the daughter of an empress-第9部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ld　I　not　have　died　on　that　day？　I　was　then　/so/　happy！〃

〃Poor　Princess　Anna；〃　said　Julia；　sympathetically；　〃they　soon　grudged　you　that　happiness！〃

〃Yes；〃　continued　Anna　with　a　bitter　smile；　〃yes；　the　virtuous　Empress　Anna　blushed　in　the　arms　of　her　lover；　Biron；　at　this　aberration　of　her　sold　and　coupled　niece。　She　found　it　very　revolting　that　the　poor　sixteen…year…old　Anna　Leopoldowna　dared　to　have　a　heart　of　her　own　and　to　feel　a　real　love。　They　must　therefore　rob　her　of　the　only　happiness　Heaven　had　vouchsafed　her。　Consequently；　they　wrote　to　Warsaw；　asking；　nay；　commanding　the　recall　of　the　ambassador；　and　Lynar　was　compelled　to　leave　me。〃

〃Ah；　I　well　know　how　unhappy　you　were　at　that　time；〃　said　Julia；　pressing　the　hand　of　the　princess　to　her　bosom；　〃how　you　wept；　how　you　wrung　your　hands〃

〃And　how　I　nowhere　found　mercy　or　commiseration；〃　interposed　Anna；　with　bitterness；　〃neither　on　earth　nor　in　heaven。　I　was　and　remained　deserted　and　solitary；　and　was　compelled　to　marry　this　Prince　Ulrich　of　Brunswick；　for　whom　I　felt　nothing　but　a　chilling；　mortal　indifference。　But　you　must　know；　Julia；　that　when　I　stood　with　this　man　at　the　altar；　and　was　compelled　to　become　his　wife；　I　thought　only　of　him　I　loved；　I　vowed　eternal　love　only　to　Lynar；　and　when　the　prince　folded　me　in　his　arms　as　his　wife；　then　was　my　God　gracious　to　me；　and　in　a　happy　deception　it　seemed　to　me　that　it　was　my　lover　who　held　me　in　his　armsI　thought　only　of　him　and　breathed　only　his　name；　and　loved　him；　kissed　him；　and　became　his　wife；　although　he　was　far；　alas；　so　immeasurably　far　from　me！　And　when　I　felt　a　second　self　under　my　heart；　I　then　loved　with　redoubled　warmth　the　distant　one　whom　I　had　not　seen　for　years；　and　when　Ivan　was　born；　it　seemed　to　me　that　the　eyes　of　my　lover　looked　at　me　through　his；　and　blessed　my　son　whose　spiritual　father　he　was！　And；　my　child；　what　think　you　gave　me　the　courage　to　overthrow　Biron　and　assume　the　regency？　Ah；　it　was　only　that　I　might　have　the　power　to　recall　Lynar　to　my　side！　I　would　and　must　be　regent；　that　I　might　demand　the　return　of　Lynar　as　ambassador　from　Warsaw。　That　gave　me　courage　and　decision；　that　enabled　me　to　overcome　all　timidity　and　anxiety。　I　thought　only　of　him；　and　when　the　end　was　attained；　when　I　was　declared　regent；　the　first　exercise　of　my　power　was　to　recall　Lynar　to　Court。　Julia；　what　a　happy　day　was　that　when　I　saw　him　again！〃

And　the　princess；　wholly　absorbed　in　her　delightful　reminiscences；　smilingly　and　silently　reclined　upon　the　cushions　of　the　divan。

〃Ah；　it　must　be　love　that　so　thinks　and　feels；〃　thoughtfully　observed　Julia。　〃I　no　longer　ask　you；　Princess　Anna；　if　you　love　the　count；　I　now　know　you　do。　But　answer　me　yet　one　question。　Have　you　confidence　in　mefull；　unlimited　confidence？　Will　you　never　mistake；　never　doubt　me？〃

〃Never！〃　said　Anna　Leopoldowna；　confidently。　〃And　if　all　the　world　should　tell　me　that　Julia　von　Mengden　is　a　traitress；　I　would　nevertheless　firmly　rely　upon　you；　and　reply　to　the　whole　world：　'That　is　false！　Julia　von　Mengden　is　true　and　pure　as　gold。　I　shall　always　love　her。'　〃

