frederick the great and his family-第12节
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Louise looked at him and sighed deeply。 〃The happiness；〃 she said； and against her will her voice trembled and faltered〃the happiness that a true； earnest love alone can givewhich I have received joyously into my heart as a gift from God。〃
The prince laughed aloud； but his face had a wild； despairing expression； and his hands clasped the chair more firmly。
〃I do not understand your holy； pious words。 What do they mean？ What do you wish to say？〃
〃They mean that I now love so truly and so earnestly that I have promised to become the wife of the man I love；〃 said Louise； with forced gayety。
The prince uttered a wild cry； and raised his hands as if to curse the one who had wounded him so painfully。
〃If this is true；〃 he said； in a deep； hollow voice〃if this is true； I despise； I hate you； and they are right who call you a heartless coquette。〃
〃Ah； my prince； you insult me；〃 cried Louise。
〃I insult you！〃 he said； with a wild laugh； 〃verily； I believe this woman has the effrontery to reproach meI who believed in and defended her against every accusationI that had the courage to love and trust； when all others distrusted and despised her。 Yes； madame； I loved you： I saw in you a goddess； where others saw only a coquette。 I adored you as an innocent sacrifice to envy and malice； I saw a martyr's crown upon your brow； and wished to change it for the myrtle…crown of marriage。 And my love and hopes are dust and ashes； it is enough to drive me madenough to stifle me with rage and shame。〃 Carried away by passion； the prince ran wildly through the saloon； gasping for air； struggling for composure； and now and then uttering words of imprecation and despair。
Louise waited； in silence and resignation； the end of this stormy crisis。 She questioned her heart if this bitter hour was not sufficient atonement for all her faults and follies； if the agony she now suffered did not wipe out and extirpate the past。
The prince still paced the room violently。 Suddenly； as if a new thought had seized him； he remained standing in the middle of the saloon； and looked at Louise with a strangely altered countenance。 She had forgotten for a moment the part she was condemned to play； and leaned； pale and sad； against the window。
Perhaps he heard her sorrowful sighsperhaps he saw her tears as they rolled one by one from her eyes； and fell like pearls upon her small white hands。
Anger disappeared from his face； his brow cleared； and as he approached Louise his eyes sparkled with another and milder fire。
〃Louise；〃 he said； softly； and his voice； which had before raged like a stormy wind； was now mild and tender〃Louise； I have divined your purposeI know all now。 At first； I did not understand your words； in my folly and jealousy I misconceived your meaning； you only wished to try me； to see if my love was armed and strong； if it was as bold and faithful as I have sworn it to be。 Well； I stood the test badly； was weak and faint…hearted； but forgive meforgive me； Louise； and strengthen my heart by confidence and faith in me。〃
He tried to take her hand； but she withdrew it。
〃Must I repeat to your highness what I have said before？ I do not understand you。 What do you mean？〃
〃Ah；〃 said the prince； 〃you are again my naughty； sportive Louise。 Well； then； I will explain。 Did you not say that you now love so truly； that you have promised to become the wife of the man you love？〃
〃Yes； I said that； your highness。〃
〃And I；〃 said the prince； seizing both her hands and gazing at her ardently〃I was so short…sighted； so ungrateful； as not to understand you。 The many sorrows and vexations I suffer away from you have dimmed my eyes and prevented me from seeing what is written with golden letters upon your smiling lips and beaming eyes。 Ah； Louise； I thank you for your precious words； at last you are captured； at last you have resolved to become the wife of him who adores you。 I thank you； Louise； I thank you； and I swear that no earthly pomp or power could make me as proud and happy as this assurance of your love。〃
Louise gazed into his beautiful； smiling face with terror。
〃Ah； my prince； my words have not the meaning you imagine。 I spoke the simple truth。 My heart has made its choicesince yesterday； I am the betrothed wife of Captain du Trouffle。〃
〃That is not true；〃 cried the prince； casting her hands violently from him。 〃You are very cruel today； you torture me with your fearful jests。〃
〃No； your highness； I speak the truth。 I am the betrothed of Captain du Trouffle。〃
