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

ADAM

I feel that God has left me all alone,

Driven me empty-handed to this spot.

I also left Him to become my god,

And everything that I achieve belongs

To me by right. These are my strength and pride!

LUCIFER (aside)

Poor creature! Now you trifle with the skies,

I’ll watch your heart when lightning blinds your eyes.

EVE

My only pride’s imprinted on my face:

I’ll be the mother of the human race.

LUCIFER (aside)

This woman’s vision is quite genuine To bear the world of misery and sin!

ADAM

For what should I be thankful? For mere life?

Well, this existence, if it has a value Is entirely the fruit of my own labor.

I have to suffer burning thirst before I can perceive the joy that water gives.

The sweetness of the kiss will have its price In the depression which must follow it.

But if the bonds of gratitude are broken And I am free to shape my destiny,

And then destroy again what I have built With cautious, careful and uncertain plans - Perhaps I do not even need your help;

I might achieve my aim with my own strength.

You did not save me from the heavy chains Which tie my body to the earthly dust.

I feel there’s something that I do not know;

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