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The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 04

Год написания книги
2018
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THE PRINCE (descending from the hillock).
On, Kottwitz, follow me!

KOTTWITZ. Come, cool now—cool!

THE PRINCE. On! Let the trumpets sound the charge!
And on!

KOTTWITZ. Cool, now, I say.

THE PRINCE (wildly).
By heaven and earth and hell!

KOTTWITZ. Our liege's Highness in the ordinance
Commanded we should wait his orders here.
Golz, read the gentlemen the ordinance.

THE PRINCE. Orders? Eh, Kottwitz, do you ride so slow?
Have you not heard the orders of your heart?

KOTTWITZ. Orders?

HOHENZOLLERN. Absurd!

KOTTWITZ. The orders of my heart?

HOHENZOLL. Listen to reason, Arthur!

GOLZ. Here, my chief!

KOTTWITZ (offended).
Oh, ho! you give me that, young gentleman?—The
nag you dance about on, at a pinch
I'll tow him home yet at my horse's tail!
March, march, my gentlemen! Trumpets, the
charge!
On to the battle, on! Kottwitz is game!

GOLZ (to KOTTWITZ).
Never, my colonel, never! No, I swear!

2D OFFICER. Remember, Hennings' not yet at the Rhyn!

1ST OFFICER. Relieve him of his sword!

THE PRINCE. My sword, you say?

[He pushes him back.]

Hi, you impertinent boy, who do not even
Know yet the Ten Commandments of the Mark!
Here is your sabre, and the scabbard with it!

[He tears off the officer's sword together with the belt.]

1ST OFFICER (reeling).
By God, Prince, that's—

THE PRINCE (threateningly).
If you don't hold your tongue—

HOHENZOLLERN (to the officer).
Silence! You must be mad!

THE PRINCE (giving up the sword).
Ho, corporal's guard!
Off to headquarters with the prisoner!

[To KOTTWITZ and the other officers.]

Now, gentlemen, the countersign: A knave
Who follows not his general to the fight!—
Now, who dares lag?

KOTTWITZ. You heard. Why thunder more?

HOHENZOLLERN (mollifying).
It was advice, no more, they sought to give.

KOTTWITZ. On your head be it. I go with you.

THE PRINCE (somewhat calmed). Come!
Be it upon my head then. Follow, brothers!

[Exeunt.]

SCENE III

A room in a village. A gentleman-in-waiting, booted and spurred, enters. A peasant and his wife are sitting at a table, at work.

GENTLEMAN-IN-WAITING.
God greet you, honest folk! Can you make room
To shelter guests beneath your roof?

PEASANT. Indeed!
Gladly, indeed!

THE WIFE. And may one question, whom?

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