©Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia

210 FAUST
Even for me.-Look yonder at t.he blaze
Of brightness-a distinct and steady flame :
How different from all the brimstone torches
And wildfire lights that madden round the hill,­
It tempts me to explore that distant copse­
Come let us steal away from this wild crowd.
FAUST. Spirit of Contradiction-well, lead on!
I cannot but admire the bright idea
Of wandering to the Brocken in May-night,
To enjoy, forsooth, the charms of solitude.
MEPIDSTOPHELES. See, see the lights! how cheerily
they burn!
There seems to be a merry set assembled,
A little party met of choice gay spirits.
FAUST. Yet would I rather be above-see! see!
Where through the whirls of smoke bursts the red light,
And glows and triumphs-in what hurrying waves
Numbers on numbers evermore increasing,
The thickening throng streams onward-still-still
onward-
All under the resistless fascination­
All to the worship of the evil One­
The clue to many a puzzling mystery
May be found here-to-night will be unravelled
Many a strange riddle.
lrnPIDSTOPHELES.
And strange riddles, too,
May be proposed to-night, and not unravelled­
But leave we the great world and its distractions,
While we enjoy our quiet corner here.
'Tis quite established that, in all large parties,
The guests divide in small and scattered circles­
See the young witches all are naked there,
And all the old ones with coy bashfulness,
Veiling their timid charms-come, come, look pleasant,
If it were only to oblige a friend-
'Tis not much trouble, and we'll have rare sport.
I hear the music-curse upon their scraping !­
But 'twill sound better when we're used to it.
Come, come, I must insist upon your coming­
Come-I must introduce my honoured friend.
©Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia