THE BROKEN JUG by Heinrich von Kleist

Translated by Leanora Lange Honors Thesis Project Spring 2008

FOREWORD This comedy probably has some basis in historical fact, of which, however, I was unable to find any closer information. I took my inspiration for it from a copper print that I saw in Switzerland several years ago. The first thing one noticed was a judge who sat gravely at the judge's bench: before him stood an old woman holding a broken jug; she seemed to demonstrate the injustice that was done to it: the defendant, a young farmer who the judge, as mentioned, was booming at, still defended himself, but weakly: a girl, who probably served as a witness in the case (because who knows at what instance the delicacy occurred), played in the middle of the apron between the mother and the groom; someone who had borne false testimony could not have stood there more contritely: and the court clerk (perhaps he had just looked at the girl) now looked suspiciously at the judge from the corner of his eye, like Creon, in a similar instance, looking at Oedipus. Underneath was the caption: the broken jug. The original, if I am not mistaken, was by a Dutch master. CHARACTERS WALTER, court counselor ADAM, town judge LIGHT, clerk FRAU MARTHA RULL EVE, her daughter VEIT TUEMPEL, a farmer RUPRECHT, his son FRAU BRIGITTA A SERVANT, BAILIFF, MAIDS, etc. The play takes place in a Dutch town near Utrecht. Setting: The judge's chambers. SCENE ONE Adam sits and binds his leg. Light enters. LIGHT: Ah, what in the world, brother Adam! Say, What happened to you? Why, just look at you! ADAM: Yeah, look. To stumble, all you need are feet. On this smooth floor, is there a single stump? But here I stumbled; for each person Carries in himself the stone of stumbling.1
1. In the original text: den jeder trgt / Den ledigen Stein zum Ansto in sich selbst, a reference to 1 Peter: ein Stein des Anstoens und ein Fels des rgernisses; denn sie stoen sich an dem Wort und glauben nicht daran, wozu sie auch gesetzt sind (1 Petrus 2:8 German: Luther Bibel, 1912); And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: where unto also they were appointed (1 Peter 2:8, King James Bible)

LIGHT: No, tell me, friend! Each person has the stone? ADAM: Yes, in himself! LIGHT: Ill be darned! ADAM: What is it? LIGHT: You come from a loose ancestral father Who fell like that at the very beginning And became famous because of his fall; You haven't also ADAM: Well? LIGHT: Similarly? ADAM: Have I? I think! I fell down here, I'm telling you! LIGHT: Not figuratively? ADAM: No, not figuratively. I would have cut a pretty poor figure. LIGHT: Tell me, when did this incident happen? ADAM: Just now, the very moment that I got Up out of bed. I was still saying my Morning prayers, and already I stumble; Before I even begin my day, God wrenches the feet out from under me. LIGHT: And the left one, too, no doubt? ADAM: The left one? LIGHT: The weighty one here? ADAM: Of course! LIGHT: Righteous God! Who makes the way of the sinner so hard.2 ADAM: The foot! What! Hard! Why? LIGHT: The club foot?3 ADAM: Club foot! A foot is, like any other foot, a club. LIGHT: Agreed! But youre not doing right by your right. The right cannot boast of this massiveweight, And sooner gets onto slippery slopes. ADAM: What! Where the one goes, the other one follows. LIGHT: And what messed up your face like that? ADAM: My face? LIGHT: What? Are you saying you dont know? ADAM: I'd have to be lyingwhats it look like? LIGHT: What's it look like? ADAM: Yes, brother dear. LIGHT: Horrible!
2. Reference Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful (King James Bible, http://sch.bibeltext.com/psalms/1.htm); Wohl dem, der nicht wandelt im Rat der Gottlosen noch tritt auf den Weg der Snder noch sitzt, wo die Sptter sitzen (Luther Bibel, http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/l/luther/luther-idx?type=DIV2&byte=2278658) 3. Reference to Oedipus

ADAM: Explain that more clearly. LIGHT: It's been abused, A horror to see. A piece of the cheek is gone. How much? I'd need a butchers scale to say. ADAM: Oh, to hell with you! LIGHT (brings a mirror): Here! Persuade yourself! A sheep chased by dogs that pushes itself Through a thorn bush doesn't leave behind more wool Than the flesh that youGod knows where?left behind. ADAM: Hm! Yes! It's true. It's not very charming. The nose has suffered some too. LIGHT: And the eye. ADAM: Not the eye, brother. LIGHT: Oh, theres a hit there Lying right across the eye, all bloody, Just as if an angry foreman had made it. ADAM: That's just the cheekboneYes, now just look here, I didn't feel any of that at all. LIGHT: That's how it goes in the heat of battle. ADAM: Battle! What!The damned corner of the stove: Thats what I fought with, if you will. Now I know. I lost my balance, and as if I were Drowning in the air, I grappled about; I grabbed the wet pair of pants that Id hung up Last night on the stove's rack. Just as I grabbed Them, you understand, I think to myself, You fool, holding onto that, then the band Breaks; now the band4 and the pants and I, we fall, And I smack down onto the oven, headfirst On my forehead, right where the corner Of the stove sticks way out like a nose. LIGHT (laughs): Good, good. ADAM: Damn it! LIGHT: The first fall of Adam That youve done getting up out of bed. ADAM: Gracious!But I wanted to say: what's new? LIGHT: Yes, what's new! Ill be darned if I hadn't Just almost forgotten to say. ADAM: Well? LIGHT: Prepare yourself for an unexpected Visitor from Utrecht. ADAM: Huh? LIGHT: The court counselor's coming. ADAM: Who's coming?
4. Bund in original, explained asoberer Hosenrand, or the upper hem of the pants (Sembdner, Helmut. Heinrich von Kleist: Der zerbrochne Krug. Erluterungen & Dokumente. Stuttgart: Reclam, 1973; hereafter referred to as E&D).

LIGHT: The high court counselor, Walter, is coming. He's on a trip auditing the offices And today he is going to arrive here. ADAM: Today! Are you crazy? LIGHT: True as I live. He was on the border in Holla yesterday; He's already audited their office. A farmer already saw his horses And wagon whizzing by on their way here. ADAM: Today, him, the Court Counselor, here, from Utrecht! To audit us, the brave man who feathers His own nest,5 but hates the same antics. Coming to Huisum, to tyrannize us! LIGHT: If he came to Holla, he'll come to Huisum. Best beware. ADAM: Oh, go on! LIGHT: I'm telling you. ADAM: Go away with your fairy tales, I say. LIGHT: The farmer saw him himself, for Pete's sake. ADAM: Who knows whom the bleary-eyed rascal saw. Those buggers can't tell the difference between A face and the back of a bald man's head. Put a hat square on my cane, hang a coat Around it, and put two boots under it, That tramp would say it's anyone you want. LIGHT: Fine, go on and doubt me for all I care Until he walks in the door. ADAM: Him, walk in! Without sending us a word beforehand. LIGHT: The stupidity! As if it were still The former auditor, Counsel Wachholder! It's Counsel Walter who's auditing now. ADAM: Even if it's Walter! Go, leave me be. The man swore his oath of office, surely, And, like us, practices according to The established customs and precedents. LIGHT: Well, I can assure you, Council Walter Appeared unexpectedly in Holla, Reviewed the cash boxes and registries, And suspended judges and clerks there. Why? That I don't know, ab officio. ADAM: For goodnesss sake! Did the farmer say that? LIGHT: That and still more ADAM: Well? LIGHT: If you want to know.
5. In original, der wackre Mann, der selbst / Sein Schfchen schiert, meaning a man who looks after his own interests.

This morning they went looking for the judge Who had been put under house arrest, And they found him around back in the barn High up in the ceiling rafters, hanging. ADAM: What did you say? LIGHT: Help came in the meantime, They untied him, rubbed him down, gave him water, And they brought the poor fellow back to life. ADAM: So? They brought him back? LIGHT: But now his house is Locked up, sealed, and officially condemned. It's as if he were already a corpse; His office has been inherited, too. ADAM: Ah, for Pete's sake!He was a negligent dog But otherwise an honest guy, it's true, A fellow who was good to be around; But terribly negligent, that I must say. If the Council was in Holla today, He's not well, poor codger, I believe that. LIGHT: The farmer said its because of that alone That the Counsel isn't here already; He'll arrive by noon, though, without fail. ADAM: Noon! Fine, brother! Now's the time for friendship. You know how two hands can wash each other6 You'd like to become town judge, too, I know And you deserve it as much as the next. But today is still not the opportune time, Today, still let this cup pass from you.7 LIGHT: Town judge, me! What else do you think of me? ADAM: You are a friend of well-chosen words and speech, And youve studied your Cicero better Than a man educated in Amsterdam. Keep your ambition in check, you hear me? There will likely be other occasions When you can show yourself off with your skills. LIGHT: We two good brothers! Get away from me. ADAM: You know, even the great Demosthenes Held his tongue in his time. Follow his example. And though I'm not the king of Macedonia, I can still be grateful in my own fashion. LIGHT: Get out of here with your suspicions, I say. Have I ever? ADAM: Look, I, I, for my part, I too follow the great Greeks. A speech about Depositions and insurance, too,
6. Colloquialism from Latin: one hand washes the other (E&D). 7. Matthew 26:39: And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Can also be worked out first: Whod want to turn such a phrase?8 LIGHT: Well, then! ADAM: Im free from such accusations, For goodness's sake! As for everything else, It's a farce, perhaps, born in the night that Shies away from days inquisitive light. LIGHT: I know. ADAM: Goodness! There is no reason that a judge Should be grave and serious all the time, Even when he's not sitting at the bench. LIGHT: I say so too. ADAM: Well then, come, brother. Follow me a stretch to the registry; I'll put the files in order, cause right now They're lying like the tower of Babylon. SCENE TWO A servant enters. Those from before.Later, two maids. THE SERVANT: God be with you, judge! Court Counselor Walter Send his greetings; he will arrive here soon. ADAM: Ah, righteous God! Is he already done In Holla? THE SERVANT: Yes, hes already in Huisum. ADAM: Hey! Lisa! Greta! LIGHT: Calm down, now, calm down. ADAM: Brother! LIGHT: Send the servant back with your thanks. THE SERVANT: And tomorrow were traveling to Hussah. ADAM: What do I do now? What do I send? (He grabs for his clothes) FIRST MAID (enters): Im here, sir. 9 LIGHT: Youre putting on your pants? Are you crazy? SECOND MAID (enters): Here I am, judge, sir. LIGHT: Here, take your jacket. ADAM (looking around): Who? The court counselor? LIGHT: Ah, its just the maid. ADAM: My bands! Gown! Collar! FIRST MAID: First the vest! ADAM: What?Take off the jacket! Quick! LIGHT (to the servant): The Counselor Is very welcome here. Well be ready
8. In the original text:solche Periode drehen, explained as kunstvolle Stze bilden (E&D). 9. Adam mistakenly puts an arm in a pant leg (E&D).

To greet him immediately. Tell him that. ADAM: To hell with it all! Judge Adam sends his Apologies. LIGHT: Apologies! ADAM: Apologies. What, is he already on his way? THE SERVANT: Hes Still in the inn. He sent for the blacksmith; The wagon is broken. ADAM: Good. My regards. The blacksmiths lazy. Send my apologies. Id have practically broken my neck. See for Yourself; its a spectacle how I look. Sudden shocks make me ill, its my nature. Say Im sick. LIGHT: Are you out of your mind? The Court Counselor would be quite pleasant. Do you want? ADAM: Hang it all! LIGHT: What? ADAM: Ill be damned If its not like I just took a laxative! LIGHT: Thats all he needs to show himself the door. ADAM: Margret! Hey! You sack of bones, you! Lisa! THE TWO MAIDS: Here we are. What do you want? ADAM: Go, I say! Cows cheese, ham, butter, sausages, and wine. Get them from the registry! And quick now! Not you. The other one. Slack-jaw! Yes, you! For Gods sake, Margret! Lisa, you go to the Registry! (The first maid exits) SECOND MAID: Speak so a person can understand you! ADAM: You hold your tongue now! Go! Get me my wig! March! From the cabinet! Quick! Get going! (The second maid exits) LIGHT (to the servant): I hope that nothing bad has befallen The Court Counselor during the journey? THE SERVANT: Ah, well! We turned over on a narrow pass. ADAM: Rats! My poor, abused foot! I cant get my boots10 LIGHT: Ah, my dear heavens! Turned over, you say? But no further damage? THE SERVANT: Nothing serious. The Counselor sprained his hand a little bit. And the drawbar11 broke. ADAM: That hed broken his neck!

