The virgin of the sun : $b A play, in five actsKotzebue, August von
General
The virgin of the sun : $b A play, in five acts
Kotzebue, August von
German drama -- Translations into English; Tragedies (Drama)
_Juan._ (_With some asperity_) Farewell my friend! Since thou art
resolved on ruin, take thine own course!—Oh madman! madman!—where others
only walk he runs, where others enter slowly and only step by step,
thither he rushes. Well, well, even if what I have urged prove of no
avail, friendship has however discharged its duty—and the worst that can
happen is at last to be reduced to suffer with my friend. Till then, be
of good heart, Diego!—How dost thou find thyself?
_Diego._ Like a fish upon dry land.
_Juan._ Thou dost not speak truly. When a fool is running on the wrong
side of the post, he is in his proper element; and, by Saint George, I
think we are running cursedly on the wrong side of the post here.
_Diego._ Only with this difference, that I _must_ do as you _please_—and
you are not _pleased_ to do what God and sound reason require of you.
_Juan._ Well, let us hear what your wisdom would suggest.
_Diego._ Were I in the place of the valiant knight Don Juan de
Velasquez, in the first place I would deliver a discourse pretty nearly
to the same purpose as he has done; but then if that produced no effect,
I would say—my dear friend Alonzo, or my dear Don Alonzo, you cannot
expect that I should stay to be roasted alive for your sake!—Fare thee
well—I shall return home, and take our worthy Diego with me.—We will say
over our beads in your behalf.
_Juan._ That may as well be done here.
_Diego._ Here!—on heathen ground!—in view of a heathen temple!
_Juan._ Blockhead!—Our God is every where, and by a firm adherence to the
sacred claims of friendship we serve him more acceptably than by saying
over a rosary—therefore will I offer no prayers at this moment. I am here
as the guardian of my misguided friend.
_Diego._ And pray then in what capacity am I here?
_Juan._ As his attendant, whom he employs to carry his arms.
_Diego._ My presence then, it should seem, is now wholly superfluous,
since I am not permitted to appear publickly as such.
_Juan._ Thy part is to obey, not to remonstrate. Go, take this whistle,
and steal silently to the left, along the wall that surrounds the Temple,
while I go round by the right—we shall by this means meet on the other
side; and should you encounter any thing suspicious by the way, make use
of the whistle. Here, take it.
_Diego._ (_Trembling as he takes it_) To the left did you say?
_Juan._ Yes, to the left.
_Diego._ And quite alone?
_Juan._ Yes, quite alone.
_Diego._ I am afraid of losing myself among the bushes.
_Juan._ Fool, can you not see the wall, and the cupola of the Temple?
_Diego._ Do you take me for an owl?
_Juan._ Is not the moon bright enough to light thee?
_Diego._ No.
_Juan._ No!—Ha! ha! ha!—Fear seems wholly to have deprived Signor Diego
of his senses.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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