The Dramatic Works of G. E. Lessing Part 63

Had you, Prince, but seen her frantic conduct in this room! You heard how she screamed; yet how tame she became as soon as she beheld you!

Ha! ha! Yes--I never yet knew the mother who scratched a prince's eyes out, because he thought her daughter handsome.

PRINCE.

You are a poor observer. The daughter fell senseless into her mother's arms. This made the mother forget her rage. It was her daughter, not me, whom she spared, when, in a low voice, she uttered--what I myself had rather not have heard--had rather not have understood.

MARINELLI.

What means your Highness?

PRINCE.

Why this dissimulation? Answer me. Is it true or false?

MARINELLI.

And if it were true!

PRINCE.

If it were! It is, then--he is dead (_in a threatening tone_).

Marinelli! Marinelli!

MARINELLI.

Well?

PRINCE.

By the G.o.d of justice I swear that I am innocent of this blood. Had you previously told me that the Count's life must be sacrificed--G.o.d is my witness I would as soon have consented to lose my own.

MARINELLI.

Had I previously told you! As if the Count's death was part of my plan!

I charged Angelo that on his soul he should take care that no person suffered injury; and this, too, would have been the case, had not the Count begun the fray, and shot the first a.s.sailant on the spot.

PRINCE.

Indeed! he ought to have understood the joke better.

MARINELLI.

So that Angelo was enraged, and instantly avenged his comrade's death----

PRINCE.

Well, that is certainly very natural.

MARINELLI.

I have reproved him for it.

PRINCE.

Reproved him! How good--natured! Advise him never to appear again in my dominions; for my reproof might not be found so good-natured.

MARINELLI.

Just as I foresaw! I and Angelo.--Design and accident; all the same.--It was, however, agreed, and indeed promised, that I should not be answerable for any accidents which might happen.

PRINCE.

_Might_ happen, say you, or _must_?

MARINELLI.

Still better! Yet one word, your Highness, before you say in harsh phrase what you think of me. The Count's death was far from being a matter of indifference to me. I had challenged him. He left the world without giving me satisfaction, and my honour, consequently, remains tarnished. Allowing, therefore, what under other circ.u.mstances I deserved the suspicion you allude to, can I in this? (_with a.s.sumed anger_.) He who can so suspect me----

PRINCE (_yielding_).

Well, well!

MARINELLI.

Oh that he were still alive! I would give all that I possess--(_with bitterness_)--even the favour of my Prince--even that treasure, invaluable and never to be trifled with, would I give.

PRINCE.

Well, well! I understand you. His death was accidental, merely accidental--you a.s.sure me that it was so, and I believe it. But will any one else believe it? Will Emilia--her mother--the world?

MARINELLI (_coldly_).

Scarcely.

PRINCE.

What, then, will they believe? You shrug your shoulders. They will suppose Angelo the tool and me the prime mover.

MARINELLI (_still more coldly_).

Probable enough!

PRINCE.

Me! me, myself!--or from this hour I must resign all hopes of Emilia.

MARINELLI (_in a tone of perfect indifference_).

Which you must also have done, had the Count lived.