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Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow SCENE V. - Goethe's Works, vol. 3 (Goetz von Berlichingen, Iphigenia in Tauris, Tarquato Tasso, etc)

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SCENE V. - 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.

Part of: Goethe’s Works, 5 vols.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


SCENE V.

Alphonso, Antonio.

Antonio.

Whither doth frenzied fancy lead the boy?

And in what colors doth he picture forth

His high desert and glorious destiny?

Rash, inexperienc’d, youth esteems itself

A chosen instrument, and arrogates

Unbounded license. He has been chastis’d,

And chastisement is profit to the boy.

For which the man will render cordial thanks.

Alphonso.

He is chastis’d too painfully I fear.

Antonio.

Art thou dispos’d to practise lenity,

Restore to him his liberty, O prince,

And then the sword may arbitrate our strife.

Alphonso.

So be it, if the public voice demands.

But tell me, how didst thou provoke his ire?

Antonio.

In sooth, I scarce can say how it befell.

As man, I may perchance have wounded him;

As nobleman, I gave him no offence.

And in the very tempest of his rage

No word unseemly hath escap’d this lip.

Alphonso.

Of such a sort your quarrel seem’d to me;

And your own word confirms me in my thought.

When men dispute we justly may esteem

The wiser the offender. Thou with Tasso

Should’st not contend, but rather guide his steps;

It would become thee more. ’Tis not too late

The sword’s decision is not call’d for here.

So long as I am bless’d with peace abroad,

So long would I enjoy it in my house.

Restore tranquillity, thou canst with ease.

Leonora Sanvitale may at first

Attempt to soothe him with her honey’d lip;

Then go thou to him; in my name restore

His liberty; with true and noble words

Endeavor to obtain his confidence.

Accomplish this with all the speed thou canst;

As a kind friend and father speak with him.

Peace I would know restor’d ere I depart;

All if thou wilt—is possible to thee.

We gladly will remain another hour,

Then leave it to the ladies’ gentle tact

To consummate the work commenc’d by thee.

So when we come again, the last faint trace

Of this rash quarrel will be quite effac’d.

It seems thy talents will not rust, Antonio!

Scarcely hast thou concluded one affair,

And on thy first return thou seek’st another.

In this new mission may success be thine!

Antonio.

I am asham’d; my error in thy words,

As in the clearest mirror, I discern!

How easy to obey a noble prince

Who doth convince us while he doth command!

lf0841-03_figure_070

Fr. Pecht del.

published by george barrie

[Editor: illegible text]

Leonora Sanvitale

ACT III.

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