Faust (trans. Bayard Taylor)/Act V/VII
VII.
MOUNTAIN-GORGES, FOREST, ROCK,
DESERT.
Holy Anchorites,181
Divided in ascending planes, posted among the ravines.
Chorus and Echo.
FORESTS are waving grand,
Rocks, they are huge at hand,
Clutching, the roots expand,
Thickly the tree-trunks stand;
Foaming comes wave on wave;
Shelter hath deepest cave;
Lions are prowling dumb,
Friendly where’er we come,
Honoring the sacred place,
Refuge of Love and Grace!
Rocks, they are huge at hand,
Clutching, the roots expand,
Thickly the tree-trunks stand;
Foaming comes wave on wave;
Shelter hath deepest cave;
Lions are prowling dumb,
Friendly where’er we come,
Honoring the sacred place,
Refuge of Love and Grace!
Pater Ectatiscus182
(hovering up and down).
Endless ecstatic fire,
Glow of the pure desire,
Pain of the pining breast,
Rapture of God possessed!
Arrows, transpierce ye me,
Lances, coerce ye me,
Bludgeons, so batter me,
Lightnings, so shatter me,
That all of mortality’s
Vain unrealities
Die, and the Star above
Beam but Eternal Love!
Glow of the pure desire,
Pain of the pining breast,
Rapture of God possessed!
Arrows, transpierce ye me,
Lances, coerce ye me,
Bludgeons, so batter me,
Lightnings, so shatter me,
That all of mortality’s
Vain unrealities
Die, and the Star above
Beam but Eternal Love!
Pater Profundis183
(Lower Region.)
As at my feet abysses cloven
Rest on abysses deep below;
As thousand severed streams are woven
To foamy floods that plunging go;
As, up by self-impulsion driven,
The tree its weight sustains in air,
To Love, almighty Love, ’t is given
All things to form, and all to bear.
Around me sounds a savage roaring,
As rocks and forests heaved and swayed,
Yet plunges, bounteous in its pouring,
The wealth of waters down the glade,
Appointed, then, the vales to brighten;
The bolt, that flaming struck and burst,
The atmosphere to cleanse and lighten,
Which pestilence in its bosom nursed,—
Love’s heralds both, the powers proclaiming,
Which, aye creative, us infold.
May they, within my bosom flaming,
Inspire the mind, confused and cold,
Which frets itself, through blunted senses,
As by the sharpest fetter-smart!
O God, soothe Thou my thoughts bewildered,
Enlighten Thou my needy heart!
Rest on abysses deep below;
As thousand severed streams are woven
To foamy floods that plunging go;
As, up by self-impulsion driven,
The tree its weight sustains in air,
To Love, almighty Love, ’t is given
All things to form, and all to bear.
Around me sounds a savage roaring,
As rocks and forests heaved and swayed,
Yet plunges, bounteous in its pouring,
The wealth of waters down the glade,
Appointed, then, the vales to brighten;
The bolt, that flaming struck and burst,
The atmosphere to cleanse and lighten,
Which pestilence in its bosom nursed,—
Love’s heralds both, the powers proclaiming,
Which, aye creative, us infold.
May they, within my bosom flaming,
Inspire the mind, confused and cold,
Which frets itself, through blunted senses,
As by the sharpest fetter-smart!
O God, soothe Thou my thoughts bewildered,
Enlighten Thou my needy heart!
Pater Seraphicus.184
(Middle Region.)
What a cloud of morning hovers
O’er the pine-trees’ tossing hair !
Can I guess what life it covers?
They are spirits, young and fair.
O’er the pine-trees’ tossing hair !
Can I guess what life it covers?
They are spirits, young and fair.
Chorus of Blessed Boys.185
Tell us, Father, where we wander;
Tell us, Kind One, who are we.
Happy are we; for so tender
Unto all, it is, To Be.
Tell us, Kind One, who are we.
Happy are we; for so tender
Unto all, it is, To Be.
Pater Seraphicus.
Boys, brought forth in midnights haunted,
Half-unsealed the sense and brain,
For the parents lost when granted,
For the angels sweetest gain!
That a loving heart is nigh you
You can feel: then come to me!
