Enter SERVANT.
SERVANT. Mr. Anhalt begs leave----
BARON. Tell him to come in.--I shall be ready in a moment. [Exit Servant.
COUNT. Who is Mr. Anhalt?
AMELIA. Oh, a very good man. [With warmth.]
COUNT. "A good man." In Italy, that means a religious man; in France, it means a cheerful man; in Spain, it means a wise man; and in England, it means a rich man.--Which good of all these is Mr. Anhalt?
AMELIA. A good man in every country, except England.
COUNT. And give me the English good man, before that of any other nation.
BARON. And of what nation would you prefer your good woman to be, Count?
COUNT. Of Germany. [bowing to Amelia.]
AMELIA. In compliment to me?
COUNT. In justice to my own judgment.
BARON. Certainly. For have we not an instance of one German woman, who possesses every virtue that ornaments the whole s.e.x; whether as a woman of ill.u.s.trious rank, or in the more exalted character of a wife, and mother?
Enter Mr. ANHALT.
ANHALT. I come by your command, Baron----
BARON. Quick, Count.--Get your elegant gun.--I pa.s.s your apartments, and will soon call for you.
COUNT. I fly.--Beautiful Amelia, it is a sacrifice I make to your father, that I leave for a few hours his amiable daughter. [Exit.]
BARON. My dear Amelia, I think it scarcely necessary to speak to Mr.
Anhalt, or that he should speak to you, on the subject of the Count; but as he is here, leave us alone.
AMELIA [as she retires]. Good morning, Mr. Anhalt.--I hope you are very well. [Exit.]
BARON. I"ll tell you in a few words why I sent for you. Count Ca.s.sel is here, and wishes to marry my daughter.
ANHALT [much concerned]. Really!
BARON. He is--he--in a word I don"t like him.
ANHALT [with emotion]. And Miss Wildenhaim ----
BARON. I shall not command, neither persuade her to the marriage--I know too well the fatal influence of parents on such a subject.
Objections to be sure, if they could be removed--But when you find a man"s head without brains, and his bosom without a heart, these are important articles to supply. Young as you are, Anhalt, I know no one so able to restore, or to bestow those blessings on his fellow-creatures, as you. [Anhalt bows.] The Count wants a little of my daughter"s simplicity and sensibility.--Take him under your care while he is here, and make him something like yourself.--You have succeeded to my wish in the education of my daughter.--Form the Count after your own manner.--I shall then have what I have sighed for all my life--a son.
ANHALT. With your permission, Baron, I will ask one question. What remains to interest you in favour of a man, whose head and heart are good for nothing?
BARON. Birth and fortune. Yet, if I thought my daughter absolutely disliked him, or that she loved another, I would not thwart a first affection;-- no, for the world, I would not. [sighing.] But that her affections are already bestowed, is not probable.
ANHALT. Are you of opinion that she will never fall in love?
BARON. Oh! no. I am of opinion that no woman ever arrived at the age of twenty without that misfortune.--But this is another subject.--Go to Amelia--explain to her the duties of a wife and of a mother.--If she comprehends them, as she ought, then ask her if she thinks she could fulfil those duties, as the wife of Count Ca.s.sel.
ANHALT. I will.--But--I--Miss Wildenhaim--[confused. I--I shall--I--I shall obey your commands.
BARON. Do so. [gives a deep sigh. Ah! so far this weight is removed; but there lies still a heavier next my heart.--You understand me.--How is it, Mr. Anhalt? Have you not yet been able to make any discoveries on that unfortunate subject?
ANHALT. I have taken infinite pains; but in vain. No such person is to be found.
BARON. Believe me, this burthen presses on my thoughts so much, that many nights I go without sleep. A man is sometimes tempted to commit such depravity when young.--Oh, Anhalt! had I, in my youth, had you for a tutor;--but I had no instructor but my pa.s.sions; no governor but my own will. [Exit.
ANHALT. This commission of the Baron"s in respect to his daughter, I am--[looks about]--If I shou"d meet her now, I cannot--I must recover myself first, and then prepare.--A walk in the fields, and a fervent prayer--After these, I trust, I shall return, as a man whose views are solely placed on a future world; all hopes in this, with fort.i.tude resigned. [Exit.
END ACT II.
ACT III.
SCENE I. An open Field.
FREDERICK alone, with a few pieces of money which he turns about in his hands.
FREDERICK. To return with this trifle for which I have stooped to beg!
return to see my mother dying! I would rather fly to the world"s end.
[Looking at the money.] What can I buy with this? It is hardly enough to pay for the nails that will be wanted for her coffin. My great anxiety will drive me to distraction. However, let the consequence of our affliction be what it may, all will fall upon my father"s head; and may he pant for Heaven"s forgiveness, as my poor mother ---- [At a distance is heard the firing of a gun, then the cry of Hallo, Hallo--Gamekeepers and Sportsmen run across the stage--he looks about.] Here they come--a n.o.bleman, I suppose, or a man of fortune. Yes, yes--and I will once more beg for my mother.--May Heaven send relief!
Enter the BARON followed slowly by the COUNT. The BARON stops.
BARON. Quick, quick, Count! Aye, aye, that was a blunder indeed.
Don"t you see the dogs? There they run--they have lost the scent.
[Exit Baron looking after the dogs.
COUNT. So much the better, Colonel, for I must take a little breath.
[He leans on his gun--Frederick goes up to him with great modesty.]
FREDERICK. Gentleman, I beg you will bestow from your superfluous wants something to relieve the pain, and nourish the weak frame, of an expiring woman.
The BARON re-enters.
COUNT. What police is here! that a n.o.bleman"s amus.e.m.e.nts should be interrupted by the attack of vagrants.
FREDERICK [to the Baron]. Have pity, n.o.ble Sir, and relieve the distress of an unfortunate son, who supplicates for his dying mother.