The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann, Volume IIHauptmann, Gerhart
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The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann, Volume II
Hauptmann, Gerhart
German drama -- Translations into English
You won't see me goin' up there. He advised me to do what I did, an' then
he was the first one to despise me for doin' it.
SIEBENHAAR
Henschel, I never despised you. You're an honourable fellow, through and
through; don't talk nonsense now. There are certain fates that come upon
men. And what one has to bear is not easy. You have grown ill, but you
have remained a good man. And for that truth I'll put my hand in the
fire!
HENSCHEL
Maybe that's true too, Mr. Siebenhaar.--Let it be; we'll talk about
somethin' else. 'Tisn't your fault; I always said that. An' I can't blame
my brother-in law neither. He knows where he gets all that from, 'Tis she
herself goes roun' to people an' tells 'em. She's everywhere--now here
an' now there. I s'pose she was with her brother too.
WERMELSKIRCH
Who is it that goes about among people? Not a soul is thinking of that
affair of the other night, That's quite forgotten by this time.
HENSCHEL
It sticks to me--it does--turn it any way you please. _She_ knows how to
go about it. She's everywhere, an' she'll persuade folks. An' even, if
people was goin' to be silent for my sake an' wasn't after me like so
many dogs--nothin' c'n do any good. It'll stick to me.
SIEBENHAAR
Henschel, we won't go away until you've put that, out of your mind. You
must calm, yourself entirely.
HENSCHEL
Oh, I'm sensible now an' quiet, reel quiet.
SIEBENHAAR
Very well. In that case we can talk quite frankly. You see for yourself
how your wife repents. That waiter fellow is gone; he's far away by this
time and you'll never set your eyes on him again. Anyone may fall into
sin--no matter who it is. And so take each other's hands. Bury that
matter, hide it out of sight and be at peace.
HENSCHEL
I don't has to make no peace with her. [_To HANNE._] I c'n give you my
hand! I don't mind. That you've gone an' made a mistake--the Lord c'n
judge that in this world. I won't condemn you on that account.--If only
... about Gustel ... if only we could know somethin' ... about that ...
for certain!
MRS. HENSCHEL
You c'n both kill me this minute. May I drop dead if I did any harm to
Gustel!!
HENSCHEL
That's what I've been sayin': It'll stick to me.--Well, we c'n talk it
over again to-morrow. Before we get through talkin' about that, many a
drop o' water'll have time to run into the sea, I'm thinkin'.
WERMELSKIRCH
Why don't you build a comfortable fire and cook a cup of hot coffee.
After rain comes the sunshine. That's the way it is between married
people. There will be storms in every marriage. But after the storm
everything grows greener. The main thing is: Bye, baby, bye--[_He
imitates the gesture of one rocking a child in his arms._]--That's the
right way. That's the thing that you two must get for yourselves.
[_Jovially patting HENSCHEL'S shoulder._] That's what the old man likes.
You two must get together and buy a toy like that. Confound it, Henschel!
It would be queer if that weren't easy. A giant of a man like you! Good
night all.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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