The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht

Author:Bertolt Brecht
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2014-07-21T22:45:38+00:00

S I S T E R- I N - L AW : If it's consumption we'll all get it. (She goes

on cross-examining her.) Has your husband got a farm?

G RU S H A : He's a soldier.

LAV RE N T I : But he's coming into a farm - a small one - from

his father.

S I S T E R- I N - LAW : Isn't he in the war? Why not?

G RU S H A {with effort}: Yes, he's in the war.

S I S T E R- I N - L AW : Then why d'you want to go to the farm?

LAV R E N T I : When he comes back from the war, he'll return to

his farm.

S I S T E R- I N - LAW : But you're going there now?

LAV R E N T I : Yes, to wait for him.

S I S T E R- I N - L AW (calling shrilly): Sosso, the cake!

G RU S H A {murm uring feverishly): A farm - a soldier - wait-

ing - sit down, eat.

S I S T E R- I N - LAW : It's scarlet fever.

G RU S H A (starting up): Yes, he's got a farm!

LAV R E N T I : I think it's just weakness, Aniko. Would you look

after the cake yourself, dear?

S I S T E R- I N - LAW : But when will he come back if war's broken

out again as people say? (She waddles off, shouting.) Sosso!

Where on earth are you? Sosso!

LAV R E N T I (getting up quickly and going to G R U S HA): You'll

get a bed in a minute. She has a good heart. But wait till after supper.

G Ru s H A (holding out the c H I L D to him): Take him.

LAV R E N T I {taking it and looking around): But you can't stay

here long with the child. She's religious, you see.

The Caucasian Chalk Circle I 47

G RU S H A col/apses. LAV R E N T I catches her.

S I N G E R :

The sister was s o ill,

The cowardly brother had to give her shelter.

Summer departed, winter came.

The winter was long, the winter was short.

People mustn't know anything.

Rats mustn't bite.

Spring mustn't come.

G RU S H A sits over the weaving loom in a workroom. She and

the C H I L D , who is squatting on the floor, are wrapped in blankets. She sings.

T H E S O N G O F T H E C E N T E R

And the lover started to leave

And h is betrothed ran pleading after him

Pleading and weeping, weeping and teaching:

"Dearest mine, dearest mine

When you go to war as now you do

When you fight the foe as soon you will

Don't lead with the front line

And don't push with the rear line

At the front is red fire

In the rear is red smoke

Stay in the war's center

Stay near the standard bearer

The first always die

The last are also hit

Those in the center come home.

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