Poems [57]
(Listens with anxiety.)
HERALD. "And a reward of five hundred crowns to the ARTIST who shall produce the most beautifully designed and highly-finished enameled porcelain vase of Berlin china; and permit her to marry whomsoever she shall think proper."
SOPHIA (aside and joyfully.) Her I aright? (The GIRLS of the Factory show great joy at this.)
HERALD. "The ARTIST's name shall be inscribed upon the vase, which shall be called 'The Prussian Vase.'"
SOPHIA (aside.) Oh, happy, happy news!
HERALD. "Signed at the Sans Souci-- "By the King."
OMNES. HA-z-z-a-a-h-a-a-a-a! (Amid the shouts and general joy of the GIRLS, the BURGOMASTER bustles out, using his wand frequently, and speaking all the while; the HERALD following, and the CITIZENS buzzing and huzzaing as before.) Silence you nondescript villains!--Silence, I say! You stun me with your uproar! (Loud shout.--Passionately.) Oh, shut your ugly mugs! (Strikes them.)
WEDGEWOOD. Mugs! I like that. He's in the crockery-trade, like myself.
SOPHIA (with joy.) This proclamation has animated me with new life and energy. I feel like one inspired!
COUNT. What mean you?
SOPHIA. To become a competitor for the prize.
ALBERT. You will have many opponents.
SOPHIA. I heed them not.
WEDGEWOOD. All will be zeal throughout the manufactory.
SOPHIA. So much the greater need for my perseverance.
ALBERT. Some will be excited with the hope of gaining their liberty.
SOPHIA. Oh, blessed hope!
WEDGEWOOD. Some stimulated by the crowns.--Not at all odd.--It would be odd if they were not!
SOPHIA. But none have so strong a motive for exertion as I have.
COUNT (with enthusiasm.) Nobly resolved! I will assist you with every faculty I possess.
ALBERT (with the same feeling.) And I!
WEDGEWOOD (with the same.) And all!--If it is convenient.
SOPHIA (joyfully.) Then doubt not my success. (Exit LANISKA, ALBERT, and, WEDGEWOOD.) Oh, how my heart bounds with the thoughts of once more seeing Saxony! Its mountains, torrents, vineyards, are all before me now! And then our native songs!--They steal into my heart and melt it.
SONG AND CHORUS. (German air.) SOPHIA and FACTORY GIRLS. Sky, stream, moorland, and mountain, Tree, cot, spire, and dome, Breeze, bird, vineyard, and fountain, Kindred, friends, country, and home!-- Home, home, home, home!-- These are the blessings of home!
(The FACTORY-GIRLS now waltz cheerfully to the music.)
Hope how fondly I cherish, Dear land, to see thee once more! O Fate! let me not perish Far from my own native shore! Home, home, home, home!-- Saxony, Liberty's home!
(The GIRLS waltz as before, etc.)
Those who freedom inherit, Bow not to Tyranny's throne; Then, friends, in a kind spirit, Judge of my love by your own. Home, home, home, home!-- The land of the heart is our home!
(They all waltz with great spirit until the scene closes.)
Scene II.
A Street in Berlin. Enter FREDERICK in a cloak--KARL following.
KING. Those who have the command of motives, and know their power, have also the command of all that the arts, or what is called a genius for the arts, can produce. The human mind and human ingenuity are much the same in Italy, England, and Prussia. Then why should not we have a Prussian as well as a Wedgewood or a Barbarini vase? We shall see. I do not understand mon metier de roi, if I can not call forth talents where I know them to exist. (To KARL.) And so the count denounced me for a tyrant, did he, Karl?
KARL. He did, Your Majesty.
KING. He's a mere stripling; and I permit boys and fools to speak of me as they list. But I am no tyrant, Karl! He might have spared me that. (Musingly.) Tyrant!--
KARL (aside.) It rankles deeply.
KING (recovering from his meditation.) Youth and inexperience--to say nothing of love--pshaw!--which is the root of all folly--shall be his apology this time: but let him beware how he offends again--
KARL (aside.) It moves him as I intended.
