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The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 04
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NATALIE (to herself). God of earth!
Now all is done with him!
THE PRINCE (surprised). Why, look at this!
As I'm alive, most curious! You must
Have overlooked the passage.
NATALIE. Why! Which one?
THE PRINCE. He calls on me to judge the case myself!
NATALIE. Well, what of that?
THE PRINCE. Gallant, i' faith, and fine!
Exactly what a noble soul would say!
NATALIE. His magnanimity is limitless!
But you, too, friend, do your part now, and write,
As he desires. All that is needed now
Is but the pretext, but the outer form.
As soon as those two words are in his hands,
Presto, the quarrel's at an end.
THE PRINCE (putting the letter away). No, dear!
I want to think it over till tomorrow.
NATALIE. Incomprehensible! Oh, what a change!
But why, but why?
THE PRINCE (rising in passionate excitement).
I beg you, ask me not!
You did not ponder what the letter said.
That he did me a wrong—and that's the crux—
I cannot tell him that. And if you force me
To give him answer in my present mood,
By God, it's this I'll tell him—"You did right!"
[He sinks down beside the table, again with folded arms, and stares at the letter.]
NATALIE (pale).
You imbecile, you! What a thing to say!
[She bends over him, deeply stirred.]
THE PRINCE (pressing her hand).
Come, just a second now! I think—
[He ponders.]
NATALIE. What is it?
THE PRINCE. I'll know soon now what I shall write to him.
NATALIE (painfully).
Homburg!
THE PRINCE (taking up his pen)
Yes, dear. What is it?
NATALIE. Sweetest friend!
I prize the impulse that upstirred your heart;
But this I swear to you: the regiment
Has been detailed, whose muskets are to sound
At dawn the reconciling burial rite
Above the grave where your dead body lies.
If you cannot resist the law's decree,
Nor, noble as you are, do what he asks
Here in this letter to repeal it, then
I do assure you he will loftily
Accept the situation, and fulfil
The sentence on the morrow ruthlessly.
THE PRINCE (writing).
No matter!
NATALIE. What? No matter?
THE PRINCE. Let him do
What his soul bids. I must do what I must.
NATALIE (approaching him frightened).
Oh, terrible! You are not writing there?
THE PRINCE (concluding).
"Homburg!" And dated, "Fehrbellin, the twelfth."
So, it's all ready. Frank!
[He closes and seals the letter.]
NATALIE. Dear God in heaven!
THE PRINCE (rising).
Here, take this to the Castle to my liege!
[The lackey goes out.]
I will not face man who faces me
So nobly, with a knave's ignoble front!
Guilt, heavy guilt, upon my conscience weighs,
