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m 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. FAUST 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! CHORUS 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._] FAUST 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? MIDNIGHT _Four gray women enter_ FIRST My name, it is Want. SECOND And mine, it is Blame. THIRD My name, it is Care. FOURTH Need, that is my name. THREE (_together_) The door is fast-bolted, we cannot get in; The owner is wealthy, we may not within. WANT There fade I to shadow. BLAME There cease I to be. NEED His visage the pampered still turneth from me. CARE Ye sisters, ye cannot, ye dare not go in; But Care through the key-hole an entrance may win. [CARE _disappears_.] WANT Sisters, gray sisters, away let us glide! BLAME I bind myself to thee,
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