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ACT I

SCENE FIRST

A Dwelling Room

Wendla

Why have you made my dress so long, Mother?

Frau Bergmann

You are fourteen years old to-day.

Wendla

Had I known you were going to make my dress so long, I would rather not have been fourteen.

Frau Bergmann

The dress is not too long, Wendla. What do you want? Can I help it that my child is two inches taller every spring? As a grown-up maiden you cannot go about in short dresses.

Wendla

At any rate, my short dress becomes me better than this nightgown.—Let me wear it again, Mother, only through this summer. This penitential robe will fit me just as well whether I am fifteen or fourteen. Let's put it aside until my next birthday, now I should only tear the flounces.

Frau Bergmann

I don't know what to say. I want to take special care of you just now, child. Other girls are hardy and plump at your age. You are the contrary.–Who knows what you will be when the others have developed?

Wendla

Who knows—possibly I shall not be at all.

Frau Bergmann

Child, child, how do such thoughts come to you!

Wendla

Don't, dear Mother, don't be sad.

Frau Bergmann

(Kissing her.)

My own darling!

Wendla

They come to me at night when I can't sleep. I am not made sad by them, and I believe that I sleep better after them. Is it sinful, Mother, to have such thoughts?

Frau Bergmann

Go hang the long dress up in the closet. Put on your short dress again, in God's name!—I will put another depth of ruffles on it.

Wendla

(Hanging the dress in the closet.)

No, I would rather be twenty at once–!

Frau Bergmann

If only you are not too cold!–The dress was long enough for you in its time, but–

Wendla

Now, when summer is coming?–Mother, when one is a child, one doesn't catch diphtheria in one's knees! Who would be so cowardly. At my age one doesn't freeze—least of all in the legs. Would it be any better for me to be too warm, Mother? Give thanks to God if some day your darling doesn't tear out the sleeves and come to you at twilight without her shoes and stockings!—If I wore my long dress I should dress like an elfin queen under it.—Don't scold, Mother! Nobody sees it any more.

SCENE SECOND

Sunday Evening

Melchior

This is too tiresome for me. I won't do anything more with it.

Otto

Then we others can stop, too!–Have you the work, Melchior?

Melchior

Keep right on playing!

Moritz

Where are you going?

Melchior

For a walk.

George

But it's growing dark!

Robert

Have you the work already?

Melchior

Why shouldn't I go walking in the dark?

Ernest

Central America!–Louis the Fifteenth!–Sixty verses of Homer!–Seven equations!

Melchior

Damn the work!

George

If only Latin composition didn't come to-morrow!

Moritz

One can't think of anything without a task intervening.

Otto

I'm going home.

George

I, too, to work.

Ernest

I, too, I too.

Robert

Good-night, Melchior.

Melchior

Sleep well! (All withdraw save Moritz and Melchior.) I'd like to know why we really are on earth!

Moritz

I'd rather be a cab-horse than go to school!–Why do we go to school?–We go to school so that somebody can examine us!–And why do they examine us?–In order that we may fail. Seven must fail, because the upper classroom will hold only sixty.–I feel so queer since Christmas.–The devil take me, if it were not for Papa, I'd pack my bundle and go to Altoona to-day!

Melchior

Let's talk of something else–

(They go for a walk.)

Moritz

Do you see that black cat there with its tail sticking up?

Melchior

Do you believe in omens?

Moritz

I don't know exactly. They come down to us. They don't matter.

Melchior

I believe that is the Charybdis on which one runs when one steers clear of the Scylla of religious folly.–Let's sit down under this beech tree. The cool wind blows over the mountains. Now I should like to be a young dryad up there in the wood to cradle myself in the topmost branches and be rocked the livelong night.

Moritz

Unbutton your vest, Melchior.

Melchior

Ha!–How clothes make one puff up!

Moritz

God knows, it's growing so dark that one can't see one's hand before one's eyes. Where are you?–Do you believe, Melchior, that the feeling of shame in man is only a product of his education?

