Phorkyas

I’m not sure how long these women have been sleeping:

Nor do I know whether they allowed themselves

To dreamwhat I saw clearly with my own eyes.

Therefore I’ll wake them. The young will be amazed,

You bearded ones, too, who sit waiting there, below,

To understand the meaning of these wonders.

Wake! Wake, and shake the dew from your hair,

The slumber from your eyes! Don’t blink so, but hear me!

Chorus

Tell us, quickly, quickly, all the wonders that have happened!

If we can’t believe them, we’ll enjoy them with more pleasure.

For we’re wholly weary sitting, staring at these empty stones.

Phorkyas

You’ve hardly rubbed your eyes, yet you’re already weary, children?

Well, listen: in these caverns, in these grottos, in these arbours,

Shade and shelter have been granted, to the two idyllic lovers,

Our Master and our Mistress.

Chorus

What, within there?

Phorkyas

Sweetly sundered,

From the world, alone they summoned me to grant them quiet service.

At their side I stood there, honoured, yet still, as one who’s trusted,

Always gazed at something other, turning here and there at random.

Looked for roots and bark and mosses, being skilled in all the potions,

And so they were left alone.

Chorus

You speak as if a whole world’s space were hidden there inside, now,

Woods and fields and lakes and rivers: what a fantasy you spin!

Phorkyas

It’s true: you’re inexperienced, and its depths are unexplored!

I felt, lost in contemplation, hall on hall there, court on court.

In an instant laughter echoes, through the cavernous recesses:

There I see a boy is springing, from his mother to his father,

From his father to his mother, all is dandling and caressing,

And a foolish, a fond teasing, shouts of play, and cries of joy,

Alternate, there, and I’m deaf.

A naked wingless Spirit, like a faun, and yet no creature,

Leaps across the solid floor, and the ground beneath responding,

Sends him flying through the ether, till the second leap or so, there,

He can touch the cavern roof.

Anxiously his mother’s calling: ‘Leap as often as you like, dear,

But all flying is forbidden, so beware of taking flight.’

And his loyal father warns him: ‘In the earth’s the power of swiftness,

That will quickly send you flying: touch the ground then with your toe,

And like that son of Earth’s, Antaeus, you’ll soon find strength again.’

So he leaps the rocky masses of the cavern, from a cornice,

To another and around then, as a ball does when it’s thrown.

But suddenly he’s vanished in a crevice of the cavern,

And it seems he’s lost. His mother grieves for him, father comforts,

I stand there, wondering anxiously, but there again’s the vision!

Do buried treasures lie there? Robes embroidered all with flowers,

He has fittingly assumed.

Tassels tremble from his shoulders, ribbons flutter round his chest,

In his hand a golden lyre, like a miniature Apollo,

He steps happily to the overhanging brink: amazing.

And the parents in delight clasp each other to their hearts,

What’s that shining round his temples? It’s hard to see what’s gleaming,

Is it gold and gems, or flames, now, of the spirit’s supreme power?

So he moves as if the stately boy’s proclaimed to us already

The future Lord of Beauty, in whose members the eternal

Melodies are stirring: and so you too will also hear him,

And you too will also see him, with the rarest show of wonder.

Chorus

Do you call this a marvel,

Crete has begotten?

Can you never have listened

To what Poetry teaches?

Have you never once heard Ionia’s,

Have you never listened to Hellas’

Most ancient of legends

Of the gods and heroes?

All things that happen

In this present age,

Are mournful echoes

Of our ancestors’ nobler times:

And your story can’t equal

That, loveliest of lies,

Easier to believe than Truth,

That they sang of Maia’s son.

That delicate and strong, yet

Scarcely born, suckling child,

Would you swaddle him in purest down,

Clothe him in costly jewelled bindings,

The crowd of chattering nurses’

Utterly senseless notion.

But strong and yet delicate,

Already the supple rascal,

Draws forth his lithe body,

Leaves behind that royal,

But timid, constraining shell,

Silent, there, in its place:

Like the finished butterfly,

From the chilly chrysalis,

Slipping, with quick unfolding wings,

Boldly into the sunlit air,

And courageously fluttering.

So did he, the liveliest,

And he quickly demonstrated

By the most skilful arts,

That he’d always be the patron

Daemon of thieves and jesters

And all seekers of profit.

From the Sea God he quickly stole

His trident, and from Ares himself,

Slyly, his sword from its scabbard:

Bow and arrows from Phoebus too,

And tongs from Hephaestus:

He even stole Father Zeus’

Lightning bolts, not scared of fire:

Then he tripped poor Eros up,

In the toils of a wrestling match:

As Venus kissed him, too, stole away,

The ribbons from her breasts.

(A pure melodious and exquisite music echoes from the cave. All listen and appear deeply moved. There is a full musical accompaniment from this point to the designated pause.)

Phorkyas

Hear the loveliest of music,

Free from old mythology!

All your gods and all their antics,

Let them go, they’re history.

