The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 01 · Chapter 78Deep Night
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LYNCEUS THE WARDER (on the watch-tower singing)
Keen vision my birth-dower, I'm placed on this height, Still sworn to the watch-tower, The world's my delight. I gaze on the distant, I look on the near, On moon and on planet, On wood and the deer: The beauty eternal In all things I see; And pleased with myself All bring pleasure to me. Glad eyes, look around ye And gaze, for whate'er The sight they encounter, It still hath been fair!
(Pause)
Not alone for pleasure-taking Am I planted thus on high; What dire vision, horror-waking, From yon dark world scares mine eye! Fiery sparkles see I gleaming Through the lindens' two-fold night; By the breezes fanned, their beaming Gloweth now with fiercer light! Ah! the peaceful hut is burning; Stood its moss-grown walls for years; They for speedy help are yearning— And no rescue, none appears! Ah the aged folk, so kindly, Once so careful of the fire, Now, to smoke a prey, they blindly Perish, oh misfortune dire! 'Mid red flames, the vision dazing, Stands the moss-hut, black and bare; From the hell, so fiercely blazing, Could we save the honest pair! Lightning-like the fire advances, 'Mid the foliage, 'mid the branches; Withered boughs,—they flicker, burning, Swiftly glow, then fall;—ah me! Must mine eyes, this woe discerning, Must they so far-sighted be! Down the lowly chapel crashes 'Neath the branches' fall and weight; Winding now, the pointed flashes To the summit climb elate. Roots and trunks the flames have blighted, Hollow, purple-red, they glow!
(Long pause. Song)
Gone, what once the eye delighted, With the ages long ago!
FAUST (on the balcony, toward the downs)
From above what plaintive whimper? Word and tone are here too late! Wails my warder; me, in spirit Grieves this deed precipitate! Though in ruin unexpected Charred now lie the lindens old, Soon a height will be erected, Whence the boundless to behold. I the home shall see, enfolding In its walls, that ancient pair, Who, my gracious care beholding, Shall their lives end joyful there.
MEPHISTOPHELES and THE THREE (below)
Hither we come full speed. We crave Your pardon! Things have not gone right! Full many a knock and kick we gave, They opened not, in our despite; Then rattled we and kick'd the more, And prostrate lay the rotten door; We called aloud with threat severe, Yet sooth we found no listening ear. And as in such case still befalls, They heard not, would not hear our calls; Forthwith thy mandate we obeyed, And straight for thee a clearance made. The pair—their sufferings were light, Fainting they sank, and died of fright. A stranger, harbor'd there, made show Of force, full soon was he laid low; In the brief space of this wild fray, From coals, that strewn around us lay, The straw caught fire; 'tis blazing free, As funeral death-pyre for the three.
To my commandments deaf were ye! Exchange I wished, not robbery. For this your wild and ruthless part;— I curse it! Share it and depart!
The ancient saw still rings today: Force with a willing mind obey; If boldly thou canst stand the test, Stake house, court, life, and all the rest! [Exeunt.]
The stars their glance and radiance veil; Smoulders the sinking fire, a gale Fans it with moisture-laden wings, Vapor to me and smoke it brings. Rash mandate—rashly, too, obeyed!— What hither sweeps like spectral shade?