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

first girl

They are too arrogant to notice us.

SECOND GIRL

Or modest, and they do not dare to try.

(They mingle with the crowd. Drinks are served under the foliage of a tree; drinking workers sit around the table; in the background, there is music and dance; soldiers and common people linger and enjoy themselves.)

TAVERN-KEEPER

Gentlemen, cheer! The past is lost forever,

We may not live to see tomorrow ever.

Almighty God still nurtures all the birds,

And life is empty — these are the Bible’s words.

LUCIFER (to Adam)

I am quite fond of this philosophy.

Let us sit down upon this shady bench To watch these men how cheaply they enjoy Their mediocre music and sour wine!

FIRST WORKER (at the table)

I tell you, these machines are Satan’s work,

Out of our mouths they rob our daily bread.

SECOND WORKER

We could forget them if our drink remains.

FIRST WORKER

The wealthy, like a devil, suck our blood.

Let them come now — I’ll send them on to hell;

We need more action like the recent one.

THIRD WORKER

What could you win by it? We will be hanged,

And life become just as it was before.

255