〃Since yesterday you are the betrothed of Captain du Trouffle！〃 repeated the prince； staring at her wildly。 〃And you say you love him； Louise？〃
〃Yes； your highness； I love him；〃 said Louise； with a faint smile。
〃It is impossible；〃 cried the prince； 〃it is not true。〃
〃And why should I deceive your highness？〃
〃Why？ah； I understand all。 Oh； Louise； my poor darling； how short… sighted I have been！ Why did I not immediately suspect my brother？ he has spies to watch all my movements； they have at last discovered my love for you。 Pollnitz； who would do any thing for gold； has betrayed us to the king； who condemns me to marry according to my rank； and； to carry out his purpose surely； he now forces you to marry。 Oh； Louise； say that this is so； acknowledge that the power of the king； and not your own heart； forced you to this engagement。 It is impossible； it cannot be that you have forgotten the vows that we exchanged scarcely two weeks ago。 It cannot be that you look upon the heart that loved you so deeply； so purely； as an idle plaything； to be thrown away so lightly！ No； no； Louise； I have seen often in your beaming eyes； your eloquent smiles； I have felt in your soft and tender tones； that you loved me fondly； and now in your pale； sad face I see that you love me still； and that it is the king who wishes to separate us。 My poor； lovely child； you have been intimidated； you think that my brother； who reigns supreme over millions； will yield to no obstacle； that it is vain to resist him。 But you are mistaken； Louise； you have forgotten that I am Frederick's brother； that the proud； unconquerable blood of the Hohenzollerns flows also in my veins。 Let my brother try to force me to his purpose； I shall be no weak tool in his hands。 You had not firm confidence in your lover； Louise； you did not know that I would resign cheerfully rank and all family ties for your sake； you did not know that I had sworn to marry only the woman I love。 This I must do to satisfy my heart and my honor； and also to show the king that Prince Henry is a free man。 Now tell me； Louise； if I have not divined all。 Is not this the king's cruel work？ Ah； you do not answer； you are silent。 I understandthe king has made you swear not to betray him。 Now look at me； Louise； make me a sign with your hand； tell me with your eyes； and I will comprehend youI will take you in my arms and carry you to the altar。 My God！ Louise do you not see that I am waiting for this sign？that you are torturing me？〃
Louise raised her head； her heart was melting within her； she forgot her terror； and was ready to resist God； the king； and the whole world； to grasp the noble and unselfish love that the prince offered her。 But her glance fell involuntarily upon the curtain； behind which the king stood； and it seemed to her as if she saw the angry； burning eyes of Frederick threatening to destroy her。 She remembered her daughter； Fritz Wendel； and the world's mocking laughter； and was overcome。
〃You are still silent；〃 said the prince； 〃you give me neither sign nor glance。〃
Louise felt as if an iron hand was tearing her heart asunder。
〃I really am at a loss what more to say or do；〃 she said； in a careless tone； that made her own heart shudder。 〃It pleases your highness to make a jest of what I say。 I am innocent； my prince； of any double meaning。 Five weeks have passed since I saw youI believed you had forgotten me； I did not reproach you； neither was I in despair。 I soon found that it was stupid and dreary to have my heart unoccupied； and I sought for and soon found a lover； to whom my heart became a willing captive。 Therefore； when Captain Trouffle pleaded earnestly for my hand； I had not the courage to say no。 This is my only crime； your highness。 I was not cruel to myself； I received the happiness that was offered。 I have been called a coquette； my prince； it is time to bind myself in marriage bonds； and show the world that love can make an honest woman of me。 Can your highness blame me for this？〃
The prince listened with breathless attention； gradually his countenance changed； the color faded from his cheeks； the light from his eyes； a smile was still on his lips； but it was cold and mocking； his eyes burned with anger and contempt。
〃No； madame；〃 he said； with calm； proud indifference； 〃I do not blame youI praise； I congratulate you。 Captain du Trouffle is a most fortunate manhe will possess a most beautiful wife。 When will this happy ceremony be performed？〃
Madame von Kleist was unable to reply。 She gazed with wild terror into his cold； iron faceshe listened with horror to that voice； whose mild； soft tone had become suddenly so harsh； so stern。
The prince repeated his question； and his ton
