CHARACTERS Deputies of the Nasional Convention Guonces Danton Txcenoae (Cyntnuix: Deswoutins Ménauis-Séouentes Lacrorx Parurreay Faone v'Eeraxnive Menciex “Twoatas Pare Members of the Committee of Public Safety Roseserenne SaweJosr Banton Coutor p'tlensoss Brcsav-Vaneawes ‘Members of the Committee of General Security Aacan Voutaxo saat tsideme of the Revolutionary Tribunal Dosas Chtavaturre, Procurator of the Commune Ditton, « General Fovguien'Tavite, Publie Prosecutor Pans, a friend of Danton's Sinton, @ theatrical prompter Sovox's Wire Usruarne Jour, Danton's wife Lucite, Camille Desmoulins’ wife Rosati, @ whore Abstain, @ whore Manion, a whore Ladies at gaming tables, ladies and gentlemen together with young gentleman and Eugénie ona promenade, citizens, citizen-soldiess, deputies from Lyons, other deputies, Jacobi, presidents of the Jacobin Club and the National Convention, jailers, executioners, and carters, men and women of the people, whores, ballad-singer, beggar, ete. ae DANTON’S DEATH ACT ONE SCENE 1A drawing room HinsurrSfcuerues and some ladies at a gaming table. Danton and Jurie, somewhat farther off, Danton on a Stool at Jurse’s feet. Danton. Look at that swect little bitch over there! She knows how to play her cards all right; deals her husband the hearts and every other man her—. You women could make any man fall in love with a lie. Julie. Danton, do you believe in me? ‘Danton. How should I know! We know little enough about one another. We're thick-skinned creatures who reach out our hands toward one another, but it means nothing—leather rubbing against leather-—we're very lonely. Julie. But you know me, Danton. Darton. Yes, that’s what they call it. You have dark eyes and curly hair and a delicate complexion and you always call me: dear Georges! But [Touches her forehead and eyelids] what about here, and here? What goes on behind here? No, there's nothing delicate about our senses. Know one atother? We'd have to crack open our skulls and drag each other’s thoughts out by the tals. Lady {to Héxauit-Sécuetirs]. Just what is it you have 1m mind there with your fingers? HéraultSéchelles. Why, nothing! Lady. Then don’t crook your thumbs i. that way, I can’t, stand the sight of it! HeéraultSéchelles. Understand, my love, such things can't be put down simply by willing, Danton. No, Julie, I love you as I love the grave. Julie [turning away]. Oh! Danton. No, listen to me! They say that there's peace 34 GEORG BUCHNER [ace one in the grave, and that grave and peace are one. If that is true, then whenever I lie with you I already lie beneath the earth. O you precious grave, your lips are passing bells, your voice their knell, your breasts my burial mound and your heart my coffin. Lady. You loset Herault Séchélles. Well, amorous adventures cost money ‘the same as all the others. Lady. You declare your love like a deafmute—on your fingers. HéraultSéchelles. And why not? One might say that they are less likely to be misunderstood. I arranged mm affair with a queen, my fingers were princes transformed into spiders, and you, madame, were the Good Fairy. But it didn’t work out too well: ‘the queen was always in childbed whelping sixty knaves a minute, Pl never let a daughter of mine play a game like that: all these ladies and gentlemen playing at goats and monkeys and the nave coming so soon after. Casotte Desmouiins and Putipreau enter. Heérault-Séchelles. Philippeau, how sad you look! Did you teay a hole in your red cap? Has Saint Jacob made a nasty face at you? Did it rain while they were guillotining this moming? Oh—and you got a bad seat and couldn't seea thing! Camille. Parodying Socrates pethaps? Do you know what that most excellent of philosophers said one day to Alcibiades when he saw him sad and depressed? “Did yyot lose your shield on the battlefield?” he said. “Were you beaten in a race or at sword-fighting? Did someone sing or play the lyre better than you?” There was a classi- cal republican for you! We ought to exchange some of ‘our guillotine Romanticism for that! Philippeau. Another twenty victims fell today. We were wrong: the only reason the Hébertists were sent to the scaffold was that they weren't systematic enough, and ipetlsaps, too, because the Decemvirs thought themselves lot any nan should last @ whole week and be more fened Hoan they. Honmlt Séchelles. "They'd like to send us back to the scene 1) DANTON’S DEATH 5 Stone Age. SaintJust would be pleased if we crawled around on all fours again; that way Robespierre could invent for us, according to the instructions of our good Monsieur Rousseau, the watchmaker’s son from Geneva, all sorts of caps and school benches and an Almighty God. Philippeau. ‘They would never hesitate to add a few more zeros to Matat’s death figures. How much longer must we be base and bloody as newborn children, with coffins for cradles, and play with heads? We must make some advance: the Committee of Clemency for Prisoners must be put into effect and the expelled deputies tein- stated! Hérault-Séchelles. The Revolution must be reorganized. Vhe Revolution must end and the Republic begin. In ‘our Constitution we must place right above duty, content- ment above virtue, and sel-pteservation above punish- ment. Every man must assert himself ané be able to live according to his own nature. He can be reasonable or um reasonable, educated or ignorant, good or bad—that has nothing to do with the state. We're all fools, and not one of us has the right to impose his own foolishness on any- ine else. Every man must be able to find pleasure in his own way, but only in so far as he does not do so at an- other's expense or disturb another's pleasure. Camille. The Constitution must be a transparent veil that clings close to the body of the people. Through it we must sce the pulsing of each vein, the flexing of every muscle, the quiver of every sinew. Her body can bbe beautiful or ugly, because it has the tight to be exactly what it is; and we have no right to dress her as we see fit, ‘We shall rap the knuckles of them who see fit to cast nun’s veils across the naked shoulders of our sinful but beloved France. We want our gods to be naked and our goddesses to be free with themselves. Olympian delights and lips that sing melodiously of wicked love that sets the body free! We would never think of preventing our good Roman Robespierre and his virtuous Republicans from cooking their carrots in a commer, but let them know that there will be no more gladiatorial games. Our most ex- cellent Epicurus and Venus with her delightful buttocks must stand as porters of our Republic in place of Marat6 GEORG BOCHNER fact owe and St. Chalier—-Danton, you must lead the attack at the next Convention! Denton. F must, you must, Re must. If we live that long, as the old women say. In an hour we shall have sixty minutes less to tive. Right, my boy? Desmoutins. What tas that to do with it? Tt stands to reason. Danton. Yes, everything stands to reason. Who do you propose shiould set all these grand ideas in motion? Philippeay. Ourselves and all other honcrahle people. Danton, ‘That's a rather large and J shanld say, it puts us at some distance from one another, in fact it's far enough that Honesty will lose her breath hefare we meet, And what iF we dof AN fhat one can do with honorable penple is lend them money, be godfather to their chitéren, and mary one’s daughters to thes! Camille. If you knew that when you began, why did you cover start to fight? Danton. Recanse these followers of Robespiee with their puritanical ways were repugnant to me. Swaggering about like litle Catos, I wanted to give them # good boat in the ass, ThaP’s the way Tam. [Ie rises.] Julie. You'ce going? Darton [to forse}. I can't stay here. ‘These people and their polities get on my nerves. (While leaving] IF T may prophesy urnedly in passing: oor statue of Faberty has not yet boen east, the great furnace is glowing hot, there i stil] time for us to bum our fiugers, [Goes off. Camitie. Leave him alone! Do you really suppose he could keep out of it if it ever came to that? Herault Sécheltes. It wootd oaly be a pastime with