ANTONI. He was a genuine lord.
DOCTOR. A lord descended from lords, with a head so lofty that he paid no attention to what was cracking under his feet.
ANTONI. That history is to my taste. And what did the peasant do?
DOCTOR. Agreeable to old peasant tradition, he is thinking of punk and steel.
ANTONI. A splendid thought! In truth, we despise tradition too much. There are very wholesome things in it.
DOCTOR. Enough. Let us speak of something else.
ANTONI (looking around). An old house, and imposing. What a cottage it would be!
DOCTOR. Of what art thou speaking?
ANTONI. Nothing. Yozvovich, has the old Prince a daughter?
DOCTOR. Yes. What of it?
ANTONI (laughing). Ha, ha! As God lives, ladies’ perfumes have come to me. From thy misfortune and thy history, I catch the odor of some princess’s petticoat. Behind the deputy is Yozvovich, as behind a dresscoat is the dressing-gown. Be greeted in the dressing-gown, beloved deputy! Oh, what an odor of perfumes here!
DOCTOR. Sell thy subtleties at another market. This is a personal question.
ANTONI. By no means, for it signifies that thou art putting only half thy soul in affairs of the public. This is giving them to the deuce. Look at me: they hunt me like a dog in the daily papers; they ridicule me in comedies; but I care not, I will say more, I feel that I shall remain always below, though I lack neither power nor intelligence. I might strive for the first place in the camp, for leadership; but still I do not do so. Why? Because I know myself thoroughly. I know that I have neither firmness, dignity, nor tact. I have been, and I am, an impulsive fellow, a tool which those like thee make use of, and which may be kicked out to-morrow, when it ceases to be useful. But vanity does not blind me; I care not myself; I work for my convictions, that is the end. They may eject me from my office any day; in my house want appears frequently, and though I love my wife and my little boys — Let us leave all this. When the play is on, let it continue; and when it is a question of convictions, I will live, agitate, and storm for it. I have put my whole soul into this. But in thy case a princess’s petticoat stands in the way! I did not expect this of thee, Yozvovich. Tfu! spit on everything, and come with us!
DOCTOR. Thou art mistaken, Brutus. I wish not martyrdom, but victory; and the more personal ties there are which bind me to the cause, the more zealously shall I serve it with mind, heart, and action, — with everything that makes a man — dost understand?
ANTONI. Amen! His eyes are glittering like those of a wolf. I know thee.
DOCTOR. What more dost thou wish?
ANTONI. Ei! nothing now. I will say only that our programme is: Strike opposing principles, not people.
DOCTOR. Let thy maiden virtue be at rest; I shall poison no man.
ANTONI. I believe. Still I should say something more. I know thee well, I value thy energy, thy science, thy sound sense, but I should not like to stand in thy path.
DOCTOR. All the better for me.
ANTONI. For that matter, if it is a question of the nobility; then, in spite of our programme, I give them to thee. But thou art not to take their heads off.
DOCTOR. Of course. Now go back and work for me, or rather for us.
ANTONI. FOR us, Yozvovich. Do not forget that.
DOCTOR. Without an oath, I shall not forget it.
ANTONI. But how manage that young noble?
DOCTOR. Dost wish to extort assurances?
ANTONI. TO begin with, I do not need them, since in our camp there is shrewdness enough. The question is simply of the Prince’s daughter. My thought comes always to this, that thou mayst sacrifice the cause for her. Working for thee, I answer for thee; so let us be outspoken.
DOCTOR. Let us be outspoken.
ANTONI. Then thou hast said to thyself: I will unhorse that young noble; well, unhorse him. That is thy affair, but I ask again: Dost thou wish to be a deputy for us, or for the Princess? This again is my affair.
DOCTOR. I place my cards on the table before thee. I, thou, and all of us new men have this in us, — that we are not dolls cut out of paper, and painted in one color. There is in us room for convictions, love, hatred, in a word, as I have said already, for everything of which a complete man is made. Nature gave me a heart, and the right to life, so I desire happiness. It gave me a mind, so I serve a chosen idea. What harm does one do the other? Why oppose the Princess to the cause? Art thou a reasonable and sober-minded man? Why dost thou wish to put a phrase in place of reality? I have a right to happiness, and I shall win it, and I shall be able to reconcile life with an idea, like a sail with a boat. I shall advance all the more securely. Understand me. In this is our strength, that we are able to reconcile; and in this is our superiority over them, for they simply do not know how to live. What my value will be without that woman — I know not. Thou hast called me Hamlet. I might become one; but the people need no Hamlets.
