Minna von Barnhelm [24]
Sergeant.
MIN. Dear Sergeant! Whom does the "dear" refer to?
FRAN. Pray, my lady, do not make the man embarrassed. Your servant, Mr. Sergeant; what news do you bring us?
WER. (goes up to Minna, without noticing Franziska). Major von Tellheim begs to present, through me, Sergeant Werner, his most respectful compliments to Fraulein von Barnhelm, and to inform her that he will be here directly.
MIN. Where is he then?
WER. Your ladyship will pardon him; we left our quarters before it began to strike three; but the paymaster met us on the way; and because conversation with those gentlemen has no end, the Major made me a sign to report the case to your ladyship.
MIN. Very well, Mr. Sergeant. I only hope the paymaster may have good news for him.
WER. Such gentlemen seldom have good news for officers.--Has your ladyship any orders? (Going.)
FRAN. Why, where are you going again, Mr. Sergeant? Had not we something to say to each other?
WER. (In a whisper to Franziska, and seriously). Not here, little woman; it is against respect, against discipline. . . . Your ladyship--
MIN. Thank you for your trouble. I am glad to have made your acquaintance. Franziska has spoken in high praise of you to me. (Werner makes a stiff bow, and goes.)
SCENE V. Minna, Franziska
MIN. So that is your Sergeant, Franziska?
FRAN. (aside). I have not time to reproach her for that jeering /your/. (Aloud.) Yes, my lady, that is my Sergeant. You think him, no doubt, somewhat stiff and wooden. He also appeared so to me just now; but I observed, he thought he must march past you as if on parade. And when soldiers are on parade, they certainly look more like wooden dolls than men. You should see and hear him when he is himself.
MIN. So I should, indeed!
FRAN. He must still be in the next room; may I go and talk with him a little?
MIN. I refuse you this pleasure unwillingly: but you must remain here, Franziska. You must be present at our conversation. Another thing occurs to me. (Takes her ring from her finger.) There, take my ring; keep it for me, and give me the Major's in the place of it.
FRAN. Why so?
MIN. (whilst Franziska is fetching the ring). I scarcely know, myself; but I fancy I see, beforehand, how I may make use of it. Some one is knocking. Give it to me, quickly. (Puts the ring on.) It is he.
SCENE VI.
Major von Tellheim (in the same coat, but otherwise as Franziska advised), Minna, Franziska
MAJ. T. Madam, you will excuse the delay.
MIN. Oh! Major, we will not treat each other in quite such a military fashion. You are here now; and to await a pleasure, is itself a pleasure. Well (looking at him and smiling) dear Tellheim, have we not been like children?
MAJ. T. Yes, Madam; like children, who resist when they ought to obey quietly.
MIN. We will drive out, dear Major, to see a little of the town, and afterwards to meet my uncle.
MAJ. T. What!
MIN. You see, we have not yet had an opportunity of mentioning the most important matters even. He is coming here to-day. It was accident that brought me here without him, a day sooner.
MAJ. T. Count von Bruchsal! Has he returned?
MIN. The troubles of the war drove him into Italy: peace has brought him back again. Do not be uneasy, Tellheim; if we formerly feared on his part the greatest obstacle to our union--
MAJ. T. To our union!
MIN. He is now your friend. He has heard too much good of you from too many people, not to become so. He longs to become personally acquainted with the man whom his heiress has chosen. He comes as uncle, as guardian, as father, to give me to you.
MAJ. T. Ah! dear lady, why did you not read my letter? Why would you not read it?
MIN. Your letter! Oh! yes, I remember you sent me one. What did you do with that letter, Franziska? Did we, or did we not read it? What was it you wrote to me, dear Tellheim?
MAJ. T. Nothing but what honour commands me.
MIN. That is, not to desert an honourable woman who loves you. Certainly that is what honour commands. Indeed, I ought to have read your
MIN. Dear Sergeant! Whom does the "dear" refer to?
FRAN. Pray, my lady, do not make the man embarrassed. Your servant, Mr. Sergeant; what news do you bring us?
WER. (goes up to Minna, without noticing Franziska). Major von Tellheim begs to present, through me, Sergeant Werner, his most respectful compliments to Fraulein von Barnhelm, and to inform her that he will be here directly.
MIN. Where is he then?
WER. Your ladyship will pardon him; we left our quarters before it began to strike three; but the paymaster met us on the way; and because conversation with those gentlemen has no end, the Major made me a sign to report the case to your ladyship.
MIN. Very well, Mr. Sergeant. I only hope the paymaster may have good news for him.
WER. Such gentlemen seldom have good news for officers.--Has your ladyship any orders? (Going.)
FRAN. Why, where are you going again, Mr. Sergeant? Had not we something to say to each other?
WER. (In a whisper to Franziska, and seriously). Not here, little woman; it is against respect, against discipline. . . . Your ladyship--
MIN. Thank you for your trouble. I am glad to have made your acquaintance. Franziska has spoken in high praise of you to me. (Werner makes a stiff bow, and goes.)
SCENE V. Minna, Franziska
MIN. So that is your Sergeant, Franziska?
FRAN. (aside). I have not time to reproach her for that jeering /your/. (Aloud.) Yes, my lady, that is my Sergeant. You think him, no doubt, somewhat stiff and wooden. He also appeared so to me just now; but I observed, he thought he must march past you as if on parade. And when soldiers are on parade, they certainly look more like wooden dolls than men. You should see and hear him when he is himself.
MIN. So I should, indeed!
FRAN. He must still be in the next room; may I go and talk with him a little?
MIN. I refuse you this pleasure unwillingly: but you must remain here, Franziska. You must be present at our conversation. Another thing occurs to me. (Takes her ring from her finger.) There, take my ring; keep it for me, and give me the Major's in the place of it.
FRAN. Why so?
MIN. (whilst Franziska is fetching the ring). I scarcely know, myself; but I fancy I see, beforehand, how I may make use of it. Some one is knocking. Give it to me, quickly. (Puts the ring on.) It is he.
SCENE VI.
Major von Tellheim (in the same coat, but otherwise as Franziska advised), Minna, Franziska
MAJ. T. Madam, you will excuse the delay.
MIN. Oh! Major, we will not treat each other in quite such a military fashion. You are here now; and to await a pleasure, is itself a pleasure. Well (looking at him and smiling) dear Tellheim, have we not been like children?
MAJ. T. Yes, Madam; like children, who resist when they ought to obey quietly.
MIN. We will drive out, dear Major, to see a little of the town, and afterwards to meet my uncle.
MAJ. T. What!
MIN. You see, we have not yet had an opportunity of mentioning the most important matters even. He is coming here to-day. It was accident that brought me here without him, a day sooner.
MAJ. T. Count von Bruchsal! Has he returned?
MIN. The troubles of the war drove him into Italy: peace has brought him back again. Do not be uneasy, Tellheim; if we formerly feared on his part the greatest obstacle to our union--
MAJ. T. To our union!
MIN. He is now your friend. He has heard too much good of you from too many people, not to become so. He longs to become personally acquainted with the man whom his heiress has chosen. He comes as uncle, as guardian, as father, to give me to you.
MAJ. T. Ah! dear lady, why did you not read my letter? Why would you not read it?
MIN. Your letter! Oh! yes, I remember you sent me one. What did you do with that letter, Franziska? Did we, or did we not read it? What was it you wrote to me, dear Tellheim?
MAJ. T. Nothing but what honour commands me.
MIN. That is, not to desert an honourable woman who loves you. Certainly that is what honour commands. Indeed, I ought to have read your