-^537 
 
CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 THE 
 
 Joseph Whitmore Barry 
 dramatic library 
 
 THE GIFT OF 
 TWO FRIENDS 
 
 OF Cornell University 
 
 1934 
 
B Cornell University 
 
 J Library 
 
 The original of tliis book 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/cu31924021691286 
 
PRINCE HAGEN 
 
 A Drama in Four Acts 
 
 By UPTON SINCLAIR 
 
 Author of "The Jungle," "The Metropolis," Etc. 
 
 "The prime test of a play is. Does it get across the foot- 
 lights? Prince Hag^n, by Upton Sinclair, does. 
 
 "No one can mlsfe the purpose, the great big purpose, of his 
 drama. He nails the flag of protest to the mast at the end of 
 the third act. He tells the truth — and when the truth comes 
 shouting from one of the money kings' own kind, it is ele- 
 mental drama. Raw, crude, harsh, if you like, is this climax, 
 with the kings of the earth crouching on their marrow-bones 
 before the embodied and relentless power of gold; but it has 
 the compelling force of primitive truth. It is 'blunt as a blow.' " 
 — The San Francisco Bulletin, Jan. 12, 1909. 
 
 PRIVA TEL Y PRINTED 
 
Copyright, 1903, by L. C. Page & Co. 
 Copyright, 1909, by The Valencia Theatre Co. 
 Copyright, in Great Britain 
 All rights reserved. 
 
"Prince Hagen" was tried out at the Val- 
 encia Theatre, San Francisco, in January, 1909. 
 In the light of the experience thus gained, it 
 has been entirely re-written. It is now private- 
 ly printed, to be sent to managers, critics and" 
 others who may be interested. 
 
 The play offers a part to a leading man 
 and a leading woman. If interested in the 
 former, read the ending of Acts II and III, If 
 in the latter, read pp. 96-104. 
 
 For particulars as to terms, etc., address 
 Selwyn & Co., 1451 Broadway, New York. 
 
CHARACTERS 
 
 (in order of appearance) 
 Gerald Isman: a poet. 
 MiMi : a Mbelung. 
 Alberich : King of the Nibelungs. 
 Prince Hagen: his grandson. 
 Mrs. Isman. 
 Hicks : a butler. 
 
 Mrs. Bagley- Willis : mistress of Society. 
 John Isman: a railroad magnate. 
 EsTELLE Isman: his daughter. 
 Plimpton: the coal baron. 
 Rutherford: lord of steel. 
 DE WiGGLESTON RiGGS : cotilUon leader. 
 Lord Alderdyce : seeing America. 
 Calkins: Prince Hagen's secretary. 
 Nibelungs; members of Society. 
 
ACT I. 
 
 Scene 1. Gerald Isman's tent in Quebec. 
 Scene 2. The Hall of State in Nibelheim. 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 Library in the Isman home on Fifth Avenue : two 
 years later. 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 Conservatory of Prince Hagen's palace on Fifth Ave- 
 nue. The wind-up of the opening ball : four months 
 later. 
 
 . ACT IV. 
 
 Living room in the Isman camp in Quebec: three 
 months later. 
 
ACT I 
 
 SCENE I 
 
 Shows a primeval forest, with great trees, thick- 
 ets in background, and moss and ferns under- 
 foot. A set in the foreground. To left is a tent, 
 about ten feet square, with a fly. The front and 
 sides are rolled up, showing a rubber blanket 
 spread, with bedding upon it; a rough stand with 
 books and some canned goods, a rifle, a fishing- 
 rod, etc. Toward centre is a trench with the re- 
 mains of a fire smoldering in it, and a frying pan 
 and some soiled dishes beside it. There is a log, 
 used as a seat, and near it are several books, a 
 bound volume of music lying open, and a violin 
 case with violin. To the'right is a rocky wall, with 
 a cleft suggesting a grotto. 
 
 At rise: Gerald pottering about his fire, which 
 is burning badly, mainly because he is giving most 
 of his attention to a bound volume of music which 
 he has open. He is a young man of twenty-two, 
 with wavy auburn hair; wears old corduroy 
 trousers and a grey fiannel shirt, open at the 
 throat. He stirs the fire, then takes violin and 
 plays the Nibelung theme with gusto. 
 
Peincb Hagen 
 
 Geeald. a plague on that fire! I think I'll 
 make my supper on prunes and crackers tonight ! 
 {plays again). 
 
 MiMi (enters left, disguised as a pack-ped- 
 dler; a little wizened up man with long unkempt 
 grey hair and beard, and a heavy bundle on his 
 hack) Grood evening, sir ! 
 
 Geeald (starts) Hello! 
 
 MiMi, Good evening! 
 
 Geeald. Why ^who are you? 
 
 MiMi. Can you tell me how I find the road, sir ? 
 
 Gerald. Where do you want to go ? 
 
 MiMi. To the railroad. 
 
 Geeald. Oh, I see ! You got lost ! 
 
 MiMi. Yes, sir.^ 
 
 Geeald (points) You should have turned to 
 the right down where the roads cross. 
 
 MiMi. Oh. That's it! (puts down burden and 
 sighs). 
 
 Geeald, Are you expecting to get to the rail- 
 road tonight? 
 
 MiMi. Yes, sir. 
 
 Geeald. Humph ! You'll find it hard going. Bet- 
 ter rest, (looks him over, curiously). What are 
 you — a peddler? 
 
 2 
 
Act I 
 
 MiMi, I sell things. Nice things, sir. You 
 buy? {starts to open pack). 
 
 Gerald. No. I don't want anything. 
 
 MiMi {gazing about) You live here all alone? 
 
 GeeaIiD, Yes all alone. 
 
 MiMi. {looking off left) Who lives in the big 
 house? 
 
 Geeald. That's my father's camp. 
 
 MiMi. Humph! Nobody in there? 
 
 Geraxd. The family hasn't come up yet. 
 
 MiMi. Why don't you live there? 
 
 Geeald. I'm camping out — ^I prefer the tent. 
 
 MiMi, Humph. Who's your father? 
 
 Gebald. John Isman's his name. 
 
 MiMi. Eich man, hey? 
 
 Gebald. Why ^yes. Fairly so. 
 
 MiMi. I see people here last year. 
 
 Geeald. Oh! You've been here before? 
 
 MiMi. Yes. I been here. I see young lady. 
 Very beautiful! 
 
 Geeald. That's my sister, I guess. 
 
 MiMi. Your sister. What you call her? 
 
 Geeald. Her name's Estelle. 
 
 3 
 
Peincb Hagen 
 
 MiMi. Estelle! And what's your name. 
 
 Gbeald. I'm Gerald Isman. 
 
 MiMi. Hmriph! {looking about, sees violin) 
 You play music, hey? 
 
 Gebald. Yes. 
 
 MiMi. You play so very bad? 
 
 Gerald (laughs) "Why ^what makes you 
 
 think that? 
 
 MiMi. You come 'way off by yourself ! 
 
 Gerald. Oh ! I see ! No ^I like to be alone. 
 
 MiMi. I hear you playing ^nice tune. 
 
 Gerald. Yes. You like music? 
 
 MiML Sometimes. You play little quick 
 tune so ? ( hums ) . 
 
 Gerald (plays Nihelung theme) This? 
 
 MiMi (eagerly) Yes. "Where you learn that? 
 
 Gerald. That's the Nibelung music. 
 
 MiML Nibelung music! "Where you hear it? 
 
 Gerald. "Why ^it's in an opera. 
 
 MiML An opera? 
 
 Gerald. It's by a composer named Wagner. 
 
 MiMi. "Where he hear it? 
 
 4 
 
Act I 
 
 Geeaid (laughs) Why 1 guess he made it 
 
 up. 
 
 MiMi. What's it about? Hey? 
 
 Gerald. It's about the Nibelungs. 
 
 MiMi. Nibelungs? 
 
 Geeald. Queer little people who live down ia- 
 side the earth, and spend all their time digging 
 for gold. 
 
 MiMi. Ha! You believe in such people? 
 
 Gebaid (amused) Why ^I don't know 
 
 MiMi. You ever see them? 
 
 Gerald. No ^but the poets tell us they exist. 
 
 MiMi. The poets, hey? What they tell you 
 about them? 
 
 Gerald. Well, -they have great rocky caverns, 
 down in the depths of the earth. And they have 
 
 treasures of gold ^whole caves of it. And 
 
 they're very cunning smiths they make all 
 
 sorts of beautiful golden vessels and trinkets. 
 
 MiMi. Trinkets, hey! (reaches into bundle). 
 Like this, hey? (holds up a gold cup) . 
 
 Gerald (surprised) Oh! 
 
 MiMi. Or this, hey? 
 
 Gerald. Why ^where did you get such 
 
 things? 
 
Peince Hagen 
 
 MiMi. Ha, ha! You don't know wliat I got! 
 
 Gerald. Let me see them. 
 
 MiMi. You think the Nibelungs can beat that, 
 hey? (reaches into bag). Maybe I sell you this 
 cap! (takes out a little cap of woven gold chains). 
 A magic cap, hey? 
 
 Gerald (astounded) Why ^what is it? 
 
 MiMi (puts it on his head) You wear it so. 
 
 And you play Nibelung music, and you vanish 
 from sight ^nobody finds you. Or I sell you 
 
 the magic ring ^you wear that (hands it to 
 
 Gerald). Put it on your finger so. Now you 
 
 play, and the Nibelungs come they dance about 
 
 in the woods they bring you gold treas- 
 ures ^ha, ha, ha! (amused at Gerald's perplex- 
 ity). What you think they look like, hey? 
 
 those Nibelungs ! 
 
 Gerald. Why 1 don't know 
 
 MiMi. What do your poets tell you? ha? 
 
 Gerald. Why -they're little men ^with 
 
 long hair and funny clothes and humpbacked. 
 
 MiMi. Look like me, hey? 
 
 Gerald (embarrassed) Why ^yes in a 
 
 way. 
 
 MiMi. What are their names? 
 
Act I 
 
 Geeald. Their names? 
 
 MiMi. Yes ^what ones do you know about? 
 
 Gerald. Well, there was Alberieh, the king. 
 
 MiMi. Alberieh ! 
 
 Gebald. He was the one who found the Rhein- 
 gold. And then there was Hagen, his son. 
 
 MiMi. Hagen ! 
 
 Geeald. He killed the hero Siegfried. 
 
 MiMi. Yes, yes ! 
 
 Gebald. And then there was Mimi. 
 
 MiMi. Ah ! Mimi ! 
 
 Geeald. He was a very famous smith. 
 
 Mimi {eagerly) You know all about them! 
 Somebody has been there ! 
 
 Geeald. What do you mean? 
 
 Mimi. Would you like to see those Nibelungs ? 
 
 Geeald {laughing) Why 1 wouldn't mind. 
 
 Mimi. You would like to see them dancing in 
 the moonlight, and hear the clatter of their 
 trinkets and shields ? You would like to meet old 
 King Alberieh, and Mimi the smith? You would 
 
 like to see that cavern yawn open {points to 
 
 right) and fire and steam break forth, and all the 
 
 7 
 
Pbincb Hagen 
 
 Nibelungs come running out? Would you like 
 that? ha? 
 
 Geeald. Indeed I would ! 
 
 MiMi. You wouldn't be afraid? 
 
 Gekald. No, I don't think so. 
 
 MiMi, But are you sure? 
 
 Geeald. Yes sure ! 
 
 MiMi. All right! You wear my magic ring! 
 You wait till night comes ! Then you play ! {puts 
 away trinkets). I must go now. 
 
 Gebald (perplexed) What do you want for 
 your ring? 
 
 MiMi. It is not for sale. I give it. 
 
 Geeald. What? 
 
 MiMi. Money could not buy it {takes up pack). 
 I came to you because you play that music. 
 
 Geeald. But I can't it 
 
 MiMi. It is yours ^you are a poet! {starts 
 
 left). Is this the way? 
 
 Geeald. Yes. But I don't like to 
 
 MiMi. Keep it ! You will see ! G<ood-bye ! 
 
 Geeald. But wait! 
 
 MiMi. It is late. I must go. Good night, {ex- 
 it left). 
 
Act I 
 
 Gbeald. Good night, (stands staring). Well, 
 I'll be switched! If that wasn't a queer old cus- 
 tomer! (loolcs at ring). It feels like real gold! 
 (peers after Mimi). What in the world did he 
 mean anyhow? The magic ring! I hope he 
 doesn't get lost in those woods tonight, (turns to 
 fire) . Confound that fire ! It 's out for good now ! 
 Let it go. (sits and takes music score). Nibelungs ! 
 They are realer than anybody guesses. People 
 who spend their lives in digging for gold, and 
 know and care about nothing else. How many of 
 them: I've met at mother's dinner parties! Well, 
 I must get to my work now. (makes a few notes; 
 then looks up and stretches). Ah, me! I don't 
 know what makes me so lazy this evening. This 
 strange heaviness ! There seems to be a spell on 
 me. (gases about). How beautiful these woods are 
 at sunset! If I were a Nibelung, I'd come here 
 for certain! (settles himself, reclining; shadows 
 begin to fall; music from orchestra). I'm good 
 
 for nothing but dreaming I wish Estelle 
 
 were here to sing to me ! How magical the twi- 
 light is! Estelle! Estelle! (he lies motionless; 
 music dies away and there is a long silence. The 
 forest is dark, with gleams of moonlight. Sud- 
 denly there is a faint note of music the Nibe- 
 lung theme. After a silence it is repeated; then 
 again. Several instruments take it up. It swells 
 
Pbiistce Hagen 
 
 louder. Vague forms are seen flitting here and 
 there. Shadows move). 
 
 Geeald (starting up suddenly). What's that? 
 (silence; then the note is heard again, very faint. 
 He starts. It is heard again, and he springs to his 
 feet). What's that? (again and again. He runs 
 to his violin, picks it up, and stares at it. Still 
 the notes are heard, and he puts down the violin, 
 and runs down stage, listening). Why, what can 
 it mean? (as the music grows louder his perplex- 
 ity and alarm increase. Suddenly he sees a figure 
 stealing through the shadows, and he springs 
 hacJc, aghast). Why, it's a Nibelung! (another 
 figure passes). Oh ! I must be dreaming ! (several 
 more appear). Nibelungs! Why, it's absurd! 
 Wake up, man! You're going crazy! (music 
 swells louder; figures appear carrying gold 
 shields, chains, etc., with clatter). My God! 
 (he stands with hands clasped to his forehead, 
 while the uproar swells louder and louder, and 
 the forms become more numerous. He rushes 
 down stage, and the Nibelungs surround him, 
 dancing about him in wild career, laughing, 
 screaming, jeering. They begin to pinch his legs be- 
 hind his back, and he leaps here and there, crying 
 out. Gradually they drive him toward the grotto, 
 which opens before them, revealing a black chasm, 
 emitting clouds of steam. They rush in and are 
 enveloped in the mist. Sounds of falling and 
 
 10 
 
Act I 
 
 crashing are heard. The steam spreads, gradually 
 veiling the front of the stage. Nets rise with the 
 steam, giving the effect of a descent. During this 
 change the orchestra plays the music between 
 Scenes II and III in Das Rheingold). 
 
