The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
Hold! or blows shall rain on you!
ALTMAYER (_draws a stopper out of the table; fire springs out against him_) I burn! I burn!
SIEBEL
'Tis sorcery, I vow!
Strike home! The fellow is fair game, I trow!
[_They draw their knives and attack_ MEPHISTOPHELES.]
MEPHISTOPHELES (_with solemn gestures_)
Visionary scenes appear!
Words delusive cheat the ear!
Be ye there, and be ye here!
[_They stand amazed and gale at one another._]
ALTMAYER
Where am I? What a beauteous land!
FROSCH
Vineyards! unless my sight deceives?
SIEBEL
And cl.u.s.t'ring grapes too, close at hand!
BRANDER
And underneath the spreading leaves, What stems there be! What grapes I see!
[_He seizes_ SIEBEL _by the nose. The others reciprocally do the same, and raise, their knives._]
MEPHISTOPHELES (_as above_)
Delusion, from their eyes the bandage take!
Note how the devil loves a jest to break!
[_He disappears with_ FAUST; _the fellows draw back from one another._]
SIEBEL
What was it?
ALTMAYER
How?
FROSCH
Was that your nose?
BRANDER (_to_ SIEBEL)
And look, my hand doth thine inclose!
ALTMAYER
I felt a shock, it went through every limb!
A chair! I'm fainting! All things swim!
FROSCH
Say! What has happened? What's it all about?
SIEBEL
Where is the fellow? Could I scent him out, His body from his soul I'd soon divide!
ALTMAYER
With my own eyes, upon a cask astride, Forth through the cellar-door I saw him ride-- Heavy as lead my feet are growing.
[_Turning to the table._]
I wonder is the wine still flowing!
SIEBEL
'Twas all delusion, cheat and lie.
FROSCH
'Twas wine I drank, most certainly.
BRANDER
But with the grapes how was it, pray?
ALTMAYER
That none may miracles believe, who now will say?
WITCHES' KITCHEN
_A large caldron hangs over the fire on a low hearth; various figures appear in the vapor rising from it. A_ FEMALE MONKEY _sits beside the caldron to skim it, and watch that it does not boil over. The_ MALE MONKEY _with the young ones is seated near, warming himself.
The walls and ceiling are adorned with the strangest articles of witch-furniture.