LIGHT: Sprained his hand! Ah, dear God! Did the blacksmith come? THE SERVANT: Yes, for the drawbar. LIGHT: What? ADAM: You mean the doctor. LIGHT: What? THE SERVANT: For the drawbar? ADAM: Whatno! For the hand. THE SERVANT: Adieu, gentlemen.These guys must be nuts. (Exits) LIGHT: I meant the blacksmith. ADAM: You gave yourself away. LIGHT: How so? ADAM: Youre embarrassed. LIGHT: What! (The first maid enters) ADAM: Hey! Lisa! Whatve you got? FIRST MAID: Braunschweiger sausage, sir. ADAM: Those are the guardianship files. LIGHT: Me, embarrassed! ADAM: They need to go back to the registry. FIRST MAID: The sausage? ADAM: Sausage! What! The paper here.12 LIGHT: It was a misunderstanding. SECOND MAID (enters): Your honor, I didnt find the wig in the cabinet. ADAM: Why not? SECOND MAID: Hm! Because you ADAM: Well? SECOND MAID: Last night At eleven ADAM: Well? Lets hear it? SECOND MAID: Oh, you came Back home, remember, without a wig on. ADAM: Me, without a wig? SECOND MAID: Indeed, your honor. Heres Lisa; she can testify to that. And your other one is at the wigmakers. ADAM: I was? FIRST MAID: Yes, upon my word, Judge Adam! You were bald-headed when you came back here; You said youd fallen, dont you remember? I had to wash the blood off of your head. ADAM: The shameless girl! FIRST MAID: Or else Im a liar. ADAM: Hold your tongue; theres not a word of truth there.
10. To complete the phrase: on; the bandage is too big for his to fit in his boots (E&D). 11. The large bar of a wagon that connects the coach to the horses harness. 12. The file was used as wrapping paper for the sausages (E&D).

LIGHT: Youve had that cut since yesterday? ADAM: No, today. The cut was today, the wig yesterday. I wore it all powdered up on my head And simply took it off, accidentally, Along with my hat when I walked in the door. What she was washingthat I do not know. Why dont you go to hell, where you belong! To the registry! (First maid exits) Go, Margret! My good friend The sexton will let me borrow his wig; Tell him this morning the cat went and had A litter in mine, the pig! And shes lying There nursing under the bed, I know it. LIGHT: The cat? What? Are you? ADAM: As true as I live. Five kittens, yellow, black, and one is white. Im going to drown the black ones in the Vecht.13 Whats a person to do? Do you want one? LIGHT: In the wig? ADAM: Yes, may God strike me down! I had hung the wig up on the back of A chair right as I had climbed into bed. I bumped the chair in the night, the wig fell LIGHT: Then the cat took it in its mouth ADAM: On my word LIGHT: Carried it under the bed, and gave birth. ADAM: In its mouth? No LIGHT: No? How else? ADAM: The cat? Come on! LIGHT: No? Or perhaps you? ADAM: In my mouth? I believe! I shoved it under the bed with my foot When I saw it there. LIGHT: Fine, fine. ADAM: The vermin! They mate and have young anywhere theres room! SECOND MAID (snickering): So, should I go? ADAM: Yes, and send my greetings To Sister Blackrobe, the sextons wife. Ill send her the wig back today, undamaged You dont need to tell him anything. Do you understand? SECOND MAID: Ill go ask for it now.

13. A branch of the Rhein near Utrecht (E&D).

SCENE THREE Adam and Light. ADAM: Brother, Ive got a bad feeling about today. LIGHT: Why? ADAM: I feel like everything is spinning. Isnt today court day? LIGHT: Indeed, it is. The plaintiffs are already at the door. ADAM:I dreamt that one of them came up and grabbed me And carried me before the court; and at The very same time I sat on the bench, And yelled and cursed and called myself a scoundrel, And sentenced myself to be put in irons. LIGHT: Hows that? You sentenced yourself? ADAM: True as I live. Then the two of us became one and begged And had to spend the night out in the woods. LIGHT: Well? And you think the dream? ADAM: To hell with it. If its not the dream, then theres some sort of Practical joke on me in the works! LIGHT: What ridiculous fear! Just act properly When the Court Counselor is present, And judge the parties that come before you, So your dream of an aggravated judge Doesnt come true in another fashion. SCENE FOUR The court counselor Walter enters. Those from before. WALTER: Greetings, Judge Adam. ADAM: Ah, welcome, your honor! Welcome, most honorable judge, to Huisum! Who could have, dear, righteous God, who could have Ever expected such a joyful visit. Not even at eight oclock this morning Could I have dreamt of such great happiness. WALTER: Im coming on short notice, I know; and On this trip in the service of the state, I must be content if my hosts at least See me off with a sincere word of farewell. However, in terms of my own greetings, I really do mean well, right when I arrive.

The High Council in Utrecht wants to improve The upkeep of justice in the lowlands,14 Which seems to be lacking in some places, And abuses are to receive strict directives. But my business on this trip is not yet A strict one, Im simply to watch, not punish, And if not everything is as it should be, I will be happy if its tolerable. ADAM: Truly, such noble thoughts must be praised. I have no doubt your honor will be able To censure the old customs here and there; And rightly so; even if theyve existed In the Netherlands since Kaiser Karl the fifth: Ah, your honor, what couldnt be thought up? The world, as the saying goes, keeps getting Smarter, and everyone reads Pufendorf15 But Huisum is a small part of the world, Where only its small part of the general Intelligence can enter, no more, no less. Enlighten the justice in Huisum, please, And be persuaded, sir, that you will no Sooner have turned your back when you will find The justice completely satisfactory; But if you find it today in the office Just as you wish, itd be a miracle, Since the justice still hardly knows what you want. WALTER: Rules are missing, quite right. Whats more, there are Too many. We will have to sift some out. ADAM: Yes, sift them through a large sieve. So much chaff! WALTER: That is the court clerk there? LIGHT: Court Clerk Light, At your honors service. It will be Nine years in May that Ive been in the office. ADAM (brings a chair): Please sit. WALTER: No thanks. ADAM: But youve come from Holla. WALTER: Ah, two little mileshow do you know that? ADAM: How? Your honors servant LIGHT: A farmer said it Who just arrived back in town from Holla. WALTER: A farmer? ADAM: At your service. WALTER: Yes! There was An unpleasant incident that happened there,
14. In contrast to the cities, which are built up higher; countryside (E&D). 15. Samuel Freiherr von Pufendorf (1632-1694), A German jurist, political philosopher, economist, statesman, and historian, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_von_Pufendorf). Also the author of Elementa juris prudentiale universalis along with writings on history (E&D).

That disrupted my good mood, which should have Accompanied us in this business here. Perhaps youve heard about it already? ADAM: Could it be true, your honor? That Judge Pfaul,16 Because he was put under house arrest, That such desperation overtook the fool That he hung himself?17 WALTER: It went from bad to worse. What seemed to be disorder, confusion, Then started to look like embezzlement, Which the law, you know, no longer allows. How many cash boxes do you have? ADAM: Five. WALTER: What, five! I had thoughtfive filled cash boxes? I had thought there were only four ADAM: Pardon me! With the Rhein-Inundation collection? WALTER: With the Rhein-Inundation collection! But the Rhein isnt flooding now, and the Donations for it arent being collected. Tell me, you hold court today, do you not? ADAM: Do we? WALTER: What? LIGHT: Yes, its the first of the week. WALTER: And the crowd of people I saw outside In your hall, are they? ADAM: Those are LIGHT: Theyre the plaintiffs, gathering already. WALTER: Good. I like this situation, gentlemen. If you please, let these people appear. Ill sit in on the proceedings and see How it is usually done here in Huisum. Well do the cash boxes and registry Afterwards, when these cases are finished. ADAM: As you wish.The bailiff! Hey! Hanfriede!18 SCENE FIVE The two maids enter. Those from before. SECOND MAID: Greetings from the sextons wife, Judge Adam. Shed like to send you the wig, but ADAM: What? No? SECOND MAID: She said there is a service this morning; The sexton was wearing the one himself, And she said the other couldnt be used;
16. Similar to faul, meaning lazy or rotten. 17. The incorrect grammar reflects the lively way the question is to be asked (E&D). 18. First name from northern Germany, from Johann Friedrich (E&D).

Its to go to the wigmaker today. ADAM: Damn! SECOND MAID: As soon as the sexton comes back, however She said she would send you his right away. ADAM: Upon my word, your honor WALTER: Whats the matter? ADAM: A coincidence, an unlucky one, Has deprived me of both of my wigs. And now The third one I wanted to borrow is out: I have to hear the cases bald-headed. WALTER: Bald-headed! ADAM: Yes, gracious God! As embarrassed As I am of my appearance as a judge Without the assistance of my wig. Ill still have to try and ask at the outpost19 Perhaps the landlord? WALTER: Ask at the outpost! What, cant anyone else here in the town? ADAM: No, actually WALTER: The preacher perhaps. ADAM: The preacher? He WALTER: Or the schoolmaster. ADAM: Since the elimination of the tithe,20 Which I, in my office, helped bring about, I cant expect help from either of them. WALTER: Well, Town Judge Adam? Hm? And your court day? Are you thinking of waiting until your hair grows? ADAM: Yes, if I may, Ill send to the outpost. WALTER:How far is it to the outpost? ADAM: Ah! A mere Half an hour. WALTER: A half an hour, what! The hour for your session just struck. Hurry! I have to get to Hussah yet today. ADAM: Hurry! Yes WALTER: Oh, just go powder your head! Where the devil did you lose your wigs anyway? Do what you can for yourself. Im in a hurry. ADAM: That too. THE BAILIFF (enters): The bailiff is here! ADAM: Could I offer you A nice breakfast in the meantime, sausages,
19. Vorwerk: ein vom Hauptgut abgetrennter landwirtschaftlicher Betrieb mit eigenen Wirstschaftsgebuden (E&D). Villages had small agricultural outposts that were separated from the main agricultural land. (http://www.boehm-chronik.com/vorwerk.htm) 20. Ernteabgabe der Bauern an Pfarrer und Schulmeister, gewhnlich in barem Geld bezahlt (E&D). In English, tithe comes from the Old English tenth, referring to the tenth of something (i.e. crops) paid to the church, usually voluntarily, but also sometimes as a formal, set taxation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithe).

A small glass of Danziger wine WALTER: No thanks. ADAM: No trouble at all! WALTER: Thanks, I already ate. Go on and use the time well; I need it To make a note of something in my book. ADAM: Well, if that is what you wishCome, Margret! WALTER:You know youre terribly injured, Judge Adam. Did you fall? ADAM: I had a rather hard fall Early this morning as I got out of bed: Such a hard blow, though I was in my room, I thought I was falling into my grave. WALTER: Im sorry to hear that. It wont have any Further consequences? ADAM: I dont think so. And it shouldnt bother me in my duties. If I may. WALTER: Go! Go! ADAM:(to the bailiff) Call the plaintiffsmarch! (Adam, the maid, and the bailiff exit.) SCENE SIX Frau Martha, Eve, Veit, and Ruprecht enter. Walter and Light in the background. FRAU MARTHA: You jug-smashing riff-raff! You vermin, you! Youll pay for this, you will! VEIT: Just calm down, now, Itll all be settled before we depart. FRAU MARTHA: Oh yeah, sure. Depart. The smart aleck. This jug of mine, the broken one, depart. Who is going to depart my parted jug? The judge will impart, that the parted jug Will remain apart. I wouldnt give a Parcel of this jug for such a partial judgement. VEIT: If you can argue your case, you hear me, Ill replace it. FRAU MARTHA: Hell replace the jug for me. If I can argue my case, hell replace. Replace the jug, just go ahead and try, Place it up on the shelf again! Replace! This jug, that doesnt have a single leg It could stand or sit or lie down on, replace! VEIT: You hear me! Why are you frothing at the mouth? What more can I do? If one of us broke it,

Youll be reimbursed. FRAU MARTHA: Reimbursed! As if the talk were of a piece of livestock. Do you think that justice is a potter? And the authorities will come and tie up Their aprons and carry it to the oven? They could put something else in the jug rather Than reimburse me. Reimburse me! RUPRECHT: Let her be, Father. Listen to me. The witch! Its not the broken jug thats irking her; Its the wedding thats gotten a hole in it, And she aims to patch it up here by force. But Ive put my foot down, and Ill say it Again: Ill be damned if I take the whore. FRAU MARTHA: You vain little brat! Me patch up the wedding! The wedding isnt worth the caulk itd take; Unbroken, its not worth one shard of this jug. And if the wedding stood spic and span before me Like the jug still did on the shelf last night, Id grab it now by both of the handles And Id smash itbangright in two on your head. But I wouldnt patch up the pieces here! Patch up! EVE: Ruprecht! RUPRECHT: Get away! EVE: Dearest Ruprecht! RUPRECHT: Out of my sight! EVE: I beg of you, Ruprecht. RUPRECHT: The loose, dissolute! I cannot say what. EVE: Just one word with you in private RUPRECHT: Nothing! EVE:Youre going to the regiment now, Ruprecht, Once you start carrying a musket, who knows If Ill ever see you again in my life. Its war, remember, war where youre going: Do you want to leave me with such ill will? RUPRECHT: Ill will? No, God help me, I dont want that. May God send you all the blessings that he Can spare. But if I come back from this war Alive and with a whole body, and if I lived to be eighty here in Huisum, Id still say to you till the day I die: whore! You want to swear it yourself before the court. FRAU MARTHA (to Eve): Go away! What did I say? Do you still Want to let yourself be cussed out? The corporal Is the one for you, the worthy Woodleg.

Who leads his regiment with his cane, Not that slack-jaw there, wholl be baring his Back for the corporals beating. Today is The engagement, wedding, and christening too, If I had my way, and Id even endure My burial if I could just stamp down That overblown cockiness first. EVE: Mother! Forget the jug! Let me go to the city And see if some talented craftsman wouldnt Put the pieces back together for free. And if it cant be fixed, take my entire Money case and buy yourself a new one. Whod want to make such an uproar, create Such calamity, because of a clay jug, Even if itd come from the time of Herod. FRAU MARTHA: You speak like you understand. Do you want To be put in the stocks, Eve, and ruefully Pay your penance in church the next Sunday? Your good name lay in this pot, and it was Destroyed along with it before the world, If not before God, or before you and me. The judge is my craftsman; whats needed here Are henchmen, a block, and cracks of the whip, And this riff-raff standing up at the stake, If our honor is to burn bright, pure white, And glaze this jug back together again. SCENE SEVEN Adam enters in his robes, but without a wig. Those from before. ADAM (to himself): Ah, little Eve. And that hulking scoundrel, Ruprecht! Ah, what the devil! The whole clan! They dont mean to charge me in my own court? EVE: Dearest Mother, come, I beg of you, Please, lets escape from this unlucky room. ADAM: Brother! Tell me, what are they bringing to court? LIGHT: How should I know? A bunch of fuss for nothing, Mere trifles: I hear a jug was broken. ADAM: A jug! So! Ah!Ah, and who broke the jug? LIGHT: You ask me who broke it? ADAM: Yes, dear brother. LIGHT: My goodness, sit down and youll find that out. ADAM (secretively): Eve! EVE (similarly): Go away.

ADAM: One word. EVE: I dont want to know. ADAM: What charges are you bringing? EVE: Go, I say. ADAM: Eve! Please! How am I supposed to take that? EVE: If you dont! Im telling you, leave me be. ADAM (to Light): Brother, listen, my goodness, I cant take it. The wound on my shin is making me sick You hear this case; I want to go to bed. LIGHT: To bed? You want? I believe youre insane. ADAM: Hang it all. I think Im going to throw up. LIGHT: I think youre mad, seriously. Just now? As far as Im concerned. Tell the court counselor. Maybe hell let you.I dont know whats with you? ADAM (to Eve again): Eve! I beg of you! For the love of God! What is it youre charging? EVE: Youll hear soon enough. ADAM: Is it just the jug there your mothers holding, That I, far as I? EVE: Yes, just the broken jug. ADAM: And nothing more? EVE: Nothing more. ADAM: Nothing? Really? EVE: Im telling you, go away. Leave me be. ADAM: Listen you: be smart, Im advising you. EVE: You shameless man! ADAM: The name is there, in print, On the certificate: Ruprecht Tumpel. I have it here in my pocket, all finished, Can you hear it crackle, Eve? On my word You can come and fetch it this time next year, To have a mourning skirt and bodice cut, When its heard: Ruprecht died in Batavia.21 From which fever, I dont know, was it Yellow, scarlet, or traumatic fever? WALTER: Do not speak with the parties, Judge Adam, Before the hearing! Sit down and question them. ADAM: Whatd he say?What did your honor command? WALTER: What did I command? I told you clearly That you should not carry on dubious Private conversations with the parties. This is the place where your office is due, And I expect to see an open court. ADAM (to himself): Curses! I cant make up my mind! Something clattered when I left LIGHT (startling him): Your honor! Are you?22
21. Today Jakarta; at that time, the capitol of the Dutch colonies in East India, notorious for its unhealthy climate (E&D). 22. Light means Are you deaf, but Adam thinks hell say, Are you the one that broke the jug (E&D).

ADAM: Me? On my honor, no! 23 I had hung it up there so carefully, It must have been an ox LIGHT: What? ADAM: What? LIGHT: I asked! ADAM: You asked if I? LIGHT: If youre deaf, I asked you. His honorable counselor there called you. ADAM: I thought! Who called? LIGHT: The court counselor there. ADAM (to himself): Ah! Hang it all! There are only two ways This could go; either it bends or it breaks. Right away! What does your honor command? Shall the proceedings now begin? WALTER: You are strangely distracted. Whats the matter? ADAM:On my honor! Pardon me. A guinea hen Of mine that I bought from an Indian trader Can hardly breathe24: Im supposed to noodle it, And I was just asking the girl for advice. Im a fool in such things, you understand, And my guinea hens are like children to me. WALTER: Here. Sit down. Call the plaintiff and question. And you, clerk, write it down in the records. ADAM: Does your honor command that the proceeding Be done according to formalities, Or like its usually done in Huisum? WALTER: According to the lawful formalities, As is usual in Huisum, nothing else. ADAM: Good, good. I will be able to serve you. Are you ready, then, clerk? LIGHT: At your service. ADAM: Well, in that case, justice, take your course! Would the plaintiff come forward. FRAU MARTHA: Here, judge! ADAM: Who are you? FRAU MARTHA: Who? ADAM: You. FRAU MARTHA: Who am I? ADAM: Who are you! Of what name, station, address, et cetera. FRAU MARTHA: You must be joking, your honor. ADAM: Joking, what!
23. The wig, namely; This isnt clear until Eves description of the events in the variant. When he was in Eves room, Adam hung his wig up on the jugfor lack of a coat rack. When he fled from Ruprecht, he knocked the jug off the shelf by grabbing for his wig (E&D). 24. A frequent illness among fowl, called Pips in the original German, (lat. Pituita, mucous obstruction); when an animal does not eat because of this blockage of the nasal cavities, it has to be noodled, or fed with noodles (E&D).

I sit in the name of justice, Frau Martha, And justice demands to know who you are. LIGHT (quietly): Oh, forget your crazy question FRAU MARTHA: You stop by At my window every Sunday, you know, When you go to the outpost! WALTER: Do you know her? ADAM: She lives around the corner here, your honor, If you go through the path in the hedges; The former landlords widow, midwife now, An honest woman with a good reputation. WALTER: If youre so well informed, your honor, then Those kinds of questions are superfluous. Put her name in the record book and write Next to it: well known to the judge in office. ADAM: Yes, that too. You arent for formalities. Do now as his honor told you to do. WALTER: Now ask about the object of the case. ADAM: Im supposed to? WALTER: Yes, find out the object! ADAM: Pardon, but, likewise, its the jug. WALTER: What? Likewise! ADAM: A jug. Just a jug. Put down a jug and write Next to it: well known to the judge in office. LIGHT: Im just throwing this out there, but do you Really want? ADAM: My goodness, if I told you to, Then write it down. Its a jug, isnt it? FRAU MARTHA: Yes, the jug here ADAM: There you have it. FRAU MARTHA: The broken one ADAM: A pesky point of controversy. LIGHT: Please ADAM: And who broke the jug? Surely the rascal? FRAU MARTHA: Yes, him, the rascal there ADAM (to himself): Thats all I need. RUPRECHT: Thats not true, judge. ADAM (to himself): Come, come alive, you old Adam! RUPRECHT: Shes lying out of her mouth ADAM: Quiet, slack-jaw! Youll stick your head in irons soon enough. Put down a jug, clerk, like I said, along With the name of the person who broke it. And now the case will soon be established. WALTER: Judge Adam! Ah! What violent proceedings! ADAM: How so?

LIGHT: Didnt you want formal? ADAM: No! I say, Your honor does not hang on formalities. WALTER: If you do not know how to carry out The briefing for the proceedings, Judge Adam, This is not the place to teach it to you. If you cant provide justice any other way, Then step down: maybe your clerk can do it. ADAM: Pardon! I did it as its usually done In Huisum, just as your honor told me to. WALTER: I told you? ADAM: On my honor! WALTER: I told you To provide justice according to the law, And I believe the law here in Huisum To be the same as elsewhere in the states.25 ADAM: I must then humbly ask your forgiveness! We have here in Huisum, with your permission, Statues, peculiar ones, ones that I confess Are not written out, but rather passed down To us through tried and true tradition. I trust myself to hope that still today Ive not strayed from this precedent one iota. But Im at home with your form of justice too, As it may be usually done in the kingdom. Do you demand proof? I can provide justice Like this one minute, and like that the next. WALTER: Youre making a bad impression on me, judge. So be it. Start over from the beginning. ADAM: On my word! Watch, you will be satisfied. Frau Martha Rull! Bring forward your complaint. FRAU MARTHA: My complaint, as you know, is this jug here; But before I report what happened to it, Please allow me to describe what it was To me before all that. ADAM: You have the floor. FRAU MARTHA: Do you see the jug, honorable gentlemen? Do you see the jug? ADAM: Oh yes, we see it. FRAU MARTHA: You see nothing, if I may, you see the shards. The most beautiful jug is broken in two. Right here at the hole, where now nothing is, Right there, the entire the Dutch provinces26 Were being given over to Phillip of Spain.
25. The states of the Netherlands 26. The description of the jug and its history reflects the history of the Netherlands. E&D: Kleist used as his source a German translation of the Dutch Allgemeine Geschichte derVereinigtenNiederlande (General History of the United States of the Netherlands), vol. 8, Leipzig 1756-66, written by Jan Wagenaar. The seven people mentioned in the description of the jug, along with Phillip falling to his knees, and the crying of the witnesses all come from Wagenaars description of this event.

Here stood Kaiser Karl the fifth in full dress: Now you can only see his legs standing there. Here, Phillip kneeled and received the crown: He lies in the pot, all but his hind end, And even there he still took a hit. There stood his two aunts, the Hungarian queen And the French queen,27 and they movingly wiped The tears from their eyes; if you see the one Still raising her hand with the handkerchief high, Its as if she were crying for herself. Here in the entourage is Philibert, For whom the Kaiser took the hit;28 he is Leaning on his sword, but now he must fall Just as Maximilian did: the scoundrel!29 The swords underneath are now broken off. Here in the middle with the holy cap, You could see the Archbishop of Arras;30 The devil took him completely; only His long shadow falls across the cobblestone. Here stood the bodyguards in a circle Close together, with halberds31and spears, Here, houses from the great market in Brussels, Here a curious man still looks out the window: But what he sees now, that I do not know. ADAM: Frau Martha! Spare us these fragments of history If theyre not pertinent to the case. Were interested here in the holenot in the Provinces that are given over on it. FRAU MARTHA: Pardon! The jugs beauty is pertinent! The jug was captured by Childerich, a man Who patched kettles, when Orange overtook Briel with the freedom-fighter Waterguezen.32 A Spaniard had just put the jug, filled with wine, Up to his lips as Childerich came up From behind, threw the Spaniard down, grabbed The jug, emptied it, and kept on going. ADAM: A worthy Watergeuze.
27. Maria, widow of Ludwig II of Hungary, and Eleonore, widow of Francis I of France, were the sisters of Karl V, and thus Phillips aunts (E&D). 28. Namely, the hit that broke the jug (E&D). 29. Maximilian was the nephew of Charles I, known as a rake; later became German Emperor Maximilian II (E&D). 30. Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle (1517-86), Bishop of Arras (E&D); negotiated the marriage of Philip of Spain to Queen Mary I of England, later appointed as president of the council of state in the Netherlands and incurred the hostility of the people for retaining Spanish troops and increasing religious persecution (The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition; http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Granvell.html). 31. Medieval weapon consisting of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft 32. The Sea- or Waterguezen (from French gueux, or beggars), Dutch freedom fighters against the Spanish tyranny, conquered the city of Briel in southern Holland in 1572 under the leadership of William von Lumeynot under William of Orange (E&D).

