ary little cottage. He desires to buy
it and offers three hundred thalers for it on condition that he shall
enter in immediate possession. The astonished workman consents to this
bargain without more ado, too happy at this unexpected piece of good
luck to think of anything else. Rappelkopf gruffly orders the whole
family to pack off instantly. Father and children prepare to depart
laughing and singing, but Katherine takes leave of her humble home with
bitter tears.

{446}

When Rappelkopf finds himself alone he is quite delighted by the
complete solitude and grandeur of the surrounding mountains and
glaciers, but soon darkness comes over the scene and with it uneasiness
and fear take possession of the lonely man. At last he can stand the
loneliness no longer and on his cry for help, Astragalus the Alpine
King appears frightening him almost to death. Astragalus however
merely advises him to return to his family, whom he left in sorrow and
anxiety. But Rappelkopf's hatred of mankind knows no bounds; he
remains deaf to the good king's remonstrances. At last the latter
determines to make Rappelkopf see his behaviour in its true light. To
this end he promises to metamorphose the misanthrope into the exact
likeness of his own brother in law, in which form he is to return home
on the following morning in order to test the real feelings of his wife
and daughter.

Astragalus makes him swear that he will not persist in his obstinacy
should he find out his error, and Rappelkopf consents, making the king
promise in his turn to destroy all the inhabitants of the place, should
his hate for them be justified. Both take solemn oaths, after which
Astragalus touches Rappelkopf's forehead, making him fall asleep while
a sweet chorus of fairies lulls the unhappy man into sweet slumber.

The third act opens in Rappelkopf's house. Marthe and Lieschen are
waiting for the return of the neighbours who have gone in search of the
lost {447} father. Marthe is in great anxiety, she has almost ceased
to hope for the Alpine King's help. Suddenly the stage-coach arrives
bringing Sabine's brother, whom his sister had summoned in her despair.
It is Rappelkopf himself in the likeness of uncle Joseph. He is
greeted with enthusiasm, but remarking his wife's sad looks, he
observes that she ought to be glad to be rid of the maniac who has
treated her so badly. Sabine however stands up for her husband,
affirming that she loves him as much