_Hans_. How--what--? That witch-work to distract thee now? Here is thy sword, and there the foe! Play with him, tickle him, stroke his beard, till he weeps blood out of his mouth, till-- _Prince_. They are quite safe. _Hans_. Master! [Prince Witte _goes last behind_ Duke Widwolf, _with a bow to the_ Queen _in passing. She watches him in agitation and follows him with her eyes._] _Queen_. How is the Prince? _Anna Goldhair_. As children always are. At first he wept and tried to slip away. Then he lay still and had his playthings brought. Now he lies sprawling under a table, playing at dice, though he understands them not. _Queen_. While we go to throw upon his life. [_The_ Queen, Coelestin, _the_ Chancellor, Anna Goldhair, _and the other women go out. The guards draw the curtains behind the throne. The applause of the people greeting the_ Queen _rises from the court. Then silence._] _Skoell_. Well, my heart's brother, so we are alone again. [Hans Lorbass _without noticing_ Skoell, _tries to pass the_ First Guard _after_ Prince Witte.] _First Guard_. Back! [Hans _tries on the other side of the curtain._] _Second Guard_. Back! The passage is forbidden. _Hans_. I am the Prince's servant! _Second Guard_. That may all be; but hast thou not seen-- _Hans_. I counsel thee, take off thy hands! _Skoell_ [_takes hold of his arm soothingly_]. Come, brother of my heart, be sensible, stay in thy seat; down below there is just a mob of women, and thou wouldst be no use at all. _Hans_. True enough. [_The drums sound._] The third call! Now is the time! _Skoell_. Now I can put my hands in my pockets and let them break each other's necks; if I only had something to drink, then--[_as_ Hans _clutches him by the arm in excitement at the first clash of swords sounding from below_] Ouch! Whew! The devil, what a grip thou hast! _Hans_ [_accompanying the movements below with dumb-show, which is accentuated by the noise of the crashing weapons_]. There! That was a blow! Take that! [_Alarmed._] Guard thyself! Ah, that was good! Now after him and strike!... He missed! [_To_ Skoell, _threateningly._] I thought thou didst laugh! _Skoell_. What should I do? _Hans_. I tell thee, thou brute beast, thou calf, thou knave, thou thief, as truly as I love thee as my brother, I will kill thee! _Skoell_. Not so fierce! _Hans_. There, which one of them drives the other in the corner, now? Eh? _Skoell_. What?... I will stand above both sides and wait to see which one comes out ahead. _Hans_. Ho, ho! How the rascal puffs! Yes, thou wilt learn to run, my fine fellow! Another blow! He struck him not! Now for thy life!--What is he thinking of? [_Shrieks out._] My master bleeds! _Skoell_. Ei, ei! _Hans_. Wipe it off! Whisk it away! That little blood-letting but sharpens the anger, pricks the hate and-- _Skoell_. Look! _Hans_. Now gather all thy powers together, master! And all my love for thee turn into fire and flame, that--