Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Egmont
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Table of contents
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
In
1775, when Goethe was twenty-six, and before he went to Weimar, he
began to write "Egmont" After working on it at intervals
for twelve years, he finished it at Rome in 1787.The
scene of the drama is laid in the Low Countries at the beginning of
the revolt against Spain. In the fifteenth century Philip of Burgundy
had usurped dominion over several of the provinces of the
Netherlands, and through him they had passed into the power of his
descendant, the Emperor Charles V. This powerful ruler abolished the
constitutional rights of the provinces, and introduced the
Inquisition in order to stamp out Protestantism. Prominent among his
officers was the Fleming, Lamoral, Count Egmont, upon whom he
lavished honors and opportunities of service—opportunities so well
improved that, by his victories over the French at Saint-Quentin
(1557) and Gravelines (1558) Egmont made a reputation as one of the
most brilliant generals in Europe, and became the idol of his
countrymen. When in 1559 a new Regent of the Netherlands was to be
created, the people hoped that Philip II, who had succeeded Charles,
would choose Egmont; but instead he appointed his half-sister
Margaret, Duchess of Parma. Under the new Regent the persecution of
the Protestants was rigorously pressed, and in 1565 Egmont, though a
Catholic, was sent to Madrid to plead for clemency. He was received
by the King with every appearance of cordiality, but shortly after
his return home the Duke of Alva was sent to the Netherlands with
instructions to put down with an iron hand all resistance to his
master's will. How terribly he carried out his orders has been told
by Prescott and Motley. Egmont was an early victim, but his
martyrdom, with that of Count Horn, and later the assassination of
William of Orange, roused the Netherlands to a resistance that ended
only with the complete throwing off of the Spanish yoke.Such
in outline is the background chosen by Goethe for his tragedy. With
many changes in detail, the dramatist has still preserved a picture
of a historical situation of absorbing interest, and has painted a
group of admirable portraits. The drama has long been a favorite on
the stage, where it enjoys the advantage of Beethoven's musical
setting.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Margaret
of Parma, (Daughter of Charles V., and Regent of the
Netherlands)
Count Egmont, (Prince of Gaure)
The Duke of Alva
William of Orange
Ferdinand, (his natural Son)
Machiavel, in the service of the Regent
Richard, (Egmont's Private Secretary)
Silva, Gomez, (in the service of Alva)
Clara, (the Beloved of Egmont)
Her Mother
Brackenburg, (a Citizen's Son), and Vansen, (a Clerk)
Soest, (a Shopkeeper), Jetter, (a Tailor), A Carpenter, A
Soapboiler
(Citizens of Brussels)
Buyck, (a Hollander), a Soldier under Egmont
Ruysum, (a Frieslander), an invalid Soldier, and deaf
People, Attendants, Guards, &c.
The Scene is laid in Brussels.
ACT I
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
