The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries - LightNovelsOnl.com
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He's more courteous than I thought.
SCHLOSS.
He has respect for the public, after all.
PLAYWR.
I am ashamed to present to such ill.u.s.trious judges the modest inspiration of my Muse; it is only the skill of our actors which still consoles me to some extent, otherwise I should be sunk in despair without further ado.
FISCHER.
I am sorry for him.
MuLLER.
A good fellow!
PLAYWR.
When I heard your worthy stamping--nothing has ever frightened me so, I am still pale and trembling and do not myself comprehend how I have attained to the courage of thus appearing before you.
LEUTNER.
Well, clap, then! (_All clap_.)
PLAYWR.
I wanted to make an attempt to furnish amus.e.m.e.nt by means of humor, by cheerfulness and real jokes, and hope I have been successful, since our newest plays so seldom afford us an opportunity to laugh.
[Ill.u.s.tration: #PUSS IN BOOTS# MORITZ VON SCHWIND]
MuLLER.
That's certainly true!
LEUTNER.
He's right--that man.
SCHLOSS.
Bravo! Bravo!
ALL.
Bravo! Bravo! (_They clap_.)
PLAYWR.
I leave you, honored sirs, to decide now whether my attempt is to be rejected entirely--trembling, I withdraw, and the play will begin.
(_He bows very respectfully and goes behind the curtain_.)
ALL.
Bravo! Bravo!
VOICES FROM THE GALLERY.
_Da capo!_--
[_All are laughing. The music begins again; meanwhile the curtain rises_.]
ACT I
_Small room in a peasant's cottage_
LORENZ, BARTHEL, GOTTLIEB. The tom-cat HINZE, _is lying on a bench by the stove_.
LORENZ.
I think that after the death of our father, our little fortune can be divided easily. You know the deceased has left only three pieces of property--a horse, an ox, and that cat there. I, as the eldest, will take the horse; Barthel, second after me, gets the ox, and so the cat is naturally left for our youngest brother.
LEUTNER (_in the pit_).
For Heaven's sake! Did any one ever see such an exposition! Just see how far dramatic art has degenerated!
MuLLER.
But I understand everything perfectly well.
LEUTNER.
That's just the trouble, you should give the spectator a cunning suggestion, not throw the matter right into his teeth.
MuLLER.
But now you know, don't you, where you are?
LEUTNER.
Yes, but you certainly mustn't know that so quickly; why, the very best part of the fun consists in getting at it little by little.
BARTHEL.
I think, brother Gottlieb, you will also be satisfied with this division; unfortunately you are the youngest, and so you must grant us some privileges.
