frederick the great and his family-第130部分

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ppear　in　the　simple　but　charming　costume　of　a　wood…nymph；　while　the　prince　had　selected　an　ideal　and　fanciful　hunter's　costume。　Even　in　the　selection　of　huts　the　Princess　Wilhelmina　had　refused　to　make　any　choice；　and　had　drawn　her　number　as　the　others　did；　even　refusing　a　glimpse　of　it　to　her　husband。

This　day　seemed　given　up　to　joy　and　pleasure。　Every　countenance　was　bright　and　smiling；　and　the　wood　resounded　with　merry　laughter；　with　the　tones　of　the　hunter's　horn；　the　baying　of　the　hounds；　which　were　in　Diana's　train；　and　the　singing　of　sweet　songs。　And　still　on　how　many　faces　the　smile　was　assumed；　how　many　sighs　arose；　with　how　many　cares　and　sorrows　were　many　of　these　apparently　happy　creatures　weighed　down？　Even　the　noble　brow　of　the　goddess　Diana　was　not　so　unruffled　as　Homer　describes　it；　her　countenance　expressed　care　and　unrest；　and　in　her　great　black　eyes　there　glowed　such　fire　as　had　never　shone　in　the　orbs　of　the　coy　goddess。

See；　there　is　the　goddess　Diana　crossing　the　wood　breathlessly；　and　hurriedly；　looking　anxiously　around　her；　as　if　she　feared　the　approach　of　some　pursuers；　then　seeing　that　no　one　is　near；　she　hastens　forward　toward　the　hut；　which　stands　amidst　those　bushes。　The　ivy　wreath　is　hanging　before　this　cabin；　but　Diana　does　not　notice　this；　she　knows　what　it　means　and；　besides；　no　one　has　a　right　to　enter　this　hut　but　herself；　for　it　bears　the　number　which　she　drew。

As　she　entered；　Endymion；　the　beautiful　hunter；　advanced　to　greet　her。　〃At　length　you　have　come；　Camilla；〃　he　whispered；　gently；　〃at　length　you　grant　me　the　happiness　of　a　private　interview。　Oh；　it　is　an　eternity　since　I　beheld　you。　You　are　very　cruel　to　me　to　refuse　me　all　intercourse　with　you；　and　to　leave　me　languishing　in　the　distance　for　one　glance　from　you。〃

〃As　if　it　depended　on　me　to　allow　you　to　approach　me。　As　if　I　was　not　guarded　with　argus　eyes　as　a　prisoner　that　is　expected　to　break　loose　and　vanish　at　any　moment。　How　much　trouble；　how　much　cunning　and　deftness　have　I　been　compelled　to　exercise　to　come　here　now。　It　was　a　detestable　idea　of　the　princess　to　give　me　the　/role/　of　Diana；　for　I　have　behind　me　a　band　of　spies；　and　I　assure　you　that　my　coy　huntresses　are　so　fearfully　modest；　that　the　sight　of　a　man　fills　them　with　dread；　and　they　flee　before　him　into　the　wildest　thicket　of　the　woods。〃

〃Perhaps　because　they　have　a　lover　concealed　in　the　thicket；〃　said　Endymion。

Camilla　laughed　aloud。　〃Perhaps　you　are　right。　But　when　my　huntresses　fly；　there　still　remains　that　horrible　argus　who　guards　me　with　his　thousand　eyes　and　never　leaves　my　side。　It　was　from　pure　malice　that　the　prince　gave　that　/role/　to　my　detestable　stepfather；　and　thus　fastened　him　upon　me。〃

〃How　did　you　succeed　in　escaping　the　watchfulness　of　your　argus　to　come　here？〃

〃I　escaped　at　the　moment　the　princess　was　speaking　to　him；　and　my　huntresses　were　pursuing　Actaeon；　which　character　the　Baron　von　Kaphengst　was　representing　with　much　humor。　I　wanted　to　speak　with　you；　for　I　have　so　much　to　relate　to　you。　I　must　open　to　you　my　broken；　my　unhappy　heart。　You　are　my　dear；　faithful　cousin　Kindar；　and　I　hope　you　will　not　leave　your　poor　cousin；　but　give　her　counsel　and　assistance。〃

Baron　von　Kindar　took　Camilla's　offered　hand　and　pressed　it　to　his　lips。　〃Count　upon　me　as　upon　your　faithful　slave；　who　would　gladly　die　for　you；　as　he　cannot　live　for　your　sake。〃

