his childhood on! Many a time his mother complained of it!... It may be!
'Twouldn't surprise no one in him.
AUGUST
When I see that man, I don't seem to be myself no longer. Hot an' cold
shudders run down my back, an' I come near to accusin' our Heavenly
Father ... because he didn't make me a Samson in strength. Such times,
God forgive me, I have evil thoughts. [_The whizzing of Streckmann's
engine is heard._] There he is!
BERND
Don't take no notice of him.
AUGUST
I won't. An' when 'tis all over, I'll shut myself up in my four walls an'
we can lead a quiet life.
BERND
A good, quiet life--God grant it!
AUGUST
And I don't want to know nothin' of the world no more! The whole business
fills me with horror! I have taken such a disgust to the world and to
men, that I ... Father, I don't hardly know how to say it ... but when
the bitterness o' things rises up into my throat--then I laugh! Then I
have a feelin' of peace in the thought of death; and I rejoice in it like
a child.
_A number of thirsty field labourers, an old woman and two young
girls, all from the estate of the magistrate FLAMM, come hurriedly
across the fields. They are HAHN, HEINZEL, GOLISCH, OLD MRS. GOLISCH,
OLD KLEINERT, THE HEAD MAID SERVANT and her ASSISTANT. The men are
clad in trousers, the women have their skirts gathered up, shawls
over their breasts and manicoloured kerchiefs on their heads._
HAHN
[_Thirty years old, bronzed and vigorous._] I'm always the first at the
fountain! The rest o' ye c'n run all ye want to! Ye can't never ketch up
with me! [_He kneels down and leans over the spring._] Eh, but I'd like
to jump right in.
THE ASSISTANT MAID
Don't ye dare! We've got a thirst too. [_To the HEAD MAID SERVANT._] Have
ye a bit of a cup with ye to dip up the water?
HEAD MAID SERVANT
Hold on there! I comes first.
HEINZEL
[_Pulls the two women back by the shoulders and thrusts himself between
them up to the spring._] First comes the men, then the women folks.
KLEINERT
There's space enough here for us all. Eh, father Bernd? Wish you a good
meal.
BERND
Yes, yes. Only no meal's been brought for us to eat yet. We're waitin'
for it--waitin' in vain.
GOLISCH
I ... I ... I'm wet enough to be wrung out! My tongue is lyin' in my
mouth, dry as a piece o' charred wood.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
Water!
KLEINERT
Here 'tis, enough for us all!
_They all drink greedily, some immediately from the surface of the
mater, some out of their hollowed hands, others out of their hats or
out of little cups and bottles. The sounds of swallowing and of deep
relieved breathing are clearly audible._
HEINZEL
[_Getting up._] Water's a good thing but beer would be a better.
HAHN
An' a bit o' brandy wouldn't come amiss neither.
GOLISCH
August, you might be treatin' us to a quart.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
He'd better invite us all to the weddin'.
GOLISCH
We're all comin' to the weddin'. They says it's to be soon.
HEINZEL
I'm not comin'. What for? To swill cold water? I needn't go no farther
than the spring for that. Or for the sake of a little coffee.
HAHN
An' prayin' an' singin' for dessert. An' mebbe, there's no tellin', the
parson from Jenkau will come over an' see if we know the ten
commandments.
HEINZEL
Or the seven beatitudes on top o' that! That'd be a fine state of
affairs. I've long forgot it all.
KLEINERT
You folks had better stop teasin' August. I'm tellin' you now, if I had a
girl of my own, I wouldn't be wantin' no better son-in-law. He knows his
business! You always know where to find him.
_The working men and women have scattered themselves at ease in a
semicircle and are eating their evening meal; coffee in tin pots and
great wedges of bread from which they cut pieces with their
clasp-knives._
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
There comes Rosie Bernd around from behind the farm.
GOLISCH
Look an' see, will you, how that girl can jump.
KLEINERT
She can lift a sack o' wheat and drag it to the very top o' the barn.
This very mornin' I saw her with a great heavy chest o' drawers on a
wheelbarrow, trundlin' it over to the new house. That there girl has got
sap an' strength. She'll take care o' her household.
