SCARAMUCCIO. Well, then, what have you done that was so noble? SCAEVOLA. The day before yesterday I helped my spendthrift of a nephew out of his debts. SCARAMUCCIO. And yesterday I saved the prompter from talking himself hoarse by leaving out a whole scene. SCAEVOLA. I was in a merry humour at table one day last week, and gave a whole shilling in charity. SCARAMUCCIO. The day before yesterday I quarrelled with my tailor, who came to dun me, and I had the last word. SCAEVOLA. A week ago I helped get a tipsy man home. SCARAMUCCIO. Sir, I was this tipsy man; but I had been drinking my sovereign’s health. SCAEVOLA. I confess myself vanquished. (_Enter Pierrot in a state of excitement._) POET. What’s the matter, Pierrot? PIERROT. What’s the matter? I will not play to-day. On no account will I play. POET. Why not? PIERROT. Why not? Because it’s high time for me to become a spectator. I’ve been a _mime_ long enough. (_Enter Wagemann, the manager._) POET. You are just in time, Herr Wagemann. There is confusion abroad. WAGEMANN. How so? POET. Pierrot will not play to-day. He wants to be a spectator, and Scaramuccio insists upon taking the _rôle_ of Apollo in my drama. SCARAMUCCIO. And am I not right, Herr Wagemann? I have played the fool long enough, and I should like to try my hand at the wise. WAGEMANN. You are too severe, Sir Poet. You must give the poor fellows a little more liberty. Let them have it their own way. POET. But the requirements of the drama, of art---- WAGEMANN. Oh, all that will come right enough. Look you, my way of thinking is this--the spectators have paid their money, and with that the most important thing is regulated. PIERROT. Adieu, Sir Poet. I go to join the illustrious assembly of spectators. I will venture the bold leap over the footlights, to see if I can be cured of being a fool, and graduate to a spectator. (_Sings._) Fare-thee-well, thou old love; a new life is dawning for me, and most sensible impulses are moving my heart. No footlight shall affright me, no prompter can hold me. Ah, I would taste the peaceful bliss of being an auditor. Receive me, wild waves; stage, fare-thee-well, my spirit yearns to be drawn beyond thy precincts. (_Jumps into the parterre._) Where am I? Oh heavens! do I still breathe? Ah! is it possible I stand here below? The rays of the footlights shine over yonder. Ye gods, ye behold me surrounded by people. Who gave me this life, this better life? THE AUDIENCE. Monsieur Pierrot is one of us. A hearty welcome to thee, Spectator Pierrot. We greet thee, thou great man! PIERROT. Can it be, ye noble ones, that you will count me as your brother? Ah, my gratitude will last as long as there is breath within this bosom. GRÜNHELM (_one of the spectators_).