B00ARI2G5C EBOK (40 page)

Dams and dikes built in a day

Stole the birthright of the waves

And usurped the ocean’s sway.

Now green fields and gardens lie,

Woods and villages have grown

Up all round. But come, the sun

Will be setting by and by,

Let us eat. Those distant white

Sails seek haven for the night;

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Now like nesting birds they know

Here’s a port where they can go.

Thus it is; you must look far

Now to find the sea’s blue shore,

For dense between, on wide new land,

New human habitations stand.

[
The three sit at table in the little garden
.]

BAUCIS
. You are silent? And no food

Has refreshed you, stranger dear?

PHILEMON
. Tell him about the wonders; you’d

Like to talk, he’d like to hear.

BAUCIS
. Yes, the wonders. I’m still worried

By strange doings we have seen.

Things unnaturally hurried;

Things not as they should have been.

PHILEMON
. Can the Emperor sin? He named him

Feudal lord of all the coast;

Even a herald, marching past

With his trumpet-call, proclaimed him.

It began here near the dune,

That first foothold on the flood;

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There were tents and huts. But soon

In green fields a palace stood.

BAUCIS
. Slaves toiled vainly: blow by blow,

Pick and shovel made no way.

Then we saw the night-flames glow—

And a dam stood there next day.

They used human sacrifice:

Fire ran down, like rivers burning.

All night long we heard the cries—

A canal was built by morning.

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He is godless, for he sorely

Wants our hut, our clump of trees.

As a neighbour he’s too lordly;

We must serve him, if you please!

PHILEMON
. Yet a fine new house he’s found

For us on the polder-ground.

BAUCIS
. I’d not trust that soil for long.

Stay up here where you belong!

PHILEMON
. Come, let’s watch the sun’s last ray,

When our chapel bell we’ve tolled.

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Let us kneel there, let us pray,

Trusting our God, as of old.

[
A large ornamental park, with a long straight canal
.
FAUST
in extreme old age, walking about pensively
.
LYNCEUS THE WATCHMAN
*
speaks through a megaphone
.]

LYNCEUS
. The sun sinks, the last ships appear,

Gaily they pass the harbour bar,

Soon a tall vessel will be here

In the canal; how merry are

Those fluttering pennants! Each one plays

From a proud standing mast; the crew

Are sharing the good fortune too

That greets you in your latter days.

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[
The chapel bell sounds from the sand-dune
]

FAUST
[
starting up angrily]
.

Damned bell! A treacherous wound that flies

As from a sniper’s shot behind me!

Out there my endless kingdom lies,

But this vexation at my back,

These teasing envious sounds remind me

My great estate’s not pure! That line

Of linden-trees, that little shack,

That crumbling chapel, are not mine.

On that green place I may not tread

Another’s shadow falls like dread;

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It irks my feet, my eyes, my ear—

How can I get away from here!

LYNCEUS THE WATCHMAN
[
as above]
.

Now, in the evening breeze, all hail

To this fine ship with swelling sail!

How swift it glides, its load how high—

Sacks, boxes, piled against the sky!

[
A splendid boat appears, richly loaded with a variety of products from distant lands. Enter
MEPHISTOPHELES
and
THE THREE MIGHTY MEN.]

CHORUS
. Welcome ashore!

We’re back again!

Long live the master,

Say his men!

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[
They land; the cargo is brought ashore
.]

MEPHISTOPHELES
. We have done well and had good sport;

We hope my lord will be content.

We’d only two ships when we went,

With twenty now we’re back in port.

Our cargo richly testifies

To our great deeds that won this prize.

The ocean sets one’s notions free:

Who’s plagued by scruple out at sea?

To catch a fish, to catch a ship,

The only way is grab and grip;

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And once three ships have come one’s way,

A fourth is easy grappling-prey.

Then guess what chance a fifth will stand!

For might is right, by sea or land.

Not
how
but
how much
—that’s what’s counted!

What seaman does not take for granted

The undivided trinity

Of war and trade and piracy?

THE THREE MIGHTY MEN
. No thanks to meet us,

No word to greet us!

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Our master thinks

Our cargo stinks.

His face expresses

Great displeasure;

He does not like

This princely treasure.

MEPHISTOPHELES
. There’s no more for you

On the house.

You took your cut,

So what’s the grouse?

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THE THREE
. That’s a mere penny

For our pains:

We ask fair shares

Of all the gains!

MEPHISTOPHELES
. Go up there first

And set out all

The valuables

Hall by hall.

Hell see the richest

Show on earth;

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Then hell work out

Just what it’s worth,

Decide he can

Afford a treat,

And order a feast-day

For the fleet.

Tomorrow the pretty birds well see;

They’re my responsibility.

[
The cargo is removed
.]

MEPHISTOPHELES
[
to
FAUST]
.

Why these dark looks, this frowning brow?

Sublime good fortune greets you now:

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By your high wisdom, the sea-shore

And sea are reconciled once more;

Now from the land in easy motion

The ships glide swiftly to the ocean;

And thus, here in this royal place,

The whole world lies in your embrace!

Your kingdom started on this spot;

The first shed stood here, did it not?

Here the first shallow trench was tried

Where now the plashing oars are plied.

