Erdgeist (Earth-Spirit): A Tragedy in Four Acts — John Shaqi
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)
SCHWARZ. (Leans over to the right, and spits.) Pack! If only that were
life's end! The bread-basket!--paunch and mug! Now rears my artist's
pride. (After a look at Lulu.) This company!-- (Gets up, goes up left,
observes Lulu from all sides, and sits again at his easel.) The choice
would be a hard one to make. If I may request Mrs. Goll to raise the
right hand a little higher.
LULU. (Grasps the crook as high as she can reach; to herself.) Who
would have thought that was possible!
SCHWARZ. I am quite ridiculous, you think?
LULU. He's coming right back.
SCHWARZ. I can do nothing but paint.
LULU. There he is!
SCHWARZ. (Rising.) Well?
LULU. Don't you hear?
SCHWARZ. Someone is coming....
LULU. I knew it.
SCHWARZ. It's the janitor. He's sweeping the stairs.
LULU. Thank heaven!
SCHWARZ. Do you perhaps accompany the doctor to his patients?
LULU. Everything =but= that.
SCHWARZ. Because, you are not accustomed to being alone.
LULU. We have a housekeeper at home.
SCHWARZ. She keeps you company?
LULU. She has a lot of taste.
SCHWARZ. What for?
LULU. She dresses me.
SCHWARZ. Do you go much to balls?
LULU. Never.
SCHWARZ. Then what do you need the dresses for?
LULU. For dancing.
SCHWARZ. You really dance?
LULU. Czardas ... Samaqueca ... Skirt-dance.
SCHWARZ. Doesn't--that--disgust you, then?
LULU. You find me ugly?
SCHWARZ. You don't understand me. But who gives you lessons then?
LULU. Him.
SCHWARZ. Who?
LULU. Him.
SCHWARZ. He?
LULU. He plays the violin--
SCHWARZ. Every day one learns something new of the world!
LULU. I learned in Paris. I took lessons from Eugenie Fougère. She let
me copy her costumes, too.
SCHWARZ. What are =they= like?
LULU. A little green lace skirt to the knee, all in ruffles,
low-necked, of course, very low-necked and awfully tight-laced. Bright
green petticoat, then brighter and brighter. Snow-white underclothes
with a hand's-breadth of lace....
SCHWARZ. I can no longer--
LULU. Then paint!
SCHWARZ. (Scraping the canvas.) Aren't you cold at all?
LULU. God forbid! No. What made you ask? Are you so cold?
SCHWARZ. Not to-day. No.
LULU. Praise God, one can breathe!
SCHWARZ. How so?... (Lulu takes a deep breath.) Don't do that, please!
(Springs up, throws away his palette and brushes, walks up and down.)
The boot-black only attends to her feet! His color doesn't eat into his
money, either. If I go without supper to-morrow, no little society lady
will ask me if I know anything about oyster-patties!
LULU. Is he going out of his head?
SCHWARZ. (Takes up his work again.) What ever drove the fellow to this
test!
LULU. I'd like it better, too, if he had stayed here.
SCHWARZ. We are truly the martyrs of our calling!
LULU. I didn't wish to cause you pain.
SCHWARZ. (Hesitating, to Lulu.) If you--the left trowser-leg--a little
higher--
LULU. Here?
SCHWARZ. (Steps to the platform.) Permit me....
LULU. What do you want?
SCHWARZ. I'll show you.
LULU. You mustn't.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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