German composition

Section 226. THE TWO ROBBERS. II.

Reading edition

Robber.—And does not Fame speak of me too? Was there (S. 82, N. 7) ever a bolder captain of a more valiant band? Was there ever—but I scorn to boast. You yourself know that I have not been easily subdued.

Alexander.—Still, what are you but a robber, a base, dishonest robber?

Robber.—And what is a conqueror? Have not you, too, gone about the earth⁠[1] like an evil genius, blasting⁠[2] the fair fruits of peace and industry, plundering, ravaging, killing⁠[3] without law, without justice, merely to gratify an insatiable lust for dominion? All that I have done to a single district with a hundred followers, you have done to whole nations with a hundred thousand. If I have stripped individuals⁠[4], you (S. 27, N. 8) have ruined kings and princes. If I have burned a few hamlets, you have desolated the most flourishing kingdoms and cities of the earth. What is then the difference⁠[5], but that, as you were born a king, and I a private man⁠[6], you have been able to become a mightier robber than I?

Alexander.—But if I have taken like a king, I have given like a king. If I have subverted empires, I have founded greater. I have cherished⁠[7] arts, commerce, and philosophy.

Robber.—I, too, have freely given to the poor, what I took from the rich. I have established order and discipline among the most ferocious of mankind⁠[8], and have stretched out my protecting arm over the oppressed. I know, indeed, little of the philosophy you talk of; but I believe neither you nor I will ever atone to the world for the mischiefs we have done.

Alexander.—Leave me!—Take off his chains, and use him well. Are we, then, so much like?—Alexander and a Robber?—Let me reflect⁠[9].—Dr. Aikin.

Notes in this chapter

Note 8 · When a subordinate clause, beginning with one of the conjunctions da, obgleich, weil, and wenn, precedes a principal clause, which is often Note 7 · ‘There is’ and ‘there are’, used in a general sense, are generally rendered by the impers. v. ‘es giebt’.Note 1 · ‘to go about the earth’ here über die Erde her´ziehen, conjugated with sein.Note 2 · = to (um ... zu) blast, vernichten.Note 3 · = Have you not plundered, ravaged and killed.Note 4 · = robbed common citizens.Note 5 · Besteht denn zwischen uns beiden ein anderer Unterschied als der, daß; followed by ‘you have — than I’, according to S. 211, N. 9.Note 6 · = common citizen.Note 7 · here = protected.Note 8 · = of all men.Note 9 · Ich will darüber nachdenken.