Station: [8] The billeting during the camp “Lustlager” in Zeithain

Reiter:

Whoah! Good morning, girl. We bring news from the royal court of Saxony.

Luise:

Her ladyship will be here in a moment. Won’t you dismount and take some refreshment?

Reiter:

No, no. We must ride on to Jahnishausen.

Luise:

You want to ride on immediately? Even your horses look tired...

Reiter:

Duty commands. From Jahnishausen, we’ll be heading straight back to Dresden.

Freifrau von Wehlen:

To what do we owe the honour of messengers on horseback visiting our humble town of Riesa?

Reiter:

Gracious Lady von Wehlen, we bring news from Field Marshall Count von Wackerbarth, to be handed to you personally, with his compliments.

Freifrau von Wehlen:

My thanks to you. Dismount and follow me into the palace. Johann will tend to your horses. You will stay the night?

Reiter:

Many thanks for the kind offer, but we must ride on.

Freifrau von Wehlen:

What does the Field Marshall have to say? Give me the letter! [liest] The news is about the large military encampment near Zeithain, the Campement. Von Wackerbarth tells me that the Prussian military are to be quartered at our palace. He writes of 78 senior officers, 314 servants and 382 horses…

Luise:

That’s one horse for almost every person in Riesa.

Freifrau von Wehlen:

So many military men to stay over night?

Reiter:

It will be the greatest spectacle of all times, Lady von Wehlen. The rulers of Prussia, Poland, France, Sweden, Britain, the Low Countries and who knows where else are coming and will marvel at our kingdom of Saxony.

Freifrau von Wehlen:

Count Wackerbarth writes: “As well as military exercises and manoeuvres, there shall be Italian singing and French playacting.“

Reiter:

The plans have already been finalised, my lady. In Streumen, they’re building an opera house-cum-comedy theatre, and there are to be four bridges over the River Elbe, leading to the military encampment. A direct route from the palace through your shrubbery to one of those bridges would probably be advisable, my lady.

Luise:

We could even call it the Brandenburg Route in honour of the Prussians...

Freifrau von Wehlen:

Then we should get to work. There will be a lot to do, to make ready.

Reiter:

In that case, we’ll take our leave, your ladyship!

Freifrau von Wehlen:

God be with you, sir!