But of earthly ways that try you,
Blest ones! not a trace have ye.
Enter in mine eyes: enjoy them,
Organs for the earthly sphere!
As your own ye may employ them:
Look upon the landscape here!
Half-unsealed the sense and brain,
For the parents lost when granted,
For the angels sweetest gain!
That a loving heart is nigh you
You can feel: then come to me!
But of earthly ways that try you,
Blest ones! not a trace have ye.
Enter in mine eyes: enjoy them,
Organs for the earthly sphere!
As your own ye may employ them:
Look upon the landscape here!
(He takes them into himself.)186
Those are trees, there rocks defend us;
Here, a stream that leaps below,
And with plunges, wild, tremendous,
Shorteneth its journey so.
Here, a stream that leaps below,
And with plunges, wild, tremendous,
Shorteneth its journey so.
Blessed Boys. (from within him).
To a vision grand we waken,
But the scenes too gloomy show;
We with fear and dread are shaken:
Kindest Father, let us go!
To a vision grand we waken,
But the scenes too gloomy show;
We with fear and dread are shaken:
Kindest Father, let us go!
Pater Seraphicus.
Upward rise to higher borders!
Ever grow, insensibly,
As, by pure, eternal orders,
God’s high Presence strengthens ye!
Such the Spirits’ sustentation,
With the freest ether blending;
Love’s eternal Revelation,
To Beatitude ascending.
Ever grow, insensibly,
As, by pure, eternal orders,
God’s high Presence strengthens ye!
Such the Spirits’ sustentation,
With the freest ether blending;
Love’s eternal Revelation,
To Beatitude ascending.
Chorus of Blessed Boys.
(circling around the highest summit).
Hands now enring ye,
Joyously wheeling!
Soar ye and sing ye,
With holiest feeling!
The Teacher before ye,
Trust, and be bold!
Whom ye adore, ye
Him shall behold.
Joyously wheeling!
Soar ye and sing ye,
With holiest feeling!
The Teacher before ye,
Trust, and be bold!
Whom ye adore, ye
Him shall behold.
Angels.
(soaring tn the higher atmosphere, bearing the immortal part of Faust).
The noble Spirit now is free,
And saved from evil scheming:
Whoe’er aspires unweariedly
Is not beyond redeeming.187
And if he feels the grace of Love
That from On High is given,
The Blessed Hosts, that wait above,
Shall welcome him to Heaven!
And saved from evil scheming:
Whoe’er aspires unweariedly
Is not beyond redeeming.187
And if he feels the grace of Love
That from On High is given,
The Blessed Hosts, that wait above,
Shall welcome him to Heaven!
The Younger Angels.
They, the roses, freely spended
By the penitent, the glorious,
Helped to make the fight victorious,
And the lofty work is ended.
We this precious Soul have won us;
Evil ones we forced to shun us;
Devils fled us, when we hit them:
’Stead of pangs of Hell, that bit them,
Love-pangs felt they, sharper, vaster:
Even he, old Satan-Master,
Pierced with keenest pain, retreated.
Now rejoice! The work ’s completed!
By the penitent, the glorious,
Helped to make the fight victorious,
And the lofty work is ended.
We this precious Soul have won us;
Evil ones we forced to shun us;
Devils fled us, when we hit them:
’Stead of pangs of Hell, that bit them,
Love-pangs felt they, sharper, vaster:
Even he, old Satan-Master,
Pierced with keenest pain, retreated.
Now rejoice! The work ’s completed!
The More Perfect Angels.
Earth’s residue to bear
Hath sorely pressed us;
It were not pure and fair,
Though ’t were asbestus.
When every element
The mind’s high forces
Have seized, subdued, and blent,
No Angel divorces
Twin-natures single grown,
That inly mate them:
Eternal Love, alone,
Can separate them.188
Hath sorely pressed us;
It were not pure and fair,
Though ’t were asbestus.
When every element
The mind’s high forces
Have seized, subdued, and blent,
No Angel divorces
Twin-natures single grown,
That inly mate them:
Eternal Love, alone,
Can separate them.188
The Younger Angels.
Mist-like on heights above,
We now are seeing
Nearer and nearer move
Spiritual Being.
