Alois Jirásek

Name: Poet Lore
Author: Alois Jirásek

Poet Lore (1925)

Summary

“Poet Lore”, published in 1925, is a work by Alois Jirásek. It explores elements such as Hanička, Zajíček and lantern.

Quotes from Poet Lore (Alois Jirásek)

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Just then it becomes dark, the crown of the old linden suddenly blazes forth. Lights shine forth in it and solemn music is heard from aloft, like the sound of a distant organ.
Servants begin to run away toward the right.
Courtier, Magistrate, as if stunned, withdraw confusedly toward the right.
Dame Klásek, Klásek, Zima, Sejtko fall on their knees.
Miller stands in the same position, threatening, with axe in hand.
Zajíček stands under the linden itself in enthusiastic rapture.
Braha has fallen on his knees beneath the linden. The linden opens and Hanička steps forth. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ To listen to that, to gaze at it and yet be unable, without getting into trouble, even to change into a black horse, and with coy freedom swiftly gallop down the meadow, and strike out with my hoofs, dash forth with my waving mane and neigh loudly into the night and storm; why, one cannot even graze calmly and freely or change into a lantern and wander about at night, quietly and slowly, like a little red light along the stream into the dark, beneath the trees. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Zajíček.—So the courtier said.
Zima.—I should say and do believe (carefully looks about him) that the Princes does not know a single thing about it, (mysteriously) that the courtier—
Sejtko.—Well then, what is it, Zima?
Zima (Looking about him carefully) .—It’s a delicate matter; One must be careful of one’s speech—however, (knowingly) that courtier, it seems to me from what I observe, is more than a mere courtier. He dictates and wishes to dictate; he is more than a courtier, but less than a friend; he is a distant friend of the Lady Princess. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Míchal.—Where to, then?
Ivan.—Where I’ll be all alone, where I shall hardly ever see a human face. (Points toward the forest.) Over there into the little lake in the woods near the old castle, in to that forsaken pool. There peace will reign, there I’ll be able to breathe freely, whether it be in the shade of the woods near the water, or in the sun in the quiet of noon day. To breathe, to breathe, to warm myself, and then in case of rain to sit behind the thick shrubbery of alder, moss, and beechwood ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Ivan.—It is she! Well, then—then leap after her!
Míchal (Crying) .—To the herb room! And she has motherwort in her belt!
Hanička (Calls) .—Libor! Libor!
Míchal (With enthusiasm) .—Do you hear! Do you hear! Isn’t that a voice for you!
Ivan.—Well, well, it is a voice; but it is better not to hear it. You have human weakness; that is why you are so ludicrous.
Hanička steps off the bench during the foregoing speech and walks toward the right, behind the mill.
Ivan.—And you will suffer even more when you return with a black and blue back. There is no help for you. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Hanička.—Don’t you want to go with a lantern?
Grandmother.—Who would go about now with a lantern!
Hanička.—I would, at once. I like the lantern.
Grandmother.—It’s light, it cheers one. It is gloomy in the dark; the night is sad, the mother of all sorts of deeds. It has its own power and its own rights.
Hanička (More quietly) . It is the queen of the spirits and they are its servants. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Zajíček (Meanwhile enters the meadow, gazes at the sky and around at the forest) .—Well, people say lots of things. But this is true. At night a person has mighty queer feelings, sort of a holy horror; but at any rate, one must admit that it is a beautiful place. Beautiful!
Zima.—This sort of fear overcomes a person, usually in what they call gloomy places. (To Klásek.) One walks and walks and suddenly it seems as if somebody sprang forth out of the shadows, looked into your eyes and immediately disappeared. You see only those eyes—that terrible look. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Hanička.—You have returned to me! You have found me!
Miller.—My vision became blurred, I went astray. But I have you back, Hanička, my soul, my strength!
Zajíček (Moved) .—O, the thyme!
Meanwhile a chorus of male voices bursts forth from above:
The spirit of the race is a broad shield
That through the strife of ages works its charms;
The deeds our fathers did, the dreams they dreamed,
Live in this blessed heritage of ancient arms.
Scene VII
Princess, Zan, carrying the Miller’s lantern, Maid, and the preceding with the exception of the servants. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Zima.—No indeed, nor the assistant here, nor even Klásek.
Sejtko.—Well, of all things, then who is it?
Zima.—The lap. The lap, comrade, is the best friend. We find people almost tearing the food from each other’s mouths, and if it falls, some one immediately grasps it. Only your lap will catch it, that you may keep it.
Sejtko (Taken aback) .—Such brilliancy! And Klásek is missing it.
Hanička (To Zajíček) .—Are you expecting him? Only if Klásek’s wife will let him go. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Courtier.—You with an axe in your hand?
Miller.—Perhaps you know the reason, and if not, you will soon understand; if anyone ventures to touch my linden—
Courtier.—Are you insane! (With a smile.) You stand alone, and against you—just count the number against you! If you do not give in willingly, if you do not give up—