 SCENl! 11 
 
 Nibelheim: a vast rocky cavern. Right center 
 is a large gold throne, and to the right of that an 
 entrance through a great tunnel. Entrances from 
 the sides also. At the left is a large golden vase 
 upon a stand, and near it lie piles of golden uten- 
 sils, shields, etc. Left center is a heavy iron door, 
 opening into a vault. Throughout this scene there 
 is a suggestion of music, rising into full orchestra 
 at significant moments. The voices of the Nihe- 
 lungs are accompanied by stopped trumpets and 
 other weird sounds. 
 
 At rise: The stage is darJc. A faint light 
 spreads. A company of Nibelungs crosses from 
 right to left, carrying trinkets and treasures. 
 Clatter of shields, crack of whips, music, etc. An- 
 other company of Nibelungs runs in left. 
 
 1st "Nib. (entering) The earth-man has come ! 
 
 2nd Nib. Where is he? 
 
 1st Nib. He is with Mimi! 
 2nd Nib. What is he like ? 
 
 11 
 
Prince Hagen 
 
 1st Nib. He is big ! {with a gesture of fright). 
 Terrible ! 
 
 3bd Nib. Ah! 
 
 2nd Nib. And the king? Does he know? 
 
 1st Nib. He has been told. 
 
 3ed Nib. Where is the king? 
 
 1st Nib. He comes! He comes! (the orches- 
 tra plays the Fasolt and Fafnir music, Rheingold, 
 Scene II. Enter a company of Nihelungs, armed 
 with whips, and marching with a stately tread. 
 They post themselves about the apartment. Enter 
 another company, supporting King Alberich. He 
 is gray-haired and very feeble, but ferocious 
 looking, and somewhat taller than the others. His 
 robe is lined with ermine, and he carries a gold 
 Nibelung whip — a short handle of gold, with 
 leather thongs. He seats himself upon the throne, 
 and all make obeisance. A solemn pause). 
 
 Albebich. The earth-man has come? 
 
 1st Nib. Yes, your majesty! 
 
 Alb. Where is Mimi? 
 
 All. Mimi! Mimi! {the call is repeated off). 
 
 Mimi {enters left) Your majesty. 
 
 Alb. Where is the earth-man? 
 
 MiML He is safe, your majesty. 
 
 12 
 
Act I 
 
 Alb. Did he resist? 
 
 MiMi. I have brought him, your majesty. 
 
 Alb. And Prince Hagen? Has he come? 
 
 MiMi. He is without, your majesty. 
 
 Alb. Let him be brought in, (all cry out in 
 terror). 
 
 MiMi. Your majesty. He is wild! He fights 
 with everyone ! He 
 
 Alb. Let him be brought in ! 
 
 All. Prince Hagen! Prince Hagen! 
 
 MiMi {calling) Prince Hagen ! {some run out. 
 
 The call is heard off. All stand waiting in tense 
 expectation. The music plays the Hagen motives, 
 with suggestions of the Siegfried funeral march. 
 Voices are heard in the distance, and at the climax 
 of the music Prince Hagen and his keepers enter. 
 He is small for a man, hut larger than any of the 
 Nibehmgs; a grim, sinister figure, with black hair 
 and a glowering look. His hands are chained in 
 front of him, and eight Nihelungs march as a 
 guard. He has bare arms and limbs, and a rough 
 black bearskin flung over his shoulders. He enters 
 right, and stands glaring from one to another). 
 
 Alb. Good evening, Hagen. 
 
 Hagen {after a pause) Well? 
 
 13 
 
Pbincb Hagen 
 
 Alb. (hesitating) Hagen, you are still angry 
 and rebellions? 
 
 Hagen. I am! 
 
 Alb. {pleading) Hagen, you are my grandson. 
 
 You are my sole heir ^the only representative 
 
 of my line. You are all that I have in the world ! 
 
 Hagen. Well? 
 
 Alb. You place me in such a trying position ! 
 
 Have you no shame ^no conscience? Why, 
 
 some day you will be king and one cannot keep 
 
 a king in chains! 
 
 Hagen. I do not want to be in chains ! 
 
 Alb. But Hagen, your conduct is such 
 
 what can I do? You have robbed ^you have 
 
 threatened murder! And you ^my grandson 
 
 and my heir 
 
 Hagen. Have you sent for me to preach at me 
 again? 
 
 Alb. Hagen, this stranger he has come to 
 
 visit us from the world above. These earth-men 
 know more than we they have greater pow- 
 ers (he hesitates). 
 
 Hagen. What is all that to me? 
 
 Alb. You know that you yourself are three- 
 quarters an earth-man 
 
 14 
 
Act I 
 
 Hagen. I know it. {with a passionate gesture). 
 But I am in chains ! 
 
 Alb. There may be a way of your haviag an- 
 other chance. Perhaps this stranger will teach 
 you. If you will promise to obey him, he will stay 
 
 with you ^he will be your tutor, and show you 
 
 the ways of the earth-men 
 
 Hagen. No ! 
 
 Alb. What? 
 
 Hagen. I will not have it ! 
 
 Alb, Hagen ! 
 
 Hagen. I will not have it, I say! Why did 
 you not consult me ? 
 
 Alb. But what is your objection 
 
 Hagen. I will not obey an earth-man! I will 
 not obey anyone ! 
 
 Alb. But he will teach you 
 
 Hagen. I do not want to be taught. I want to 
 be let alone! Take off these chains! 
 
 Alb. {half rising) Hagen! I insist 
 
 Hagen. Take them off, I say! You cannot 
 conquer me ^you cannot trick me ! 
 
 Alb. {angrily) Take him away! {the Nibe- 
 lungs seize hold of him to hustle him off). 
 
 15 
 
Peincb Hagew 
 
 Hagen. I will not obey him! Mark what I 
 
 say 1 will kill him. Yesl I will kill him! 
 
 {he is dragged off protesting). 
 
 Alb, (sits, Ms head bowed with grief , until the 
 uproar dies away; then, looking up) Mimi! 
 
 MiMi. Yes, your majesty. 
 
 Alb. Let the earth-man be brought. 
 
 Mimi. Yes, your majesty! 
 
 All. The earth-man! The earth-man! (the 
 call is heard as before. Gerald is brought on; the 
 orchestra plays a beautiful melody, violins and 
 horns, Mimi moves left to meet Mm). 
 
 Gebald {enters left with attendants ; hesitating, 
 gazing about in wonder. He sees Mimi and stops; 
 
 a pause). The pack peddler ! 
 
 Mimi. The pack peddler! 
 
 Ge'e. And these are Nibelungs? 
 
 Mimi. You call us that. 
 
 Geb. {laughing nervously) You er it's 
 
 a little disconcerting, you know. I had no idea 
 you existed. May I ask your name? 
 
 Mimi. I am Mimi. 
 
 Gee. Mimi! Mimi, the smith? And may I ask 
 are you real, or is this a dream? 
 
 16 
 
Act I 
 
 MiMi. Is not life a dream? 
 Ge'b. Yes ^but 
 
 MiMi. It is a story. You have to pretend that 
 it is true! 
 
 Gbb. I see ! 
 
 MiMi. You pretend that is is true 'and then 
 
 you see what happens ! It is very interesting ! 
 
 Gbr. Yes ^I have no doubt, {peers at him) 
 
 And just to help me straighten things out 
 
 would you mind telling me are you old or 
 
 young. 
 
 MiMi. I am young. 
 Geb. How young? 
 MiMi. Nine hundred years young. 
 Geb. Oh! And why did you come for me? 
 MiMi. The king commanded it. 
 Geb. The king ? And who may this king be ? 
 MiMi. King Alberich. , 
 
 Geb. Alberich! {stares at the king) And is 
 this he? 
 MiMi. It is he. 
 
 Geb. And may I speak to him? 
 MiMi. You may. 
 Alb. Let the earth man advance. Hail I 
 
 17 
 
Prince Hagen 
 
 Geb. Good evening, Alberich. 
 
 MiMi {at Ms elbow) Your majesty! 
 
 Gee. Good evening, your majesty. 
 
 Alb. {after a long gaze) You play our music. 
 Where did you learn it? 
 
 Gee. Why it's in "Wagner's operas. He 
 
 composed it. 
 
 Alb. Humph composed it! 
 
 Gee. {aghast) You mean he came and copied 
 it! 
 
 Alb. Of course ! 
 
 Gee. "Why ^why ^we all thought it was 
 
 original ! 
 
 Alb. Original! It is indeed wonderful orig- 
 inality ! To listen in the Ehine-depths to the song 
 of the maidens, to dwell in the forest and steal its 
 murmurs, to catch the crackling of the fire and the 
 flowing of the water, the galloping of the wind and 
 
 the death march of the thunder and then write 
 
 it all down for your own ! To take our story and 
 
 tell it just as it happened ^to take the very 
 
 words from our lips, and sign your name to them ! 
 Originality ! 
 
 Gee. But, your majesty, one thing at least. 
 Even his enemies granted him that ! He invented 
 the invisible orchestra! 
 
 18 
 
Act I 
 
 Alb. (laughing) Have you seen any orcliestra 
 here! {Siegfried motive sounds). 
 
 Gbb. I hadn't realized it! Do yon mean that 
 everything here happens to music'? 
 
 Alb. If you only had the ears to hear, you 
 would know that the whole world happens to 
 music. 
 
 Ge'b. (stands entranced) Listen! Listen! 
 
 Alb. It is very monotonous, when one is 
 digging out the gold. It keeps up such a wheezing 
 and pounding, (stopped trumpets from orchestra). 
 
 Gee, Ah, don't speak of such things! (gases 
 about; sees cup) What is this? 
 
 Alb. That is the coronation cup. 
 
 Geb. The coronation cup? 
 
 Alb. One of the greatest of our treasures. It 
 is worth over four hundred thousand dollars. It 
 is the work of the elder Mimi, a most wonderful 
 smith. 
 
 Gee. (advancing) May I look at it? 
 
 Alb. You will observe the design of the Ehine 
 maidens. 
 
 Gee. I can't see it here. It's too dark. Let 
 me have a candle. 
 
 Mimi. A candle ! 
 
 19 
 
Pbincb Hagbn 
 
 All. a candle ! 
 
 Alb. My dear sir ! Candles are so expensive ! 
 And why do you want to see it? We never look 
 at our art treasures. 
 
 Gee. Never look at them ! 
 
 Alb. No. We know what they are worth, and 
 everyone else knows ; and what difference does it 
 make how they look? 
 
 GrEB. Oh, I see. 
 
 Alb. Perhaps you would like to see our vaults 
 of gold? {great excitement among the Nibelungs. 
 The music makes a furious wproar. Alberich 
 gives a great hey to Mimi, who opens the iron 
 doors). Approach, sir. 
 
 Mimi. Hear the echoes, (shouts). 
 
 Ger. It must be a vast place ! 
 
 Alb. This particular cavern runs for seven- 
 teen miles under the earth. 
 
 Geb. What! And you mean it is all full of 
 gold? 
 
 Alb, From floor to roof with solid masses of it. 
 
 Gee. Incredible! Is it all of the Nibelung 
 treasure? 
 
 Alb. All? Mercy, no! This is simply my 
 own, and I am by no means a rich man. The ex- 
 
 20 
 
Act I 
 
 tent of some of our modem fortunes would simply 
 exceed your belief. We live in an age of enor- 
 mous productivity, {after a pause). Will you see 
 more of the vault? 
 
 Gee. No, I thank you. {they close it). It must 
 be getting late; and, by the way, your majesty, 
 you know that no one has told me yet why you 
 had me brought here. 
 
 Alb. Ah, yes, sure enough. We have business 
 to talk about. Let us get to it! {to Mimi). Let 
 the hall be cleared. {Mimi drives out the Nibelungs 
 and retires). Sit on this rock here beside me. 
 {confidentially). Now we can talk things over. 
 I trust you are willing to listen to me. 
 
 Ger. Most certainly. I am very much inter- 
 ested. 
 
 Alb. Thank you. You know, my dear sir, that I 
 had a son, Hagen, who was the slayer of the great 
 hero, Siegfried. 
 
 Geb. Yes, your majesty. 
 
 Alb. a most lamentable affair. You did not 
 know, I presume, that Hagen, too, had a son, by 
 one of the daughters of earth? 
 
 Geb. No. He is not mentioned in history. 
 
 Alb. That son, Prince Hagen, is now living; 
 and, in the course of events, he will fall heir to 
 the throne I occupy. 
 
 21 
 
Peince Hagbn 
 
 Geb. I see. 
 
 Alb. The boy is seven or eight hundred years 
 old, which in your measure would make him about 
 eighteen. Now, I speak frankly. The boy is wild 
 and unruly. He needs guidance and occupation. 
 And I have sent for you because I understand that 
 you earth people think more and see farther than 
 we do. 
 
 Geb, Yes? 
 
 Alb. I wish to ask you to help me ^to use 
 
 your strength of mind and body to direct this boy. 
 
 Gee. But what can I do ? 
 
 Alb. I wish you to stay here and be Prince 
 Hagen's tutor. 
 
 Gee. What? 
 
 Alb, (anxiously) If you will do it, sir, you will 
 carry hence a treasure such as the world has never 
 
 seen before. And it is a noble work a great 
 
 work, sir. He is the grandson of a king ! Tell me 
 ^will you not help me? (gases imploringly). 
 
 Gee. Let me think, (a pause) Your majesty, 
 I have things of importance to do, and I have no 
 time to stay here 
 
 Alb. But think of the treasures ! 
 
 Gee. My father is a rich man, and I have no 
 
 22 
 
Act I 
 
 need of treasures. And besides, I am a poet. I 
 have work of my own 
 
 Alb. Oil ! don't refuse me, sir ! 
 
 Gee. Listen! There is, perhaps, something 
 else we can do. How would it do to take Prince 
 Hagen up to the world? 
 
 Alb. (starting) Oh! 
 
 Gee. This world is a small one. There he 
 might have a wide field for his energies. He might 
 be sent to a good school, and taught the ideals of 
 our Christian civilization. 
 
 Alb. (pondering anxiously) You mean that 
 you yourself would see to it that proper care wa:s 
 given to him? 
 
 Gee. If I took him with me it would mean that 
 I was interested in his future. 
 
 Alb. It is a startling proposition. What op- 
 portunity can you offer him? 
 
 Gee. I am only a student myself. But my 
 father is a man of importance in the world. 
 
 Alb. What does he do ? 
 
 Gee, He is John Isman. They call him the 
 railroad king. 
 
 ' Alb. You have kings m your world also ! 
 
 Gee. (smiling) After a fashion ^yes. 
 
 23 
 
Prince Hagen 
 
 Alb, I had not thought of this. I hardly know 
 ■what to reply, {he starts). What is that? {an up- 
 roar is heard off left. Shouts and cries; music 
 rises to deafening climax. Nibelungs flee on in 
 terror). 
 
 Hagen. {rushes on, struggling wildly, and drag- 
 ging several Nibelungs) Let me go, I say ! Take 
 off these chains! 
 
 Alb. {rising in seat) Hagen! 
 
 Hagen. I will not stand it, I tell you ! 
 
 Alb. Hagen ! Listen to me ! 
 
 Hagen. No ! 
 
 Alb. I have something new to tell you. The 
 earth-man has suggested taking you up with him 
 to the world. 
 
