Scene V.—Weislingen's hall.
Weislingen: A wretched fever has dried my very marrow. No rest for me, day or night! Goetz haunts my very dreams. He is a prisoner, and yet I tremble before him. (Enter Marie.) Oh, heaven! Marie's spirit, to tell me of her death!
Marie: Weislingen, I am no spirit. I have come to beg of you my brother's life.
Weislingen: Marie! You, angel of heaven, bring with you the tortures of hell. The breath of death is upon me, and you come to throw me into despair!
Marie: My brother is ill in prison. His wounds—his age——
Weislingen: Enough. Franz! (Enter Franz in great excitement.) The papers there! (Franz hands him a sealed packet.) Here is your brother's death-warrant; and thus I tear it. He lives. Do not weep, Franz; there's hope for the living.
Franz: You cannot, you must die! Poison from your wife. [Rushes to the window, and throws himself out into the river.
Weislingen: Woe to me! Poison from my wife! Franz seduced by the infamous woman! I am dying; and in my agony throb the tortures of hell.
Marie (kneeling): Merciful God, have pity on him!
Scene VI.—A small garden outside the prison, Goetz, Elizabeth, Lerse, and prison-keeper.