The Princess.
Very much, dear Frau von Brook.
Frau v. Brook.
Edward, order what is needed for Her Highness and see that a room next to Her Highness is prepared for me. I may assume that these are your Highness's wishes?
The Princess.
Why certainly, dear Frau von Brook. (The Lackey,who is carrying shawls and pillows, goes out withRosa,left.)
The Princess.
Mais puisque je te dis, Eugenie, que je n'ai pas sommeil. M'envoyer coucher comme une enfant, c'est abominable.
Frau v. Brook.
Mais je t'implore, chérie, sois sage! Tu sais, que c'est le médecin, qui----
The Princess.
Ah, ton médecin! Toujours cette corvée. Et si je te dis----
Frau v. Brook.
Chut! My dear woman, wouldn't it be best for you to superintend the preparations?
Frau Lindemann.
I am entirely at your service. (About to go out, left.)
Frau v. Brook.
One thing more. This veranda, leading from the house to the grounds--would it be possible to close it to the public?
Frau Lindemann.
Oh, certainly. The guests as often as not sit out under the trees.
Frau v. Brook.
Very well, then do so, please. (Frau Lindemannlocks the door.) We may be assured that no one will enter this place?
Frau Lindemann.
If it is desired, none of us belonging to the house will come in here either.
Frau v. Brook.
We should like that.
Frau Lindemann.
Very well. (Exit.)
Frau v. Brook.
Really, you must be more careful, darling. If that woman had understood French-- You must be careful!
The Princess.
What would have been so dreadful about it?
Frau v. Brook.
Oh, my dear child! This mood of yours, which is due to nothing but your illness--that reminds me, you haven't taken your peptonised milk yet--this is a secret which we must keep from everyone, above all from your fiancé. If the Grand-Duke should discover----
The Princess(shrugging her shoulders).
Well, what of it?
Frau v. Brook.
A bride's duty is to be a happy bride. Otherwise----
The Princess.
Otherwise?
Frau v. Brook.
She will be a lonely and an unloved woman.
The Princess(with a little smile of resignation).
Ah!
Frau v. Brook.
What is it, dear? (The Princessshakes her head.) And then think of the strain of those formal presentations awaiting you in the autumn! You must grow strong. Remember that you must be equal to the most exacting demands of life.
The Princess.
Of life? Whose life?
Frau v. Brook.
What do you mean by that?
The Princess.
Ah, what good does it do to talk about it?
Frau v. Brook.
Yes, you are right. In my soul, too, there are unhappy and unholy thoughts that I would rather not utter. From my own experience I know that it is best to keep strictly within the narrow path of Duty.
The Princess.
And to go to sleep.
Frau v. Brook.
Ah, it isn't only that.
The Princess.
Look out there! See the woods!--Ah, to lie down on the moss, to cover oneself with leaves, to watch the clouds pass by high above----
Frau v. Brook(softening).
We can do that, too, sometime.
The Princess(laughing aloud).
Sometime!
(The Lackeyappears at the door).
Frau v. Brook.
Is everything ready? (The Lackeybows.)
The Princess(aside toFrau v. Brook).
But I simply cannot sleep.
Frau v. Brook.
Try to, for my sake. (Aloud.) Does your Highness command----
The Princess(smiling and sighing).
Yes, I command. (They go out, left.)
(The stage remains empty for several moments. ThenStrübelis heard trying the latch of the back door.)
Strübel's Voice.
Hullo! What's up! Why is this locked all of a sudden? Rosa!--Open up! I've got to look through the telescope! Rosa! Won't you?--Oh, well, I know how to help myself. (He is seen walking outside of the glass-covered veranda. Then he puts his head through the open window at the right.) Not a soul inside?-- (Climbs over.) Well, here we are. What on earth has happened to these people? (Unlocks the back door and looks out.) Everything deserted. Well, it's all the same to me. (Locks the door again.) But let's find out right away what the carriage has to do with the case. (Prepares to look through the telescope.The Princessenters cautiously through the door at the left, her hat in her hand. Without noticingStrübel,who is standing motionless before the telescope, she goes hurriedly to the door at the back and unlocks it.)
