The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 07

KING

In Versailles? In Rheinsburg? Well, never mind, we've had enough of that. [He whistles the first bars of the Dessauer March.] Tell me, you've taken part in those heathenish performances—at my son's Court, I mean?

PRINCE

The part of a confidant, Your Majesty.

KING

Good! It was about these heathenish performances that I wanted to speak to you. Prince, they tell me you are a man of taste, a man who is well acquainted with those godless Greek and Roman doings. As it is in my mind to celebrate my daughter's wedding with all pomp worthy of my crown—I want to ask you—to consult with my son—as to how most gracefully and amusingly to entertain the Courts of Poland, Saxony, Brunswick and Mecklenburg, who will all be here for an entire week—in a word, how we can win much honor and glory by this wedding.

PRINCE

Wedding? The Princess—your daughter's wedding?

KING

Yes, Prince. My artillery will furnish the salutes, and I will see to the reviews and parades my self. But it is in the evening that our guests grow weary in Berlin—they go to sleep in their chairs. Beer drinking and pipe smoking is not yet to every one's taste. We'll have to swim with the stream, therefore, and provide suitable amusements—illumination, operas, allegorical presentations, and such fol-da-rol—all about Prussia and England.

PRINCE

England?

KING (rises).

Zounds! that ran over my tongue like a hare hurrying across the highway. H'm—I mean a sort of spectacle—oh, say unicorn—eagle—eagle—unicorn—leopard—intermingled—Prussia and England—and it must be in rhyme—in verse, as it were.

PRINCE

England? This news comes with such a surprise! The whole country,

Europe—the world—will wonder how England came to deserve such honor.

KING

Oh, ho! don't flatter the old—lackey! It's an old affair, this one with

England; my wife has been working at it for years.

PRINCE

The Queen? Why, I fancied—that Her Majesty the Queen was much more in favor of Austria—

KING. Austria? [Aside.]

I might have known she would want to put her own will through. [Aloud with decision.] No. I received today a dispatch from our Ambassador, who assures me that England is thinking seriously of this plan, of this marriage arranged in all secrecy. The Prince of Wales has taken ship from England; it is supposed that he is already landed on the Hanoverian coast. Meanwhile, a plenipotentiary has left London, in strictest incognito, on his way to treat with me concerning all the details of the marriage. The envoy is likely to arrive at any moment. You would place me under obligations to you, therefore—

PRINCE (in despair).

Shall it be a pastoral masque?

KING

Yes. And the Crown Prince can play the flute for it, since he has learned that art behind my back.

PRINCE (turns to go, but comes back).

And the ladies and gentlemen of the Court are to act in it?

KING

Surely. Give every one of them something to say, only not me. But

Grumbkow must act in it. Yes, Grumbkow must be in it—and the ladies

Viereck and Sonnsfeld—and Seckendorf—and—

PRINCE (as above).

Must it be in English or in French?

KING

Neither. In German, good, pure, fiery German—High German, you understand, not the Berlin flavor. [Confidentially.] And if you could bring in a little Dutch somewhere—certain considerations of commerce would render that very pleasing to me; it will be spoken of in the papers and the Ambassador of Holland will be there—you see, it's about the importation of tobacco. [Makes gestures as of smoking and whispers into the PRINCE'S ear.] But I suppose a fine young gentleman like yourself doesn't smoke.

PRINCE (in despair).

No, Your Majesty—but my imagination is smoking like any volcano already.

A LACKEY (coming in).

The Privy Councilors urgently pray Your Majesty to receive them.

KING

Gad, but they must be eaten up by curiosity! Bring them in. [The lackey goes out.] Well, as I was saying—an allegorical marriage masque—that's what. Not quite in the style of Versailles. And yet I want the pre-marital feast to be fine enough to compare favorably with the one they rigged up in Dresden. Now—as for Holland. Put in some verses about the colonies, Prince, about the land where tobacco grows. You know—it's the land where the—

PRINCE (beside himself).

Where the Bong-tree grows! [He goes out.]

SCENE VI

GRUMBKOW and SECKENDORF come in. Each carries under his arm a small bundle of red-bound books.

GRUMBKOW

Forgive us, Your Majesty—but it is incredible that such unprecedented crimes should occur in the very bosom of the Royal Family!

KING

What's the matter now?

