Page:Bedřich Smetana, The bartered bride, Die verkaufte braut.pdf/25

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THE BARTERED BRIDE.
23

Has plenty and more.
But I must not conceal,
Her other possessions!
It far over-reaches—
I say it openly—
All expectation!
Small house and garden,
All sorts of cattle,
Milkable cows,
All worth the trouble!
Pigs in the pigstye,
May well be praised!
Hens and pigeons
Of incredible number!
Troughs and tubs,
Pitchers and cans,
And in the trunks
Dresses and shoes!
And what is more
A cup-board brand new!
A prince ought not to be ashamed,
He ought to yield immediately,
And take him such a bride;
Well would he be pleased with her!

Hans.

(who repeats everything ironically.)

That my all be very true,
Still must I say: No!

Kezal.

O give up your stupid love affair.
You will not repent!
Will you? Without tricks:
I'll spend one hundred gulden on it.

Hans.

Only a hundred? Is that all
The sacrifice costs you? No, dear sir,
I'll not agree to that!

Kezal (eagerly).

Well, let it be double!

Hans.

What are you talking about!

Kezal.

Then, three hundred!
But do it quickly,
So as to settle
Matters right away!
How? You hesitate?

(threatening.)

Beware!
Here have I good friends;
Were I to say one word,
They'd get you hence in a trice!
Then will you have
Neither bride nor money!

Hans.

And who will give the promised sum?

Kezal.

I! I!

Hans (surprised and disbelieving.)

You? Perhaps for yourself? To you
I would not give the girl for millions!

Kezal.

What an idea? I'm well provided long ago,
And have my hands full with them!
Don't you know that I am trying
For Micha's son? We'll put it
Down in writing, you will get the money,
But then get thee hence!

Hans.

Well, then,
So let it be!
It's quite a sum!
When you have paid,
Then all is settled.

(hesitating.)

But I make one condition:
No other one
Shall have Marie, but
Tobias Micha's son. Otherwise
Is the contract worthless!

Kezal.

That's self-understood!
Just what I want!
No other one shall have her
But Micha's son.