Western European stream·Works of Goethe·Faust (Parts I and II)·Faust II (1832)·Act III — Helena

Source context

Theme

the descent of ideal beauty into temporal existence — Helena as embodied archetype of classical antiquity

Soul-faculty

Consciousness Soul

Steiner

• GA 282, 1924-09-08Steiner engages Act III, Scene 1 of Faust Part II in the context of speech and drama, treating Helena's appearance as a test-case for the artistic rendering of supersensible archetypes through spoken form.

Cross-tradition

• Platonic anamnesisHelena's emergence from the underworld and her recognition by Faust bears cross-tradition congruence with the Platonic doctrine of anamnesis — the soul's recollection of eternal forms through encounter with their temporal image.
• Vedantic māyā and archetypal formThe tension in Act III between Helena as living person and Helena as eternal image shows cross-tradition congruence with the Vedantic distinction between the phenomenal form and its transcendent archetype, where the manifested figure carries both reality and illusion simultaneously.

BEFORE THE PALACE OF MENELAUS IN SPARTA.

HELENA enters, with the CHorus of Captive Trojan Women.

PanTHa.is, Leader of the Chorus.

HeEvENa.!°3

MUCH admired and much reviled, — I, Helena,

Come from the strand where we have disembarked but now, Still giddy from the restless rocking of the waves Of Ocean, which from Phrygian uplands hitherwards On high, opposing backs — Poseidon's favor won And Euros' strength — have borne us to our native bay. Below there, with the bravest of his warriors, now King Menelaus feels the joy of his return ; But thou, O bid me welcome back, thou lofty House Which Tyndarus, my father, on the gentle slope, Returning from the Hill of Pallas, builded up; And when I here with Clytemnestra sister-like,

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With Castor and with Pollux gayly sporting, grew, Before all Sparta's houses nobly was adorned. Ye valves of yon dark iron portals, ye I hail! Once through your festive and, inviting opening It happened that to me, from many singled out, The coming of the bridegroom Menelaus shone. Unfold again for me, that I the King's command Fulfil with strictness, as unto a spouse is meet : Give entrance now, and let all things be left behind Which hitherto have stormed upon me, full of doom! For, since this place all unsuspicious I forsook For Cytherza's fane, as holy duty called, But there the robber seized me, he the Phrygian, — Happened have many things, which people far and wide So fain relate, but which so fain hears not the one Of whom the legend rose, and to a fable grew. CHORUS. Disdain thou not, O beautiful Dame, Possession proud of the highest estate ! For the greatest fortune is thine alone, The fame of beauty that towers o'er all. _ The name of the hero heralds his path, Thence proudly he strides ; Act IT. 227 Yet bends at once the stubbornest man, And yields to all-conquering Beauty's might. HELENA. Enough, with mine own spouse have I been hither shipped, And now by him beforehand to his city sent; Yet what his purposes may be, I fail to guess. Do I come here as wife? Or do I come as queen? Or come, an offering for the Prince's bitter pain, And for the long-endured misfortune of the Greeks? For they, the Immortals, verily fixed my Fame and Fate Ambiguously, attendants twain of doubtful worth To Beauty, who upon this very threshold stand With gloomy and with threatening presence at my side, Then, even, in the hollow ship, but seldom looked My spouse on me, nor ever word of comfort spake: As if he brooded evil, fronting me he sat. But now, when speeding towards the strand of that deep cove Eurotas makes, scarce had the foremost vessels' prows The land saluted, than he spake, as urged the Gods: '"' Here, in their ordered rank, my warriors disembark ; Them shall I muster, ranged along the ocean-strand. But thou go ever onwards, up the hallowed banks

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Of fair Eurotas, dowered with gifts of plenteous fruit, Guiding the stallions o'er the bloom of watery meads, Till there, on that most lovely plain thy journey ends, Where Lacedemon, once a fruitful spreading field, Surrounded by austerest mountains, built its seat. Set thou thy foot within the high-towered princely House, And muster well the maids, whom there behind I left, Together with the old and faithful Stewardess. Let her display to thee the wealth of treasures stored, Even as thy father them bequeathed, and I myself, In war and peace accumulating, have amassed. All things shalt thou in ancient order find : because It is the Ruler's privilege, that he all things In faithful keeping find, returning to his house, — Where'er he may have left it, each thing in its place; For power to change in aught possesses not the slave." CHORUS. Let now the splendid, accumulate wealth Rejoice and cheer thee, in eye and heart! For the gleam of chain and the glory of crown Are lying idly in haughty repose: But enter thou in and challenge them all, And they will respond. Act IT. 229 I rejoice to witness Beauty compete With gold and pearl and the jewel-stone. HELENA. Thereafter further came my lord's imperious speech : " Now when all things in order thou inspected hast, Then take so many tripods as thou needful deem'st, And vessels manifold, such as desires at hand Who offers to the Gods, fulfilling holy use, — The kettles, also bowls, the shallow basin's disk ; The purest water from the sacred fountain fill In lofty urns; and further, also ready hold . The well-dried wood that rapidly accepts the flame; And let the knife, well-sharpened, fail not finally ; Yet all besides will I relinquish to thy care." So spake he, urging my departure; but nothing _ Of living breath did he, who ordered thus, appoint, That shall, to honor the Olympian Gods, be slain. "T is critical; and yet I banish further care, And let all things be now to the high Gods referred, Who that fulfil, whereto their minds may be disposed, Whether by men 't is counted good, or whether bad; In either case we mortals, we are doomed to bear. Already lifted oft the Offerer the axe

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In consecration o'er the bowed neck of the beast, And could not consummate the act; for enemies Approaching, or Gods intervening, hindered him. CHORUS. What shall happen, imagin'st thou not. Queen, go forwards With courage! Blessing and evil come Unexpected to men: Though announced, yet we do not believe. Burned not Ilion, saw we not also Death in the face, shamefullest death? And are we not here, With thee companioned, joyously serving, Seeing the dazzling sun in the heavens, And the fairest of earth, too, — Kindest one, thee, — we, the happy? HELENA. Let come, what may! Whate'er awaits me, it beseems — That I without delay go up in the Royal House, Which, long my need and yearning, forfeited almost, Act ITT. 231 Once more hath risen on my sight, I know not how. My feet no longer bear me with such fearlessness Up the high steps, which as a child I sprang across. CHORUS. Cast ye, O sisters! ye Sorrowful captives, All your trouble far from ye! Your mistress's joy partake, Helena's joy partake, Who the paternal hearth Delightedly now is approaching, Truly with late-returning But with firmer and surer feet! Praise ye the sacredest, Still re-establishing And home-bringing Immortals! How the delivered one Soars as on lifted wings Over asperities, while in vain The prisoned one, yearningly, Over the fortress-parapet Pineth with outspread arms!

