technology, and death.
So with thanks you should assess
how we squeeze blood from the press,
and stifle every breath.
With newsprint’s satanic art
I’ve pierced the Saviour’s heart.
Now the way is clear,
and like Judas we’ll betray
our neighbours every day.
The Anti-Christ is here!
(Waltz of the Hyenas around the corpses.)
THE HYENAS
That’s right! That’s right!
With sharpened claw
we join the fight
and guzzle gore.
We slake our thirst,
our fists are tight,
so do your worst!
The price is right.
Guzzle, muzzle,
stir the pot.
Prices bubble,
drink it hot!
That’s life! That’s life!
With eager paw
we plunge the knife
and bathe in gore.
Just join the dance,
keep up the fight
as if in trance.
The price is right.
Guzzle, muzzle,
stir the pot.
Prices bubble,
drink it hot!
Our thirst we slake
by drinking gore,
squeezed by our paw.
With sharpened claw
we bathe in gore.
The price is right.
Sleep tight, sleep tight!
You’ve lost the fight.
Abracadabra!
That’s right! That’s right!
(The Hyenas cluster around the corpses.)
(Three gossip columnists appear.)
FIRST GOSSIP COLUMNIST
A silver lining illumines the skies.
The waltz, not the tango, has won the first prize.
SECOND GOSSIP COLUMNIST
No need any longer for asking what ails one.
We greet the arrival of travelling salesmen.
THIRD GOSSIP COLUMNIST
Life’s become easier, so we can give thanks
to the captains of industry who run our banks.
FIRST
No longer a loner, I make a good fist
of adding more names to the attendance list.
SECOND
The race is no longer just for the few.
I’m proud to be granted an interview.
THIRD
Now Mars no longer reigns supreme,
men about town shape the social scene.
FIRST
Those who’ve survived can keep hale and hearty.
Methinks I scent the morning air, so let us join the party!
SECOND
Fashion designers are launching new angles.
Frau Fanto’s dress simply sparkles with spangles.
THIRD
The upper circle won’t be empty for long,
as new arrivals join the merry throng.
FIRST
If the crush is too great, there’d be a sensation,
for all are engaged in polite conversation.
SECOND
The usual suspects announce their arrival.
Where would we be without their survival?
THIRD
Prince Salvator walks with elastic stride.
Three Honorary Counsellors come for the ride.
FIRST
Two Consul Generals don’t want to be missed
from our overflowing attendance list.
SECOND
Check the list of the fallen? That would be a waste!
Those present include all men of good taste.
THIRD
Such a grand occasion — and so “déjà vu”:
It’s ’im ’n me ’n ’er ’n us ’n you!
FIRST
So many stars, the smartest set!
The world just ain’t seen nothing yet!
SECOND
Field Marshal Höfer’s here, but not the General Staff.
The news from the front gives us no cause to laugh.
THIRD
World history has reached its carnival night.
Now we see what made the nations fight.
FIRST
The response of the enemy’s only a rumour,
but we’ll never lose our unique sense of humour.
SECOND
All classes are present, the show’s reached its height,
and the kids will be dancing throughout the long night.
THIRD
Will it still feel so good when the carnival closes?
The Devil’s new partner is tuberculosis!
(They make their escape.)
(Now the whole horizon is covered with clouds of smoke. A moon flecked with scarlet emerges from black-and-yellow clouds which are fringed with colourful shreds. On the battlefield military units are retreating in chaotic disorder. Three armoured vehicles appear. Men and animals in panic-stricken flight. A babble of voices.)
FIRST VOICE
Our firepower’s repelled the latest attack,
but shivers of panic run right down my back.
SECOND VOICE
To capture their trench was a daring feat,
but I fear we’ll soon be forced to retreat.
THIRD VOICE
We’ve forced the enemy to fall back,
but what the devil’s the point of that?
FOURTH VOICE
Such a short-term victory is hardly God’s gift.
Two of our comrades are sadly missed.
FIRST
I fear that our losses may be many more,
and now we are burdened with prisoners of war.
SECOND
The enemy threatens from every side.
An infant and two civilians have died.
THIRD
Our long-range cannon have hit the mark,
but where are the children who played in the park?
FOURTH
The military damage could be far worse,
but we’ve suffered casualties, both foot and horse.
FIRST
Our mates over there who are throwing a party
must be the Bavarians, hale and hearty.
SECOND
And those who are raising the cheers that disturb us
must be those doughty Wurttembergers.
THIRD
So many brave men, risking their life,
hail from all parts of the German Reich.
FOURTH
And others whose exploits show hair-raising daring
are hot-blooded warriors speaking Hungarian.
FIRST
Our Bulgarian allies are on the retreat,
but we drive them forward to stave off defeat.
SECOND
And those who manoeuvre in spasms and jerks?
They’re our Islamic allies, the Ottoman Turks.
THIRD
Those cracking their whips to give others a thrashing
can only be German — and probably Prussian!
FOURTH
And who’s losing heart now the rain’s caused a flood?
An Austrian army, stuck in the mud!
THIS VOICE
Our forces undoubtedly are in the soup,
the counterattack’s coming cock-a-hoop.
THAT VOICE
With fierce battle cries the proud German shouts:
“You must be the Frogs, but we are the Krauts!”
DIFFERENT VOICES
Can we still be allies when anything goes?
Do the foes shoot their friends or the friends shoot their foes?
OTHER VOICES
The claims of true brotherhood hardly require
casualties caused by our guns’ friendly fire.
ALL TOGETHER
The crisis has reached its acutest extreme!
We’re repelling the danger as if in a dream.
AUSTRIAN VOICE
Salvation at last for us band of brothers:
the sky is transformed into Austrian colours!
GERMAN VOICE
Dead wrong, old boy! Don’t make me laugh:
the German colours run up the flag-staff!
AUSTRIAN VOICE
Don’t talk such tripe! Just look here, young feller:
on your side it’s black, on ours it’s bright yellow.
GERMAN VOICE
Heavens alive! We won’t throw in the spanner:
dead Germans salute the Imperial banner.
BOTH TOGETHER
The stars in the heavens make us all feel bolder.
We’re proud to be fighting shoulder to shoulder.