FRAU MARTHA: The jug was then Passed on to Furchtegott the undertaker; Who drank from the jug only three times, The sober man, and always mixed with water. The first time when he was in his sixties And took a young wife; three years later, When she made him into a happy father; And then, after she bore him fifteen more, He drank for the third time when she died. ADAM: Fine. Thats not bad either. FRAU MARTHA: Then the jug fell To Zacharias, tailor in Tirlemont, Who told my blessed husband with his own mouth What I am now going to tell to you. When the French came and plundered, he threw the jug Along with all his house wares out the window, Jumped out himself, and broke his neck, the clumsy man, And this earthen jug, the jug made of clay, It landed on its feet and remained whole. ADAM: To the point, if you would, Frau Martha! The point! FRAU MARTHA: Then in the fiery blaze of sixty-six, My husband had the jug then, God bless him ADAM: Hell! Woman! Are you still not finished? FRAU MARTHA: If Im not supposed to speak, Judge Adam, Then its useless for me to be here, Ill go And find a court that will listen to me. WALTER: You are supposed to speak here: but not of things Foreign to your case. If you tell us that The jug is valuable to you, then we know As much as we need to know to judge the case. FRAU MARTHA: How much you may need to know here to judge, That I dont know, and I wont try to find out; But I do know that in order to plead my case I have to be allowed to say something first. WALTER: Fine then. Finish. What happened to the jug? What?What happened to the jug in the fire Of anno sixty-six? Will you tell us? What happened to the jug? FRAU MARTHA: What happened to it? Nothing happened to the jug, if you please, Nothing happened to it in sixty-six. It stayed whole, right in the middle of the flames, And I pulled it up out of the ashes Of the house the next morning, glazed and Glistening, as if itd just come from the kiln. WALTER: Fine, now. Now we know the jug. Now we know

All thats happened to it and what hasnt. Whats there to say now? FRAU MARTHA: Well, this jug now, lookthis jug, Shattered its still worth any other, this jug Worthy of a ladys mouth, or even Of the lips of the Lady Steward herself, This jug, gentlemen and honorable judges, This jug of mine was broken by that scoundrel. ADAM: Who? FRAU MARTHA: That one there, Ruprecht. RUPRECHT: Thats a lie, Your honor. ADAM: Quiet, you, until youre questioned. Youll get your chance to speak yet today too. Did you write that in the record? LIGHT: Oh, yes. ADAM: Tell the course of events, worthy Frau Martha. FRAU MARTHA: It was eleven oclock yesterday ADAM: When? FRAU MARTHA: Eleven. ADAM: In the morning! FRAU MARTHA: No, at night And Id just gone to put out my bed lamp When I was startled by loud, mens voices And a tumult way down in my daughters room, As if some enemy were breaking in. I ran down the stairs quick and found the door To the room violently broken into, Angry shouts and curses rang out to me, And when I put a light to the doorway, What do I find, your honors, what do I find? I find the jug lying in shards in the room, A piece in every nook and cranny, The girls ringing her hands, and he, the louse there, Crazy and defiant, standing right in the middle. ADAM: You dont say! FRAU MARTHA: What? ADAM: Lo and behold! FRAU MARTHA: Yes! Then, it was as if in my righteous anger I had grown ten more arms, and with them I suddenly felt strong as a vulture. I put him on the spot there and asked him Just what he was after there late in the night, Smashing the jugs of the house like crazy. And guess what he gave me as an answer,

The shameless, good-for-nothing scoundrel he is! I want to see him on the wheel,33 or else I wont be able to sleep at night: He said that another man knocked the jug Off of the shelfanother man, if you please, Who just then had escaped from the room: And then he piled curses on my girl there. ADAM: Oh! Something stinks thereand then? FRAU MARTHA: At this, I look over at the girl questioningly; Shes standing there like a corpse, I say: Eve! She sits herself down; was it another man, I ask? And Mary and Joseph she cries What does her mother think?Tell me! Who was it? Who else, she said,and who else could it have been? And she swore to me that it had been him. EVE: What did I swear? What did I swear to you? Nothing, I swore nothing FRAU MARTHA: Eve! EVE: No, thats a lie RUPRECHT: There you have it. ADAM: You damned dog you, quiet now, If you dont want a fist in your throat. Theres time for you later, not now. FRAU MARTHA: You wouldnt have? EVE: No, Mother! You made that up. Look, I am really and truly sorry That I have to explain this in public: But I didnt swear anything, not one thing. ADAM: Be reasonable, children. LIGHT: Thats peculiar. FRAU MARTHA: You, oh Eve, you wouldnt have assured me? Wouldnt have called on Mary and Joseph? EVE: Not while I swore! Not swearing! Look, I swear this now, And I call upon Mary and Joseph. ADAM: Ah, my dear people! Ah, Frau Martha! How she frightens and browbeats the good child. When the girl has taken time to think it through Remember now everything thats happened, I say what has happened, and what, if she Doesnt speak as she should, still can happen: Watch now, shell say today what she said before, No matter if she can swear to it or not. And leave Mary and Joseph out of it. WALTER: No, Judge Adam, no! Who would want to give The parties such ambiguous warnings.
33. Aufs Rad in original; a gruesome death penalty for theives and murderers, not abolished in Prussia until 1811 (E&D).

FRAU MARTHA: If she can look me in the eye and tell me Without shame, the slovenly whore she is, That it was another man, not Ruprecht, Then far as Im concerned sheI cant say what. However, I assure you, your honor, Even if I cant claim that she swore it, She did say it yesterdayThat I swear, And I call upon Mary and Joseph. ADAM: Well then, the girl also wants to WALTER: Judge Adam! ADAM: Your honor?Whatd he say?Isnt that right, Eve, sweetie? FRAU MARTHA: Out with it! Didnt you say that to me? Did you not say that to me yesterday? EVE: Whos denying that I said it ADAM: There you have it. RUPRECHT: The strumpet! ADAM: Write that down. VEIT: Pshaw, you ought to be ashamed. WALTER: I do not know what to think, Judge Adam, Of your behavior. You couldnt pass off The suspicion onto the young man here More eagerly and fervently than you are Right now, had you broken the jug yourself. You will put no more in the record, clerk, Than the girls confession just now about The confession from yesterday, not the fact itself.34 Is it the girls turn to testify now? ADAM: My goodness, if it isnt her turn yet, One makes mistakes with such things, your honor. Who should I have questioned now? The defendant? On my honor! Ill take a good lesson. WALTER: How impartial!Yes, question the defendant. Question, make an end of it, I beg you: This is the last case youll be conducting. ADAM: The last case! What! Indeed! The defendant! Where else, old judge, did you think I was headed? Damn that sickly guinea hen! If only It had croaked from the plague in India! That lump of noodles is stuck in my head! WALTER: What? What kind of a lump is in? ADAM: The lump of noodles, Forgive me, that I should give to the hen. If the sassy minx wont swallow the pill, Gracious, I dont know what itll come to. WALTER: Do your duty, I tell you, for Petes sake! ADAM: Defendant step forward.
34. Light is not to record the fact that it was another man, but rather just Eves confession that she said this the day before (E&D).

RUPRECHT: Here, your honor. Ruprecht, son of Veit the sharecropper, from Huisum. ADAM: Did you hear what Frau Martha Rull just now Brought up against you in the court of law? RUPRECHT: Yes, your honor, I heard it. ADAM: Do you trust yourself To object to what she said just now, hmm? Do you plead guilty, or do you venture Here, like some God-forsaken man, to lie? RUPRECHT: You ask me what I have to object to, Your honor? Ah! With your permission, sir, That she didnt speak a single word of truth. ADAM: So? And you think youre going to prove that? RUPRECHT: Oh, yes. ADAM: Frau Martha, worthy Frau Martha, Would you please calm down. It will all work out. WALTER: Why should you worry about Frau Martha? ADAM: Why should I? By God! As a Christian35 WALTER: Tell me Just what youre trying to pull here, judge. Clerk, do you know how to lead these proceedings? ADAM: What! LIGHT: You ask ifwell, now, if your honor ADAM: Whatre you gawking at there? Whats your objection? Doesnt an ass stand there just like an ox? What do you object to there? RUPRECHT: What do I object to? WALTER: You, yes, you should now tell the course of events. RUPRECHT: Goodness, if I could get a word in edgewise. WALTER: It really is intolerable, judge. RUPRECHT: It must have been about ten oclock at night, And this January night was warm just Like Maywhen I say to my father: Father! I want to go see Eve for a spell. Wanted to marry her, I did, you should know, A good, hearty girl she is, I saw that At the harvest: she put elbow grease to it, And the hay flew from her so nimble and quick.36 Then I said: You want to? And she said: Ah! But how you cluckAnd later she said: yes. ADAM: Stick to the point, would you. How you cluck! What! I said, do you want to? And she said, yes. RUPRECHT: Yes, on my word, your honor. WALTER: Go on! RUPRECHT: Well
35. To complete the sentence: As a Christian, shouldnt I love my neighbor? (E&D) 36. This verse is based on Gottlieb Wilhelm Rabeners SatirischenBriefen (Leipzig, 1775):Du bist ein flinkes Mensch. Ich habe es in der Heuernte gesehen, wie Dir die Arbeit frisch von der Faust ging. So eine Frau mchte ich haben! Willst Du mich, so schlag ein! (E&D)

Then I said: Father, dyou hear me? You go on. We chatted a bit yet at the window. Welp, he said, go; Youre staying outside, he asked? Yes, my goodness, I say, thats a promise. Welp, he said, go; be back by eleven. ADAM: Welp, as you say, and you cluck, theres no end. Welp, are you almost done then? RUPRECHT: Welp, I said, Thats my word, and put on my cap and went; And I wanted to cross over the footbridge, But had to go back through town cause the creek Was high. Ah, I think, of all the things, shoot! By now Marthas garden door will be shut: The girl only leaves it open til ten, If Im not there at ten, Im not coming. ADAM: A slovenly business, that.37 WALTER: And then what? RUPRECHT: Thenas I walked along the linden path Close to Marthas, where the trees are arched all Thick and dark like the Utrecht cathedral, I hear the garden door creak in the distance. Look there! Eves still there! I say to myself, And, all full of joy, I send my eyes off to Where my ears had heard the sound coming from And when they come back to me, I scold them For being blind and send them off again For a second time, to get a better look, And yell at the good-for-nothing liars, Instigators, dirty, rotten gossips. And send them a third time and think, That cause they did their duty, theyre going to Unwillingly rip themselves out of my head And find themselves another place to work: It is Eve, I recognize her dress, And theres someone else with her. ADAM: So? Someone else? And who was that, smart-mouth? RUPRECHT: Who? Goodness gracious, thats asking38 ADAM: Well then! Seems youll have to suffer the consequences. WALTER: On with the testimony! Let him speak! Why do you interrupt him, Judge Adam? RUPRECHT: I swear to God I dont know who it was, It was pitch black out, and all cats were grey39 You have to know, though, the shoemaker Lebrecht,
37. Adam is apparently annoyed that Eve didnt shut the door behind him so that Ruprecht wouldnt have been able to break into the house (E&D). 38. To finish: too much! (E&D) 39. German idiom:Bei Nacht sind alle Katzen grau, or, at night, all cats are grey (E&D). It was too dark for Ruprecht to distinguish exactly who it was.

