CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 The Estate Of 
 Preserved Smith 
 
Cornell University Library 
 PT 2638.N73P9 1913 
 
 Professor Bernhardi: 
 
 3 1924 026 341 630 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tliis bool< is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924026341630 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
PROFESSOR 
 BERNHARDI 
 
 A COMEDY BY ARTHUR JCHNITZLER 
 
 AN ADAPTATION IN ENGLISH 
 
 BY MRS. EMIL POHLI 
 
 PAUL ELDER AND COMPANY 
 PUBLISHERS • SAN FRANCISCO 
 
Copyright, 191 3 
 By Paul Eldir & Company 
 
 1^ I ^ 
 
 fi^^nojl 
 
 
THIS LITTLE VOLUME 
 
 IS DEDICATED TO MY BELOVED SON 
 
 AUSTIN RAMON POHLI 
 
Introdu&ion 
 
 "Professor Bernhardt" is Schnitzler's latest and 
 most original drama. The first performance of the play 
 took place in the month of December igi2, at the 
 Kleine Theater in Berlin. The incident upon which the 
 play is founded, occurred in Vienna some time ago and 
 created a great deal of feeling. For that reason, the 
 Censor forbade the produStion of the play in Austria. 
 I shall leave it to the judgment of the reader, whether 
 the ban of the Censor is in any way justified. Of course, 
 it must be borne in mind that Austria is an ultra- 
 Catholic country. 
 
 It is well-known that Schnitzlers father was a 
 distinguished physician and Professor at the University 
 of Vienna; and that his son Arthur followed his father's 
 profession for several years. Undoubtedly this experi- 
 ence helped him in his deep understanding of human 
 nature; you can feel the deft surgeon s hand with its 
 soft touch, the discernment of the diagnostician in his 
 wonderful analysis of woman's soul. 
 
 In almost all of Schnitzler s plays, the reminiscences 
 of his professional life are immortalized in the character 
 of a doSior through whose lips as in "Der Einsame 
 Weg," "Das Weite Land" "Der Ruf Des Lebens," 
 "Freiwild," "Das Marchen," the poet expresses his 
 own view-point, his philosophy. 
 
 There is no leading lady in " Professor Bernhardi." 
 The only woman in the play is a nurse who speaks only 
 a few lines in the first Act. Fourteen physicians are 
 the other characters. 
 
IntroduSiion 
 
 With remarkable technique, these fourteen doSlors 
 are introduced: the hypoprite, the incompetent, the en- 
 thusiast, the Zionist, the anti-Semitic ones, the false and 
 the real philanthropists. Even on the stage, it is diffi- 
 cult to distinguish them in their diversity. 
 
 It is in sparkling dialogue, discussions on diseases 
 and in the display of their respective feelings towards 
 their chief, that they show their characteristics to the 
 audience. 
 
 However, to bring the substance of the play within 
 the compass of a public reading and lecture — in which 
 form the play was first presented by me to the public — 
 / was compelled to re-cast the work of the author and, 
 for that purpose I took the liberty of reducing the origi- 
 nal text to one-fourth, often letting my personal inter- 
 pretation take the place of many pages of dialogue. The 
 reader will therefore understand that this is not offered 
 as a translation but is only a resum'e, as it were, of the 
 main features of the play. 
 
 Mrs. Emil Pohli 
 
 San Francisco 
 
 August the first 
 
 Nineteen hundred and thirteen 
 
 VI 
 
Characters 
 
 PROFESSOR BERNHARDI . . Professor for Internal 
 Medicine and Director of the Elizabethinum 
 
 DOCTOR EBENWALD . Professor of Surgery, Vice-Director 
 
 DOCTOR CYPRIAN Nerve Specialist 
 
 DOCTOR PFLUGFELDER Eye Specialist 
 
 DOCTOR FILITZ Diseases of Women 
 
 DOCTOR TUGENDVETTER .... Skin Specialist 
 
 DOCTOR LOEWENSTEIN . . Specialist on Children's 
 Diseases 
 
 DOCTOR SCHREIMANN .... Throat Specialist 
 
 DOCTOR ADLER Pathological Anatomist 
 
 DOCTOR OSCAR BERNHARDI ) 
 
 _ f Assistants to Bernhardi 
 DOCTOR KURT PFLUGFELDER J 
 
 DOCTOR WENGER . . . Assistant to Tugendvetter 
 
 HOCHROITZPOINTNER , Student of Medicine— Interne 
 
 SISTER LUDMILLA A Nurse 
 
 DOCTOR FLINT Minister of Education 
 
 PRIVY-COUNSELOR WINKLER . . . Department of 
 Education 
 
 FRANZ REDER . Priest at The Church of Holy Florian 
 
 DOCTOR GOLDENTHAL .... Attorney-at-Law 
 
 KULKA A Reporter 
 
 Vienna — in igoo 
 
 VII 
 
'Time and Place 
 
 Fifteen years before the opening scene. Pro- 
 fessor Bernhardi, with the help of Professor 
 Tugendvetter and Professor Cyprian, founded 
 the medical institution named Elizabethinum, 
 after the Empress of Austria. Now, owing 
 to his skill as a physician, his mental gifts 
 and his energy, the hospital and clinic are 
 among the best in Vienna, with Professor Bern- 
 hardi at its head as President. 
 
 IX 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
Act I 
 
 In the EUzabethinum — The opening scene is laid 
 in a large ante-room of the Elizabethinum, with 
 several doors, one leading to a ward, another to a pri- 
 vate sick-room, and large folding doors opening into a 
 vestibule. 
 
 All the furnishings are white; along the walls are 
 large bookcases filled with medical works, and glass 
 cases where the latest surgical instruments and appli- 
 ances are assembled. 
 
 In an open wardrobe are seen the white operat- 
 ing coats ofdoSlors. There is also a long table cov- 
 ered with charts, diaries and other documents. 
 
 Sister Ludmilla, a nurse, about twenty-eight years 
 old, is occupied arranging medical instruments. She 
 has large blue eyes, weak and watery. 
 
 Hochroitzpointner enters from the ward. Toung 
 man twenty-five years old, medium height, fat, pale 
 face with scars, small moustache, eye-glasses, and 
 oiled smooth hair. Type of student who attends all 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 leSiures and has never succeeded in passing an ex- 
 amination. 
 
 HocHRoiTZPOiNTNER. Pfofessor has not come yet? 
 They are a long time at it today. That's the 
 third autopsy in a week, and only twenty beds in 
 the ward. And tomorrow we'll have another one. 
 
 Sister. Do youthinkso, Dodtor? That septicaemia 
 case? 
 
 HocHROiTZPOiNTNER. Yes. By the way, did you 
 make a report? 
 
 Sister. Of course, Dodtor. 
 
 HocHROiTZPOiNTNER. Well, we could not prove 
 it, but it was surely a case of malpradlice. I tell 
 you. Sister, there are all kinds of things happen- 
 ing in the world. Ah! here are the invitations to 
 the ball-under the patronage of the Princess 
 Stixenstein. Well, Sister, are you going to the 
 ball? 
 
 Sister. I guess not, Dodtor. 
 
 HocHROiTZPOiNTNER. Dancing forbidden? 
 
 Sister {smiling). No, Dodtor, we are not a religious 
 order. Nothing is forbidden us. 
 
 HocHROiTZPOiNTNER {with a sly look). Nothing? 
 {Doctor Oscar Bernhardi enters. "Twenty-five 
 years oldy elegantly dressed, handsome, pleasing ap- 
 pearance, but diffident manner^* 
 
 Oscar. Good-morning! Father will be here diredlly 
 {At the table.) Oh! here are the invitations to 
 the ball. Why do they send them here? 
 
 HOCHROITZPOINTNER. The ball for the benefit of 
 
 *The tender relations between Bernhardi and his son Oscar, are a tribute to the 
 affection that existed between Professor Schnitzler and his son Arthur. 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 the Elizabethinum promises to be the most ele- 
 gant affair of the season. The papers are full of 
 it. I hear that you have composed a waltz for 
 the occasion. 
 
 Oscar {^deprecatory gesture and pointing to sick- 
 room). Anything new in there? 
 
 HocHROiTzpoiNTNER. That Septicemia case is near 
 the end. 
 
 Oscar {regretfully). Oh, well! there was nothing to 
 be done. 
 
 Hochroitzpointner. I gave her a camphor in- 
 jection. 
 
 Oscar. Yes, the art of prolonging a doomed life is 
 one secret that we have solved. 
 
 {Enter Professor Bernhardi. Type of a man of 
 the world, distinguishedy gray hair, fine eyes. He is 
 accompanied by his assistant, DoSlor Kurt Pflug- 
 f elder, twenty-seven years old. They come from the 
 disseising room.) 
 
 Kurt. I could not help it, Professor. Doctor Ad- 
 ler would have liked it much better if Professor 
 Ebenwald's diagnosis had been correct. 
 
 Bernhardi. But, my dear Doctor Pflugfelder, you 
 suspect treason everywhere. 
 
 Hochroitzpointner. I just hear from Doctor Os- 
 car that we were right. 
 
 Bernhardi. Yes, but at the same time, we were 
 wrong! Or don't you attend Professor Ebenwald's 
 courses ? 
 
 Oscar. Doctor Hochroitzpointner attends nearly 
 all the courses. 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDT 
 
 Bernhardi {laying his hand on Hochroitzpointner's 
 shoulder, kindly). Well, anything new? 
 
 HocHRoiTZPoiNTNER. That septicasmia case is very 
 bad. 
 
 Bernhar,di. Poor girl! Still alive? 
 {Enter Professor Ebenwald.) 
 
 Ebenwald {Vice-president, tall, slender spectacles; 
 with exaggerated Austrian accent). Good-morn- 
 ing! Ah, there you are. Professor! 
 
 Bernhardi. How do you do. Doctor. 
 
 Ebenwald. Have you a second for me? 
 
 Bernhardt. Now? 
 
 Ebenwald {approaching him). If it were possible. 
 It is in regard to the appointment of a successor 
 to Professor Tugendvetter. 
 
 Bernhardt. Is there any hurry for that? 
 
 iXhe Sister gives Bernhardi a document to sign.) 
 Excuse me one moment, we have a case of sep- 
 ticaemia there, {pointing to door) a young girl, 
 absolutely conscious; she wants to get up, take a 
 walk, believes herself perfectly well. You cannot 
 count the pulse any more. It may be over be- 
 fore an hour is gone. 
 
 Ebenwald {pompously). That occurs not infre- 
 quently. 
 
 Hochroitzpointner {eagerly). Shall I give her 
 another camphor injection? 
 
 Bernhardi. You might have spared yourself the 
 first one-never mind, you gave her perhaps the 
 happiest hour of her life, though, I suppose, un- 
 intentionally. 
 
 6 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 HocHROiTZPOiNTNER. Do you Consider me a mere 
 butcher? 
 
 Bernhardt. I do not remember having uttered a 
 reproach of that kind. {Hochroitzpointner and 
 Ebenwald exchange a look.) 
 
 Bernhardi {to Sister). Has she relatives? 
 
