Then round the circle went their flight,
They danced to left, they danced to right: 
Their kirtles all were playing. 
They first grew red, and then grew warm,
And rested, panting, arm in arm,—­
Hurrah! hurrah! 
Hurrah—­tarara-la! 
And hips and elbows straying.

Now, don’t be so familiar here! 
How many a one has fooled his dear,
Waylaying and betraying!

And yet, he coaxed her soon aside,
And round the linden sounded wide. 
Hurrah! hurrah! 
Hurrah—­tarara-la! 
And the fiddle-bow was playing.

OLD PEASANT

Sir Doctor, it is good of you,
That thus you condescend, to-day,
Among this crowd of merry folk,
A highly-learned man, to stray. 
Then also take the finest can,
We fill with fresh wine, for your sake: 
I offer it, and humbly wish
That not alone your thirst is slake,—­
That, as the drops below its brink,
So many days of life you drink!

FAUST

I take the cup you kindly reach,
With thanks and health to all and each.

(The People gather in a circle about him.)

OLD PEASANT

In truth, ’tis well and fitly timed,
That now our day of joy you share,
Who heretofore, in evil days,
Gave us so much of helping care. 
Still many a man stands living here,
Saved by your father’s skillful hand,
That snatched him from the fever’s rage
And stayed the plague in all the land. 
Then also you, though but a youth,
Went into every house of pain: 
Many the corpses carried forth,
But you in health came out again.

FAUST

No test or trial you evaded: 
A Helping God the helper aided.

ALL

Health to the man, so skilled and tried. 
That for our help he long may abide!

FAUST

To Him above bow down, my friends,
Who teaches help, and succor sends!

(He goes on with WAGNER.)

WAGNER

With what a feeling, thou great man, must thou
Receive the people’s honest veneration! 
How lucky he, whose gifts his station
With such advantages endow! 
Thou’rt shown to all the younger generation: 
Each asks, and presses near to gaze;
The fiddle stops, the dance delays. 
Thou goest, they stand in rows to see,
And all the caps are lifted high;
A little more, and they would bend the knee
As if the Holy Host came by.

FAUST