The clouds are growing clear;
And moving throngs appear
Of Blessed Boys,
Free from the earthly gloom,
In circling poise,
Who taste the cheer
Of the new spring-time bloom
Of the upper sphere.
Let them inaugurate
Him to the perfect state,
Now, as their peer!
We now are seeing
Nearer and nearer move
Spiritual Being.
The clouds are growing clear;
And moving throngs appear
Of Blessed Boys,
Free from the earthly gloom,
In circling poise,
Who taste the cheer
Of the new spring-time bloom
Of the upper sphere.
Let them inaugurate
Him to the perfect state,
Now, as their peer!
The Blessed Boys.
Gladly receive we now
Him, as a chrysalis:
Therefore achieve we now
Pledge of our bliss.
The earth-flakes dissipate
That cling around him!
See, he is fair and great!
Divine Life hath crowned him.
Him, as a chrysalis:
Therefore achieve we now
Pledge of our bliss.
The earth-flakes dissipate
That cling around him!
See, he is fair and great!
Divine Life hath crowned him.
Doctor Marianus.189
(in the highest, purest cell).
Free is the view at last,
The spirit lifted:
There women, floating past,
Are upward drifted:
The Glorious One therein,
With star-crown tender,—
The pure, the Heavenly Queen,
I know her splendor.
The spirit lifted:
There women, floating past,
Are upward drifted:
The Glorious One therein,
With star-crown tender,—
The pure, the Heavenly Queen,
I know her splendor.
(Enraptured.)
Highest Mistress of the World!
Let me in the azure
Tent of Heaven, in light unfurled,
Here thy Mystery measure!
Justify sweet thoughts that move
Breast of man to meet thee,
And with holy bliss of love
Bear him up to greet thee!
With unconquered courage we
Do thy bidding highest;
But at once shall gentle be,
When thou pacifiest.
Virgin, pure in brightest sheen,
Mother sweet, supernal,—
Unto us Elected Queen,
Peer of Gods Eternal!
Light clouds are circling
Around her splendor,—
Penitent women
Of natures tender,
Her knees embracing,
Ether respiring,
Mercy requiring!
Thou, in immaculate ray,
Mercy not leavest,
And the lightly led astray,
Who trust thee, receivest!
In their weakness fallen at length,
Hard it is to save them:
Who can crush, by native strength,
Vices that enslave them?
Whose the foot that may not slip
On the surface slanting?
Whom befool not eye and lip,
Breath and voice enchanting?
Let me in the azure
Tent of Heaven, in light unfurled,
Here thy Mystery measure!
Justify sweet thoughts that move
Breast of man to meet thee,
And with holy bliss of love
Bear him up to greet thee!
With unconquered courage we
Do thy bidding highest;
But at once shall gentle be,
When thou pacifiest.
Virgin, pure in brightest sheen,
Mother sweet, supernal,—
Unto us Elected Queen,
Peer of Gods Eternal!
Light clouds are circling
Around her splendor,—
Penitent women
Of natures tender,
Her knees embracing,
Ether respiring,
Mercy requiring!
Thou, in immaculate ray,
Mercy not leavest,
And the lightly led astray,
Who trust thee, receivest!
In their weakness fallen at length,
Hard it is to save them:
Who can crush, by native strength,
Vices that enslave them?
Whose the foot that may not slip
On the surface slanting?
Whom befool not eye and lip,
Breath and voice enchanting?
(The Mater Gloriosa soars into the space.)190
Chorus of Women Penitentes.
To heights thou ‘rt speeding
Of endless Eden:
Receive cur pleading,
Transcendent Maiden,
With Mercy laden!
Of endless Eden:
Receive cur pleading,
Transcendent Maiden,
With Mercy laden!
Magna Peccatrix.191 (St. Luke, vii. 36.)
By the love before him kneeling,—
Him, Thy Son, a godlike vision;
By the tears like balsam stealing,
Spite of Pharisees’ derision;
By the box, whose ointment precious
Shed its spice and odors cheery;
By the locks, whose softest meshes
Dried the holy feet and weary!—
Him, Thy Son, a godlike vision;
By the tears like balsam stealing,
Spite of Pharisees’ derision;
By the box, whose ointment precious
Shed its spice and odors cheery;
By the locks, whose softest meshes
Dried the holy feet and weary!—
Mulier Samaritana. (St. John, iv.)