Who just got out of the military, Hes been chasing the girl for a long time. Just last fall I told Eve: Listen, that scamp Sneaks around the house, and I dont like it. Tell him that youre no piece of meat for him; Otherwise, I swear Ill throw him off the roof. She said, youre torturing me; tell him something, And its neither here nor there, nor fish nor fowl, So I went over and threw the louse down. ADAM: So? His name is Lebrecht? RUPRECHT: Yes, Lebrecht. ADAM: Good. Thats a name. Everythings going to work out. Did you write the name in the record, clerk? LIGHT: Oh yes, and everything else, your honor. ADAM: Go on then, Ruprecht, my son. RUPRECHT: Well then I just blew my topCause I saw them there At eleven, and Id always left at ten. I think, wait, theres still time yet, oh, Ruprecht, You havent grown cuckolds horns yet, no sir You have to feel your forehead carefully now And see if something horn-likes budding up. I push myself gently through the garden gate And hide myself in the shrub there, the yew, And I hear a whisper here, a little joke, A jerk to the left, a jerk to the right, Gracious, I think, Im about to EVE: You villain! How, oh, how shameful of you! FRAU MARTHA: You scoundrel! Ill show you next time were alone! Just wait! Ill skin your teeth,40 I will! You dont know yet How bare they can get! Youll learn, you will! RUPRECHT: It lasted fifteen minutes or so, I think, What itll become, thoughwell, isnt today The wedding? Before I finished the thought, Whoosh! theyve skipped the pastor and gone to her room. EVE: Go, mother, what will happen will happen ADAM: Quiet there, you, I advise you, the storm clouds Are gathering above you, you babbler! Wait til I call on you for testimony. WALTER: Very peculiar, by God!
40. The original German plays on a misuse of a colloquialism, Haare auf die Zhnehaben, or to have hair above ones teeth, i.e. a beard, as a sign of manliness (E&D). Frau Martha misuses the preposition auf, though, saying that she has hair not above but rather on her teeth. The translation attempts to imitate this play on English colloquialisms with teeth.

RUPRECHT: Then it swelled, Judge Adam, Swelled up like a hemorrhage in me. Air! The button on my jacket sprung off. Air, now! I ripped off the jacket: Air now, I say! And go, and push, and stamp my feet and shout, And when I find the girls door bolted shut, Arms out, with force, with one step, it was open. ADAM: You hulk, you! RUPRECHT: Just when it opened with a crack, The jug fell from the shelf there in the room, And whoosh! someone jumps out of the window: I still see the tails of the jacket flap. ADAM: Was that this Lebrecht? RUPRECHT: Who else, your honor? The girl stood there, I tossed her to the side, Hurried to the window, and I find the guy Still hanging on the stakes on the lattice Where the grape vine winds its way up to the roof. And because the latch stayed there in my hand When I knocked in the door, I went and wrenched A pounds worth of steel onto his bald head: Which, your honor, I was just able to reach. ADAM: It was a latch? RUPRECHT: What? ADAM: I asked if RUPRECHT: Yes, the door latch. ADAM: Thats why. LIGHT: No doubt you thought it was a dagger? ADAM: A dagger? Iwhy? RUPRECHT: A dagger? LIGHT: Well of course! One can easily misunderstand: A latch Is very similar to a dagger. ADAM: I think! LIGHT: On my word! The shaft, your honor? ADAM: The shaft! RUPRECHT: The shaft! Thats not what it was, though. It was the opposite side of the latch. ADAM: It was the opposite side of the latch! LIGHT: So! So! RUPRECHT: But there was a lump of iron On the grip, like on a dagger, I admit. ADAM: Yes, like a grip. LIGHT: Good, like a daggers grip. It must have been some sort of vicious weapon After all. I knew that much.

WALTER: Get down to business, gentlemen, if you would! ADAM: Nothing but outlandish nonsense, clerk!You, go on! RUPRECHT: Now the guy fell, and I went to turn away, When I see him pull himself up in the dark. I think: youre still alive? I climb out the window, And want to stop him from getting anywhere: When, gentlemen, just as Im ready to jump, A handful of thick, clumpy sand hit me and the guy and night and world and windowsill: God strike me down, if I dont think That that all falls in like a cave41 As that sand flew, stinging, right in my eyes. ADAM: Damn! Look there! Now, who did that! RUPRECHT: Who? Lebrecht. ADAM: Scoundrel! RUPRECHT: On my honor! If it was him. ADAM: Who else! RUPRECHT: As if I were hit by hailstones Off the slope of a mountain ten fathoms high, I fall from the window into the room: I think Ill go smashing right through the floor. I dont break my neck after all, or my Back, or hip, or what have you; in the meantime I could no longer get my hands on the guy, And so I sit up and wipe off my eyes. She comes, and, ah, God! she calls, and Ruprecht! What is it? Goodness, I raised my foot up, And good thing I didnt see where I kicked. ADAM: Because of the sand? RUPRECHT: The sand in my eyes, yes. ADAM: Damn! It hit! RUPRECHT: Then I stand myself back up, Why should I dishonor my fists here too?42 So I curse her and say you loose strumpet, And I think that thats good enough for her, But tears, you see, choke up what Im saying. Then, cause Frau Martha came into the room, Lifted up the lamp, and I saw the girl, Standing there shivering pitifully, She, who otherwise looked so strong and sure, I think, it wouldnt be half bad to be blind. I would have given up my eyes right there Like marbles for anyone to play with. EVE: Hes not worth this, the villain ADAM: You, be quiet!
41. The original denk ich nicht, straf mich Gott, / Das alles fllt in einen Sack zusammen is a pictorial interpretation of the word zusammensacken, to sink, slump, or cave in. 42. By hitting a woman (E&D).

RUPRECHT: You know the rest. ADAM: Hows that? Whats the rest now? RUPRECHT: Well, Frau Martha came and frothed at the mouth, And Ralf the neighbor came, and Hinz the neighbor And Auntie Sue and Auntie Lisa both came, And servants and maids and dogs and cats all came, It was a spectacle, and Frau Martha asked The girl there who had broken the jug of hers And she, you know, she said, that it had been me. Goodness, she wasnt so wrong, your honors. I broke the jug she carried to get water,43 And the shoemaker has a hole in his head. ADAM: Frau Martha! What do you say to all this? Go on, retort! FRAU MARTHA: What do I say to it? That his speech, your honor, breaks in like a fox And strangles the truth like a clucking hen. Whoever loves justice ought to grab his neck And get rid of this nighttime monster. ADAM: For that youll have to show us evidence. FRAU MARTHA: Oh yes, gladly. Here is my witness. Speak! ADAM: Your daughter? No, Frau Martha. WALTER: No? Why not? ADAM: As a witness, your honor? Doesnt it say in Article four? or five?of the civil code, That as a witness in a case of jugs Which have been broken by young rascals, That daughters shall not bear their own mothers? WALTER: In your head, knowledge and confusion lie Kneaded together, closely, like a dough; With every slice you give me some of both. The girl will not bear witness yet; shell speak. Whether, and for whom, she can and will Bear witness will arise from her statement. ADAM: Yes, shell give a statement. Good. Article six. But what she says, no one believes. WALTER: Come forward, my child. ADAM: Hey! Lisa! Pardon! My mouth is getting quite dryMargaret! SCENE EIGHT A maid enters. Those from before. ADAM: A glass of water! THE MAID: Right away!
43. Play on the common saying: Der Krug geht so lange zu Wasser, bis er bricht, or a jug will go to water until it breaks (E&D).

ADAM: Could I offer? WALTER: Thank you. ADAM: French? or Moselle?44 Whatever you want. (Walter nods his head in thanks; the maid brings water and leaves) SCENE NINE Walter. Adam. Frau Martha, etc. without the maid. ADAM: If I may speak frankly, your honor, this Case seems well-suited for a settlement. WALTER: A settlement? Thats not clear, Judge Adam. Reasonable people can make settlements; But how you want to make a settlement When the case is still far from being resolved, Thats something I would really like to hear. How do you propose to make it, pray tell? Have you already reached a verdict? ADAM: Goodness! If I took philosophy to my aid, Since the law allows me to in a pinch, Id say it wasLebrecht WALTER: Who? ADAM: Or Ruprecht WALTER: Who? ADAM: Or Lebrecht, who broke the jug. WALTER: Well, who was it then? Lebrecht or Ruprecht? I see that you reach a verdict like A hand digging through a sack full of peas. ADAM: Pardon! WALTER: Quiet, quiet please. ADAM: As you wish. To me, itd be perfectly right and just, If it had been both of them together. WALTER: Question her there and youll find out. ADAM: Gladly. But Ill be damned if you figure it out. Do you have the record book ready there? LIGHT: Absolutely. ADAM: Good. LIGHT: Im folding a new sheet, Anxious to see what will come onto it. ADAM: A new sheet? Thats good, too. WALTER: Speak now, my child. ADAM: Speak, little Eve, do you hear, speak, dear girl! Give Goddo you hear, darlingfor goodness sake,
44. Wine from France or the Moselle River region (E&D).

Give Him and the world something of the truth. Imagine that you stand here before God And that you must not distress his judgment With blabber and lies that do not pertain To the case. Ah, what! Youre reasonable. A judge is, you know, always a judge, one Needs him today, another tomorrow. If you say that it was Lebrecht: then good; And if you say it was Ruprecht: also good! One way or the other, it will all work out Just as you want it, call me a liar. If you want to gossip about someone else, A third man, perhaps, and name silly names: Then child, youd better beware; Ill say no more. Hell, no one in Huisum will believe you, Eve, And no one in the Netherlands either, You know that walls, wise as they are, dont talk, Hed be able to defend himself, too, And your Ruprecht will get the punishment! WALTER: If you would just please forget your speeches. A person cant make heads or tails of them. ADAM: Does your honor not understand? WALTER: Go on! Youve been on the bench long enough already. ADAM: True, I never went to university. I may not make sense to you, sir, from Utrecht, But perhaps its different with these folks here: Ill wager the girl knows what Im saying. FRAU MARTHA: Whats that supposed to mean? Come out and say it! EVE: Oh, dearest mother! FRAU MARTHA: You! Im telling you! RUPRECHT: Goodness, its hard to come out and say it, Frau Martha, with our conscience held at our throats.45 ADAM: Quiet now, you smart aleck. FRAU MARTHA: Who was it? EVE: Oh, Jesus! FRAU MARTHA: The slack-jaw! The dirty, rotten villain! Oh, Jesus! As if she were a prostitute. Was it the Lord Jesus? ADAM: Nonsense! Frau Martha! What kind of46! Let the girl give her statement, would you! Scaring the childprostituteidiot! That gets us nowhere. Shell soon think it through. RUPRECHT: Yes, think it through. ADAM: Rascal there, quiet now.
45. In German, the phrase is playing on the common saying Das Messer sitzt mir an der Kehle, or the knife is at my throat, but replaces knife with conscience. 46. To complete: talk is that! (E&D)

RUPRECHT: Shell think of the shoemaker soon enough. ADAM: The devil! Call the bailiff! Hey! Hanfriede! RUPRECHT: Fine, fine! Ill be quiet, just forget it. Shell be giving you my name soon enough. FRAU MARTHA: Listen you, dont go making a spectacle. Listen, I became forty-nine years old With dignity: Id like to see fifty. My birthday is the third of February; Today is the first. Make it short. Who was it? ADAM: Fine, far as Im concerned! Thats fine, Frau Martha! FRAU MARTHA: Her father said when he died: Listen, Martha, Find the girl a good, solid man for me; And if she becomes a slovenly strumpet, Go give the undertaker a penny And have him lay me on my back again: Gracious, I think Ill have turned in my grave. ADAM: Well, thats not so bad. FRAU MARTHA: If you want to honor Your father and mother now, Eve, as the Fourth commandment says, then say: I let The shoemaker, or someone else, in my room, Do you hear me? But it wasnt the groom. RUPRECHT: Shes torturing me. Forget the jug, please; Ill carry it to Utrecht. Such a jug I only wish Id broken it in half. EVE: You cold-hearted man! You ought to be ashamed That you dont say, fine, I did break the jug! Bah, Ruprecht, you ought to be ashamed that You cant trust me in what I say and do. Didnt I give you my hand and say yes When you asked me, Eve, will you have me? Do you think youre no match for the shoemaker? And if you had seen me through the keyhole Drinking from the jug with Lebrecht, then you Should have thought to yourself: Eve is a good girl, Everything will work out for her in the end, And if not in life, then in the afterlife, And when we rise again, its another day.47 RUPRECHT: Gracious, Eve, thats too long a time for me. What I can grasp with my hands, Ill believe. EVE: Now just suppose that it had been Lebrecht. WhyMay I die a thousand deaths if I Hadnt told you, only you, right away; But why in front of neighbors, servants, maids Suppose I had a reason to hide it, Why, oh Ruprecht, tell me, why shouldnt I,
47. Reference to Judgment Day, when the dead are supposed to rise again (E&D).

