MAX.
O! shall we e"er be happy?
THEKLA.
Are we not happy now? Art thou not mine?
Am I not thine? There lives within my soul A lofty courage--"tis love gives it me!
I ought to be less open--ought to hide My heart more from thee--so decorum dictates: But where in this place couldst thou seek for truth, If in my mouth thou didst not find it?
We now have met, then let us hold each other Clasped in a lasting and a firm embrace.
Believe me this was more than their intent.
Then be our loves like some blest relic kept Within the deep recesses of the heart.
From heaven alone the love has been bestowed, To heaven alone our grat.i.tude is due; It can work wonders for us still.
SCENE VI.
To them enters the COUNTESS TERZKY.
COUNTESS (in a pressing manner).
Come, come!
My husband sends me for you. It is now The latest moment.
[They not appearing to attend to what she says, she steps between them.
Part you!
THEKLA.
Oh, not yet!
It has been scarce a moment.
COUNTESS.
Ay! Then time Flies swiftly with your highness, princess niece!
MAX.
There is no hurry, aunt.
COUNTESS.
Away! Away!
The folks begin to miss you. Twice already His father has asked for him.
THEKLA.
Ha! His father!
COUNTESS.
You understand that, niece!
THEKLA.
Why needs he To go at all to that society?
"Tis not his proper company. They may Be worthy men, but he"s too young for them; In brief, he suits not such society.
COUNTESS.
You mean, you"d rather keep him wholly here?
THEKLA (with energy).
Yes! You have hit it aunt! That is my meaning, Leave him here wholly! Tell the company----
COUNTESS.
What! have you lost your senses, niece?
Count, you remember the conditions. Come!
MAX (to THEKLA).
Lady, I must obey. Fairwell, dear lady!
[THEKLA turns away from him with a quick motion.
What say you then, dear lady?
THEKLA (without looking at him).
Nothing. Go!
MAX.
Can I when you are angry----
[He draws up to her, their eyes meet, she stands silent a moment, then throws herself into his arms; he presses her fast to his heart.
COUNTESS.
Off! Heavens! if any one should come!
Hark! What"s that noise! It comes this way. Off!
[MAX. tears himself away out of her arms and goes. The COUNTESS accompanies him. THEKLA follows him with her eyes at first, walks restlessly across the room, then stops, and remains standing, lost in thought. A guitar lies on the table, she seizes it as by a sudden emotion, and after she has played awhile an irregular and melancholy symphony, she falls gradually into the music and sings.
SCENE VII.
THEKLA (plays and sings).
The cloud doth gather, the greenwood roar, The damsel paces along the sh.o.r.e; The billows, they tumble with might, with might; And she flings out her voice to the darksome night; Her bosom is swelling with sorrow; The world it is empty, the heart will die, There"s nothing to wish for beneath the sky Thou Holy One, call thy child away!
I"ve lived and loved, and that was to-day; Make ready my grave-clothes to-morrow. [12]
SCENE VIII.
COUNTESS (returns), THEKLA.
COUNTESS.
Fie, lady niece! to throw yourself upon him Like a poor gift to one who cares not for it, And so must be flung after him! For you, Duke Friedland"s only child, I should have thought It had been more beseeming to have shown yourself More chary of your person.
THEKLA (rising).
And what mean you?
d.u.c.h.eSS.
I mean, niece, that you should not have forgotten Who you are, and who he is. But perchance That never once occurred to you.