old fritz and the new era-第11部分

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Wilhelmine；　you　are　the　only　one　in　whom　I　have　confidence；　for　you
have　proved　to　me　that　you　love　me　without　self…interest　and　without
ambition。　You　have　said　it；　and　it　is　true；　you　love　me；
notwithstanding　I　am　a　prince。　I　confess　to　you；　there　are　many
lovely　women　of　the　court　who　are　your　rivals；　and　who　would　try　to
separate　us　in　order　to　attract　me　to　themselves。　They　are　beautiful
and　seductive；　and　I　am　young　and　passionate；　and　if　these　lovely
women　have　no　respect　for　my　dignity　as　a　married　man；　how　then
should　I　have　it；　who　married　for　duty；　not　for　love？　But　there　is
one　whom　I　respect　for　disinterestedness　and　fidelity！　Do　you　not
know　who　alone　is　disinterested　and　faithful？who　has　never　seen　in
me　the　prince；　the　future　kingonly　the　beloved　one；　the　manone
who　has　never　wavered；　never　counted　the　cost？that　you　are；
Wilhelmine　Enke；　therefore　we　are　inseparable；　and　you　have　not　to
fear　that　I　can　ever　forsake　you；　even　if　I　am　sometimes　entangled
in　the　magic　nets　of　other　beautiful　women。　The　chains　which　bind　us
together　cannot　be　torn　asunder；　for　a　wonderful　secret　power　has
consecrated　them　with　the　magic　of　true　loveof　heart…felt
friendship。〃

〃Still　they　are　chains；　dearest；〃　sighed　Wilhelmine。　〃You　have　named
them　thus！　The　chains　will　at　last　oppress　you；　and　you　will　forget
the　magic　power　which　binds　you；　and　will　be　free。　No　holy　bond；　no
oath；　no　marriage　tienothing　but　your　love　binds　you　to　me。　I
rejoice　in　it；　and　so　long　as　you　do　not　forsake　me；　I　am　conscious
that　it　is　your　own　free　choice　and　not　force　which　retains　you。〃

〃I　will　give　you　an　outward　sign　of　our　bond　of　union；〃　cried　the
prince。　〃I　will　do　it　today；　as　a　twofold　danger　hangs　over　usthe
king　menaces　you；　and　war　menaces　me。〃

〃Is　it　then　true；　do　you　go　with　the　king　to　the　field？〃　groaned
Wilhelmine。

〃Do　you　wish　me　to　remain？〃　cried　the　prince；　his　eyes　flashing。
〃Shall　I　here　seek　pleasure；　with　effeminate　good　nature；　while　the
king；　in　spite　of　his　age；　exposes　himself　to　all　the　fatigue　of　a
campaign　and　the　danger　of　battle？　This　war　of　the　Bavarian
succession　is　unfortunate；　and　no　one　knows　whether　the　German
empire　will　derive　any　important　advantage　from　our　sustaining　by
force　of　arms　a　little　duchy。　It　is　a　question　whether　it　would　not
be　better　to　abolish　the　little　principalities；　in　order　to
strengthen　the　greater　German　powers。　The　king　will　support　Bavaria；
because　he　envies　Austria　its　possession；　and；　as　he　has　decided
upon　war；　it　becomes　his　crown　prince　to　yield　to　his　decision
without　murmuring。　Therefore；　Wilhelmine；　I　will　today　witness　to
you　the　oath　of　fidelity。　If　God　calls　me　to　Him；　if　I　fall　in
battle；　this　oath　will　be　your　legacy。　I　have　nothing　else　to　leave
you；　thanks　to　the　parsimony　of　my　noble　uncle。　I　am　a　very　poor
crown　prince；　with　many　debts　and　little　money；　and　not　in　a
condition　to　reward　your　love　and　fidelity　otherwise　than　with
promises　and　hopes；　and　letters　of　credit　for　the　future。　Such　a
bill　of　exchange　I　will　write　for　youa　legacy　for　my　dear
Wilhelmine。　Give　me　pen　and　paper。〃

Wilhelmine　hastened　to　her　writing　table　and　brought　him　paper　with
writing　materials。　〃There；　my　Frederick；〃　said　she；　〃there　is　every
thing　necessaryonly　the　ink；　I　fear；　may　be　dried。〃

The　prince　shook　his　head；　smiling。　〃Such　a　lover's　oath　as　I　will
transcribe　for　you　can　be　written　with　no　common　ink。　See；　here　is
my　ink！〃

