"Take me to the country of happiness." "To the country from which nobody returns." "Where day and night the most beautiful songs are sung." " Take me." " Yes." "Soon I will take you to that happy country of the living." "The moment approaches." "Have we not emptied the glass of all the miseries... and all the joys?" "Call me, my love." "You know that I will come." "Do you know who I am?" "You are..." "Gabriel." "Enter the flames, Balthasar." "THE TRIBULATIONS OF BALTHASAR KOBER" "That they may be saved:" "those who meditate in the purity of their souls, those who have found happiness, the indomitable ones and the unsatisfied ones, those who are glad, and those who are troubled." "That the injustices and vicissitudes of destiny may be alleviated, the damage wrought by daily living and the pains of love, that these are alleviated..." "The little angels are here." "Let us pay attention so as to hear their breath." "Our mother always complains of you, Balthasar." "Stepmother!" "Your mother does not love me." "That's not true." "She loves us both equally." "What are you thinking about?" "Today, on the high road, I saw the angel Gabriel, who purified me with fire, and then I went with him to Jerusalem where I saw the prophets." "What you say I find difficult to believe." "It happened in other places and times." "It seems as though you are living elsewhere, as if you were not living here and now... but you are living here with us." "I believe that somebody is speaking through you." "I am the same, here and in Jerusalem, I don't change." "You're talking nonsense, Balthasar." "Down on my knees, with the prophets, I began to pray, but the prayer was new to me." "If you don't know the prayer, how can you recite it?" "My son, submit to the will of the Almighty." "He gives us life and takes it from us." "Lord, in Your Mercy, take this soul." "Receive it into Your Light, give it rest there." "Withhold your wrath from it, pardon its offences." " That it may rest in peace." " For ever and ever." "Amen." "Hope is not enough, we can no longer postpone a decision about the boy." "I often dream that a green horse, of ill omen, takes Balthasar away." "He cannot stay with you." "His mind needs stimulation." "What can I do with him?" "The school fees cost too much." "I think I know who might help you." "I am well-regarded by the Rector of Dresden, he will surely do me a favour." "He welcomes young people who will grow in the light of the Lord." "Balthasar stutters." "Would that be a problem for the Rector?" "I'll warn him." "You'll see, all will go well." " Is this your protege?" " Yes, your Grace, that is him." "Is this the father of the boy?" "Doctor Sigismund, of Bautzen, he accompanies his son." "If you find within yourself... a deep enough thirst... for what is in these deep wells," "likewise you will find there deep suffering." "Remember this, my son." "Many of our seminarians... for want of real theological knowledge," "lose themselves... in a world of trivialities." "If your work is difficult, think rather that your efforts will be rewarded some day." "You must return home without delay." "Your father awaits you there, his time has come." "You must not delay." "Do you recognize me?" "The angel Gabriel!" " No, the Archangel Gabriel." " I have not forgotten." "So here you are." "You come in time." "You have learned the mysteries of God and of the Universe." "That is good news." "I know nothing." "I am ignorant of the Holy Mysteries." "I hear, Father..." "Little Balthasar, you are the last in the family line." "Son, God has put a frog upon your tongue... so that you should weigh your words... to be in harmony with the Divine Will." "Promise me, swear it, my dear son, that you will honour our memory." "I will always be with you, brother, wherever you go." "Wherever you go, believe me, always." "Gertrude..." "Gertrude, your late brothers whom I shall soon meet, and I... now pass on to you the living flame of our life." "Recall the words of the Bible, my son:" ""If your life on this earth respects the will of Almighty God then you will surely gain eternal life"." "Your father is dead, your family is no more." "Their lives are but sand in the hands of the Almighty." "Let us pray together." "Almighty God, hear my prayer." "Listen to my voice which cries from the abyss." "Pardon my offences as I pardon those who offend against me." "Considering our many sins, who among us worthy to appear before you?" "I am your servant, Illustrious Sir." "It is a great honour to meet you here, mounted upon this magnificent battle horse." " It's only a donkey" " But what a donkey!" "Where does this road lead?" "You will not rob a solitary traveller?" "By no means, sir." "I come from my father's funeral." "I am alone, my dear ones are gone before." "I am returning to the seminary." "Ah, a theologian." "Permit me to introduce myself:" "Algesipus Camenius Astrobal." "But you may call me Papagallo, it means parrot." "Allow me to verify the extent of your knowledge." "Do you know "Hee haw"?" "Hee haw, hee haw"..." "No I don't know it?" "What is it about?" "It's the language which donkeys speak." "You mean