I am a scholar traveling through this region and wished to take the liberty of making your excellency's acquaintance. BUGBEAR. Very well, then, make my acquaintance. HINZE. You are a mighty prince; your love of justice is known all over the world. BUGBEAR. Yes, I don't doubt it. Do sit down! HINZE. They tell many wonderful things about Your Highness-- BUGBEAR. Yes, people always want something to talk about and so the reigning monarchs must be the first to be discussed. HINZE. But still, there is one thing I cannot believe, that Your Excellency can transform yourself into an elephant and a tiger. BUGBEAR. I will give you an example of it at once. (_He changes into a lion_.) HINZE (_draws out a portfolio, trembling_). Permit me to make note of this marvel--but now would you also please resume your natural charming form? Otherwise I shall die of fear. BUGBEAR (_in his own form_). Those are tricks, friend! Don't you think so? HINZE. Marvelous! But another thing--they also say you can transform yourself into very small animals--with your permission, that is even far more incomprehensible to me; for, do tell me, what becomes of your large body then? BUGBEAR. I will do that too. [_He changes into a mouse_. HINZE _leaps after him, the Bugbear flees into another room_, HINZE _after him_.] HINZE (_coming back_). Freedom and Equality! The Law is devoured! Now indeed the Tiers--_Etat_! Gottlieb will surely secure the government. SCHLOSS. Why, a revolutionary play after all? Then for heaven's sake, you surely shouldn't stamp! [_The stamping continues_, WIESENER _and several others applaud_, HINZE _creeps into a corner and finally even leaves the stage. The playwright is heard quarreling behind the scenes and then enters_.] PLAYWR. What am I to do? The play will be over directly--everything would perhaps have run smoothly--now just in this moral scene I had expected so much applause. If this were only not so far away from the king's palace, I would fetch the peacemaker; he explained to me at the end of the second act all the fables of Orpheus--but am I not a fool? I became quite confused--why, this is the theatre here, and the peacemaker must be somewhere behind the scenes--I will look for him--I must find him--he shall save me! (_Exit, returns again quickly_.) He is not _there_, Sir Peacemaker! An empty echo mocks me--he has deserted me, his playwright. Ha! there I see him--he must come forward. [_The pauses are always filled by stamping in the pit and the playwright delivers this monologue in recitative, so that the effect is rather melodramatic_.] PEACEMAKER (_behind the scenes_). No, I will not appear. PLAYWR. But why not, pray? PEACEMAK. Why, I have already undressed. PLAYWR. That doesn't matter. (_He pushes him forward by force_.) PEACEMAKER (_appearing in his ordinary dress, with, the set of bells_). Well, you may take the responsibility. (_He plays on the bells and sings_.)