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 IV.—

The Same.

Abbess. Two Nuns.

Eugenie.

Adorable, holy virgin, here thou seest

One who is stupefied, confus’d, at odds

With self and with the world. My present sorrow,

Solicitude for future evils drive me

To seek thy presence, where I dare to hope

For swift deliverance from monstrous wrong.

Abbess.

If peace, reflection, reconciliation

With God and our own hearts can be imparted,

Then, noble stranger, shall the faithful word

Be taught thee which shall make thee know the joy

That blesses now and ever me and mine.

Eugenie.

Unending is my woe; not even speech

With power divine could serve to assuage it.

Oh, take me! let me stay where thou dost stay,

And first, dissolv’d in tears of melancholy,

Devote my lighten’d heart to consolation.

Abbess.

Oft have I seen within my holy sphere

The tears of earth change into heavenly smiles,

And bitter sorrow into joy divine.

Yet not by force can entrance here be made.

Full many a trial must the novice suffer

That we may know her absolute desert.

Governess.

Complete desert is easy to perceive,

And easy to fulfil severe conditions.

Abbess.

I do not doubt thy gentleness of birth,

Thy property, are all could be desir’d

To gain the privileges of this house

For thee, although they are so great and tempting:

So let me quickly learn what be thy wishes.

Eugenie.

Grant my petition, take me to thy care!

Conceal me from the world in deep seclusion.

All that is mine I freely give to thee.

Much do I bring and more I hope to offer.

Abbess.

If youth and beauty can appeal to us,

A noble maiden fills our heart with love;

Dear child, then hast thou many claims upon us.

Beloved daughter, come into my arms.

Eugenie.

With words like these, with such a warm embrace,

Thou hast at once appeas’d the angry storm

Which rag’d within my heart. The last wave dying

Still foams around me. I have reach’d the port.

Governess.

(Stepping between.) Did not a wretched destiny oppose!

Behold this paper! give us then thy pity.

[She hands theAbbessthe paper.

Abbess.

(Having read it.) My censure thou deservest since thou knewest

That this was so, and yet our vain discourse

Thou didst permit unchalleng’d, though thou heardest.

I bow my head before the mightier hand

That seems to rule here.