Fairy of the Lake, The - Scene 3
SCENE III.
Row. Strike, strike, The mystic Drum, virgin yet pure
Of passion's secret wish! from sacred folds
Of chill equatic Loomskin, lift on high
The awful Hammer, while the Brazen Ring,
Viper, and venom'd Toad, and Frog that croaks
In pools obscene, and Newt of mouldering wall
Dance o'er the pictur'd surface, and in reel
Prophetic of our wavering destinies,
Lead up The Rites.
Ye Demons of the Storm!
Who thro the mirky clouds with transient glare
Stoop to our incantations, or, appall'd,
Shriek in the midnight blast, with yell or groan
Swelling the chorus of the shuddering Grove,
While growls the distant bear, and in his den
The hungry wolf barks fear-chain'd! — it is well;
Ye feel my power, and own it. Aid me then
In these mysterious Rites — or ye who rive
With Thor's own bolts the groaning earth, or ye
Who to the labouring mine's combustion'd womb
Dart the contagious spark, whence Earthquake rends,
Or pent Volcano spits his sulphurous fires,
Wide wasting! for to Hela's misty realms
I force my way, and to The Fatal Three
Who weave the Webb of Destiny.
How now? —
Tardy and shuddering? Hast thou in thy way
Gather'd the spume-froth'd drugs, on which, o'ertoil'd,
The Bat hath crouch'd, and the Night-Swallow drop'd
Her half-churn'd morsels? —
Agga. Mistress, they are here: —
But, use them not! Some hostile star prevails —
Our Gods forsake us. Never, since the hour
When, with initiate feet, I first approach'd
This mystic Circle, felt my soul such horror.
At ever and anon, as, from my speed
Pausing, I stoop'd, some ominous shriek was heard,
Or deathlier groan: — the herbs, o'erconscious, shrunk
My trembling touch; the glare of fiery eyes
Peep'd from the unhallow'd turf; and up mine arm
Darts the benumbing shock — as lightning-struck! —
That three-times thrice (while shook the earth beneath)
From my full apron drop'd the unwilling store —
With shuddering toil replac'd. Forbear! forbear
The ill-omen'd spell!
Row. Mere womanish fear. Away!
My soul is all on fire, and I must seek
The quenching stream, or perish. Come: draw near.
Give me The Drugs. Thus from my bruising hands
I press the powerful dews. Now, strike again
The spheric Drum, and in the fawn's warm blood
Stoop, stoop and wash — 'Tis done. Begin the chaunt.
Chorus. Hela! hear! Edel.
Queen of Nislheim's misty shade Agga.
Frozen Hela! ghastly maid! Row.
From thy Throne of Horrors — hear! Edel.
By the Giants of the Frost! Agga.
By Ifing's fury-beaten coast! Row.
By thy Dome of Anguish — hear! Edel.
By thy Table, Famine-spread! Agga.
By thy lean unshelter'd Bed! Row.
Threshold bleak and Chasm dread!
Chorus. Hela! hear! Edel.
Furies dread of Woden's hall! Agga.
By whom the fated heroes fall — Row.
Dread Valkyries! — bend and hear! Edel.
And ye Nornies — fearful three!
Who thro Fate's dark workings see —
Weaving the Webb that mortals fear —
Chorus. Fatal Sisters! list, and hear!
Row. bending towards the earth, with her Wand uplifted, as in act to strike.
Hertha! ope thy rock-rib'd side —
Ribs of Ymer's giant pride!
Ribs by Odin, Vile, and Ve —
Awful Godhead! mystic Three!
From Ymer torn, and giv'n to thee. Adel. and Agga.
Hertha! ope thy rock-rib'd side —
Ribs of Ymer's giant pride!
Chorus. Hertha! hear! Edel.
Hertha labours. Soon the spell
Shall her reluctant womb compel. Agga.
Soon the once-tried depths below
Again their gates shall open throw.
Row.
Cease, ye maidens — cease your strains:
Mine the task that yet remains.
Hertha's rock-rib'd side uncloses;
Hell its hideous womb exposes,
Groans, and shrieks, and plaints of woe
Roar in troubled floods below.
Fly ye maids! To me alone
Hertha's secret ways are known. Chorus.
Fell enchantress! hold! forbear! 1. Phantom.
'Tis in vain. We beat the air. 2. Ph.
Phantom'd Terrors glare in vain. 3. Ph.
Nature's laws no more restrain. All three.
Desperate Magic bursts the chain, Cho.
Hertha groans in terrene thunder:
Ribs of rock are burst asunder. 1. Ph.
Sulphur! 2. Ph. Nitre! 3. Ph. Miner's damp,
Fatal to the vital lamp — All.
Thro the cavern'd entrails fume: 2. Ph.
And the Wolf-like Serpent's spume. Chorus.
Midgard's Serpent, fierce and dread,
Lifts his all-devouring head. 1. Ph.
Fiercely writhes his scaly zone. 2. Ph.
Nature trembles on her throne. Cho.
Gods and Hela join the groan. 1. Ph.
Hark! the Hell-dog's tripple growl! 2. Ph.
Rafaen's scream! 3. Ph. And Fenrir's howl! Cho.
Thrilling shriek! and deaf'ning growl! 1. Ph.
Fell enchantress! 2. Ph. On she goes — 3. Ph.
Eager of impending woes. All.
To the nine-fold realm she goes!
CHORUS .
Hertha's rock-rib'd side uncloses;
Nislheim's gloom in vain opposes;
Groans, and shrieks, and plaints of woe
Roar, in bootless floods, below.
They rush into the chasm, and it closes.
