← Table of contents
Three plays by Frederic Hebbel

Act 3 — Scene 3

Leslie Holdsworth Allen translation

Boy (enters).

I’ve brought some flowers. I haven’t to say who’s sent them.

Leonard.

Oh, what lovely flowers! (Strikes his brow.) The devil! That’s stupid! I should have sent some! How am I to get out of it? I don’t know much about these things, and the little girl will notice it; she has nothing else to think about. (Takes the flowers.) But I won’t keep them all. (To Clara.) These mean remorse and shame, don’t they? Didn’t you once tell me that?

[Clara nods.

Leonard (to the boy).

Look here, boy. These are for me. I put them here, you see, over my heart. These, red ones here, that burn like a glowing fire, you can take back. Do you understand? When my apples are ripe you can come again.

Boy.

That’s a long time yet! (Goes out.)

Explore with AITake your curiosity a little further.

Reading settings