LX
While the lights in the auditorium are slowly dimmed in a theatrical manner, the open stage is only moderately lighted. The objects are in exactly the same position as before the intermission. The closet is open. Two Kaspars are sitting on the sofa, close together. They are silent. The masks now evince an expression of contentment. After a few moments of silence, the prompters begin to recite all over the room:
LXI
While giving a beating
one is
never as calm as while beating a rug.
Water dripping regularly
down on one’s head
is no reason
to complain about a lack of order
a sip of acid in one’s mouth
or a kick in the guts
or two sticks
in the nostrils being wriggled
about
or something on that order
only more pointed
introduced
into the ears
without much ado
to needle someone
and bring him around
with all means
at one’s command
primarily
without being fussy about the
means
is no reason
to loose any words over the lack of order:
for
in the process
of putting-into-order
for better or worse
one makes others sing
whereas one—
once everything has been brought
to order
and everything that still laughed
is laughable—
can sing oneself
and after giving a beating
when fists and feet have nothing
left to
do
can beat the rug to ease one’s
mind. A third Kaspar with a small package wrapped in wrapping paper comes out of the wings and sits down next to the other two Kaspars, sits down in an orderly fashion, the package on his knees. In the process of putting-into-order
one is not as calm
and orderly
as later on
when one—
having been brought into order
oneself
by the thrashing one has given to
others—
with one’s conscience at ease
wants to
and can
enjoy
a world made orderly. A fourth Kaspar comes on stage with a similar package. Kaspar 3 makes room for him between himself and the other two Kaspars. Kaspar 4 sits down quietly. All four Kaspars are still. While giving a beating
it is sensible
not to think of the future
but in the pauses
between punches
it is blissful
to think of the time of order
so that
a too disorderly kick
won’t contribute
during the recommencement of the
beating
to channel the thoughts
of the socially sick
when he has adjusted
later on
in the wrong direction. A fifth Kaspar enters with a similar but perhaps larger package. Kaspar 3 gets up. Kaspar 5 takes Kaspar 3’s place. Kaspar 3 squeezes himself into the small space left next to Kaspar 4. Kaspar 5 puts the package in front of him on the floor. All five are still. But if
during the beating
an inordinate beating of the heart
fails to occur
and the fists
beat
the breath out of the victim’s
lungs
only (to use the same image again)
like dust
out of a rug
and one only
straightens out (to use the same image again)
the wretch’s tongue
like fringes on a rug
only then does
the injustice occur:
for
while giving a beating
one should not be as calm
as when beating a rug
while plugging up the mouth
one must be uneasy:
so as not to become uneasy
afterwards: