old fritz and the new era-第10部分

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to　her　bed；　and；　kneeling　before　it；　breathed　a　prayer　over　her
sleeping　child；　then　bent　over　the　cradle　of　her　son；　blessing　and
kissing　him。　〃Sleep　my　boy；　sleep。　I　know　not　that　I　shall　ever　see
thy　beautiful　eyes　open　againwhether　I　shall　ever　again　press　thee
to　my　heart。　Who　can　tell　if　they　may　not　come　this　very　night　to
remove　me　to　prisonto　punish　me　for　you；　my　children；　my　beloved
children！Be　calm；　be　calm！　I　shall　remain　here　until　morning；　at
least；〃　added　she。

She　turned　to　the　nurse；　who；　with　anxious　face　and　folded　hands；
stood　at　the　farthest　corner　of　the　room。　〃Go；　now；　Louisago；　and
take　something　to　eat。　You　must　be　hungry　and　tired。　Buy　at　the　next
store　what　you　need；　but　do　not　stop　to　talk　with　any　one　or　repeat
my　name。　Then　return　quickly；　and　take　care　of　the　children。　Do　not
trouble　yourself　about　meI　need　nothing　more。〃

〃But　you　must　eat　something；　mamselle；　you　must　have　some　supper！〃

Wilhelmine　shook　her　head；　refusing；　and　returned　quickly　to　her　own
room。




CHAPTER　V。

THE　OATH　OF　FIDELITY。


Long　after　nightfall　the　nurse　heard　her　mistress　rapidly　pacing　her
room；　and　talking　aloud　to　herself。　Soon；　however；　Sleep　spread　her
soothing　wings　over　Louisa；　and　she　heard　no　more　the　rapid　steps
and　loud　talking　of　her　mistress；　nor　the　rolling　of　a　carriage
which　stopped　before　the　door；　and　the　quick；　vigorous　steps　of　a
man　mounting　the　stairs。　But　Wilhelmine　heard　them。　Breathless　she
stood；　listening　to　the　approaching　footsteps；　for　she　felt　that
they　had　to　decide　her　futurethe　weal　and　woe　of　her　children！　Was
it　he；　her　beloved；　the　father　of　her　children？　or　was　it　the　king's
bailiff　who　had　followed　her；　and　came　to　seize　her？

Nearer　they　came；　the　bell　was　hastily；　violently　rung。　Wilhelmine
uttered　a　cry　of　delight。　She　recognized　the　voice；　the　commanding
manner；　and　rushed　through　the　anteroom　to　open　the　door。　The　prince
encircled　her　in　his　arms；　pressed　her　to　his　beating　heart；　and；
lifting　her　up；　bore　her　into　the　room。

〃Why　did　you　leave　Potsdam；　Wilhelmine？　Tell　me　quickly；　why　did　you
do　it？〃　asked　the　prince；　tenderly　kissing　her；　as　he　sat　her　upon
the　divan　at　his　side。　Overcome　with　her　tears；　she　could　not
answer。　〃What　mean　these　tears？　Has　any　one　dared　to　wound　your
feelings　or　injure　you？〃

〃Yes；　Frederick；　and　he　who　injures　me　hazards　nothingfor　it　is
the　king！　I　met　him　in　the　park　at　Potsdam　this　morning。　He　has
crushed　me　with　his　scorn　and　anger。　He　has　threatened　me　with　a
fearful　punishmentno　less　than　the　house　of　correction　at　Spandau！
He　has　told　me　that　the　spinning…wheel　is　in　readiness　for　me　if　I
excite　his　further　contempt。〃

A　cry　of　fury　escaped　the　prince。　Springing　up；　he　paced　the　room
with　rapid　strides。　Wilhelmine　remained　upon　the　divan；　but　her
tears　did　not　prevent　her　following　the　prince　with　a　searching
glanceto　read　his　face；　pale　with　rage。　〃I　must　bear　it；〃　he
cried；　beating　his　forehead。　〃I　cannot　protect　those　that　I　love！〃

A　ray　of　joy　lighted　up　Wilhelmine's　face　as　she　listened；　but　it
disappeared　with　the　tears　which　flowed　afresh。　〃I　am　a　poor；
unfortunate　child；〃　she　sobbed；　〃whom　every　one　despises；　and　fears
not　to　injure；　who　has　no　one　to　counsel　or　protect　her；　and　who　is
lost　if　God　does　not　have　compassion　upon　her。〃

