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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SCHLUCK AND JAU, by GERHART HAUPTMANN Poet's Biography
First Line: I bow me to the master of the hunt
Last Line: Well, well, well, well, you are a devil of a fellow!
Subject(s): Irony; Masques
First Line: I bow me to the master of the hunt
Last Line: Well, well, well, well, you are a devil of a fellow!
Subject(s): Irony; Masques
CHARACTERS
JON RAND
KARL
MALMSTEIN
SIDSELILL
DAME ADELUZ
JAU
SCHLUCK
HADIT
THE HIGH STEWARD
THE FOOL
THE FUR TRADER
Ladies of the court, maids, huntsmen, musicians, serving-men and attendants of
all kinds.
PROLOGUE
The speaker of the Prologue, a huntsman with a bugle at his girdle, issues
forth from a parted curtain of green cloth. He is supposed to present himself
to
the hunting-party in the banqueting-hall of the hunting-castle to whom the
following piece is given.
I bow me to the master of the hunt
And to this castle's worthy guests who are
Devoted like ourselves with body and soul
Unto Saint Hubert, patron saint of all.
The echoes of the hunt are dead. The high
Delight of autumn passes to its end.
Thin, glass-like sheets cover the moveless weirs.
The resonant barking of the brachs is dumb.
The red pack and the yellow pack together
With the white pack are resting in the kennels.
The dogs lie prone and dream, or else they lick
The fresh-sewn wounds which the young boar at bay
Gave them in struggling with his bloody tusks.
We have slain deer and badger, fox and lynx,
Partridge and pheasant, and the field-fare hang
Corded in long rows in the cellar safe:
And master Hare who never yet before
Travelled but upon level earth alone
Hangs from the watchman's windows in the tower—
And no man knows how that he rose so high.
The hunt is over, the merry feast at end,
The last hallooing silent on the breeze,
And in the early dawning will this house
Stand void of guests. Deserted will it lie
And raise its solitary turrets red
Above the endless multitude of trees;
These rooms will silent be but for the roar
Of the great forest, or the owl's nightly hoot,
The buzzard's scream or rustle of many wings
Made by the ancient warder's whirring doves.
Thus, worthy huntsmen, lend a gracious ear
And eye to what this curtain will disclose.
Over it let your courteous vision glide,
Unless it rather seek the beaker's ground,
And take our sturdy piece to be no more
Than the free child of an untroubled mood.
A GREEN LAWN IN FRONT OF THE HIGH IRON GATE OF A HUNTING-LODGE IN THE FOREST
Green, level ground fronting the high, iron gateway of a hunting-castle in
the
forest. Beyond the gate the ancient courtyard is visible.
JAU crouches in the foreground, shouting and gesticulating violently. He is
thoroughly drunk. SCHLUCK is anxiously busied about JAU. He is less
drunk. SCHLUCK has set down his begging-bag. JAU carries, slung on a
strap, an old cigar box holding little cases of peppermint lozenges.
From the distance floats hither the sound of a huntsman's horn.
JAU
Eh lil' man, lil' man, lil' man! Hol' on there! Wa'sh out, lil' man! We
can't never agree that way! Naw! One peppermint lozenge, two peppermint
lozenges, three peppermint lozenges! That's one, two, three of 'em! That's
right, eh? Three times one is three! Three times three is nine! That's settled
then! D'you b'lieve it now, lil' man?
SCHLUCK
Well, well, well, all right! You're all right. But look at this here!
Never
mind, never mind, never mind! But here's one o' them lozenges, an' there's
another, an' that makes eight an' two is ten an' ten that's an even
number! Naw,
you needn't be disputin'! You've won. I'll go an' fetch it! A quart!
JAU
One peppermint lozenge! Two peppermint lozenges! An' three is
nine an' six
is four, an' if you don't go this minute an' be quick about it
I'll be helpin'
you along! See, lil' man?
SCHLUCK
For God's sake, keep still, I'm goin'!
JAU
An' be quick about gettin' that there quart! One peppermint lozenge! Two
peppermint lozenges! An' if ever you go standin' around my wife an' standin'
aroun' her when I ain't there an' come over when I ain't at home, an' lie down
with my wife when I ain't at home, I'll kick you down all the stairs.
SCHLUCK
For God's sake, what are you shoutin' for?
JAU
I'll shout if I want to! I c'n shout like two oxen. Anybody c'n hear it
what wants to! Go an' fetch the quart! Go on! What? Eh? Can't you move? O
Lord,
lil' man! You'd better hurry, I'm tellin' you!
SCHLUCK
The trouble is that they ain't goin' to give me none!
JAU
Whiskey is what I want! Brandy is what I want! An' if I gotta sell
my skin
to get it! An' if I gotta sell my bit o' house! An' if I gotta sell my ol'
woman! An' if I gotta sell my seven brats! An' my bed an' my chamber pot. ...
SCHLUCK
Now Jau, ol' man! Come now an' listen! Ain't I your friend, eh?
I'll go an'
fetch it for you, I'll go, if you'll just be still. People'll think
we're crazy.
JAU
[Stammers thickly.] One peppermint loz-z-z'-nge! Two peppermin-loz-z-
z'nges!
SCHLUCK
People are comin'! Don' go to sleep.
[A hunting train passes by. In front a huntsman who carries a slain
fox; next comes the pack; thereupon huntsmen who blow their bugles. Then
follows JON RAND accompanied by KARL. The train is closed by
MALMSTEIN
with the rest of the company.
JON RAND
The scent was cold. I tell thee once again
The scent was cold.
KARL
Oh, and the magpie then?
Did thy brave dog accept the magpie's scent?
JON RAND
Who aims at magpies?
KARL
I!
JON RAND
Ay, surely, thou!
Thou art not so delicate of choice, the nose
Of Waldine is more delicate than is
A gourmet's tongue and is revolted at
Unclean wild things—among them magpies, too.
[He observes SCHLUCK busied with JAU, interrupts himself and
asks.
Thy name, fellow?
SCHLUCK
Schluck!
JON RAND
And thy business here?
SCHLUCK
Oh, me lud, you see, sir, an' if you'll be good enough not to mind, sir,
I'm just tryin' to help a friend that's had a accident.
KARL
Accidents of his causing, now and then.
SCHLUCK
You see, sir, if you want me to be quite honest, sir, we're poor people,
very poor people indeed, sir.
JON RAND
What's the disease that plagues thy friend so sore?
SCHLUCK
He's got what you might call the fallin' sickness, sir, if you want me to
be quite honest, sir—yes, that's it. We're very poor people, sir, an' so
we're likely to have sickness.
JON RAND
The falling sickness? What is that, in truth?
SCHLUCK
I don't rightly know myself, sir, if you want me to be quite honest.
JON RAND
Well, then—in simple speech: the man is drunk.
SCHLUCK
That, too, me lud! Most certainly and assuredly, sir, that he is. But I
asks you to consider that he drinks on account o' his troubles an' sorrows,
sir.
Poor people like us, sir, drink on that account an' not out o' wantonness.
JON RAND
What is it he holds in his right hand?
SCHLUCK
A match.
JON RAND
I don't mean that.
SCHLUCK
Just a match, sir, so help me! But you see, sir, if you want me to be
quite
honest, sir, I'm jus' a wee bit dizzy in my head. You see I have an ol' woman
what takes in washin'. That's the way we plain people talks. You'll excuse me
for talkin' that way, sir. It's the best I know.
JON RAND
Wherefore hast thou a bracelet at thy wrist?
SCHLUCK
It's my way o' life that makes me wear it. It's to prevent the rheumatiz,
you see, sir. An' my wife, she has a sister, an' she has a husband, an' he's
got
a brother, an' this is him, you see, sir.
JON RAND
A most queer creature! Almost I desire
To see him closer in a clearer light.
MALMSTEIN
Knowst thou the other, lord? His name is Jau,
A most mad fellow with brains turned awry.
JON RAND
Thieves! Sluggards! Ragamuffins!—all of ye!
What do ye in my castle's territory?
'Tis far enough, methought, from beaten roads,
And nowise like an inn where brandy flows.
Is not the highway broad enough for ye?
Most drunken strollers, must ye drag your rank
And sodden bodies to my tulip-beds
And lay them down amid the lovely bloom
Of Lady Sidselill's gardens? Who am I, fellow?
SCHLUCK
Well, now, you see, sir, I wouldn't for the world, sir, make so bold as to
say. You see, sir, I see right well, if you want me to be quite honest, that
you're some grand gentleman, sir. But I ain't no thief, so help me! I go about
among lords an' counts, sir, buyin' old cloth an' things. If you got a
cast-off
weddin' ring, I'll buy it. If you have old coins or chains or pig's teeth or
corals, or an old executioner's sword, or old china, or a saint's relic you
don't want, or a pair of old leather boots—I'll buy any of 'em.
An' I'm a
very artistic kind o' fellow—very artistic, indeed, sir. I was
born to be
artistic—that I was! I go from place to place an' where I come people
wonder at my bein' so very artistic-like!
JON RAND
Vile zany! May Beëlzebub reward thee
For this wild torrent of the emptiest words.
But get thee from my vision, drunken wight!
As for yon fellow, put him in the stocks!
And thou, sir Steward, see to it well henceforth
That when I come from hunting with my guests,
No drunken sprawlers lie upon the path,
Or else, by God above, I'll have the hounds
Freed from their leash, and the result will be
Not on my head but thine!
KARL
Jon Rand, Jon Rand!
Stick them upon the spit and have them turned.
I know a better plan, Jon Rand, by far,
I swear it by my excellent mare, than that
Thou be so very wroth!
JON RAND
Wag not so free thy tongue!
[To SCHLUCK.
What dost thou there, fellow most coarse and lewd?
SCHLUCK
[Still busied about JAU.] You see, sir, I'm responsible—that's
it.
If only I had the strength, which I ain't got, sir. If I could go an' carry
this
friend o' mine on my back, then I'd be doin' my duty, sir. I'm a honest
fellow,
sir, an' Jau here is a honest fellow, too. Honest men, sir, will
sometimes take
a drop too much. An' I'm responsible, if you want me to be quite honest, sir.
JAU
[Drawls in his sleep.
An' when the house was builded well
He laid him down an' slept;
Then came the landgrave's fair young wife
An' to his side she crept.
JON RAND
To gaol with him! In the stocks! Once more I say't!
There let him lie and toy with landgraves' wives
In sodden, drunken dreams. Away with him!
Why tire thyself about yon brandy-skin?
Let the weak flicker of thy senses guide
Thee on the homeward path and lay thee down
Abed beside thy soap-suds reeking wife,
And pray a litle prayer or two in thanks
For the deservèd whipping thou hast 'scaped!
SCHLUCK
You see, me lud, I'm jus' fair sweatin' with fear! If I
could jus' have the
happiness o' servin' you in any way, sir, I'd 'umbly request sir, that you send
me to gaol an' take my friend here an' let him go home. My good friend here, I
must tell you, sir, it's a very queer thing about him, sir. I'm mighty fond o'
him, sir. An' his thoughts sir, they goes mighty high—very high indeed is
his notions, me lud! A man c'n have on torn clothes an' have grand notions all
the same.
JON RAND
How? Doth he hold yon keg of rum so dear?
MALMSTEIN
Ay, by thy leave, my lord, of these twin clowns
Jau is the king and Schluck the chancellor.
KARL
Not only chancellor is honest Schluck,
Nay, but at need is man at arms, esquire,
Steward and cup-bearer, cook and cellar-master,
With equal indefatigable zeal.
MALMSTEIN
Nor is it, at all times, an easy life!
For a king's moods, my lord, compared unto
This clown's most variable temper, are
Most light to bear. I have come upon him oft
At the wood's edge, or deep in forests else,
And saw this Jau, his sceptre swung aloft,
Train me his chancellor, cellar-master, cook
And master of horse—for oft in stables sleeps he—
As though he were a poodle, scarce a man.
SCHLUCK
No, sir, if I may make so bold as to say, sir, you're not just altogether
right there, sir.
JON RAND
The one to gaol, the other to the tower.
To-morrow will I sit in judgment on them.
Hast thou aught else to urge 'gainst this command?
SCHLUCK
No. I'll jus' leave the rest to God, if you don't mind, sir. I jus'
happened to suck my hollow tooth, if you want me to be quite honest, me lud.
[SCHLUCK is led away.
JON RAND
What was the counsel for me that thou hadst?
KARL
Take thirty loads of straw, a keg of pitch,
And heap them in the inn which still thou dost
Suffer to stand and trade upon thy ground.
And thereupon take tinder, flint and steel,
Set fire to it—it burns! And when in ashes
The den lies prone. ... Well, do not throstles fly
For berries, and dogs after carrion go?
And shall not drunkards scent an inn albeit
Miles from their path? This is my prologue merely.
Surfeit of sweets is bitter in the belly.
The lovely Sidselill's time grows heavy and long
With honied moon still following honied moon.
Were I her guardian, as thou art, Jon Rand,
I'd give a play for her, upon mine honour,
Whereat the child should still in memory
Laugh through the distant years.
JON RAND
'Tis well, but bring
The players hither!
KARL
Is there a better, speak,
Than yonder belching villain of the road?
Did ever better snorer, Jon, than he,
Make any stage to tremble? Give me leave,
And by to-morrow shall this castle see
A drama with twain heroes—one in the stocks—
So laughable that thou like to a carp,
Seething in humour, shalt but gasp for air,
And Sidselill bite with delight her tongue.
JON RAND
Temper thy promises. The half will serve.
KARL
Art thou a sucking babe and I thy nurse?
Must I prepare thy food for thee in bites?
Nay, Jon. I speak the truth, no more, no less.
Flat are the jests of all our merry crowd—
A surfeited stomach makes a dullard's head!
Thus sweets and pastries rob the mind of edge. ...
JON RAND
By Heaven, he is enamoured suddenly
Of yonder bloated rascal from whose sight
We shrink revolted! Thou hast a stomach, Karl?
KARL
And wilt thou die of being bored, my friend,
Of utter boredom, as thou art doing now?
The pastry-feeders dig thy grave for thee.
Pastry ye feed on when the morning comes,
Patties and pastry in the evening, too—
Day in, day out, the selfsame fats and sweets.
Your flesh is flesh no more, but turns to sweets;
So do your very brain and very heart—
Stale, cold, unprofitable sweetish stuff!
JON RAND
Yet is it not a dreadful sight, my friends,
To see a man degraded in the morn
Below the beasts? For their bells in the fields
Make music; deep they breathe the bracing air,
And honourably crop the dewy grass,
And with sane strength adorn the dawn of day.
Whereas these clowns, gifted with finer sense,
Affront the lovely glories of the hour,
The landscape's face of Autumn beautiful,
And with the howling of their blasphemies
And horrid roaring desecrate the free
And solemn air of heaven.
KARL
Jon Rand, Jon Rand!
Many a thing have I this morn beheld:
Things that God suffered, but that liked me not!
These clowns were blinded by their vile excess,
So that of all the miracles of morn
They knew, they breathed not one. What was it, Jon,
That blinded thee when thou didst place against
Thy shoulder the dread arquebus and slewest
The deer that closed with loud lament his eyes,
Ere yet the golden day burst from the deep?
JON RAND
Make me to laugh and not to weep, my Karl!
KARL
That will I do, to-morrow, on my word,
With these most miserable fellows, Jon.
In garden of our high delight the clod
Shall put forth branches green. And what has now
Caused thee disgust and waked thee from the deep
Fervour of huntsman's joy, to speak in praise
Of the pure glory of the golden dawn—
That shall refresh thy merry mood to-morrow.
Whom will it harm if once our feast become
A peasant festival and masquerade?
[Through the iron gate maidens are seen playing at ball. A green ball
flies high into the air.
But, Jon, high o'er the gateway flew a ball!
Ah, hadst thou seen it as I saw—it flew
From the shadow in the sun! Hadst thou but seen
That small, green sphere, my Jon, it had awakened
Straightway the slumbering god within thy breast.
JON RAND
Blow in your horns! For it is Sidselill
At play within the courtyard with the maidens.
[The huntsmen blow a blast. At once lovely young women and maidens
become visible behind the gates, among them DAME ADELUZ, the lady in
waiting. They step aside and let SIDSELILL approach the gate. This is now
thrust open and, led by SIDSELILL, there approaches a gay procession of
women, pages, old and venerable retainers of the castle, among them the HIGH
STEWARD and the FUR-TRADER. The music does not fall silent until JON
RAND has twice kissed SIDSELILL's hand.
