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• Götz Von Berlichingen With the Iron Hand. a Drama.
• Dramatis PersonÆ
• Act I.
• Scene I.—: An Inn At Schwarzenberg In Franconia.
• Scene II.—: A Cottage In a Thick Forest.
• Scene III.—: An Apartment In Jaxthausen, the Castle of Goetz Von Berlichingen.
• Scene IV.—: The Bishop of Bamberg’s Palace.
• Scene V.—: Jaxthausen.
• Act II.
• Scene I.—: Bamberg. a Hall.
• Scene II.—: Jaxthausen. a Hall In Goetz’s Castle.
• Scene III.—: The Bishop’s Palace At Bamberg.
• Scene IV.—: The Spessart.
• Scene V.—: The Bishop’s Palace. His Cabinet.
• Scene VI.—: Adelaide’s Apartment.
• Scene VII.—: An Ante-room.
• Scene VIII.—: The Spessart.
• Scene IX.—: Hall In the Bishop’s Palace At Bamberg.
• Scene X—: an Inn.
• Act III.
• Scene I.—: A Garden At Augsburg.
• Scene II.—: Jaxthausen.
• Scene III.—: The Camp of the Party Sent to Execute the Imperial Mandate.
• Scene IV.—: Jaxthausen.
• Scene V.—: Bamberg. Adelaide’s Chamber.
• Scene VI.—: Jaxthausen.
• Scene VII.—: A Wood On the Borders of a Morass.
• Scene VIII.—: Camp of the Imperialists.
• Scene IX.—: Jaxthausen.
• Scene X.—: The Imperial Camp.
• Scene XI.—: Mountains and a Wood.
• Scene XII.—: A Heath—on One Side an Eminence, With a Ruined Tower, On the Other the Forest.
• Scene XIII.—: The Camp.
• Scene XIV.—: Jaxthausen.
• Scene XV.—: Camp.
• Scene XVI.—: Jaxthausen.
• Scene XVII.—: The Kitchen.
• Scene XVIII.—: A Hall.
• Scene XIX.—: The Court of the Castle.
• Scene XX.: The Armory.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.—: An Inn In the City of Heilbronn
• Scene II.—: The Council-house At Heilbronn.
• Scene III.—: A Large Hall In the Council-house, Beset By Sickingen’s Troops.
• Scene IV.—: The Castle of Adelaide. Augsburg.
• Scene V.—: Jaxthausen.
• Act V.
• Scene I.—: A Village Plundered By the Insurgent Peasantry. Shrieks and Tumult.
• Scene II.—: Open Country. In the Distance Two Villages and an Abbey Are Burning.
• Scene III.—: A Hill and Prospect of the Country. In the Flat Scene a Mill. a Body of Horsemen.
• Scene IV.—: Jaxthausen.
• Scene V.—: A Village.
• Scene VI.—: The Front of a Gypsy-hut In a Wild Forest.—night.—a Fire Before the Hut, At Which Are Seated the Mother of the Gypsies and a Girl.
• Scene VII.—: Inside the Hut.
• Scene VIII.—: Adelaide’s Bedchamber.
• Scene IX.—: Street Before the Prison At Heilbronn.
• Scene X.—: An Apartment In Weislingen’s Castle.
• Scene XI.—: A Narrow Vault Dimly Illuminated. the Judges of the Secret Tribunal Discovered Seated, All Muffled In Black Cloaks.
• Scene XII.—: The Court of an Inn.
• Scene XIII.—: The Prison At Heilbronn.
• Scene the Last. —: the Prison Garden.
• Iphigenia In Tauris a Drama
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Scene I.—: A Grove Before the Temple of Diana.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act II.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Act III.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Act V.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Torquato Tasso
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Scene I.: A Garden Adorned With Busts of the Epic Poets. to the Right a Bust of Virgil: to the Left, One of Ariosto.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act II.
• Scene I.—: A Room.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Act III.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.—: A Chamber.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Act V.
• Scene I.—: A Garden.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Clavigo
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Scene I.—: Clavigo’s Dwelling.
• Scene II.—: Guilbert’s Dwelling.
• Act II.
• Scene I.—: Clavigo’s House.
• Act III.
• Scene I.—: Guilbert’s Abode.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.—: Clavigo’s Abode. Carlos, Alone.
• Scene II.—: Guilbert’s Abode.
• Act V.
• Scene I.—: The Street Before the House of Guilbert. Night.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Stella. a Tragedy.
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Act II.
• Act III.
• Act IV.
• Act V.
• The Brother and Sister
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• A Tale.
• The Good Women.
• Reynard the Fox.
• Chapter I.: The Accusation.
• Chapter II.: The First Summons.
• Chapter III.: The Second Summons.
• Chapter IV.: The Trial.
• Chapter V.: The Pardon.
• Chapter VI.: The Relapse.
• Chapter VII.: The Outlawry.
• Chapter VIII.: The Journey.
• Chapter IX.: The Advocacy.
• Chapter X.: The Second Pardon.
• Chapter XI.: The Defiance.
• Chapter XII.: The Battle.

