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old fritz and the new era-第32部分

小说: old fritz and the new era 字数: 每页4000字

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father sprang up suddenly; with clinched fist; but instead of bitter
invectives only a fearful shriek of pain was heard; as he sank
groaning and whimpering into his armchair。 The gout had again seized
its victim。 Anger had excited the general's blood; and had also
brought on the pain in his leg again。 His wife took no notice of his
cries and groans; for it was quite as agreeable to her to be the
only speaker; and have her moaning husband a kind of assenting
chorus。 〃Leave each other!〃 she commanded; as she approached the
lovers; flourishing her long shrivelled arms about。 〃Leave each
other; and leave my house!〃

Laying her hand on Marie's arm; which was thrown around her lover's
neck; she endeavored to tear her away; and draw her daughter toward
herself。 But Marie clung only the more firmly; and Moritz pressed
her more fervently to his heart。 They heeded not and heard not the
outburst of anger which the mother gave way to。 They read in each
other's eyes the bliss; the joy of meeting again; and the assurance
of constant; imperishable love。

〃You are pale and thin; my beloved!〃

〃Sorrow for you is consuming me; Marie; but; thank Heaven; you are
unchanged; and beautiful as ever!〃

〃Hope and love have consoled and strengthened me; Philip。〃

〃Enough! I forbid you to speak another word to each other;〃 and with
the power which rage lends; the mother tore Marie away。 〃Herr
Moritz; will you tell me by what right you force yourself into our
house; and surprise us like a street…thief in our peaceful dwelling?
But no! you need not tell me; I will not listen to you。 Those who
permit themselves to enter our room unasked and unwelcomedI will
have nothing to say to them。 Leave! there is the door! Out with you;
off the threshold!〃

With calm demeanor; Moritz now approached Fran von Werrig; demanding
her pardon; saying: 〃You see; madame; that I am not so unwelcome
here; therefore you will be obliged to let me remain。〃

〃Yes; that she will;〃 sneered Trude; outside the door。 〃It will be
difficult for her to send him off so long as I am unwilling。〃

〃No; I will not permit it。 We have nothing to do with each other。
Out of my sight!Away!〃

〃Away!〃 cried the general。 〃Oh; the gout; the maddening pains! I
cannot throw the bold fellow out of the house! I must lie here; and
writhe like a worm! I cannot be master of my house。 Oh; oh! what
pain!〃

〃Stay; Philip;〃 whispered Marie; as she again leaned toward Moritz。
〃They wish to sell me and force me to a hated marriage。 Do not
yield! save me!〃

〃You are mine; Marie; yon have sworn to me eternal constancy; and no
one can compel you to marry if you do not wish to。〃

〃We are her parents; we can; and we will compel her;〃 triumphantly
cried Frau von Werrig。 〃The king has given his consent; and if it is
necessary we will drag her to the altar by force!〃

〃Do it; mother; and I will say no before all the world。〃

〃We will take care that no one hears you but the priest; and he will
not listen; as he knows that the king has commanded you to say yes!〃

〃But God will hear her; Frau yon Werrig; and He will take vengeance
on the cruel; heartless mother。〃

〃I will await this vengeance;〃 she sneered。 〃It does not concern
you; and you need not trouble yourself about it。 Leave the house!〃

〃I came here to speak with you; and I will not go away until you
have listened to me。〃

〃Then I will leave; for I will not hear you; and I command you to
follow me; Marie!〃

She seized Marie with irresistible force; and drew her toward the
side door; which was fast。 Then hurried toward the entrance;
dragging her daughter after her; but shook it in vain; that door was
fastened also。

〃Oh! I could kiss myself;〃 murmured Trude; as she patted her old;
wrinkled cheeks。 〃I was as cunning and wise as Solomon。 There;
shriek for Trude; order her to open it。 Trude is not there; and she
has no ears for you!〃

〃This is a plota shameful plot!〃 cried Frau yon Werrig; stamping
her feet。 〃That good…for…nothing creature; Trude; is in it。 She has
locked the doors; and the schoolmaster paid her for it。〃

Trude shook her fist at her mistress behind the door。 〃Wait! that
good…for…nothing creature will punish you! You shall have something
to be angry about with me every day。〃

〃I swear to you that I do not know who locked the doors;〃 replied
Moritz; calmly。 〃But whoever did it; I thank them from the depths of
my soul; for it forces you to listen to me; and may love give my
words the power to soften your heart。 General and Frau von Werrig; I
conjure you to have compassion upon us。 Is it possible that you are
deaf to the cry of grief of your own child?〃

Suddenly assuming a contemptuous calm; Frau von Werrig sank back
upon the divan with great dignity。 〃As I am obliged to listen to
you; through a shameful deception; let it be so。 Try to make ears in
my heart; which you say is deaf。 Let me listen to your wonderful
eloquence!〃

