Roses: Four One-Act Plays / Streaks of Light-The Last Visit-Margot-The Far-away Princess

DY IN

RAC

cess von

Brook, her ma

on Hal

her da

i

rübel, a

Linde

a wa

ack

resen

n situated above a waterin

-AWAY P

foreground, a door; another door in the background, at the left. On the left, back, a buffet and serving-table. Neat little tables and small iron chairs for visitors are placed about the veranda. On the right, in the centre, a large telescop

Linde

cted honour--! Barons and counts have been here often enough. Even the Russian princes sometimes come up fr

o

't a real prin

emann (in

do you me

o

to an inn like this. Real princesses won't lie on anything

Linde

t the letter isn't genuine;-

o

playing a joke. That student, Herr S

Linde

her waist, and reads.) "This afternoon, Her Highness, the Princess von Geldern, will stop at the Fairview Inn, to rest an hour or so before making the descent to the Springs. You are requested to have ready a quiet and comfortable room, to guard

o

e. A maid of honour came into t

(looking out to

coming up the hill? To-day of all days! W

(poin

the Inn.--He won't be

Linde

f I only knew how I could--Oh, ho! I'll be disag

ithout much polish, but cheerful, unaffected, en

rü

ay, ev

mann (sarc

ming

prised at he

lass of beer any way? Glass of beer, if you please!--Several glasses o

mann (afte

, H

rü

, dear, why so

Linde

bel, I would have you know th

rü

st

Linde

you don't stop yo

rü

s of beer.) "Beer--beer!"--Heavens

Linde

y don't you stay quietly

rü

t as soon as ever my sallow-faced pupil has thrown himself down on the couch to give his

emann (sc

a

rü

own there. But to get nearer to her, I have to come up here--up to your tele

(laug

that's

Linde

e no more time for you.--Moreover, I'm going to have this p

l (lau

at time! See here, Rosa,

myster

r heads--and--ahem--there are letters

rü

--? Are

o

honour--and other

rü

r forehead lightly wit

o

the m

rü

while you are getting some salve for my

y. Frau Von Halldorf is an aristocratic w

dd

e, mother. Now you

v. Ha

that it's in

(steppin

dies--I have plenty

ldorf (cond

cope, while Strübel returns to his former pla

languidly drop

right is the

v. Ha

I see no carriage--neither a ro

dd

me l

v. Ha

ase

dd

disappe

v. Ha

re that it was a

dd

that sort of thing, mother.

v. Ha

d sighs aloud.) Ar

ll

red. I'm al

v. Ha

the Springs. Do as the princess

ll

limbing up such a steep hill

lldorf (mo

this trouble. If, by good luck, we

dd

through the telescope.

alldorf (

? (Takes Lid

dd

ng around the

v. Ha

t! Why, there's

dd

she's comin

alldorf (

up on foot, too. And she i

ll

could have my own carriage driven along beside m

v. Ha

see a th

dd

turn the s

v. Ha

t right along, but th

dd

me

rü

f paper at Rosa during the preceding

dd

you've turned the sc

v. Ha

shall we

el (r

d, ladies. I've had some exp

v. Ha

rübel busies himself

dd

d the top the princess can't be far off. Wouldn't

v. Ha

think that would b

rü

screw, but it's a regu

v. Ha

ng--and if we could present ourselves as the subjects of her noble fiancé, and tell her that we live a

rü

he useful instrument to which the fa

V. Ha

heard anything about the report that the prince

rü

s who is expected at the iron spring every morning, but who has never been seen by a liv

has looked

ere--ther

v. Ha

carr

dd

y. It is stopping over ther

v. Ha

ere is your money. (She throws a coin to Rosa and unwraps a small package done up in tissue paper which she has

ll

uite accidental--oh, y

rü

ell, I'll make sure right away-- (Goes up to the telescope and

demann (

all gone--

o

of t

(looking towa

last spring!--What am I going to say to them?--Rosa, don't you know a poem by heart which you could speak to the princess? (Rosa shrugs her

s a pale, sickly, unassuming young girl, wearing a very simple walking costume and a medium-sized leghorn hat trimmed with roses. Frau Von Brook is a

v.

roprietor of

Linde

mmand, you

rook (rep

r.--Where is the room

nn (opens th

head of the s

v.

care to remain her

Prin

dear Frau

v.

e that a room next to Her Highness is prepared for m

Prin

The Lackey, who is carrying shawls an

Prin

je n'ai pas sommeil. M'envoyer couche

v.