Julia　gratefully　glanced　up　to　the　heavens；　and　her　eyes　filled　with　tears。

〃I　thank　you；　princess；〃　she　then　said；　with　a　happy　smile。　〃I　now　have　courage　for　all。　You　shall　now　be　enabled　to　love　your　Lynar　without　fear　or　trembling；　and　your　husband's　clouded　brow　and　reproaching　tongue　shall　molest　us　no　more。　Confide　in　me　and　ask　no　questions。　It　is　all　decided　and　arranged　in　my　mind。　But　hark！　do　you　hear　nothing？〃

Anna's　face　was　transfused　with　a　purple　glow；　and　her　eyes　flashed。

〃It　is　my　beloved；〃　said　she。　〃Yes；　it　is　he。　I　know　his　step！〃

Julia　smilingly　opened　the　concealed　door；　and　Count　Lynar；　with　a　cry　of　joy；　rushed　to　the　feet　of　his　beloved。

〃At　length！〃　he　exclaimed；　clasping　her　feet；　and　pressing　them　to　his　bosom。

〃Yes；　at　length！〃　murmured　Anna；　looking　down　upon　him　with　a　celestial　smile。

Julia　stood　at　a　distance；　contemplating　them　with　thoughtful　glances。

〃They　should　be　happy；〃　she　murmured　low；　and　then　asked　aloud：　〃Count　Lynar；　did　you　receive　my　letter？〃

〃I　did　receive　it；〃　said　the　count；　〃and　may　God　reward　you　for　the　sacrifice　you　are　so　generously　disposed　to　make　for　us！　Anna；　your　friend　Julia　is　our　good　angel。　To　her　we　shall　owe　it　if　our　happiness　is　henceforth　indestructible　and　indissoluble。　Do　you　know　the　immense　sacrifice　this　young　maiden　proposes　to　make　for　us？〃

〃No；　Princess　Anna　knows　nothing；　and　shall　know　nothing　of　it；〃　said　Julia；　with　a　grand　air。　〃Princess　Anna　shall　only　know　that　I　love　her；　and　am　ready　to　give　my　life　for　her。　And　now；〃　she　continued；　with　her　natural　gayety；　〃forget　me；　ye　happy　lovers！　Lull　yourselves　in　the　sweet　enjoyment　of　nameless　ecstasies！　I　go　to　watch　the　spies；　and　especially　your　husband；　lest　he　break　in　upon　you　without　notice！〃

And　Julia　suddenly　left　the　room；　shutting　the　door　upon　Anna　Leopoldowna　and　her　lover；　the　Polish　Count　Lynar。



NO　LOVE

Prince　Ulrich　of　Brunswick；　the　husband　of　the　regent；　had　assembled　the　officers　of　his　general　staff　for　a　secret　conference。　Their　dark；　threatening　glances　were　prophetic　of　mischief；　and　angrily　flashed　the　eyes　of　the　prince；　who；　standing　in　their　midst；　had　spoken　to　them　in　glowing　words　of　his　domestic　unhappiness；　and　of　the　idle；　dreamy；　and　amatory　indolence　into　which　the　regent　had　fallen。

〃She　writes　amorous　complainings；〃　he　now　said；　with　a　voice　of　rage；　in　closing　his　long　speech〃she　writes　sonnets　to　her　lover；　instead　of　governing　and　reading　the　petitions；　reports；　and　other　documents　that　come　to　her　from　the　different　ministries　and　bureaus；　which　she　constantly　returns　unread。　You　are　men；　and　are　you　willing　to　bear　the　humiliation　of　being　governed　by　a　woman　who　dishonors　you　by　disregarding　her　first　and　holiest　duties；　and　setting　before　your　wives　and　daughters　the　shameful　example　of　a　criminal　love；　thus　disgracing　her　own　son；　your　emperor　and　master？〃

〃No；　no；　we　will　not　bear　it！〃　cried　the　wildly　excited　men；　grasping　the　hilts　of　their　swords。　〃Give　us　proof　of　her　unfaithfulness；　and　we　shall　know　how　to　act　as　becomes　men　over　whom　an　adulterous　woman　would　reign！〃

〃It　is　an　unnatural　and　unendurable　law　that　commands　man　to　obey　a　woman。　It　is　contrary　to　nature　that　the　mother　should　rule　in　the　name　of　her　son；　when　the　father　is　livingthe　father；　whom　nature　and　universal　custom　acknowledge　as　the　lord　and　head　of　his　wife　and　children！〃　cried　the　prince。

〃Give　us　proof　of　her　guilt；〃　cried　the　soldiers；　〃and　we　will　this　very　hour　proclaim　you　regent　in　her　stead！〃

A　confidential　servant　of　the　prince；　who　entered　at　this　moment；　now　whispered　a　few　words　in　his　ear。