 Sister. Nobody has called. 
 
 Bernhardi. Not her lover? 
 
 Oscar. Trust him! He won't dare. She hasn't 
 even mentioned him. Perhaps she doesn't know 
 his name. 
 
 Bernhardi. And that is what they call "love's 
 happiness." 
 
 Sister (who has been standing near, whispers to Hoch- 
 roitzfointner). I'll go now and get his Reverence 
 to come. 
 
 HocHRoiTZPOiNTNER. Yes, you might go. If you 
 get there too late, it is no misfortune. {Sister goes 
 out.) 
 
 Ebenwald (displaying impatience). Well, the case 
 is this, Doctor: I have received a letter from Pro- 
 fessor Hell, from Graz. He is inclined to accept 
 an appointment as successor to Tugendvetter. 
 
 Bernhardi. Ah! he is inclined! 
 
 Ebenwald. Yes, sir. 
 
 Bernhardi. Did anyone ask him? 
 
 Ebenwald. I took the liberty, as his old friend and 
 classmate. 
 
 {Enter Professor Tugendvetter. About fifty years 
 oldygray, "side-chops " affeSls jovial, humorous man- 
 ner. Of uncertain demeanor, tries to win applause.) 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 TuGENDVETTER. Good-moming! I have to talk to 
 you, Bernhardi. His Excellency-I have just 
 come from His Excellency— sends his regards to 
 you. 
 
 Bernhardi. Who sends his regards? 
 
 TuGENDVETTER. Flint, the Minister. Oh! we 
 talked about you. He thinks a great deal of you. 
 He remembers with pleasure the time when you 
 were assistants together at Rappenweiler's. Ah! 
 he is a winner! First time in Austria a clinical 
 professor ever rose to be a Minister. 
 
 Bernhardi. He was always a good politician, your 
 latest friend Flint. By the way, did he approve 
 your acceptance of this municipal hospital ap- 
 pointment? Lucky we have someone to take 
 your place. 
 
 TuGENDVETTER. Little Wenger? Yes,quite capable. 
 You will not let him fill my place for any length 
 of time? 
 
 Ebenwald. I have just mentioned having received 
 a letter from Professor Hell, who is willing — 
 
 TuGENDVETTER. Oh! he has also written to me — 
 
 Bernhardi. Well! there is certainly nothing slow 
 about the gentleman. 
 
 TuGENDVETTER {lookiftg at Ebetiwald). Say, Bern- 
 hardi, your institution would have a splendid ac- 
 quisition in Hell. 
 
 Bernhardi. Then he must have developed remark- 
 ably in Graz. When he was in Vienna, we con- 
 sidered him absolutely incompetent. 
 
 TuGENDVETTER. Who, for instance? 
 
 8 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Bernhardi. You, for instance. 
 
 TuGENDVETTER. I think that Wcnger IS too young. 
 
 Bernhardi. Well, one of them has to be elected, 
 and I hope that you take sufBcient interest in the 
 future of your department to vote for the better 
 man. 
 
 TuGENDVETTER. Well, I should Say so! Aren't we 
 the founders of it, Bernhardi, Cyprian and I. 
 How long ago was it? 
 
 Ebenwald. Fifteen years ago, dear Tugendvetter. 
 
 TuGENDVETTER. Fifteen years, a-hem — a beautiful 
 time. By Jove, it will not be easy for me. Say, 
 Bernhardi, Could it not be arranged for me to re- 
 main here? 
 
 Bernhardi. Absolutely not. The day you take 
 your place there I shall appoint your former 
 assistant to fill your place until the election. 
 
 Ebenwald. Then I wish to ask that the election 
 take place within the next few days. 
 
 {Bernhardi shows resentment at the interference 
 of Ebenwald, who leaves in apparent indignation. 
 All exit. As they leave, Do5for Adler enters; small, 
 dark, lively, about thirty years old. Kurt enters. 
 He and Adler engage in conversation about the slow 
 progress the science of medicine has made.) 
 
 Adler. All that you can do is to experiment. 
 
 Kurt. What are we to do? We must try the new 
 remedies if the old ones fail. 
 
 Adler, And to-morrow the new is old; that is why 
 I chose Pathological Anatomy. There, at least 
 one knows what he is doing, and is the master. 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 Kurt. You forget, Dodlor Adler, there is One 
 
 above you. 
 Adler. And He hasn't time to bother about us, 
 
 He is too busy with the spiritual department. 
 
 {Looks over the record.) Also Roentgen? Do you 
 
 really use that in such cases? 
 Kurt. We are obliged to try everything, Dodor 
 
 Adler, especially where there is nothing more to 
 
 be lost. 
 
 (^Cyprian enters, an elderly man with long, blonde 
 
 hair. He is looking for the janitor.) 
 Cyprian. Can't find him. I am sure he is in a 
 
 saloon. The same thing will happen here that 
 
 occurred in Prague, where we had a janitor who 
 
 was addifted to liquor. That fellow adtually 
 
 drank even the alcohol out of the specimen jars. 
 (Bernhardi enters.) 
 Oscar {from the sick-room). Oh, father, if you 
 
 want to speak to her — 
 {Bernhardi exits.) 
 Adler {to Cyprian). A dying patient! 
 
 (Priest enters. Toung man, twenty-eight years 
 
 old, with an energetic, intelligent face. The Acolyte 
 
 remains standing at the door. Adler greets him.) 
 Priest. Good-day, gentlemen. I hope that I am 
 
 not too late? 
 Kurt. No, Your Reverence, the professor is with 
 
 the patient now. 
 Priest. Then you have not given up hope? 
 Kurt. Yes, it is a perfectly hopeless case! 
 
 (Hochroitzpointner ojers the priest a chair.) 
 
 lo 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Priest. I will wait until the professor has left the 
 patient. 
 
 Cyprian. Your Reverence, if only we could help 
 all of these patients; but sometimes we cannot do 
 anything better than to comfort them. 
 
 Kurt. And lie to them. 
 
 Priest. You use a very hard word there. 
 
 Kurt. Pardon, Your Reverence, I was referring to 
 the physician; still that is sometimes the most 
 difficult and noblest part of our professional duty. 
 {Bernhardt is seen at the door; the priest rises. 
 There are now present in the room: Hochroitzpoint- 
 ner, Adler, Kurt, Cyprian, Oscar, Priest and Bern- 
 hardi. The Sister follows Bernhardi in from the 
 sick-room.) 
 
 Bernhardi. Oh, Your Reverence! 
 
 Priest {shakes hands with him). We take each 
 other's places. Professor. Will I find the patient 
 still conscious? 
 
 Bernhardi. Yes, you might say-in a heightened 
 state of consciousness; she is in a state of absolute 
 euphoria. She is, you might say-well, she feels 
 well. 
 
 Priest. Oh! that is perfectly beautiful. Only the 
 other day I had the joy of seeing a young man 
 on the street, who, fully prepared to die, had a 
 few weeks previously received from me the last 
 ointment. 
 
 Adler. Who knows whether it was not Your Rev- 
 erence who gave him back the strength and cour- 
 age for the new life. 
 
 II 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Bernhardi {turning to Adler). His Reverence has 
 misunderstood me. I meant to say tliat the 
 patient has no conception of her true condition; 
 she is going, but imagines that she is recovering. 
 
 Priest. Really? 
 
 Bernhardi. And I almost fear that your appear- 
 ance. Your Reverence — 
 
 Priest. Fear nothing for your patient; I have not 
 come to pronounce the death sentence. When 
 may I prepare the patient? It would be best to 
 prepare her. 
 
 {At a glance from the priest to the Sister, un- 
 noticed by Bernhardiy the Sister enters the sick- 
 room.') 
 
 Bernhardi. That would not help matters. As I 
 have told you already, the patient has no idea 
 that she is going to die; she expedts anything else 
 rather than this visit. On the contrary, she is in 
 the happy belief that in the next hour, someone 
 that is near to her, may come to take her with 
 him into life and into happiness. I believe, Your 
 Reverence, that it would be wrong to awaken her 
 from this last dream. 
 
 Priest. Is there a chance that my appearance might 
 bring about a change for the worse. Professor? 
 
 Bernhardi. It is not impossible that the end might 
 be hastened, possibly by only a few minutes, but 
 at all events — 
 
 Priest. Can your patient still be saved? Does my 
 appearance in that sense, mean danger ? Then, of 
 course, I would be ready to retire. 
 
 12 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Bernhardi. She is hopeless. There is no doubt 
 about it. 
 
 Priest. Then, Professor, I see no reason — 
 
 Bernhardt. Excuse me. Your Reverence, I am 
 
 still here performing my professional duty, which 
 
 demands that, if it is not in my power to save my 
 
 patient, it is at least my duty to let her die happily. 
 
 {Cyprian shows impatience and disapproval.) 
 
 Priest. To die happily? Probably we have differ- 
 ent conceptions of what that means, and from 
 what I learned from the Sister, your patient is 
 more in need of absolution than others. 
 
 Bernhardi {with an ironical smile). Are we not all 
 sinners? 
 
 Priest. That is neither here nor there ; you do not 
 know whether in the depth of the soul, into which 
 God alone can look, there may be just in this last 
 moment, a longing to free itself from sin by ab- 
 solution. 
 
 Bernhardi. Must I repeat again. Your Reverence, 
 that the patient does not know that she is lost; 
 she has hope, she is peaceful, and she feels no re- 
 pentance. 
 
 Priest. All the more culpable would I be, if I left 
 this place without having administered the conso- 
 lation of our holy religion to this dying one. 
 
 Bernhardi. Your Reverence, every earthly judge 
 will absolve you from this guilt. {After a gesture 
 of the priest's.) Your Reverence, as her physician, 
 I cannot permit you to go near my patient. 
 
 Priest. I was called here. I must beg — 
 
 13 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Bernhardi. Not by me. I can only repeat. Your 
 Reverence, that as her physician, to whom the 
 happiness of the patient is confided to the last 
 minute, I must forbid your entering that room. 
 
 Priest. You forbid me? 
 
 Bernhardi {touching his shoulder lightly). Yes, Your 
 Reverence. 
 
 {"The Sister hurries in from the sick-room.) 
 
 Sister. Your Reverence — 
 
 Bernhardi. Were you in there? 
 
 Sister. It will be too late. Your Reverence — 
 {Kurt quickly enters the sick-room.) 
 
 Bernhardi {to Sister). You told the patient that 
 His Reverence is here? 
 
 Sister. Yes, Dodtor. 
 
 Bernhardi. Answer me quietly. How did the 
 patient take the message? Did she say anything? 
 Speak! Well—! 
 
 Sister. She said — 
 
 Bernhardi. Well — ? 
 
 Sister. She was a little bit frightened. 
 
 Bernhardi {not angrily). Well, speak! .what did 
 she say? 
 
 Sister. "Must I really die?" 
 
 Kurt {from the sick-room). It is all over — 
 
 Bernhardi. Do not be disturbed. Your Reverence. 
 It was not your fault; you only wanted to do 
 your duty, the same as I. I am more than sorry 
 that I did not succeed. 
 
