Act III: Inner Court-Yard of a Castle Faust, Part 2

Inner courtyard of a Castle, snrrmDidcd with rich, fantastic buildings of the Middle Ages.

Precipitate and foolish, type of women ye !
Dependent on the moment, sport of every breeze
That blows mischance or luck ! and neither ever ye
Supported calmly. One is sure to contradict
The others fiercely, and cross-wise the others her :
Only in joy and pain ye howl and laugh alike.
Be silent now, and hearken what the I\listress here,
Iligh-thoughted, may determine for herself and us!

Where art thou. Pythoness ? Whatever be thy name,
Step forth from out these arches of the gloomy keep !
If thou didst go, unto the wondrous hero-lord
Me to announce, preparing thus reception fit.
Then take my thanks, and lead me speedily to him!
I wish the wandering closed, I wish for rest alone.

In vain thou lookest, Queen, all ways around thee here ;
That fatal shape hath vanished hence, perliaps remained
There in che mists, from out whose bosom hitherwar<.ls —
I know not how — we came, swiftlj', without a step.
Perhaps, indeed, she strajs, lost in the labyrinth
Of many castles wondrously combined in one.
Seeking august and princely welcome from the lord.
But see ! up j-onder moves in readiness a crowd :
In galleries, at windows, through the portals, comes
A multitude of servants, hastening here and there ;
And this proclaims distinguished welcome to the guest.
My heart is relieved ! O, yonder behold
How so orderly downward with lingering step
The crowd of the youths in dignity comes,!
In regular march ! Who hath given command
That they marslial in ranks, and so promptly disposed.
The youthiuUcst boys of the beautiful race?
What shall most I admire ? Is't the delicate gait,
Or the curls of the hair on the white of the brow,
Or the twin-rounded cheeks, blushing red like the peach.
And also, like them, with the silkiest down ?
Fain therein would I bite, yet I fear me to try ;
For, in similar case, was the mouth thereupon
Filled — I shudder to tell it ! — with ashes.
But the)'-, the fairest.
Hither they come :
W"hat do they bear ?
Steps to the throne
Carpet and seat,
Curtain and tent,
Or similar gear ;
Waving around, and
Cloudy wreaths forming
O'er the head of our Queen ;
For she already ascendeth.
Invited, the sumptuous couch.
Come forward, now,
Step by step,
Solemnly ranged !
Worthy, O, threefold worthy her,
May such a reception be blessed !
(All that is described by the Chorus takes place by degrees. After the boys and squires have descended in a lonq proces- sion, Faust appears above, at the head of the staircase, in knightly Court costtttne of the Middle Ages, and then comes down slozvly and with dignity.)

(observing Imn attentively).
If now, indeed, the Gods to this man have not lent—
As ott chev do to men — a brave transcendent form,
A wmnmg presence, stately dignity of mien.
For temporary service, ail he undertakes
Will always bring him triumph, whether in fight with men,
Or in the minor wars with fairest ladies waged.
Him, verily, to hosts of others I prefer.
Whom, highly-famed withal, I have myself beheld.
With slow and solemn step, by reverence restrained,
I see the Prince approach : turn thou thy head, O Queen !
(approaching : a inan in fetlers at his sid.').
Instead of solemn greeting, as beseems,
Or reverential welcome, bring I thee,
Fast-bound in welded fetters, here, the knave
Whose duty slighted cheated me of mine.
Kneel down, thou Culprit, that this lofty Dame
May heaj the prompt confession of thy guilt!
This, Sovereign Mistress, is the man select
For piercing visions, on the turret high
Stationed to look around, the space of heaven
And breadth of earth to read with sharpest glance,
If here or there perchance come aught to view,—
Between the stronghold and the circling hills
If aught may move, whether the billowy herds
Or waves of armed men : those we protect.
Encounter these. To-day — what negligence!
Thou comest, he proclaims it not : we fail
In honourable reception, most deserved,
Of such high guest. Now forfeited hath he
His guilty life, and should have shed the blood
Of death deserved ; but only thou shalt mete
Pardon or punishment, at thy goodwill.

