Release me, now!  I soon shall come again;
Then thou, at will, mayst question and compel me.

FAUST

I have not snares around thee cast;
Thyself hast led thyself into the meshes. 
Who traps the Devil, hold him fast! 
Not soon a second time he’ll catch a prey so precious.

MEPHISTOPHELES

An’t please thee, also I’m content to stay,
And serve thee in a social station;
But stipulating, that I may
With arts of mine afford thee recreation.

FAUST

Thereto I willingly agree,
If the diversion pleasant be.

MEPHISTOPHELES

My friend, thou’lt win, past all pretences,
More in this hour to soothe thy senses,
Than in the year’s monotony. 
That which the dainty spirits sing thee,
The lovely pictures they shall bring thee,
Are more than magic’s empty show. 
Thy scent will be to bliss invited;
Thy palate then with taste delighted,
Thy nerves of touch ecstatic glow! 
All unprepared, the charm I spin: 
We’re here together, so begin!

SPIRITS

     Vanish, ye darking
     Arches above him! 
     Loveliest weather,
     Born of blue ether,
     Break from the sky! 
     O that the darkling
     Clouds had departed! 
     Starlight is sparkling,
     Tranquiller-hearted
     Suns are on high. 
     Heaven’s own children
     In beauty bewildering,
     Waveringly bending,
     Pass as they hover;
     Longing unending
     Follows them over. 
     They, with their glowing
     Garments, out-flowing,
     Cover, in going,
     Landscape and bower,
     Where, in seclusion,
     Lovers are plighted,
     Lost in illusion. 
     Bower on bower! 
     Tendrils unblighted! 
     Lo! in a shower
     Grapes that o’ercluster
     Gush into must, or
     Flow into rivers
     Of foaming and flashing
     Wine, that is dashing
     Gems, as it boundeth
     Down the high places,
     And spreading, surroundeth
     With crystalline spaces,
     In happy embraces,
     Blossoming forelands,
     Emerald shore-lands! 
     And the winged races
     Drink, and fly onward—­
     Fly ever sunward
     To the enticing
     Islands, that flatter,
     Dipping and rising
     Light on the water! 
     Hark, the inspiring
     Sound of their quiring! 
     See, the entrancing
     Whirl of their dancing! 
     All in the air are
     Freer and fairer. 
     Some of them scaling
     Boldly the highlands,
     Others are sailing,
     Circling the islands;
     Others are flying;
     Life-ward all hieing,—­
     All for the distant
     Star of existent
     Rapture and Love!