the example you have set is of bad omen. Recollect, Mr. Macready! that you have more means of ruining the national drama than ever Mr. Bunn possessed. Suppose some future manager were to produce Shakspere's Othello upon a similar plan-leaving out the comic scenes between Iago and Rodrigo, and others, and substituting for them the music from Rossini's Otello-what then? You reply, that Mr. Sheridan Knowles's William Tell, though called a tragedy, is, in fact, only a five-act melo-drame, and therefore not demanding that regard and respect which belongs to one of the noblest exertions of human genius. It may be so-but still it has been called a Tragedy—and theatrical managers, like lawyers and statesmen, will strain a precedent when it is their interest so to do. Rather would we see thee, O Macready! bringing-out six new tragedies, good, bad and indifferent, in a season, than thus fatally experimenting on the public taste. This mixed kind of entertainment is a corruptionand if persevered in, would indispose theatrical audiences for the pure representation of any piece. Think of this-and be cautious!" THE SECOND PART OF GÖTHE'S FAUST. TRANSLATED INTO RHYTHMICAL PROSE BY LEOPOLD J. BERNAYS. ACT I.-SCENE 1. A beautiful landscape-FAUST bedded upon a flowery grass-plot, tired, restless, striving to sleep. TWILIGHT. A band of Spirits, beautiful little creatures, hover around. Ariel (sings, accompanied by Æolian harps). When the vernal shower of blossoms When the meadow's verdant blessing Little elfins' spiritgreatness Him they mourn whom grief afflicts. You who around this head in airy circles hover First place his head upon this pillow cool, Then bathe him well in dew from Lethe's stream:- If he await in strengthening sleep the day. Perform the noblest elfin duty Chorus (at first singly, then by couples and more, alternating and together.) O'er this spot, all grass-environed, Night already is descending, Stars course stars, a hallowed throng; Mirrored in the lake they glitter, High in the clear night they shine; Lo! the Hours are now extinguished,- Feel the promise! thou'lt be healed,- Wish on wishes to accomplish, (An exceeding great noise announces the approach of the Sun). Ariel. Hearken! hark! the horal tempest! Sounding, for a spirit's hearing Born already is the day. Faust. Fresh and living beat the pulses of life mildly to greet the ætherial dawn. Thou, O Earth, wert this night constant, and now, newly refreshed, breathest at my feet: already beginnest thou to surround me with thy pleasures, already movest and excitest a mighty resolution ever to press on to the heights of Being. The world now expands to the glimmering of dawn, the forest resounds with many-voiced life, within-without the valley the mist-streaks are poured, yet the brightness of heaven sinks itself into the depths, and twigs and branches have sprouted refreshed out of the vapoury glen, immersed in which they slept. Colour, also, upon colour, gradually clears itself out of the depths where flowers and leaves drip with trembling pearls :-around me lies a Paradise. Gaze above! The giant mountain-peaks are already announcing the most solemn hour. The eternal light, that later comes down to us, they can early enjoy. Now upon the green Alpine meadows new sheen and brilliancy is poured, which, step by step, descends on us :-now it approaches; and, alas! already blinded, I must needs turn away, my mortal eyes aching with excessive light. Thus is it when a longing hope, which trustfully has striven after the highest wish, finds the doors of fulfilment wide open: but if out of the eternal depths breaks forth an over-measure of flame, we stand aghast. When we would kindle the torch of life, a fire-sea, and what a fire! environs us!--Is it love? Is it hate? that glowing winds itself round us, fearfully alternating with pain and gladness, so that we again look down to earth to conceal ourselves in the most youth-like veil. So then let the sun remain behind me, while I gaze with everincreasing rapture on this cataract roaring through the rocky clefts. From fall to fall, pouring itself in a thousand and still a thousand streams, it plunges, scattering foam on foam high in the air. But how lovely budding from out the storm doth the changing continuity of the variegated bow vault itself, now clearly outlined, now flowing away into air, spreading cool showers around. This mirrors human striving. Look on this, and thou wilt comprehend the other better. In the coloured reflection we have life. SCENE II. Imperial Palace.-Hall of the Throne.—Trumpets. Enter several magnificently arrayed Courtiers.-The Emperor goes up to the throne; on his right the Astrologer. Emperor. Trusty and well beloved, from far and near assembled, I greet you. I see the wise one at my side, but where is the fool? Page. He fell down on the step just behind the train of your robe. The lump of fat was carried out: whether dead or drunk, nobody knows. Second Page. And, lo! another with wonderful rapidity immediately presses forward to take his place; splendidly yet fantastically attired, so as to astonish all: the guards outside crossed their halberts before him, yet here he is the bold fool. Mephistophiles (kneeling before the throne). Whom dar'st not to call before thee? What now to thy throne approaches? Emperor. You may spare your words now. Here is no place for riddles, they are these gentlemen's business. I shall be, however, glad to hear your solution of it. My old fool is gone, I fear me, a long way off; do thou therefore take his place, and come to my side. Mephistophiles ascends and places himself at his left. Murmur of the Crowd. A new fool-to our new pain ;-where is he from?