“I see that you do not know what love is.”
“You are right. I do not know the love that maddens, and I thank God for it.”
“Well, I think you are wise; may God preserve you from that love.”
“You say, that as soon as the king sees me he will fall in love with me, and to tell you the truth that strikes me as vastly improbable; for though it is quite possible that he may not think me plain, or he might even pronounce me pretty, yet I do not think he will become so madly in love as you say.”
“You don’t? Let us sit down. You have only got to fancy that the king will take the same liking to you that I have done; that is all.”
“But what do you find in me that you will not find in most girls of my age? I certainly may have struck you; but that only proves that I was born to exercise this sway over you, and not at all that I am to rule the king in like manner. Why should I go and look for the king, if you love me yourself?”
“Because I cannot give you the position you deserve.”
“I should have thought you had plenty of money.”
“Then there’s another reason: you are not in love with me.”
“I love you as tenderly as if I were your wife. I might then kiss you, though duty now forbids my doing so.”