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LULU
BY FRANK WEDEKIND
ERDGEIST (EARTH-SPIRIT) $1.00
PANDORA'S BOX (In Preparation)
ERDGEIST
(Earth-Spirit)
A Tragedy in Four Acts
BY
FRANK WEDEKIND
Translated by Samuel A. Eliot, Jr.
NEW YORK
ALBERT AND CHARLES BONI
1914
Copyright, 1914
by
Albert and Charles Boni
"I was created out of ranker stuff
By Nature, and to the earth by Lust am drawn.
Unto the spirit of evil, not of good,
The earth belongs. What deities send to us
From heaven are only universal goods;
Their light gives gladness, but makes no man rich;
And in their state possession not obtains.
Therefore, the stone of price, all-treasured gold,
Must from the powers of falsehood be enticed,
The evil race that dwells beneath the day.
Not without sacrifice their favor is gained,
And no man liveth who from serving them
Hath extricated undefiled his soul."
DR. SCHÖN, newspaper owner and editor.
ALVA, his son, a writer.
DR. GOLL, M.D.
SCHWARZ, an artist.
PRINCE ESCERNY, an African explorer.
ESCHERICH, a reporter.
SCHIGOLCH, a beggar.
RODRIGO, an acrobat.
HUGENBERG, a schoolboy (played by a girl.)
FERDINAND, a coachman.
LULU.
COUNTESS GESCHWITZ.
HENRIETTE, a servant.
(At rise, is seen the entrance to a tent, out of whichsteps an animal-tamer, with long, black curls, dressedin a white cravat, a vermilion dress-coat, white trowsersand white top-boots. He carries in his left hand a dog-whipand in his right a loaded revolver, and enters to thesound of cymbals and kettle-drums.)
Walk in! Walk in to the menagery,
Proud gentlemen and ladies lively and merry!
With avid lust or cold disgust, the very
Beast without Soul bound and made secondary
To human genius, to stay and see!
Walk in, the show'll begin!—As customary,
One child to each two persons comes in free.