登陆注册
5419900000021

第21章

(During this, Chorus of men and women have entered, all trembling with apprehension under the impression that they are to be arrested for their complicity in the conspiracy.)CHORUS.

With faltering feet, And our muscles in a quiver, Our fate we meet With our feelings all unstrung!

If our plot complete He has managed to diskiver, There is no retreat--We shall certainly be hung!

RUD.(aside to LUDWIG).

Now you begin and pitch it strong--walk into me abusively--LUD.(aside to RUDOLPH).

I've several epithets that I've reserved for you exclusively.

A choice selection I have here when you are ready to begin.

RUD.Now you beginLUD.No, you begin--RUD.No, you begin--LUD.No, you begin!

CHORUS (trembling).

Has it happed as we expected?

Is our little plot detected?

DUET--RUDOLPH and LUDWIG

RUD.(furiously).

Big bombs, small bombs, great guns and little ones!

Put him in a pillory!

Rack him with artillery!

LUD.(furiously).

Long swords, short swords, tough swords and brittle ones!

Fright him into fits!

Blow him into bits!

RUD.You muff, sir!

LUD.You lout, sir!

RUD.Enough, sir!

LUD.Get out, sir! (Pushes him.)

RUD.A hit, sir?

LUD.Take that, sir! (Slaps him.)RUD.It's tit, sir,LUD.For tat, sir!

CHORUS (appalled).

When two doughty heroes thunder, All the world is lost in wonder;When such men their temper lose, Awful are the words they use!

LUD.Tall snobs, small snobs, rich snobs and needy ones!

RUD.(jostling him).Whom are you alluding to?

LUD.(jostling him).Where are you intruding to?

RUD.Fat snobs, thin snobs, swell snobs and seedy ones!

LUD.I rather think you err.

To whom do you refer?

RUD.To you, sir!

LUD.To me, sir?

RUD.I do, sir!

LUD.We'll see, sir!

RUD.I jeer, sir!

(Makes a face at LUDWIG.) Grimace, sir!

LUD.Look here, sir--

(Makes a face at RUDOLPH.) A face, sir!

CHORUS (appalled).

When two heroes, once pacific, Quarrel, the effect's terrific!

What a horrible grimace!

What a paralysing face!

ALL.Big bombs, small bombs, etc.

LUD.and RUD.(recit.).

He has insulted me, and, in a breath, This day we fight a duel to the death!

NOT.(checking them).

You mean, of course, by duel (verbum sat.), A Statutory Duel.

ALL.Why, what's that?

NOT.According to established legal uses, A card apiece each bold disputant chooses--Dead as a doornail is the dog who loses--The winner steps into the dead man's shoeses!

ALL.The winner steps into the dead man's shoeses!

RUD.and Lud.Agreed! Agreed!

RUD.Come, come--the pack!

LUD.(producing one).Behold it here!

RUD.I'm on the rack!

LUD.I quake with fear!

(NOTARY offers card to LUDWIG.)

LUD.First draw to you!

RUD.If that's the case, Behold the King! (Drawing card from his sleeve.)LUD.(same business).Behold the Ace!

CHORUS.Hurrah, hurrah! Our Ludwig's won And wicked Rudolph's course is run--So Ludwig will as Grand Duke reign Till Rudolph comes to life again--RUD.Which will occur to-morrow!

I come to life to-morrow!

GRET.(with mocking curtsey).

My Lord Grand Duke, farewell!

A pleasant journey, very, To your convenient cell In yonder cemetery!

LISA (curtseying).

Though malcontents abuse you, We're much distressed to lose you!

You were, when you were living, So liberal, so forgiving!

BERTHA.So merciful, so gentle!

So highly ormamental!

OLGA.And now that you've departed, You leave us broken-hearted!

ALL (pretending to weep).Yes, truly, truly, truly, truly--Truly broken-hearted!

Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! (Mocking him.)

RUD.(furious).Rapscallions, in penitential fires, You'll rue the ribaldry that from you falls!

To-morrow afternoon the law expires.

And then--look out for squalls!

[Exit RUDOLPH, amid general ridicule.

CHORUS.Give thanks, give thanks to wayward fate--By mystic fortune's sway, Our Ludwig guides the helm of State For one delightful day!

(To LUDWIG.) We hail you, sir!

We greet you, sir!

Regale you, sir!

We treat you, sir!

Our ruler be By fate's decree For one delightful day!

NOT.You've done it neatly! Pity that your powers Are limited to four-and-twenty hours!

LUD.No matter, though the time will quickly run, In hours twenty-four much may be done!

SONG--LUDWIG.

Oh, a Monarch who boasts intellectual graces Can do, if he likes, a good deal in a day--He can put all his friends in conspicuous places, With plenty to eat and with nothing to pay!

You'll tell me, no doubt, with unpleasant grimaces, To-morrow, deprived of your ribbons and laces, You'll get your dismissal--with very long faces--But wait! on that topic I've something to say!

(Dancing.)I've something to say--I've something to say--I've something to say!

Oh, our rule shall be merry--I'm not an ascetic--And while the sun shines we will get up our hay--By a pushing young Monarch, of turn energetic, A very great deal may be done in a day!

CHORUS.Oh, his rule will be merry, etc.

(During this, LUDWIG whispers to NOTARY, who writes.)For instance, this measure (his ancestor drew it), (alluding to NOTARY)This law against duels--to-morrow will die--The Duke will revive, and you'll certainly rue it--He'll give you "what for" and he'll let you know why!

