The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann Volume Ii Part 43

Shall I call the doctor?

SIEBENHAAR

Too late! He could give no help here.

THE CURTAIN FALLS.

ROSE BERND

LIST OF PERSONS

BERND.

ROSE BERND.

MARTHEL.

CHRISTOPHER FLAMM.

MRS. FLAMM.

ARTHUR STRECKMANN.

AUGUST KEIL.

HAHN. HEINZEL. GOLISCH. KLEINERT. _Field Labourers_

OLD MRS. GOLISCH.

THE HEAD MAID SERVANT.

THE a.s.sISTANT MAID SERVANT.

A CONSTABLE.

THE FIRST ACT

_A level, fertile landscape. It is a clear, warm, sunny morning in May. Diagonally from the middle to the foreground extends a path. The fields on either side are raised slightly above it. In the immediate foreground a small potato patch on which the green shoots are already visible. A shallow ditch, covered with field flowers, separates the path from the fields. To the left of the path on a slope about six feet in height an old cherry tree, to the right hazelnut and whitethorn bushes. Nearly parallel with this path, but at some distance in the background, the course of a brook is marked by willows and alder trees. Solitary groves of ancient trees add a park-like appearance to the landscape. In the background, left, from among bushes and tree-tops arise the gables and the church steeple of the village. A crucifix stands by the wayside in the foreground, right. It is Sunday._

_ROSE BERND, a beautiful, vigorous peasant girl of twenty-two emerges, excited and blus.h.i.+ng, from the bushes at the left and sits down on the slope, after having peered shyly and eagerly in all directions. Her skirt is caught up, her feet are bare, as are her arms and neck. She is busily braiding one of her long, blonde tresses. Shortly after her appearance a man comes stealthily from the bushes on the other side. It is the landowner and magistrate, CHRISTOPHER FLAMM. He, too, gives the impression of being embarra.s.sed but at the same time amused. His personality is not undignified; his dress betrays something of the sportsman, nothing of the dandy--laced boots, hunter's hose, a leather bottle slung by a strap across his shoulder. Altogether FLAMM is robust, unspoiled, vivid and broad-shouldered and creates a thoroughly pleasant impression. He sits down on the slope at a carefully considered distance from ROSE.

They look at each other silently and then break out into inextinguishable laughter._

FLAMM

[_With rising boldness and delight sings ever louder and more heartily, beating time like a conductor._]

"In heath and under greenwood tree, There is the joy I choose for me!

I am a huntsman bold I am a huntsman bold!"

ROSE

[_Is at first frightened by his singing; then, more and more amused, her embarra.s.sment gives way to laughter._] Oh, but Mr. Flamm ...

FLAMM

[_With a touch of jaunty boldness._] Sing with me, Rosie!

ROSE

Oh, but I can't sing, Mr. Flamm.

FLAMM

Ah, that isn't true, Rosie. Don't I hear you often and often singing out on the farm:

"A huntsman from the Rhineland ..." Well!

"Rides through the forest green."

ROSE

But I don't know that song a bit, Mr. Flamm.

FLAMM

You're not to say Mr. Flamm! Come now!

"Girlie, come and move Here to my favourite si-i-ide!"

ROSE

[_Anxiously._] The people will be comin' from church in a minute, Mr.

Flamm.

FLAMM

Let 'em come! [_He gets up and takes his rifle from the hollow cherry tree to the left._] I'd better hang it around again anyhow. So.--And now my hat and my pipe! Good. They can come whenever they please. [_He has slung his gun across his shoulder, straightened his hat which is ornamented with a c.o.c.k's feather, taken a short pipe out of his pocket and put it between his lips._] Look at the wild cherries. They're thick.