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But a God took hold of her, The Expatriate, And from Ilion's ruins Hither hath borne her again, To the ancient, the newly embellished Paternal house, From unspeakable Raptures and torments, Early youthful days, Now refreshed, to remember. PanTHALIS (a5 LEADER OF THE CHoRws). Forsake ye now the joy-encompassed path of Song, And towards the portal's open valves your glances turn! What, Sisters, do I see? Returneth not the Queen With swift and agitated step again to us? What is it now, great Queen, what could encounter thee To move and shake thee so, within thy house's halls, Instead of greeting? 'Thou canst not conceal the thing; For strong repulsion written on thy brow I see, And noble indignation, struggling with amaze. HELENA (who has left the wings of the portal open, excitedly). A common fear beseemeth not the child of Zeus; Act LL. 233 No lightly-passing hand of terror touches her ; But that fell Horror, which the womb of ancient Night With first of things delivered, rolled through many forms, Like glowing clouds that from the mountain's fiery throat Whirl up expanding, even heroes' breasts may shake. Thus terribly have here to-day the Stygian Gods Mine entrance in the house betokened, and I fain, Even as a guest dismissed, would take myself away From this oft-trodden threshold I so longed to tread. But, no! hither have I retreated to the light ; Nor further shall ye force me, Powers, be who ye may! Some consecration will I muse: then, purified, The hearth-fire may the wife so welcome, as the lord. LEADER OF THE CHORUS. Discover, noble Dame, unto thy servants here, Who reverently assist thee, what hath come to pass. HIELENA. What I beheld, shall ye with your own eyes behold, If now that shape the ancient Night hath not at once Re-swallowed to the wonders of her deepest breast. But I with words will yet declare it, that ye know. When solemnly, my nearest duty borne in mind, The Royal House's gloomy inner court I trod,

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Amazed I saw the silent, dreary corridors. No sound of diligent labor, going forwards, met The ear, no signs of prompt and busy haste the eye; And not a'maid appeared to me, no stewardess Such as is wont to greet the stranger, friendly-wise. But when towards the ample hearth-stone I advanced, I saw, beside the glimmering ashes that remained, A veiled and giant woman seated on the ground, Not like to one who sleeps, but one deep-sunk in thought. With words of stern command I summoned her to work, The stewardess surmising, who meanwhile, perchance, My spouse with forethought there had stationed when he . left ; But she, still crouched together, sat immovable. Stirred by my threats at last, she lifted the right arm As if from hearth and hall she beckoned me away. I turned indignantly from her, and swiftly sped Unto the steps whereon aloft the Thalamos Adorned is set, and near thereto the treasure-room: But suddenly from the floor the wondrous figure sprang, Barring my way imperiously, and showed herself In haggard height, with hollow, blood-discolored eyes, A shape so strange that eye and mind confounded are. But to the winds I speak: for all in vain doth Speech Act LL. 235 Fatigue itself, creatively to build up forms. There look, yourselves! She even ventures forth to light! Here are we masters, till the lord and king shall come. The horrid births of Night doth Phebus, Beauty's friend, Drive out of sight to caverns, or he binds them fast. (Puorkyas appears on the threshold, between the door-posts.) Cuorus. 1% Much my experience, although the tresses, Youthfully clustering, wave on my temples; Many the terrible things I have witnessed, Warriors lamenting, Ilion's night, When it fell. Through the beclouded, dusty and maddened Throngs of the combatants, heard I the Gods then Terribly calling, heard I the iron Accents of Discord clang through the field, City-wards. Ah, yet stood they, Ilion's Ramparts; but ever the fiery glow Ran from neighbor to neighbor walls, Ever extending from here and there,

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With the roar of its own storm, Over the darkening city. Flying saw I, through smoke and flame, And the tongues of the blinding fire, — Fearful angering presence of Gods, Stalking marvellous figures, Giant-great, through the gloomy Fire-illuminate vapors, Saw I, or was it but Dread of the mind, that fashioned Forms so affrighting? Never can Justly I say it! Yet that I Her, Horrible, here with eyes behold, Is to me known and certain: Even to my hand were palpable, Did not the terror restrain me, . Holding me back from the danger. Which one of Phorkys' Daughters then art thou? Since I compare thee Unto that family. Act LL]. Art thou, perchance, of the Graiz, One of the dreaded gray-born, One eye and tooth only Owning alternately ? Darest thou, Monster, Here beside Beauty, Unto high Phebus' Vision display thee? Step thou forth, notwithstanding |! For the Ugly beholds he not, Even as his hallowed glances Never beheld the shadow. Yet a sorrowful adverse fate Us mortals compelleth, alas! To endure the unspeakable eye-pain Which She, the accurst, reprehensible, Provokes in the lovers of Beauty. Yes, then hearken, if thou brazenly Us shalt encounter, hear the curse, — Hear the threat of every abuse From the denouncing mouths of the Fortunate, Whom,the Gods themselves have fashioned |!

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PHORKYAS."5 Old is the saw, and yet its sense is high and true, That Shame and Beauty ne'er together, hand in hand, Pursued their way across the green domains of Earth. Deep-rooted dwells in both such force of ancient hate, That wheresoever on their way one haps to meet The other, each upon her rival turns her back: Then forth again vehemently they hasten on, Shame deep depressed, but Beauty insolent and bold, Till her at last the hollow night of Orcus takes, If Age hath not beforehand fully tamed her pride. So now I find ye, shameless ones, come from abroad With arrogance o'erflowing, as a file of cranes That with their hoarse, far-sounding clangor high in air, A cloudy line, slow-moving, send their creaking tones Below, the lone, belated wanderer to allure That he look up; but, notwithstanding, go their way, And he goes his: and likewise will it be, with us. Who, then, are you, that round the Royal Palace high Like Menads wild, or like Bacchantes, dare to rave? Who, then, are you, that you the House's stewardess Assail and how] at, as the breed of dogs the moon? Think ye from me 't is hidden, of what race ye are? Ye brood, in war begotten and in battle bred, Act Il. 239 Lustful of man, seducing no less than seduced, Emasculating soldiers', burghers' strength alike! Methinks, to see your crowd, a thick cicada-swarm Hath settled on us, covering the green-sown fields. Devourers ye of others' toil! Ye snatch and taste, Destroying in its bud the land's prosperity ! Wares are ye, plundered, bartered, and in market sold! HELENA. Who rates the servant-maids in presence of the Dame Audaciously invades the Mistress' household-right : Her only it becometh to commend what is Praiseworthy, as to punish what is blamable. Content, moreover, am I with the service which They gave me, when the lofty strength of Ilion Beleaguered stood, and fell in ruin: none the less When we the sorrowful and devious hardships bore Of errant travel, where each thinks but of himself. Here, too, the like from this gay throng do I expect: Not what the slave is, asks the lord, but how he serves. Therefore be silent, cease to grin and jeer at them! If thou the Palace hitherto hast guarded well In place of Mistress, so much to thy credit stands ; But now that she herself hath come, shouldst thou retire Lest punishment, in place of pay deserved, befall !

