GER. Good evening, your majesty.

ALB. [After along gaze.] You play our music. Where did you learn it?

GER. Why . . . it's in Wagner's operas. He composed it.

ALB. Humph . . . composed it!

GER. [Aghast.] You mean he came and copied it!

ALB. Of course!

GER. Why . . . why . . . we all thought it was original!

ALB. Original! It is indeed wonderful originality! To listen in the
Rhine-depths to the song of the maidens, to dwell in the forest and
steal its murmurs, to catch the crackling of the fire and the flowing
of the water, the galloping of the wind and the death march of the
thunder . . . and then write it all down for your own! To take our
story and tell it just as it happened . . . to take the very words
from our lips, and sign your name to them! Originality!

GER. But, your majesty, one thing at least. Even his enemies granted
him that! He invented the invisible orchestra!

ALB. [Laughing.] Have you seen any orchestra here?

[Siegfried motive sounds.]