{
  "meta": {
    "schema_version": "1.1",
    "endpoint": "/api/sources/goethe-works/faust/faust-ii/01-act-i-a-pleasant-landscape.json"
  },
  "work": {
    "slug": "faust-ii",
    "name": "Faust II (1832)"
  },
  "parents": [
    {
      "slug": "goethe-works",
      "name": "Works of Goethe",
      "url": "/sources/goethe-works/"
    },
    {
      "slug": "faust",
      "name": "Faust (Parts I and II)",
      "url": "/sources/faust/"
    }
  ],
  "chapter": {
    "num": 1,
    "slug": "01-act-i-a-pleasant-landscape",
    "title": "Act I — A Pleasant Landscape",
    "of": 12,
    "words": 868,
    "text": "Faust, bedded on flowery turf, fatigued, restless, endeavoring to sleep.\n\nCircle of hovering spirits in motion: graceful, diminutive fizures.\n\nARIEL.!\n(Chant, accompanied by /Eolian harps.)\n\nHEN the Spring returns serener\nRaining blossoms over all ;\n\nWhen the fields with blessing greener\nOn the earth-born children call ;\nThen the craft of elves propitious\nHastes to help where help it can:\nBe he holy, be he vicious,\nPity they the luckless man.\n\nWho round this head in airy circles hover,\n\nYourselves in guise of noble Elves discover !\n\n4 Faust.\n\nThe fierce convulsions of his heart compose ;\nRemove the burning barbs of his remorses,\n\nAnd cleanse his being from the suffered woes!\n\nFour pauses makes the Night upon her courses,?\nAnd now, delay not, let them kindly close!\n\nFirst on the coolest pillow let him slumber,\n\nThen sprinkle him with Lethe's drowsy spray !\n\nHis limbs no more shall cramps and chills encumber,\nWhen sleep has made him strong to meet the day.\nPerform, ye Elves, your fairest rite:\n\nRestore him to the holy Light !\n\nCuorus 3\n\n(singly, by two or more, alternately and collectively).\nWhen around the green-girt meadow\nBalm the tepid winds exhale,\nThen in fragrance and in shadow\nTwilight spreads her misty veil:\nWhispers peace in accents cheery,\nRocks the heart in childhood's play,\nAnd upon these eyelids weary\nShuts the golden gates of Day.\n\nNow the Night already darkles,\n\nHoly star succeeds to star ;\n\nAct I.\n\nDazzling lights and fainter sparkles\nGlimmer near and gleam afar:\nGlimmer here, the lake reflecting,\nGleam in cloudless dark aboon;\nWhile, the bliss of rest protecting,\n\nReigns in pomp the perfect moon.\n\nNow the Hours are cancelled for thee,\nPain and bliss have fled away :\n\nThou art whole: let faith restore thee!\nTrust the new, the rising Day!\n\nVales grow green, and hills are lifting\nThrough the shadow-rest of morn;\nAnd in waves of silver, drifting\n\nOn to harvest, rolls the corn.\n\nWouldst thou win desires unbounded,\nYonder see the glory burn!\n\nLightly is thy life surrounded —\nSleep 's a shell, to break and spurn!\nWhen the crowd sways, unbelieving,\n\"Show the daring will that warms!\nHe is crowned with all achieving,\n\nWho perceives and then performs.\n\n(A tremendous tumult announces the approach of the Sun.)\n\n6 faust.\n\nARIEL.\n\nHearken! Hark !—the Hours careering !\nSounding loud to spirit-hearing,\n\nSee the new-born Day appearing!\nRocky portals jarring shatter,\nPhebus' wheels in rolling clatter,\nWith a crash the Light draws near !4\nPealing rays and trumpet-blazes, —\nEye is blinded, ear amazes:\n\nThe Unheard can no one hear!\n\nSlip within each blossom-bell,\nDeeper, deeper, there to dwell, —\n\nIn the rocks, beneath the leaf!\n\nIf it strikes you, you are deaf, -\n\nFaust.\n\nLife's pulses now with fresher force awaken\n\nTo greet the mild ethereal twilight o'er me;\n\nThis night, thou, Earth! hast also stood unshaken,\nAnd now thou breathest new-refreshed before me,\nAnd now beginnest, all thy gladness granting,\n\nA vigorous resolution to restore me,\n\nTo seek that highest life for which I'm panting. —\nThe world unfolded lies in twilight glimmer,\n\nHct J. 7\n\nA thousand voices in the grove are chanting ;\n\nVale in, vale out, the misty streaks grow dimmer ;\n\nThe deeps with heavenly light are penetrated ;\n\nThe boughs, refreshed, lift up their leafy shimmer\n\nFrom gulfs of air where sleepily they waited ;\n\nColor on color from the background cleareth,\n\nWhere flower and leaf with trembling pearls are freighted :\nAnd all around a Paradise appeareth.\n\nLook up!— The mountain summits, grand, supernal,5\nHerald, e'en now, the solemn hour that neareth ;\nThey earliest enjoy the light eternal\n\nThat later sinks, till here below we find it.\n\nNow to the Alpine meadows, sloping vernal,\n\nA newer beam descends ere we divined it,\n\nAnd step by step unto the base hath bounded:\n\nThe sun comes forth! Alas, already blinded,\n\nI turn away, with eyesight pierced and wounded!\n\n\"T is thus, when, unto yearning hope's endeavor,\nIts highest wish on sweet attainment grounded,\nThe portals of fulfilment widely sever :\n\nBut if there burst from those eternal spaces\n\nA flood of flame, we stand confounded ever ;\n\n8 Faust.\n\nFor Life's pure torch we sought the shining traces,\nAnd seas of fire —and what a fire! — surprise us.\nIs *t Love? Is 't Hate? that burningly embraces,\nAnd that with pain and joy alternate tries us?\n\nSo that, our glances once more earthward throwing,\n\nWe seck in youthful drapery to disguise us.\n\nBehind me, therefore, let the sun be glowing!\n\nThe cataract, between the crags deep-riven,\n\nI thus behold with rapture ever-growing.\n\nFrom plunge to plunge in thousand streams 't is given,\nAnd yet a thousand, to the valleys shaded,\n\nWhile foam and spray in air are whirled and driven.\nYet how superb, across the tumult braided,\n\nThe painted rainbow's changeful life is bending,\nNow clearly drawn, dissolving now and faded,\n\nAnd evermore the showers of dew descending !\n\nOf human striving there 's no symbol fuller:\nConsider, and 't is easy comprehending —\n\nLife is not light, but the refracted color.®\n\nAct TI, 9\n\nIT.\nTHE EMPEROR'S CASTLE.\n\nHALL OF THE THRONE.\nCouNCIL OF STATE AWAITING THE EMPEROR.",
    "project_translation": false,
    "license": null,
    "methodology_url": null
  }
}