Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Where is Guilbert? Where is Buenco? Send after them, I entreat you. (Sophie exit.) How dost thou feel, Marie?

  Marie.

  Well, quite well! Think’st thou then, brother —

  Beaumarchais.

  What, my love?

  Marie.

  Ah!

  Beaumarchais.

  Is your breathing painful?

  Marie.

  The disordered beating of my heart oppresses me.

  Beaumarchais.

  Have you then no remedy? Do you use no anodyne?

  Marie.

  I know of only one remedy, and for that I have prayed to God many a time and oft.

  Beaumarchais.

  Thou shalt have it, and I hope from my hand.

  Marie.

  That will do well.

  Sophie enters.

  Sophie.

  A courier has just brought this letter; he comes from Aranjuez.

  Beaumarchais.

  That is the seal and the hand of our ambassador.

  Sophie.

  I bade him dismount and take some refreshment; he would not, because he had yet more despatches.

  Marie.

  Will you, my love, send the servant for the physician?

  Sophie.

  Are you ill? Holy God! what ails thee?

  Marie.

  You will make me so anxious that at last I shall scarcely dare ask for a glass of water. Sophie! Brother! — What is in the letter? See, how he trembles! how all courage leaves him!

  Sophie.

  Brother, my brother! (Beaumarchais throws himself speechless into a chair and lets the letter fall.) My brother! (Lifts up the letter and reads it.)

  Marie.

  Let me see it! I must — (tries to rise.) Alas! I feel it. It is the last. O sister, spare not for mercy’s sake the last quick death-stroke! — He betrays us!

  Beaumarchais.

  (Springing up.) He betrays us! (Beating on his brow and breast.) Here! here! All is as dumb, as dead before my soul, as if a thunder-clap had disordered my senses. Marie! Marie! thou art betrayed! — and I stand here! Whither? — What? — I see nothing, nothing! no way, no safety! (Throws himself into a seat.)

  Guilbert enters.

  Sophie.

  Guilbert! Counsel! Help! We are lost!

  Guilbert.

  My wife!

  Sophie.

  Read! read! The ambassador makes known to our brother: that Clavigo has made a criminal complaint against him, under the pretext that he introduced himself into his house under a false name; and that taking him by surprise in bed and presenting a pistol, he compelled him to sign a disgraceful vindication; and if he do not quickly withdraw from the kingdom, they will get him thrown into prison, from which the ambassador himself perhaps will not be able to deliver him.

  Beaumarchais.

  (Springing up.) Indeed, they shall do so! they shall do so! shall get me imprisoned; but from his corpse, from the place where I shall have glutted my vengeance with his blood. Ah! the stern, frightful thirst after his blood fills my whole soul. Thanks to Thee, God in heaven, that Thou vouchsafest to man, amid burning, insupportable wrongs, a solace, a refreshment! What a thirst for vengeance I feel in my breast! how the glorious feeling, the lust for his blood, raises me out of my utter dejection, out of my sluggish indecision; raises me above myself! Vengeance! How I rejoice in it! how all within me strives after him, to seize him, to destroy him!

  Sophie.

  Thou art terrible, brother!

  Beaumarchais.

  So much the better. — Ah! No sword, no weapon! with these hands will I strangle him, that the triumph may be mine! all my own the feeling: I have destroyed him!

  Marie.

  My heart! my heart!

  Beaumarchais.

  I have not been able to save thee, so thou shalt be avenged. I pant after his footsteps, my teeth lust after his flesh, my gums after his blood. Have I become a frantic wild beast! There burns in every vein, there glows in every nerve, the desire after him, after him! — I could hate him forever, who should make away with him by poison, who should rid me of him by assassination. Oh, help me, Guilbert, to seek him out. Where is Buenco? Help me to find him!

  Guilbert.

  Save yourself! save yourself! you have lost your reason.

  Marie.

  Flee, my brother!

  Sophie.

  Take him away; he will cause his sister’s death.

  Buenco appears.

  Buenco.

  Up, sir! away! I saw it before. I gave heed to all. And now they are in hot pursuit; you are lost if you do not leave the town this moment.

  Beaumarchais.

  Never more! Where is Clavigo?

  Buenco.