So high the power, which thou hast granted me,
As Mistress and as Judge, although it were
(I may conjecture) meant but as a test, —
Yet now I use the Judge's bounden right
To give the Accused a hearing : speak then, thou !
LYNCEUS, THE WARDER OF THE TOWER.
Let me kneel, and let me view her,
Let me live, or let me die !
For enslaved, devoted to her,
This God-granted Dame, am I.
Watching for the Morn's advancing
Where her pathways eastward run,
All at once, a sight entrancing.
In the South arose the sun.
There to look, the Wonder drew me :
Kot the glens, the summits cold.
Space of sky or landscape gloomy, —
Only Her did I behold.
Beam of sight to me was given,
Like the lynx on higliest tree;
But in vain I've urged and striven,
'Twas a dream that fettered me.
CouM I know, or how be aided ?
Think of tower or bolted gate ?
Vapours rose and vapours faded,
And the Goddess came in state !
Eye and heart did I surrender
To the softly-shining spell :
Blinding all with Beauty's splendour,
She hath blinded me, as well.
I forgot the warder's duty
And the trumpet's herald-call :
Threaten to destroy me ! Beauty
Bindeth anger, frees her thrall.
The Evil which I brought, I dare no more
Chastise. Ah, woe to me 1 What fate severe
Pursues me, everywhere the breasts of men
So to infatuate, that nor them, nor aught
Besides of worth, they spare ? Now plundering,
Seducing, fighting, hurried to and fro.
Heroes and Demigods, Gods, Demons even,
Hither and thither led me, sore-perplexed.
Sole, I the world bewildered, doubly more ;
Now threefold, fourfold, woe on woe I bring.
Remove this guiltless man, let him go free!
The God-deluded merits no disgrace.

Amazed, O Queen, do I behold alike
The unerring archer and the stricken prey,
I see the bow, wherefrom the arrow sped
That wounded him. Arrows on arrows fly.
And strike me. I suspect the feathered hum
Of bolts cross-fired through all the courts and towers.
What am I now ? At once rebellious thou
Makest my faithfullest, and insecure
My walls. Thence do I fear that even my hosts
Obey the conquering and unconquered Dame.
What else remains, but that I give to thee
Myself, and all I vainly fancied mine ?
Let me, before thy feet, in feak« true,
426 FA LIST.
Thee now acknowledge, Lady, whose approach
Won thee at once possession and the thaone!
\jt>t'iA a chesty and men who follow, bearing others).
Thou seest me, Queen, returned and free ;
The wealthy begs a glance from thee :
Thee he beheld, and feeleth, since,
As beggar poor, yet, rich as prince.
What was I erst ? What now am I ?
What shall I will ?— what do, or try ?
What boots the eyesight's sharpest ray ?
Back from thy throne it bounds away.
Forth from the East we hither pressed, «
And all was over with the West :
So long and broad the people massed,
The foremost knew not of the last.
The foremost fell, the second stood ;
The third one's lance was prompt and good ;
Each one a hundred's strength supplied :
Unnoted, thousands fell and died.
We onward pressed, in stormy chase ;
The lords were we from place to place ;
And where, to-day, / ruled as chief.
The morrow brought another thief.
We viewed the ground, but viewed in haste:
The fairest woman one embraced,
One took the oxen from the stall ;
The horses followed, one and all.
But my delight was to espy
What rarest was, to mind and eye ;
And all that others might amass
To me was so much withered grass.
I hunted on the treasure-trail
Where'er sharp sight could me avail :
In every pocket did I see.
And every chest was glass to me.
And heaps of gold I came to own,
With many a splendid jewel-stone!
The emeralds only worthy seem
Greenly upon thy breast to gleam.
'Twixt lip and ear let swaying sleep
The pearly egg of Oceans deep ;
Such place the rubies dare not seek,
They're blanched beside the rosy check.
And thus, the treasure's offering
I here before thy presence bring :
Laid at thy feet, be now revealed
The spoils of many a bloody field!
Though I have brought of chests a store,
Yet iron caskets have I more.
Let me attend thee, do thy will,
And I thy treasure-vaults will fill.
For scarcely didst thou mount the throne,
Than bowed to own and bent to own
Thy Beauty's sway, that very hour,
Wisdom, and Wealth, and sovereign Power.
All such I held secure, as mine ;
Now freed therefrom, behold it thine !
I deemed its worth and value plain ;
Now see I, it was null and vain.
What I possessed from me doth pass,
Dispersed like mown and withered grass.
One bright and beauteous glance afford,
And all its worth is straight restored !
Remove with speed the burden boldly won.
Not blamed, indeed, but neither with reward.
All is her own already, which the keep
Within it holds : and special offer thus
Is useless. Go, and pile up wealth on wealth
In order fit ! Present the show august
Of splendours yet unseen ! The vaulted halls
Make shine like clearest heaven ! Let Paradise
From lifeless pomp of life created be !
Hastening, before her footsteps be unrolled
The flower- embroidered carpets ! Let her tread
Fall on the softest footing, and her glance,
Gods only bear undazed, on proudest pomp !