 Priest. It is not for you, Professor, to give me ab- 
 solution. That poor soul has gone hither as a 
 
 H 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 sinner, and without the solace of her religion; and 
 
 that is your fault. 
 Bernhardi. I am perfedtly willing to accept the 
 
 responsibility. 
 Priest. It will remain to be seen whether you are 
 
 able to do so. Good-day, gentlemen. 
 
 {Priest leaves. 1'he others are stirred and em- 
 barrassed. Bernhardi looks at all of them in turn.) 
 Bernhardi. Well, Dodlor Adler, tomorrow the 
 
 autopsy. 
 Cyprian (aside to Bernhardi). It was not right. 
 Bernhardt. Why, not right? 
 Adler. I would be insincere, did I not say right 
 
 now, that in this affair, I cannot take your side, 
 
 Professor. 
 Bernhardi. And it would be insincere on my part, 
 
 if I did not assure you that I was certainly aware 
 
 of that. 
 
 {Cyprian and Adler leave. Oscar bites his lips.) 
 Bernhardi. I hope this will not hurt your career. 
 Oscar. Oh, father! 
 
 {Bernhardt lays his hand tenderly upon Oscar's 
 
 head.) 
 Sister. Professor I thought — 
 Bernhardi. Well, what did you think? Well, 
 
 what is the difference? It is all over now. 
 Sister {stammering, and pointiug at Hochroitzpoint- 
 
 ner). Well — well — the Doftor — 
 Hochroitzpointner. Well, I, of course, did not 
 
 forbid her. 
 Bernhardt. Oh, of course not, Do6tor. You un- 
 
 15 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 doubtedly are as zealous an attendant at church as 
 
 at the leftures. 
 HocHROiTZPOiNTNER. Professor, we live in a Chris- 
 tian state. 
 Bernhardi {looking at him steadfastly). Yes, God 
 
 forgive them, they know too d d well what 
 
 they do. 
 
 {Bernhardi leaves with Kurt and Oscar.) 
 HocHROiTZPoiNTNER {to Sister).^h.y did you excuse 
 
 yourself, child? You only did your duty. Why 
 
 did you cry? Look out that you do not get one 
 
 of those attacks again. 
 Sister {weeping). Professor was so angry! 
 HocHROiTZPOiNTNER. Suppose he was angry; the 
 
 Professor, our President, he will not last much 
 
 longer — this will break his neck. 
 {Curtain.) 
 
 i6 
 
Act II 
 
 Office of Professor Bernhardt. (Bookcases, writing- 
 desks, medical appliances, pictures, and statuary busts 
 of scientists. Oscar is seated at his father's desk. A 
 bell rings and a servant brings a card,) 
 Oscar (to servant). Admit the gentleman. 
 
 {Enter Filifz. Handsome, blond, about forty years 
 
 old. Pince-nez.') 
 FiLiTZ. Good morning, Dodtor Oscar! Where is 
 
 your father? 
 Oscar. Good-morningj Professor ! Father is with 
 
 Prince Constantin. I expedl him at any moment. 
 FiLiTZ. I cannot wait. Give your father a message 
 
 from me, which will be of some interest to you 
 
 also. My wife has been refused admission today 
 
 by the Princess Stixensteih, 
 Oscar. Oh! maybe the Princess was not at home. 
 FiLiTZ. My wife has been asked, in her capacity as 
 
 President of the Ball Committee, to appear before 
 
 thepatronessesof the Board of Direftors. I think 
 
 this is significant. 
 
 (Enter Loewenstein. Medium height, small eyes, 
 
 17 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 spe5iacles, hanging shoulders, bent knees. Excited 
 manner. He carries a letter.^ 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN {handing letter to Oscar). Here, read it! 
 The Princess Stixenstein has withdrawn from the 
 Advisory Board of the Ball Committee. 
 
 Oscar. Without explanation? 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN. She did not consider it necessary to 
 give any. 
 
 FiLiTz. It is too evident to everyone. 
 
 Oscar. Why? Has that story about the priest be- 
 come public within a week? 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN. I knew, as I heard of the scene, that 
 it would be "nuts" for certain people. No one 
 would have tried to . exaggerate the harmless in- 
 cident into an affair if Bernhardi were not a Jew. 
 
 FiLiTz. If a Christian had aded like Bernhardi, it 
 would have been an affair just the same. 
 {Enter Bernhardi with his customary smile.) 
 
 Bernhardi. Well, gentlemen! What's the matter? 
 Are we burnt out, or did someone leave us a 
 million? 
 
 {Oscar hands him the letter.) 
 
 Oscar. The Princess has resigned from our Ball 
 Committee. 
 
 Bernhardi. Well! We will find another patroness. 
 
 FiLiTZ. I came here, to tell you that the Princess 
 did not receive my wife today. You need not 
 play the innocent. I want to know what repar- 
 ation you intend to make for the insult to my 
 wife? 
 
 Bernhardi. Say! really you are not in earnest? 
 
 i8 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 {Enter Cyprian.) Are you also coming to me be- 
 cause the Princess has resigned? 
 
 Cyprian. The ball is a second consideration — 
 
 FiLiTZ. Excuse me, I have no time. I ask you 
 once more — 
 
 Bernhardi. Tell your charming wife, dear Filitz, 
 that I consider her far too intelligent to believe 
 for one moment that her feelings would be hurt, 
 because the salon ofa princely gooseisclosedtoher. 
 
 Filitz. That kind of an answer relieves me at once. 
 I have the honor, gentlemen — 
 {Exit Filitz.) 
 
 Cyprian. You should not say such things, Bern- 
 hardi. The Princess is no fool, but a very intelli- 
 gent woman, and you'll see that the entire Board 
 of Directors is going to resign. 
 
 Bernhardi. You are entirely mistaken. Prince 
 Constantin told me that the Bishop sympathizes. 
 
 Cyprian. Did he tell you what the Bishop said? 
 His words were-" That man Bernhardi pleases 
 me, but he will have to pay for this." 
 
 Bernhardi. Who hasgivenyouallthisinformation? 
 
 Cyprian. Counselor Winkler, whom I saw just now, 
 intimated to me that the entire board might resign. 
 
 Bernhardi. And all this because I did my duty 
 as a physician. 
 
 Loewenstein. It's monstrous! It's a disgrace! Well, 
 let them resign, let the institution go, and we'll 
 build up another, without the Ebenwalds, Filitzs 
 and their clan. Ah, Bernhardi, how I warned you 
 not to trust those people. 
 
 19 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDT 
 
 Cyprian. Let me say a word! Loewenstein, you 
 do not give anyone a chance. So far, only the 
 Princess has resigned, and I think Bernhardi can 
 find a way to explain this unfortunate incident in 
 a manner satisfaftory to all. 
 
 Loewenstein. He shall not apologize ! ! 
 
 Bernhardt. I really do not care to play the hero, 
 a tout prix, I have sufficiently proven that I have 
 the manhood to carry through anything that I 
 sincerely want. 
 
 Cyprian (slightly ironically). You will find the way, 
 I am sure. Your smile would be sufficient; one 
 need only to bring that to the Princess. 
 
 (Exit Cyprian. Bernhardi is left alone. After 
 walking up and down, he sits at his desk, takes a 
 sheet of paper, and with his ironical smile playing 
 about his lips, he writes. A servant brings a card, 
 and is dire Sled to admit the visitor. Ebenwald enters 
 and shakes hands.) 
 
 Ebenwald. I consider it my duty to inform you 
 that there are things preparing against you — 
 against our institution. 
 
 Bernhardt. Oh! you mean the resignation of the 
 Board? That will be arranged. 
 
 Ebenwald. I have just come from Parliament, 
 where my cousin informed me that an indidment 
 is going to be prepared against you. You will 
 have to demonstrate that your aftions were not 
 prompted by anti-Catholic feelings. 
 
 Bernhardt. Is it necessary to tell that to the 
 people? 
 
 20 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Ebenwald. Tell it to them? No; you will prove 
 it to them. 
 
 Bernhardi. How? This is getting interesting. 
 What kind of a proof would you furnish? 
 
 Ebenwald. It lies in your hands. Tomorrow 
 Tugendvetter's successor is to be appointed. 
 
 Bernhardi. Ah ! 
 
 Ebenwald {coldly). Yes; there are two candidates. 
 
 Bernhardi {decidedly). One who deserves the place 
 and one who does not. I tell you to your face 
 why you work for Hell, because he — is not a 
 Jew. 
 
 Ebenwald. Then I reply to you, that your prefer- 
 ence for Wenger — 
 
 Bernhardi. You forget that three years ago I 
 voted for you. Professor Ebenwald. 
 
 Ebenwald. I think you understand me, Doftor, 
 that it will be best for you to consider this matter 
 before the meeting tomorrow. I need not say 
 that it is entirely confidential between us. 
 
 Bernhardi. There is no occasion to ask for your 
 discretion. Professor. Tell the gentleman who 
 sent you — 
 
 Ebenwald. Eh! 
 
 Bernhardi. That I do not lend myself to business 
 of that kind. 
 
 Ebenwald. I was sent by no one; but I do not 
 feel inclijned to share the responsibility of your 
 condud: towards His Reverence, I came in your 
 interest and in that of our institution; but you 
 have scorned the hand of a friend. Professor. 
 
 21 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Bernhardi. And you leave as my enemy. I like 
 it better so. It is more honest. 
 
 Ebenwald. As you choose. I have the honor — 
 {Bernhardt is alone again. He walks up and 
 down. Takes up the paper he has written and tears 
 it. Servant enters and hands him a card.) 
 
 Bernhardi. What! His Excellency himself! 
 
 {Enter Flint, 'Tall, slender, about fifty years old. 
 Face and figure of a diplomat. Very amiable^ 
 
 Bernhardi. Your Excellency! Be seated. 
 
 Flint. You are surprised to see me here? 
 
 Bernhardi. Yes, pleasantly surprised. And I shall 
 profit by this occasion to offer you my congratu- 
 lations upon your new dignity. 
 
 Flint. I have not come for the purpose of accept- 
 ing your congratulations. I have come for the 
 great work of reform — reform of medical educa- 
 tion, of social hygiene, of general public education, 
 for which my position offers me opportunity to 
 work; I come to you, Bernhardi, to ask if I may 
 count on you for assistance? 
 
 Bernhardi. I wish you would have the kindness 
 to explain in what particular field you want my 
 assistance. Is it social hygiene — reform of medical 
 education — have I forgqtten something? 
 
 Flint. You are just the same; but that is why I set 
 my special hopes on you. There may be some- 
 thing between us — though I do not really know — 
 
 Bernhardi {very seriously). The friendship of our 
 youth and what became of it afterwards. 
 
 Flint. Are you holding that against me? I know 
 
 22 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 that I fought against your enterprise. I did not 
 believe in your institution; but that was my con- 
 vidion at that time; we all make mistakes; but 
 there is one thing, I never adl against my con- 
 viftion — 
 
 Bernhardt. Are you so sure of that? 
 
 Flint. Bernhardi!!! 
 
