Der Bettelstudent

Summary

The Beggar Student

Poland in 1704: Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony, rules the country. The brash Colonel Ollendorf is governor of Krakow, where martial law is in effect due to repeated unrest among the populace. Nevertheless, there are celebrations, especially among the upper classes. At a ball given by Countess Nowalska, Ollendorf meets and falls in love with her daughter Laura. But when he tries to kiss her, she slaps him in the face. Meanwhile, two young Poles, Jan and Simon, are arrested at a meeting. Ollendorf forces them to help him take revenge on Laura. The plan fails, however, because Laura and Simon fall in love. In the end, it turns out that Simon is in fact the Duke Casimir of Poland. Before it comes to a momentous confrontation between Ollendorf and Casimir, August the Strong makes peace with King Stanislaus. Now nothing stands in the way of the two lovers' happiness.