What the lord commands is slight ;
For the servants, labour light :
Over wealth and blood and breath
This proud Beauty govcrncth.
Lo ! thy warrior-throngs are tame ;
All the swords are blunt and lame ;
Near the bright form we behold
Even the sun is pale and cold ;
Near the riches of her face
All things empty, shorn of grace.

Jo Faust).
Fain to discourse with thee, I bid thee come
Up hither to my side ! The empty place
Invites its lord, and thus secures me mine.

First, kneeling, let the dedication be
Accepted, lofty Lady ! Let me kiss
The gracious hand that lifts me to thy side.
Confirm me as co-regent of thy realm.
Whose borders are unknown, and win for thee
Guard, slave and worshipper, and all in one !

I hear and witness mar\'els manifold ;
Amazement takes me, much would I inquire.
Yet now instruct me wherefore spake the man
With strangely-sounding speech, friendly and strange:
Each sound appeared as yielding to the next,
And, when a word gave pleasure to the ear,
Another came, caressing then the first.

If thee our people's mode of speech delight,
O thou shalt be enraptured with our sonr,
Which wholly satisfies both ear and mind !
But it were best we exercise it now :
Alternate speech entices, calls it forth.

Canst thou to me that lovely speech impart ?

'Tis easy : it must issue from the heart ;
And if the breast with yearning overflow,
One looks around, and asks —

Who shares the glow.
Nor Past nor Future shades an hour like this ;
But wholly in the Present —

Is our bliss.'
Gain, pledge, and fortune in the Present stand ;
What coniirmation does it ask ?
My hand.

Who would take it amiss, that our Princess
Granteth now to the Castle's lord
Friendliest demonstration?
For, indeed, collectively are we
Captives, as ofttimes already.
Since the infamous downfall
Of llion, and the perilous,
Labyrinthine, sorrowful voyage.
Women, to the love of men accustomed.
Dainty choosers are they not,
But proficients skilful ;
And unto golden-haired shepherds,
Perchance black, bristly Fauns, toe,
Even as comes opportunity,
Unto the limbs in their vigour
Fully award they an equal right.
Near, and nearer already sit
They, to each other drawn,
Shoulder to shoulder, knee to knee ;
Hand in hand, they bend and sway
Over the throne's
Softly-pillowed, luxurious pomp.
Majesty here not withholds its
Secretest raptures.
Wilfully, boldly revealed
Thus to the eyes of the people.

I feel so far away, and yet so near ;
And am so lain to say : " Here am I ! here."

I scarcely breathe ; I tremble : speech is dead :
It is a dream, and day and place have fled.
I seem as life were done, and yet so new,
Blent thus with thee, — to thee, the Unknown, true !

To probe this rarest fate be not impelled!
Being is duty, though a moment held.

violently entering).
Spell in lovers' primers sweetly !
Probe and dally, cosset featly.
Test your wanton sport completely !
But there is not time, nor place.
Feel ye not the gloomy presage ?
Hear ye not the trumpet's message ?
For the ruin comes apace.
Menelaus with his legion ;
Storms across the hither regions ;
Call to battle all your race !
Bj' the victors execrated,
Like Deiphobus mutilated.
Thou shalt pay for woman's grace:
First shall dangle every light one,
At the altar, then, the Bright One
Find the keen axe in its place!