The　prince's　face　flamed　up。　〃Well；　then；　gentleman；〃　said　he；　straightening　himself　up；　〃you　demand　proof。　In　this　very　hour　will　I　furnish　it　to　you。　But　I　do　it　upon　one　condition。　No　personal　violence！　In　the　person　of　your　present　regent　you　must　respect　the　mother　of　your　emperor；　the　wife　of　your　future　regent！　Anna　will　yield　to　our　just　representations；　and　voluntarily　sign　the　act　of　abdication　in　my　favor。　That　is　all　we　ought　to　demand　of　her。　She　will　retain　her　sacred　and　inviolable　rights　as　the　wife　of　your　regent；　as　the　mother　of　your　emperor。　Forget　not　that！〃

〃First　of　all；　give　us　the　proof　of　her　guilt！〃　impatiently　cried　the　men。

〃I　shall；　alas；　be　able　to　give　it　you！〃　said　the　prince；　with　dignity。　〃Far　be　it　from　me　to　desire　the　conviction　of　an　innocent　person！　Believe　me；　nothing　but　her　guilt　could　induce　me　to　take　action　against　her；　were　she　innocent；　I　would　be　the　first　to　kneel　and　renew　to　her　my　oath　of　fidelity　and　obedience。　But　you　cannot　desire　that　I；　your　generalissimo；　should　be　the　subject　of　a　wife　who　shamefully　treads　under　foot　her　first　and　holiest　duty！　The　honor　of　you　all　is　wounded　in　mine。　Come；　follow　me　now。　I　will　show　you　Count　Lynar　in　the　arms　of　his　mistress；　the　Regent　Anna　Leopoldowna！〃

The　prince　strode　forth；　cautiously　followed　by　his　generals。　They　thus　passed　noiselessly　through　the　long　corridor　leading　from　the　wing　of　the　palace　inhabited　by　the　prince　to　that　occupied　by　the　regent。

In　the　boudoir　of　the　Regent　Anna　a　somewhat　singular　scene　was　now　presented。

The　tender　caresses　of　the　lovers　were　suddenly　interrupted　by　Julia　von　Mengden；　who　slipped　in　through　the　secret　door　in　a　white　satin　robe；　and　with　a　myrtle　crown　upon　her　head。

〃Princess　Anna；　it　is　time　for　you　to　know　all！〃　she　hurriedly　said。　〃Your　husband　is　now　coming　here　through　the　corridor　with　his　generals；　they　hope　to　surprise　you　in　your　lover's　arms；　that　they　may　have　an　excuse　for　deposing　you　from　the　regency　and　substituting　your　husband。　Struggle　against　struggle！　We　will　outwit　them；　and　cure　your　husband　of　his　jealousy！　From　this　hour　he　shall　be　compelled　to　acknowledge　that　he　was　mistaken；　and　that　it　is　for　him　to　implore　your　pardon。　Anna　Leopoldowna；　I　love　no　one　in　the　world　but　you；　and　therefore　I　am　ready　to　do　all　that　love　can　do　for　you。　I　will　marry　Count　Lynar　for　the　purpose　of　preserving　you　from　suspicion　and　slander。　I　will　bear　the　name　of　his　wife；　as　a　screen　for　the　concealment　of　your　loves。〃

Anna's　eyes　overflowed　with　tears　of　emotion　and　transport。

〃Weep　not；　my　love；〃　whispered　the　count；　〃be　strong　and　great　in　this　eventful　hour！　Now　will　you　be　forever　mine；　for　this　magnanimous　friend　veils　and　protects　our　union。〃

Julia　opened　the　door　and　waved　her　hand。

A　Russian　pope　in　sacred　vestments；　followed　by　two　other　servants　of　the　church；　entered　the　room。　With　them　came　the　most　trusted　maid…　servants　of　Julia。

Clasping　the　count's　hand　and　advancing　to　Anna；　Julia　said：　〃Grant；　illustrious　princess；　that　we　may　celebrate　our　solemn　espousal　in　thy　high　presence；　which　is　the　best　blessing　of　our　union！〃

Anna　opened　wide　her　arms　to　her　favorite；　and；　pressing　her　to　her　bosom；　whispered：　〃I　will　never　forget　thee；　my　Julia。　My　blessing　upon　thee；　my　angel！〃

〃I　will　be　a　true　sister　to　him；〃　whispered　Julia　in　return；　〃always　believe　in　me　and　trust　me。　And　now；　my　Anna；　calmness　and　self…　possession！　I　already　hear　your　husband's　approach。