By that well, the ancient station
Whither Abram’s flocks were driven;
By the jar, whose restoration
To the Saviour’s lips was given;
By the fountain, pure and vernal,
Thence its present bounty spending,—
Overflowing, bright, eternal,
Watering the worlds unending!—
Whither Abram’s flocks were driven;
By the jar, whose restoration
To the Saviour’s lips was given;
By the fountain, pure and vernal,
Thence its present bounty spending,—
Overflowing, bright, eternal,
Watering the worlds unending!—
Maria Ægyptiaca. (Acta Sanctorum.)
By the place, where the Immortal
Body of the Lord hath lain;
By the arm, which, from the portal,
Warning, thrust me back again;
By the forty years’ repentance
In the lonely desert-land;
By the blissful farewell sentence
Which I wrote upon the sand!—
Body of the Lord hath lain;
By the arm, which, from the portal,
Warning, thrust me back again;
By the forty years’ repentance
In the lonely desert-land;
By the blissful farewell sentence
Which I wrote upon the sand!—
The Three.
Thou Thy presence not deniest
Unto sinful women ever,—
Liftest them to win the highest
Gain of penitent endeavor,—
So, from this good soul withdraw not—
Who but once forgot, transgressing,
Who her loving error saw not—
Pardon adequate, and blessing!
Unto sinful women ever,—
Liftest them to win the highest
Gain of penitent endeavor,—
So, from this good soul withdraw not—
Who but once forgot, transgressing,
Who her loving error saw not—
Pardon adequate, and blessing!
Una Pœnitentium192
(formerly named Margaret, stealing closer).
Incline, O Maiden,
With Mercy laden,
In light unfading,
Thy gracious countenance upon my bliss!
My loved, my lover,
His trials over
In yonder world, returns to me in this!
With Mercy laden,
In light unfading,
Thy gracious countenance upon my bliss!
My loved, my lover,
His trials over
In yonder world, returns to me in this!
Blessed Boys
(approaching in hovering circles).
With mighty limbs he towers
Already above us;
He, for this love of ours,
Will richlier love us.
Early were we removed,
Ere Life could reach us;
Yet he hath learned and proved,
And he will teach us.
Already above us;
He, for this love of ours,
Will richlier love us.
Early were we removed,
Ere Life could reach us;
Yet he hath learned and proved,
And he will teach us.
The Peninent
(formerly named Margaret).
The spirit-choir around him seeing,
New to himself, he scarce divines
His heritage of new-born Being,
When like the Holy Host he shines.
Behold, how he each band hath cloven,
The earthly life had round him thrown,
And through his garb, of ether woven,
The early force of youth is shown!
Vouchsafe to me that I instruct him!
Still dazzles him the Day’s new glare.
New to himself, he scarce divines
His heritage of new-born Being,
When like the Holy Host he shines.
Behold, how he each band hath cloven,
The earthly life had round him thrown,
And through his garb, of ether woven,
The early force of youth is shown!
Vouchsafe to me that I instruct him!
Still dazzles him the Day’s new glare.
Mater Gloriosa.
Doctor Marianus
(prostrate, adoring).
Penitents, look up, elate,
Where she beams salvation;
Gratefully to blessed fate
Grow, in re-creation!
Be our souls, as they have been,
Dedicate to Thee!
Virgin Holy, Mother, Queen,
Goddess, gracious be!
Where she beams salvation;
Gratefully to blessed fate
Grow, in re-creation!
Be our souls, as they have been,
Dedicate to Thee!
Virgin Holy, Mother, Queen,
Goddess, gracious be!
Chorus Mysticus.194
All things transitory
But as symbols are sent:
Earth’s insufficiency
Here grows to Event:
The Indescribable,
Here it is done:
The Woman-Soul leadeth us
Upward and on!
But as symbols are sent:
Earth’s insufficiency
Here grows to Event:
The Indescribable,
Here it is done:
The Woman-Soul leadeth us
Upward and on!
