Through thee, the daylight gladdens me anew,
The counsel of the goddess now shines forth
In all its beauty and beneficence. 
Like to a sacred image, unto which
An oracle immutably hath bound
A city’s welfare, thee she bore away,
Protectress of our house, and guarded here
Within this holy stillness, to become
A blessing to thy brother and thy race. 
Now when each passage to escape seems clos’d,
And safety hopeless, thou dost give us all. 
O king, incline thine heart to thoughts of peace! 
Let her fulfil her mission, and complete
The consecration of our father’s house,
Me to their purified abode restore,
And place upon my brow the ancient crown! 
Requite the blessing which her presence brought thee,
And let me now my nearer right enjoy! 
Cunning and force, the proudest boast of man,
Fade in the lustre of her perfect truth;
 Nor unrequited will a noble mind
Leave confidence, so childlike and so pure.

IPHIGENIA

Think on thy promise; let thy heart be mov’d
By what a true and honest tongue hath spoken! 
Look on us, king! an opportunity
For such a noble deed not oft occurs. 
Refuse thou canst not,—­give thy quick consent.

THOAS

Then go!

IPHIGENIA

Not so, my king!  I cannot part
Without thy blessing, or in anger from thee,
Banish us not! the sacred right of guests
Still let us claim:  so not eternally
Shall we be sever’d.  Honor’d and belov’d
As mine own father was, art thou by me;
And this impression in my soul abides,
Let but the least among thy people bring
Back to mine ear the tones I heard from thee,
Or should I on the humblest see thy garb,
I will with joy receive him as a god,
Prepare his couch myself, beside our hearth
Invite him to a seat, and only ask
Touching thy fate and thee.  Oh, may the gods
To thee the merited reward impart
Of all thy kindness and benignity! 
Farewell!  O turn thou not away, but give
One kindly word of parting in return! 
So shall the wind more gently swell our sails,
And from our eyes with soften’d anguish flow,
The tears of separation.  Fare thee well! 
And graciously extend to me thy hand,
In pledge of ancient friendship.

THOAS (extending his hand)

Fare thee well!

* * * * *

THE FAUST LEGEND FROM MARLOWE TO GOETHE

By KUNO FRANCKE, PH.D., LL.D., LITT.D.

Professor of the History of German Culture, Harvard University