Melchior

I was thinking over that for the first time the day before yesterday. It seems to me deeply rooted in human nature. Only think, you must appear entirely clothed before your best friend. You wouldn't do so if he didn't do the same thing.–Therefore, it's more or less of a fashion.

Moritz

I have often thought that if I have children, boys and girls, I will let them occupy the same room; let them sleep together in the same bed, if possible; let them help each other dress and undress night and morning. In hot weather, the boys as well as the girls, should wear nothing all day long but a short white woolen tunic with a girdle.–It seems to me that if they grew up that way they would be easier in mind than we are under the present regulations.

Melchior

I believe so decidedly, Moritz!–The only question is, suppose the girls have children, what then?

Moritz

How could they have children?

Melchior

In that respect I believe in instinct. I believe, for example, that if one brought up a male and a female cat together, and kept both separated from the outside world–that is, left them entirely to their own devices–that, sooner or later, the she cat would become pregnant, even if she, and the tom cat as well, had nobody to open their eyes by example.

Moritz

That might happen with animals–

Melchior

I believe the same of human beings. I assure you, Moritz, if your boys sleep in the same bed with the girls, and the first emotion of manhood comes unexpectedly to them—I should like to wager with anyone–

Moritz

You may be right—but after all–

Melchior

And when your girls reached the same age it would be the same with them! Not that the girls exactly—one can't judge that the same, certainly—at any rate, it is supposable—and then their curiosity must not be left out of account.

Moritz

A question, by the way–

Melchior

Well?

Moritz

But you will answer?

Melchior

Naturally!

Moritz

Truly?!

Melchior

My hand on it.–Now, Moritz?

Moritz

Have you written your composition yet??

Melchior

Speak right out from your heart!–Nobody sees or hears us here.

Moritz

Of course, my children will have to work all day long in yard or garden, or find their amusement in games which are combined with physical exercise. They must ride, do gymnastics, climb, and, above all things, must not sleep as soft as we do. We are weakened frightfully.–I believe one would not dream if one slept harder.

Melchior

From now until fall I shall sleep only in my hammock. I have shoved my bed back of the stove. It is a folding one. Last winter I dreamed once that I flogged our Lolo until he couldn't move a limb. That was the most gruesome thing I ever dreamed.–Why do you look at me so strangely?

Moritz

Have you experienced it yet?

Melchior

What?

Moritz

How do you say it?

Melchior

Manhood's emotion?

Moritz

M—'hm.

Melchior

Certainly!

Moritz

I also – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Melchior

I've known that for a long while!–Almost for a year.

Moritz

I was startled as if by lightning.

Melchior

Did you dream?

Moritz

Only for a little while—of legs in light blue tights, that strode over the teacher's desk—to be correct, I thought they wanted to go over it. I only saw them for an instant.

Melchior

George Zirschnitz dreamed of his mother.

Moritz

Did he tell you that?

Melchior

Out there on the gallow's road.

Moritz

If you only knew what I have endured since that night!

Melchior

Qualms of conscience?

Moritz

Qualms of conscience??–The anguish of death!

Melchior

Good Lord–

Moritz

I thought I was incurable. I believed I was suffering from an inward hurt.–Finally I became calm enough to begin to jot down the recollections of my life. Yes, yes, dear Melchior, the last three weeks have been a Gethsemane for me.

Melchior

I was more or less prepared for it when it came. I felt a little ashamed of myself.–But that was all.

Moritz

And yet you are a whole year younger than I am.

Melchior

I wouldn't bother about that, Moritz. All my experience shows that the appearance of this phantom belongs to no particular age. You know that big Lämmermeier with the straw-colored hair and the hooked nose. He is three years older than I am. Little Hans Rilow says Lämmermeier dreams now only of tarts and apricot preserves.

Moritz

But, I ask you, how can Hans Rilow know that?

Melchior

He asked him.

Moritz

He asked him?–I didn't dare ask anybody.

Melchior

But you asked me.

