B00ARI2G5C EBOK (37 page)

Where his false standards now unfold,

The mob sets out across the plain;

They meekly march where they are told;

For sheep they are and will remain.

THE EMPEROR
. A rival emperor is what I need;

Now I feel I am Emperor indeed.

I first wore arms merely as soldiers do,

10410

But now I have a higher cause in view.

My court was splendid, but from every feast

Danger was absent—that was what I missed.

I tilted at the ring, you counselled so,

But my heart longed for jousting. Now I know

That had I not on your advice abstained

From war, a hero’s glory I’d have gained.

That fiery kingdom mirrored and revealed

My true self: was I there not proved and sealed?

Those dreadful flames besieged, surrounded me—

Though it but seemed, how great it seemed to be!

10420

My fame and conquests have been dreams, confused

And idle; now I shall make good that time misused.

[
The heralds are dispatched with his challenge to the rival emperor. Enter
FAUST
in armour, with his visor half closed, and
THE THREE MIGHTY MEN,
armed and dressed as above
.]

FAUST
. Sire, we approach you, hoping we do right:

Precaution’s wise, even when the risk is slight.

Mountain folk,
*
as you know, live deep in thought;

By rocks, by Nature’s runes, they are well taught.

Spirits, once denizens of the plains, have come

To make high mountains their more favoured home.

Through silent labyrinths working without rest,

The noble vapours, ore-rich gas they test,

10430

Analyse, separate, combine, intent

Ever to find some new thing to invent.

With gentle craft and spirit-power they build

Transparent shapes of crystal, and are skilled

Through these eternal quietudes to gaze

At the upper world and to divine its ways.

THE EMPEROR
. All this I’ve heard and can believe; but how,

My good man, should it interest me now?

FAUST
. The Sabine sorcerer from Norcia presents,

Sire, his devoted loyal compliments.

10440

A hideous fate awaited him: he stood

There amid flickering flames and crackling wood,

Dry logs arranged around him, mixed with pitch

And sulphur-sticks that kindle at a touch;

From man, God, Devil, now no help remains—

The Emperor’s hand sunders his glowing chains.

That was in Rome. Since then, most mightily

Indebted, he has watched your destiny

With anxious care: forgetful of his own,

He probes the stars, the depths, for you alone.

10450

At his command we hasten here to assist

Your Majesty. The mountains can enlist

Great powers; here Nature works with sovereign skill—

Let dull priests call it magic if they will.

THE EMPEROR
. Glad guests are welcome on a festive day,

Who come to while a pleasant time away;

They give us pleasure, pushing, shoving, filling

Our hospitable halls to overspilling.

But yet more welcome is the valiant friend

Who on a fateful morning comes to lend

10460

His strong support, while peril still prevails

And our great issue hangs in even scales.

And yet, in this high moment I would ask:

Withhold your hands from your sword’s willing task,

Honour this day when thousands march to fight

For or against me. It is right

A man should help himself! He who would sit

Upon a throne must prove he merits it.

This phantom rebel, emperor in name,

Who would possess my territories, would claim

10470

To be my vassals’ feudal lord, and chief

Commander of my army—I’ll dispatch this thief

Myself back to the shades!

FAUST
. To pledge your life

Is ill-advised, even in so great a strife.

Your sacred head, shielded by crest and plume,

Gives courage to us all. Could limbs presume

To act without a head? If that should fall

Asleep, they too must sink with it; they all,

If it is wounded, feel the wound; likewise

When it recovers, back to life they rise.

10480

At once the arm is strong, asserts its right,

Raises the shield to guard the skull aright;

At once the sword perceives its duty clear,

Wards off the blow, returns it without fear;

The stalwart foot then shares their battle-lust,

Treading the slain foe’s neck into the dust.

THE EMPEROR
. So speaks my anger; such his fate shall be;

His proud head as my footstool I will see!

THE HERALDS
[
returning]
.

Little honour, small esteem

We were shown: nobly we spoke

10490

Our message, but they dared to joke,

Mocked it as an idle dream:

‘Where’s your emperor? Answer where,

Echoing mountains and thin air!

He’s a memory, an old story;

Once-upon-a-time his glory!’

FAUST
. This prudent answer will have satisfied

The loyal friends now standing at your side.

The foe draws near, your men are eager: tell

Them to attack, the moment augurs well.

10500

THE EMPEROR
. I–ll not be war-lord here or give commands.

[
To
THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.]

Prince, I must lay your duty in your hands.

THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
. Let our right wing attack, then! They will meet

The enemy’s left, which still is uphill-bound;

Before they reach that higher ground

Our brave young loyal troops will force them to retreat.

FAUST
. Permit this lively hero, then, at once

To join them and take part in their advance,

To mingle intimately with their ranks

And there pursue his energetic pranks.

10510

[
He points to the right
.]

BUSTER
[
stepping forward]
.

The man who shows his face to me, before

He looks away I smash his cheeks and jaw;

The man who turns his back, I make his brain-pan dangle

Down from his neck at a queer angle.

I’ll rage; just let your men keep pace,

And strike with sword and battle-mace.

By scores the enemy will fall,

Their blood will drown and choke them all. [
Exit
.]

THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
. Now let our centre quietly follow them

And match the enemy’s strength and stratagem.

