Hard and with pain he fetched his lab'ring breath, Reynard, well pleased t' have cozened Uncle Bruin, He knew, close by, a tried and fav'rite place. Stopping from time to time to take a draft; And thought aloud, while in his sleeve he laugh'd: "How pleased I am t' have trick'd that stupid Bear! Honey he longed for, and has had his share. By this he knows how tastes a joiner's ax. I'm glad t' have shown him this good turn, as he Poor uncle! Well, by chance should he be dead, It is the least, methinks, that I can do." Reynard could scarce, so great was his surprise, "Bruin alive! And in this place!" quoth he. Thus spake the Fox, as he beheld the Bear, Or did you pay, as right was, for your treat? Rather a dangerous prank to play is that! Yet, now I look more close, your ears are gone, sure; Have you of late submitted to the tonsure, While Bruin, all unable to reply, Could only moan with grief and agony. No longer could he these sharp gibes sustain, He floated downward with the stream once more, And piteously unto himself did say: "That some one would but slay me here outright! With firm resolve his pain to overcome, When the king saw the Bear so sorely maimed, "Ah, Sire!" said Bruin, "and is this the fate That should a king's ambassador befall? -"Reynard the Fox." August von Kotzebue Henriette's Delinquency MADAM OLDGIRL, MADAM BONES, MADAM LIMP, MADAM PALSY, old Ladies; SHAKY, SNOWHAIR, ANCIENT, WISE, old Gentlemen; HENRIETTE. Old. Come, Henriette, here is a letter for you. Bones. A letter? (All the old Ladies and Gentlemen, except WISE, put on their glasses or spectacles and look at the letter.) Limp. Who would have thought it! Palsy. So the young lady corresponds! Old. Do you know the handwriting? Hen. No, dear grandmama. But if you will permit me to read it Old. It will be read to you. Hen. But the letter is probably meant for my eyes alone. Old. Silence! Read it, please, gentlemen. (She hands the letter to SHAKY and SNOW HAIR.) Shaky. Just as you command. (Both gentlemen seize the letter, each at one corner, and try to read it at the same time. One of them wants to bring it near his eyes, the other to hold it at a distance.) Snow. Permit me, I am near-sighted. Shaky. But I am far-sighted. Snow. I must have the letter near my eyes. Shaky. I must keep it as far away as possible. (In trying to adjust the position of the letter to their different needs, they tear it into halves.) Snow. Oh, I beg your pardon! Shaky. It does not matter. We are both suited now. Do you read your part of the letter, and I will read mine. (Reads.) "Most charming" 66 Snow. of your sex," Shaky. "I love you unspeak-" Snow. "ably, with the whole " Shaky. "fire of youth." Old. Confusion to youth! Wise (aside). I'm afraid it is my nephew. Snow. (reads). “If I may indulge the hope" Shaky. "that I am not entirely indifferent to you," Snow. "pay no heed to your antiquated grandmother," Shaky. "and still less the other old monsters" Snow. "who surround her." means us! Monsters! No doubt he Shaky. That, my dear sir, is unhappily only too apparent. Snow. (reads). "Like a rosebud " Shaky. "amid withered nettles," Snow. "thus do you seem, sweetest girl," Shaky. "amid those antiquated relics" Snow. "of the middle of last century!" Bones. Withered nettles! Limp. Antiquated relics! Palsy. It seems that these epithets are aimed at us! Shaky (reads). "Break your fetters," Snow. "and flee to my arms!" Old. Oh, you fiend! Shaky (reads). "I have an excellent uncle," Wise (aside). Now comes my turn! |