 Hagen. {a sudden wild expression flashes across 
 his features) No! {he gases from one to the 
 other, half beside himself) You can't mean it! 
 
 Alb. It is true, Hagen. 
 
 Hagen. What ^why 
 
 Alb. You would be ^ent to school and taught 
 the ways of the earth-men. Do you think that you 
 would like to go ? 
 
 Hagen. {wildly) By the gods ! I would ! 
 
 Alb. {nervously) You will promise to obey 
 
 24 
 
Act 1 
 
 Hagen. I'll promise anything! I'll do any- 
 thing I 
 
 Alb. Hagen, this is a very grave decision for 
 me. It is such an unusual step ! You would have 
 to submit yourself to this gentleman, who is kind 
 enough to take charge of you 
 
 Hagen. I will! I will! Quick! {holding out his 
 chains) Take them off I 
 
 Alb. (doubtfully) We can trust you I 
 
 Hagen. You can trust me! You'll have no 
 trouble. Take them off 1 
 
 Alb. Off with them 1 
 
 MiMi. (advances and proceeds to work at 
 chains with a file) Yes, your majesty. 
 
 Hagen. (to Gerald) Tell me ! What am I to do? 
 
 Geb. You are to have an education 
 
 Hagen. Yes? What's it like? Tell me more 
 about the earth-people. 
 
 Gee. It's too much to try to tell. You will be 
 there soon: 
 
 Hagen. Ah! Be quick there! (tears one hand 
 free and waves it) By the gods! 
 
 Alb. (to Gerald) You had best spend the night 
 with us and consult with me 
 
 26 
 
Pbincb Hagen 
 
 Hagbn. No, no! No delay! Wliat's there to 
 consult about? 
 
 Alb. We have so much to settle ^your 
 
 clothes ^your money 
 
 Hagen. Give me some gold ^that will be all. 
 
 Let us be off ! 
 
 Gee. I will attend to everythiag. There is no 
 need of delay ! 
 
 Hagen. Come on ! {tears other hand free) Aha ! 
 (roams, about the stage, clenching his hands and 
 gesticulating, while the music rises to a tremend- 
 ous climax) Free! Free forever! Aha! Aha! 
 {turning to Gerald) Let us be off. 
 
 Ger. All right, {to Alberich) Goodbye, your 
 majesty. 
 
 Alb. {anxiously) Goodbye. 
 Hagen. Come on! 
 
 Alb. {as Nihelungs gather about, waving fare- 
 well) Take care of yourself ! Come back to me ! 
 Hagen. Free! Free! Ha, ha, ha! 
 MiML {with Nib elungs) Goodbye! 
 Alb. Goodbye ! 
 Ge'e. Goodbye ! 
 
 Hagen. Free ! {exit, with Gerald, amid chorus of 
 farewells, and wild uproar of music). 
 
 CURTAIN 
 26 
 
ACT II 
 
 Scene shows the library in a Fifth Avenue man- 
 sion; spacious and magnificent. There are fold- 
 ing doors right center. There is a center table 
 with a reading lamp and books, and soft leather 
 chairs. The walls are covered with bookcases. 
 An entrance right to drawing room. Also an en- 
 trance left. 
 
 At rise: Gerald, in evening clothes, reading in 
 front of fire. 
 
 Gee. {stretching and sighing) All me ! I wish 
 I'd stayed at the club. Bother their dinner par- 
 ties! 
 
 Mas. Is. {enters right, a nervous, fussy little 
 woman, in evening costume) Well, Gerald 
 
 Gek. Yes, mother? 
 
 Mrs. Is. You're not coming to dinner? 
 
 Gee. You don't need me, mother. You've 
 men enough, you said. 
 
 Mes. Is. I like to see something of my son now 
 and then. 
 
 Gee. I had my lunch very late, and I'm hon- 
 estly not hungry. I'd rather sit and read. 
 
 27 
 
Pbince Hagen 
 
 Mes. Is. I declare, Gerald, yon run this read- 
 ing business into the ground. You cut yourself 
 off from everyone. 
 
 Gee. They don't miss me, mother. 
 
 Mes. Is. Tonight Eenaud is going to give us 
 some crabflake a la Dewey! I told Mrs. Bagley- 
 Willis I'd show her what crabflake could be. She 
 is simply green with envy of our chef. 
 
 Gee. I fancy that's the reason you invite her, 
 isn't it? 
 
 Mes. Is. {laughs) Perhaps! {exit right, he set- 
 tles himself to read). 
 
 Hicks, {enters centre) Mr. Gerald. 
 
 Gee. Well? 
 
 Hicks. There was a man here to see you some- 
 time ago, sir. 
 
 Gee. a man to see me? Why didn't you let 
 me know? 
 
 Hicks. I started to, sir. But he disappeared, 
 and I can't find him, sir. 
 
 Gee. Disappeared? What do you mean? 
 
 Hicks. He came to the side entrance, sir; and 
 one of the maids answered the bell. He was such 
 a queer-looking chap that she was frightened, and 
 called me. And then I went to ask if you were in, 
 
 28 
 
Act II 
 
 and he disappeared. I -wasn't snre if he went out, 
 sir, or if he was still in the house. 
 
 Geb. What did he look like ? 
 
 Hicks. He was a little chap so high 
 
 with a long beard and a humped back 
 
 Geb. (startled) Mimi! 
 
 Hicks. He said you knew him, sir 
 
 Gee. Yes ! I would have seen him. 
 
 Hicks. I didn't know, sir 
 
 Gee. Watch out for him. He'll surely come 
 back. 
 
 Hicks. Yes, sir. I'm very sorry, sir (exit 
 centre). 
 
 Geb. (to himself) Mimi! What can that mean? 
 
 Mimi. (opens door left and peers in) Ha ! 
 
 Gee. (starts) Mimi! 
 
 Mimi. Ssh ! 
 
 Geb. What is it? 
 
 Mimi. Where is Priace Hagen? 
 
 Gee. I don't know. 
 
 Mimi. You don't know? 
 
 Gee. No, 
 
 Mimi. But I must see him ! 
 
 29 
 
Peince Hagen 
 
 Geb. I've no idea where lie is. 
 
 MiMi. But you promised to take care of 
 
 him! 
 
 GrEE. Yes and I tried to. But he ran away 
 
 MiMi. What? 
 
 Gee. I've not heard of him for two years now. 
 
 MiMi. {coming closer) Tell me about it! 
 
 Gee. I took him to a boarding school a 
 
 place where he'd be taken care of and taught. 
 
 And he rebelled ^he would not obey anyone 
 
 (takes some faded telegrams from pocket book) 
 See ! This is what I got. ' 
 
 MiMi. What are they? 
 
 Gee. Telegrams they sent me. (reads) Hagen 
 under physical restraint. Whole school disor- 
 ganized. Come immediately and take him away. 
 
 MiMi. Ha ! 
 
 Gee. That's one. And here's the other: Ha- 
 gen has escaped, threatening teachers with re- 
 volver. Took train for New York. What shall 
 we do? (puts away papers) And that's all. 
 
 MiMi. All? 
 
 Gee. That was over two years ago. And I've 
 not heard of him since. 
 
 30 
 
Act II 
 
 MiMi. But lie must be found ! 
 
 Gee. I liave tried. I can't. 
 
 MiMi. (vehemently) But we cannot do with- 
 out him! 
 
 Gee. What's the matter? 
 
 MiMi. I cannot tell you. But we must have 
 him ! The people need him ! 
 
 Gee. He has lost himself in this great city. 
 What can I do? 
 
 MiMi. He must be found ! (voices heard centre) 
 What is that? 
 
 Gee. It is some company. 
 
 MiMi. (darts left) We must find Prince Hagen! 
 He must come back to Nibelheim ! (exit left). 
 
 Mrs. Bagley-Willis. (off centre) It was crab- 
 flake a la Dewey she promised me! (enters with 
 Isman). 
 
 Geb. How do you do, Mrs. Bagley-Willis ? 
 
 Mrs. B.-W. How do you do, Gerald? 
 
 Gee. Hello, father! 
 
 Isman. Hello, Gerald. 
 
 Mes. B.-W. Am I the first to arrive? 
 
 Gee. I think so. 
 
 31 
 
Pbikce Hagen 
 
 Mbs. B.-W. And how is Estelle after her slum- 
 ming adventure? 
 
 Gee. She's all right. 
 
 IsMAN. That was a fine place for you to take 
 my daughter ! 
 
 Mes. B.-W. It wasn't my fault. She would go. 
 And her mother consented. 
 
 Gee, I wish I'd been there with you. 
 
 Mes. B.-W. Indeed I wished for someone. I 
 was never more frightened in my life. 
 
 IsMAN. Did you see this morning's Record? 
 
 Mes. B.-W. No. What? 
 
 IsMAN. About that fellow, Steve O'Hagen? 
 
 Mes. B.-W. Good heavens ! 
 
 Gee. Nothing about Estelle, I hope ! 
 
 IsMAN. No — apparently nobody noticed that 
 incident. But about his political speech, and the 
 uproar he's making on the Bowery. They say the 
 streets were blocked for an hour — the police 
 couldn't clear them. 
 
 Gee. He must be an extraordinary talker. 
 
 Mes. B.-W. You can't imagine it. The man is 
 a perfect demon ! 
 
 Gee. Where does he come from? 
 
 n 
 
Act II 
 
 IsMAN. Apparently nobody knows. Tlie papers 
 say he turned up a couple of years ago — ^he won't 
 talk about Ms past. He joined Tanunany Hall, 
 and he's sweeping everything before him. 
 
 Ge'e. What do you suppose will come of it? 
 
 IsMAN. Oh, he'll get elected — ^what is it he's to 
 be — an alderman? — and then he'll sell out, like all 
 the rest. I was talking about it this afternoon 
 with Plimpton and Eutherf ord. 
 
 Mrs. B.-W. They're to be here tonight, I un- 
 derstand. 
 
 IsMAN. Yes — so they mentioned. Ah! here's 
 Estelle ! 
 
 EsTELLE. {enters, centre, with an armful of 
 roses) Ah! Mrs. Bagley-Willis ! Good evening. 
 
 Mbs. B.-W. Good evening, Estelle. 
 
 Est. Good evening, father. Hello, Gerald. 
 
 Gbr. My, aren't we gorgeous tonight! 
 
 Est, Just aren't we! 
 
 Mes. B.-W. The adventure doesn't seem to 
 have hurt you. Where is your mother? 
 
 (tee. She went into the drawing room. {Mrs. 
 B.-W. and Isman go off right; Estelle is about to 
 follow) Estelle. 
 
 Est. What is it? 
 
 33 
 
Peince Hagen 
 
 Geb. What's this I hear about your adventure 
 last night? , 
 
 Est. {with sudden seriousness) Oh, G-erald! 
 (comes closer) It was a frightful thing! I've 
 hardly dared to think about it ! 
 
 Geb. Tell me. 
 
 Est. Gerald, that man was talking straight at 
 me — ^he meant every bit of it for me ! 
 
 Ger. Tell me the story. 
 
 Est. Why, you know, Lord Alderdyce had 
 heard about this wild fellow, Steve O'Hagen, 
 who 's made such a sensation this campaign. And 
 he's interested in our elections, and wanted to 
 hear O'Hagen speak. He said he had a friend 
 who 'd arrange for us to be introduced to him ; and 
 so we went down there. And there was a most 
 
 frightful crowd it was an outdoor meeting, you 
 
 know. And we pushed our way into a saloon, 
 where the mob was shouting around this 'Hagen. 
 
 And then he caught sight of us and Gerald, 
 
 from the moment he saw me, he never took his eyes 
 off me ! Never once ! 
 
 Gek. (smiling) Well, Estelle ^you've been 
 
 looked at before. 
 
 Est. Ah, but never like that ! 
 
 Gee. What sort of a man is he? 
 
 34 
 
Act II 
 
 Est. He's small and dark and ugly he wore 
 
 a rough reefer and cap ^but Gerald, he's no 
 
 common man! There's something strange and 
 
 terrible about him there's a fire blazing in him. 
 
 The detective who was with us introduced us 
 
 to him and he stood there and stared at me! 
 
 I tried to say something or other "I've been 
 
 so interested in your speech, Mr. O'Hagen." And 
 
 he laughed at me 'Yes, I've no doubt.' And 
 
 then suddenly it was as if he leaped at me. He 
 
 pointed his finger straight into my face, and his 
 eyes fairly shone. "Wait for me! I'll be with 
 you! I'm coming to the top!" 
 
 Gee. Good God! 
 
 Est. Imagine it! I was simply paralyzed! 
 "Mark what I tell you," he went on— "it'll be 
 of interest to you some day to remember it. You 
 may wait for me! I'm coming! You will not 
 escape me!" 
 
 Gek. Why he's mad! 
 
 Est. He was like a wild beast. Everybody in 
 the place was staring at us as he rushed on. "You 
 have joy and power and freedom all the privi- 
 leges of life all things that are excellent and 
 
 beautiful. You are born to them you claim 
 
 them ! And you come down here to stare at us as 
 you might at some strange animals in a cage. You 
 chatter and laugh and go your way ^but remem- 
 
 35 
 
Pbince Hagen 
 
 ber what I told you 1 shall be with you ! You 
 
 cannot keep me down! I shall be master of 
 you all!" 
 
 Gee. Incredible ! 
 
 Est, And then in a moment it was all over. He 
 
 made a mocking bow to the party ' ' It has given 
 
 me the greatest pleasure in the world to meet 
 you!" And with a wild laugh he went out of the 
 
 door ^and the crowd in the street burst into a 
 
 roar thait was like a clap of thunder, (a pause). 
 Gterald, what do you think he meant? 
 
 Gee. My dear, you've been up against the 
 class- war. It's rather the fashion, now, you know. 
 
 Est. Oh, but it was horrible! I can't get it 
 out of my mind. We heard some of his speech 
 
 afterwards and it seemed as if every word of it 
 
 was meant for me ! He lashed the crowd to a per- 
 fect fury 1 think they'd have set fire to the city 
 
 if he'd told them to. What do you suppose he ex- 
 pects to do? 
 
 Gee. I can't imagine, I'm sure. 
 
 Est. I should like to know more about him. 
 He was never raised in the slums, I feel certain. 
 
 Gee. Steve O'Hagen. The name sounds Irish. 
 
 Est. I don't think he's Irish. He's dark and 
 strange-looking almost uncanny. 
 
 36 
 
Act II 
 
 Ge'r. I shall go down there and hear him the 
 first chance I get. And now, I guess I'd best get 
 out, if I want to dodge old Plimpton. 
 
 Est. Yes and Eutherford, too. Isn't it a 
 
 bore! I think they are perfectly odious people. 
 
 Geb. Why do you suppose mother invited 
 them? 
 
 Est. Oh, it's a business affair ^they have 
 
 forced their way into some deal of father's, and 
 so we have to cultivate them. 
 
 Geb. Plimpton, the coal baron! And Euther- 
 ford, the steel king ! I wonder how many hundred 
 millions of dollars we shall have to have before 
 we can choose our guests for something more in- 
 teresting than their Wall Street connections ! 
 
 Est. I think I hear them, (listens) Yes the 
 
 voice! (mocking Plimpton's manner and tone) 
 Good evening. Miss Isman. I guess I'll skip it! 
 (exit right). 
 