Row. Strike, strike, The mystic Drum, virgin yet pure
Of passion's secret wish! from sacred folds
Of chill equatic Loomskin, lift on high
The awful Hammer, while the Brazen Ring,
Viper, and venom'd Toad, and Frog that croaks
In pools obscene, and Newt of mouldering wall
Dance o'er the pictur'd surface, and in reel
Prophetic of our wavering destinies,
Lead up The Rites.
Ye Demons of the Storm!
Who thro the mirky clouds with transient glare
Stoop to our incantations, or, appall'd,
Shriek in the midnight blast, with yell or groan
Swelling the chorus of the shuddering Grove,
While growls the distant bear, and in his den
The hungry wolf barks fear-chain'd! — it is well;
Ye feel my power, and own it. Aid me then
In these mysterious Rites — or ye who rive
With Thor's own bolts the groaning earth, or ye
Who to the labouring mine's combustion'd womb
Dart the contagious spark, whence Earthquake rends,
Or pent Volcano spits his sulphurous fires,
Wide wasting! for to Hela's misty realms
I force my way, and to The Fatal Three
Who weave the Webb of Destiny.
How now? —
Tardy and shuddering? Hast thou in thy way
Gather'd the spume-froth'd drugs, on which, o'ertoil'd,
The Bat hath crouch'd, and the Night-Swallow drop'd
Her half-churn'd morsels? —
Agga. Mistress, they are here: —
But, use them not! Some hostile star prevails —
Our Gods forsake us. Never, since the hour
When, with initiate feet, I first approach'd
This mystic Circle, felt my soul such horror.
At ever and anon, as, from my speed
Pausing, I stoop'd, some ominous shriek was heard,
Or deathlier groan: — the herbs, o'erconscious, shrunk
My trembling touch; the glare of fiery eyes
Peep'd from the unhallow'd turf; and up mine arm
Darts the benumbing shock — as lightning-struck! —
That three-times thrice (while shook the earth beneath)
From my full apron drop'd the unwilling store —
With shuddering toil replac'd. Forbear! forbear
The ill-omen'd spell!
Row. Mere womanish fear. Away!
My soul is all on fire, and I must seek
The quenching stream, or perish. Come: draw near.
Give me The Drugs. Thus from my bruising hands
I press the powerful dews. Now, strike again
The spheric Drum, and in the fawn's warm blood
Stoop, stoop and wash — 'Tis done. Begin the chaunt.
Chorus. Hela! hear! Edel.
Queen of Nislheim's misty shade Agga.
Frozen Hela! ghastly maid! Row.
From thy Throne of Horrors — hear! Edel.
By the Giants of the Frost! Agga.
By Ifing's fury-beaten coast! Row.
By thy Dome of Anguish — hear! Edel.
By thy Table, Famine-spread! Agga.
By thy lean unshelter'd Bed! Row.
Threshold bleak and Chasm dread!
Chorus. Hela! hear! Edel.
Furies dread of Woden's hall! Agga.
By whom the fated heroes fall — Row.
Dread Valkyries! — bend and hear! Edel.
And ye Nornies — fearful three!
Who thro Fate's dark workings see —
Weaving the Webb that mortals fear —
Chorus. Fatal Sisters! list, and hear!
Row. bending towards the earth, with her Wand uplifted, as in act to strike.
Hertha! ope thy rock-rib'd side —
Ribs of Ymer's giant pride!
Ribs by Odin, Vile, and Ve —
Awful Godhead! mystic Three!
From Ymer torn, and giv'n to thee. Adel. and Agga.
Hertha! ope thy rock-rib'd side —
Ribs of Ymer's giant pride!
Chorus. Hertha! hear! Edel.
Hertha labours. Soon the spell
Shall her reluctant womb compel. Agga.
Soon the once-tried depths below
Again their gates shall open throw.
Row.
Cease, ye maidens — cease your strains:
Mine the task that yet remains.
Hertha's rock-rib'd side uncloses;
Hell its hideous womb exposes,
Groans, and shrieks, and plaints of woe
Roar in troubled floods below.
Fly ye maids! To me alone
Hertha's secret ways are known. Chorus.
Fell enchantress! hold! forbear! 1. Phantom.
'Tis in vain. We beat the air. 2. Ph.
Phantom'd Terrors glare in vain. 3. Ph.
Nature's laws no more restrain. All three.
Desperate Magic bursts the chain, Cho.
Hertha groans in terrene thunder:
Ribs of rock are burst asunder. 1. Ph.
Sulphur! 2. Ph. Nitre! 3. Ph. Miner's damp,
Fatal to the vital lamp — All.
Thro the cavern'd entrails fume: 2. Ph.
And the Wolf-like Serpent's spume. Chorus.
Midgard's Serpent, fierce and dread,
Lifts his all-devouring head. 1. Ph.
Fiercely writhes his scaly zone. 2. Ph.
Nature trembles on her throne. Cho.
Gods and Hela join the groan. 1. Ph.
Hark! the Hell-dog's tripple growl! 2. Ph.
Rafaen's scream! 3. Ph. And Fenrir's howl! Cho.
Thrilling shriek! and deaf'ning growl! 1. Ph.
Fell enchantress! 2. Ph. On she goes — 3. Ph.
Eager of impending woes. All.
To the nine-fold realm she goes!
CHORUS .
Hertha's rock-rib'd side uncloses;
Nislheim's gloom in vain opposes;
Groans, and shrieks, and plaints of woe
Roar, in bootless floods, below.
They rush into the chasm, and it closes.
Translation:
Language:
Reviews
No reviews yet.