you're riding a donkey and you don't know how to speak to him?" "Listen here." " What did you say to him?" " That you were a theologian." " Did it please my donkey?" " Of course." "He said that you should abandon the dogmatic speculations which are disturbing you so as to explore the radiant ways of life." "He told me to add that all scientific books are like tombstones, my friend." "It's strange that a donkey can express itself so clearly and logically." "Do you really think that a donkey and a parrot... can think impartially on such important subjects?" "Your donkey also says that you are a hungry dog." "Come, just a few steps from here." "You are invited to join us at table!" "There can be no intelligence on an empty stomach." "Brothers and sisters, may I present a young theologian." "He knows everything under heaven and earth, he has conversed with angels and demons, but that doesn't stop him being hungry." "Do you accept our invitation?" " With much pleasure." " That's Marguerite." "Who can say that the Theologian does not conceal an abominable Wizard?" "Imagine if he turns me into an egg and eats me with a dash of salt." "I knew one who turned bad girls into turkeys, horses into baby mice, and mushrooms into sprocket wheels." "I knew one who lied so bad no-one ever believed a word he said." "Bravo!" "Who is this in motley?" "He was secretary to the bishop of Potsdam." "And that, down there, is Rosa." "Her voice and her lute enchanted every court in Europe." "Three princes fell in love with her and sought her hand." "So all here are famous or well-known persons?" "That's quite amazing." "I like it very much." "Don't you think that the theater is of much greater value than theology?" "Unfortunately, it's hard for me to explain." "I'm not able to express myself as you do." "It's as if I had a frog on my tongue." "Demosthenes, the greatest orator of Antiquity, also had difficulties with his pronunciation." "Every day he practiced his oratory down on the seashore with a pebble in his mouth." "Why on the seashore?" "So that his voice should be stronger than the waves, and reach the horizon." "You see?" "A victory over a weak adversary is worth nothing." "Search out the impossible, the highest peaks whose ascent is the most dangerous." "You can become an orator if you decide to continue with theology or an actor if you decide to come with us." "Don't worry about it, you can decide later." "You can join us whenever you want." "We can teach you how to be one of us." "I am ready to reveal our secrets to you tonight." "Would you like that?" "Yes, I would!" "And who is that?" "Some say that he is the devil." " The devil?" " Zimmerman!" "He's a printer." "He's in bad trouble, the tribunal has accused him of practising magic." "He prints books with pentagrams which could be used... to summon souls from the other world, those of the dead." "It is even said that he can revive them." "So he's in hiding." "If the rector finds him he will be handed over to the lay courts... and will be burnt alive on the stake." "It's not a comfortable hiding-place, but they won't find him there." "This wine is strong, it's gone to my head." "I have to go, they are waiting for me at the seminary." "Where is my donkey?" "It's in the meadow with the horses." "Have you come to a decision?" "If I decided to join you and leave the seminary, it would be like walking blind on the edge of a precipice." "And also to walk towards a freedom that is yours." "Give me your hand." "To Gilles the crafty and Goupil the fox I give my solemn oath." "Repeat, and don't forget." "To Gilles the crafty and Goupil the fox, I give my solemn oath." "Goupil and Gilles remain in their houses." "You shall stay here too." "Tomorrow you can resume your journey." "You have been so good to me." "How can I show my gratitude?" "Perhaps we shall meet again." "Who knows what the future holds." "If we are in difficulties, will you help us?" "Of course, I swear it!" "What do you think?" "Such a strange story, no?" "Come." "Closer." "Let's go." "What do you want?" "He's looking for Papagallo." "Spies are everywhere in these parts, take care!" " Who is looking for Papagallo?" " Me!" "You know him?" "To Gilles the crafty and Goupil the fox, I give my solemn oath." "Goupil and Gilles remain in their houses." "Silence!" "May I speak?" "Don't speak with your mouth full." " Where do you come from?" " Far away." "I'm a student" " Of theology?" " Yes." "Papagallo told us all about you, and warned us of your arrival." "Come and eat." "Sit down, and welcome." "And you, loudmouth, take the donkey to the stalls." "Brush it down and give it some oats." "What are you doing here, Gaspar?" "You should be in Bautzen cemetery, with our father, with our mothers and brothers." " What do you want?" " To talk with you, Balthasar." "Did the magician bring you back to life so as to use you in his service?" "Rubbish." "The magician is innocent." "There's no coffin of mine in the cemetery, that I can assure you." "What do you want to talk about?" "About the printer, Zimmerman." "He had the misfortune to have a few good ideas, nothing more." "His only crime