HAHN
If I could get along in the world like August in other respecks, my
faith, I wouldn't a bit mind tryin'; I'd see what bein' pious can do for
a man.
GOLISCH
You've got to know how to run after good fortune; then you'll get hold of
it.
HAHN
When you consider how he used to go around from village to village with a
sack full o' tracts; an' how, after that, he used to be writin' letters
for people ... an' now, to-day, he's got the finest bit o' property an'
can marry the handsomest girl in the county.
_ROSE BERND approaches. In a basket she is carrying the evening meal
for AUGUST and OLD BERND._
ROSE
A good afternoon to you.
SEVERAL VOICES
Good evenin'!--Good evenin'! Many thanks!
GOLISCH
You're lettin' your sweetheart starve, Rosie.
ROSE
[_Merrily unpacking the food._] Don't you worry! He don't starve so easy
as that.
HEINZEL
You must be feedin' him well, Rosie, or he'll put on no flesh.
GOLISCH
That's true. He'll be a sight too lean for you, lass.
BERND
Where have you been keepin' yourself so long? We've been waitin' this
half hour.
AUGUST
[_In a subdued but annoyed voice._] An' now the whole crowd is here
again! An' we might have been through this long time.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
Let him scold, lass, an' don't mind it.
ROSE
Who's scoldin'? There's no one here to scold. August wouldn't do it in a
lifetime.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
Even so! But that's right: you shouldn't care nothin' about it.
HEINZEL
'Cause, if he don't scold now, that'll be comin' later.
ROSE
I'm not afraid o' that ever comin'.
GOLISCH
You're mighty friendly, all of a sudden.
ROSE
We was always agreed with each other, wasn't we, August? What are you
laughin' at? [_She kisses him. Laughter is heard among the people._]
GOLISCH
Well, well, and I thought as I might be climbin' into her window some
day.
KLEINERT
If you did, you'd be carrying home your bones in a handkerchief!
THE HEAD MAID SERVANT
[_Sarcastically._] O Lordy, Lordy! I'd try it all the same. You can't
never tell.
BERND
[_Sombre but calm._] Take care what you're sayin', woman.
KLEINERT
Hear what he says, I tell you! Be careful of what you're sayin'. Old
Bernd, he don't take no jokes.
ROSE
She's not sayin' anythin' special. Let her be.
KLEINERT
[_Lighting his pipe._] He may be lookin' real mild now, but when he lets
go, you won't hardly believe it. I know how it used to be when he was
manager of the estate; the women folks didn't have much cause for
laughin' then. He got the upper hand o' ten like you; there wasn't no
gaddin 'about with fellers for them!
HEAD MAID SERVANT
Who's gaddin' about with fellers, I'd like to know!
KLEINERT
You'd better be askin' the machinist, Streckmann,
HEAD MAID SERVANT
[_Crimson._] For all I care you can ask the Lord hisself!
[_All present laugh._
_The machinist STRECKMANN appears. He is dusty and comes straight
from the threshing machine. He shows the effects of liquor._
STRECKMANN
Who's talkin' about the machinist Streckmann aroun' here? He's right
here! He's standin' right here. Anybody wantin' to pick a quarrel with
him? Good day to you all! Hope you're havin' a pleasant meal.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
Talk of the devil an' he appears.
STRECKMANN
An' you're the devil's grandmother, I suppose. [_He takes off his cockade
and wipes the sweat from his forehead._] I tell you people I can't keep
up with this: this kind o' work uses a man up skin and bones!--Hello,
August! Good day to you, Rosie! Well, father Bernd--Great God, can't
anybody answer?
HEINZEL
Let him be! Some people's better off than they can stand.
STRECKMANN
The Lord lets his own people have an easy time. A feller like me works
and works and can't get ahead. [_He has assumed a reclining position and
squeezed himself between HEINZEL and KLEINERT. He now hands his whisky
bottle to HEINZEL._] Let her go aroun'.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
You live the best life of us all, Streckmann! What in Heaven's name has
you to complain about? You drinks your drinks and makes three times over
what we do--all for standin' by the machine a bit.