Moritz

God knows, yes!–Possibly Hans, too, has made his will.–Truly they play a remarkable game with us. And we're expected to give thanks for it. I don't remember to have had any longing for this kind of excitement. Why didn't they let me sleep peacefully until all was still again. My dear parents might have had a hundred better children. I came here, I don't know how, and must be responsible because I didn't stay away.–Haven't you often wondered, Melchior, by what means we were brought into this whirl?

Melchior

Don't you know that yet either, Moritz?

Moritz

How should I know it? I see how the hens lay eggs, and hear that Mamma had to carry me under her heart. But is that enough?–I remember, too, when I was a five year old child, to have been embarrassed when anyone turned up the décolleté queen of hearts. This feeling has disappeared. At the same time, I can hardly talk with a girl to-day without thinking of something indecent, and—I swear to you, Melchior—I don't know what.

Melchior

I will tell you everything. I have gotten it partly from books, partly from illustrations, partly from observations of nature. You will be surprised; it made me an atheist. I told it to George Zirschnitz! George Zirschnitz wanted to tell it to Hans Rilow, but Hans Rilow had learned it all from his governess when he was a child.

Moritz

I have gone through Meyer's Little Encyclopedia from A to Z. Words—nothing but words and words! Not a single plain explanation. Oh, this feeling of shame!–What good to me is an encyclopedia that won't answer me concerning the most important question in life?

Melchior

Did you ever see two dogs running together about the streets?

Moritz

No!–Don't tell me anything to-day, Melchior. I have Central America and Louis the Fifteenth before me. And then the sixty verses of Homer, the seven equations and the Latin composition.–I would fail in all of them again to-morrow. To drudge successfully I must be as stupid as an ox.

Melchior

Come with me to my room. In three-quarters of an hour I will have the Homer, the equations and two compositions. I will put one or two harmless errors in yours, and the thing is done. Mamma will make lemonade for us again, and we can chat comfortably about propagation.

Moritz

I can't–I can't chat comfortably about propagation! If you want to do me a favor, give me your information in writing. Write me out what you know. Write it as briefly and clearly as possible, and put it between my books to-morrow during recess. I will carry it home without knowing that I have it. I will find it unexpectedly. I cannot but help going over it with tired eyes–in case it is hard to explain, you can use a marginal diagram or so.

Melchior

You are like a girl.–Nevertheless, as you wish. It will be a very interesting task for me.–One question, Moritz?

Moritz

Hm?

Melchior

Did you ever see a girl?

Moritz

Yes!

Melchior

All of her?

Moritz

Certainly!

Melchior

So have I!–Then we won't need any illustrations.

Moritz

During the Schützenfest in Leilich's anatomical museum! If it had leaked out I should have been hunted out of school.–Beautiful as the light of day, and–oh, so true to nature!

Melchior

I was at Frankfurt with Mamma last summer–Are you going already, Moritz?

Moritz

I must work.–Good-night.

Melchior

'Till we meet again.

SCENE THIRD

Thea, Wendla and Martha come along the street arm in arm

Martha

How the water gets into one's shoes!

Wendla

How the wind blows against one's cheeks!

Thea

How one's heart thumps!

Wendla

Let's go out there to the bridge. Ilse says the stream is full of bushes and trees. The boys have built a raft. Melchi Gabor was almost drowned yesterday.

Thea

Oh, he can swim!

Martha

I should think so, child!

Wendla

If he hadn't been able to swim he would have been drowned!

Thea

Your hair is coming down, Martha, your hair is coming down.

Martha

Pooh!–Let it come down! It bothers me day and night. I may not wear short hair like you; I may not wear my hair down my back like Wendla; I may not wear bangs, and I must always do my hair up at home–all on account of my aunt!

Wendla

I'll bring the scissors with me to-morrow to devotions. While you are saying, “Blessed are they who do not stray,” I will clip it off.

Martha

For heaven's sake, Wendla! Papa would beat me black and blue, and Mamma would lock me up in the coal hole for three nights.

Wendla

What does he beat you with, Martha?

Martha

It often seems to me as if they would miss something if they didn't have an ill-conditioned brat like me.

Thea

Why, girl!

Martha

Are you ever allowed to put a blue ribbon through the top of your chemise?

