IV.23 Dom (Cathedral) |
Margaret is once again in a church looking for consolation. A spirit holds a conventional sermon to her, that she has lost her purity; that it was a crime what she has done and that he would make public her "dishonour" etc. etc. Goethe's opinion about all this is made quite clear, because the spirit is called Evil spirit.
| Dom | Cathedral |
 |
|
|
Amt, Orgel und Gesang. Gretchen
unter vielem Volke. Böser Geist
hinter Gretchen. |
[Mass,
Organ, and Singing. GRETCHEN among many people,
EVIL SPIRIT behind GRETCHEN.] |
| BÖSER GEIST: | EVIL SPIRIT. |
| Wie anders, Gretchen,
war dir's, Als du noch voll Unschuld Hier zum Altar tratst Aus dem vergriffnen Büchelchen Gebete lalltest, Halb Kinderspiele, Halb Gott im Herzen! Gretchen! Wo steht dein Kopf? In deinem Herzen Welche Missetat? Betst du für deiner Mutter Seele, die Durch dich zur langen, langen Pein hinüberschlief? Auf deiner Schwelle wessen Blut? - Und unter deinem Herzen Regt sich's nicht quillend schon Und ängstet dich und sich Mit ahnungsvoller Gegenwart? |
How different, Gretchen, it
was with thee, When thou, still full of innocence, Here to the altar cam'st, Out of the well-worn, little book Didst prattle prayers, Half childhood's play, Half God in thy heart! Gretchen! Where are thy thoughts? Within thy heart What foul misdeed? Is it for thy mother's soul thou prayest, who Through thee to long, long torment fell asleep? Upon thy door-sill, whose the blood? -Beneath thy heart already Is there not stirring swelling life That tortureth itself and thee With its foreboding presence? |
| GRETCHEN: | GRETCHEN. |
|
Weh! Weh! Wär ich der Gedanken los, Die mir herüber und hinüber gehen Wider mich! |
Gretchen. Woe! Woe! Would I were free of thoughts That go within me hither and thither Against my will! |
| CHOR: | CHOIR. |
|
Dies irae, dies illa Solvet saeclum in favilla. (Orgelton.) |
Choir. Dies irae, dies illa Solvet saeclum in favilla. [Sound of the organ.] |
| BÖSER GEIST: | EVIL SPIRIT. |
|
Grimm faßt dich! Die Posaune tönt! Die Gräber beben! Und dein Herz, Aus Aschenruh Zu Flammenqualen Wieder aufgeschaffen, Bebt auf! |
Wrath grips thee! The last trumpet sounds! The graves are trembling! And thy heart, From rest in ashes To flaming torments Raised up, re-created, Trembling ascends! |
| GRETCHEN: | GRETCHEN. |
|
Wär ich hier weg! Mir ist, als ob die Orgel mir Den Atem versetzte, Gesang mein Herz Im Tiefsten löste. |
Would were away from here! It seems to me as if the organ Would stifle my breathing, As if my inmost heart Were melted by the singing. |
| CHOR: | CHOIR. |
|
Judex ergo cum sedebit, Quidquid latet adparebit, Nil inultum remanebit. |
Judex ergo cum sedebit, Quidquid latet adparebit, Nil inultum remanebit. |
| GRETCHEN: | GRETCHEN. |
|
Mir wird so eng! Die Mauernpfeiler Befangen mich! Das Gewölbe Drängt mich!- Luft! |
I'm stifling here! The walls and pillars Imprison me! The vaulted arches Crush me! - Air! |
| BÖSER GEIST: | EVIL SPIRIT. |
|
Verbirg dich! Sünd und Schande Bleibt nicht verborgen. Luft? Licht? Weh dir! |
Hide thyself! Sin and shame Remain not hidden. Air? Light? Woe's thee! |
| CHOR: | CHOIR. |
|
Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? Quem patronum rogaturus? Cum vix justus sit securus. |
Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? Quem patronum rogaturus, Cum vix justus sit securus? |
| BÖSER GEIST: | EVIL SPIRIT. |
|
Ihr Antlitz wenden Verklärte von dir ab. Die Hände dir zu reichen, Schauert's den Reinen. Weh! |
The faces of the Glorified Will turn away from thee; To thee their hands to offer Will the Pure shudder. Woe! |
| CHOR: | CHOIR. |
|
Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? |
Quid sum miser tunc
dicturus? |
| GRETCHEN: | GRETCHEN. |
|
Nachbarin! Euer Fläschchen! (Sie fällt in Ohnmacht.) |
Neighbour! Your smelling-salts! [She falls in a swoon.] |
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