Faust

You’ve managed all the other things,

So win the battle, and what it brings!

Mephistopheles

No, you’ll win it! There, beneath,

You’ll be their commander-in-chief.

Faust

That’s a somewhat glorified position:

Knowing nothing, to command the mission!

Mephistopheles

Leave it to the General Staff to care,

And see a Field-Marshall newborn there.

I know all about Un-Councils of War

Form your War Council, quickly, therefore,

From ancient hills’ ancient human power:

Bless those who can pile peaks in a tower.

Faust

What do I see, what warriors approach?

Have you truly roused the mountain folk?

Mephistopheles

No! But like Shakespeare’s Peter Quince,

I’ve picked the very best of what there is.

(The Three Mighty Warriors appear.)

Here are my lads arriving now!

You see they’re all of different ages,

And clothes and armour too: allow

That you’ll be fine when battle rages.

(To the audience.)

Every child today loves to see

Knights in armour take the floor:

Allegorical though they may be,

They’ll delight them all the more.

Bullyboy (Young, lightly armed, plainly clothed.)

If someone meets me face to face,

I’ll shake a fist right there in his ugly mug,

And when the yellow-belly runs away,

I’ll grasp his hair, and give a nasty tug.

Grab-quick (Mature, well-armed, richly dressed.)

Such idle brawling’s foolishness,

That’s how to ruin the day:

Don’t be slow first to possess,

Then afterwards you’ll get your way.

Hold-tight (Older, heavily armed, without a cloak.)

But that’s the path where little’s won!

Great possession’s quickly gone,

Vanishing in the stream of life.

It’s fine to take, but best to hold:

Let grey hairs command the bold,

And you’ll lose nothing in the strife.

Scene II: On the Headland

(Drums and military music from below. The Emperor’s tent is pitched.)

(The Emperor, Commander-in-Chief, Guardsmen.)

The Commander-in-Chief

It still seems the most likely strategy,

To have made our whole army wait,

Here below, in this convenient valley:

I hope the choice is truly fortunate.

The Emperor

Whatever will happen now, we’ll soon see:

But I don’t like this half-retreat, it’s weak.

The Commander-in-Chief

Look here, my Prince, on our right flank!

This terrain is one that Generals like to thank:

The hills aren’t steep, but there’s no ready access,

So it protects us, while denying them success:

We’re half-concealed, on undulating ground:

Their cavalry won’t dare to circle round.

The Emperor

There’s nothing left for me to do, but praise:

Here strength and bravery may have their day.

The Commander-in-Chief

There, in the centre of the level space,

See the phalanx, eagerly in place.

The lances shine and glitter in the air,

Through the sunlit mist of morning, there.

And all the mighty square is swaying darkly!

Thousands inspired to fierce activity.

There you can see our power en masse,

I trust it to split the enemy in half.

The Emperor

This is the first time I’ve ever gazed on such a sight.

Forces like these are worth double when they fight.

The Commander-in-Chief

I’ve nothing to report about our left,

Valiant heroes hold the rocky cleft,

Weapons gleam across the rocky dale,

A vital pass protects the narrow vale.

Here the enemy power, I think, will shatter,

Taken unawares in this bloody matter.

The Emperor

There they advance, my faithless kith and kin,

Even as they call me brother, uncle, cousin,

Ever more widely, allowing men’s respect

For throne and sceptre to fall into neglect:

Ruining the empire with their fighting,

And now, against me, rebelliously uniting.

The mob is swayed, uncertain in its mind,

Then, wherever the stream flows, flows behind.

The Commander-in-Chief

A faithful soldier hastens towards us, look,

One sent for news, perhaps he’s had some luck!

First Scout

Luckily we met success,

Brave and cunning in our skill,

Probing, out to east and west,

Yet bring you bad news, still.

Many swear their loyalty,

Many a faithful company:

Yet all idly apologetic:

Quailing inwardly, apathetic.

The Emperor

From selfishness they learn self-preservation,

Not honour, affection, gratitude, dedication.

No one thinks that when time brings the reckoning,

The neighbour’s house ignites theirs while it’s burning.

The Commander-in-Chief

The second scout’s approaching, slowly,

On stumbling legs: a man full weary.

Second Scout

At first we easily detected

The nature of their wild plan:

Then, suddenly, and unexpected,

A second Emperor was at hand.

And in a calm, and orderly manner

Withdrew the army from the deep:

Unfurling his deceitful banner:

They all followed him, like sheep!

The Emperor

A second Emperor’s fortunate for me:

Since I’m the Emperor, plain as plain can be.

Now as a soldier I’ll dress myself, again,

In armour, dedicated to this higher aim.

My entertainments, fine as they all were,

Lacking in nothing, never brought me danger.

While you suggested something innocent,

My heart longed to fight the tournament:

And had you not dissuaded me from war,

I’d have shone in glorious deeds before.

