Among this witches’ revelry
His way one gladly loses;
And, truly, it would easier be
Than to command the Muses.

CI-DEVANT GENIUS OF THE AGE

The proper folks one’s talents laud: 
Come on, and none shall pass us! 
The Blocksberg has a summit broad,
Like Germany’s Parnassus.

INQUISITIVE TRAVELLER

Say, who’s the stiff and pompous man? 
He walks with haughty paces: 
He snuffles all he snuffle can: 
“He scents the Jesuits’ traces.”

CRANE

Both clear and muddy streams, for me
Are good to fish and sport in: 
And thus the pious man you see
With even devils consorting.

WORLDLING

Yes, for the pious, I suspect,
All instruments are fitting;
And on the Blocksberg they erect
Full many a place of meeting.

DANCER

A newer chorus now succeeds! 
I hear the distant drumming. 
“Don’t be disturbed! ’tis, in the reeds,
The bittern’s changeless booming.”

DANCING-MASTER

How each his legs in nimble trip
Lifts up, and makes a clearance! 
The crooked jump, the heavy skip,
Nor care for the appearance.

GOOD FELLOW

The rabble by such hate are held,
To maim and slay delights them: 
As Orpheus’ lyre the brutes compelled,
The bagpipe here unites them.

DOGMATIST

I’ll not be led by any lure
Of doubts or critic-cavils: 
The Devil must be something, sure,—­
Or how should there be devils?

IDEALIST

This once, the fancy wrought in me
Is really too despotic: 
Forsooth, if I am all I see,
I must be idiotic!

REALIST

This racking fuss on every hand,
It gives me great vexation;
And, for the first time, here I stand
On insecure foundation.

SUPERNATURALIST

With much delight I see the play,
And grant to these their merits,
Since from the devils I also may
Infer the better spirits.

SCEPTIC

The flame they follow, on and on,
And think they’re near the treasure: 
But Devil rhymes with Doubt alone,
So I am here with pleasure.

LEADER OF THE BAND

Frog in green, and cricket-trill. 
Such dilettants!—­perdition! 
Fly-snout and mosquito-bill,—­
Each one’s a fine musician!