The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Faust a Tragedy
• Faust First Part
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Dedication.
• Prologue For the Theatre.
• Prologue In Heaven.
• Walpurgis-night.
• Walpurgis-night’s Dream; Or, Oberon and Titania’s Golden Wedding Feast. Intermezzo.
• Faust. Second Part
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Act II.
• Act III.
• Act IV.
• Act V.
• Egmont
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Scene I.—: Soldiers and Citizens, With Cross-bows.
• Scene II.—: Palace of the Regent.
• Scene III.—: Citizen’s House.
• Act II.
• Scene I.—: Square In Brussels.
• Scene II.—: Egmont’s Residence.
• Act III.
• Scene I.—: Palace of the Regent.
• Scene II.—: Clara’s Dwelling.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.—: A Street.
• Scene II.—: The Palace of Eulenberg, Residence of the Duke of Alva.
• Act V.
• Scene I.—: A Street. Twilight.
• Scene II.: A Prison.
• Scene III.—: Clara’s House.
• Scene IV.—: A Prison.
• The Natural Daughter a Tragedy
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Scene I.—: Thick Wood.
• Scene II.—: The Same.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.—: The Same.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Act II.
• Scene I.—: Eugenie’s Apartment In Gothic Style.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Act III.
• Scene I.—: The Antechamber of the Duke, Furnished In Magnificent Modern Style.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.—: Park At the Port. On One Side a Palace, On the Other a Church; In the Background a Row of Trees Through Which the Port Is Seen Below. Eugenie, Enveloped In a Veil, Seated On a Bench In the Background, With Face Turned to the Sea.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act V.
• Scene I.—: Plaza At the Port.
• Scene II.—: The Same.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.—: The Same.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Scene VII.
• Scene VIII.
• Scene IX.
• The Sorrows of Young Werther
• Book I.
• Book II.
• The Editor to the Reader.
• Colma.
• Rhyno.
• Alpin.

SCENE V.

Eugenie. Governess. Servantsbringing a magnificent dressing-case.

Governess.

If I disturb thee, still I bring with me

What in thy eyes should give me absolution.

Eugenie.

This from my father! This resplendent gift!

What content does a shrine like that portend?

(To theServants.)

Ho! tarry yet a moment!

[She hands them a purse.

Take this trifle

As foretaste of reward for service! richer follows!

[ExitServants.

No letter and no key! ’Tis passing strange!

Must such a treasure wait me unexplor’d?

O curiosity! O eager longing!

Suspectest thou what mean these gifts to me?

Governess.

I doubt not thou thyself hast solv’d the riddle.

It signifies a coming elevation.

The finery of a princess is allow’d thee

Because the King will soon declare thy rank.

Eugenie.

What makes thee think so?

Governess.

Oh, I know it well!

The secrets of the great are never kept.

Eugenie.

Well, if thou knowest, why should I dissemble?

Shall I restrain before thee without reason

My curiosity to see this gift? The key

Is here! I know my father did forbid it.

Yet what did he forbid? To tell the secret

Before the time. Yet thou already knowest

The weighty news: what more is there to tell

Than thou hast heard, and through thy love for me

Hast kept in guard beneath the seal of silence?

Why then delay? Come, let us open! come!

So that the glory of the gifts may charm us!

Governess.

Nay! touch it not! Remember his forbiddance.

Who knows the reason of the Duke’s command?

Eugenie.

He had a purpose for his prohibition,

That purpose now is render’d nugatory;

Thou knowest all. Thou lovest me, thou art

A faithful friend that can preserve a secret.

So let us push the bolt and close the chamber,

And let us quick together solve the mystery.

[She shuts the chamber door and runs to the casket.

Governess.

(Restraining her.) The gold, the colors of the splendid fabrics,

The soft light of the pearls, the gleam of jewels,

Ah! let them all remain unseen! They tempt thee

Beyond control to seek the fatal goal!

Eugenie.

Not they, but what they signify, attract me.

[She opens the box; mirrors adorn the cover.

What costly raiment, lying folded there

E’en as I touch it, shows before my eyes!

And do these mirrors not make swift demand

To image forth the maiden in her jewels?

Governess.

Medea’s fiery garment seems to me

To lie unfolded in my nerveless hand!

Eugenie.

What Melancholy weaves its mist around thee?

Think rather of delightful bridal feasts!

Come! reach the treasures to me one by one!

That underdress! how richly, sweetly gleam

The silver gauze, the sparkle of its hues.

Governess.

(Throwing the garment overEugenie’sshoulders.) If e’er the rays of Favor’s sun should darken,

The cause would be such glory’s bright reflection.