Miller.—No! I stand alone, but I can resist all. I will not give up Hanička, that she be humbled; I will defend my rights against everybody and I will not give them up ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Míchal.—Not even that?
Ivan.—And to get nothing anywhere but a frown, a snare, and efforts to catch the sprite and tie the rope. That is why I leave these false people. There is no affection among them, each one loves only himself and spies on the other man, scheming how he may stab him or at least prick him and trip him. Their universe is not sufficient for them. They laugh at us and yet despise us. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Magistrate.—You are, and what a malicious, obstinate sort! You would like to have a school in the town, to become a choirmaster, and lead a choir—that indeed—to have a goodly amount of earnings and profits, several cords of wood and gifts—that indeed and besides a huge stole thrown in with it—that indeed!
Zajíček (Sheepishly) .—Lord, O Lord!
Magistrate.—But to help the nobility, to tell where the girl is, that you refuse!
Zajíček.—Your Honor, most kind officer, have mercy—
Magistrate.—Have you any mercy! You ought to have mercy on your Dornička. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Zajíček.—O, dearest Hanička, if you only knew! Think of it! It is going on eight years already that I’ve been a teacher’s assistant, going on eight years, and I do want to be made a master so that my dearest Dornička may not have to wait any longer, so that we may be married. Going on eight years, Hanička, a teacher’s assistant! I can hardly save a thing any year, except what I make by playing and spinning. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ That is why the light cheers one, particularly when one wanders through the wide fields in the autumn evenings, and when from the lantern on the pole a little light pierces the darkness as a wagon rattles along the deserted street.
Hanička.—And it is still gayer in winter when everything is covered with snow in the evening, when the young girls run to the spinning and light the way with lanterns. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Princess.—Indeed it is! On such a night beautiful dreams enter the soul. (To the Miller.) The solitude!
Miller.—Shall you not be afraid here, Your Grace?
Princess.—Afraid? (Looks at him thoughtfully for a moment, then bursts forth.) Why do you hold the lantern?
Miller.—Not to forget—
Princess.—What?
Miller (Hesitates a moment) .—My duty. (Sets the lantern on the balustrade; remains standing beside it.)
Princess.—You did more than your duty. I am grateful to you. But do rest a while before starting on your return journey. You said you were in no hurry and your people are at home. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ My dream! O heart of man, thou art not peaceful! Peace ever flees when thy beating is but heard. This journey was meant to test him and to punish him and instead I myself am punished. What must he think of me! What have those zealous servants brought down upon me! That I should be despised. That because of this dream—— (Goes out by the door on the left.)
Zan picks up the lantern and follows her.
Scene IX
Dame Klásek, Ivan, Zima, Klásek, Sejtko
Dame Klásek, who has meanwhile stepped down, returns and waves, but still faces the steps. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ In water! But on dry land, nine flies can thrash you; isn’t it so, you water rat? You would stop the mill wheels by day, hover about the mill all night, sigh, cry, and annoy respectable young girls.—Now listen, and tell me the truth!
Míchal.—You are a dragon! Let me go!
Dame Klásek.—Not until you tell the gospel truth! Where did the teacher’s assistant and those musicians go? Into the village?
Míchal.—No, I heard they were to play a concert for the Princess, and they went yonder. (Points to the forest.)
Dame Klásek.—To the little castle. And Hanička ran off after the miller. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Near the birch trees a forest maiden appears, two others stepping forth at the same time from the forest in the background; more come forth from the right. They glance about like timid fawns and again disappear. Immediately others appear from behind the trees in the little meadow.
Zajíček.—Good Lord, it’s a dream, I’m dreaming. Hanička! ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Hanička.—Who is he?
Zajíček.—Her chief courtier; they say he has great influence with her. The magistrate is preparing a royal welcome and I (more quietly, mysteriously) the music, a concert in the palace. As soon as the princess arrives, we will strike up a fine tune, you know; I, Sejtko, Zima, Klásek. Klásek has already been to see me, but please don’t mention it, I beg of you! ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ On the left in the meadow in front of the forest, an old bushy linden tree in bloom. Night; the moon is shining, clouds are driving over it.
Scene I
Sejtko, Zajíček, Zima, Klásek
Sejtko (Is the first to step forward from the right, looks behind him) . Come then, scarecrows, there’s nothing here. (Crosses to the meadow over the rocks.)
Zajíček (Enters carefully, looking about him) .—Nothing, (Walks across the stones.) Come ahead; no one is here.
Zima (Enters) .—Well, I’m not afraid, but so far as my reason goes, I believe (crossing) that one cannot be too careful at night. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Princess comes in from the wood on the left.
The light in the linden tree is becoming dim, the music is dying away. Courtier is bewildered. Magistrate, confused, is about to step forward towards the Princess, but does not dare. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Hanička.—Why? What would that lantern—?