JON RAND
A greeting, sweet, small mistress of my heart!
Exquisite little lady skilled in spells
Wherewith dead, burned out ashes may be kindled
Into new glow and fields of rubble made
To burst in magic of eternal bloom;
Spells that may lend a tongue to the dumb fish,
A lyric voice to stones, and that may lure
Fresh green from withered bushes and inspire
The ass that turns the mill-stones with such love
Of music that o'er the rattle of the mill
He raise a voice like psalteries and flutes
Unheard before.
KARL
And dost thou play the flute?
JON RAND
Ay, in a measure, but not like to thee.
Come, sing to us thy latest madrigal.
SIDSELILL
Belovèd, here's a trader from far away
Vladivostock with a great store of furs.
Wilt thou not buy me a cloak of arctic fox?
JON RAND
A hundred! And I'll have the fellow hanged
If in three days he bring but ninety and nine.
THE FUR-TRADER
Your lordship may have me hanged, if I don't procure furs for a hundred
cloaks for the lofty and lovely maiden! [With a furtive glance at JAU.]
God
help us all, what sinful drunkenness! If your lordship will only be so kind and
take the trouble: I have a waggon and in the waggon your lordship will find my
daughter Rebecca and furs of sable, of pole-cat, of the black panther, of the
otter, of marten and whatever the heart desires. [With a second glance at
JAU.] What frightful drunkenness!
JON RAND
Bring what thou hast into the hall above!
We had a goodly chase, sweet Sidselill.
KARL
[Takes the slain fox from the hand of a hunter and holds it up high
before SIDSELILL.
The rogue is dead, the rogue is dead!
Now let us bury him straight,
For if the dogs devour him not
The ravens will not wait!
HUNTSMEN
Oho! Halloo!
SIDSELILL
Belovèd, do but see how the small furs
Glitter with iridescence in the sun
Through all their long and soft and delicate hairs.
JON RAND
And does it please thee?
SIDSELILL
Ay, surely, very well.
JON RAND
And how, my sweetest, didst thou pass the time?
For when thine eyes did ope I was away,
And the space next thee empty. Tell me then!
Wert thou a little sad over that void?
What didst thou through the long hours following
Till now?
THE HIGH STEWARD
My lord, I found her in the garden
There sate she and let the white and gleaming sand
Run silent through her fingers listlessly.
JON RAND
How often laughed she?
DAME ADELUZ
She did smile, my lord.
Twice only did she smile nor laugh at all.
When wrapped in snowy linen she did stand
Still rosy from her bath by the open casement,
And the fresh current fanning her did wave
Her garment light—then smiled she first, again
When Fritz, smoothing her palfrey in the court,
Bridling and saddling it, did trill his song.
JON RAND
I know him well; he is full of merry airs.
DAME ADELUZ
But this time 'twas a sombre ditty, lord,
With burden of a long and sad farewell,
Most heart-breaking to hear.
JON RAND
And then she laughed?
DAME ADELUZ
She smiled.
JON RAND
Thou very dearest, strangest child!
Sad is she when the rest of us are gay,
And laughs when that a heart is bleeding.
SIDSELILL
Dear,
My slender greyhound sprained his paw and now
He limps; it hurts him. ...
JON RAND
Plaything of the winds
Is thine own soul, sweet Sidselill, even like
The Æolian harp hung in our garden's shrine:
When the wind spirits touch its golden strings
With their invisible fingers, then it speaks,
And moans faint answers to those questions faint,
But to our ruder asking it is dumb.
Another greyhound shall be thine, dear child.
But let us mount the castle for brief rest.
Then to the banquet-table, O my friends!
Let logs gigantic in the chimneys roar,
But through the open doors let the keen air
Autumnal enter in. And we will sing
And feast together far into the night,
And drain our goblets to my treasure's health!
[The procession moves into the castle, bugles resound and the huntsmen
sing.
SONG OF THE HUNTSMEN
Hang the rogue, hang the rogue
All on a willow tree!
The skin is mine, the tallow thine,
And merry will we be!
Hang him! Hang him!
The rogue! The rogue!
A HIGH MAGNIFICENT CHAMBER
A high, magnificent room. A door to the left; another in the background. To
the right a gorgeous canopied bed. In this bed JAU is lying. Two
serving-men
stand in waiting. They hold on silver trays tea, chocolate, coffee, wine and
delicate pastry. HADIT, a charmingly garbed page, opens the door to the lef
t
at which a knocking has just been heard. KARL conducts JON RAND in.
KARL
Enter! Tarry a little in this hall
Ere that thou mount the steed that paws below.
There's time enough still left thee for the chase
Till noon.
JON RAND
What is it? What is to be seen?
What hast thou? Mould I smell and mouldy air.
Thrust wide the windows! Does a man snore here?
KARL
Has he not wakened, Hadit?
HADIT
Nay, not yet.
JON RAND
Who is it snores and hath not wakened yet?
In the deserted chambers of this wing
There has been long no other sound at all
Except by chance the squeaking of a mouse,
Or at the most a he-cat's shrill lament.
For of the ghosts that trundle here at night,
As watchman and as stable-boy report,
I cannot speak for I have never heard
Aught with my proper ears.
KARL
Ah, who snores here?
A creature with long ears—an ass—naught else!
But truly upon many a royal couch
Lies such another often, when the man
Has crept into it who is there at home.
Thus I proclaim with almost equal truth:
Here lies a king! Oh, doubt it not, my Jon,
That here a king's asleep. For what an ass
May lack to make him kinglike, here wilt thou
Find it spread forth, and thou shalt see, in truth,
How I will prove myself a kingmaker.
JON RAND
Karl, Karl, how can a clever head like thine
Waste precious hours with a clown's flat tricks?
My chancellor thou couldst be. ...
KARL
Ah, my good Jon,
May Satan's self drive painfully thy herds
Afield. But let me keep my peace, good Jon.
The harness of duty does not tempt my neck,
Even though it be sown with diamonds.
Two girls' arms lightly laid about it—these—
Lightly, I said, not fast, are better far.
[JAU yawns.
Behold, he drops into a great lord's part
And sleeps far on into the light of day.
A clown's flat tricks? A fool? A clever wight?
Dear Jon, life metes the very measure out
To both in this world—neither more nor less.
[The door in the background is noisily thrust open. The laughing and
choking girls put their heads in and disappear again at once. The two serving-
men also burst out with laughter.
Oho! What's that? Away, ye silly maids!
You'll spoil our pleasure by your idle ways.
This game is very serious. Who will not
Curb, while it lasts, his loud-mouthed foolishness,
Will be confined and chained with coral-beads
Like an unruly, froward beagle-hound.
[To the two serving-men.
Call him Serenity or serene lord!
Serve him as though he were our lord himself—
As though the castle, forest, marsh and field
And princedom were all subject to his sway.
JON RAND
[Shaking his head.
Forsooth, this Jau, this goitered rascal lies
Clad like a prince hereditary abed.
KARL
The Indian juggler in a few brief hours
Causes a tree to grow from mango seed
By magic. And it seems to me to-day
As though myself were such a wizard wise.
I burn to know, Jon, whether this strange plant
Will grow apace or will be smothered quite.
I think that it will grow with rapid strides
And put forth blossoms wondrous strange that are
Though transitory, gay to look upon.
JAU
[Behind the hangings.
Oh—ah! Oh—ah!
JON RAND
Well, excellent magician, show thy art!
Now yawns an ass; but let it be thy care
That a king's self arises from the bed.
JAU
Oh—ah-ah-ah!
KARL
Be still! Make not a sound. [To JON RAND.] Go or stay here,
As it may please thee. When the game doth rise
And grow most merry, I will have thee called.
JON RAND
'Tis well, I will remain! Be still! I stay.
KARL
How must ye call me?
HADIT
Lord High Steward.
JON RAND
And me?
HADIT
Physician to His Highness.
KARL
Hush! He stirs!
JAU
Oh-ah-ah-ah! Oh me, oh me, oh me! Ho, lud! Mother! Oh-ah! One peppermint
drop an' two peppermint drops an' three is four. Mother!
[With a sudden impulse he swings his legs out of bed and sits on the
bed's edge staring about him with wide open eyes. On his head is a crown of
gilt
pasteboard, held fast by a rubber band under his chin. He lowers his head and
shakes himself, still yawning. He mutters gibberish, cries "Mother!" Then
he
laughs a short laugh and says.
Well, now, listen to this here, your worship! You c'n believe me all
right,
your honour! That there woman ... she knows what's what—she does! Every
year she gits a brat! Never the same father.—But you gotta have your tools
,
your worship an' that's a fac'! You gotta have brushes an' paint. An' you
don't
git cinnabar red for nothin', neither! [Imitating the judge's voice,
affectedly.] Don't drink so much, my man, don't drink so much.—Your
honourable worship is right! Your worship is right. A low-lived slut like that
... a swine like that ... it ought to be forbid. [He looks dully about
him.]
I'm dreamin', ain't I?
HADIT
[With a deep bow.
Does your Serenity command a bath?
Shall the grooms saddle your Arabian steed?
And her Serenity, your spouse, did bid me
Give you this fragrant nosegay of her flowers
What time you deigned to waken.
FIRST SERVANT
Does your Highness
Command tea, coffee, or a cordial else,
Or Tokay wine or fruits or chocolate?
JAU
[Passes the palm of his hand over his face and yawns again.]
Oh-ah-ah-
ah! I do believe I'm dreamin', s'help me! Eh, mother! The swine! Dam' nastiness
!
Mess! Ugh! Eh, mother! Pinch my big toe, will you? I want to wake up! That's
it
exackly! You c'n go an' look in the cupboard. There's a herring from last
night.
I didn't eat it an' it's got a peppermint drop in its mouth. What's it got
inside o' its mouth? A peppermint drop, I say. You're dreamin', mebbe,
ol' lady!
Wha'? Aw, come along an' fetch me that there herring!
[He pulls his eyes wide open and stares about him again.
HADIT
Do you command a bath? Will you not deign
By kind command to indicate which doublet
I may present your Highness? The hunting coat
With sable trimmed, or else the velvet mantle?
Or shall I call the chamberlain, my lord?
JAU
[Roaring.] A herring is what I want! A herring, damn it! A
herring an'
potatoes an' beer—that's what!
[He takes a fur-tipped boot, the nearest thing within reach, and
hurls it against the wall.
KARL
[Approaching reverentially.
Is your Serenity vexed? Will your Serenity
Deign to declare what has disturbed your mood?
I am inconsolable, in deepest truth!
One word or gesture will suffice, and woe
To him who has been guilty of our grief.
JAU
[Glares at KARL, suddenly pokes out his tongue at him
and roars.]
Bah!
KARL
[Zealously.
Doubtless it is most true, it is most just
What now your Highness deigned to indicate,
And punishment shall follow on the deed.
And yet I hope for some compassion.
Let not your ever faithful steward pay
For what some wight, 'gainst all command, committed.
JAU
[Stares at him again and slowly presses both hands against his
temples.] Mother! Come on over here, will you? Look here! Is there a man
standin' there or not? That's what I axes you, mother! Is there
or ain't there?
An' another one over yonder! Keep still, mother, an' go an' run an' fetch a
doctor, for Gawd's sake! I eat somethin' wrong, that's what!
I'm sick as a dawg!
I musta eat somethin'! Go an' git a doctor so he c'n bleed me! Git the
barber an' let him bleed me! I'm dreamin', that's what! Tell the barber that I
can't wake up! Say I got a rumblin' in my belly an' I gotta ha' somethin' to
open my bowels! Ain't we got a little castor oil? Le's have it, mother! Hurry!
Eh, if I could wake up! Mother, look, there's another man ...!
KARL
If your Serenity will but recall!
I am your trusted steward from of old.
There is the youth Hadit, your Highness's
Page of the hunt who took the bloody knife
Wherewith your Highness did the boar to death
But yesterday and as his duty bids,
Cleansing it with his gleaming gloves from blood,
Replaced it duly in your hunting belt.
Thus has it been on every morning since
We took our habitation in this lodge.
But the physician comes.
JON RAND
[Approaching.
Your Highness sees
That eating many truffles is not well,
Even as I warned your Highness yestereve.
Where are the pains? Are they in front? Behind?
In head, or chest or in the abdomen?
JAU
Aw, what's that? There ain't nothin' hurtin' me, nothin'! Who are you,
anyhow, an' what d'you want?
JON RAND
Your Highness's physician, by your leave.
JAU
[Starts, glares, passes his hand over his face, speaks first to himself
and then gradually louder and with gathering fear.] It's all over with me,
that's what! I gotta go! I'm seein' things, mother. A witch has bewitched me!
The evil eye is on me, that's what! I'm seein' devils with long tails! I
believe
I'm in hell! I believe I'm dead an' gone to hell! Run, mother, run, an'
tell the
barber to come an' bring leeches! Let him bring a dozen! An' run on to the
doctor an' to the parson! Tell him to come an' have pity. I'll promise
anythin'
an' I'll do anythin', if he'll only just pray me outa this!
JON RAND
Your pardon! 'Tis the nightmare, your Serenity!
If you will graciously consent to drink
Swiftly a glass of strengthening Tokay wine,
'Twill cure this slight distemper on the spot.
JAU
[Swiftly empties the glass, opens his eyes wide, enjoys the
aftertaste,
smacks his lips and says.] That was a bit o' good ol' rye whiskey.
KARL
Tokay, your Highness, good Hungarian wine!
Your Highness's thought is still of yestermorn
When, following the sturdy hunters' custom
We had a picnic under greenwood trees
With bread and brandy and with spicèd cheese.
Has your Serenity forgotten how
You shot most skillfully a brace of deer,
Also a fox escaping from the dogs?
JAU
Well now, you see ... Naw, I don't want to be denyin' that—not a
bit—naw. Only it's all so dam' queer ...
JON RAND
Patience, Sir Steward! Have but patience still! Visibly does the
dread delusion
yield.
JAU
Will you come here jus' a minit, you there? You got hands,
ain't you? An'
you gotta beard? An' you got on a mighty long coat, eh? An' you c'n talk and
scrape; you c'n do anythin' a man c'n do? Well now, you see, I can't help
feelin' that I'm dreamin'. Is there, mebbe, a lil' more o' that rye to be had?
HADIT
Ay, a huge keg of it lies in the cellar.
JAU
Well, now, you see. That's the way it is. Ain't that feller got legs, an'
legs o' silk, too? Come here a bit. [He pinches HADIT.
HADIT
Ouch!
JAU
You see, now? He hollers when he's pinched. You c'n feel the flesh o' him
an' hurt him. An' all the while I think I'm dreamin'!
[The BARBER enters.
KARL
Your Highness deigned the barber to command.
JAU
Is there another lil' glassful o' that rye? [They pour it for him.]
Tha's right. I axed for a barber; yes. That's right. That's exackly right!
Things is, mebbe, gettin' a bit brighter in my innards. Was I drunk yesterday,
eh?
JON RAND
'Tis true, your Highness deigned to drink your fill;
Nor was't a little, it must be confessed.
For in the knightly art of revelry
Your Highness is a master. None of us
Did half as often see the beaker's dregs
As your Serenity, our prince and lord.
And yet you stood upon your noble legs
Steadily, capable of speech and act,
Whereas we others grovelled like to. ...
JAU
I musta dreamed one thing or t'other, one thing or t'other! You're a
doctor, eh? An' that feller's a barber. Now listen to what I'm goin' to
say—word for word! I was drunk, you're right there! Both of us was drunk,
Schluck an' me. Schluck, that's my friend, ain't he?
[He looks alternately at JON RAND and KARL.
KARL
[To JON RAND
Knowest thou a noble of the name of Schluck?
JON RAND
Upon mine honour, no, Sir High Steward.
KARL
Give me your gracious leave to speak two words,
And all these sickly fancies will I drive
So far that they torment you nevermore.
The ancient prince—your father, noble lord—
Suffered at times from much congested wind.
Then his intestines crowded heart and stomach,
So that he nourished evil dreams, like you.
And so it came to pass that now a prince
He knew himself, now deemed himself to be
A lowly hind, writhed in the mud, forgot
His princeliness. Suddenly thus at times
Though garmented in purple and in gold
He grew most ox-like, nay, indeed, most ass-like—
In short, became a beast in every sense.
