Page:Poet Lore, volume 36, 1925.pdf/414

 ZajiíčekZajíček [sic] (Alone, amazed. Suddenly turns toward the linden).—Hanička! Hanička!

, several servants carrying axes and saws, among them (his arms bound with a rope),.

Magistrate (From the right).—She is here, she must be here; and that is the cursed linden. Ah, no other than the teacher’s assistant himself! What is he doing here?

Zajíček.—So please you, sir, we intended giving a concert.

Magistrate (Snickering).—Here— a concert! To whom are you talking, rascal? (Suddenly, curtly.) Where is that girl from the mill?

Zajíček (Frightened).—Hanička?

Magistrate (Sharply, emphatically, as if sure of his point).—She was here.

Zajíček (Confused).—She was—that is—

Magistrate.—Where is she, where did she go?

Zajíček.—So please you, sir, I don’t know.

Magistrate.—She has hidden here.

Zajíček.—So please you sir, I don’t know.

Magistrate.—Don’t know,—you don’t know. How should you not know when you are an accomplice of the miller. You most certainly know that they have a hiding place here. Out with it!

Zajíček.—I know nothing of a hiding place.

Magistrate.—Nor of the girl either, I suppose. So! Here we have a teacher’s assistant who ought to teach obedience to youth! He is a rebel.

Zajíček (Frightened).—So please you, sir, no; that I am not, most noble, kind director—

Magistrate.—You are, and what a malicious, obstinate sort! You would like to have a school in the town, to become a choirmaster, and lead a choir—that indeed—to have a goodly amount of earnings and profits, several cords of wood and gifts—that indeed and besides a huge stole thrown in with it—that indeed!

Zajíček (Sheepishly).—Lord, O Lord!

Magistrate.—But to help the nobility, to tell where the girl is, that you refuse!

Zajíček.—Your Honor, most kind officer, have mercy—

Magistrate.—Have you any mercy! You ought to have