came totally changed by swelling, his stomach refused the functions of digestion, and his whole frame was evidently hurrying on to dissolution. Having no confidence in medical science, he constantly refused all medical aid. Though two of his intimate friends were physicians, he neglected their prescriptions, and confided in his own judgement. He had a particular dislike to being surrounded by servants and friends during his illness: accustomed to being alone, he preferred solitude to the tiresome assiduities of officious persons. He would not allow any one to attend him during his illness but the old woman who was in the habit of serving him on ordinary occasions. Many of his friends offered to sit up with him, and remain in the adjoining room that he might not be disturbed by their presence, but he refused peremptorily. He would not even allow the old woman to remain with him after midnight. He was perfectly sensible to the last moment. On the eve of his death, he sent the servant to bed about twelve o'clock, requesting her to be up at five the next morning. When she went to see how he was at the appointed hour, she found him out of bed. He had had the energy to get up, and go to the night table; and as he was making an effort to return, his spirit fled, and the dead body was left kneeling at the bedside. could not have been long dead, as his corpse was warm two hours afterwards. He His body was embalmed, his head and bust were moulded, and the conformation of his brain was minutely analysed. He was buried on the 11th of October, in the cemetery of Montmartre; and on his tomb are engraved the three fundamental axioms of his doctrine : 1. "La SERIE distribue les HARMONIES. : 2. "Les ATTRACTIONS sont proportionnelles aux DESTINÉES. The third axiom is represented by mathematical symbols, instead of being expressed in words. HUGH DOHERTY. THE SECOND PART OF GÖTHE'S FAUST. TRANSLATED TO RHYTHMICAL PROSE BY LEOPOLD J. BERNAYS. (Concluded from page 343.) Great Forecourt of the Palace. Torches. Mephistopheles (leading the way as Overseer). Come on, come on! come in, come in! Ye Lemures, ye loose ones; Composed of sinews, nerves, and bone, Chorus of Lemures. At once we hasten to thy beck, A piece of wide and marshy land The pointed stakes, they all are there, Mephistopheles. There needs no artist-trouble here; Here deepen ye a lengthy square! Lemures (digging with bantering gestures). How young I was, and lived and loved, But now, alas! hath with his crutch I stumbled over the grave's door, Faust (stepping out of the Palace feels his way by the door-posts). It is the crowd which doth me socage, And with itself earth reconcileth, And places boundary to the waves, And ocean with strong bond surrounds. Mephistopheles (aside). For us alone thou workest now, Both with your damms and with your scaffolds; A mighty feast art now preparing. Mephistopheles. Here! Faust. As many as you can, Bring crowds, and still fresh crowds of workmen. Pay and entice and force them in! Each day I must have proper information, How much is lengthened the ditch undertaken. Mephistopheles (aloud). They speak, as if they gave me an account The last would be the highest conquest. For he alone deserves his life as freedom And thus will pass, with danger compassed round, I willingly would such a throng behold, Upon free ground with a free people stand; Remain awhile, thou art so fair! The traces of my earthly course shall never— Anticipating such vast, lofty joy, I now enjoy the highest moment here. (He sinks back, the Lemures lay hold of him and lay him on the ground). Mephistopheles. No pleasure satiates him, no joy contents, Thus e'er he wooeth forms for ever changing; The final, bad, poor empty moment still, Who me so powerfully withstood Time conquers him, the old man lies on earth. Another pun occurs here, I am afraid not translatable. The German for ditch and grave is respectively Graben and Grab, Mephistopheles. Past ! 'tis a stupid word, And why is 't past? Past and pure nothing are at last the same! To sweep away what is created! "There; it is past !" From that what can you gather? And yet, as if it had, moves in the circle. BURIAL. Lemur. (Solo). Who has his house so badly built, For thee sad guest in thy hempen robe Lemur. (Solo). Who has decked out the hall so ill? Lemures. (Chorus). It was borrowed for a short, short time, Mephistopheles. The body's there, and if the soul would fly, In all things badly we get on! Erst fled the soul with the departing breath, Drive it at last dishonourably forth. And when for days and hours myself I've troubled, The "whether ?" is long doubtful now; (Fantastic fuglemanlike gestures of conjuration). Bring here the jaws of hell at once with you. (The horrible hell jaws open to the left). The teeth at the corner gnash; from the abyss's E'en to the teeth bursts the red conflagration, Ye paunchy villains with the cheeks of fire! Go, wait ye at the lower regions, Ye bladders, that your duty is. Whether down there to dwell she pleaseth She willing in the navel dwells And take you care she does not you escape. (To the dry devils with long crooked horns). You scarecrows you! you fuglemannish giants ! |