And by such dreams the great are often plagued.
Nebuchadnezzar, as your Highness knows,
Before the gates of his great palace lay
And, ox-like, chewed the grass. Thus that most blessed
And sublime prince, your Highness's late father.
I will not say that he did chew the grass;
Certain it is he deemed himself a beggar,
A sluggard and a clown of sodden ways,
And wrought upon by his delusion strange
He slept at night in stables, hayricks, barns.
JAU
An' did he sell peppermint drops, too?
JON RAND
Assuredly, he did that, too, your Highness.
JAU
Well, well, what d'you think? Then all this here must be all right. I
can't
tell, o' course. But look here: How c'n it be? Mebbe I ain't alive at all! Mebb
e
that dam', low crittur of a grave-digger's done for me long ago? But I'm even
with him anyhow! What did that dawg used to roar out after me? "The devil's a-
heatin' an extry hot oven for you!" Rats! If this is hell—if this here is
hell, I say, the grave-digger an' the parson an' the whole dam' congregation
c'n
go to heaven for me! Ain't that right, you fine lil' manikin, eh?
HADIT
I do not grasp your Highness's subtle speech.
Far be it from my dull and sluggish mind
To follow the high soaring of your spirit.
KARL
Thank Heaven, your Highness is indeed not dead!
Heaven's goodness, acting through the leech's skill,
Guarded your land, your humble folk and us,
Your utterly devoted servants, from
That dire calamity even to this day.
JAU
Aha! Aha! Mebbe so, mebbe so! It's possible, mebbe. O' course, I ain't
got
no wings neither, so this here can't be heaven. Mebbe I've been dreamin'.
Well,
well, well! What a bed this is! Come now—you! Honest, now? What am I
supposed to be? What is it I am?
HADIT
Your Highness is our gracious prince and lord.
JAU
Go slow, slow, slow. ... One thing after another! I can't take all
that in
so quick like. Then, mebbe, I got horses here?
HADIT
Great herds; a stable in which champ and paw
A thousand steeds. All that the heart desires.
JAU
They champ? You don't feed 'em champagne, do you? An' now f'r instance:
Have I got wine in my cellar?
HADIT
Surely. Most precious wine from Hungary, From Rhine and Mosel rivers,
and there
rest Untouched, a thousand ancient kegs within Your Highness's
extensive cellar-
floors.
JAU
An', an' f'r instance: I got chickens an' geese? An' I
c'n have 'em killed
an' roasted, an' eat an' eat?
HADIT
Most surely, lord, as much as you desire!
JAU
[Feels his head and becomes aware of the paste-board crown.] Wha'? Did
my horns grow here? What's that I got sittin' on my head?
KARL
The crown, your Highness, as is fit and right.
JAU
[Half rising.] Well, I'll be ... I'll be ... I'm a prince, eh?
JON RAND
I hardly understand your Highness's question.
JAU
[Still fingering his crown. In overwhelming astonishment.] I'll be
...
I'll be God ... I'm a prince? Eh?
KARL
And does your lordship doubt it that you live?
And does your Highness doubt that this great castle
With all its spacious lands and forests wide
Is yours indeed? Or do you doubt, perchance,
That this day is Saint Hubert's day and that
The merry blare of trumpets in the court
Calls to the boar-hunt, at your high command?
Doubt, if you choose, that in the hall your spouse
Awaits to imprint her morning salutation
Upon your brow, and fill your heart with bliss,
And wish you joy, but not unto the chase,
Which were an evil omen! But do not doubt
That you are a high lord and wealthy prince,
The very noblest next the king himself.
JAU
All right then! Hand me them breeches! I know what's what now. I'm
standin'
on my two legs. [In a tone of command.] Stockin's! [HADIT hands him the
stockings. He rises, takes a step to the left and spits thrice. He takes a few
steps more and again spits thrice.] So all that measly mess is come to an
end.
That's for the dam' court! An' that for the list o' drunkards! An' this
here is
for all them as wanted to down me, as used to say: you ain't nobody an' you
can't do nothin', an' you ain't goin' to be nothin', you ragamuffin! My wife
oughta know this, that's what I say—the high-falutin', stiff-necked
trollop! Oh, my wife oughta know this! I bet a hundred plates o'
sausage soop,
she'd just faint, she'd just fairly slam down! O Jesus, Mary an' Joseph! Oh,
dam' it all to hell everlastin'! She'd just fall over; she
wouldn't never git up
no more! Now you'll see what's been in me all along—the kind o' fellow I
am! Oh crikey! Jumpin' is what you'll have to do! Beggin', like lil' dawgs!
Oh,
but you'll have to mind! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Thataway an' no different!
[To KARL.] Here, you steward or meward or whatever you is—am I a
prince?
KARL
My senses had I lost were I to doubt it.
JAU
All right. But why, I says, why does that there doctor look at me
thataway
with his bloody eyes? I don't want to see that fellow no more. He looks at me
like a leech, like a bloodsucker! Git him outa here this minit! I'm hungry.
Lather me first and shave me. Then have half a dozen eggs put in the pan an' a
bit o' bacon. The doctor c'n go to hell! What did he say about my father? My
father, says he, was a good for nothin'? An' got drunk on whiskey? An' slept
in
a ditch? I'll have him hanged!
KARL
I beg your gracious Highness to recall
That the physician through whose magic art
You live, did speak of dreams and not of waking.
JAU
Bah, I says! My ears is burstin' with his twaddle! Who was it dreamed?
Not
me! Mebbe he dreamed or mebbe you dreamed! I been layin' on silk sheets 's
far
's I c'n think back. I was born on 'em an' on no dung-heap. What's that? I ain'
t
been dreamin'!
KARL
Will your Serenity mount to horse at once?
JAU
Well, why not, if the hoss is a good one! D'you think I never sat on a
dam'
hoss afore now? An' no old nag, no old flayer's carrion neither! First I'll loo
k
at the whole business, then I'll eat a piece o' meat with dumplin's and gravy
and sour-krout, an' I want a pitcher o' beer, an' then we c'n go a-ridin'!
[He
stands and listens.
KARL
The dogs are giving tongue! It is the pack.
JAU
[About whose shoulders a cloak is being laid.] Chain 'em tight!
Don't
let 'em go. You want to chain them beasts—that's what! My leg is still
black an' blue where a dam' cur got a hold o' me. [He approaches the
window.
The blowing of the hunting horns is heard and the loud acclaim of the
huntsmen. JAU answers.] Hallo! Hallo! [Silence. Then.] Mother! Come
here, will you? Look, down there, down there, down there ...!
JON RAND
[Laying his hand lightly on JAU's shoulder.] The nightmare, your
Serenity!
JAU
To hoss—to hoss—to hoss!
[He goes out swiftly guided by HADIT.
SIDSELILL'S CHAMBER
SIDSELILL's chamber. An open door in the background gives on a high terrace.
To the left is a great chimney in which a fire is burning; to the right steps
lead to an elevation in the hollow made by a bay-window. Next to this is a low
door. Next to the chimney is a similar door. SIDSELILL is sitting on the
steps and thoughtfully turns over in her hands a piece of embroidery in
pearls. DAME ADELUZ is busy at a table that is covered with furs, costly
garments and jewels.
DAME ADELUZ
Ah, what a wealth, dear child! God help us all!
Come hither and see! Brocade and heavy silk
And precious furs and, as thou didst desire,
An arctic fox's skin. Ah, child, dear child,
Leap thou for joy and come and take delight
For heart and eyes in sight of golden things
And flash of many jewels! Surely thou
Needst but to wish, to think a wish—at once
Is the desire fulfilled. Oh, didst thou ever
Dream of such happiness? Art thou aware
Of all the goodly treasures of thy life?
The country's comeliest gentleman and prince
Lies, a devoted lover, at thy feet;
His captivated heart beseeches thee
Still, still to yearn, demand and to desire
That he might give thee more.
SIDSELILL
O Adeluz!
DAME ADELUZ
Yes, child.
SIDSELILL
Didst thou behold the drummer lad
Striking his drum out on the terrace bright—
The swarthy Ali with his raven hair ...
Is it not black as jet? I marked it well,
He had strewn violets on his drum-skin ... that
He did for me. I marked it very well. ...
DAME ADELUZ
She marked it! And to hide her gazing played
With the Angora kitten which Jon Rand—
Heaven save him from the pangs of jealousy—
Had given her but that day.
SIDSELILL
Ay, so it seemed.
I saw the violets dance. I know it well.
It was for me.
DAME ADELUZ
And so henceforth, dear child,
We will beware of letting in the young
Savoyard and his marmot. We will close
The little gate, and keep it closed and be
Safer, O little wanderer of the heart!
SIDSELILL
[Rises, still holding the embroidery in her hand, and approaches
the
door to the terrace.
How was that tale of Sultan Bajazeth?
DAME ADELUZ
It runs: He had ten thousand falconers.
SIDSELILL
Thinkest thou the embroidered hood will please him?
DAME ADELUZ
Whom? Rand? Jon Rand? The hood thou workest at?
Ah, had thy slender fingers never so fine,
Nor half so delicately it impearled—
If ever again Jon Rand the falcon bore
Upon his wrist, nor the bird on its head
The hood—then it would mean Jon Rand had died,
Or else his falcon turned into a goose!
SIDSELILL
How was the tale of Sultan Bajazeth?
DAME ADELUZ
What mean'st thou, child?
SIDSELILL
How once in time of war
He snared a count and into prison cast?
DAME ADELUZ
Nor let him free for all the heaps of gold;
But when men offered him twelve falcons white
As ransom ...
SIDSELILL
That is the story I would hear.
For Jon must give white falcons to me!
DAME ADELUZ
What?
SIDSELILL
Yes, I desire white falcons, Adeluz:
Twelve stately birds in whiteness as of ermine,
And they shall be my knights and messengers,
And on their talons carry silver chains,
And on their heads bediamonded hoods.
Twelve snowy falcons. Go and tell it Jon.
Then daily will I ride a-hunting. He
Shall be my falconer.
DAME ADELUZ
Another whim!
[SIDSELILL slowly passes out on the terrace.
[KARL enters.
KARL
Good-morning, Adeluz!
DAME ADELUZ
Good-morning, lord.
KARL
Thou art a clever woman and a brave,
And no mere prudish bread and butter miss.
DAME ADELUZ
Much thanks, Sir Karl.
KARL
'Tis well, now hear my words.
We have a jest in hand and need thy help.
Accursèd be thy widowhood, if it
Cannot be merrier. Art thou going to mourn
And mourn and wilt? Why then thou mightst as well
Follow thy husband to the grave. Now hear!
DAME ADELUZ
Dost thou desire to lead me to the altar?
KARL
Not of my own free will! Give me no pangs!
But for that I am thy servant—standing, lying,
Or any way it please thee to be served.
Think not thy raven garb of woe affrights me.
I eat no bird unplucked and what the hue
Of the plucked feathers is indifferent!
DAME ADELUZ
O Karl, thou mak'st me shudder! What a man!
Art thou Sir Bluebeard come to earth again?
Be wary or I'll make a noose of crêpe
And throttle thee.
KARL
I'd die! But hark my words:
We are waxing mouldy at this court; the mildew
Covers us head to foot. The spider boredom
Turns our soul's house to a rope-maker's shop
Or snare of midges, and the spider fattens
Upon the murky air. I blow the web,
I curse and blow upon it—but in vain!
The chase is no more chase, the feast no feast,
And if I wag my tongue in merry jest,
His eyes rebuke me!
DAME ADELUZ
Not Jon Rand's?
KARL
Whose then?
He speaks of love, moongazes and makes songs,
And 'twixt the egg and apple preaches he
How flat and stale are all things without love!
Naught else! An aged spinster nowadays
A braver boon-companion is than he.
Who'll stick the knife in the boar? I ask him: He
Replies: Were lovelier tresses ever seen
Than Sidselill's? Next I announce: A keg
Of ale hath come. And is she not, he asks,
More graceful than the antelope? Are not
Her eyes, even as the antelope's, great and round?
'Tis well. I say we must bring brandy hither!
The crudest spirits are scarce sharp enough
To antidote such sweetness. Tell me now:
How fares young Sidselill?
DAME ADELUZ
Thanks for the question!
She fares right well.
KARL
Did not the blaring horns
Awaken her?
DAME ADELUZ
How doth it touch thee, Karl?
Thou art not well disposèd toward the child.
KARL
Too well disposed, I tell thee, far too well
To see her without heart-ache! What is she?
A bird of Paradise that's lost its way,
And has nor wings nor feet. Come hither now
And look into the court. For yesterday
I dipped my folly's draw-net and drew forth
Two right brave pike awaggle in life's stream.
Thou knowest them—Schluck and Jau.
DAME ADELUZ
What, Schluck and Jau?
The boisterous sluggards from the valley red?
KARL
The very same
DAME ADELUZ
Surely I know them well.
Who knows them not? In all the country breathe
No other men so tried and so cast out
As these two idle clowns named Schluck and Jau.
My dear, dead husband being forester
In Zips, was well inclined unto this Jau.
But Jau was Jau—shied at the sight of work
As does a hydrophobic dog at water.
KARL
[At the window.
Then gaze once more; for this same Jau to-day
Is our most noble prince and goodly lord.
DAME ADELUZ
[Looks out at the window.
He whom the huntsmen all surround?
KARL
The same
Who has his left foot on the stirrup now,
And his left hand upon the horse's neck,
The while his valiant right does saw the air.
DAME ADELUZ
And that is Jau?
KARL
Ay, his Serenity Jau,
Who never yet came to a noble's court
For nobler or for cleaner purpose than
To dig his foul way through the refuse-heap,
Searching for bones and rags and half-charred dross
And other wares. Now in high tones he snorts,
And trumpeting like to an elephant,
Makes known his will unto those gentlemen,
As though in life he never had been less
Than a mere sovereign.
DAME ADELUZ
By my faith—'tis he!
'Tis Jau himself! Come, little Princess, look!
[She laughs heartily.
'Tis very certain who has hatched this trick!
None other, Karl, but thou thyself, and I
Would counsel none but thee to do the like.
KARL
Up! Nay, not yet! Look, now he tests the girth.
A huntsman must dismount to fasten it.
Thus! Now behold him! By Saint George, he vaults
Into the saddle like a noble prince,
And keeps his seat like to a falconer.
Aha! The horse begins to dance. Just wait!
I know the steed's most admirable way.
Let but by chance the spur approach his side,
Straight rears he high in air! Behold: he rears,
As I foretold he would. Now keep thy seat,
And show thy horseman's art, Serenity!
Good! Excellent! Not without sense or skill!
Ah, what a leap! Now to an end 'twill come!
He slips! Nay, keeps his seat again; he beckons,
And turns him to the gate. Behold the wight!
He uses the spur, he makes the spark to fly—
The horse is mastered. Well, what thinkest thou?
There rides a noble lord unto the chase.
DAME ADELUZ
I am dumb with wonderment.
KARL
Well then, in brief:
Jau has ahunting gone. Thou viewest him ride.
Schluck, on the contrary, has slept in gaol,
And 'tis on his behalf that I am here.
Receive this Schluck when that I send him hither,
Examine well the nature of the man,
Then train him—'tis a woman's art—as though,
As though he were a jackdaw or a poodle
Until he's rightly fit for our great jest.
He needs experience for what's to come.
And if thou findest Schluck is flexible
Like a good husband, Dame, then see to it
That he (ostensibly in masquerade)
Plays me a woman's part and head to foot
Clad in a queenly splendour, bear himself,
As would the noble mistress of this house.
DAME ADELUZ
Are ye all mad together at this tide?
KARL
And wilt thou be a spoilsport, Adeluz?
DAME ADELUZ
What says Jon Rand to all this wantonness?
KARL
I know not altogether, but I know
That if he speak at all, 'twill scarce be more
Than a masked lover's sigh. But mark this well,
That if the merry jest succeed he'll laugh,
If not he'll do no more than wear a frown.
At present he is well inclined to it.
Ah, well thou takest me! If any one
Can serve our prank—despite thy quiet ways—
Cousin, it is none other than thyself.
And Sidselill will also smile, for Schluck
Is the one man to lure her smiling.
DAME ADELUZ
Hm!
SIDSELILL
[Calls from the terrace.
Dame Adeluz, come out unto me here!
