Minna von Barnhelm | Page 7

that he ever did owe me anything. This is
so, Madam. He has much rather left me in his debt. I have never been
able to do anything to repay a man who shared with me good and ill
luck, honour and danger, for six years. I shall not forget that he has left
a son. He shall be my son, as soon as I can be a father to him. The
embarrassment in which I am at present--
LADY. Generous man! But do not think so meanly of me. Take the
money, Major, and then at least I shall be at ease.
MAJ. T. What more do you require to tranquillize you, than my
assurance that the money does not belong to me? Or do you wish that I
should rob the young orphan of my friend? Rob, Madam; for that it
would be in the true meaning of the word. The money belongs to him;
invest it for him.
LADY. I understand you; pardon me if I do not yet rightly know how
to accept a kindness. Where have you learnt that a mother will do more
for her child than for the preservation of her own life? I am going--
MAJ. T. Go, Madam, and may you have a prosperous journey! I do not
ask you to let me hear from you. Your news might come to me when it
might be of little use to me. There is yet one thing, Madam; I had
nearly forgotten that which is of most consequence. Marloff also had
claims upon the chest of our old regiment. His claims are as good as
mine. If my demands are paid, his must be paid also. I will be
answerable for them.
LADY. Oh! Sir . . . but what can I say? Thus to purpose future good
deeds is, in the eyes of heaven, to have performed them already. May
you receive its reward, as well as my tears. (Exit.)

SCENE VII. Major von Tellheim

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 day tempt me to
make use of it?

SCENE VIII. Just, Major von Tellheim
MAJ. T. Is that you, Just?
JUST. (wiping his eyes). Yes.
MAJ. T. You have been crying?
JUST. I have been writing out my account in the kitchen, and the place
is full of smoke. Here it is, sir.
MAJ. T. Give it to me.
JUST. Be merciful with me, sir. I know well that they have not been so
with you; still--
MAJ. T. What do you want?
JUST. I should sooner have expected my death, than my discharge.
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, six thalers per month, is 21
thalers. During the first part of this month, laid out in sundries--1 thaler
7 groschen 9 pfennigs. Total, 22 thalers 7gr. 9pf." Right; and it is just
that I also pay your wages, for the whole of the current month.
JUST. Turn over, sir.
MAJ. T. Oh! more? (Reads.) "What I owe my master, the Major:--Paid
for me to the army-surgeon twenty-five thalers. Attendance and nurse
during my cure, paid for me, thirty-nine thalers. Advanced, at my
request, to my father--who was burnt out of his house and
robbed--without reckoning the two horses of which he made him a
present, fifty thalers. Total 114 thalers. Deduct the above 22 thalers, 7gr.
9pf.; I remain in debt to my master, the Major, 91 thalers, 16gr. 3pf."
You are mad, my good fellow!
JUST. I willingly grant that I owe you much more; but it would be
wasting ink to write it down. I cannot pay you that: and if you take my
livery from me too, which, by the way, I have not yet earned,--I would
rather you had let me die in the workhouse.
MAJ. T. For what do you take me? You owe me nothing; and I will
recommend you to one of my friends, with whom you will fare better

than with me.
JUST. I do not owe you anything, and yet you turn me away!
MAJ. T. Because I do not wish to owe you anything.
JUST. On that account? Only on that account? As certain as I am in
your debt, as certain as you can never be in mine, so certainly shall you
not turn me away now. Do what you will, Major, I remain in your
service; I must remain.
MAJ. T. With your obstinacy, your insolence, your savage boisterous
temper towards all who you think