Lady. Herr Major

Major. I pity you, worthy lady! Wherein can I serve you? You know, your husband was my friend; my friend, I say; I was never lavish of that title.

Lady. Who knows better than myself, how worthy you were of his friendship-how worthy he was of yours? You would have occupied his last thoughts; your name would have been the last sound upon his dying lips, had not all-powerful nature claimed that sad privilege for his unhappy son-for his unhappy wife.

Major. Hear me, Madam! Willingly would I weep with you; but to-day, I have no tears. Excuse me! You find me at an hour, when I might easily be persuaded to murmur against providence. Oh! my truehearted Marloff! Quickly, worthy lady, what are your commands? If it is in my power to serve you; if I am

Lady. I dare not set out on my journey, without performing his last request. He remembered, shortly before his death, that he was your debtor, and made me promise to discharge this debt with the first ready money I obtained. I have sold his equipage, and have come to redeem

his note.

Major. How, kind lady! for this purpose did you come ?

Lady. For no other. Allow me to count out the gold.

Major. Stop a moment, Madam; Marloff in debt to me! this can scarcely be possible. Let me see, however. (He takes out his pocketbook and looks into it.) I find nothing.

Lady. You may have lost the writing, and the writing is nothing to the business.-Allow me

Major. No, Madam! I am not in the habit of thus mislaying papers. If I have it not now, then is it an evidence that I never had any, or else' that it has been already cancelled, and that I have returned it.

Lady. Herr Major!

Major. It is true, worthy lady; Marloff does not owe me anything. I was sure, I did not remember that he was in debt to me. It is not otherwise, Madam; he had much rather left me his debtor. I have never been able to recompense, as I would wish, the man, who, for six years, shared with me adversity and prosperity-honor and danger. I will not forget, that be has left a son. He shall become my son, as soon as I can be a father to him. The embarrassment in which I find myself at present

Lady. Generous man! But think not too lightly of me either. Take the gold, Herr Major, so shall I at least be satisfied.

Major. What need you for your satisfaction, more than my assurance, that the money does not belong to me? Or would you that I should rob the yet uneducated orphan of my friend? Should rob him, Madam; for this would it be in reality. It belongs to him; use it for him.

Lady. I understand you; pardon me only, that I know not how to receive a favor in a proper manner. But how did you know that a mother would do more for her son than for her own life? I go

Major. Go, Madam, go! A prosperous journey to you! I will not ask you to send me information concerning yourself. It might come to me at a time when I could be of no service to you. But, one thing more however, worthy lady. I had almost forgotten that which is of most importance. Marloff had demands upon the treasury of our regiment. His claims are as just as mine. If mine are paid, his must also be. I will be answerable for it.

Lady. Oh! sir-but I had better be silent.-Future favors thus prepared are considered in the sight of Heaven as already done. Receive for this, his blessing and my tears! (Exit.)

SCENE VII.-MAJOR VON TELLHEIM.

Poor, brave woman! I must not forget to destroy this trifle. (Takes from his pocket-book a paper, which he destroys.) This gives security that extreme poverty shall not, at any time, tempt me to make use of it.

SCENE VIII.-MAJOR VON TELLHEIM. JOCELYN.

Major. Are you here?

Jocelyn (wiping his eyes) Yes.

Major. You have been weeping.

Jocelyn. I have been in the kitchen, making out my account, and the kitchen is full of smoke. Here it is, sir!

Major. Give it to me.

Jocelyn. Have compassion upon me, sir; I know men who have none for you; but

Major. What do you wish?

Jocelyn. I should have expected death sooner than my discharge.

Major. I cannot employ you any longer; I must get along without servants. (Unfolds the paper and reads,) "What the Major is owing me: Wages for three and a half months, at 6 thalers per month, amounts to 21 thalers. During the same time, laid out for trifles, 1 thaler, 7 gr. 9 pf. total, 22 thalers. Well; and it is just that I should pay you this present month.

Jocelyn. The other side, Herr Major

Major. More yet? (reads.) "What I am owing the Major for surgery, paid for me, 25 thalers. For medical attendance and care during my sickness, paid for me, 39 thalers. Advanced upon my request to my burnt out and plundered father, without reckoning the two prize horses which he sent him, 50 thalers. Total amount, 114 thalers. Deducting therefrom the before-mentioned 22 thalers, 7 gr. 9 pf., there remains due to the Major 91 thalers, 16 gr. 3 pf." Fellow, you are mad!

