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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