, sois sage! Tu sais, que

Prin

ujours cette corvée

v.

't it be best for you to su

Linde

our service. (Abou

v.

from the house to the grounds--would i

Linde

sts as often as not si

v.

indemann locks the door.) We may be as

Linde

us belonging to the hous

v.

uld li

Linde

ell. (

v.

darling. If that woman had under

Prin

e been so drea

v.

reminds me, you haven't taken your peptonised milk yet--this is a secret which we must

(shrugging he

what

v.

to be a happy br

Prin

erw

v.

lonely and an

th a little smil

h

v.

in of those formal presentations awaiting you in the autumn! You must grow s

Prin

e? Who

v.

you mean

Prin

does it do to

v.

thoughts that I would rather not utter. From my own experience I k

Prin

go to

v.

isn't o

Prin

own on the moss, to cover oneself with leave

Brook (s

that, too,

ss (laughi

eti

appears at

v.

ready? (The

(aside to F

mply can

v.

(Aloud.) Does your

s (smiling

nd. (They go

al moments. Then Strübel is heard

el's

right.) Not a soul inside?-- (Climbs over.) Well, here we are. What on earth has happened to these people? (Unlocks the back door and looks out.) Everything deserted. Well, it's all the same to me. (Locks the door again.) But let's find out right away what the carriage has to

rü

rough which she has entered.) Wouldn't you like to look through the telescope a while? Please do. (The Princess, undecided as to whethe

cess (re

not go

rü

from? The door was locked. Surely you d

cess (fr

me--through t

rü

urse

ss (fright

ather (About

rü

ht here. Why, before I'd drive you away I

s (smiling,

o out into the woo

rü

a regular guest

ncess (

es, of

rü

ou drink the wa

s (in a fri

e waters. And I'm t

rü

't you do it. It would be better for you to go down there--that is-- Oh, forgive me! I've been talking without thinking. Of course, you

(trying to se

o a watering-place,

ping himself

tion by acting as a private tutor--that's to say, "miserable" is only a figure of speech, for in the morning I lie abed until nine, at noon I eat five,

(laughing unr

m rather gla

rü

a business l

Prin

? Really, I di

rü

hat did you

Prin

y were--an entirely di

rü

t sort." Of course we two aren't. We get along real well

(smiling re

Perhaps t

el (k

e house where I'm staying. (Frightened at a peculiar look of The Princess's.) Oh, but you mustn't be-- No, I shouldn't have said it. It wasn't decent of me. Only, let me tell you, I'

Prin

o help peo

rü

--don'

cess (re

bout it, and the whole thing imme

rü

lp some one, th

quickly correc

kes part in entertain

rü

an of rank to act as patroness, if they can, and she sees to

cess (de

ot ev

rü

hese titled women! Besides, my dear young lady, whe

Prin

mall town--really mo

rü

mething that you probably neve

Prin

What

rü

make-believe, but a r

Prin

re

rü

incess of t

Prin

o may

rü

cess Mari

Prin

Gel

rü

cou

Prin

u kno

rü

certa

Prin

that she lived i

rü

nd because you are such a jolly, good fellow, I'm goin

Prin

h

rü

is. The fact is, every young poet

Prin

ou a

rü

ll that by l

Prin

saw a po

rü

a princess! Why, you're lear

cess (as

you written

rü

ithout saying! Q

Prin

te some little

rü

verything at t

Prin

should like to

rü

oing to tell you

Prin

. Please do.

rü

as quick as a shot, I tell you. Just as if I had waited all my life long to fall in love with h

ess (disc

they say

rü

r who went to Africa becau

Prin

know th

rü

that in six months she will become the bride of a grand-duke--even that can make no

Prin

yes

rü

ncess? I'll not give up my princess

Prin

don't even k

rü

hy, I know her as w

Prin

ever met

rü

ve gotten up at six o'clock a couple of times--on the same errand--and if you knew me better, you'd realise what that meant. But not a sign of her! Either she has the stuff brought to her house, or she has the power of making herself invisible. (The Princess turns aside to conceal a smile.) After that, I used to hang around her garden--eve

