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    The Joy of Living (Es lebe das Leben): A Play in Five Acts
    The Joy of Living (Es lebe das Leben): A Play in Five Acts
    The Joy of Living (Es lebe das Leben): A Play in Five Acts
    Ebook163 pages1 hour

    The Joy of Living (Es lebe das Leben): A Play in Five Acts

    By Hermann Sudermann

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    DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "The Joy of Living (Es lebe das Leben)" (A Play in Five Acts) by Hermann Sudermann. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDigiCat
    Release dateSep 16, 2022
    ISBN8596547346913
    The Joy of Living (Es lebe das Leben): A Play in Five Acts

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      Book preview

      The Joy of Living (Es lebe das Leben) - Hermann Sudermann

      Hermann Sudermann

      The Joy of Living (Es lebe das Leben)

      A Play in Five Acts

      EAN 8596547346913

      DigiCat, 2022

      Contact: DigiCat@okpublishing.info

      Table of Contents

      A PLAY IN FIVE ACTS

      HERMANN SUDERMANN

      TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN

      EDITH WHARTON

      CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS NEW YORK:::::::::::::::::1906

      CHARACTERS

      ACT I

      THE JOY OF LIVING

      ACT I

      Curtain.

      ACT II

      ACT II

      Curtain.

      ACT III

      ACT III

      Curtain.

      ACT IV

      ACT IV

      Curtain.

      ACT V

      ACT V

      Curtain.

      A PLAY IN FIVE ACTS

      Table of Contents

      BY

      HERMANN SUDERMANN

      Table of Contents

      TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN

      Table of Contents

      BY

      EDITH WHARTON

      Table of Contents

      CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

      NEW YORK:::::::::::::::::1906

      Table of Contents

      Published, November, 1902

      TROW DIRECTORY

      PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING COMPANY

      NEW YORK

      Translator's Note

      Table of Contents

      The translation of dramatic dialogue is attended with special difficulties, and these are peculiarly marked in translating from German into English. The German sentence carries more ballast than English readers are accustomed to, and while in translating narrative one may, by means of subordinate clauses, follow the conformation of the original, it is hard to do so in rendering conversation, and virtually impossible when the conversation is meant to be spoken on the stage. To English and American spectators the long German speeches are a severe strain on the attention, and even in a translation intended only for the closet a too faithful adherence to German construction is not the best way of doing justice to the original.

      Herr Sudermann's dialogue is more concise than that of many other German dramatists; yet in translation his sentences and speeches need to be divided and recast: to preserve the spirit, the letter must be modified. This is true not only of the construction of his dialogue but also of his forms of expression. Wherever it has been possible, his analogies, his allusions, his tours de phrase, have been scrupulously followed; but where they seemed to obscure his meaning to English readers some adaptation has been necessary. Apart from these trifling changes, the original has been closely followed; and such modifications as have been made were suggested solely by the wish to reproduce Herr Sudermann's meaning more closely than a literal translation would have allowed.

      CHARACTERS

      Table of Contents

      Count Michael von Kellinghausen.

      Beata, his wife.

      Ellen, their daughter.

      Baron Richard von Völkerlingk.

      Leonie, his wife.

      Norbert, their son, reading for the Bar.

      Baron Ludwig von Völkerlingk (Secretary of State, Richard's step-brother).

      Prince Usingen.

      Baron von Brachtmann.

      Herr von Berkelwitz-Grünhof.

      Dr. Kahlenberg (Privy Councillor at the Board of Physicians).

      Holtzmann (candidate for Holy Orders, private Secretary to Baron Richard von Völkerlingk).

      Meixner.

      A Physician.

      Conrad, servant at Count Kellinghausen's.

      George, Baron Richard's servant.

      Another Servant.

      The scene is laid in Berlin--the first three and the fifth acts at the house of Count Kellinghausen; the fourth act at Baron Richard Völkerlingk's.

      Period: about 1899.

