Faust (trans. Bayard Taylor)/Act V/II
II.
IN THE LITTLE GARDEN.
The Three at the Table.
Baucis (to the Stranger).
ART thou dumb? Of all we ’ve brought here,
In thy mouth shall nothing fall?
In thy mouth shall nothing fall?
Philemon.
He would know the marvel wrought here :
Fain thou speakest: tell him all!
Fain thou speakest: tell him all!
Baucis.
’T was a marvel, if there ’s any!
And the thought disturbs me still:
In a business so uncanny
Surely helped the Powers of Ill.
And the thought disturbs me still:
In a business so uncanny
Surely helped the Powers of Ill.
Philemon.
Can the Emperor’s soul be perilled,
Who on him the strand bestowed?
Gave the mandate not the herald,
Trumpeting, as-on he rode?
Near our downs, all unexpected,
Was the work’s beginning seen,
Tents and huts!—but, soon erected,
Rose a palace o’er the green.
Who on him the strand bestowed?
Gave the mandate not the herald,
Trumpeting, as-on he rode?
Near our downs, all unexpected,
Was the work’s beginning seen,
Tents and huts!—but, soon erected,
Rose a palace o’er the green.
Baucis.
Knaves in vain by day were storming,154
Plying pick and spade alike;
Where the fires at night were swarming,
Stood, the following day, a dike.
Nightly rose the sounds of sorrow,
Human victims there must bleed:
Lines of torches, on the morrow,
Were canals that seaward lead.
He would seize our field of labor,
Hut and garden, godlessly:
Since he lords it as our neighbor,
We to him must subject be.
Plying pick and spade alike;
Where the fires at night were swarming,
Stood, the following day, a dike.
Nightly rose the sounds of sorrow,
Human victims there must bleed:
Lines of torches, on the morrow,
Were canals that seaward lead.
He would seize our field of labor,
Hut and garden, godlessly:
Since he lords it as our neighbor,
We to him must subject be.
Philemon.
Yet he bids, in compensation,
Fair estate of newer land.
Fair estate of newer land.
Baucis.
Trust not watery foundation!
Keep upon the hill thy stand!
Keep upon the hill thy stand!
Philemon.
Let us, to the chapel straying,
Ere the sunset-glow has died,
Chime the vespers, kneel, and, praying,
Still in our old God confide!
Ere the sunset-glow has died,
Chime the vespers, kneel, and, praying,
Still in our old God confide!