Part 61

WITCHES (in chorus)

Now to the Brocken the witches hie, The stubble is yellow, the corn is green; Thither the gathering legions fly, And sitting aloft is Sir Urial seen: O'er stick and o'er stone they go whirling along, Witches and he-goats, a motley throng.

VOICES

Alone old Baubo's coming now; She rides upon a farrow sow.

CHORUS

Honour to her, to whom honour is due! Forward, Dame Baubo! Honour to you! A goodly sow and mother thereon, The whole witch chorus follows anon.

VOICE

Which way didst come?

VOICE

O'er Ilsenstein! There I peep'd in an owlet's nest. With her broad eye she gazed in mine!

VOICE

Drive to the devil, thou hellish pest! Why ride so hard?

VOICE

She has graz'd my side, Look at the wounds, how deep and how wide!

WITCHES (in chorus)

The way is broad, the way is long; What mad pursuit! What tumult wild! Scratches the besom and sticks the prong; Crush'd is the mother, and stifled the child.

WIZARDS (half chorus)

Like house-encumber'd Snail we creep; While far ahead the women keep, For when to the devil's house we speed, By a thousand steps they take the lead.

THE OTHER HALF

Not so, precisely do we view it;---- They with a thousand steps may do it;

But let them hasten as they can, With one long bound 'tis clear'd by man.

VOICES (above)

Come with us, come with us from Felsensee.

VOICES (from below)

Aloft to you we would mount with glee! We wash, and free from all stain are we, Yet barren evermore must be!

BOTH CHORUSES

The wind is hushed, the stars grow pale, The pensive moon her light doth veil; And whirling on, the magic choir Sputters forth sparks of drizzling fire.

VOICE (from below)