Part 8
CHORUS: Oh how gladly we go hence, With eager foot; Behind us death, But before us again Rears the inaccessible Wall of the towering fortress. Protect it just as well, Even as the citadel of Ilium, Which after all only Yielded to base deceit. How? but how? Sisters, look about you! Is it not a brighter day? Mist wavers in streaky wreaths Up from Eurotas' holy flood; Already the lovely Reed-crowned shore has vanished from sight; And the free, finely-proud, Gently-gliding swans In sociable swimming joy I see, alas, no more! Yet, but yet I hear them sounding, Sounding from afar a hoarser tone! Death-foreboding, so they say. Ah that he may not also, instead Of promised saving weal, Announce to us at last destruction; To us, swan-like, long- Fair-white-necked ones, and alas! To our swan-begotten. Woe to us, woe, woe! Already all around Everything veiled itself in mist. We cannot even see each other! What is happening? are we going? Are we only floating With tripping step along the ground? Do you see nothing? does not perchance Hermes lead the way? does not the golden staff Beckon, commanding us back To the joyless, gloom-bringing, With intangible shapes filled, Overfilled, eternally empty Hades? Yea suddenly it grows dark, the mist departs without gleam Dark-greyish, wall-brown. Walls present themselves to the sight, To free sight rigidly opposed. Is it a court? is it a deep pit? Dreadful in any case! Sisters, alas! we are captive, As captive as ever was any.
Inner Castle Court
LEADER OF THE CHORUS: Too hasty and foolish, true womanly shape! Dependent on the moment, plaything of the weather, Of fortune and misfortune! Never can you endure Either with equanimity. One of you always contradicts The other vehemently, crossing the rest of you; In joy and pain you howl and laugh but one same tone. Now silence! and wait hearkening what the queen May here resolve, high-minded, for herself and us.
HELEN: Where art thou, Pythonissa? call thee as thou wilt; Come forth from these vaults of the gloomy castle. If perchance thou wentest to announce me To the wondrous lord of heroes, preparing kind reception, Then have thanks and lead me quickly in to him; I wish the end of wanderings. I wish but rest.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS: In vain thou lookest, queen, all around thee; Vanished is the loathsome figure, perhaps remained In yonder mist, from whose bosom we hither came, I know not how, swiftly and without step. Perhaps too she wanders doubtful in the labyrinth Of the wondrously from many into one become castle, Inquiring the lord for princely high-greeting's sake. But see, up yonder already stirs in multitude, In galleries, at the window, in the portals swiftly Moving to and fro, much servitude; Noble-welcome guest-reception it proclaims.
CHORUS: My heart opens! oh, only look there, How decently downward with lingering tread A band of youngest graces properly moves The ordered procession. How! at whose command Appear they, arrayed and formed so early, The glorious folk of youthful boys? What admire I most? is it the graceful gait, Or the head's lock-curls round the dazzling brow, Or the pair of cheeks, red as the peach And likewise so soft-woolly downed? Gladly would I bite in, yet I shudder before it; For in a like case, then filled the mouth, Horrible to tell! with ashes. But the fairest, They come hither; What bear they only? Steps to the throne, Carpet and seat, Hanging and tent- Like adornment; Over o'erwhelms it, Cloud-wreaths forming, Our queen's head; For already she ascended Invited the glorious cushion. Step ye forward, Step upon step Range ye in earnest. Worthy, oh worthy, thrice worthy Be blessed such reception!
LEADER OF THE CHORUS: If to this one the gods, as oft they do, For but a little while wondrous form, Exalted bearing, lovely presence Transiently lent, then will to him each time What he begins succeed, be it in manly battle, So too in the small war with the fairest women. He is in truth to be preferred to many others Whom yet I saw with eyes as highly esteemed. With slow-earnest, reverently restrained step I see the prince; turn thee, oh queen!
FAUST: Instead of solemn greeting, as were meet, Instead of reverent welcome I bring to thee In harshly closed chains such servant, Who, failing duty, wrested duty from me. Here kneel down, to this highest lady To render confession of thy guilt. This is, exalted sovereign, the man, With rare glance of the eye from the high tower Set to look around, there heaven's space And earth's breadth sharply to oversee, Whatsoever may report here or there, From the hill-circle into the vale to the fast castle May stir, be it the wave of herds, A march of armies perhaps; we protect those, Encounter this. Today, what negligence! Thou comest near, he announces it not; failed Is honorable, most guilty reception Of so high a guest. Impiously forfeited His life has he, lay already in the blood Of deserved death; yet only thou alone Punishest, pardonest, as it pleases thee.
