old fritz and the new era-第56部分

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and　justify　my　unhappy　friend；　I　have　saidbut　all　in　vain。　The
king　was　much　embittered；　because　he　had　had　the　grace　to　grant　him
an　audience；　and　explain　the　impossibility　of　the　fulfilment　of　his
petition。　I　did　not　cease　begging　and　imploring；　until　I　softened
the　generous　heart　of　the　king。〃

〃Has　he　pardoned　Moritz？〃　Marie　asked；　with　brightening　hopes。

〃Under　certain　conditions　he　will　allow　that　he　should　escape
secretly　from　prison。　They　are　formally　written；　and　if　Moritz
consents　and　binds　himself　by　oath；　he　will　not　only　be　freed；　but
provided　with　means　to　go　to　England；　and　receive　immediately　an
appointment　as　translator　to　the　Prussian　embassy　at　London。〃

〃What　are　the　conditions；　sir？〃

〃They　are；　first；　that　Moritz　shall　by　oath　renounce　every　wish　and
thought　of　uniting　himself　with　Fraulein　yon　Leuthen；　secondly；　that
before　he　leaves　the　prison；　he　shall　write　to　the　young　lady；　in
which　he　shall　solemnly　release　her；　and　enjoin　it　upon　her　as　a
duty　to　accept　the　hand　of　the　man　to　whom　her　parents　have
betrothed　her。　These　were　the　conditions；　and　the　king　commanded　me
to　go　to　Spandau；　and　with　sensible　representations；　to　confer　with
Moritz；　and　persuade　him　to　accept　them；　and　assure　himself　of
freedom；　and　an　honorable　future；　free　from　care。〃

〃You　saw　Moritz？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Did　you　communicate　the　conditions？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃And　he？〃

〃He　refused；　with　rage　and　indignation！〃

〃He　refused？〃　cried　Marie；　joyfully。　〃Oh；　my　dear　Philip；　I　thank
you。　You　love　me　truly　and　faithfully。　Your　glorious　example　shall
inspire　me　to　be　as　firm　as　you。〃

〃Unhappy　child；　you　know　not　what　you　are　saying！〃　cried　the
director；　sadly。　〃If　you　really　love　him；　you　could　not　follow　his
example。　Read　what　the　king　has　written。〃

She　took；　in　breathless　silence；　the　document；　and　broke　the　seal；
unfolding　the　paper；　but　her　hand　shook　it　so　violently；　that　she
could　not　distinguish　the　words。

She　returned　it　to　the　director。　〃Read　it；　I　cannot；〃　she　said；　and
sank　kneeling；　looking　up　to　the　old　man　with　unspeakable　anguish；
and　listening　to　every　word　that　fell　from　his　lips。　It　ran　thus：

〃His　majesty　announces　to　Mademoiselle　Marie　von　Leuthen　that　he　is
exceedingly　indignant　at　her　improper　and　undutiful　conduct；　which
does　not　at　all　become　a　maiden　loving　of　honor；　and　particularly　a
noble　one。　His　majesty　ennobled　her　father　for　a　brave　deed；　and　he
is　angry　that　the　daughter　should　bring　shame　upon　the　title；　in
giving　way；　not　only　to　a　passion　which　is　beneath　her；　but　is　so
little　mindful　of　morality　as　to　flee　from　the　paternal　house；　at
night；　in　an　improper　manner；　with　a　man　whose　wife；　according　to
the　command　of　the　king　and　the　will　of　her　father；　she　could　never
be。　If　his　majesty　did　not　respect　the　former　service　of　her　father；
and　the　new　title；　he　would　send　the　daughter　to　the　house　of
correction；　and　punish　her　according　to　the　law。　But　he　will　leave
her　to　the　reproaches　of　conscience；　and　let　the　weight　of　the　law
fall　upon　her　partner　in　guilt；　Philip　Moritz。　He　is　rightly
sentenced　to　ten　years　in　the　house　of　correction；　and　he　will　not
be　released　one　year　or　one　day　from　the　same；　as　he　is　guilty　of　a
great　crime；　and　his　sentence　is　just。〃

