[2] In the original, P.... and V...., with four dots, not five, after the V. [3] Literally, a cut-up noodle. [4] Sonnenstich means sunstroke: one pictures a round, red face enringed with bristling gray hair, and an explosive manner. [5] This sentence, in the lack of any authentic stage-direction, remains dark. “The Langenscheidt” is evidently a book, but why is it here suddenly referred to, or what is done with it? [6] Note Wedekind’s subtlety: Mr. Gabor doesn’t remember Wendla’s precise age, and makes her as old as he can, to minimize Melchior’s transgression,--well before the days of Freud. [7] In German, _sollen_ and _wollen_, verbs representing =duty= and =desire=. EARTH-SPIRIT (ERDGEIST) A Tragedy in Four Acts “I was created out of ranker stuff By Nature, and to the earth by Lust am drawn. Unto the spirit of evil, not of good, The earth belongs. What deities send to us From heaven are only universal goods; Their light gives gladness, but makes no man rich; In their domain no pelf is seized and held. The stone of price, all-treasured gold, from false And evil-natured powers must be won, Who riot underneath the light of day. Not without sacrifice their favor is gained, And no man liveth who from serving them Hath extricated undefiled his soul.” [Spoken by Wallenstein in Schiller’s _Wallenstein’s Death_, Act II.] CHARACTERS DR. SCHÖN, _newspaper owner and editor_ ALVA, _his son, a writer_ DR. GOLL, M.D. SCHWARZ, _an artist_ PRINCE ESCERNY, _an African explorer_ ESCHERICH, _a reporter_ SCHIGOLCH, _a beggar_ RODRIGO, _an acrobat_ HUGENBERG, _a schoolboy_ FERDINAND, _a coachman_ LULU COUNTESS GESCHWITZ HENRIETTE, _a servant_ PROLOGUE [_At rise is seen the entrance to a tent, out of which steps an animal-tamer, with long, black curls, dressed in a white cravat, a vermilion dress-coat, white trousers and white top-boots. He carries in his left hand a dog-whip and in his right a loaded revolver, and enters to the sound of cymbals and kettledrums._] Walk in! Walk in to the menagerie, Proud gentlemen and ladies lively and merry. With avid lust or cold disgust, the very Beast without Soul bound and made secondary To human genius, to stay and see! Walk in, the show’ll begin!--As customary, One child to each two persons comes in free.