eSSC
I
25. Proernhard!
26 PROFESSOR BERNHARDI: A PLAY
very doubtful to me. You lack the eye for
that which really counts, the universal view¬
point. For it is not the question whether you
do right here and do right there, but whether
you accomplish really big things. And to
give up the possibility of doing some really
big things, for the poor miserable satisfaction
of having done the right thing in some non-es¬
sential, some unimportant matter, is a mat¬
ter of indifference to me, I must confess, and
does not only seem small, but immoral, yes,
immoral to me, my dear Bernhardi.
Bernhardi: Well, now you might let me
know the real purpose of your visit here?
Flint: Yes, for the matter which brought
me here is, I believe, already attracting wide¬
spread attention. You have forgotten to look
a bit further in your dealings with His Rev¬
erence. You forgot one trifle, namely, that
we live in a Christian community. Why are
you smiling?
Bernhardi: I am thinking of an article you
were going to write, long ago, when we were
both young men—“Churches versus Hospi¬
tals.“
Flint: Ahl one of the many articles I want¬
ed to write, and which were never written.
At any rate, since you committed the impru¬
dence of forcibly preventing His Reverence—
Bernhardi: Forcibly?—!!
Flint: Well! I understand that you pushed
him from the door, so it is told¬
Bernhardi: What is told?
Flint: Well—you pushed him away rather
violently.
box 31/8
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI: A PLAY 27
Bernhardi: That is a lie! Vou'll believe
me?
Flint: Then you did not push him?
Bernhardi: I barely touched him. To speak
of force—They are inveterate liars!
Flint: Do not get excited. Officially, no¬
thing has been done. A simple declaration
from you and that indictment will not be
brought against you.
Bernhardi: Is it for my sake that you want
to save yourself from that indictment before
Parliament?
Flint: Certainly! There is so little that
can be done in such a case. No matter what
vour intentions were, your behaviour towards
His Reverence was not wholly correct.
Bernhardi: My dear Flint, you have no
idea how you over-rate your power.
Flint: A—hem!
Bernhardi: You evidently imagine that it
lies with you to prevent that indictment.
Flint: It lies with you, I assure you.
Bernhardi: With me, yes. You have nc idea
how right you are. A half an hour ago 1
could have turned the danger of that indict¬
ment from your head and mine.
Flint: How is that?
Bernhardi: Oh, very simple! Tugendvet¬
ter’s vacancv is to be filled, you know. To¬
morrow we have a meeting. If I had pledged
my vote for Hell, instead of for Wenger, every¬
thing would have been all right.
Flint: Pledged yourself? How? To
whom?
Bernhardi: Ebenwald was here just now.
I
25. Proernhard!
26 PROFESSOR BERNHARDI: A PLAY
very doubtful to me. You lack the eye for
that which really counts, the universal view¬
point. For it is not the question whether you
do right here and do right there, but whether
you accomplish really big things. And to
give up the possibility of doing some really
big things, for the poor miserable satisfaction
of having done the right thing in some non-es¬
sential, some unimportant matter, is a mat¬
ter of indifference to me, I must confess, and
does not only seem small, but immoral, yes,
immoral to me, my dear Bernhardi.
Bernhardi: Well, now you might let me
know the real purpose of your visit here?
Flint: Yes, for the matter which brought
me here is, I believe, already attracting wide¬
spread attention. You have forgotten to look
a bit further in your dealings with His Rev¬
erence. You forgot one trifle, namely, that
we live in a Christian community. Why are
you smiling?
Bernhardi: I am thinking of an article you
were going to write, long ago, when we were
both young men—“Churches versus Hospi¬
tals.“
Flint: Ahl one of the many articles I want¬
ed to write, and which were never written.
At any rate, since you committed the impru¬
dence of forcibly preventing His Reverence—
Bernhardi: Forcibly?—!!
Flint: Well! I understand that you pushed
him from the door, so it is told¬
Bernhardi: What is told?
Flint: Well—you pushed him away rather
violently.
box 31/8
PROFESSOR BERNHARDI: A PLAY 27
Bernhardi: That is a lie! Vou'll believe
me?
Flint: Then you did not push him?
Bernhardi: I barely touched him. To speak
of force—They are inveterate liars!
Flint: Do not get excited. Officially, no¬
thing has been done. A simple declaration
from you and that indictment will not be
brought against you.
Bernhardi: Is it for my sake that you want
to save yourself from that indictment before
Parliament?
Flint: Certainly! There is so little that
can be done in such a case. No matter what
vour intentions were, your behaviour towards
His Reverence was not wholly correct.
Bernhardi: My dear Flint, you have no
idea how you over-rate your power.
Flint: A—hem!
Bernhardi: You evidently imagine that it
lies with you to prevent that indictment.
Flint: It lies with you, I assure you.
Bernhardi: With me, yes. You have nc idea
how right you are. A half an hour ago 1
could have turned the danger of that indict¬
ment from your head and mine.
Flint: How is that?
Bernhardi: Oh, very simple! Tugendvet¬
ter’s vacancv is to be filled, you know. To¬
morrow we have a meeting. If I had pledged
my vote for Hell, instead of for Wenger, every¬
thing would have been all right.
Flint: Pledged yourself? How? To
whom?
Bernhardi: Ebenwald was here just now.