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EMILIA GALOTTI.

A Tragedy.

(Translated from the German of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing)

ACT II.

(The Scene, a Hall in the House of the Galotti.)
SCENE I.-CLAUDIA GALOTTI, PIRRO.

CLAUDIA. (in entering, to Pirro, who enters from the other side.) Who galloped then into the court?

PIRRO. Our master, madam.

CLAUDIA. My husband! Is it possible?
PIRRO. He follows close upon me.

CLAUDIA. So unexpected?-(hastening towards him.) Ah! my best one!—

SCENE II.-ODOARDO GALOTTI, and the former. ODOARDO. Good morning, love!-What, have I surprised CLAUDIA. Most agreeably !—if it mean no more than a surprise.

you?

ODOARDO. Nothing more! Be not uneasy.—The happiness of the present day caused me to awake so early; the morning was so fair; the way so short; I imagined you all here so full of business-How easily, it struck me, might something be forgotten! In a word, I come, and look, and hasten back immediately.Where is Emilia? Without question, occupied in adorning—

CLAUDIA. Her soul!-She is at mass.-" On this, more than on any other day, I have need to seek grace from above:" she said, and left every thing as it was, and took her veil, and hastened— ODOARDO. Quite alone?

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ODOARDO. One is sufficient for a fall!

CLAUDIA. Be not angered, my best one; come within,-to rest for an instant, and, if it please you, take refreshment.

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ODOARDO. As you will, Claudia.-But she should not have gone out alone.—

CLAUDIA. And you, Pirro, remain in the antechamber to deny all visitors to-day.

SCENE III-PIRRO, and soon afterwards ANGELO.

PIRRO. That come from curiosity alone.-For the last hour what questioning have I not gone through!-And who comes

there?

ANGELO. (still half behind the scene, in a short cloak, drawn over his face, the hat shading his forehead.) Pirro !- Pirro ! PIRRO. An acquaintance?-(as Angelo advances, and throws open his cloak.) Heaven! Angelo ?—You?

ANGELO. As you see.-I have been long enough skulking round the house to speak with you.-A word now.—

PIRRO. And do you dare to come again to light ?—You have been, since your last murder, declared an outlaw; a reward is offered on your head.

ANGELO. Which you, surely, have no thought of earning ?— PIRRO. What would you with me ?-I entreat you, make me not unhappy.

ANGELO. With that, mean you? (showing him a purse of gold.)-Take it! It belongs to you!

PIRRO. To me?

ANGELO. Have you forgotten? The German, your last

master

PIRRO. Not a word of that!

ANGELO. Whom you led into our toils on the way to PisaPIRRO. If we should be overheard

ANGELO. Had the kindness to leave behind him for our use a precious ring. Do you not remember?-The ring was too valuable to be turned to money at once without suspicion being raised. At length I have succeeded. A hundred pistoles I received for it and that is your share. Take it!

PIRRO. I will have none of it,-keep all.

ANGELO. As you please-If it be the same to you! how high your head is raised for nothing-(as if about to return the purse into his pocket.)

PIRRO. Give it me then! (takes it.)-And what now? For, that you should seek me for this purpose only——

ANGELO. That you fancy not so very probable?-Scoundrel! what do you think of us?-That we are capable of depriving another of his dues? That may be fashion with your so-called honourable men; not among us.-Farewell! (makes a feint of leaving, and returns again.)—One thing, though, I must ask. ―The old Galotti came galloping all alone into the town. What does that mean?

PIRRO. Nothing: a simple ride. His daughter will this evening be married to the Count Appiani on the estate from which he comes. He cannot await the time

ANGELO. And rides soon forth again?

PIRRO. So soon, that he will find you here, if you delay much longer. But you have, surely, no design on him? Be on your guard. He is a man—

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ANGELO. Do I not know? Have I not served under him? -If there were only something to be got.-When do the young people follow ?

PIRRO. Towards noon.

ANGELO. With much escort?

PIRRO. In a single carriage-the mother, the daughter, and the Count. A couple of friends come as witnesses from Sabionetta. ANGELO. And servants?

PIRRO. Only two, except myself; and I ride in advance on horseback.

ANGELO. That is well.-One thing more: Whose is the equipage? Is it yours? or the Count's?

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ANGELO. Bad! There is an outrider, then, beside the sturdy coachman. Well! Well!