The　prince　rushed　to　her；　seizing　both　hands。　〃Wilhelmine；　do　not
drive　me　mad　with　sorrow；〃　he　cried；　trembling　with　excitement　and
anger。　〃Is　it　my　fault　that　I　cannot　protect　you　against　him？　Have　I
not　defended　you　from　all　the　rest　of　the　world？　Have　I　ever　allowed
any　one　to　treat　you　with　contempt？〃

〃I　have　never　given　occasion　for　it；　dearest。　I　have　studiously
avoided　all　men；　to　escape　their　contempt　and　scorn。　Shame　is　hard
to　bear；　fearfully　hard。　I　felt　it　today；　as　his　beautiful　eyes
flashed　upon　me　with　contempt；　as　his　haughty　language　crushed　me　to
the　earth。　This　is　the　yoke；　Frederick　William；　that　I　and　my
children　must　bear　to　our　graves！〃

〃No；　Wilhelmine；　not　as　long　as　we　liveonly　while　he　lives！　Wait；
only　wait；　let　me　rise　from　want　and　slavery；　let　the　day　come　which
makes　me　freewhich　exalts　me：　my　first　act　will　be　to　lift　the
yoke　from　you　and　our　children；　and　woe　to　thosea　thousand　times
woe　to　those　who　would　hold　it　fast！　Only　be　patient；　Wilhelmine；
submit；　and　bear　with　me　the　hard　and　distressing　present。　Tell　me；
my　child；　my　loved　one；　why　did　you　leave　Potsdam　so　suddenly？〃

〃I　was　afraid；　Frederick。　A　kind　of　madness　seized　me　at　the　thought
of　the　king's　bailiffs　carrying　me　off　to　Spandau；　a　nameless
anxiety　confused　my　mind；　and　I　only　realized　that　I　must　escape
that　I　must　conceal　myself。　I　felt　in　greater　security　here　than　at
Potsdam　for　the　night。〃

〃And　you　fled　without　leaving　me　any　sign　or　message　to　tell　me
whither　you　had　gone！　Oh；　Wilhelmine；　what　if　I　had　not　divined　your
hiding…place；　and　had　awaited　at　Potsdam　in　painful　anxiety？〃

〃Then　I　should　have　fled　from　here　at　daybreak；　leaving　my　children；
and　in　some　quiet；　obscure　retreat　have　concealed　myself　from　every
eyeeven　your　own。〃

〃Would　you　have　hidden　yourself　from　me？〃　cried　the　prince；
encircling　her　in　his　arms；　and　pressing　her　to　his　heart。

〃Yes；　Frederick；　when　your　heart　did　not　prompt　you　where　to　find
me；　then　it　would　have　been　a　proof　that　you　were　indifferent　to　me。
When　I　cannot　lean　upon　your　love；　then　there　is　no　longer　any
protection　or　abiding…place　for　me　in　the　world；　and　the　grave　will
be　my　refuge。〃

〃But　you　see　my　heart　revealed　you　to　me；　and　I　am　here；〃　said　the
prince；　smiling。

〃Yes；　Heaven　be　praised；　you　have　come　to　me；〃　she　cried；
exultingly；　throwing　her　arms　about　his　neck；　and　kissing　him
passionately。　〃You　are　here；　I　no　longer　dread　the　old　king's　anger；
and　his　fearful　words　fall　as　spent　arrows　at　my　feet。　You　are　here；
king　of　my　heart；　now　I　have　only　one　thing　to　dread。〃

〃What　is　that；　Wilhelmine？〃

She　bent　close　to　his　ear；　and　whispered：　〃I　fear　that　you　are
untrue　to　me；　that　there　is　some　ground　for　truth　in　those　anonymous
letters；　which　declare　that　you　would　discard　me　and　my　children
also；　for　you　love　anothernot　one　other；　but　many。〃

〃Jealousy；　again　jealous！〃　the　prince　sighed。

〃Oh；　no；〃　said　she；　tenderly；　〃I　only　repeat　what　is　daily　written
me。〃

〃Why　do　you　read　it？〃　cried　the　prince；　vehemently。　〃Why　do　you
quaff　the　poison　which　wicked；　base　men　offer　you？　Why　do　you　not
throw　such　letters　into　the　fire；　as　I　do　when　they　slander　you　to
me？〃

