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

Just I alone shall die. Why should I live,

Beholding folly in this liberty

For which I have been striving all my life?

FIRST DEMAGOGUE

Why do you hesitate?

THE MOB

Well, let him die!

ADAM

I don’t condemn this craven mob, because They are not guilty if their nature dooms Them to become the slaves of poverty.

A few seditious rebels twisted them To be the bloody tolls of servitude;

I, all alone, was stupid in believing That such a people needed liberty.

LUCIFER (aside)

Now you have written your own epitaph;

This will be good for centuries to come.

ADAM

Help me downstairs, no longer will I seek Protection in this sacred hall.

(He allows himself to be helped down the stairs and puts Eve into the arms of a maiden.)

I am

Ready!

SECOND DEMAGOGUE

It’s not too late, defend yourself!

ADAM

My wounds are too severe for me to speak In my defense.

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