KARL
And see that all the women in the castle
Act in an equal spirit with us men,
And treat both Schluck and Jau as that which they
Are meant to simulate.
SIDSELILL
[As above.
O Adeluz!
DAME ADELUZ
At once, my princess! ... Ah, 'tis will; we'll see!
[Exit to the terrace.
[KARL has gone to the door at the right and has opened it. SCHLUCK
enters.
KARL
Enter into this room, sit down and wait.
SCHLUCK
Might I, mebbe, be permitted to step up to the chimney and warm myself,
sir?
KARL
Assuredly! Go to the chimney straight
And warm thyself. But touch me naught of all
Thou seest in the chamber round about.
SCHLUCK
Oh, goodness gracious me, no! O' course not an' by no means at all! You
see, sir, I'm just the weest bit cold, sir, an' so I'd like to warm myself a
bit, sir.
[Exit KARL.
[SCHLUCK shivers with frost and warms himself at the fire. He
starts
suddenly and turns around.
SCHLUCK
[To himself.] Naw, that wasn't nothin'. Aw, but it's nice
here—mighty nice! Oh, it's reely very nice here indeed. I ain't
very well
dressed, o' course, but that's the way life is, you see. Fine
beechwood—that there! Fine beechwood! Eh, I like to hear it crackling
thataway! An' I like to smell the smell of it, too.
[DAME ADELUZ re-enters.
DAME ADELUZ
A visitor, dear Princess Sidselill.
What doest thou here? What wouldst thou here, dear friend?
SCHLUCK
I been ordered here, m'lady, if you want me to be quite honest. It ain't
nowise my fault, ma'am, an' I'm sorry.
DAME ADELUZ
Who ordered thee hither to come, my friend?
And for what purpose was the summons given?
SCHLUCK
The purpose, ma'am? I can't say as I know rightly myself why I'm here. On
my soul an' honour, ma'am, it wasn't no way o' my own free will that I came
into
this here room. A very fine gentleman took me by the hand an' brought me
right
in.
SIDSELILL
[Appears in the door.
Oh, let him warm himself, dear nurse, at once.
Speak, thou poor man, perhaps thou art even ill?
SCHLUCK
No, m'lady. Thank God, by no means at all, m'lady. My juices are
all quite
healthy, I'm glad to say, m'lady. Exceptin' that I got a headache, an' that,
m'lady, has a very good an' sufficient cause, if you want me to be
quite honest,
m'lady. An' I'm cold, that's true too. An' I'm just a bit drunk with sleep.
That's what we plain people calls it, m'lady, when we ain't hardly slept at all
.
Because I ain't been abed these seven days, m'lady, if you want me to be quite
honest.
DAME ADELUZ
Where did you pass the night that's gone, my friend?
SCHLUCK
I can't say that I rightly know, if you want me to be quite honest,
m'lady.
But if I was to tell you the reel truth, m'lady, I'd have to say that
I've lain
a bit better many a time than las' night. Much better, reely, on my
honour an'
conscience, you c'n believe me.
DAME ADELUZ
Unless I greatly err thy name is Schluck?
And with another wretched reveller
And boon-companion, thou didst misbehave
Yesterday, toward noon, without the gate.
SCHLUCK
Well now, you see, I can't hardly believe that, m'lady. I'm
sorry, reely,
to hear you say that. I've always been very well known, if you want me to be
quite honest, to all the great people aroun' here, an' I always was known to
have a reel soft heart, m'lady. But if I was to tell you,
m'lady, all the things
I've had to go through in this here life, I declare to
you, m'lady, as it would
make you cry. It's the way 'tis set down in the Good Book, m'lady: O death,
where is thy victory! That's the way, if you want me to be quite honest.
DAME ADELUZ
Full well I know where thou didst lie last night.
'Twas in the safest keeping; 'twas in gaol,
And thy companion Jau escaped therefrom.
SCHLUCK
Aw, m'lady, I don't like nowise to believe that! O' course, I wouldn't
think o' contradictin' you, because I know what good
manners is. On my soul an'
honour, m'lady, I know what's proper.
DAME ADELUZ
And what's the trade thou drivest, my good friend?
SCHLUCK
Well now, I'll tell you, m'lady: I cut silhouwettes. I'm what you call a
reg'lar silhouwette cutter. I do other things, too, if you want me to be quite
honest, but mostly I cut silhouwettes. I'm a awful artistic fellow when it
comes
to that, ma'am.
DAME ADELUZ
Right then! That I desired to know. Hast thou
Brought with thee all thy needed implements?
Therefore from prison did we set thee free
That thou mightst entertain us with thine art.
For look, I know thee well. Behold me close—
Easily mayest thou call me to thy mind—
If not, torment no further thy poor brain.
But take thy tools, assume thy posture. Then
Cut me a silhouette of our princess here
Faithfully to the life. If thou succeed,
Then as our gracious lord instructed us,
Thy sin forgiven, thy punishment remitted,
Thy guilt struck from the book of record out.
SCHLUCK
Well, you see, m'lady, I don't know as I've committed any guilt, if you
want me to be quite honest—but, 's far 's that goes, just as soon as
I've
warmed myself a bit, I got all my tools with me. I always carries my
tools with
me, m'lady, because you see it's nothin' but a pair o' scissors.
[He draws forth the scissors.
SIDSELILL
And shall I sit to him or must I stand?
DAME ADELUZ
Quite as it may be pleasing to thee.
SIDSELILL
Thus?
SCHLUCK
[Beginning to cut.] You see, m'lady, I'm prepared for anything. A man
has to be prepared for anything in this here world. I don't let nothin' in the
world surprise me, m'lady, an' it's that way—if you see what I
mean—that I've always gotten along very nicely.
[A profound feeling of delight becomes visible in his face.
DAME ADELUZ
Hast thou had any breakfast yet, my friend.
SCHLUCK
I had some breakfast yesterday, m'lady.
DAME ADELUZ
And hast thou no desire for it to-day?
SCHLUCK
I take things as they come, m'lady. I'm prepared for anythin', you see.
I'm
not so partic'lar about things in this world. An' anyhow, when I begin to
cut my
silhouwettes I often forget food and drink.
SIDSELILL
Will it be sweet, Adeluz? Do I sit right?
DAME ADELUZ
Excellent! Surely thou knowest thy trade.
SCHLUCK
Oh yes, m'lady, you're reel pleased; I know that. Wherever I come an' do
this an' start cuttin'—everybody's pleased. An' nobody didn't learn me
that, m'lady—I got that straight from God. I just have to give a look;
then
I don't hardly have to watch what I'm doin'. I know you'll be pleased with me.
DAME ADELUZ
Princess, shall I now bid him go his way?
SIDSELILL
Oh no! He is so merry! Let him stay!
DAME ADELUZ
Truly unto thyself thou mayest say:
A triumph rare is mine. For thou hast turned
A lily swift into a blushing rose—
Our little princess laughs! Come hither, take
The wine. Strengthen thyself. Thou needest it.
SCHLUCK
Eh, but I'm happy! I'm very happy, indeed, m'lady. I could reely jump I'm
so pleased. You see, that's the way it is, as the sayin' goes: don't never
despair. You see, if they hadn't a' sent me to gaol last night, I couldn't be
so
happy to-day. Oh, yes, yes, yes! That's the way o' this here world. Eh, but
this
tastes good—this is fine, sweet wine. I know this kind o' thing very
well.
This here little bottle is o' mountain crystal, an' this here is roast veal.
DAME ADELUZ
Take, eat thy fill. Whatever thou dost think it.
We call it morsels of a pheasant's breast—
If it be to thy taste, we are content.
SCHLUCK
Oh, m'lady, reely an' truly, I can't never tell you how happy I am. You
see, I could go on cuttin' this way till I die. Oh, you'd hardly believe
it, but
I feel as good as if I was a bit drunk. You see, if you're pleased with
me, I'm
a awful artistic fellow.
DAME ADELUZ
The day will add a usefulness to that.
For we are merry folk; and masquerades,
Dances and sports are order of the days
Which here we pass. Our gracious lord himself
Wills and commands that we be merry now
In sturdy, manly wise. A goodly jest,
Even though a tinker of the road have made it—
Sobeit that it delighted him a space—
Makes him who thought it out and put it through,
At once a lord of many lands, in brief,
Unto a wealthy man.
SCHLUCK
You see, I'm done now. I made that very, very fine. I'd like to take the
liberty o' helpin' myself to an apple. Them's very nice; I know the kind.
SIDSELILL
[Regarding the silhouette.
Oh, really? Is that I? Does my small nose
Tilt in such wise? And is my throat so thin?
Am I so very flat?
DAME ADELUZ
Not without skill
The picture. Jon Rand will delight in it.
SCHLUCK
Le' me make you a present of a lil' pin case all inlaid with silver an'
mother o' pearl. I bought it of a peasant's wife. An' you needn't think as I
want anythin' in return for it. Them is beans, deep sea beans set in silver. I
know ladies what used to make earrings out o' them. You c'n do as you please.
But I give it to you.
DAME ADELUZ
And dost thou know our master, excellent Schluck?
SCHLUCK
No, that I don't if you want me to be quite honest. A gentleman brought
me
here an' I thought mebbe that's the lord. An' yesterday one sent me to gaol
an'
I thought it was him.
DAME ADELUZ
'Tis not the one and not the other, Schluck,
'Tis neither of the two whom thou didst see.
But if thou prove as clever and obedient
In his strict service as in ours thou art,
Delighting him but half as much as us,
Then daily will his face upon thee shine,
His face and favour; that is very sure,
Thou being the very man to win his grace.
I wish thee well, Schluck, for I know thee well.
By heaven, a fairer fate should thine have been
With thy bright art and with thy clever head
Than play the clown for drunken peasant youths,
Or fare, a peddler, through the villages
Or even beg and hunger, my poor friend.
SCHLUCK
Oh, m'lady, don't make me unhappy, m'lady. 'Cause I'm so very, very
happy
here. I'll give you everythin' I got on me—just to the last scrap.
I'll do
anythin' you say. Don't you believe it? Just send me somewhere an' I'll go; put
me somewhere an' on my soul an' honour, I'll stay there till I gets mouldy.
DAME ADELUZ
'Tis well. A proof then. Go into yonder room,
And with my silken garment cover thee
Which there thou findest. Then step forth to us
And show that semblance. Hasten to return.
SCHLUCK
Well, well, well, well, m'lady! You want to have your nice joke with me,
that you do! An' you see, I'm just like a child when it comes to jokin'. You
c'n
have all the fun with me you want to. I'll gladly be doin' that, an' why not?
I'm glad to do you the favour. An' it won't be the first time neither. You
see,
m'lady, at the weddin' o' my sister I played the part of a midwife. An' I
did it
most artistic, I assure you.
[He disappears through a side door which DAME ADELUZ holds open
for him.
DAME ADELUZ
A miserable starveling, this same Schluck!
And yet, were goodness half as dearly prized,
As it by every one on earth is praised,
Then were this admirable starveling Schluck
A Crœsus in this world.
A BANQUETING-HALL WITH BAY WINDOW
A banqueting-hall with a great bay-window A long table magnificently set.
Huntsmen are busy adorning the table, placing chairs and preparing to serve.
Other huntsmen, clad in picturesque costumes and holding their bugles stand on
a
raised gallery. KARL is obviously busy superintending the arrangements.
JON RAND slowly walks the length of the table. The door to the terrace is
wide
open. A vigorous fire burns in the chimney.
JON RAND
And does the feast promise great things, my Karl?
KARL
By heaven Jon Rand, wait and thou'llt see indeed
Venison, fish, capons, livers of hares,
And marrowy soup and the wild boar's great head,
And wines of Arbois, Beaune, Chaloce and Grave
And many other things as excellent.
JON RAND
Thou hast, God knows it, many a weakness, Karl—
In feasting art thou strong.
KARL
O my good Jon:
I gather not, as thou dost, in my barns,
Possess no castles and no forests wide
And neither wife nor child. I mount a horse,
Nor ask whose horse it be whereon I ride.
I draw my sword and swing it if need be,
And ask not for what man or for what cause.
And if not all too lowly be the roof
'Neath which I dwell, 'tis not for me to ask
Whose roof it be. And if I sit at board,
I question not how many beakers wine
I empty or how many bites of meat
I eat, whether it please my host or not,
Or if his face grow grey with very rage
O'er my consumption.
JON RAND
Softly, softly, friend!
What if I give thee a small barony,
How would that be, my Karl?
KARL
Keep it, good friend.
I am no badger, do not need a hole.
A barony, a chain about my foot,
A hawk's hood, hiding eyes and head at once!
For I am a wild falcon, not a tame.
What are such things to me? I die my death,—
Must! And would equally live out my life.
Possessions are burdens: do thou bear them, comrade.
What though thy cellars hold thee seas of wine,
Five beakers full suffice to make thee drunk!
Slaughter me forty boars, thou canst not master
The leg of one. Hast thou an hundred castles?
Soon wilt thou be a guest in each of them,
Even as I who have not one. The less
Thou hast, the more is thine in very truth.
The little chain my father left to me,
His sword and bugle—look: I'd give them not
For twenty baronies.
JON RAND
Softly, my friend.
KARL
Try me! Put me to the test. Behold I live
The day but in the day. Yesterday and to-morrow
Were naught and will be naught, though both will be
Steadfast companions of me to that death
Which I cannot escape and do not fear.
Yesterday and to-morrow are two phantoms,
And who would grasp them, grasps but empty air.
To-morrow, yesterday—death ahead, behind,
With life in the to-day. Jau and thyself—
He there, thou here, my Jon, ye wander both
As utter strangers through this wealthy realm
Which will endure when both of ye at length
Are mouldering dust fast hidden in the grave,
And which is his as truly as 'tis thine.
JON RAND
I thank thee for the vesper-sermon, Karl!
Come, let us drink a cup of Spanish wine
Unto a merry pilgrimage, my friend.
At the way's end lour the abyss and night,
The way itself being of the strangest sort.
For if thy stride be firm, it seems to stretch,
Nay, seems not, but does so. But if thou walk
Hesitantly, the abyss is near thine eyes ...
And thou art hurled below a thousand times,
As often as thy trembling steps advance.
[Enter MALMSTEIN, the master of the hunt.
Good-morrow, Malmstein. Speak: How fares the "Prince"?
Awakened probably from his delusion
In the meanwhile. 'Tis this that I have feared
And hence I asked what excellent jest thou didst
Expect from feasting. Came he to his senses?
Did not the nimble air awaken him?
Fell he not from his horse into his ditch,
And in the puddle found himself again,
As oftentimes before?
KARL
Not so: he dreams!
MALMSTEIN
Bravely he bore himself. True, now and then
He tapped his fist against his forehead, thought,
Reflected, mused, and for a moment stopped.
But then with wild hallooing, doubly loud,
The hunt went on.
JON RAND
Where is he now?
MALMSTEIN
He sat in the bath, there snorting like a walrus,
Sang, groaned and giggled and talked unto himself,
And called himself Serenity again.
The chamber swam. The water penetrated
To the very door where all our maids and pages
Writhed in convulsions with suppressèd laughter,
Fearing betrayal of the jest.
[General laughter.
KARL
Musicians!
Excellent buglers! Heed the command I give!
A blast when that he enters! When he rises
Another blast, and one when he withdraws!
And, huntsmen, wait upon him courteously!
Who laughs shall taste the rod! Let it be clear
That he is prince to-day.
JON RAND
Prince let him be.
Solemnly I relinquish all my rights
Unto his station in this foolery!
[Referring to KARL.
MALMSTEIN
Thy pardon, lord—
JON RAND
Physician!
MALMSTEIN
Ah, thy pardon!
My lord physician, his Serenity Jau
Is hither on his way. And they have stuck
A field-flower in his diadem to be
A trophy of the hunt. And 'tis high time
That he be brought into society
For mannerliness. For, in all innocence,
He grins and squints already at the maids
As though they were fat quails, well-boiled and fresh,
And when the pages clad him in his robes,
Twice, thrice he called aloud after his spouse,
Desiring that, even before the feast,
The "princess" be brought to him.
KARL
Let him be!
Even now a princess is provided for.
He comes! Silence! Each man upon his post!
[JAU, garbed in princely fashion, enters with his train. He has on
the
pasteboard crown of the second scene adorned with a rabbit's tail. The
huntsmen
blow a blast. He starts for a moment.