GRUMBKOW

Your Majesty has already been informed about the Frenchman who was found wandering through the streets of Berlin without any proper passport or identification, the man who had the temerity to say he had come to teach Princess Wilhelmine his language.

KING

It was only a wigmaker from Orleans.

SECKENDORF

Oh, but we have discovered further complications, Your Majesty! Books were found in this man's possession, books which point to a dangerous connection with Rheinsberg.

GRUMBKOW

Convince yourself, Your Majesty. These immoral French writings are all marked with the initials of His Highness the Crown Prince.

SECKENDORFF.P.RGRUMBKOW

Frédéric, Prince Royal.

[The KING starts in anger, takes up one of the books and then touches the bell. EVERSMANN comes in.]

KING

Eversman [with conscious impressiveness], my spectacles! [EVERSMANN goes out and returns again with a big pair of glasses.] The Attorney-General must make a thorough examination of this vagrant's papers…. I will not have these French clowns in my country. [He looks through one of the books.] The Crown Prince's seal—But no—no … the vagabond must have stolen it from him.

GRUMBKOW

Or else the books were intended for the Princess' instruction.

KING

This sort of book? These French—hold! hold! what have we here—is this not the disgusting novel written by the hunchback Scarron, the husband of the fine Madame Maintenon—his notorious satire upon our Court?

GRUMBKOW AND EVERSMANN (together).

Our Court?

KING (turning the leaves).

A satire on us all—on me—on Seckendorf, Grumbkow, Eversmann.

EVERSMANN

On me, too? KING (serious).

The Crown Prince has underscored most of it, that it may be better understood. Here is a Marshal with the nickname le chicaneur. You know that's meant for you, Grumbkow.

GRUMBKOW

Outrageous!

KING

The Ambassador, Vicomte de la Rancune, otherwise le petit combinateur.

That's you, Seckendorf.

SECKENDORF

It's—it's an international insult.

KING

And he called Eversmann la rapinière, or, as we would say, Old

Rapacity!

EVERSMANN

The rogue! And such books find their way into the country—marked properly by the Crown Prince at that!

KING

Can Wilhelmine be a party to this? That would indeed be scandalous. The Attorney-General must make a thorough investigation. [In extreme anger.] Isn't it possible for me to have a single quiet moment?

EVERSMANN

Your Majesty, shall I take these ungodly books to the executioner, to have them burned?

KING

No. I wouldn't use them even to light my pipe—not even as bonfires for our festivities. Gentlemen, shake this matter off, as I have done. This evening, over our glowing pipes, and in the enjoyment of a glass of good German beer, we also can be just as witty at the expense of Versailles and the entire French cabinet.

GRUMBKOW AND SECKENDORF (together, aside).

Bonfires for the festivities?

EVERSMANN

But the books are to be burned, Your Majesty?

KING

Yes, in another manner. Send them out to the powder mills by the Oranienburger gate. They can make cartridges for my grenadiers out of them. [He goes out.]

GRUMBKOW, SECKENDORF, EVERSMANN (aside). Festivities?

[They go out.]

SCENE VII

The scene changes to the room of Act I.

BARONET HOTHAM comes in cautiously through the centre door, followed by KAMKE.

HOTHAM

A hall with four doors? Quite right. The Princess' room there? And the Queen's here? Thanks, good friend. [KAMKE goes out.] Baronet Hotham is preserving his incognito to the extent of becoming entirely invisible. I've smuggled myself into the country from London—by way of Hanover—as if I were a bale of prohibited merchandise. [Wipes his forehead.] The deuce take this equestrian official business, where a man needs have the manners of a dandy with the unfeeling bones of a postilion. For four days I've scarcely been out of the saddle. [He throws himself into a chair.] Gad! if the nations knew how a man has to win his way through to the Foreign Office by years of courier-riding, they'd not think it strange that their statesmen, grown mature, seem disinclined to trip the light fantastic. Faith, it weighs one's pocket heavily, this carrying a kingdom about with one. [He slaps his right coat-pocket.] Here lies the crown of England. [Now the left coat-pocket.] Here the crown of Scotland—and here, in my waistcoat pocket, is Ireland. What shall I take from herein exchange? [He looks about.] Is the gilding real? It looks deuced niggardly and close-fisted. There's space enough in these great halls, but I'll wager there are many mice here. It's as quiet as an English Sunday. [Rises.] There's some one coming.