him, like playing chess, SCHNH IA street Sincow and his Wire. Stmox [heating his Weer]. You filthy pimp, you haggard poisonoas pill, you worr-caten apple of sin! ‘Wife. Oa, help met Help me! People [come running). Get them apart, get them apart! scexe ui] DANTON'S DEATH 7 Simon. No, leave me be, good Romans! Ill batter her bones to bits! Oh, you holy whore! Wife, Floly whore! We'll see about that! Sinton. TE tear the clothing of your wermy body And bake your naked eartion in the sun O bed of a whore, there’s lechery in every wrinkle of your ody ‘They are separated. Birst Citizen, What's the matiox? Simon, Where i the virgin? Tell svel No, [ can’t call her that. The maiden! No, nox tial. That woman, that female! Not that, no, not even that! There's hut one single name left~ob, how it chokes me! I have no bieath to speat it Second Citizen. It's a good thing, too, or it would stink of brandy. Simon. © ancient Virginius, veil yout hairless head, ‘The Raven Shame Goth sit upon thy pate And pecks at thine own eyes, A knife, my Romans! He sinks to the ground. Wife, He's usually a good man, but he can't take samuch drink; whisky’s a tied log to him. Second Citizen. "Vaen he walks with thiee legs. ‘Wife. No, he falls, Second Citizen. OF course; fist he walls with all three, then falls over He third tN the third falls by diself, Sinaow, Vampite’s tonguel To drink my hreat’s warm biood? Wife. Just leave him be, this is about the time he grows seutimental; he'll be all right soon. lst Citizen, Whal’s the matter with hin? ‘Wife. Well, you sec, 1 was sitting on a rock in the sun to wann myself, you see—you sec, we've got ao wood at lhome for the Se Second Citizen. Try your lrasband’s nose, ‘Wife. And my daugbter went dowa there around the corne—she's good girl and supports her patents, Simon. Tia, she confesses!8 GEORG BUCHNER [scr one Wife. You Judas Iscariot! You wouldn't have a pair of pants to pull up if those young gentlemen didn't pull theirs down with her! You dirty brandy barrel, you want to go thirsty when our little spring dries up?’ We work with every limb we've got, why not with that one, too? Her mother worked it overtime when she brought her into the world, and it cost her enough pain, too. So why shouldn’t she work it for her mother! Eh? Even if it does cost her alittle pain! Eh? You idiot! Simon. Ah, Lucretia! A knife, my Romans, give me a knife! O Appius Claudius! First Citizen, Yes, a knife, but not for the pitiable whorel What has she donc? Nothing! It’s her empty belly makes her whore and beg. A knife for the men who buy the flesk of our wives and daughters! Woe to them who Tast after the daughters of citizenst You have rumblings in your bellies, they have stomach cramps; you have holes in your jackets, they have warm coats; you have calluses on your hands, they have silk gloves. Ergo: you work and they sit on thetr asses; ergo: you earn the bread and they steal it; ergo: when you want back a few coins of your Property they've stolen you have to go whoring and eg- ging; ergo: they are thieves and must be killed! Third Citizen, The only blood in their veins is what they've sucked from us. Once they told us: “Kill the aristocrats, they're the preying wolves!” We killed the aristocrats and hung them from street lamps. They told us: “The Girondins are starving you out!” We guillotined the Girondins. But they're the ones who stripped the bodies naked, and here we stand bare and froczing as ever. We'll peel the skin from their thighs and make pants for our- selves, We'll bum the fat from their asses to make us richer soups. Away! Kill a man without a hole in his jacket! First Citizen. Kill a man who reads and writest Second Citizen. Kill a man who walks like an aristocrat! ‘All [sereaming]. Kilt Kill ‘A Youxe Man is dragged past. Several Voices. He's got a handkerchief! An aristocrat! ‘To the street lamp with him! To the street lamp! SCENE 1] DANTON’S DEATH 9 Second Citizen, What's this? He doesn't blow his nose trough his fingots? To the street lamp with him! Young Man. Gentlemen! Gentlemen! Second Citizen. There are no gentlemen heret To the street lamp with him! Several Voices [sing] ‘Those wha lie below the ground, They will soon by worms be found; Better by the neck to wave ‘Than rot below in a dismal gravel Young Man. Mercy! ‘Third Citizen. 1's only a game with a hemp noose around your neckt It only takes a minute; we're more merciful than you aristocrats, We spend our lives at the end of a rope, hang there for sixty years, kicking—but we'll cut ourselves free. To the street lamp with hin Yourig Man. Uanging me on a light won't make things any brighter for you. Citizens. Bravo! Well sai Several Voices, Let him go! Tax Youxe Max runs off. Rosysrisnee enters accom- panied by Woven and Sans-Cotorres. Robespierre. What is it, citizens? Third Citizen. What is it you'll give us, you mean? ‘Those few drops of blood shed in August and September still hayen’t turned the people's cheeks red. The guillotine is too slow. We need a hailstorm. First Citizen, Our wives and children ery out for bread, we want to feed them on the flesh of the aristocrats. Kill every man without a hole in his jacket AML Kill Kill Robespierre. In the name of the law! Pirst Citizen, What is the law? Robespierre. The will of the people. First Citizen. We are the people and we don’t want the law; ergo: our will is the law; ergo: in the name of the law there is no more law ergo: Kill! Several Voices. Listen to Aristides there! Listen to the incormptible Robespierre! A Woman. Listen to the Messiah who is sent to choose10 GEORG BOCHNER [act one, and judge; he will strike the wicked with the sharp of his ‘sword. His eyes are the eyes of truth, his hands the hands of justice! Robespierre. Poor, virtuous people! You de your duty. You sactifice your enemies. People—how great a people you are! You reveal yoursclves amidst lightning and thundetclaps. But, my penple, your blows must not wound your own bodies; in your tage you must not murder your- selves. You can be overcome only by your own strength, and your enemies know that. Your legislators watch you, they will guide your hands; their eyes cannot be deccived, your hands cannot fail. Come with me to the Jacobin Club! They, your brothers, will extend their arms to grnet you, and we shall hold bloody judgment over our enemies. ‘Many Voices. To the Jacobin Club! Long live Robes: pierre! All go off. Simon. Alone—all, all alone! [He tries to rise] Wife. There. [She supports him] Simon. Ah, my gentle Baucis! Why must you pour coals of fre upon my head? Wife. Stand up now! Simon. Why do you tarn away? Can yon forgive me, iy Portia? Did U strike you? It was not my hand nor arm but my madness did it. His madness is poor Hamlet's enomy. Then Hamlet did it not; Hamlet denies it Where is our daughter, where is our little girl? Wife. There, around the comer, Simon, Let us get her then. Come, my virtuous wife. They both go off. scent tr—The Jacobin Club Drury rroxt Lyoxs. Our brothers from Lyons have sent us here to pour our bitter indignance in your ears We do not know whether the cart which drave Ronsin to the guillotine was the hearse of Liberty, but we do know SCENE 11) DANTON’S DEATH u that since that day the murderers of Chalier have walked the streets as safely as if mo grave awaited them. Have you forgotten that Lyons is 2 stain upon the soil of France which must be covered over with the limbs of traitors? Have you forgotten that this whore of kings can only wash her scabs in the waters of the Rhone? Have you forgotten that this flood of Revolution must cause Pitt's navies in the Mediterranean to run aground on the bodies of aristoctats? You are murdering the Revolution with your compassion. The breath of an aristocrat is the death rattle of Freedom. A coward dies for the Republic, a Jacobin kills for it. I tell you this: that unless we find in you the driving power of the tenth of August, of Septem: ther, and the thirty-first of May, there remains for us, as for the patriot Galliard, only the suicidal dagger of Cato. Applause and confused cries A Jacobin. We will drink the cup of Socrates with