was to be a good man." "For that reason, he's in a bad situation." "He's not in accord with the dusty theories of the rector." "His Excellency, the defender of the dogma, has had a nasty shock." " How much do you know?" " It seems likely that you're going to need us." "Why are you looking at me like that?" "Are you well?" "I'm interested in your destiny because I am dead." "I want to help you." "The whole family wants to help you." "The dead people in our family often meet and talk about you because you are our only descendant." "What has become of my mother?" "I want to see her, where is she?" "Thanks to us you were able to meet Algesipus..." "Astrobal." "The one they call Papagallo." "He and his people will be very useful to you, although they are a little strange, exotic, and totally empty, let us say." "Do you understand?" "Won't I be able to see Papagallo or Rosa again?" "Obviously you can." "Just be patient." "You'll see them in a few months... after your initiation... with someone who knows a lot about God and the angels." "More than His Excellency the rector?" "Yes, someone extraordinary." "His Excellency, the rector, has no heart," "God and the angels do not speak to him." " He does not know the heavenly world" " And the pastor?" "The pastor..." "He means well, he is a good man, but incapable of distinguishing... the devil from a cat." "It's horrible." "With time you'll get used to it, you'll see." "Are you dreaming?" "Wake up." "Come." "It's best you spend the night here, in this house." "The street isn't safe, you musn't go outside." "Here you will be out of danger." "In these times anything can happen." "But as always, whatever happens, happens." "Graceful Goupil, the fox, still runs." ""Danger pursues the locked-up soul." "It cannot survive, it simply decays."" "Yes." "Simply decays." "Then, if the danger for the soul is that of decay isn't it better to advance and perservere, even though, often, you turn aside?" ""Our Father, Almighty and Eternal God, the birds in the sky... rise to the heights on the breath of God, but placed on the ground they expire with a sigh." "But one must continue on the path, because that path only exists, if one continues to tread it without cease"." "What do you want now?" "He is arriving, it is he." "Do you hear?" "Who is arriving?" "Goodbye, Balthasar." "What do you want, sir?" "I want to talk about your friend, the distinguished Dr. Zimmerman." "Who are you talking about?" "I want to talk about your friend, the wise Dr. Zimmerman." "The distinguished, wise, illustrious, famous, incomparable?" "The noble Dr. Zimmerman." "He is distinguished, wise, noble?" "Zimmerman!" "I have forgotten nothing." "Distinguished, noble..." "Cammerschultz, you arrive at the worst moment." "What is going on?" "They say that the city harbours all kinds of riff-raff... cabalists, sorcerers, even alchemists." "Our brothers have been well taken care of." "And Papagallo?" "Can a human being carry such a name?" "Sounds like a joke." "And if he really exists, why should we concern ourselves with a parrot-man?" "The situation is becoming very dangerous." "They have introduced a spy into our brotherhood." "It's unbelievable!" "I can't trust anybody." "That rector is the very devil, he has been able to sow general disquietitude." "Could you put me up for a few days?" "Of course." "A servant must always make welcome the friends of his old master." "You can stay as long as you want to, good sir." "Is that the apprentice whom Papagallo spoke of?" "Has he already told you about him?" "That's him, in person." "May God protect you, my son." "Do you know why he has chosen you?" "Because you ask nothing for yourself... and you know what an honest man should not do." "Tell me, doesn't it scare you to work very hard for just one person?" "No." "And to have less freedom?" "No, but I hope that I'll have time to learn how to speak properly." "Of course." "We'll make sure of that." "How is your health?" "I'm capable of climbing higher than paradise... if only they teach me the way, and tell me how to get there." "I think there would have to be a very big staircase." "That's not bad." "I dreamed of having a disciple with heart." "That's good." "We're not like those scientists... whose pride is the equal of their ignorance." "How strange!" "But how can I be of service?" "You shall study the printer's art... and, when we're on the way to becoming good friends..." "I'll reveal to you the secrets which pertain... to that eternal art... which permits the wise to approach God." "Yes." "Your spirit will descend from the arid summits... towards the fertile vallies, where, in each river, lives the spirit of the Creator." "Is that what you hoped to obtain?" "Look..." "Each thing can have several different aspects." "The important thing is to find in each... the same universal order." "I will take all the roads, wherever they lead." "What is there to doubt?" "All action is nothing more than a will o' the wisp." "What is essential..." "The essential is to be on the road, to advance." "Dear friend." "He promised to come to meet me before he left." "Don't be sad." "We will meet