Balthilda.
My King, if I return home with a well-filled basket, then shall I be
mocked by all the women.... And the men shall say----
Teja (_smiling_).
And what shall the men say?
Balthilda.
He esteemeth her so little that--he consenteth not to take food from
her hand.
Teja.
On my word, I assure thee, Balthilda, the men have other things to
think on ... yet nevertheless ... reproach thou shalt not suffer
through me. Set thy basket there.... Have ye still much of such things?
Balthilda.
Sire, these two weeks have my mother and I and the women about us put
aside the best of our share--flour and fruits--and the fowls have we
not killed till this very day.
Teja.
Then indeed must ye have been mightily hungry, ye women?
Balthilda.
Ah, it hath done us no hurt, Sire.... It was for a feast.
Teja.
In truth? Ye believed we should celebrate a feast to-day?
Balthilda.
Well ... is it then not a feast, Sire?
Teja.
(_Is silent and bites his nether lip, examining her furtively_.) Wilt
thou not be seated, Balthilda?... I should not yet let thee go home!
That too would be a reproach, would it not?
(Balthilda _is silent and looks down_.)
Teja.
And if I bade thee, wouldst thou wish to stay?
Balthilda.
Sire, how should a wife not wish to stay beside her husband?
Teja.
Hast thou then the feeling in thy heart, that I--am--thy--husband?
Balthilda.
Indeed, how could it be otherwise? The Bishop hath joined us together.
Teja.
And wert thou glad when he did it?
Balthilda.
Yea.... Nay, I was not glad then.
Teja.
Why not?
Balthilda (_with a bright glance_).
Perhaps because, because ... I was afraid, Sire, and I was praying.
Teja.
What didst thou pray?
Balthilda.
That God would grant to me, his humble handmaid, the power to bring
thee the happiness which thou needest, and which thou awaitest from me.
Teja.
Which I from thee--that didst thou pray?
Balthilda.
Sire, may I not offer thee the food, and the wine?
Teja.
Nay, nay!... Hearken, Balthilda: without, by our fires, are
warriors--they are hungry--I am not hungry.
Balthilda.
Sire, give them what thou pleasest ... give them everything!
Teja.
I thank thee, Balthilda. (_Raising the curtain_.) Ho there, watch! Come
in, but prudently so as not to wake the old man.... (_Watcher enters_.)
Here, take this basket with food and wine, and divide it honestly....
Say your Queen sends it.
Watcher.
May I thank the Queen, Sire?
(Teja _nods_. Watcher _shakes her hand heartily. Exit_.)
Teja.
Go--and bring me to eat!
Balthilda (_perplexed_).
Sire--why--mockest thou--me?
Teja.
Dost thou then not understand me? If thou wilt be my wife, thou must
offer me my property, not thine!
Balthilda.
Is not all of mine thy property, Sire?
Teja.
Hm! (_Silence. He takes her hands._) Call me not Sire and call me not
King.... Knowest thou not my name?
Balthilda.
Thy name is Teja!
Teja.
Say it yet once again!
Balthilda (_softly, turning away_).
Teja!
Teja.
Is the name so strange to thee?
(Balthilda _shakes her head_.)
Teja.
Then why hesitate?
Balthilda.
Not for that, Sire! Since I knew that I was to serve thee as thy wife,
I have often named thee by day and in the night. Only I never said it
aloud....
Teja.
And before thou knewest it, what was then thy thought?
Balthilda.
Sire, why dost thou ask?
Teja.
And why dost thou not answer?
Balthilda.
Sire, when I heard of thy bloody commands, and the others feared
thee--then I often thought: How unhappy must he be that the destiny of
the Goths compelleth him to such deeds!
Teja.
That hast thou thought?--That hast thou----?
Balthilda.
Sire, was it wrong that I should think it?
Teja.
Thou hadst never seen my face, and thou didst understand me? And they
who were around me, the wise men and tried soldiers, they understood me
not!... Who art thou, woman? Who hath taught thee to read my heart?
Thee, thee alone of all?
Balthilda.