Page:Poet Lore, volume 33, 1922.pdf/194

 Beauvalle.—I cannot help it. Watch with greater care and it will not happen.

Vrána.—No, to your grace, there is no damage,—but to me, to me! My whole harvest is again destroyed. It is now three days,—the wild boars broke through my woven hedge,—trampled up the fields, chewed and destroyed the crops, then other wild beasts came in and completed the damage done.

Beauvalle.—And why come to me?

Vrána.—I beg your noble highness, make me some small amends to keep us from starving. And then a stronger hedge. It would greatly help.

Beauvalle.—You would hold me responsible for the damage? To whom belongs these fields, the meadows, your house, even you miserable life? To whom except myself? And you come to me to make amends for the damage.

Vrána.—Just a living is all I beg of you, noble highness. We work like serfs from morning till night for that little bit of land and our tiny house,—our living is all tied up therein.

Beauvalle.—Your bondsman’s service I will excuse you from for one month, no more. And with such a demand, never appear before me again. (Turns away.)

Vrána (Makes a sign of abject hopelessness, and his head drops., slow to give up hope, wishes to drag him anew to another plea before the .)

Lída.—Your Grace, I beg you, a thousand times I beg you, listen to our humble petition!

Beauvalle.—And what daring is this?

Lída.—My father here,—we scarcely have the means of livelihood. And in the forest and game reserve, where not only we but the people from the village are obliged to pass,— well, our very lives are in danger. No one is protected from the wild beasts and several have already been attacked.

Vrána (Emboldened again).—Especially those two wild boars,—our lives are daily in danger.

Beauvalle.—What are you trying to tell me now? I told you once to go!

( approaches, gazing intently at her.)

Tomeš (Suddenly steps up).—Noble Count,—these poor people are truly in terrible straights. I beg you, make some amends for their loss; fortify their hedge in such a way that the wild beasts cannot trample their garden. And the fiercest of the animals,—I beg you, have them destroyed!