HELEN: So high dignity, as thou grantest me, As judge, as sovereign, and were it But tempting, as I may surmise-- So exercise now the judge's first duty, To hear the accused. Then speak.
TOWER-WATCHMAN LYNCEUS: Let me kneel, let me gaze, Let me die, let me live, For already am I given over To this god-given woman. Waiting for morning's bliss, Eastward spying her course, Suddenly rose to me the sun Wondrously in the south. Drew my look to that side, Instead of ravines, instead of heights, Instead of earth's and heaven's breadth, Her, the only one, to spy. Eye-ray is lent to me As to the lynx on highest tree; Yet now must I strive As from deep, gloomy dream. Knew I anywhere to find myself? Battlement? tower? closed gate? Mist wavers, mist vanishes, Such goddess steps forth! Eye and breast toward her turned, Drank I in the mild radiance; This beauty, how it blinds, Blinded me, poor one, wholly. I forgot the watcher's duties, Wholly the sworn horn; Threaten only to destroy me-- Beauty tames all wrath.
HELEN: The ill which I brought, may I not Punish. Woe to me! what stern fate Pursues me, everywhere to beguile men's bosoms So that they neither themselves Nor else aught worthy spared. Ravaging now, Seducing, fighting, hither and thither snatching, Demigods, heroes, gods, yea daemons, They led me in wandering here and there. Simply I confused the world, doubly more; Now triply, fourfold I bring distress on distress. Remove this good man, let him free; The god-beguiled let no disgrace touch.
FAUST: Astonished, oh queen, I see at once The surely hitting one, here the hit; I see the bow that sent the arrow, Wounded him. Arrows follow arrows, Me hitting. Everywhere I suspect crosswise Feathered they whirr in castle and room. What am I now? suddenly makest thou me Rebellious the most faithful, my walls Unsafe. Thus fear I already, my host Obeys the conquering unconquered lady. What remains to me, but myself and all, In the delusion of mine, to give up to thee? At thy feet let me, free and true, Acknowledge thee mistress, who straightway Appearing won possession and throne.
LYNCEUS: Thou seest me, queen, returned! The rich begs for a glance, He sees thee and feels forthwith Himself beggar-poor and prince-rich. What was I first? what am I now? What is to will? what to do? What helps the eye's sharpest bolt! It rebounds from thy seat. From east we came on, And about the west it was done; A long and broad weight of folk, The first knew not of the last. The first fell, the second stood, The third's lance was at hand; Each a hundredfold strengthened, Slain thousands unnoticed. We pressed on, we stormed on, We were lords from place to place; And where I imperiously commanded today, Another tomorrow robbed and stole. We looked--eager was the sight; This grasped the fairest woman, That grasped the bull of firm step, The horses all must with. But I loved, to espy The rarest seen by man; And what another possessed, That was for me dried grass. On treasures was I on the track, The sharp looks I followed only, Into all pockets I looked, Transparent was to me every chest. And heaps of gold were mine, Most glorious the jewel: Now the emerald alone deserves That it green at thy heart. Now wavers between ear and mouth The dropping-egg from sea-bottom; Rubies are quite put to flight, The cheek-red they pale beneath. And thus the very greatest treasure I set here upon thy place; At thy feet be brought The harvest of many a bloody battle. So many chests I drag hither, Of iron-chests have I more; Permit me on thy path, And treasure-vaults I fill. For thou scarce ascendest the throne, So already bow, so already bend Understanding and riches and power Before the only form. All that held I fast and mine, Now but, loose, it becomes thine. I thought it worthy, high and bare, Now see I that it was vain. Vanished is what I possessed, A mown, withered grass. Oh give with a cheerful glance To him his whole worth back!
FAUST: Remove swiftly the boldly-won load, Though not reproved, yet unrewarded. Already is all thine, what the castle Hides in its bosom; to offer thee aught Particular is useless. Go and heap treasure on treasure Ordered. The lofty image of unseen splendor Set up! Let the vaults Gleam like fresh heavens, paradises Of lifeless life prepare. Anticipating her steps let, flowered, Carpet on carpet roll; to her tread Let soft ground meet; to her glance, Only not blinding the divine, highest radiance.
LYNCEUS: Weak is what the lord commands, Does it the servant, 'tis but play: For over goods and blood Rules this beauty's pride. Already the whole host is tame, All swords blunt and lame, Before the glorious form Even the sun faint and cold, Before the riches of the face All empty and all naught.
HELEN: I wish to speak with thee, yet come up To my side! The empty place Summons the lord and secures me mine.
