Act V: In the Little Garden Faust, Part 2

IN THE LITTLE GARDEN.

Tue THREE AT THE | ABLE.

| Baucis (to the Stranger).
RT thou dumb? Of all we’ve brought here,
In thy mouth shall nothing fall?

PHILEMON.

He would know the marvel wrought here:

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 III.

Patino:
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.

Bavclis.

Knaves in vain by day were storming,'s4
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.

L

Ac YV.

Bauclis.

Trust not watery foundation |

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!