Jocelyn. I believe, indeed, that I have cost you much more than that. But it would have only been a waste of ink to have written it down. I cannot pay you this; and if you take from me besides the livery which I have not earned, then I should rather that you had left me to die miserably in the hospital.

Major. Why do you look at me so? You are not owing me anything, and I will recommend you to one of my acquaintance, with whom you will fare better than with me.

Jocelyn. I am not owing you anything, and still you will dismiss me. Major. Because I will not be in debt to you.

Jocelyn. On that account? Only on that account? So surely as I am owing you, so surely you cannot get in debt to me, so surely shall you not dismiss me. Do what you will, Herr Major, I remain with you! I must remain with you!

Major. And your obstinacy, your forwardness, your wild, violent manner towards all, of whom you think they have nothing to say to you; your malicious pleasure at others' misfortunes-your revengeful spirit

Jocelyn. Make me as bad as you please; I will not therefore think worse of myself than of my dog. Last winter, I was walking along by the canal one evening, and heard a moan; I descended and reached out my hand towards the sound, thinking to save a child, and drew a spaniel out of the water. Just as well, I thought. The spaniel followed me. But I am not over of dogs.—I thrust him from me in vain; I beat him in vain. I would not allow him to come into my chamber at night; he remained outside the door, upon the threshold. When he came too near me, I struck him with my foot; he cried, looked up in my face, and wagged his tail. He has never received a morsel of bread from my hand, and yet I am the only one whom he listens to, or who dares touch him. He springs before me, and exhibits his skill in serving me without being commanded. He is an ugly looking spaniel, but really a very good dog. If he practices thus much longer, I shall give over beating him.

Major (aside.) As I do him! It is not best to be quite a monster! Jocelyn, we will remain together.

Jocelyn. Certainly! You would get along without servants? You forget your wounds, and that you have the use of but one arm.

You can

not even dress yourself alone. I am indispensable to you; and I am,— without boasting, Herr Major.-I am a servant, who, if worse come to worst, can beg and steal for his master.

Major. Jocelyn, you shall remain with me.

Jocelyn. All right, sir!

SCENE IX.-MAJOR VON TELLHEIM. JOCELYN. A SERVANT,

Servant. Hist! Comrade!

Jocelyn. What is wanting?

Servant. Can you direct me to the officer who occupied that room (pointing to the side from which he entered,) yesterday?

Jocelyn. This I could easily do. What do you bring him?

Servant. What we always bring, when we bring nothing: a compli ment. My mistress heard that he had been removed on her account. My mistress knows how to conduct, and I must ask his pardon. Jocelyn. Ask his pardon now, then; there he stands.

Servant. Who is he?

What is his name?

Major. My friend, I have already heard your commission. It is an unnecessary act of courtesy from your mistress, which I acknowledge, as I ought. Present to her my respects. What is your mistress called? Servant. What is she called? She allows herself to be called gracious Fraulein.

Major. And her family name?

Servant. This I have not yet heard, and it is not my business to inquire about it. I manage so that generally I have a new mistress every six weeks. The deuce take all their names!

Jocelyn Bravo! comrade.

Servant. I met this one a few days since, in Dresden. She comes here, I believe, to find her bridegroom.

Major. Enough, my friend. I inquired after the name of your mistress, but not concerning her business. Go, now!

Servant. Comrade, this would be no master for me!

SCENE X.-MAJOR VON TELLHIEM.

JOCELYN.

Major. Prepare, Jocelyn, for us to leave this house at once. The

courtesy of the stranger lady has affected me more than the rudeness of the landlord. Here, take this ring, the only jewel which is left me, of which I had no thought to make such a use! Pawn it! you will receive for it eighty Fredericks d'or; the account of the landlord cannot exceed thirty. Pay him, and remove my things-where, indeed ?-Where you will. The cheapest hotel will be the best. You will find me near by, at the coffee-house. I go; do your business well.

Jocelyn. Fear not, Herr Major.

Major (coming back again.) Above all, let not my pistols, which hang behind the bed, be forgotten.

Jocelyn. I will forget nothing.

Major (returning the second time.) Still one thing more; take your dog with you; do you hear, Jocelyn?