yout Legendre {springs to the tribune]. We have no need to Took to Lyons for traitors. These people who wear silken clothes, who ride about im carriages, who sit in Toges in the theatre and speak according to the Dictionary of the Academy, have for several days now felt their heads secure upon their shoulders, They are witty and say that Marat and Chalier must be helped to a second maityrdom, that cy must be guillotined in effigy. ‘There is a violent commotion in the assembly. Several Voices. Those men axe dead—theic tongues have guillotined them, Legendre. May the blood of these saints be upon them! I now ask the present members of the Committee of Public Safety: Since when have your eats grown so deaé—— Collat d’Herbois [interrupts him}. And T ask you, Legendre: Whose voice gives breath to such thoughts that they may come alive and speak such treason? It is time we tore off our masks! Listen! ‘The cause accuses its effect, the voice its own echo, and the premise its con- clusion. The Committee of Public Safety understands mote logic than that, Legendre. Calm yourself) The busts2 GEORG ROCHNER hor owe, of these saints will remain where they ore, th teonsform traitors into stone like Metiusa heads. el Robespierre Idemand the tame, Ronee ita Listen! Listen to the inconuptble Robespierre. We have waited only for the cry of i nation to resound from all sides before we spoke "oe eyes were open, we saw the encmy arn himself and tice Xp, but we did not sound the alarm; we allowed the people to watch over itself it has not slept, it has taken up ating and made clamor. We allowed the enemy to come foth, from his ambush, we allowed him to draw near; he stance there now, open’ and unconcealed in the bright light of Gay; every stroke will strike home, he is dead the moment you sce him —1 have told you all this before: the internal enemies af the Republic have fallen into two factions, as if into two armics, Under banners of diferent colors amd by different ways they march toward the same end. One of these factions no longer exists. In their affected madnces they sought to cast aside as worn-out weaklings the mast proven Patriots of the Republic in order to rob us of our stiongest allies. They declared war on the Godhead and ‘on Property to create a diversion in favor of the kings They parodied the sublime deama of the Revolution ta discredit it with ealeulated excesses. Hebert’s. triumph Would have brought chaos on the Republic, and despation ‘would have been satisfied. The sword of the law has‘struck down that traitor. But what do those forcign enemies of the Republic care as long az they still have criminals of another sort to achieve the same end? We have done nothing so long as there ig another faction still to be a nibilated. ‘This faction is the opposite of the other. They ould deive us fo be weak; thie battle ery is: “Mercy. Cy would tear from the people their arms and the strength they need to wield those arms, and deliver then up to the kings naked and unnerved. The arm of the Re public is Terror, the strength of the Republic is Vistue Vitluc because’ without it Terror is pernicious; ‘Tener because without it Virtue is powerless, Tercor & the conse. quence of Virtue, itis nothing other than swift, stems nad unswerving justice. They say that Temor is the weapon scene m1] DANTON'S DEATH B cof despotism and that therefore our government is a des potism. Yest But only in so far as the swords in the hands ‘of heroes who fight for Freedom are like unto the sabers with which the satellites of tyrants are armed. If the despot rules his bratelike subjects by means of Terror, then, as a despot, he is justified. IF by means of the same Terror you destroy the enemies of Freedom, then you, as foundess af the Repnblic, are no less justified. The government of this Revolution is the despotism of Freecom against tyranny, Certain persons call out for mercy toward the Rovalistst Mercy for villains? No! Mercy for the innocent, merey for the weak, mercy for the unfortunate, mercy for mankind? Only peaceable citizens deserve protection from society. Only Republicans are citizens in a Republic, Royalists and foreigners are enemies. To punish the oppressors of man- kind is mercy; to forgive them, barbarism. Every sign of false sensitivity appears to me to be sizhs that wing their way to England or to Austria, But not content to disarm the people's hands, they also seck to poison the purest soutces of our strength through vice. This is the subtlest, the most dangerous, and the most abominable attack of all upon Freedom. Vice is the aristocracy’s mark of Cain, In a Republic this becomes not merely a moral bat a political crime as well; the man of vice is a political enemy of Vrecdom, he is all the more dangerous the greater the services he appears to perform. The most dangerous citizen is the one who finds it easier to wear out a dozen red caps than do a single good deed. You will understand me more easily if you recall those persons who once lived in attics but now drive ahout in carriages and fornicate with former marqnises and baronesses, We may well ask whether the people have been plundered, or whether the golden hands of Kings have been pressed when we see the legislators of the people parade about with alf the vices and all the Tuxuries of former courtiers, when we sce all these mat- quises and counts of the Revolution manrying rich wives, giving sumptuous banquets, gambling, Keeping servants, and wearing priceless clothes. We may well be amazed whon we hear of their empty exhibits of wit, their esthetic pretensions, and their good manners. A short time ago one of them parodied Tacitus in a most shameless ways14 GEORG BUCHNER scr oxa I could answer out of Sallust and travesty Catiline, though T think there are no more strokes Those the portrait is complete. We will have no comproinise, no armistice with men whose only thought was to plunder the people, and who hoped to carty ont this plan of plunder with im: punity, men for whom the Republic was a specalation and the Revolution a trade! Terrified by the torrent of ex amples we have made, they scek softly now to mitigate the hand of our justice, We are to believe that cach says to himself: “We are not virtuous enough to be so terribie. © lawgiving philosophers, have mercy on our weaknesses! T dace not say to you that T am vicious: rather T say to you: “Be not so inkuman!’ "Calm yourselves, my virtue: loving people, O Patriots, be calm! Say to your brethren in Lyons: “The sword of the law will not rust in the hands of him to whom it was entrusted!” We shall set our Republic a great example. General applause. Many Voices. Long live the Republic! i rae i he Republic! Long live President. The session is closed. ScENE IV—A street Lacnorx. Lecenpre Lacxors, What have you done, Legendre! Do you realize whose heads you've thrown down with those busts of yours? Legendre. A few dandies and some elegant women, that’s al. . Lacroix. You're a suicide, a shadow that kills its origin with itself. Pat ss orginal Legon, I don’t understand. Lacroix. I thought Collet spoke plainly enough. Legendre. What does that matter? He was armk again, a caer Bitesd ghildeen, and—well?—drunk men tell be truth. Whom do you think Robespierre meant he spoke of Catiline? ‘plore meant when Legendre. Well? scene ¥] DANTON'S DEATH 16 Lacroix. It’s simple enough. The atheists and extremists have been sent to the guillotine; but the people have not een helped, they tun about in the streets barcfoot and swear they'll’ make shoes out of the aristocrats’ skins. The thermometer of the guillotine must not fall: a few degrees ower and the Committee of Public Safety can make its bed on the Place dela Révolution. Legendre, What have ray busts to do with all this? Lacroix. You still don't see? You've made the counter revolution officially known, you've forced the Committee to action, you've led their hands. The people are 2 Minotaur that must be fed with corpses weekly or they will eat the Committee alive. Legendre. Where is Danton? Lacroix. How should I know? He's looking for, the Venus de’ Medici piecemeal among all the whores of the Palais Royals he’s making a mosaic, as he puts it. God only knows what limb he’s working at now. Pity that nature cuts up beauty in such small pieces, like Medea her brothers, and deposits them haphazardly in people's bodies.