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PHORKYAS. To threaten the domestics is a right assured, Which she, the spouse august of the God-prospered king, By many years of wise discretion well hath earned. | Since thou, now recognized, thine ancient station here Again assum'st, as Queen and Mistress of the House, Grasp thou the reins so long relaxed, be ruler now, Take in thy keep the treasure, and ourselves thereto! But first of all protect me, who the eldest am, From this pert throng, who with thee, Swan of Beauty, matched, Are only stumpy-winged and cackling, quacking geese. LEADER OF THE CHORUS. How ugly, near to Beauty, showeth Ugliness! PHoRKYAS. How silly, near to understanding, want of sense! (Henceforth the CHORETIDS answer in turn, stepping singly forth from the Cuorus.) CuHoretTip [.19 Of Father Erebus relate, relate of Mother Night! PHORKYAS. Speak thou of Scylla, sister-children of one flesh ! Act LLL. 241 Cuoretip II. Good store of hideous monsters shows thy family tree! PHORKYAS. Go down to Orcus! There thy tribe and kindred seek! CuoretTip III. Those who dwell there are all by far too young for thee. "' PHORKYAS. On old Tiresias try thy lascivious arts! CuoretTip IV. Orion's nurse was great-great-grandchild unto thee! PuHorKYASs. Thee harpies, I suspect, did nurse and feed on filth. CuHoretTip V. Wherewith dost thou such choice emaciation feed ? PHORKYAS. Not with the blood, for which thou all too greedy art. Cuoretip VI. Thou, hungering for corpses, hideous corpse thyself !

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PHORKYAS. The teeth of vampires in thy shameless muzzle shine! LEADER OF THE CHORUS. Thine shall I stop, when I declare thee who thou art. PHORKYAS. Then name thyself the first! The riddle thus is solved. | HELEna. Not angered, but in sorrow, do I intervene, Prohibiting the storm of this alternate strife! For nothing more énéurious meets the ruling lord Than quarrels of his faithful servants, underhand. The echo of his orders then returns no more Accordantly to him in swiftly finished acts, But, roaring wilfully, encompasses with storm Him, self-confused, and chiding to the empty air. Nor this alone: in most unmannered anger ye Have conjured hither pictures of the shapes of dread, Which so surround me, that to Orcus now I feel My being whirled, despite these well-known native fields, Can it be memory? Was it fancy, seizing me? Was all that, I? and am J, now? and shall I henceforth be The dream and terror of those town-destroying ones? Act LL. 243 I see the maidens shudder: but, the eldest, thou Composedly standest — speak a word of sense to me! PHORKYAS. Whoe'er the fortune manifold of years recalls, Sees as a dream at last the favor of the Gods. But thou, so highly dowered, so past all measure helped, Saw'st in the ranks of life but love-desirous men, To every boldest hazard kindled soon and spurred. Thee early Theseus snatched, excited by desire, Like Heraclés in strength, a splendid form of man. HELENA. He bore me forth, a ten-year-old and slender roe, And shut me in Aphidnus' tower, in Attica. PHORKYAS. But then, by Castor and by Pollux soon released, The choicest crowd of heroes, wooing, round thee pressed. HELENA. Yet most my secret favor, freely I confess, Patroclus won, the likeness of Pelides he. Puorkyas. Wed by thy father's will to Menelaus then, The bold sea-rover, the sustainer of his house.

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HELENA. My sire the daughter gave him, and the government: Then from our wedded nearness sprang Hermione. PHORKYAS. Yet when he boldly claimed the heritage of Crete, To thee, the lonely one, too fair a guest appeared. HELENA. Why wilt thou thus recall that semi-widowhood, And all the hideous ruin it entailed on me? PHORKYAS. To me, a free-born Cretan, did that journey bring Imprisonment, as well, — protracted slavery. HELENA. At once he hither ordered thee as stewardess, Giving in charge the fortress and the treasure-stores. PHORKYAS. Which thou forsookest, wending to the towered town Of Ilion, and the unexhausted joys of love. . HELENA. Name not those joys to me! for sorrow all too stern Unendingly was poured upon my breast and brain. Act LL. 245 PHORKYAS. Nathless, they say, dost thou appear in double form ; _ Beheld in Ilion, —in Egypt, too, beheld. HELENA. Make wholly not confused my clouded, wandering sense! Even in this moment, who I am I cannot tell. PHORKYAS. And then, they say, from out the hollow Realm of Shades Achilles yet was joined in passion unto thee, Who earlier loved thee, 'gainst all ordinances of Fate! HE Lena. To him, the Vision, I, a Vision, wed myself : '°7 It was a dream, as even the words themselves declare. I vanish hence, and to myself a Vision grow. (She sinks into the arms of the SEMICHORUS.) CHoRUwuS. Silence! silence! False-seeing one, false-speaking one! Out of the hideous, single-toothed Mouth, what should be exhaled from Such abominable horror-throat ! Faust. For the Malevolent, seeming benevolent, — Wolf's wrath under the sheep's woolly fleece, — Fearfuller far is unto me than Throat of the three-headed dog. Anxiously listening stand we here. When? how? where shall break again forth Further malice From the deeply-ambushed monster? Now, stead of friendly words and consoling, Lethe-bestowing, gratefully mild, Stirrest thou up from all the Past Evillest more than good things, And darkenest all at once Both the gleam of the Present And also the Future's Sweetly glimmering dawn of hope! Silence! silence! That the Queen's high spirit, Nigh to forsake her now, Hold out, and upbear yet The Form of all forms Which the sun shone on ever. (Hexena has recovered, and stands again in the centre.) Act LL. 247 PHORKYAS. Forth from transient vapors comes the lofty sun of this bright day, That, obscured, could so delight us, but in splendor daz- zles now. As the world to thee is lovely, thou art lovely unto us; Though as ugly they revile me, well I know the Beautiful. HELENA. Tottering step I from the Void that — dizzy, fainting, — round me closed ; And again would fain be resting, for so weary are my limbs. Yet to Queens beseemeth chiefly, as to all men it beseems, Calm to be, and pluck up courage, whatsoe'er may menace them. PuHoRKYas. Standing now in all thy greatness, and in all thy beauty, here, - Says thine eye that thou commandest: what command'st thou? speak it out! HELENA. Be prepared, for much neglected in your quarrel, to atone! Haste, a sacrifice to furnish, as the king hath ordered me!

