Thy
shrinking
slowly hastens the blow!
Faust, a Tragedy by Goethe
_Faust_. Up they go--down they go--wheel about, reel about.
_Mephistopheles_. A witches'-crew.
_Faust_. They're strewing and vowing.
_Mephistopheles_. 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!
