The Dramatic Works of G. E. Lessing - BestLightNovel.com
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ODOARDO.
Well? What?
MARINELLI.
At present, sir, you will, I hope, allow her to be conveyed to Guastalla.
ODOARDO.
My daughter, conveyed to Guastalla? Why so?
MARINELLI.
Why! Consider----
ODOARDO (_incensed_).
Consider! consider! consider that there is nothing to consider. She must and shall go with me.
MARINELLI.
We need have no contention on the subject, sir. I may be mistaken. What I think necessary may not be so. The Prince is the best judge--he, therefore, will decide. I go to bring him to you.
Scene IV.
Odoardo.
ODOARDO.
How? Never! Prescribe to me whether she shall go! Withhold her from me!
Who will do this?--Who dares attempt it?--He, who dares here do anything he pleases?----'Tis well, 'tis well. Then shall he see how much I, too, dare, and whether I have not already dared. Short-sighted voluptuary! I defy thee.--He who regards no law is as independent as he who is subject to no law. Knowest thou not this? Come on, come on----But what am I saying? My temper once more overpowers my reason.
What do I want? I should first know why I rave. What will not a courtier a.s.sert? Better had I allowed him to proceed. I should have heard his pretext for conveying my daughter to Guastalla, and I could have prepared a proper reply. But can I need a reply!--Should one fail me--should----I hear footsteps. I will be calm.
Scene V.
The Prince, Marinelli, Odoardo.
PRINCE.
My dear worthy Galotti.--Was such an accident necessary to bring you to your Prince? Nothing less would have sufficed--but I do not mean to reproach you.
ODOARDO.
Your Highness, I have ever thought it unbecoming to press into the presence of my Prince. He will send for those whom he wants. Even now I ask your pardon----
PRINCE.
Would that many, whom I know, possessed this modest pride!--But to the subject. You are, doubtless, anxious to see your daughter. She is again alarmed on account of her dear mother's sudden departure. And why should she have departed? I only waited till the terrors of the lovely Emilia were completely removed, and then I should have conveyed both the ladies in triumph to town. Your arrival has diminished by half the pleasure of this triumph; but I will not entirely resign it.
ODOARDO.
Your Highness honours me too much. Allow me to spare my unfortunate child the various mortifications, which friends.h.i.+p and enmity, compa.s.sion and malicious pleasure, prepare for her in town.
PRINCE.
Of the sweet comforts, which the friendly and compa.s.sionate bestow, it would be cruelty to deprive her; but against all the mortifications of enmity and malice, believe me, I will guard her, dear Galotti.
ODOARDO.
Prince, paternal love is jealous of its duties. I think I know what alone suits my daughter in her present situation. Retirement from the world--a cloister as soon as possible.
PRINCE.
A cloister?
ODOARDO.
Till then, let her weep under the protection of her father.
PRINCE.
Shall so much beauty wither in a cloister?----Should one disappointed hope embitter one against the world?--But as you please. No one has a right to dictate to a parent. Take your daughter wherever you think proper, Galotti.
ODOARDO (_to_ Marinelli).
Do you hear, my lord?
MARINELLI.
Nay, if you call upon me to speak----
ODOARDO.
By no means, by no means.
PRINCE.
What has happened between you two?
ODOARDO.
Nothing, your Highness, nothing. We were only settling which of us had been deceived in your Highness.
PRINCE.
How so?--Speak, Marinelli.