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PHORKYAS. All is ready in the palace — vessels, tripods, sharpened axe, For the sprinkling, fumigating: show to me the victim now ! HELENA. This the king not indicated. PHORKYAS. Spake it not?) O word of woe! HELENA. What distress hath overcome thee? PHORKYAS. Queen, the offering art thou! I? HELEnNa. PHORKYAS. And these. CHORUS. Ah, woe and sorrow! PHORKYAS. Thou shalt fall beneath the axe. HELENA. Fearful, yet foreboded! I, alas! Act [1]. 249 PHORKYAS. There seemeth no escape. CHORUS. Ah! and what to us will happen? PHORKYAS. She will die a noble death; But upon the lofty beam, upholding rafter-frame and roof, As in birding-time the throstles, ye in turn shall strug- gling hang ! _ (HELENA and the Cuorus stand amazed and alarmed, in striking, well-arranged groups.) PHORKYAS. Ye Phantoms! — like to frozen images ye stand, In terror thus from Day to part, which is not yours. Men, and the race of spectres like you, one and all, Renounce not willingly the bright beams of the sun; But from the end may none implore or rescue them. All know it, yet 't is pleasant unto very few. Enough! ye all are lost: now speedily to work! (She claps her hands: thereupon appear in the doorway muffled dwarfish forms, which at once carry out with alacrity the commands expressed. )

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This way, ye gloomy, sphery-bodied monster throng! Roll hitherwards! ye here may damage as ye will. The altar portable, the golden-horned, set up! The axe let shimmering lie across the silver rim! The urns of water fill! For soon, to wash away, Shall be the black blood's horrible and smutching stains, Here spread the costly carpets out upon the dust, That so the offering may kneel in queenly wise, And folded then, although with severed head, at once With decent dignity be granted sepulture! LEADER OF THE CHORUS. The Queen is standing, sunk in thought, beside us here, The maidens wither like the late-mown meadow grass ; Methinks that I, the eldest, in high duty bound, | Should words exchange with thee, primeval eldest thou! Thou art experienced, wise, and seemest well-disposed, Although this brainless throng assailed thee in mistake. Declare then, if thou knowest, possible escape ! PHORKYAS. "T is easy said. Upon the Queen it rests alone, To save herself, and ye appendages with her. But resolution, and the swiftest, needful is. Act Ll. 251 CuHorus. Worthiest and most reverend of the Parcz, wisest sibyl thou, Hold the golden shears yet open, then declare us Day and Help! We already feel discomfort of the soaring, swinging, struggling ; And our limbs in dances first would rather move in joyous cadence, Resting afterwards on lovers' breasts. HE ena. Let these be timid! Pain I feel, but terror none ; Yet if thou know'st of rescue, grateful I accept! Unto the wise, wide-seeing mind.-is verily shown The Impossible oft as possible. 'Then speak, and say ! CHoRvs. Speak and tell us, tell us quickly, how escape we now the fearful, Fatal nooses, that so menace, like the vilest form of neck- lace, Wound about our tender throats? Already, in anticipation, We can feel the choking, smothering —if thou, Rhea, lofty Mother Of the Gods, to mercy be not moved.

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PHORKYAS. Have you then patience, such long-winded course of speech To hear in silence? Manifold the stories are. CHorws. Patience enough! Meanwhile, in hearing, still we live. PHORKYAS. Whoso, to guard his noble wealth, abides at home, And in his lofty dwelling well cements the chinks And also from the pelting rain secures the roof, With him, the long days of his life, shall all be well: But whosoe'er his threshold's holy square-hewn stone Lightly with flying foot and guilty oversteps, Finds, when he comes again, the ancient place, indeed, But all things altered, if not utterly o'erthrown. HELENA. Wherefore declaim such well-known sayings here, as these? Thou wouldst narrate: then stir not up annoying themes! PHORKYAS. It is historic truth, and nowise a reproach. Sea-plundering, Menelaus steered from bay to bay ; Act Ill. 253 He skirted as a foe the islands and the shores, Returning with the booty, which in yonder rusts. Then ten long years he passed in front of Ilion; But for the voyage home how many know I not. And now how is it, where we stand by Tyndarus' Exalted House? How is it with the regions round? HELENA. Has then Abuse become incarnated 'in. thee, That canst not open once thy lips, except to blame? PHORKYAS. So many years deserted stood the valley-hills That in the rear of Sparta northwards rise aloft, Behind Taygetus; whence, as yet a nimble brook, Eurotas downward rolls, and then, along our vale By reed-beds broadly flowing, nourishes your swans. Behind there in the mountain-dells a daring breed Have settled, pressing forth from the Cimmerian Night, And there have built a fortress inaccessible, Whence land and people now they harry, as they please. HELENA. Have they accomplished that? Impossible it seems.

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PHORKYAS. They had the time: it may be twenty years, in all. HELENA. Is one a Chief? and are they robbers many — leagued? PHORKYAS. Not robbers are they; yet of many one is Chief: '9 I blame him not, although on me he also fell. He might, indeed, have taken all; yet was content With some /ree-gifts, he said: tribute he called it not. HELENA. How looked the man? PHORKYAS. By no means ill: he pleased me well. Cheerful and brave and bold, and nobly-formed is he, A prudent man and wise, as few among the Greeks. They call the race Barbarians; yet I question much If one so cruel be, as there by Ilion In man-devouring rage so many heroes were; His greatness I respected, did confide in him. And then, his fortress! That should ye yourselves behold ! "T is something other than unwieldy masonry, Act Ill, 255 The which your fathers, helter-skelter tumbling, piled, — Cyclopean like the Cyclops, stones undressed at once On stones undressed upheaving: there, however, there All plumb and balanced is, conformed to square and rule. Behold it from without! It rises heavenward up So hard, so tight of joint, and mirror-smooth as steel. To climb up there — nay, even your Thought itself slides off ! | And mighty courts of ample space within, enclosed Around with structures of all character and use. There you see pillars, pillarlets, arches great and small, Balconies, galleries for looking out and in, And coats of arms. CHORUS. What are they? PHoRKYAS. Ajax surely bore A twisted serpent on his shield, as ye have seen. The Seven also before Thebes had images, Each one upon his shield, with many meanings rich. One saw there moon and star on the nocturnal sky, And goddesses, and heroes, ladders, torches, swords, And whatsoe'er afflicting threateneth good towns. —

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Such symbols also bore our own heroic band, In shining tints, bequeathed from eldest ancestry. You see there lions, eagles, likewise claws and beaks, Then buffalo-horns, with wings and roses, peacock's-tails, And also bars — gold, black and silver, blue and red. The like of these in halls are hanging, row on row, — In halls unlimited and spacious as the world: There might ye dance! CuHorus. But tell us, are there dancers there? PuHorRKYAS. Ay, and the best!—a blooming, gold-haired throng of. boys, Breathing ambrosial youth! So only Paris breathed, _ When he approached too nearly to the Queen. HELENAa. Thou fall'st Entirely from thy part: speak now the final word! PHORKYAS. 'T is thou shalt speak it: say with grave distinctness, Yes! Then straight will I surround thee with that fortress. Act LL. 257 CHORUS. Speak, O speak the one brief word, and save thyself and us! HELENA. What! Shall I fear King Menelaus may transgress So most inhumanly, as thus to smite myself? PHORKYAS. 'Hast thou forgotten how he thy Deiphobus, Brother of fallen Paris, who with stubborn claim Took thee, the willow. as his fere, did visit with Unheard-of mutilation? Nose and ears he cropped, And otherwise disfigured: 't was a dread to see. HELENA. That did he unto him: he did it for my sake. PuHorKYas. Because of him he now will do the like to thee. / Beauty is indivisible :''° who once possessed Her wholly, rather slays than only share in part. | (Trumpets in the distance: the Cuorus starts in terror.) Even as the trumpet's piercing clangor gripes and tears The ear and entrail-nerves, thus Jealousy her claws Drives in the bosom of the man, who ne'er forgets W hat once was his, but now is lost, possessed no more.