〃Listen　then；　beau　cousin；〃　whispered　Camilla；　smiling。　〃You　know　that　my　stern；　upright　husband　has　left　Berlin　in　order　to　receive　the　post　of　an　ambassador　at　Copenhagen。　I　would　not　accompany　him　because　I　was　daily　expecting　the　birth　of　my　child；　and　the　little　creature　was　so　sensible　as　not　to　enter　the　world　until　after　the　departure　of　its　honored　father；　who；　before　leaving；　had　delivered　me　a　lecture　on　the　subject　of　his　fidelity　and　tenderness；　and　of　my　duties　as　a　lonely　wife　and　young　mother。　I　was　compelled　to　swear　to　him　among　other　things　that　I　would　not　receive　my　beau　cousin　at　my　house。〃

〃And　you　took　that　oath？〃　interrupted　Kindar；　reproachfully。

〃I　was　forced　to　do　so；　or　he　would　not　have　gone；　or　he　would　have　taken　me　with　him。　Besides　this；　he　left　behind　his　old　confidant　the　tutor；　and　told　him　that　you　should　never　be　allowed　to　visit　me。　And　to　place　the　crown　upon　his　jealousy；　he　betrayed　the　secret　of　his　suspicions　to　my　stepfather；　and　demanded　of　him　the　friendly　service　of　accompanying　me　to　all　fetes　and　balls；　and　to　prevent　you　from　approaching　me。〃

〃Am　I　then　so　dangerous？〃　said　Kindar；　with　a　faint　smile。

〃These　gentlemen　at　least　appear　to　think　so；　and　if　I　did　not　care　so　much　for　you；　I　should　really　hate　you；　I　have　suffered　so　much　on　your　account。〃

Baron　von　Kindar　covered　her　hand　with　burning　kisses　for　an　answer　to　this。

〃Be　reasonable；　beau　cousin；　and　listen　to　me；〃　said　Camilla；　as　she　laughingly　withdrew　her　hand。　〃My　husband　has　been；　as　I　said；　in　Copenhagen　for　eight　weeks；　and　has　already　entreated　me　to　join　him　with　the　child；　as　I　have　entirely　recovered。〃

〃The　barbarian！〃　murmured　Kindar。

〃I　have　declined　up　to　this　time　under　one　pretext　or　another。　But　yesterday　I　received　a　letter　from　my　husband；　in　which　he　no　longer　entreats　me；　but　dares；　as　he　himself　expresses　it；　to　command　me　to　leave　Berlin　two　days　after　the　receipt　of　his　letter。〃

〃But　that　is　tyranny　which　passes　all　bounds；〃　cried　Kindar。　〃Does　this　wise　lord　think　that　his　wife　must　obey　him　as　a　slave？　Ah；　Camilla；　you　owe　it　to　yourself　to　show　him　that　you　are　a　free…born　woman；　whom　no　one　dare　command；　not　even　a　husband。〃

〃How　shall　I　show　him　that？〃　asked　Camilla。

〃By　remaining　here；〃　whispered　Kindar。　〃You　dare　not　think　of　leaving　Berlin；　for　you　know　that　the　hour　of　your　departure　would　be　the　hour　of　my　death。　You　know　it；　for　you　have　long　known　that　I　love　you　entirely；　and　that　you　owe　me　some　recompense　for　the　cruel　pain　I　suffered　when　you　married　another。〃

〃And　in　what　shall　this　recompense　consist？〃　asked　Camilla　with　a　coquettish　smile。

Baron　von　Kindar　placing　his　arm　around　her；　whispered：　〃By　remaining　here；　adored　Camilla；　for　my　sakein　declaring　to　your　hated　husband　that　you　will　leave　Berlin　on　no　accountthat　your　honor　demands　that　you　should　prove　to　him　in　the　face　of　his　brutal　commands；　that　these　are　no　commands　for　youand　that　you　will　follow　your　own　will　and　inclination。　Therefore　you　will　remain　in　Berlin。〃

〃Will　you　write　this　letter　for　me？〃

〃If　I　do　so；　will　you　consent　to　remain　here；　and　to　open　your　door　to　me　in　spite　of　the　orders　of　your　husband；　or　the　argus…eyes　of　your　stepfather？〃