--Let’s go to the Palais Royal! scene yA room Daxrow. Manion Manion. No, leave me alone. Il sit here at your feet. Pi tell you a story. Danton. You might put your lips to better use Marion. No, leave me here like this—My mother was a clever woman; she always told me that purity was the loveliest of virtues. When people would come to our house and begin talking about certain things, she always sent me ont of the room; and when I asked lier what they meant, she said T should be ashamed asking such ques- tions; then when she gave me books to read I almost ak sways had to leave out certain pages, But I could read as much of the Bible as I wanted because everything there was holy, Still there were parts of it that I never under- stood. [ didn't want to ask anybody, so I brooded over them myself. ‘Then the spring came; there was something16 GEORG BUCHNER act ose happening all around me in which T had no share. I was in an atmosphere all my own, and it almost stifled me. Tlooked at my body; at times it seemed that there were two of me, and then they would melt again into one. About this time a young man came to the house. He was very beautiful and often talked to me about silly things T didn’t know exactly what they meant, but I had to laugh. My mother made him come often, and that pleased us both, Finally we didn’t see why we shouldn't as soon lie next to one another between two sheets as sit beside one another on two chairs. I enjoyed that much more than his conversation and coulda’t understand why they wanted me to be content with the smaller pleasures rather than the larger one, We did it secretly. And so it went on. But I became like a sea that swallows down everything and sinks deeper and deeper into itself. The only fact that existed for me was my opposite, all men melted into one Dody. It was my nature, what choice did I have? Finally he noticed. He came one morning and kissed me as though he wanted to suffocate me; his arms wound around my neck, [ was tersibly afraid. Then he let go of me and Taughed and said that he had almost done a foolish thing; that I should keep my dress and wear it, that it would wear out soon enough by itself, and that he didn’t want to spoil my fun for me too soon, because it was all I had. ‘Then he went away; again I didn’t know what he meant. ‘That evening I sat at the window; I'm very sensitive, and the only hold I have on my surroundings is through what I fecl; T sank into the waves of the sunset. A crowd of people came down the street then, children running ahead of them and women looking out of their windows. Flooked down: they were carrying him past in a basket, the moon was reflected on his pale forehead, his hair was wet— he had drowned himself. All T could do was cry —It was the only time that my life ever stopped. Other people have Sundays and weekdays, they work six days and pray fon the seventh; once every year on theit birthdays thev decome sentimental and every year they think about te ‘New Year. I don't understand that at all: I know nothing ‘of such breaks in time, of change, Iam always only one thing, an unbroken longing and grasping, a flame, a scene ¥] DANTON'S DEATH W stream, My mother died of grief. People were always pointing at me because of it. That's stupid. There's only one thing that matters, whether it's out bodies, or holy pictures, or flowers, or children’s toys. U's all the same feeling: the person who enjoys the most, prays the most. Denton. Why can't T contain every part of your beauty inside me, hold it in my arms? Marion. Danton, your lips have eyes Danton. T wish T were a part of air that I could bathe you all about in my flood, break myself on every cape of your exquisite body. Lacrom, Aveatve, and Rosati: enter. Lacroix {remains in the docrvay, You will excuse me for laughing, but I can't help myself. Danton [angrily]. Well? Lacroix. I was just thinking of the street. Danton. So? Lacroix. Well, thete were two dogs in the street just now, a great Dane and an Italian lapdog; they were hi ago at it. ‘Denton. What do you mean by that? Lacroix. It merely occurred to me and T couldn't help laughing. Et was quite edifying! Girls were looking out of their windows—one should be careful and never even let them sit in the sun: fies are Habie to do it in their hands; it might give them cause for thought—Legendre and 1 have gone through almost every cell here. The little Nuns of the Revelation through the Flesh clung to out coat- tails and asked our blessing. Legendre is giving one of them her penance now, though he may have to fast for a month afterwards himself. I've brought two of our priestesses of the body along with me Marion. Good day, Mile, Adelaide! Good day, Mlle Rosalie! Rosalie. 1s been a long time since we had the pleasure. Marion. Yes, I'm sorry too. ‘Adelaide. My God, we never have a minute fxce. Danton [to Rosstie}. Well, your hips seem to get bet- ter by the day, my dear.18 GEORG BUCHNER [ser one Rosi. One improves wit patie Lacroix. What's the difference between the ancien he modern Adonis? ‘een the ancient and Danton, And Adclaide has become very virtuously inter- esting: 2 chatming change. Her face sesembles a fig Teaf that she holds up to cover her entire body. A fig tree like that throws a most wonderful shade on so busy a thoroughfare, _ ited, Pd be nothing bat « country read if not for mousieur who-— Danton. Lunderstand; just don't be a bitch, my sweet! Lacroix. No, listen! A modem Agonis isn’t torn by a boat, he’s torn by sows; his wound isn’t received in the thigh any more but in the groin; and instead of roses, buds of mereany sprout from his blood. . Danton. And Mile. Rosalie is a restored torso, of which ‘only the hips and feet are genuine antique, She's a mag- netic needle: what the pole of the head cepels, the pole of the feet attracts her mide is an equator, where even ane who crosses the Hne must baptize is pais merce Lacroix. Two sisters of mexcy—cach serving in hee ov hospital, that is to say in their own bodes Rosalie, Shame on you, making our ears tum red! Adelaide. You ought to have more manners! Avenase and Rossu go off Danton. Good night, you pretty chil , you pretty children! across God right, you mines of meres! anton. I feel sorry for them, they ¢ apa y hem, they came for their Lacroix. Listen, Danton, T've just come enaeis, L 1) Tye just come from the Danton. Ts that a acroit. The delegates from Lvans read a proclamatic they said the only thing left them to do - wap ‘hen peven in their togas like Caesar; each of them making a face as though to say to his neighbor: "The bie wort mur, Paetus!” Legendre cried out that they wanted to soxne vy] DANTON’S DEATH 19 break the busts of Chatier and Marat. 