
be　suitable　for　a　housekeeper；　but　it　becomes　old　Trude；　and　it　is
my　Sunday　frock；　which　I　always　wore　when　I　was　maid…of…all…work　to
you。　You　may　not　remember　it；　but　dear　Marie　（I　should　say　Baroness
von　Ebenstreit）　will；　perhaps；　and　it　may　recall　her　little　room　in
the　garret；　and　then〃

〃And　then　she　will　at　last　think；　Trude；　how　we　took　care　of　her；
and　how　thankful　she　ought　to　be　to　her　parents　that　they　married
her　to　a　rich　man。　If　Marie　sees　it　at　last〃

〃You　forget　with　whom　you　speak；　Frau　von　Werrig；〃　Trude　interrupted
her；　scornfully；　〃and　that　it　does　not　become　you　to　speak　of　Marie
to　old　Trude；　but　you　should　remember　her　title。〃

〃Well；　then；　when　Baroness　von　Ebenstreit　enters　this　costly　house；
she