JAU
[Stops and motions for silence.] 'Tis all right, all right! We don't
want all that there noise! Even if a man is a prince, he might have a lil'
quiet
now an' then!
KARL
Will your Serenity deign to take a seat?
JAU
What you want me to take? If there's anythin' to take, I'll take it all
right. Don't worry! How many of us is there?
KARL
The smaller company your Highness did
Command—nine without your high self.
JAU
Well, sit down then! Sit down an' fill your bellies! I don't mind
givin' it
to you. [He sits down and remains seated during the following.] Naw, hol'
on! Git up! All o' you! Git up again! All together! [To JON RAND, who
has
barely lifted himself.] Is your breeches glued to your chair, eh? The
steward
c'n sit next to me; the doctor c'n go over there. If he sets next to me he'll
tell me a pack o' lies about what my father dreamed or sich! Now hand me
somethin'! I wants to eat!
[KARL beckons to the huntsmen. The dishes are being carried in. The
meal begins with another blast of trumpets. With difficulty the courtiers
suppress their laughter.
KARL
[Rising.
Serenity! True companions of the chase!
A huntsman's hail I bring ye! Once again
We sit at this rich board, as oft before,
Which through the goodness of our noble prince
Is daily decked anew. But this one day—
Even though the radiance of a golden Fall
Throw a whole host of days incomparable
Into our lap—this day is of all days
The highest, this festivity above all
Our revels and our daily merry feasts.
And why? Ye know it, good companions all,
Whose faithful eyes with moisture are agleam,
Adown whose noses pearly tear-drops roll—
Your feeling shows your knowledge! Goodly
friends ...
JAU
[Interrupting.] Hol' on! Is all this here cooked in butter?
JON RAND
In freshest, purest butter, my good lord.
JAU
You got a lil' liver on your plate, eh? [He reaches over and picks up
the
morsel, transferring it to his own plate.] That was for me. You c'n go on
with
your speechification.
KARL
[Continuing.
After long years for the first time to-day—
Arisen from a long and heavy illness—
Our prince once more adorns this table round
Which, without him, was orphaned—ah, how much!
What is the morn without the morning-star?
What is the evening without Hesperus?
What is the crown without its diamond?
And what the day without God's goodly sun?
All that were we, in truth, without our prince,
His high Magnificence now seated here.
Ah, my dear friends, my voice trembles, my heart
Sobs with remembered woe, my very entrails
Melt at the memory of those heavy years
Wherein a direful bane of illness cast
Our lord so deeply into suffering,
In which this lofty and imperial prince,
Surrounded by the wealth of Solomon,
Blinded by some fell demon's power, did seem
Poor as a churchmouse suddenly to himself.
What was it, O sublime and noble lord,
That overcame you in those days when you
Became a changeling to the very soul?
For by the living God you spoke and thought
And acted like a man whose bed is chaff,
Like one fast wedded to a washerwoman
Who daily trounces him with fist and stick.
And you devoured rank meat, bread-crusts and cheese,
And drank skimmed milk, and sour fermented whey;
As bites delectable appeared to you
The chops of dogs and horses. Five great onions
I have beheld you eat (before mine eyes)
Raw as yourself had dug them from the earth.
JAU
[Roars out.] An' them's good! You got any? Hand 'em here! You slack
critters!
KARL
[Continuing.
And meanwhile rats and mice did multiply
In all your castles. Cold was every hearth.
The foxes in the cellars housed themselves,
The rabbits nested in the garden-beds,
An evil sickness raged among the cooks
And profound mourning reigned throughout the land.
Your Highness suffered, but your suffering was
Unconscious, at the least. But we meanwhile,
Beheld the horror with wide-open eyes.
Ah, how your spouse did wring her snowy hands!
Your favourite steed fell dead; your noble hounds
Howled through the night and died when morning came!
A hundred leeches, Turks and Saracens
And Greeks and Jews displayed their various arts
And pitifully failed. Ah, gracious lord,
Daily we lay about this table here
For two long years, swallowing our throttling grief
With venison and capon and wild boar,
With field-fares and with turkeys and with truffles—
And yet our mood, the more we did devour,
Grew still more desperate. Our lamentation,
The more we drank to deaden it, burst forth
More wildly and more piercingly at last.
And now, dear lord, you are well!
Once more your self is given back to us!
Sunlike you gleam once more upon your place;
In your warm beams do we thaw out again,
And breathe again and drink unto your weal,
And as my goblet thus I raise on high,
And set it to my lips and drink it down,
Forgotten is the anguish of the years.
May your Serenity live long! Live long!
[They all arise and clink glasses with JAU.
JAU
[Visibly moved.] Sit down, sit down, sit down! [They all resume
their
seats. JAU arises and in silent emotion embraces KARL who has
remained
standing.] Now you see! You see! It's all correct, all right! An'
now it's all
straightened out again! Aha! Yes! An' that's a fac'! There musta
been somethin'
wrong with me. Well, all right. Now we c'n have a good time.
Well, well, well,
well! I musta been sick. Doctor, I don't mind if you do come an' sit next to me
.
It ain't your fault that I was sick. Come ahead, come ahead! It's all right.
But
didn't you say about me awhile ago, that there wasn't nothin' but a
nightmare a-
ridin' me an' that I'd been a-huntin' yesterday?
JON RAND
Ah, your Magnificence, this was my thought:
To call up memories of happy days;
And thus I spake of that far hunt of yours,
The last of all, as though 'twere yesterday.
And though I lost your favour for the nonce,
Never shall I regret, most gracious lord,
That with this falsehood I awakened you.
JAU
[Slaps his knee.] Don't you say another word! That's all right now!
Don't you say nothin' more! We'll be friends now, doctor! there,
take a drink!
[He gives his goblet to JON RAND who drinks not without
revulsion.] Well
now, I'll tell you the truth—that's what I'll do. I
noticed it all right as
how I hadn't been a-huntin' in a long while. Only I
didn't want to let on; but I
knowed it all right. When I was sittin' on that there hoss I felt like I was
sittin' on mill-stones what was goin' aroun' an' aroun' an' aroun'. But watch
out! All that'll come back to me.
MALMSTEIN
Naught has been marked of that, Serenity!
And all companions of our hunt agree:
Wildly as ever did we ride to-day,
Through your incomparable horsemanship.
JAU
Well, mebbe so, mebbe so. Anyhow that'll all come out all right if you
gives it time. That's all.
JON RAND
And the great matter is, most noble lord,
That in the circle you be not ensnared
Of wild delusions which you have escaped.
I pray your Highness: keenly watch yourself,
And let the world of phantoms and of sick
Delusions die, as now, within your breast.
And if, by chance, the visions now and then
Ghastly and evil press upon you hard,
Then make your will to be like glowing steel
And sere the evil forth! For, without doubt,
Even as bubbles from a swampy ground
Arise and to the surface come and then
Bursting, ignite—even to the surface thus
Of your bright soul the will o' the wisps will rise
And show themselves and fill your heart with dread.
JAU
Stuff an' nonsense! Talk! Talk Talk! Give us a chance, mister! We ain't
in
no sich hurry! My boots is mine? Is that there any o' your business? Le's
have
music an' wine! Drink till your belly busts! An' if I gotta drink up all
my few
rags an' all my earnin's an' Moses an' the prophets, an' pour 'em all down my
gullet. ... Hol' on! Wha's that I said? No, no, no, no. Wha's all that again.
Slow there, ol' hoss, slow! I tell you what, doctor. This here don't suit me.
When I git to talkin' rot again, you just dig me in the ribs! You hear?
JON RAND
I'll take a bell and ring, my gracious lord
Whenever danger threatens to approach.
JAU
Here's to you, doctor! An' to you, steward! It's all right, all right!
That's a bad business about that there huntin', but I know all about it now.
That there beast hangin' there—I shot him. That's the one. A year an'
half
ago. Shot him through the heart. There he lay. There he lay dead as a pig. I
remember it like as if it was to-day. I had a king a-visitin' me just
then—a genuine king, an' he never couldn't hit nothin'. He could shoot
pretty well, but he never hit nothin'—naw! I hit the beast. Dead as a pig.
He didn't so much as give a groan.
[General laughter. JAU starts in surprise, then joins in the
laughter with such vehemence that the others fall silent.
KARL
Surely your Highness minds the day when far
We stalked the chamois in the Caucasus
And at the risk of your most precious life
Into its fastnesses a hind you followed—
With me, your faithful servant, after you.
Suddenly we stood solitary there
High above earth and cloud. With one loud bleat
And one huge leap the chamois measured thrice
The length of this great hall and thus was gone
Beyond our reach. What should we do? Go back?
My head spun round with me, my knees gave way,
One prayer of fear I muttered, two or three—
The while you calmly filled your little pipe
And said: "The devil take it!" Thus you spake:
"It blows up here and cools the heated blood.
Splendid the view although the beast is lost;
For well or ill we must even stagger home."
And with that you did seize me by the coat,
Turned me about, lifted me up, until,
By heaven I sat upon your princely back,
And bore me valleywards without ado,
Safe, sound, to the astonishment of all
Who had despaired of you and me alike.
JAU
Well, o' course, steward, who'd know more about that there than me. When
it
comes to sich things, I tell you, there ain't much nonsense about me. No!
Things
go flyin', you might say. Feel this arm o' mine here! It ain't made o'
curd, eh?
Nothin' soft, eh? Well, o' course not! An' feel my leg here! You could chop woo
d
on it. An' ain't it natural when you come to think? A man like me don't have
to
stint hisself! I got the money to buy things with. I c'n afford it! Limbs an'
bones like mine—you don' get 'em from cucumber soup. O' course I know all
about that. I'm a grand fellow, I am. That's 'cause I come o' good stock. I'll
go an' I'll pick up three hundred weight without so much as crookin' my lil'
finger! Le's have a drink! Here's to you, gentlemen! I tell you, that there
time—where the devil was it? I been travellin' too much; I can't remember
all them places. But I c'n tell you: there ain't no nonsense about me! When I
reely gits to feel like it, I c'n take two like you an' put 'em on my back.
You
want me to lift that there stand? Watch out then! Look at me! [He takes
hold
of an iron candelabrum of great weight, tries quite in vain to lift it, but
stands in conscious triumph as sallies of applause meet him from all
sides.]
Why, me—I dragged sacks o' wheat that time at the farmer's. I worked for
the farmer three weeks. Two sacks at once I used to carry from the top store
room right down into ...
[JON RAND rings the bell.
JAU
Hol' on! What was I sayin'? Aw, that just happened to come out! Keep
still,
there! All right, doctor. I know. Hol' your tongue. But I tell you people: I
feel comfortable here, reel comfortable, that I do! Ain't there nobody
here what
c'n sing somethin'? An' ain't there no women in this place? I'm mighty well wha
t
you might call disposed. I'm ready for all kinds o' fun, I am! Aw well, now
about that there huntin'. I could go an' tell all kinds o' stories. But o'
course, you gotta keep your eyes open. An' why? A roast cat may be all right;
but roast hare is better! Ain't that right? A roast hare with dumplin's on
Sunday, an' I ain't much concerned with parson or church. Only—you
mustn't
be caught at the poachin'—that's all. You lays your wires an' your
snares—an' once when I was walkin' in the country with Schluck ...
[JON RAND rings the bell.
JAU
Hol' on! I was goin' to say. ... Doctor, what in hell's the matter? This
has gotta stop! That's what I tell you! Once an' for all. I ain't agoin' to be
kept in this kind o' confisticated shudder o' fear all the time. It's enough
to
make a man sweat blood. What's the dam' use o' bein' a prince? I drink my
wine:
I like my vittles, I feel fine anyhow. But don't you go botherin' me.
'Cause if
you do, if you annoys me—then it's all over. You jus' keep on.
... Oh, you
jus' keep on, by Gawd! I'll let it go this here time. But if I go
an' get riled,
well. ... [On the gallery above he suddenly observes
SIDSELILL and DAME
ADELUZ. He stares up, forgets his rage and asks.] Who's that there?
KARL
If your Serenity will but regard!
Yonder is Princess Sidselill, your daughter,
She and her tiring-lady Adeluz.
Your wish to hear songs and stringed instruments
Was brought unto her by my messenger,
And so she now appears, the noble maid,
Obedient heartily, humbly prepared
With her sweet singing to delight us all.
JAU
[Continuing to stare upward.] Well, o' course, I know. Naturally. O'
course. Keep still. Hol' on, who was that girl?
KARL
'Tis Princess Sidselill, your Highness's daughter.
JAU
Aha! Hm! O' course, o' course! Funny! What was the name?
SIDSELILL
[Sings to the harp.
I touch the harp to music soft and sweet ...
JAU
What's she touchin'!
KARL
Hush, your Serenity, hush!
SIDSELILL
I touch the harp to music soft and sweet—
Its breathing scarce is heard.
JAU
Naw, you can't hardly hear it.
SIDSELILL
And my soul wanders through the deeps of space,
A solitary bird.
Unfriended must I go.
Ah, my belovèd's laughter hurts me so:
It is too sweet!
JAU
Sugar an' syrup!
SIDSELILL
How shall I live, wanting that all too sweet?
The day will come. For all the days are fleet.
JAU
You wants to sing a bit louder!
SIDSELILL
I know! I know!
I am alone.
The great clouds travel through the autumnal heaven,
And I myself am but a cloud—soon gone—
A little cloud of spring, soon gone ...
JAU
That's all right! That's all right! Ain't it? By Gawd, I'm cryin' same 's
if I'd been takin' snuff. Nice! Mighty nice! She knows her business! Ain't I
right? She could go an' earn pennies an' pennies in the booth with the
Bohemian
musicians. I liked that fine! What was she singin'? Somethin' about a
purty lil'
cloud? Eh, that's the way o' the world. I got a girl at home, lemme tell you,
she ain't so different from a cloud neither. An' that boy o' mine. He's a hell
of a fellow. He c'n drink more whiskey'n me. An' keep it up, too. You c'n
believe me. An' anyhow. ... Our family has always had heads on their
shoulders—that they have. Everyone of 'em. There ain't never been a one
but
has had a head on him. My boy has, too—a head that'd give you all some
light. [Speaking upward to SIDSELILL.] You hear, you bit o' lamb? Your
health! I c'n sing too! Your health! I c'n sing too. Mebbe you think I can't.
Mebbe you all think I can't sing? On account o' that bit o' goitre on my
throat?
Pshaw! Just listen to me! I bet there ain't nobody else in this here company
that c'n sing a song as fine an' as smooth as me! There never wasn't a
Jau yet
that didn't have the gift o' singin'!
"Oh, a poor man is what I am. ..." [An attendant bursts out
laughing.]
Well, I won't! I don't reely feel like it. But I c'n do it. We Jaus c'n all
sing. An' that's because we're ambitious. We're ambitious all ways, you see.
Ambition, you see, that's the main thing! An' industry! To be
stirrin' an' doin'
somethin'—that's it! Industry! Your health! An' if I hadn't been an
ambitious fellow—O Lordy! Well, I wouldn't be sittin'
here! I'm not afraid
o' no kind o' work, you see! Maybe you think I'm drunk,
eh? Oh, if my wife was
to see that! If she could see it—I'd be willin' to die to-morrow.
"Oh a poor man is what I am;
Little have I to eat.
My wife she has the breeches on. ..."
Aw, let's drink! Let's be drunk! It all comes to the same thing now! But the
kind o' fellows we are—well, we'll show them
rotten hayseeds, we will. An'
to-morrow we'll go down to the village! You, lil' cloud up there! Sing another!
"A farmer had three daughters. ..." Your health! But if onst I was to git
to singin' reely, you'd all prick up your ears. I'd like to see who c'n do it
better:
"O Rosie, if you were but mine,
Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes."
[He sings seriously and with true feeling.
"Before I go unto my rest,
I'd seek the dear that I love best;
Oh, though she's safe with wall and lock,
She'd open to my gentle knock."
[JON RAND rings.
KARL
Your spouse, her Highness, begs for a word with you.
JAU
[Quite taken aback.] How? What? What's all this here? For Gawd's
sake,
where am I? For the sake o' all things, hurry an' tell me. Who's comin'
there?
Here, steward, you tell me! I'm dreamin', mebbe! How? What? Is she a
shrew, the
princess? I been dreamin' of a shrew. ...
KARL
A shrew? Our dear and gracious princess here?
