Die Hagestolzen

Hagestolzen, Die, a play (Ein Lustspiel in fünf Aufzügen) written by A. W. Iffland. It was first performed in 1793, and in March 1796 was played at the Weimar Court Theatre with Iffland himself as guest artist. Hofrat Reinhold, a wealthy bachelor who has hitherto been persuaded by his domineering and avaricious sister not to marry, contemplates marriage at 40. The extravagant young woman to whom he is attracted injures his amour propre and he decides against marriage. At this point he discovers that his sister and his manservant are in league against him and that they have been privately running an extortionate money-lending business. In great perturbation he goes to stay with his tenant farmer. Here, in idyllic rural peace, he is so charmed with his tenant's unspoilt and good-hearted young sister-in-law Margrethe that he marries her and dismisses his manservant. Reinhold's sister departs in dudgeon. In the fifth act Margrethe sings the song ‘Was frag ich viel nach Geld und Gut’ by J. M. Miller.