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Your lofty plan, our industry,

Have made you lord of land and sea.

From here—

FAUST
.
Here!
That damned word again,

The theme and burden of my pain!

You are no fool: I must tell you

It cuts my very heart in two,

I’ll not bear it another day!

Yet as I say it, even I

Feel shame. The old couple must give way!

I chose that linden clump as my

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Retreat: those few trees not my own

Spoil the whole world that is my throne.

From branch to branch I planned to build

Great platforms, to look far afield,

From panoramic points to gaze

At all I’ve done; as one surveys

From an all-mastering elevation

A masterpiece of man’s creation.

I’d see it all as I have planned:

Man’s gain of habitable land.

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This is the sharpest torment: what

A rich man feels he has not got!

That linden-scent, that chapel-chime

Haunt me like some grim funeral-time.

My will, my sovereign command

Is broken on that mound of sand!

How shall I cure my mental hell

That rages at that little bell!

MEPHISTOPHELES
. Indeed, such matter for distress

Must turn your life to bitterness.

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These cursed tinkling sounds we hear

Must stink in every noble ear.

Ding-donging, tintinnabulating,

Clear evening skies obnubilating:

Every event of life it blights,

From that first bath to our last rites—

As if life were some dream-like thing

That fades away from dong to ding!
*

FAUST
. Their stubbornness, their opposition

Ruins my finest acquisition;

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And in fierce agony I must

Grow weary now of being just.

MEPHISTOPHELES
. Why scruple then at this late hour?

Are you not—a colonial power?

FAUST
. Well, do it! Clear them from my path!—

A fine new cottage, as you know,

I’ve built, where the old folk can go.

MEPHISTOPHELES
. Well lift them up and whisk them to it;

A moment’s work, they’ll scarcely know it.

They’ll suffer it with a good grace

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And settle down in their new place.

[
At his shrill whistle
,
THE THREE MIGHTY MEN
appear
.]

Come, we have orders from my lord;

Tomorrow there’ll be a feast on board.

THE THREE
. We’ve had a poor reception here;

A feast’s an excellent idea. [
Exeunt
.]

MEPHISTOPHELES
[
ad spectatores]
.

The same old story! No doubt you

Have heard of Naboth’s vineyard too. (I
Kgs
. 21)

LYNCEUS THE WATCHMAN
[
on the castle tower, singing]
.

A watchman by calling,

Far-sighted by birth,

From this tower, my dwelling,

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I gaze at the earth:

At the earth near and far,

At the world far and near,

At the moon and the stars,

At the woods and the deer.

A beauty eternal

In all things I see,

And the world and myself

Are both pleasing to me.

Oh blest are these eyes,

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All they’ve seen and can tell:

Let it be as it may—

They have loved it so well!

[
A pause
.]

But I keep my watch so high,

Alas, not only for delight!

What dread terror of the night

Spreads its threat across the sky?

Fiery sparks are scattering, spraying

Through the twin-dark linden-trees:

Higher still the flames are playing,

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Fanned to heat by their own breeze!

Now the hut’s ablaze all through,

That was moist and mossy green;

Too late now for rescue—who

Can bring help to such a scene?

Smoke will choke the good old couple,

At their hearth so carefully

Kept and tended, poor old people,

What a dreadful tragedy!

Flames lick up, black mossy beams

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Now are turned to burning red:

How grim this wild inferno seems!

Can they escape it? Have they fled?

Tongues of fearful lightning rise

Through those leaves and branches tall;

Dried-up boughs burn flickerwise;

Charred and breaking, soon they fall.

Cursèd eyes, why must I see?

Take your gift away from me!—

By their downward-crashing weight

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Now the little chapel’s crushed;

Snaking pointed flames have rushed

Up to crown the tree-tops’ fate.

Hollow trunks in fiery showing

To their very roots are glowing.

[
A long pause; singing
.]

Something lovely to behold

Has vanished like an old tale told.

FAUST
[
on the balcony, boking towards
the
sand-dunes]
.

From overhead, what song of woe?

Its words and music came too slow.

My watchman wails: and inwardly

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The impatient deed now vexes me.

What if the linden-trees are gone,

Their trunks half-charred, a direful sight—

I’ll quickly build a watch-tower on

That place, and scan the infinite!

I see the new house over there,

That soon will shelter that old pair;

They’ll praise my generous patronage

And pass a peaceable old age.

MEPHISTOPHELES
and
THE THREE
[
from below]
.

We’re back, sir, with due promptitude;

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Regrettably, they misconstrued

Our meaning, and some force was needed.

We knocked and banged, but were not heeded.

We rattled on, and banged some more,

Till there it lay, the rotten door.

We threatened them and made a din:

They would not budge, or ask us in,

And as is common in such cases

They just sat on with stolid faces.

On your behalf, our zeal not lacking,

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We grabbed them then and sent them packing.

They didn’t linger long—the pair

Dropped dead of terror then and there.

A stranger, lurking with them, drew

His sword and was soon dealt with too.

The fight was brief and violent;

Some coals were scattered, and up went

Some straw; the merry blazing fire

Is now a triple funeral pyre.

FAUST
. And this you claim to have done for me?