The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume I Part 107

PHILEMON

I trow, He of wonders so amazing Fain would hear; inform him thou.

BAUCIS

There was wrought a wonder truly, Yet no rest it leaves to me; Naught in the affair was duly Done, as honest things should be!

PHILEMON

Who as sinful can p.r.o.nounce it?

'Twas the emperor gave the sh.o.r.e;-- Did the trumpet not announce it As the herald pa.s.sed our door?

Footing firm they first have planted Near these downs. Tents, huts, appeared; O'er the green, the eye, enchanted, Saw ere long a palace reared.

BAUCIS

Shovel, axe, no labor sparing, Vainly plied the men by day; Where the fires at night shone flaring, Stood a dam, in morning's ray.

Still from human victims bleeding, Wailing sounds were nightly borne; Seaward sped the flames, receding; A ca.n.a.l appeared at morn!

G.o.dless is he, naught respecting; Covets he our grove, our cot; Though our neighbor, us subjecting, Him to serve will be our lot.

PHILEMON

Yet he bids, our claims adjusting, Homestead fair in his new land.

BAUCIS

Earth, from water saved, mistrusting, On thine own height take thy stand.

PHILEMON

Let us, to the chapel wending, Watch the sun's last rays subside; Let us ring, and prayerful bending, In our father's G.o.d confide!

PALACE

_s.p.a.cious ornamental garden; broad, straight ca.n.a.l._ FAUST _in extreme old age, walking about, meditating._

LYNCEUS, THE WARDER (_through a speaking trumpet_)

The sun sinks down, the ships belated Rejoicing to the haven steer.

A stately galley, deeply freighted, On the ca.n.a.l, now draweth near; Her chequer'd flag the breeze caresses The masts unbending bear the sails: Thee now the grateful seaman blesses, Thee at this moment Fortune hails.

[_The bell rings on the downs._]

FAUST (_starting_)

Accursed bell! Its clamor sending, Like spiteful shot it wounds mine ear!

Before me lies my realm unending; Vexation dogs me in the rear; For I, these envious chimes still hearing, Must at my narrow bounds repine; The linden grove, brown but thence peering, The moldering church, these are not mine.

Refreshment seek I, there repairing?

Another's shadow chills my heart, A thorn, nor foot nor vision sparing,-- O far from hence could I depart!

WARDER (_as above_)

How, wafted by the evening gales, Blithely the painted galley sails; On its swift course, how richly stored!

Chest, coffer, sack, are heaped aboard.

_A splendid galley, richly and brilliantly laden with the produce of foreign climes._

MEPHISTOPHELES. THE THREE MIGHTY COMRADES

CHORUS

Here do we land, Here are we now.

Hail to our lord; Our patron, thou!

(_They disembark. The goods are brought ash.o.r.e._)

MEPHISTOPHELES

So have we proved our worth--content If we our patron's praises earn: With but two ships abroad we went, With twenty we to port return.

By our rich lading all may see The great successes we have wrought.

Free ocean makes the spirit free: There claims compunction ne'er a thought!

A rapid grip there needs alone; A fish, a ship, on both we seize.

Of three if we the lordship own, Straightway we hook a fourth with ease, Then is the fifth in sorry plight-- Who hath the power, has still the right; The _What_ is asked for, not the _How_.

Else know I not the seaman's art: War, commerce, piracy, I trow, A trinity, we may not part.

THE THREE MIGHTY COMRADES

No thank and hail; No hail and thank!

As were our cargo Vile and rank!

Disgust upon His face one sees The kingly wealth Doth him displease!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Expect ye now No further pay; For ye your share Have ta'en away.

THE THREE MIGHTY COMRADES

To pa.s.s the time, As was but fair; We all expect An equal share.

MEPHISTOPHELES

First range in order, Hall on hall, These wares so costly, One and all!

And when he steps The prize to view, And reckons all With judgment true, He'll be no n.i.g.g.ard; As is meet, Feast after feast He'll give the fleet, The gay birds come with morning tide; Myself for them can best provide.

[_The cargo is removed._]

MEPHISTOPHELES (_to_ FAUST)

With gloomy look, with earnest brow Thy fortune high receivest thou.

Thy lofty wisdom has been crowned; Their limits sh.o.r.e and sea have bound; Forth from the sh.o.r.e, in swift career, O'er the glad waves, thy vessels steer; Speak only from thy pride of place, Thine arm the whole world doth embrace.

Here it began; on this spot stood The first rude cabin formed of wood; A little ditch was sunk of yore Where plashes now the busy oar.

Thy lofty thought, thy people's hand, Have won the prize from sea and land.