STRECKMANN
What I want is work for my brain. I got a head on me. That's what you
bran-heads can't understand. Of course! What does an old woman know about
that! An', anyhow--the trouble I got....
GOLISCH
Lord, Streckmann and trouble--
STRECKMANN
More than enough!--there's somethin' that sticks into me, I can tell
you--sticks into my belly and into my heart. I feel so rotten bad I'd
like to be doin' somethin' real crazy. [_To the ASSISTANT MAID._] Lass,
shall I lie down with you?
ASSISTANT MAID
I'll bang you over the head with a whetstone!
GOLISCH
That's just what's troublin' him; everythin' gets black before his eyes,
he don't see nothin' more, an' sudden like, he's lyin' abed with a lass.
[_Loud laughter._
STRECKMANN
Yon can laugh, ye ragamuffins, laugh all ye want to! It's no laughin'
matter with me, I can tell ye. [_Blustering:_] I'll let the machine
squeeze off one of my arms! Or ye can run the piston through me if ye
want to! Kill me, for all I care.
HAHN
Or mebbe you'd like to set a barn afire.
STRECKMANN
By God! There's fire enough inside of me. August there, he's a happy man
...
AUGUST
Whether I'm happy or whether I'm unhappy, that don't concern no one in
this world.
STRECKMANN
What am I doin' to you? Can't you be sociable with a feller?
AUGUST
I'll look for my society elsewhere.
STRECKMANN
[_Looks at him long with smouldering hatred; represses his rage and
grasps the whisky bottle which has been handed back to him._] Give it to
me! A feller's got to drown his sorrow!--[_To ROSE._] You needn't be
lookin' at me; a bargain's a bargain. [_He gets up._] I'm goin'!--I don't
want to come between you.
ROSE
You can go or you can stay for all I care.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
[_Calling STRECKMANN back._] Look here, Streckmann, what was that
happened t'other day? About three weeks ago at the threshin' machine?...
[_Men and women burst into laughter._
STRECKMANN
That's all over. I don't know nothin' about that.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
An' yet, you swore by all that was good and holy....
KLEINERT
You people stop your gossippin'.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
He needn't be talkin' so big all the time.
STRECKMANN
[_Comes back._] And I tell you what I says, that I puts through. I'll be
damned if I don't! Let it go at that. I don't say no more.
[_Exit._
OLD MRS. GOLISCH It's done just as easy without talkin'.
STRECKMANN
[_Comes back, is about to speak out, but restrains himself._] Never mind!
I don't walk into no such trap! But if you want to know exactly what it's
all about, ask August there or father Bernd.
BERND
What's all this about? What's this we're supposed to know?
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
'Twas that time you went to the magistrate's, 'twas that time! An' didn't
Streckmann pass you on the road an' didn't he cry out somethin' after ye?
KLEINERT
It's about time for you to be stoppin'.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
An' why, I'd like to know? That's all nothin' but a joke ... People
wonders if that there time you all agreed, or if Rosie wasn't so willin'
to join in!
BERND
God Almighty forgive you all for your sins! What I wants to ask you is
this: Why can't the whole crowd o' you leave us in peace? Or is it that
we ever did any harm to any o' ye?
GOLISCH
An' we're not doin' any wrong neither.
ROSE
An' whether I was willin' on that day or not--you needn't give yourself
no concern about that! I'm willin' now an' that settles it,
KLEINERT
That's the right way, Rosie!
AUGUST
[_Who has hitherto been reading, with apparent absorption, in his New
Testament, now closes the book and arises._] Come, father, let's go to
work.
HAHN
That takes it out o' you more than pastin' prayer books together or
stirrin' the paste in your pot!
HEINZEL
And how do you think he'll feel after the weddin'? A girl like Rosie--she
makes demands!
[_Laughter._
STRECKMANN
[_Also laughing._] Gee ...! I almost said somethin' I oughtn't to!--[_He
steps back among the people._] I'll give you a riddle to guess. Shall I?
Still waters run deep! 'Tis bad. You mustn't taste blood--no, no! The
thirst only gets worse an' worse--that's all.
OLD MRS. GOLISCH
What's that? Where did you get the taste o' blood?
