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 VIII.

Eugenie.

From selfish sorrow I am led away

And others’ woes are plac’d before my ken.

Yet does it not concern thee what shall happen

Unto thy fatherland? With added weight

This settles on my overburden’d heart.

Besides the present evil must I bear

The imaginary burdens of the future?

Then it is true what e’en in childhood’s days

Rang in my ears unconscious, what I heard

In youth and question’d and at last have learn’d

From truthful lips of father and of King:

This realm is threaten’d with a sudden fall;

The elements once fused in mighty life

No longer will reciprocally join

With force of love in unity renew’d

Continually. Scattering, forth they fly,

And each returns unto itself in coldness.

Where was the mighty spirit of our fathers

Which for one purpose brought them into union

That hitherto had stood apart in battle,

And which before this mighty people became

Personified as monarch and as father?

That spirit is no more. What now remains

Is but a spectre which with idle striving

Gropes blindly, hopelessly, for lost possessions.

And could I take such cares across with me?

Could I withdraw me from the common danger?

Could I neglect the chance to show myself

Of courage worthy of my noble sires,

And in a time of trouble by my aid

Shame him who has unworthily oppress’d me?

Now, O my fatherland, thy sacred soil

Has first become my inspiration, now

I feel for the first time the pressing call

To stand by thee so long as life shall last.

I will not let thee go; whate’er the bond

That binds me unto thee is henceforth holy.

Where shall I find that noble-minded man

Who offer’d me his hand so honorably?

To him I will confide my life. In secret

He shall preserve me as a talisman pure!

For if a marvel happens on the earth

It happens through the love of faithful hearts.

The greatness of the peril I dismiss;

I do not dare to think upon my weakness.

A favorable chance when times are ripe

Shall bring to lofty purposes the whole.

And if my father, if my King forget me

Whom once they banish’d and disown’d, their eyes

Astonish’d shall upon me rest, preserv’d

To work for the accomplishment in sorrow

Of what in fortune she had vow’d to do.

He comes! With more delight I see him now

Than when he left me. Seeking me he comes!

He thinks we part; I shall remain to him.