1 think he wants to paint his face red again; he got through the Terror aakarmed, and children tug at his coattails in the streets, Danton. And Robespieste? Lacroix, He drummed his fingers on the tribune, and said that Virtue must rule through ‘Terror. The phrase made msy neck fee! raw. ‘Danton. It planes boards for the guillotine. Lacroix, And Collot cried out like a man possessed that they must tear off their masks. Danton. I'm afraid their faces would come with them. Panis enters. Lacroix, What is it, Fabricus? Paris, I went straight from the Jacobin Club to Robes- pierre and demanded an explanation. Le tried to look like Brutus sacrificing his sons. He spoke in general terms about duty, and said that where Freedom is concerned he has no. personal considerations and would sacrifice everything, bimself, his sons, his brothers, his friends Danton. That's obvious enough; one has only to reverse the order, patting him at the bottom holding the ladder for his friends. We owe Legendre our thanks for baving got it out of him. Lacroix, The Hébettists aren't dead yet and the people are still starving; that’s a dreadful lever, The scale of Blood must not be allowed to grow Lighter unless we want to see the Committee of Public Safety hanged from it; it hhas need of ballast it needs a heavy head ‘Danton, know, | know-—the Revolution is like Satum, it devours its own children. [After é moment of thosight] ‘And yet, $ don’t think they would dare, ‘Lacroix. Danton, you're a dead saint. But the Revolur tion doesn’t recognize relics. t's tossed the bones of kings Jato the streets, broken statues in churches-—do you think they'll let you stand here a monument? ‘Danton. My name! The people! Lacroix. Your name! You're a moderate, so am I, and Camille and Philippeao and Hérault, Moderation to theseFa) GEORG BUCHNER [rer ove, people is the same as weakness; they kill all stragglers. ‘The tailors from the Section of Red Caps would feel all Roman history in their needles if the Man of September were a moderate in regard to them. Danton. Very true, and besides that—the people are like a child: they have to break everything open to see what's inside it, Lacroix. And then, too, Danton, we'se vicious people, according to Robespierre, that is, we enjoy ourselves; but the people are vietuous, ‘that is, they don’t enjoy themn- selves, Decause work dulls their organs of pleasure; they don’t get drunk because they haven't the money, and they don’t go whoring because they stink of cheese and herring and the girls don’t like that. Denton, They hate people who enjoy themselves just as eunuchs hate men, Lacroix. They call us thieves, and [Bending toward Dawzon’s ear.], just between us, there may be something to that. Robespierre and the people will be virtuous. Saint- Just will write a novel—that is, deliver one of his in- terminable reports—and Barére will deliver bis ustial speech which will send someone to the guillotine and so drape the Convention in a mantle of bload—I can see itall Danton, You'se dreaming, They've never had courage without me, so how can they have any against me? ‘The Revolution isn't over yet, they might still need me; they'll hang me in the Arsenal for future reference. Lacroix. We must do something. Banton, Well se. Lacroix, We'll see when we're lost. Marion [to Daxtow]. Your lips have grown cold: your words have stifled your kisses. Danton [to Manton]. My God, the time we've lostt But it was worth every minute! [To Lacnorx,| Ul see Robes- pierre; I'll make him angry, he can’t keep his mouth shut then. ‘Tomorrow, then! Good night, my friends! Good night! I thank you! Lacroix. Hurry, my friends, hurry! Good night, Danton! A woman’s thighs will be your guillotine, and her mound ‘of Venus your Tarpeian rock. [He goes off with Panis. scene vi] DANTON'S DEATH a SCENE vI—A room Roszsprerse. Danrow. PARis Ropzsrierre. I tell you that anyone who tries to hinder me when my sword is drawn is my enemy—no matter what his intentions. Any man who keeps me from defend- ing myself is my murderer just as surely as if he attacked me, Danton. Where self-defense ends murder begins. I see no reason why we should go on killing. Robespicrre. Tae social Revolution is not yet complete; you dig your own grave, leaving a Revolution half-finished. ‘The aristocrats are still alive, the healthy strength of the people must replace this degenerate, pieasureoving class Vice must be punished and Virtue must rule through Terror, Danton. I don't understand your word “punishment.” You and your Virtue, Robespiertel You've never taken money, you've never incurred any debts, you've never slept swith a woman, you've always worn a decent coat and never got yourself drunk. Robespierre, you are disgustingly viet: ous. I'd be ashamed to walk around between heaven and earth for thirty years with that motal expression on my face, and only for the miserable pleasure of finding others worse than myself. Isn’t there soraething inside you that whispers sometimes, quietly, secretly, that you lie, Robes: pierce, you lie? Robespierre. My conscience is ean Danton. Conscience is a mirtor that monkeys torment themselves in front of. We all get ourselves wp as best we can, and then go out and find fun in our own way, It’s worth the trouble, believe me! We all have the right to protect ourselves when someone comes along to spoil our fun. What makes you think you have the right to tum the guillotine into a washtub for other people’s dirty Jimens and scrub spots fom their clothes with their cutoff heads? And just because you've always worn a well- brushed coat? Yes, you can always defend yourself when they spit om it or tear holes in it; but what right have you2 GEORG BUCHNER {scr one when they leave you in peace? If they're not ashamed to go around as they do, docs that give you the right to send them to their graves? Are you God's Special Deputy? And ‘you can't bear up under the sight like your Good Lord God, then cover your eyes with your handkerchief. Robespierre. Are you denying Virtue? Danton. Yes, and vice, too. All mea are epicurcans, either cride or fefined, as the case may be: Christ was the most tefined of them all, That is the only difference that I can discern between men. Every man acts accord ing to his own nature, that is, he docs what does him good. It's cruel, isn’t it, my incorruptible friend, to take ‘you dowa like this. Robespierre. Danton, there ate certain times when vice becomes high treason, Danton. But for God's sake, you mustn’t condemn it, that would be ungrateful; you owe it far too much, by contrast, T mean. Furthermore, according to your own uations, even our deeds must be of use to the Republie, since one mustn't strike both guilty and innocent alike. Robespierre. Whoever said an innocent man had been condemned? Danton. Did you hear that, Pabricus? No innocent man condemned! [ITe leaves; to Panis while going.) We haven't a minute to lose; we must declare ourselves! Daron and Panis go of. Robespierre [alone}. Go on! He thinks he can halt the horses of the Revolution outside a brothel, like a cvach- man with his jaded nags; but they'll have enough strength to drag him to the guillotine —To take me down, he said! According tomy own notions!—But wait! Wait! ts it really that?—They'll say that his gigantic figure cast too great a shadow across me, and for that reason T had to order him from the sun—And what if they were Tight? Is it 50 necessary? Yes, yes! The Republic! He must be got ont of the light—ft's laughable how each thought of mine suspects the other “lle must be got out of the light. A man who stands still in a crowd pressing forward is as much an obstacle as if he opposed it: that man will be trampled under foot. We will not permit the Shin of scene vt] DANTON’S DEATH B Revolution to founder on the shallow notions and mud- banks of these people; the hamd must be hacked away that would hold it back —and if he grasps at it with his teeth... Down with the class that has stolen the clothes of the dcad aristocracy amd inlerited their sores!— No Virtue! Take me down! My own notions!—It keeps coming back to me. Why can’t 1 tid myself of these thougiits? He points his bioody Sngee at me here, here! Toan weap it in ag many bandages as I like, bat the blood ‘will always come through. [After a pause.] T don’t know which part of me is Tying to the other. (He goes to the window.] Night snorcs over the earth and tosses itsclt about in dreamful dreams. Thoughts, desires, scarcely imagined, confused and forse, that ercpt timidly from the light of day, take shape now and steal into the silent, house of dreanas. They push open the doors, they look out of the windows, they become half flesh and blood, theit limbs stretch in sleep, their lips musmur—And is our waking anything but @ dream, a clear dream? Are we not all sleepwalkers? What are ous actions but the actions of a dream, oaly more clear, more definite, more complete? Who will blame us for that? The mind in a single hour accomplishes more deeds of thought than the sluggish organism of our body can imitate in a year. Sin is in oue thoughts, Whether the thought will grow into deed, of the body imitate st—is a matter of chance. Saixr-Jusr enters, Robespierve, Who's there, in the dark? Hot A light! Saint-Just. Do you know me by my voice? Robespierze. Oh, it’s you, Saint-Justt A Snavann Grrr, brings in o Tight Saint Just. Were you alone? Robespierre. Danton just now left. Saint-Just. I met him on the way in the Palais Royal He was trying out his Revolution face and talking in epigeannss featernizing with the sans-culottes, whores ra ning along behind his legs, and the people standing abot whispering in one another's ears what he'd said.