[Rises PRINCE opens the centre door, then halts on the threshold as if in despair.]

HOTHAM (in surprise).

Well?

[The PRINCE comes down a step and claps his hand to his forehead.]

HOTHAM

I believe he's writing verses.

[The PRINCE moves as before, toward the PRINCESS' door, then sees HOTHAM.]

PRINCE

What? Who—who is this I see?

HOTHAM (surprised).

Do my eyes deceive me?

PRINCE

Hotham! Is it possible? You here in Berlin, friend?

HOTHAM

Why, what is the matter, Prince?

PRINCE

Think of meeting you—you dear, excellent fellow—and just at the very moment when my despair threatened to overcome me! Is it really true? Where do you come from? From Paris?

HOTHAM

I've just come from England, Prince, with the very best greetings from our mutual friends and a special commission to capture you and bring you back to the race-track, to the hunting field, and the boxing ring, which you so enjoyed.

PRINCE

Alas, Hotham—all those pleasures are over for me!

HOTHAM

Has your father cut you off from the succession?

PRINCE

Ah, do not touch that sensitive wound! Fetch me, instead, the Empire of

Morocco.

HOTHAM

You are ill of a fever, Prince, or else you need a friend to aid you with his sane mind.

PRINCE

Hotham, you are a genius—many an intrigue of your country's foes will be shattered against that brain of yours. But you cannot help me.

HOTHAM

I wish that I could, Prince. I am so deeply in your debt for a hundred good services rendered me during your sojourn in England. It was your influence that put me in touch with our leading statesmen; you opened the diplomatic career to me. To you I owe all that I am and have—my brain is at your service, let it think for you; my arm is at your service, let it act for you.

PRINCE

Hotham, I'm in a most peculiar situation—

HOTHAM

I will devote my very life to your service. What would I be without you? To you I owe this flattering mission, to you I owe my very presence here.

PRINCE

Yes—why are you here?

HOTHAM (looks about).

It is an affair of the greatest secrecy. But if you desire I shall not hesitate to tell you what it is.

PRINCE. (absently).

I am not curious. Will it keep you here long?

HOTHAM

That depends upon circumstances—circumstances of a most delicate nature.

PRINCE

An affair of honor?

HOTHAM (low).

It concerns a possible marriage contract—between Princess Wilhelmine and the Prince of Wales.

PRINCE (as if beside himself).

You? You are the ambassador of whom the King spoke to me just now?

HOTHAM

Has the King been informed already?

PRINCE

Then you—you are that irresistibly clever diplomat whom they are awaiting with open arms?

HOTHAM

Does the King really look with favor upon this marriage with the Prince of Wales?

PRINCE

Horrible! I picked this man for a genius from among a thousand others. I took him from Paris, and put him into English diplomacy and now I must suffer because he does honor to my judgment. Let me tell you, then, my friend, that the King and the Queen, quite ignorant of their mutual agreement, are both heartily desirous of this marriage and all of its implications. But you are to know also that Princess Wilhelmine, the unhappy sacrifice of your political ambitions, is loved by a prince who cannot compete in power or position with your Prince of Wales, but who in devotion, love, passion so far outdistances all and any crowned suitors for the hand of this angel as heaven, nay, as paradise, outdistances earth—and that this prince is—myself.

HOTHAM

This is indeed a discovery I did not dream of, and I must, unhappily, add not a pleasant one. But if you ask in due form, why should they not grant you the hand of the Princess?

PRINCE

Grant it to me? A petty German sovereign When they have the choice of future Kings and Emperors? Speak of me to the Queen and you will discover that she invariably confuses Baireuth with Ansbach.

HOTHAM

The discovery is all the less pleasing in that I, as envoy of my government, must do all I can to bring about the marriage.

PRINCE

Of course, you must justify my recommendation.

HOTHAM

And yet I take the liberty of suggesting that possibly—under certain conditions—this marriage with England might not come about. Of a truth, Prince, take courage! Circumstances might arise which would not only give me the right, but would even make it my duty to give up all thoughts of the match.

PRINCE

You revive my very soul.