258Faust.
CHorRws. Hear'st thou not the trumpets pealing? see'st thou not the shine of swords? PHORKYAS. King and Lord, be welcome hither! willing reckoning will I give. Pause. HELEna. What I may venture first to do, have I devised. A hostile Demon art thou, that I feel full well, And much I fear thou wilt convert the Good to Bad, But first to yonder fortress now I follow thee; What then shall come, I know: but what the Queen thereby As mystery in her deepest bosom may conceal, Remain unguessed by all! Now, Ancient, lead the way! Cuorus. O how gladly we go, Hastening thither ! Chasing us, Death, And, rising before us, The towering castle's Act Ll. 259 Inaccessible ramparts. Guard us as well may they As Ilion's citadel-fort, Which at last alone Fell, through contemptible wiles ! (Mists arise and spread, obscuring the background, also the nearer portion of the scene, at pleasure.) How is it? how? Sisters, look around! Was it not cheerfullest day ? Banded vapors are hovering up Out of Eurotas' holy stream ; Vanished e'en now hath the lovely Reed-engarlanded shore from the sight ; Likewise the free, gracefully-proud, Silently floating swans, Mated in joy of their swimming, See I, alas! no more. Still — but still Crying, I hear them, Hoarsely crying afar! Ominous, death-presaging ! Ah, may to us the tones not also,

260Faust.
Stead of deliverance promised, Ruin announce at the last ! — Us, the swan-like and slender, Long white-throated, and She, Our fair swan-begotten. Woe to us, woe! All 1s covered and hid Round us with vapor and cloud: Each other behold we not! What happens? do we advance? Hover we only with Skipping footstep along the ground? Seest thou naught? Soars not even, perchance, Hermes before us? Shines not the golden wand. Bidding, commanding us back again To the cheerless, gray-twilighted, Full of impalpable phantoms, Over-filled, eternally empty Hades? Yes, at once the air is gloomy, sunless vanish now the vapors, | Gray and darkly, brown as buildings. Walls present themselves before us, Act LIT. 261 Blank against our clearer vision. Is 't a court? a moat, or pitfall ? Fear-inspiring, any way! and Sisters, ah, behold us pris- oned, — Prisoned now, as ne'er before! (Inner court-yard of a Castle," surrounded with rich, fantastjc buildings of the Middle Ages.) LEADER OF THE CHORUS. 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 Mistress here, High-thoughted, may determine for herself and us! HELENA. 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.

262Faust
LEADER OF THE CHORUS. In vain thou lookest, Queen, all ways around thee here; That fatal shape hath vanished hence, perhaps remained There in the mists, from out whose bosom hitherwards — I know not how — we came, swiftly, without a step. Perhaps, indeed, she strays, lost in the labyrinth Of many castles wondrously combined in one, Seeking august and princely welcome from the lord. But see! up yonder 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. , ~— CHORUS. 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 marshal in ranks, and so promptly disposed, The youthfullest 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? Act L1. 263 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 they, the fairest, Hither they come: What 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 Cuorus takes place by degrees. After the boys and squires have descended in a long procession, Faust ap- pears above, at the head of the staircase, in knightly Court costume of the Middle Ages, and then comes down slowly and with dignity.)

264Faust.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS (observing him attentively). If now, indeed, the Gods to this man have not lent — As oft they do to men —a brave, transcendent form, A winning presence, stately dignity of mien, For temporary service, all he undertakes Will always bring him triumph, whether in fight with men, Or in the minor wars with fairest ladies waged. Hin, 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! Faust (approaching: a man in fetters at his side). 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 hear the prompt confession of thy guilt! This, Sovereign Mistress, is the man select For piercing vision, on the turret high Stationed to look around, the space of heaven Act UL . 26s 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 arméd men: those we protect, Encounter these. To-day — what negligence! Thou comsst, he proclaims it not: we fail In honorable 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 good will. FIELENA. 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.

266Faust.
Watching for the Morn's advancing Where her pathways eastward run, All at once, a sight entrancing, In the South arose the sun.™3 There to look, the Wonder drew me: Not 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 highest tree ; But in vain I've urged and striven, *T was a dream that fettered me. Could I know, or how be aided ? Think of tower or bolted gate? Vapors rose and vapors faded, And the Goddess came in state! Eye and heart did I surrender To the softly-shining spell : Blinding all with Beauty's splendor, . She hath blinded me, as well. Act ITT. I forgot the warder's duty And the trumpet's herald-call : Threaten to destroy me! Beauty Bindeth anger, frees her thrall. HELENA. The Evil which I brought, I dare no more Chastise. Ah, woe tome! 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. Faust. 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 ' ",

268Faust.
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 fealty true, Thee now acknowledge, Lady, whose approach Won thee at once possession and the throne! Lynceus ' (with a chest, 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,'"4 And all was over with the West: Act ITT. 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, I 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: Faust. 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. 'T wixt lip and ear let swaying sleep The pearly egg of Ocean's deep; Such place the rubies dare not seek, They 're blanched beside the rosy cheek. 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 Act IIT. 271 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 ! Faust. 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 splendors 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

272Faust.
Fall on the softest footing, and her glance, Gods only bear undazed, on proudest pomp! Lynceus. What the lord commands is slight ; For the servants, labor light : Over wealth and blood and breath This proud Beauty governeth. 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. Hevena (to 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. Faust. 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, Act £11. : 273 Whose borders are unknown, and win for thee Guard, slave and worshipper, and all in one! HELENA. I hear and witness marvels 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,"5 And, when a word gave pleasure to the ear, Another came, caressing then the first. Faust. If thee our people's mode of speech delight, O thou shalt be enraptured with our song, Which wholly satisfies both ear and mind! But it were best we exercise it now: Alternate speech entices, calls it forth. HELENA. Canst thou to me that lovely speech impart? Faust. "T is easy: it must issue from the heart; And if the breast with yearning overflow, One looks around, and asks —

274Faust.
HELENA. Who shares the glow. Faust. Nor Past nor Future shades an hour like this; But-wholly in the Present — HELENA. Is our bliss. Faust. Gain, pledge, and fortune in the Present stand: What confirmation does it ask ? HE Lena. My hand. Cuorus. 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 Ilion, and the perilous, Labyrinthine, sorrowful voyage. Act III. Women, to the love of men accustomed, Dainty choosers are they not, But proficients skilful ; And unto golden-haired shepherds, Perchance black, bristly Fauns, too, Even as comes opportunity, Unto the limbs in their vigor 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. HELENA. I feel so far away, and yet so near ; And am so fain to say: 'Here am I! here." Faust. I scarcely breathe; I tremble; speech is dead: | It is a dream, and day and place have fled.