again some day." "Don't be afraid, it's me again." "Tonight I have come with your mother." "I beseech you, leave me in peace now." "It was you who wanted to see her, it was not my wish." "It wasn't easy." "Now, it happens." "I hoped you would be looking forward to the meeting." "I recognized you immediately." "You were very small when I died." "Don't you remember me?" "I am your mother." "Yes, I recognize you." "You are just like in the picture." "You know, whem I saw each of my children die of the Red Death..." "I began to question the impenetrable design of the Almighty." "It seemed so strange to me." "There is no design." "God has abandoned us." "Your father told me:" ""If you repeat that without lowering your voice... they will burn you in a public place"." "This woman has always been too emotional." "I dared to say:" ""Lord, I have only one daughter left." "If you take her from me as well..." "I can no longer credit your kindness"." "They say that barbarians took your daughter." "Forgive me, Balthasar." "I did not die of the fever as they told you." "Your father found me in the Bautzen pond." "Then you do not come from Heaven, but from Hell..." "My children hoped to meet me above." "All my children lifted me from the water, and they carried me to Heaven." "They shouted at the angels:" ""Do you have a mother, or have you lost a son?" "Let us pass!"" "They granted me eternal beatitude." "In the lower grades, it is true, but I am well satisfied." "If I understand you rightly, your children died to save you?" "Is that so?" "You don't understand." "If they hadn't died I would not have thrown myself into the pond." "They would not have needed to save me." "When the soldiers arrived I hid in the garden." "They looked for me for a long time, and in the end they found me." "Then I wanted to die." " But one does not die for that reason." " Be quiet." "But, tell me, please... are you living or are you dead?" "What is life?" "What is death?" "Elisabeth... where were you?" "I lost consciousness and they took me." "They locked me up naked in a house." "For such a long time." "A long, long time." "You are near the bottom of the pit, are you not?" "Don't worry yourself." "It was necessary." "Where does God hide himself when such horrors come to pass?" "He is in the heart of these horrors." "I had a nightmare." "It was a bad dream." "No, it was not a dream." "Should we accept to be treated like this?" "As if God wants to humiliate us?" "No!" "Do you hear?" "For my part, I do not accept it." "A rightful anger." "But you must know how it is in this world." "There passes not a single moment... when misfortune does not fall on the innocent" "when crime, injustice and hypocrisy... do not triumph over virtue." "God also reveals Himself in these horrors." "I adore with all my heart a marvellous and unimagineable being... who restores the power of speech to these silent ones." "He is wonderful, masterful." "As beautiful and as pure as a diamond." "Explain this more clearly." "But I have told you everything." "What more is there to add?" "He is an angelic being, sent to us by the Almighty." "I don't doubt it." "May I meet him?" " Look, isn't the world quite the opposite?" " Yes, the world as it is now." "What do you mean?" "It is the world as it has become in present times." "In times past the saints suffered martyrdom for their faith." "Now this same faith is a pretext for massacres." "Long ago, good kings reigned." "Now wolves are on the throne, eager for blood." "Our town is bled like a ewe, with no scruples." "The world is worthy of this man here:" "Head down, and feet up." "What can we do so that things can return to normal?" "Who are you?" " I am called Mathias." " I didn't ask you." "I am Muller, a cloth merchant." "This is my son, Martin." "We are here on business." "We have reason to believe that a young person from Bautzen, a theology student," "who has escaped our vigilance, has fled with the aid of an adult who might be posing as his father." "For sure there are many parents and children in this world." "Agreed." "But some children are recognizable because of their defects." "How did you guess that this poor Martin is dumb?" "I know very well that this boy... is not dumb, but is dissembling." "When will you talk, you pathetic creature?" "When?" "So in the end, you found a father." "We thought you were an orphan." "He is my adoptive father." "Through disgrace come difficult times." "We are all well-looked after, otherwise we would all be alone, without family, and orphaned in this world." "They lodge with Holstein?" "Nobody has seen him in months." "Do you know where he is, and how we could meet him?" "Not only do I know my friend Holstein very well, but I can also tell you where he is." "He is in bed, in Venice." "He suffers from a disease whose name even would cause you to tremble." "Not a word more!" "Don't speak the name." " A terrible disease." " Let us change the subject!" "The air is full of spiteful and malevolent presences." "Say the wrong word and they are all heaped upon us." "Herr Muller, do you have good vision?" "At my age I don't complain." "Then how is