Translation:Puss in Boots/Epilogue

Epilogue

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King stepping out from behind the curtain Tomorrow we will have the honor of repeating today's performance.

Fischer What insolence!

Everyone stamps. The King is thrown into confusion, he retreats, then returns.

King Tomorrow: Allzu scharf macht schartig.

All Yes! That's better!

The King leaves the stage to general applause. There are cries of "The final scenery! The final scenery!"

Behind the Curtain Really! Well, since they are calling for the final scenery!

The curtain rises, the stage is empty; only the scenery is to be seen. comes forward, bowing.

Hanswurst Forgive me for being so bold as to thank you on behalf of the scenery; it is only right that the scenery should be at least a little polite. She will strive to earn the applause of an enlightened audience in the future too; therefore she certainly shall not lack for lamps or the necessary adornments, for the applause of such an assembly will so so  so encourage her  oh, look, see how she is moved to tears and can no longer speak.

He leaves the stage quickly and dries his eyes, several people in the pit start crying, the senery is taken down, leaving the walls of the stage bare; people start to leave; climbs out of his box; emerges meekly onto the stage.

Playwright I am free once again

Fischer Are you still there?

Müller You should be gone home by now.

Playwright Just a few more words with your kind permission! My play has flopped

Fischer Who are you talking to?

Müller So we noticed.

Playwright I, perhaps, am not entirely to blame

Müller Who else, then? Whose fault was that we were compelled to tie up this worthy young man here, who would otherwise have run amok like a madman? Who else, if not you, is to blame for leaving us addleheaded and confused?

Schlosser Enlightened man! Isn't it true that your noble drama presents a mystical theory revealing the nature of love?

Playwright Not to my knowledge; I was just trying to restore to all of you the lost sentiments of your childhood, so that you could experience whole-heartedly the depicted fairytale, but without regarding it as something more important than it actually was.

Leutner That is not an easy thing to do, my good man.

Playwright Admittedly, you would then have to put all your schooling aside for two hours.

Fischer How is that possible, then?

Playwright Forget all you have ever learned

Müller Why not, indeed?

Playwright Just as they have done in the newspapers.

Müller Just think what that would entail!

Playwright In short, you would need to become children again.

Fischer But we thank God that we are no longer children.

Leutner Our schooling has cost us enough toil and sweat as it is.

Drumrolls are heard again.

Prompter You should try to compose a few verses, Mr Poet; they might earn you more respect.

Playwright Perhaps I can come up with a Xenie.

Prompter What's that?

Playwright A newfangled style of poetry that makes one feel better than can be described. Addressing the pit

Rotten pears and apples and balled-up pieces of paper are thrown at him from the pit.

Playwright Those men down there are too well-versed in this type of poetry for me.

Müller Come on, Fischer, Leutner, let's drag Schlosser home, a sacrificial victim to Art.

Schlosser while they are hauling him off Do your worst, vulgarians, the light of love and truth will still permeate the universe.

They all leave.

Playwright I'm going home too.

Bötticher Hist! Mr Poet!

Playwright What is it?

Bötticher I was not one of your detractors, but the captivating performance of that unique man who played the virtuous Hinze has somewhat prevented me from fully comprehending the art of dramatic composition, but to which, all the same, I also want to see that justice is done; now I would just like to know whether this great man is staying in the theater.

Playwright No. But what did you want him for?

Bötticher Just to worship him a little and expound his greatness. But could you please hand me that gag over there; I think I'll keep it as a souvenir of the barbarism of my age and of my compatriots.

Playwright Here.

Bötticher I will always remember your kindness with gratitude.

He leaves.

Playwright Oh, you ungrateful century!

He leaves. The few people who are still in the theater go home.