SCENE IV.—

TheBishop of Bamberg’sPalace.

[TheBishop,theAbbot of Fulda, Olearius, LiebtrautandCourtiersat table. The dessert and wine before them.

Bishop.

Are there many of the German nobility studying at Bologna?

Olearius.

Both nobles and citizens; and, I do not exaggerate in saying that they acquire the most brilliant reputation. It is a proverb in the university: “As studious as a German noble.” For while the citizens display a laudable diligence, in order to compensate by learning for their want of birth, the nobles strive, with praiseworthy emulation, to enhance their ancestral dignity by superior attainments.

Abbot.

Indeed!

Liebtraut.

What may one not live to hear. We live and learn, as the proverb says. “As studious as a German noble.” I never heard that before.

Olearius.

Yes, they are the admiration of the whole university. Some of the oldest and most learned will soon be coming back with their doctor’s degree. The emperor will doubtless be happy to intrust to them the highest offices.

Bishop.

He cannot fail to do so.

Abbot.

Do you know, for instance, a young man—a Hessian?—

Olearius.

There are many Hessians with us.

Abbot.

His name is—is—. Does nobody remember it? His mother was a Von—. Oh! his father had but one eye, and was a marshal—

Liebtraut.

Von Wildenholz!

Abbot.

Right. Von Wildenholz.

Olearius.

I know him well. A young man of great abilities. He is particularly esteemed for his talent in disputation.

Abbot.

He has that from his mother.

Liebtraut.

Yes; but his father would never praise her for that quality.

Bishop.

How call you the emperor who wrote your Corpus Juris?

Olearius.

Justinian.

Bishop.

A worthy prince:—here’s to his memory!

Olearius.

To his memory!

[They drink.

Abbot.

That must be a fine book.

Olearius.

It may be called a book of books; a digest of all laws; there you find the sentence ready for every case, and where the text is antiquated or obscure, the deficiency is supplied by notes, with which the most learned men have enriched this truly admirable work.

Abbot.

A digest of all laws!—Indeed!—Then the ten commandments must be in it.

Olearius.

Implicitè; not explicitè.

Abbot.

That’s what I mean; plainly set down, without any explication.

Bishop.

But the best is, you tell us that a state can be maintained in the most perfect tranquillity and subordination by receiving and rightly following that statute-book.

Olearius.

Doubtless.

Bishop.

All doctors of laws!

[They drink.

Olearius.

I’ll tell them of this abroad. (They drink.) Would to Heaven that men thought thus in my country.

Abbot.

Whence come you, most learned sir?

Olearius.

From Frankfort, at your eminence’s service!

Bishop.

You gentlemen of the law, then, are not held in high estimation there?—How comes that?

Olearius.

It is strange enough—when I last went there to collect my father’s effects, the mob almost stoned me, when they heard I was a lawyer.

Abbot.

God bless me!

Olearius.

It is because their tribunal, which they hold in great respect, is composed of people totally ignorant of the Roman law. An intimate acquaintance with the internal condition of the town, and also of its foreign relations, acquired through age and experience, is deemed a sufficient qualification. They decide according to certain established edicts of their own, and some old customs recognized in the city and neighborhood.

Abbot.

That’s very right.

Olearius.

But far from sufficient. The life of man is short, and in one generation cases of every description cannot occur; our statute-book is a collection of precedents, furnished by the experience of many centuries. Besides, the wills and opinions of men are variable; one man deems right to-day what another disapproves to-morrow; and confusion and injustice are the inevitable results. Law determines absolutely, and its decrees are immutable.

Abbot.

That’s certainly better.

Olearius.

But the common people won’t acknowledge that; and, eager as they are after novelty, they hate any innovation in their laws which leads them out of the beaten track, be it ever so much for the better. They hate a jurist as if he were a cut-purse or a subverter of the state, and become furious if one attempts to settle among them.