  I do not know.

  Beaumarchais.

  Thou knowest. I entreat you on my knees, tell me.

  Sophie.

  For God’s sake, Buenco!

  Marie.

  Ah! air! air! (Falls back.) Clavigo! —

  Buenco.

  Help, she is dying!

  Sophie.

  Forsake us not, God in heaven! Hence! my brother, away!

  Beaumarchais.

  (Falls down before Marie, who despite every aid does not recover.) To forsake thee! to forsake thee!

  Sophie.

  Stay, then, and ruin us all, as you have killed Marie. You are gone, then, O my sister, through the heedlessness of your own brother!

  Beaumarchais.

  Stop, sister!

  Sophie.

  (Mocking.) Saviour! — Avenger! — help yourself!

  Beaumarchais.

  Do I deserve this?

  Sophie.

  Give her to me again! And then go to the prison, to the stake; go, pour forth thy blood and give me her again.

  Beaumarchais.

  Sophie!

  Sophie.

  Ha! and she is gone, she is dead — save yourself for us! (Falling on his neck.) My brother, for us! for our father! Haste, haste! That was her fate! she has met it! And there is a God in heaven, to Him leave vengeance.

  Buenco.

  Hence! away! Come with me; I will hide you till we find means to get you out of the kingdom.

  Beaumarchais.

  (Falls on Marie and kisses her.) Sister dear! (They tear him away, he clasps Sophie,she disengages herself. They remove Marie,and Buenco and Beaumarchais retire.)

  Guilbert,a Physician.

  Sophie.

  (Returning from the room to which they had taken Marie.) Too late! She is gone! she is dead!

  Guilbert.

  Come in, sir! See for yourself! It is not possible!

  [Exit .

  ACT V.

  SCENE I.

  The street before the house ofGuilbert.Night.

  [The house is open, and before the door stand three men clad in black mantles, holding torches. Clavigo enters, wrapped in a cloak, his sword under his arm; a Servant goes before him with a torch.

  Clavigo.

  I told you to avoid this street.

  Servant.

  We must have gone a great way round, sir, and you are in such haste. It is not far hence where Don Carlos is lodged.

  Clavigo.

  Torches there!

  Servant.

  A funeral. Come on, sir.

  Clavigo.

  Marie’s abode! A funeral! A death-agony shudders through all my limbs! Go, ask whom they are going to bury.

  Servant.

  (To the men.) Whom are you going to bury?

  The Men.

  Marie de Beaumarchais.

  [Clavigo sits down on a stone and covers himself with a cloak.

  Servant.

  (Comes back.) They are going to bury Marie de Beaumarchais.

  Clavigo.

  (Springing up.) Must thou repeat it? Repeat that word of thunder which strikes all the marrow out of my bones?

  Servant.

  Peace, sir! Come on, sir. Consider the danger by which you a
re surrounded.

  Clavigo.

  To hell with thee, reptile! I remain.

  Servant.

  O Carlos! Oh, that I could find thee! — Carlos! — he has lost his reason.

  [Exit .

  SCENE II.

  Clavigo.The Mutes in the distance.

  Clavigo.

  Dead! Marie dead! Torches! her dismal attendants! it is a trick of enchantment, a night vision, which terrifies me; which holds up to me a mirror, in which I may see foreboded the end of all my treacheries. But there is still time. Still! — I tremble — my heart melts with horror! No! no! thou shalt not die — I come, I come! Vanish, ye spirits of the night, who with your horrible terrors set yourselves in my way. (He goes up to them.) Vanish — they remain! Ha! they look round after me! Woe! woe is me! They are men like myself. It is true! true! Canst thou comprehend it? She is dead! It seizes me amid all the horrors of midnight — the feeling — she is dead. There she lies, the flower at your feet! and thou — Oh, have mercy on me, God in heaven — I have not killed her! Hide yourselves, ye stars! look not down! — ye who have so often beheld the villain with feelings of the most heartfelt happiness leave this threshold; through this very street float along in golden dreams with music and song, and enrapture his maiden listening at the secret casement and lingering in transport. And now I fill the house with wailing and sorrow — and this scene of my bliss with the funeral song — Marie! Marie! take me with thee! take me with thee! (Mournful music breathes forth a few sounds from within.) They are setting out on the way to the grave. Stop! stop! Shut not the coffin. Let me see her once more. (He runs up to the house.) Ha! into whose presence am I rushing? Whom to face in his terrible sorrow? Her friends! her brother! whose breast is panting with raving grief! (The music recommences.) She calls me! she calls me! I come! What anguish is this which overwhelms me? What shuddering withholds me?

