Part 121 (2/2)
”Speak on, speak on!” said the king, as the queen now paused and heaved a sigh. He saw the fire consuming all that was dearest to him on earth, and, at the same time, recognized the beauty of the flame. There are strange chords in the human soul, and the king, although filled with shame and indignation, could not but admire the power revealed by his wife. He had never dreamed of its existence. She was greater and stronger than he had ever imagined, and his appeal to her seemed to acknowledge her supremacy. This made her the more indignant and, with forced composure, she continued:
”No one has a right to demand of another, of a prince, or even of yourself, that he should be a genius; but every one has a right to ask that you should be an upright man, a true husband and father. You could be that, just as easily as any peasant or day-laborer can.”
Pain and resentment were depicted in the king's countenance.
”Mathilde,” said he, at last, in a tremulous voice, ”Mathilde, I am not speaking of myself; but consider how these words must injure you.”
”I've considered all that. I know that the thousand little pleasures of life are no longer mine. I shall bear a burden which death alone can remove! I know that. But I've no pity for myself. Where love is dead, justice must reign!”
”Love? The love that could die was not love!”
”Don't let us dispute. We've ceased to understand one another. Listen to my last, my irrevocable words. What is left me? to despise you, or to become despicable myself. Here I stand,” said she, drawing herself up, and appearing taller than before, while a dark flush overspread her countenance, ”here I stand and tell you that I despise you. I will live with you and by your side, as long as life remains; but I despise you!
Know that, and now leave me. I shall appear with you this evening, at the court festival. You shall have no reason to complain of any breach of decorum. Once, love for you was all my life--that memory is mine; you need it not!”
The king arose. He wanted to speak, but it was long before he could utter a word.
”Does anyone know of your sentiments toward me?” he asked, at last, in a hoa.r.s.e voice.
”No; we owe it to our son that no one should know of it.”
”Mathilde, I never would have believed that you could speak thus to me.
But it does not come from you; another has forced himself between us.
He taught you to think and speak thus!”
”You are the great master who has taught me to subst.i.tute hatred for love, and contempt for adoration.”
”Does your friend, the doctor, know nothing of what you are now inflicting upon me?”
”I cannot swear to you--you can no longer believe an oath--but this I can say: if Gunther knew that I had suffered myself to be carried away by the ardor of my past love for you, it would grieve him deeply, for anger, hatred, and revenge, are foreign to his great nature!”
”His great nature may be made very small.”
”You will not, you dare not, rob me of my only friend! I implore you!
I'll ask for nothing more as long as I live. I'll be obedient and submissive. I can no longer offer you love. Grant me but this one request: leave me my only friend!”
”Your only friend? I don't know that t.i.tle. As far as I know, there is no such position at court.”
”On my knees, I implore you! Don't mortify him! let me keep this one friend. He's great, pure, n.o.ble; it is he alone who reconciles me to life!”
The queen was about to throw herself on her knees before the king. He touched her--she shuddered and drew herself up.
”Be proud!” exclaimed the king. ”Be so! and bear the consequences! Be the exalted one, the pure drop from the heavenly cloud mingling with me, the dust of the highway--”
The queen looked up amazed. What was it she had heard? The words of her n.o.ble friend thus repeated and distorted. Her head swam.
”Be what you will!” continued the king. ”Be alone, and seek support in yourself!”
He pulled at the betrothal ring on his finger. It was difficult to get it off, and his face grew red while he pulled at it with all his strength. At last, he drew it over his knuckle. Without saying a word, he laid the ring on the table before the queen.
<script>