276faust.
HELENA. I seem as life were done, and yet so new, Blent thus with thee, —to thee, the Unknown, true! Faust. To probe this rarest fate be not impelled! Being is duty, though a moment held. Puorkyas (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 legions Storms across the hither regions ; Call to battle all your race! By 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! Act LI. 277 Faust. Disturbance rash! repulsively she presses in ; Not even in danger meet is senseless violence. Ij] message makes the fairest herald ugly seem ; Thou, 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 towers,™'© trumpets and cornets, martial music. A powerful armed force marches past.) No! hero-bands, none ever braver, At once shalt thou assembled see: He, sole, deserves the ladies' favor, Whose arm defends them gallantly. (To the leaders of the troops, who detach themselves from the columns, and come forwards.) / With rage restrained, in silence banded, And certain of the victory-feast, Ye, Northern blossoms, half expanded, Ye, flowery fervors of the East! The light upon their armor breaking, They plundered realm on realm, at will: Faust. 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: Act IT. 279 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 him, in order to receive special commands and instructions.) CnHorus. Who for himself the Fairest desires, First of all things, let him Bravely and wisely a weapon acquire! Flattering, indeed, he may conquer What on earth is the highest ; But he quietly may not possess. Wily sneaks entice her away, Robbers boldly abduct her from him: This to hinder be he prepared!

280Faust.
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 Ruler's 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. Faust. 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 Act Il. 281 With whispering waves, — whose soft hill-chains connect thee With the last branch of Europe's mountain-tree ! This land, before all lands in splendor,'!7 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 of 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:

282Faust
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: Act ITT. 283 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.'8 (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, Arcadia in Sparta's neighborhood. To tread this happy soil at last incited, Thy flight was towards a joyous destiny !

284faust.
_ Now let our throne become a bower unblighted, Our bliss become Arcadian and free! [The scene of action 1s completely transformed. Against a range of rocky caverns close bowers are constructed. A shadowy grove ex- tends to the foot of the rocks which rise on all sides. Faust and HELENA are not seen: the Cuorus lies scattered about, sleeping. | PHORKYAS. How long these maidens have been sleeping, know I not: If they allowed themselves to dream what now mine eyes So clearly saw, is equally unknown to me. Therefore, I wake them. They, the Young, shall be amazed, — Ye also, Bearded Ones, who sit below and wait, ''9 — Solution of these marvels finally to see. Awake! arise! and shake from off your locks the dew, The slumber from your eyes! Listen, and cease to blink! Cuorus. Speak and tell us, quickly tell us, all the wonders that have happened! We shall hear with greater pleasure, if belief we cannot give it, | For both eye and mind are weary, to behold these rocks alone. Act II. 285 PHORKYAS. Children, you have hardly rubbed your eyes, and are you weary now? | Hear me, then! Within these caverns, in the grottos and the arbors, Screen and shelter have been lent, as unto twain idyllic lovers, To our Lord and to our Lady. CHORUS. How? within there? PHoRKYAS. | Separated From the world, me only did they summon to their quiet service. Honored thus, I stood beside them, but, as fit in one so trusted, Looked around at something other, turning here and there at random, — Seeking roots, and bark, and mosses, being skilled in heal- ing simples, — And the twain were left alone. CHorus. . Speakest thou as if within were spaces roomy as the world is :

286faust.
Wood and meadow, lakes and rivers, — what a fable dost thou spin ! PHORKYAS. Certainly, ye Inexperienced! Those are unexplored re- Cesses : Hall on hall, and court on court succeeding, musingly I tracked. All at once a laughter echoes through the spaces of the caverns ; As I look, a Boy is leaping from the mother's lap to father's, From the father to the mother: the caressing and the dandling, Teasing pranks of silly fondness, cry of sport and shout of rapture, They, alternate, deafen me. He, a Genius naked, wingless, like a Faun without the beasthood, Leaps upon the solid pavement; yet the pavement now reacting, | | Sends him flying high in air, and at the second bound or third, he Seems.to graze the vaulted roof. Cries, disquieted, the mother: '" Leap repeatedly, at pleasure, Act II. 287 But beware of flying! for prohibited is flight to thee." And thus warns the faithful father: ' Dwells in earth the force elastic Which thee upwards thus impelleth; touch but with thy toe the surface, Like the son of Earth, Anteus, straightway art thou strong again." So he springs upon the rocky masses, from a dizzy cor- nice To another, and around, as springs a ball when sharply sstruck. Yet, a-sudden, ina crevice of the hollow gulf he's vanished, And it seemeth we have lost him! Mother mourns, and father comforts, Shoulder-shrugging, anxiously I stand. But now, again, _ what vision! Are there treasures yonder hidden? Garments striped with broidered blossoms Hath he worthily assumed. Tassels from his shoulders swaying, fillets flutter round his bosom, In his hand the golden lyre, completely like a little Phaebus, Cheerily to the brink he steps, the jutting edge: we stand astounded,

288Faust.
And the parents in their rapture clasp each other to the heart. What around his head is shining? What it is, were hard to warrant, | Whether golden gauds, or flame of all-subduing strength of soul. So he moves with stately gesture, even as boy himself proclaiming Future Master of all Beauty, all the melodies eternal Throbbing in his flesh and blood; and you shall thus, delighted, hear him, — Thus shall you behold him, with a wonder never felt before ! CuHorus. Call'st thou a marvel this, Creta 's begotten oP Poetic-didactical word Hast thou listened to never? Never yet hearkened Ionia's Never received also Hellas' Godlike, heroical treasure Of ancient, primitive legends? All that ever happens Now in the Present Act ITT, Mocks like a mournful echo The grander days of the Fathers. Not comparable is thy story Unto that loveliest falsehood, Than Truth more credible, Sung of the Son of Maia! This strong and delicate, yet Scarcely delivered suckling, Swathe ye in purest downy bands, _ Bind ye in precious diapered stuffs, As is the gossiping nurse's Unreasonable notion ! Strongly and daintily draws, no less, Now the rogue the flexible, Firm yet elastic body Cunningly out, and leaveth the close, Purple, impeding shell Quietly there in its place, Like the completed butterfly, Which from the chilly chrysalid Nimbly, pinion-unfolding, slips, Boldly and wilfully fluttering through Sunshine-pervaded ether.

