The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume I Part 92

Would I had ne'er been born!

MEPHISTOPHELES (_appears without_)

Up! or you're lost.

Vain hesitation! Babbling, quaking!

My steeds are s.h.i.+vering, Morn is breaking.

MARGARET

What from the floor ascendeth like a ghost?

'Tis he! 'Tis he! Him from my presence chase!

What would he in this holy place?

It is for me he cometh!

FAUST

Thou shalt live!

MARGARET

Judgment of G.o.d! To thee my soul I give!

MEPHISTOPHELES (_to_ FAUST)

Come, come! With her I'll else abandon thee!

MARGARET

Father, I'm thine! Do thou deliver me!

Ye angels! Ye angelic hosts! descend, Encamp around to guard me and defend!-- Henry! I shudder now to look on thee!

MEPHISTOPHELES

She now is judged!

VOICES (_from above_)

Is saved!

MEPHISTOPHELES (_to_ FAUST)

Come thou with me!

[_vanishes with_ FAUST.]

VOICE (_from within, dying away_)

Henry! Henry!

END OF PART I.

FAUST--SELECTIONS FROM PART II (1832)

ACT THE FIRST

A PLEASING LANDSCAPE

FAUST, _reclining upon flowery turf, restless, seeking sleep_

TWILIGHT

_Circle of spirits, hovering, flit around;--Graceful, tiny forms_.

ARIEL

_Song, accompanied by aeolian harps_ When, in vernal showers descending, Blossoms gently veil the earth, When the fields' green wealth, up-tending, Gleams on all of mortal birth; Tiny elves, where help availeth, Large of heart, there fly apace; Pity they whom grief a.s.saileth, Be he holy, be he base.

Ye round this head on airy wing careering, Attend, in n.o.ble Elfin guise appearing; a.s.suage the cruel strife that rends his heart, The burning shaft remove of keen remorse, From rankling horror cleanse his inmost part: Four are the pauses of the nightly course; Them, without rest, fill up with kindly art.

And first his head upon cool pillow lay, Then bathe ye him in dew from Lethe's stream; His limbs, cramp-stiffen'd, will more freely play, If sleep-refreshed he wait morn's wakening beam.

Perform the n.o.blest Elfin-rite, Restore ye him to the holy light!

CHORUS (_singly, two or more, alternately and together_)

Softly when warm gales are stealing O'er the green-environed ground, Twilight sheddeth all-concealing Mists and balmy odors round: Whispers low sweet peace to mortals, Rocks the heart to childlike rest, And of day-light shuts the portals To these eyes, with care oppressed.

Night hath now descended darkling, Holy star is linked to star; Sovereign fires, or faintly sparkling, Glitter near and s.h.i.+ne afar; Glitter here lake-mirror'd, yonder s.h.i.+ne adown the clear night sky; Sealing bliss of perfect slumber, Reigns the moon's full majesty.

Now the hours are cancelled; sorrow, Happiness, have pa.s.sed away: Whole thou shalt be on the morrow!

Feel it! Trust the new-born day!

Swell the hills, green grow the valleys, In the dusk ere breaks the morn; And in silvery wavelets dallies, With the wind, the ripening corn.

Cherish hope, let naught appall thee!

Mark the East, with splendor dyed!

Slight the fetters that enthrall thee; Fling the sh.e.l.l of sleep aside!

Gird thee for the high endeavor; Shun the crowd's ign.o.ble ease!

Fails the n.o.ble spirit never, Wise to think, and prompt to seize.

[_A tremendous tumult announces the uprising of the Sun._]

ARIEL

Hark, the horal tempest nears, Sounding but for spirit ears, Lo! the new-born day appears; Clang the rocky portals, climb Phoebus' wheels with thund'rous chime: Breaks with tuneful noise the light!

Blare of trumpet, clarion sounding, Eye-sight dazing, ear astounding!