〃Oh; Philip!〃 said Marie; clasping his arms; 〃you see it will all be
in vain。〃

〃Let me hope to succeed in awakening a spark of loving mercy; as
Moses caused the fountain to gush from the rock。A year since you
turned me insultingly from your door; Frau von Werrig; and you
forbade me with scorn and contempt to ever cross your threshold。 In
the rebellious pride of my heart I swore never to do it again; never
to speak to those who had so injured me。 The holy; pure love which
binds me to this dear girl has released me from my oath。 We have
tried to live separated from each other a long year; an
inconsolable; unhappy year! We hoped to renounce each other;
although we could not forget。 Marie; as an obedient daughter; obeyed
your commands; and returned the ring; which I gave her in a moment
of affection and holy trust。 I released her from the oath of
constancy; and made her free! But it is in vain! During this year I
have striven with sorrow as a man; helpless in a desert; who writhes
in the folds of the poisonous serpent。 I should have gone mad if a
consoling word from a great and noble mind had not roused me from my
desolation; and if love had not shed a ray of light into my
benighted soul。 I listened no longer to sickening pride and humbled
sense of honor。 Love commanded me to come here; and I came to ask
you; Marie; in the presence of your parents; if you will be my wife;
if you will accept my poor; insignificant name; and be contented by
my side to lead a quiet; modest existence。 I can only earn
sufficient to assure us a peaceful life。 I have no splendor; no
treasures to offer you; but only my love; my heart; my life; my
whole thought and being。 Will you accept it; Marie?〃

〃I do accept it; Moritz; as the greatest happiness of my life。 I
desire only your love; and I can return only my love to you! Here is
my hand; Philip; it belongs to you alone! Let us kneel in humility
before my parents; and implore their blessing。Oh; my father and
mother; have pity upon us! See this dear man; to whom my whole heart
belongs。 I desire only to live and toil with him。 There are no
riches; no treasures; to compare with his love!〃

〃General and Frau von Werrig; grant me the wife of my heart!〃 cried
Philip Moritz; deeply moved。 〃It is true; I am not worthy of her; I
have no name; no position; to offer her; but I swear to strive to
gain it for her。 I will win by my talents and knowledge a
distinguished name; and perhaps one day you will concede to my fame
that I am a noble man; though not a nobleman。 Will you separate two
hearts which belong to each other? Take me for your son…in…law; and
I swear to be devoted and faithful; to love and honor you for your
daughter's sake。 I can say no morewords cannot express all that I
feel。 Love causes me to kneel before you; love makes me humble as a
child。 I implore you to give me your daughter in marriage。〃

〃I also implore you;〃 cried Marie; sinking down beside Moritz; 〃give
to me this man; whom I love and honor; for my husband。〃

It was a beautiful and impressive scenethese two young beings
pleading for happiness; their eyes flashing with the inspiration of
feeling; conscious that they were one in affection; and ready to
combat the whole world for each other。 But Frau von Werrig was
immovable; and the general was too much occupied with his gouty;
throbbing leg even to cast a look upon the beautiful group of youth;
love; manly determination; and tender resignation。

Outside the door; Trude knelt imploringly; with folded hands; while
the tears ran down her old cheeks in big drops。 〃O God; I well know
that they have no pity; have mercy Thou; and cause my dear Marie to
be happy! Suffer not that that hard…hearted woman should sell her;
and marry her to that bad man my Marie despises。 I well know that I
am a poor creature; and not worthy that Thou shouldst listen to me;
O Lord! But I love that young girl as if she were my own child; and
I would give my heart's blood for her。 Oh; my God! I implore Thee to
let my Marie be happy!〃 Then she continued; as she rose from her
knees。 〃Now; I have spoken; and I commit every thing to God; and He
will do what is best。 She has been obliged to listen to him; and if
it cannot be otherwise; he must go。〃

Carefully old Trude unlocked both doors; and then stopped to listen。

Trude was right; there was no mercy in Frau von Werrig's heart。
〃Have you finished? Have you any thing more to say?〃 she asked; in
her most unsympathizing manner。

〃Nothing more with our lips; but our hearts still implore you。〃

〃I do not understand this language; sir; and you have not succeeded
in giving me hearing; or ears to hear with。 In this useless strife I
will say a last word; which I hope will be for life。 You shall never
be the husband of my daughter! You can never be united。〃

Marie and Moritz sprang from their knees; laying their hands in each
other's; and looked what words could not have better expressed〃We
are inseparable; nothing can disunite us but death!〃

〃I desire you not to interrupt me;〃 commanded Frau von Werrig; 〃I
have listened to you; and now you shall listen to me。 I promise you
to speak with more brevity than you have。 I will not trouble you
with useless phrases and tedious lamentations。 I will speak to the
point。 Mar

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