Future master of all beauty, through whose limbs, whose every member,
Flow the melodies eternal: and so shall ye hearken to him,
And so shall ye gaze upon him, to your special wonderment.
Chorus.
This call’st thou marvellous,
Daughter of Creta?
Unto the bard’s pregnant word
Hast thou perchance never listen’d?
Hast thou not heard of Ionia’s,
Ne’er been instructed in Hellas’
Legends, from ages primeval,
Godlike, heroical treasure?
All, that still happeneth
Now in the present,
Sorrowful echo ’tis,
Of days ancestral, more noble;
Equals not in sooth thy story
That which beautiful fiction,
Than truth more worthy of credence,
Chanetd hath of Maia’s offspring!
This so shapely and potent, yet
Scarcely-born delicate nursling,
Straight have his gossiping nurses
Folded in purest swaddling fleece,
Fasten’d in costly swathings,
With their irrational notions.
Potent and shapely, ne’ertheless,
Draws the rogue his flexible limbs,
Body firm yet elastic,
Craftily forth; the purple shell,
Him so grievously binding,
Leaving quietly in its place;
As the perfected butterfly,
From the rigid chrysalid,
Pinion unfolding, rapidly glides,
Boldly and wantonly sailing through
Sun-impregnated ether.
So he, too, the most dextrous,
That to robbers and scoundrels,
Yea, and to all profit-seekers,
He a favoring god might be,
This he straightway made manifest,
Using arts the most cunning.
Swift from the ruler of ocean he
Steals the trident, yea, e’en from Arès
Steals the sword from the scabbard;
Arrow and bow from Phœbus too,
Also his tongs from Hephæstos:
Even Zeus’, the father’s, bolt,
Him had fire not scar’d, he had ta’en.
Eros also worsted he,
In limb-grappling, wrestling match;
Stole from Cypria as she caress’d him,
From her bosom, the girdle.
Fr. Pecht del
published by george barrie
[Editor: illegible word]
Helena.
[An exquisite, purely melodious lyre-music resounds from the cave. All become attentive, and appear soon to be inwardly moved; henceforth, to the pause indicated, there is a full musical accompaniment.
Phorkyas.
Hark those notes so sweetly sounding;
Cast aside your fabl’d lore:
Gods, in olden time abounding, —
Let them go! their day is o’er.
None will comprehend your singing;
Nobler theme the age requires:
From the heart must flow, upspringing,
What to touch the heart aspires.
[She retires behind the rock.
Chorus.
To these tones, so sweetly flowing,
Dire one! dost incline thine ears,
They in us, new health bestowing,
Waken now the joy of tears.
Vanish may the sun’s clear shining,
In our soul if day arise,
In our heart we, unrepining,
Find what the whole world denies.
Helena, Faust, Euphorionin the costume indicated above.
Euphorion.
Songs of childhood hear ye ringing,
Your own mirth it seems; on me
Gazing, thus in measure springing,
Leap your parent-hearts with glee.
Helena.
Love, terrestrial bliss to capture,
Two in noble union mates;
But to wake celestial rapture,
He a precious three creates.
Faust.
All hath been achiev’d. Forever
I am thine, and mine thou art:
Blent our beings are — oh, never
May our present joy depart!
Chorus.
Many a year of purest pleasure,
In the mild light of their boy,
Crowns this pair in richest measure.
Me their union thrills with joy!
Euphorion.
Now let me gambol,
Joyfully springing!
Upward to hasten
Through ether winging,
This wakes my yearning,
This prompts me now!
Faust.
Gently! son, gently!
Be not so daring!
Lest ruin seize thee
Past all repairing,
And our own darling
Whelm us in woe!
Euphorion.
From earth my spirit
Still upward presses;
Let go my hands now,
Let go my tresses,
Let go my garments,
Mine every one!
Helena.
To whom, bethink thee,
Now thou pertainest!
Think how it grieves us
When thou disdainest
Mine, thine, and his, — the all
That hath been won.
Chorus.
Soon shall, I fear me,
The bond be undone!
HelenaandFaust.
Curb for thy parents’ sake,
To us returning,
Curb thy importunate
Passionate yearning!
Make thou the rural plain
Tranquil and bright.
Euphorion.
But to content you
Stay I my flight.
[Winding among the Chorusand drawing them forth to dance.
Round this gay troop I flee
With impulse light.
Say is the melody,
Say is the movement right?
Helena.
Yea, ’tis well done; advance,
Lead to the graceful dance
These maidens coy!
Faust.
Could I the end but see!
Me this mad revelry
Fills with annoy.
Euphorionand theChorus.
(Dancing and singing, they move about in interweaving lines.)
