Faust (trans. Bayard Taylor)/Act V/IV
IV.
DEAD OF NIGHT.
Lynceus, the Warder
(singing on the watch-tower of the Palace).
FOR seeing intended,
Employed for my sight,
The tower’s my dwelling,
The world my delight.
I gaze on the Distant,
I look on the Near,—
The moon and the planets,
The forest and deer,
So see I in all things
The grace without end,
And even as they please me,
Myself I commend.
Thou forfunate Vision,
Of all thou wast ’ware,
Whatever it might be,
Yet still it was fair!
Pause.
Not alone that I delight me,
Have I here been stationed so:—
What a horror comes, to fright me,
From the darksome world below!
Sparks of fire I see outgushing
Through the night of linden-trees;
Stronger yet the glow is flushing,
Fanned to fury by the breeze.
Ah! the cabin burns, unheeded,
Damp and mossy though it stand:
Quick assistance here is needed,
And no rescue is at hand!
Ah, the good old father, mother,
Else so careful of the fire,
Doomed amid the smoke to smother!—
The catastrophe how dire!
Now the blackening pile stands lonely
In the flames that redly swell:
If the good old folk be only
Rescued from the burning hell!
Dazzling tongues the crater launches
Through the leaves and through the branches;
Withered boughs, at last ignited,
Break, in burning, from the tree:
Why must I be thus far-sighted?
Witness such calamity?
Now the little chapel crashes
’Neath a branch’s falling blow;
Soon the climbing, spiry flashes
Set the tree-tops in a glow.
Down to where the trunks are planted
Burn they like a crimson dawn.
Long pause. Chant.
What erewhile the eye enchanted
With the centuries is gone.
Employed for my sight,
The tower’s my dwelling,
The world my delight.
I gaze on the Distant,
I look on the Near,—
The moon and the planets,
The forest and deer,
So see I in all things
The grace without end,
And even as they please me,
Myself I commend.
Thou forfunate Vision,
Of all thou wast ’ware,
Whatever it might be,
Yet still it was fair!
Pause.
Not alone that I delight me,
Have I here been stationed so:—
What a horror comes, to fright me,
From the darksome world below!
Sparks of fire I see outgushing
Through the night of linden-trees;
Stronger yet the glow is flushing,
Fanned to fury by the breeze.
Ah! the cabin burns, unheeded,
Damp and mossy though it stand:
Quick assistance here is needed,
And no rescue is at hand!
Ah, the good old father, mother,
Else so careful of the fire,
Doomed amid the smoke to smother!—
The catastrophe how dire!
Now the blackening pile stands lonely
In the flames that redly swell:
If the good old folk be only
Rescued from the burning hell!
Dazzling tongues the crater launches
Through the leaves and through the branches;
Withered boughs, at last ignited,
Break, in burning, from the tree:
Why must I be thus far-sighted?
Witness such calamity?
Now the little chapel crashes
’Neath a branch’s falling blow;
Soon the climbing, spiry flashes
Set the tree-tops in a glow.
Down to where the trunks are planted
Burn they like a crimson dawn.
Long pause. Chant.
What erewhile the eye enchanted
With the centuries is gone.
Faust
(on the balcony, towards the downs).
Above, what whining lamentation?
The word, the tone, too late I heed.
My warder wails: I feel vexation
At heart, for this impatient deed.
Yet be the lindens extirpated,
Till half-charred trunks the spot deface,
A look-in-the-land is soon created,
Whence I can view the boundless space.
Thence shall I see the newer dwelling
Which for the ancient pair I raise,
Who, my benign forbearance feeling,
Shall there enjoy their latter days.
Above, what whining lamentation?
The word, the tone, too late I heed.
My warder wails: I feel vexation
At heart, for this impatient deed.
Yet be the lindens extirpated,
Till half-charred trunks the spot deface,
A look-in-the-land is soon created,
Whence I can view the boundless space.
Thence shall I see the newer dwelling
Which for the ancient pair I raise,
Who, my benign forbearance feeling,
Shall there enjoy their latter days.
Mephistopheles and the Three (below).
We hither come upon the run!
Forgive! not happily ’t was done.160
We knocked and beat, but none replied,
And entrance ever was denied;
Of jolts and blows we gave good store,
And broken lay the rotten door;
We called aloud, with direst threat,
But still no hearing could we get.
And, as it haps, with such a deed,
They would not hear, they would not heed;
But we began, without delay,
To drive the stubborn folks away.
The pair had then an easy lot:
They fell, and died upon the spot.
A stranger, who was there concealed,
And fought, was left upon the field;
But in the combat, fierce and fast,
From coals, that round about were cast,
The straw took fire. Now merrily
One funeral pile consumes the three.
Forgive! not happily ’t was done.160
We knocked and beat, but none replied,
And entrance ever was denied;
Of jolts and blows we gave good store,
And broken lay the rotten door;
We called aloud, with direst threat,
But still no hearing could we get.
And, as it haps, with such a deed,
They would not hear, they would not heed;
But we began, without delay,
To drive the stubborn folks away.
The pair had then an easy lot:
They fell, and died upon the spot.
A stranger, who was there concealed,
And fought, was left upon the field;
But in the combat, fierce and fast,
From coals, that round about were cast,
The straw took fire. Now merrily
One funeral pile consumes the three.
Faust.
Deaf unto my commands were ye!
Exchange I meant, not robbery.
The inconsiderate, savage blow
I curse! Bear ye the guilt, and go!
Exchange I meant, not robbery.
The inconsiderate, savage blow
I curse! Bear ye the guilt, and go!
Chorus.
The proverb old still runs its course:
Bend willingly to greater force!
If you are bold, and face the strife,
Stake house and home, and then—your life!
[Exeunt.
Bend willingly to greater force!
If you are bold, and face the strife,
Stake house and home, and then—your life!
[Exeunt.
Faust (on the balcony).
The stars conceal their glance and glow,
The fire sinks down, and flickers low;
A damp wind fans it with its wings,
And smoke and vapor hither brings.
Quick bidden, and too quick obeyed!—
What hovers hither like a shade?
The fire sinks down, and flickers low;
A damp wind fans it with its wings,
And smoke and vapor hither brings.
Quick bidden, and too quick obeyed!—
What hovers hither like a shade?