Disturbance rash ! repulsively she presses in ;
Net even in danger meet is senseless violence,
lib message makes the fairest herald ugly seem ;
Tho\i, Ugliest, delightest but in evil news.
Yet this time shalt thou not succeed ; with empty breath
Stir, shatter thou the air ! There is no danger here,
And unto us were danger but an idle threat.
(Signals, explosions from the toiuers, trumpets and cornets, martial music. A powerful arined force marches past.)
No ! hero-bands, none ever braver,
At once shalt thou assembled see :
He, sole, deserves the ladies' favour,
Whose arm defends them gallantly.
(To the leaders of the troops, who detach themselves from the colli DDts, and come forivards.)
With rage restrained, in silence banded,
And certain of the victory-feast,
Ye, Northern blossoms, half expanded,
Ye, flowery fervours of the East !
The light upon their armour breaking,
They plundered realm on realm, at will :
They come, and lo ! the earth is quaking ;
They march away, it thunders still !
In Pylos we forsook the waters ;
The ancient Nestor is no more,
And soon our lawless army scatters
The troops of kings on Grecian shore.
Back from these walls, no more delaying.
Drive Menelaus to the sea!
There let him wander, robbing, slaying.
As was his wish and destiny.
I hail you Dukes, as forth ye sally
Beneath the rule of Sparta's Queen !
Now lay before her mount and valley.
And you shall share the kingdom green !
Thine, German, be the hand that forges
Defence for Corinth and her bays :
Achaia, with its hundred gorges,
I give thee, Goth, to hold and raise.
Towards Elis, Franks, direct your motion ;
Messene be the Saxon's state :
The Norman claim and sweep the ocean.
And Argolis again make great !
Then each shall dwell in homes well-dowered,
And only outer foemen meet ;
Yet still by Sparta over-towered,
The Queen's ancestral, ancient seat.
Each one shall she behold, abiding
In lands that lack no liberal right !
And at her feet ye'll seek, confiding,
Your confirmation, law and light!
(Faust descends from the throne : the Princes form a circle around hi?n, in order to receive special commands and in- st ructions.')

Who for himself the Fairest desires,
First of all things, let him
Bravely and wisely a weapon acquire!

Flattering, indeed, he may conquei
W hat on earth is the highest ;
But he quietly maj' not possess.
Wily sneaks entice her away,
Robbers boldly abduct her from him
This to hinder be he prepared !
Therefore now our Prince I praise,
Holding him higher than others,
Since he wisdom and strength combines,
So that the strong men obedient stand,
Waiting his every beckon.
They his orders faithfully heed,
Each for the profiting of himself
As for the Rulers rewarding thanks,
And for the highest renown of both.
For who shall tear her away
Now, from the mighty possessor?
His is she, and to him be she granted,
Doubly granted by us, whom he.
Even as her, within by sure walls hath surrounded,
And without by a powerful host.
The gifts they've won by our concession, —
In fee to each a wealthy land, —
Are grand and fair : grant them possession !
We in the midst will take our stand.
And they in rivalry protect thee,
Half-Island, girdled by the sea
With whispering waves, — whose soft-hill chains connect
thee
With the last branch of Europe's mountain-tree !
This land, before all lands in splendour,
On every race shall bliss confer, —
Which to my queen in glad surrender
Yields, as it first looked up to her.
When, 'mid Eurotas' whispering rushes
She burst from Leda's purple shell,
So blinding in her beauty's flushes,
That mother, brothers, felt the spell !
This land, which seeks thy sole direction,
Its brightest bloom hath now unfurled :
Prefer thy fatherland's affection
To what is wholly thine, the world !
And though upon its ridgy backs ot mountains
The Sun's cold arrow smites each cloven head,
Yet, where the rock is greened by falling fountains,
The wild-goat nibbles and is lightly fed.
The springs leap forth, the streams united follow ;
Green are the gorges, slopes, and meads below :
On hundred hillsides, cleft with many a hollow,
Thou seest the woolly herds like scattered snow.
Divided, cautious, graze with measured paces
The cattle onward to the dizzy edge.
Yet for them all are furnished sheltered places,
Where countless caverns arch the rocky ledge.
Pan guards them there, and nymphs of life are dwelling
In bushy clefts, that moist and freshest be ;
And yearningly to higher regions swelling,
The branches crowd aloft of tree on tree.
Primeval woods ! the strong oak there is regnant.
And bough crooks out from bough in stubborn state ;
The maple mild, with sweetest juices pregnant.
Shoots cleanly up, and dallies with its weight.
And motherly, in that still realm of shadows,
The warm milk flows, for child's and lambkin's lips :
At hand is fruit, the food of fertile meadows,
And from the hollow trunk the honey drips.
Here comfort is in birth transmitted ;
To cheek and lip here joy is sent :
Each is immortal in his station fitted,
And all are healthy and content.
And thus the child in that bright season gaineth
The father-strength, as in a dream :
We wonder ; yet the question still remaineth,
If they are men, when Gods they seem.
So was Apollo shepherd-like in feature,
That other shepherds were as fair and fleet ;
For where in such clear orbit moveth Nature,
All worlds in inter-action meet.
(Taking his seat beside her.)
Thus hath success my fate and thine attended ;
Henceforth behind us let the past be furled !
O, feel thyself from highest God descended !
For thou belongest to the primal world.
Thy life shall circumscribe no fortress frowning!
Still, in eternal youth, stands as it stood,
For us, our stay with every rapture crowning,