按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the grass I lie； Who aid will kindly render？
The Massive Ones
Room！ wheel round！ They're coming lo！ Down sink the bending grasses。
Though spirits； yet their limbs； we know； Are huge substantial masses。
Puck
Don't stamp so heavily； I pray； Like elephants you're treading！ And 'mong the
elves be Puck to … day； The stoutest at the wedding！
Ariel
If nature boon； or subtle sprite； Endow your soul with pinions； Then follow to
yon rosy height； Through ether's calm dominions！
Orchestra （pianissimo）
Drifting cloud and misty wreathes Are fill'd with light elysian； O'er reed and
leaf the zephyr breathes So fades the fairy vision！
A Gloomy Day。 A Plain
Faust and Mephistopheles
Faust
In misery！ despairing！ long wandering pitifully on the face of the earth and
now imprisoned！ This gentle hapless creature； immured in the dungeon as a
malefactor and reserved for horrid tortures！ That it should come to this！ To
this！ … Perfidious； worthless spirit； and this thou hast concealed from me！
Stand！ ay； stand！ roll in malicious rage thy fiendish eyes！ Stand and brave me
with thine insupportable presence！ Imprisoned！ In hopeless misery！ Delivered
over to the power of evil spirits and the judgment of unpitying humanity！ And
me； the while； thou wert lulling with tasteless dissipations； concealing from me
her growing anguish； and leaving her to perish without help！
Mephistopheles
She is not the first。
Faust
Hound！ Execrable monster！ … Back with him； oh thou infinite spirit！ back with
the reptile into his dog's shape； in which it was his wont to scamper before me
at eventide； to roll before the feet of the harmless wanderer； and to fasten on
his shoulders when he fell！ Change him again into his favourite shape； that he
may crouch on his belly before me in the dust； whilst I spurn him with my foot；
the reprobate！ … Not the first！ … Woe！ Woe！ By no human soul is it
conceivable； that more than one human creature has ever sunk into a depth of
wretchedness like this； or that the first in her writhing death agony should not
have atoned in the sight of all … pardoning Heaven for the guilt of all the rest！
The misery of this one pierces me to the very marrow； and harrows up my
soul； thou art grinning calmly over the doom of thousands！
Mephistopheles
Now we are once again at our wit's end； just where the reason of you mortals
snaps！ Why dost thou seek our fellowship； if thou canst not go through with
it？ Wilt fly； and art not proof against dizziness？ Did we force ourselves on
thee； or thou on us？
Faust
Cease thus to gnash thy ravenous fangs at me！ I loathe thee！ … Great and
glorious spirit； thou who didst vouchsafe to reveal thyself unto me； thou who
dost know my very heart and soul； why hast thou linked me with this base
associate； who feeds on mischief and revels in destruction？
Mephistopheles
Hast done？
Faust
Save her！ … or woe to thee！ The direst of curses on thee for thousands of
years！
Mephistopheles
I cannot loose the bands of the avenger； nor withdraw his bolts。 … Save her！ …
Who was it plunged her into perdition？ I or thou？
（Faust looks wildly around。）
Mephistopheles
Would'st grasp the thunder？ Well for you； poor mortals； that 'tis not yours to
wield！ To smite to atoms the being however innocent； who obstructs his path；
such is the tyrant's fashion of relieving himself in difficulties！
Faust
Convey me thither！ She shall be free！
Mephistopheles
And the danger to which thou dost expose thyself？ Know； the guilt of blood；
shed by thy hand； lies yet upon the town。 Over the place where fell the
murdered one； avenging spirits hover and watch for the returning murderer。
Faust
This too from thee？ The death and downfall of a world be on thee； monster！
Conduct me thither； I say； and set her free！
Mephistopheles
I will conduct thee。 And what I can do； … hear！ Have I all power in heaven
and upon earth！ I'll cloud the senses of the warder； … do thou possess thyself
of the keys and lead her forth with human hand！ I will keep watch！ The magic
steeds are waiting； I bear thee off。 Thus much is in my power。
Faust
Up and away！
Night。 Open Country
Faust。 Mephistopheles
（Rushing along on black horses）
Faust
What weave they yonder round the Ravenstone？
Mephistopheles
I know not what they shape and brew。
Faust
They're soaring； swooping； bending； stooping。
Mephistopheles
A witche's pack。
Faust
They charm； they strew。
Mephistopheles
On！ On！
Dungeon
Faust
（with a bunch of keys and a lamp before a small iron door）
A fear unwonted o'er my spirit falls； Man's concentrated woe o'erwhelms me
here！ She dwells immur'd within these dripping walls； Her only trespass a
delusion dear！ Thou lingerest at the fatal door； Thou dread'st to see her face
once more？ On！ While thou dalliest； draws her death … hour near。
（He seizes the lock。 Singing within。）
My mother； the harlot； She took me and slew！ My father； the scoundrel； Hath
eaten me too！ My sweet little sister Hath all my bones laid； Where soft
breezes whisper All in the cool shade！
Then became I a wood … bird； and sang on the spray； Fly away！ little bird； fly
away！ fly away！
Faust （opening the lock）
Ah！ she forebodes not that her lover's near； The clanking chains； the rustling
straw； to hear。
（He enters。）
Dungeon Scene： Dungeon scene with Mephistopheles； Faust； and Margaret。
Lithograph by Eugene Delacroix。＇
Margaret
（hiding her face in the bed of straw）
Woe！ woe！ they come！ on bitter 'tis to die！
Faust （softly）
Hush！ hush！ be still！ I come to set thee free！
Margaret
（throwing herself at his feet）
If thou art human； feel my misery！
Faust
Thou wilt awake the jailor with thy cry！
（He grasps the chains to unlock them。）
Margaret （on her knees）
Who； headsman； unto thee this power O'er me could give？ Thou com'st for
me at midnight … hour。 Be merciful； and let me live！ Is morrow's dawn not time
enough？ （She stands up。）
I'm still so young； so young And must so early die！ Fair was I too； and that
was my undoing。 My love is now afar； he then was nigh； Torn lies the garland；
the fair blossoms strew'd。 Nay； seize me not with hand so rude！ Spare me！
What harm have I e'er done to thee？ Oh let me not in vain implore！ I ne'er
have seen thee in my life before！
Faust
Can I endure this bitter agony？
Margaret
I now am at thy mercy quite。 Let me my babe but suckle once again！ I
fondled it the live … long night； They took it from me but to give me pain； And
now； they say that I my child have slain。 Gladness I ne'er again shall know。
Then they sing songs about me； … 'tis wicked of the throng An ancient ballad
endeth so； Who bade them thus apply the song？
Faust
（throwing himself on the ground）
A lover at thy feet bends low； To loose the bonds of wretchedness and woe。
Margaret
（throws hers