Liebtraut.

You come from Frankfort?—I know the place well—we tasted your good cheer at the emperor’s coronation. You say your name is Olearius—I know no one in the town of your name.

Olearius.

My father’s name was Oilman; but after the example, and with the advice of many jurists, I have Latinized the name to Olearius for the decoration of the title-page of my legal treatises.

Liebtraut.

You did well to translate yourself: a prophet is not honored in his own country—in your native guise you might have shared the same fate.

Olearius.

That was not the reason.

Liebtraut.

All things have two reasons.

Abbot.

A prophet is not honored in his own country.

Liebtraut.

But do you know why, most reverend sir?

Abbot.

Because he was born and bred there.

Liebtraut.

Well, that may be one reason. The other is, because, upon a nearer acquaintance with these gentlemen, the halo of glory and honor shed around them by the distant haze totally disappears; they are then seen to be nothing more than tiny rushlights!

Olearius.

It seems you are placed here to tell pleasant truths.

Liebtraut.

As I have wit enough to discover them, I do not lack courage to utter them.

Olearius.

Yet you lack the art of applying them well.

Liebtraut.

It is no matter where you place a cupping-glass provided it draws blood.

Olearius.

Barbers are known by their dress, and no one takes offence at their scurvy jests. Let me advise you as a precaution to bear the badge of your order—a cap and bells!

Liebtraut.

Where did you take your degree? I only ask, so that, should I ever take a fancy to a fool’s cap, I could at once go to the right shop.

Olearius.

You carry face enough.

Liebtraut.

And you paunch.

[TheBishopandAbbotlaugh.

Bishop.

Not so warm, gentlemen! Some other subject. At table all should be fair and quiet. Choose another subject, Liebtraut.

Liebtraut.

Opposite Frankfort lies a village called Sachsenhausen—

Olearius.

(To theBishop.) What news of the Turkish expedition, your excellency?

Bishop.

The emperor has most at heart, first of all to restore peace to the empire, put an end to feuds, and secure the strict administration of justice: then, according to report, he will go in person against the enemies of his country and of Christendom. At present internal dissensions give him enough to do; and the empire, despite half a hundred treaties of peace, is one scene of murder. Franconia, Swabia, the Upper Rhine and the surrounding countries are laid waste by presumptuous and reckless knights.—And here, at Bamberg, Sickingen, Selbitz with one leg, and Goetz with the iron hand, scoff at the imperial authority.

Abbot.

If his majesty does not exert himself, these fellows will at last thrust us into sacks.

Liebtraut.

He would be a sturdy fellow indeed who should thrust the wine-butt of Fulda into a sack!

Bishop.

Goetz especially has been for many years my mortal foe, and annoys me beyond description. But it will not last long, I hope. The emperor holds his court at Augsburg. We have taken our measures, and cannot fail of success.—Doctor, do you know Adelbert von Weislingen?

Olearius.

No, your eminence.

Bishop.

If you stay till his arrival you will have the pleasure of seeing a most noble, accomplished and gallant knight.

Olearius.

He must be an excellent man indeed to deserve such praises from such a mouth.

Liebtraut.

And yet he was not bred at any university.

Bishop.

We know that. (Theattendantsthrong to the window.) What’s the matter?

Attendant.

Färber, Weislingen’s servant, is riding in at the castle-gate.

Bishop.

See what he brings. He most likely comes to announce his master.

[ExitLiebtraut.They stand up and drink.

Liebtrautre-enters.

Bishop.

What news?

Liebtraut.

I wish another had to tell it—Weislingen is a prisoner.

Bishop.

What?

Liebtraut.

Berlichingen has seized him and three troopers near Haslach. One is escaped to tell you.

Abbot.

A Job’s messenger!

Olearius.

I grieve from my heart.

Bishop.

I will see the servant; bring him up—I will speak with him myself. Conduct him into my cabinet.

[ExitBishop.

Abbot.

(Sitting down.) Another draught, however.

[TheServantsfill round.

Olearius.

Will not your reverence take a turn in the garden? “Post cœnam stabis, seu passus mille meabis.”

Liebtraut.

In truth, sitting is unhealthy for you. You might get an apoplexy. (TheAbbotrises. Aside.) Let me but once get him out of doors, I will give him exercise enough!

[Exeunt.