Comedy plays; German drama -- Translations into English
JUST.
Look ye, Landlord; if I could play the hypocrite, I would do so for
such stuff as that; but I cannot, so it must out.--You are an ill-
mannered brute all the same.
LAND.
Nobody in my life ever told me that before... But another glass,
Herr Just; three is the lucky number!
JUST.
With all my heart!--
(Drinks).
Good stuff indeed, capital! But truth is good also, and indeed,
Landlord, you are an ill-mannered brute all the same!
LAND.
If I was, do you think I should let you say so?
JUST.
Oh! yes; a brute seldom has spirit.
LAND.
One more, Herr Just: a four-stranded rope is the strongest.
JUST.
No, enough is as good as a feast! And what good will it do you,
Landlord? I shall stick to my text till the last drop in the bottle.
Shame, Landlord, to have such good Dantzig, and such bad manners! To
turn out of his room, in his absence--a man like my master, who has
lodged at your house above a year; from whom you have had already so
many shining thalers; who never owed a heller in his life--because he
let payment run for a couple of months, and because he does not spend
quite so much as he used.
LAND.
But suppose I really wanted the room and saw beforehand that the Major
would willingly have given it up if we could only have waited some
time for his return! Should I let strange gentlefolk like them drive
away again from my door! Should I wilfully send such a prize into the
clutches of another innkeeper? Besides, I don't believe they could
have got a lodging elsewhere. The inns are all now quite full. Could
such a young, beautiful, amiable lady remain in the street? Your
master is much too gallant for that. And what does he lose by the
change? Have not I given him another room?
JUST.
By the pigeon-house at the back, with a view between a neighbour's
chimneys.
LAND.
The view was uncommonly fine, before the confounded neighbour
obstructed it. The room is otherwise very nice, and is papered!!!!!
JUST.
Has been!
LAND.
No, one side is so still. And the little room adjoining, what is the
matter with that? It has a chimney which, perhaps, smokes somewhat in
the winter!!!!!
JUST.
But does very nicely in the summer. I believe, Landlord, you are
mocking us into the bargain!
LAND.
Come, come; Herr Just, Herr Just!!!!!
JUST.
Don't make Herr Just's head hot!!!!!
LAND.
I make his head hot? It is the Dantzig does that.
JUST.
An officer, like my master! Or do you think that a discharged officer,
is not an officer who may break your neck for you? Why were you all,
you Landlords, so civil during the war? Why was every officer an
honourable man then and every soldier a worthy, brave fellow? Does
this bit of a peace make you so bumptious?
LAND.
What makes you fly out so, Herr Just!
JUST.
I will fly out.
SCENE III.
Major von Tellheim, Landlord, Just
MAJ. T. (entering).
Just!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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