But in twenty-four hours there's time to renew it--With a century's life I've the right to imbue it--It's easy to do--and, by Jingo, I'll do it!

(Signing paper, which NOTARY presents.)

It's done! Till I perish your Monarch am I!

Your Monarch am I--your Monarch am I--your Monarch am I!

Though I do not pretend to be very prophetic, I fancy I know what you're going to say--By a pushing young Monarch, of turn energetic, A very great deal may be done in a day!

ALL (astonished).

Oh, it's simply uncanny, his power prophetic--It's perfectly right--we were going to say, By a pushing, etc.

Enter JULIA, at back.

LUD.(recit.).This very afternoon--at two (about)--The Court appointments will be given out.

To each and all (for that was the condition)According to professional position!

ALL.Hurrah!

JULIA (coming forward).According to professional position?

LUD.According to professional position!

JULIA Then, horror!

同类推荐
  • 上阳子金丹大要图

    上阳子金丹大要图

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 无常三启经

    无常三启经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 还丹显妙通幽集

    还丹显妙通幽集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 饮膳正要

    饮膳正要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说兜沙经一卷

    佛说兜沙经一卷

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 废土战纪

    废土战纪

    公元2102年,科技高度发达的人类社会突然迎来了一场巨变,一场由人类自己创造出来的智械所带来的灾难!在这场灾难面前,人类才发现本以为能够掌控一切的他们,在智械面前不过如婴孩一般,无力抵抗。灾难席卷了人类生存的所有星球,在人类发展的起源星上,为了生存不得不躲入了地下避难所。八年后,当人们再次回到地面时才发现,世界变得满目疮痍,智械消失了。于是人们踏上了探索灾难后新世界的道路!
  • 手到擒来:总裁的独宠新娘

    手到擒来:总裁的独宠新娘

    第一次见面,她从他家的围墙爬下来,从此赖在了他的视线当中,盘踞不走。原以为他只是生命中一个过客罢了,可没想到他竟然是她受命接近的人。“楚安瑾,既然所有事情都是你挑起的,那么结果自然该你来承受!”他擒住她翱翔的双翼,为她打造最奢华的金丝牢笼,但最终还是被她带着他的儿子潜逃成功。再次相见,已是五年后。“妈咪,为什么爹地长得不像我?”某萌宝眨巴着大眼睛,天真地问道。楚安瑾闻言,无奈地笑了,“不是应该你长得像爹地才对吗?”“可我长得也不像爹地呀!”萌宝蹙着眉头,挠了挠小脑袋,“他们都说我长得像顾叔叔……”
  • 惜取眼前人

    惜取眼前人

    《和亲公主》前传,讲述《和亲公主》女主角冯陈楚杨上一辈的谢安之与情敌一起穿越,因无任何政治背景,无任何谋生能力,只得和情敌一起混迹于青楼……本只为求生早日回家,但却为救情敌性命,卷入了两方势力的争斗中,引发一系列啼笑皆非的故事。
  • 十五岁的小船长

    十五岁的小船长

    《十五岁的小船长》讲述双桅捕鲸船流浪者号欲从新回兰返回旧金山。在太平洋洋面上,他们搭救了一艘半沉的船及船上五个黑人和一条狗。航行中五位船员坐上小艇去捕鲸,不幸罹难,船长的重任落到年仅十五岁的桑德身上。船上的厨师内格罗本是贩卖黑奴的坏人,他为了达到自己不可告人的目的,耍弄阴谋,制造混乱,但在刚毅坚定、聪明绝伦的十五岁小船长领导下,都一次次化险为夷,成功地驾船返回美洲大陆。
  • 慨古录

    慨古录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 至尊盛宠:逆天九王妃

    至尊盛宠:逆天九王妃

    连晨,21世纪的王牌特工,当命运的齿轮开始转动,她魂穿异世,成为了“他”。冷酷淡漠的九王爷,邪魅古怪的宗主大人,心狠手辣的大皇子,各色美男齐齐围聚在她身边,她却是不屑一顾。她是女帝转世之身,手握九大神器,任何人都无法阻挡她逆天而行的脚步,任何人想取笑她,侮辱她,她会遇神杀神,遇佛杀佛。且看王牌特工如何傲视天下,笑看苍穹。
  • 中山诗话

    中山诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 绿鸟岛

    绿鸟岛

    “绿鸟岛要开发了!”平城里有一天有一个人这么说。过了几天有几个人这么说。再过几天,有人从绿鸟岛归来了。“地皮快要卖光了,听说一个外商化了八十万美金买走了半个小岛,剩下的那些也被邻近几个县城的‘大蟹’们买走了一大半,听说要建什么五星级宾馆啦,高级游乐场啦……”诱人的信息不胫而走。一传十,十传百。于是那个离平城二十五海里的小岛显得神秘了起来,在人们的想象中闪着黄金的光彩。于是,从平城开往绿鸟岛的轮船从三天一趟增加到一天一趟。
  • 传古秘术

    传古秘术

    一个普通人在不知不觉中被一股神秘组织推向未知的迷团,而自己也在经历多次历险后了解到自己已经从普通人变成了解开千年迷团唯一可能失传千年的古术秘法鬼王的戒指碧眼狐狸像和巨型狐狸洞穴一切的一切都与千年前突然消失的一个使用秘术的族群有着千丝万缕的联系……
  • 儒言

    儒言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。