〃Just！〃　shrieked　Marie；　in　anguish〃ten　years　just？〃

The　director　continued　to　read：　〃His　majesty　will　propose　a　last
opportunity　to　the　obstinate　and　inconsiderate　young　lady　to
reinstate　her　own　honor；　and　release　at　the　same　time　Conrector
Moritz。　His　majesty　has　personal　knowledge　of　the　latter；　and
respects　his　scholarly　attainments　and　capability　and　would　bring　an
end　to　this　affair　for　the　general　good。　If　mademoiselle；　as　becomes
an　honorable　young　woman；　and　an　obedient　daughter；　follows　the
wishes　of　her　father；　and　without　delay　marries　Herr　Ebenstreit；　and
leads　a　respectable　life　with　him；　the　same　hour　of　the　ceremony
Conrector　Moritz　shall　be　released；　and　a　fit　position　be　created
for　him。　This　is　the　final　decision　of　the　king。　If　the　daughter
does　not　submit　in　perfect　obedience；　she　will　burden　her　conscience
with　a　great　crime；　and　thank　herself　for　Moritz's　unfortunate　fate。
His　majesty　will　be　immediately　informed　of　her　decision。　If　she
listens　to　reason；　to　morality；　and　affection；　she　will　submit　to
the　proposition　which　Director　Gedicke　is　commissioned　to　make　known
to　her；　and　announce　to　her　parents　in　his　presence　that　she　will
obediently　follow　their　commands；　Conrector　Moritz　will　be　at　once
set　at　liberty；　otherwise　he　will　be　sent　to　Brandenburg　to　the
house　of　correction。　This　is　the　unalterable　will　of　the　king。
Signed；　in　the　name　of　the　king；　〃FREDERICK。〃

〃Now　decide；　my　child；〃　continued　the　director；　after　a　solemn
pause。　〃I　know　nothing　to　add　to　this　royal　writing。　If　it　has　not
itself　spoken　to　your　heart；　your　reason　and　your　honor；　words　are
useless。〃

〃O　God；　it　is　cruelit　is　terrible！〃　cried　Marie。　〃Shall　I　break　my
oath　of　constancy；　becoming　faithless；　and　suffer　him　to　curse　me；
for　he　will　never　pardon　me；　but　despise　me！〃

She　sprang　up　like　a　tigress；　with　her　eyes　flashing。　〃Oh；〃　cried
she；　〃he　may　even　believe　that　I　have　been　enticed　by　riches；　by　a
brilliant　future！　Nono！　I　cannot　consent！　May　God　have　mercy　on　me
if　the　king　will　not！　I　will　not　break　my　oath！　No　one　but　Moritz
shall　ever　be　my　husband！〃

〃Unhappy　girl；〃　cried　the　old　man；　sadly；　〃I　will　give　you　one　last
inducement。　I　know　not　whether　you　have　any　knowledge　of　Moritz's
past　life；　so　tried　and　painful；　which　has　made　him　easily　excited
and　eccentric。　A　danger　menaces　him　worse　than　imprisonment　or
death。　His　unaccustomed　life；　and　the　solitude　of　his　dark；　damp
prison；　is　causing　a　fearful　excitement　in　him。　He　is　habituated　to
intellectual　occupation。　When　he　is　obliged　to　put　on　the　prisoner's
jacket　in　the　house　of　correction　and　spin　wool；　it　will　not　kill
himit　will　make　him　mad！〃

A　piercing　cry　was　Marie's　answer。　〃That　is　not　trueit　is
impossible。　He　crazy！you　only　say　that　to　compel　me　to　do　what　you
will。　His　bright　mind　could　not　be　obscured　through　the　severest
proofs。〃

〃You　do　not　believe　me？　You　think　that　an　old　man；　with　gray　hair；
and　one　foot　in　the　grave；　and　who　loves　Moritz；　could　tell　you　a
shameful　untruth！　I　swear　to　you　by　the　heads　of　my　children；　by　all
that　is　holy；　that　Moritz　already　suffers　from　an　excitement　of　the
brain；　and　if　he　does　not　soon　have　liberty　and　mental　occupation；
it　is　almost　certain　that　he　will　become　insane。〃

Almost　convulsed　with　anguish；　Marie　seized　the　old　man's　hand　with
fierce　passion。　〃He　shall　not　be　crazed；〃　she　shrieked。　〃He　shall
not　sufferhe　shall　not　be　imprisoned　and　buried　in　the　house　of
correction　on　my　account。　I　will　rescue　himI　and　my　love！　I　am
prepared　to　do　what　the　king　commands！　I　willmarry　the　manwhich…
…my　parents　have　chosen。　Buttell　me；　will　he　then　be　free？〃

