Wait, witch, I'll flog Satan out of you!

(_He throws the switch aside and beats her with his fists so that she breaks out with a frightful cry. He pays no attention to this, but falls upon her as if he were crazy, while the tears stream heavily down his cheeks. Presently he springs away, holds both hands to his temples and rushes into the depths of the wood crying out in anguish of soul._)

ACT II

SCENE FIRST.

_Evening in Melchior's study. The window is open, a lamp burns on the table.--Melchior and Moritz on the divan._

MORITZ.

Now I'm quite gay again, only a little bit excited.----But during the Greek lesson I slept like the besotted Polyphemus. I'm astonished that the p.r.o.nunciation of the ancient tongue doesn't give me the earache.----To-day I was within a hair of being late----My first thought on waking was of the verbs in ?----Himmel--Herrgott--Teufel-- Donnerwetter, during breakfast and all along the road I conjugated until I saw green.----I must have popped off to sleep shortly after three. My pen made a blot in the book. The lamp was smoking when Mathilde woke me; the blackbirds in the elder bushes under the window were chirping so happily----and I felt so inexpressibly melancholy. I put on my collar and pa.s.sed the brush through my hair.----One feels it when one imposes upon nature.

MELCHIOR.

May I roll you a cigarette?

MORITZ.

Thanks, I don't smoke.----If it only keeps on this way! I will work and work until my eyes fall out of my head.----Ernest Robel has failed three times since vacation; three times in Greek, twice with Knochenbruch; the last time in the history of literature. I have been first five times in this lamentable conflict, and from to-day it does not bother me!----Robel will not shoot himself. Robel has no parents who sacrifice everything for him. If he wants he can become a soldier, a cowboy or a sailor. If I fail, my father will feel the blow and Mamma will land in the madhouse. One can't live through a thing like that!----Before the examination I begged G.o.d to give me consumption that the cup might pa.s.s me by untouched. He pa.s.sed me by, though to-day His aureole shines in the distance, so that I dare not lift my eyes by night or day.----Now that I have grasped the bar I shall swing up on it. The natural consequence will be that I shall break my neck if I fall.

MELCHIOR.

Life is a worthless commonplace. It wouldn't have been a bad idea if I had hanged myself in the cradle.----Why doesn't Mamma come with the tea!

MORITZ.

Your tea will do me good, Melchior!----I'm shivering. I feel so strangely spiritualized. Touch me once, please. I see,--I hear,--I feel, much more acutely----and yet everything seems like a dream----oh, so harmonious.----How still the garden stretches out there in the moonlight, so still, so deep, as if it extended to eternity. From out the bushes step indefinable figures that slip away in breathless officiousness through the clearings and then vanish in the twilight. It seems to me as if a counsel were to be held under the chestnut tree.----Shall we go down there, Melchior?

MELCHIOR.

Let's wait until we have drunk our tea.

MORITZ.

The leaves whisper so busily.----It's just as if I heard my dead grandmother telling me the story of the "Queen Without a Head." There was once a wonderfully beautiful Queen, beautiful as the sun, more beautiful than all the maidens in the country. Only, unfortunately, she came into the world without a head. She could not eat, not drink, not kiss. She could only communicate with her courtiers by using her soft little hand. With her dainty feet she stamped declarations of war and orders for executions. Then, one day, she was besieged by a King, who, by chance, had two heads, which, year in and year out, disputed with one another so violently that neither could get a word in edgewise. The Court Conjurer-in-chief took off the smallest of these heads and set it upon the Queen's body. And, behold, it became her extraordinarily well! Therefore, the King and the Queen were married, and the two heads disputed no longer, but kissed each other upon the brow, the cheeks and the mouth, and lived thereafter through long, long years of joy and peace.----Delectable nonsense! Since vacation I can't get the headless Queen out of my mind. When I see a pretty girl, I see her without a head----and then presently, I, myself appear to be the headless Queen.----It is possible that someone may be set over me yet.

(_Frau Gabor comes in with the steaming tea, which she sets before Melchior and Moritz on the table._)

FRAU GABOR.

Here, children, here's a mouthful for you. Good-evening, Herr Stiefel, how are you?

MORITZ.

Thank you, Frau Gabor.----I'm watching the dance down there.

FRAU GABOR.

But you don't look very good----don't you feel well?

MORITZ.

It's not worth mentioning. I went to bed somewhat too late last night.

MELCHIOR.

Only think, he worked all through the night.

FRAU GABOR.

You shouldn't do such things, Herr Stiefel. You ought to take care of yourself. Think of your health. Don't set your school above your health. Take plenty of walks in the fresh air. At your age, that is more important than a correct use of middle high German.

MORITZ.

I will go walking. You are right. One can be industrious while one is taking a walk. Why didn't I think of that myself!----The written work I shall still have to do at home.

MELCHIOR.

You can do your writing here; that will make it easier for both of us.----You know, Mamma, that Max von Trenk has been down with brain fever!----To-day at noon Hans Rilow came from von Trenk's deathbed to announce to Rector Sonnenstich that von Trenk had just died in his presence. "Indeed?" said Sonnenstich, "haven't you two hours from last week to make up? Here is the beadle's report. See that the matter is cleared up once for all! The whole cla.s.s will attend the burial."----Hans was struck dumb.

FRAU GABOR.

What book is that you have, Melchior?

MELCHIOR.

"Faust."

FRAU GABOR.

Have you read it yet?

MELCHIOR.

Not to the end.

MORITZ.

We're just at the Walpurgisnacht.

FRAU GABOR.

If I were you I should have waited for one or two years.