10520

Already, on the right, our men have fought

Back furiously, bringing their plans to nought.

FAUST
[
pointing to his middle man]
.

Then let this man follow your order too;

He’ll quickly show them all what they must do.

BAGGER
[
stepping forward]
.

High valour in an army’s mind

With lust for spoils should be combined.

Let our whole purpose now be bent

On the false emperor’s well-stocked tent.

He’ll not sit long on that proud seat;

I’ll lead the phalanx on to his defeat.

10530

SNATCHER
[
a camp-follower, attaching herself to him]
.

Though we’re not married, I confess,

He’s my best sweetheart none the less.

What a fine harvest’s now in store!

Women are fearsome when they’re stealing,

They loot and plunder without feeling.

But victory’s ours; all’s fair in war! [
Exeunt
.]

THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
. Their right wing now, predictably of course,

Attacks our left with sudden desperate force;

That narrow pass on the cliff side, it must

Be held to the last man against their thrust.

10540

FAUST
[
pointing to the left
].

Note this man too, sir; it will do no harm

To strengthen your strong troops with his strong arm.

HUGGER
[
stepping forward]
.

The left wing’s safe; leave it to me!

To have’s to keep, wherever I may be;

Possession’s old, I make it last;

No thunderbolt can split what I hold fast. [
Exit.
]

MEPHISTOPHELES
[
descendingfrom uphill]
.

Now from each gorge, from each ravine,

Armed men emerge and fill the scene,

Crowding the pathways in our rear;

Behind our army they appear,

10550

All armed and helmed, with sword and shield,

Forming a wall that will not yield;

They wait the signal to advance.

[
Aside, softly, to those in the know
.]

No doubt you’ll guess their provenance.

I of course have not hesitated:

A score of armouries I’ve evacuated.

All round they stood, footmen and horse,

Pretending still to be a ruling force.

Kings, emperors, lordly knights they were,

And now they’re empty snail-shells, nothing more.

10560

Now phantoms dress up in them for a while,

Giving new life to medieval style.

It’s mere demonic animation,

But quite a useful show on this occasion.

[
Aloud
.]

Hear how with bang and knock and rattle

They anticipate the coming battle!

And see, old standards fluttering! Those stale rags

Longed for fresh air to fly again as flags.

An ancient army stands again today,

Eager to join new wars that come its way.

10570

[
A fearsome trumpet-call from above; signs of disarray in the enemy army
.]

FAUST
. The horizon mingles with the dark,

And only here and there a spark

Flashes, a red and ominous light;

With glint of blood the weapons flare.

The rocks, the forest and the air,

The very heavens compound this sight.

MEPHISTOPHELES
. The right flank holds, stoutly resisting;

I see Jack Buster’s there, assisting

Them in his way; he’s quick and tall,

That monster, he outfights them all.

10580

THE EMPEROR
. Where there was one arm in that fray

I now see twelve, all raised to slay;

It seems unnatural to me.

FAUST
. Have you not heard of douds that drift

Along the coast of Sicily?

By day’s light, shimmering, they lift

Into the middle air a high

And wondrous vision, mirrored by

Vapours of special quality.

There cities flicker to and fro

10590

And gardens rise up and sink low

As through the air the pictures go.
*

THE EMPEROR
. But look, how strange! On each tall spear

I see a tip of light appear,

And agile little flames that dance

There on our phalanx, lance by lance.

I do not like this spectral show.

FAUST
. By your leave, Sire, these are the traces

Left by long-vanished spirit-races:

The Heavenly Twins send this reflection.

10600

All sailors once sought their protection;

You see here their last fading glow.
*

THE EMPEROR
. But who thus earns our thanks? Who made

Nature herself come to our aid,

Using her rarest powers so?

MEPHISTOPHELES
. Who but our Master,
*
whose high art

Protects your destiny! His heart

Stirs at the peril you are in;

In gratitude he means to win

Victory for you in these wars,

10610

Or gladly perish for your cause.

THE EMPEROR
. The crowds cheered as I solemnly passed by;

I thought: Now I am someone: let me try

It out at once. And on an impulse: That

Old greybeard’s in a hot spot; why not set

Him free? And so I spoilt the clergy’s fun;

They always bore a grudge for what I’d done.

After so many years, am I indeed

To reap the fruits of that light-hearted deed?

FAUST
. A generous gift richly repays the giver.

10620

Look at the sky! An omen will appear,

Sent by the Master; take good note,

And soon its meaning will be clear.

THE EMPEROR
. I see an eagle in the heavens hover;

A griffin comes in wild pursuit.

FAUST
. Mark well! This sign is favourable.

A griffin is a beast of fable:

What insolence to brave in fight

The king of birds’ authentic right!

THE EMPEROR
. See, in wide circles now they soar

10630

Around each other; all at once

They swoop to the attack, they pounce

To strike with beak, to rend with claw!

FAUST
. Look, the vile griffins proud endeavour

Now brings it low: plucked, pulled to bits,

It falls into the woods, with its

Lion-tail drooping, lost for ever.

THE EMPEROR
. As you interpret it, so be it!

I accept the omen, though amazed to see it.

MEPHISTOPHELES
[
looking to the right]
.

They fall back, our deadly foes,

10640

Driven by a rain of blows!

Now uncertainly they fight,