The　prince　had　suddenly　made　a　slight　incision　in　his　arm；　and；　as
the　blood　gushed　out；　he　dipped　his　pen　in　it；　and　wrote；　then
handed　it　to　Wilhelmine；　saying：　〃Read　it　here；　in　the　presence　of
God　and　ourselves。〃

Wilhelmine　pressed　it　to　her　lips；　and　read；　with　a　solemn　voice：
〃'By　my　word　of　honor　as　a　prince；　I　will　never　forsake　you；　and
only　death　shall　separate　you　from　me。Prince　Frederick　William　of
Prussia。'〃　＇Footnote：　〃Memoires　of　the　Countess　Lichtenau。〃　p。　120。＇

〃By　my　word　of　honor　as　a　prince；　I　will　never　forsake　you；　and　only
death　shall　separate　me　from　you；〃　repeated　the　prince；　as　he　bent
over　Wilhelmine；　lifting　her　in　his　arms　and　placing　her　upon　his
knee。　〃Take　the　paper　and　guard　it　carefully；〃　said　he。　〃When　I　die；
and　you　have　closed　my　eyes；　as　I　trust　you　will；　give　this　paper　to
my　son　and　successor；　for　it　is　my　legacy　to　you；　and　I　hope　my　son
will　honor　it　and　recognize　in　you　the　wife　of　my　heart；　and　care
for　you。〃

〃Oh！　speak　not　of　dying；　Frederick；〃　cried　Wilhelmine；　embracing　him
tenderly；　〃may　they　condemn　me；　and　imprison　me　as　a　criminal；　when
you　are　no　more！　What　matters　it　to　me　what　befalls　me；　when　I　no
longer　possess　you；　my　beloved　one；　my　master？　Not　on　that　account
will　I　preserve　the　precious　paper；　but　for　the　love　which　it　has
given　me；　and　of　which　it　will　one　day　be　a　proof　to　my　children。
This　paper　is　my　justification　and　my　excuse；　my　certificate　and　my
declaration　of　honor。　I　thank　you　for　it；　for　it　is　the　most
beautiful　present　that　I　have　ever　received。〃

〃But　will　you　make　me　no　return；　Wilhelmine？　Will　you　not　swear　to
me；　as　I　have　sworn　to　you？〃

She　took　the　knife　from　the　table　without　answering；　and　pointing　it
to　her　left　arm

〃Oh；　not　there！〃　cried　the　prince；　as　he　sought　to　stay　her　hand。
〃Do　not　injure　your　beautiful　arm；　it　would　be　a　sacrilege。〃

Wilhelmine　freed　herself　from　him；　as　he　sought　to　hold　her　fast；
and　in　the　mutual　struggle　the　knife　sank　deep　into　her　left　hand；
the　blood　gushing　out。　＇Footnote：　The　scar　of　this　wound　remained
her　whole　life；　as　Wilhelmine　relates　in　her　memoirs。See　〃Memoires
of　the　Countess　Lichtenau。〃＇

〃Oh；　what　have　you　done？〃　cried　the　prince；　terrified；　〃You　are
wounded！〃

He　seized　her　hand　and　drew　the　knife　from　the　wound；　screaming　with
terror　as　a　clear　stream　of　blood　flowed　over　his　own。　〃A　physician！
Send　quickly　for　a　physician；〃　cried　he。　〃Where　are　my　servants？〃

Wilhelmine　closed　his　lips　at　this　instant　with　a　kiss；　and　forced
herself　to　smile　in　spite　of　the　pain　which　the　wound　caused　her。
〃Dearest；　it　is　nothing；〃　she　cried。　〃I　have　only　prepared　a　great
inkstandlet　me　write！〃

She　dipped　her　pen　in　the　blood；　which　continued　to　flow；　and　wrote
quickly　a　few　lines；　handing　them　to　the　prince。

〃Read　aloud　what　you　have　written。　I　will　hear　from　your　own　mouth
your　oath。　You　shall　write　it　upon　my　heart　with　your　lips。〃

Wilhelmine　read：　〃By　my　love；　by　the　heads　of　my　two　children；　I
swear　that　I　will　never　forsake　youthat　I　will　be　faithful　to　you
unto　death；　and　will　never　separate　myself　from　you；　that　my
friendship　and　love　will　endure　beyond　the　grave；　that　I　will　ever
be　contented　and　happy　so　long　as　I　may　call　myself　your　Wilhelmine
Enke。〃

