|
Flowing Wines - Visionary Scenes
Flowing Wines - Visionary Scenes
All
(as they draw the stoppers and the wine chosen by each runs into his
glass)
Oh beauteous spring, which flows so far!
Mephistopheles
Spill not a single drop, of this beware!
(They drink repeatedly.)
All (sing)
Happy as cannibals are we,
Or as five hundred swine.
Mephistopheles
They`re in their glory, mark their elevation!
Faust
Let`s hence, nor here our stay prolong.
Mephistopheles
Attend, of brutishness ere long
You`ll see a glorious revelation.
Siebel
(drinks carelessly; the wine is spilt upon the ground, and turns to
flame)
Help! fire! help! Hell is burning!
Mephistopheles
(addressing the flames)
Stop,
Kind element, be still, I say!
(To the Company.)
Of purgatorial fire as yet `tis but a drop.
Siebel
What means the knave! For this you`ll dearly pay!
Us, it appears, you do not know.
Frosch
Such tricks a second time he`d better show!
Altmayer
Methinks`twere well we pack`d him quietly away.
Siebel
What, sir! with us your hocus - pocus play!
Mephistopheles
Silence, old wine - cask!
Siebel
How! add insult, too!
Vile broomstick!
Brander
Hold, or blows shall rain on you!
Altmayer
(draws a stopper out of the table; fire springs out against him)
I burn! I burn!
Siebel
`Tis sorcery, I vow!
Strike home! The fellow is fair game, I trow!
(They draw their knives and attack Mephistopheles.)
Mephistopheles (with solemn gestures)
Visionary scenes appear!
Words delusive cheat the ear!
Be ye there, and be ye here!
(They stand amazed and gaze at each other.)
Altmayer
Where am I? What a beauteous land!
Frosch
Vineyards! unless my sight deceives?
Siebel
And clust`ring grapes too, close at hand!
Brander
And underneath the spreading leaves,
What stems there be! What grapes I see!
(He seizes Siebel by the nose. The others reciprocally do the same, and
raise their knives.)
Mephistopheles (as above)
Delusion, from their eyes the bandage take!
Note how the devil loves a jest to break!
(He disappears with Faust; the fellows draw back from one another.)
Siebel
What was it?
Altmayer
How?
Frosch
Was that your nose?
Brander (to Siebel)
And look, my hand doth thine enclose!
Altmayer
I felt a shock, it went through every limb!
A chair! I`m fainting! All things swim!
Frosch
Say what has happened, what`s it all about?
Siebel
Where is the fellow? Could I scent him out,
His body from his soul I`d soon divide!
Altmayer
With my own eyes, upon a cask astride,
Forth through the cellar - door I saw him ride -
Heavy as lead my feet are growing.
(Turning to the table.)
I wonder is the wine still flowing!
Siebel
`Twas all delusion, cheat and lie.
Frosch
`Twas wine I drank, most certainly.
Brander
But with the grapes how was it, pray?
Altmayer
That none may miracles believe, who now will say?
|