 Bernhardi, Let me tell you. I am thinking of a 
 case — when you adled direftly against your con- 
 vidion. 
 
 Flint, Now this is too much! 
 
 Bernhardi. Wait! {Walks up and down the room 
 a few times, and suddenly stands still.) We were 
 both assistant physicians at Rappenweiler's. A 
 young man was a patient in our clinic. I see him 
 lie before me now; I even know his name, Engel- 
 hart Wagner. Our chief — we all — had made a 
 false diagnosis of his case. The autopsy revealed 
 the fa(5t that another treatment would have saved 
 him. And as we stood there, when the faft was 
 made clear, you whispered to me; "\ knew it." 
 You knew what was the matter with the patient; 
 you had the corredt diagnosis. 
 
 Flint. The only one. 
 
 Bernhardi. Yes, you were the only one. Yet you 
 carefully avoided, while he was alive, making it 
 known. And why you did it is a question you 
 may answer yourself. I do not suppose it was 
 conviftion. 
 
 Flint. By Jove! you have a good memory. I re- 
 member the case, and I'll admit that I considered 
 
 23 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 the other treatment the right one; and I will also 
 admit that I kept silent because I did not want 
 to hurt the chiefs pride by showing that one of 
 his assistants knew more about the case than he 
 did. You have reason to reproach me with sacri- 
 ficing a human life. But the motive, the deeper 
 motive, you do not understand. What was one 
 vidtim compared to the hundreds of other human 
 lives which would be entrusted later to my skill? 
 
 Bernhardi. And you think that Rappenweiler 
 would have turned against you? 
 
 Flint. That is very probable. You overrate 
 humanity. You do not know how narrow-minded 
 people are. It might have meant a long delay in 
 my career, and I had to advance rapidly to gain 
 the proper sphere of adtion for my capacities, 
 which even you cannot deny. Therefore, my 
 dear Bernhardi, I permitted Engelhart Wagner 
 to die, and I am unable even to regret it. For it 
 does not matter much, my dear Bernhardi, whether 
 or not you may ad: corredlly, or even be true to 
 your convi(5tions in some immaterial detail, the 
 thing is to serve the one main idea of your life 
 with faithfulness. It is interesting to me that you 
 bring this poor Engelhart Wagner out of his ob- 
 livion; for suddenly I am enabled to recognize 
 the essential differences in our two natures. You 
 will be astonished, Bernhardi, to learn of their 
 capacity to supplement each other, as it were. 
 You, Bernhardi, are probably much more than I 
 what the world calls "a respedtable man." But 
 
 24 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 whether you are more capable than I to do more 
 for the general good seems very doubtful to me. 
 You lack the eye for that which really counts, the 
 universal viewpoint. For it is not the question 
 whether you do right here and do right there, but 
 whether you accomplish really big things. And 
 to give up the possibility of doing some really 
 big things, for the poor miserable satisfadion of 
 having done the right thing in some non-essen- 
 tial, some unimportant matter, is a matter of in- 
 difference to me I must confess, and does not 
 only seem small, but immoral, yes, immoral to me, 
 my dear Bernhardi. 
 
 Bernhardi. Well, now you might let me know the 
 real purpose of your visit here? 
 
 Flint. Yes, for the matter which brought me here 
 is, I believe, already attradting wide-spread atten- 
 tion. You have forgotten to look a bit further in 
 your dealings with His Reverence. You forgot 
 one trifle, namely, that we live in a Christian com- 
 munity. Why are you smiling? 
 
 Bernhardi. I am thinking of an article you were 
 going to write, long ago, when we were both young 
 men — "Churches versus Hospitals." 
 
 Flint. Ah! one of the many articles I wanted to 
 write, and which were never written. At any rate, 
 since you committed the imprudence of forcibly 
 preventing His Reverence — 
 
 Bernhardi. Forcibly? — !! 
 
 Flint. Well! I understand that you pushed him 
 from the door, so it is told — 
 
 25 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Bernhardi. What is told? 
 
 Flint. Well — you pushed him away rather vio- 
 lently. 
 
 Bernhardi. That is a lie! You'll believe me? 
 
 Flint. Then you did not push him? 
 
 Bernhardi. I barely touched him. To speak of 
 force — They are inveterate liars! 
 
 Flint. Do not get excited. Officially, nothing has 
 been done. A simple declaration from you and 
 that indidtment will not be brought against you. 
 
 Bernhardi. Is it for my sake that you want to 
 save yourself from that indidment before Parlia- 
 ment? 
 
 Flint. Certainly! There is so little that can be 
 done in such a case. No matter what your in- 
 tentions were, your behavior towards His Rever- 
 ence was not wholly correct. 
 
 Bernhardi. My dear Flint, you have no idea how 
 you overrate your power. 
 
 Flint. A — hem! 
 
 Bernhardi. You evidently imagine that it lies 
 with you to prevent that indidment. 
 
 Flint. It lies with you, I assure you. 
 
 Bernhardi. With me, yes. You have no idea how 
 right you are. A half an hour ago I could have 
 turned the danger of that indiftment from your 
 head and from mine. 
 
 Flint, How is that? 
 
 Bernhardi. Oh, very simple! Tugendvetter's 
 vacancy is to be filled, you know. Tomorrow we 
 have a meeting. If I had pledged my vote for 
 
 26 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Hell, instead of for Wenger, everything would 
 have been all right. 
 
 Flint. Pledged yourself ? How? To whom? 
 
 Bernhardi. Ebenwald was here just now. He 
 was sent to me with that proposition. 
 
 Flint {walking up and down). Ebenwald is very 
 friendly with his cousin, who is the leader of the 
 clerical party, and if he did not want the indid- 
 ment it would not be made. Well, how did you 
 deal with his proposal? 
 
 Bernhardi. Flint! ! ! 
 
 Flint. My dear Bernhardi, politics — 
 
 Bernhardi. What do I care for politics, Flint, 
 Even if you are a Minister now, you are also a 
 physician, a man of science, a man of truth. What 
 did you say a moment ago — to consider the essen- 
 tial — well, what counts here? Don't you see 
 that the most capabk man must be put at the 
 head of this department; the man who can render 
 the best service to humanity, to science. That, 
 to my mind, is the important thing that counts 
 in this situation. What does it matter if we save 
 ourselves from an indidment which, after all, can 
 be met with a proper defense. 
 
 Flint. Tell me, Bernhardi, can you write me a 
 letter, a statement of the whole affair? Then I 
 could make a defense for you; for they listen to 
 me, just as the students did in the clinic; they 
 listen, and when they listen to a speaker who is 
 in earnest they cannot entirely disagree with him. 
 
 Bernhardi. That is right. 
 
 27 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Flint, This would be an opportunity to touch on 
 the general situation. I consider this case a sym- 
 bol of our political conditions. 
 
 Bernhardt. I suppose that is what it is. 
 
 Flint. These things always occur to me. No 
 matter how unimportant the case, for me, it is 
 transformed into a symbol. That is how I have 
 come to be destined for the political career. 
 
 Bernhardi. Ah! Churches — versus Hospitals! 
 
 Flint. You smile — Ah! I cannot make light of 
 such matters, 
 
 Bernhardi, Well, my dear Flint, from all that you 
 have said just now I get the impression that you 
 are inclined to be on my side in this affair; but I 
 want you to consider one thing. The party that 
 you have to oppose, is very strong, very obdurate; 
 it is a question whether you will be able to rule 
 without it, and if you care for your office — 
 
 Flint. Not more than for you. 
 
 Bernhardi. Than the truth — that is the impor- 
 tant thing — as for me, do not risk anything for 
 me. 
 
 Flint, For you, no. I won't do that; but for the 
 truth, for the great cause — yes. Whatever hap- 
 pens, I cannot think of a more beautiful death, 
 than for a just cause; for someone, who, confess — 
 was only an hour ago — my enemy. 
 
 Bernhardi. I was not your enemy, and if I did 
 you a wrong, I am willing to ask your pardon. 
 But let me tell you now, Flint, even if this 
 matter should not end favorably for you, my 
 
 28 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 conscience will not prick me. You know where 
 
 justice lies in this case, and I decline to admire 
 
 you for doing your duty. 
 Flint. I do not expedt you to do that. {Stretching 
 
 out his hand.) Farewell! I looked for a man; I 
 
 have found him. Au revoir! 
 Bernhardi. Good-bye, Flint. {Hesitatingly.) I 
 
 thank you. 
 Flint. You must not do that. Our sympathy 
 
 rests on firmer ground. 
 {Exit Flint.) 
 Bernhardi {stands lost in thought). Well — we shall 
 
 see. 
 
 {Curtain.) 
 
 29 
 
Act III 
 
 Conference room in the Elizabethinum — Long 
 green table, eleSiric lights, figures on walls. A 
 ■portrait of the Empress Elizabeth over the door. 
 It is the evening after the ball, Hochroitzpointner 
 sits at the table, writing. Enter DoSor Schreimann, 
 tall, bald, with martial black moustache. He is a 
 baptized Jew. Enter Ebenwald. 
 
 Ebenwald {to Hochroitzpointner, who rises with signs 
 of great respeSl). Do you know where you danced 
 last night, Hochroitzpointner? On a volcano! 
 
 Hochroitzpointner, It was hot. Professor. 
 
 Ebenwald {to Schreimann). May I depend upon 
 you when we meet afterwards? 
 
 Schreimann. I told you before that I could not 
 look at that affair from a religious standpoint. 
 Even if I were a Jew, I would have to be against 
 Bernhardi; and I assure you, that for one of my 
 race, it takes more courage to profess Christian- 
 ity than to keep the faith in which you were 
 reared. I should have led an easier time as a 
 Zionist. 
 
 3° 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Ebenwald. Probably, you might have had a pro- 
 fessorship in Jerusalem. 
 
 ScHKEiMANN (with a gesture). Bunk!! 
 
 (Enter Do£lor Pflugf elder. About sixty-five years 
 old. Type of a scientist. Wears speSiacles.) 
 
 Pflugfelder. Good-evening, gentlemen! Do you 
 know that our Advisory Board has resigned in h 
 body? 
 
 Ebenwald. You seem to be astonished; we were 
 prepared for that. 
 
 Pflugfelder. Astonished? No, but disgusted! You 
 must agree that the persecution instituted against 
 Professor Bernhardi has no foundation whatever. 
 
 Ebenwald. I know of no persecution. 
 
 Pflugfelder. Oh, you don't; and that your cousin, 
 Ottocar, is the leader? I suppose you don't know 
 that either. 
 
 (Enter Filitz, the handsome. General greetings^ 
 
 FiLiTZ. Good-evening gentlemen! I'll tell you at 
 once what I intend to do. I follow the example 
 of the Advisory Board and resign. 
 
 Ebenwald. I beg your pardon! There is another 
 way to demonstrate that we do not countenance 
 the aft of our principal. We cannot leave our 
 institution; we must try to get the Board to re- 
 consider this resignation. 
 
 Filitz. That will never be done as long as Bern- 
 hardi is at the head. 
 (Enter Adler.) 
 
