The Lawyers, A Drama in Five Acts - LightNovelsOnl.com
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_Fred._ Shall I go to him, Gernau?
_Gern._ Do not embitter my life, good soul; I have trouble enough besides. Your brother will drive me away.
_Fred._ What?
_Gern._ He will throw me out of my office.
_Fred._ Why?
_Gern._ To put a more accommodating man in my place.
_Fred._ He does not wish to do that certainly, nor could he even effect it.
_Gern._ He is all-powerful here; his abilities, his connections at Court, his office, render every thing possible that he wishes to atchieve.
_Fred._ And what does he want of you? what displeases him?
_Gern._ Under the pretence of promoting agriculture, he wants the best part of the forest for himself, which is of no great use to the community. And this pretended plea is a garden, he means to lay out in the English style for his own pleasure.
_Fred._ And should not an industrious man be indulged with some pleasure?
_Gern._ Should he wish to have it at the expence of the public? I must oppose it.
_Fred._ Does he know it?
_Gern._ Yes, he behaved so haughtily to me.
_Fred._ And you--
_Gern._ I thought on his sister,--and held my tongue.
_Fred._ (reaches him her hand.) Gernau!
_Gern._ He threatened me!
_Fred._ And you?
_Gern._ I curbed my pa.s.sion. He bid me be gone,--and I shall not trouble him again.
_Fred._ And what do you intend to do as to the forest?
_Gern._ My duty.
_Fred._ (draws back her hand.) Oh!
_Gern._ Yes, yes! It will cost me your hand, I foresee.
_Fred._ Never!--my affection is fixed, and can never be diverted from the dear object.--Your complaisance--
_Gern._ I have been complaisant, as far as laid in my power. I cannot be so at the expence of my duty.
_Fred._ I do not insist on that either. But,--but--
_Gern._ What would you wish that your own sentiments of equity forbids you to utter?
_Fred._ I only wish--I demand nothing--I only wish you to soften your rigid idea of duty, if you can.
_Gern._ I know nothing but justice, that will not admit of any by-road.
And if I were capable of such a sacrifice, whither would it lead me? It would lead me to see you, Selling's wife, and to laugh at me.
_Fred._ Must I break with all the world, because our hearts beat in unison? Am I criminal to listen to Selling's nonsense, because he is the only man through whom I can act upon my brother?
_Gern._ Then I may rely upon you?
_Fred._ Undoubtedly.
_Gern._ Pledge me your hand!
_Fred._ With all my heart!
_Gern._ Thus love will not forsake me, when I shall fall a victim to my duty.
_Fred._ I know no deceit, and follow the dictates of my heart.
_Gern._ In the name of heaven then I go to discharge my duty; it rewards and strengthens. Good bye, Frederica!--One more word, you are good; but are you resolute?
_Fred._ I am indeed!
_Gern._ Your brother has plans about you, in which I am most certainly set down for nought.--Frederica, Frederica, let him drive me hence, but not from you!
_Fred._ He shall not, he cannot. And no man can render me inconstant to you, but yourself.
_Gern._ Then you are mine, and I am easy.
_Fred._ And owe no grudge to my brother?
_Gern._ Frederica, I am an honest man.
_Fred._ Whom the purest love shall reward, as far as love can reward!
_Gern._ Adieu, dear Frederica!
_Fred._ Adieu, Gernau! [Exeunt by opposite doors.
ACT II.