 Gee. And I too! (exit left). 
 
 Eutherford (a stout and rather coarse-looking 
 man, enters centre with Plimpton). It's certainly 
 an outrageous state of affairs, Plimpon ! 
 
 Plimpton, (a thin, clerical looking person, with 
 square-cut heard) Disgraceful! Disgraceful! 
 
 EuTH. The public seems to be quite hysterical 1 
 
 37 
 
Peince Hagen 
 
 Plimp. We have got to a state where simply 
 to be entrusted with great financial responsibility 
 is enough to constitute a man a crimiaal; to war- 
 rant a newspaper in prying into the intimate de- 
 tails of his life, and in presenting him in hideous 
 caricatures. 
 
 EuTH. I can sympathize with you, Plimpton 
 
 these government investigations are certainly a 
 
 trial, (laughing) I've had my turn at them 
 
 I used to lie awake nights trying to remember 
 what my lawyers had told me to forget ! 
 
 Plimp. Ahem ! Ahem ! Yes a rather cyn- 
 ical jest! I can't say exactly- 
 
 Mes. Is. (in doorway, right) Ah, Mr. Plimpton! 
 How do you do? And Mr. Eutherford. 
 Plimp. Good evening, Mrs. Isman. 
 ExjTH. Good evening, Mrs. Isman. 
 
 Mes. Is. You managed to tear yourself away 
 from business cares after all ! 
 
 Plimp. It was not easy, I assure you. 
 Mrs. Is. "Won't you come in? 
 EuTH. With pleasure, (exit right, with Mrs. 
 Isman, followed by Plimpton). 
 
 Gee. (enters left) That pious old fraud! (sits 
 m chair) Well, I'm safe for a while! (sprawls 
 at ease and reads). 
 
 38 
 
Act II 
 
 Hicks, {enters centre) A gentleman to see 
 you, Mr. Gerald. 
 
 GrEE. Hey? (takes card, looks, then gives vio- 
 lent start) Prince Hagen! (stands aghast, 
 staring; whispers, half-dased) Prince Hagen! 
 
 Hicks, (after waiting) What shall I tell 
 him, sir? 
 
 Geb. What ^what does he look like ? 
 
 Hicks. Why ^he seems to he a gentleman, 
 
 sir. 
 
 Ger. How is he dressed? 
 
 Hicks. For dinner, sir. 
 
 Gek. (hesitates, gases about nervously) Bring 
 him here quickly ! 
 
 Hicks. Yes, sir. 
 
 Geb. And shut the door afterwards. 
 
 Hicks. Yes, sir. (exit). 
 
 Gee. (stands staring) Prince Hagen! He's 
 come at last! (takes the faded telegrams from his 
 pocket; looks at them; then goes to door right and 
 closes it). 
 
 Hicks, (enters centre) Prince Hagen. 
 
 Hagen. (enters; serene and smiling, immacu- 
 lately clad) Ah, Gerald! 
 
 39 
 
Peince Hagen 
 
 G^^. {gazing) Prince Hagen ! 
 
 Hagen. You are surprised to see me ! 
 
 Gee. I confess that I am. 
 
 Hagen. Did you think I was never coming 
 back? 
 
 Gee. I had given you up. 
 
 Hagen. Well, here I am to report progress. 
 
 Gee. {after a pause). Where have you been 
 these two years? 
 
 Hagen. Oh, I've been seeing life 
 
 Gee. You didn't like the boarding school? 
 
 Hagen. {with sudden vehemence) Did you 
 think I would like it? Did you think I'd come to 
 this world to have my head stuffed with Latin 
 conjugations and sawdust? 
 
 Gee. I had hoped that in a good Christian 
 home 
 
 Hagen. {laughing) No, no, Gerald ! I let you 
 talk that sort of thing to me in the beginning. It 
 sounded fishy even then, but I didn't say anything 
 
 ^I wanted to get my bearings. But I hadn't 
 
 been twenty-four hours in that good Christian 
 home before I found out what a kettle-full of jeal- 
 ousies and hatreds it was. The head master was 
 an old sap-head ; and the boys I ^I was strange 
 
 40 
 
Act II 
 
 and ugly, and they thouglit they could torment and 
 
 bully me; but I fought 'em by the Lord, I 
 
 fought 'em day and night, and I fought 'em all 
 around the place! And when I'd mastered 'em, 
 you should have seen how they cringed and toad- 
 ied ! They hated the slavery they lived under, but 
 not one of them dared raise his hand against it. 
 
 Geb. Well, you've seen the world in your own 
 way. Now are you ready to go back to Nibelheim? 
 Hagen. Good God, no ! 
 
 Geb. You know it's my duty to send you back. 
 Hagen. Oh say ! My dear fellow ! 
 
 Gee. You know the solemn promise I made to 
 King Alberich. 
 
 Hagen. Yes ^but you can't carry it out. 
 
 Gee. But I can ! 
 
 Hagen. How? 
 
 Gee. I could invoke the law, if need be. You 
 know you are a minor — - 
 
 Hagen. My dear boy, I'm over seven hundred 
 years old ! 
 
 Gee. Ah, but that is a quibble. You know that 
 in our world that is only equal to about 
 eighteen 
 
 Hagen. I have read up the law, but I haven't 
 
 41 
 
Pbincb Hagbn 
 
 found any provision for reducing Nibelung ages 
 to your scale. 
 
 Gee. But you can't deny 
 
 Hagbn. I wouldn't need to deny. The story's 
 absurd on the face of it. You know perfectly well 
 that there are no such things as Nibelungs! {Ger- 
 ald gasps) And besides, you're a poet, and every- 
 body knows you're crazy. Fancy what the news- 
 paper reporters would do with such a yarn! 
 (cheerfully) Come, old man, forget about it, and 
 let's be friends. You'll have a lot more fun watch- 
 ing my career. And besides, what do you want? 
 I've come back, and I'm ready to follow your 
 advice. 
 
 Gee. How do you mean? 
 
 Hagbn. You told me to stay in school until I'd 
 got my bearings in the world. And then I was to 
 have a career. Well, I've got my education for 
 
 myself and now I'm ready for the career. 
 
 {after a pause) Listen, Gerald. I said I'd be a 
 self-made man. I said I'd conquer the world for 
 myself. But of late I've come to realize how far 
 it is to the top ; and I can't spare the time. 
 
 Gee,. I see. 
 
 Hagen. And then ^besides that I've met 
 
 a woman. 
 
 Gee. (startled) Good heavens ! 
 
 42 
 
Act n 
 
 Hagen. Yes. I'm in love. 
 
 Gee. But surely ^you don't expect to marry ! 
 
 Hagen. Why not? My mother was an earth 
 woman, and her mother also. 
 
 Geb. To be sure. I'd not realized it. (a pause) 
 Who is the woman? 
 
 Hage^j-. I don't know. I only know she belongs 
 in this world of yours. And I've come to seek 
 her out. I shall get her, never fear ! 
 
 Geb. What are your plans ? 
 
 Hagen. I've looked this Christian civilization 
 
 of yours over and I'm prepared to play the 
 
 game. You can take me up and put me into Soci- 
 ety as you offered to do before. You'll find 
 
 that I'll do you credit. 
 
 Gee. But such a career requires money. 
 
 Hagen. Of course. Alberich will furnish it, if 
 you tell him it's needed. You must call Mimi. 
 
 Gee. Mimi is here now. 
 
 Hagen. (starting) What ! 
 
 Gee. He is in the house. 
 
 Hagen. For what? 
 
 Gee. He came to look for you. 
 
 Hagen. What is the matter? 
 
 43 
 
Peince Hagen 
 
 Geb. I don't know. He wants you to return to 
 Nibelheim, 
 
 Hagen. Find him. Let me see Mm ! 
 
 GeIi. All right. "Wait here, {exit left). 
 
 Hagen, What can that mean? 
 
 Est. (enters right, sees Prince Hagen, starts 
 wildly and screams) Ah! (she stands transfixed; 
 a long pause) Steve 'Hagen! {a pause) Steve 
 'Hagen! What does it mean? 
 
 Hagen. Who are you? 
 
 Est. I live here. 
 
 Hagen. Your name ? 
 
 Est. Estelle Isman. 
 
 Hagen. (in a transport of amazement) Estelle 
 Isman ! You are Gerald's sister ! 
 
 Est. Yes. 
 
 Hagen. By the gods ! 
 
 "Est. (terrified) You know my brother ! 
 
 Hagen. Yes. 
 
 Est. You Steve 'Hagen ! 
 
 Hagen. (gravely) I am Prince Hagen ! 
 
 Est. Prince Hagen ! 
 
 Hagen. A foreign nobleman. 
 
 44 
 
Act II 
 
 Est. "What ^what do you mean? You were 
 
 on the Bowery ! 
 
 Hagen. I came to this coimtry to study its in- 
 stitutions. I wished to know them for myself 
 
 therefore I went into politics. Don't you see? 
 
 Est. (dazed) I see! 
 
 Hagbn, Now I am on the point of giving up 
 the game, and telling the story of my experiences. 
 
 Est. What are you doing here in this 
 
 house? 
 
 Hagen. I came for you. 
 
 Est. (stares at him) How dare you? 
 
 Hagen. I would dare anything for you! (they 
 gaze at each other) Don't you understand? 
 
 Est. (vehemently) No! No! I am afraid of 
 you ! You have no business to be here ! 
 
 Hagek. (taking a step towards her) Listen 
 
 Est. No! I will not hear you! You cannot 
 come here! (stares at him, then abruptly exit 
 centre) 
 
 Hagen. (laughs) Humph! (hearing voices) 
 Who is this? 
 
 EuTH. (oif right) I don't agree with you. 
 
 45 
 
Peince Hagen 
 
 Is. Nor I either, Plimpton, (enters , with Plimp- 
 ton and Rutherford; sees Hagen) Oh ^I beg 
 
 your pardon. i 
 
 Hagen. I am waiting for your son, sir. 
 
 Is. I see. Won't you be seated? 
 
 Hagen. Thank you. {sits at ease in chair). '1- 
 
 Plim. My point is, it's as Lord Alderdyce says 
 
 ^we have no hereditary aristocracy in this 
 
 country, no traditions of authority ^nothing to 
 
 hold the mob in check. 
 
 Is. There is the constitution. 
 
 Plim. They may over-ride it. 
 
 Is. There are the courts. 
 
 Plim. They may defy the courts. 
 
 Etjth. Oh, Plimpton, that's absurd! 
 
 Plim, Nothing of the kind, Eutherf ord ! Sup- 
 pose they were to elect to office some wild and 
 reckless demagog — ^take for instance that juffian 
 
 you were telling us about down there on the 
 
 Bowery {Hagen starts and listens) and he 
 
 were to defy the law and the courts ? He is preach- 
 ing just that to the mob striving to rouse the 
 
 elemental wild beast in them ! And some day they 
 will pour out into this avenue 
 
 EuTH. {vehemently) Very Well, Plimpton I Let 
 
 46 
 
Act II 
 
 them come ! Have we not the militia and the reg- 
 ulars? We could sweep the avenue with one 
 mafehine gun 
 
 PuM. But suppose the troops would not fire? 
 
 Ruth. But that is impossible! 
 
 ''• Plim. Nothing of the kind, Eutherford! No, 
 
 no ^we must go back of all that ! It is in the 
 
 hearts of the people that we must erect our de- 
 fenses. It is the spirit of this godless and skep- 
 tical age that is undermiaing order. We must 
 teach the people the truths of religion. We must 
 inculcate lessons of sobriety and thrift, and of 
 reverence for constituted authority. We must set 
 our faces against these new preachers of license 
 
 and infidelity ^we must go back to the old-time 
 
 faith to love, and charity, and self-sac- 
 rifice- 
 
 Hagbn. (interrupting) That's it! You've got 
 it there ! 
 
 Is., (amazed) Why 
 
 Plim. What do you mean! 
 
 Hagen. You've said it! Set the parsons after 
 them! Teach them heaven! Set them to singing 
 about harps and golden crowns, and milk and 
 honey floAving! Then you can shut them up in 
 slums and starve them, and they won't know the 
 difference. Teach them non-resistance and self- 
 
 47 
 
Peinoe Hagew 
 
 remmeiation ! You've got tlie phrases all pat 
 
 handed out from heaven direct! Take no thought 
 saying what ye shall eat! Lay not up for your- 
 selves treasures on earth! Render unto Caesar 
 the things that are Caesar's ! 
 
 Is. Why this is preposterous ! 
 
 Plim, This is blasp^hemy ! 
 
 Hagen. You're Plimpton Plimpton the coal 
 
 baron, I take it. I know you by your pictures. 
 You shut up little children by tens of thousands 
 to toil for you in the bowels of the earth. You 
 crush your rivals, and form a trust, and screw up 
 prices to freeze the poor in winter! And 
 
 you {to Rutherford) you're Rutherford the 
 
 steel king, I take it. You have slaves working 
 twelve hours a day and seven days a week in your 
 mills. And you mangle them in hideous accidents, 
 
 and then cheat their widows of their rights 
 
 and then you build churches, and set your parsons 
 to preach to them about love and self-sacrifice! 
 To teach them charity, while you crucify justice! 
 To trick them with visions of an imaginary para- 
 dise, while you pick their pockets upon earth ! To 
 put arms in their hands, and send them to shoot 
 their brothers, in the name of the Prince of Peace ! 
 
 Ruth. This is outrageous ! 
 
 Plim. {clenching his fists) Infamous scoimdrel! 
 
 48 
 
Act II 
 
 EuTH. {advancing upon Hagen) How dare 
 you! 
 
 Hagen. It stings, does it? Ha! Ha! 
 
 Plim. (sputtering) Youwretcli! 
 
 Is. This has gone too far. Stop, Eutherford! 
 Calm yourself, Plimpton. Let us not forget our- 
 selves! (to Prince Hagen, haughtily) I do not 
 know who you are, sir, or by what right you are in 
 my house. You say that you are a friend of my 
 
 Hagen. I claim that honor, sir. 
 
 Is. The fact that you claim it prevents my or- 
 dering you iato the street. But I will see my son, 
 sir, and find out by what right you are here to 
 insult my guests, (turning). Come, Plimpton. 
 Come, Eutherford — we will bandy no words with 
 him! (they go off centre). 
 
 Hagen. (alone) ByGrod! I touched them ! Ha, 
 ha, ha I (grimly) He will order me into the street ! 
 (with concentrated fury) That is it! They shut 
 you out! They build a wall about themselves! 
 Ax\s,iocxa.cy\ (clenching his fist) Very well! So 
 be it ! You sit within your fortress of privilege ! 
 You are haughty and contemptuous, flaunting 
 your power! But I'll breach your battlements, 
 I'll lay them in the dust! I'll bring you to your 
 knees before me! (a silence. Suddenly there is 
 
 49 
 
Pbince Hagen 
 
 heard, very faintly, the Nibelung theme. It is 
 repeated; Eagen starts). 
 
 MiMi. {enters left) Prince Hagen! 
 
 Hagen. Mimi I 
 
 MiMi. At last 1 
 
 Hagen. (approaching) What is it? 
 
 Mimi. (beckons) Come here. 
 
 Hagen. (in excitement) Wliat do you want? 
 
 Mimi. You must come back ! 
 
 Hagen. What do you mean? 
 
