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

SONNSFELD

Your Highness—what is your purpose?

WILHELMINE

Throw the veil about my head. Don't question everything I do. Must I give you an accounting for every trifle?

SONNSFELD

Good Heavens—have you joined your mother in her revolutionary ideas?

WILHELMINE

I have joined no one. I want to show the world that a Princess of Prussia has at least the right to pass from one court of the palace to another of her own free will. I am tired of being tyrannized in this way. The Grand Elector lived for me as well as for the others—the Hohenzollerns are what they are for my sake also. Adieu. [Holds out her hand.] You may kiss my hand. And do not forget that I am the daughter of a king who is forming great and important plans for his child's future, and that this child, even though she should be stubborn enough to refuse to acquiesce in his plans, will still be none the less a Princess of Prussia.

[She turns to go. The centre door opens and ECKHOF comes in, followed by three grenadiers. The door remains open.]

ECKHOF

Halt!

SONNSFELD

Are you to have a Guard of Honor, Princess?

ECKHOF

Grenadiers—front!

[Three more men come in without their muskets. The first carries a Bible, the second a soup tureen, the third a half-knitted stocking.]

ECKHOF (comes forward and salutes the PRINCESS).

May it please your Royal Highness graciously to forgive me, if by reason of a special investigation commanded by His Majesty the King, in consequence of forbidden communication with Castle Rheinsberg, I ask Your Highness to graciously submit to a strict room-arrest, as ordered by His Majesty the King.

SONNSFELD

What's that? Princess!

ECKHOF

Likewise, His Majesty the King has graciously pleased to make the following dispositions First grenadier, front! [The first grenadier marches forward with the Bible.] Your Royal Highness is to learn chapters three to five of the Song of Solomon so thoroughly that the Court Chaplain can examine Your Highness in the same tomorrow morning at five o'clock. Second grenadier, front! [The second grenadier comes forward with the soup tureen.] The food ordered for Your Highness will be brought up from the garrison kitchen punctually every day.

SONNSFELD (opens the tureen).

Dreadful stuff! Boiled beans!

ECKHOF

Third grenadier, front! [The third grenadier comes forward with the half-knitted stocking.] And, finally, His Majesty the King pleases to command Your Highness to knit, every two days, a pair of woolen stockings for the worthy Foundling Asylum of Berlin. May it please Your Royal Highness—this ends my orders.

SONNSFELD (in a tone of despair).

Princess, are these the King's plans for your future?

WILHELMINE (trembling in excitement).

Calm yourself, dear friend. Yes, this is the beginning of a new life for me. The battle is on! Go to my father and tell him—

SONNSFELD

Go to the King and tell him—[To the PRINCESS.] What are they to tell him?

WILHELMINE (with tragic decision).

Tell him that I—

SONNSFELD

Tell him that we—

WILHELMINE

That I—[Her courage begins to fail.] That although we will learn the chapters—

SONNSFELD

And although we will eat the beans—

WILHELMINE

It will not be our fault if [with renewed courage] if in the despair of our hearts—

SONNSFELD (tragically).

We let fall the stitches in the orphan's stockings—

WILHELMINE

And wish that we were merely the Princess of Reuss—

SONNSFELD

Schleiz—

WILHELMINE

Greiz and Lobenstein!

[They go out angrily.]

ACT III

The PRINCESS' room. Attractive, cozy apartment. An open window to the right. Doors centre, right and left. A cupboard, a table.

SCENE I

PRINCESS WILHELMINE leans against the window-casing, deep in thought. SONNSFELD sits on the left side of the room, knitting a child's stocking.

WILHELMINE (aside).

Hour after hour passes! What will the Prince think of me? Or can he have learned my fate already?

SONNSFELD

Did Your Highness speak?

WILHELMINE

No, I—I merely sighed.

SONNSFELD

It seemed as if you were talking to yourself. Don't be too melancholy. You'll soon learn the Bible verses and I'll relieve you of most of the knitting.

WILHELMINE

You are too good—you are kinder to me than I have deserved of you today. That work is tiring you—give it to me.

SONNSFELD

No, let me have it. You take the other one that is started. In this way we will gain time to rest later.

WILHELMINE (listening toward the door).

And we aren't even allowed a word with each other in freedom.

SONNSFELD (rises and looks toward the door).

It is cruel to let soldiers see a Princess humiliated to the extent of knitting stockings.

