Scene V.
The Prince.
PRINCE.
Yes, as much as he pleases. (Turning to the picture.) Thou art mine, too cheap at any price. Oh, thou enchanting work of art! Do I then possess thee? But who shall possess thyself, thou still more beautiful masterpiece of nature? Claim what you will, honest old mother; ask what you will, morose old father. Demand any price. Yet, dear enchantress, I should be far more happy to buy thee from thyself! This eye! how full of love and modesty! This mouth! when it speaks, when it smiles! This mouth!--Some one comes.--I am still too jealous of thee. (Turning the picture to the wall.) It is Marinelli. I wish I had not sent for him! What a morning might I have had!
Scene VI.
Marinelli, The Prince.
MARINELLI.
Your Highness will pardon me; I was not prepared for so early a summons.
PRINCE.
I felt an inclination to drive out, the morning was so fine. But now it is almost over, and my inclination has subsided. (After a short pause). Any news, Marinelli?
MARINELLI.
Nothing of importance that I know. The Countess Orsina arrived in town yesterday.
PRINCE.
Yes, here lies her morning salutation (pointing to the letter), or whatever it may be. I am not inquisitive about it. Have you seen her?
MARINELLI.
Am I not unfortunately her confidant? But if ever I am so again with a lady who takes it into her head to love you desperately, Prince, may I----
PRINCE.
No rash vows, Marinelli.
MARINELLI.
Indeed, Prince! Is it possible? The Countess, then, is not so utterly mistaken.
PRINCE.
Quite mistaken, certainly. My approaching union with the Princess of Massa compels me in the first place to break off all such connections.
MARINELLI.
If that were all, the Countess would doubtless know as well how to submit to her fate, as the Prince to his.
PRINCE.
My fate is harder far than hers. My heart is sacrificed to a miserable political consideration. She has but to take back hers, and need not bestow it against her inclination.
MARINELLI.
Take it back! "Why take it back," asks the Countess, "for a wife, whom policy and not love attaches to the Prince?" With a wife of that kind the mistress may still hold her place. It is not, therefore, for a wife that she dreads being sacrificed, but----
PRINCE.
Perhaps another mistress. What then? would you make a crime of that, Marinelli?
MARINELLI.
I, Prince? Oh, confound me not with the foolish woman whose cause I advocate--from pity! For yesterday I own she greatly moved me. She wished not to mention her attachment to you, and strove to appear cold and tranquil. But in the midst of the most indifferent topics, some expression, some allusion, escaped her, which betrayed her tortured heart. With the most cheerful demeanour she said the most melancholy things, and on the other hand uttered the most laughable jests with an air of deep distress. She has taken to books for refuge, which I fear will be her ruin.
PRINCE.
Yes, for books gave the first blow to her poor understanding. And, Marinelli, you will scarcely employ for the purpose of renewing my attachment, that which was the chief cause of our separation. If love renders her foolish, she would sooner or later have become so, even without such influence. But enough of her! To something else. Is there nothing new in town?
MARINELLI.
Next to nothing; for that Count Appiani will be married to-day is little better than nothing.
PRINCE.
Count Appiani! To whom? I have not heard that he is engaged.
MARINELLI.
The affair has been kept a profound secret. And indeed, there was not much to create a sensation. You will smile, Prince; but it ever happens so with sentimental youths! Love always plays the worst of tricks. A girl without fortune or rank has managed to catch him in her snares, without any trouble, but with a little display of virtue, sensibility, wit, and so forth.
PRINCE.
The man who can wholly resign himself to the impressions which innocence and beauty make upon him is, in my opinion, rather to be envied than derided. And what is the name of the happy fair one? For though I well know, Marinelli, that you and Appiani dislike each other, he is nevertheless a very worthy young man, a handsome man, a rich man, and an honourable man. I should like to be able to attach him to myself.
MARINELLI.
If it be not too late; for, as far as I can learn, it is not his intention to seek his fortune at court. He will retire with his spouse to his native valleys of Piedmont, and indulge himself in hunting chamois or training marmots upon the Alps. What can he do better? Here his prospects are blighted by the connection he has formed. The first circles are closed against him.
PRINCE.
The first circles! What are they worth, mere resorts of ceremony, restraint, ennui, and poverty? But how call you the fair being who is the cause of all these wondrous sacrifices?
MARINELLI.
A certain--Emilia Galotti?
PRINCE.
What! Marinelli! a certain----
MARINELLI.
Emilia Calotti.
PRINCE.
Emilia Galotti? Never!----
MARINELLI.
Assuredly, your Highness.
PRINCE.
But no, I say. It is not, and it cannot be! You mistake the name. The family of Galotti is numerous. It may be a Galotti, but not Emilia Galotti!