Grandmother.—Merely a piece of glass and wood, and yet it is a heavy burden on our old mill. In the village and everywhere, and throughout the domain, they sigh in servitude, and a terrible nightmare—serfdom—smothers every one. Only our mill was and has been free since any one can remember. But during the time of Libor’s grandfather, no one knows how, but certainly through injustice, the nobility eventually did rob him of this freedom. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Braha.—They say that they left with the teachers’ assistant; he and Zima—
Dame Klásek.—And Sejtko.—Aha—
Braha.—To give a concert.
Dame Klásek.—But for whom, for whom! And what is more, even if they do play, is it not all a trick? I believe nothing. I don’t believe anyone but the cards, they speak (pulls out the cards, sits down on the wheelbarrow) the truth—Look! here The ace of hearts—and in its path a jack of spades, and here a green one—aha—a fine concert—it’s a woman, (snatches the cards and jumps up) a woman, and no concert. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Dame Klásek (Enters from right, halts, looks about her, spies Míchal. Speaks sharply, without fear) .—Who is under the linden?
Míchal.—I.
Dame Klásek.—It strikes me, he sniffles. (Sharply.) Which one of you is it?
Míchal is silent.
Dame Klásek (More sharply) .—Well, then, why don’t you answer me? If you are a decent sort, come forth into the light.
Michal (Blows out the lantern and steps forth) .—I am a ribbon dealer.
Dame Klásek (Looks him over) .—You?
Míchal.—I’m on my way from Kozlovo, from the fair, and I have gone astray. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Zan.—O! (Involuntarily crosses himself.) Maid screams and darts inside. Zan follows her. The door slams. A rapid, excited turning of a key can be heard within the castle.
Ivan.—Perhaps they’ll be quiet now. (Goes to the balustrade; half sitting on it, pulls a small pipe from his belt, lights it; at the same time bends down and looks ahead.) A light! Under the trees in the dark and aiming straight ahead. (Looks toward the stairs on the right.) There are two coming, and they are heading straight for here. The abominable race! (Rapidly crosses to the left and descends the steps.) ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Magistrate (Sharply) .—I have heard nothing of the sort. (To the Courtier.) They are dangerous because they strengthen their stubborness and disobedience . . . There, under that linden, the dissatisfied have always had their gatherings. And to this day they gather there secretly and conspire against the officials and the nobility. The mill here has always been the shelter of every one, whether he be heretic or rebel; and when they were unable to conceal him here, he always managed to disappear yonder by the linden, without a sign of footprints. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Hanička.—What burden?
Grandmother.—They assigned this duty to us: if the nobility of this estate finds it a pleasure or takes a notion to pass here, from the mill to the old forest beyond the water, to the little castle near the lake, be it during a hunt or any other time, be it at high noon or at midnight itself, every time we from the mill must light the way for them. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Magistrate.—You will not welcome her?
Miller.—No.
Magistrate.—But this young girl will go as a lady in waiting. Here you cannot defend yourself with any rights. She is an orphan and is the property of the nobility.
Miller.—But she is not from this estate.
Braha.—She certainly isn’t, no. I found her, I brought her here. They put us out everywhere; only here, in the mill, they took pity and received the orphan, the blessed child, as one of their own.
Magistrate.—But that is why she does not belong to them. (To Hanička.) You will dress yourself and come. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ I wish to inform you that I order and demand that each one of you charge your people, whether foot soldiers or cavalrymen, in what manner they are to station themselves in rows at the welcoming ceremony; that every one, be he short or tall, of masculine or feminine gender, menials or maids of honor—should, when the nobility is arriving—You there, Votruba, in the rear—what are you laughing at?—I repeat, I command that you cry out, or rather shout, at her entrance, “Vivat!” Let every one shout, “Vivat! Vivat!” and the bailiff will correct with the hazel stick anyone who does not do so ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Vlkov, Livořice, Svojšin, Nedražice and Lažany; now she is at Březovice, and from there will come here to Lohová. That is why the magistrate is hustling and bustling about, that her welcome here may be a particularly royal one. At present, one order follows another around the domain. And he commanded me that for the welcome, you, miller, should ride on horseback to the castle; that your horse should be all adorned with flowers and banners in all splendor. You are to lead the peasants; they too are to be mounted. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ Thou surely must enjoy beaming down here, where no contemptible human carousing is heard from every corner. Thou carest not to leave this quiet spot. Thou carest not to roam about farther over the wide woods. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alois Jirásek, Poet Lore (1925)

“ To run from one to the other, over fields, over hills, in the rain, in sleet, to have two principals over me, and what is worse than two principals, than rain and thunderbolts, is to have two principals’ wives, each more harsh-tempered than the other. ”

Alois Jirásek

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