-how came he in ?-The old one fell-he squandered well;-he was a tub, this is a lathe. Emperor. Welcome then from far and near, trusty and well-beloved ; you are met together under a lucky star, for health and weal are written for us above: but tell me, why now-a-days, when we have freed ourselves from care, have given ourselves up to masquerading, and only desired to be merry,-why we should trouble ourselves with consultations? Well-if you think affairs would not go on without them,-be it so-let it be done. Chancellor. The highest virtue, halo-like, surrounds our emperor's head, which he alone may lawfully exercise : justice, which all men love, all require, all wish, and all unwillingly miss,-this he has it in his power to award to his people. Yet, alas! of what use is understanding to the mind, goodness to the heart, or willingness to the hand, when every thing in the state is feverishly raging, and evil is ever hatching evil? To one, who from this lofty place looks down upon the wide empire, it appears a heavy dream, where deformity has dominion over deformity, where lawlessness lawfully prevails, and a world of errors unfolds itself. One man steals flocks, another women; another the cup, the cross, and the candlesticks from the altar, and boasts of it for many a year with a whole skin and uninjured body. Accusers press into the hall, the judge sits in splendour on his lofty cushion, whilst in angry swelling the growing crowd of uproar billows. He who rests upon the most wicked accomplices, may boast of shame and crime, while "Guilty" is the verdict when innocence alone defends itself. Thus will the world tear itself in pieces, and annihilate all that is becoming! How then shall the faculty which can alone lead us to justice, develope itself? Even a well-disposed man at last succumbs to the flatterer and the briber: a judge who has no power to punish at last allies himself to the criminal. I have painted blackly, yet gladly would I draw a thick crape before my picture. (Pause). Resolutions must be taken. When all are injuring, and all suffering, majesty itself will at last become a prey. Commander-in-Chief. How it rages in these wild days! Every one The strikes, and is struck; but all are deaf to the word of command. burgher, behind his walls, the knight, in his mountain nest, have conspired to stand out against us, and hold their powers firm. The hired soldier becomes impatient for his pay, and if we owed him nothing would be off for good. Whoever forbids what all desire, disturbs a wasp's nest; while the kingdom they should protect is plundered and desolated. Their ragins and furious doings are permitted: half the earth is already squandered away: there are, indeed, kings abroad, yet no one thinks that it in any way concerns him. Treasurer. Who will boast of allies?-the subsidies promised us, like water in conduit pipes, are cut off. To whom, sire, in your wide domains has possession fallen? Wherever we go a new one keeps house; and he, forsooth, will live independently: we must look quietly on. We have given away so many rights, that no right upon any thing remains for ourselves. Now-a-days, too, there is no reliance to be placed on parties, as they call them; they may blame or praise-their love and hate have become indifferent. The Ghibellines, like the Guelfs, have retired to rest themselves. Who will now aid his neighbour ?-every one has enough to do for himself. The gold-gates are barred; every body scratches, and scrapes, and collects together, and our chests remainempty. Lord Steward. What misery must I, too, endure! every day we wish to save, and every day we spend more, and my troubles renew themselves daily. The cooks take care to want for nothing: wild boars, stags, hares, deer, turkies, fowls, geese and ducks-dues, sure rents— these all come in pretty regularly. Yet, after all, there is no wine. If formerly cask on cask of the best seasons and situations were piled up in the cellar, now the never-ceasing swilling of the noble lords swallows all up to the last drop. Even the town council must retail its stock; people snatch at goblets and cups, and the feasters lie under the table. Now I am to pay and reward all; the Jew will not spare me. He procures anticipations, which are consumed year by year before-hand. The swine do not fatten, even the pillow of the bed is pawned, and bread eaten in advance comes upon the table. Emperor (after some reflection to Mephistophiles). Say, dost thou, fool, not know of some trouble? Mephistophiles. I, noways! To look round on the pomp, on you and yours! Is confidence wanting where majesty unsparingly com mands? Where ready power overthrows hostility-where a good will, powerful through understanding, is at hand? Where such stars shine, what could join together for misfortune and darkness? Murmur. That is a rogue-plays well his part: he works by lies, so long as they act. I know now what-there lies behind: and what is't more?-a project then. Mephistophiles. Where on earth is there not some want? One wants this, another that; but here gold is needed. That cannot be picked up from the floor, indeed; yet even that which lies the deepest wisdom knows to procure. In mountain-veins, and in wall-foundations, gold, both coined and uncoined, is to be found; and if you ask me who can bring it to light?—the natural and spiritual power of endowed man. N. S.-VOL. I. |