Pandora's Box Part 14

SCHIGOLCH. (_On his mattress._) Won't you turn up the lamp a little?

ALVA. Can a simple, natural man in the wilderness suffer so unspeakably?!--G.o.d, G.o.d, what have I made of my life!

SCHIGOLCH. What's the beastly weather made of my ulster! When I was five-and-twenty, I knew how to help myself!

ALVA. It has not cost everyone my sunny, glorious youth!

SCHIGOLCH. I guess it'll go out in a minute. Till they come back it'll be as dark in here again as in mother's womb.

ALVA. With the clearest consciousness of my purpose I sought intercourse with people who'd never read a book in their lives. With self-denial, with exaltation, I clung to the elements, that I might be carried to the loftiest heights of poetic fame. The reckoning was false. I am the martyr of my calling. Since the death of my father I have not written a single line!

SCHIGOLCH. If only they haven't stayed together! n.o.body but a silly boy will go with two, no matter what.

ALVA. They've not stayed together!

SCHIGOLCH. That's what I hope. If need be, she'll keep the creature off from her with kicks.

ALVA. One, risen from the dregs, is the most celebrated man of his nation; another, born in the purple, lies in the mud and cannot die!

SCHIGOLCH. Here they come!

ALVA. And what blessed hours of mutual joy in creation they had lived thru with each other!

SCHIGOLCH. They can do that now, for the first time rightly.--We must hide again.

ALVA. I stay here.

SCHIGOLCH. Just what do you pity them for?--Who spends his money has his good reasons for it!

ALVA. I have no longer the moral courage to let my comfort be disturbed for a miserable sum of money! (_He wraps himself up in his plaid._)

SCHIGOLCH. n.o.blesse oblige! A respectable man does what he owes his position. (_He hides, left. Lulu opens the door, saying "Come right in, dearie," and there enters Prince Kungu Poti, heir-apparent of Uahubee, in a light suit, white spats, tan b.u.t.ton-boots, and a gray tall hat. His speech, interrupted with frequent hiccoughs, abounds with the peculiar African hiss-sounds._)

KUNGU POTI. G.o.d d.a.m.n--it's dark on the stairs!

LULU. It's lighter here, sweetheart. (_Pulling him forward by the hand._) Come on!

KUNGU POTI. But it's cold here, awful cold!

LULU. Have some brandy?

KUNGU POTI. Brandy? You bet--always! Brandy's good!

LULU. (_Giving him the bottle._) I don't know where there's a gla.s.s.

KUNGU POTI. Doesn't matter. (_Drinks._) Brandy! Lots of it!

LULU. You're a nice-looking young man.

KUNGU POTI. My father's the emperor of Uahubee. I've got six wives here, two Spanish, two English, two French. Well--I don't like my wives. Always I must take a bath, take a bath, take a bath....

LULU. How much will you give me?

KUNGU POTI. Gold! Trust me, you shall have gold! One gold-piece. I always give gold-pieces.

LULU. You can give it to me later, but show it to me.

KUNGU POTI. I never pay beforehand.

LULU. But you can show it to me, thoh!

KUNGU POTI. Don't understand, don't understand! Come, Ragapsishimulara! (_Seizing Lulu round the waist._) Come on!

LULU. (_Defending herself with all her strength._) Let me be! Let me be! (_Alva, who has risen painfully from his couch, sneaks up to Kungu Poti from behind and pulls him back by the collar._)

KUNGU POTI. (_Whirling round._) Oh! Oh! This is a murder-hole! Come, my friend, I'll put you to sleep! (_Strikes him over the head with a loaded cane. Alva groans and falls in a heap._) Here's a sleeping-draught! Here's opium for you! Sweet dreams to you! Sweet dreams! (_Then he gives Lulu a kiss; pointing to Alva._) He dreams of you, Ragapsishimulara! Sweet dreams! (_Rushing to the door._) Here's the door!! (_Exit._)

LULU. But I'll not stay here?!--Who can stand it here now!--Rather down onto the street! (_Exit. Schigolch comes out._)

SCHIGOLCH.--Blood!--Alva!--He's got to be put away somewhere.

Hop!--Or else our friends 'll get a shock from him--Alva! Alva!--He that isn't quite clear about it--! One thing or t'other; or it'll soon be too late! I'll give him legs! (_Strikes a match and sticks it into Alva's collar...._) He will have his rest. But no one sleeps here.--(_Drags him by the head into Lulu's room. Returning, he tries to turn up the light._) It'll be time for me, too, right soon now, or they'll get no more Christmas puddings down there in the tavern. G.o.d knows when she'll be coming back from her pleasure tour! (_Fixing an eye on Lulu's picture._) She doesn't understand business! She can't live off love, because her life is love.--There she comes. I'll just talk straight to her once--(_Countess Geschwitz enters._) ... If you want to lodge with us to-night, kindly take a little care that nothing is stolen here.

GESCHWITZ. How dark it is here!

SCHIGOLCH. It gets much darker than this.--The doctor's already gone to rest.

GESCHWITZ. She sent me ahead.

SCHIGOLCH. That was sensible.--If anyone asks for me, I'm sitting downstairs in the pub.

GESCHWITZ. (_After he has gone._) I will sit behind the door. I will look on at everything and not quiver an eye-lash. (_Sits on the broken chair._) Men and women don't know themselves--they know not what they are. Only one who is neither man nor woman knows them.

Every word they say is untrue, a lie. And they do not know it, for they are to-day so and to-morrow so, according as they have eaten, drunk, and loved, or not. Only the body remains for a time what it is, and only the children have reason. The men and women are like the animals: none knows what it does. When they are happiest they bewail themselves and groan, and in their deepest misery they rejoice over every tiny morsel. It is strange how hunger takes from men and women the strength to withstand misfortune. But when they have fed full they make this world a torture-chamber, they throw away their lives to satisfy a whim, a mood. Have there ever once been men and women to whom love brought happiness? And what is their happiness, save that they sleep better and can forget it all? My G.o.d, I thank thee that thou hast not made me as these. I am not man nor woman. My body has nothing common with their bodies. Have I a human soul? Tortured humanity has a little narrow heart; but I know I deserve nothing when I resign all, sacrifice all.... (_Lulu opens the door, and Dr. Hilti enters. Geschwitz, unnoticed, remains motionless by the door._)

LULU. (_Gaily._) Come right in! Come!--you'll stay with me all night?

DR. HILTI. (_His accent is very broad and flat._) But I have no more than five shillings on me. I never take more than that when I go out.

LULU. That's enough, because it's you! You have such faithful eyes!

Come, give me a kiss! (_Dr. Hilti begins to swear, in the broadest north-country vowels._) Please, don't say that.

DR. HILTI. By the de'il, 'tis the first time I've e'er gone with a girrl! You can believe me. Ma.s.s, I hadn't thought it would be like this!

LULU. Are you married?

DR. HILTI. Heaven and Hail, why do you think I am married?--No, I'm a tutor; I read philosophy at the University. The truth is, I come of a very old country family. As a student, I got just two shillings pocket-money, and I could make better use of that than for girrls!

LULU. So you have never been with a woman?