〃To…day　evenin　three　hours；　my　poor　child！〃

〃Free！　And　I　shall　have　saved　him！　Tell　me　what　I　have　to　do。　What
is　the　king's　will？〃

〃First　sign　this　document；〃　said　the　director；　as　he　drew　a　second
paper。　〃It　runs　thus：　'I；　Marie　von　Leuthen；　that　of　my　own　free
will　and　consent　I　will　renounce　every　other　engagement；　and　will
marry　Herr　Ebenstreit　von　and　be　a　faithful　wife　to　him。　I　witness
with　my　signature　the　same。'〃

〃Give　it　to　me　quickly；〃　she　gasped。　〃I　will　sign　it！　He　must　be
free！　He　shall　not　go　mad！〃

She　rapidly　signed　the　paper。　〃Here　is　my　sentence　of　death！　But　he
will　live！　Take　it！〃

〃My　child；〃　cried　the　old　man；　deeply　agitated；　〃God　will　be　mindful
of　this　sacrifice；　and　in　the　hour　of　death　it　will　beam　brightly
upon　you。　You　have　by　this　act　rescued　a　noble　and　excellent　being；
and　when　he　wins　fame　from　science　and　art　he　will　owe　to　you　alone
the　gratitude。〃

〃He　shall　not　thank　me！〃　she　whispered。　〃He　shall　live　andif　he
can　be　happy！this　is　all　that　I　ask　for！　What　is　there　further　to
be　done？〃

〃To　announce　to　your　parents　in　my　presence　that　you　will　marry　Herr
Ebenstreit；　and　let　the　ceremony　take　place　as　soon　as　possible。〃

〃You　swear　that　he　shall　then　be　released？　You　are　an　old　man
reflect　well；　you　swear　to　me　that　as　soon　as　the　marriage　takes
place；　Philip　Moritz　will　be　free　this　very　day　and　that　he　will　be
reinstated　in　an　honorable；　active　occupation？〃

〃I　swear　it　to　you　upon　my　word　of　honor；　by　my　hope　of　reward　from
above。〃

〃I　believe　you。　Call　my　parents。　But　firstyou　are　a　father；　and
love　your　children　well。　I　have　never　had　a　father　who　loved　me；　or
ever　laid　his　hand　upon　my　head　to　bless　me。　You　say　that　you　love
Moritz　as　a　son！　Oh；　love　me　for　a　moment　as　your　daughter；　and
bless　me！〃

The　old　man　folded　her　in　his　arms；　tears　streaming　down　his　cheeks。
〃God　bless　you；　my　daughter；　as　I　bless　you！〃

〃I　dare　not　tarry；〃　she　shuddered。　〃Let　my　parents　enter。〃

Slowly　the　venerable　man　traversed　the　room。　Marie　pressed　her　hands
to　her　heart；　looking　to　heaven。　As　the　door　opened；　and　the　general
entered；　leaning　upon　Ebenstreit's　arm；　followed　by　his　wife；　Marie
approached　them　with　a　haughty；　determined　manner；　who　regarded　her
with　astonishment。

〃Father；〃　she　said；　slowly　and　calmly；　〃I　am　ready　to　follow　your
wishes。　Send　for　the　clergyman：　I　consent　to　marry　this　man　to…day；
upon　one　condition。〃

〃Make　it　known；　my　dear　Marie。　Name　your　condition。　I　will　joyfully
fulfil　it；〃　said　Ebenstreit。

〃I　demand　that　we　leave　to…day　for　the　East；　to　go　to　Egypt
Palestineand　remain　away　from　this　place　for　years。　Are　you　agreed
to　it？〃

〃To　all　that　which　my　dear　Marie　wishes。〃

〃You　can　now　weave　the　bridal…wreath　in　my　hair；　mother。　I　consent
to　the　marriage。〃

Three　hours　later　the　preparations　were　completed。　Every　thing　had
awaited　this　for　three　months。

In　the　sitting…room；　the　decorators　had　quickly　built　a　marriage…
altar；　and　ornamented　the　walls　with　garlands　of　flowers；　with
festoons　of　gauze　and　silk；　with　flags　and　standards。　The　mother
wore　the　costly　silk　which　her　rich　son…in…law　had　honored　her　with
for　the　occasion；　and　also　adorned　herself　with　the　gold　ornaments
which　were　equally　his　gift。　The　father　wore　his　gold…embroid