SCENE XI.—: A narrow Vault dimly illuminated. The Judges of the Secret Tribunal discovered seated, all muffled in black cloaks. - 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 XI.—
A narrow Vault dimly illuminated. TheJudges of the Secret Tribunaldiscovered seated, all muffled in black cloaks.
Eldest Judge.
Judges of the Secret Tribunal, sworn by the cord and the steel to be inflexible in justice, to judge in secret, and to avenge in secret, like the Deity! Are your hands clean and your hearts pure? Raise them to heaven and cry,—Woe upon evil-doers!
All.
Woe! woe!
Eldest Judge.
Crier, begin the diet of judgment.
Crier.
I cry, I cry for accusation against evil-doers! He whose heart is pure, whose hands are clean to swear by the cord and the steel, let him lift up his voice and call upon the steel and the cord for vengeance! vengeance! vengeance!
Accuser.
(Comes forward.) My heart is pure from misdeed, and my hands are clean from innocent blood: God pardon my sins of thought, and prevent their execution. I raise my hand on high, and cry for vengeance! vengeance! vengeance!
Eldest Judge.
Vengeance upon whom?
Accuser.
I call upon the cord and the steel for vengeance against Adelaide of Weislingen. She has committed adultery and murder. She has poisoned her husband by the hands of his servant—the servant hath slain himself—the husband is dead.
Eldest Judge.
Dost thou swear by the God of truth, that thy accusation is true?
Accuser.
I swear!
Eldest Judge.
Dost thou invoke upon thine own head the punishment of murder and adultery, should thy accusation be found false?
Accuser.
On my head be it.
Eldest Judge.
Your voices?
[They converse a few minutes in whispers.
Accuser.
Judges of the Secret Tribunal, what is your sentence upon Adelaide of Weislingen, accused of murder and adultery?
Eldest Judge.
She shall die!—she shall die a bitter and twofold death! By the double doom of the steel and the cord shall she expiate the double crime. Raise your hands to heaven and cry, Woe, woe upon her! Be she delivered into the hands of the avenger.
All.
Woe! woe!
Eldest Judge.
Woe! Avenger, come forth.
[A man advances.
Here, take thou the cord and the steel! Within eight days shalt thou blot her out from before the face of heaven: wheresoever thou findest her, down with her into the dust. Judges, ye that judge in secret and avenge in secret like the Deity, keep your hearts from wickedness, and your hands from innocent blood!
[The Scene closes.