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Front Page Titles (by Subject) SCENE II.—: Open Country. In the distance two Villages and an Abbey are burning. - Goethe's Works, vol. 3 (Goetz von Berlichingen, Iphigenia in Tauris, Tarquato Tasso, etc)
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SCENE II.—: Open Country. In the distance two Villages and an Abbey are burning. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Goethe’s Works, vol. 3 (Goetz von Berlichingen, Iphigenia in Tauris, Tarquato Tasso, etc) [1885]Edition used:Goethe’s Works, illustrated by the best German artists, 5 vols. (Philadelphia: G. Barrie, 1885). Vol. 3.
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SCENE II.—Open Country. In the distance two Villages and an Abbey are burning.Kohl, Wild, Maximilian. Stumf.Insurgents. Stumf.You cannot ask me to be your leader; it were bad for you and for me: I am a vassal of the palsgrave, and how shall I make war against my liege lord? Besides, you would always suspect I did not act from my heart. Kohl.We knew well thou would’st make some excuse. EnterGeorge, LerseandGoetz. Goetz.What would you with me? Kohl.You must be our captain. Goetz.How can I break my knightly word to the emperor. I am under the ban: I cannot quit my territory. Wild.That’s no excuse. Goetz.And were I free, and you wanted to deal with the lords and nobles as you did at Weinsberg, laying waste the country round with fire and sword, and should wish me to be an abettor of your shameless, barbarous doings, rather than be your captain, you should slay me like a mad dog! Kohl.What has been done cannot be undone. Stumf.That was just the misfortune, that they had no leader whom they honored, and who could bridle their fury. I beseech thee, Goetz, accept the office! The princes will be grateful; all Germany will thank thee. It will be for the weal and prosperity of all. The country and its inhabitants will be preserved. Goetz.Why dost not thou accept it? Stumf.I have given them reasons for my refusal. Kohl.We have no time to waste in useless speeches. Once for all! Goetz, be our chief, or look to thy castle and thy head! Take two hours to consider of it. Guard him! Goetz.To what purpose? I am as resolved now as I shall ever be. Why have ye risen up in arms? If to recover your rights and freedom, why do you plunder and lay waste the land? Will you abstain from such evil doings, and act as true men who know what they want? Then will I be your chief for eight days, and help you in your lawful and orderly demands. Wild.What has been done was done in the first heat, and thy interference is not needed to prevent it for the future. Kohl.Thou must engage with us at least for a quarter of a year. Stumf.Say four weeks, that will satisfy both parties. Goetz.Then be it so. Kohl.Your hand! Goetz.But you must promise to send the treaty you have made with me in writing to all your troops, and to punish severely those who infringe it. Wild.Well, it shall be done. Goetz.Then I bind myself to you for four weeks. Stumf.Good fortune to you! In whatever thou doest, spare our noble lord the palsgrave. Kohl.(Aside.) See that none speak to him without our knowledge. Goetz.Lerse, go to my wife. Protect her; you shall soon have news of me. [ExeuntGoetz, Stumf, George, Lerseand somePeasants. EnterMetzler, Linkand their followers. Metzler.Who talks of a treaty? What’s the use of a treaty? Link.It is shameful to make any such bargain. Kohl.We know as well what we want as you; and we may do or let alone what we please. Wild.This raging, and burning, and murdering must have an end some day or other; and by renouncing it just now, we gain a brave leader. Metzler.How? An end? Thou traitor! why are we here but to avenge ourselves on our enemies, and enrich ourselves at their expense? Some prince’s slave has been tampering with thee. Kohl.Come, Wild, he is like a brute-beast. [ExeuntWildandKohl. Metzler.Ay, go your way; no band will stick by you. The villains! Link, we’ll set on the others to burn Miltenberg yonder; and if they begin a quarrel about the treaty, we’ll cut off the heads of those that made it. Link.We have still the greater body of peasants on our side. [Exeunt withInsurgents. |

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