 Adler. Have you seen the evening paper? 
 
 Ebenwald. What is the matter? 
 
 31 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Adler. The indictment! 
 
 ScHREiMANN. Affair Bernhardi? 
 
 Ebenwald. We have read nothing. 
 
 {Wenger enters. Small, uncertain, depressed, 
 sometimes too loud. Wears speSiacles. Is carrying 
 the evening paper. Schreimann pulls it out of his 
 hand. All crowd around.) 
 
 Pflugfelder. Let Filitz read it. 
 
 FiLiTz (reading). "The undersigned consider it 
 their duty to inform the Government of the fol- 
 lowing: 
 
 "His Reverence, Franz Reder, Priest of the 
 Church of The Holy Florian was called by Sister 
 Ludmilla to the death-bed of Philomena Beier, 
 maiden, to give her the holy sacrament of the last 
 ointment. In the ante-room he was met by sev- 
 eral physicians, amongst them Professor Bern- 
 hardi, Diredtor of the Elizabethinum, who in a 
 rough manner, asked His Reverence to desist 
 from his purpose, as the dying patient might 
 suffer from the excitement. 
 
 Pflugfelder. No, no! 
 
 {The others cry "Silence.") 
 
 Filitz {continuing his reading). "Professor Bern- 
 hardi, who professes mosaic faith, was told by 
 His Reverence, that he had come to fulfill a 
 sacred duty, all the more important because the 
 patient was dying from the result of her own aft. 
 Professor Bernhardi insolently asserted his rights 
 as Superintendent of the institution, which, of 
 course, was erefted through the charitable gifts of 
 
 32 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 noble donors. When His Reverence, refusing 
 further discussion, attempted to enter the sick- 
 room. Professor Bernhardi placed himself in front 
 of the door, and the moment His Reverence 
 seized the knob to enter the room to perform 
 his sacred fundtion. Professor Bernhardi dealt 
 him a blow — 
 
 Adler. An absolute falsehood! 
 
 Pflugfelder. Infamous! 
 
 Ebenwald. There were witnesses. 
 
 Pflugfelder. I know that you were a witness. 
 
 ScHREiMANN. Go on! Read! 
 
 FiLiTz {reading). "During the scene in the ante- 
 room, the patient died without having received 
 the consolation of her faith, which, as Sister Lud- 
 milla testified, she longed for. In bringing this 
 incident to the attention of the Government, we 
 desire especially to inquire how His Excellency, 
 the Minister of Education, intends to make 
 reparation for the severely injured feelings of the 
 Christian population of Vienna, and what means 
 His Excellency will take to prevent a repetition 
 of such a revolting scene. Finally, if His Excel- 
 lency does not deem it advisable in the future to 
 disregard the claims of such persons to appoint- 
 ment of public .offices, who, by reason of their 
 origin, education and charafter, are not capable 
 of understanding the religious feelings of our 
 Christian population. 
 
 Signed:" 
 {Great commotion.) 
 
 33 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Ebenwald. Now we are in a fine position — 
 
 Wenger. Why "we"? Nothing has been said against 
 the institute — 
 
 Pflugfelder. And our Diredlor? This interpella- 
 tion is nothing but a political maneuver of the 
 clerical and anti-Semitic parties. 
 
 FiLiTZ. Nonsense! 
 
 SCHREIMANN. I objedt 
 
 (Enter Bernhardi. He immediately takes his 
 place at the head of the table. The others seat them- 
 selves.) 
 
 Bernhardi, Good-evening, gentlemen ! Please ex- 
 cuse me for being a little late. I hope that the 
 gentlemen have passed the time pleasantly. We 
 will open the meeting. Before reading the min- 
 utes, I take the liberty of welcoming our new 
 member, Dodor Wenger, in the name of the 
 Elizabethinum. 
 
 Wenger. Mr. President, Gentlemen! It would be 
 inconsiderate on my part, were I to take up your 
 valuable time — 
 
 Ebenwald and Schreimann. Corredt. 
 
 Wenger. Permit me to express my heartfelt thanks 
 for the greatest honor — 
 {Noise.) 
 
 Schreimann {rising). In consideration of the late- 
 ness of the hour, I move that we proceed with 
 the business of the meeting. 
 
 Bernhardt. Gentlemen! I took the liberty of 
 calling this special meeting. I consider your pres- 
 ence here a proof of the great — let me say — 
 
 34 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 patriotic interest you all take in our institution. 
 It is a proof of the fraternal fellowship that unites 
 us all, in spite of some occasional differences of 
 opinion which cannot be altogether avoided 
 amidst the staff of a big institution. But when 
 it comes to vital questions, we have always been 
 of one mind to the joy of our friends and the 
 dismay of our enemies; we also have those! 
 
 Gentlemen! You all know why I have called 
 you together; nevertheless, it is my duty to read 
 to you the letter I received this morning by 
 special delivery. 
 
 FiLiTz. Hear! Hear! 
 
 Bernhardi (reading). "To the Honorable — 
 
 I take the liberty of announcing to you that 
 the members of the Advisory Board,etc.,etc.,have 
 decided to resign from their honorary positions. 
 In communicating this decision to you, Mr. Pres- 
 ident, I request that you notify the Board of 
 Direftors and the Staff. 
 
 ° ' Counselor Winkler, Secretary." 
 
 Ebenwald. I would ask our President if the cause 
 of this adion is known to him? 
 
 Bernhardt. I shall answer the question of the 
 Vice-President in all brevity. Yes, I know the 
 cause; and it lies in the same incident of which 
 you have just now read with more or less pleasure, 
 in the form of a so-called indiftment in the eve- 
 ning paper. As a certain party misrepresents this 
 case — 
 
 35 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 FiLiTz. Which party? 
 
 Pflugfelder. The anti-Semitic — clerical party. 
 
 Bernhardi. I, as President of this institution, de- 
 sire to ask you how we should deal with this 
 resignation? {Cyprian rises.) Professor Cyprian 
 has the floor. 
 
 Cyprian. We all know the cause, or rather the 
 pretext for this resignation. We all know that 
 Bernhardi fulfilled his duty as a physician, when 
 he refused admission to the priest. We all know 
 that we would have aded as he did — 
 
 FiLiTz. O-ho! 
 
 SCHREIMANN. No! 
 
 Cyprian {continuing). There is only one answer to 
 this attack, and that is, to express our implicit 
 confidence in our President, Professor Bernhardi. 
 
 Pflugfelder. Bravo! 
 {Ebenwald rises.) 
 
 Bernhardi. Vice-President Ebenwald has the floor! 
 
 Ebenwald. Gentlemen! Do not be deceived. This 
 resignation of the Committee would mean 
 disaster for our institution. I am sorry, but Pro- 
 fessor Bernhardi alone should have the responsi- 
 bility of his aftion, of which we do not approve, 
 I move that we request the reconsideration of 
 this resignation on that ground. 
 
 {Enter Loewenstein, looking very pale.) 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN. Gentlemen! I come from Parliament. 
 The indi6lment has been answered, and you, Bern- 
 hardi, will be prosecuted for religious disturbance. 
 {Great commotion.) 
 
 36 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Pflugfelder. Impossible! Tell us all about it. 
 {Amidst the great excitement Bernhardi stands 
 unmoved.) 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN. What is there to tell? It's a dis- 
 grace! {^Looking at Ebenwald.) You have suc- 
 ceeded. You'll read it in the papers tomorrow 
 morning. 
 
 {Great commotion. All are shouting.) 
 
 All in unison. Tell us! What happened? 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN. Well, at first, Flint took Bernhardi's 
 part, and spoke of his great merits, and you felt 
 sure that his accusers would be completely routed. 
 Then there were cries of "Too much Jew." 
 Somehow, the Minister lost his theme; got angry, 
 confused, and then, to his own surprise, I am sure, 
 he wound up that the law should take its course. 
 That that would be the best way of clearing up 
 the matter. 
 
 Bernhardi {composedly). Gentlemen, let us resume. 
 
 Ebenwald. I withdraw my first motion, and move 
 for the suspension of President Bernhardi from 
 the Elizabethinum, until the law has dealt with 
 his case. 
 
 Pflugfelder. You ought to be ashamed of your- 
 self, Ebenwald. 
 
 Loewenstein. Bernhardi is the President of the 
 EHzabethinum. No one can suspend him. 
 
 Filitz. He is no longer that to me. 
 
 Bernhardt. I wish to put a question to the Vice- 
 President. 
 
 Ebenwald. Please — 
 
 37 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Bernhardi, Is it known to you that I could have 
 prevented this indidtment? 
 
 ScHREiMANN {calling out). Do not answer. 
 
 Bernhardi. If you are a man, Ebenwald, you will 
 answer. 
 
 Ebenwald. Ohl I expected this question. You 
 know, gentlemen — that the Elizabethinum has 
 always had enemies. There are many people who 
 do not think it right in an institution with a 
 Prince and a Bishop on its Advisory Board, and 
 eighty-five per cent of its patients Catholics, that 
 the majority of the physicians of the staff should 
 profess another religion. And that is why I 
 moved for the appointment of a Catholic, Dodtor 
 Hell, instead of Dodtor Wenger. {Looking at 
 Wenger, who professes Bernhardt s religion.) I beg 
 your pardon for this. 
 
 Wenger. Perfedly corredl. 
 (Laughter.) 
 
 Bernhardi. You do not expedl: me to defend my- 
 self for not making this deal, though it might 
 have saved ourselves all this trouble. But I am 
 willing to lay down my oflice as President of this 
 institution. 
 
 Cyprian. What is the matter with you? 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN. Never! 
 
 Pflugfelder, Put it to a vote. 
 
 Bernhardi. What for? Professors Ebenwald, Filitz, 
 Adler and Schreimann will vote for my suspen- 
 sion. I would like to save Dodlor Wenger a 
 conflidl. He might vote for me out of gratitude. 
 
 38 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 But to such a motive I should not like to owe 
 the questionable honor of being further your 
 President. 
 
 Ebekwald. As Professor Bernhardi has just now 
 resigned from his position as President, I shall, 
 according to Article Seven of the By-Laws, take 
 the chairmanship of this meeting. 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN. Infamous! 
 
 FiLiTZ. The first question will be: Who shall 
 take charge of Professor Bernhardi's department? 
 
 Bernhardi. Gentlemen! Even though I am no 
 longer your President, I still am at the head of 
 my department. 
 
 Schreimann. He is suspended! 
 
 Bernhardi {losing his composure). No one can sus- 
 pend me. I shall take a leave of absence until 
 my affair is settled, and I entrust my assistants, 
 Dodor Kurt and Dodtor Oscar with my depart- 
 ment, 
 
 Adler. Professor, I would be unhappy if you mis- 
 interpret my conduft; I wish to express to you 
 in this hour, my admiration. 
 
 Bernhardi. Whosoever is not for me, is against 
 me, gentlemen. Good-evening, gentlemen. 
 {Exit Bernhardi.) 
 