FAUST: First kneeling let the faithful dedication Please thee, high lady; the hand that lifts me To thy side, let me kiss it. Strengthen me as co-regent of thy Boundary-unconscious realm, win thee Admirer, servant, watcher all in one!
HELEN: Many wonders see I, hear I, Astonishment strikes me, question much would I. Yet would I inquire, why the speech Of the man sounded strange to me, strange and kindly. One tone seems to accommodate itself to the other, And has a word joined itself to the ear, Another comes, the first to caress.
FAUST: If already pleases thee the speech-mode of our peoples, Oh then surely will also enchant the song, Satisfy ear and sense in deepest ground. Yet is it surest, we practice it straight; The dialogue allures it, calls it forth.
HELEN: So say then, how speak I also so fair?
FAUST: That is quite easy, it must from the heart go. And when the breast overflows with longing, One looks around and asks--+
HELEN: Who shares in it.
FAUST: Now looks the spirit not forward, not backward, The present alone--+
HELEN: is our happiness.
FAUST: Treasure is she, high-gain, possession and pledge; Confirmation, who gives it? +
HELEN: My hand.
CHORUS: Who would blame our princess, If she grants the lord of the castle Friendly demonstration? For confess, all we are Indeed captives, as already oft Since the shameful downfall Of Ilium and the anxious- labyrinthine sorrow-voyage. Women, accustomed to men's love, Are no choosers, But connoisseurs. And as to gold-locked shepherds Perhaps black-bristled fauns, As occasion brings, Over the swelling limbs They deal equal right. Near and nearer already they sit Leaning one on another, Shoulder to shoulder, knee to knee, Hand in hand they sway Over the throne's Uppolstered glory. Not denies herself majesty Secret joys Before the people's eyes Wanton open-being.
HELEN: I feel myself so far and yet so near, And say but gladly: Here am I! here!
FAUST: I scarce breathe, to me trembles, stops the word; It is a dream, vanished day and place.
HELEN: I seem to myself worn yet so new, Woven into thee, to the unknown true.
FAUST: Probe not the unique fate! To be is duty, were it but an instant.
PHORCYAS: Spell in love-primers, Dallying brood only on lovings, Idly love on in brooding, Yet for that is no time. Feel ye not a dull storming? Hear but the trumpet blare, Destruction is not far. Menelaus with people-waves Comes on against you drawn; Arm you to bitter strife! By the victor-host surrounded, As Deiphobus mutilated, Thou payest for the woman-conduct. First trembles the light ware, This one straight at the altar Newly-whetted axe is ready.
FAUST: Audacious disturbance! repugnant it intrudes; Not even in dangers may I senseless vehemence. The fairest messenger, ill-tidings ugliest him; Thou ugliest one, only ill tidings bringest thou gladly. Yet this time shall it not succeed thee: empty breath's Shake thou the air. Here is no danger, And even danger appeared only as vain threat.
FAUST: Nay, straight shalt thou see assembled The heroes' undivided circle: Only he deserves the women's favor Who most powerfully to protect them knows. With held-in silent raging, That surely gains you victory, Ye, north's youthful blossoms, Ye, east's flower-rich force. In steel enfolded, by the ray wafted round, The band that realm on realm broke, They step forth, the earth trembles, They march on, it thunders after. At Pylos we landed, The old Nestor is no more, And all the small king-bands Scatters the unbound host. Press without delay from these walls Now Menelaus back to the sea; There may he wander, rob, lurk, To him was inclination and fate. Dukes shall I greet you, Commands Sparta's queen; Now lay you mountain and vale at feet, And yours be the realm's gain. German thou! Corinth's bays Defend with wall and guard! Achaia then with hundred ravines Commend I, Goth, to thy defiance. To Elis march the Frankish hosts, Messene be the Saxon's lot, Norman cleanse the seas And Argolis create him great. Then will each dwell domestically, Outward direct force and bolt; Yet Sparta shall o'erthrone you, The queen's time-honored seat. All-singly sees she you enjoy The land that lacks no weal; Ye seek with confidence at her feet Confirmation and right and light.
CHORUS: Who the fairest for himself desires, Capably before all things Let him look about him wisely for arms; Coaxingly won he What on earth is the highest; But quietly possesses he it not: Sneakers craftily coax it from him, Robbers boldly tear it from him; This to hinder, be he mindful. Our prince I praise therefore, Esteem him higher before others, How he so bravely wisely bound himself, That the strong stand obeying, Of every beck awaiting. His command fulfill they true, Each to himself for own use As to the lord for rewarding thanks, Both to highest fame-gain. For who tears her now From the mighty possessor? His she is, to him be she granted, Doubly by us granted, who With her at once inward with safest wall, Outward with mightiest host enclosed.