HOTHAM

Your Highness, it is not the Prince of Wales whom I represent here. The English nation, the cabinet, the Houses of Parliament send me. You are aware, Prince, your sojourn in England must have made it plain to you that the house of Hanover was called to the throne of England under conditions which make it the duty of that house to subordinate its own personal desires to the general welfare of the nation. Whether or not the Prince of Wales feels any personal interest in his cousin is of little moment. Parliament takes no cognizance of whether they love each other or not. The Prince of Wales, as future King of England, will contract any matrimonial alliance that is suggested to him as necessary to the national welfare. An alliance with the dynasty of the rising young kingdom of Prussia seems, under the present political constellation, to be the most favorable.

PRINCE

And this holds out some hope for me?

HOTHAM

There lies no hope in this unfortunate mission of mine, but in one of its clauses which states that the marriage, if all else be favorable, may be concluded only on this condition [looking about cautiously]: that certain English manufacturers shut out by Prussia be readmitted into the country [softly] on acceptable terms.

PRINCE

And into this—this mercantile scheming you would mingle a question of love—an affair of the heart?

HOTHAM

I am here to speak for the hearts of our merchants, hearts that beat warmly for the throne, but still more warmly for their balance-sheets. If our factories have nothing to hope for, then, Prince [takes his hands], my protector, my patron, then I am all yours. And you shall see that I have other talents besides those of diplomacy.

PRINCE

Talents to awaken a hope on which the bitterest disappointment must follow.

HOTHAM

Wait, Prince, wait and trust—

PRINCE

To the counting-room?

HOTHAM

Why not? And when, in case the King will not agree to the new treaties, I have devoted myself entirely to your cause, when you under stand that my heart beats high in gratitude to a Prince whom I met by mere chance and who has been my benefactor—when you have finally won the heart and hand of the Princess, then all I shall ask of Your Highness, as a German sovereign at the Diet of Regensburg, in Germany's very heart, is merely your assistance in obtaining from the German Empire some little concession for our harmless, innocent—manufactures.

KAMKE (opens the door to the right).

HOTHAM

Everything else later. For the present—trust me. Over there are the

Queen's apartments. Farewell. [He goes out.]

SCENE VIII

PRINCE (alone).

Land! Land in sight! Something, surely, can be done now! With Hotham at my right hand, I need only some female reinforcement at my left. The moment seems favorable. I will try to draw little Sonnsfeld, the Princess' lady-in-waiting, into the plot. She is waiting in the anteroom. I'll knock. [He goes softly to the PRINCESS' door and knocks]. I hear a sound. [He knocks again.] The rustle of a gown—it is she. [He draws back a step and turns.] First one must take these little outposts and then—to the main battle.

[WILHELMINE comes in.]

PRINCE (startled).

Ah, it is you—yourself!

WILHELMINE

Oh, then it was you, Prince? I have reason to be very angry with you.

PRINCE

With me, Your Highness? Why with me?

WILHELMINE

As if you did not know the insult you have offered me.

PRINCE

Princess, would you drive me mad? I offer you an insult?

WILHELMINE

Have you not heard what sort of a person this learned Laharpe of yours really is?

PRINCE

Princess, Laharpe is one of the most intelligent of men and possessed of a pretty wit. One might search long among your scholars here in Berlin before finding his equal in cultivation.

WILHELMINE

He is a wigmaker from Orleans!

PRINCE

But I assure you, Princess, he is not a wigmaker. It is true Laharpe does understand the splitting of hairs, but only in scientific controversy; it is true he does use paint and powder, in that he paints his thoughts in words of elegance, and lays on them the powder of ingenious sophistry—an art that is better understood in France than here. It is unfortunate enough, Your Highness, that your royal father's kingdom should be in such bad repute that foreigners of wit, poetry, and cultivation can be admitted only when they come bearing the passport of wigmakers.

WILHELMINE

But our plan has come to naught; Laharpe has been banished.

PRINCE

A weak reflection of his brilliancy has remained, Princess. Do not think me quite unworthy of taking his place. Grant me the blessed consciousness of having aided you to escape a situation which passes all bounds of filial obedience.

WILHELMINE

Prince—this language—

PRINCE

It is the language of a feeling I can no longer control, of an indignation I can no longer suppress. Princess, do you know that you are destined as a sacrifice to political and commercial intrigue? That you are to be sent to England in exchange for the produce of English factories?

WILHELMINE (in indignation).

Who says that?