Strübel.
(Startled at the sound of the key, turns around.) Why, how do you do? (The Princess,not venturing to move, glances back at the door through which she has entered.) Wouldn't you like to look through the telescope a while? Please do. (The Princess,undecided as to whether or not she should answer him, takes a few steps back toward the door at the left.) Why are you going away? I won't do anything to you.
The Princess(reassured).
Oh, I'm not going away.
Strübel.
That's right. But--where have you come from? The door was locked. Surely you didn't climb through the window as I did?
The Princess(frightened).
What?--You came--through the window?----
Strübel.
Of course I did.
The Princess(frightened anew).
Then I had rather (About to go back.)
Strübel.
Oh, my dear young lady, you just stay right here. Why, before I'd drive you away I'd pitch myself headlong over a precipice!
The Princess(smiling, reassured).
I only wanted to go out into the woods for half an hour.
Strübel.
Oh, then you're a regular guest here at the Inn?
The Princess(quickly).
Yes--yes, of course.
Strübel.
And of course you drink the waters down below?
The Princess(in a friendly way).
Oh, yes, I drink the waters. And I'm taking the baths, too.
Strübel.
Two hundred metres up and down every time! Isn't that very hard on you? Heavens! And you look so pale! See here, my dear young lady, don't you do it. It would be better for you to go down there--that is-- Oh, forgive me! I've been talking without thinking. Of course, you have your own reasons-- It's decidedly cheaper up here.Iknow how to value a thing of that sort. I've never had any money in all my life!
The Princess(trying to seem practical).
But when one comes to a watering-place, one must have money.
Strübel(slapping himself on the chest).
Do I look to you as if I drank iron? Thank Heaven, I can't afford such luxuries! No; I'm only a poor fellow who earns his miserable pittance during vacation by acting as a private tutor--that's to say, "miserable" is only a figure of speech, for in the morning I lie abed until nine, at noon I eat five, and at night seven, courses; and as for work, I really haven't a thing to do! My pupil is so anæmic--why, compared to him,you'refit for a circus rider!
The Princess(laughing unrestrainedly).
Oh, well, I'm rather glad I'm not one.
Strübel.
Dear me, it's a business like any other.
The Princess.
Like any other? Really, I didn't think that.
Strübel.
And pray, what did you think then?
The Princess.
Oh, I thought that they were--an entirely different sort of people.
Strübel.
My dear young lady, all people are "an entirely different sort." Of coursewetwo aren't. We get along real well together, don't we? As poor as church mice, both of us!
The Princess(smiling reflectively).
Who knows? Perhaps that's true.
Strübel(kindly).
Do you know what? If you want to stay down there--I'll tell you how one can live cheaply. I have a friend, a student like myself. He's here to mend up as you are. I feed him up at the house where I'm staying. (Frightened at a peculiar look ofThe Princess's.) Oh, but you mustn't be-- No, I shouldn't have said it. It wasn't decent of me. Only, let me tell you, I'm so glad to be able to help the poor fellow out of my unexpected earnings, that I'd like to be shouting it from the housetops all the time! Of course, you understand that, don't you?
The Princess.
You like to help people, then?
Strübel.
Surely--don't you?
The Princess(reflecting).
No. There's always so much talk about it, and the whole thing immediately appears in the newspapers.
Strübel.
What? If you help some one, that appears----?
The Princess(quickly correcting herself).
I only mean if one takes part in entertainments for charity----
Strübel.
Oh, yes, naturally. In those things they always get some woman of rank to act as patroness, if they can, and she sees to it, you may be sure, that the newspapers make a fuss over it.
The Princess(demurely).
Oh, not every----
Strübel.
Just try to teach me something I don't know about these titled women! Besides, my dear young lady, where is your home--in one of the large cities, or----?
The Princess.
Oh, no. In quite a small town--really more like the country.
Strübel.
Then, I'm going to show you something that you probably never saw before in all your life.
The Princess.
Oh do! What is it?
Strübel.
A princess! H'm--not a make-believe, but a real, true-blue princess!
The Princess.
Oh, really?
Strübel.
Yes. Our Princess of the Springs.
The Princess.