FAUST: The gifts, to these here bestowed-- To each a rich land-- Are great and glorious; let them go! We hold in the midst our stand. And they protect in emulous strife, Round by waves lapped, Not-island thee, with light hill-chain Europe's last mountain-spur annexed. The land, before all lands' suns, Be eternally to every tribe blest, Now my queen won, That early on her looked up, When with Eurotas' reed-whisper She shining from the shell broke, The high mother, the brother Outshone the light of eyes. This land, turned alone to thee, Offers its highest bloom; To the earth-circle that belongs to thee, Thy fatherland, oh prefer it! And though on its mountains' back The jagged head of the sun's cold arrow, Now lets the rock be seen greened, The goat takes nibbling scanty part. The spring leaps, united rush brooks, And already are ravines, slopes, meadows green. On hundred hills of broken surface See wool-flocks spread drawn. Distributed, cautiously measured steps Horned cattle up to the steep brink; Yet shelter is for all prepared, To hundred caves arches the rocky wall. Pan protects them there, and life-nymphs dwell In bushy clefts' moist refreshed space, And longing for higher regions Rises branch-like tree pressed on tree. Old-forests are they! the oak stands massive, And obstinately jags bough on bough; The maple mild, of sweet sap pregnant, Rises pure and plays with its load. And motherly in the still shade-circle Flows tepid milk ready for child and lamb; Fruit is not far, the plain's ripe food, And honey drips from the hollowed trunk. Here is well-being hereditary, The cheek clears as the mouth, Each is in his place immortal: They are content and healthy. And thus develops in the pure day To father-strength the lovely child. We wonder thereat; still remains the question: Whether gods, whether men they are? So was Apollo to shepherds shaped, That he to the fairest one resembled; For where nature in pure circle rules, All worlds seize one another. So is it me, so is it thee succeeded; Let the past behind us be done! Oh feel thyself from highest god sprung, To the first world alone thou belongest. Not fast castle shall circumscribe thee! Still arcs in eternal youth-force For us, to blissful abiding, Arcadia in Sparta's neighborhood. Allured, on blessed ground to dwell, Thou fleddest into the cheerfullest fate! To bowers change the thrones, Arcadian-free be our bliss!
Scene 42
PHORCYAS: How long a time the maidens sleep, know I not; Whether they let themselves dream what I saw clear and plain Before mine eyes, is likewise to me unknown. Therefore wake I them. Astonishment shall the young folk seize; Ye bearded ones too, who sitting yonder below wait, To behold at last credible wonder's solution. Forth! forth! and shake your locks swiftly! Sleep out of the eyes! blink not so and hear me!
CHORUS: Speak but, tell, relate what wondrous hath betid! Hear we would most gladly what we can not believe at all; For we have boredom, these rocks to look at.
PHORCYAS: Scarcely rubbed the eyes out, children, ye are bored already? So perceive: in these caves, these grottoes, these bowers Shelter and shielding was bestowed, as to an idyllic love-pair, To our lord and our lady. +
CHORUS: How, in there? +
PHORCYAS: Separated From the world, only me, the one, called they to quiet service. Highly honored stood I at the side, yet, as befits confidants, Looked I about for something else. Turned me here and there, Sought roots, moss and bark, knowing all efficacies, And so remained they alone.
CHORUS: Thou dost as if in there were whole world-spaces, Wood and meadow, brooks, lakes; what fairy-tale spinnest thou off!
PHORCYAS: Indeed, ye inexperienced! those are unexplored depths: Hall on halls, court on courts, these traced I musing out. Yet on a sudden a laughter echoes in the cave-spaces; Look I thither, then springs a boy from the lady's lap to the man, From the father to the mother; the caressing, the dallying, Foolish love's teasing, jesting-cry and joy-shout Alternately deafen me. Naked, a genius without wings, faun-like without beastliness, Springs he on the firm ground; yet the ground counter-working Bounces him to the airy height, and in the second, third spring Touches he the high vault. Anxiously cries the mother: Spring repeated and at pleasure, But beware, to fly, free flight is to thee denied. And so warns the faithful father: In the earth lies the spring-force, That drives thee upward; touch with the toe only the ground, As the earth-son Antaeus art thou straightway strengthened. And so hops he on the mass of this rock, from the edge To the other and around, as a ball struck springs. Yet on a sudden in the rift of rough gorge is he vanished, And now seems he lost to us. Mother laments, father comforts, Shrugging I stand anxious. Yet now again what appearing! Lie treasures there hidden? Flower-striped garments Has he worthily put on. Tassels waver from the arms, bands flutter round the breast, In the hand the golden lyre, wholly like a little Phoebus, Steps he merry to the edge, to the overhang; we wonder. And the parents from delight throw themselves alternating to the heart. For how it shines him at the head? what gleams, is hard to say, Is it gold-ornament, is it flame of o'ermighty mind-force? And so stirs he gesticulating, as boy already proclaiming Future master of all beauty, through whom the eternal melodies Through the limbs move themselves; and so shall ye hear him, And so shall ye see him to sole admiration.
