SCENE I.
Major von Tellheim (from one side), Werner (from the other)

MAJ. T.
Ah! Werner! I have been looking for you everywhere. Where have you
been?

WER.
And I have been looking for you, Major; that is always the way.—I
bring you good news.

MAJ. T.
I do not want your news now; I want your money. Quick, Werner, give me
all you have; and then raise as much more as you can.

WER.
Major! Now, upon my life, that is just what I said—"He will borrow
money from me, when he has got it himself to lend."

MAJ. T.
You surely are not seeking excuses!

WER.
That I may have nothing to upbraid you with, take it with your right
hand, and give it me again with your left.

MAJ. T.
Do not detain me, Werner. It is my intention to repay you; but when
and how, God knows!

WER.
Then you do not know yet that the treasury has received an order to
pay you your money? I just heard it at!!!!!

MAJ. T.
What are you talking about? What nonsense have you let them palm off
on you? Do you not see that if it were true I should be the first
person to know it? In short, Werner, money! money!

WER.
Very well, with pleasure. Here is some! A hundred louis d'ors there,
and a hundred ducats there.
(Gives him both.)

MAJ. T.
Werner, go and give Just the hundred louis d'ors. Let him redeem the
ring again, on which he raised the money this morning. But whence will
you get some more, Werner? I want a good deal more.

WER.
Leave that to me. The man who bought my farm lives in the town. The
date for payment is a fortnight hence, certainly; but the money is
ready, and by a reduction of one half per cent!!!!!

MAJ. T.
Very well, my dear Werner! You see that I have had recourse to you
alone—I must also confide all to you. The young lady you have seen is
in distress!!!!!

WER.
That is bad!

MAJ. T.
But to-morrow she shall be my wife.

WER.
That is good!

MAJ. T.
And the day after, I leave this place with her. I can go; I will go. I
would sooner throw over everything here! Who knows where some good
luck may be in store for me? If you will, Werner, come with us. We
will serve again.

WER.
Really? But where there is war, Major!

MAJ. T.
To be sure. Go, Werner, we will speak of this again.

WER.
Oh! my dear Major! The day after to-morrow! Why not to-morrow? I will
get everything ready. In Persia, Major, there is a famous war; what do
you say?

MAJ. T.
We will think of it. Only go, Werner!

WER.
Hurrah! Long live Prince Heraclius!
(Exit.)

SCENE II.
Major von Tellheim

MAJ. T.
How do I feel!... My whole soul has acquired a new impulse. My own
unhappiness bowed me to the ground; made me fretful, short-sighted,
shy, careless: her unhappiness raises me. I see clearly again, and
feel myself ready and capable of undertaking anything for her sake.
Why do I tarry?
(Is going towards Minna's room, when Franziska comes out of it.)

SCENE III.
Franziska, Major von Tellheim

FRAN.
Is it you? I thought I heard your voice. What do you want, Major?

MAJ. T.
What do I want? What is she doing? Come!

FRAN.
She is just going out for a drive.

MAJ. T.
And alone? Without me? Where to?

FRAN.
Have you forgotten, Major?

MAJ. T.
How silly you are, Franziska! I irritated her, and she was angry. I
will beg her pardon, and she will forgive me.

FRAN.
What! After you have taken the ring back, Major!

MAJ. T.
Ah! I did that in my confusion. I had forgotten about the ring. Where
did I put it?
(Searches for it.)
Here it is.

FRAN.
Is that it?
(Aside, as he puts it again in his pocket.)
If he would only look at it closer!

MAJ. T.
She pressed it upon me so bitterly. But I have forgotten that. A full
heart cannot weigh words. She will not for one moment refuse to take
it again. And have I not hers?

FRAN.
She is now waiting for it in return. Where is it, Major? Show it to
me, do!

MAJ. T. (embarrassed).
I have... forgotten to put it on. Just—Just will bring it
directly.

FRAN.
They are something alike, I suppose; let me look at that one. I am
very fond of such things.

MAJ. T.
Another time, Franziska. Come now.

FRAN. (aside).
He is determined not to be drawn out of his mistake.

MAJ. T.
What do you say? Mistake!

FRAN.
It is a mistake, I say, if you think my mistress is still a good
match. Her own fortune is far from considerable; by a few calculations
in their own favour her guardians may reduce it to nothing. She
expected everything from her uncle; but this cruel uncle!!!!!

MAJ. T.
Let him go! Am I not man enough to make it all good to her again!

FRAN.
Do you hear? She is ringing; I must go in again.

MAJ. T.
I will accompany you.

FRAN.
For heaven's sake, no! She forbade me expressly to speak with you.
Come in at any rate a little time after me.
(Goes in.)

SCENE IV.
Major von Tellheim

MAJ. T. (calling after her).
Announce me! Speak for me, Franziska! I shall follow you directly.
What shall I say to her? Yet where the heart can speak, no preparation
is necessary. There is one thing only which may need a studied turn
... this reserve, this scrupulousness of throwing herself,
unfortunate as she is, into my arms; this anxiety to make a false show
of still possessing that happiness which she has lost through me. How
she is to exculpate herself to herself—for by me it is already
forgiven—for this distrust in my honour, in her own worth... Ah!
here she comes.

SCENE V.
Minna, Franziska, Major von Tellheim

MIN. (speaking as she comes out, as if not aware of the Major's
presence).
The carriage is at the door, Franziska, is it not? My fan!

MAJ. T. (advancing to her).
Where are you going, Madam?

MIN. (with forced coldness).
I am going out, Major. I guess why you have given yourself the trouble
of coming back: to return me my ring.—Very well, Major von Tellheim,
have the goodness to give it to Franziska.—Franziska, take the ring
from Major von Tellheim!—I have no time to lose.
(Is going.)

MAJ. T. (stepping before her).
Madam! Ah! what have I heard? I was unworthy of such love.

MIN.
So, Franziska, you have!!!!!

FRAN.
Told him all.

MAJ. T.
Do not be angry with me, Madam. I am no deceiver. You have, on my
account, lost much in the eyes of the world, but not in mine. In my
eyes you have gained beyond measure by this loss. It was too sudden.
You feared it might make an unfavourable impression on me; at first
you wished to hide it from me. I do not complain of this mistrust. It
arose from the desire to retain my affection. That desire is my pride.
You found me in distress; and you did not wish to add distress to
distress. You could not divine how far your distress would raise me
above any thoughts of my own.

MIN.
That is all very well, Major, but it is now over. I have released you
from your engagement; you have, by taking back the ring!!!!!

MAJ. T.
Consented to nothing! On the contrary, I now consider myself bound
more firmly than ever. You are mine, Minna, mine for ever.
(Takes off the ring.)
Here, take it for the second time—the pledge of my fidelity.

MIN.
I take that ring again! That ring?

MAJ. T.
Yes, dearest Minna, yes.

MIN.
What are you asking me? that ring?

MAJ. T.
You received it for the first time from my hand, when our positions
were similar and the circumstances propitious. They are no longer
propitious, but are again similar. Equality is always the strongest
tie of love. Permit me, dearest Minna!
(Seizes her hand to put on the ring.)

MIN.
What! by force, Major! No, there is no power in the world which shall
compel me to take back that ring! Do you think that I am