If I were sure of your trust, say it was you? Why shouldnt I say it? Why shouldnt I? RUPRECHT: Ah, for Petes sake, say it, its fine with me If you wont face the music yourself. EVE: Oh, you horrid villain! You ungrateful man! Serve you right, if I spared myself punishment! Serve you right, if with one word I give myself Dignity and ruin you forever. WALTER: Well? And this one word? Dont stop on us now. It wasnt Ruprecht then? EVE: No, your honor, since he wants me to say it, I was only holding back for his sake: Ruprecht didnt break the jug, believe me, Even if he tries to lie to you himself. FRAU MARTHA: Eve! It wasnt Ruprecht? EVE: No, mother, no! And if I said so yesterday, I lied. FRAU MARTHA: Listen, Ill break every bone in your body! (She puts the jug down) EVE: Do what you want. WALTER (threatening): Frau Martha! ADAM: Hey! The bailiff! Throw her out, there, the abominable hag! Why should it have been Ruprecht anyway? What, was she in on the dirty deed? The girl, I think, would be the one who would know: Ill be damned if it wasnt Lebrecht. FRAU MARTHA: Was it Lebrecht then, Eve? Was it Lebrecht? ADAM: Speak, now, Eve, wasnt it Lebrecht, my dear? EVE: The impudent man! The wicked, rotten! How can he say that it was Lebrecht WALTER: Girl! How dare you say such things! I say, is that The kind of respect that you owe the judge? EVE: Ah, what! That judge there! Why, he ought to be Standing before court himself, the sinner He, who probably knows best who it was! (Turning herself to the town judge) Didnt you yourself send Lebrecht to Utrecht Just yesterday with his certificate For the armys conscription commission? How can you say that it was Lebrecht if You know full well that hes in Utrecht? ADAM: Well, then who else? If it wasnt Lebrecht, then Not Ruprecht, not Lebrechtwhatre you doing? RUPRECHT: On my word, Judge Adam, if youll allow me,

The girl cant be lying about that now, I ran into Lebrecht myself yesterday As he left for Utrecht, it was early, Eight oclock, and if he didnt catch a cart, That fellow, crooked-legged as he is, Couldnt have hobbled back by ten at night. It could very well have been someone else. ADAM: What! Crooked-legged! Idiot! The fellow Strides along quick as anyone else Despite the fact. May God strike me down If a sheep dog of considerable size Doesnt have to trot to keep up with him. WALTER: Tell us the course of events. ADAM: Pardon, your honor! At this point, the girl will hardly serve you well. WALTER: Wont serve me? She wont serve me? And why not? ADAM: Shes foolish. You see it. Good, but foolish. Young, practically just confirmed; still ashamed To see a beard from a distance. Such a one Endures things in the dark, and when its day, She stands before the judge and denies it. WALTER: You are very indulgent, Judge Adam, Very mild, when it comes to the girl. ADAM: To tell you the truth, honorable counselor, Her father had been a good friend of mine. If your honor would like to be helpful, Then well do no more than our duty here, And well let his girl go on her way. WALTER: Im feeling quite a strong desire, judge, To get to the very bottom of all this. Be brave, my child; tell us who broke the jug. At this moment, you stand before no one Who couldnt forgive one little mistake. EVE: My dear, worthy and most honorable judge, Allow me to tell you the course of events. Do not think badly of this refusal. It is a wondrous divine providence That closes my mouth in this case. I am Willing, if you demand it, to confirm With an oath before the holy altar The fact that Ruprecht did not touch that jug. However, in terms of the other events Yesterday, those belong to me alone, And my mother cannot claim or demand The entire strand just because of a Single thread of her own that runs through it.

I cannot report who broke the jug here. Id have to touch secrets, unrelated To the jug, which are not my own. Sooner or later Ill confide it to her, But the tribunal here is not the place Where she has the right to ask me about it. ADAM: No, not the right, no. On my honor, no. The girl knows our limits and boundaries. If she wants to swear the oath before the court, The mothers complaint is cancelled out. Theres nothing further to be done for it. WALTER (to Frau Martha): What do you say to this explanation? FRAU MARTHA: If I do not object adequately, Your honor, please believe, I beg you, That the blow has just flat-out numbed my tongue. There are examples of fallen persons Who dare commit perjury before a court To gain respect before the eyes of the world, But that a false oath could be sworn before The altar to get put in the pillory: The world will see that for the first time today. If it were established that someone other Than Ruprecht snuck into her room yesterday, If it were even possible, your honor Must understand me I wouldnt hang around Any longer. Id show her the door right away, Open it, and tell her, go now, my child, The world is wide, you wont pay any rent there, And you inherited nice, long hair too By which, come the time, you can hang yourself. WALTER: Calm down, now, Frau Martha. FRAU MARTHA: However, Because I have contrary evidence, Besides her, who refuses to speak, and Because Im fully convinced that he And nobody else broke this jug of mine, The desire to simply deny it Raises a dark suspicion in me that Last night holds yet another crime Beyond just the destruction of the jug. I must tell you, your honor, that Ruprecht Was just recruited, and in a few days Hell swear the oath to the flag in Utrecht. The young sons of the country are leaving. Now suppose that he said last night: What dyou think, Eve? Come on. The world is big.

You have the keys to the chests and safes, you know And she, perhaps she resisted a bit: And that way, Ill bet, since I bothered her, Out of revenge for him, out of love still for her The rest, like it happened, could have come about. RUPRECHT: The dirty sow! What kind of talk is that! Keys to chests and safes WALTER: Quiet! EVE: You, get out! WALTER: Back to business. Its the jug were discussing. Evidence, evidence that Ruprecht broke it! FRAU MARTHA: Good, your honor. First I want to prove here That Ruprecht broke this jug of mine, and then I want to investigate it at home. Theres a tongue that will bear witness for me And object to every word that he says; Id have brought her in to speak earlier If Id had the remotest idea that This one here wouldnt use her own to speak. But if you would call Frau Brigitta now, Who is his aunt, shed be enough for me, Because she can argue the main point here. Because she saw him at half till eleven, Take note, thats before the jug was broken, Exchanging words with Eve in the garden; How the fabrication that he wove here Will be torn in half from head to toe By this single tongue, honorable judges, I leave that to you to recognize. RUPRECHT: Who saw me? VEIT: Sis Briggy? RUPRECHT: With Eve? In the garden? FRAU MARTHA: Him with Eve, in the garden, ten-thirty, Before he, as he claimed, jumped into the room In a surprise attack at eleven. Exchanging words, now cuddling, now tugging, As if he was trying to persuade her. ADAM (to himself): Damn! The devil is good to me. WALTER: Bring the woman. RUPRECHT: Your honors, please, I beg you: Theres not a word of truth; its not possible. ADAM: Oh, just wait, you scoundrel!Hey! Bailiff! Hanfried! Because its when you flee that jugs get smashed Clerk, go, get Frau Brigitta and bring her here! VEIT: Listen, you damn scoundrel, what are you doing? Ill still break all your bones, I will.

RUPRECHT: But why? VEIT: Why didnt you say you were in the garden Sweet-talking the whore at ten-thirty? Why didnt you say it? RUPRECHT: Why didnt I say it? For Gods sake, cause it aint the truth, Dad! If Auntie Briggy says so, Ill hang myself. And her by her legs too, far as Im concerned. VEIT: If she does testify to it, though, watch out! You and that pure, little Eve there, even if Youre both standing here before the court now, Youre still in cahoots. Theres still some kind of Shameful secret here that she knows, but she Just wont say cause she wants to protect him. RUPRECHT: Secret! What secret? VEIT: Why did you pack up? Huh? Why did you pack up your stuff last night? RUPRECHT: My stuff? VEIT: Jackets, pants, you know, all your clothes; A bundle, the kind a traveler carries With him? RUPRECHT: Cause I have to go to Utrecht! Cause I have to go to the regiment! Heavens sakesdyou think I? VEIT: To Utrecht! Sure! To Utrecht! You hurried to get to Utrecht! Day before yesterday you didnt know If you were leaving on the fifth or the sixth. WALTER: Something that pertains to the case, father? VEIT: Your honor, I dont want to claim anything yet, I was at home when the jug was broken, And, to tell you the truth, when I consider The circumstances here closely, Ive still Not seen or heard a single thing from any Of this that makes my son suspicious. Completely convinced of his innocence, I came here just so I could, after court, Break up the former engagement of his, And demand for him the silver chain Along with the show penny that he honored The girl with last fall at the engagement. But if some runnin away and betrayal Is to come upon me in my old age, Thats news to me, sir, like it is to you: Then may the devil come and break his neck. WALTER: Go bring Miss Brigitta here, Judge Adam.

ADAM: But wont this case tire your honor out Terribly? Its getting rather drawn out. Your honor still has my cash boxes yet, And the registry toowhat time is it? LIGHT: The half hour just struck. ADAM: Ten-thirty? LIGHT: Eleven. WALTER: Same difference. ADAM: Either the clocks crazy or you are. (He looks at his watch) Im a liarYes, what do you command? WALTER: I have a mind to ADAM: End the session? Good! WALTER: No! Ive a mind to continue the case. ADAM: You have a mind toah, good. Otherwise I would finish the case early tomorrow Upon my word, to your satisfaction. WALTER: You know what it is I want. ADAM: As you wish. Clerk, send the bailiff out; he is to bring Miss Brigitta here immediately. WALTER: Andto save time, which is important to me Why dont you record the case a bit yourself. (Light exits) SCENE TEN The persons from before with the exception of Light. Later some maids. ADAM (standing up): In the meantime, if it would please your honor, Perhaps one could get a bit of air? WALTER: Oh, yes. What I wanted to say ADAM: Would you allow The parties too, until Brigitta comes? WALTER: What? The parties? ADAM: Yes, by the door, if you WALTER (to himself): Curses! (Loud.) Judge Adam, do you know something? Give me a glass of wine in the meantime. ADAM: Gladly, from the bottom of my heart. Margaret! You make me happy, your honor. Margaret! (The maid enters) THE MAID: Here. ADAM: What would you like?Go on, you people. French?In the lobby outside.Or Rhein?

WALTER: From our Rhein. ADAM: Good. Until I call then. March! WALTER: Where to? ADAM: Go, Margret. One of the sealed ones. What? Just out in the hall outside.Here.The key. WALTER: Hm! Stay. ADAM: Go! March, I say!Go, Margret! And butter, freshly churned, Limburger cheese, And some of the fatty, Pomeranian goose. WALTER: Wait! Just a minute! Dont go and make such a Fuss, I beg of you, please, Judge Adam. ADAM: Get On that now, for Petes sake! Do what I say! WALTER: Are you sending them away? ADAM: Your honor? WALTER: I asked ADAM: Theyre stepping out, with your permission. Just out until Miss Brigitta shows up. What, or is it not? WALTER: Hmm! As you like it. But is it really worth all the trouble? Do you think itll be such a long time Until she comes? ADAM: Todays wood-gathering day, Your honor. The women are for the most part Out in the spruces to gather kindling. It could well be quite RUPRECHT: Auntie is at home. WALTER: At home. Then forget it. RUPRECHT: Shell come real soon. WALTER: Shell come to us very soon. Bring the wine. ADAM (to himself): Curses! WALTER: Go on. But nothing to eat, please, Except just a piece of dry bread and salt. ADAM (to himself): Just two seconds alone with the girl (Loud.) What, dry bread! And salt! Go on. WALTER: Certainly. ADAM: Ah, a piece of cheese from Lindberg, at least Only with cheese can the tongue taste the wine. WALTER: Fine. One piece of cheese then, but nothing more. ADAM: So go. The white kind covered with Damast. Its not all perfect, but its right.48 (The maid exits) Thats the Advantage of us confirmed bachelors:
48. In Kleists text:Schlecht alles zwar, doch recht, which is a play on Job 1:1 Es war ein Mann im Lande Uz, der hie Hiob. Derselbe war schlecht und recht, gottesfrchtig und meidete das Bse or There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. (E&D; Bible texts: German: Luther, 1545; English: King James Bible, 1611).

What the others have to carefully split With the wife and the children every day, With a friend, at the opportune hour, We can enjoy. WALTER: What I wanted to say How did you ever get that cut of yours? That is one mean hole in the head, that is! ADAM: I fell. WALTER: You fell. Aha! So. When? Last night? ADAM: This morning at five-thirty, pardon, early, Just as I got out of bed. WALTER: On what? ADAM: Onyour honorable counselor, To tell you the honest truth, on myself. I slammed down headfirst onto the oven, And I still dont know why. WALTER: From behind? ADAM: Hows that? From behind? WALTER: Or in front? You have two cuts, one in the front and the back. ADAM: From the front and the back.Margret! (The two maids with wine, etc. They set the table and exit again.) WALTER: Hows that? ADAM: First like this, then like that. First on the corner Of the oven, which hit me in front, and then Again from the oven backwards on the floor Where I hit the back of my head again. (He pours the wine) Is that good? WALTER: (Takes the glass) If you had a wife, Id believe some wondrous things, Judge Adam. ADAM: And why is that? WALTER: Well, upon my honor, I see youre scratched up all over the place. ADAM (laughs): No, thank God! Thats not womens fingernails. WALTER: I believe it. Another bachelors perk. ADAM (still laughing): Shrubbery for the silkworms that was placed On the corner of the oven to dry To your health! (They drink) WALTER: And it was just today too That you had to lose your wig so strangely! That wouldve at least covered the cut for you. ADAM: Yes, yes. Evil always comes in twos. Herenow some of the fat onecould I? WALTER: A bit. From Lindberg?