PRINCE

Far be it from me to pass judgment on your desires—far be it from me to inquire if it may not surprise, perhaps even please your ambitions when you hear that you might win even an Imperial crown—but, if you love the Prince of Wales—

WILHELMINE

The Prince of Wales? Who says that I love him?

PRINCE

Your mother, who presupposes it—your father, who commands it.

WILHELMINE

The Prince of Wales? My cousin, whom I have never seen? Who has never betrayed the slightest interest in me? A Prince whose loose living has made me despise him!

PRINCE

Then you do not love the Prince?

WILHELMINE

My heart is free. And no power on earth can force me to give it to any man but to him whom I shall choose myself.

PRINCE

Do I hear aright?

WILHELMINE

I have been obedient and dutiful from the very first stirring of my personal consciousness. I have never had a will of my own, or dared, if I had that will, to give it expression. But when they would take the one thing from me, the one thing that is still mine after all these years of humiliation, my own inalienable possession, my heart's free choice—then indeed the bottomless depths of my obedience will be found exhausted. I feel that my brother was justified in throwing off such a yoke—and I will show the world that I am indeed his sister.

PRINCE

Princess! [Aside.] What can I do—it is too much joy—too much bliss! [Aloud.] Princess! the green garlands on the little window down there, the potted flowers offer a secret retreat—the little linnet in his cage is impatient for the return of his beautiful and benign mistress.

WILHELMINE (drawing her hand from his).

You would—

PRINCE

I would take the place of that misjudged and slandered scholar. And down there, alone with you, not worried by threatening footfalls in the corridors, undisturbed by [noise of drums outside] those cruel guardians of your freedom, I would tell the most charming Princess of Europe that—

WILHELMINE

You have nothing to tell me—nothing at all.

PRINCE (throws himself at her feet).

I would tell her that there is one Prince who, although he will one day reign over no more than a tiny plot of German earth, still can gather from the spell of her beauty, the kindness of her heart, the courage to say to her—I love you—I worship you.

WILHELMINE

Prince, what are you doing—please arise—some one is coming!

PRINCE

Not until you promise me you will meet me there.

WILHELMINE

Oh—if we should be surprised like this! Please get up!

PRINCE

You will promise? You will meet me?

WILHELMINE

Where? [He points to the window.] There? But I am not alone even there.

PRINCE

Those simple people are overjoyed when their Princess consents to linger an hour with them in their poverty. I have much to say to you, Princess, very much. I will tell you of the plans concerning England or Austria of which you are the central figure. And you must tell me again—in the very best style of Versailles, which I know thoroughly—that you hate me—that you detest me—

WILHELMINE

Prince, you torture me—I hear voices. Some one is approaching—Please get up.

PRINCE

Will you promise?

WILHELMINE

Cruel one! You won't get up—

PRINCE

Not until you promise—

WILHELMINE

If you promise to talk only about the plans that concern me—and about

French grammar—

PRINCE (springing up).

You promise? You will come? By every star in the firmament I swear I will begin with the verb J'aime—I love—and you shall see how, in comparison with the language of a devoted heart, in comparison with the art which unadorned nature can practise, even Voltaire is only—a wigmaker. [He goes out.]

SCENE IX

The noise of drums in the distance is no longer heard. WILHELMINE left alone, starts as if to follow the PRINCE. Then she turns back hesitating, and walks with uncertain steps to the table. She rings the bell. SONNSFELD comes in, looks at the Princess as if surprised, speaks after a pause.

SONNSFELD

Your Highness commands?

WILHELMINE (as if awakening from a dream).

I? Nothing.

SONNSFELD

Your Highness rang?

WILHELMINE

Yes, I did. My mantilla—my fan—the veil.

SONNSFELD

Your Highness is going out?

WILHELMINE

I am going out.

SONNSFELD

Has Your Highness permission?

WILHELMINE

Permission? Are you beginning to take that tone, too? Fetch the things I want.

[SONNSFELD looks at her, astounded, then goes out.]

WILHELMINE (alone).

I am tired of all this. I am beginning to be conscious of myself, now that I know there is some one who recognizes my meagre worth. The situation here is unbearable. I am weary of this unworthy subordination, this barrack-room service.

[SONNSFELD comes back with mantilla, fan and veil.]

WILHELMINE

You might have chosen the mantilla with the Brussels lace.