The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume I Part 83

Which way didst come?

VOICE

O'er Ilsenstein!

There I peep'd in an owlet's nest.

With her broad eye she gazed in mine!

VOICE

Drive to the devil, thou h.e.l.lish pest!

Why ride so hard?

VOICE

She has graz'd my side, Look at the wounds, how deep and how wide!

WITCHES (_in chorus_)

The way is broad, the way is long; What mad pursuit! What tumult wild!

Scratches the besom and sticks the p.r.o.ng; Crush'd is the mother, and stifled the child.

WIZARDS (_half chorus_)

Like house-enc.u.mber'd snail we creep; While far ahead the women keep, For when to the devil's house we speed, By a thousand steps they take the lead.

THE OTHER HALF

Not so, precisely do we view it; They with a thousand steps may do it; But let them hasten as they can, With one long bound 'tis clear'd by man.

VOICES (_above_)

Come with us, come with us from Felsensee.

VOICES (_from below_)

Aloft to you we would mount with glee!

We wash, and free from all stain are we, Yet barren evermore must be!

BOTH CHORUSES

The wind is hushed, the stars grow pale, The pensive moon her light doth veil; And whirling on, the magic choir Sputters forth sparks of drizzling fire.

VOICE (_from below_)

Stay! stay!

VOICE (_from above_)

What voice of woe Calls from the cavern'd depths below?

VOICE (_from below_)

Take me with you! Oh take me too!

Three centuries I climb in vain, And yet can ne'er the summit gain!

To be with my kindred I am fain.

BOTH CHORUSES

Broom and pitch-fork, goat and p.r.o.ng, Mounted on these we whirl along; Who vainly strives to climb tonight, Is evermore a luckless wight!

DEMI-WITCH (_below_)

I hobble after, many a day; Already the others are far away!

No rest at home can I obtain-- Here too my efforts are in vain!

CHORUS OF WITCHES

Salve gives the witches strength to rise; A rag for a sail does well enough; A goodly s.h.i.+p is every trough; Tonight who flies not, never flies.

BOTH CHORUSES

And when the topmost peak we round, Then alight ye on the ground; The heath's wide regions cover ye With your mad swarms of witchery!

[_They let themselves down._]

MEPHISTOPHELES

They crowd and jostle, whirl and flutter!

They whisper, babble, twirl, and splutter!

They glimmer, sparkle, stink and flare-- A true witch-element! Beware!

Stick close! else we shall severed be.

Where art thou?

FAUST (_in the distance_)

Here!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Already, whirl'd so far away!

The master then indeed I needs must play.

Give ground! Squire Voland comes! Sweet folk, give ground!

Here, doctor, grasp me! With a single bound Let us escape this ceaseless jar; Even for me too mad these people are.

Hard by there s.h.i.+neth something with peculiar glare, Yon brake allureth me; it is not far; Come, come along with me! we'll slip in there.

FAUST

Spirit of contradiction! Lead! I'll follow straight!