Fiesco's Conspiracy at Genoa
Fiesco's Conspiracy at Genoa
Friedrich Schiller
Translated by Flora Kimmich
with an Introduction and Notes to the Text by John Guthrie
Series: Open Book Classics
Volume: 2
Copyright Date: 2015
Published by: Open Book Publishers
Pages: 150
https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt15m7n82
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Book Info
Fiesco's Conspiracy at Genoa
Book Description:

Within two years of the success of his first play Die Räuber on the German stage in 1781, Schiller wrote a drama based on a rebellion in sixteenth century Italy, its title: The Conspiracy of Fiesco at Genoa. A Republican Tragedy. At the head of the conspiracy stood Gian Luigi de’ Fieschi (1524-1547), Schiller’s Count Fiesco, a clever, courageous and charismatic figure, an epicurean and unhesitant egoist, politically ambitious, but unsure of his aims and principles. He is one of Schiller’s mysterious, protean characters who secures both our admiration and disgust. With Fiesco as tragic hero Schiller examines the complex entanglement of morality and politics in his own times that was to preoccupy him throughout his career. The play was a moderate success when performed in Mannheim in 1784; it was more popular in Berlin, where during Schiller’s lifetime, it was performed many times in a version by Carl Plümicke, which however radically altered the play’s meaning. There have been some noteworthy productions on the German stage and television, even if it has remained somewhat in the shadow of Schiller’ other works. In the English-speaking world it is all but unknown and very seldom performed. This translation aims to remedy that oversight.

eISBN: 978-1-78374-044-4
Subjects: Language & Literature
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  1. Front Matter
    Front Matter (pp. i-iv)
  2. Table of Contents
    Table of Contents (pp. v-v)
  3. Introduction
    Introduction (pp. vi-xviii)
    John Guthrie

    The Conspiracy of Fiesco at Genoawas Schiller’s second play and the first in which he dealt with a historical subject. After thesuccès de scandalethatThe Robbers(1781) had been, Duke Karl Eugen of Württemberg restricted Schiller’s movements and he busied himself with finishing his medical dissertation to qualify as a doctor. The dissertation contains a reference to the historical figure of Fiesco, whom Schiller links with Catiline as an example of an extreme character who is led by his senses and passions. The same two figures are again linked on the title page of the play through...

  4. The Conspiracy of Fiesco at Genoa
    • [Introduction]
      [Introduction] (pp. 1-6)

      I have drawn the history of the conspiracy primarily from Cardinal Retz’s²Conjuration du Comte Jean Louis de Fièsque, from L’Histoire des Conjurations, L’Histoire de Gênes,and from Robertson’s³History of Charles V, part 3. The Hamburg dramaturg4will forgive me the liberties I have taken with events if these liberties have succeeded. If they have not, I would rather have spoiledmyfantasies than the facts. The actual catastrophe of the complot, where the Count is undone by unhappy chance just as he realizes his desires, necessarily had to be changed, for drama, by its very nature, can tolerate...

    • Act One
      Act One (pp. 7-32)

      LEONORA (ripping off her mask). No more! Not another word! Now we know. (Throws herself into a chair.) This is too much for me.

      ARABELLA. My Lady--

      LEONORA (rising to her feet). Before my very eyes! A notorious coquette! In plain view of the entire Genoese nobility. (Sadly.) Rosa! Bella! And before my eyes, my weeping eyes.

      ROSA. Take it for what it really was--a bit of gallantry--

      LEONORA. Gallantry? --And their eager exchange of glances? His anxious watching for her next move? That long kiss on her bare arm that left the print of his teeth, bright red? Ha!...

    • Act Two
      Act Two (pp. 33-62)

      ARABELLA. No, I say. You’re mistaken. Your jealousy sees everything in the worst light.

      LEONORA. It was the living Julia. Don’t try to fool me.Mysilhouette was on a sky-blue ribbon. This one was fiery red and of watered silk. My fate is sealed.

      JULIA (enters affectedly). The Count offered me his palace to watch the procession to Town Hall. I shall find it tedious enough. While my chocolate29is being prepared, amuse me, Madame. (Bella goes out, returns immediately.)

      LEONORA. Do you bid me invite company?

      JULIA. Tasteless. As if I had to come here to find company....

    • Act Three
      Act Three (pp. 63-82)

      BOURGOGNINO (stands still). But where are you leading me, Father? In your laboured breathing I still hear the dull pain that prompted you to call me away. Break this horrible silence. Speak. I’ll go no farther.

      VERRINA. This is the place.

      BOURGOGNINO. The most terrible you could have found. If what you undertake here resembles this place, Father, my hair will stand on end.

      VERRINA. But this is agardencompared with the night of my soul. Follow me to where decay eats at corpses until they have rotted away and death celebrates its horrible banquet--where the whimpering of lost...

    • Act Four
      Act Four (pp. 83-102)

      BOUGOGNINO. Halt! --Four sentries to the main courtyard gate. Two to each entrance to the palace. (Guards take their posts.) Anyone who wishes to enter will be admitted. No one may leave again. Any use of force will be struck down. (Takes the rest of the troops into the palace. Sentries walk up and down. Pause.)

      SENTRIES AT COURTYARD GATE (call out). Who goes there? (Centurione enters.)

      CENTURIONE. Friend of Lavagna. (Crosses the courtyard toward the entrance on the right.)

      SENTRIES (there). Stand back.

      CENTURIONE (stops short, then crosses toward the left entrance).

      SENTRIES (on left). Stand back.

      CENTURIONE (stands...

    • Act Five
      Act Five (pp. 103-122)

      FIESCO. The old man has kept his word. -- All lights out in the palace. The guard is gone. I’ll ring. (Rings.) Hey! Holla! Wake up, Doria! Betrayed, sold-out Doria, wake up! Holla! Holla! Holla! Wake up.

      ANDREA (appears on the terrace). Who pulled the bell? FIESCO (his voice altered ). Don’t ask. Obey. Your star is setting, Duke. Genoa is rising against you. Your hangmen are at hand, and you can sleep, Andrea?

      ANDREA (with dignity). I remember how the angry sea quarrelled with myBellona,⁶¹ so that the keel groaned and the topmost mast broke -- and Andrea...

  5. Notes to the Text
    Notes to the Text (pp. 123-128)
    John Guthrie
  6. Select Bibliography
    Select Bibliography (pp. 129-130)
  7. Back Matter
    Back Matter (pp. 131-133)