  [The music begins for the third time and continues. The torches move before the door; three others come out to them, who range themselves in order to inclose the funeral procession, which now comes out of the house. Six bearers carry the bier, upon which lies the coffin, covered.

  SCENE III.

  Guilbert and Buenco (in deep mourning).

  Clavigo.

  (Coming forward.) Stay!

  Guilbert.

  What voice is that?

  Clavigo.

  Stay!

  [The bearers stop.

  Buenco.

  Who dares to interrupt the solemn funeral?

  Clavigo.

  Set it down.

  Guilbert.

  Ha!

  Buenco.

  Wretch! Are thy deeds of shame not yet ended? Is thy victim not safe from thee in the coffin?

  Clavigo.

  No more! Make me not frantic. The wretched are dangerous; I must see her.

  [He tears off the pall and the lid of the coffin. Marie is seen lying within it, clad in white, her hands clasped before her; Clavigo steps back and covers his face.

  Buenco.

  Wilt thou awake her to murder her again?

  Clavigo.

  Poor mocker! Marie!

  [He falls down before the coffin.

  SCENE IV.

  Enter Beaumarchais.The preceding.

  Beaumarchais.

  Buenco has left me. They say she is not dead. I must see, spite of hell, I must see her. Ha! torches! a funeral!

  [He runs hastily up to it, gazes on the coffin, and falls down speechless. They raise him up; he is as if deprived of sense; Guilbert holds him.

  Clavigo.

  (Who is standing on the other side of the coffin.) Marie! Marie!

  Beaumarchais.

  (Springing up.) That is his voice. Who calls Marie? At the sound of that voice what burning rage starts into my veins!

  Clavigo.

  It is I. (Beaumarchais staring wildly around and grasping his sword. Guilbert holds him.) I fear not thy blazing eyes, nor the point of thy sword. Oh! look here, here, on these closed eyes — these clasped hands!

  Beaumarchais.

  Dost thou show me that sight?

  [He tears himself loose, runs upon Clavigo.who instantly draws; they fight; Beaumarchais pierces him through the breast.

  Clavigo.

  (Falling.) I thank thee, brother; thou marriest us.

  [He falls upon the coffin.

  Beaumarchais.

  (Tearing him away.) Hence from this saint, thou fiend!

  Clavigo.

  Alas!

  [The bearers raise up his body and support him.

  Beaumarchais.

  His blood! Look up, Marie, look upon thy bridal ornaments, and then close thine eyes forever. See how I have consecrated thy place of rest with the blood of thy murderer! Charming! Glorious!

  SCENE V.

  Enter Sophie.The preceding.

  Sophie.

  My brother? Oh, my God, what is the matter?

  Beaumarchais.

  Draw nearer, my love, and see! I hoped to have strewn her bridal bed with roses; see the roses with which I adorn her on her way to heaven!

  Sophie.

  We are lost!

  Clavigo.

  Save yourself, rash one! save yourself, ere the dawn of day. May God, who sent you for an avenger, conduct you! Sophie, forgive me. Brothers, friends, forgive me.

  Beaumarchais.

  How the sight of his gushing blood extinguishes all the glowing vengeance within me! how with his departing life vanishes all my rage! (Going up to him.) Die! I forgive thee.

  Clavigo.

  Your hand! and yours, Sophie! and yours!

  [Buenco hesitates.

  Sophie.

  Give it him, Buenco.

  Clavigo.

  I thank you; you are as good as ever; I thank you. And thou, O spirit of my beloved, if thou still hoverest around this place, look down, see these heavenly favors, bestow thy blessing, and do thou too forgive me. I come! I come! Save yourself, my brother. Tell me, did she forgive me? How did she die?

  Sophie.

  Her last word was thy unhappy name. She departed without taking leave of us.

