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The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 04
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If we consider a million as one, then about ten hundred thousand trillions of such units which of themselves amount to a million.
KING
Just think, children, think! Would you believe this bit of world could be so great? But how that occupies the mind!
JACKPUD
Your majesty, this bowl of rice here seems to me sublimer.
KING
How's that, fool?
JACKPUD
Such sublimities of numbers give no food for thought; one cannot think, for of course the highest number always finally becomes the smallest again. Why, you just have to think of all the numbers possible. I can never count beyond five here.
KING
But say, there's some truth in that. Scholar, how many numbers are there, anyhow?
LEANDER
An infinite number.
KING
Just tell me quickly the highest number.
LEANDER
There is no highest, because you can always add something to the highest; human intelligence knows no bounds in this respect.
KING
But in truth it is a remarkable thing, this human mind.
HINZE
You must get disgusted with being a fool here.
JACKPUD
You can introduce nothing new; there are too many working at the trade.
LEANDER
The fool, my king, can never understand such a thing; on the whole I am surprised that your majesty is still amused by his insipid ideas. Even in Germany they tired of him, and here in Utopia you have taken him up where thousands of the most wonderful and clever amusements are at our service. He should be thrown out at once, for he only brings your taste into bad repute.
KING (throws the sceptre at his head).
Sir Brazenbold of a scholar! What do you dare to say? The fool pleases me, me, his king, and if I like him, how dare you say that the man is ridiculous? You are the court scholar and he the court fool; you both have equal positions; the only difference is that he is dining at the little table with the strange hunter. The fool displays his nonsense at the table, and you carry on an intelligent conversation at the table; both are only to while away the time for me and make my meal taste good: where, then, lies the great difference? Furthermore, it does us good to see a fool who is more stupid than we, who has not the same gifts; why, then, one feels greater oneself and is grateful to heaven; even on that account I like to have a blockhead around.
[THE COOK serves the rabbit and goes.]
KING
The rabbit! I do not know—I suppose the other gentlemen do not care for it?
ALL (bow).
KING
Well, then, with your permission, I will keep it for myself. (He eats.)
PRINCESS
It seems to me the king is making faces as though he were getting an attack again.
KING (rising in rage).
The rabbit is burned! Oh, earth! Oh, pain! What keeps me from sending the cook right down to Orcus as fast as possible?
PRINCESS
My father!
KING
How did this stranger lose his way among the people? His eyes are dry—
ALL (arise very sadly, JACKPUDDING runs back and forth busily,
HINZE remains seated and eats steadily).
KING
A long, long, good night; no morning will ever brighten it.
PRINCESS
Do have some one fetch the peacemaker.
KING
May the Cook Philip be Hell's cry of jubilee when an ungrateful wretch is burned to ashes!
PRINCESS
KING
Just think, children, think! Would you believe this bit of world could be so great? But how that occupies the mind!
JACKPUD
Your majesty, this bowl of rice here seems to me sublimer.
KING
How's that, fool?
JACKPUD
Such sublimities of numbers give no food for thought; one cannot think, for of course the highest number always finally becomes the smallest again. Why, you just have to think of all the numbers possible. I can never count beyond five here.
KING
But say, there's some truth in that. Scholar, how many numbers are there, anyhow?
LEANDER
An infinite number.
KING
Just tell me quickly the highest number.
LEANDER
There is no highest, because you can always add something to the highest; human intelligence knows no bounds in this respect.
KING
But in truth it is a remarkable thing, this human mind.
HINZE
You must get disgusted with being a fool here.
JACKPUD
You can introduce nothing new; there are too many working at the trade.
LEANDER
The fool, my king, can never understand such a thing; on the whole I am surprised that your majesty is still amused by his insipid ideas. Even in Germany they tired of him, and here in Utopia you have taken him up where thousands of the most wonderful and clever amusements are at our service. He should be thrown out at once, for he only brings your taste into bad repute.
KING (throws the sceptre at his head).
Sir Brazenbold of a scholar! What do you dare to say? The fool pleases me, me, his king, and if I like him, how dare you say that the man is ridiculous? You are the court scholar and he the court fool; you both have equal positions; the only difference is that he is dining at the little table with the strange hunter. The fool displays his nonsense at the table, and you carry on an intelligent conversation at the table; both are only to while away the time for me and make my meal taste good: where, then, lies the great difference? Furthermore, it does us good to see a fool who is more stupid than we, who has not the same gifts; why, then, one feels greater oneself and is grateful to heaven; even on that account I like to have a blockhead around.
[THE COOK serves the rabbit and goes.]
KING
The rabbit! I do not know—I suppose the other gentlemen do not care for it?
ALL (bow).
KING
Well, then, with your permission, I will keep it for myself. (He eats.)
PRINCESS
It seems to me the king is making faces as though he were getting an attack again.
KING (rising in rage).
The rabbit is burned! Oh, earth! Oh, pain! What keeps me from sending the cook right down to Orcus as fast as possible?
PRINCESS
My father!
KING
How did this stranger lose his way among the people? His eyes are dry—
ALL (arise very sadly, JACKPUDDING runs back and forth busily,
HINZE remains seated and eats steadily).
KING
A long, long, good night; no morning will ever brighten it.
PRINCESS
Do have some one fetch the peacemaker.
KING
May the Cook Philip be Hell's cry of jubilee when an ungrateful wretch is burned to ashes!
PRINCESS
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Последний отзыв
Книгу прочитать не могу, везде ЛитРес свой нос сунул, как и где скачать полную версию бесплатно!?!?