Mayerling (2)

1.     The Lady-in-Waiting's Tale

      There's nothing matters, girl, beyond The Ring!
Are you betrothed yet?  Me, I'm six months in.
Hussars are handsome. Want to know the truth?
A tale of passion, sex, idealistic youth
and parents crippled by stiff protocol.
The girl? I hardly dealt with her at all,
some minor baroness (Hungarian blood).
At Mayerling, in the Vienna Woods
is where they did it. Yes, I've seen them dance
together. The mazurka! One brief glance
that flits between two lovers tells the world.
His wife was one thing -- but he loved that girl!
The night before, there was an argument
between him and the Emperor. He spent
his final night with her at Mayerling.
Oh, how romantic! Since their heady fling
was doomed --they couldn't be together now,
and wouldn't be apart -- they took a vow
to end their lives. Poor things. Look over there.
That captain. Is he looking, girl? Don't stare!

Author's Note

nothing matters beyond The Ring -- A lady-in-waiting of the Auistrian royal family is walking with a friend in downtown Vienna, and discussing the scandal of the double deaths (Prince Rudolf and his lover, Mary). Nothing matters to this fashionable young lady beyond The Ring in two senses -- she loves being on the Ringstrasse, the elegant Vienna street where all the "best" people socialise, and she is thrilled at being newly-engaged.
Hussars -- dashing horse soldiers who wore stylish uniforms
passion, sex, idealistic youth -- The young lady gives us her "take" on the tragedy, but reveals more about her own preoccupations than she tells us about the Mayerling incident.
(Hungarian blood) -- In 1867, the Hungarian subjects of the Austrian Empire had revolted and demanded equal status with the Austrians. This was conceded, but the girl shows us by this bitchy sneer that she still looks down on Hungarians.
The mazurka! -- For its time, a very flirtatious, sexy dance
between him and the Emperor -- This is fact. Rudolf had a blazing row with his father (probably about his lover,Mary).
how romaantic! -- The speaker knows almost nothing about the deaths, but is perfectly willing to fill the void with conjecture of a silly romantic type.
That captain -- The moment she spots a handsome young officer, she totally forgets Mayerling.