Oh, none is milder, none is lovelier, sire,
Than our sweet mistress—best of all her kind.
JAU
All right. Agreed. Let her come an' enter! I got a bit mixed up, doctor!
Mebbe so! Kind o' mixed an' fixed an' hazy an' dazy. But now I'm planted on my
two legs again. So!
KARL
One word, your Highness. But one grave word more:
I beg of you, beg of you on my knees,
Be strong, be wary, steadfast at this hour,
And drive your will, as though it were a spade
Clean through the root of your delusive ill,
And recognise your lady. Thrust her not
Away from you: grow well at last in this,
Your weakest point. Receive our princess straight
As what she was, of old, to you and us,
A woman, not a man and call her by
That worthy name which is her due and not
By muttered names which madness forced on you.
[He admits SCHLUCK.
JAU
Aw, that's all dam' nonsense! You're all goin' crazy more like. A woman's
a
woman an' a man's a man. I've known all about that all my life.
[SCHLUCK enters, attired like a princess and escorted by ADELUZ.
The huntsmen blow a blast. SCHLUCK curtsies thrice very profoundly.
JAU
has arisen involuntarily and, with head thrown back, observes SCHLUCK
sharply. SCHLUCK remains standing at some distance from JAU as the
music falls silent. JAU looks about helplessly for a moment, then forms a
desperate resolve, stretches out his arms, approaches SCHLUCK and embraces
him.
JAU
Well, ol' woman, we'll make up again, eh?
[SCHLUCK embraces JAU with an exaggeration of tenderness and
squeaks endearments in a falsetto voice.
JAU
[Suddenly takes fright, starts back and cries.] Schluck!
KARL
For the sake of heaven, your Magnificence,
Come to your senses! Do not speak that name!
[SCHLUCK curtsies to all sides and turns himself about with a
dance-like
motion.
JAU
[Looks at him for a while in astonishment, grasps his head and calls out
abruptly and vehemently.] Schluck!
SCHLUCK
[In his falsetto.] I'm your wife, my sweet prince, that's what I
am—a nice, soft lil' wifie an' no Schluck, no Schluck at all. I'm a woman
an' no man at all. [Dropping his part suddenly.] You see I got fine
clothes
on. You see, if you want me to be quite honest, I'll tell you the
truth: I'm a
reg'lar woman, so help me! Oh, no, go on! You c'n believe me!
[Affectedly, as
though repulsing unseemly liberties.] No, no, no, no! That ain't proper you
know. Oh no! An' when I say that's enough, I mean it! I'm that ashamed before
so
many fine gentlemen—I'm that ashamed, I don't know what to do.
[Forgetting his part again and addressing KARL.] If I had a fan you see,
just a fan, I could do all this a bit more artistic. But it'll do, it'll do,
it'll do thisaway. I know a purty song, a mighty purty song.
"O husband mine, O husband mine!
She was so good and was so fine.
But when the husband home came he,
There stood the horses, one, two, three.
'And tell me now, my wife most dear,
What are these horses doing here?' "
[He imitates the crying of an infant and acts frightened.] O Lordy, the
baby's cryin'! Hush! Hush! Hush! Keep still, will you! [He pretends to be
spanking a child, imitates the child's supposed weeping and speaks.] Will
you
keep still, you brat? I axes you, will you keep still? [Forgetting his part
again.] You see, I c'n imitate that fine. I learned that from a travellin'
apprentice onct. It'd deceive anybody. It's as reel as reel.
" 'What are these horses doing here?'
'They're cows my mother sent to me!'
'O cows with saddles at my door!
A cuckold I, like many more!' "
JAU
You just go right ahead. By Gawd, that's a devil of a woman. Her vittles
musta gone to her head!
SCHLUCK
[Frightened.] No, you see, that's the way you gotta do it if you want
to be natural like. I onct saw a company o' strollin' players do it.
"And when up on the stairs came he
He saw the mantles, one, two, three.
'And tell me now, my wife most dear,
What are these mantles doing here?'
'They're cloths my mother sent to me!'
'O cloths with pockets at my door!
A cuckold I, like many more.' "
[He jumps up to embrace JAU.] Give me a buss! I gotta go to my child!
JAU
[Repulses him, now thoroughly frightened.] Git outa my way, you
devil,
you! Out with that critter! Out with her! Or I'll run away! I never was no
better in my life! An' if that's my wife, then it's her as has made me sick.
Hitch up the horses! I'm goin'! You c'n all come along! There ain't no use in
that! You c'n go an' stick a pole in the dirt, an' hang an ol' fustian
petticoat
over it an' clap an' ol' night-cap with ribands on top of it—you
c'n do all
that, but it won't be no woman! Y' understan' me?
[Exit swiftly with attendants.
SCHLUCK
[After the wild laughter of those who remained behind has
fallen silent,
speaks to KARL and ADELUZ. He is pale and hesitant.] Did I do it
right, my dear sir? I just did the very best I could, sir, just
the very best.
But I stepped on a thorn—that I did. You c'n see for
yourself, m'lady, that
you can. An', please to remember, too, that I always did have a few days for
practicin' my part, you see.
THE COURTYARD OF THE CASTLE
The castle-yard with the old nut trees. From the great
doorway of the castle
come, laughing and chatting, JON RAND, KARL and others.
JON RAND
The jest succeeded passably, my friend.
KARL
The other day I shot an owl, a fellow
Of thirteen pounds. My excellent dog came swift
And grasped the mighty creature in its fangs.
Scarcely restraining his deep pride and joy,
He dutifully bore the prey to me.
Alas, the slain owl trailed along the ground
Its dead and broken wing, and in the midst
Of his delight the hound upon it stepped,
And ever lost the bird from out his grasp.
Not otherwise bears Jau his majesty!
And if the jest lasts longer he will break
His bones and eke his neck.
JON RAND
But listen, Karl!
I wondered greatly that he did not waken
When that he saw his queen in shape of Schluck.
He sleeps and wakes. 'Tis true and very strange.
A dangerous waking to a dangerous sleep!
Once only he said "Schluck!"
KARL
Nay twice, my Jon.
JON RAND
So be it. Yet 'twas but one luminous
Moment. Schluck, on the other hand
Knew not his friend and brother in the least.
He was so utterly the queen herself,
And was fulfilled so of his mission high,
That he, in truth, did neither see nor hear
And unsuspiciously against his will
Helped utterly to blind his other self,
Heart of his heart and dear Pylades, Jau.
And my one fear is lest the latter, seeing
His dream dispersed, loose utterly his mind.
KARL
Not so! Take but the 'broidered cloak from him
And easily he'll slip into the rags
Which, neatly tied into a bundle, lie
Safe in the warder's keeping. Dress is dress.
A little shabbier is his own indeed,
But made for him and snug upon his limbs.
And since 'tis of the same material wrought
As dreams—his equally with ours—and since
We to the things that round about us are,
Stand closer not than unto dreams, and thus
Not nearer than the utter stranger Jau—
'Tis clear that from our heaven of mortal things
He'll save scarce less into his lowly realm
Than we ourselves. How? What? Are we much more
Than naked sparrows? More than this poor Jau?
Scarcely I think! For what we really are
Is little more than what he really is:
Our highest happiness is soap-bubbles.
We blow them with the breath of our very hearts,
Love them, aspire to them far in the blue,
Until they burst. Behold, he does the same.
He will be free, hereafter as before,
To practice these eternal, constant arts.
JON RAND
Well said, in truth. Then are these soap-bubbles
Worth something and he well provided for
Even though I spare the ducats, Karl, which I
Had destined for him.
[The noise of laughter is heard in the castle.
Listen! What is that?
KARL
'Tis the new queen holds her procession, Jon,
With all the maids and women of the castle.
Dame Adeluz has put away her grief,
And has adorned herself with wreaths of asters,
As for a wedding-feast.
JON RAND
Ah, Dame Adeluz!
Smells she not rosemary? Wears mourning weeds?
Grieving her second husband's death?
KARL
Quite wrong!
She has put on a riband gay and bright
And carries the queen's train.
JON RAND
If she put forth
Autumnal blossoms, let her beware the frost!
May God grant her a clement winter.—Ho!
What dost thou there, Fool?
THE FOOL
I am twisting hemp!
JON RAND
Wherefore? Wouldst thou be a rope-maker?
THE FOOL
Nay,
A hangman, my good lord.
JON RAND
Whom wouldst thou hang?
THE FOOL
Myself. The times are robbing me of bread;
And carnival has burst forth round about,
And your own folly has o'ertaken mine.
I am become a wise man and must hang.
JON RAND
Oh, let that madness be set yet more free!
Bring tables, benches and the new-made wine!
Oh, whirl your limbs and dance! 'Tis well to dance
Upon that golden fleece of fallen leaves
Which our old nut-tree gently lays on earth.
Dance me a dance! Bring hither the new wine!
Autumnal fruits bring hither and let all
Rifle the platters high. And take the gay
Strands of the vine and wreathe your temples round
Let the delight be bacchic! Soon it dies!
Winter, the ermine-garbed grave-digger old
Stands ready at the door, a cere-cloth white
In his cold hands. And welcome let him be
When these last summer echoes die away.
Yea, for I yearn after his garment white.
Oh, in this sea of merriment, my heart
Longs for the shore of winter's boundless rest.
[Tables and benches are placed about; wine and platters of fruit are
brought. From the castle comes a procession of fair women led by SCHLUCK
who
is still disguised as a princess. DAME ADELUZ, gaily adorned with
ribands,
carries his train. A comely lad beats upon the drum; another plays
the pipe. In
the procession is SIDSELILL.
KARL
Delights it not the heart to see a queen?
JON RAND
Does she not bear hope of posterity?
KARL
Then it behooves to summon god-parents.
SCHLUCK
Hol' on! Go it a bit easy! Just a little bit easy, if you
please! Or you'll
be tearin' this lovely dress.
DAME ADELUZ
O excellent majesty, what is't you say?
The garment that you wear is yours, and this
I wear no less. And I myself, O queen,
Am your possession as are all these here
Who stand in readiness to serve your need.
Happy the silk-worms who have spun the dress
That has the grace your bosom to enfold!
Happy the tree that fed the busy worms!
Thrice happy web that, at your need, is torn.
JON RAND
Prettily said, with admirable taste.
KARL
Thou'dst find her even more unto thy taste,
If thou but sawest the little shift she wears
Which she herself embroidered and adorned,
And many other things that she has on.
SCHLUCK
Oh, m'lady! I know very well you're playin' at theayter, m'lady. But if
you'll have the kindness. ...
[The girls surround him and thrust their hands into his face.
FIRST GIRL
Will you take a whiff of perfume?
SECOND GIRL
Or of wild thyme?
THIRD GIRL
Or of mignonette and wall-flower?
FOURTH GIRL
Or of the vanilla bean?
FIFTH GIRL
Onion, perhaps?
FIRST GIRL
Or musk?
SECOND GIRL
Or garlic?
SCHLUCK
What you mean? What kind o' beans? Oh, m'ladies! No! No! If you please!
You're havin' a reel amusin' time, m'ladies. But if you'll
just go a leetle bit
more easy. You see, I got a pimple on my nose like, an'
everytime, you see, you
hit it, it just hurts me a bit, m'ladies.
DAME ADELUZ
Be not quite so unmannerly, young folk!
Press not so hard upon our lovely queen.
SCHLUCK
I likes to join in your game, that I do. An' it's awful nice an' purty.
Only just go a bit easy, just a leetle more easy, if you please.
[DAME ADELUZ intentionally steps on his train.
SCHLUCK
Oh da—! Eh! Now you see, you see for yourself!
DAME ADELUZ
Ah, for the sake of heaven, sweet majesty.
SCHLUCK
Now you tore the train, m'lady. You see, that's just what I been sayin'.
'Tain't no fault o' mine an' the dress is gone. There ain't no use mendin' or
darnin' it, m'lady. You see, I know, 'cause I learned the tailorin' trade for
three years, m'lady, yes, for three years.
THE GIRLS
The dance! The dance!
[THE GIRLS form a circle and dance about SCHLUCK. SIDSELILL,
who
is dancing with them, suddenly utters a loud and not entirely harmonious
cry in
her delight.
JON RAND
Who was that, Karl?
KARL
Oh, it was Sidselill.
JON RAND
Nay!
KARL
Ay, it was in truth!
JON RAND
It was not she.
It was the screaming of a kitchen-maid,
And not the sweet voice of my turtle-dove.
KARL
Regard these women, how they reel and sway
Hot and dishevelled in the rounds of dance.
They pant, they laugh; mænad-like flash their feet
And whirl their unbound tresses and their lips
Are famished. Half-unconsciously they turn!
Yet all too conscious of herself is each,
Hastening irresistibly from herself.
Mysterious all. For though it were not Schluck
They danced about, but any stock or stone,
Or hewn or carvèd into any shape—
Yet here were still their native element:
Here they are their true selves and here they live
Their life which else is but a living death.
Grudge not the child the moment fleet and rare
Wherein she can forget herself and thee,
Wherein she is grasped, though in this cage of life,
By memories of wild freedom and delight
On plains illimitable, and her joy
Breaks forth like unto crying of wild birds.
THE GIRLS
[Sing.
Dance the roundelay, the last,
For to-morrow we must fast,
And arise in the cold dawn
And to holy church be gone.
[SIDSELILL after her brief laughter has withdrawn shamefacedly from
the dance. JON RAND receives her with open arms.
JON RAND
Does all this please thee? So it seems, in truth!
Else did thy cheeks not bear that delicate glow.
[To KARL.
Behold, of her free will she comes to me.
KARL
And why does she come back? Ah, I will tell thee!
If a wheel creaks or a worker in the fields
Whets loud his sickle and by chance the sound
Comes to thine ear—thou art vexed nigh to death;
A misery is painted in thy face
So full of torment that each human soul
Hastes to thy help; and even so this child.
Am I not right, dear Princess Sidselill?
Not like a gleam of sunlight is thy glance:
It sinks into the blood as sourness sinks
Into sweet milk, fermenting it at once.
Take heed: For one who on such rigid limbs
The boredom of his noble self exhibits,
How easily may swift usurpers snatch
From him the highest station in the state.
[He penetrates the rows of dancing maidens
and bows profoundly before SCHLUCK.
Most gracious queen, loveliest of womankind!
O angel in thy clouds of golden hair!
Oh, condescend unto thine humble knight
Who, drunken with thy loveliness does pray
For favour of a dance.
SCHLUCK
Oh, my dear sir, I'm so glad, that I am, to be talkin' to you again, my
dear sir. You see, sir, I'm tryin' all I can to carry this thing off right. On
my honour an' conscience, I am, sir. An' I know that you gotta just be, if
you want to act. But you see, I got a wife at home. ... If I could just run
over
there for a minit, sir! I'd just like to run over for a little minit, sir,
an'
let her know.
KARL
What? Are my looks awry? Mine ears untuned?
And didst thou truly utter what I heard?
And does this rattle of icy words that lashes
Me as with thongs, proceed from thee? Is it thou
Who slakes my thirst but with the molten lead,
Which still corrodes me with its inward fire?
O queen most exquisite and worthy of love. ...
SCHLUCK
What's that you're sayin', sir? Hot lead, sir? Just listen to me one
leetle
minit, if you please, sir. You're just jokin', I know. I understand that all
right. I been so much with fine people, that I have. I ain't doin'
this here
for the first time. But you see, sir, my wife is kinda easy vexed,
that she is,
sir, an' I'd run as fast as I could an' git right back here again. But she's
kinda easy vexed, sir, an' I'd like to let her know.
KARL
From all thy words, O queen, there issues forth,
As sombre as the beating of death's bell,
Ever and ever the one word—disfavour!
[He kneels before her with elaborate humility.
How, in the name of God, have I deserved it?
Were not, in tournaments, thy colours mine?
Blunted I not for thee three-hundred spears?
Didst thou not pour, late on a moonlit night,
Grateful for a lovesong I sang to thee
From thy high window an earthen vessel filled
With turbid water? And did I not hack
My finger off for thee? Here is the stump!
Fared I not to Jerusalem because
Thy high command did send me, noble lady?
Help me beseech, dear maidens, help me swift
Soften the lady's adamantine heart.
[He and all the members of the dance kneel.
