The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Vi Part 49

What is the happiness the world can give?-- A shadow! What the fame it can bestow?-- An empty dream! Poor man! Thy dreams were all Of shadows! And the dreams are ended now, But not the long, black Night!--Farewell to thee, My husband, for I go! That was a day Of heavy sorrows when we first did meet; Today, 'mid heavier sorrows, we must part!

Farewell!

JASON. Deserted! All alone! My babes!

MEDEA. Endure!

JASON. Lost! Lost!

MEDEA. Be patient!

JASON. Let me die!

MEDEA. I go, and nevermore thine eyes shall see My face again!

_[As she departs, winding her way among the tumbled rocks, the curtain falls.]_

THE JEWESS OF TOLEDO

AN HISTORICAL TRAGEDY IN FIVE ACTS

By FRANZ GRILLPARZER

DRAMATIS PERSONae

ALFONSO VIII., _the n.o.ble, King of Castile._

ELEANOR OF ENGLAND, _Daughter of Henry II., his Wife._

THE PRINCE, _their Son._

MANRIQUE, _Count of Lara, Governor of Castile._

DON GARCERAN, _his Son._

DOnA CLARA, _Lady in Waiting to the Queen.

The Queen's Waiting Maid._

ISAAC, _the Jew._

ESTHER, } } _his Daughters._ RACHEL, }

REINERO, _the King's Page.

n.o.bles, Court Ladies, Pet.i.tioners, Servants, and Other People.

Place, Toledo and Vicinity.

Time, about 1195 A.D._

THE JEWESS OF TOLEDO (1873)

TRANSLATED BY GEORGE HENRY DANTON AND ANNINA PERIAM DANTON

ACT I

_In the Royal Garden at Toledo._

_Enter_ ISAAC, RACHEL, _and_ ESTHER.

ISAAC. Back, go back, and leave the garden!

Know ye not it is forbidden?

When the King here takes his pleasure Dares no Jew--ah, G.o.d will d.a.m.n them!

Dares no Jew to tread the earth here!

RACHEL (_singing_).

La-la-la-la.

ISAAC. Don't you hear me?

RACHEL. Yes, I hear thee.

ISAAC. Hear, and linger

RACHEL. Hear, yet linger!

ISAAC. Oh, Oh, Oh! Why doth G.o.d try me?

To the poor I've given my portion, I have prayed and I have fasted, Unclean things I've never tasted Nay! And yet G.o.d tries me thus.

RACHEL (_to_ ESTHER).

Ow! Why dost thou pull my arm so?

I will stay, I am not going.

I just wish to see the King and All the court and all their doings, All their gold and all their jewels.

He is young, they say, and handsome, White and red, I want to see him.

ISAAC. And suppose the servants catch thee