old fritz and the new era-第53部分

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know　what　can　force　me　if　I　will　not。　The　king　has　done　away　with
torture；　and　I　have　informed　you　how　to　make　me　speak。　Three
thousand　thalers　and　a　clerkship　in　your　office。　Take　care！　it　is
almost　eleven　o'clockat　midnight　I　shall　demand　four　thousand。〃




CHAPTER　XXVI。

UNDER　THE　STARRY　HEAVENS。


It　was　a　beautiful；　clear；　moonlight　night。　The　world　reposed　in
silence。　Mankind　with　their　cares　and　sorrows；　their　joys　and　hopes；
had　gone　to　rest。　Over　town　and　village；　over　highway　and　forest　had
flitted　the　sweet；　consoling　angelSleep。　The　sad　were　soothed；　the
heavy…laden　were　lightened　of　their　burdens；　to　the　despairing　were
brought　golden　dreams；　to　the　weary　rest。　Sighing　and　sorrowful；　he
turned　from　those　with　a　sad　face　whose　conscience　banished　repose；
and；　ah！　their　number　was　legion。　To　the　wakeful　and　blissful　he
smilingly　glanced；　breathing　a　prayer　and　a　blessing；　but　these　were
few　and　far　betweenfor　happiness　is　a　rare　guest；　and　tarries　with
mortals　but　fitfully。　As　he　glided　past　the　joyful　couple　who；　with
watchful　love　and　grateful　hearts；　sat　in　the　carriage　rolling　over
the　silent；　deserted　highway；　two　tears　fell　from　his　eyes；　and　his
starry　wings　were　wider　outspread　to　rush　more　quickly　past。

〃Look；　my　dear　Marie；　two　stars　just　fell　from　heaven。　They　are　a
greeting　to　you；　loved　one；　and　they　would　say　they　guide　us　on　our
way。〃

〃Oh；　Philip；　it　is　a　sign　of　ill…luck！　Falling　stars　betoken
misfortune！〃

She　clung　closer　to　his　side；　and　laid　her　head　upon　his　shoulder。
He　pressed　her　more　lovingly　to　his　heart。　〃Do　not　fear；　dear　Marie；
separation　only　could　cause　us　unhappinesswe　have　long　borne　it；
and　now　it　is　forever　past。　You　have　given　yourself　to　me　for　my
own；　and　I　am　yours；　heart　and　soul；　we　speed　on　through　the　night
to　the　morning　of　the　bright；　sunny　future；　never　more　te　be
parted。〃

〃Never！〃　she　fervently　murmured。　〃Oh；　may　God　hear　our　prayer。
Never；　never　to　part！　Yet；　while　the　word　falls　from　my　lips；　a
shudder　creeps　through　my　soul。〃

〃Wherefore　this　despair；　dearest？　Reflect；　no　one　will　be　apprised
of　our　flight　till　early　morning；　and　then　they　will　not　know
whither　we　have　fled。　Meanwhile　we　rush　on　to　Hamburg；　where　a
packet…ship　sails　every　Wednesday　for　England；　arriving　there；　we
will　first　go　to　Suffolk；　to　my　old　friend　the　vicar　of　Tunningham。
I　was　his　guest　many　weeks　last　year；　and　he　often　related　to　me　the
privilege　which　had　been　conferred　on　the　parish　church　for　a　long
time　to　perform　valid　marriages　for　those　to　whose　union　there　were
obstacles　interposed　elsewhere。　He　will　bless　the　union　of　our　love；
and　will　accord　me　the　lawful　right　to　call　you　my　own　before　God
and　man。　We　will　not　return　at　once　to　Germany。　I　have　many
connections　and　literary　friends　in　London；　who　will　assist　me　to
worthy　occupation。　Besides；　I　closed　an　agreement　some　weeks　since
with　the　publisher　Nicolai　in　Berlin　for　a　new　work。　I　will　write　it
in　London；　it　will　be　none　the　less　favored　coming　from　a　distance。〃

〃My　flowers　and　paintings　will　also　be　as　well　received　in　as　in
Berlin；〃　added　Marie；　smilingly。