 Pflugfelder. How can you let him go, gentlemen? 
 Come to your senses! Think how this whole 
 thing began — you must come to your senses! A 
 poor young creature lies sick unto death in the 
 hospital, paying for her youth and happiness and 
 sin — if you want to call it so — with torture, agony, 
 
 39 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 and even with her life. The last hours bring 
 euphoria; she is well, happy, has no thought of 
 death; dreams that her lover is coming to take 
 her away from the place of suffering and misery, 
 back to life and happiness. It was perhaps tile 
 happiest moment of her life, her last earthly 
 dream, and from this dream, Bernhardi did not 
 wish to awaken her to a terrible reality. That is 
 his fault, the crime that he committed. He asked 
 the priest to let the poor girl go peacefully to 
 sleep. He asked him, you all know it. Had he 
 even been less polite than he was, everybody 
 would have to forgive him. What enormous 
 hypocrisy it is, to look at this event other than 
 as a purely humane adion. Where does the 
 creature exist, whose religious sentiments could, 
 in reality be hurt in any way by Bernhardi's 
 adion. And if snobdom, graft and villainy were 
 not at the bottom of it all — in short — vile politics, 
 would it be possible, anywhere, to construe this 
 case into a serious affair? Ah! I protest, gentle- 
 men. This is the adl of climbers, good-for-noth- 
 ings! But we, gentlemen, we do not want to 
 belong to any of these classes. Why should we, 
 for petty political reasons, leave this man in the 
 hour of his trial, when he has only done his duty? 
 Far be it from me to praise him, or to represent 
 him as a hero, simply because he has afted as a 
 man! And from you, gentlemen, I ask nothing 
 more than that you prove yourselves worthy of 
 this modest title. Annul the aftions of today's 
 
 40 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 meeting, and ask Professor Bernhardi to again 
 accept the position which cannot be filled by a 
 worthier representative. Call him back, gentle- 
 men; I implore you gentlemen, call him back. 
 
 Ebenwald. Permit me to ask Professor Pflugfelder 
 if he has finished his tirade. If so, we will pro- 
 ceed with the business of the meeting. 
 
 Pflugfelder (starting to leave). Good-bye! 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN. You are insane! 
 
 {Exit Cyprian and Loewenstein. As Pflugfelder 
 opens the door, Hochroitzpointner enters.) 
 
 Pflugfelder. Ah! this happens opportunely. Doc- 
 tor Hochroitzpointner, please come in; walk 
 right in. Fine company. Have a good time. 
 {Exit Pflugfelder.) 
 
 Ebenwald. Close the door. Call the meeting to 
 order, gentlemen. 
 
 {Curtain.) 
 
 41 
 
Act IV 
 
 Salon at Bernhardt s home. {Enter Pflugfelder, 
 followed by Loewenstein.) 
 {Behind the scene.) 
 
 Loewenstein {breathless). Professor Pflugfelder? 
 
 Pflugfelder. Ah! Loewenstein — 
 
 Loewenstein. I have been running after you. 
 
 Pflugfelder. Were you not in court? 
 
 Loewenstein. I was called to a case, while they 
 were debating about the term of punishment. 
 
 Pflugfelder. Two months. 
 
 Loewenstein. In spite of the testimony of the 
 priest? 
 
 Pflugfelder. His testimony, that he felt only a 
 slight touch on the shoulder, caused the prose- 
 cuting attorney to represent His Reverence as 
 an example of Christian forbearance and kindness, 
 
 Loewenstein. Then Bernhardi has been convided 
 solely on the testimony of that hysterical Sister 
 Ludmilla, and that rascal Hochroitzpointner. 
 For all the other witnesses testified in his favor; 
 I must apologize to Adler,for he aded splendidly, 
 
 42 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 also Cyprian — not to mention your son. 
 {Enter Cyprian.) 
 
 Pflugfelder. Where is Bernhardi? 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN, Do you suppose they kept him at 
 court? 
 
 Cyprian. He will come with Goldenthal. 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN. Goldcnthal afted like a scrub. Well, 
 what could you exped! 
 
 Cyprian. What do you mean? 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN. Thosc baptized ones!! His wife 
 wears a cross — so big — his son is being educated 
 by the Jesuits. That's the kind. With another 
 counsel for the defense, this case would have had 
 a different ending. 
 
 Cyprian. I doubt that very much; perhaps with 
 another defendant. 
 {Enter Kurt.) 
 
 Pflugfelder {embracing him). Kurt! 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN (to Cyprian). What means this touch- 
 ing scene? 
 
 Cyprian. Don't you know? Kurt called Hoch- 
 roitzpointner a liar, and was fined two hundred 
 crowns for contempt of court. 
 
 {Enter Goldenthal^ Bernhardi's attorney. Fat, 
 about forty-five years old. Curly black hair streaked 
 with gray; side-chops. Very pompous.) 
 
 Goldenthal, Gentlemen! I desire to talk seriously 
 with you. I am glad that I advised Bernhardi to 
 leave court through the side doors. I want you 
 all to assist me. Our dear Professor Bernhardi, 
 is — what shall I say — a little stubborn. You 
 
 43 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 know, his idea was to have His Excellency, the 
 Minister, subpcEned; and now he plays the in- 
 sulted, and refuses to avail himself of the privileges 
 -the law offers him, 
 
 Pflugfelder {to Goldenthal). You want him to 
 appeal? 
 
 Goldenthal. Why most certainly! 
 
 Pflugfelder. One ought to appeal to the peo- 
 ple. 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN. And in the interest of the cause. 
 Bernhardi should serve his two months' term. 
 
 Pflugfelder. That would show up the infamy 
 committed against him. 
 
 {Enter Bernhardi and Oscar.) 
 
 Bernhardi. Excuse me, gentlemen; for letting you 
 wait. 
 
 Cyprian. Did you receive an ovation? 
 
 Bernhardi. Yes! They yelled "Down with the 
 Jews" — "Down with the Masons!" 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN. Just think of that! 
 
 Bernhardi. Gentlemen! I hope you will stay to 
 supper, Oscar, please see that we are sufficiently 
 provided. My housekeeper has left; her con- 
 fessor declared that she could not stay in my 
 house without danger to her soul's salvation. It 
 will be a frugal meal. But what can you expeft 
 from the larder of a prospedtive jailbird. Oscar! 
 why, the boy has tears in his eyes! Don't be 
 sentimental, Oscar. 
 
 Oscar. I am only furious. 
 {Enter Adler.) 
 
 44 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Bernhardi. Welcome, Doftor Adler. There is 
 more rejoicing over one repentant sinner than 
 over ten just men. 
 
 Adler. I was never a sinner. Professor. The trial 
 of this case seemed a necessity to me from the 
 beginning. Of course, I could not foresee that 
 the court would rather believe the testimony of 
 Mr. Hochroitzpointner, than Professor Cyp- 
 rian's and mine. 
 
 Pflugfelder. One ought to get rid of Flint. 
 
 GoLDENTHAL. I always respe6l the convictions of 
 my adversaries. 
 
 LoEWENsTEiN. The conviftions of Flint? 
 
 GoLDENTHAL. He has to protedb the conviftions of 
 others. Believe me, gentlemen, there are things 
 one should not touch, and which should not be 
 permitted to be touched. 
 
 Pflugfelder. Why — if I may ask? It is only 
 because someone has had the courage to touch 
 those things, that the world's progress is accom- 
 plished. 
 
 GoLDENTHAL. I think that our friend, Bernhardi, 
 will gladly admit that he had . no intention of 
 contributing to the progress of the world. 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN. Some day it may be shown that he 
 has done just that thing. 
 
 Pflugfelder. As matters stand now, your affair 
 has to be handled from a general standpoint. 
 The prosecuting attorney was not a bit bashful 
 in beginning that way. Did you not notice that, 
 Dodtor? 
 
 45 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 GoLDENTHAL. It IS not my duty to do politics, but 
 
 to defend — 
 Pflugfelder. If you had accomplished that task — 
 Bernhardi. But I shall not permit — 
 GoLDENTHAL. Nevcr mind. Professor. This is 
 getting interesting. So you think that I did not 
 defend my client? 
 Pflugfelder. According to my idea — no. Why, 
 listening to you, one got an idea that all the re- 
 ligious sentiments of the whole world, from the 
 Pope down to the humblest parish priest, had 
 been deeply hurt by Bernhardi's wrong against 
 the Church. And instead of contending that 
 every physician should have aded as Bernhardi 
 did, you blandly excused it as an adl of careless- 
 ness. You treated those idiots in the jury-box, 
 who, from the very first moment they entered it, 
 were ready to convi6l Bernhardi — you treated 
 them like the salt of the earth; and the judge 
 presiding at the trial, who did everything to con- 
 vid Bernhardi, you looked upon as the embodi- 
 ment of human justice. Even that scoundrel, 
 Hochroitzpointner, and Sister Ludmilla, you 
 handled with kid gloves, and gave the im- 
 pression that you really believed them. First a 
 polite nod toward your client, and then a deep 
 bow toward the side of the enemy; the repre- 
 sentative of calumny and hypocrisy! If Bern- 
 hardi is satisfied with that, Doftor Goldenthal, 
 that is his business; as for me, I do not under- 
 stand that kind of a defense. 
 
 46 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 GoLDENTHAL. I am glad that you have devoted 
 your great gift to medicine, and not to the law; 
 for with your temperament — your conception of 
 the dignity of the court — you would have landed 
 the most innocent of your clients in jail. 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN. You Seem to manage that easily in 
 spite of your lack of temperament. 
 
 GoLDENTHAL (to Bernhardt). My dear Professor, 
 you are lucky to call such friends your own. But 
 of course I shall offer no further advice, and leave 
 it to you — 
 
 Bernhardi. Dodlor, what is the matter with you? 
 
 Pflugfelder. If anyone leaves, / go. I beg your 
 pardon, Bernhardi, I permitted myself to go too 
 far. I cannot take anything back — not another 
 word, Bernhardi. 
 (Exit Pflugfelder.) 
 
 {The doors of the dining-room are opened. A ser- 
 vant enters and whispers to Bernhardi^ who shows 
 great embarrassment.) 
 
 Bernhardt. I beg your pardon, gentlemen; a 
 visitor whom I have to receive. Please dine — 
 Oscar, have the kindness — 
 
 {All enter the dining-room. Bernhardi closes the 
 door and pulls the portiere. Enter Priest.) 
 
 Priest. Good-evening, Professor! 
 
 Bernhardi. A visit of condolence. Your Reverence? 
 
 Priest. Not exadtly that, but I had a great desire 
 to talk to you today. 
 
 Bernhardi. I am at your disposal. Your Rever- 
 ence. 
 
 47 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 {Bernhardt offers a chair. Both seat themselves^ 
 
 Priest. In spite of the unfavorable ending of your 
 trial, it must be clear to you that I am guiltless 
 of your convidlion. 
 
 Bernhardi. If I should thank you for having told 
 the truth on the witness stand, I might hurt your 
 feelings. 
 
 Priest. I did not come to get your thanks, Pro- 
 fessor, though I did more than my duty as a 
 witness. You will kindly remember that I gave 
 expression to my belief, in my testimony, that 
 your behavior towards me was not prompted by 
 hostile feelings towards the Catholic Church. 
 
