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
It slips between our fingers, so I can’t Tear it apart. ADAM (steps down from his throne) Do not tear it at all! Though it’s offensive, still it has its charm. LUCIFER But it’s not proper that a sage and king Should groan because of it. ADAM What should I do? LUCIFER We have no choice; thus knowledge must deny The very being of this hidden thread — Matter and force must rudely laugh at it. ADAM But I cannot deny nor laugh at it. EVE (to her husband) Your blood still flows and gushes out in spurts; Let me stop it! Does it hurt too much? THE SLAVE It’s life alone that hurts, but not for long. EVE Not so! Not so! Why did you live your life If you would die now after we have met? THE SLAVE Why do slaves live? To carry stones for kings? To build a temple, pyramid or sphinx; 157