WILHELMINE

Why complain? It is—of itself, quite nicely domestic. [She knits.]

SONNSFELD

What would the Prince of Baireuth say if he could see you now?

WILHELMINE

The Prince? What made you think of the Prince?

SONNSFELD

You cannot deny that his attentions to you might be called almost—tender—

WILHELMINE

Almost—

SONNSFELD

Such eyes! Such burning glances! I am very much mistaken or it was Your Royal brother's intention, in sending this young Prince to you, to send you at the same time the most ardent lover under the sun.

WILHELMINE

Lovers hold more with the moon.

SONNSFELD

And he shows so great an admiration for you that I am again mistaken if our sentry outside the door there has not already in his pocket a billet-doux addressed to Your Highness—a billet-doux written by the Prince.

WILHELMINE

Sonnsfeld! What power of combination!

SONNSFELD

Almost worthy of a Seckendorf, isn't it? I'll question the man, in any case.

WILHELMINE

Are you crazy?

SONNSFELD (at the door).

Hey, there, grenadier!

ECKHOF (comes in).

At your service, madam. SONNSFELD. Have you a letter for us?

ECKHOF

Please Your Honor, yes.

SONNSFELD (to the PRINCESS).

There you are! [To ECKHOF.] From the Prince of Baireuth?

ECKHOF

Please Your Honor, yes.

WILHELMINE

Where is it? Did you take it?

ECKHOF

Please Your Honor, no. [Wheels and goes out.]

SONNSFELD

What a dreadful country! The general heartlessness penetrates even to the uneducated classes.

WILHELMINE

But how dare the Prince imagine that our sentry could forget all—all sense of propriety in this way?

SONNSFELD

Would you not have accepted it?

WILHELMINE

Never!

[A letter, attached to a little stone, is thrown in at the window.]

SONNSFELD

A letter? Through the window! Oh, how it frightened me!

WILHELMINE

Pick it up.

SONNSFELD (doing so).

But you won't accept it, you say. It can only be from the Prince—and it is addressed to Your Highness.

[Gives her the letter.]

WILHELMINE

To me? Why, then—why shouldn't I accept it? [She opens the letter.] It is—it is from the Prince. [She reads, aside.] "Adored one! Is there to be no end to these cruelties? Have they begun to torture you with England yet? They will come to you and will try to force you into this marriage. But Baronet Hotham, the English Envoy, is my friend and your friend, and will work for you while he seems to be working against you. It is a dangerous game, but it means your freedom and my life. Love comprehends—Love."

SONNSFELD

May I hear?

WILHELMINE

It is a little message of sympathy—from—from one of our faithful servants.

SONNSFELD

The good people are all so fond of you. You must answer it, I suppose?

WILHELMINE. Just a word or two-it is really of no importance whatever.

SONNSFELD. But we need not offend any one. [Aside.] What clever pretending! [Aloud.] Let me try if our grenadier is still as stubborn as before.

WILHELMINE

What are you thinking of?

SONNSFELD

We'll make the trial. [She goes to the door.] Here you—stern warrior—

ECKHOF (in the door).

At your service.

SONNSFELD

Why didn't you take the letter?

ECKHOF

It would mean running the gauntlet for me.

SONNSFELD

We would compensate you for any such punishment.

ECKHOF

You could not.

SONNSFELD

Would money be no compensation?

ECKHOF

Even if shame could be healed by money, that would be the one remedy you couldn't apply.

WILHELMINE

And why?

ECKHOF

Because Your Highness hasn't any money.

SONNSFELD

Dreadful creature!

WILHELMINE (aside).

He knows our situation only too well. We must give up all thought of sending an answer.

ECKHOF

May I go now?

SONNSFELD

Impertinent creature! What is your name?

ECKHOF

Eckhof.

SONNSFELD

Where were you born?

ECKHOF. Hamburg.

SONNSFELD

What have you learned?

ECKHOF. Nothing.

WILHELMINE

Nothing? That is little enough.

SONNSFELD

What did you want to make of yourself?

ECKHOF

Everything.

WILHELMINE (aside).

A strange man! Let us cross-examine him. It will afford us a little amusement at least.

SONNSFELD (to ECKHOF).

We are not clever enough to understand such witty answers. How do you reconcile nothing with everything.

