Konrad and Alexandra (pdf) - Rolf Gross

enough to afford my father!" She laughed. "It sometimes seems to me that psychotherapy is
only for the rich and fashionable. Should I analyze your problem for you?"
Now Alexandra began to laugh. "I think, I do know my problem, but how to cope with my
‘emotional disorder’ that is the question. What do you think is bothering me?"
"Jealousy! Dear friend, simple old-fashioned jealousy."
Alexandra bit her lip. "Yes, and what does the doctor recommend?"
"To get rid of Katharina, of course!"
Alexandra flared up. "No! That wouldn’t do. I cannot throw Katharina out, she is my
close friend, and my jealousy has nothing to do with her, it is entirely between Konrad and
myself."
"Well, then you have only two other choices, either learn not to be jealous or get rid of
your dear husband, right?"
Alexandra touched her necklace and with a hostile look replied. "Your logic is excellent,
but how can I get rid of Konrad? My entire life depends on this man. I love him."
She broke down in tears. "You have put your finger on the problem, I love both of these
people, and I could even explain why. It is I who gets uncontrollably morose. This terrible
Georgian affliction of tragic depression. It is not simple, old-fashioned jealousy. I have to find a
way not to react viciously when I see Konrad and Katharina happy, they are both innocent. I
even attacked you on that first night at the Chinesische Turm and you are not even involved in
this drama. And two weeks ago I destroyed two harmless films we went to see, just because
Konrad had spent the afternoon helping Katharina buy a new blouse. They were so happy. It is
not right to hurt them with my impetuosity."
Claudia took her friend into her arms. "I know so little about passionate love, Alexandra,
and passionate jealousy must be even harder to live down. Are you afraid that Katharina might
take Konrad away from you?"
Alexandra was silent. Finally, from very far away, she said, "I have examined this
question and cannot find a rational reason for such a fear. Of course, it would be a lie to say
that I do not fear such a possibility."
Her friend smiled. "Look Alexandra, it seems to me that the moroser you get, the larger
becomes the possibility that Konrad tires of you. In order that Konrad does not leave you out of
despair over your fits of jealousy, you have to learn to control your moods and love them both
equally."
After they had labored for two weeks over their translation. Konrad asked whether they
had done a careful literature search on Dioskorides and the medical knowledge of classical
antiquity. They had completely forgotten to do that. Alexandra had known of Dioskorides, and
in her excitement to have tracked down the forbidden book and to have Claudia’s help, had
delved into the translation without much thinking.
They returned to the library and searched the catalogues for translations of the De
Materia Medica and the Gynæciorum, a somewhat later treatise by Soranus. The bibliography
of the German Soranus translation (Valentin Rose, Leipzig, 1882) became their key to the
entire field of antique pharmacology. The two women were overwhelmed by the wealth of
ancient knowledge on gynecology. Fortunately, only a few texts addressed the use of
contraceptives.
They finally decided to cross-reference Dioskorides’ indications, potions, and plants with
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