 Mimi. The people want you ! 
 
 Hagen. What for? 
 
 Mimi. They need you. You must be king. 
 
 Hagen. (wildly) Ha? 
 
 Mimi. Alberieh 
 
 Hagen. Alberieh ! 
 
 Mimi. He is dead. 
 
 Hagen. (with wild start) Dead ! 
 
 Mimi. Yes ^he died last night ! 
 
 Hagen. (turns pale and staggers; then leaps at 
 Mimi, clutching him by the arm) No! No! 
 
 Mimi. It is true. 
 
 50 
 
Act II 
 
 Hageist. My God ! (o look of wild, drunken rap- 
 ture crosses his face; he clenches his hands and 
 raises his arms) Ha, ha, ha ! 
 
 MiMi. (shrinks in horror) Prmce Hagen ! 
 
 Hagen. He is dead! He is dead! {leaps at 
 Mimi) The gold? 
 
 MiMi. The gold is yours. 
 
 Hagen. Ha, ha, ha ! It is mine ! It is mine ! 
 (begins pacing the floor wildly) Victory! Vic- 
 tory! VICTORY! Ha, ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha! 
 (spreads out his arms, with a triumphant shout) 
 I have them! By God! Isman! Plimpton and 
 Eutherf ord ! Bstelle ! I have them all ! It is tri- 
 umph ! It is glory ! It is the world ! I am King ! 
 I am King ! King! KING ! (seizes Mimi and starts 
 centre; the music rises to climax) To Nibelheim! 
 To Nibelheim ! (stands stretching out his arms in 
 exultation; a wild hurst of music) Make way for 
 Hagen ! Make way for Hagen! 
 
 CITBTAIN 
 
 51 
 
ACT III 
 
 The conservatory is a study in green and gold, 
 with strange tropical plants having golden flow- 
 ers. There are entrances right and left. In the 
 center, up-stage, is a niche with a gold table and a 
 couple of gold chairs, and behind these a stand 
 with the "coronation cup;" to the right the golden 
 throne from Nibelheim, and to the left a gold foun- 
 tain splashing gently. 
 
 At rise: The stage is empty. The strains of an 
 orchestra heard from ball-room, left. 
 
 Mes/Baglby-Willis. ( enters right with de Wig- 
 gleton Riggs; she wears a very low-cut gown, a 
 stomacher and tiara or diamonds, and numerous 
 ropes of pearls.) Well, Wiggle, he has made a 
 success of it! 
 
 DE WiGGLESTON EiGGS. {petit and exquisite) 
 He was certain to make a success when Mrs. Bag- 
 ley- Willis took him up ! 
 
 Mrs. B.-W. But he wouldn't do a single thing 
 I told him. I never had such a protege in my life ! 
 
 DE W. E. Extraordraary ! 
 
 Mks. B.-W. I told him it would be frightfully 
 crude, and it is. And yet, Wiggie, it's impressive, 
 
 53 
 
Pkince Hageit 
 
 in its way ^nobody can miss the feeling. Such 
 
 barbaric splendor ! 
 
 DE W. R, The very words ! Barbaric splendor ! 
 
 Mrs. B-W. I never heard of anything like it 
 
 the man simply poured out money. It's quite 
 
 in a different class from other affairs. 
 
 DE W. E. {holding up Ms hands) Stupefying! 
 
 Mrs. B.-W. And did you ever know the public 
 to take such interest in a social event? People 
 haven't even stopped to think about the panic in 
 Wall Street. 
 
 DE W. R. I assure you, Mrs. Bagley- Willis, it 
 begins a new epoch in our social history, (to Lord 
 Alder dyce, who enters left with Gerald) How do 
 you do, Lord Alderdyce? 
 
 Mes. B.-W. Good evening, Lord Alderdyce. 
 Good evening, Gerald. 
 
 Lord A. Good evening, Mrs. Bagley- Willis. 
 Good evening, Mr. Riggs. 
 
 Gerald. Good evening, Wiggie! {de W. R. and 
 Mrs. B.-W. move toward left) I suppose that old 
 lady's taken to herself all the credit for this even- 
 ing's success! 
 
 Lord A. Well, really you know, wasn't it 
 
 ah quite a feat to make society swallow this 
 
 adventurer? 
 
 54 
 
Act III 
 
 Geeald. How can anybody stay away? When 
 a man spends several millions on a single enter- 
 tainment, people have to come out of pure curi- 
 osity. 
 
 LoED A. To be sure ! I did, anyway I 
 
 Gee. (gazing about) Think of buying all the 
 old Vandergrift palaces at one swoop ! 
 
 LoED A. Oh, really! 
 
 Ge'e. This palace was one of the landmarks 
 of the city; all its decorations had been taken from 
 old palaces in Italy. And he tore everything off 
 and gave it away to a museum, and he made it 
 over in three months ! 
 
 LoED A. Amazing, (music and applause heard 
 ■left). 
 
 Mes. B-W. Mazzanini must be going to sing 
 again. 
 
 DE "W. R. Let us go I 
 
 Mes. B.-W. Fancy opera stars to dance to ! A 
 waltz song at a thousand dollars a minute ! 
 
 DE W. R. Ah, but such a song! (they go of 
 left; half a dozen guests enter right, and cross in 
 groups). 
 
 Ruth, (enters right, with Plimpton; looking 
 about) An extraordinary get-up ! 
 
 55 
 
Peince Hagen 
 
 Plimp. Appalling extravagance, Eutherford! 
 Appalling ! 
 EuTH. Practically everybody's here. 
 Plimp. Everybody I ever heard of. 
 
 Etjxh. One doesn't meet you at balls very 
 often, Plimpton. 
 
 Plim. No. To tell the truth, I came from mo- 
 tives of prudence. 
 
 EuTH. Humph I To tell the truth, so did I ! 
 
 Plim. The man is mad, you know — and one 
 can't tell what might offend him! 
 
 Etjth. And with the market in such a state ! 
 
 Plim. It's terrible! Terrible! — r-ah, Lord Al- 
 derdyce ! 
 
 LoBD A. Good evening, Mr. Plimpton. How 
 d'ye do, Mr. Eutherford? 
 
 EuTH. As well as could be expected. Lord 
 Alderdyce. It's a trying time for men of affairs. 
 {they pass on and go off left). 
 
 GrEE. They must be under quite a strain just 
 now! 
 
 LoED A. Don't mention it, don't mention it! 
 I've invested all my funds in this country, and I 
 tremble to pick up the last edition of the paper! 
 
 Mes. Is. {enters right, costumed en grande 
 
 66 
 
Act III 
 
 dame, much excited) Oh., Gerald, Lord Alder- 
 dyce, what do you think I've just heard? 
 
 LoED A. What? 
 
 Mks. Is. About Prince Hagen and Mrs. Bag- 
 ley- Willis ^how she came to take him up! 
 
 Percy Pennington told me about it ^he's her 
 
 own first cousin, you know. Lord Alderdyce 
 
 and he vows he saw the letter in her desk ! 
 
 LoBD A. Oh tell us ! 
 
 Mhs. Is. Well, it was just after Prince Hagen 
 made his appearance, when the papers were print- 
 ing pages about him. And the news came that 
 he'd bought these palaces; and the next day Mrs. 
 Bagley- Willis got a letter marked personal. Percy 
 quoted the words Dear Madam : I wish to en- 
 ter Society. I have no time to go through with 
 the usual formalities. I am a nobleman, with an 
 extraordinary mind and unlimited money. I in- 
 tend to entertain New York Society as it has never 
 dreamed of being entertained before. I should be 
 very pleased if you would co-operate with me in 
 making my opening ball a success. If you are 
 prepared to do this, I am prepared to pay you the 
 sum of one million dollars cash as soon as I re- 
 ceive your acceptance. Needless to say, of course, 
 this proposition is entirely confidential. 
 
 LoED A. By Jove ! 
 
 57 
 
Pbincb Hagen 
 
 Mbs. Is. Think of it! 
 
 Gerald. But can it be true? 
 
 Mes. Is. What is more likely, my dear? You 
 know that Mrs. Bagley-Willis has been spending 
 millions every season to entertain at Newport; 
 and their fortune will never stand that! Oh I 
 
 must give it to Van Tribber ^he'U see that the 
 
 papers have it ! 
 
 LoBD A. But hadn't you better make sure that 
 it's really 
 
 Mes. Is. It doesn't make the slightest differ- 
 ence! Everybody will know that it's true! 
 
 Gee, They are ready to believe anything about 
 Prince Hagen. 
 
 Mes. Is. Certainly, after a glimpse of this pal- 
 ace. Did you ever see such frantic money-^spend- 
 ing in your life? 
 
 LoedA. Never! 
 
 Mes. Is. Gold ! Gold ! I am positively blinded 
 with the sight of gold. I'd seen every kind of dec- 
 oration and furniture, I thought ^but solid gold 
 
 is new to me ! 
 
 LoED A. Just look at this cup, for instance! 
 (points to coronation cup) And those fountains 
 1 believe that even the basins are of gold. 
 
 58 
 
Act III 
 
 Mes. Is. Perhaps we could stop the water and 
 see. 
 
 LoED Alde-rdycb. I must go ^I have a dance. 
 
 I am sorry not to see your daughter. 
 
 Mes. Is. Yes it was too bad she couldn't 
 
 come. Good-bye. {Lord Alder dyce exit). 
 
 Mhs. Is. {pointing to throne) Look at that thmg, 
 Gerald ! 
 
 Gbb. Yes ^no wonder the crowd came ! 
 
 Mrs. Is. I imagine a good many came because 
 they didn't dare stay away. They certainly can't 
 be enjoying themselves after such a day down 
 town. 
 
 Gee. It was too bad the panic should come just 
 on the eve of the ball. 
 
 Mes. Is. My dear Gerald! That's his sense of 
 humor! He wanted to bring them here and set 
 them to dancing and grinning, while in their 
 hearts they are frightened to death. 
 
 Gee. How did he do it, anyway? 
 
 Mes. Is. Why, he seems to have money without 
 limit and he's been buying and buying — every- 
 thing in sight ! You know how prices have been 
 soaring the past two months. And of course the 
 public went wild, and took to speculating. Then 
 
 59 
 
Peinob Hagen 
 
 Prince Hagen sold; and the bottom has simply 
 dropped out of everything. 
 
 Gee. I see. And do you suppose the slump 
 has hit father? 
 
 Mes. Is. I don't know. He won't talk to me 
 about it. But it's easy to see how distressed he 
 is. And then to cap the climax, Estelle refuses to 
 come here ! Prince Hagen is certaiu to be furious. 
 
 Gee. For my part, I admire her courage. 
 
 Mes. Is. But Gerald ^we can't afford to de- 
 fy this man. 
 
 Gee. Estelle can afford it, I hope. 
 
 Mes. Is. Here comes your father now. Look 
 
 at him ! Gerald, won't you go, please 1 want 
 
 to have a talk with him. 
 
 Gee. All right, (exit right). 
 
 Mes. Is. John ! 
 
 IsMAN. (enters, left, pale and depressed) 
 What is it? 
 
 Mes. Is. You look so haggard and worried ! 
 
 Is. I am worried ! 
 
 Mes, Is. You ought to be home in bed. 
 
 Is. I couldn't sleep. What good would it do? 
 
 Mes I. Aren't you going to get any rest at all ? 
 
 60 
 
Act ni 
 
 Is. It's time for reports from tlie London mar- 
 kets pretty soon. They open at five o'clock, by 
 our time. And I'm hoping there may be some 
 support for Intercontinental it's my last hope ! 
 
 Mes. Is. Oh, dear me ! Dear me ! 
 
 Is. If that fails, there is nothing left for us. 
 We are ruined ! Utterly ruined ! 
 
 Mes. Is. John ! 
 
 Is. We shall be paupers ! 
 
 Mes. Is. John Isman, that's absurd! A man 
 who's worth a hundred million dollars, like you 
 
 Is. It '11 be gone all of it ! 
 
 Mes. Is. Gone? 
 
 Is. Do you realize that today I had to sell 
 every dollar of my Transatlantic stock? 
 
 Mes. Is. {horrified) Good God ! 
 
 Is. There has never been a day like it in all his- 
 tory ! There are no words to tell about it I 
 
 Mes. Is. Oh, that monster I 
 
 Is. And the worst of it is, the man seems to be 
 after me particularly! Everything I rely upon 
 
 seems to collapse everywhere I turn, I find 
 
 that I'm blocked. 
 
 61 
 
Prince Hagen 
 
 Mbs. Igi Oh, it must have been because of that 
 
 aff^ir'ui our house and in the saloon that 
 
 ilfeadful night. We ought never to have gone to 
 that place ! I kaew as soon as I laid eyes on the 
 man that he'd do us harm ! 
 
 Is. "We must keep out of his power. We must 
 save what we can from the wreck and learn to do 
 with it. You'll have to give up your Newport 
 plans this year. 
 
 Mbs. Is. (aghast) What! 
 
 Is. We won 't be able to open the house. 
 
 Mes. Is. You're mad ! 
 
 Is. My dear 
 
 Mbs. Is. Now, John Isman, you listen to me! 
 I was quite sure you had some such idea in your 
 mind ! And I tell you right now, I simply will not 
 hear of it! I 
 
 Is. But what can we do, my dear? 
 
 Mes. Is. I don't know what we can do! But 
 you'll have to raise money somehow. I will not 
 surrender my social position to Mrs. Bagley- Wil- 
 lis ^not for all the Wall Street panics in the 
 
 world. Oh, that man is a fiend 1 I tell you, John 
 Isman, 
 
 Is. Control yourself! 
 
 Hagen. {off right) Very well! I shall be 
 
 62 
 
Act III 
 
 charmed, I'm sure! (enters) Oh! How do you 
 do, Mrs. Isman? 
 
 Mbs. Is. Oh, Prince Hagen, a most beautiful 
 evening you've given us. 
 
 Hagen. Ah, I 'm glad if you 've enjoyed it. 
 
 Mbs. Is. Yes, indeed 
 
 Is. Prince Hagen, may I have a few words with 
 you? 
 
 Hagen. Why surely if you wish 
 
 Is. I do. 
 
 Mbs. Is. Prince Hagen will elcuse me (exit 
 left). 
 
 Hagen. (goes to table, centre, and sits opposite 
 Isman) Well? 
 
 Is. Prince Hagen, what do you want with me? 
 
 Hagen, (surprised) Why the pleasure of 
 
 your company. 
 
 Is. I mean, in the Street. 
 
 Hagen. Oh! Have you been hit? 
 
 Is. Don't mock me. You have used your re- 
 sources deliberately to ruin me. You have fol- 
 lowed me ^you have taken every railroad in 
 
 which I am interested, and driven it to the wall. 
 And I ask you, man to man, what do you want? 
 
 63 
 
Peincb Hagen 
 
 Hagen. {after some thought) Isman, listen to 
 me. You remember four months ago, I offered 
 you a business alliance? 
 
 Is. I bad no idea of your resources then. Had 
 I known, I should not have rejected your offer. 
 Am I being punished for that? 
 
 Hagen. No, Isman it isn't punishment. 
 
 Had you gone into the alliance with me, it would 
 have been just the same. It was my purpose to 
 get you into my power. 
 
 Is. Oh! 
 