 Bernhardi. Thereby Your Reverence surely ex- 
 ecuted the measure of your responsibility; but 
 perhaps the efFed which this testimony produced, 
 might be some reward. 
 
 Priest. I doubt, Professor, if its efFeft will be fav- 
 orable to me outside of the court-room. But you 
 can imagine. Professor, that I did not come here 
 for the purpose of recapitulating my testimony 
 before the court. That which prompts me to 
 call upon you at this late hour, is the fadl that I 
 have a further admission to make to you. 
 
 Bernhardi. A further admission? 
 
 Priest. Before the court, I expressed my convic- 
 tion that you did not ad with hostile intentions 
 towards me or my church. Now I feel myself 
 prompted to admit that in this special case — 
 understand Professor, in this special case — you 
 afted corredtly in your capacity as a physician, 
 
 48 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 and that you only obeyed your duty as I did 
 mine. 
 
 Bernhardi, Do I understand you aright? You 
 admit that I could not have adled differently? 
 
 Priest. Not as a physician. 
 
 Bernhardi. If this is your real opinion. Your 
 Reverence, I must say that you had a better 
 opportunity, or perhaps the only proper chance, to 
 admit it a few hours ago. 
 
 Priest. I need not assure you that it was not lack 
 of courage that sealed my lips; otherwise should 
 I then be here. Professor? 
 
 Bernhardi. What then? 
 
 Priest. I will tell you. That which silenced me 
 in court was the conviction which came to me by 
 holy inspiration, that one word more might cause 
 infinite damage to a truly sacred cause; the most 
 sacred in the world to me. 
 
 Bernhardi. I cannot imagine, that for a coura- 
 geous man like you. Your Reverence, there could 
 be anything more sacred than the truth. Nothing. 
 
 Priest. What! Nothing more sacred than the in- 
 tangible truth for which I might have stood until 
 the end in this single case? You don't mean 
 that. Should I have acknowledged that you had 
 the right to send me away from the death-bed of a 
 Christian — a sinner — the enemies of the church 
 would certainly have abused such a declaration 
 far beyond my responsibility. The slight truth 
 that I had uttered would have been twisted and 
 misinterpreted, so that it would have become a 
 
 49 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 lie. And what would have been the result of that? 
 I should have appeared as a renegade, a traitor, 
 not only before those to whom I owe obedience, 
 but even before my God. 
 
 Bernhardi. Then why do you do it now? 
 
 Priest. Because at the very instant I received that 
 inspiration, I pledged myself to make the con- 
 fession to you personally, something which the 
 public would have misunderstood and miscon- 
 strued. 
 
 Bernhardi, I thank you for this. Your Reverence, 
 and let me express the hope that you will never 
 again be put into the position to have to testify 
 publicly in a cause where greater things are at 
 stake than my humble self. For it might happen, 
 that what appears to me in this instance, as your 
 own personal scruple, might strike you as being a 
 message from on high — a holy inspiration — and 
 that a higher grade of truth might be injured than 
 that which you believe to have protected now. 
 
 Priest. There exists nothing higher for me, than 
 my church, and the law of my church, which is 
 obedience, by reason of which, infinite blessing 
 is radiated over the whole world, and without 
 which, my whole sphere of usefulness might be lost. 
 
 Bernhardi. It seems to me, Your Reverence, that 
 priests have existed, who only found their true 
 sphere of aftivity, when they excluded themselves 
 from the community, and spread that which they 
 considered truth and justice, regardless of trouble 
 and danger. 
 
 5° 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Priest. And if I were one of them — 
 
 Bernhardi. Well — ? 
 
 Priest. Then God would have made me tell be- 
 fore the court today, what you alone are now 
 hearing within these four walls. 
 
 Bernhardi. Then it was God who sealed your 
 lips in court today, and now it is the same God 
 who sends you to me, to tell me, eye to eye, what 
 he prevented you from saying in court. I must 
 say that he makes it easy for you, your God. 
 
 Priest. Pardon me Professor. I did not come here 
 to discuss matters which you and I will never 
 understand the same way. 
 
 Bernhardi. So you close the door, as it were, in 
 my face. Your Reverence. Well, I do not con- 
 sider this as proof that you are in and that I am 
 on the outside. There is nothing further left for 
 me to do, than to regret that you took the trouble 
 of coming here in vain. For I cannot absolve 
 you as completely as you may have expefted, 
 after such an extraordinary step. 
 
 Priest. Absolution! That is not what I wanted 
 from you. I think that I have made a mistake; 
 I see it now. The true reason you denied me 
 admission to that death-bed, was not your sense 
 of duty or responsibility — that was only a pre- 
 text. The real reason lies much deeper — it is — 
 how shall I put it — an antipathy — an uncon- 
 trolable antipathy — nay, it is hostility — 
 
 Bernhardi. You speak of hostility. Does not all 
 that has happened to me justify the feeling you 
 
 51 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 call hostility? Yes, I cannot deny that in the last 
 weeks, I may have felt antipathy, not against you 
 personally, but against the crowd that surrounds 
 you. But I can assure you in perfe6l truth, that 
 when I refused you admittance at the door, there 
 was not a shadow of hostile feeling in my soul. 
 I stood before you there in my capacity as a 
 physician, with as clear a conscience as that of 
 anyone of your vocation performing his holy 
 rite at the altar; not less clear than yours when 
 you came to bring the last consolation to my 
 patient. You knew that when you entered the 
 
 - room now. You confessed it to me. You cannot 
 suddenly change your opinion, because you feel 
 the same as I do, and perhaps never felt it 
 stronger than at this hour, that a certain some- 
 thing separates us, which eveii under the most 
 favorable circumstances, we cannot deny. 
 
 Priest. And you never felt this stronger than at 
 this moment? 
 
 Bernhardi. Yes, at this hour, in the presence of 
 one of the most liberal of his cloth. But "hostil- 
 ity" — that seems too small a word for that which 
 separates us perhaps for all time — it is higher, 
 loftier, more hopeless. 
 
 Priest. I think you are right. I have had occasion 
 to have had similar conversations with men of 
 your circles, scientists, and "enlightened" people; 
 but it never seemed so utterly impossible to 
 reach any kind of an understanding or agree- 
 ment. 
 
 52 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Bernhardi. And what about you, Your Rever- 
 ence? Do you feel yourself free from all feelings 
 of hostility towards men of my class? Can you 
 find no milder word for the feeling you accuse 
 me of? 
 
 Priest {suppressing anger, but colle5iing himself with 
 a slight smile). I know myself to be free from it. 
 My religion. Professor, commands me to love 
 those who hate me. 
 
 Bernhardi {with feeling). And mine, Your Rever- 
 ence, or that which I possess in its stead, teaches 
 me to understand even those who do not, or will 
 not understand me. 
 
 Priest. I do not doubt your good-will, but under- 
 standing has its limitations. Wherever the human 
 mind rules, there is error, there is deception. 
 That which does not deceive, that which cannot 
 deceive men of my kind — let me choose a word 
 to which even you cannot have any objeftion — 
 is the "innermost feeling." 
 
 Bernhardi. Let us call it so, even if this "inner- 
 most feeling" as you call it, flows from different 
 sources In my soul, I also try to trust in it. What 
 is there left for all of us to do? And if it is not 
 so easy for us, as it is for men of your calling, 
 God Almighty, who created us both, surely this 
 incomprehensible God, has his reasons for it. 
 
 (The priest looks at him for a long time. Then 
 in sudden decision, stretches out his hand.) 
 
 Bernhardi {hesitatingly, smiling a little.) Over the 
 abyss. Your Reverence. 
 
 53 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Priest. Do not let us look down for a moment — 
 
 {Bernhardt takes his hand.) 
 Priest. Farewell, Professor! 
 
 {Exit Priest. Bernhardt stands for awhile, lost 
 
 in thought; then makes a movement as if to shake 
 
 off somethings draws the for tier e and opens the door. 
 
 Company at table, smoking^ 
 Cyprian. At last! 
 
 Adler. We have just arrived at the cigars. 
 Cyprian (going up to Bernhardt). What was the 
 
 matter? A patient today — so late? 
 Oscar. Here are some telegrams for you, father, 
 
 but won't you first have some supper? 
 Bernhardi {opens one and reads). Ah! that is nice. 
 
 A poor patient assures me of his sympathy. 
 Cyprian {receives the next telegram from Bernhardi, 
 
 and reads aloud). "We assure the noble fighter 
 
 for liberty and free thought, of our admiration. 
 
 He will always find us ready to support him. 
 Dodlor Reiss, Walter Koenig." 
 {Enter servant with card.) 
 Bernhardi. What next? 
 Oscar {reading). A deputation from " Brigittenau," 
 
 the organization for free thought — 
 Bernhardi {to servant). Tell the gentlemen that 
 
 I am not at home. 
 Goldenthal. But why? 
 Bernhardi. I am already in prison — I have been 
 
 sentenced. 
 Servant {enters with card and hands it to Goldenthal), 
 
 The gentleman insists. 
 
 54 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 GoLDENTHAL. Show him in, 
 (Enter Kulka. Reporter.) 
 
 KuLKA. Ah, Dodtor Goldenthal! If I am not mis- 
 taken? 
 
 GoLDENTHAL. That is my name — we know each 
 other. Mr. Kulka, Professor Bernhardi is a little 
 fatigued — 
 
 Kulka {taking out his note-book). If you will have 
 the kindness — may I ask, Dodor Goldenthal, if 
 Professor Bernhardi intends to take an appeal? 
 
 Goldenthal. I took the liberty — 
 
 Bernhardi. With whom have I the pleasure — ? 
 
 Kulka. Kulka of "The Latest News." My chief. 
 Professor, offers you our paper. We will give 
 expression to your just feelings against the Min- 
 ister. 
 
 Bernhardt. I do not want the protedion of any 
 paper. My regards to your chief. 
 
 Kulka. I thank you — I have the honor — 
 {Exit Kulka.) 
 
 Cyprian. I do not think that was necessary — 
 
 Goldenthal. I must say. Professor — 
 
 Bernhardi, I want to get through with this whole 
 thing. This last month was lost for my work, 
 my profession. It was bad enough as a law case, 
 but I shall save myself from a political battle, if 
 necessary in prison. It is my business to make . 
 people well, or at least make them believe that I 
 do it. And I want to do that as soon as I am able. 
 
 LoEWENSTEiN. And your revenge — Flint, Eben- 
 wald — are you going to let them go free? 
 
 Si 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Bernhardi. I want no revenge. Their time will 
 come. 
 
 Cyprian. No matter how you intend to carry on 
 this matter, whether legally, politically or pri- 
 vately, you should not have been so short with 
 Kulka. 
 
 GoLDENTHAL. The friendship ofsuch a ncwspapcr — 
 
 Bernhardi. My dear Dodor, you have to take 
 your enemies how and where you find them. I 
 prefer to choose my friends. 
 {Curtain.) 
 
