Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/40

 troops or the incompetence of our generals, as might be imagined, but through treachery

. This time I must interrupt you without asking pardon. There never was any such treachery as that to which you now refer. You are speaking of one of my ancestors, whose memory has been completely vindicated from that infamous calumny.

. Countess, pardon me. I was not aware that Baron von Rosenkranz of the battle of Kuntz was related in any way to the present Counts of Rosenkranz.

. The succession is direct, except for a charge of bastardy, which is an honor to our house, as the blemish was of royal blood. To be sure, historians speak of a betrayal of his country, but who are historians? I could show you over six hundred letters from the archives of our family, all of them in Baron von Rosenkranz's own hand, had you leisure to examine them, in which he explains away the vile accusation. It is impossible to read them without being convinced. Teach history to the Princes of Suavia, among whose loyal vassals the Rosenkranz have always been and are. As the last, the most unworthy of their line, it is my duty to declare to the Princes of Suavia, on behalf of my ancestors, that there never was a traitor, either to his king or to his country, whose name was Rosenkranz!

. Of course we should not believe it, Countess. Herr Stirger did not wish to give offense.

. On the contrary, my aim is to emphasize virtue and heroism in our lessons, passing over all doubtful points in silence, or touching them but lightly, as the case may be. They are not altogether absent from public or private history.

. It is as His Majesty desires. History should be a mirror of virtue to those who some day must be kings.