The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume I Part 93

Hear not the unheard; take flight!

Into petaled blossoms glide Deeper, deeper, still to bide, In the clefts, 'neath thickets! ye, If it strike you, deaf will be.

FAUST

Life's pulses reawakened freshly bound, The mild ethereal twilight fain to greet.

Thou, Earth, this night wast also constant found, And, newly-quickened, breathing at my feet, Beginnest now to gird me with delight; A strong resolve dost rouse, with n.o.ble heat Aye to press on to being's sovereign height.

The world in glimmering dawn still folded lies; With thousand-voiced life the woods resound; Mist-wreaths the valley shroud; yet from the skies Sinks heaven's clear radiance to the depths profound; And bough and branch from dewy chasms rise, Where they had drooped erewhile in slumber furled; Earth is enamelled with unnumber'd dyes, Leaflet and flower with dew-drops are impearled; Around me everywhere is paradise.

Gaze now aloft! Each mountain's giant height The solemn hour announces, herald-wise; They early may enjoy the eternal light, To us below which later finds its way.

Now are the Alpine slopes and valleys dight With the clear radiance of the new-born day, Which, downward, step by step, steals on apace.--It blazes forth,--and, blinded by the ray, With aching eyes, alas! I veil my face.

So when a hope, the heart hath long held fast, Trustful, still striving toward its highest goal, Fulfilment's portals open finds at last;--Sudden from those eternal depths doth roll An over-powering flame;--we stand aghast!

The torch of life to kindle we were fain;--A fire-sea,--what a fire!--doth round us close; Love is it? Is it hate? with joy and pain, In alternation vast, that round us glows?

So that to earth we turn our wistful gaze, In childhood's veil to shroud us once again!

So let the sun behind me pour its rays!

The cataract, through rocky cleft that roars, I view, with growing rapture and amaze.

From fall to fall, with eddying shock, it pours, In thousand torrents to the depths below, Aloft in air up-tossing showers of spray.

But see, in splendor bursting from the storm, Arches itself the many-colored bow, And ever-changeful, yet continuous form, Now drawn distinctly, melting now away, Diffusing dewy coolness all around!

Man's efforts there are gla.s.sed, his toil and strife; Reflect, more true the emblem will be found: This bright reflected glory pictures life!

IMPERIAL PALACE. THRONE-ROOM

_Council of State, in expectation of the_ EMPEROR

TRUMPETS

_Enter courtiers of every grade, splendidly attired. The Emperor ascends the throne; to the right the_ ASTROLOGER.

EMPEROR

I greet you, trusty friends and dear, a.s.sembled thus from far and wide!-- I see the wise man at my side, But wherefore is the fool not here?

PAGE

Entangled in thy mantle's flow.

He tripped upon the stair below; The ma.s.s of fat they bare away, If dead or drunken--who can say?

SECOND PAGE

Forthwith another comes apace, With wondrous speed to take his place; Costly, yet so grotesque his gear, All start amazed as he draws near.

Crosswise the guards before his face, Entrance to bar, their halberds hold-- Yet there he is, the fool so bold.

MEPHISTOPHELES (_kneeling before the throne_)

What is accursed and gladly hailed?

What is desired and chased away?

What is upbraided and a.s.sailed?

What wins protection every day?

Whom darest thou not summon here?

Whose name doth plaudits still command?

What to thy throne now draweth near?

What from this place itself hath banned?

EMPEROR

For this time thou thy words may'st spare!

This is no place for riddles, friend; They are these gentlemen's affair,-- Solve them! an ear I'll gladly lend.

My old fool's gone, far, far away, I fear; Take thou his place, come, stand beside me here!

[MEPHISTOPHELES _ascends and places himself at the_ EMPEROR'S _left._]

_Murmur of the Crowd_

Here's a new fool--for plague anew!

Whence cometh he?--How pa.s.sed he through?

The old one fell--he squander'd hath.-- He was a tub--now 'tis a lath.--

EMPEROR

So now, my friends, beloved and leal, Be welcome all, from near and far!

Ye meet 'neath an auspicious star; For us above are written joy and weal.

But tell me wherefore, on this day, When we all care would cast away, And don the masker's quaint array, And naught desire but to enjoy, Should we with state affairs ourselves annoy?

But if ye think it so must be indeed, Why, well and good, let us forthwith proceed!

CHANCELLOR

The highest virtue circles halo-wise Our Caesar's brow; virtue, which from the throne, He validly can exercise alone: Justice!--What all men love and prize, What all demand, desire, and sorely want, It lies with him, this to the folk to grant.

But ah! what help can intellect command, Goodness of heart, or willingness of hand, When fever saps the state with deadly power, And mischief breedeth mischief, hour by hour?

To him who downward from this height supreme Views the wide realm, 'tis like a troubled dream, Where the deformed deformity o'ersways, Where lawlessness, through law, the tyrant plays, And error's ample world itself displays.

One steals a woman, one a steer, Lights from the altar, chalice, cross, Boasts of his deed full many a year, Unscathed in body, without harm or loss.

Now to the hall accusers throng; On cus.h.i.+oned throne the judge presides; Surging meanwhile in eddying tides, Confusion waxes fierce and strong.

He may exalt in crime and shame, Who on accomplices depends; Guilty! the verdict they proclaim, When Innocence her cause defends.

So will the world succ.u.mb to ill, And what is worthy perish quite; How then may grow the sense which still Instructs us to discern the right?

E'en the right-minded man, in time, To briber and to flatterer yields; The judge, who cannot punish crime, Joins with the culprit whom he s.h.i.+elds.-- I've painted black, yet fain had been A veil to draw before the scene.

_Pause_

Measures must needs be taken; when All injure or are injured, then E'en Majesty becomes a prey.

FIELD MARSHAL

In these wild days what tumults reign!

Each smitten is and smites again, Deaf to command, will none obey.

The burgher, safe behind his wall, Within his rocky nest, the knight, Against us have conspired, and all Firmly to hold their own unite.

Impatient is the hireling now, With vehemence he claims his due; And did we owe him naught, I trow, Off he would run, nor bid adieu.