old fritz and the new era-第4部分
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what passes around him; and it was the first man's face that he had
seen。 But only look; miss; what a beautiful little dog is coming up
the path。〃 It was indeed a lovely greyhound; of the small Italian
race; which came bounding joyfully toward them; and as he saw the
woman barked loudly。
〃Be quiet; Alkmene; be quiet!〃 cried a loud; commanding voice。
〃Oh; Heaven! it is the king!〃 whispered the young lady; turning
pale; and; as if stunned; retreated a few steps。
〃Yes; it is really the king;〃 cried the nurse; 〃and he is coming
directly from the grass…plot here。〃
〃Let us go as quickly as possible; Louisa。 Come; come;〃 and she
hastily threw her mantle around her; drawing the hood over her curly
head。 She had only proceeded a few steps; when a loud voice bade her
to remainto stand still。 She stood as if rooted to the spot;
leaning upon her nurse for support; her knees sank under her; and it
seemed as if the whole world turned around with her。 After the first
tumult of anxiety and fear; succeeded an insolent determination;
and; forcing herself to calmness; she said: 〃It is the turning…point
of my life; the next few minutes will either crush me or assure my
future; let me struggle for the future; then。 I will face him who
approaches me as my judge。〃 Forcing herself to composure; slowly and
with effort she turned toward the king; who; approaching by the side
path; had entered the avenue; and now stood before her。 But as she
encountered the fiery glance of the king's eye; she quailed before
it; casting down her own; covered with confusion。
〃Who are you?〃 demanded the king; with stern authority; keeping his
eagle eye fixed upon her。 Silent and immovable she stood; only the
quick; feverish breathing and the heaving bosom told the storm that
was raging within。
〃Who are you?〃 repeated the voice; with still more severity〃who
permit themselves to use my park as a nursery? What child is that?
and who are its parents? They should be of high position at court;
who would dare to send their child and nurse to the royal park; and
with what joy they must regard the offspring of their conjugal
tenderness! Tell me to whom does this child belong?〃
Sobbing convulsively; the lady sank; kneeling; with uplifted arms;
imploring for mercy。 〃Sire; annihilate me with your anger; but do
not crush me with your scorn!〃
〃What language do you permit yourself to hold?〃 asked the king。
〃Sire; it is the language of an unhappy; despairing woman; who knows
that she stands before that great monarch whose judgment she fears
more than that of her God; who sees into her heart; and reads the
tortures and reproaches of her conscience; who knows what she
suffers; and knows; also; that she is free from self…interest; and
every base desire。 I believe that God will forgive what I fear your
majesty will not。〃
〃You speak presumptuously; and remind me of the theatre princesses
who represent a grand scene with a pathetic exit。 Let me inform you;
I despise comediansonly high tragedy pleases me。 Spare yourself
the trouble to act before me; but answer mewho are you? Whose
child is that?〃
〃Sire; only God and my king should hear my replyI beg the favor to
send away the nurse and child。〃 The king assented; slightly nodding
his head; at the same time bidding her not to kneel to him as to an
image。
The lady rose and sought the nurse; who; from fright; had withdrawn
into the shrubbery; and stood staring at the king with wide…open
eyes。 〃Go home; Louisa; and put the child to sleep;〃 said she;
quickly。
The nurse obeyed promptly; and when alone; the king demanded again;
〃Who are you? and to whom does the child belong?〃
〃Your majesty; I am the daughter of your chapel musician Enke; and
the child is the son of Prince Frederick William of Prussia;〃 she
replied; in a firm and defiant manner。
The king's eyes flashed as he glanced at the bold speaker。 〃You say
so; but who vouches for the truth of it? You permit yourself to use
a high name; to give your child an honorable father! What temerity!