it possible that since your arrival... you have not noticed that the house servant is rather peculiar?" "As a servant he is quite hopeless, and his taste in clothing is totally bizarre." "But they only dress like that when the master is away." "This supposed servant is called Jacob Zimmerman, I knew it already." "No." "I never call the servants by their names." "In my mind they are all called Gustave." "Are you saying that you don't know this Zimmerman?" "He is a very dangerous wizard, and perhaps a Jewish cabalist, is that enough?" "To be both a wizard and a Jewish cabalist as well... shows a certain lack of intelligence." "Herr Muller, you are without doubt a capable merchant, but as far as Jews are concerned, permit me to say that you are entirely ignorant." "Your Excellency, could I spend one last night... in my friend Holstein's house?" "It would be entirely inappropriate." "Best that we leave now." "Herr Muller, I leave you with this last thought:" "The diseases which have been summoned up are extremely contagious." "For the sake of your son's health, move away from here." "We must leave before he makes his report." "Saddle my horse." "And our host?" "They can torture him, but he won't speak." "For him, to betray his brethren would be to betray God." "What has happened, sir?" "The person lodging with us in the absence of my friend Holstein... is a sorcerer and a cabalist." "Something along those lines." " Where are you thinking of going?" " Forward, of course." "Don't forget that the price of indigo cloth will double within the year." "You have no name, otherwise he would have you pulled like a tooth." "You stagger to right and left like an imbecile." "Without a face or eyes... in the blackest darkness." "How can I escape from myself?" "The stones have a mouth, ears and eyes, they perceive a light that you do not even suspect." "Here one is without face, without eyes, all alone." "How can you be lifted up... unless someone throws you a rope." "Each spoken phrase tears at my throat." "Everyone amuses themselves at my expense." "I'm nothing more than a dog." "My situation is lamentable." "I cry!" "I shout!" "Only my stuttering answers me in the silence." "Hurry!" "Faster!" "Good people, my son..." "My son is not dead." "Listen to me!" "My son." "My son is not dead." "Help me!" "He is alive." "Good people, hope." "He is alive!" "My son." "My son." "Help!" "Help me." "Open this coffin." "Open!" "My son." "He wakes, my son." "He wakes!" "How strange." "How did I die?" "If I am now living." "From the plague, the Red Death" "Put this on." "I have seen you before." "Where was that?" "Now I remember!" "Of course!" "You're the one who speaks day and night with the angels." "If I talked to the angels do you think I would proclaim it to the whole world?" "You're an idiot." "What do you know about the angels, if you know nothing of this earthly life?" "You should have to sit an exam, so that we can find out if you are educated enough for us to accept you." "First question, how much is two and two." "I don't know." "No?" "Can you tell us how many angels live in the Gardens of Paradise?" "He could have been killed." "The stutterer set his horse on you." "It wasn't my fault." "And you, stop blaspheming." "Damn this mare!" "Did I fail the exam?" "Do you know how to tell reality from a dream?" "How can you tell?" "Why do you not put your trust in God and glorify his works?" "No, no." "The colours which surround us are subtle and imperceptible." "In a moment they will go out." "At heart, am I really different from the others?" "It is the world which is different." "Without that difference, nothing would exist." "If you exist, then so do all the others." "The wound that I received has poisoned my blood." "I never lost hope that this meeting would come to pass." "Nevertheless, you exist?" "A fever-flower of my infected blood." "Love attracts the lovers, one towards the other." "If we must burn in the flames of that love... at least that burning purifies us." "It purifies us for always." "When I entered the fiery river..." "I came to Jerusalem, where the prophets waited for me." "But when I returned to this side... nothing had changed, everything was as before, there was no difference." "I was still stuttering." "Have you slept a long time, Balthasar?" "Come." "Poor boy." "What a state those rascals left you in." "But they will answer before the court, believe me." "Come, Balthasar, come." "Wait, let me help you." "The tribunal convened here accepts the responsibility which is incumbent on it." "Guards, make sure that the doors are locked... and that all those present are of the brotherhood." "Those present are of the brotherhood." "The doors are locked... and those present are of our brotherhood." "I declare solemnly and publicly that the session is open." "In the name of the Almighty, and of his Son," " and of the Holy Spirit." " Amen." "Who are these people?" "They are accused of the attempted murder of one of our brothers." "Why did you try and kill Balthasar, our beloved brother." "We did not want to kill him, only to frighten him." "Frighten him?" "Why?" "To teach him a