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Plays

by Roswitha of Gandersheim

Length: 35,385 words, about 142 pages, about 2 hours to read

Drama

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What it is

The collected plays of Roswitha of Gandersheim, the tenth century German canoness, dramatist, and poet.

The best passages

Pages from the book itself, chosen to make you want to read on. Each opens in the reader at that exact spot.

Scene I

Constantine

Gallicanus, this tries my patience. You have delayed the offensive against the Scythians too long. The only nation which boldly resists our power and refuses to make peace with Rome! You know well enough that you were chosen because of your energy in your country’s service.

Gallicanus

Most noble Constantine, I have served you hand and foot, ungrudgingly, devotedly, and have always striven to repay your trust in me with deeds. I have never shirked any task.

Constantine

Is there any need to remind me? As if your great services were not always in mind! I spoke, not to reproach you, but to urge you to act quickly.

Gallicanus

I will set out at once.

Constantine

I am rejoiced to hear it.

Gallicanus

I am ready to obey your orders if it costs me my life.

Constantine

Your zeal pleases me. I appreciate your devotion.

Gallicanus

As both are immense should they not be rewarded on the same scale?

Constantine

That is only fair.

Gallicanus

It is easier for a man to undertake a difficult enterprise when he is sustained by the knowledge that his reward is sure.

Constantine

Naturally.

Gallicanus

I beg you then to promise me now my prize for this dangerous undertaking. In hard and strenuous fighting, when it seems as if I must be defeated, the thought of this reward will give me new strength.

Constantine

The reward deemed by the Senate the most glorious a man can desire has never been withheld from you, and never shall be. You enjoy the freedom of my court, and the highest honour among those who surround me.

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Scene IV

Abraham

Can that be my friend who two years ago went to search for Mary? Yes, it is he!

Friend

Good day, venerable father.

Abraham

Good day, dear friend. I have waited so long for you. Of late I had begun to despair.

Friend

Forgive me, father. I delayed my return because I did not wish to mock you with doubtful and unreliable news. As soon as I had discovered the truth I lost no time.

Abraham

You have seen Mary?

Friend

I have seen her.

Abraham

Where is she? Come, sir, speak! Tell me where.

Friend

It goes to my heart to tell you.

Abraham

Speak⁠—I implore you.

Friend

She lives in the house of a man who trades in the love of young girls like her. A profitable business, for every day he makes a large sum of money out of her lovers.

Abraham

Her lovers? Mary’s lovers?

Friend

Yes.

Abraham

Who are they?

Friend

There are plenty of them.

Abraham

Good Jesu, what is this monstrous thing I hear? Do they say that she, whom I brought up to be Thy bride, gives herself to strange lovers?

Friend

It comes naturally to harlots.

Abraham

If you are my friend, get me a saddle-horse somewhere and a soldier’s dress. I am going to get into that place as a lover.

Friend

Father, mine are at your service.

Abraham

And I must borrow a felt hat to cover my tonsure.

Friend

That is most necessary, if you do not want to be recognized.

Abraham

I have one gold piece. Should I take it to give this man?

Friend

You should, for otherwise he will never let you see Mary.

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Scene II

Young Man

We are not traitors. No harm shall come to you.

Paphnutius

I am told that there lives in this town a woman who loves all who love her. She is kind to all men; she’ll not deny them anything.

Young Man

Stranger, you must tell us her name. There are many women of that kind in our city. Do you know her name?

Paphnutius

Yes, I know it.

Young Man

Who is she?

Paphnutius

Thais.

Young Man

Thais! She is the flame of this land! She sets all hearts on fire.

Paphnutius

They say she is beautiful. The most exquisite woman of her kind in the world!

Young Man

They have not deceived you.

Paphnutius

For her sake I have made a long and difficult journey. I have come here only to see her.

Young Man

Well, what should prevent you? You are young and handsome.

Paphnutius

Where does she live?

Young Man

Over there. Her house is quite near this place.

Paphnutius

That house?

Young Man

Yes, to the left of the statue.

Paphnutius

I will go there.

