Dramatic works of Goethe Author:Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: TORQUATO TASSO. PERSONS OF THE DRAMA. Alphonso n., Duke of Ferrara, Leonora D'EsrE, Sister to the Duke. Leonora Sanvitale, Countess of Scandiano. ToRft... more »TTATO TASSO. Antonio Montecatino, Secretary of State. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I A Garden adorned with busts of the Epic Poets. To the right, a bust of Virgil; to the left, one of Ariosto. Princess and Leonora, habited as shepherdesses. PRINCESS. Smiling thou dost survey me, Leonora, Then with a smile thou dost survey thyself. "What is it ? Let a friend partake thj thought! Thou seemest pensive, yet thou seemest pleased. Leonora. Yes, princess, I am pleas'd to see us both In rural garb thus tastefully attir'd. Two happy shepherd maidens we appear, And our employment speaks our happiness; Garlands we wreath. This one, so gay with flowers, Beneath my hand in varied beauty grows; Whilst thou, with loftier taste and larger heart, Hast of the pliant laurel made thy choice. PRINCESS. The laurel wreath, which aimlessly I twin'd, Hath found at once a not unworthy head; I place it gratefully on Virgil's brow. (She crowns the bust of Virgil.) LEONOEA. With my full joyo as wreath I crown the brow Of Ludovico, of the tuneful lyre— (She crowns (he bust nf Arias?).) Let him whose sportive sallies never fade, Receive his tribute from the early spring. Princess. My brother is most kind, to bring us here In this sweet season to our rural haunts; Here, by the hour, in freedom unrestrain'd, We may dream back the poet's golden age. I love this Belriguardo; in my youth Full many a joyous day I linger d here, And this bright sunshine, and this verdant green, Bring back the feeling of that by-gone time. Leonora. Yes, a new world surrounds us ! Grateful ncv; The cooling shelter of these e...« less