ECKHOF

I grew up in a theatre, but all I ever learned there was to clean the lamps. Our manager discharged his company and I was compelled to take service with a secretary in the post office. But when my new master's wife demanded that I should climb up behind her carriage, as her footman, I took to wandering again. I begged my way to Schwerin and a learned man of the law made me his clerk. The post office and the courtroom were just two new sorts of theatre for me. The addresses on the letters excited my imagination, the lawsuits gave my brain exercise. The desire to create, upon the stage, true pictures of human greatness and human degradation, to depict vice and virtue in reality's own colors, still inspired me, but I saw no opportunity to satisfy it. Then, in a reckless moment, when I had sought to drown my melancholy in drink, fate threw me into the hands of the Prussian recruiting officers. I was dazzled by the handful of silver they offered me; for its sake I bartered away my golden freedom. Since that day I carry the musket. The noisy drums drown the longing that awakens a thousand times a day, the longing for an Art that still calls me as to a sacred mission; the uniform smothers the impulse to create human nobility; and in these drilled, unnatural motions of my limbs, my free will and my sense of personal dignity will perish at last. From such a fate there is no release for the poor bought soldier—no release but death.

WILHELMINE (aside, sadly).

It is a picture of my own sorrow.

SONNSFELD

That is all very well, but you really should be glad that now you are something—as you were nothing before and had not learned any trade.

ECKHOF

I learned little from books but much from life. I understand something of music.

SONNSFELD

Of music? Ah, then you can entertain this poor imprisoned Princess. Your

Highness, where is the Crown Prince's flute?

ECKHOF

I play the violin.

SONNSFELD

We have a violin, too. We have the Crown Prince's entire orchestra hidden here. [She goes to the cupboard and brings out a violin.] Here, now play something for us and we will dance.

WILHELMINE

What are you thinking of? With the Queen's room over there? And the King may surprise us at any moment from the other side.

SONNSFELD

Just a little Française shall be a rehearsal for the torchlight dance at your wedding.

WILHELMINE

You know the King's aversion toward music and dancing.

SONNSFELD

Here, Eckhof, take the violin-and now begin.

ECKHOF (looks about timidly).

But if I—[much moved] Heavens—it is three years since I have touched that noble, that magical instrument.

SONNSFELD

Come now! I'm the cavalier, Princess, and you are the lady.

[ECKHOF plays one of the simple naïve dance tunes of the day. The two ladies dance.]

SONNSFELD

Bravo, Eckhof! This is going nicely—ah, what joy to dance once more!

This way now la—la—la! [She hums the melody.]

SCENE II

During the dance the KING comes in softly through the door to the right. He starts when he sees the dancers and the grenadier playing the violin. They do not notice him. He comes-nearer and attempts to join the dance unobserved.

WILHELMINE

Sonnsfeld, that's not right! Now it's the gentleman's turn. [Holds her hand out behind her back]—Like this.

[The KING takes her hand gently with one finger and dances a few steps.]

WILHELMINE

How clumsy, dear friend. [Dancing.] And your hand is strangely rough today.

[She turns and sees the KING, who had begun to hum the tune in a gruff voice. The three start in alarm. ECKHOF salutes with the violin.]

KING (angry).

Very nice—very pretty indeed! Are these the sayings of Solomon? Music and dancing in my castle by broad daylight? And a Prussian grenadier playing the violin to the prisoner he is set to watch?

SONNSFELD

Pardon, Your Majesty—it was we who forced him.

KING

Forced him? Forced a soldier? Forced him to violate his duty in this devilish manner? I'll have to invent a punishment for him such as the Prussian army has never yet seen.

WILHELMINE

Have mercy, Your Majesty—have mercy!

KING

I'll talk to you later. As for you, Conrad Eckhof, I know that is your name—I will tell you what your punishment shall be. You are discharged from the army that serves under my glorious flag, discharged in disgrace. But you are not to be honored by being sent to a convict company or into the worthy station of a subject. Listen to the fate I have decreed for you. A troop of German comedians has taken quarters in the Warehouse in the Cloister street. These mountebanks—histriones—are in straits because their clown—for whom they sent to Leipzig, has not arrived. You are to take off the honorable Prussian uniform and to join this group of mountebanks, sent there by me, as a warning to every one. You are to become an actor, a clown of clowns-and henceforth amuse the German nation with your foolish and criminal jokes and quips. Shame upon you!

ECKHOF (with a grateful glance to heaven, trying to conceal his joyful excitement).

