Page:The Makropoulos Secret (1925).pdf/176

THE MAKROPOULOS SECRET understand; but when one understands all—one sees that singing is the same as keeping silent. Everything is the same. There is no difference in anything.

That’s not true. When you sing—then people are moved to something better and higher.

People are never better. Nothing can ever change. Nothing matters. If there were an explosion now, or an earthquake, if the end of the world were here, nothing would matter. Even I do not matter. You are here and am far away—away from everything Three hundred years—oh, God, if you only knew how easy it is for you to live!

Why?

You are so near to everything. For you, everything has a meaning, for you everything has some feeling. Oh, God, if I could only once more[She wrings her hands] Fools, you are so fortunate. Everything interests you—like monkeys. You believe everything; you believe in love, in yourselves, in progress, in humanity—I don’t know in what. You believe in pleasure, Max. Kristina, you believe in love and faithfulness. You believe in foolishness,