She little dreams, her lover is so near,
The clanking chains, the rustling straw can hear;
[_He enters_.
The clanking chains, the rustling straw can hear;
[_He enters_.
Faust, a Tragedy by Goethe
Pass on!
Pass on!
PRISON.
FAUST [_with a bunch of keys and a lamp, before an iron door_]
A long unwonted chill comes o'er me,
I feel the whole great load of human woe.
Within this clammy wall that frowns before me
Lies one whom blinded love, not guilt, brought low!
Thou lingerest, in hope to grow bolder!
Thou fearest again to behold her!
On! Thy shrinking slowly hastens the blow!
[_He grasps the key. Singing from within_. ]
My mother, the harlot,
That strung me up!
My father, the varlet,
That ate me up!
My sister small,
She gathered up all
The bones that day,
And in a cool place did lay;
Then I woke, a sweet bird, at a magic call;
Fly away, fly away!
_Faust [unlocking_].
She little dreams, her lover is so near,
The clanking chains, the rustling straw can hear;
[_He enters_. ]
_Margaret [burying herself in the bed_]. Woe! woe!
They come. O death of bitterness!
_Faust_ [_softly_]. Hush! hush! I come to free thee; thou art dreaming.
_Margaret_ [_prostrating herself before him_].
Art thou a man, then feel for my distress.
_Faust_. Thou'lt wake the guards with thy loud screaming!
[_He seizes the chains to tin lock them. _]
_Margaret_ [_on her knees_].
PRISON.
FAUST [_with a bunch of keys and a lamp, before an iron door_]
A long unwonted chill comes o'er me,
I feel the whole great load of human woe.
Within this clammy wall that frowns before me
Lies one whom blinded love, not guilt, brought low!
Thou lingerest, in hope to grow bolder!
Thou fearest again to behold her!
On! Thy shrinking slowly hastens the blow!
[_He grasps the key. Singing from within_. ]
My mother, the harlot,
That strung me up!
My father, the varlet,
That ate me up!
My sister small,
She gathered up all
The bones that day,
And in a cool place did lay;
Then I woke, a sweet bird, at a magic call;
Fly away, fly away!
_Faust [unlocking_].
She little dreams, her lover is so near,
The clanking chains, the rustling straw can hear;
[_He enters_. ]
_Margaret [burying herself in the bed_]. Woe! woe!
They come. O death of bitterness!
_Faust_ [_softly_]. Hush! hush! I come to free thee; thou art dreaming.
_Margaret_ [_prostrating herself before him_].
Art thou a man, then feel for my distress.
_Faust_. Thou'lt wake the guards with thy loud screaming!
[_He seizes the chains to tin lock them. _]
_Margaret_ [_on her knees_].
