The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 06: Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into English. in Twenty Volumes
General
The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 06: Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into English. in Twenty Volumes
German literature -- 19th century -- Translations into English; German literature -- 20th century -- Translations into English
Know'st thou the golden prize which thou didst strive
So eagerly to win, which seemed to thee
The shining crown of all thy famous deeds?
What is the happiness the world can give?--
A shadow! What the fame it can bestow?--
An empty dream! Poor man! Thy dreams were all
Of shadows! And the dreams are ended now,
But not the long, black Night!--Farewell to thee,
My husband, for I go! That was a day
Of heavy sorrows when we first did meet;
Today, 'mid heavier sorrows, we must part!
Farewell!
JASON. Deserted! All alone! My babes!
MEDEA. Endure!
JASON. Lost! Lost!
MEDEA. Be patient!
JASON. Let me die!
MEDEA. I go, and nevermore thine eyes shall see
My face again!
_[As she departs, winding her way among the tumbled rocks, the curtain
falls.]_
* * * * *
THE JEWESS OF TOLEDO
AN HISTORICAL TRAGEDY IN FIVE ACTS
By FRANZ GRILLPARZER
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
ALFONSO VIII., _the Noble, King of Castile._
ELEANOR OF ENGLAND, _Daughter of Henry II., his Wife._
THE PRINCE, _their Son._
MANRIQUE, _Count of Lara, Governor of Castile._
DON GARCERAN, _his Son._
DOÑA CLARA, _Lady in Waiting to the Queen.
The Queen's Waiting Maid._
ISAAC, _the Jew._
ESTHER, }
} _his Daughters._
RACHEL, }
REINERO, _the King's Page.
Nobles, Court Ladies, Petitioners, Servants, and Other People.
Place, Toledo and Vicinity.
Time, about 1195 A.D._
THE JEWESS OF TOLEDO (1873)
TRANSLATED BY GEORGE HENRY DANTON AND ANNINA PERIAM DANTON
ACT I
_In the Royal Garden at Toledo._
_Enter_ ISAAC, RACHEL, _and_ ESTHER.
ISAAC. Back, go back, and leave the garden!
Know ye not it is forbidden?
When the King here takes his pleasure
Dares no Jew--ah, God will damn them!
Dares no Jew to tread the earth here!
RACHEL (_singing_).
La-la-la-la.
ISAAC. Don't you hear me?
RACHEL. Yes, I hear thee.
ISAAC. Hear, and linger
RACHEL. Hear, yet linger!
ISAAC. Oh, Oh, Oh! Why doth God try me?
To the poor I've given my portion,
I have prayed and I have fasted,
Unclean things I've never tasted
Nay! And yet God tries me thus.
RACHEL (_to_ ESTHER).
Ow! Why dost thou pull my arm so?
I will stay, I am not going.
I just wish to see the King and
All the court and all their doings,
All their gold and all their jewels.
He is young, they say, and handsome,
White and red, I want to see him.
ISAAC. And suppose the servants catch thee
RACHEL. Then I'll beg until they free me!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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