Morituri: Three One-Act Plays - BestLightNovel.com
You’re reading novel Morituri: Three One-Act Plays Part 11 online at BestLightNovel.com. Please use the follow button to get notification about the latest chapter next time when you visit BestLightNovel.com. Use F11 button to read novel in full-screen(PC only). Drop by anytime you want to read free – fast – latest novel. It’s great if you could leave a comment, share your opinion about the new chapters, new novel with others on the internet. We’ll do our best to bring you the finest, latest novel everyday. Enjoy
Teja.
But hadst thou seen him and compared him to me, thou wouldst spit upon me!
Balthilda (_fervently_).
I should have seen only thee, Sire dear, dear Sire!
(Teja _looks askance at her, shyly and distrustfully, then walks silently to the left, sinks down before the seat on the throne, and burying his face in the chair, weeps bitterly_.)
Balthilda.
(_Follows him shyly and kneels down beside him_.) Teja, beloved, if I hurt thee, pardon me!
Teja (_rises and grasps her arm_).
Tell it to no one!
Balthilda.
What, Sire?
Teja.
That thou hast seen me weep! Swear it to me!
Balthilda.
It hath been told me that I am now even as a piece of thy body--and of thy soul also!... Wherefore should I swear?
Teja.
If thou art a piece of my body, then come nearer to me, that thou mayst not see my tears.
Balthilda.
Let me dry them for thee! See, for this cause am I here.
Teja.
Ah, 'tis well with me.... I must indeed have died of shame, for never yet hath a Gothic man been seen to weep. Even when we buried Totilas, we wept not.... Yet I am not ashamed.... If I but knew why suddenly it is so well with me!... Balthilda, I will tell thee something. But thou must not laugh me to scorn.
Balthilda.
How should I laugh at thee, beloved?
Teja.
I am hungry.
Balthilda (_springing up in surprise_).
Alas, surely thou hast given everything away!
Teja.
Oh, by no means! Go just over there, wilt thou? (_She obeys_.) Behind my couch--seest thou the fireplace?
Balthilda.
Here where the ashes lie?
Teja.
There standeth a chest?
Balthilda.
Yea.
Teja.
Wilt thou open the lid?
Balthilda.
Ah, it is heavy!
Teja.
Now feel within! Deep, deep!... There Ildibad the old miser--well?
Balthilda (_disappointedly_).
A couple of bread crusts; is that all, Sire?
Teja.
There is indeed nothing more.
Balthilda.
May I not then go quickly over to the Wagenburg?... Perhaps still ...
Teja.
Oh nay.... They themselves need the fragments.... Bring that hither! As brothers we shall share it--eh? And then there is sufficient for both.
Wilt thou?