—We'ze going to lose the advantage of the initial attack. How4 CEORG BUCHNER her one much longer do you want to delay? We'll act without you. We've made our decision: Robespierre. \What do you plan to do? Saint-just. We will somion the Legislative Committee, the Committee of General Sccurity, and the Commitee of Public Safety to a special session. Robespierre. All this fuss! Saint Just. We must bury the distinguished corpse with dignity, lke priests, not Whe murderers, not may we mutilate it in any way, it must be buried entire. Robespicrre. You will speak more clearly! Saint-Just. We must inter him in full armor, and slaughter his horses and slaves on the burial mound: Lacroix Robespierte. An absohite scoundrel, former basrister’s derk, and now Lieutenant-General of France. Continue! Saint Just. Verault-Séchelles, Robespierre, A handsome head! Saint Just. The handsomely painted capital at the head of the Constitution; we have no farther need of such ornaments; he will be obliterated. Philippeat.—Camille Robespierre. Camille, too? Saint-Just [hands him a paper]. That was my reaction at frst, too. Read thst Robespierre. Le vieux Cordelier. Is that all? He's a childs he laughed at you. Saint Just, Read this, here! [He shows him the place] Robespicrre [reading]. “This bloody Messiah Robes- pierre on his calvary botween the two thieves Couthon and Collot—whete he sacrifices but will not himself be sacrificed. The prayerful sisters of the guillotine stand at his feet like Mary and the Magdalene, Saint-Just, like John the Beloved, embraces his neck and makes knawa to the Convention the apocalyptic revelations of his master; he bears his head as though it contained the Sacred Host.” Saint-Just. 1'll make him carry it like Saint-Denis, Robespierre [continues reading]. “Ate we to believe that the immaculate frockcoat of the Messiah is the winding sheet of France, and that his Singers twitching on the tribune are the knives of the guillotine?—And you, Barére, who once said that coins would be minted on the scewe vi) DANTON’S DEATH 25 Place de 1a Révolution! But Jet’s not dig up that old sack again, Ie’s a widow with already half a dozen husbands, ‘all of whom he has helped bury, But what can we do? It's a gift of his: like Hippocrates he can see the livid aspects of death in a man’s face six months in advance, And who would want to sit with corpses and smell their putrefying adors?”—And so, you, t00, Camille?—Away with them! Quick! Only the dead cannot retum—Have you prepared the indictment? Saint-Just. That's easy cnough. You gave full indication of it at the Jacobin Club. Robespierre. [ wanted to frighten them. SaintJust, I neod only cary out your threats; the forgers will stuff them. on hors d'oeuvres and the foreigners con dessert.—The seal will kill them, T can assure you. Robespierre, Quickly then, tomorrow! No long death agoniest I've grown sensitive these last few days—Only be quick about it! Sarwr-fusr goes out. Robespierre (alone). Yes, the bloody Messiah who sacri- fices himself but will not himself be sactificed—He re- deemed them with His blood, and I will redcem them with their own. He created them sinners, and I take the sin fon myself, He stuflered the costasy of pain, and I the tor- ment of the executioner, Who denied himself, He or 17— ‘And yet there's something foolish in the thought —Why do we always look to Him as an example? Truly the Son of Man is crucified in us all; we all wrestle in bloody agony in ont own Gardens of Gethsemane; but not one of us redeems the other with his wounds—O Camilte!— ‘They are all leaving me—the world is empty and yoid— Lam alone.26 GEORG BUCHNER [scr wo ACT TWO, SCENE &—A room Davrow, Lackorx, Parirpeav, Paris, Caste Desmourins Canute, Hury, Danton, we have no time to lose! Danton [dressing himself]. And yet, time loses us!— How tedious it is always to have to put one's shirt on first and then pull up one’s trousers; to spend the night in bed and then in the moming have to crawl out again and always place one foot in front of the other—and no one ceven imagines it could be otherwise. It’s very sad; millions have already done so and millions more are destined to do so; and besides that we consist of two halves, each doing the same thing, so everything happens twice—it’s very sad. Camille. You're talking like a child. Danton. The dying often become childish Lacroix. This delay of yours is plunging you into ruin, and you're dragging your friends with you, ‘Tell the cow. ards the time has come to rally round you, all them from the plains as well as from the mountains! Shout against the tyranny of the Committee, talk of daggers, invoke Bratus, that way you'll xouse the Tribunes and even rally round you those who were threatened as accomplices of Hébert! You must give in to your anger. At least don't let us die disarmed and humiliated like that disgraceful Heébett! Danton, You have a bad memory, you called me a dead saint, You were more justified than you realize. Pve been to see the Section leaders; they were respectful, but more like undertakers. I'm a relic, and relics ate tossed into the stteets—you were right. Lacroit. Why have you let it come to this? Danton, To this? Yes, of course; it finally began to bore me. Alvays to go about in the same coat and make the same kind of face! It’s pitiable. To be a miserable instru- ment on which each string gives out only a single note! — T couldn't stand it any longer. I wanted to make myself scene 1] DANTON’S DEATH a comfortable. And I've succeeded; the Revolution is retir ing me, but not in the way [ had expected—Besides, on what can we support ourselves? Our whores might still find a place with the prayerful sisters of the guillotine; othensise I can think of nothing else. You can figure it all cout on your fingers: the Jacobins have declared Virtue the order of the day; the Cordeliers call me Hébest’s execu: tioner; the Commune does penance; the Committee— that might have been 2 way!—but there was the thisty- first of May; they woulda’t soften willingly. Robespierre is the dogma of the Revolution that can't be stricken, But that wouldn’t work either. We didn’t make the Revo: lution, the Revolution made us—And even if it could work—I'd rather suffer the guillotine myself than. make others suffer it. Pm disgusted with it all; why mast men fight one anothes? We should sit down and be at peace together. I think there was a mistake in the creation of us; there’s something missing in us that I haven't a name for—but we'll never find it by burrowing in one another's entrails, so why break open our bodies? We're a miserable lot of alchemists! Camille, More pathetically put, you would have said: “How long must Mankind in its eternal starvation devour its own flesh?” Or: “‘Uow long must we who are ship- wrecked suck the blood from one another's veins in our unguenchable thirst?” Or: “How long must we algebraists of the flesk in our search for the unknown and eternally withheld x waite our accounts with mangled limbs?” Danton. You aze a powerful echo. Camille. Tes true, a pistol shot does make as much noise as a Clap of thunder. All the better for you then that I stay with you Philippeau. And France stay with her executioners? Danton. Do you think it really matters? They're well of ‘enough even so. Yes, they're unhappy; but what more can one ask to make himself compassionate, noble, virtuous ‘or witty, or in general simply not bored with it all—What does it matter whether they die on the guitiotine or of fever or of old age? But there’s still something to be said for leaving the stage with a good spring in your step and a fine gesture and hearing the applause of the spectators be-28 GEORG BUCHNER [scr rwo. hind you. It’s an agreeable way to go and it also suits us wwe stand on the stage all our lives, even though in the end we are finally stabbed in eamest—It's not so terrible to have out life's span cut down a bit; especially since the coat was too long, and our limbs aever quite filled it out. Life becomes an epigram; that makes it bearable. Who has either breath or imagination for an cpic in fifty or sixty cantos? It’s time we started drinking our little bottle of clixir out of liqueur glasses instead of tubs; that way at least we'd get a mouthful, rather than have the few drops lost in the bottom of the clumsy. vessel.