My
future is annihilated, my hopes trodden under foot." She covered her
face with her hands, and wept and sobbed aloud.
Pollnitz had no pity for her sufferings, but he remembered his
creditors, and this thought rekindled his extinguished tenderness.
He approached her, and gently placed his arm around her neck.
"Dearest," he murmured, "why do you weep, how can this little
mischance make you so wretched? Do we not love each other? are you
not still my best beloved, my beautiful, my adored Anna? Have you
not sworn that you love me, and that you ask no greater happiness
than to be united to me?"
Anna raised her head that she might see this tender lover.
"It is true," proceeded Pollnitz, "that you did not receive the
applause this evening which your glorious talent deserves; Farinelli
was in your way. The king has a prejudice against German singers; he
says, 'The Germans can compose music, but they cannot sing.' That
prejudice is a great advantage for the Italian. If you had borne an
Italian name, the king would have been charmed with your wonderful
voice; but you are a German, and he refuses you his approval. But
what has been denied you here, you will easily obtain elsewhere. We
will leave this cold, ungrateful Berlin, my beloved. You shall take
an Italian name, and through my various connections I can make
arrangements for you to sing at many courts.
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