(The stage-hand carries Lulu in his arms; the animal-tamer pats her on the hips.)
Sweet innocence—my dearest treasure-case!
(The stage-hand carries Lulu back into the tent.)
And now I'll tell the best thing in the day:
My poll between the teeth of a beast of prey!
Walk in! Tho to be sure the show's not new,
Yet everyone takes pleasure in its view!
Wrench open this wild animal's jaws I dare,
And he to bite dares not! My pate's so fair,
So wild, so gaily decked, it wins respect!
I offer it him with confidence unchecked.
One joke, and my two temples crack!—but, lo,
The lightning of my eyes I will forego,
Staking my life against a joke! and throw
My whip, my weapons, down. I am in my skin!
I yield me to this beast!—His name do ye know?
—The honored public! that has just walked in!
(The animal-tamer steps back into the tent, accompanied by cymbals and kettledrums.)
ACT I
A roomy studio. Entrance door at the rear, left. Another door at lower left to the bed-room. At centre, a platform for the model, with a Spanish screen behind it and a Smyrna rug in front. Two easels at lower right. On the upper one is the picture of a young girl's head and shoulders. Against the other leans a reversed canvas. Below these, toward centre, an ottoman, with a tiger-skin on it. Two chairs along the left wall. In the back-ground, right, a step-ladder.
Schön sits on the foot of the ottoman, inspecting critically the picture on the further easel. Schwarz stands behind the ottoman, his palette and brushes in his hands.
SCHÖN. Do you know, I'm getting acquainted with a brand new side of the lady.