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
EVE Solemn you are, oh mighty Pharaoh! And I have caused your grief. Chase me away! Or teach me how I can be deaf all day! ADAM You were the better teacher, because you made Me hear the lamentation of the people. I do not want to hear it anymore! Let all my slaves be free! Ehat is the value Of such a glory that one man achieves Only through death and wailing of the millions Who also breathe like other human beings? I feel a million pains for every joy. LUCIFER Oh Pharaoh, you rave. This wretched mob, Sentenced by destiny, like oxen will Carry the yoke of every ruler’s mill, Because they are created so. You set them free, Yet what you throw away they will not keep; Soon they will seek another ruler’s yoke — Or do you think that you could rule this land When they no longer feel a master’s hand, Once consciousness awakened in their hearts? ADAM Why do they wail; does slavery hurt tham so? LUCIFER Oh yes, it hurts, but they do not know why. Each man aspires to be a master, thus It is this feeling and not brotherhood Which drives the people on to freedom’s flag. Although this does not stir to consciousness, It vaguely makes them strive for something new Which is denial of all present things, 161