MARINELLI.
Emilia--Emilia Galotti.
PRINCE.
There must be another who bears the same names. You said, however, a certain Emilia Galotti,--a certain one. Of the real Emilia, none but a fool could so speak.
MARINELLI.
Your Highness is excited. Do you know this Emilia?
PRINCE.
It is my place to question, not yours, Marinelli. Is she the daughter of Colonel Galotti, who resides at Sabionetta?
MARINELLI.
The same.
PRINCE.
Who lives here in Guastalla with her mother.
MARINELLI.
The same.
PRINCE.
Near the church of All-Saints.
MARINELLI.
The same.
PRINCE.
In a word (turning hastily to the portrait, and giving it to Marinelli)--there! is it this Emilia Galotti? Pronounce again those damning words, "the same," and plunge a dagger in my heart.
MARINELLI.
The same.
PRINCE.
Traitor! This? this Emilia Galotti--will to-day be----
MARINELLI.
The Countess Appiani. (The Prince seizes the portrait from the hands of Marinelli, and flings it aside.)--The marriage will be celebrated privately at her father's villa, in Sabionetta. About noon the mother and daughter, the Count, and perhaps a few friends, will leave town together.
PRINCE (throwing himself in a state of desperation into a chair).
Then I am lost, and care no more for life.
MARINELLI.
What thus affects your Highness?
PRINCE (starting towards him again).
Traitor! what affects me thus? Yes, in truth, I love her! I adore her! You may, perhaps, know it, may even long have known it; all of you who desire that I should wear for ever the ignominious fetters of the proud Orsina. That you, Marinelli, who have so often assured me of your sincere friendship--but a Prince has no friend, can have no friend--that you should act so treacherously, so deceitfully, as to conceal till this moment the peril which threatened my love.--Oh, if ever I forgive you this, let no sin of mine be pardoned!
MARINELLI.
I could scarcely find words, Prince, to express my astonishment--even if you gave me the opportunity. You love Emilia Galotti? Hear, then, my oath in reply to yours. If I have ever known or suspected this attachment in the slightest degree, may the angels and saints abandon me! I repeat the same imprecation for Orsina. Her suspicions were directed to a wholly different quarter.
PRINCE.
Pardon me, then, Marinelli (throwing himself into his arms), and pity me.
MARINELLI.
Well, yes, Prince. There see the consequence of your reserve. "A prince has no friends." And why? Because he will have none. To-day you honour us with your confidence, entrust to us your most secret wishes, open your whole soul to us--and to-morrow we are as perfect strangers to you, as if you had never exchanged a word with us.
PRINCE.
Alas, Marinelli, how could I entrust a secret to you which I would scarcely confess to myself?
MARINELLI.
And, which you have, therefore, of course, not confessed to the author of your uneasiness?
PRINCE.
To her!--All my endeavours have been fruitless to speak with her a second time.
MARINELLI.
And the first time----
PRINCE.
I spoke to her;--Oh, my brain is turned, and must I continue this conversation longer? You behold me at the mercy of the waves, and why inquire how all this has happened? Save me if you can, and then question me.
MARINELLI.
Save you! Is there much to save? What your Highness has not confessed to Emilia Galotti, you will confess to the Countess Appiani. Goods which cannot be obtained in their primitive perfection, must be bought at second hand, and are often, on that account, bought at a cheaper rate.
PRINCE.
Be serious, Marinelli, or----
MARINELLI.
To be sure, such articles are generally so much the worse----
PRINCE.
For shame, Marinelli.
MARINELLI.
And the Count intends to leave this country too. Well, we must devise some scheme----
PRINCE.
And what scheme? My best and dearest Marinelli, contrive something for me. What would you do, were you in my situation?
MARINELLI.
Above all things, I should regard a trifle as a trifle--and say to myself that I would not be what I am for nothing--your Highness!
PRINCE.
Delude me not with a power of which I can, on this occasion, make no use. To-day, said you?--This very day?
MARINELLI.
To-day it is to take place;--but it is only things which have taken place that cannot be recalled. (After a short pause.) Prince, will you let me act as I please? Will you approve all I do?
PRINCE.
Anything, Marinelli, which can avert this blow.
MARINELLI.
Then let us lose no time. You must not remain in town, but go to your palace at Dosalo. The road to Sabionetta passes it. Should I not succeed in removing the Count, I think--yes, yes, he will be caught in that snare without doubt. You wish to send an ambassador to Massa respecting your marriage. Let the Count be ambassador, and order him to depart this very day.
PRINCE.
Excellent!--Bring him to my palace.--Haste, haste!--I will leave town instantly. (Exit Marinelli.)