SCHLUCK
No, it's a fine joke, that it is sir, I admit. But if you'll
do me just one
leetle favour you'll be gittin' right up, sir. Oh, no, no, when you come to
think out all this, reely think of it. ... No, if you'll just do me the one
favour, sir, an' git up. You see, sir, if you want me to be quite honest, I
don't hardly know what to do. [Half tearfully.] It's reel vexatious like,
sir. I'd like it reel well, sir—I'd like it reel well, ladies, if you'd
just be so kind an' just let me know how ... because you see [he weeps] I
don't hardly know what to do or how to behave. [The girls crowd around him
and
kiss him.] Oh, no, no! You're awful kind to me, that you are! But it's a
good
thing my wife wasn't here. Because, you see, women is kinda easy vexed, that
they are. An' then, before you know it, you get a thwack with the poker.
JON RAND
[As SIDSELILL kisses him.
Thou too? Behold, behold? Who shaketh down
So many fruits from the sweet tree of love?
What dost thou bring to pass, excellent Schluck?
If thou art in sweet magic skilled, my man,
I'll make thee chancellor in my realms of love.
KARL
Think not these kisses warm are meant for him.
Each maiden does her secret idol kiss
That's treasured in the chambers of her heart.
JON RAND
It may be so and yet it warms his skin!
Aha! What hast thou there? Show me, my child!
DAME ADELUZ
[Exhausted, in passing.
'Twas Schluck that cut it for her, Lord—
Her silhouette! Now she does nothing else
But turn the little leaf from side to side
Rejoicing in her image which it shows.
JON RAND
If I were thou, I'd do the self-same thing
And love myself and no one else at all.
[He holds the silhouette and admires it.
Be moderate, not all too gay, my Karl.
Schluck wept and grew affrighted suddenly.
For, from this madness that surrounds him here—
Although he scents amidst it all, methinks,
A serious profit for him in the end,—
He wished himself a thousand miles away
A moment since; I saw it in his face.
KARL
Oh, let him steer his way a little while
In this delightful sea of girlish bodies.
Trust me: He will regain his strength straightway!
Ah, Adeluz, where is thy widow's veil?
The queen gives me the mitten! Let it grasp
Thee as my soft, sweet, ripe and juicy fruit.
SCHLUCK
Oh, no, no, an' by no means, I didn't give you no mittens, sir. But
things
was goin' so fast that I didn't rightly understand, sir, what you was meanin'
exackly. You see, sir, when it comes to ticklish matters, as is the way o'
speakin', I know all about them, too, you c'n believe me, sir. In the pubs you
see, sir, they axes for all kinds o' things. Now I understand, I see very
well,
sir, what you been drivin' at. You see, sir, when it comes to things
that's just
a bit, just kinda—you know what I mean—I'm well up in
them, too. Only
you gotta be very careful with that kind, 'cause you don't never know exackly
how ...!
DAME ADELUZ
[In KARL's arms.
All that thou sayest, queen, is purest gold,
And in the crystal river of thy speech
Float only orient pearls.
SCHLUCK
Would you like me to cut you out one or two very naughty silhouwettes?
DAME ADELUZ
A game of forfeits let us play, my lords.
KARL
And woe to thee, sweet lady, if thou lose!
For if thou dost, by heaven, I'll claim the forfeit
Although it be at night and in thy chamber.
DAME ADELUZ
If it were not for my stout lock, Sir Karl!
KARL
I have a pick-lock in my pocket safe.
A GIRL
Let's play "hunt the slipper"!
SCHLUCK
You see, m'lady, I don't care what we play. Only, I'd be so pleased if I
might just take off these here skirts. You see, I c'n hardly play thisa way.
I'm
just like a bag.
[He hastens out.
ANOTHER GIRL
Oh, let's guess riddles!
A THIRD GIRL
No! Blind Man's Buff!
KARL
Ay, let us play that game! Come, bind my eyes!
I, an old huntsman, soon to be death's prey,
With fevered heat upon the trail of bliss,
Was never more than the blind fool of fate!
Bind fast, sweet linnet!
[MALMSTEIN enters.
MALMSTEIN
O my gracious lord!
JON RAND
Welcome here, Malmstein! Swiftly give us news!
How stalks the clumsy bruin in his cage?
MALMSTEIN
Dangerously does his courage rise, my lord!
I am not equal to it! Through the halls
He runs and rages, cursing mightily
Both thee and Karl, and me and everyone.
And now and then infernal ire o'ertakes him.
Then will he spit on damask draperies,
Rip them asunder with a hunting-knife
'Which, more's the pity, at his girdle hangs,
Tear the upholstery, crash with his feet
The very precious chairs of ebony,
Not otherwise than wildest tyrants use.
[A SERVING-MAN hastens by with a pitcher and runs into JON RAND.
JON RAND
Fellow, what means this? Look unto thy steps!
SERVING-MAN
Out of my way! I am in greatest haste!
JON RAND
How, scoundrel? What is it thou saidst to me?
SERVING-MAN
A very proper answer at this time.
KARL
Knowest thou to whom thou speakest?
SERVING-MAN
'Tis all one!
It is my lord who sends me—that is all!
Out of my way! I am on duty bound. [Exit.
JON RAND
It is "my lord" who sends him! There we are!
KARL
A pretty kettle o' fish!
JON RAND
'Tis well! Right well!
I am dethroned. A Merry Andrew rules.
His rule will prosper. Very soon, instead
Of a base harlequin's wooden flail, he'll flourish
The bloody knout! Karl, it is highest time
That we protect our backs! Thinkest thou not so?
If thou wilt not play Providence again
And from our sheepfold conjure me this wolf,
He'll press us to the wall so cruelly
That we'll recall this jest through all our days.
JAU
[Still invisible.] Doctor! Steward! Ye dam' critturs, what's become
o'
ye?
MALMSTEIN
Whether henceforth without a nose-ring we
Can dare to let the fellow go, remains
To be considered. Yonder oaf did run
So swiftly on his way for a good cause,
A weighty cause, as I can witness bear.
Jau hurled a glass of Tokay 'gainst the wall
And yelled for whiskey. Yonder knave approached,
And when with smiling courtesy he declared,
That whiskey in our cellar was not stored,—
Hi! Thwackings of the rod flew right and left,
So that the serving-man in deadly haste,
Well comprehending his Serenity's wish,
Taking a pitcher, took unto his heels
Toward a pot-house. Treated brutally,
His cowardly vexation here broke forth,
And lily-livered rage.
JAU
[Appears.] Doctor! You ol' tick! Where are ye? I want a bit o'
powder.
I feel rotten! That there woman made me feel rotten.
KARL
"To serve a lord's to serve a fool!" Bend backs!
"To serve a fool's to serve a lord!" All's one!
Often I've bowed in reverence enforced
To draper's, tailor's, cobbler's, hatter's ware,
And truly it was costlier than to-day.
JAU
[Stumbles on the threshold, laughs, turns, sees the threshold and then
laughs again. HADIT follows him.] Hop! Wha's that? What was that? Don't
let that there happen again! Lil' man, look at that there step! A fiddler lies
buried there! Mebbe you don't believe me!
KARL
My lord, the joy o'er your recovery
Is without bounds. From all directions fly
The messengers. Like to a conflagration
The news roars through the land. The bells proclaim it
From the high towers. And as the air in Summer
Over the heated mould mounts quivering
So throbs it now with prayers of gratitude.
The people rejoice: their songs of praise resound!
And all your capital streams hither as though
Bound upon pilgrimage! Forgive us, then,
If in your very castle on this day
The mad delight threatens to overflow.
JAU
An' ain't you noticed yet that I've come in here? Will I have to beat
your
backs crooked, eh? Well, how long are ye goin' to wait? Wha's that? On your
bellies you gotta lie—creepin'! That's the way! Creepin'! [He beckons
to JON RAND to kiss his heel.] Well, how about it? Will you or won't you?
JON RAND
'Tis not the custom of this land, your Highness!
Even the king who is our lord supreme
Demands no abject kissing of his heel.
JAU
[Regards JON and utters a brief, harsh laugh.] Ratsbane an'
porridge! What did he say? What kinda talk did he undertake to talk? How?
Wha'?
Did he say anythin'? You c'n say "King" till you're blue in the face an' it
ain't no more'n if you'd say any ol' thing! The king c'n lick my
boots.—I'm
the king an' there ain't no other! When I wants a thing, it's
gotta be done an'
no whinin'! When my belly grunts you all gotta come runnin'
as if the house was
on fire! If I sneeze you gotta wet your breeches out of
fright! If I belch all
the bell ringers in the villages has to pull the bells
till they're outa breath
exackly as if twenty bishops had been prayin' for
three hours!—Wine! Beer!
I wanta mix my drinks! Run, run, dam' you, or I'll learn you to! Runnin' an'
hoppin' is what ye'll have to do! Cheese! If I
says cheese, the whole house has
to stink with it! Understan'? [Scarcely suppressed laughter shakes the
company.] Wha'? Are ye movin' your lips? Are ye wagglin' your ears? I'll stam
p
you to mud! I'll twist your throats like pigeons! I'll have ye drowned like a
litter o' kittens! By Gawd! I'm ongracious! That's the word! Dam'
ongracious!—Boy, hurry here an' wipe my nose. Hurry an' do it right or
I'll
come after you! King! What's the king aroun' here, eh? He c'n black my boots,
that's what! I'll give him three pennies for't! There's more power in my lil'
toe'n in the whole dam' king! With that there goitre here on my neck I c'n do
more in a measly three weeks 'n the king in three years. I c'n let it grow an'
the moon'll grow, an' I let it git smaller an' the moon'll git smaller in the
sky! That's what I c'n do—like nothin'! C'n the king change the weather?
Well, I c'n do it! I says: snow! an' it snows! Rain! an' it rains! I tell the
sun to rise an' it rises: I tell the hail to strike the wheat an' the hail
goes
an' strikes it. King! My ol' boot is a king, too! Here, doctor, you tell
me on
your conscience—I been turnin' it all over in my head—how did
I git to
marry that there wench?
JON RAND
A wench, most noble lord? I scarcely know. ...
JAU
Doctor, that there wench has got to be made away with! Go an' gather the
bit o' sense you have an' brew me a little drink like. Afterward you c'n eat
outa golden spoons s'long 's you live. I'll see to that, all right. I don't
git
nothin' outa all my money. All over the country they're havin' a good time; you
people here waste my money an' fill your bellies an' I pays! What's the good
of
it all to me, eh? First of all I gotta git rid o' this wench. I won't tell no
tales. A lil' drink like, doctor, an' that'll be all right!
JON RAND
Naught easier, lord, than that! Let me take care!
But how if later you should rue the deed,
And at my hands demand your spouse's life
Which no one can return to you again.
JAU
Doctor, feel your head! No one ain't thinkin' o' that! It most stops a
man's breath here. [He observes DAME ADELUZ, and approaches her at
once.] Madam wife, you're purty! You're purty, Madam wife!
DAME ADELUZ
Does your Serenity deign to notice me?
Ah, then permit me in humility,
As your most patient and submissive hand-maid
Soft to caress your dear, paternal hand
And kiss your fingers. May I not?
[She surreptitiously takes the hunting-knife from his belt and hands
it, behind her back, to KARL who hides it.
JAU
[Archly flirtatious.] Madam wife! Madam wife, I'm mighty well
affectionated! You c'n be sure o' that, Madam wife! You got my favour, all
right. You c'n give me a kiss! My favour is right here. An' I don't care if
you
go an' give me a kiss on the mouth, or twenty or thirty or forty or fifty. My
favour'll be pleased. From head to foot, as many as you please. [To JON
RAND.] Turn the corner, doctor, an' be quick about it.—Here, come over
here, Madam wife, an' take my arm. We'll be so gracious, that we will, an'
take
a walk through the yard. You're purty, Madam wife, we'll git married. You got
your mouth fulla teeth. An' the rest, too. ... A man c'n see what he's
gittin'.
A man c'n have the graciousness. D'you like sausage?
DAME ADELUZ
Your Highness, what great honour and delight!
JAU
D'you like meat? An' sausage-soup? An' d'you like fresh liver-sausage? I
axes you.
DAME ADELUZ
My gracious lord, I know it is not seemly
That widows young or comely maids and women
Chatter of food before a handsome man.
But though you scold me, on my honour, sire,
I'd give my life for liver-sausage straight.
And when I think of roasts, then does the water
Run in my mouth! But sausage-soup, indeed,
Passes the highest point of human bliss.
JAU
Doctor, git outa here! Steward, git out! It's beginnin' to grow light
inside o' me again! A well man c'n see a spook sometimes. Madam wife, we
belong
together. We got the same tastes. Let the butcher come an' stick a pig this
minit. Stick the hog an' git the bristles off in a hurry so's we c'n eat sausag
e
soup!
KARL
Do you desire the whole hog on the spit?
JAU
I don't give a dam'! Crisp is what it has to be, eh, Madam wife? That's
the
main thing, ain't it? Very crisp. A hog has gotta be crisp, or I don't want
none
of it. Will you drink somethin', Madam wife? A drop o' whiskey or so?
DAME ADELUZ
I am addicted unto temperance In drinking, sire. Yet of champagne, if
possible,
A little glass or two delights me much.
JAU
Champagne here, steward! You see, Madam wife, I don't has to do
more'n wave
my hand. Now there's some sense in havin' all this here! Madam wife, you c'n
stuff all you want to—sausage an' ham, pretzels an' apples an' nuts an'
roast veal an' cake an' everythin' together. That's the way I like you, Madam
wife!
DAME ADELUZ
Sparrows, my lord, to me are hearty eaters!
Men say that I am nourished by the air
And by the adoration of my prince.
JAU
Purty is what you are, Madam wife! Appetisin' is what you are.
DAME ADELUZ
My lord, my husband died but recently ...
JAU
That don't matter! That's all right! We'll let him have his rest, Madam
wife! He got through with his troubles. Let him lie! Let him lie! He had his
share! The dead ain't goin' to come back an' we all has to die! Don't you go
cryin', little miss, 'cause your husband he's in his grave. He ain't goin' to
come back no more. The dead is dead, as the sayin' is. Now look at me! I'm
somethin' of a man! I'm a prince. I got money like dung! That there man's dead
an' I'm alive. I'm alive an' my pockets is fulla ducats. I'm rich, Madam wife.
Everythin' in the world is mine, Madam wife—the trees an' the houses an'
everythin' together—the wheat an' the beets, the potatoes, the cows,
chickens, goats, sparrows, mice, frogs, pigeons, geese, the tiles on the roofs
an' the bugs an' feathers in the beds an' every dam' thing! Don't you believe
me? Mebbe you're ticklish, Madam wife?
DAME ADELUZ
I'm ticklish in the point of honour, sir!
JAU
Honour? Point? Ticklish? What I want has gotta be done an' there ain't no
use talkin'! D'you want me to go on for hours like an ol' male-pigeon sittin'
on
a water-pipe? Or like an ol' goat! I'm a handsome man, an' I'm a clean
man—clean all over! An' when I have the affectionateness, Madam wife,
then
I have it; then I take the liberty; then I give my favour! What's all this here
?
You don't know how to hold yourselves! You don't know how to behave! That's
it!
[He sees SCHLUCK who, dressed in his everyday clothes, presses timidly
against the wall.] What kind of a man is that standin' there?
DAME ADELUZ
Where, gracious lord?
JON RAND
Where does your Highness look?
JAU
That there man ... that there woman ... that there man standin' there!
JON RAND
Your Highness' pardon, but you are gazing still
But at an empty spot upon the wall.
JAU
Doctor, you're drunk, ain't you?
SCHLUCK
[Timidly to KARL.] If you please, don't take it amiss, sir. ...
KARL
Beggarly wretch, how didst thou come in here?
SCHLUCK
If you'll just forgive me, my dear sir. I see you don't need me no more.
KARL
And did I ever need thee, thou poor wight?
Except, perchance, to fill a prison with!
'Tis possible! There was no other need.
SCHLUCK
I'm Schluck, if you want me to be quite honest, sir. Mebbe you don't
remember me at all no more, sir?
JAU
Doctor, what kinda man is that the steward is talkin' to?
JON RAND
What man, my lord? I see no man at all!
JAU
Doctor! Yonder ... doctor! That one ... there! Doctor! There's a man
standin'! Help, doctor! I'm dreamin'! Doctor! Mother! There's a man ...
Schluck!
SCHLUCK
Don't take it amiss, my dear sir. ...