Prin

very inter

rü

'm, should I risk it? Should

Prin

time ago that you w

rü

h the telescope.) There she

Prin

he telescope.) Actually, there is the

rü

on the left--with the emb

Prin

y certain that th

rü

else co

Prin

lot of people. For instance, there is her waiting-woma

rü

e been certain at the very first glance that it was she--and no one else. Observe the nobi

Prin

that it's an e

rü

over if not an embroidery-frame? Do y

Prin

't hurt h

rü

o suppress. It's not enough that we have to stick in this misery, but w

Prin

dear

rü

sighing about

Prin

o have a closer acquaintance

rü

far-away princess?--for that's what I call her when I

Prin

talk to her and know wh

l (ter

oor folks. I haven't polished manners--I haven't even a decent tailor. A lady like that--why, she'd measure me from top to toe in o

Prin

cting herself)--that this gi

rü

real self? And even if I should, what would she care?--Oh, yes, if she were like you--

Prin

h--I?

rü

me in your sleeve. And rea

Prin

ves something better th

rü

you kno

Prin

ry to become acquaint

rü

amily. Yes, she even listens when I recite my poems to her--and that can't be said of many people! And as soon as I have finished, she sighs, takes a rose from

ncess (

Oh, pleas

rü

s. H'm--"Twenty rose

Prin

there tw

l (sev

uld not have i

Prin

se--for

rü

l begi

ses nestl

pon thy

ars of ro

fair ch

rs would I

ife's br

t ask a ro

it not

es thou do

s and rubies

thou'dst be

ould then

ears of rose

ing to li

ears could n

ip it--a

Prin

e never had any verse

rü

inary folks like us have to

Prin

ar me, how soon it fades!

rü

at never fades--even as my love fo

Prin

ven't even

rü

ding Horace with the more advanced classes--no, it's better for the present not to think of reaching any such dizzy heights of greatness--well, then I shall al

Prin

will make

rü

r all? A bit of happiness? Great heavens,

Prin

hen, wh

rü

which suddenly becomes everything to us. I shall always say to my pupils--"Young men, if you want to be happy a

Prin

e god be like tha

rü

to his shoes) who isn't down at the heels--a god, in short, worthy of my princess. I know perfectly well that all my life long I shall never do anything but crawl around on the ground like an industrious ant, but I know

ess (thou

ret, little joy like the apple of her eye, who would know nothing of the world except what sh

rü

e a particularly lofty asp

Prin

he heavens

rü

uld be of a di

Prin

u thi

rü

he ideal of every l

Prin

h she counts as naught. It is my i

rü

hat! A young girl like you--so charming and--I don't w

Prin

he time? Before, it was only a c

rü

n awful donkey,

ncess (

bout it, dear friend

g oppressed by

trange person! There's some

Prin

e

rü

ren't you wanting to go into the woods

Prin

find it so at all-

rü

y I not escort you--? One can chat more freely, one can ex

ncess (

ur far-away princess w

(carel

he'll be sitting there tomorro

Prin

s your great,

rü

l like you comes ac

v. Ha

drawing back in feig

Milly (s

h

rü

you wouldn't find her? Princesses don

v. Ha

excuse in some measure the extraordinary breach of good manners which we are committing in daring to address y

rü

l! What's

v. Ha

iddy! Milly! (Liddy and Milly come forward, and, with low court bows, offer their bouque

rü

t who is doing the jo

re helplessly toward the door at the left, undecided whether to take flight or

Brook (s

ed to Her Highness. In matters of this sort one must first apply to me. I may be addre

lldorf (wi

ntrary to the usual procedure; but the impulse of loyal hearts is guided

with low curtsie

v.

n without me?--And what is that young man ove

word, goes to get his hat which has been lying o

Prin

uldn't be nice.

Brook

--Why, your

Prin

e become far too good friends to part in suc

v.

ss, I am ve

cess (to

I thank you for it with all my heart. If I only had a rose with me so

v.

ss, I am ve

Prin

ing among the vases.) Well, h

rü

--your Highness--fo

Prin

.--And we'll have to do without scissors! (She tears one of the roses from the hat.) I don't know whether there are just twenty (Holding out one

rü

milingly shakes her head.) Or does your Highne

Prin

because the Unreal must alwa

rü

only the far-away princess

v.

, your Highness tha

Prin

ar must hurry away. (Offerin

rü

(pointing down) it would have been in harmony, but with the-- (Shakes his head, t

Prin

artificial flower.) I'm going to ask

v.

, I am very m

Prin

you that I

rt