Minna von Barnhelm | Page 8

will not part.
JUST. Certainly not! And you wanted to manage without servants! You forget your wounds, and that you only have the use of one arm. Why, you are not able to dress alone. I am indispensable to you; and I am--without boasting, Major,--I am a servant who, if the worst comes to the worst, can beg and steal for his master.
MAJ. T. Just, we will part.
JUST. All right, Sir!

SCENE IX. Servant, Major von Tellheim, Just
SER. I say, comrade!
JUST. What is the matter?
SER. Can you direct me to the officer who lodged yesterday in that room? (Pointing to the one out of which he is coming).
JUST. That I could easily do. What have you got for him?
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 beg his pardon.
JUST. Well then, beg his pardon; there he stands.
SER. What is he? What is his name?
MAJ. T. I have already heard your message, my friend. It is unnecessary politeness on the part of your mistress, which I beg to acknowledge duly. Present my compliments to her. What is the name of your mistress?
SER. Her name! We call her my Lady.
MAJ. T. The name of her family?
SER. I have not heard that yet, and it is not my business to ask. I manage so that I generally get a new master every six weeks. Hang all their names!
JUST. Bravo, comrade!
SER. I was engaged by my present mistress a few days ago, in Dresden. I believe she has come here to look for her lover.
MAJ. T. Enough, friend. I wished to know the name of your mistress, not her secrets. Go!
SER. Comrade, he would not do for my master.

SCENE X. Major von Tellheim, Just
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 thing of value which I have left--of which I never thought such a use. Pawn it! get eighty louis d'ors for it: our host's bill can scarcely amount to thirty. Pay him, and remove my things. . . . Ah, where? Where you will. The cheaper the inn, the better. You will find me in the neighbouring coffee-house. I am going; you will see to it all properly?
JUST. Have no fear, Major!
MAJ. T. (comes back). Above all things, do not let my pistols be forgotten, which hang beside the bed.
JUST. I will forget nothing.
MAJ. T. (comes back again). Another thing: bring your dog with you too. Do you hear, Just?

SCENE XI. Just
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 landlord, we are not yet so poor as we look. To him himself, I will pawn you, you beautiful little ring! I know he will be annoyed that you will not all be consumed in his house. Ah!

SCENE XII. Paul Werner, Just
JUST. Hullo, Werner! good-day to you, Werner. Welcome to the town.
WER. The accursed village! I can't manage to get at home in it again. Merry, my boys, merry; I have got some more money! Where is the Major?
JUST. He must have met you; he just went down stairs.
WER. I came up the back stairs. How is he? I should have been with you last week, but--
JUST. Well, what prevented you?
WER. Just, did you ever hear of Prince Heraclius?
JUST. Heraclius? Not that I know of.
WER. Don't you know the great hero of the East?
JUST. I know the wise men of the East well enough, who go about with the stars on New Year's Eve.
WER.
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 Porte in a few days? Thank God, there is still war somewhere in the world! I have long enough hoped it would break out here again. But there they sit and take care of their skins. No, a soldier I was, and a soldier I must be again! In short, (looking round carefully, to see if anyone is listening) between ourselves, Just, I am going to Persia, to have a few campaigns against the Turks, under his Royal Highness Prince Heraclius.
JUST. You?
WER. I myself. Our ancestors fought bravely against the Turks; and so ought we too, if we would be honest men and good Christians. I allow that a campaign against the Turks cannot be half so pleasant as one against the French; but then it must be so much the more beneficial in this world and the