The Faust of Goethe Author:Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: PROLOGUE IN HEAVEN. THE LORD.—THE HEAVENLY HOST. (Afterwards) MEPHISTOPHELES. (The three Archangels come forward.) RAPHAEL. Still, with his brother S... more »pheres, the Sun Chimes, as of old, in rival song: As his predestined course is run, In thunder still he rolls along ! His glance the Angels' strength supplies, Tho' none to sound his depths have power! Creation's wondrous works arise, Glorious, as in their natal hour! GABRIEL. Swifter than thought, the Earth still flies, With all its pomp, its orbit round, Robed in the light of Paradise, Altern with ISight's dread shades profound! With its broad surge the foaming deep To lash the sea-cliff's base appears; While rock and billow onward sweep, In forced rotation, with the Spheres ! Michael. From shore to sea, from sea to shore, The warring tempests rage amain, Forging around, amidst their roar, A deeply operative chain ! Destruction ever flames before The thunder's path, as lightnings play : But we, Thy messengers, adore The gentle progress of Thy day ! ALL THREE. Thy glance the Angels' strength supplies, Tho' none to sound Thy depths have power ! Creation's wondrous works arise, Glorious as in their natal hour ! MEPHISTOPHELES. Since Thou, O Lord, approachest us once more, Deigning to our concerns' to lend an ear; As Thou wast pleased to see me heretofore, Behold, I now among thy train appear! Forgive me, if in rhetoric I'm unskilled; Tho' at my words the Audience all should scoff Pathos, from me, had Thee with laughter filled ; If, long ago, Thou had'st not left it off! Of Suns and Planets I have nought to say— I mark how men still fret their lives away ! Ever the same, the little God of Earth Is just as whimsical, as at his birth ! Much better htid the creature thriven...« less