 Hagen. To bring you here to make you sit 
 
 down before me, and ask, What do you want? 
 
 ^And so I will tell you what I want, man to 
 
 man ! {a pause) I want your daughter. 
 
 Is. {starts) What! 
 
 Hagen. I want your daughter. 
 
 Is. Good God! 
 
 Hagen, Do you understand now? 
 
 Is. {whispering) I understand! 
 
 Hagen. Isman, you are a man of the world, and 
 we can talk together. I love your daughter, and I 
 wish to make her my wife. 
 
 Is. And so you ruined me ! 
 
 Hagen. Four months ago I was an iaterloper 
 
 64 
 
Act III 
 
 and an adventurer. In a month or two I shall be 
 the master of your financial and political world. 
 Then I had nothing to offer your daughter. Now 
 I can make her the first lady of the land. 
 
 Is. But, man, we don't sell our children not 
 
 in America 
 
 Hagen. Don't talk to me like a fool, Isman. I 
 never have anything to do with your shams. 
 
 Is. But the girl ! She must consent ! 
 
 Hagen. I'll attend to that. Meantime, I want 
 you to know what I mean. On the day that your 
 daughter marries me, I will put you at the head of 
 my interests, and make you the second richest man 
 in America. You understand? 
 
 Is. (weakly) I imder stand. 
 
 Hagen. Very well. And don't forget to tell 
 your wife about it. (he rises). 
 
 Is. Is that all? 
 
 Hagen. No, one thing more. Your daughter is 
 not here tonight. 
 
 Is. No. 
 
 Hagen. I wish her to come. 
 
 Is. But she is indisposed ! 
 
 Hagen. That is a pretext. She did not want to 
 come. 
 
 65 
 
Prince Hagen 
 
 Is. Possibly — - 
 
 Hagen. Tell her to come. 
 
 Is. {startled) What? Now? It is too late! 
 
 Hagen. Nonsense. Your home is only a block 
 away. Telephone to her. 
 
 Is. {dismayed) But — she will not be ready. 
 
 Hagen. Tell her to come! Whatever she is 
 wearing, she will outshine them all. {Isman hesi- 
 tates a moment as if to speaJc, then goes off right, 
 half dazed; the other watches him, laughing si- 
 lently to himself). That's all right! {sees Cal- 
 kins). Ah, Calkins! 
 
 Calkins, {enters with an armful of papers) 
 Here are the morning papers, Prince. 
 
 Hagen. Ah! {takes them) Still moist! Did 
 you think I wanted them that badly? 
 
 Cal. Promptness never harms. 
 
 Hagen. {opening papers) That's true. Ah, 
 
 they hardly knew which was more important 
 
 the ball or the panic! We filled them up pretty 
 full. Did you see if they followed the proofs f 
 
 Cal. There are no material changes. 
 
 Hagen. Ha! Ha! Cartoons! Prince Hagen in- 
 vites the Four Hundred with one hand, and knocks 
 them down with the other ! Pretty good ! Pretty 
 
Act in 
 
 good! What's this? Three millions to decorate 
 his palaces ^half a million for a single ball? 
 
 Cal. I suppose they couldn't credit the figures. 
 
 Hagen. Humph! We'Uedueate them! (sweeps 
 papers out of the way) So much for that ! Were 
 all the orders for the London opening gone over? 
 
 Cal. All correct, Prince. 
 
 Hagen. Very good! That's all. {Cal. exit) 
 
 They're all anxious about London 1 can see it! 
 
 Ah, Gerald! 
 
 Geb. (enters right) Hello! 
 Hagen. (smiling) You see, they came to my 
 party ! 
 
 Gee. Yes. 
 
 Hagen. They smile and chatter they bow 
 
 and cringe to me and I have not preached any 
 
 of your Christian virtues, either ! 
 
 Gee. No. I grant it. It's a very pamful sight. 
 
 (after a pause) That was a pleasant fancy 
 
 to have a panic on the eve of your ball ! 
 
 Hagen. It wasn't nearly as bad as I meant it 
 to be. Wait and see today's ! 
 
 Gee. What's the end of it all? 
 
 Hagen. The end? Why have an end? I didn't 
 make this game ^I play it according to other 
 
 67 
 
Pbince Hagen 
 
 men's rules. I buy and sell stocks, and make what 
 money I can. The end may take care of itself. 
 
 Gee. It's rather hard on the helpless people, 
 isn't it? 
 
 Hagen. Humph! The ^peo^ple\ (after a pause) 
 Gerald, this world of yours has always seemed to 
 me like a barrel full of rats. There's only room 
 for a certain number on top, and the rest must 
 sweat for it till they die. 
 
 Gee. It's not a very pleasant image to think of. 
 
 Hagbn. I don't think of it. I simply happen 
 to find myself on top, and I stay there and enjoy 
 the view, (seats himself at table) As a matter 
 of fact, Gerald, one of the things I intend to do 
 with this world is to clean it up. Don't imagine 
 that I will tolerate such stupid waste as we have 
 at present everybody trying to cheat every- 
 body else, and nobody to keep the streets clean. 
 It's as if a dozen men should go out into a field to 
 catch a horse, and spend all their time in trying to 
 keep each other from catching it. When I take 
 charge, they'll catch the horse. 
 
 Gee. (drily) And youll ride him. 
 
 Hagen. And I'll ride him. (laughs). 
 
 Gee. (after a pause) At first I couldn't make 
 out why you bothered with this Society game. 
 
 68 
 
Act ni 
 
 Now I begin to understand. You wanted to see 
 them! 
 
 Hagen. I wanted to watch them wriggle! I 
 wanted to take them, one by one, and strip off their 
 shams! Take that fellow Eutherford, the steel 
 man! Or Plimpton, the coal baron, casting his 
 eyes up to heaven, and singing psalms through his 
 nose ! The instant I laid eyes on that whining old 
 hypocrite, I hated him ; and I vowed I'd never rest 
 
 again till I'd shown him as he is a coward and 
 
 a knave! And I tell you, Gerald, before I get 
 through with him Ah, there he is ! 
 
 Plim. {ojf) Hello, Isman! 
 
 Hagen. Come, {draws hack with Gerald). 
 
 Is. {entering right with Plimpton and Ruther- 
 ford) Any word yet? 
 
 Plim. Nothing yet! 
 
 EuTH. Such a night as this has been ! 
 
 Is. If the thing keeps up today, the Exchange 
 will have to close there will be no help for it. 
 
 Plim. We are in the hands of a madman! 
 EuTH. We must have a conference with 
 
 him ^we must find out what he wants. 
 
 Is. Did you speak to him, Plimpton? 
 
 Plim. I tried to. I might as well have butted 
 
 69 
 
Pbince Hagen 
 
 JJ 
 
 my head against a stone wall. "I liave money, 
 he said, "and I wish to buy and sail stocks. Isn't 
 that my right?" 
 
 EuTH. He's a fiend ! A fiend ! 
 
 Plim. He smiled as he shook my hand and 
 
 he knows that if coal stocks go down another ten 
 points I'll be utterly ruined! 
 
 Is. Terrible ! Terrible ! 
 
 Plim. {to Rutherford) Eutherford, have you 
 learned any more about where his money comes 
 from? 
 
 EuTH. I meant to tell you 1 've had another 
 
 repori. The mystery deepens every hour. It's 
 
 always the same thing the man takes a train 
 
 and goes out into the county; he gathers all the 
 wagons for miles around, and goes to some place 
 
 in the woods and there is a pile of gold, 
 
 fifty tons of it, maybe, covered over with brush. 
 Nobody knows how it got there, nobody has time 
 to ask. He loads it into the wagons, takes it 
 aboard the train, and brings it to the Sub- 
 treasury. 
 
 Is. The man's an alchemist! He's been manu- 
 facturing it and getting ready. 
 
 Etjth. Perhaps. Who can tell? All I know 
 is the Subtreasury has bought over two billion dol- 
 
 70 
 
Act III 
 
 lars worth of gold bullion in tlie last fonr 
 months and what can we do in the face of that? 
 
 Plim. No wonder that prices went up to the 
 skies ! 
 
 EuTH. I had the White House on the 'phone 
 this afternoon. We can demonetize gold — the gov- 
 ernment can refuse to buy any more. 
 
 Is. But then what would become of credit? 
 
 Plim. (vehemently) No, no that will not 
 
 help! {gases about nervously) There's only one 
 thing, {whispers) That man must be killed. 
 
 EuTH. (horrified) Ah! 
 
 Is. No. 
 
 Plim. Just that !■ Nothing else will help ! And 
 instantly or it will be too late. 
 
 Is. Plimpton ! 
 
 Plim. He must not be alive when the Exchange 
 opens this morning ! 
 
 EuTH. But how? 
 
 Plim. I don't know ^but we must find a 
 
 way ! We owe it as a public duty the man is a 
 
 menace to society. Eutherf ord, you are with me ? 
 
 EuTH. By God ! I am ! 
 
 Is. You're mad! 
 
 71 
 
Prince Hagen 
 
 Plim. You don 't agree with, me ? 
 
 Is. It's not to be thought of! You're for- 
 getting yourself, Plimpton 
 
 Plim, {gazing about) This. is no place to dis- 
 cuss it. But I tell you that if there is no support 
 from London 
 
 Ruth, [starting) Come perhaps there may 
 
 be word! {they start left) We may beat him 
 
 yet ^who can tell {Plim., Ruth, and Is. go 
 
 off). 
 
 Hagen. {emerges with Gerald from shadows, 
 shaking with laughter) Ha! ha! ha! Love and 
 self-sacrifice ! You see, Gerald ! 
 
 Gee. Yes ^Isee! {looks right then starts 
 
 violently) My sister! 
 
 Hagen. Ah ! 
 
 Geeald. What does this mean? 
 
 Hageit. {to Estelle, who enters right, evidently 
 agitated) Miss Isman! 
 
 Est. My father said 
 
 Hagen. Ye^. Won't you sit down? 
 
 Est. {hesitatingly) Why ^I suppose so — ^ 
 
 Hagen, {to Gerald) Will you excuse us, please, 
 Gerald? 
 
 Gee. {amazed) Why, yes ^but Estelle 
 
 72 
 
Act III 
 
 Est. {in a faint voice) Please go, Grerald. 
 
 Gee. Oh! very well {exit left). 
 
 Est. You wished to see me. 
 
 Hagen. Yes. {sitting opposite) How do you 
 like it all? 
 
 Est. It is very beautiful. 
 
 Hagen. Do you really think so ? 
 
 Est. {wondering) Don't you? 
 
 Hagen. No. 
 
 Est. Truly? 
 
 Hagen. No. 
 
 Est. Then why did you do it? 
 
 Hage"k-. To please you. 
 
 Est. {shrinks) Oh! 
 
 Hagen. {fixes his gaze on her, and slowly leans 
 across table; with intensity) Haven't you dis- 
 covered yet that you are mine ? 
 
 "Est. {half rising) Prince Hagen! 
 
 Hagen. How long will it be before you know it ? 
 
 Est. How dare you? 
 
 Hagen. Listen. I am a man accustomed to 
 command. And I have no time to play with con- 
 ventions ^I cannot dally and plead. But I love 
 
 73 
 
Peincb Hagen 
 
 you. I cannot live without you ! And I will shake 
 the foundations of the world to get you ! 
 
 Est, (staring fascinated; whispers) Prince, 
 Hagen ! 
 
 Hagen. All this (waving his hand) I did 
 
 in the hope that it would bring you here -so 
 
 that I might have a chance to tell you. Simply 
 for that one purpose. And I have broken the busi- 
 ness world to my will that also was to make 
 
 you miae ! 
 
 Est. (wildly) You have ruined my father! 
 
 Hagen. Your father has played this game, and 
 his path is strewn with the rivals he has ruined. 
 He knows that, and you know it. Now / have 
 played the game ; and I have beaten him. It took 
 
 me one day to bring him down (laughs) it will 
 
 take me less time to put him back again. 
 
 Est. But why, why? 
 
 Hageh", Listen, Estelle. I came to this civiliza- 
 tion of yours, and looked at it. It seemed to me 
 
 that it was built upon knavery and fraud that 
 
 it was altogether a vile thing rotten to the core 
 
 of it! And I said I would smash it, as a child 
 
 smashes a toy; I would toss it about ^as your 
 
 brother the poet tosses his metaphors. But then 
 I saw you, and in a flash all that was changed. 
 You were beautiful ^you were interesting. You 
 
 74 
 
Act III 
 
 were something in the world worth winning ■ 
 
 something I had not known abont before. But yon 
 stood upon the pinnacle of Privilege ^you gath- 
 ered the clouds about your head. How should I 
 climb to you? 
 
 'Est. {awe-strichen) I see! 
 
 Hagbn. I came to your home ^I was turned 
 
 from the door. So I set to work to break my way 
 to you. 
 
 Est. I see! 
 
 Hagen. And that is how I love you. You are 
 all there is in the game to me. I bring the world 
 and lay it at your feet. It is all yours. You do 
 
 not like what I do with it, perhaps. Very well 
 
 take it and do better. The power is yours for the 
 asking! Power without- end! (he reaches out his 
 arms to her; a pause) You do not like my way 
 of love-making, perhaps. You find me harsh and 
 rude. But I love you. And where, among the 
 men that you know, will you find one who can feel 
 
 for you what I feel ^who would dare for you 
 
 what I have dared? (gazes at her with intensity) 
 Take your time. I have no wish to hurry you. 
 But you must know that, wherever you go, my 
 hand is upon you. All that I do, I do for the love 
 of you, I bring the world to my feet. It is for 
 you! 
 
 Est. (weakly) I you frighten me ! 
 
 75 
 
Peince Hageit 
 
 Hagbn. All the world! All the world! You 
 shall see 
 
 Plimpton {off left) Prince Hagen! 
 
 Hagen. {starting) Ah! 
 
 Plim. {enters running, in great agitation, with 
 a telegram) Prince Hagen! 
 
 Hagen. Well? 
 
 . Plim. I have a report from London. The mar- 
 ket has gone all to pieces ! 
 
 Hagen. Ah ! 
 
 Plim. Pennsylvania coal is down twenty-five 
 points in the first half hour. I'm lost every- 
 thing is lost ! 
 
 ExjTH. {running on) Prince Hagen! Steel is 
 down to four ! And the Bank of England suspends 
 payments ! What 
 
 Plim. What do you want with us ? What are 
 you trying to do ? 
 
 EuTH. {wildly) You've crushed us! We're 
 helpless, utterly helpless ! 
 
 Plim. Have you no mercy? Aren't you satis- 
 fied when you've got us down? 
 
 EuTH. Are you going to ruin everybody? Are 
 you a madman? 
 
 76 
 
Act hi 
 
 Plim, What are you trying to do? What do 
 you want? 
 
 Hagen. (has been listening in silence. Suddenly 
 he leaps into action, an expression of furious rage 
 coming upon his face. His eyes gleam, and he 
 raises his hand as if to strike the two) Get down 
 on your knees ! 
 
 Plim, Ha ! 
 
 EuTH. What? 
 
 Hagen. {louder) Get down on your knees! 
 {Plim. sinks in horror. Prince Hagen turns upon 
 Ruth.) Down! 
 
 EuTH. {sinking) Mercy! 
 
