Minna Von Barnhelm

JUST (sitting in a corner, and talking while asleep). Rogue of a landlord! You treat us so? On, comrade! hit hard! (He strikes with his fist, and wakes through the exertion). Ha...

LAND. I thrust him from the house into the streets? I have far too much respect for an officer to do that, and far too much pity for a discharged one! I was obliged to have anot...

LAND. It is true Herr Just speaks up for his master, and rather warmly; but in that he is right. I esteem him so much the more: I like him for it.

JUST. And for you sir, I hardly know you any longer. May I die before your eyes, if you do not encourage this malicious, unfeeling wretch. In spite of gallows, axe, and torture...

LADY. I have just risen from a sick bed, to which grief on the loss of my husband brought me. I am troubling you at a very early hour, Major von Tellheim, but I am going into th...

MAJ. T. I pity you, Madam! How can I serve you? You know your husband was my friend; my friend, I say, and I have always been sparing of this title.

MAJ. T. Poor, good woman! I must not forget to destroy the bill. (Takes some papers from his pocketbook and destroys them.) Who would guarantee that my own wants might not some...

MAJ. T. I cannot keep you any longer: I must learn to manage without servants. (Opens the paper, and reads.) "What my master, the Major, owes me:--Three months and a half wages,...

SER. What we always have, when we have nothing--compliments. My mistress hears that he has been turned out on her account. My mistress knows good manners, and I am therefore to...

MAJ. T. Just! see that we get out of this house directly! The politeness of this strange lady affects me more than the churlishness of the host. Here, take this ring--the only t...

JUST. The dog will not stay behind, he will take care of that. Hem! My master still had this valuable ring and carried it in his pocket instead of on his finger! My good landlor...

Brother, I believe you read the newspapers as little as the Bible. You do not know Prince Heraclius. Not know the brave man who seized Persia, and will break into the Ottoman Po...

FRAN. Who can sleep in these abominable large towns? The carriages, the watchmen, the drums, the cats, the soldiers, never cease to rattle, to call, to roll, to mew, and to swea...

LAND. (A pen behind his ear, a sheet of paper and an inkstand in his hand). I am come, your ladyship, to wish you a most humble good-morning; (to Franziska) and the same to you,...

MIN. Now I have found him again, Franziska! Do you hear? Now I have found him again! I scarcely know where I am for joy! Rejoice with me, Franziska. But why should you? And yet...

JUST. I cannot. My master has ordered me to pack up. That I am now about, and I beg you not to hinder me further. When I have finished, I will take care to tell him that he may...

MIN. I have found him again!--Am I alone?--I will not be alone to no purpose.-- (Clasping her hands.) Yet I am not alone! (Looking upwards.) One single grateful thought towards...

MIN. Cannot surely be so unexpected! (Approaching him, whilst he draws back still more.) Am I to pardon you because I am still your Minna? Heaven pardon you, that I am still Fra...

MIN. You draw but one dagger from my breast; for if I have lost your heart, what matters whether indifference or more powerful charms than mine have robbed me of it? You love me...

JUST. Must I come again into this cursed house! A note from my master to her ladyship that would be his sister. I hope nothing will come of this, or else there will be no end to...

FRAN. (calling through the door by which she has just entered). Fear not; I will watch. See! (observing Just) I have met with something immediately. But nothing is to be done wi...

FRAN. (looking after him seriously). I deserve the hit! Thank you, Just. I undervalued honesty. I will not forget the lesson. Ah! our unfortunate Major! (Turns round to enter he...

WER. Don't be alarmed! I see you are pretty, and a stranger, too. And strangers who are pretty must be warned. Little woman! little woman! I advise you to beware of that fellow!...

WER. Indeed! I tell you what, little woman, you are twice as pretty now as you were before. But what are the services, which the landlord says he has rendered our Major?

WER. That is not at all a bad little woman. But I ought not to have promised her that I would wait, for it would be most to the purpose, I suppose, to find the Major. He will no...

WER. I should have done that by the way: yes. But more particularly, I wish to thank you for having been so good as to take care of my hundred louis d'ors. Just has given them t...

FRAN. In thought, I am sure that you have done it. I know you are friendly to me; so am I to you. But it is not at all kind to vex those who are friendly to you so much.