BERND
I suppose he means the taste for whisky!
STRECKMANN
I'm goin' my way! Good-bye! I'm a good feller! Good-bye, father Bernd!
Good-bye, August! Good-bye, Rosie! [_To AUGUST._] What's wrong?--August,
don't be showin' off. 'Tis all well! I'm willin'! You'll not see me
again! But you--you've got reason enough to be grateful to me. You've
always been an underhanded kind o' crittur! But I've given my consent to
let things be! I've given my consent an' everything can go smoothly.
[_STRECKMANN goes._
ROSE
[_With violent energy._] Let him talk, August; pay no attention to him.
KLEINERT
Flamm is comin'! [_He looks at his watch._] 'Tis over half an hour!
[_The whistle of the engine is heard._
HAHN
[_During the general stir._] Forward, Prussians! It's misery whistlin'
for us!
_The workingmen and the maids disappear swiftly with their scythes.
ROSE, OLD BERND and AUGUST remain alone on the scene._
BERND
All the evil on earth seems broken loose here' What's all that Streckmann
is sayin'? Tell me, Rose, do you understand it?
ROSE
No, an' I've got better things to be thinkin' of! [_She gives AUGUST a
friendly nudge on the head._] Isn't it so, August? We have no time for
nonsense! We have to hurry these comin' six weeks.
[_She gathers up the remnants of the meal in her basket._
AUGUST
Come over to us a bit later.
ROSE
I must wash and iron and sew buttonholes. 'Tis almost time now.
BERND
We'll be comin' to our supper after seven.
[_Exit._
AUGUST
[_Before he goes, earnestly:_] Do you care for me, Rosie?
ROSE
Yes, I do care for you.
_AUGUST disappears and ROSE is left alone. The hum of the threshing
machine is heard as well as the muttering of thunder on the horizon.
After ROSE has replaced bread, butter, the coffee pots and cups into
her basket, she straightens herself up and seems to become aware of
something in the distance which attracts her and holds her captive.
With sudden, determination, she snatches up the head kerchief that
has fallen to the ground and hurries off. Before she has disappeared
from view, however, FLAMM becomes visible on the scene and calls to
her._
FLAMM
Rose! Wait there! Confound it all! [_Rose stands still with her face
turned away._] You are to give me a drink! I suppose I'm worth a draught
of water.
ROSE
There's plenty of water here.
FLAMM
I see. I'm not blind. But I don't care to drink like the beasts. Have you
no cups in your basket? [_ROSE pushes the cover of her basket aside._]
Well, then! You even have a cup of Bunzlauer ware! I like to drink out of
that best of all. [_She hands him the cup, still with averted face._] I
beg your pardon. You might practise a little politeness! I suppose you'll
have to force yourself to it this one more time. [_ROSE walks over to the
spring, rinses the cup, fills it with water, sets it down next to the
spring and then returns to her basket. She picks the latter up and waits
with her back to FLAMM._] No, Rosie--that won't do at all. You might get
rid of some gaol bird in that fashion. I don't know the habits of such
persons very exactly. As things are, I'm still the magistrate Flamm. Am I
going to get a drink or am I not? Well: One ... two ... three ... and ...
there's an end to this, I' beg for some decency! No more nonsense! [_ROSE
has returned to the spring, has picked up the cup and now holds it out to
FLAMM, still refusing to look at him._] So! Higher, though, a little
higher! I can't get at it yet!
ROSE
But you must hold it.
FLAMM
How can I drink this way?
ROSE
[_Amused against her will, turns her face to him._] Oh, but....
FLAMM
That's better already!--That's good!--[_Apparently unintentionally and as
if merely to hold the cup, he puts his own hands upon ROSE'S which
support it. His mouth at the rim he lowers himself more and more--until
he kneels on one knee._] So! Thank you, Rosie! Now you can let me go.
ROSE
[_Making gentle efforts to disengage herself._] Oh, no! Do let me be, Mr.
Flamm!
FLAMM
Is that so? You think, then, that I ought to let you be? Now, when at
last I've succeeded in catching you! No, lassie,'tis not so easy as that.
