Come as far as our house with me!

MORITZ.

What for?----What for?----

ILSE.

To drink warm goat's milk! I will singe your hair and hang a little bell around your neck.----Then we have another kid with which you can play.

MORITZ.

I must go back. I have yet the Sa.s.sanides, the Sermon on the Mount and the parallelepipedon on my thoughts.----Good-night, Ilse!

ILSE.

Sleep well!----Do you ever go to the wigwam where Melchi Gabor buried my tomahawk?----Brrr! until you are married I'll lie in the straw.

(_Runs out._)

MORITZ.

(_Alone._)

It might have cost only a word.----(_He calls_)----Ilse?----Ilse!---- Thank G.o.d she doesn't hear me any more.----I am not in the humor.----One needs a clear head and a happy heart for it.----What a lost opportunity!----I would have said that I had many crystal mirrors over my bed----that I had trained an unbroken filly----that I had her proudly march in front of me on the carpet in long black silk stockings and black patent leather shoes, long black gloves, black velvet about her neck----had strangled her in a moment of madness with my cushions. I would laugh when the talk turned on pa.s.sion----I would cry out!----Cry out!----Cry out! It is you, Ilse!----Priapia!----Loss of memory!----That takes my strength!----This child of fortune, this sunny child----this joyous maiden on my dolorous path!----O!----O!------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----

(_In the bushes by the bank._)

Have I found it again unwillingly--the seat of turf. The mulleins seem to have grown since yesterday. The outlook between the willows is still the same----The water runs as heavy as melted lead. I mustn't forget. (_He takes Frau Gabor's letter from his pocket and burns it._)----How the sparks fly--here and there, downward and upward----souls!----shooting stars!

Before I struck a light one could see the gra.s.s and a streak on the horizon.----Now it is dark. Now I shall never return home again.

ACT III

SCENE FIRST.

_The Board Room--On the walls pictures of Pestalozzi and Jean Jacques Rousseau._

_Professors Affenschmalz, Knuppeld.i.c.k, Hungergurt, Knochenbruch, Zungenschlag and Fliegentod are seated around a green-covered table, over which are burning several gas jets. At the upper end, on a raised seat, is Rector Sonnenstich. Beadle Habebald squats near the door._

SONNENSTICH.

Has any gentleman something further to remark?----Gentlemen! We cannot help moving the expulsion of our guilty pupil before the National Board of Education; there are the strongest reasons why we cannot: We cannot, because we must expiate the misfortune which has fallen upon us already; we cannot, because of our need to protect ourselves from similar blows in the future; we cannot, because we must chastise our guilty pupil for the demoralizing influence he exerted upon his cla.s.smates; we cannot, above all, because we must hinder him from exerting the same influence upon his remaining cla.s.smates. We cannot ignore the charge--and this, gentlemen, is possibly the weightiest of all----on any pretext concerning a ruined career, because it is our duty to protect ourselves from an epidemic of suicide similar to that which has broken out recently in various grammar schools, and which until to-day has mocked all attempts of the teachers to shackle it by any means known to advanced education----Has any gentleman something further to remark?

KNuPPELd.i.c.k.

I can rid myself of the conception no longer that it is time at last to open a window here.

ZUNGENSCHLAG.

Th- th- there is an a- a- at- atmosphere here li- li- like th- th- that of the cata- catacombs, like that in the doc.u.ment room of the former Cha-Cha-Chamber of Justice at Wetzlar.

SONNENSTICH.

Habebald!

HABEBALD.

At your service, Herr Rector.

SONNENSTICH.

Open a window. Thank G.o.d there's fresh air enough outside.----Has any other gentleman anything to say?

FLIEGENTOD.

If my a.s.sociate wants to have a window opened, I haven't the least objection to it. Only I should like to ask that the window opened is not the one directly behind my back!

SONNENSTICH.

Habebald!

HABEBALD.

At your service, Herr Rector.

SONNENSTICH.

Open the other window!----Has any other gentleman anything to remark?

HUNGERGURT.

Without wishing to increase the controversy, I should like to recall the important fact that the other window has been walled up since vacation.

SONNENSTICH.

Habebald!

HABEBALD.

At your service, Herr Rector.

SONNENSTICH.

Leave the other window shut!----I find it necessary, gentlemen, to put this matter to a vote. I request those who are in favor of having the only window which can enter into this discussion opened to rise from their seats. (_He counts._) One, two, three----one, two, three----Habebald!