lesson." "He tried to make us believe that he spoke with the angels." "And furthermore, his horse tried to kick me." "When I heard your insults I got so angry I couldn't stop myself." "You fool!" "Do you think that a horse can understand human beings?" "The accused should not forget that they must save their souls or they'll finish up in Hell." "Now they are going to take an oath on the Holy Bible... that they promise to tell the whole truth." "I didn't hear him blaspheme." "I heard nothing, I can't testify." "I refuse." " And you?" " Cowards!" "Do you affirm that Balthasar stated publicly that he spoke... with the angels of the Almighty?" "I swear by my eternal and immortal soul that this idiot claimed to converse with the angels from Heaven." "Are you crazy?" "Your soul will roast in Hell for an eternity." " Ask for forgiveness!" " I don't need your forgiveness." "Those who say that they converse with angels perhaps lack modesty." "But is that a reason to stab them?" "This court is a farce." "Never before have I heard so many bold-faced lies." "Do you believe that angels exist?" "Answer." "Yes or no?" "What can I answer?" "Perhaps they exist." "You wanted to teach Balthasar a lesson for blasphemy against the angels but you don't appear very convinced of their existence." "In order to escape this accusation you have committed perjury." "The brotherhood declares the accused to be guilty of aggression against Balthasar with the intention of harming him, and of taking his life." "In consequence, they are sentenced to 30 strokes of the cane." "Tomorrow the civil court will pronounce its judgement in this case." "Concerning the perjury against the holy scriptures the Church will order them to appear before its court." "Take them hence." "It's not my fault, we were following his orders." "That's true!" "He forced us!" "He was always against Balthasar." "Have mercy!" "We were only obeying!" "No!" "I'm innocent!" "Good work, my friend." "It was very well-done, you have my sincere thanks." "May the servants of God continue to assist me." "Get out of here." "Take it easy." "It's true, we're not on the same side but we understand each other." " Wrong!" "You could have helped to save the soul of this rogue from the fires of Hell." " The soul can be saved without the Devil." " Much too late." "You lie." "While one is alive, then the horizons remain open." " They will not save that soul." " Poor fool." "Come and see me if you change your opinion." "Without losing a minute." "It was past time that you should come." "You forgot me, father." "I needed you to comfort me." "They were late in giving me permission to come and speak with you." "You didn't want to see anybody during that time." "It was necessary." "In your solitude you wrote a book." "That made me very proud." "Mainly I just helped with the printing." "How can you read books published here?" "I also wanted to write." "My dear poet, do you understand why you travel your chosen road?" "I follow in the steps of my Teacher." "In Italy, in Venice, we hope to meet Papagallo and Rosa." "And when you find your friends, what will you do then?" "Follow the road with them..." "The future will show the way." "All action is nothing more than a will o' the wisp." "The essential is to be on the road, to advance." "Who knows?" "It could be something more than a will o' the wisp." "Dear Balthasar, don't be surprised, one day you will understand." "That's enough." "Do you hear me?" "Depart from here, you don't exist!" "How can I leave you if you deny my existence?" "Nothing is true!" "Leave me." "Return to Bautzen." "No more nightmares." "Your bodies are all buried there." "Rest in peace." "What is troubling you?" "Who allowed you to meet Papagallo and his crazy actors... and who recommended you to the teacher whom you venerate?" "Could you have seduced them without us?" "Do you think it was your stammering and awkwardness which captivated them?" "I don't know..." "I'm not sure." "I know that you have remained in the world of the living and I don't believe that corpses should be allowed to sit down at the table with me." "Perhaps all this is only the fantasy of my sick brain." "And also of the wound that you received in your belly?" "Try and imagine:" "I return peacefully to my house with a few books when three students appear from nowhere and throw themselves upon me." "But it was me these three atacked." "You are wrong." "You are no longer alive, do you understand?" "You died of typhus." "Resting in Bautzen cemetery... like Gertrude, our father, your mother and all our family." "Everything in me is veiled in darkness, there is no light." "Am I really here in person?" "Do I exist?" "Or am I in someone else's dream?" "Jesus!" "My God!" "My God, Balthasar." "What has happened in the warehouse is truly horrible." "Let's leave." "Come!" "Quickly!" " It was my fault." " His own pride led to his fall." "It's possible, but with the help of Varlet, I was saved." "Varlet the Belgian?" "He offered me his help to save the redhead." "You should never deal with Absalom Jonathan Varlet." "His cards are all faked." "I will not leave the souls of