The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Iv Part 34

But you are to express it or (_threatening with his sceptre_)--

LEANDER.

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 amus.e.m.e.nts 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.