ANTONI. Thou art whirling my head around as in a mill, and it seems to me again that thou art right. Still, thou wilt fight two battles instead of one, and thou wilt divide the forces.
DOCTOR. I have forces enough!
ANTONI. Tell me briefly, is she betrothed?
DOCTOR. She is.
ANTONI. And she loves her betrothed?
DOCTOR. Or deceives herself.
ANTONI. In every case, she does not love thee.
DOCTOR. Him, first of all, must I set aside. Meanwhile do thou fly away and work.
ANTONI (looking at his watch). In a moment the deputation to thee will be here.
DOCTOR. That is well. The Prince is coming with Countess Milishevski, and her son is my opponent. Let us go.
SCENE II.
PRINCE, STELLA, PANI CHESKI, COUNTESS MILISHEVSKI, YAN MILISHEVSKI, PODCHASKI.
COUNTESS. SO I say, Prince, that one cannot understand such a thing. At present the world is growing utterly wild, it seems.
PRINCE. I say the same, Countess. Stella, do I not?
STELLA. Oh, very often.
COUNTESS (in a whisper to her son). Sit near the Princess, and entertain her, Jean, do thy best.
YAN. Yes, mamma!
COUNTESS. But this insolence has passed the measure. I sent Pan Podchaski to the electors, and they answered, “We want no deputies without heads.” I am only astonished that the Prince is not indignant. To what has it come, and to what will it come? I fly about here; I run, I circle around like a fly; I move heaven with my prayers, and they dare oppose to my son one Yozvovich.
PRINCE. Gracious lady, what can I do to remedy the position?
COUNTESS. But who is this Pan Yozvovich? A doctor! What is a doctor? Jean has influence, significance, connections, relatives, but who is Yozvovich? Whence did he bring himself to this place? Who has ever heard of him? In truth, I cannot speak calmly, and think that the end of the world must be coming. Is that not the case, Pan Podchaski?
PODCHASKI (with a low). True, Countess, my benefactress! The anger of God! — never has it thundered so often —
PRINCE. Thundered? Pani Cheski, has it thundered?
PANI CHESKI. It is usual at the end of spring. No significance.
COUNTESS (whispers). Jean, do thy best.
YAN. I am doing so, mamma.
COUNTESS. Prince, you will see that they will not elect Yan deputy purely through hatred of us, through spite against us. Would he not be a successful deputy? Has he not finished a scientific course in Metz? They say that he is ignorant of the country, has no knowledge of its needs. But first of all we should not permit Yozvovich to mean anything in the country. Should we, Prince?
PRINCE. Not permit him, Countess, when he permits himself!
COUNTESS. This is precisely the end of the world, that men like him can permit themselves what they like. They have the insolence to say that my son cannot be a good deputy, but Pan Yozvovich can. Jean always excelled in science at Metz. Jean, didst thou not always excel in science and talent?
YAN. I excelled, m
amma.
PODCHASKI. The end of the world! Your words, Countess, are sacred.
STELLA. What did you devote yourself to, specially?
YAN. I, Princess, studied the history of heresies.
PRINCE. What did he study, Pani Cheski?
COUNTESS. They have always reproached us with this, that so far we have not had talents among us, and still, for diplomacy, no small talent is needed.
PODCHASKI. The Count has the mien of a diplomat, indeed.
PRINCE. NO, as God lives — not greatly!
PANI CHESKI. The Count is reticent and dignified.
YAN. On the contrary, madam, I speak enough sometimes.
COUNTESS. AS to me, I declare in advance, that if Jean is not elected, it will be the Prince’s fault.
PRINCE. My fault?
COUNTESS. HOW can you, Prince, permit such a person as Yozvovich to oppose people of society? How can you retain him?
PRINCE. TO tell the truth, it is not I who retain him, but he me, for had it not been for him — (He makes a sign with his hand.)
