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

And with its roses alters nakedness To modesty, ennobles human sin And glorifies ill-fated destiny —

Why is my world delayed so long? My world,

This phantom-feature with its horror-face To frighten off these many dazzling visions Which always raise those men who almost are Fallen in my eternal fight against them.

But we shall see what happens when the horror Of death arrives and threatens to descend?

Will then this boring, shadow-game of yours, Subside to flicker to its final end?

(Adam, as Miltiades, comes wounded at the head of his troups. The mob and the Demagogues, imploring, in front of him.)

THE MOB

Hail to our leader; pity us great man!

ADAM

What is your sin that you ask me for mercy? How can the weak grant mercy to the strong? My wife does not await me, nor my son;

I hope, no insult has befallen them.

EVE

Miltiades, why did you come when I Cannot find pleasure in your coming? Son, Your mother faints; come, help me stand erect! Your father leaves no worthy name to you —

ADAM

I do not understand. The people beg for mercy, My wife receives me with a cursing speech,

And I am bleeding for my fatherland.

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