KARL
He smells a rat and follows on the scent.
SCHLUCK
Oh, m'lady; my dear lady! My dear sir!
[Trembling and wide-eyed with rage and fear JAU goes toward
SCHLUCK.
KARL
Run, thou poor starveling, now—run swiftly away!
SCHLUCK
I beg o' you, m'lady, put in a good word for me, will you, m'lady? You see
,
I didn't mean to do none o' this o' my own will.
[He flees and JAU follows him with sombre determination.
JAU
If I git you, it'll be all over with you!
SCHLUCK
[Fleeing and hiding behind one person after another.] Good-bye,
m'lady!
Thank you for all your goodness to me, m'lady! An' if you'll just have
the great
kindness, my dear sir—I left a bag full of ol' things lyin' in the
servants' room—clothes an' some very rare things, too, some
mighty artistic
things like! Mebbe you could go an' pick out some o' them. I'd
let you have 'em
cheap. The rest, you see, you c'n send after me. I'll be sittin' in the pub
acrost the way.
[The SERVING-MAN whom JAU sent for whiskey comes in and, as
he opens the door, SCHLUCK slips out.
JAU
I'll kill you! I'll stick a knife into you, you nightmare!
[During the pursuit excitement awakens in the attendants. They
laugh
and take part in it. The girls have barred JAU's way and protected and
hidden SCHLUCK. His escape is greeted by universal laughter. The girls then
form a circle about JAU who stands still, with closed eyes, rubbing his
forehead in dumb consternation. The girls sing.
JON RAND
Give him a sleeping-draught! Make an end, my friends!
That man or beast, interpreting his dreams,
Who loses the key unto his world of dreams,
Stands naked in the frosty depths of space
At his familiar door in utter pain.
KARL
Come, put an end to it, Dame Adeluz.
DAME ADELUZ
[Making her way through the rows with a beaker in her hand.
Ah, drink, dear lord, the wine that you commanded,
The leech's drink incomparably healing!
Drink and recover! Drink unto your health.
JAU
[Drinks. Slowly he sinks down and, half-asleep, supported by the
girls,
mutters.
A flower! A blue flower! Caraway cheese an' covers
O' silk. Ay, silken covers, lovely, silken,
Beautiful silken covers an' fine garments!
A hogshead cheese! An' don't the maid sing clear?
She sings exackly like a golden cloud.
She sings as maids sing at the pig-stickin'.
I am very well. Damnable scarecrow you,
That's sittin' on a sausage an' screams out:
I am a prince, a prince, a prince, a prince!
A silken riband! I'll devour it straight!
Schluck! What's that? Feed thy fill! The whiskey's good.
Come on, we'll go to bed, my kitten, come!
There we'll be fine an' warm. The meat is good.
The meat with salt an' with beet-sugar syrup.
Eh, it's a lovely little bird that sings. ...
What is the song it sings? I don't believe it.
Pig-stickin'! Stars! An' cracknels all around.
I am a prince, a prince! I am a king!
I make the sun to rise at my desire.
A keg o' brandy! Good Lord! but it's big—
An' at it sip a thousand butterflies.
THE GREEN LAWN IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE GATE
The lawn in front of the castle-gate as in the first scene. JAU lies
asleep under an old beech-tree with scanty foliage. Within the courtyard stands
a HUNTSMAN who awakens the sleepers with a curved horn and thereupon
partly
speaks and partly sings the following verses:
Up, huntsmen, on your ways!
We will ride to the wood on a merry chase!
Oh, we would hunt and dare—
The sparrow-hawk shall swoop down on the hare.
We would go forth with the hounds untiring,
Princes and friends, watch here!
Their baying will be like church bells' choiring
To every hunter's ear!
[SCHLUCK appears, shivering with cold. He is about to pass JAU by.
JAU
One peppermint lozenge! Two peppermint lozenges! Smuggle! Le's do some
smugglin'!
SCHLUCK
Jau, is it you yourself? There he lays! O Lordy, Lord, look at him! Come
now, git up! What's the matter? I been lookin' for you all aroun'! I thought
mebbe they'd put you in gaol!
JAU
Wha's that, steward? Wha'? Eh? I open my mouth an' the moon shines down
an'
cleans out my gullet!
SCHLUCK
O Jau, you're adreamin'! Wake up!
JAU
[Sits up.] Let them people stay where they belong! I ain't no
plaster
saint! The dam' fools don't need to come pilgrimagering aroun' me! I want my
rest! Main thing is ...
SCHLUCK
Well, what's the main thing?
JAU
That that there wench is killed and buried! A woman with a beard! Ugh!
SCHLUCK
What kinda' talk are you talkin' anyhow?
JAU
Bah! I know what I'm talkin'! Mebbe you don't know what you're sayin'!
SCHLUCK
How long is we to sit here, Jau? You gotta come to your senses!
You! Jau!
Wake up now! I gotta take you home. D'you hear? What c'n I say about the woman
when I come home?
JAU
She's gone for good. She ain't comin' back no more.
SCHLUCK
Who's gone for good? I mean myself!
JAU
My wife's gone, I says! Anybody c'n hear it that wants to. That's all!
SCHLUCK
For Gawd's sake! Nobody never heard o' nothin' like that! You come along
home an' you'll feel the drubbin' we'll both be gittin'. Then you'll find out
that she's alive!
JAU
Schluck! Schluck! Schluck! Where is we anyhow?
SCHLUCK
Where d'you think we is? We're lyin' in a ditch! An' we spent every penny
for booze! We ain't got nothin'! Nothin'!
JAU
Are you there again, nightmare?
SCHLUCK
Now, lil' brother, don't be mad at me. But I'm Schluck! You know me!
Ain't
we friends? Ain't we relations like? You rocked me in my cradle. You're
bound to
know that I'm Schluck.
JAU
Friends, eh? Relations, eh? I'm a prince an' you're a dam' beggar! A dam'
beggar—that's what! Boy, come here an' wipe my nose!
SCHLUCK
There ain't no boy here, for Gawd's sake! How should there be a boy here?
I
don't mind wipin' your nose for you! But stop your nonsense!
JAU
I wanta go to my bed now, that's what! Pat the pillows straight! Smooth
my
bed. ...
SCHLUCK
I'm willin'! I'm even willin' to make your bed. If only you'll go an'
git
up an' come away.
JAU
Pour some champagne into a glass for me.
SCHLUCK
If I had some I'd be pleased to.
JAU
Champagne! D'you hear?
SCHLUCK
Jau, I'll tell you, you musta been dreamin'. An' mebbe you had reel bad
dreams.
JAU
[Commands.] Sit down! Git up! Jump! Spit!
SCHLUCK
[Who obeys these commands.] I'm willin'! I'm willin' to do
anythin' you
says. I'm fond o' you; I'm willin'.
JAU
Fond or not! I'm a prince! Eh? D'you believe that or not?
SCHLUCK
Well o' course, lil' brother! O' course, I believe you.
JAU
No, you gotta believe it reely—that's what.
SCHLUCK
Reely an' reely! On my honour an' conscience.
JAU
That I'm a prince? That that there is my castle?
SCHLUCK
Well, why not? [The bugles blow in the courtyard.] Now
they're blowin'!
They're blowin' again! Come away or we'll be havin' to go to gaol again!
JAU
I'll bring you to your senses. I axes you for the last
time: Am I a prince
or ain't I? Or d'you wants me to beat it into you?
SCHLUCK
Well, o' course! O' course! I'm tellin' you. I been tellin' you over an'
over! If you'll only come away from this here place! You see they're comin'!
They're comin' now! You ain't grown fast here!
JAU
Who's comin'?
SCHLUCK
The prince!
JAU
Watch out now!
[There is a stirring in the courtyard. Signals are blown. The
HUNTSMEN open the great gates. JON RAND and KARL step forth upon the
lawn while the procession of hunters falls into line behind them.
JON RAND
O sleeping forests! Soon I waken you
With the clear bugle's call. I feel thy draught,
Balsamic morning, steal into my blood,
Morning that daily, spite my whitening hair,
Fills me anew with youth. In every morn
Is youth; and in its golden, dawning hours
Remembered songs of all our blessed tides
Blend with hope's music fresh: in unison,
Triumphant soars the song of life itself,
Of all that was and is and yet shall be
In us, about us—all returns to us
In echo. Is it not so in truth?
DAME ADELUZ
Good-morrow!
JON RAND
Take these! I had thee summoned, Adeluz!
They are the loveliest pearls in all my treasures.
My sister who died young, in other days,
Wore them on her white throat. Lay them upon
Her bed—a morning greeting.
DAME ADELUZ
Ay, my lord.
JON RAND
Is she asleep? Surely she is! Or wakes?
DAME ADELUZ
She sleeps! I let her sleep, for well I know
That I would lose the favour of your Grace,
Were I to be so cruel as to wake her.
She plucked a length of vine and carried it
With her to bed. The maiden's fragrant breath
Maketh to whirl the sunbeam's many motes
Above her face—for the dear light of heaven
Can scarcely take its fill of gazing at her,
And Autumn sends its latest peacock's eye
With shadow wavering on her snowy hand
That rests upon the coverlet. It flutters,
Alights upon the spun gold of her hair,
Flicks to and fro its little gossamer wings,
Adorning her like to a living gem!
Ah, if you saw her thus! ... But do not see her. ...
JON RAND
Forward! Forward, my lords and gentlemen!
Let us fare forward with a huntsman's hail!
[He becomes aware of SCHLUCK and JAU.
Hold, what is this?
KARL
An instance, so it please thee,
Of earthly Fortune's transitoriness!
The mighty Macedonian Alexander's
Descendants in a few brief years became
Scriveners and carpenters at Rome. This bundle
Of thrice-patched fustian stalked upon earth's stage
But yesterday a king.
JON RAND
It is enough!
And far more than enough! The selfsame beast
Deep in the selfsame slough! Oh, my gorge rises!
The past is past. To-day shall be to-day.
[At a signal of the bugle the procession begins to move.
JON RAND
[Stopping before SCHLUCK and JAU.
What seek ye here to-day?
MALMSTEIN
A chance to pilfer!
Nothing more, I'll be bound!
JON RAND
Then we must spoil
Their appetite or ere they do the deed.
Would ye lie on hard planks, my men, ere night,
With bread and water, for two days or three?
JAU
Turn aroun'! We ain't goin' huntin' to-day! Turn aroun' an' back I says!
Understan'?
JON RAND
Why should we not, thou most peculiar wight? Is it thy place thus to command
us?
Eh?
[To SCHLUCK.
What is thy name?
SCHLUCK
Schluck!
JON RAND
Well, my excellent Schluck:
Is that boon-fellow of thine often so strange?
What would he have of us? Declare it straight!
KARL
Schluck! This is Schluck! By heaven, my gracious lord,
By a hair's breadth I had not known him at all.
Art thou not he whom our most merry maids
Tricked out so gaily with both shift and skirt,
And who so artfully at our late feast
Acted the part o' the queen?
SCHLUCK
Ay, my good lord.
JON RAND
[Throws a purse to him.
Is it he? Then I indeed am in his debt.
Thou didst it gracefully; here's thy reward.
But thou? [To JAU.] Why starest thou so wildly up,
Giving us names that do not us befit,
Crying, commanding in unseemly wise?
JAU
Turn aroun', I tell ye! I ain't goin' a-huntin' to-day! I ain't goin',
doctor! I don't care how dam' much you stares your eyes outa your head! Turn
aroun'! Git back! I ain't goin'!
[The HUNTSMEN laugh.
MALMSTEIN
This may well be, good fellow, and we all,
Upon mine honour, doubt no whit thereof—
Unless thou go a-hunting with mousetraps,
With insect powder and with rough-on-rats
In kitchen low or attic under sky.
[The HUNTSMEN laugh again.
JAU
Turn aroun', steward! Wha'? Laughin' at me? Are ye goin' to laugh at a
prince?
MALMSTEIN
The hoax is on thy part and not on ours!
Thou art bereft of sense, fellow, or else
Thou wouldst not in the presence of our lord
Bear thyself half so impudently. Schluck,
Canst thou not make him fathom who we are?
JAU
Doctor! Doctor! You! Look me in the face, will you?
SCHLUCK
Jau! Jau! For Gawd's sake, listen to me!—My friend is sick, sir,
on my
honour an' conscience! What has gotten into you, Jau?
JON RAND
Then tell us clear what thou hast dreamed, my man!
My huntsmen here tell me that thou art Jau,
A clever fellow but not overmuch
To industry inclined. Art thou not Jau?
Thinkest thou thou art I? Wert thou in dreams
Perchance a prince? Then look about thee, look
Upon thee! In such garments walked about
Never yet a prince, so long as princes are.
Go home, and if at any time there stir
Desire of work within thee, take thy case
Unto our bailiff, and at my command
A cow he'll give thee and a patch of ground
Where thou mayest burrow to thy heart's content,
No prince assuredly, but thy own master. ...
The pack is growing hoarse! A huntsman's hail!
[The procession moves and a HUNTSMAN sings.
Up the woods we go!
Hark to the horns that blow!
The beaters gather all around
And sing their merry morning song
Unto the bugle's sound.
THE HUNTSMEN
[Repeat to the music of the bugles.
Out to the woods we go!
Hark to the horns that blow!
[JON RAND and the procession pass beyond view. KARL remains
behind.
The music of the hunting-horns grows softer and finally dies away in the
distance. JAU stands in deep consternation, shaking his head from time to
time. KARL pats his shoulder consolingly.
JAU
[With a start of terror.] Ay, ay, tha's right. These ain't nothin'
but
ol' patched rags!
KARL
Be thou content, my man! Thou hast but dreamed.
Yet I, even as thou seest me, and the prince
And all his huntsmen and his serving-men—
We dream! And to each one the moment comes,
Seven times upon each day, in which he says:
Thou wakest now and hitherto hast dreamed!
There! Take gold! And console thyself. I am
At bottom just as poor a wight as thou.
And when thou, gnashing, o'er thy brandy laugh'st,
Then is thy laughter much akin to that
Which I, a prince's parasite, must laugh
At my lord's table oft. Drink and imagine
That through thy dream there swam a leaking keg
That rained on thee drops of sweet muskadine.
Remember that with ever new delight,
But stretch not forth thine hands to pluck the clouds. [Exit.
[A Pause.]
JAU
So I just dreamed that there business! Well, well, well, well! You don't
say! Well, I'll be damned! All right then! Things is as they is! How! Tell me
this: Ain't I as good as him? He's got a good stomack! I got one, too. Better
mebbe'n his. He's got two eyes. All right. I ain't blind, neither. Has he got
four stomacks or six eyes? I sleep all right; I c'n drink my whiskey. I c'n
draw
my breath as good as him! What? Ain't I right? If he's got anythin' more'n
me,
it ain't worth havin'! You hit him a bang in his jaw, Schluck, an' then do the
same to me—an' his teeth fly out same's mine! You feel that head o'
yours,
you, with your fine oiled hair—the same head what you got your fine lil'
velvet cap on now! Feel it, I says! The worms'll eat it in the end! They'll
eat
it, same's they will mine! I know! I know that! I ain't a fool! It all
comes to
the same thing! You can't make a fool o' me.
SCHLUCK
But we got money.
JAU
Come, lil' brother, come! We'll be goin' over to the pub. An' there I'll
tell you about a adventure. ...
SCHLUCK
Me too!
JAU
About a adventure that'll make you open your eyes an' your mouth.
SCHLUCK
Me too! Me too!
JAU
Just as I'm sayin'! Your eyes an' your mouth! I'm wise now! I know all
about it. You c'n believe me! I knows! I sit in the pub—an' I sit in the
castle!
SCHLUCK
I was in a castle too.
JAU
Don't you believe it? I lay at home on a bench an' I dreamed that I'm
ridin' a-huntin'! I c'n fill my belly with sour beer an' yet be soakin' myself
in shinin' champagne! I tell you I know. I'm a prince an' I'm Jau too. Wha'?
Ain't I right?
SCHLUCK
The devil! I gotta think a bit first. ...
JAU
I tell you, I know, Schluck! I'm a prince an' I'm Jau too. Come, lil'
brother. Even if I'm a prince, we'll go over to the inn now an' sit down with
plain people an' I'll be reel condescending, reel friendly like!
SCHLUCK
Well, well, well, well, you are a devil of a fellow!
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