those boys in the hands of that demonic being." "I have already told you, when the end of the world arrives...." "No!" "I must liberate them now from this trap." "If I don't do it, my conscience will never let me in peace." " I am responsible for their fate." " But they are already dead." "That is of no consequence." "I will go down among the dead, if I have to." "Like the Devil, The Master of Hell." "Finally you have accepted my kind invitation." " Where have you hidden them?" " They are waiting." "They are waiting." "Their lives were all empty, void of all passion." "You see there is no lack of humanity here." "I know what you want." "You want to take them away from here." "That is so." "They will return with me to the Earth, and live among the living." "Don't try and get round me with this nonsense." "This kingdom belongs to me." "Nobody can go against its laws." "That's certain, except the Creator." "Why must they suffer?" "Through lack of affection and love, lack of hope and faith." "Lack of everything, through boredom." "I want to free them, that's why I've come." "It's very simple, follow me and you will understand." "They only suffer when their immobility is disturbed." "Nobody forces them to stay this way." "They are their own prisoners." "Stop your groaning." "I ask you to look into the depths of your immortal soul." "Your immortal soul!" "I ask you." "I beg you!" "There, a step." "And another." "Yes, another step." "Tell me, rascal, where is my father?" "Who are you talking about?" "What rascal?" "What do you want?" "Speak up!" "If it's like that, I'll summon Gabriel." "What are you doing here, dear son?" "Now I see that you are not dead." "What crime has he committed?" "Why has he been brought to this place?" "I believed he was among the favoured host of Heaven." "I didn't want to make you sad." "That was long ago." " Come with me." " Where?" " To the Earth." " No." "To live again, you mean?" "I don't want to return." "Let him live with the Almighty." "He has already suffered enough." "So be it." "Let us go to Paradise." "Alleluia." "Alleluia." "We praise the Lord." "For He is great and merciful." "We praise the Lord with lute and harp." "We sing to his glory." "He is great and merciful." "The Creator of the Universe." "Creator of the Earth, the stars, and of the rain and thunder" "We praise the Lord, we sing to his glory." "Have you slept well, Balthasar?" "What time, what day is it?" "The guards are already here." "The assassins are as tame as lambs." "A night in the cells did them good." "They will be put to work on construction of the cathedral." "Lifting stones will suit them well, I think." "Come, Balthasar." "Look who is here, our Belgian friend." "The orphan!" "Sit down, take a seat, your Excellencies." "Here is the queen of soups, and daily bread." "And Tarata, the priestess of bum and bed." "Drink, drink, for moon and sun... and, of course, for these ladies." "What a strange dream I had!" " Many dead lay all around." " And I am alive." "Death is looking for you, I know." "He's looking for you." "He's with you even now." "Sometimes death terrified me so much, that the terror killed me." "I killed that fear with my own hands, I strangled it, so." "Do you understand?" "And I left a black hole there, whose bottom I touched." "And when death appears," "I will meet him face to face, so shall it be." "To death!" "I am your death." "It doesn't concern me what you are called." "Nevertheless, you sought me out, so that I could become your teacher." "Who is my teacher?" "What is your name?" "When I knew you, I was called Muller, and I was a cloth merchant." "You said at that time that we interested you, is that right?" "You were a cloth merchant?" "Yes, I think I remember that." "And if you are here today, safe and sound, does that mean that this time... you will be so so kind as to tell your real name?" "Forgive me ladies, but I must leave you." "Look after this boy... meanwhile this honourable gentleman will look after me." "In every way!" "The ocean." "Take it." "He left it for you." "What is it?" "I don't know how to read." ""For Balthasar, my dear student." "If destiny frowns upon our alliance... let us praise the Lord, the Universal God, all powerful, and all merciful." "Amen." "Follow the Way of Knowledge." "Batista Strozzi, San Polo, in Venice." "I greet you."" "He's here." "The organ builder." "Everybody knows him." " What do you know about organs?" " Not a thing." "It is a harmony of sounds, lines and figures." "Give me something to drink." "The manufacturing technique is an ancient secret... handed down from father to son." "Each generation added something new." "Giovanni perfected and revolutionized the keyboard, and re-designed the pedals." "Leone modified the wind pipes and the bellows system." "And Flavius conceived of a new function for the mouth and lips." "In a certain way, this quite peculiar profession... seems to have united the manual and the metaphysical in a single office." "You've turned pale, as if it were the devil himself." "It was just an impression, nothing more." "I surely must have dreamt it." "How do you know all this?" "I