Bereczky Erzsébet (szerk.): Imre Madách: The Tragedy of Man. Essays about the ideas and the directing of the Drama (Budapest, 1985)

Imre Madách: The Tragedy of Man - full text of the drama - Translated by Joseph Grosz

THE LORD

Homage belongs to Me and not rebuke!

LUCIFER

I cannot give You anything but me!

(Points toward the angels.)

This wretched army glorifies Your grace,

And it is proper that they sing Your praise;

You have created them as light its shade,

But since all time I lived-etemal made.

THE LORD

You, arrogant! Are you not matter-born?

Where was your kingdom, and where was your strength?

LUCIFER

And I could ask the very same of You!

THE LORD

I have devised this since eternity;

What I have made has always lived in me.

LUCIFER

Did You not feel a void inside Your thoughts Which was the bar of every life You planned?

This has compelled You to create a world - Well, this obstruction’s name was Lucifer,

The ancient spirit of negation—I!

I always must be vanquished by Your hands;

It is my fate to lose my every fight,

But then to stand again renewed and strong!

You have made matter, I have conquered space;

You will find death on every living face;

Sorrow will follow joy and happiness;

Hope comes with doubt, and light with shadow; yes,

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