〃No；　Marie；　you　shall　not　work。　I　shall　have　the　precious　care　of
providing　for　you；　which　will　be　my　pride　and　happiness。　Oh；　my
beloved；　what　a　crowning　bliss　to　possess　a　sweet；　dear　wife；　who　is
only　rich　in　imperishable　treasures；　and　poor　in　external　riches！
What　delight　to　toil　for　her；　and　feel　that　there　lives　in　my
intellect　the　power　to　grant　her　every　wish；　and　to　compensate　her
in　the　slightest　degree　the　boundless　wealth　of　her　affection！　To　a
loving　mind　there　is　no　prouder；　happier　feeling　than　to　be　the　only
source　of　support　to　the　wife　of　his　loveto　know　that　she　looks　to
him　for　the　fulfilment　of　her　slightest　wish　in　life。　I　thank　my
Maker　that　you　are　poor；　Marie；　and　that　I　am　permitted　to　toil　for
you。　How　else　could　I　reward　you　for　all　you　have　sacrificed　for
me？〃

〃You　cannot　suppose；　dear　Philip；　that　the　riches　of　my　obtrusive
lover　would　have　been　any　attraction　to　me。　Money　could　never
compensate　for　the　loss　of　your　love。　You　are　my　life；　and　from　you
alone　can　I　receive　happiness　or　unhappiness。　At　your　side　I　am　rich
and　joyous；　though　we　may　outwardly　need；　without　you　I　should　be
poor　with　superfluity。　I　am　proud　that　we　in　spirit　have　freed
ourselves　from　those　fictitious　externals　with　which　the　foolish
burden　themselves。　Oh；　my　beloved　Philip；　my　whole　soul　is　exultant
that　we　are　never　more　to　partno；　not　even　in　eternity；　for　I
believe　that　love　is　an　undying　sentiment；　and　the　soul　can　never　be
darkened　by　death　which　is　beaming　with　affection。〃

〃You　are　right；　Marie；　love　is　the　immortality　of　the　soul；　through
it　man　is　regenerated　and　soars　to　the　regions　of　eternal　light。
When　I　recall　how　desolate　and　gloomy　was　my　life；　how　joyless　the
days　dragged　on　before　I　loved　you；　I　almost　menaced　Heaven　that　it
created　me　to　wander　alone　through　this　desert。　The　brightest　sun's
rays　now　gild　my　future；　and　it　seems　as　if　we　were　alone　in
paradise；　and　that　the　creation　entire　glorified　my　happiness；　and
all　the　voices　of　Nature　shouted　a　greeting　to　you；　dearest。　Oh；
Marie；　if　I　lived　a　thousand　years；　my　heart　would　retain　its
youthful　love　and　adoration　for　you；　who　have　saved　me　from　myself；
have　freed　my　soul　from　the　constraining　fetters　of　a　sad；　joyless
existence。　Repose　your　head　upon　my　heart；　and　may　it　rest　there
many　happy　years；　and　receive　in　this　hour　my　oath　to　love；　esteem；
and　honor　you　as　my　most　precious　treasure！　You　shall　be　wife；
child；　sister；　and　friend。　My　soul　shall　be　frank　and　open　to　you；
for　you　I　will　strive　and　toil；　and　will　cherish　and　foster　the
happiness　received　from　you　as　my　most　treasured　gift。　Give　me　your
hand；　Marie。〃

She　laid　it　within　his　own　strong；　manly　hand；　gently　pressing　it。

The　large　full　moon；　high　above　them；　lighted　up　these　noble　faces；
making　the　eyes；　which　were　bent　upon　each　other；　more　radiant。
Swiftly　the　carriage　rolled　on；　the　night…breeze　fanning　their
cheeks　and　waving　back　their　raven　curls。

Moritz　raised　their　clasped　hands；　and　gazed　at　the　starry　heaven。

〃We　lift　them　up　unto　Thee；　O　God。　Thou　hast　heard　my　oath；　O
Eternal　Spirit；　who　dwellest　among　the　stars；　receive　it；　and　bless
the　woman　I　love！〃

〃Receive　also　my　oath；　O　my　Maker。　Regard　the　man　to　whom　I　have
sworn　eternal　fidelity；　bless　him；　and　bless　me。　Let　us　live　in　love
and　die　in　constancy。〃

Moritz　responded；　〃Amen；　my　beloved；　amen！〃

They　embraced　each　other　fervently。　Onward　rolled　the　carriage
through　the　tranquil；　blissful　night。　Oh　why　cannot　these　steeds
borrow　wings　from　the　night…wind？　Why　cannot　the　soaring　spirit　bear
aloft　its　earthly　tenement？　With　divine　joy　and　heavenly　confidence
you　gaze　at　the　stars。　You　smilingly　interchange　thoughts　of　the
blissful　future；　whilst　dire　misfortune　approaches；　and　will　soon
seize　you　in　its　poisonous　grasp！　Do　you　not　hear　it？　Does　not　the
echo　of　swift…prancing　steeds　ring　in　your　ears？　Do　you　not　hear　the
shrieking　and　calling　after　you？