〃Because　you　know；　Frederick；〃　she　answered；　proudly　and　earnestly
〃you　must　know　that　that　which　they　write　against　me　is　slander　and
falsehood。　My　life　lies　open　before　you；　every　year；　every　day；　is
like　an　unsullied　page；　upon　which　but　one　name　stands　inscribed
Frederick　Williamnot　Prince　Frederick　William。　What　does　it
benefit　me　that　you　are　a　prince？　If　you　were　not　a　prince；　I　should
not　be　despised；　my　children　would　not　be　nameless；　without　fortune；
and　without　justice。　No；　were　you　not　a　prince；　I　should　not　have
felt　ashamed　and　grief…stricken；　with　downcast　eyes；　before　the　lady
who　drove　past　in　her　splendid　carriage；　while　I　was　humbly　seated
in　a　miserable　wagon。　No；　were　not　my　beloved　a　prince；　he　could
have　made　me　his　wife；　could　have　given　me　his　name；　and　I　should
to…day　be　at　his　side　with　my　children。　Then；　what　benefit　is　it　to
me　that　you　are　a　prince？　I　love　you　not　that　you　are　one；　but
notwithstanding　it。　And　if　I　love　you　in　spite　of　all　this；　you　must
know　that　my　affection　is　ever…enduring　and　ever…faithfulthat　I
can　never　forget　you；　never　abandon　you。〃

〃And　do　you　believe；　Wilhelmine；　that　I　could　ever　abandon　or
forsake　you？　Is　it　not　the　same　with　me？〃

She　shook　her　head；　sadly　answering：　〃No；　Frederick；　it　is
unfortunately　not　the　same。　You　have　loved　me；　and　perhaps　you　love
me　still；　but　with　that　gentle　warmth　which　does　not　hinder　glowing
flames　to　kindle　near　it；　and　with　their　passionate　fire　overpower
the　slight　warmth。〃

〃It　may　be　so　for　the　moment；　I　grant　it；〃　the　prince　answered；
thoughtfully；　〃but　the　quick；　blazing　fire　soon　consumes　itself；
leaving　only　a　heap　of　ashes；　then　one　turns　to　the　gentle　warmth
with　inward　comfort；　and　rejoices　in　its　quiet　happiness。〃

〃You　confess　loving　another？〃　said　Wilhelmine；　sorrowfully。

〃No；　I　do　not　grant　that；〃　the　prince　cried；　〃but　you　are　a
sensible；　clever　woman；　and　you　know　my　heart　is　easily　excited。　It
is　only　the　meteoric　light　of　the　ignis　fatuus；　soon　extinguished。
Let　it　dance　and　flicker；　but　remember　that　the　only　warmth　which
cheers　and　brightens　my　heart　is　your　love　and　friendship。　You　are
my　first　and　only　love；　and　you　will　be　my　lastthat　I　swear　to
you；　and　upon　it　you　can　rely。　Every　thing　is　uncertain　and　wavering
in　life。　They　have　ruined　me；　lacerated　my　heart；　and　there　is
nothing　more　in　the　world　which　I　honor。　Only　sycophants　and
hypocrites　surround　me；　who　speculate　upon　my　future　greatness；　or
spies；　who　would　make　their　fortune　today；　and　therefore　spy　and
hang　about　me；　in　order　to　be　paid　by　the　reigning　king；　and　who
slander　me　in　order　to　be　favorites　of　his。　No　one　at　court　loves
me；　not　even　my　wife。　How　should　she？　She　is　well　aware　that　I
married　her　only　at　the　command　of　my　royal　uncle；　and　she　accepted
me　almost　with　detestation；　for　they　had　related　to　her　the
unhappiness　of　my　first　marriage；　and　the　happiness　of　my　first
love！　She　has　learned　the　story　of　my　first　wife；　Elizabeth　von
Braunschweig；　and　that　of　my　only　love；　Wilhelmine　Enke！　She　obeyed；
like　myself；　the　stern　command　of　another；　and　we　were　married；　as
all　princes　and　princesses　are；　and　we　have　had　children；　as　they
do。　We　lead　the　life　of　a　political　marriage；　but　the　heart　is
unwed。　We　bow　before　necessity　and　duty；　and；　believe　me；　those　are
the　only　household　gods　in　the　families　of　princes。　Happy　the　man
who；　besides　these　stern　divinities；　possesses　a　little　secret
temple；　in　which　he　can　erect　an　altar　to　true　love　and　friendship；
and　where　he　can　enjoy　a　hidden　happiness。　This　I　owe　to　you；
Wilhelmine；　you　are　the　only　one　in　whom　I　have　confidence；　for　you
have　proved　to　me　that　you