Thea

A pink ribbon! Mamma thinks a pink ribbon goes well with my big dark eyes.

Martha

Blue suits me to a T!–Mamma pulled me out of bed by the hair. I fell with my hands out so on the floor.–Mamma prayed night after night with us–

Wendla

In your place I should have run away long ago.

Martha

There you have it! The reason I am going away!–There you have it!–They will soon see–oh, they will soon see! At least I shall never be able to reproach my mother–

Thea

H'm, h'm.–

Martha

Can you imagine, Thea, what Mamma meant by it?

Thea

I can't–can you, Wendla?

Wendla

I should simply have asked her.

Martha

I lay on the floor and shrieked and howled. Then Papa came in. Rip–he tore off my chemise. Out of the door I went. There you have it!–I only wanted to get out in the street that way–

Wendla

But that is not so, Martha.

Martha

I froze. I was locked up. I had to sleep all night in a sack.

Thea

Never in my life could I sleep in a sack!

Wendla

I only wish I could sleep once for you in your sack.

Martha

If only one weren't beaten!

Thea

But one would suffocate in it!

Martha

Your head is left outside. It's tied under your chin.

Thea

And then they beat you?

Martha

No. Only when there is special occasion.

Wendla

What do they beat you with, Martha?

Martha

Oh, with anything that is handy.–Does your mother think it's naughty to eat a piece of bread in bed?

Wendla

No! no!

Martha

I believe they enjoy it–even if they don't say so. If I ever have children I will let them grow up like the weeds in our flower garden. Nobody worries about them and they grow so high and thick–while the roses in the beds grow poorer and poorer every summer.

Thea

If I have children I shall dress them all in pink. Pink hats, pink dresses, pink shoes. Only the stockings–the stockings shall be black as night! When I go for a walk they shall march in front of me.–And you, Wendla?

Wendla

How do you know that you will have any?

Thea

Why shouldn't we have any?

Martha

Well, Aunt Euphemia hasn't any.

Thea

You goose, that's because she isn't married.

Wendla

Aunt Bauer was married three times and she didn't have a single one.

Martha

If you have any, Wendla, which would you rather have, boys or girls?

Wendla

Boys! boys!

Thea

I, too, boys!

Martha

So would I. Better twenty boys than three girls.

Thea

Girls are tiresome.

Martha

If I weren't a girl already I certainly wouldn't want to be one.

Wendla

That's a matter of taste, I believe, Martha. I rejoice every day that I am a girl. Believe me, I wouldn't change places with a king's son.–That's the reason why I only want boys!

Thea

But that's crazy, pure craziness, Wendla!

Wendla

But it must be a thousand times more exciting to be loved by a man than by a girl!

Thea

But you don't want to assert that Forest Inspector Pfälle loves Melitta more than she does him.

Wendla

That I do, Thea. Pfälle is proud. Pfälle is proud because he is a forest inspector—for Pfälle has nothing.–Melitta is happy because she gets ten thousand times more than she is.

Martha

Aren't you proud of yourself, Wendla?

Wendla

That would be silly.

Martha

In your place I should be proud of my appearance.

Thea

Only look how she steps out–how free her glance is—how she holds herself, Martha. Isn't that pride?

Wendla

Why not? I am so happy to be a girl; if I weren't a girl I should break down the next time–

(Melchior passes and greets them.)

Thea

He has a wonderful head.

Martha

He makes me think of the young Alexander going to school to Aristotle.

Thea

Oh dear, Greek history!–I only know how Socrates lay in his barrel when Alexander sold him the ass' shadow.

Wendla

He stands third in his class.

Thea

Professor Knochenbruch says he can be first if he wants.

Martha

He has a beautiful brow, but his friend has a soulful look.

Thea

Moritz Stiefel?–He's a stupid!

Martha

I've always gotten along well with him.

Thea

He disgraces anybody who is with him. At Rilow's party he offered me some bon-bons. Only think, Wendla, they were soft and warm. Isn't that–? He said he had kept them too long in his trouser's pocket.