old fritz and the new era-第78部分

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have　committed　in　doubting　and　cursing　you　during　these　four　years
of　gloom　and　despair。　I　bow　before　you；　Marie；　and　implore　you；　upon
my　knees；　to　forgive　me　all　the　cruel；　harsh　words　that　I　have
utteredthat　I　have　dared　as　a　wretched　fool　to　doubt　you　in　this
long　night　of　despair。　The　day　is　dawning　again　upon　us；　a　new　sun
will　yet　cheer　us　with　its　rays。　Do　not　turn　from　me；　but　look　at
me；　and　grant　me　forgiveness。My　dear　friend　and　father；　speak　for
me；　for　you　know　what　I　have　suffered。　Beg　of　her　to　forgive　me。〃

〃Marie；〃　said　the　venerable　old　man；　approaching　her；　gently　putting
his　arm　around　her；　〃God　has　willed　that　you；　my　poor；　long…tried
child；　should　pass　through　a　season　of　extreme　sorrow。　You　are　now
released；　and　all　that　belonged　to　you　has　vanished！〃

As　he　spoke；　he　signed　to　the　guests　to　withdraw。　Many　had　already
escaped　the　painful　scene　by　the　side…door。　Marie　was　now　alone　in
the　magnificent　apartment；　with　Herr　Gedicke　and　Moritz。　She　still
stood；　with　concealed　face；　in　the　centre　of　the　room。

〃Oh；　Marie；〃　implored　Moritz；　〃hide　not　your　dear　face　from　me！　Read
in　mine　the　deep　grief　of　the　past　and　the　bliss　of　the　future。　I
thank　God　that　this　unnatural　union　is　severed；　and　that　you　are
free。　Be　courageous　to　the　end！〃　Moritz　impetuously　drew　her　hand
away；　revealing　her　tearful　countenance；　as　her　head　sank。　upon　his
shoulder。　〃Can　you　not　forgive　me；　Marie？〃　he　cried；　with　deep
emotion。　〃We　have　both　wandered　through　a　waste　of　grief；　and　now
approach　life　radiant　with　happiness。　Oh；　speak　to　me；　Marie；　can
you　not　love　me　and　forgive　me？〃

She　gazed　into　his　eyes；　and　in　their　depths　read　that　which
gradually　softened　her　hardened　features；　and　caused　a　smile　to　play
upon　her　lip。　〃I　love　you　dearly；　devotedly；　let　this　be　our　parting
word。　Go　forth　into　the　world；　Moritz；　my　affection　will　follow　you
whithersoever　you　wander；　and　my　soul　will　be　true　to　you　through
all　eternity；　though　we　are　forever　separated。　The　poor　wife；　with
her　dismal　retrospections；　must　not　cast　a　shadow　upon　your　future。
Go；　my　belovedItaly　awaits　you；　and　art　will　console　you！〃

〃Follow　me；　dear　Marie；　only　by　your　side　am　I　happy。　You　are　free
and　independent；〃　cried　Moritz。

〃Oh；　father；〃　cried　Marie；　leaning　upon　the　venerable　old　man；
〃explain　to　him　that　I　am　still　the　wife　of　that　hated　man！〃

〃She　is　right；　Philip；　do　not　urge　her　further。　She　must　first　be
legally　separated；　and　this　weary　heart　must　have　time　to　recover
its　wonted　calm。　Go　to　Italy；　and　confide　your　future　and　happiness
to　my　care。　Marie　has　lost　a　mother；　but　she　shall　find　a　father　in
me。　I　will　watch　over　her　until　your　return。〃

Just　then　the　door　opened；　and　Trude　entered。　〃Every　thing　is　ready；
all　the　things　which　used　to　stand　in　the　little　garret…room　are
packed　and　sent　to　the　manufactory。　Shall　we　go；　too；　dear　child？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　cried；　embracing　the　faithful　old　woman。　〃Farewell；
PhilipItaly　calls　you！〃

〃I　will　go；　but　when　I　return　will　you　not　be　my　wife？〃

Marie　gazed　at　Moritz；　radiant　with　happiness；　saying：　〃The　answer
is　engraven　upon　my　heart。　Return；　and　then　I　will　joyfully　respond
to　your　love　before　God　and　man！〃







End