Page:Bedřich Smetana, The bartered bride, Die verkaufte braut.pdf/17

 

ACT SECOND.

 

---

 

(Room in the Inn.)

 

SCENE I.

 

(Hans, with young country-folk, sits at a table on one side, Kezal on the other side of the room. They drink beer.)

 

Chorus.

 

How you foam in the glasses, noble beer!
From you a man gets fire and strength!
The young and old extol you!
Heissassa!
When we sit drinking beer, man next to man,
What does the rest concern us?
The Lord will keep us in his favor!
Heissassa!

 

Hans (stands up).

 

My friends, I agree with you,
Still I think of my loved one at the same time.
For that alone is heaven on earth:
To love and to be loved!

 

Chorus.

 

You'll lose your head yet through love, you fool!

(alluding to Kezal)

You'd better beware of that one there!

 

Kezal (gets up at the same time).

 

What is love to him
Who lost his goods and all?
Safe and sure is just one thing,
And that is ready money!
You poor fellow, if you have none,
The whole world will laugh at you!

(raises his glass.)

Here's to ready cash!

 

Hans (raises his glass).

 

'Tis my girl that I care for!

 

(Girls gradually get ready for the dance after the drinking song.)

 

Chorus.

 

How do you foam in the glasses, noble beer,
From you many a man gets fire and strength!
The young and old extol you.
Heissassa!

 

(Dance madly.)

 

(After the dance, the girls drag the young men out of the room—all go.)

 

SCENE II.

 

Wenzel (entering timidly).

 

De-dear son,
Spake mother,
Now is it time
For you to woo!

Mu-Muster up courage,
And be a man:
For what man does,
That is well done.

Sa-safely,
Home I returned,
La-laughed I
A-at it all.

 

SCENE III.

 

(Marie and Wenzel.)

 

 

(Both laugh loudly when they notice each other.)

Marie

Are you not the betrothed
Of Kruschina's Marie?

 

Wenzel

 

(at first frightened, then with more confidence.)

 

Ce-certainly, my beau-
Beau-beautiful child, I'm he!