  Clavigo.

  I will follow her and bear your farewells to her.

  SCENE VI.

  Carlos,a Servant.The preceding.

  Carlos.

  Clavigo! murderers!

  Clavigo.

  Hear me, Carlos! Thou seest here the victim of thy prudence; and now, I conjure thee, for the sake of that blood, in which my life irrevocably flows away, save my brother.

  Carlos.

  Oh, my friend! (To the servant.) You standing there? Fly for a surgeon.

  [Exit servant.

  Clavigo.

  It is in vain; save, save my unhappy brother! thy hand thereon. They have forgiven me, and so forgive I thee. Accompany him to the frontiers, and — oh!

  Carlos.

  (Stamping with his feet.) Clavigo! Clavigo!

  Clavigo.

  (Drawing nearer to the coffin, upon which they lay him down.) Marie! Thy hand!

  [He unfolds her hands and grasps the right hand.

  Sophie.

  (To Beaumarchais.) Hence, unhappy one, away!

  Clavigo.

  I have her hand, her cold, dead hand. Thou art mine. Yet this last bridal kiss! Alas!

  Sophie.

  He is dying! Save thyself, brother!

  [Beaumarchais falls on Sophie’s neck. She returns the embrace and makes a sign for him to withdraw.

  EGMONT

  Translated by Anna Swanwick

  Completed in 1788, Egmont was heavily influenced by Shakespearean tragedy and concerns the downfall of a man who trusts in the goodness of those around him. The tragedy is a political manifesto in which Egmont’s craving for justice and national liberty is opposed to the despotic authority of the Duke of Alba. It is also a drama of destiny in which the Flemish nobleman, with fatalism, accepts the dire consequences of his straightforwardness and honesty.

  The p
lay relates the fight of Count Egmont (1522-1568) against the tyrannical Duke of Alba. Egmont is a famous Dutch warrior and the Duke of Alba represents the Spanish invader. Though under threat of arrest, Egmont refuses to run away and give up his ideal of liberty. Imprisoned and abandoned because of the cowardice of his people, and despite the desperate efforts of his mistress Klärchen, he is sentenced to death.

  Count of Egmont was a general and statesman in the Habsburg Netherlands just before the start of the Eighty Years’ War, whose execution helped spark the national uprising that eventually led to the independence of the Netherlands.

  CONTENTS

  INTRODUCTORY NOTE

  DRAMATIS PERSONAE

  ACT I

  ACT II

  ACT III

  ACT IV

  ACT V

  An original illustration from a scene of the tragedy

  INTRODUCTORY NOTE

  In 1775, when Goethe was twenty-six, and before he went to Weimar, he began to write “Egmont” After working on it at intervals for twelve years, he finished it at Rome in 1787.

  The scene of the drama is laid in the Low Countries at the beginning of the revolt against Spain. In the fifteenth century Philip of Burgundy had usurped dominion over several of the provinces of the Netherlands, and through him they had passed into the power of his descendant, the Emperor Charles V. This powerful ruler abolished the constitutional rights of the provinces, and introduced the Inquisition in order to stamp out Protestantism. Prominent among his officers was the Fleming, Lamoral, Count Egmont, upon whom he lavished honors and opportunities of service — opportunities so well improved that, by his victories over the French at Saint-Quentin (1557) and Gravelines (1558) Egmont made a reputation as one of the most brilliant generals in Europe, and became the idol of his countrymen. When in 1559 a new Regent of the Netherlands was to be created, the people hoped that Philip II, who had succeeded Charles, would choose Egmont; but instead he appointed his half-sister Margaret, Duchess of Parma. Under the new Regent the persecution of the Protestants was rigorously pressed, and in 1565 Egmont, though a Catholic, was sent to Madrid to plead for clemency. He was received by the King with every appearance of cordiality, but shortly after his return home the Duke of Alva was sent to the Netherlands with instructions to put down with an iron hand all resistance to his master’s will. How terribly he carried out his orders has been told by Prescott and Motley. Egmont was an early victim, but his martyrdom, with that of Count Horn, and later the assassination of William of Orange, roused the Netherlands to a resistance that ended only with the complete throwing off of the Spanish yoke.