The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Vi Part 66

Like water for the gross and earthly stain There is a cleanser for our sullied souls.

Thou art, as Christian, strong enough in faith To know repentance hath a such-like might.

We others, wont to live a life of deeds, Are not inclined to modest means like this, Which takes the guilt away, but not the harm-- Yes, half but is the fear of some new sin.

If wis.h.i.+ng better things, if glad resolve Are any hostage-bond for now and then, Take it--as I do give it--true and whole!

QUEEN (_holding out both hands_).

O G.o.d, how gladly!

KING. No, not both thy hands!

The right alone, though farther from the heart, Is giv'n as pledge of contract and of bond, Perhaps to indicate that not alone Emotion, which is rooted in our hearts, But reason, too, the person's whole intent, Must give endurance to the plighted word.

Emotion's tide is swift of change as time; That which is pondered, has abiding strength.

QUEEN (_offering him her right hand_).

That too! Myself entire!

KING. Trembleth thy hand!

(_Dropping her hand._)

O n.o.ble wife, I would not treat thee ill.

Believe not that, because I speak less mild, I know less well how great has been my fault, Nor honor less the kindness of thy heart.

QUEEN. 'Tis easy to forgive; to comprehend Is much more difficult. How it _could_ be, I understand it not!

KING. My wife and queen, We lived as children till but recently.

As such our hands were joined in marriage vows, And then as guileless children lived we on.

But children grow, with the increase of years, And ev'ry stage of our development By some discomfort doth proclaim itself.

Often it is a sickness, warning us That we are diff'rent--other, though the same, And other things are fitting in the same.

So is it with our inmost soul as well-- It stretches out, a wider orbit gains, Described about the selfsame centre still.

Such sickness have we, then, but now pa.s.sed through; And saying we, I mean that thou as well Art not a stranger to such inner growth.

Let's not, unheeding, pa.s.s the warning by!

In future let us live as kings should live-- For kings we are. Nor let us shut ourselves From out this world, and all that's good and great; And like the bees which, at each close of day, Return unto their hives with lading sweet, So much the richer by their daily gain, We'll find within the circle of our home, Through hours of deprivation, added sweets.

QUEEN. If thou desirest, yes; for me, I miss them not.

KING. But thou wilt miss them then in retrospect, When thou hast that whereby one judges worth.

But let us now forget what's past and gone!

I like it not, when starting on a course, By any hindrance thus to bar the way With rubbish from an earlier estate.

I do absolve myself from all my sins.

Thou hast no need--thou, in thy purity!

QUEEN. Not so! Not so! My husband, if thou knew'st What black and mischief-bringing thoughts have found Their way into my sad and trembling heart!

KING. Perhaps of vengeance? Why, so much the better!

Thou feel'st the human duty to forgive, And know'st that e'en the best of us may err.

We will not punish, nor avenge ourselves; For _she_, believe me, _she_ is guiltless quite, As common grossness or vain weakness is, Which merely struggles not, but limply yields.

I only bear the guilt, myself alone.

QUEEN. Let me believe what keeps and comforts me The Moorish folk, and all that like them are, Do practise secret and nefarious arts, With pictures, signs and sayings, evil draughts, Which turn a mortal's heart within his breast, And make his will obedient to their own.

KING. Magic devices round about us are, But we are the magicians, we ourselves.

That which is far removed, a thought brings near; What we have scorned, another time seems fair; And in this world so full of miracles, We are the greatest miracle ourselves!

QUEEN. She has thy picture!

KING. And she shall return 't, In full view I shall nail it to the wall, And for my children's children write beneath: A King, who, not so evil in himself, Hath once forgot his office and his duty.

Thank G.o.d that he did find himself again.

QUEEN. But thou, thyself, dost wear about thy neck--

KING. Oh yes! Her picture? So you knew that, too?

[_He takes the picture with the chain from his neck, and lays it on the table in the foreground to the right._]

So then I lay it down, and may it lie-- A bolt not harmful, now the thunder's past.

The girl herself--let her be ta'en away!

She then may have a man from out her race--

[_Walking fitfully back and forth from the rear to the front of the stage, and stopping short now and then._]

But no, not that!--The women of this race Are pa.s.sable, good even, but the men With dirty hands and narrow greed of gain-- This girl shall not be touched by such a one.

Indeed, she has to better ones belonged.

But then, what's that to me?--If thus or thus, If near or far--they may look after that!

QUEEN. Wilt thou, then, Don Alfonso, stay thus strong?

KING (_standing still_).

Forsooth, thou ne'er hast known or seen this girl!

Take all the faults that on this broad earth dwell, Folly and vanity, and weakness, too, Cunning and boldness, coquetry and greed-- Put them together and thou hast this woman; And if, enigma thou, not magic art, Shouldst call her power to charm me, I'll agree, And were ashamed, were't not but natural, too!

QUEEN (_walks up and down_).

Believe me, husband, 'twas not natural!

KING (_standing still_).

Magic there is, in truth. Its name is custom, Which first not potent, later holds us fast; So that which at the outset shocked, appalled, Sloughs off the first impression of disgust, And grows, a thing continued, to a need-- Is this not of our very bodies true?

This chain I wore--which now here idly lies, Ta'en off forever--breast and neck alike, To this impression have become so used--

(_Shaking himself._)

The empty s.p.a.ces make me shake with cold.

I'll choose myself another chain forthwith; The body jests not when it warning sends.

And now enough of this!

But that you could Avenge yourselves in blood on this poor fool-- That was not well!

(_Stepping to the table._)