CHORUS: Callest thou a wonder this, Crete's offspring? To poetizing instructing word Hast thou never listened? Never yet heard of Ionia, Never learned of Hellas' Forefatherly sagas' God-heroic riches? All that ever comes to pass In present day, Mournful after-echo is't Of glorious ancestor-days; Not compares thy telling To what lovely falsehood, More believable than truth, Sang of the son of Maia. This one daintily and strongly yet Scarcely born suckling Folds in purest swaddling down, Strains in costly swathing adornment Clapping nurse-maid band Of unreasoning fancy. Strong and dainty but draws Already the rogue the supple Yet elastic limbs Cunningly out, the purple, Anxiously pressing shell Leaving quietly in his stead; Like the finished butterfly, Who from stiff chrysalis-compulsion Wings unfolding nimbly slips, Sun-pierced ether boldly And wantonly fluttering through. So also he, the nimblest, That to thieves and knaves, Advantage-seeking all too, Eternally favorable daemon be, This proves he straightway Through most deft arts. Swiftly of the sea's ruler steals He the trident, yea from Ares himself Slyly the sword from the sheath; Bow and arrow from Phoebus too, As from Hephaestus the tongs; Even Zeus', the father's, bolt Would he take, if the fire scared him not; Yet o'er Eros conquers he In leg-locking wrestling-play; Robs also Cypria, as she kisses him, Still from the bosom the girdle.
PHORCYAS: Hear ye dearest sounds, Make you swiftly from fables free! Your gods' old mixture, Let it go, it is past. No one will understand you more, Demand we yet higher toll: For it must from the heart go, What on hearts shall work.
CHORUS: Art thou, frightful being, To this coaxing tone inclined, Feel we, as freshly recovered, Us to tearful joy softened. Let the sun's gleam vanish, When it in the soul days, We in our own heart find, What the whole world denies.
EUPHORION: Hear ye children's-songs sing, Straight 'tis your own jest; See ye me in measure spring, Hops you parentally the heart.
HELEN: Love, to bless humanly, Nears an noble two, Yet to divine rapture Forms it a precious three.
FAUST: All is then found: I am thine, and thou art mine; And so stand we bound, Could it but not be otherwise!
CHORUS: Favor of many years In the boy's mild shine Gathers on this pair. Oh, how moves me the union!
EUPHORION: Now let me hop, Now let me spring! To all breezes Upward to press, Is my desire, It seizes me already.
FAUST: Only moderate! moderate! Not into the audacious, That fall and mischance Meet not thee, To ruin us bring The dear son!
EUPHORION: I will no longer On the ground stick; Let my hands, Let my locks, Let my clothes! They are indeed mine.
HELEN: Oh think! oh think, To whom thou belongest! How it would grieve us, How thou destroyest The fair-won Mine, thine and being.
CHORUS: Soon loosens, I fear, The union!
HELEN AND FAUST: Restrain! restrain Parents' sake O'er-lively, Vehement drives! Rustically in stillness Decorate the plan.
EUPHORION: Only to your will Hold I me. Lightly o'ersway I here Merry folk. Is now the melody, Is the movement right?
HELEN: Yea, that is well done; Lead the fair ones In artful round.
FAUST: Were that but past! Me can the juggling Not at all delight.
CHORUS: When thou the poor pair Lovingly movest, In gleam thy curly hair Shaking excitest, When thy foot so light Over the earth steals, There and here again Limbs on limbs draw, Hast thou thy goal reached, Lovely child; All our hearts are All to thee inclined.
EUPHORION: Ye are so many Light-footed roes; To new play Fresh from near! I am the hunter, Ye are the game.
CHORUS: Wilt thou us catch, Be not so nimble, For we desire Yet only at end, To embrace thee, Thou fair image!
EUPHORION: Only through the groves! To stock and stone! The lightly-won, That disgusts me, Only the forced Delights me near.
HELEN AND FAUST: What a wantonness! what a raving! No moderation is to hope. Sounds it yet like horn-blowing Over vale and forests thundering; What a mischief! what a outcry!
“Stories of the world, in your language.”