KING. No,
HERALD. "And a reward of five hundred crowns to the ARTIST who shall produce the most beautifully designed and highly-finished enameled porcelain vase of Berlin china; and permit her to marry whomsoever she shall think proper."
SOPHIA (aside and joyfully.) Her I aright? (The GIRLS of the Factory show great joy at this.)
HERALD. "The ARTIST's name shall be inscribed upon the vase, which shall be called 'The Prussian Vase.'"
SOPHIA (aside.) Oh, happy, happy news!
HERALD. "Signed at the Sans Souci-- "By the King."
OMNES. HA-z-z-a-a-h-a-a-a-a! (Amid the shouts and general joy of the GIRLS, the BURGOMASTER bustles out, using his wand frequently, and speaking all the while; the HERALD following, and the CITIZENS buzzing and huzzaing as before.) Silence you nondescript villains!--Silence, I say! You stun me with your uproar! (Loud shout.--Passionately.) Oh, shut your ugly mugs! (Strikes them.)
WEDGEWOOD. Mugs! I like that. He's in the crockery-trade, like myself.
SOPHIA (with joy.) This proclamation has animated me with new life and energy. I feel like one inspired!
COUNT. What mean you?
SOPHIA. To become a competitor for the prize.
ALBERT. You will have many opponents.
SOPHIA. I heed them not.
WEDGEWOOD. All will be zeal throughout the manufactory.
SOPHIA. So much the greater need for my perseverance.
ALBERT. Some will be excited with the hope of gaining their liberty.
SOPHIA. Oh, blessed hope!
WEDGEWOOD. Some stimulated by the crowns.--Not at all odd.--It would be odd if they were not!
SOPHIA. But none have so strong a motive for exertion as I have.
COUNT (with enthusiasm.) Nobly resolved! I will assist you with every faculty I possess.
ALBERT (with the same feeling.) And I!
WEDGEWOOD (with the same.) And all!--If it is convenient.
SOPHIA (joyfully.) Then doubt not my success. (Exit LANISKA, ALBERT, and, WEDGEWOOD.) Oh, how my heart bounds with the thoughts of once more seeing Saxony! Its mountains, torrents, vineyards, are all before me now! And then our native songs!--They steal into my heart and melt it.
SONG AND CHORUS. (German air.) SOPHIA and FACTORY GIRLS. Sky, stream, moorland, and mountain, Tree, cot, spire, and dome, Breeze, bird, vineyard, and fountain, Kindred, friends, country, and home!-- Home, home, home, home!-- These are the blessings of home!
(The FACTORY-GIRLS now waltz cheerfully to the music.)
Hope how fondly I cherish, Dear land, to see thee once more! O Fate! let me not perish Far from my own native shore! Home, home, home, home!-- Saxony, Liberty's home!
(The GIRLS waltz as before, etc.)
Those who freedom inherit, Bow not to Tyranny's throne; Then, friends, in a kind spirit, Judge of my love by your own. Home, home, home, home!-- The land of the heart is our home!
(They all waltz with great spirit until the scene closes.)
Scene II.
A Street in Berlin. Enter FREDERICK in a cloak--KARL following.
KING. Those who have the command of motives, and know their power, have also the command of all that the arts, or what is called a genius for the arts, can produce. The human mind and human ingenuity are much the same in Italy, England, and Prussia. Then why should not we have a Prussian as well as a Wedgewood or a Barbarini vase? We shall see. I do not understand mon metier de roi, if I can not call forth talents where I know them to exist. (To KARL.) And so the count denounced me for a tyrant, did he, Karl?
KARL. He did, Your Majesty.
KING. He's a mere stripling; and I permit boys and fools to speak of me as they list. But I am no tyrant, Karl! He might have spared me that. (Musingly.) Tyrant!--
KARL (aside.) It rankles deeply.
KING (recovering from his meditation.) Youth and inexperience--to say nothing of love--pshaw!--which is the root of all folly--shall be his apology this time: but let him beware how he offends again--
KARL (aside.) It moves him as I intended.
KING. No,