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قراءة كتاب Minna Von Barnhelm
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diamonds.
JUST.
I would not walk a mile to have my head split with one of their
sabres. You will not be so mad as to leave your comfortable little
farm!
WER.
Oh! I take that with me. Do you see? The property is sold.
JUST.
Sold?
WER.
Hist! Here are a hundred ducats, which I received yesterday towards
the payment: I am bringing them for the Major.
JUST.
What is he to do with them?
WER.
What is he to do with them? Spend them; play them, or drink them away,
or whatever he pleases. He must have money, and it is bad enough that
they have made his own so troublesome to him. But I know what I would
do, were I in his place. I would say—"The deuce take you all here; I
will go with Paul Werner to Persia!" Hang it! Prince Heraclius must
have heard of Major von Tellheim, if he has not heard of Paul Werner,
his late sergeant. Our affair at Katzenhauser!!!!!
JUST.
Shall I give you an account of that?
WER.
You give me! I know well that a fine battle array is beyond your
comprehension. I am not going to throw my pearls before swine. Here,
take the hundred ducats; give them to the Major: tell him, he may keep
these for me too. I am going to the market now. I have sent in a
couple of loads of rye; what I get for them he can also have.
JUST.
Werner, you mean it well; but we don't want your money. Keep your
ducats; and your hundred pistoles you can also have back safe, as soon
as you please.
WER.
What, has the Major money still?
JUST.
No.
WER.
Has he borrowed any?
JUST.
No.
WER.
On what does he live, then?
JUST.
We have everything put down in the bill; and when they won't put
anything more down, and turn us out of the house, we pledge anything
we may happen to have, and go somewhere else. I say, Paul, we must
play this landlord here a trick.
WER.
If he has annoyed the Major, I am ready.
JUST.
What if we watch for him in the evening, when he comes from his club,
and give him a good thrashing?
WER.
In the dark! Watch for him! Two to one! No, that won't do.
JUST.
Or if we burn his house over his head?
WER.
Fire and burn! Why, Just, one hears that you have been baggage-boy and
not soldier. Shame!
JUST.
Or if we ruin his daughter? But she is cursedly ugly.
WER.
She has probably been ruined long ago. At any rate you don't want any
help there. But what is the matter with you? What has happened?
JUST.
Just come with me, and you shall hear something to make you stare.
WER.
The devil must be loose here, then?
JUST.
Just so; come along.
WER.
So much the better! To Persia, then; to Persia.
ACT II.
Minna's Room. Minna, Franziska
MIN. (in morning dress, looking at her watch).
Franziska, we have risen very early. The time will hang heavy on our
hands.
FRAN.
Who can sleep in these abominable large towns? The carriages, the
watchmen, the drums, the cats, the soldiers, never cease to rattle, to
call, to roll, to mew, and to swear; just as if the last thing the
night is intended for was for sleep. Have a cup of tea, my lady!
MIN.
I don't care for tea.
FRAN.
I will have some chocolate made.
MIN.
For yourself, if you like.
FRAN.
For myself! I would as soon talk to myself as drink by myself. Then
the time will indeed hang heavy. For very weariness we shall have to
make our toilets, and try on the dress in which we intend to make the
first attack!
MIN.
Why do you talk of attacks, when I have only come to require that the
capitulation be ratified?
FRAN.
But the officer whom we have dislodged, and to whom we have
apologized, cannot be the best bred man in the world, or he might at
least have begged the honour of being allowed to wait upon you.
MIN.
All officers are not Tellheims. To tell you the truth, I only sent him
the message in order to have an opportunity of inquiring from him
about Tellheim. Franziska, my heart tells me my journey will be a
successful one and that I shall find him.
FRAN.
The heart, my lady! One must not trust to that too much. The heart
echoes to us the words of our tongues. If the tongue was as much
inclined to speak the thoughts of the heart, the fashion of keeping
mouths under lock and key would have come in long ago.
MIN.
Ha! ha! mouths under lock and key. That fashion would just suit me.
FRAN.
Rather not show the most beautiful set of teeth, than let the heart be
seen through them every moment.
MIN.
What, are you so reserved?
FRAN.
No, my lady; but I would willingly be more so. People seldom talk of
the virtue they possess, and all the more often of that which they do
not possess.
MIN.
Franziska, you made a very just remark there.
FRAN.
Made! Does one make it, if it occurs to one?
MIN.
And do you know why I consider it so good? It applies to my Tellheim.
FRAN.
What would not, in your opinion, apply to him?
MIN.
Friend and foe say he is the bravest man in the world. But who ever
heard him talk of bravery? He has the most upright mind; but
uprightness and nobleness of mind are words never on his tongue.
FRAN.
Of what virtues does he talk then?
MIN.
He talks of none, for he is wanting in none.
FRAN.
That is just what I wished to hear.
MIN.
Wait, Franziska; I am wrong. He often talks of economy. Between
ourselves, I believe he is extravagant.
FRAN.
One thing more, my lady. I have often heard him mention truth and
constancy toward you. What, if he be inconstant?
MIN.
Miserable girl! But do you mean that seriously?
FRAN.
How long is it since he wrote to you?
MIN.
Alas! he has only written to me once since the peace.
FRAN.
What!—A sigh on account of the peace? Surprising? Peace ought only to
make good the ill which war causes; but it seems to disturb the good
which the latter, its opposite, may have occasioned. Peace should not
be so capricious!... How long have we had peace? The time seems
wonderfully long, when there is so little news. It is no use the post
going regularly again; nobody writes, for nobody has anything to write
about.
MIN.
"Peace has been made," he wrote to me, "and I am approaching the
fulfillment of my wishes." But since he only wrote that to me once,
only once!!!!!
FRAN.
And since he compels us to run after this fulfillment of his wishes
ourselves... If we can but find him, he shall pay for this! Suppose,
in the meantime, he may have accomplished his wishes, and we should
learn here that!!!!!
MIN. (anxiously).
That he is dead?
FRAN.
To you, my lady; and married to another.
MIN.
You tease, you! Wait, Franziska, I will pay you out for this! But talk
to me, or I shall fall asleep. His regiment was disbanded after the
peace. Who knows into what a