It won't do and you needn't ask it of me. You needn't wear yourself out!
You can't escape me! First of all, look me square in the eyes once more!
I haven't changed! I know; I know about--everything! I've had 'a talk
with the magistrate Steckel about your having agreed to everything now. I
thank God that I'm no longer the official who attends to the matchmaking!
Another man takes care of the man-traps now. I even know the date of the
funeral ... I'll be ... I meant the wedding, of course. And in addition,
I've talked to myself, too. Rose, 'tis a hard nut! I hope we won't break
our teeth on it!
ROSE
I dare not stand this way with you here.
FLAMM
You must. Whether you may or not--I don't care! In fact I don't give a
tinker's damn! If this thing is really decreed in the council of God, as
the song has it--I want a dismissal in all due form: I refuse to be just
coolly shunted off.--Rose, is there anything in the past for which I need
to ask your forgiveness?
ROSE
[_Touched, shakes her head with energy._] Nothin', nothin' at all, Mr.
Flamm.
FLAMM
No? Is that honest? [_ROSE nods a hearty affirmation._] Well, I'm glad of
that, at least! I hoped it would be so. Then at least we can keep
something that's harmonious in our memories. Ah, Rose, it was a good,
good time....
ROSE
An' you must go back to your wife....
FLAMM
A good time! And it rushes past ... past! And what do we keep of it?
ROSE
You must be kind, very kind to your wife, Mr. Flamm. She's an angel; 'tis
she that saved me!
FLAMM
Come, let's sit down under the pear tree! Very well. But why talk of it?
I'm always kind to my wife. Our relations are the very friendliest. Come,
Rose! Tell me all about that. What d'you mean by that? Saved? What did
she save you from, Rose? I'd naturally like to know that! What was the
matter with you? Mother did drop all sorts of hints; but I was no wiser
for them.
ROSE
Mr. Christopher ... Mr. Flamm! I can't sit down here. An' it don't
matter! It can't lead to anythin'. 'Tis all over an' past now--well--'tis
all dead an' gone. I know God will forgive me the sin. An' He won't lay
it up against the poor, innocent child neither. He's too merciful to do
that!
FLAMM
[_Alluding to the hum of the threshing machine which grows louder and
louder._] That confounded buzzing all the time!--What did you say, Rose?
Sit down just a moment. I won't harm you; I won't even touch you! I give
you my word, Rose. Have some confidence in me! I want you to speak
out--to tell what's on your heart!
ROSE
I don't know ... there's ... there's just nothin' more to say! When once
I'm married, you can go an' ask the good missis. Maybe she'll tell you
then what was the trouble with me. I haven't told August nothin' either.
I know he's good. I'm not afraid o' that. He's soft o' heart an' a good
Christian man. An' now: Good-bye, Christie--keep well.--We've a long life
ahead of us now an', maybe, we can be reel faithful an' do penance an'
work hard an' pay off the debt.
FLAMM
[_Holding ROSE'S hand fast in his._] Rose, stay one moment. It's all
right and I must be satisfied. I'm not coming to your wedding, God knows!
But even if I don't come to your wedding, still I admit that you're
right.--But, oh, lass, I've loved you so truly, so honestly.... I can
never tell you how much! And it's been, upon my word, as far back as I
can think.--You had crept into my heart even in the old days when you
were a child and were always so honest ... so frank about a thousand
little things--so straight and true, however things were. No sneakiness,
no subterfuge--whatever the consequences. I've known women enough in
Tarant and in Eberswalde at the agricultural college and in the army, and
I was usually lucky with them--ridiculously so. And yet I never knew true
happiness except through you.
ROSE
Oh, Christie, I've loved you too!
FLAMM
Why you've been in love with me ever since you were a little thing! Why
you used to make eyes at me.... Do you believe you'll ever think of it?
And think of the mad, old sinner Flamm?
ROSE
That I will. I have a pledge....
FLAMM
You mean the ring with the bit of stone? And won't you come to our house
some time?
