No one at
court loves me, not even my wife. How should she? She is well aware that
I married her only at the command of my royal uncle, and she accepted me
almost with detestation, for they had related to her the unhappiness of
my first marriage, and the happiness of my first love! She has learned
the story of my first wife, Elizabeth von Braunschweig, and that of my
only love, Wilhelmine Enke! She obeyed, like myself, the stern command
of another, and we were married, as all princes and princesses are,
and we have had children, as they do. We lead the life of a political
marriage, but the heart is unwed. We bow before necessity and duty,
and, believe me, those are the only household gods in the families of
princes. Happy the man who, besides these stern divinities, possesses
a little secret temple, in which he can erect an altar to true love and
friendship, and where he can enjoy a hidden happiness. This I owe to
you, Wilhelmine; you are the only one in whom I have confidence, for
you have proved to me that you love me without self-interest and without
ambition. You have said it, and it is true, you love me, notwithstanding
I am a prince. I confess to you, there are many lovely women of the
court who are your rivals, and who would try to separate us in order
to attract me to themselves. They are beautiful and seductive, and I am
young and passionate; and if these lovely women have no respect for my
dignity as a married man, how then should I have it, who married
for duty, not for love? But there is one whom I respect for
disinterestedness and fidelity! Do you not know who alone is
disinterested and faithful?--who has never seen in me the prince, the
future king--only the beloved one, the man--one who has never wavered,
never counted the cost?--that you are, Wilhelmine Enke, therefore we are
inseparable, and you have not to fear that I can ever forsake you, even
if I am sometimes entangled in the magic nets of other beautiful
women. The chains which bind us together cannot be torn asunder, for
a wonderful secret power has consecrated them with the magic of true
love--of heart-felt friendship."

"Still they are chains, dearest," sighed Wilhelmine. "You have named
them thus! The chains will at last oppress you, and you will forget the
magic power which binds you, and will be free. No holy bond, no oath,
no marriage tie--nothing but your love binds you to me. I rejoice in it,
and so long as you do not forsake me, I am con