Morituri: Three One-Act Plays Teja—Fritzchen—The Eternal Masculine   By: Hermann Sudermann (1857-1928)

1. Page scan source: http://www.archive.org/details/moriturithreeone00sudeiala

2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe].

3. See footnote 3 explaining correction of printing error.

BOOKS BY HERMANN SUDERMANN Published By CHARLES SCRIBNER'S Sons

The Joy of Living ( Es Lebe das Leben ). A Play in Five Acts. Translated from the German by Edith Wharton. net $1.25

Roses. Four One Act Plays. Translated from the German by Grace Frank. net $1.25

Morituri. Three One Act Plays. Translated from the German by Archibald Alexander. net $1.25

MORITURI

MORITURI

THREE ONE ACT PLAYS

TEJA FRITZCHEN THE ETERNAL MASCULINE

BY

HERMANN SUDERMANN

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN

BY

ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER

CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS NEW YORK::::::::::::::::::::::::1910

Copyright, 1910, by

CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

Published September, 1910

CONTENTS

Teja

Fritzchen

The Eternal Masculine

I

TEJA

A DRAMA IN ONE ACT

PERSONS

Teja, King of the Goths. Balthilda, Queen. Amalaberga, her mother. Agila, Bishop. Euric \ Theodemir >Lords in the former kingdom of the Goths. Athanaric / Ildibad, spearbearer of the King. Haribalt, a warrior. Two Camp Watchers.

TEJA

The scene represents the King's tent. The curtains are open in the background and permit a view through the camp of the Gothic warriors, over toward Vesuvius, and the distant sea, which shine in the splendour of the setting sun. On the left stands the rudely constructed throne of the King. In the centre, a table with seats around it. On the right, the King's couch, consisting of skins pieced together; above, a rack holding many kinds of weapons. Link torches on the right and left.

FIRST SCENE .

TWO CAMP WATCHERS.

First Camp Watcher.

Ho thou! Art thou fallen asleep?

Second Camp Watcher.

Why should I be fallen asleep?

First Camp Watcher.

Because thou leanest so limber upon thy spear, bent like the bow of a Hun.

Second Camp Watcher.

I stand so bent, because thus hunger gripes me less.

First Camp Watcher.

'Tis of no avail. It availeth as little as thy belt. Afterward, in standing upright, it is the more severe.

Second Camp Watcher.

How long is this to last?

First Camp Watcher.

Until the ships come that is simple indeed.

Second Camp Watcher.

Yea, but when are the ships coming?

First Camp Watcher.

How can I know that? Look toward the heights. There, high upon the Milchberg, there standeth the watch, and overlooketh the sea for twenty miles. If he knoweth not! There, behind the Misenian hills, there they must be coming.

Second Camp Watcher.

Verily, if the Byzantian let them pass.

First Camp Watcher.

The Byzantian hath no ships.

Second Camp Watcher.