Young Man

If you like, we will come with you.

Paphnutius

I thank you for the courtesy, but I would rather go alone.

Young Man

We understand. Have you money in your purse, stranger? Thais loves a handsome face, but she loves a full purse more.

Paphnutius

Gentlemen, I am rich. I have a rare present to offer her.

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10 of the best lines

For the more seductive the blandishments of lovers the more wonderful the divine succour and the greater the merit of those who resist, especially when it is fragile woman who is victorious and strong man who is routed with confusion.

Preface to the Plays of Hrotswitha, German Religious and Virgin of the Saxon RaceKeep reading from here

How much more powerful is one fervent prayer than all the pride of man!

Scene IXKeep reading from here

You are crying for the moon.

Scene IIKeep reading from here

Nothing is more terrible than envy, nothing more evil than pride.

Scene IXKeep reading from here

It is human to sin, but it is devilish to remain in sin.

Scene VIIKeep reading from here

It seems strange that discords can become concords.

Scene IKeep reading from here

One vice brings another in its train.

Scene IKeep reading from here

I am not mad. For the first time I am sane, and I rejoice!

Scene IVKeep reading from here

Grace is the free gift of God and does not depend on our merits. If it did, it could not be called grace.

Scene XIIKeep reading from here

A mighty man! He cannot conquer a child of eight without calling in fire to help him!

Scene VKeep reading from here

All 56 Plays quotes, with the words around each

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Contents

All 104 parts
  1. Translator’s Note
  2. Introduction
  3. The Plays of Roswitha
  4. Prefaces of Roswitha
  5. Preface to the Plays of Hrotswitha, German Religious and Virgin of the Saxon Race
  6. Epistle of the Same to the Learned Patrons of This Book
  7. Gallicanus
  8. Argument
  9. Characters in Part I
  10. Characters in Part II
  11. Part I
  12. Scene I
  13. Scene II
  14. Scene III
  15. Scene IV
  16. Scene V
  17. Scene VI
  18. Scene VII
  19. Scene VIII
  20. Scene IX
  21. Scene X
  22. Scene XI
  23. Scene XII
  24. Scene XIII
  25. Part II
  26. Scene I
  27. Scene II
  28. Scene III
  29. Scene IV
  30. Scene V
  31. Scene VI
  32. Scene VII
  33. Scene VIII
  34. Scene IX
  35. Dulcitius
  36. Argument
  37. Dulcitius
  38. Scene I
  39. Scene II
  40. Scene III
  41. Scene IV
  42. Scene V
  43. Scene VI
  44. Scene VII
  45. Scene VIII
  46. Scene IX
  47. Scene X
  48. Scene XI
  49. Scene XII
  50. Scene XIII
  51. Scene XIV
  52. Callimachus
  53. Argument
  54. Callimachus
  55. Scene I
  56. Scene II
  57. Scene III
  58. Scene IV
  59. Scene V
  60. Scene VI
  61. Scene VII
  62. Scene VIII
  63. Scene IX
  64. Abraham
  65. Argument
  66. Abraham
  67. Scene I
  68. Scene II
  69. Scene III
  70. Scene IV
  71. Scene V
  72. Scene VI
  73. Scene VII
  74. Scene VIII
  75. Scene IX
  76. Paphnutius
  77. Argument
  78. Paphnutius
  79. Scene I
  80. Scene II
  81. Scene III
  82. Scene IV
  83. Scene V
  84. Scene VI
  85. Scene VII
  86. Scene VIII
  87. Scene IX
  88. Scene X
  89. Scene XI
  90. Scene XII
  91. Scene XIII
  92. Sapientia
  93. Argument
  94. Sapientia
  95. Scene I
  96. Scene II
  97. Scene III
  98. Scene IV
  99. Scene V
  100. Scene VI
  101. Scene VII
  102. Scene VIII
  103. Scene IX
  104. A Note on the Acting of the Plays

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About this edition

Text from Standard Ebooks. Standard Ebooks dedicate their edition to the public domain (CC0 1.0). Every passage and line on this page is the book's own words, checked against the text.