Erdgeist (Earth-Spirit) Part 1

Erdgeist (Earth-Spirit).

by Frank Wedekind.

PROLOGUE

(At rise, is seen the entrance to a tent, out of which steps an animal-tamer, with long, black curls, dressed in a white cravat, a vermilion dress-coat, white trowsers and white top-boots. He carries in his left hand a dog-whip and in his right a loaded revolver, and enters to the sound of cymbals and kettle-drums.)

Walk in! Walk in to the menagery, Proud gentlemen and ladies lively and merry!

With avid l.u.s.t or cold disgust, the very Beast without Soul bound and made secondary To human genius, to stay and see!

Walk in, the show'll begin!--As customary, One child to each two persons comes in free.

Here battle man and brute in narrow cages Where one in haught disdain his long whip lashes And one, with growls as when the thunder rages, Against the man's throat murderously dashes,-- Where now the crafty conquers, now the strong, Now man, now beast, lies cowed the floor along; The animal rears,--the human on all fours!

One ice-cold look of dominance-- The beast submissive bows before that glance, And the proud heel upon his neck adores.

Bad are the times! Ladies and gentlemen Who once before my cage in thronging crescents Crowded, now honor operas, and then Ibsen, with their so highly valued presence.

My boarders here are so in want of fodder That they reciprocally devour each other.

How well off at the theater is a player, Sure of the meat upon his ribs, albeit His frightful hunger may tear him and he it And colleagues' inner cupboards be quite bare!-- Greatness in art we struggle to inherit, Although the salary never match the merit.

What see you, whether in light or sombre plays?

=House-animals=, whose morals all must praise, Who wreak pale spites in vegetarian ways, And revel in an easy cry or fret, Just like those others--down in the parquet.

This hero has a head by one dram swirled; That is in doubt whether his love be right; A third you hear despairing of the world,-- Full five acts long you hear him wail his plight, And no man ends him with a merciful sleight!

But the =real= beast, the =beautiful=, =wild= beast, Your eyes on =that=, _I_, ladies, only feast!

You see the Tiger, that habitually Devours whatever falls before his bound; The Bear, so ravenous originally, Who at a late night-meal sinks dead to ground; You see the Monkey, little and amusing, From sheer ennui his petty powers abusing,-- He has some talent, of all greatness scant, So, impudently, coquettes with his own want!

Upon my soul, within my tent's a mammal, See, right behind the curtain, here,--a Camel!

And all my creatures fawn about my feet When my revolver cracks--

(He shoots into the audience.)

Behold!

Brutes tremble all around me. I am cold: The =man= stays cold,--you, with respect, to greet.

Walk in!--You hardly trust yourselves in here?-- Then very well, judge for yourselves! Each sphere Has sent its crawling creatures to your telling: Chameleons and serpents, crocodiles, Dragons, and salamanders chasm-dwelling,-- I know, of course, you're full of quiet smiles And don't believe a syllable I say.--

(He lifts the entrance-flap and calls into the tent.)

Hi, Charlie!--bring our =Serpent= just this way!

(A stage-hand with a big paunch carries out the actress of =Lulu= in her Pierrot costume, and sets her down before the animal-tamer.)

She was created to incite to sin, To lure, seduce, poison--yea, murder, in A manner no man knows.--My pretty beast,

(Tickling Lulu's chin.)

Only be =unaffected=, and not pieced Out with distorted, artificial folly, Even if the critics praise thee for 't less wholly.

Thou hast no right to spoil the shape most fitting, Most =true=, of =woman=, with meows and spitting!

And mind, all foolery and making faces The =childish simpleness= of =Vice= disgraces.

Thou shouldst--to-day I speak emphatically-- Speak =naturally= and not unnaturally, For the first principle in every art, Since earliest times, was =True= and =Plain=, not =Smart=!

(To the public.)

There's nothing special now to see in her, But wait and watch what later will occur!

Her strength about the Tiger she coils stricter: He roars and groans!--Who'll be the final victor?-- Hop, Charlie, march! Carry her to her place,

(The stage-hand carries Lulu in his arms; the animal-tamer pats her on the hips.)

Sweet innocence--my dearest treasure-case!

(The stage-hand carries Lulu back into the tent.)

And now I'll tell the best thing in the day: My poll between the teeth of a beast of prey!

Walk in! Tho to be sure the show's not new, Yet everyone takes pleasure in its view!

Wrench open this wild animal's jaws I dare, And he to bite dares not! My pate's so =fair=, So =wild=, so =gaily decked=, it wins respect!

I offer it him with confidence unchecked.

One =joke=, and my two temples crack!--but, lo, The lightning of my eyes I will forego, Staking my =life= against a =joke=! and throw My whip, my weapons, down. I am in my skin!

I yield me to this beast!--His name do ye know?

--The honored public! that has just walked in!

(The animal-tamer steps back into the tent, accompanied by cymbals and kettledrums.)

ACT I

_A roomy studio. Entrance door at the rear, left. Another door at lower left to the bed-room. At centre, a platform for the model, with a Spanish screen behind it and a Smyrna rug in front. Two easels at lower right. On the upper one is the picture of a young girl's head and shoulders. Against the other leans a reversed canvas. Below these, toward centre, an ottoman, with a tiger-skin on it. Two chairs along the left wall. In the back-ground, right, a step-ladder._

_Schon sits on the foot of the ottoman, inspecting critically the picture on the further easel. Schwarz stands behind the ottoman, his palette and brushes in his hands._

SCHoN. Do you know, I'm getting acquainted with a brand new side of the lady.

SCHWARZ. I have never painted anyone whose expression changed so continuously. I could hardly keep a single feature the same two days running.

SCHoN. (Pointing to the picture and observing him.) Do you find that in it?

SCHWARZ. I have done everything imaginable to call forth some sort of quiet in her mood by my conversation during the sittings.

SCHoN. Then I understand the difference. (Schwarz dips his brush in the oil and draws it over the features of the face.) Do you think that makes it look more like her?

SCHWARZ. We can only work with art as scientifically as possible.

SCHoN. Tell me--

SCHWARZ. (Stepping back.) The color had sunk in pretty well, too.