An actor! Oh, I thank Your Majesty for this most gracious sentence. Conrad Eckhof will endeavor to do honor to himself and his despised new profession.

[Goes out.]

KING

And as for you, my Lady Sonnsfeld, you may, the sooner the better, pack up your belongings and be off to Dresden where my cousin, the Elector of Saxony, has need of just such nymphs and graces for his court fireworks and his ballets.

SONNSFELD (going out, speaks aside).

In his anger he chooses punishments that can only delight any person of refinement. [She goes out.]

KING

Wilhelmine!

WILHELMINE

Your Majesty, what have I done that I am so unhappy as always to arouse your displeasure?

KING

You call me "Majesty" because you lack a daughter's heart for your father. I have brought up my children in the good old German fashion; I have tried to keep all French vanities and French follies far from their childish hearts; on my throne I have tried to prove that Kings may set an example to their subjects, an example of how the simplest honest household may be ruled. Have I succeeded in this?

WILHELMINE

You have punished us severely enough for our faults.

KING

This wigmaker—who was to instruct you in all the ambiguities of the

French language—

WILHELMINE

He was not a wigmaker.

KING. He was.

WILHELMINE

Well, if he was, then you dislike him simply because you are so fond of your horrid pigtail.

KING

The pigtail is a man's best adornment. In that braided hair lies concentrated power. A pigtail is not a wild fluttering mass of disorder about one's head—the seat of the human soul—such as our Hottentot dandies of today show in their long untidy hair. It expresses, instead, a simple, pious and well-brushed order, entwined obedience, falling gently down over the shoulders, fit symbol for a Christian gentleman. But I am tired of this eternal quarreling with you. This present arrest shall be the last proof of my fatherly affection. You will soon be free and mistress of your own actions. I announce herewith that you will shortly be able to come and go at your own discretion.

WILHELMINE

Father!

KING

Is that tone sincere?

WILHELMINE

It comes from a heart that will never cease to revere the best of men.

KING

Then you realize that I desire only your happiness? Yes, Wilhelmine, you will soon be able to do whatever you like, you may read French books, dance the minuet, keep an entire orchestra of musicians. I have arranged all things for your happiness and for your freedom.

WILHELMINE. How may I understand this, father?

KING

You will have horses and carriages, and footmen, as becomes a future

Queen.

WILHELMINE

Queen?

KING

You will see that I do in very truth deserve the name you gave me, the name of the best of fathers. But still—I hear your mother.

WILHELMINE

What—what is going to happen—

KING

Prepare yourself for a weighty moment—the moment of your betrothal.

SCENE III

The QUEEN comes in, leaning on the arm of the PRINCE OF BAIREUTH. HOTHAM and several lackeys follow.

WILHELMINE (aside, surprised).

The Prince!

[The QUEEN bows coldly to the KING.]

KING (equally coldly).

Good morning.

QUEEN (to the PRINCESS).

My dear child, I here present to you the Envoy of the King of England,

Baronet Hotham.

WILHELMINE (bows, speaks aside).

The Prince's friend? How am I to understand all this?

KING

Pardon me, wife, the Prince of Baireuth should take precedence. My dear child, I present to you here the Prince Hereditary of Baireuth.

PRINCE (bows, speaks aside to WILHELMINE).

Do not lose courage. It will all work out for the best.

QUEEN

Have you good news from Ansbach, dear Prince?

PRINCE. (aside).

This eternal mistake of hers. [Aloud.] Your Majesty, I hear there is a plan on foot to transplant Ansbach to Baireuth.

KING. (has been only half listening).

Hush! Let us cast aside all these earthly thoughts and plans and prepare ourselves for a work of sacred import. Sit down by your mother, Wilhelmine.

WILHELMINE

What is going to happen?

KING

You, Prince, as my natural aide—here! Baronet Hotham, you are in the centre.

[The lackeys place the table in the centre of the room and then go off.]

PRINCE (aside).

Hotham—the commercial treaties—

[HOTHAM sits down at the centre of the table, opens the portfolio which he has brought with him, lays out sheets of paper, and examines his pen.]

KING (folding his hands).

In God's name—[After a pause] If I should ask you, my faithful spouse, companion of my life, what a happy marriage is—

QUEEN

Has that anything to do with our daughter's wedding-contract?

KING

Do not interrupt me. You may not be conscious of it—but I am fully aware of how much this solemn moment imports.