what presumption! What if I should not believe you; but send you to
the house of correction; at Spandau; as a slanderer; as guilty of
high…treason; as a sinner and an adulteress?〃
〃You could not do it; sireyou could not;〃 cried Wilhelmine Enke;
〃for you would also send there the honor and the name of your
successor to the throne。〃
〃What do you mean?〃 cried the king; furiously。
〃I mean; your majesty; that the prince has holy duties toward me。 I
am the mother of that child!〃
〃You acknowledge your shame; and you dare confess it to me; your
king; that you are the favorite; the kept mistress of the Prince of
Prussia; who has already a wife that has borne him children? You do
not even seek to deny it; or to excuse yourself?〃
〃I would try to excuse myself; did I not feel that your majesty
would not listen to me。〃
〃What excuse could you offer?there is none。〃
〃Love is my excuse;〃 cried Wilhelmine; eagerly。 〃Oh! my ruler and
king; do not shake your noble head so unbelievingly; do not look at
me so contemptuously。 Oh; Father in heaven; I implore Thee to
quicken my mind; that my thoughts may become words; and my lips
utter that which is burning in my soul! In all these years of my
poor; despised; obscure life; how often have I longed for this hour
when I might stand before my king; when I might penitently clasp his
knees and implore mercy for myself and my childrenthose poor;
nameless beings; whose existence is my accusation; and yet who are
the pride and joy of my life! Oh; sire; I will not accuse; to excuse
myself; I will not cast the stone at others which they have cast at
me。 But it is scarcely charitable to judge and condemn a young girl
fourteen years of age; who did but obey the command of her parents;
and followed the man who was the first and only one that ever
whispered the word of love in her ear。〃
〃I have heard that your parents sold their child to shame。 Is it
true?〃 cried the king。
〃Sire; my father was poor; the scanty income of a chapel musician
scarcely sufficed to educate and support four children。 The prince
promised my father to educate me。〃
〃Bah! The promises of a young man of twenty…five are made without
reflection; and rarely ever fulfilled。〃
〃Sire; to the Prince of Prussia I owe all that I know; and all that
I am; his promise to my dying father was fully redeemed。〃
〃Indeed; by whom were you taught; and what have you learned?〃
〃Your majesty; the prince wished; before all; that I should learn to
speak French。 Madame Girard was my French instructress; and taught
me to play the guitar and spinet also。〃
〃Oh; I presume you have learned to jabber a little French and drum a
little music;〃 said the king; shrugging his shoulders。
〃I beg pardon; sire; I have a tolerable knowledge of history and of
geography。 I am familiar with the ancient and modern poets。 I have
read a good French translation of Homer; Horace; and Virgil; with a
master。 I have studied the history of Brandenburg; of Germany; and
of America。 We have read the immortal works of Voltaire; of Jean
Jacques Rousseau; and of Shakespeare; with many of our modern poets。
My instructor has read all these works aloud to me; and he was much
pleased when I repeated parts of what he had read to me some days
afterward。〃
〃You appear to have had a very learned instructor;〃 remarked the
king; sneeringly。 〃What is his name?〃
〃His name; sire; is Prince Frederick William of Prussia。 Yes; it is
he who has taught mehe who has made me an intelligent woman。
However young he was when he undertook the task; he has accomplished
it with fidelity; firmness; and patience。 He loved me; and would
make me worthy of him; in heart and mind。 I shall ever be grateful
to him; and only death can extinguish the love and esteem with which
he in spires me。〃
〃Suppose I command you to leave the prince? Suppose I will no longer
endure the scandal of this sinful relation?〃
〃I shall never willingly separate myself from my dear prince and
masterfrom the father of my two children。 Your majesty will be
obliged to force me from him;〃 answered Wilhelmine; defiantly。
〃Oh; that will not be necessary; mademoiselle;〃 cried the king。
〃There are ways enough。 I will make known my wishes to the prince; I
will command him to leave you; and have no further communication
with you。〃
〃Sire;〃 she answered; gently; 〃I know that the prince is an obedient
and respectful subject and servant to his king in all things; but
this command he would not obey。〃
〃He would not dare to brave my commands!〃
〃He would not brave them; sire。 Oh; no; it would be simply
impossible to obey them。〃
〃What would hinder him?〃
〃Love; sire; the respect which he owes to me as the mother of his
two childrenwho has consecrated her love; her honor to him; and of
whom no one can say that she has injured the fidelity which she has
sworn to the princeto the man of her first and only loveeven
with a word or look。〃
〃You mean to say; that I cannot separate you from the prince but by
force?〃
〃Yes; your majesty;〃 cried she; with conscious power; 〃that is
exactly what I mean。〃
〃You will find yourself deceived; you will be made to realize it;〃
said the king; with a menacing tone。 〃You know nothing of the power
that lies in a legitimate marriage; and what rivals legitimate
children are; whom one dares acknowledge before Godbefore the
world。 Boast not of the love of the prince; but remember that an
honorable solitude is the only situation becoming to you。 Such
connections bear their own curse and punishment with them。 Hasten to
avoid them。 Lastly; I would add; never dare to mingle your impure
hands in the affairs of state。 I have been obliged to give the order
to the state councillors in appointments and grants of office; not
to regard the protection and recommendation of a certain high
personage; as you are the real protectress and bestower of mercy。
Take care; and never let it happen again。 You will never venture to
play the little Pompadour here; nor anything else but what your
dishonor allows you; otherwise you will have to deal with me! You
say that you have read Homer; then; doubtless; you remember the
story of Pen