Eugenie.

A faithful heart deserves the rays of favor,

And if they fail it draws them back again.—

Now bring the gold-embroider’d overskirt,

And spread the train with all its wealth of lace.

The brilliancy of flowers has ting’d the gold

Spread in metallic hues with tasteful choice.

Am I not beautiful in this array?

Governess.

Yet beauty unadorn’d is honor’d more

For its own splendor by the truly wise.

Eugenie.

The truly wise may treasure simple beauty,

But most prefer the beauty that’s adorn’d.—

Now bring the tender twilight of the pearls,

The flashing glory of the splendid jewels.

Governess.

Yet not the appearance but the genuine worth

Can satisfy the cravings of thy heart!

Eugenie.

What is appearance having naught of substance,

And what would substance be without appearance?

Governess.

And hast thou not enjoy’d within these walls

The long untroubled days of sunny youth,

Nor felt the secret bliss of holy rapture

When cradled with the hearts of those that love thee?

Eugenie.

The tender bud rejoices in its calyx

So long as Winter’s frost besieges it;

But now the breath of Spring inspires its life,

It bursts in blossoms, full of light and fragrance!

Governess.

But moderation gives a joy serene!

Eugenie.

Provided that a moderate aim is set.

Governess.

He who enjoys submits to limitations.

Eugenie.

Thy arguments persuade me not, thus rob’d.

Oh, would that this apartment might expand

Until it reach’d the glory of the King’s.

That splendid carpets deck’d the polish’d floors,

That golden groins might overarch the vault!

And thus before the throne of royalty

With humble pride, among the haughty nobles

Reflecting back the smiling beams of grace,

I ’mid the circle of distinguish’d ones

Should stand the most distinguish’d at the pageant.

Oh, let me have the foretaste of this joy

When all the world shall wonder at my fortune.

Governess.

Thou’lt be an object not of wonder only:

Envy will mark thee, hate will seek thy ruin.

Eugenie.

Success must ever raise the coils of envy.

We learn to keep our guard when haters prowl.

Governess.

Humiliation oft surprises pride.

Eugenie.

Presence of mind will guard against surprise!

[Turning to the dressing-case.

Not yet have we examin’d everything.

For self alone I do not ask this fortune;

With others would I all my treasures share.

Governess.

(Taking out a jewel box.)

Here written on this box the words: “For Gifts.”

Eugenie.

Then pray select the things that please thee most.

Among these watches, boxes, take thy choice.

Yet hold! Be wary! Who can tell? Perchance

Yet costlier things lie hid within the case!

Governess.

Would that a powerful talisman were here

To win thy cruel brother’s love to thee!

Eugenie.

The pure affections of the ingenuous heart

May gradually soften his ill will.

Governess.

Yet those who strive to make more black his grudge

Are pledg’d forever to oppose thy wishes.

Eugenie.

If they till now have sought to block my fortune,

Yet since the grand decision has been made

They will each one conform without a murmur.

Governess.

That which thou hopest is not yet accomplish’d.

Eugenie.

Yet ’tis so safe that I can call it done.

[Returning to the case again.

See what is lying in that long flat box!

Governess.

(Uncovering it.) The loveliest ribbons, fresh and newly chosen!

Ah, let not curious contemplation ruin

With dissipating tendency thy mind.

Oh, would it might be, that my earnest warning

Should make a moment’s impress on thy mind.

From the still circle thou wilt soon emerge

On wider fields where anxious cares will harass,

Where dangerous snares, where Death itself, perchance,

From murderous hands of enemies await thee.

Eugenie.

Thou art unwell! How can my sure success

Appear to thee as frightful as a spectre?

[Gazing into the box.

What do I see? This roll! ’tis verily

The ribbon of the noblest princely order!

This also I must wear then! Come! make haste!

I wish to see its whole effect! ’Tis part

Of this superb array. It must be tried!

[The order is attached.

Now prate to me of death! now prate of danger!

What nobler grace than when a man can stand

In all the bravery of heroic garb

Amid his peers in presence of his King?

What gives more satisfaction to the eye

Than robes that tell of splendid lines of knights?

This raiment and its colors are they not

A symbol of the danger ever near?

The sash, significant of war, wherewith

A man with dauntless courage girds himself?

My friend, my love! Whatever ornament

Is emblematical of peril, that

Must, of necessity, be dangerous!

So give me then the sentiment of courage

To meet the dangers menacing my path,

Array’d, as now, in splendid princely garb.

Henceforth, irrevocable is my fortune.

Governess.

(Aside.) The fate that calls thee is irrevocable.

ACT III.