 Hagen. {as they kneel before him, his anger 
 vanishes; he steps back) There! {waving his 
 hand) You asked me what I wanted? I wanted 
 
 this ^to see you there ^upon your knees! {to 
 
 spectators, who appear right and left) Behold! 
 
 EuTH. Oh! {starts to rise). 
 
 Hagen. (savagely) Stay where you are ! To 
 
 see you on your knees ! To hear you crying for 
 mercy, which you will not get! You pious plun- 
 derers! Devourers of the people! Assassins of 
 women and helpless children ! Who made the rules 
 
 of this game ^you or I? Who cast the halo of 
 
 righteousness about it ^who sanctified it by the 
 
Peincb Hagen 
 
 laws of God and man? Property! Property was 
 holy! Property must rule! You carved it into 
 your constitutions ^you taught it in your news- 
 papers, you preached it from your pulpits ! You 
 screwed down wages, you screwed up prices 
 
 it must he right, because it paid! Money 
 
 was the test ^money was the end! You were 
 
 business men! Practical men! Don't you know 
 the phrases ? Money talks ! Business is business ! 
 The gold standard ^ha, ha, ha ! The gold stand- 
 ard ! Now someone has come who has more gold 
 
 than you. You were masters ^now I am the 
 
 master ! And what you have done to the people, 
 I will do to you ! You shall drink the cup that you 
 
 have poured out for them ^you shall drink it to 
 
 the dregs ! 
 
 Plim. (starting to rise) Monster! 
 
 Hagen. Stay where you are! Cringe and 
 grovel and whine! {draws a Nibelung whip from 
 under Ms coat) I will put the lash upon your 
 
 backs! I will strip your shams from you ^I 
 
 will see you as you are! I will take away your 
 wealth, that you have wrung from others ! Before 
 I get through with you you shall sweat with the 
 toilers ia the trenches ! For I am the master now ! 
 I have the gold ! I own the property ! The world 
 
 is miae ! You were lords and barons ^you ruled 
 
 in your little principalities ! But I shall rule every- 
 
 78 
 
Act III 
 
 where everytMng all civilization! I shall 
 
 be king! King! {with exultant gesture) Make 
 way for the king ! Make way for the hing! 
 
 CUETAIN 
 
 79 
 
ACT IV 
 
 The scene shows a spacious room, fitted with 
 luxurious rusticity. To the right of centre are a 
 couple of broad windows, leading to a veranda. 
 In the corner, right, is a table, with a telephone. 
 In the centre of the room is a large table, with a 
 lamp and books, and a leather arm chair at each 
 side. To the left of centre is a spacious stone fire- 
 place, having within it a trap door opening down- 
 ward. At the left a piano with a violin upon it. 
 There are exposed oak beams; antlers, rifles, snow- 
 shoes, etc., upon the walls. Entrances right and 
 left. 
 
 At rise: Calkins, standing by the desk, arrang- 
 ing some papers. 
 
 Calkins, {as 'phone rings) Hello! Yes, this 
 is the Isman camp. Prince Hagen is staying here. 
 This is his secretary speaking. No, Prince Hagen 
 does not receive telephone calls. No, not under 
 any circumstances whatever. It doesn't make any 
 dijBFerenee. If the President of the United States 
 has anything to say to Prince Hagen, let him com- 
 municate with Mr. Isman at his New York office, 
 and the message will reach him. I am sorry 
 
 81 
 
Peince Hagen 
 
 those are my instructions. Good-bye. {to Eicks, 
 who enters with telegram) Hicks, for the future 
 Prince Hagen wishes all messages for him to be 
 taken to my office. That applies to letters, tele- 
 grams everything. 
 
 Hicks. Very good, sir. {exit). 
 
 Cal. {opening a telegram) More appeals for 
 mercy ! 
 
 Hagen. {enters from veranda, wearing white 
 ■flannels, cool and alert) Well, Calkins ? 
 
 Cal. Nothing important, sir. 
 
 Hage'n. The market continues to fall? 
 
 Cal. Copper is off five points, sir. 
 
 Hagen. Ah ! 
 
 Cal. The President of the United States tried 
 to get you on the 'phone just now. 
 
 Hagen. Humph! Anything else? 
 
 Cal. There has been another mob on Fifth 
 Avenue this morning- They seem to be threaten- 
 ing your palace. 
 
 Hagen. I see. You wrote to the mayor as I 
 told you? 
 
 Cal. Yes sir. 
 
 Hagen. Well, you'd best put in another hun- 
 
 82 
 
Act IV 
 
 dred guards. And they're to be instructed to 
 shoot. 
 
 Cal. Yes sir. 
 
 Hagen. Let them be men we can depend on- 
 
 I don't want any mistake about it. I don't care 
 about the building, but I mean to make a test 
 of it. 
 
 Cal, I'll see to it, sir. 
 
 Hagen. Anything else? 
 
 Cal. a message from a delegation from the 
 National Unemployment Conference. They are to 
 call tomorrow morning. 
 
 Hagen. Ah, yes. Make a note, please ^I 
 
 sympathize with their purpose, and contribute half 
 a million, (to Gerald, who enters left) Hello, 
 
 Gerald ^how are you? Make yourself at home. 
 
 {to Calkins) I attribute the present desperate 
 situation to the anarchical struggles of rival finan- 
 cial interests. I am assuming control, and 
 straighteniug out the tangle as rapidly as I can. 
 
 The worst of the crisis is over the opposition 
 
 is capitulating, and I expect soon to order a gen- 
 eral resumption of industry. Prepare me an ad- 
 dress of five hundred words sharp and snappy. 
 
 Then see the head of the delegation, and have it 
 understood that the affair is not to occupy more 
 than fifteen minutes. 
 
 83 
 
Peince Hagen 
 
 Cal. Very good, sir. 
 
 Hagen. And stir up our Press Bureau. We 
 must have strong conservative editorials this 
 
 week It's the crucial period. Our iastitu- 
 
 tions are at stake the national honor is im- 
 perilled order must be preserved at any haz- 
 ard all that sort of thing. 
 
 Cal. Yes sir ^I understand. 
 
 Hagen. Very good. That will be all. 
 
 Cal. Yes sir, {exit right). 
 
 Gee. You're putting the screws on, are you? 
 
 Hagen. Humph! Yes. It's funny to hear 
 
 these financial men ^their one idea ia life has 
 
 been to dominate and now they cry out against 
 
 tyraimy ! 
 
 Gee. I can imagine it. 
 
 Hagen. Here's Plimpton, making speeches 
 about American democracy! These fellows have 
 got so used to making pretenses that they actually 
 deceive themselves. 
 
 Gee. I've noticed that you make a few your- 
 self now. ■ 
 
 Hagen. Yes don't I do it well? (thought- 
 fully) You know, Gerald, pretenses are the great- 
 est device that your civilization had to teach me. 
 
 Gee. Indeed? 
 
 84 
 
Act IV 
 
 Hagen. We never made any pretenses in 
 Nibelheim; and when I first met you, your talk 
 about virtue and morality and self-sacrifice was 
 simply incomprehensible to me. It seemed some- 
 thing quite apart from life. But now I've come to 
 perceive that this is what makes possible the sys- 
 tem under which you live. 
 
 Gee. Explain yourself. 
 
 Hagek". Here is this civilization simply ap- 
 palling in its vastness. The countless millions of 
 
 your people, the wealth you have piled up it 
 
 seems like a huge bubble that may burst any min- 
 ute. And the one device by which it is all kept 
 together ^is pretense ! 
 
 Ge-r. "Why do you think that? 
 
 Hagen. Life, Gerald, is the survival of the 
 strong. I care not if it be in a jungle or in a city, 
 it is the warfare of each against all. But in the 
 former case, it's brute force, and in the latter it's 
 power of mind. And don't you see that the ingen- 
 ious device which makes the animal of the slums 
 
 the docile slave of the man who can outwit him 
 
 is this Morality this absolutely sublimest in- 
 vention, this most daring conception that ever 
 flashed across the mind of man? 
 
 Gee. Oh, I see. 
 
 Hagen. I used to wonder at it down there on 
 
 85 
 
Peince Hagen 
 
 the Bowery. The poor are a thousand to your one, 
 and the best that is might be theirs, if they chose 
 to take it ; but there is Morality ! They call it their 
 virtue. And so the rich man may have his vices 
 ia peace. By heaven, if that is not a wondrous 
 achievement, I have not seen one ! 
 
 Gee. You believe this morality was invented 
 by the rich. 
 
 Hagen. I don't know. It seems to be a con- 
 genital disease. 
 
 GrEE. Some people believe it was implanted in 
 man by God. 
 
 Hagen. {shrugging his shoulders) Perhaps. 
 Or by a devil. Men might have lived in holes, like 
 woodchucks, and been fat and happy; but now they 
 have Morality, and toil and die for some other 
 man's delight. 
 
 Cal. {enters right) Are you at leisure, sir? 
 
 Hagbn. Why? 
 
 Cal. Mr. Isman wants you on the 'phone. 
 
 Hagen. Oh! All right {goes to 'phone) 
 
 Gee. {rises) Perhaps I 
 
 Hagen. No, that's all right, {sits at 'phone). 
 Hello. Is that Isman? How are you? {to Cal- 
 kins) CalkiQs! 
 
 Cal. Yes sir. {sits and takes notes). 
 
 86 
 
Act IV 
 
 Hagen. How about Intercontinental? (imperi- 
 ously) But /can! I said tlie stock was to go to 
 sixty-four, and I want it to go. I don't care what 
 
 it costs, Isman let it go in the morning and 
 
 don't ever let this happen again. I have sent word 
 you are to have another hundred million by nine- 
 thirty. Will that do? Don't take chances. Oh, 
 Rutherford ! Tell Rutherford my terms are that 
 the directors of the Fidelity Life Insurance Com- 
 pany are to resign, and he is to go to China for 
 
 six months. Yes. I mean that literally 
 
 Plimpton? What do I want with his banks 
 
 I've got my own money. And, oh, by the way, 
 
 Isman call up the White House again, and tell 
 
 the President that the regulars will be needed in 
 
 New York. No, I understand you 1 think 
 
 I've fixed matters up at this end. I've got two 
 hundred guards up here, and they're picked men 
 they'll shoot if there's need. I'm not talk- 
 ing about it, naturally but I'm taking care of 
 
 myself. You keep your nerve, Isman. It'll all be 
 
 over in a month or two more these fellows are 
 
 used to having their own way, and they make a 
 
 fuss. And„ by the way, as to the newspapers 
 
 we'll turn out that paper trust crowd, and stop 
 selling paper to the ones that are making trouble. 
 That '11 put an end to it, I fancy. You had best get 
 after it yourself, and have it attended to promptly. 
 You might think of little things like that yourself, 
 
 87 
 
Pbiktce Hagbn 
 
 Isman ^no, you're all right; only you haven't 
 
 got enough imagination. But just get onto this job, 
 and let me hear that it's done before morning. 
 Good-bye. {hangs up receiver) Humph! {to 
 Gerald) They've about got your father's nerve. 
 
 Gee. I can't say that I blame him very much. 
 {in sombre thought). Really, you know. Prince 
 Hagen, this can't go on. What's to be the end 
 of it? 
 
 Hagen. {laughing) Oh, come, come, Gerald- 
 
 don't bother your head with things like that! 
 
 You're a poet ^you must keep your imagination 
 
 free from such dismal matters. See, I've got 
 
 a job for you. {pointing to books on table) Do 
 you notice the titles ? 
 
 Gee. {has been handling the hoohs absent- 
 mindedly; now looks at titles) The Saints' Ever- 
 lasting Eest. Pilgrim's Progress. The Life of 
 St. Ignatius. ^What does that mean? 
 
 Hagen. I'm studying up on religion. I want 
 to know the language. 
 
 Gee. I see ! 
 
 Hagen. But I don't seem to get hold of it very, 
 well. I think it's the job for you. 
 
 GeIi. How do you mean? 
 
 Hagen. I'm getting ready to introduce Moral- 
 ity into Nibelheim. 
 
 88 
 
Act IV 
 
 Gee. What? 
 
 Hagen. (playfully) You remember you talked 
 to me about it a long time ago. And now I 've come 
 to your way of tbinkiag. Suppose I give you a 
 chance to civilize the place, to teach those wretched 
 creatures to love beauty and virtue? 
 
 Gee. It would depend upon what your motive 
 was in inviting me. 
 
 Hagen. My motive? What has that to do with 
 
 it? Virtue is virtue, is it not? ^No matter 
 
 what I think about it? 
 
 Gee. Yes. 
 
 Hagemt. And virtue is its own reward? 
 
 Gee. Perhaps so. 
 
 Hagen. Let us grant that the consequences of 
 
 educating and elevating the Nibelungs of 
 
 teaching them to love righteousness ^would be 
 
 that they were deprived of all their gold, and 
 forced to labor at getting more for a wicked capi- 
 talist like me. Would it not still be right to teach 
 them? 
 
 Gee. It might, perhaps. 
 
 Hagen. Then you will try it? 
 
 Gee. No 1 'm afraid not. 
 
 Hagen Why not? 
 
 89 
 
Pbince Hagen 
 
 Gee. {gravely) "Well for one thing ^I 
 
 have weighty reasons for doubting the perfectibil- 
 ity of the Nibelimgs. 
 
 Hagen. {gazes at him; then shakes with laugh- 
 ter) Eeally, Gerald, that is the one clever thing 
 I've heard you say ! 
 
 Gee. {laughing) Thank you! 
 
 Hagen. {rises and loohs at watch) Your mother 
 was coming down. Ah! Mrs. Isman! 
 
 Mes. Is. {enters left) Good afternoon, Prince 
 Hagen. 
 Hagen. And how go things ? 
 
 Mes. Is. I've just had a cablegram from my 
 brother. He says that the Archbishop of Canter- 
 bury never goes abroad, and was shocked at the 
 suggestion ; but he thinks two million might fetch 
 him. 
 
 Hagen. Very well offer it. 
 
 Mes. Is. Do you really think it's worth that? 
 
 Hagen. My dear lady, it is worth anything, if it 
 will make you happy and add to the eclat of the 
 wedding. There's nothing too good for Estelle. 
 
 Mes. Is. Ah, what a wonderful man you are. 
 {eyeing him) I was wondering how rose pink 
 would go with your complexion. 
 
 Hagen. Dear me! Am I to wear rose pink? 
 
 90 
 
Act IV 
 
 Mes. Is. No, but I'm planning tlie decoration 
 
 for the wedding breakfast. ^And I'm puzzled 
 
 about the flowers. I'm weary of orchids and la 
 
 France roses Mrs. Bagley- Willis had her ball 
 
 room swamped with them last week. 
 
 Hagen. We must certainly not imitate Mrs. 
 Bagley-Willis. 
 
 Mrs. Is. (complacently) I fancy she's pretty 
 nearly at the end of her rope. My maid tells me 
 she couldn't pay her grocer's bill till she got that 
 million from you ! 
 
 Hagest. Ha, ha, ha ! 
 
 Mes. Is. I wish you'd come with me for a mo- 
 ment ^I have some designs for the breakfast 
 
 menu 
 
 Hagen. Delighted, I'm sure, (they go of left). 
 
 Gee. Oh, my God ! 
 
