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 II.—

The Same.

The Governor. Adjutants.

Eugenie.

I crave a pardon for my over boldness;

Oh, wilt thou heed the stranger in thy way?

Governor.

(After long and attentive contemplation.) One who, like thee, commends herself at sight

Will be secure of friendliest reception.

Eugenie.

No bright and friendly matter do I bring;

The deepest woe compels me to address thee.

Governor.

Then let it be my duty to dispel it;

Or failing that, to make it light to bear.

Eugenie.

She who petitions is of loftiest race;

And yet she has no right to bear its name.

Governor.

A name is soon forgotten; but thy face

Would stay forever in the memory.

Eugenie.

Me from my father’s breast to the wild sea

Has treacherous violence harshly torn and forc’d.

Governor.

Who with irreverent, hostile hand could think

Of bringing pain to such a peaceful heart?

Eugenie.

Suspicion only tells me that this blow

Wag’d by a member of my race fell on me.

Misled by selfishness and evil counsels

My brother plotted this destruction for me.

And she whom here thou seest, who nurtured me,

I know not why, sides with my enemies.

Governess.

I side with her and mitigate an evil

Which I, alas! cannot entirely cure.

Eugenie.

She forces me to embark upon the ship;

She carries me away to yonder isles!

Governess.

If I myself go with thee on this exile

It proves my love and motherly devotion.

Governor.

Forgive me, honor’d ladies, if, one instant,

Surprise at seeing and at hearing you

O’ercomes a man who, young in years, has seen

And has consider’d many things in life.

Ye both to me seem worthy of belief;

And yet does each of you distrust the other.

At least it seems so. What am I to do

To disentangle now the twisted threads

Which in a puzzling knot so strangely bind you?

Eugenie.

If thou wilt hear me I will tell thee more.

Governess.

I also much am able to explain.

Governor.

That oftentimes we are deceiv’d by strangers

Must also prejudice the truth when seen

Behind the seeming of adventurers.

Eugenie.

If thou dost not believe me I am lost.

Governor.

E’en if I did believe ’tis hard to help.

Eugenie.

Oh, send me to my father’s house again!

Governor.

To rescue outcast children, to protect

Foundlings or those who have been put away

Brings small reward to wisely-thinking men.

About the inheritance of property

Arises question of the rightful heir,

And hateful passions seethe, and if relations

Brawl noisily about the Mine and Thine

The stranger who shall meddle wins the hate

Of both sides. Not infrequently indeed,

If his more strenuous interference fail,

In shame before the judgment he is brought.

And so excuse me if I cannot promise

A hopeful answer to thy pressing claim.

Eugenie.

If such timidity becomes the noble,

Then whither shall the poor downtrodden turn?

Governor.

Yet certainly thou wilt excuse me now,

Since urgent business calls me swiftly hence,

If I invite thee early on the morrow

To seek my palace, there more comfortably

To learn the heavy fate that weighs thee down.

Eugenie.

With pleasure will I come. And in advance

Accept my earnest thanks for my relief.

Governess.

(Putting a paper into his hands.) If we do not accept thy invitation

This leaflet will appear our exculpation.

Governor.

(Reading it attentively and handing it back.) My only service to thee then can be

To wish that thou may’st have a fortunate voyage,

Submission to thy destiny, and hope.