And who may that be?
Strübel.
Why, Princess Marie Louise.
The Princess.
Of Geldern?
Strübel.
Of course.
The Princess.
Do you know her?
Strübel.
Why, certainly.
The Princess.
Really? I thought that she lived in great retirement.
Strübel.
Well, that doesn't do her any good. Not a bit of it. And because you are such a jolly, good fellow, I'm going to tell you my secret. I'm in love with this princess!
The Princess.
Oh!
Strübel.
You can't imagine what a comfort it is. The fact is, every young poet has got to have a princess to love.
The Princess.
Areyoua poet?
Strübel.
Can't you tell that by looking at me?
The Princess.
I never saw a poet before.
Strübel.
Never saw a poet--never saw a princess! Why, you're learning a heap of things to-day!
The Princess(assenting).
H'm--And have you written poems to her?
Strübel.
Why, that goes without saying! Quantities of 'em!
The Princess.
Oh, please recite some little thing--won't you?
Strübel.
No, not yet. Everything at the proper time.
The Princess.
Ah, yes, first I should like to see the princess.
Strübel.
No, first I am going to tell you the whole story.
The Princess.
Oh, yes, yes. Please do. (Sits down.)
Strübel.
Well, then--I had hardly heard that she was here before I was dead in love with her. It was just as quick as a shot, I tell you. Just as if I had waited all my life long to fall in love with her. Besides, I also heard about her beauty--and her sorrow. You see, she had an early love affair.
The Princess(disconcerted).
What? Are they saying that?
Strübel.
Yes. It was a young officer who went to Africa because of her--and died there.
The Princess.
And they know that, too?
Strübel.
What don't they know?--But that's a mere detail--it doesn't concern me. Even the fact that in six months she will become the bride of a grand-duke--even that can make no difference to me. For the present she ismyprincess.--But you're not listening to me!
The Princess.
Oh, yes I am!
Strübel.
Do you know what that means--myprincess? I'll not give upmyprincess--not for anything in all the world!
The Princess.
But--if you don't even know her----?
Strübel.
I don't know her? Why, I know her as well as I know myself!
The Princess.
Have you ever met her, then?
Strübel.
I don't know of any one who has ever met her. And there's not a soul that can tell what she looks like. It is said that there were pictures of her in the shop-windows when she first came, but they were removed immediately. In the morning a great many people are always lurking around the Springs trying to catch a glimpse of her. I myself have gotten up at six o'clock a couple of times--on the same errand--and if you knew me better, you'd realise what that meant. But not a sign of her! Either she has the stuff brought to her house, or she has the power of making herself invisible. (The Princessturns aside to conceal a smile.) After that, I used to hang around her garden--every day, for hours at a time. Until one day the policeman, whom the managers of the Springs have stationed at the gates, came up to me and asked me what on earth I was doing there. Well, that was the end of those methods of approach! Suddenly, however, a happy thought struck me. Now I can see her, and have her near to me as often as I wish.
The Princess.
Why, that's very interesting. How?
Strübel.
Yes, that's just the point. H'm, should I risk it? Should I take you into my confidence?
The Princess.
You promised me some time ago that you would show her to me.
Strübel.
Wait a second. (Looks through the telescope.) There she is. Please look for yourself.
The Princess.
But I am-- (She, too, looks through the telescope.) Actually, there is the garden as plain as if one were in it.
Strübel.
And at the corner window on the left--with the embroidery-frame--that's she.
The Princess.
Are you absolutely certain that that is the princess?
Strübel.
Why, who else could it be?
The Princess.
Oh, 'round about a princess like that--there are such a lot of people. For instance, there is her waiting-woman, there's the seamstress and her assistants, there's----
Strübel.
But my dear young lady, if you only understood anything about these matters, you would have been certain at the very first glance that it was she--and no one else. Observe the nobility in every motion--the queenly grace with which she bends over the embroidery-frame----
The Princess.
How do you know that it's an embroidery-frame?
Strübel.
Why, what should a princess be bending over if not an embroidery-frame? Do you expect her to be darning stockings?
The Princess.
It wouldn't hurt her at all!
Strübel.