      ACT I

      Table of Contents

      THE JOY OF LIVING

      Table of Contents

      ACT I

      Table of Contents

      A drawing-room in the Empire style in Count Kellinghausen's house. In front, on the left, a fireplace; to the left, in the background, a door to the inner apartments; to the right, back, a door into the front passage; in the foreground, on the right, a window. In the centre of back wall a wide opening between two columns, partly closed by an old Gobelins tapestry. On the right a sofa, table and chairs. On the left, in front of the fireplace, several low seats. Near the middle, placed diagonally, a writing-table with shelves; beside the table two seats with low backs and a comfortable arm-chair. Old portraits and coloured prints on the walls.

      Holtzmann is seated at the back of the room, a portfolio on his lap. Conrad ushers in Baron Ludwig.

      Conrad (in the doorway).

      If your Excellency will kindly come this way--the doctor is with Madame von Kellinghausen.

      Baron Ludwig.

      Ah? In that case perhaps I had better----

      Conrad.

      Madame von Kellinghausen will be here in a moment, your Excellency. The other gentleman has already been announced. (Indicating Holtzmann.)

      Baron Ludwig.

      Very well. (Conrad goes out.)

      Holtzmann (rises and makes a deep bow).

      Baron Ludwig.

      (Bowing slightly in return wanders about the room and at last pauses before Holtzmann.) I beg your pardon but--surely I know your face.

      Holtzmann.

      Very likely, your Excellency. My name is Holtzmann, private secretary to Baron Richard von Völkerlingk.

      Baron Ludwig.

      Indeed? I am so seldom at my brother's. The fact is--er, well. Yesterday was election-day at Lengenfeld, by the way. The papers were full of it this morning. It seems to cause a good deal of surprise that Count Kellinghausen should not only have withdrawn in favour of my brother, but should actually have gone about canvassing for him. I daresay that's an exaggeration, though?

      Holtzmann.

      On the contrary, your Excellency. The Count has been down in the country electioneering for weeks.

      Baron Ludwig.

      Really? And you were with him, I suppose?

      Holtzmann (with a dry smile).

      Very much so, your Excellency. I should be sorry to be answerable for all the nonsense I've had to talk and write!

      Baron Ludwig.

      H'm--just so. Nonsense always wins. Who said that, by the way? Julian the Apostate, wasn't it?

      Holtzmann.

      No, your Excellency. Talbot.

      Baron Ludwig.

      Julian might have said it. The losing side always philosophises.

      Holtzmann.

      I hope we sha'n't be on the losing side.

      Baron Ludwig.

      H'm. What is your profession?

      Holtzmann.

      Theology, your Excellency.

      Baron Ludwig.

      And how long do you think it will be before it lands you in socialism?

      Holtzmann (offended).

      Excellency!

      Baron Ludwig.

      My dear sir, look at the examples! I remember a predecessor of yours at my brother's--a theological student also, I believe. Well, he landed with both feet in the middle of the Socialist camp.

      Holtzmann.

      Yes, I know, your Excellency. You mean Meixner.

      Baron Ludwig.

      That reminds me--I hear the fellow has actually been taking a leading hand in the fight against my brother.

      Holtzmann.

      The report is true.

      Baron Ludwig.

      Well, I hope you hit back hard.

      Holtzmann.

      That is what I was there for, your Excellency.

      Enter Beata and Dr. Kahlenberg.

      Beata.

      I hadn't dared to hope that your Excellency would answer my summons so promptly.

      Baron Ludwig (kissing her hand).

      My dear Countess, your summons was a command--and one I was only too happy to obey. (Beata turns to Holtzmann.) Ah, good-morning, my dear doctor.

      Kahlenberg.

      Good-morning, your Excellency. How is it you haven't been in lately to let me look you over? A guilty conscience, eh?

      Baron Ludwig.

      Lack of time, doctor. Give me a day of twenty-five hours, and I'll devote one of them to consulting my physician.

      Kahlenberg.

      Who will order you to rest during the other twenty-four.

      Baron Ludwig.

      We all get that order sooner or later, doctor--and from a chief we have to obey. (In a low voice.) How is the Countess?

      Kahlenberg (same tone).

      No worse. (To Beata.) And now, my dear lady, I must be off--but what's the matter?

      Beata (joyously excited, a paper in her hand).

      Oh, nothing--nothing--nothing----

      Kahlenberg (in a tone of friendly reproach).

      You know I've warned

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