HOTHAM

Please Your Majesty—I have already written "In God's name."

KING (looks surprised and pleased).

Did you really write that?

HOTHAM

It is customary to print it at the head of these and similar contracts.

KING

Printing is not as good—the letter killeth, saith the Scriptures; but you may begin now.

HOTHAM

We are concerned here with an affiliation between two nations which, although differing in language, manners, and customs, still have so many points of contact that they should seize every opportunity to come closer to each other.

KING

Couldn't you weave in something there about the English being really descended from the Germans?

HOTHAM

That would lead us too far afield.

KING

Oh, very well, as you say. It was a good beginning.

HOTHAM

Such an opportunity now offers in the mutually expressed wish of the dynasties of England and Prussia, to unite in the bonds of holy matrimony two of their illustrious scions. The Prince of Wales sues for the hand of Princess Wilhelmine.

WILHELMINE

The Prince of Wales?

HOTHAM

His suit is accepted attendant upon the conditions here following.

WILHELMINE. Accepted?

KING

Hush! Do not disturb this solemn procedure by idle chatter.

WILHELMINE

But—but how is this possible—

PRINCE (to the PRINCESS).

Your Highness, the conditions are but just being drawn up.

QUEEN (aside to the PRINCESS).

Do not interrupt. What must the envoy of the elegant court of St. James think of the manners of our Prussian Princesses!

KING

These chattering women! Very good, Baronet Hotham; the beginning was excellent. Don't you think so, Prince?

PRINCE

Certainly, Your Majesty. [Aside] It was odious.

QUEEN

And the conditions? [Aside] I am eager to hear about the dowry.

HOTHAM

First paragraph—

KING

Pardon me, I can tell you that in fewer words. I give my daughter as dowry, forty thousand thalers, and a yearly pin-money of two thousand thalers. I will bear the expense of the wedding. But that is all.

QUEEN (rising).

I trust that this is not Your Majesty's real intention. Baronet Hotham,

I beg you will not include such a declaration in the protocol.

KING (seated).

Not include it in the protocol? H'm—h'm—forty thousand thalers in cash—too little?

HOTHAM

The question of dowry will offer but little difficulty to a country as rich as England. Far more important are the political matters which, in the case of so intimate an alliance, must come up for especial consideration.

KING

Political matters?

HOTHAM

I mean—certain questions and points of discussion which, with your gracious permission, I would now like to present to you.

KING

Questions? Points of discussion? Do you see anything to object to in my daughter? [He rises.]

HOTHAM

Your Majesty, there are certain—advantages for both nations—

KING

Advantages for Prussia? [He sits down again.] You may speak then.

HOTHAM

To take up one point. For this marriage England will confirm without hindrance Your Majesty's investiture of the Duchies Jülich and Berg.

KING

Very decent; thanks.

PRINCE (aside).

Hotham, you fox!

HOTHAM

And furthermore Parliament declares itself willing—

KING

Declares itself willing—

WILHELMINE

What has Parliament to do with it? Am I marrying the two houses of

Parliament?

QUEEN (half aloud).

Be quiet. You don't understand. In England, all political parties have something to say in such matters.

KING (half aside). Yes, child, that would be the country for your mother, wouldn't it? Well?

HOTHAM

Parliament declares itself willing, in case Your Majesty wishes to complete the conquest of Swedish Pommerania, to let the matter pass without an interpellation.

QUEEN (pleased and excited).

Very polite indeed. I should not have believed Parliament would be so amiable. Just think, Wilhelmine, Parliament promises not to interpellate.

WILHELMINE

What sort of a new political torture is that?

KING (to the PRINCESS).

To interpellate means to harass and embarrass the government by continual contradictions, interruptions, and objections. That's why your mother understood it at once. Much obliged, my gear Hotham. My kindest greetings to Parliament. But continue—continue!

PRINCE (aside).

I am on tenter-hooks.

HOTHAM

For these many tokens of unselfish cordiality, for further manifold proofs of political complaisance, to be reviewed by me in detail later, proofs of a sincere desire to be enduringly united with a brother nation—

KING

Well?

HOTHAM

For all this we ask but one little concession, which would make this marriage a true blessing for both countries.

KING

Out with it!

HOTHAM

Prussian industry has now reached a standard which renders England desirous of testing its products under certain conditions of importation. For this—