The Tales of Hoffmann Part 27

Bravo, bravo, Hoffmann.

HOFFMANN.

Ah, I am mad. For us the craze divine, The spirits of alcohol, of beer and of wine, For us intoxication, Chaos where we forget.

NICKLAUSSE.

Ah, I understand, three dramas in a drama, Olympia...

HOFFMANN.

Smashed!

NICKLAUSSE.

Antonia...

HOFFMANN.

Dead!

NICKLAUSSE.

Giulietta...

HOFFMANN.

Oh, for her, the last verse of the song of Klein-Zach.

When he drank too much gin or rack, You ought to have seen the two tails at his back, Like lilies in a lac, The monster made a sound of flick flack, Flic, flac, There's Klein-Zach.

CHORUS.

Flick flack, There's Klein-Zach.

CHORUS.

Light up the punch, drunk we'll get; And may the weakest Roll under the table; Luther was a goodly man, Tire lan laire, tire lan la, etc., etc.

(The students tumultuously go in the next room. Hoffmann remains as if in a stupor.)

THE MUSE (appearing in an aureole of light).

And I? I, the faithful friend, Whose hand wiped thy tears?

By whom thy latent sorrow Exhales in heavenly dreams?

Am I nothing? May the tempest Of pa.s.sion pa.s.s away in thee!

The man is no more; the poet revives I love thee Hoffmann! be mine!

Let the ashes of thy heart fire thy genius, Whose serenity smiles on thy sorrows.

The Muse will soften thy blessed sufferings.

One is great by love but greater by tears.

(She disappears.)

HOFFMANN (alone).

Oh G.o.d! what ecstasy embraces my soul, Like a concert divine Thy voice hath moved me, With soft and burning fire my being is devoured, Thy glances in mine have suffused their flame, Like radiant stars.

And I feel, beloved Muse, Thy perfumed breath flutter On my lips and on my eyes!

(He falls face on table.)

STELLA (approaching slowly).

Hoffmann? asleep...

NICKLAUSSE.

No, dead drunk. Too late, madame.

LINDORF.

Corbleu!

NICKLAUSSE.

Oh, here is the counselor, Lindorf, who awaits you.

(Stella keeps her eyes on Hoffmann and throws a flower at his feet as she goes out with Lindorf.)

THE END.