I want no thanks! I do it for the sake
of the King, and for the sake of the country to which I belong.
It is my duty. Only get up now and come with me to my carriage.
(Offers CLARA her hand.)
Clara. If it were as easy as that, I should have done it long, long
ago.
Princess (turns away. Then comes back). Get up. (Pulls her on to
her feet.) Do you love the King?
Clara. Do I love him? I am a motherless child, and have lived alone
with a father who has been constantly persecuted on account of his
principles; I shared his ideals from a very early age, and I have
never abandoned them since. Then one day I was given the chance of
making these ideals real. "What _I_ long to do, _you_ shall
accomplish!" he said. There is something great about that,
Princess--something all-powerful--a call from God Himself. Of that
I am certain.
Princess. It is merely a rhapsody of the King's--nothing else!
Clara. Then I will make it real and live it! I have given my whole
soul to it, and have strengthened his to the same end. It has been
my ideal all my life.
Princess. And you believe that it will last?
Clara. Yes.
Princess. Then let me beg you to believe this, too--it will last
until he has attained his end.
Clara. If you mean our marriage, let me tell you that _that_ is not
our end.
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