SCENE XI.-JOCELYN.

The dog will not remain behind. Therefore I am not concerned about the dog.-Hem! So costly a ring as this has my master yet! And he drew it from his pocket, instead of his finger?-Good landlord, we are not so poor as we appear. To him, to himself, will I pawn thee, pretty little ring! I know it will vex him that thou wilt not all be spent in his house? Ah

Jocelyn. Look thou, Werner! good day, Werner! welcome to the city.

Werner. This cursed village! I could not possibly live here again. Courage, child; courage! I bring more gold! Where is the Major? Jocelyn. You must have met him. He just went down the stairs. Werner. I came up the other way. Now, how goes it with him? I should have been here a week ago, but

Jocelyn. Now, what has detained you?

Werner.

Jocelyn, have you ever heard of the Prince Heraclius? Jocelyn. Heraclius? I do not know.

Werner. Do you not know the great Hero of the East?

Jocelyn. I know very well 'the wise men of the East, who, about New-Year's, ran away with the star.

Werner. Man, I believe you read the newspapers even as little as you do the Bible! You do not know the Prince Heraclius, then? the brave man, who conquered Persia, and the next day arrived at the Ot-? toman Porte? Heaven be praised that, somewhere in the world, there is still war. I have hoped long enough that it would break out again here. But there they sit, and take good care of their skins. No, a soldier I have been--a soldier I must be again! In short, (looking cautiously around to see if any one is listening,) in confidence, Jocelyn, I am going to Persia to make a few campaigns, under His Royal Highness, Prince Heraclius, against the Turks.

Jocelyn. You?

Werner. I, whom you see here! Our ancestors fought diligently against the Turks; and thus should we do, if we were honorable men and good Christians. I know very well, it is true, that a campaign against the Turks cannot be half as pleasant as one against the French;

but on that account, it will be so much the more meritorious, both in this and in the future life. The Turks have all their sabres set with diamonds.

Jocelyn. To have my head split open with such a sabre, I would not travel a mile. You will not be so foolish, and leave your fine estate too?

Werner.

Oh, I take that with me! Do you understand anything. The estate is sold

Jocelyn. Sold?

Werner. Hush! Here are a hundred ducats, which I received yesterday upon the purchase; this I bring to the Major.

Jocelyn. And what shall he do with it?

Werner. Do with it? He shall eat it ; drink, play it-do what he will with it. The man must have money, and it is bad enough that they have made his affairs so embarrassed. But I know very well what I would do, if I were in his place! I would think-the deuce take everything here, and I will go to Persia with Paul Werner at once. The Prince Heraclius must certainly have heard of Major Tellheim, if he does not also know his former sergeant, Paul Werner. Our affairs at the treasury-house

Jocelyn. Shall I report them to you?

Werner. You to me? I perceive plainly that a good disposition over-rules your judgment. I will not cast my pearls before swine. There, take the hundred ducats; give them to the Major. Say to him, he may keep it for me. I must now go to the market; I have sent two loads of rye there; what I receive for them he can have likewise.

Jocelyn. Werner, you mean this in good part, but we do not need your money. Keep your ducats, and your hundred pistoles you can receive again, whenever you wish.

Werner. So? Has the Major money yet?
Jocelyn. No.

་

Werner. And what do you live upon, then?

Jocelyn. We live upon credit; and when one will trust us no longer and thrusts us out of his house, we pawn what we have and remove to another place. But, hark ye, Paul, we must play the landlord here some trick.

Werner. Has he put any in the Major's way? I am here.

Jocelyn. How would it do, if we should lie in wait for him this evening, as he comes from the smoking-room, and give him a good drubbing? Werner. In the evening? lie in wait for him? Two against one? This is nothing.

Jocelyn. Or if we burned his house down over his head?

Werner. Burn him to death? Why, man, any one would know that you are a rascally servant, and no soldier. Fie!

Jocelyn. Or if we could bring his daughter into disgrace? She is indeed confounded ugly.

Werner. Oh, that has been done long ago, and at any rate, you will need no help. But what have you against him? What has he done? Jocelyn. Come along, you shall hear the wonder!

Werner. So is the devil let loose here perhaps.

Jocelyn. Yes, perhaps; but come along!

Werner. So much the better! To Persia, then-to Persia!

END OF ACT I.