ADAM: Directly from Lindberg, judge. WALTER: But how in the devil did that happen? ADAM: What? WALTER: That you suffered the loss of your wig. ADAM: Yes, look. Last night I was sitting reading A case, and because I misplaced my glasses I got into the conflict so deeply That the wig suddenly went all ablaze From the candles flame. I think I thought Fire was falling from Heaven onto my Sinful head, so I went to throw the wig Away; but before I could loosen my tie, The thing was burning like Sodom and Gomorrah. I barely saved the three hairs on my head. WALTER: Ill be damned! And your other one is in town. ADAM: At the wigmakersBut about the case. WALTER: Not so quick, please, I ask you, Judge Adam. ADAM: Ah! The hours rolling by. Another. Here. (He pours more wine) WALTER: Lebrechtif what the oddball there said was true Hes also had a nasty fall himself. ADAM: Yes, upon my honor. (He drinks) WALTER: If the case here, Remains unsolved today, as I almost fear, Youll easily be able to uncover The culprit in town by his wound, you know. (He drinks) Niersteiner? ADAM: What? WALTER: Or a good Oppenheimer? ADAM: Nierstein. Look there! My word! You understand. From Nierstein, as if Id gone to get it. WALTER: I tested it three years ago at the press. (Adam pours again) How high is your window?You! Frau Martha! FRAU MARTHA: My window? WALTER: The window of that room, yes, Where the girl sleeps? FRAU MARTHA: The rooms only on the Second floor, a cellar under it, and the Window isnt more than nine feet from the ground; But the whole things really very awkward If you try to go jumping out of it. Cause two feet from the wall theres a grapevine That pushes and twists its knotted branches Through a lattice right along the whole wall:

The window itself is knitted up with it. I tell you, a boar, armed with two strong tusks, Would have trouble trying to break through it. ADAM: There werent any stuck in there. (He pours himself wine) WALTER: Do you mean? ADAM: Oh, please! (He drinks) WALTER (to Ruprecht): How did you hit the culprit? On the head? ADAM: Here. WALTER: No thanks. ADAM: Give it here. WALTER: Its still half full. ADAM: Ill fill it. WALTER: You heard me. ADAM: For good measure. WALTER: Please. ADAM: Come now! Like the Pythagorean triad.49 (He pours him wine) WALTER (to Ruprecht again): How many times did you hit him on the head? ADAM: One is the Lord. Two is the dark Chaos. Three is the world. Give me three glasses any day. In the third you drink the sun in each drop, And the stars of the firmament with the rest. WALTER: How many times did you hit him escaping? You, Ruprecht, Im asking you! ADAM: You hear him? How many times did you hit the scapegoat? Hmm? For Gods sake, the guy himself surely knows Did you forget? RUPRECHT: With the latch? ADAM: Yes, whatever. WALTER: From the window, when you threw it down at him? RUPRECHT: Two times, your honors. ADAM: Scoundrel! That he remembers! (He drinks) WALTER: Two times! You couldve have killed him with two hits Like those RUPRECHT: If I couldve killed him, I would have. To me, that wouldve been perfectly just. If he were lying here dead before me, Id be able to say who it was, not lie. ADAM: Yes, dead! That I believe. But (He pours more wine) WALTER: Couldnt you recognize him in the dark? RUPRECHT: Not in the least, your honor. How could I?
49. Supposedly a set of meanings for numbers going back to the Pythagorean school in which one means the creator of the world, two is the chaotic material, and three is the cosmos (E&D). Adam is pushing the number three here, possibly in an attempt to get Ruprecht to say that he hit the culprit three times.

ADAM: Why dont you open your eyes and lookcheers! RUPRECHT: Open my eyes! I did have them open. The devil threw sand in them! ADAM (in his beard): Oh yes, sand! Why did you open your big, old eyes, then. Here. To all that we love, your honor! Cheers! WALTER: To all that just and good and true, Judge Adam! (They drink) ADAM: Well then, kindly finish up now, if you would. (He pours more) WALTER: Judge Adam, youve probably been over To Frau Marthas on occasion. Tell me, Who, outside of Ruprecht, drops by the house. ADAM: Not too often, your honor, actually. I really couldnt tell you who drops by. WALTER: What? But dont you visit the widow sometimes For the sake of your late friend, her husband? ADAM: No, actually, only rarely. WALTER: Frau Martha! Have you spoiled it with Judge Adam here? He says he doesnt call on you anymore? FRAU MARTHA: Hmm! Your honor, spoiled? Not that, exactly. I think he still calls himself my good friend. But that I often see him in my house, For that I cannot quite praise my neighbor. Its been nine weeks since he last came over, And even then he was just passing by. WALTER: What did you say? FRAU MARTHA: What? WALTER: Its been nine weeks? FRAU MARTHA: Nine, Yes, Thursday itll be ten. He asked me then For seeds, some carnations and primroses. WALTER: And on Sundays, when he goes to the outpost? FRAU MARTHA: Yes, therethen he peeks in my window, sure, And says good morning to me and my daughter; But then he goes right along on his way. WALTER (to himself): Hmm! If I had known the husband (He drinks) Id think, Because you sometimes need the young girl there For your business, that out of thankfulness Youd visit the mother once in a while. ADAM: Whats that, your honor? WALTER: What? You did just say The girl helps you with the hens that get sick Over there in your yard. Didnt she just

Give you advice on that subject today? FRAU MARTHA: Yes, indeed, your honor, she does do that. The day before yesterday he sent her A hen so sick it was already dying. Last year she saved one that could hardly breathe; Shell give this one noodles and heal it, too: But hes still never shown up to say thanks. WALTER (confused): Pour some more, Judge Adam, if youd be so kind. Give me some too. We want to drink another. ADAM: At your service. You make me happy. Here. (He pours wine) WALTER: To your health and happiness!Judge Adam Will come by sooner or later. FRAU MARTHA: You think so? I dont know. If I could put Niersteiner on the table Like the one youre drinking, like my husband Had from time to time in the cellar, too, If I could offer him that, itd be different: But I, poor widow, dont own anything In my house that attracts him. WALTER: All the better. SCENE ELEVEN Light, Frau Brigitta with a wig in her hand, and the maids enter. Those from before. LIGHT: In here, Miss Brigitta. WALTER: Is that the woman, Clerk Light? LIGHT: Yes, this is Miss Brigitta, your honor. WALTER: Well then, now we can get this case finished up. Take this away, maids. Here. (The maids exit with glasses, etc.) ADAM (during this): Listen, now, Eve, If you get that bitter pill swallowed for me,50 As is proper, Ill speak to you tonight Over a nice plate of fish. The hussy Has to swallow it whole now, all the way down, If its too big, it can gorge itself to death. WALTER (sees the wig): What kind of a wig has Miss Brigitta brought To us? LIGHT: Your honor? WALTER: What that woman there Has for a wig? LIGHT: Hm! WALTER: What? LIGHT: I beg your pardon
50. Said with double meaning, in relation to the hen and to Eves testimony (E&D).

WALTER: Are you going to tell me? LIGHT: If your honor would Please to have the judge question the woman, I have no doubt that who the wig belongs to And further information will unfold. WALTER: I dont want to know who it belongs to. How did she get it? Where did she find it? LIGHT: She found the wig in the grapevines lattice At Frau Martha Rulls. It hung there skewered Like a nest in the net of the grapevine, Right under the window where the girl sleeps. FRAU MARTHA: What? At my house? In the lattice? WALTER (secretly): Judge Adam, If you have something to confide to me, I ask you, for the sake of the honor Of the court, be so good and tell me. ADAM: Me tell you? WALTER: No? Dont you have? ADAM: On my honor (He grabs the wig) WALTER: Are you saying this wig here is not yours? ADAM: This wig here, your honor, is indeed mine! Well, Ill be darned, thats exactly the one That I gave to that boy eight days ago To take to up Master Mehl in Utrecht. WALTER: To whom? What? LIGHT: To Ruprecht? RUPRECHT: Me? ADAM: You rogue, did I not Entrust you with the wig eight days ago When you went to Utrecht, so that you would Take it to the hairdressers to get it fixed up? RUPRECHT: You? Oh, yes. You gave me ADAM: Why didnt you Drop the wig off like I said, you rascal? Why didnt you do like I told you to, And drop it off to the master at the shop? RUPRECHT: Why didnt I? God up in Heaven! I did drop the wig off at the shop there. Master Mehl took it ADAM: You dropped it off, hmm? And now its hanging in Marthas lattice? Just wait, scoundrel! You wont get out of this. Theres some kind of deception behind this, A mutiny, who knows?Would you allow me To interrogate the woman now?

WALTER: You say that you gave the wig? ADAM: Your honor, When that young man there was driving to Utrecht This past Thursday with his fathers oxen He came to the office and said, Judge Adam Do you need anything from the city? My son, I said, if you would be so kind, Go have this wig of mine combed back up. But I didnt say to him, go ahead And keep it for yourself, dress up in it, And leave it hanging in Marthas grapevine. FRAU BRIGITTA: Your honors, forgive me, but I dont think It was Ruprecht. Because last night, as I Went to the outpost to visit my aunt, Whos ill now from childbirth, I heard the girl All muffled, yelling back in the garden: Rage and fear, it seemed, had stolen her voice. Bah, you should be ashamed, you rotten villain, Whatre you doing? Go away. Ill call Mother; As if the Spaniards were taking over. At that: Eve! I called out through the fence. Eve! Whats the matter? Whats going on?Then silence: Well? Gonna answer?What do you want, Briggy? What are you doing, I ask?What would I be. Is it Ruprecht?Ah, yes, its Ruprecht. Just get along nowFine, do what you want. They make love, I think, the way others fight. FRAU MARTHA: So? RUPRECHT: So? WALTER: Quiet! Let the woman finish. FRAU BRIGITTA: Then as I was coming back from the outpost, It was about midnight, and right as Im At the linden path in Marthas garden, Some guy whooshes past me, bald-headed and With a club foot, and he leaves behind him The stink of dampness, pitch, hair, and sulfur. I said a God-be-with-us and turned around, All full of fright, and saw, upon my soul, The bald head, your honors, still running away, Like rotten wood51 shining through the linden path. RUPRECHT: What! Dear God in Heaven! FRAU MARTHA: Are you mad, Briggy? RUPRECHT: You think it was the devil? LIGHT: Hush! Hush! FRAU BRIGITTA: Gracious! I know what I saw and I know what I smelled.
51. Which phosphorates in the dark (E&D).

