University of Virginia Library

Scene I.

—Wizard alone in his room.
WIZARD.
For eighty years I studied magic lore;
I slaved in patience eighty years and more
To friendless age, from manhood bold and lusty,
Mid moths and mildew, skulls, and volumes musty.
Here do I live, in gloomy study housed,
A poor disciple of old Doctor Faust.
One night I watched o'er human joy and dole,
From the small skylight of my glory hole:
The woods and silver-sheeted Rhine I viewed,
When from his bosom rose the scaly brood
Of Sprites and Mermen, o'er the water popping,
And, in fantastic gambols, springing, flopping,
Diving, and splashing, till tormented Rhine
With foam and phosphorus seemed to splash and shine;
Then one white figure, all in white arrayed,
Swam right ashore, and for the forest made.
I marked her well, as was a wizard's duty.
She was a nymph of most surpassing beauty.
Even I could feel a soft emotion rise
At her gold clouds of hair and dreamy eyes.
Onward she went, like one that walked in slumber;
I breathed a spell, and named a magic number:
Some potent counter charm seemed to prevail,
For on she went—tho' moved and deadly pale.
The Baron's Castle, then, I saw her enter;
She'll make sad mischief, if I can't prevent her.
Old Faust, when powers of evil used to cross him,
Would open at the sign of “Macrocosm;”
Now, following his illustrious example,
I'll view the magic page, mouldy and ample.
[Opens the book.
A sound of rushing water meets my ear.
Ho! scaly spirit, at my call appear!

[Gobbet, a green Sprite, jumps out of the book.
GOBBET.
I come, good master. Ho! I come like winkin'.

WIZARD.
Most promptly done, my stern command now drink in.
Some time ago, upon a moonlight night,
Entered yon Castle, a fair Water Sprite.
My wonted skill was useless, I confess,
And soon, no doubt, she made a precious mess.

GOBBET.
Aye, aye, good sir; you mulled the business nicely.

WIZARD.
Long time I knew not what to say precisely.
She has inveigled from his late affection
The Fraulein's lover, of immense connection;
She loves the Sprite, and leaves the Baron's daughter,
And soon, I fear, she'll lure him to the water.

GOBBET.
A pretty story! What's your will, good master?

WIZARD.
Haste to the Castle—counteract disaster.
Promptly upon the Water Sprite attend;
But with sly acts the family befriend.

[Gobbet bows grotesquely and exit.