Ignis Fapuus

That you are master here it obvious quite; To do your will, I'll cordially essay; Only reflect! The hill is magic-mad to-night; And if to show the path you choose a meteor's light, You must not wonder should we go astray.

FAUST, MEPHISTOPHELES, IGNIS FATUUS (in alternate song)

Through the dream and magic-sphere As it seems, we now are speeding; Honour win, us rightly leading, That betimes we may appear In yon wide and desert region!

Trees on trees, a stalwart legion, Swiftly past us are retreating, And the cliffs with lowly greeting; Rocks long-snouted, row on row, How they snort, and how they blow!

Through the stones and heather springing, Brook and brooklet haste below; Hark the rustling! Hark the singing! Hearken to love's plaintive lays; Voices of those heavenly days-- What we hope, and what we love! Like a tale of olden time, Echo's voice prolongs the chime.

To-whit! To-whoo! It sounds more near; Plover, owl, and jay appear, All awake, around, above? Paunchy salamanders too Peer, long-limbed, the bushes through! And, like snakes, the roots of trees Coil themselves from rock and sand, Stretching many a wondrous band, Us to frighten, us to seize; From rude knots with life embued, Polyp-fangs abroad they spread, To snare the wanderer! 'Neath our tread, Mice, in myriads, thousand-hued, Through the heath and through the moss! And the fire-flies' glittering throng, Wildering escort, whirls along, Here and there, our path across.

Tell me, stand we motionless, Or still forward do we press? All things round us whirl and fly; Rocks and trees make strange grimaces, Dazzling meteors change their places, How they puff and multiply!