Part 59

EVIL-SPIRIT behind MARGARET

EVIL-SPIRIT

How different, Gretchen, was it once with thee, When thou, still full of innocence, Here to the altar camest, And from the small and well-conn'd book Didst lisp thy prayer, Half childish sport, Half God in thy young heart! Gretchen! What thoughts are thine? What deed of shame Lurks in thy sinful heart? Is thy prayer utter'd for thy mother's soul, Who into long, long torment slept through thee? Whose blood is on thy threshold? --And stirs there not already 'neath thy heart Another quick'ning pulse, that even now Tortures itself and thee With its foreboding presence?

MARGARET

Woe! Woe! Oh could I free me from the thoughts That hither, thither, crowd upon my brain, Against my will!

CHORUS

Dies irae, dies illa, Solvet saeclum in favilla. (The organ sounds.)

EVIL-SPIRIT

Grim horror seizes thee! The trumpet sounds! The graves are shaken! And thy heart From ashy rest For torturing flames Anew created, Trembles into life!

MARGARET

Would I were hence! It is as if the organ Choked my breath, As if the choir Melted my inmost heart!

CHORUS

Judex ergo cum sedebit, Quidquid latet adparebit! Nil inultunt remanebit.

MARGARET

I feel oppressed! The pillars of the wall Imprison me! The vaulted roof Weighs down upon me I--air!

EVIL-SPIRIT

Wouldst hide thee? sin and shame Remain not hidden! Air! light! Woe's thee!

CHORUS

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? Quem patronum rogaturus! Cum vix justus sit securus.

EVIL-SPIRIT

The glorified their faces turn Away from thee! Shudder the pure to reach Their hands to thee! Woe!

CHORUS

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus--

MARGARET

Neighbour! your smelling bottle! (She swoons away.)

WALPURGIS-NIGHT

THE HARTZ MOUNTAINS. DISTRICT OF SCHIERKE AND ELEND

FAUST and MEPHISTOPHELES