None can understand you more,

We demand a higher art:

From the heart itself must pour,

What will influence the heart.

(She retires towards the rocks.)

Be you stirred, you awesome being,

By the sweet and flattering sound,

We, renewed to life, are feeling,

Moved to tears of joy, around.

Let the sun be lost from heaven

So it’s daylight in the soul,

We’ll discover in the heart, then,

What the Earth fails to hold.

(Helen. Faust. Euphorion, in costume as previously described.)

Euphorion

Hear the song of childhood sung now,

Its delight belongs to you,

See me leap about in time, now

Let my parents’ hearts leap too.

Helen

It requires two noble hearts

For Love to bless humanity,

But to be a thing apart

They must make a precious three.

Faust

All we sought is now discovered:

I am yours, and you are mine:

And we two are bound together,

There’s no better fate to find.

Chorus

They’ll delight for many years

In this child’s tender glow,

Ah, this partnership of peers,

How it’s beauty moves me, so!

Euphorion

Now let me leap, oh,

Now let me spring!

High in the air, go

Circling all things,

That’s the desire

That’s driving me on.

Faust

Yet, gently! Gently!

Not into danger,

Lest a chance downfall,

Awaits the ranger,

Straight away grounds you,

Our darling son!

Euphorion

I can’t stick fast to

The ground any more:

Let go my hands and

Let go my hair,

Let go my clothes!

They are all mine.

Helen

O think! Please think,

Whom you belong to!

How it would grieve us,

How you’d destroy too,

That sweet achievement,

Yours, his and mine.

Chorus

I fear this unity

Soon will unwind!

Helen and Faust

Calm yourself! Calm excess,

To please your parents,

Too great a liveliness,

Impulsive violence!

In rural peacefulness,

Brighten the plain.

Euphorion

If that’s what you wish, yes,

I’ll stop, I’ll restrain.

(He winds, dancing, through the chorus and draws them along with him.)

I’ll hover here, lightly

Lively the crew.

Is this the melody,

And measure too?

Helen

Yes that is neatly done:

Lead all the fairest on,

Through intricacy.

Faust

Would it were over then!

Such entertainment

Won’t delight me.

Chorus (With Euphorion, dancing nimbly and singing, in interlinking ranks.)

When your arms equally

Are charmingly lifted,

Your curling hair’s brightly

Loosened and shifted.

When with a foot so light

Over the earth in flight,

Thither and back again,

Step upon step, you rain,

Then your goal is in sight,

Loveliest child:

All of our hearts, beguiled,

With yours unite.

(Pause.)

Euphorion

You’re like so many

Light-footed fawns:

Now to new games we

Are quickly re-born!

I’ll be the hunter,

You be the prey.

Chorus

If you would catch us

Don’t be so eager,

We too are anxious

When all is over,

To clasp the form,

You so sweetly display!

Euphorion

Now through the vale!

Up hill and down dale!

What I gain easily

Is tedious to see,

Only what’s forcibly

Won delights me.

Helen and Faust

How wild he is now! And how stubborn!

There’s little hope of moderation.

That’s the sound of blowing horns,

Through the woods and valley ringing:

What noise, and what confusion!

Chorus (Entering one by one, in haste.)

He is running from us swiftly:

Scorning us and always mocking,

Now he drags one from the crowd: she,

The wildest of us all.

Euphorion (Dragging along a young girl.)

Here I’ll drag the little quarry,

To enforce my wish entirely:

For my joy, and my desire,

Press her wilful heart, on fire,

Kiss her stubborn mouth at length

And proclaim my will and strength.

The Girl

Let me go! Since there’s a strong

Resistant spirit in this body:

My will, like yours, if I’m not wrong,

Says I’m not taken easily.

You think I’m in any danger?

Force of arms is it, you claim!

Hold me fast, you foolish ranger,

And I’ll scotch your little game.

(She turns to flame and flashes into the air.)

Follow me through flowing air,

Follow me through caverns bare,

Catch your fleeing prey again!

Euphorion (Shaking off the flames.)

Rocks all around me here,

Deep in the forest view,

Make me a prisoner,

Though I’m still young and new.

Breezes are blowing fair,

Waves now are breaking there:

I hear both far away,

I’d gladly be there today.

(He leaps further up the rocks.)

Helen, Faust and the Chorus

A chamois you’d imitate?

We’re fearful of your fate.

Euphorion

Ever higher I must climb.

Ever further I must see.

Now I know where I stand!

Amidst this semi-island,

Amidst Pelop’s country,

Earth – kindred to the sea.

Chorus

Why not live here, in peace,

Among hills and groves?

Vines then for you we’ll seek,

Vines in their rows.

Vines on high ridges stand,

Figs, there, and apples gold,

Stay in this lovely land

Stay, and grow old!

Euphorion

Do you dream of peaceful days?

Dream, then as dreamers may.

War is the watchword though.

Victory! It rings out so.