—Finally—my God, I can’t hold it in any Tonger!—finally it isn’t worth the trouble, life isn’t worth the effort it costs us to keep it going. Paris. Escape, then, Danton! Danton. It 1 could take my country with me on the soles of my shovs, yes-—But finally—and this is the main point—they wouldn't dare lay hand on me. Good-bye! Good-bye! Daron and Caxutue go off Philippeau. There he goes. Lacroix. And doesn’t believe a word of what he said. He's lazy! He'd rather be sent to the guillotine than. . . make a speech. Paris, What can we do? Lacroix. Go home and like Lucretia study to make an honorable end. SCENE 1—A promenade A Crnzos. Did you know that my virtuous Jacqueline— I mean, Com— what I meant was, Cor—. Simon, Cometia, Citizen, Comelia, Citizen. My virtuous Comelia has blessed me with ason. Simon. Blessed the Republic with a son, Citizen. The Republic? No, no, that's too genecal; one might almost say- Simon. That's the point, the particular must contribute to the general, SCENE 1] DANTON'S DEATH » Citizen. Yes, yes, that’s what my wife says too, [Singer |sings]. aanen ann, tll me then, What is it now that pleases men? Citizen. Now it’s the name for the boy, we can’t agree. ‘Simon. Why not call him Pike Marat? Ballad Singer {sings} Bent with sorrow, bent with eare, To sweat all day in foul despair, ‘Till the evening comes again. | Citizen. T'd really like three—there's something about the number three—now Iet me sce, I'd like a name that’s uscful_and one that’s honest; I know: Plough, and Robespierce. But now the third .. . mon. Pike. Cit. Many thanks, neighbor! Pike, Plough, Robes- picrte—fine names; sounds good. : | Simon. T tell you, the breasts of your Comelia will, ike the ndders of the Roman she-wolf—no, that won't do: Romulus was a tyrant, so that won't do. They walk on. A Beggar [sings]. A lut ovath ond atl piece of moss . . « Kind gentlemen, lovely ladies! First Gentleman. Why don’t you work, you lazy lout? ‘You look well enough fed! Second Gentleman, Here! [Gives him some money.) Why, his hands ate soft as velvet! The shameless thief! Beggar. Sir, where did you get your coat from? Second Gentleman. Work, my good fellow, work! You could have one, too; I'll give you some work if you like. Come to meat a e And, sit, why did you wor Second Gentleman: You foo), to have the coat, of course! Beggar. You tortured yourself for a luxury; because a coat like that is a luxury when a rag would do just as well. Seeond Gentleman. Of course, otherwise you'd never Pe epgar. Ved never be such @ fool! The work I'd have to30 GFORG BUCHNER [ser wo do wouldn't make it worth it, ‘The sun these om the comer’s nice and warm, and it’s free. [Sings.] ‘A handful of earth and a little piece of moss. - _oaedls io, Soutaor|. sey vp, ese come sme eee We've had nothing warm in our bellies since Beggar (sings). Is all that is left of my profit and my k gentlemen, lovely ladiest » yest soldier, Halt! Where're ¥ ? pit Hit Wherce you gis of to? [To Rosazs Rosalie. Old as my little finger. Soldier. Sharp, aren't you! " Rosalie fad arent you blunt! Soldier. What do you say T use you for a whetston nee you say T use you for a whetston lrstina, © Christina mine, Joes the pain hurt you sote, hust you sore? Does the pain hurt you sore? youse Rosalie (sings). For shame not, my sweet soldier dear, I wish that I could have more, have more! I wish that I could have more! Danron and Canarte enter. Danton. How happy they look!—I smell something here in the aic; like the sun hatching out echery—It makes a man want to get down there, doesn't it? Rip off his pants and go at it like dogs in the strect! They go on Young Gentleman. Ah, madame, the sound 5 7 ind of a bell te Tight of evening onthe frees, the twinile of the fist star Madame, ‘The fragrance of flower! These natural PERE MES ine eohpment of nate [Fo her daughter ! ucts] You see, Eugénie, only Virtue has eyes for such Eugénie [kisses her mother's han oni er's hand}. Oh, Mama, 1 see Madame, That’s a good child. scent 1] DANTON'S DEATH 31 ‘Young Gentlemen [whispers in Excéaue’s eat). Do you sce the pretty lady over there with the old gentleman? rugénie, I know het. Young Gentlewan. They say the haicdresser did her huis & enfant. Eugénie [laughs]. Naughty gossip! Young Gentlemen, And the ol gentieman walks slong hreside her; he sees the bud swelling and takes it out in the sun for a walk, thiuking he was the thundershower that made it gro Eugenie. How indelicate of you! J feel T should blash Young Gentleman. That could make me grow pale They go of. Danton {to Carte]. Don't expect anything serious oat of me! I don't understand why people don’t just plant themselves in the street and Jaugh in one another's faces Latwuld think they would have to be laughing from theit windows and from their graves, and that heaven itsclf Would burst, and the carth rall over in laughter. ‘They go of. First Gentleman, | assure you it is a most extraordinary discovery! He gives the teltnical arts an entizely new aspect. Mankind hucries with giant sides toward his higher destiny. ‘Second Contleman. Lave you seen the new play? ‘There's a Babylonian towes, @ great confusion of arches and steps and passages—and they blow it all up into, the gir ust as easily nnd every as you could imagine, You grow dizey at exery step. What an extraordinary) brain that invented it! [He stands there, suddenly perplexed.] ‘First Gentleman, Why, what's Bie matisx with you? ‘Second Gentleman. Oh, nothing, nothing at alll Would you reach ine yout hand, sit! The puddles in the street, you know. ‘There! Thank you, sit) 1 olmost didn't get Jeross them! It could have been dangerous! First Gentleman. Surely you weren't afraid? Sosond Gentleman, Well, you see, sir, the earth has nothing bat a thin crust—a thin, thin, crust. 1 always fancy T might fall through a hole like that if I were to32 GEORG BUCHNER [scr two SB into it—One must be careful where one steps, One That break throught But you must go to see the play Thighly recommend it! SCENE m—A room Danton. Canute, Lverune Canerize, I tell you that unless they have wooden copies of everthing, scattered about in theatres, concert halle and art exhibits, people have neither eyes aor ears for fe Tat someone carve out a marionette so that they ean ec the stings that pull it up and down and with cach awke [1d movement from its joints hear it roar out an iambio line; what a character, they'll ery out, what consistency! ‘Take @ minor sentiment, a maxim, a notion, and dre oe iP Coat and trousers, make pairs of hands and feet for amed or shot itself dead—and they will cry out that The geal Fidale them out an opera which reproduces the rising and sinking of the human soul a5 2 clay pipe with water reproduces the sounds of the nightingale—oh, what art, they will cry outl—Take these same people from the theatre and pat them on the street and hey grow pained with pitiful reality'—They forgct theit Lord Got because of His bad imitators. And they sce amt hot Fothing of the creation round about them and in than that glows, and surges, and glitters, and is bors anew ean every moment. AIL they do is go to the theatre, vead Fea an novels, and grimace like the characters they End in them, and then say to God's real erations: Hae commonplace!