 56 
 
Act V 
 
 Office in the Minister's Palace — Comfortably 
 
 furnished. Privy Counselor Winkler, forty-five years 
 
 old. Slender i young-looking, small moustache, short, 
 
 , blonde hair streaked with gray, sparkling blue eyes — 
 
 {^he telephone rings). 
 
 Winkler \at the telephone). Yes, Counselor Wink- 
 ler — Yes, Judge — What is that? — you don't say! 
 Sister Ludmilla — what a strange coincidence. 
 Well, because today he gets out — Professor 
 Bernhardi — yes, just think of it! Of course, I 
 must tell this to His Excellency, but, if you 
 don't want me to — well, good-bye. 
 
 {He seems much moved. Enter Minister Flint.) 
 
 Winkler. Permit me to tender my congratula- 
 tions. Yesterday's speech — 
 
 Flint. The speech — a few words improvised! I 
 did not expedl you among the congratulants. I 
 was afraid of you. Are you not an anarchist, 
 Counselor? Let me tell you, that is a dangerous 
 condition of mind to be in. I tell you, I have 
 made concessions. Everybody has to. Even an- 
 
 S7 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 archists like you. Counselor, else you could not 
 have become Counselor. Or do you think it was 
 easy for me to sacrifice my old friend Bernhardi 
 to the people? 
 
 Winkler. It must have been a satisfadtion to you 
 when the police broke up the meeting where 
 Pflugfelder roasted you and the Archbishop. 
 
 Flint. Why the Archbishop? 
 
 Winkler. Because he transferred the priest, Redcr, 
 to a remote parish on the Polish border. 
 
 Flint. And now the liberal papers are lauding 
 Bernhardi — as a kind of a martyr, a political vic- 
 tim; as a medical Dreyfus. Did you read the 
 article in "The News?" Sort of a festive greet- 
 ing to Bernhardi to celebrate his liberation from 
 prison? That's too much. 
 
 Winkler. Bernhardi cannot help that. 
 
 Flint. I don't know. He likes the part. You 
 know, when in the third week of his imprison- 
 ment, you were commissioned to ask him to re- 
 quest his Majesty's pardon? 
 
 Winkler. I tried to convince him, but on the 
 whole, I liked it that he did not desire any par- 
 don. 
 
 Flint. Well, the Government will not tolerate any 
 spirit of that kind. I should be very sorry though, 
 for Bernhardi acfted foolishly and has given us 
 nothing but trouble. But, I still feel a certain 
 sympathy for him; can't get rid of it. 
 
 Winkler. Friendship of early days, I presume. 
 
 Flint. Yes, that is it, but we should be free from 
 
 58 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 such sentimentality. In our position, we should 
 have no recolledions, no heart; yes, my dear 
 Counselor, no heart. 
 (Enter Ebenwald.) 
 
 Ebenwald. Good-morning Excellency! 
 
 Flint. Good-morning Professor, or Diredlor? 
 
 Ebenwald. Not yet. It is possible that Professor 
 Bernhardi may be reeledted; he has only been 
 suspended; just now he has been triumphantly 
 escorted from prison to his home, by a number 
 of students. 
 
 Flint. Let us discuss your request for the Eliza- 
 bethinum in my private office. 
 {Exit Minister and Ebenwald^ 
 {Tugendvetter enters. A servant brings a card 
 to Winkler.) 
 
 Winkler [astonished). Ah! 
 
 Servant. The gentleman wishes to see His Ex- 
 cellency. 
 
 {Bernhardi enters. Winkler shakes his hand.) 
 
 Winkler. I am very glad to see you again. Pro- 
 fessor. 
 
 Bernhardi. I am very glad to see you. 
 
 Tugendvetter. Why, my dear Bernhardi, I had 
 entirely forgotten that your punishment is over 
 today. How quickly two months pass. 
 
 Bernhardi. Especially under the open sky. 
 
 Tugendvetter. But you look splendid. Doesn't 
 he? If you had been on the Riviera, you could 
 not look better — rejuvenated, 
 
 Winkler. Suppose you try a little blasphemy. 
 
 59 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Then I could guarantee you such a cheap, health- 
 ful vacation. 
 
 {Enter Flint and Ebenwald.) 
 
 Flint. You wanted to see me, Bernhardi? 
 
 Bernhardi. I shall only trouble you for a moment. 
 
 Flint. I am glad to be able to offer my congratu- 
 lations. I shall be delighted to be of some use 
 to you, now that the affair is settled. 
 
 Bernhardi {very amiably.) I want a favor of you. 
 Prince Constantin is very ill and has sent for me. 
 But since I disturbed religion, and have been in 
 jail, I have lost my license to pradice. Therefore, 
 I come to you, my old friend, who, as has been 
 shown in other cases, has such influence with the 
 Minister of Justice; I want to ask you to have 
 the matter hurried, so that the Prince will not be 
 compelled to wait too long. 
 
 Flint. Ah! you come here to make fun of me? 
 
 Bernhardi. Why, lam only doing the correal thing. 
 
 Flint. What you ask is granted. I take the re- 
 sponsibility. You can obey the call of the Prince 
 at once. I give you my word that there will be 
 nothing further necessary. Is that sufficient? 
 
 Bernhardi. It may be, since in this instance, the 
 keeping of your word does not involve any per- 
 sonal trouble for you. 
 
 Flint. Bernhardi? 
 
 Bernhardi. Your Excellency — 
 
 Flint. Ah, now I know you. So you think that I 
 am guilty of breaking my word. 
 
 Bernhardi. Yes, my dear Flint. 
 
 60 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Flint. I never break my word. For I never gave 
 you any other than this — to stand for you. I 
 could not have prevented the indidlment; and 
 by putting your case in the hands of the law, I 
 did the best I could for you. And let me tell 
 you, Bernhardi, there are higher ethics than the 
 mere keeping of a pledge. Always keep your 
 goal before your eyes. And I never felt that 
 stronger than in that remarkable moment when 
 the suspicions, the dismay, the anger of Parlia- 
 ment, came rushing up to me, as it were, like an 
 angry wave. And when I succeeded in quieting 
 the storm and pacifying the waves, and became 
 master of the situation by a lucky turn — 
 
 Bernhardi, Turn! that's right. 
 
 Flint. My dear Bernhardi, I had the alternative 
 of plunging down into the abyss with you, to 
 commit a sort of a crime against my mission in 
 life, or to surrender a man already lost. 
 
 {Bernhardt looks at him and then applauds.) 
 ' {Enter Winkler.) 
 
 Winkler. I beg your pardon. Your Excellency, 
 for taking the liberty, but I have just now re- 
 ceived a very important message from the Min- 
 ister of Justice, and, as it concerns the affair of 
 Professor Bernhardi — 
 
 Bernhardi. My affair? 
 
 Winkler. Yes, just imagine! Sister Ludmilla, the 
 chief witness in your case, has made an affidavit 
 wherein she admits giving false testimony at the 
 trial of your case. 
 
 6i 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Bernhardi. She, herself? 
 
 Winkler. Why, yes. And of course you can de- 
 mand a revision at once. 
 
 Bernhardi. A revision? Never! I do not think 
 of it. I am through with the entire business. I 
 do not want to go through that farce again. 
 What good would it do me to have her and her 
 accomplice locked up? I want my peace. This 
 matter is closed for me. 
 
 Flint. Bernhardi, it will be necessary to take steps 
 now; and it is perhaps good that one's ammuni- 
 tion has been saved. 
 
 Bernhardi. What is that? 
 
 Flint. A letter which will do service in this im- 
 pending battle. 
 {Enter servant.) 
 
 Servant. Counselor Berman of the Department 
 of Justice, wishes to speak to His Excellency. 
 
 Flint. Bernhardi, please wait for me. Please, dear 
 Counselor, keep him for half an hour. 
 {Exit Flint.) 
 
 Winkler. Prince Constantin has already called 
 you, today. That looks like him. 
 
 Bernhardi. I shall ask him to dispense with my 
 medical advice in the future. I shall get away 
 from here; from all that is likely to develop now. 
 
 Winkler. In course of time, you'll be proud of it. 
 
 Bernhardi. Proud? You have no idea how ridicu- 
 lous it all seems to me. This morning the recep- 
 tion at the prison, the article in "The Latest 
 News!" All my plans have vanished. 
 
 62 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Winkler. Plans? You mean your book? 
 
 Bernhardi. When I started to write that, my 
 wrath melted. From the accusations against 
 Flint and consorts, I drifted into Austrian poli- 
 tics; then into philosophy and ethical responsi- 
 bility, revelation and freedom of the will. 
 
 Winkler. That is always the case, if you go to the 
 root of the thing. It is better to put on the 
 brakes sooner, for some fine day you begin to 
 understand — to pardon everything — and then 
 where is the charm of life, if you cannot love or 
 hate any more? 
 
 Bernhardi. Oh, one goes on loving and hating; 
 but when I stood opposite Flint, really, my last 
 vestige of resentment vanished. You should have 
 heard him. I could not be angry with him. 
 
 Winkler. The Minister always liked you, I as- 
 sure you. 
 
 Bernhardi. And now this confession of the Sister's, 
 this revision. I have to flee from all this noise 
 that is being made around me, simply because the 
 people are beginning to realize that I was right. 
 
 Winkler. Professor, what are you thinking of? 
 That is only your imagination — that you were 
 right. 
 
 Bernhardt. Have the kindness to explain? Ac- 
 cording to your idea, I should have let His Rev- 
 erence — 
 
 Winkler. Certainly you should have, my dear 
 Professor. You were not born to be a reformer — 
 
 Bernhardi. Reformer? 
 
 63 
 
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI 
 
 Winkler. As little as I. For we both do not feel 
 ready to go to the bitter end and risk all, even 
 our life, for our convidions. That is why the 
 only decent thing for us to do, is not to mix in 
 such matters. There is nothing in it. What 
 would you have gained, in the end, if you had 
 saved that poor thing that last fright, on her 
 death-bed. Seems like solving the social problem 
 by presenting a villa to some poor starving devil. 
 
 Bernhardi. But you forget that I did not want to 
 solve a problem. I only did what I considered 
 right in a special case. 
 
 Winkler. That was just the mistake you made. 
 If one always did the right thing — that is, in the 
 abstradt sense — began early in the morning and 
 continued to do so all day long, without taking 
 into consideration the surrounding circumstances, 
 one would surely land in jail before nightfall. 
 
 Bernhardi. And let me tell you, my dear friend, 
 you would have afted exadtly as I did. 
 
 Winkler. Possibly — and then I would have been — 
 excuse me — ^just such a fool as you, 
 (Curtain.) 
 
 64 
 
Here ends Professor Bernhardi— y^ Comedy by 
 Arthur Schnitzler as adapted into English by 
 Mrs.Emil Pohli. Printed from hand-set Caslon 
 type, with decorations by D. H. Hilliker, at the 
 Tomoy'e Press under the direction of John Swart 
 and published by Paul Elder and Company at 
 the city of San Francisco in the month of Sep- 
 tember, the year nineteen hundred and thirteen