have wandered much in this world, and met many people." "It was to keep you company that I made this trip with you." "But now I have to leave you." "I'm going to Padua." "Farewell then." "Dear friend." "Farewell." "Are you the wise Batista Strozzi?" "The noble and distinguished Batista Strozzi?" "I will listen to your confession with much pleasure." "Wait a moment." "Prepare the confessional." "What is this?" "The Teacher sent it to you." "I don't know what you're talking about." "I am a friend of Papagallo." "You seem to know a lot of people." "What else?" "My name is Balthasar." "Born in Baltzen, your Grace." "My parents died long ago." "Poor boy." "Wait for me in front of the church." "Then follow me." "But keep your distance." "These ladies..." "This place." "Amazing!" "This is not a very appropriate place for a boy like you... but Senora Garganella... is loyal to us." "Her house is the last place that the Holy Inquisition would come looking for us." "Aren't people surprised to see a monk visiting this place?" "There is so much corruption in this city... that even such a person as the Pope... could come here without anyone raising an eyebrow." "Balthasar." "Our Balthasar is a grown-up boy." "They had spoken to me of a small child" "A child..." "Be seated." " What are you doing here?" " I made a detour." "It seems that I did as well." " I've been looking for you everywhere." " Even here?" "Yes." "Listen to me." "In the Venetian Republic you are fairly safe." "But once you pass the frontier, anything can happen." "You need a safe-conduct The Cardinal can issue one." "He will interview you, and then you have to make a donation to the poor." " Thank you." " Come with me." "The Cardinal has agreed to see you, I knew he would." "Approach, my children." "Excellency, my companion doesn't speak Tuscan." "He has asked me if you would allow me to accompany him." "Also he has asked me to give you this." "An offering for the poor." "That is perfect." "I see that this boy knows well... the customs of our region." "I fear that we lack resources." "Please, be seated." "Here you are." "I am going to ask you the questions that the Holy Inquisition recommends under these circumstances." "Do you understand Latin?" "Do you believe that the Holy Roman Church is the unique and incontestable inheritor of the dogma," "the incontestable inheritor of the instruction of apostolic dogma, and, above all, the incontestible heir of St. Peter?" "Do you believe that the Seven Sacrements come from God?" "And what are they?" "I don't have to go through all the responses, I have understood the method." "On the contrary." "Shut up, idiot." "That's alright." "Now lift your right hand... and recite, with simple clarity, the Apostles' Creed." "I believe in one unique and universal God, in our universal Father, creator of all that exists and will exist..." " The Holy Trinity" " The Holy Trinity" "In the Almighty Father who gave us life..." "I like to hear the vernacular." "It is all to the glory of the Almighty, our Sovereign Lord." "Now I'm going to have to be very careful." "You see how easy it is to use symbols to disguise the truth?" "I accompanied you out of friendship, but now I must be on my way." "I'm off to Padua." "Let's hope that we meet again." "Dear friends... you tried to protect me, and you succeeded." "You guided and helped me when I followed crooked ways." "Papagallo opened my eyes... and the Teacher, with his great wisdom... opened my heart and spirit to love and to friendship." "Concerning your teacher, my son," "we must tell you the truth." "You remember the Belgian who was at your table in the inn?" "The Belgian and your teacher went out." "You remember that they did not return?" "The Belgian pretended to be drunk but in reality he was not." "He forced your teacher to make a cruel decision." "Your teacher had to leave immediately for Germany, with no argument." "If not, Balthasar, they were going to murder you on the spot." "One of his accomplices had poison with him." "They made the teacher pour the poison into a glass, and there it happened." "I saw him, and then I saw him no more." "Why so much hatred?" "It doesn't make sense, what had we done to them?" "In their opinion Papagallo, your teacher and his circle," "were enemies of the Church, revolutionaries who, under the pretext of philosophical divergences really wanted to destroy it." "But what is your opinion?" "You know, my son, if the Holy Inquisition... knew but the smallest part of what I hide in my conscience..." "I would be burned at the stake." "Why did they do that to the Teacher?" "They judged... that it would serve as a warning to other free thinkers." " Where is Rosa?" " Rosa?" "Rosa..." "Rosa is dead!" "Go." "Come." " Come, come." " Go away." "Finally, you will be together." "My love went down to the meadow... to bring his herd to pasture... and to gather irises." "I belong to my love, and my love to me." "Love is eternal." "I am so happy." "You already knew it?" "The spirit is love... from when we were born... and until we die." "Now you must go on alone." "I cannot cross this frontier." "[Subs by Wootle]"