WALTER (becoming impatient): Woman, I dont want to investigate If it was the devil; you cant charge him. If you can report about someone else, good, But spare us that about the sinner there. LIGHT: Would your honor allow her to finish. WALTER: Stupid people, you are! FRAU BRIGITTA: Fine, as you wish. But Clerk Light here is a witness for me. WALTER: What? A witness for her? LIGHT: To an extent, yes. WALTER: Honestly, I dont know LIGHT: I humbly ask That you not interrupt her in the report. I do not claim that it was the devil; But that about the club foot and bald head And the dampness, if Im not mistaken, Is completely accurate! Continue! FRAU BRIGITTA: Well, today I was astonished to hear What happened at Frau Martha Rulls, and so In order to track down that jug-breaker that I ran into last night at the grapevine, I searched over the place where he jumped out, And I found, your honors, a track in the snow What kind of a track did I find in the snow? On the right: fine, sharp, and slanted to one side, The regular footprint of a human, And on the left: fat and all misshapen, A monstrous, hulking print of a cleft foot. WALTER (annoyed): Blabber, crazy, maniacal, goddamned! VEIT: Its not possible, woman! FRAU BRIGITTA: Upon my word! First at the lattice there, where the jump was, Then a big circle of rumpled-up snow, As if a sow was rolling around there; And human foot and cleft foot from here on, And human foot and cleft foot, and human foot and cleft foot, Straight through the garden and into all the world. ADAM: Damn!Did the scoundrel perhaps get away With using the devils disguise? RUPRECHT: What! Me! LIGHT: Quiet! FRAU BRIGITTA: When he looks for a badger and finds the trail, A huntsman doesnt triumph as much as I did. Clerk Light, I say, when I saw the worthy man Coming to fetch me for you just now, Clerk Light, spare yourself this session,

Youre not trying the jug-breaker here, I tell you now, hes sitting in hell, no less: And this here is the path that he took. WALTER: Youve convinced yourself of that? LIGHT: Your honor, The trail is completely accurate. WALTER: A cleft foot? LIGHT: The foot of a man, really, However, something like the hoof of a horse. ADAM: Gracious, this case appears to be serious. There are many harshly indicted writings That will not admit that there is a God; But, as far as I know, no atheist has yet Succinctly proven there isnt a devil. The case at hand seems to be worthy of Special discussion. Therefore, I suggest That before we make any decision, We ask at the Haag or at the Synod52 Whether the court is authorized to accept That Beelzebub himself broke the jug. WALTER: Thats a suggestion Id expect from you. What do you think, clerk? LIGHT: Your honor will not Need the Synod to come to a verdict. If youll permit me!finish the report, Frau Brigitta. From all the connections, The case should, I hope, come together clearly. FRAU BRIGITTA: After that: Clerk Light, I say, lets go and Follow the trail a bit so we can see Where the devil couldve gone and disappeared. Fine, he says, Frau Brigitta, good idea; Perhaps we wont have to go too far If we end up going to Judge Adams. WALTER: Well? And as it turned out? FRAU BRIGITTA: First off, out in The place on the other side of the garden In the linden path, where the devil crashed Into me, smelling like sulfur, we found A circle, like a dog makes shying off When a cat stands hissing at it. WALTER: And then? FRAU BRIGITTA: Not far from that, we see a memorial53 Of his by a tree that scared me to death. WALTER: A memorial? What? FRAU BRIGITTA: What? Oh, you would not
52. Meeting of the churches to determine rules and policies (E&D). 53. Adam defecated as a sign of his fright (E&D).

ADAM (to himself): Damn my stomach. LIGHT: Skip that part, now, please, Skip over that, Frau Brigitta, please. WALTER: I want to know where the trail led you! FRAU BRIGITTA: Where? Upon my honor, the quickest way Right here, just as the clerk said. WALTER: Here? Right here? FRAU BRIGITTA: Yes, right from the linden path, Over the field there, along the carp pond, Over the bridge, then right through the graveyard Straight here, I tell you, right to Judge Adams. WALTER: Right to Judge Adams? ADAM: Right here to me? FRAU BRIGITTA: Yes, to you. RUPRECHT: What, wouldnt the devil live In the courthouse? FRAU BRIGITTA: On my word, I dont know If he lives here; but unless Im a liar, This is indeed where he got off: The path Goes up back all the way up to the step. ADAM: Perhaps he passed through here? FRAU BRIGITTA: Yes, or passed through. Could be. That could be too. The trail out front WALTER: There was a trail out front? LIGHT: Pardon, your honor, there wasnt a trail there. FRAU BRIGITTA: Yes, out front the paths all trampled over. ADAM: Trampled over. Passed through. Or Im a villain. Look here, the fellow must have stuck a bit To the laws here. Call me a liar if It doesnt stink a bit in the registry. If my calculations should be found to be Mixed up, as I dont doubt they will be, On my honor, I will not take the blame. WALTER: Me either. (to himself) Hmm! I dont know if it was the left, Was it the right? One of his feet Judge! Your tobacco box! If you would. ADAM: The tobacco? WALTER: The tobacco. Bring it here! ADAM: (to Light): Bring the box. WALTER: Why the circumstance? Its just a step away. ADAM: Its already done. Give them to his honor. WALTER: I wanted to say something in your ear. ADAM: Maybe well have a chance afterward WALTER: Fine. (After Light sits down again)

Tell me, gentlemen, is there someone here In the town with misshapen feet? LIGHT: Hm! Indeed there is someone in Huisum WALTER: So! Who? LIGHT: Would your honor please to ask the judge WALTER: Judge Adam? ADAM: I know nothing about it. The ten years Ive been in office in Huisum Far as I know, everythings grown up right. WALTER: (to Light) Well? Who do you mean? FRAU MARTHA: Bring your feet out, judge! He sticks them so nervously under the table, Youd almost think hed made the trail himself. WALTER: Who? Do you mean Judge Adam? ADAM: Me? the trail? Am I the devil? Is that a cleft foot? (He shows his left foot) WALTER: Upon my honor. The foot is fine. (Secretly) Make an end of this session immediately. ADAM: If the devil had such a foot, Why, then he could go dancing at the ball. FRAU MARTHA: I say so too. How could the town judge54 ADAM: Ah, what! Me! WALTER: Finish it, I tell you, quick. FRAU BRIGITTA: The only pesky bit left, your honors, I think, is this ceremonial garb! ADAM: What ceremonial garb? FRAU BRIGITTA: Here, the wig! Who ever saw the devil wear such a thing? Such a construction, all piled up and oily Like the wig of a deacon at the pulpit! ADAM: In these parts, we dont completely know whats Fashionable in hell, Frau Brigitta! Its said one usually wears ones own hair. However, here on earth, Im convinced that He threw the wig on so that he could Blend in with the nobles and dignitaries. WALTER: Worthless man! You ought to be chased out of office For all the people to see! The only thing Protecting you is the honor of the court. Close your session! ADAM: I couldnt hope to just WALTER: Youll not hope. Youll remove yourself from the case. ADAM: Do you think that I, the judge, could have lost My wig there in the grapevine yesterday?
54. To finish:have a cleft foot (E&D).

WALTER: Everything you had has gone up in flames, God help you, like Sodom and Gomorrah. LIGHT: Whats moreif I may, your honor! Last night The cat had kittens in his other one. ADAM: Gentlemen, if I am damned here by the Appearances: Please do not rush. This is About my honor or utter disgrace. As long as the girl wont speak, I dont see What right you have to incriminate me. I sit here on the judges bench of Huisum, And I lay the wig down on the table: Whoever claims this wig belongs to me Ill challenge before the high court in Utrecht. LIGHT: Hmm! The wig does fit you, though, on my word, As if it had grown right there on your head. (He puts the wig on his head) ADAM: Slander! LIGHT: Doesnt it? ADAM: Its so big on me, I could wear it as a coat and still have room! (Adam looks at himself in the mirror) RUPRECHT: Ah, what a god-forsaken schmuck! WALTER: Quiet! FRAU MARTHA: Ah, what a goddamned, villainous judge, he is! WALTER: Once again, would you or should I end the case? ADAM: Yes, what do you want? RUPRECHT (to Eve): Eve, tell me, was it him? WALTER: You shameless man, do you dare not listen? VEIT: Quiet, you, I say. ADAM: Wait, beast! Ill get you. RUPRECHT: You damned cleft-footed devil! WALTER: Call the bailiff! VEIT: Hold your tongue, I say. RUPRECHT: Wait! Ill get you yet today. Today you wont throw any sand in my eyes. WALTER: Do you not have enough wit about you? ADAM: Yes, if your honor Would allow, Ill give the sentence right now. WALTER: Good. Do that. ADAM: The case has now been constructed, And Ruprecht there, the varmint, is the culprit. WALTER: Fine. Continue. ADAM: I sentence him to be Put in irons, and because of the improper And undue conduct he showed towards his judge, Im throwing him in jail and locking him up.

For how longI have yet to determine. EVE: Ruprecht? RUPRECHT: Me, thrown in jail? EVE: Put in irons? WALTER: Stop your worrying, children.Are you finished? ADAM: He may replace the jug, or he may not. WALTER: Fine. The case is closed. And Ruprecht will Appeal to the authorities in Utrecht. EVE: Hes supposed to appeal to Utrecht first? RUPRECHT: What? Me? WALTER: For Petes sake, yes! And until then EVE: Until then? RUPRECHT: Im supposed to go to jail? EVE: Have his neck put in irons? Arent you a judge too? Him there, the shameless one sitting over there, It was he himself WALTER: Quiet, you hear me! Not a hair on his head wouldve been hurt55 EVE: Get him, Ruprecht! It was Judge Adam himself that broke the jug! RUPRECHT: Ah! Wait, you! FRAU MARTHA: Him? FRAU BRIGITTA: Him there? EVE: Yes, him! Get him, Ruprecht! He came to your Eve yesterday! Go! Grab him! Knock him down like he deserves! WALTER (stands up): Stop right there! Whoever disrupts EVE: Who cares! Someone deserves iron. Go, Ruprecht! Go, toss him down from the Tribunal! ADAM: Excuse me, gentlemen. (runs away) EVE: Go! RUPRECHT: Stop him! EVE: Quick! ADAM: What! RUPRECHT: Goddamn devil! EVE: You got him? RUPRECHT: God damn it all! Its just his coat! WALTER: Go! Call the bailiff! RUPRECHT: (hits the coat) Rip! Thats one. And rip! And rip! Another. And another still! For the lack of the hunchback.56 WALTER: You ill-bred manOrder! Order in the court! As for him, if he doesnt stop it right now,
55. To finish: until then; Ruprecht wouldnt have been harmed. 55. Instead of Adam, hes hitting and ripping his coat where his back would be.

Ill put him in those irons, like promised, today. VEIT: Stop it, you lousy scoundrel! SCENE TWELVE Those from before, without Adam. They are all at the front of the stage. RUPRECHT: Ah, Eve! How terribly Ive insulted you today! Dear God above, and how I did yesterday! Ah, you, my golden girl, my dearest bride! Will you ever be able to forgive me? EVE: (throws herself at the foot of the judges bench) Sir! If you do not help us now, were lost! WALTER: Lost? Whys that? RUPRECHT: Dear God! Whats the matter? EVE: Save Ruprecht from the conscription! Because This regiment, sirJudge Adam told me As a secretthis regiment he said Is going to East India; and, you know, Only one out of three comes back from there! WALTER: What! To East India! Are you insane? EVE: To Bantam, your honor; And thats the truth! Here is the letter from the government, The silent, secret instructions for the Domestic militia they just sent off. See, your honor, I know all about it. WALTER (takes the letter and reads it): Oh, the unheard of, malicious deceit! The letters fake! EVE: Fake? WALTER: Fake, upon my life! Clerk Light, tell me yourself, is this the order That was recently sent here from Utrecht? LIGHT: The order! What! That sinner! Thats just a Little slip he drew up with his own hand! The troops that were recruited are being sent To service within the country; no one Was thinking to send them to East India! EVE: They werent, not ever, your honors? WALTER: On my word! And as proof of my word: If it were like you said, Ill bail Ruprecht out of his service! EVE (stands up); Oh, heavens! How that villain lied to me! He was torturing me with these terrible Worries, and he came to me in the night

To push a paper for Ruprecht on me; Some sort of false health certificate, proof That could free him from service completely; He explained it and assured me and snuck Up to my room to write it up for me: Demanding of me such vulgar, shameful things, Your honor, that no maidens mouth dare say! FRAU BRIGITTA: Ah, that villainous, disgraceful liar! RUPRECHT: Forget that horse-footed devil, sweetheart! Look, if itd been a horse that broke the jug, Id be just as jealous, as I am now! (They kiss each other) VEIT: I agree! Kiss and make up, and love each other; This May, if you want, well have the wedding! LIGHT (at the window): Come and look how Judge Adam is stamping Through the furrows in the fields up and down As if he were fleeing from the gallows! WALTER: What? Is that Judge Adam? LIGHT: Indeed, it is! SEVERAL: Now hes coming to the street. Look there! Look How his wig is whipping him on the back! WALTER: Quick, clerk, go after him! Bring him back here! So that he doesnt go making things worse. He is now suspended from his office, And I ask that you keep the justice here Until further availability. If at least the cash boxes are in order, As I hope, then I wont make him resign. Go! Do me the favor, and bring him back! (Light goes) FINAL SCENE Those from before, without Light. FRAU MARTHA: Tell me now, your honor, where might I find The seat of the government in Utrecht? WALTER: Why, Frau Martha? FRAU MARTHA(sensitively): Hmm! Why? Well, I dont know Isnt the jug supposed to get justice? WALTER: Forgive me! Indeed. At the large market Every Tuesday and Friday we hold court. FRAU MARTHA: Good! Later this week, Ill be showing up there. All exit.