290faust.
So he, too, the sprightliest : That unto thieves and jugglers — All the seekers of profit, as well, — He the favorable Demon was, Did he speedily manifest By the skilfullest artifice. Straight from the Ruler of Ocean stole He the trident, — from Arés himself Slyly the sword from the scabbard ; Arrows and bow from Phebus, and then Tongs that Hepheastos was using. Even from Zeus, the Father, bolts had he Filched, had the fire not scared him. Eros, also, he overcame In leg-tripping wrestling match ; Then from Cypris, as she caressed him, Plundered the zone from her bosom. [An exquisite, purely melodious music of stringed instruients resounds from the cavern. <All become attentive, and soon appear to be deeply moved. From this point to the pause designated, there ts a full musical accompaniment. | PHORKYAS. Hark! the music, pure and golden ; Free from fables be at last! (HELENA. Act Ill 291 All your Gods, the medley olden, Let depart! their day is past. You no more are comprehended ; We require a higher part: By the heart must be expended What shall work upon the heart. (She retires towards the rocks.) CuHorus. If the flattering music presses, Fearful Being, to thine ears, We, restored to health, confess us Softened to the joy of tears. Let the sun be missed from heaven, When the soul is bright with morn! What the world has never given Now within our hearts is born. Faust. Eupuorion in the costume already described.) EupnHorion.!2! | Hear ye songs of childish pleasure, Ye are moved to playful glee ; Seeing me thus dance in measure, Leap your hearts parentally. Faust. HELENa. Love, in human wise to bless us, In a noble Pair must be; But divinely to. possess us, It must form a precious Three. Faust. All we seek has therefore found us; I am thine and thou art mine! So we stand as Love hath bound us: Other fortune we resign. CHoRUuSs. Many years shall they, delighted, Gather from the shining boy Double bliss for hearts united: In their union what a joy! EvupHOoRION. Let me be skipping, Let me be leaping ! To soar and circle, Through ether sweeping, Is now the passion That me hath won. Act ITT. Faust. But gently! gently! Not rashly faring ; Lest plunge and ruin Repay thy daring, Perchance destroy thee, Our darlin g son! EuPHORION. I will not longer Stagnate below here! Let go my tresses, My hands let go, here! Let go my garments! They all are mine. HELENA. O think! Bethink thee To whom thou belongest ! How it would grieve us, And how thou wrongest The fortune fairest, — Mine, His, and Thine!

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CHORUS. Soon shall, I fear me, - The sweet bond untwine! HELENA AND Faust. Curb, thou Unfortunate! For our desiring, Thine over-importunate Lofty aspiring ! | Rurally quiet, Brighten the plain! FE. uPHORION. Since you will that I try it. My flight I restrain. | (Winding in dance through the CHorus, and drawing them with him.) Round them I hover free ; Gay is the race: Is this the melody? Move I with grace? HELENA. Yes, that is featly done: Lead them through, every one, Mazes of art! Act Lf, 295 Faust. Soon let it ended be! Sight of such jugglery Troubles my heart. CuHorus (with Evpuorion, dancing nimbly and singing, in interlinking ranks). When thou thine arms so fair Charmingly liftest, The curls of thy shining hair Shakest and shiftest ; When thou, with foot so light, Brushest the earth in flight, Hither and forth again Leading the linkéd chain, Then is thy goal in sight, Loveliest Boy ! : All of our hearts in joy Round thee unite. Pause. EUPHORION. Not yet repose, Ye light-footed roes ! Faust, Now to new play Forth, and away! I am the hunter, You are the game, CHorRws. Wouldst thou acquire us, Be not so fast! _ We are desirous Only, at last, Clasping thy beauty, Kisses to claim! EupHORION. Through groves and through hedges! O'er cliffs and o'er ledges! Lightly what fell to me, That I detest : What I compel to me Pleases me best. HELENA AND Faust. How perverse, how wild he's growing! — Vain to hope for moderation ; Act ITT, Now it sounds like bugles blowing, Over vale and forest pealing: What disorder! What a brawl! Cuorus (entering singly, in baste). Forth from us with swiftness ran he! Spurning us with scornful feeling, Now he drags from out the many Here, the wildest one of all. EvupHorion (dearing a young Matven). Here I drag the little racer, And by force will I embrace her; For my bliss and for my zest Press the fair, resisting breast, Kiss the mouth, repellent still, — Manifest my strength and will. MalIDEN. Let me go! This frame infoldeth Also courage, strength of soul: Strong as thine, our will upholdeth, When another would control.

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I am in a strait, thou deemest ? What a force thine arm would claim! Hold me, Fool, and ere thou dreamest I will scorch thee, in my game. (She turns to flame and flashes up in the air.) To the airy spaces follow, Follow me to caverns hollow, Snatch and hold thy vanished aim! EuPHORION (shaking off the last flames). Rocks all around me here, Over the forests hung ! Why should they bound me here? Still am I fresh and young. Tempests are waking now, Billows are breaking now: Both far away I hear ; Fain would be near. (He leaps ever farther up the rocks.) He vena, Faust, anD CHorus. Chamois-like, dost thou aspire ? Fearful of the fall are we. Act ITT. 299 EupHOoRION. I must clamber ever higher, Ever further must I see. Now, where I am, I spy | Midst of the Isle am I: Midst of Pelops' land, Kindred in soul, I stand! !?? CHoRUus. Bide thou by grove and hill, Peacefully, rather ! We from the vineyards will Grapes for thee gather, — Grapes from the ridges tanned, Figs, and the apple's gold: Ah! yet the lovely land, Loving, behold! EuPHORION. Dream ye the peaceful day? Dream, then, who may! War! is the countersign : Victory — word divine! Faust. Cuorvus. Who peace and unity Scorneth, for war's array, With impunity Slays his hope of a better day. EuPHORION. They, who this land have led Through danger and dread, Free, boundlessly brave, Lavish of blood they gave, — May they, with glorious Untamable might, Make us victorious, Now, in the fight! CHoRUus. Look aloft! he seeks the Farness, Yet to us not small he seems. As for battle, as in harness, He like steel and silver gleams. EUPHORION. Walls and towers no more immuring, Each in vigor stands confessed ! Act LL. Fortress firm and most enduring Is the soldier's iron breast. & Would ye dwell in freemen's houses? Arm, and forth to combat wild! See, as Amazons, your spouses, And a hero every child! CuHorvus. Hallowed Poesy, Heavenward mounting, see! Shining, the fairest star, Farther, and still more far! Yet, from the distance blown, Hear we the lightest tone, And raptured are. _ EuPHoRION. No, 't is no child which thou beholdest — A youth in arms, with haughty brow! And with the Strongest, Freest, Boldest, His soul is pledged, in manly vow. I go! For, lo! . The path to Glory opens now."3 ef Faust. Hevena anD Faust. Thou thy being scarcely learnest, Scarcely feel'st the Day's glad beam, When from giddy steeps thou yearnest For the place of pain supreme! Are then we Naught to thee? Is the gracious bond a dream? EuPHORION. And hear ye thunders on the ocean? From land the thunder-echoes call ? In dyst and foam, with fierce commotion, The armies shock, the heroes fall ! The command Is, sword in hand, To die: 't is certain, once for all. He Lena, Faust, anp CHorus. What a horror! We shall rue it! Ah, is Death command to thee? EuPHORION. Shall I from the distance view it? No! the fate be shared by me! Ac ILL]. 303 THe ABOVE. Danger his arrogance brings: Fatally bold ! EupHORION. Yes !—and a pair of wings See me unfold! Thither! I must!—and thus! Grant me the flight! [He casts himself into the air: the garments bear him a moment, his head is illuminated. and a streak of light follows.) Cuorus. Icarus! Icarus! Sorrowful sight ! [4 beautiful Youth falls at the feet of the parents. We imagine that in the dead body we perceive @ well-known form; yet the corporeal part vanishes at once, and the aureole rises like @ comet towards heaven. The garment, mantle, and lyre remain upon the ground. ] HELENA AND Faust. Joy is followed, when scarce enjoyed, By bitterest moan. Eupuorion (from the Depths). Leave me here, in the gloomy Void, Mother, not thus alone! Pause. Faust. Cuorvs. [Dirge.] 124 Not alone! where'er thou bidest ; _ For we know thee what thou art. Ah! if from the Day thou hidest, Still to thee will cling each heart. Scarce we venture to lament thee, Singing, envious of thy fate; For in storm and sun were lent thee Song and courage, fair and great. Ah! for earthly fortune fashioned, Strength was thine, and proud descent: Early erring, ©'er-impassioned, Youth, alas! from thee was rent., For the world thine eye was rarest, ~All the heart to thee was known: Thine were loves of women fairest, And a song thy very own.: Yet thou rannest uncontrolledly In the net the fancies draw, _ Thus thyself divorcing' boldly As from custom, so from law; Till the highest thought expended Set at last thy courage free: Act LLM. 305 Thou wouldst win achievement splendid, But it was not given to thee. Unto whom, then? Question dreary, Destiny will never heed ; When in evil days and weary, Silently the people bleed. But new songs shall still elate them: Bow no longer and deplore! For the soil shall generate them, As it hath done heretofore. Complete pause. The music ceases. He ena (fo Faust). Also in me, alas! an old word proves its truth, That Bliss and Beauty ne'er enduringly unite. Torn is the link of Life, no less than that of Love; So, both lamenting, painfully I say: Farewell! And cast myself again — once only — in thine arms. Receive, Persephone, receive the boy and me. (She embraces Faust: her corporeal part disappears, her garment and veil remain in his arms.) Puorkyas (fo Faust). Hold fast what now alone remains to thee!