PIRRO. I am astonished. But what do you seek ?—The little ornament the bride may wear will hardly repay the troubleANGELO. So, then, shall the bride herself repay it!

PIRRO. And in this crime too must I be your accomplice? ANGELO. You ride on before. Ride, then, ride! and turn your head at nothing.

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ANGELO. What? Verily I believe you think to play the conscience-stricken.-Man! I believe you know me.-Do you prattle! Does a single thing turn out other than as you have told me!— PIRRO. But, Angelo, for Heaven's sake!

ANGELO.

Do what you dare not leave undone.

[Exit.

PIRRO. Ha! let but the devil seize thee by a hair, and thou art his for ever. Oh, miserable!

SCENE IV.-ODOARDO, CLAUDIA GALOTTI, and PIRRO. ODOARDO. She is keeping me too long

CLAUDIA. Another minute, Odoardo! It would so grieve her to miss seeing you.

ODOARDO. And I must speak too with the Count.—Scarcely can I await the time when I may call this worthy young man son. All that he does delights me; and, more than all, his resolve to live himself in the valleys of his fathers.

CLAUDIA. My heart breaks when I reflect on this.-So entirely must we lose her, this darling, only daughter.

ODOARDO. What do you call to lose her? To know that she is resting in the arms of love? Let not the delight you take in her oppose her happiness.-You would almost revive my old suspicion:—that it was more the bustle and confusion of the world, more the vicinity of the court, than the necessity of giving our daughter a sufficient education, that induced you to remain here with her in the town ;-far from a husband and a father that loves you both so fondly.

CLAUDIA. HOW unjust, Odoardo! But let me say one thing now in favour of this town, of this vicinity to the court, that are so hateful to your rigid virtue.—Here, and only here, could love have brought together those who were moulded for each other. Here only could the Count find Emilia; and found her.

ODOARDO. That I confess. But, my good Claudia, were you therefore right because the event has made you so?-Good, that this town education has thus ended. Let us not call ourselves wise, where we have been no more than fortunate. Good, that it has thus ended!-Now those are found, who were intended for each other; now let them go whither innocence and peace invite them. What should the Count do here? Bend and bow, flatter and crawl, and seek to elbow out the Marinellis; that at last he may gain a fortune which he needs not; that at last they may concede to him an honour that for him were none.-Pirro !

PIRRO. I am here.

ODOARDO. Go, and lead my horse before the house of the Count. I follow, and will mount again from thence. (Exit Pirro.)-Why should the Count serve here, when there he can

himself command ?-Besides this, you remember not, Claudia, that, through our daughter, his chance of favour with the Prince is gone. The Prince hates me—

CLAUDIA. Less than you fear, perhaps.—

ODOARDO. Fear! What! should I fear a thing like that! CLAUDIA. For have I not told you, that the Prince has seen our daughter?

ODOARDO. The Prince? And where?

CLAUDIA. In the last vegghia which he honoured with his presence, at the Chancellor Grimaldi's.

her so graciously

ODOARDO. So graciously?

CLAUDIA. Conversed with her so long

ODOARDO. Conversed with her?

He behaved towards

CLAUDIA. By her wit and liveliness seemed to be so enchanted

ODOARDO. So enchanted?

CLAUDIA. Spoke of her beauty with so many flatteries and compliments

ODOARDO. Flatteries and compliments? And all this you tell me in a tone of ecstasy? Oh, Claudia! Claudia! vain, foolish mother!

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ODOARDO. It is good! It is good! That, too, is ended now.— Ha! when I picture to myself- -that were the very place where I am most fatally to be wounded.—A sensualist, that admires and lusts. Claudia! Claudia! The mere thought drives me into fury !— You should have made this known to me at once.-Yet, to-day, it would give me pain to say any thing at which you might be hurt; and I should, (as she grasps his hand,) were I to stay longer.— God be with you, Claudia !—Follow me in happiness ! [Exit.

SCENE V.-CLAUDIA GALOTTI.

CLAUDIA. What a man is that!-Oh! the rough virtue—if, indeed, it can deserve this name!—All things seem to it suspicious, all things reprehensible.-Or, if they call this knowledge of the world,-who, then, would desire to know it?-But where stays our Emilia? He is the father's enemy: therefore-therefore, if he have an eye for the daughter, is it only to disgrace him?

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