Moving thine arms so fair
With graceful motion,
Tossing thy curling hair
In bright commotion;
When thou with foot so light
Over the earth doth skim,
Thither and back in flight,
Moving each graceful limb;
Thou hast attain’d thy goal,
Beautiful child,
All hearts thou hast beguil’d,
Won every soul.
[Pause.
Euphorion.
Gracefully sporting,
Light-footed roes,
New frolic courting,
Scorn ye repose:
I am the hunter,
Ye are the game.
Chorus.
Us wilt thou capture,
Urge not thy pace;
For it were rapture
Thee to embrace,
Beautiful creature,
This our sole aim!
Euphorion.
Through trees and heather,
Bound all together,
O’er stock and stone!
Whate’er is lightly won,
That I disdain;
What I by force obtain,
Prize I alone.
HelenaandFaust.
What vagaries, sense confounding!
Naught of measure to be hop’d for!
Like the blare of trumpet sounding,
Over vale and for
est ringing.
What a riot! What a cry!
Chorus.
(Entering quickly one by one.)
Us he pass’d with glance scorn-laden;
Hastily still onward springing,
Bearing now the wildest maiden
Of our troop, he draweth nigh.
Euphorion.
(Bearing a young maiden.)
I this wilful maid and coy
Carry to enforc’d caress;
For my pleasure, for my joy
Her resisting bosom press,
Kiss her rebel lips, that so
She my power and will may know.
Maiden.
Loose me! in this frame residing,
Burns a spirit’s strength and might;
Strong as thine, our will presiding
Swerveth not with purpose light.
Thinkest, on thy strength relying,
That thou hast me in a strait?
Hold me, fool! thy strength defying,
For my sport, I’ll scorch thee yet!
[She flames up and flashes into the air.
Follow where light breezes wander,
Follow to rude caverns yonder,
Strive thy vanish’d prey to net!
Euphorion.
(Shaking off the last flames.)
Rocks all around I see,
Thickets and woods among!
Why should they prison me?
Still am I fresh and young.
Tempests, they loudly roar,
Billows, they lash the shore;
Both far away I hear;
Would I were near!
[He springs higher up the rock.
Helena, FaustandChorus.
Would’st thou chamois-like aspire?
Us thy threaten’d fall dismays!
Euphorion.
Higher must I climb, yet higher,
Wider still must be my gaze.
Know I now, where I stand:
‘Midst of the sea-girt land,
‘Midst of great Pelops’ reign,
Kin both to earth and main.
Chorus.
Canst not near copse and wold
Tarry, then yonder,
Ripe figs and apple-gold
Seeking, we’ll wander;
Grapes too shall woo our hand,
Grapes from the mantling vine.
Ah, let this dearest land,
Dear one, be thine!
Euphorion.
Dream ye of peaceful day?
Dream on, while dream ye may!
War! is the signal cry.
Hark! cries of victory!
Chorus.
War who desireth
While peace doth reign,
To joy aspireth
Henceforth in vain.
Euphorion.
All whom this land hath bred;
Through peril onward led,
Free, of undaunted mood,
Still lavish of their blood,
With soul untaught to yield,
Rending each chain!
To such the bloody field,
Brings glorious gain.
Chorus.
High he soars, — mark, upward gazing, —
And to us not small doth seem:
Victor-like, in harness blazing,
As of steel and brass the gleam!
Euphorion.
Not on moat or wall relying,
On himself let each one rest!
Firmest stronghold, all defying,
Ever is man’s iron breast!
Dwell for aye unconquer’d would ye?
Arm, by no vain dreams beguil’d!
Amazons your women should be,
And a hero every child!
Chorus.
O hallow’d Poesie,
Heavenward still soareth she!
Shine on, thou brightest star,
Farther and still more far!
Yet us she still doth cheer;
Ever her voice to hear,
Joyful we are.
Euphorion.
Child no more; a stripling bearing
Arms appears, with valor fraught:
Leagu’d with the strong, the free, the daring,
In soul already who hath wrought.
Hence, away!
No delay!
There where glory may be sought.
HelenaandFaust.
Scarcely summon’d to life’s gladness,
Scarcely given to day’s bright gleam,
Downward now to pain and sadness
Would’st thou rush, from heights supreme!
Are then we
Naught to thee?
Is our gracious bond a dream?
Euphorion.
Hark! What thunders seaward rattle,
Echoing from vale to vale!
‘Mid dust and foam, in shock of battle,
Throng on throng, to grief and bale!
And the command
Is, firm to stand;
Death to face, nor ever quail.
Helena, Faust,andChorus.
Oh what horror! Hast thou told it!
Is then death for thee decreed?
Euphorion.