 Est. (enters in a beautiful afternoon gown, and 
 carrying an armful of roses; she is nervous and 
 preoccupied) Ah! Gerald! 
 
 Gee. Estelle. (he watches her in silence; she 
 arrange flowers). 
 
 Est. How goes the poem, Gerald? 
 
 Gee. The poem! Who could think of a poem 
 at a time like this? (advancing toward her) Es- 
 telle ! I can bear it no longer ! 
 
 91 
 
Pbince Hagen 
 
 Est. What? 
 
 Geb. TMs crime ! I tell you it 's a crime yon 'r 6 
 conamittiag ! 
 
 Est. Oh, Gerald! Don't begin that again. 
 You know it's too late. And it tears me to pieces ! 
 
 Geb. I can't help it. I must say it ! 
 
 Est. (hurrying towards him) Brother! You 
 must not say another word to me ! I tell you you 
 must not, 1 can't bear it ! 
 
 Gee. Estelle 
 
 Est. No, I say ^no! I've given my word! 
 
 My honor is pledged, and it's too late to turn 
 back. I have permitted father to incur obliga- 
 tions before all the world. 
 
 Gee. But Estelle, you don't know. If you un- 
 derstood all all 
 
 'Sjbt:. {with sudden intensity) Gerald! I know 
 what you mean ! I have felt it ! You know more 
 about Prince Hagen than you have told me. There 
 in some secret — something strange, {she stares at 
 him wildly) I don't want to know it! Gerald 
 
 don't you understand? We are in that man's 
 
 hands! We are at his mercy! Don't you know 
 that he would never give me up? He would fol- 
 low me to the end of the earth ! He would wreck 
 the whole world to get me ! I am in a cage with a 
 wild beast! {they stare at each other). 
 
 92 
 
 i 
 
Act IV 
 
 Gee. (in sudden excitement) Estelle! 
 
 Est. What? 
 
 Ger. Can it be tliat you love this man? 
 
 Est. (startled) I don 't know ! How can I tell ? 
 He terrifies me. He fascinates me. I don't know 
 what to make of him. And I don't dare to think. 
 (wildly) And what difference does it make? I 
 have promised to marry him ! (Mrs Isman enters 
 left and listens). 
 
 Est. And I must keep my word! You must 
 not try to dissuade me 
 
 Mes. Is. Estelle ! 
 
 Est. Mother ! 
 
 Mes. Is. Has Gerald been tormenting you 
 
 again? My child, my child 1 implore you, 
 
 don 't let that madness take hold of you ! Think of 
 our position; (attempts to embrace her) I know 
 
 how it is 1 went through with it myself. We 
 
 women all have to go through with it. I did not 
 
 care for your father it nearly broke my heart. 
 
 I was madly in love at the time truly I was ! 
 
 But think what will become of us 
 
 Est. (vehemently, pushing her away) Mother ! 
 I forbid you to speak another word to me ! I will 
 not hear it ! I will keep my bargain. I will do 
 what I have said I will do ! But I will not have 
 
 93 
 
Pbincb Hagen 
 
 you talk to me about it, ^Do you understand 
 
 me? 
 
 Mks. Is. My dear ! 
 
 Est. Please go ! Both of you ! I wish to be 
 alone ! 
 
 Mbs. Is. {in great agitation) Oh, dear me ! dear 
 me! {exit left). 
 
 GrEE. Goodbye! {exit right; Estelle recovers 
 herself by an effort; stands by table in thought. 
 Twilight has begun to gather). 
 
 Hagen. {enters by veranda) Ah! Estelle! 
 {comes toward her) My beautiful! {mahes to em- 
 brace her) Not yet? 
 
 Est. {faintly) Prince Hagen, I told you 
 
 Hagen. I know, I know ! But how much longer? 
 I love you ! The sight of you is fire in my veias. 
 Have I not been patient? The time is very short 
 ^when will you let me {advances). 
 
 Est. {gasping) Give me ^give me till to- 
 morrow ! 
 
 Hagen. {gripping his hands) Tomorrow! 
 Very well ! {turns to table) Ah, flowers ! Do you 
 like the new poppies? 
 
 Est. They are exquisite ! 
 
 Hagen {sits in chair) Well, we've had a busy 
 day today. 
 
 94 
 
Act IV 
 
 Est. Yes. You must be tired. 
 
 Hagbn. In your house? No! 
 
 Est. Rest, even so. {goes to piano) I will play 
 for you. {sits and takes the Rheingold score) One 
 of Gerald's scores, {plays a little, then sounds the 
 Nibelung theme. Prince Hagen starts. She re- 
 peats it). 
 
 Hagen. No ^no ! 
 
 Est. Why— wliat 's the matter ? 
 
 Hagen. That music ! What is it ? 
 
 Est. It's some of the Nibelung music. Gerald 
 had it here. 
 
 Hagen. Don't play it! {hesitating) Music 
 jars on me now I've too much on my mind. 
 
 Est. {rising) Oh very well. It is time for 
 
 tea, anyway. Have you talked with father today? 
 
 Hagen. Three times. He is in the thick of the 
 fight. He plays the game well. 
 
 Est. He has played it a long time. 
 
 Hagen. Yes. {phone rings) Ah! What is 
 
 that? {takes receiver) Hello. Yes oh, Is- 
 
 man! I see! More trouble in Fifth Avenue, hey? 
 Well, are the regulars there? Why don't they 
 fire? Women and children in front! Do they 
 expect to accomplish anything by that ? No, don 't 
 
 95 
 
Pkibtcb Hagen 
 
 call me up about matters like that, Isman. The 
 
 orders have been given. No ^not an inch ! Let 
 
 the orders be carried out. That is all. Groodbye. 
 {hangs up receiver). 
 
 Est. (has been listening in terror) Prince 
 Hagen ! 
 
 Hagen. Well? 
 
 Est. What does that mean? 
 
 Hagen. It means that the slums are pouring 
 into Fifth Avenue. 
 
 ^ST. {a pause) What do they want? 
 
 Hagen. Apparently they want to bum my pal- 
 ace. 
 
 Est. And the orders ^what are the orders? 
 
 Hagen. The orders are to shoot, and to shoot 
 straight. 
 
 Est. Is it for me that you are doing this ? 
 
 Hagen. How do you mean ? 
 
 Est. You told me you brought all the world 
 and laid it at my feet. Is this part of the process ? 
 
 Hagen. Yes, this is part. 
 
 Est. (stares at him intently; whispers) How 
 do you do it? 
 
 Hagen. What? 
 
 96 
 
Act IV 
 
 Est. What is the secret of your power? They 
 
 are millions, and you are only one ^yet you have 
 
 them bound! Is it some spell that you have 
 woven? (a pause; Hag en stares at her. She goes 
 on with growing intensity and excitement) They 
 are afraid of your gold ! Afraid of your gold ! All 
 the world is afraid of it! It is nothing— it is a 
 
 dream it is a nightmare ! If they would defy 
 
 you ^if they would open their eyes ^it would 
 
 go as all nightmares go! But you have made 
 them believe in it ! They cower and cringe before 
 it! They toil and slave for it! They take up 
 arms and murder their brothers for it! They 
 sell their minds and their souls for it! And all 
 because no one dares to defy you ! No one ! No 
 one ! (in a sudden transport of passion) I defy 
 you! (Prince Hagen starts; she gases at Mm 
 wildly) I will not marry you ! I will not sell my- 
 self to you ! Not for any price that you can offer 
 
 ^not for any threat that you can make! Not 
 
 in order that my mother may plan wedding break- 
 fasts and triumph over Mrs. Bagley- Willis ! Not 
 in order that my father may rule in Wall Street 
 and command the slaughter of women and chil- 
 dren ! Nor yet for the fear of anything that you 
 can do! 
 
 Hagen. (in a low voice) Have you any idea 
 what I will do? 
 
 97 
 
Peince Hagen 
 
 Est. (desperately) I know what you mean 
 
 you have me at your mercy! You have your 
 
 guards — ^I am in a trap ! And you mean force 
 
 I have felt it in all your actions ^behind all 
 
 your words. Very well! There is a way of es- 
 cape, even from that ; and I will take it ! You can 
 compel me to kill myself ; but you can never com- 
 pel me to marry you ! Not with all the power you 
 
 can summon ^not with all the wealth of the 
 
 world! Do you understand me? (they stare at 
 each other) I have heard you talk with my 
 brother, and I know what are your ideas. You 
 came to our civilization, and tried it, and found it 
 
 a lie. Virtue and honor justice and mercy 
 
 all these things were pretenses snares for the 
 
 unwary. There was no one you could not frighten 
 with your gold ! That is your creed, and so far it 
 
 has served you ^but no farther ! There is one 
 
 thing in the world you cannot get one thing 
 
 that is beyond the reach of all your cunning ! And 
 that is a woman's soul, (ivith a gesture of exultant 
 triumph) You cannot buy me ! 
 
 Hagek". Estelle ! 
 
 Est. Go! 
 
 Hagen. (stretching out his arms to her) I 
 love you! 
 
 Est. You love me ! The slave driver ^with 
 
 his golden whip ! 
 
 98 
 
Act IV 
 
 Hagkn. Even so 1 love you. 
 
 Est. What do you know of love? What does 
 the word mean to you? Before love must come 
 justice and honor, with it come mercy and self- 
 sacrifice all things that you deride and trample 
 
 on. What have you to do with love? 
 
 Hagen. (with intensity) I love ybu! More 
 than anything else in all the world ^I love you ! 
 
 Est. {stares at him) More than your power? 
 
 Hagen. Estelle! Listen to me! You do not 
 know what my life has been ! But I can say this 
 
 for myself 1 have sought the best that I know. 
 
 I have sought Eeality. {a pause) I seek your love ! 
 I seek those things which you have, and which I 
 have not. (fiercely) Do you think that I have not 
 felt the difference? 
 
 Est. (in a startled whisper) No ! 
 
 Hagen. That which you have, and which I have 
 not, has become all the world to me ! I love you 
 
 1 cannot live without you. I will follow you 
 
 wherever you command. Only teach me how to 
 win your love. 
 
 Est. I cannot make terms with you. I will 
 not hear of love from you, while you have force in 
 your hands. 
 
 Hagen. I will leave your home. I will set you 
 
 9S 
 
Peince Hagen 
 
 free. I will humble myself before you. What 
 else can I do? 
 
 Est. You can lay down your power. 
 
 Hagen. Estelle ! Those are mere words. 
 
 Est. No ! 
 
 Hagen. Who is to take up the power? Shall 
 I hand it back to those who had it before? Are 
 Plimpton and Rutherford better fitted to wield it 
 than I? 
 
 Est. (vehemently) Give it to the people ! 
 
 Hagen. The people! Do you believe that in 
 that mass of ignorance and corruption which you 
 call the people, there is the power to rule the 
 world? 
 
 Est. What is it that has made the people cor- 
 rupt? What is it that has kept them in ignor- 
 ance? What is it but your gold? It lies upon 
 them like a mountain's weight! It crushes every 
 
 aspiration for freedom every effort after 
 
 light! Teach them help them ^then see if 
 
 they cannot govern themselves ! 
 
 Hagen. I meant to do it 
 
 Est. Yes so does every rich man! When 
 
 only he has the time to think of it ! When only 
 his power is secure! I have heard my father 
 say it a score of times. But there are always 
 
 100 
 
Act IV 
 
 new rivals to trample- -new foes to figlit ^new 
 
 wrongs and horrors to be perpetrated ! The time 
 to do it is now now! 
 
 Hagen. Estelle 
 
 Cal. (enters hurriedly) Prince Hagen! 
 
 Hagen. What is it? 
 
 Cal. a message from Isman. There is bad 
 news from Washington. 
 
 Hagen. Well? 
 
 Gal,, a bill has been introduced in Congress 
 
 ^it is expected to pass both houses tonight 
 
 your property is to be confiscated ! 
 
 Hagen. What ! 
 
 Cal. The sources of natural wealth the land 
 
 and the mines and the railroads all are to be- 
 come public property. It is to take eiffect at once ! 
 
 Est. (pointing at Mm in exultation) Aha! It 
 has come! (they stare at each other). 
 
 Cal. I tried to get more information ^but I 
 
 was cut off 
 
 Hagen. Cut off! 
 
 Cal. I think the wires are down ^I can't get 
 
 any response. 
 
 Hagen. I see! (stands in deep thought; laughs) 
 Humph! Well (to Estelle) At least Plimp- 
 
 101 
 
Peince Hagen 
 
 ton and Entherford are buried with, me! {to Cal.) 
 Send to town at once and have the wires seen to. 
 And try to learn what you can. 
 
 Cal. Yes, sir at once! {exit). 
 
 Est. They have done it themselves, you see ! 
 
 Hagen. Yes 1 see. 
 
 Geb. {enters centre; stands looking from one to 
 
 the other) Well, Prince Hagen it looks as if 
 
 the game was up. 
 
 Hagen. You've heard the news? 
 
 Gee. From Washington? Yes. And more 
 than that. Your guards have revolted. 
 
 Hagen. What! Here? 
 
 Gee. Yes. We're prisoners of war, it seems. 
 
 Est. Gerald ! 
 
 Hagen. How do you know? 
 
 Gee, They've sent a delegation to tell us. 
 They've cut the telephone wires, blocked the roads, 
 and shut us in. 
 
 Hagen. What do they want? 
 
 Gee. They don't condescend to tell us that. 
 They simply inform us that the woods are 
 guarded, and that anyone who tries to leave the 
 camp will be shot. 
 
 102 
 
Act IV 
 
 Est. {in fright) Prince Hagen ! {Hagen stands 
 motionless). 
 
 Gek. (solemnly) Hagen, the game is up! 
 
 Hagen. (in deep thought) Yes. The game is 
 up. (a pause) Gerald! 
 
 Gee. Well? 
 
 Hagen. (points to violin) Play! 
 
 Gbb. (startled) No! 
 
 Hagen. Play ! 
 
 Geb. You will go? 
 
 Hagen. Yes. I will go. But I will come back ! 
 Play! (Gerald takes violin and plays the Nibelung 
 theme) Louder! (Gerald plays the Nibelung mu- 
 sic, which is taken up by the orchestra and 
 mounts to a climax, in the midst of which Hagen 
 pronounces a sort of incantation) Mimi! Mimi! 
 Open the gates of wonderland! Bring back the 
 mood of phantasy, and wake us from our evil 
 dream! (silence. Then answering echoes of the 
 music are heard faintly, from the fireplace. There 
 are rappings and murmurings underground, 
 rumbling and patter of feet, and all the sounds of 
 Nihelheim. As the music swells louder, the trap 
 doors slide open, and Mimi appears, amid steam 
 and glare of light. Estelle sees him and recoils in 
 terror. A company of Nibelungs emerge one by 
 
 103 
 
Pkincb Hagen 
 
 one. They peer about timidly, recognise Hagen, 
 and with much trepidation approach him. Mimi 
 clasps Ms hand, and they surround him with joy- 
 ful cries. He moves toward the fireplace, and the 
 steam envelops him). 
 
 Est. (starts toward him, stretching out her arms 
 to him) Prince Hagen ! 
 
 Hagen. I will come back \ (he gradually retires 
 and disappears with the Nibelungs. The orches- 
 tra sounds the motive of Siegfried Triumphant). 
 
 CTJETAIN 
 
 104