Poems by George Pope Morris Part 35

Harold (an old Sergeant of Grenadiers)..................Mr. Seguin.

Corporal of Grenadiers (old man)........................Mr. Fisher.

Burgomaster..............................................Mr. Povey.

Jailor of the Castle Spandau...........................Mr. Bellamy.

Herald..................................................Mr. Nelson.

First General.............................................Mr. King.

Second General..........................................Mr. Gallot.

Staff-Officers, Officers of State, Workmen of the Factory, Citizens, Advocates, Jurymen, Grenadiers, Peasants, Travellers, Servants, etc.

Countess Laniska.......................................Mrs. Barry.

Frederica (her daughter)..............................Mrs. Knight.

Sophia Mansfield (the Saxon Maid).................Mrs. C. E. Horn.

Gertrude.........................................Miss Mary Taylor.

Ladies of the Court, Factory Gils, Peasants, etc.

Scene -- Berlin and Potsdam.

Time -- Latter part of the reign of Frederick the Great.

The Maid of Saxony. [See Notes]

Act I.

Scene I.

Inside of a German Inn, on the road to Berlin. Fire and candles nearly extinguished.

Clock in the corner, marking the hour of ten. HANS seated in an arm-chair, asleep.

Music. The curtain rises to the opening symphony. HANS yawns in his sleep.

(Enter GERTRUDE.)

GERTRUDE.

Ho! Hans!--Why, Hans!--You Hans, I say!

Awake!--here'll be the deuce to pay!

For coming guests get fire and lights, And help me put the room to rights!

(HANS stretches and yawns)

Hans!--I've no patience with the lout!

What, Hans, on earth are you about?

(Shakes HANS, who yawns again)

Did ever room look so forlorn?

Hans!--Hark! I hear the postman's horn!

(Sounds of a horn in the distance. HANS stretches, yawns, and rises.)

HANS.

What der tuyvel is der matter, Dus you chitter-chatter-clatter?

GERTRUDE (aside).

His impudence can not be borne!

HANS.

What's dat I hear?

GERTRUDE.

The postman's horn!

(Sounds of horn again.)

Whose notes o'er moor and mountain flung--

HANS.

Are not so noisy as your tongue!

(Horn sounds as though approaching; whips are heard, and the post-coach is supposed to arrive outside with Pa.s.sENGERS. Enter the ATTENDANTS, with portmanteaus, carpet-bags, etc., and Pa.s.sENGERS.)

CHORUS.

Rejoice! rejoice! we're safe and sound, And shelter for the night have found, Within this snug abode!

The dust may rise, the rain may fall-- Beneath this roof we'll smile at all The dangers of the road!

SOLO.

Then let the cheerful board be spread; To supper first, and then to bed, Till birds their songs begin: Thus, whether sleeping or awake, The weary traveller will take His comfort at his inn.

CHORUS.

Rejoice! rejoice! we're safe, etc.

[Exit Pa.s.sENGERS and ATTENDANTS

GERTRUDE.

Where in the world are all these people going to, Hans?

HANS.

To Berlin, to shee der troops. Frederick musters dem to-morrow at der capital. But why don't you attend to der guest?

GERTRUDE.

Why don't YOU? You are not fit to keep an inn, Hans.