From afar shall I behold it?
No! I’ll share the care and need!
Helena, Faust,andChorus.
Rashness to peril brings,
And deadly fate!
Euphorion.
Yet — see a pair of wings
Unfoldeth straight!
Thither — I must, I must —
Grudge not my flight!
[He casts himself into the air; his garments support him for a moment; his head flames, a trail of light follows him.
Chorus.
Icarus! Icarus!
Oh woeful sight!
[A beautiful youth falls at the parents’ feet, we imagine that in the dead we recognize a well-known form; yet suddenly the corporeal part vanishes; the aureole rises like a comet to heaven; dress, mantle and lyre remain lying on the ground.
HelenaandFaust.
Follows on joy newborn
Anguishful moan!
Euphorion’s Voice.
(From the depths.)
Leave me in realms forlorn,
Mother, not all alone!
[Pause.
Chorus.
(Dirge.)
Not alone — for hope we cherish,
Where thou bidest thee to know!
Ah, from daylight though thou perish,
Ne’er a heart will let thee go!
Scarce we venture to bewail thee,
Envying we sing thy fate:
Did sunshine cheer, or storm assail thee,
Song and heart were fair and great.
Earthly fortune was thy dower,
Lofty lineage, ample might,
Ah, too early lost, thy flower
Wither’d by untimely blight!
Glance was thine the world discerning,
Sympathy with every wrong,
Woman’s love for thee still yearning,
And thine own enchanting song.
Yet the beaten path forsaking,
Thou didst run into the snare:
So with law and usage breaking,
On thy wilful course didst fare;
Yet at last high thought has given
To thy noble courage weight,
For the loftiest thou hast striven —
It to win was not thy fate.
Who does win it? Unreplying,
Destiny the question hears,
When the bleeding people lying,
Dumb with grief, no cry uprears! —
Now new songs chant forth, in sorrow
Deeply bow’d lament no more;
Them the earth brings forth to-morrow,
As she brought them forth of yore!
[Full pause. The music ceases.
Helena.
(To Faust.) An ancient word, alas, approves itself in me:
That joy and beauty ne’er
enduringly are link’d!
Rent is the bond of life, with it the bond of love;
Lamenting both, I say a sorrowful farewell,
And throw myself once more, once only, in thine arms. —
Persephoneia, take the boy, take also me!
[She embraces Faust,her corporeal part vanishes, her garment and veil remain in his arms.
Phorkyas.
Hold fast what doth of all alone remain to thee,
The garment, loose it not! Already hale
The demons at its skirts, and it would fain
Drag to the nether regions. Hold it fast!
The goddess is it not, whom thou hast lost,
Yet godlike ’tis. Avail thee of the high
Inestimable gift, and upward soar;
Thee o’er all common things ‘twill swiftly bear
Through ether, long as there thou canst abide.
We meet again, far, far away from here.
[Helena’sgarments dissolve into clouds, they envelop Faust,raise him aloft, and pass with him from the scene.
Phorkyas:
(Takes Euphorion’sdress, mantle and lyre from the earth, steps into the proscenium; holding up the spoils, she says:)
A happy find hath me bestead.
The flame in sooth is vanished,
Yet for the world no grief I know:
Enough remaineth bards to consecrate,
Envy to scatter in their guild and hate;
And am I powerless genius to bestow,
Its vesture I can lend, at any rate.
[She sits down in the proscenium, at the foot of a pillar.
Penthalis.
Now hasten, girls! At length we are from magic free,
From the soul-swaying spell of the Thessalian hag;
Free also from the blare confus’d of jangling tones,
The ear perplexing, and still worse the inner sense.
Away to Hades! Thither hath in haste the queen,
With earnest step, descended. Now, ye faithful maids,
Do ye, without delay, follow upon her track.
Her at the throne we find of the Inscrutable.
Chorus.
Royal ladies, certes, everywhere are content;
E’en in Hades places take they supreme,
Proud to be with their peers allied,
With Persephone in friendship knit;
We, meanwhile, far off in meadows
Deep of asphodel abiding,
With far-reaching poplars,
And unfruitful willows conjoin’d,
What amusement or joy have we!
Flitting, bat-like to twitter —
Whispering, undelightsome, and ghostlike!
Leader of the Chorus.
Who hath no name achiev’d, nor at the noble aims,
Belongs but to the elements; so hence, begone!
My vehement desire is with my queen to be;
Not merit ’tis alone, fidelity as well,
Secure in yonder spheres, the individual life.
[Exit.
All.
Back are we given now to the daylight;
Certes, persons no more,
That feel we, that know we;
Nathless return we never to Hades!
Nature, eternally living,
Claims in us spirits,
Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Page 253