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The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 04
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[COUNT REUSS and the footman go.]
THE PRINCE. Beloved lady!
NATALIE. Dear good cousin mine!
THE PRINCE (leading her up stage).
What is your news? Speak! How stand things with me?
NATALIE. Well. All is well, just as I prophesied.
Pardoned are you, and free; here is a letter
Writ by his hand to verify my words.
THE PRINCE. It cannot be! No, no! It is a dream!
NATALIE. Read! Read the letter! See it for yourself!
THE PRINCE (reading).
"My Prince of Homburg, when I made you prisoner
Because of your too premature attack,
I thought that I was doing what was right—
No more; and reckoned on your acquiescence.
If you believe that I have been unjust,
Tell me, I beg you in a word or two,
And forthwith I will send you back your sword."
[NATALIE turns pale. Pause. The PRINCE regards her questioningly.]
NATALIE (feigning sudden joy).
Well, there it stands! It only needs two words,
My dear, sweet friend!
[She presses his hand.]
THE PRINCE. Ah, precious lady mine!
NATALIE. Oh, blessed hour that dawns across my world!
Here, take it, take the pen, take it and write.
THE PRINCE. And here the signature?
NATALIE. The F—his mark!
Oh, Bork! Be glad with me. His clemency
Is limitless, I knew it, as the sea!
Do bring a chair, for he must write at once.
THE PRINCE. He says, if I believed—
NATALIE (interrupting). Why, yes, of course!
Quick now! Sit down. I'll tell you what to say.
[She sets a chair in place for him.]
THE PRINCE. I wish to read the letter once again.
NATALIE (tearing the letter from his hand).
Why so? Did you not see the pit already
Yawning beneath you in the graveyard yonder?
The time is urgent. Come, sit down and write.
THE PRINCE (smiling).
Truly, you act as though it had the power
To plump down, panther-fashion, on my back.
[He sits down and seizes a pen.]
NATALIE (turning away with a sob).
Write, if you do not want to make me cross.
[The PRINCE rings for a lackey, who enters.]
THE PRINCE. Bring pen and paper, seal and sealing-wax.
[The lackey, having collected these and given them to the PRINCE, goes out. The PRINCE writes. Pause, during which he tears the letter he has begun in two and throws the pieces under the table.]
A silly opening!
[He takes another sheet.]
NATALIE (picking up the letter). What did you say?
Good heavens! Why, it's right, it's excellent.
THE PRINCE (under his breath).
Bah! That's a blackguard's wording, not a Prince's.
I'll try to put it in some other way.
[Pause. He clutches at the ELECTOR'S letter which the PRINCESS holds in her hand.]
What is it, anyway, his letter says?
NATALIE (keeping it from him).
Nothing at all!
THE PRINCE. Give it to me!
NATALIE. You read it!
THE PRINCE (snatches it from her).
What if I did? I only want to see
How I'm to phrase my answer.
THE PRINCE. Beloved lady!
NATALIE. Dear good cousin mine!
THE PRINCE (leading her up stage).
What is your news? Speak! How stand things with me?
NATALIE. Well. All is well, just as I prophesied.
Pardoned are you, and free; here is a letter
Writ by his hand to verify my words.
THE PRINCE. It cannot be! No, no! It is a dream!
NATALIE. Read! Read the letter! See it for yourself!
THE PRINCE (reading).
"My Prince of Homburg, when I made you prisoner
Because of your too premature attack,
I thought that I was doing what was right—
No more; and reckoned on your acquiescence.
If you believe that I have been unjust,
Tell me, I beg you in a word or two,
And forthwith I will send you back your sword."
[NATALIE turns pale. Pause. The PRINCE regards her questioningly.]
NATALIE (feigning sudden joy).
Well, there it stands! It only needs two words,
My dear, sweet friend!
[She presses his hand.]
THE PRINCE. Ah, precious lady mine!
NATALIE. Oh, blessed hour that dawns across my world!
Here, take it, take the pen, take it and write.
THE PRINCE. And here the signature?
NATALIE. The F—his mark!
Oh, Bork! Be glad with me. His clemency
Is limitless, I knew it, as the sea!
Do bring a chair, for he must write at once.
THE PRINCE. He says, if I believed—
NATALIE (interrupting). Why, yes, of course!
Quick now! Sit down. I'll tell you what to say.
[She sets a chair in place for him.]
THE PRINCE. I wish to read the letter once again.
NATALIE (tearing the letter from his hand).
Why so? Did you not see the pit already
Yawning beneath you in the graveyard yonder?
The time is urgent. Come, sit down and write.
THE PRINCE (smiling).
Truly, you act as though it had the power
To plump down, panther-fashion, on my back.
[He sits down and seizes a pen.]
NATALIE (turning away with a sob).
Write, if you do not want to make me cross.
[The PRINCE rings for a lackey, who enters.]
THE PRINCE. Bring pen and paper, seal and sealing-wax.
[The lackey, having collected these and given them to the PRINCE, goes out. The PRINCE writes. Pause, during which he tears the letter he has begun in two and throws the pieces under the table.]
A silly opening!
[He takes another sheet.]
NATALIE (picking up the letter). What did you say?
Good heavens! Why, it's right, it's excellent.
THE PRINCE (under his breath).
Bah! That's a blackguard's wording, not a Prince's.
I'll try to put it in some other way.
[Pause. He clutches at the ELECTOR'S letter which the PRINCESS holds in her hand.]
What is it, anyway, his letter says?
NATALIE (keeping it from him).
Nothing at all!
THE PRINCE. Give it to me!
NATALIE. You read it!
THE PRINCE (snatches it from her).
What if I did? I only want to see
How I'm to phrase my answer.