But when I was mirrored in that realm of fire,

I felt my heart was mine, and made entire:

The fierce element entered in my fate,

Only a dream, and yet the dream was great.

I’ve thought confusedly of fame and glory:

Yet all was my own neglect, an evil story.

(The heralds are sent to challenge the rival Emperor to single combat.)

(Faust enters, in armour, with half-closed visor. The Three Mighty Warriors appear armed and dressed as previously described.)

Faust

We’re here, and hope our presence is accepted:

Though needless, caution’s often well respected.

You know how hill-folk consider and explore:

They study nature and the mountains’ lore.

The spirits drawn from out the level valley,

Are happier than ever in the wide hill-country.

They still work the labyrinthine masses,

Among metallic fumes of noble gases.

Intent on separating, proving, blending,

Their only aim some innovative finding.

With gentle touch and spiritual power,

They build transparent forms, by the hour:

Then in eternal silence, in the crystal,

They watch the destiny of all things mortal.

The Emperor

I’ve heard it said: and I believe it’s true:

But, gallant soldier, what’s all that to you?

Faust

Your true and honourable servant there,

Is that Sabine, the Norcian Necromancer.

What fearful fate once hung above his head!

Crackling wood, the stinging fire ahead:

Dry timber packed already round his feet,

With rolls of pitch and brimstone all complete:

No warrior, god, or devil to the rescue,

The Emperor saved his life: and that was you,

In Rome: he was obliged, and none the less

Anxiously, he contemplates your progress.

Wholly forgotten: every hour, just for you,

He studies the stars and the abyss too.

He sent us on, by the swiftest path,

To help you. Great is the mountain craft:

There Nature works omnipotent, and free,

Though foolish clerics call it wizardry.

The Emperor

On joyful days, when we greet our guests,

Who gather pleasantly, with happy jests,

It gives us pleasure, when they pull and push,

And fill the halls and chambers with their crush.

Yet the brave man meets with noblest welcome,

When in fierce support he deigns to come,

At the dawning of some perilous day,

When fate’s balance holds us in its sway.

Yet while some time this moment can afford,

Hold back your strong hand from the eager sword,

Honour the instant, when thousands march,

For or against me, taking up the torch.

Self’s the Man! Who claims the crown and throne,

Must be worthy of the honour, on his own.

May the phantom now that stands against me,

Who calls himself the Emperor of my country,

The army’s leader, and the lords’ crowned head,

Be hurled by my own fist among the dead.

Faust

Whatever the need to finish what you’ve started,

It would go ill if you and your head were parted.

Isn’t your helmet decked with plume and crest?

It shields the head that fills our hearts with zest.

Without a head what can the members do?

If it should sleep, they sink in silence too:

If it’s injured, they’re all hurt alike,

And if it’s healed they quickly stir to life.

Swiftly the arm will assert its right:

And shield the head then from the fight:

The sword at once perceives its duty,

Strikes again, and parries strongly:

The brave foot, owning its luck again,

Plants itself on the necks of the slain.

The Emperor

Such is my wrath, that’s how I’d use the fool,

And set his head in front of me, for a stool.

Heralds (Returning.)

Our advances they reject,

With little honour, or respect.

Our strong, and noble ultimatum,

They treated as an empty statement:

‘Your Emperor is wholly lost,

An echo of some ancient rhyme:

When we think about the past,

His tale will be: Once upon a time.’

Faust

It’s come to pass as the best of men demand,

Those firm and true, at your right hand:

There is the foe: your men stand by us:

Order the advance, the time’s propitious.

The Emperor

I hereby relinquish the command.

(To the Commander-In-Chief)

Prince, I entrust the duty to your hand.

The Commander-in-Chief

Then let the right wing start its assault!

The enemy left’s ascending, even now,

And in a moment will be forced to halt.

To our young faithfuls they will have to bow.

Faust

Let this brave hero, straight away,

Join your ranks, without delay,

So that in your ranks he might,

Make a brave show in the fight.

(He points to the Mighty Warrior on the right.)

BullyBoy (Coming forward.)

He who shows his face to me, won’t turn

Before his front and back teeth shatter:

He who shows his back to me will earn

A blow to make his head much flatter.

And if your soldiers then advance

With sword and mace, together,

Man after man, the foe will dance,

And in their own blood quickly smother.

(He exits.)

The Commander-in-Chief

Let the central phalanx follow slowly,

Engage the enemy with force and cunning:

There on the right they’re almost ready

To surrender, you can see them running.

Faust (Pointing to the central Warrior)

Let this man follow at your command!

He’s quick, and grabs with either hand.

Grab-quick (Comes forward.)

The thirst for plunder now will greet

The Emperor’s troops’ advancing feet,

And all will gather, with intent,

At the rival Emperor’s tent.

He won’t linger on his throne:

I’ll lead the phalanx on my own.