ROSE
No, that can't be. That would cut a body too sorely to the heart. That
wouldn't be nothin' but double sufferin' an' misery! There's got to be an
end to it all. I'll bury myself in the house! There's work an' moil
enough for two! 'Tis a new life that's beginnin' an' we mustn't look back
on the old life. There's nothin' but sorrow an' heart's need on this
earth; we has to wait for a better place.
FLAMM
And so this is to be our last farewell, Rose?
ROSE
Father an' August will be wonderin' now.
FLAMM
And if the little fishes in the river were to stand on their tails in
wonderment and the bitterns on the trees did the same--I wouldn't lose
one second--now! So it's to be all, all over and done with? And you won't
even come to see mother?
ROSE
[_Shaking her head._] I can't look her in the face no more! Maybe some
day! Maybe in ten years or so! Maybe all this'll be conquered then.
Good-bye, Mr. Christie! Good-bye, Mr. Flamm!
FLAMM
So be it. But, lass, I tell you, if it weren't for mother ... now ...
even now ... I wouldn't fool around much ... I wouldn't give you much
time....
ROSE
Yes, if it wasn't for that little word "if"! If August wasn't livin', an'
father wasn't--who knows what I'd do. I'd like to go out into the wide
world.
FLAMM
And I with you, Rose! Well, then we know what's in our hearts.--And now
you might give me your hand once more.... [_He presses her hand and their
glances melt hotly into each other in this last farewell._] So it is.
What was to be, must be! I suppose we must leave each other now.
[_He turns resolutely and walks away with firm steps and without
looking back._
ROSE [_Looking after him, mastering herself, with tense volition:_] What
must be, must be!--'tis well now!--
[_She put back the can into her basket and is about to walk in the
opposite direction._
_STRECKMANN appears._
STRECKMANN
[_With pale, contorted face, creeping and basely hesitant in demeanour._]
Rose! Rose Bernd! D'you hear? That was that rascally Flamm again! If ever
I gets my hand on him ... I'll smash every bone in his carcase!--What's
up? What did he want again! But I'm tellin' you this: things don't go
that way! I won't bear it! One man is as good as another! I won't let
nobody turn me off this way!
ROSE
What d'you say? Who are you anyhow?
STRECKMANN
Who am I? Damn it, you know that well enough!
ROSE
Who are you? Where did I ever see you?
STRECKMANN
Me? Where you saw me? _You?_ You can look for somebody else to play your
monkey tricks on!
ROSE
What do you want? What are you? What business has you with me?
STRECKMANN
What business? What I wants? Nothin' much, y'understand? God ... don't
scream so!
ROSE
I'll call for all the world to come if you don't get out o' my way this
minute!
STRECKMANN
Think o' the cherry tree! Think o' the crucifix....
ROSE
Who are you! Lies! Lies! What do you want with me? Either you get away
from here straightway ... or I'll cry out for some one to come an' help
me!
STRECKMANN
Girl, you've lost your senses!
ROSE
Then I won't have to drag 'em around with me no longer! Who are you!
Lies! You've seen nothin'! I'll cry out! I'll shriek as long as I has
breath in my body, if you don't go this very second.
STRECKMANN
[_Frightened._] I'm goin', Rosie. It's all right.
ROSE
But now! This minute! Y'understand!
STRECKMANN
Right away! For all I care! An' why not? [_He makes a farcical gesture as
though avoiding a shower of rain._]
ROSE
[_Half-mad with rage and scorn._] There he runs! The vile scoundrel! When
you see a fellow like that from behind, you see the best side o' him! Fy,
I says! He's all smooth an' spruce on the outside, an' his innards rotten
as dirt. A body could die o' disgust!
STRECKMANN
[_Turns, pale and sinister._] Ah ...! An' is that so indeed! You don't
never mean it!... 'Tis not very appetisin' the way you makes it out. Why
was you so hot after it, then?
ROSE
I? Hot after you?
STRECKMANN
Maybe you've forgotten already?
ROSE
Scoundrel!
STRECKMANN
Maybe I am.
ROSE
Scoundrel! Ruffian! Why do you go sniffin' around me now! Who are you?
What has I done? You stuck to my heels! You followed me an' baited me an'
snapped at me ... Rascal ... worse'n a dog ...
STRECKMANN