Now, that's just one of those petty, bourgeois notions which we ought to suppress. It's not enough that we have to stick in this misery, but we'd like to drag her down, too--that being far above all earthly care----
The Princess.
Oh, dear me!
Strübel.
What are you sighing about so terribly?
The Princess
Tell me, wouldn't you like to have a closer acquaintance with your princess, sometime?
Strübel.
Closer? Why should I?--Isn't she close enough to me, my far-away princess?--for that's what I call her when I talk to myself about her. And to have herstillcloser?
The Princess.
Why, so that you could talk to her and know what she really was like.
Strübel(terrified).
Talk to her! Heaven forbid! Goodness gracious, no! Just see here--how am I to face a princess? I'm an ordinary fellow, the son of poor folks. I haven't polished manners--I haven't even a decent tailor. A lady like that--why, she'd measure me from top to toe in one glance.--I've had my lessons in the fine houses where I've applied as tutor. A glance from boots to cravat--and you're dismissed!
The Princess.
And you think that I--(correcting herself)--that this girl is as superficial as that?
Strübel.
"This girl"! Dear me, how that sounds! But, how should I ever succeed in showing her my real self? And even if I should, what would she care?--Oh, yes, if she were like you--so nice and simple--and with such a kindhearted, roguish little twinkle in her eye----!
The Princess.
Roguish--I? Why so?
Strübel.
Because you are laughing at me in your sleeve. And really I deserve nothing better.
The Princess.
But your princess deserves something better than your opinion of her.
Strübel.
How do you know that?
The Princess.
You really ought to try to become acquainted with her sometime.
Strübel.
No, no, no--and again no! As long as she remains my far-away princess, she is everything that I want her to be--modest, gracious, loving. She smiles upon me dreamily. Yes, she even listens when I recite my poems to her--and that can't be said of many people! And as soon as I have finished, she sighs, takes a rose from her breast, and casts it down to the poet.--I wrote a few verses yesterday about that rose, that flower which represents the pinnacle of my desires, as it were.
The Princess(eagerly).
Oh, yes. Oh, please, please!
Strübel.
Well, then, here goes. H'm--"Twenty roses nestling close----"
The Princess.
What? Are there twenty now?
Strübel(severely).
My princess would not have interrupted me.
The Princess.
Oh please--forgive me.
Strübel.
I shall begin again.
Twenty roses nestling closeGleam upon thy breast,Twenty years of rose-red loveUpon thy fair cheeks rest.Twenty years would I gladly giveOut of life's brief reign,Could I but ask a rose of theeAnd ask it not in vain.Twenty roses thou dost not need--Why, pearls and rubies are thine!--With nineteen thou'dst be just as fair,Andonewould then bemine!And twenty years of rose-wreathed joyWould spring to life for me--Yet twenty years could ne'er sufficeTo worship it--and thee!
Twenty roses nestling close
Gleam upon thy breast,
Twenty years of rose-red love
Upon thy fair cheeks rest.
Twenty years would I gladly give
Out of life's brief reign,
Could I but ask a rose of thee
And ask it not in vain.
Twenty roses thou dost not need
--Why, pearls and rubies are thine!--
With nineteen thou'dst be just as fair,
Andonewould then bemine!
And twenty years of rose-wreathed joy
Would spring to life for me--
Yet twenty years could ne'er suffice
To worship it--and thee!
The Princess.
How nice that is! I've never had any verses written to me b----
Strübel.
Ah, my dear young lady, ordinary folks like us have to do their own verse-making!
The Princess.
And all for one rose!--Dear me, how soon it fades! And then what is left you?
Strübel.
No, my dear friend, a rose like that never fades--even as my love for the gracious giver can never die.
The Princess.
But you haven't even got it yet!
Strübel.
That makes no difference in the end. I'm entirely independent of such externals. When some day I shall be explaining Ovid to the beginners, or perhaps even reading Horace with the more advanced classes--no, it's better for the present not to think of reaching any such dizzy heights of greatness--well, then I shall always be saying to myself with a smile of satisfaction, "You, too, were one of those confounded artist fellows--why, you once went so far as to love a princess!"
The Princess.
And that will make you happy?