They　listen　only　to　the　voice　of　tenderness　speaking　in　their
hearts；　and　would　that　the　solemn　quiet　of　this　dialogue　might　not
be　broken　by　a　loud　word　from　their　lips。

The　post…horn　sounded！　They　halted　at　a　lonely　house　near　the
highway。　It　is　the　station。　Change　horses！　There　is　not　a　light　to
be　seen。　Three　times　the　postilion　blew　a　pealing　blast　ere　they
could　awake　the　inmates。　The　window　was　at　last　opened；　and　a
sleepy；　complaining　voice　questioned　the　number　of　horses　and　the
distance　of　the　next　post。

Slowly　they　were　brought　forward；　and　still　more　slowly　were　they
attached　to　the　carriage；　and　all　arranged。　What　matters　it？　The
night　is　lovely；　and　like　a　dream　it　seems　to　remain　under　the
starry　heavens；　spread　out　like　a　canopy　above　them。

Does　not　your　heart　tell　you　that　sorrow　strides　on　like　the　storm？
Do　you　not　hear　the　voices　still　shrieking　after　you？

The　postilion　mounted　his　horse；　and　again　the　trumpet　pealed　forth
its　merry　air；　and　was　answered　with　a　shout　of　triumph　from　the
swift　pursuers。

Marie　raised　her　head　from　Philip's　shoulder。　〃What　was　it？　Did　you
not　hear　it？〃

〃What；　my　beloved；　what　should　I　hear？　Do　the　stars　salute　you？　Do
the　angels　greet　their　sister　upon　earth？〃

〃Hark！　there　it　is　again！　Do　you　not　hear　it？　Listen！　does　it　not
seem　as　if　one　called　'Halt！　halt！'〃

〃Yes；　truly；　I　hear　it　now　also！　What　can　happen；　love？　Why　trouble
ourselves　about　the　outer　world　and　the　existence　of　other　beings？〃

〃I　know　not；　but　I　am　so　anxious；　my　heart　almost　ceases　to　beat；
with　terror！〃

〃Halt！　halt！〃　the　wind　carries　forward　the　shriek；　and　above　their
heads　it　sounds　like　the　screeching　of　ravens。

〃Strange！　For　whom　are　they　calling？〃　Moritz　looked　back　along　the
highway。　White　and　clear　it　lay　in　the　moonlight；　but；　far　in　the
distance　was　a　black　mass；　taking　form　and　shape　at　every　moment！

Horsemen！　horsemen！　in　full　speed　they　come！

〃Postilion！　drive　on！　quick！　Let　the　horses　gallop！　There　is　a
forest　neardrive　us　to　that；　that　we　may　hide　ourselves　in　the
thicket！　Onward；　postilion！　we　are　not　thieves　or　murderers。　A
hundred　thalers　are　yours；　if　you　save　us！〃

The　postilion　beat　his　horses！　In　full　chase　they　followedmore　and
more　distinctly　were　heard　the　curses　and　yells。

〃Oh；　God　in　heaven；　have　mercy　upon　us　in　our　need！〃

〃Faster；　postilion！in　mercy；　faster！〃

〃Halt！　halt！in　the　name　of　the　king；　halt！〃

This　startled　the　postilion；　and　he　turned　to　listen；　and　again　a
furious　voice　yelled；　〃In　the　name　of　the　king；　halt！〃

The　postilion　drew　up。　〃Forgive　me；　sir；　but　I　must　respect　the　name
of　the　king。〃

Forward　galloped　the　horsemen。

〃Philip；〃　whispered　Marie；　〃why　do　we　livewhy　do　we　not　die？〃

He　folded　her　in　his　arms；　and　passionately　kissed　her；　perhaps　for
the　last　time。　〃Marie；　be　mindful　of　our　oathconstant　unto　death！〃

〃Constant　unto　death！〃　she　repeated。

〃Be　firm　and　defy　all　the　storms　of　life！〃

Marie　repeated　it；　with　heightened　courage。

The　horsemen　surrounded　the　carriage；　the　riders　upon　panting
steeds！　Two　officers