“Faust” – Act 5

ACT FIVE

Scene One

The Harz mountains (Walpurgis Night. In the dark, demons and witches are holding a sabbath.) Will-O’-The-Wisps Through the heather, in the rushes, among the stones and over the water, from spot to spot, piercing the darkness, a shining fire lights up and flees. Take care! Take care! From afar, from near, in the green grass, beneath the cypresses, like mobile flames, or frozen beams, here come the souls of the departed! (Mephistopheles and Faust appear.) Faust Stop! Mephistopheles Did you not promise to accompany me in silence? Faust Where are we? Mephistopheles In my empire! Here, doctor, everything obeys my commands. This is Walpurgis Night.

Distant Voices This is Walpurgis Night! Hoo, hoo! Faust My blood freezes! (He tries to run away.) Mephistopheles (holding him back) Wait! I have but one sign to make and everything here will be transformed and lightened. (The mountain opens to reveal a vast palace of glittering gold in the middle of which stands a richly laid table; around it sit the queens and courtesans of antiquity.)

Until the first gleams of morning, sheltered from worldly eyes, I offer you a place at the feast of queens and courtesans. Chorus Let the cups be filled in the names of ancient gods! Let the air ring with our joyful songs! Mephistopheles Most beautiful ladies of antiquity, soft-eyed Cleopatra, fair-browed Laïs, let us come and sit with you for a while. (He gives Faust a glass.) Come now, come! To cure the fever of your wounded heart, take this cup and may your lips find inside it oblivion of the past! Chorus Let the cup be filled in the names of the ancient gods, etc. (Faust seizes the glass.) Faust Sweet nectar, may my heart be drowned in your rapture! Chorus O sweet nectar! Faust May a fiery embrace caress my pale brow until morning!

Chorus O sweet nectar! Faust In your rapture, lull my drowned heart to sleep. Chorus O sweet nectar! Faust In the enchanted cup I drink oblivion for ever! Mephistopheles, Chorus In the enchanted cup I drink oblivion for ever! Faust Pleasure, before your charms desire awakes! Chorus Pleasure! Faust Far from worries, let us snatch you for a while! Chorus Pleasure! Faust Goddess, through your charms desire awakes! Chorus Pleasure! Faust And let us drown weeping love in drunken pleasure! Mephistopheles, Chorus And let us drown weeping love in drunken pleasure! (At the climax of the orgy there appears a vision of Marguerite, unseen by Faust.) Mephistopheles O voluptuous pleasure, may your rapture stifle remorse within his bewitched heart!

(Faust suddenly sees Marguerite and throws away his goblet. The palace and courtesans vanish immediately and he and Mephistopheles are back in the Brocken valley.) What is wrong with you? Faust Can you not see her? There, in front of us, silent and wan! What is this strange ornament around her lovely neck? Mephistopheles Vision! Faust A red ribbon that she hides! Mephistopheles Witchcraft! Faust A red ribbon, as narrow as the axe’s edge! Mephistopheles Magic spell! (The vision vanishes.) Faust Marguerite! I can feel my hair standing on end! I want to see her! Come! (Dragging Mephistopheles after him, he opens a way, sword in hand, through the mob of demons and infernal monsters trying to detain him.)

Intermezzo

Scene Two

A prison cell (Marguerite is lying asleep. Mephistopheles and Faust creep in.) Faust Go away! Mephistopheles It is almost daybreak. They are erecting a scaffold; persuade Marguerite to follow you without delay. The gaoler is fast asleep. Here are the keys. Your human hand must set her free. Faust Leave us!

Mephistopheles As you wish! I shall watch outside. (Exit.) Faust My heart is overcome with terror. O torment! O wellspring of regrets and eternal remorse! ’Tis she, here she is, the sweet creature, thrown in the depths of prison like some base criminal! Despair drove her into madness! Her poor child, O God, she killed it! Marguerite! Marguerite (awakening) Ah, this is my beloved’s voice! His call has revived my heart. Faust Marguerite! Marguerite Amidst your peals of laughter, demons who surround me, I have recognised his voice. Faust Marguerite! Marguerite His hand, his gentle hand draws me! I am free. He has come! I hear him! I see him! Yes, here you are! I love you! My fetters, Death himself no longer scare me! You have found me! Now I am safe! Here you are! I rest on your heart! Faust Yes, here I am! I love you! Despite even the efforts of the jeering demon, I have found you! Now you are safe! Here I am! Come, rest on my heart! (He tries to drag her away. She gently frees herself from his arms.)

Marguerite Wait. Here is the street where you saw me for the first time! Where your hand almost dared brush against my fingers: “My lovely young lady, will you not allow me to offer you my arm and escort you on your way?” “No thank you, sir; I am neither a lady, nor lovely, and I really have no need for a supporting arm”. Faust Yes, my heart remembers. But come with me! Time flies! Marguerite And here is the delightful garden, fragrant with myrtle and roses, which every evening, stealthily, you entered once night had fallen. Faust Come, come, Marguerite! Marguerite No! Faust Come, come, let’s escape! Marguerite No, remain awhile! Faust O heavens, she does not hear me. (Mephistopheles reappears.) Mephistopheles Take care, or you are lost! If you tarry any longer, I shall give you up! Marguerite The devil, the devil! Can you see him, there, in the dark! Staring at us with his eyes of fire! What does he want with us? Drive him from the holy place! Mephistopheles Let us leave this dark spot! It is daybreak; I can hear our horses rap on the cobblestones with their noisy feet! (He tries to drag Faust away.)

Come! Let us save her! We may still have time! Marguerite Dear God, protect me! Dear God, I beseech you! Faust Come! Let us flee! We may still have time! Marguerite Pure and radiant angels, carry my soul up to Heaven! God of justice, I give myself up to you! God of mercy, I am yours, forgive! Faust Come, follow me, come, I say! Marguerite Pure and radiant angels, carry my soul up to Heaven! Mephistopheles We must hurry! The hour strikes! Faust Come, follow me! Marguerite God of justice, I give myself up to you! God of mercy, I am yours, forgive! Faust Come, follow me, come, I say! Come! Let us leave this place! The sky grows light already! Come, you must obey my bidding! The sky grows light already! Mephistopheles Let us hasten to leave this place! The sky grows light already! Follow our steps or I shall forsake you! Let us hasten to leave this place! Marguerite Pure and radiant angels, carry my soul up to Heaven! Faust Marguerite!

Marguerite Why does your eye threaten? Faust Marguerite. Marguerite Why are those hands red with blood? Go away! You fill me with horror! (She falls senseless.) Faust Ah! Mephistopheles Judged! Angelic Choir Saved! Christ has risen again! Christ is born again! Peace and felicity to the Master’s disciples! Christ is born again! Christ has risen again!

Appendix

Ballet — Walpurgis Night In the Paris Opéra version, the following ballet music forms part of the Walpurgis Night scene in Act Five. No. 1. Dance of the Nubians No. 2. Adagio No. 3. Antique Dance No. 4. Cleopatra’s Variations No. 5. The Women of Troy No. 6. Mirror Variations No. 7. Phryné’s Dance End of the Opera