—The Greeks knew what they were aboot when they told of Pygmalion’s statue, come to life bet tunable to bear children, bodies out of La Force onto the streets, he went amet cold-bloodedly drawing them and said: “L'm snatching the last spasms of life from these scoundrels.” scene 1] DANTON’S DEATH 33 Danton is called out. ille. What do you say, Lucile? in Nothing; I'd rather watch you talk, Camille. Do you listen to what I say? aicille, Well, of course! i Cane Am T right? Do you know what I was talking about? Lucille, No, not really. Daxrow returns. mille, What is it? . Danton, The Committe of Babli Safety has just now axdeted my anest, ve been wamed and offered pace refuge It seems they want my heads for all 1 cae they eat have fe Ten dlegusted with this bungled work, I wish they would take it. What diffcrence does it mak Tl know how to die bravely; it’s easier than living. ille, Danton, there’s still time! Danton Now would never hve thought that lle. Your damned laziness! Darton, Vin wot ay; an ed: eve the sles of my feet burn. Camille, Where will you go? Danton. Ewish Tknew! sp: wherer ile. 'm asking you seriously: wh Danton, Fors walk, my friend, for a walk, [He goes out. EecilOhy Camilel ile. Don't worry, my love! Tacit When T tak tat this head—youn—t Oh, Camille! Tell me I’m not talking sense—please—that 't know what I'm talking about! “Came, Dent worry—Danton and I are two different le, ., Lucille, The eatth is broad and there are many things upon it—why should they want just this? W ho would take him from me? It would be wicked. What would they for? . "Camille, How reany times must I tell yoo, you necd't won. I qpoke with Robespere ysterday-—he was friendly to me. Things are a bit strained at the moment, that's34 GEORG BUCHNER [act two frac; our points of view are different, nothing more! Lucille. You must go to him. Camille. We sat together on the same school bench, He was always gloomy and alone. I was the only one who ever sought him out and made him Jaugh_at times. He has Tiras Shown me a great deal of affection. All sight Tigo. Lucile, So quickly, my love?. Go on! No, come here! ‘There [She kisses him., and there, Go now! Gol CamnLe goes off. sicille. ‘These are terrible times. But that’s how it is What is there we can do? We simply must get hold Sf ourselves. [Sings] Parting, ob, parting, oh, parting, Who'd ever have thought we must part? AWhy should that of all things have oceurted to me jst Rowe T don't like the way it came of its own accord —At hhe went out, it seemed to me that he could never oom back again, that he had to go farther and fasther from me ayllow empty the room is, just all of a. sudden! “the Pindows open as if a dead man had been laid out in here T can't bear this place any longer. [She goes off. SCENE 1w—An open field Paxton. Ill go no forthet. Why should {disturb this silence with the rustling of my footsteps and the vont of aay breath. [He sits down; after a pause} 1 was told pice of a sickness that wipes out our memory. Death must echaps death is even mote powerful and wipes ave Grersthing, If only it were true!—1'd rum like a Christy then to rescue my enemy—my memory, that i Tine Place should be safe; for my memory if not for me, he fhe grave should give me safety, at least it will make me forget. The grave kills memory. But back there, tw Pants Manet fills me. I or it? Which shall it be? It's an enoy qhuice: Ue rises and tooks back whence he came} Pe, flirting with death, It’s rather amusing to moke eyes: at scene] DANTON’S DEATH 35 Wim fom, a distance Actually 1 should laugh at the whole business, There's «sense of permanence ia me that says: tomonow and the day after, end 20 on and on, wil be no diferent from today, Tts'a meaningless tama frighten me. They'd never dare! [He goes off. scene ¥—A room—night Vi 9? Will the yn [at the window]. Will it never stop’ Pan soften and the noise die away? ak ae be dark again and still so that we needn't Took at an listen to each other's ugly sins?— eptember Julie [calls from within). Danton! Danton! Danton. Yes? : Julie (enters|. Why are you calling out mton. Was I? pie You talked about ugly sins, and then you groaned: n i ,, “thant. Did 1 12 No, it vast Y who spoke: Twas scarcely thinking such things, they were scarcely mor Tm gig sere thoughts. julie, You're trembling, Dant 7 Baniom, Why dhouldst ftemble, with the was chat tering as they ate; if my body is so gone to picces at ny thoughts go astray and start speaking throwgh lips stone? 3 sang thing lie. Ge :, Georges, . : set Yo. Julie, ws strange indecd. I'd rather never think again, if my thoughts are going to speak out for me. ‘There are thoughts, Julie, that are meant for no one’s ears. It's not good when they cry out like newborn cl Iren; it’s not good. otaie Gok Keep you in your right mind!—Georges, ; do you recognize me? “Sued Why shouldn’t I? You're a human being and you're a woman and my wife, and the earth has five continents: Europe, Asia, Africa, America, Australia, ane io tes two makes fst. You se Tom lg ud You say there was a cry: September. You did say that, didn't you?36 GEORG BOCHNER [ser awo Julie. Yes, Danton, I heard it through all the rooms, Danton. As 1 went to the window. [He looks out} How quiet the city is, it’s lights are out, Julie. A chita’s erying near by. Panton, As I went to the window—there cried and shricked through all the streets: September! Julie. You were dreaming, Danton, Calm yourself! Panton, Dreaming? Yes, I dreamed; but that was some- thing else, I'l teil you in a moment—my memory’s so bad Hight now—in a moment! Yes, I have it now: the globe wf the world writhed under me as it leapt from its course 1 had grabbed hold of it like a wild horse, T clutched at its mane with giant arms and dug into its ribs, my head timed aside, my hair streaming across the abyss, and I flagged along. ‘Then 1 cried out in terror, and T woke up. Lwalked to the windowand then I heard it, Julien, What does it want from me? Why that word? What have F fo do with it? Why does it stretch its bloody hand ae me? T never struck at it—Oh, help me, Julie, my mind ds numb and dell! What happened in September, Julie? Julie. The kings were within forty hours of Paris . . Danton. The fortresses fallen, the aristocrats in the ity. Julie. The Republic was lost. Danton. Yes, lost. We couldn’ leave the enemy at our back, we would have been fools: two enemies on single plank; we or they, the stronger always pushes the weaker down—it was only fais, wasn’t i? Julie. Yes, yes. Danton. We killed them—but it wasn’t murder; it was war, civil war, Julie. You saved the country, Danton. Yes, { saved it; it was self-defense, we had no choice. ‘That Man on the Cross made it easy for Hin, self: “Tt must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.” That must! That ust was mine! Who will curse the hand on which that Curse of must has fallen? Who spoke that must? Wher What is this in us that lies, whores, steals, and smurdon? {What are we but puppets, manipulated on wires by vn Known powers? We ate nothing, nothing in oursclvecs se ; 37 scene vu} DANTON'S DEATH i except no one sees are the swords that spirits fight with—except the hands jue asi fairytales feel eae no lie, Really calm, my love? Banton Yes, Julie. Come—to bed! scent vi-Street in front of Dantox’s house Suwon. Crre-sonosens. 110. How goes the night? a Sega Citisen What do you mean “how goes the night"? Simon. How far has the night gone? First Citizen. As far as between sunset and sunrise. mon. You rogue, what time isit? se tor Fist Cleon Lok at your timepiece: it's time foi Pespendiculars to speout between the bedsheets, © Simon. Forward) Citizens, forward! We must answer for it with our heads! Dead or alive! Watch for his strong aus TT ead you on, Citizens! Make way for Freedom See to my wife! I shall bequeath her a ring of walnuts for ito Chien, A dg of walt She has her fil of nat the table, too! : a Srne Fosand, Citar ve shall put the counts in 1 Cebit A . onsscond Citizen. V'd rather we were in the county's debt! For all the holes we made in people's bodies, the holes in our pants have stayed as big as ever. 4 First Citizen, What are you after, you want your fly sewn up? Hat Ha! Hat ‘The Others, Hal Hal Hat Simon. Away! Away! They force their way into Dantox's house. scENE vu-—The National Convention A group of Deruries Lycexpre Will this slaughter of Deputies never end? What ‘man ean be safe if Danton falls?