Comedy plays; German drama -- Translations into English
MAJ. T. (walks in, and the moment he sees Minna rushes towards her).
Ah! my Minna!
MIN. (springing towards him).
Ah! my Tellheim!
MAJ. T. (starts suddenly, and draws back).
I beg your pardon, Fraulein von Barnhelm; but to meet you here!!!!!
MIN.
Cannot surely be so unexpected!
(Approaching him, whilst he draws back still more.)
Am I to pardon you because I am still your Minna? Heaven pardon you,
that I am still Fraulein von Barnhelm!
MAJ. T.
Fraulein...
(Looks fixedly at the Landlord, and shrugs his shoulders.)
MIN. (sees the Landlord, and makes a sign to Franziska).
Sir!!!!!
MAJ. T.
If we are not both mistaken!!!!!
FRAN.
Why, Landlord, whom have you brought us here? Come, quick! let us go
and look for the right man.
LAND.
Is he not the right one? Surely!
FRAN.
Surely not! Come, quick! I have not yet wished your daughter good
morning.
LAND.
Oh! you are very good
(still does not stir).
FRAN. (takes hold of him).
Come, and we will make the bill of fare. Let us see what we shall
have.
LAND.
You shall have first of all!!!!!
FRAN.
Stop, I say, stop! If my mistress knows now what she is to have for
dinner, it will be all over with her appetite. Come, we must talk that
over in private.
(Drags him off.)
SCENE IX.
Minna, Major von Tellheim
MIN.
Well, are we still both mistaken?
MAJ. T.
Would to heaven it were so--But there is only one Minna, and you are
that one.
MIN.
What ceremony! The world might hear what we have to say to one
another.
MAJ. T.
You here? What do you want here, Madam?
MIN.
Nothing now
(going to him with open arms).
I have found all that I wanted.
MAJ. T. (drawing back).
You seek a prosperous man, and one worthy of your love; and you find--
a wretched one.
MIN.
Then do you love me no longer? Do you love another?
MAJ. T.
Ah! he never loved you, who could love another afterwards.
MIN.
You draw but one dagger from my breast; for if I have lost your heart,
what matters whether indifference or more powerful charms than mine
have robbed me of it? You love me no longer; neither do you love
another? Wretched man indeed, if you love nothing!
MAJ. T.
Right; the wretched must love nothing. He merits his misfortunes, if
he cannot achieve this victory over himself--if he can allow the woman
he loves to take part in his misfortune... Oh! how difficult is
this victory!... Since reason and necessity have commanded me to
forget Minna von Barnhelm, what pains have I taken! I was just
beginning to hope that my trouble would not for ever be in vain--and
you appear.
MIN.
Do I understand you right? Stop, sir; let us see what we mean before
we make further mistakes. Will you answer me one question?
MAJ. T.
Any one.
MIN.
But will you answer me without shift or subterfuge? With nothing but a
plain "Yes," or "No?"
MAJ. T.
I will--if I can.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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