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The garment let not go! Already twitch The Demons at its skirts, and they would fain To the Nether Regions drag it! Hold it fast! It is no more the Goddess thou hast lost, But godlike is it. For thy use employ The grand and priceless gift, and soar aloft! "T will bear thee swift from all things mean and low To ether high, so long thou canst endure. We 'll meet again, far, very far from here. (HeELENA's garments dissolve into clouds,'?5 surround Faust, lift him aloft in the air, and move away with him.) PHORKYAS (takes up Eupnorion's tunic, mantle, and lyre from the earth, steps forward to the proscenium, holds aloft these remains, and speaks). Good leavings have I still discovered! The Flame has vanished where it hovered, Yet for the world no tears I spend. Enough remains to start the Poets living, And envy in their guilds to send; And, if their talents are beyond my giving, At least the costume I can lend. (She seats herself upon a column in the proscenium.) Act [1 307 PANTHALIS. Now hasten, maidens! we are from the magic freed, The old Thessalian trollop's mind-compelling spell, — Freed from the jinghing drone of much-bewildering sound, The ear confusing, and still more the inner sense. Down, then, to Hades! since beforehand went the Queen, With solemn step descending. Now, upon the track, Let straightway follow her the step of faithful maids! Her shall we find beside the unfathomed, gloomy King. Corus. Queens, of course, are satisfied everywhere: Even in Hades take they highest rank, Proudly associate with their peers, With Persephone closely allied : We, however, in the background Of the asphodel-besprinkled meadows, With the endless rows of poplars And the fruitless willows ever mated, — What amusement, then, have we? Bat-like to squeak and twitter In whispers uncheery and ghostly ! LEADER OF THE CHORUS. Who hath not won a name, and seeks not noble works,

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Belongs but to the elements: away then, ye! My own intense desire is with my Queen to be; Service and faith secure the individual life.' [ Exit. ALL. 'Given again to the daylight are we, Persons no more, 't is true, — We feel it and know it, — But to Hades return we never! Nature, the Ever-living,!7 Makes to us spirits Validest claim, and we to her also. A Part oF THE CHORUS. We, in trembling whispers, swaying rustle of a thousand branches Sweetly rocked, will lightly lure the rills of life, the root- born, upwards To the twigs; and, or with foliage or exuberant gush of blossoms, Will we freely deck their flying hair for prosperous airy growth. Then, when falls the fruit, will straightway gather glad- dened herds and people, Act LT. 309 Swiftly coming, briskly pressing, for the picking and the tasting : All, as if before the early Gods, will then around us bend. A SEconp Parr. We, beside these rocks, upon the far-off shining, glassy mirror, | Coaxingly will bend and fluctuate, moving with the gen- tle waters; We to every sound will hearken, song of bird or reedy piping ; Though the. dreadful voice of Pan, a ready answer shall We give: Comes a murmur, we re-murmur, — thunder, we our thunders waken In reverberating crashes, doubly, trebly, tenfold flung! A Tuirp Part. Sisters, we, of nimbler fancy, hasten with the brooklets ; onward; For allure us yonder distant, richly-mantled mountain ranges. Ever downwards, ever deeper, in meandering curves we water

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First the meadow, then the pasture; then the garden round the house, Marked by slender peaks of cypress, shooting clearly into ether O'er the landscape and the waters and the fading line of shore. A FourtuH Parr. Fare, ye others, at your pleasure; we will girdle and o'errustle | The completely-planted hillside, where the sprouting vines are green. There at every hour the passion of the vintager is witnessed, And the loving diligence, that hath so doubtful a result. Now with hoe and now with shovel, then with hilling, . pruning, tieing, Unto all the Gods he prayeth, chiefly to the Sun's bright god. Small concern hath pampered Bacchus for his faithful servant's welfare, But in arbors rests, and caverns, toying with the youngest Faun. For his semi-drunken visions whatsoever he hath needed, It is furnished him in wine-skins, and in amphore and vessels, Act IL. | 311 Right and left in cool recesses, cellared for eternal time. But if now the Gods together, Helios before the others, Have with breeze and dew and warmth and glow the berries filled with juice, Where the vintager in silence labored, all is life and motion, Every trellis stirs and rustles, and they go from stake to stake. Baskets creak and buckets rattle, groaning tubs are borne on back, All towards the vat enormous and the treaders' lusty dance; So is then the sacred bounty of the pure-born, juicy berries Rudely trodden; foaming, spirting, they are mixed and grimly crushed. Now the ear is pierced with cymbals and the clash of brazen bosses, For, behold, is Dionysos from his mysteries revealed ! Forth he comes with goat-foot Satyrs, whirling goat-foot Satyresses, While amid the rout Silenus' big-eared beast unruly brays. Naught is spared! The cloven hoofs tread down all decent custom ; | All the senses whirl bewildered, fearfully the ear is stunned. Drunkards fumble for the goblets, over-full are heads and , paunches ;

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Here and there hath one misgivings, yet increases thus the tumult ; For, the fresher must to garner, empty they the ancient skin! [ The curtain falls.128 PHorkyas, in the proscenium, rises to a giant height, steps down from the cothurnt, removes her mask and veil, and reveals herself as MEPHISTOPHELES, im order, so far as it may be necessary, to comment upon the piece by way of Epilogue. Act IV. 313 HIGH MOUNTAINS,

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