A well-dressed lady jostled me, but I didn’t even look at her, I felt so embarrassed.

MAN

Men rode by on proud, fiery horses.  And I have nothing like that.

WIFE

She had diamonds in her ears.  You felt like kissing them.

MAN

Red and green automobiles glided past noiselessly like phantoms with burning eyes, and people sat in them and laughed and looked lazily from one side to the other.  And I have nothing like it.

And I have no diamonds, no emeralds, no pure white pearls.

MAN

I saw a fine restaurant on the Island.  It was brightly illuminated, like heaven, and they were eating there.  Black-coated monsters carried around butter and bread and wine and beer, and people ate and drank.  My little wife, I’m hungry!  I want something to eat!

WIFE

Dearie, you’re running around all the time, and that makes you still hungrier.  You’d better sit down.  I’ll kneel beside you, and you can take a piece of paper and draw a beautiful, beautiful building.

MAN

My inspiration is also hungry.  It draws nothing but edible landscapes.  My palaces are like portly cakes with fat stuffing, and my churches like sausages.  But I see tears in your eyes.  What is it, my dear wife?

WIFE

I feel so miserable not to be able to help you.

MAN

You make me ashamed of myself.  I am a strong man with a good mind; I am able, talented, and healthy, and yet I can’t do a thing.  My dear wife, my little fairy is crying, and I am not able to help her.  A woman’s tears are her husband’s disgrace, I am ashamed.

WIFE

But it isn’t your fault that people don’t appreciate you.

MAN

My ears are burning just as they used to when I was a boy and had had them boxed.  Why, you are hungry too, and I, egoist that I am, haven’t noticed it.  It’s mean of me.

WIFE

My dear, I don’t feel hungry.

MAN

It’s unfair, it’s contemptible.  That ruffian who jostled me was right.  He saw I was a fat pig and that’s all, a boar with sharp tusks but a stupid head.

WIFE.

If you are going to keep on reproaching yourself, I’ll cry again.

MAN

Don’t, don’t.  No tears!  Tears in your eyes frighten me.  I am afraid of those shining crystal drops, as if some other, some terrible person were shedding them, not you.  I won’t let you cry.  We have nothing, we are poor.  But I’ll tell you of what we are going to have.  I will charm you with a bright fairy tale, my queen.  I will array you in dazzling dreams as in roses!