He's more courteous than I thought.

SCHLOSS.

He has respect for the public, after all.

PLAYWR.

I am ashamed to present to such ill.u.s.trious judges the modest inspiration of my Muse; it is only the skill of our actors which still consoles me to some extent, otherwise I should be sunk in despair without further ado.

FISCHER.

I am sorry for him.

MuLLER.

A good fellow!

PLAYWR.

When I heard your worthy stamping--nothing has ever frightened me so, I am still pale and trembling and do not myself comprehend how I have attained to the courage of thus appearing before you.

LEUTNER.

Well, clap, then! (_All clap_.)

PLAYWR.

I wanted to make an attempt to furnish amus.e.m.e.nt by means of humor, by cheerfulness and real jokes, and hope I have been successful, since our newest plays so seldom afford us an opportunity to laugh.

[Ill.u.s.tration: #PUSS IN BOOTS# MORITZ VON SCHWIND]

MuLLER.

That's certainly true!

LEUTNER.

He's right--that man.

SCHLOSS.

Bravo! Bravo!

ALL.

Bravo! Bravo! (_They clap_.)

PLAYWR.

I leave you, honored sirs, to decide now whether my attempt is to be rejected entirely--trembling, I withdraw, and the play will begin.

(_He bows very respectfully and goes behind the curtain_.)

ALL.

Bravo! Bravo!

VOICES FROM THE GALLERY.

_Da capo!_--

[_All are laughing. The music begins again; meanwhile the curtain rises_.]

ACT I

_Small room in a peasant's cottage_

LORENZ, BARTHEL, GOTTLIEB. The tom-cat HINZE, _is lying on a bench by the stove_.

LORENZ.

I think that after the death of our father, our little fortune can be divided easily. You know the deceased has left only three pieces of property--a horse, an ox, and that cat there. I, as the eldest, will take the horse; Barthel, second after me, gets the ox, and so the cat is naturally left for our youngest brother.

LEUTNER (_in the pit_).

For Heaven's sake! Did any one ever see such an exposition! Just see how far dramatic art has degenerated!

MuLLER.

But I understand everything perfectly well.

LEUTNER.

That's just the trouble, you should give the spectator a cunning suggestion, not throw the matter right into his teeth.

MuLLER.

But now you know, don't you, where you are?

LEUTNER.

Yes, but you certainly mustn't know that so quickly; why, the very best part of the fun consists in getting at it little by little.

BARTHEL.

I think, brother Gottlieb, you will also be satisfied with this division; unfortunately you are the youngest, and so you must grant us some privileges.