〃I　accept　your　oath；　dearest；〃　said　the　prince；　pressing　her　to　his
heart。　〃This　paper　is　one　of　my　choicest　jewels；　and　I　will　never
separate　myself　from　it。　We　have　now　sealed　our　love　and　fidelity
with　our　blood；　and　I　hope　that　you　will　never　doubt　me　again。
Remember　this　hour！〃

〃I　will；〃　she　earnestly　promised；　〃and　I　swear　to　you　never　to
torment　and　torture　you　again　with　my　jealousy。　I　shall　always　know；
and　shall　hold　fast　to　it；　that　you　will　return　to　me。〃

A　violent　knocking　on　the　house　door　interrupted　the　stillness　of
the　night。　A　voice　in　loud；　commanding　tones　called　to　the　night…
watch。

〃Here　I　am！〃　answered　the　porter。　〃Who　calls　me？　And　what　is　the
matter？〃

〃Open　the　door；〃　commanded　the　voice　again。

〃It　is　our　house；〃　whispered　Wilhelmine；　who　had　softly　opened　the
window。　〃It　is　so　dark；　I　can　only　see　a　black　shadow　before　the
door。〃

〃Do　you　belong　to　the　house？〃　asked　the　night…watch。　〃I　dare　let　no
one　in　who　does　not　belong　there。〃

〃Lift　up　your　lantern；　and　look　at　my　livery。　It　is　at　the　king's
order！〃

Wilhelmine　withdrew　from　the　window；　and　hastened　to　the　prince；　who
had　retired　to　the　back　part　of　the　room。

〃It　is　Kretzschmar；　the　king's　footman　and　spy；〃　she　whispered。
〃Hide　yourself；　that　he　does　not　discover　you。　Go　there　to　the
children。〃

〃No；　Wilhelmine；　I　will　remain　here。　I〃

Wilhelmine　pressed　her　hand　upon　his　mouth；　and　forced　him　into　the
side…room；　bolting　the　door。

〃Now；〃　said　she；　〃I　will　meet　my　fate　with　courage；　whatever　may
come；　it　shall　find　me　firm　and　composed。　My　children　are　safe；　for
their　father　is　with　them。〃

She　took　the　light；　and　hastened　into　the　anteroom；　which　was
resounding　with　the　loud　ringing。

〃Who　is　there？〃　she　cried。　〃Who　rings　so　late　at　night？〃

〃In　the　name　of　the　king；　open！〃

Wilhelmine　shoved　back　the　bolt；　opening　the　door。

〃Come　in；〃　she　said；　〃and　tell　me　who　you　are。〃

〃I　think　you　recognize　me；〃　said　Kretzschmar；　with　an　impudent
smile。　〃You　have　often　seen　me　at　Potsdam　in　company　with　the　king。
I　saw　you　this　morning　as　the　king　did　you　the　honor　to　speak　with
you；　and　I　believe　did　not　compliment　you。〃

〃Did　his　majesty　send　you　here　to　say　this　to　me？〃

〃No；　not　exactly　that；〃　answered　he；　smiling；　〃but；　as　you　asked　me；
I　was　obliged　to　answer。　I　have　come　here　with　all　speed　as　courier
from　Potsdam。　I　hope　you　will　at　least　give　me　a　good　trinkgeld。　I
was　commanded　to　deliver　into　your　own　hands　this　paper；　for　which　I
must　have　a　receipt。〃　He　drew　from　his　breast　pocket　a　large　sealed
document；　which　he　handed　to　Wilhelmine。　〃Here　is　the　receipt　all
ready；　with　the　pencil；　you　have　only　to　sign　your　name；　and　the
business　is　finished。〃　He　stretched　himself　with　an　air　of　the
greatest　ease　upon　the　cane　chair；　near　the　door。

Wilhelmine　colored　with　anger　at　the　free　conduct　of　the　royal
footman；　and　hastened　to　sign　the　receipt　to　rid　herself　of　the
messenger；　and　to　read　the　letter。

〃What　will　you　give　me　for　trinkgeld；　Mamselle　Enke？〃　asked　the
footman；　as　she　gave　him　the　receipt。

〃Your　own　rudeness　and　insult；〃　answered　Wilhelmine　proudly；　as　she
turned；　without　saluting　him；　to　the　sitting…room。

Kretzschmar　laughed　aloud。　〃She　will　play　the　great　and　proud　lady；〃
said　he。　〃She　will　get　over　that　when　in　prison。　The　letter　is
without　doubt　an　order　of　arrest；　for　when　the　king　flashes　and
thunders　as　he　did　this　morning；　he　usually　strikes。　I　hope　it　will
agree　with　you。〃　He