Selected Prose of Heinrich Von Kleist Read Free Page A

impossible to assess whether the sum total of general well-being had not increased just as much as it had diminished.
    After listening in silence to the last of these accounts, Jeronimo took Josephe by the arm and led her with indescribable joy up and down beneath the shady canopy of the pomegranate grove. He told her that, given the current cast of mind of the people and the subversion of all social norms, he had abandoned his initial decision to ship off to Europe; that should the viceroy, who had always proven himself favorably inclined to his cause, still be alive, he would hazard an appearance and fall to his knees before him; and that he had every hope of being able to remain in Chile with her – whereupon he pressed a kiss on her forehead. Josephe replied that she had harbored similar thoughts; that, if only her father were still alive, sheherself had no doubt he would forgive her; but that instead of begging mercy on their knees, she would rather that they make their way to La Concepción – that city being close to the harbor, just in case – and from there, pursue in writing the business of a pardon with the viceroy, and that if things turned out as they wished they could easily make their way back to Santiago. After thinking it over a bit, Jeronimo agreed to the wisdom of this cautious measure, and reflecting on happy times that lay ahead, led her back and forth a few more times beneath the shady bower before rejoining their companions.
    In the meantime the day had advanced to afternoon, and as the aftershocks of the quake had abated, the swarm of refugees had barely had a chance to calm their spirits when word spread that the prelate of the Dominican cloister planned to say a solemn mass in the Dominican church, the only structure that had survived the quake intact, to pray to heaven for the aversion of any further misfortune.
    The people soon broke camp in all corners and streamed into the city. The question was raised in Don Fernando’s group as to whether they ought not also take part in this festivity and join the flood of humanity. Donna Elisabeth reminded them, with a catch in her throat, what an unholy thing had occurred the day before in the cathedral; that such thanksgiving services would, after all, be repeated; and that they would then feel themselves freer to give full vent to their feelings with greater serenity and peace, since the danger would by then be long gone. Leaping to her feet, Josephe promptly remarked that she had never felt a more burning need to lay her face in the dust before her Maker, now that He had manifested his incomprehensible and sublime might in this way. DonnaElvira enthusiastically agreed with Josephe. She insisted that they go hear the mass and called upon Don Fernando to lead the way, whereupon the whole group, including Donna Elisabeth, rose to its feet. But since the latter was perceived to hesitate with a heaving breast in all the little preparations for leaving, and in answer to the question what ailed her, replied that she did not rightly know, but that she harbored an ill-fated premonition, Donna Elvira allayed her fear and invited her to stay behind with her and her sick father. Josephe said: “Then you will surely, Donna Elisabeth, take back this little darling, who as you can see, has once again crawled into my arms.” “Very gladly,” replied Donna Elisabeth, and reached out to grab him; but the child protested bitterly against this injustice and would under no circumstances let go, so Josephe said with a smile that she would keep him after all and coaxed him with kisses into silence. Hereupon, Don Fernando, who was very touched by her great dignity and grace, offered her his arm; Jeronimo, who was carrying little Philip, led Donna Constanza; all the other members of the group followed; and in this order they headed back into the city.
    They had walked no more than fifty paces when they heard Donna Elisabeth, who had in the