Mark Scrivener Poetry Blog No 62 Faust meets the Earth Spirit (Scene one continued)

FAUST MEETS THE EARTH SPIRIT (Scene One Continued)

Faust, turning from academic knowledge, now turns to mysticism and "magic". He contemplates the sign of the macrocosm and feels exulted towards the "divine" but then feels drawn to the sign of the earth spirit (a being that Goethe sees as akin to the one life streaming through all of earth and living, that brings the spirit into manifestation). He calls forth the earth spirit but it rejects him and leaves him feeling crushed. 

 

Faust and the Earth Spirit (sketch by Goethe)

(Faust and the Earth Spirit- Scene one continued)

HE OPENS THE BOOK AND GLIMPSES THE SIGN OF THE MACROCOSM

Oh, at this sight what rapture streams in me
Through all my senses instantly!
I feel how youthful, sacred bliss of life new-glows;
Through all my nerves and veins it flows.
Was it a god who drew this figure's form
That stills the strife of inner storm
And fills with joy my poor, worn heart;
And with mysterious power imparts
A revelation of the sources
Of Nature's wide-embracing forces?
Am I a god? All grows so light.
Within these pure lines the whole
Of Nature's working lies before my soul.
Now first I know wise ones are right-
"The spirit world's not locked away;
Your sense is shut, your heart is dead.
Disciple, up! Without dismay,
Bathe earthly breast in dawn's fine red!"

HE EXAMINES THE DIAGRAM

How all within the wholeness weave
And with the others work and live.
How heaven's powers pass up and down
And hand the golden buckets on,
With blessing-scented winging,
They press from heaven through earth's realm,
All through the All harmoniously ringing!

What pageantry! Yet only that! Oh, true
And endless Nature, where shall I grasp you?
Where are your breasts? Oh, wellsprings of all life,
On these the earth and heaven hang,
The parched heart seeks you in its strife,
|You gush, you nourish- do I pine in vain?

HE TURNS THE PAGES OF THE BOOK RELUCTANTLY AND NOTICES THE SYMBOL OF THE EARTH SPIRIT

How differently it works on me- this sign!
You, spirit of earth, you're drawing nearer;
I feel now how my powers are higher.
I glow already as from new wine,
Feel courage; venture out to find world's worth,
And bear the woe of earth, the joy of earth;
Brave-fight with all-surrounding storm,
Not fear the grating shipwreck's crashing doom.
Clouds gather over me-
The moon conceals its light-
The lamp is out!
And mists arise- and red rays spark
Around my head- a shivering breath
Comes floating down from vaults above
And seizes me!
Oh, spirit that I begged to see,
I feel you floating through:
Reveal yourself!
Oh, how it tears my heart in two!
My senses reel,
So stirred by strange, new things I feel.
My heart is wholly giving into you.
You must, you must! Though it could cost my life!

HE SEIZES THE BOOK AND MYSTERIOUSLY PRONOUNCES THE SIGN OF THE SPIRIT. A RED FLAME FLASHES UP, THE SPIRIT WITHIN IT.

SPIRIT

Who calls me!

FAUST (TURNING AWAY)
Terrifying sight!

SPIRIT

Now powerfully you've drawn me here,
You've long been nourished in my sphere,
And now-

FAUST
O grief! I cannot bear your might.

SPIRIT

You begged so breathlessly to see me here.
To know my voice, to view my face;
Your powerful plea has won my grace,
And here am I! - What pitiful fear
Engulfs the superman! Where is you soul-sent call?
Where is the breast that wove a world, that bore it all,
That nurtured it, then with joy-born, trembling bliss
Puffed up to spirit realm to equal us?
And are you Faust, whose voice rang out to me,
Who forced towards me with every faculty,
He, who enveloped in my breath, I'm seeing
So shaken in all depths of being,
A scared, retreating, writhing worm?

FAUST

Shall I give way to you, you form of flame?
I am, am Faust, like you, the same.

SPIRIT

In floods of life, in all deeds' vast storm,
Up and down my waves
Weave to and fro-
Birth and grave,
An endless ocean
In eternal motion,
A changing weaving,
A glowing living,
I create at the loud-rushing loom of all time,
And weave living vestment that clothes the Divine.

FAUST

You who roam the world from end to end,
You ever-active spirit, how near I feel to you!

SPIRIT

You're like the spirit you comprehend,
Not me!
FAUST (OVERWHELMED)

Not you?
Then whom?
I, image of the Godhead,
Not the same as you!

A KNOCK

Oh death! I know it- it is my famulus-
My fairest fortune thus is brought
To nothingness. Oh, that this vision's fullness ought
To be disturbed by that dry prowler's dust.

WAGNER IN NIGHTGOWN AND NIGHTCAP ENTERS, A LAMP IN HIS HAND. FAUST TURNS UNWILLINGLY