COUNTESS. All the greater reason to restrain him. He is needed in your house, and when he is at the diet, who will look after you?
PRINCE. That is true, Stella, is it not true?
COUNTESS. YOU must forbid him, Prince. I will not go till you promise to forbid him. This is an unheard-of thing! You have the right; besides he is with you; you have reared him, and you have power over him.
STELLA. Dear lady, the doctor is papa’s friend. Papa can only pray him, and I know not whether his prayer would be effectual.
COUNTESS (with anger). Has it come to this, then? So the Prince will support him, and become a tool in his hands, and through him serve the democracy?
PRINCE. What? I serve the democracy? Stella, dost thou hear? I serve the democracy? (He strikes with his cane.)
COUNTESS. All men will say so. Pan Yozvovich is the candidate of the democracy.
PRINCE. But I am not, and if it comes to this, I will not permit him to be its candidate. We have had enough of this, let it end once for all. Those democracies of Pan Yozvovich have become fish-bones. They must not say that I am a tool of the democracy! (He rings, the SERVANT enters.) Beg the doctor to come this minute.
COUNTESS. This time he is a genuine prince.
PRINCE. I serve the democracy!
STELLA, Papa! papa! —
COUNTESS. Meanwhile we will take leave of the Prince. Jean, make ready. Adieu, dear Stella, adieu, my child. ( To her son.) Kiss the Princess’s hand.
SCENE III.
The above, DOCTOR YOZVOVICH.
DOCTOR. I beg your pardon, Prince, if I am late, but a deputation waited on me. I had to finish with it.
COUNTESS. What? — is there a deputation here? Jean, do your best!
DOCTOR (with a bow). Hurry, Count, for they are going.
PODCHASKI. Serene Prince, I fall at your feet.
[The COUNTESS, YAN, and PODCHASKI go out; after them, STELLA and PANI CHESKI.
SCENE IV.
DOCTOR YOZVOVICH and the PRINCE. A moment of silence.
PRINCE (striking the floor with his cane). I give notice, Pan Yozvovich, that I forbid you to stand for election.
DOCTOR. But if I do not obey?
PRINCE. YOU will enrage me.
DOCTOR. Prince, you close my future.
PRINCE (in a passion). I reared you from early boyhood.
DOCTOR. I preserve your life.
PRINCE. I have been a father to you.
DOCTOR. Let us speak more calmly, Prince. If you have been a father to me, I have shown the attachment of a son. But a father should not close the road to a public career against his son.
PRINCE. A public career is not for such persons as you.
DOCTOR (smiling). A moment ago, Prince, you called me a son.
PRINCE. What son? What kind of a son?
DOCTOR. As the sonship, so the obedience.
PRINCE. Ah, he wriggles out, he wriggles out! Stella! But she is gone!
DOCTOR. Prince, were I really your son, I should have a title, property, — in a word, all that you have; but as a poor man, I must open the road to myself, and no one has the right to close it against me, especially when it is straightforward and honorable (laughing); unless, Prince, you wish to adopt me, so that the family might not die out.
PRINCE. What are you saying, Yozvovich?
DOCTOR. I was only jesting. No, dear Prince, let us not irritate each other, for that is harmful.
PRINCE. True, irritation harms me. Why the devil will you not give up that election, my boy?
DOCTOR. YOU should put yourself in my position. That is my future.
PRINCE. Meanwhile, people attack me here, irritate me, and bring me to my bed. When young, I was in many a battle and feared nothing; I can show my decorations. I had no fear of death in battle; but these Latin diseases of the doctors — Why look at me so?
DOCTOR. I look as usual. But as to disease, I will tell you, Prince, it is more in your imagination than in reality. Your organism is strong, and, with my aid, you will live to the years of Methuselah.
PRINCE. Are you certain of that?
DOCTOR. Most certain.
PRINCE. Honest lad, and you will not leave me?
DOCTOR. YOU may be sure that I shall not.
PRINCE. Then become a deputy or a devil, if you like! Stella! But she is not here! As God lives, that Milishevski, have you noticed him, is a fool, is he not?
DOCTOR. I cannot contradict.
SCENE V.
The same, STELLA, PANI CHESKI.
STELLA. I came in because I was afraid that you gentlemen might contradict each other too much. How has it ended?
PRINCE. HOW? That worthless man does what he wishes. It lacked little of his commanding me to beg him to accept the nomination.
DOCTOR. Indeed, the Prince has been pleased to agree to my plans, and permits me to try for election.
PRINCE. Yes, I have permitted.
STELLA (threateningly). Ah, dear doctor!
PANI CHESKI. SO many endeavors and disputes! Would it not be better for one to yield to the other? For that matter, the proverb says: “The wise yield to the foolish.”
DOCTOR. We hold to this principle so far in all questions.
STELLA. Papa, come now to the garden. Pan Yerzy and Count Dragomir have come. They are waiting at the boats, for we are to sail over the lake. The Count is to come here for me, when all is ready.
PRINCE. Pani Cheski, let us go, then. (They go) Have you noticed that Milishevski?
SCENE VI.
DOCTOR YOZVOVICH, STELLA; later, COUNT DRAGOMIR.
STELLA. HOW is father’s health, dear doctor?
DOCTOR. The very best. But you are really pale.
STELLA. Oh, I am well.
DOCTOR. Then a little pensive it must be.
STELLA. Not even that. Perhaps more serious than formerly.
DOCTOR. AS usual with a betrothed.
STELLA. Yes.
DOCTOR. Still you should be amused and diverted, for health’s sake.
STELLA. Really, I have no wish for amusement.
DOCTOR. If not amusement, at least gladsomeness —
We are all of us here too serious for you; often, perhaps, we cannot understand you.
STELLA. YOU are all even too kind, doctor.
DOCTOR. At least anxious. If you have a moment of time, Princess, let us sit down and talk. Let my anxiety explain this boldness. With the dignity of a betrothed is joined usually serenity and happiness. Whoso gives away a heart without regret cannot be sad at anything, and looks serenely toward the future.
STELLA. In every future there is something which at moments may fill the most daring soul with disquiet.
DOCTOR. What is that, Princess?
STELLA. Even this, that that future is coming for the first time.
DOCTOR. More than once you have called me a sceptic, and still I say, Whoso loves believes.
STELLA. What is to be infe
rred from that, doctor?
DOCTOR. That whoso doubts —
STELLA. Pan Stanislav!
DOCTOR. I make no inquiry, Princess. At moments I see that serenity vanishes from your face; therefore I ask as a doctor, as a friend. Set me at rest, Princess. I pray you remember that this question is put by a man whom you have called a brother, and who alone knows how dear to him is the happiness of such a sister. I have no one in the world; all my family feelings are bound up with this house. I have a heart which is solicitous. Quiet my alarms, that is all I ask of you?
STELLA. What alarms? I cannot tell —
DOCTOR. Alarms which I hardly dare to confess. Since I have come, my eyes have not left you; and the more I see, the more I fear. You dread the future; you do not look at it with trust and hope —
STELLA. Permit me to go —
DOCTOR. NO, Princess, I have the right to ask; and if you dare not look into the depth of your own heart, I have the right to say even, that this is weakness, and a lack of courage, and later such culpable weakness is punished by loss of one’s own happiness and that of others. I, too, suffer while asking you; but there is need to ask, there is need. Listen to me, Princess. In whomever there is even a shadow of doubt, that person is mistaken as to the nature of his or her feelings.
STELLA. Doctor! Is it possible to mistake so?
DOCTOR. It is possible. Sometimes it is possible to mistake sympathy for compassion, and pity for love.
STELLA. What a ghastly mistake!
DOCTOR. Which one recognizes when the heart rushes in another direction. Then the seriousness of a betrothed becomes a secret pain. If I mistake, pardon me.
STELLA. Pan Stanislav, I do not wish to think of such things.
DOCTOR. Then I am not mistaken. Do not look at me with fear; I wish to save you, dear child. Where is your heart? If you recognize at this moment that you do not love Yerzy, this very moment will inform you whom you do love. No, I will not withdraw the question! Where is your heart? As God lives, if you love some one not your equal, he will raise himself to you. But no! I am going mad!
Complete Works of Henryk Sienkiewicz Page 741