Erdgeist (Earth-Spirit): A Tragedy in Four ActsWedekind, Frank
General
Erdgeist (Earth-Spirit): A Tragedy in Four Acts
Wedekind, Frank
German drama -- Translations into English; Tragedies (Drama)
SCHÖN. (Before the Pierrot.) A devilish beauty. (Before the other
picture.) There's more depth here. (Coming down stage.) He is still
rather young for his age. (Schwarz comes back with a white satin
costume.)
SCHWARZ. What sort of material is that?
SCHÖN. (Feeling it.) Satin.
SCHWARZ. And all in one piece.
SCHÖN. How does one get into it then?
SCHWARZ. That I can't tell you.
SCHÖN. (Taking the costume by the legs.) What enormous trowser-legs!
SCHWARZ. The left one she pulls up.
SCHÖN. (Looking at the picture.) Above the knee!
SCHWARZ. She does that entrancingly!
SCHÖN. And transparent stockings?
SCHWARZ. Those have got to be painted, specially.
SCHÖN. Oh, you can do that.
SCHWARZ. And with it all a coquetry!
SCHÖN. What brought you to that horrible suspicion?
SCHWARZ. There are things that our school-philosophy lets itself never
dream of. (He takes the costume back into his bedroom.)
SCHÖN. (Alone.) When we sleep....
SCHWARZ. (Comes back; looks at his watch.) If you wish to make her
acquaintance too--
SCHÖN. No.
SCHWARZ. They must be here in a moment.
SCHÖN. How much longer will the lady have to sit?
SCHWARZ. I shall probably have to bear the pains of Tantalus three
months longer.
SCHÖN. I mean the other one.
SCHWARZ. I beg your pardon. Three times more at most. (Going to the
door with him.) If the lady will just leave me the upper part of the
dress then....
SCHÖN. With pleasure. Let us see you at my house again soon. For
Heaven's sake! (As he collides in the door-way with Dr. Goll and Lulu.)
SCHWARZ. May I introduce ...
DR. GOLL. (To Schön.) What are you doing here?
LULU. (As Schön kisses her hand in greeting.) You're not going already?
DR. GOLL. But what wind blows you here?
SCHÖN. I've been looking at the picture of my bride.
LULU. (Coming forward.) Your bride is here?
DR. GOLL. So you're having work done here, too?
LULU. (Before the upper picture.) Look at it! Enchanting! Entrancing!
DR. GOLL. (Looking round him.) Have you got her hidden somewhere round
here?
LULU. So that is the sweet young prodigy who's made a new person out of
you....
SCHÖN. She sits in the afternoon mostly.
DR. GOLL. And you don't tell anyone about it?
LULU. (Turning round.) Is she really so solemn?
SCHÖN. Probably the after-effects of the seminary still, dear lady.
DR. GOLL. (Before the picture.) One can see that you have been
transformed profoundly.
LULU. But now you mustn't let her wait any longer.
SCHÖN. In a fortnight I think the engagement will come out.
DR. GOLL. (To Lulu.) Let's lose no time. Hop!
LULU. (To Schön.) Just think, we came at a trot over the new bridge. I
was driving, myself.
DR. GOLL. (As Schön prepares to leave.) No, no. We two will talk some
more later. Get along, Nellie. Hop!
LULU. Now you're going to talk about me!
DR. GOLL. Our Apelles is already wiping his brushes.
LULU. I had imagined it would be much more amusing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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