〃Write　the　letter；　the　rest　will　arrange　itself；〃　said　Camilla。

〃I　will　write　it　to…night。　May　I　bring　it　to　you　myself　to…morrow　morning？〃

〃If　I　say　no；　will　you　then　be　so　kind　as　to　give　it　to　my　maid？〃

〃I　swear　by　my　honor　that　I　will　only　give　the　letter　into　your　own　hands。〃

〃Well；　then；　my　tyrannical　cousin；　you　force　me　to　open　my　door　to　you　in　spite　of　my　husband　and　my　stepfather；　and　in　the　face　of　this　Cerberus　of　a　tutor　who　guards　my　stronghold。〃

〃But　what　do　I　care　for　these　open　doors　so　long　as　your　heart　remains　closed　against　me；　Camilla？　Ah；　you　laughyou　mock　at　my　sufferings。　Have　you　no　pity；　no　mercy？　You　see　what　I　suffer；　and　you　laugh。〃

〃I　laugh；〃　she　whispered；　〃because　you　are　so　silly；　beau　cousin。　But　listen；　there　is　the　call　of　my　huntressesI　must　hasten　to　them；　or　they　will　surround　this　cabin　and　they　might　enter。　Farewell。　To…morrow　I　will　expect　you　with　the　letter。　Adieu。〃　Throwing　him　a　kiss　with　the　tips　of　her　fingers；　she　hastily　left　the　hut。

Baron　von　Kindar　looked　after　her　with　a　singular　smile。　〃She　is　mine；〃　he　whispered。　〃We　will　have　a　charming　little　romance；　but　it　will　terminate　in　a　divorce；　and　not　in　a　marriage。　I　have　no　idea　of　following　up　this　divorce　by　a　marriage。　God　protect　me　from　being　forced　to　marry　this　beautiful；　frivolous；　coquettish　woman。〃

While　this　scene　was　taking　place　in　one　part　of　the　forest；　the　fete　continued　gayly。　They　sang　and　laughed；　and　jested；　and　no　one　dreamed　that　dark　sin　was　casting　its　cold　shadow　over　this　bright　scenethat　the　cowardly　crime　of　treachery　had　already　poisoned　the　pure　air　of　this　forest。　None　suspected　it　less　than　Prince　Henry　himself。　He　was　happy　and　content　that　this　fete　had　succeeded　so　wellthat　this　bright　autumn　day　had　come　opportunely　to　his　aid。　The　sun　penetrated　to　his　heart　and　made　it　warm　and　joyous。　He　had　just　made　a　little　tour　through　the　forest　with　some　of　his　cavaliers；　and　had　returned　to　the　tent　on　the　bank　of　the　lake；　where　he　had　last　seen　the　princess　amid　a　bevy　of　nymphs；　but　she　was　no　longer　there；　and　none　of　the　ladies　knew　where　she　had　gone。

〃She　has　retired　to　her　hut；〃　said　the　prince　to　himself；　as　he　turned　smilingly　toward　the　thick　woods。　〃The　only　thing　is　to　discover　her　hut；　without　doubt　she　is　there　and　expects　me　to　seek　her。　Now；　then；　may　fortune　assist　me　to　discover　my　beloved。　I　must　find　her　if　only　to　prove　to　her　that　my　love　can　overcome　all　difficulties　and　penetrate　every　mystery。　There　are　twenty…four　hutsI　know　their　situation。　I　will　visit　each；　and　it　will　be　strange　indeed　if　I　cannot　discover　my　beautiful　Wilhelmina。〃

He　advanced　with　hasty　steps　in　the　direction　of　the　huts。　By　a　singular　coincidence　they　were　all　vacant；　the　ivy　wreath　was　displayed　on　none；　and　the　prince　could　enter　and　convince　himself　that　no　one　was　within。　He　had　visited　twenty…three　of　the　huts　without　finding　the　object　of　his　search。　〃I　will　go　to　the　last　one；〃　said　the　prince；　gayly；　〃perhaps　the　gods　have　led　me　astray　only　that　I　might　find　happiness　at　the　end　of　my　path。〃　He　saw　the　last　hut　in　the　distance。　It　nestled　in　the　midst　of　low　bushes；　looking　quiet　and　undisturbed；　and　on　the　door　hung　the　ivy　wreath。　The　heart　of　the　prince　beat　with　joy；　and　he　murmured；　〃She　is　thereI　have　found　her；〃　as　he　hastened　toward　the　hut。　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃I　dare　not　surprise　her。　I　must　consider　the　law　sacred　which　I　made。　The　ivy　wreath　is　before　the　doorno　one　dare　enter。　But　I　will　lie　down　before　the　door；　and　when　she　comes　out　she　roust　cross　my　body　or　fall　into　my　arms。〃　The　prince　approached　th