FRAN. Come as you please: my eyes will find no fault with you. But my ears will have to be so much the more on their guard. Twenty fingers, all full of rings. Ah! ah! Mr. Sergeant!

MIN. So much the better! His letter! oh! his letter! Each line spoke the honourable noble man. Each refusal to accept my hand declared his love for me. I suppose he noticed that...

FRAN. So I perceived. I began to speak of a hundred different things, and you made wrong answers to each. (Another servant brings coffee.) Here comes a beverage more suited to f...

MIN. Sir, your mistake is quite excusable, and your astonishment very natural. Major von Tellheim has had the kindness to give up his apartments to me, as a stranger, who was no...

FRAN. He must return it to you; you have thought better of it; you will not play in partnership with him. Ten pistoles! You heard, my lady, that he was a beggar! (Minna pours ou...

WER. (goes up to Minna, without noticing Franziska). Major von Tellheim begs to present, through me, Sergeant Werner, his most respectful compliments to Fraulein von Barnhelm, a...

FRAN. (aside). I have not time to reproach her for that jeering _your_. (Aloud.) Yes, my lady, that is my Sergeant. You think him, no doubt, somewhat stiff and wooden. He also a...

MIN. Oh! Major, we will not treat each other in quite such a military fashion. You are here now; and to await a pleasure, is itself a pleasure. Well (looking at him and smiling)...

FRAN. Well, listen. It is a good thing for you, Major, that you are freed from your engagement with her in this manner.--Why should I not tell you? It cannot remain a secret lon...

MAJ. T. But, Franziska! Oh! I will wait your return here.--No, that is more torturing!--If she is in earnest, she will not refuse to forgive me. Now I want your aid, honest Wern...

MAJ. T. What are you talking about? What nonsense have you let them palm off on you? Do you not see that if it were true I should be the first person to know it? In short, Werne...

MAJ. T. How do I feel!... My whole soul has acquired a new impulse. My own unhappiness bowed me to the ground; made me fretful, short-sighted, shy, careless: her unhappiness rai...

MAJ. T. She pressed it upon me so bitterly. But I have forgotten that. A full heart cannot weigh words. She will not for one moment refuse to take it again. And have I not hers?

MAJ. T. (calling after her). Announce me! Speak for me, Franziska! I shall follow you directly. What shall I say to her? Yet where the heart can speak, no preparation is necessa...

MIN. (with forced coldness). I am going out, Major. I guess why you have given yourself the trouble of coming back: to return me my ring.--Very well, Major von Tellheim, have th...

ORD. I am looking for Major von Tellheim. Ah! you are the Major, I see. I have to give this letter from his Majesty the King (taking one out of his bag).

MAJ. T. What! You would still separate my fate from yours?--But, why do I hesitate to open it? It cannot make me more unhappy than I am: no, dearest Minna, it cannot make us mor...

LAND. Who wants to know about the letter! I come about the ring. The lady must give it to me again, directly. Just is there, and wants to redeem it.

MAJ. T. (after reading the letter, with much emotion.) Ah! nor has he herein belied himself! Oh! Minna, what justice! what clemency! This is more than I expected; more than I de...

MAJ. T. Forget my name... You came here with the intention of breaking with me... It is evident!... Oh, that chance should thus delight to assist the faithless! It brought your...

MIN. Tellheim! Tellheim! (Tellheim, biting his fingers with rage, turns away his face, without listening.) No, this is too bad... Only listen!... You are mistaken!... A mere mis...

MAJ. T. (suddenly recovering himself). Who, who comes? Your uncle, Madam! this cruel uncle!... Let him come; just let him come!... Fear not!... He shall not hurt you even by a l...

COUNT. Sir, we have never met; but at the first glance I fancied I recognised you. I wished it might be Major von Tellheim.--Your hand, sir; you have my highest esteem; I ask fo...

MAJ. T. I do not need to become your debtor; but I will be your banker. All you good-natured people ought to have guardians. You are in a manner spendthrifts.--I irritated you j...

WER. You will! Hullo, Major, no boasting! At any rate I have got as good a wife, and as trusty a friend, as you.--Give me your hand, my little woman! It's a match!--In ten years...