No claws, no tail to whisk about, To fright us at our revel; Yet like the G.o.ds of Greece, no doubt, He too's a genuine devil.

NORTHERN ARTIST

These that I'm hitting off today Are sketches unpretending; Toward Italy without delay, My steps I think of bending.

PURIST

Alas! ill-fortune leads me here, Where riot still grows louder; And 'mong the witches gather'd here, But two alone wear powder!

YOUNG WITCH

Your powder and your petticoat, Suit hags, there's no gainsaying; Hence I sit fearless on my goat, My naked charms displaying.

MATRON

We're too well-bred to squabble here, Or insult back to render; But may you wither soon, my dear, Although so young and tender.

LEADER OF THE BAND

Nose of fly and gnat's proboscis, Throng not the naked beauty!

Frogs and crickets in the mosses, Keep time and do your duty!

WEATHERc.o.c.k (_toward one side_)

What charming company I view Together here collected!

Gay bachelors, a hopeful crew, And brides so unaffected!

WEATHERc.o.c.k (_toward the other side_)

Unless indeed the yawning ground Should open to receive them, From this vile crew, with sudden bound, To h.e.l.l I'd jump and leave them.

XENIEN

With small sharp shears, in insect guise, Behold us at your revel!

That we may tender, filial-wise, Our homage to the devil.

HENNINGS

Look now at yonder eager crew, How navely they're jesting!

That they have tender hearts and true, They stoutly keep protesting!

MUSAGET

Oneself amid this witchery How pleasantly one loses; For witches easier are to me To govern than the Muses!

CI-DEVANT GENIUS OF THE AGE

With proper folks when we appear, No one can then surpa.s.s us!

Keep close, wide is the Blocksberg here As Germany's Parna.s.sus.

INQUISITIVE TRAVELLER

How name ye that stiff formal man, Who strides with lofty paces?

He tracks the game where'er he can, "He scents the Jesuits' traces."

CRANE

Where waters troubled are or clear, To fish I am delighted; Thus pious gentlemen appear With devils here united.

WORLDLING

By pious people, it is true, No medium is rejected; Conventicles, and not a few, On Blocksberg are erected.

DANCER

Another chorus now succeeds, Far off the drums are beating.

Be still! The bitterns 'mong the reeds Their one note are repeating.

DANCING MASTER

Each twirls about and never stops, And as he can he fareth.

The crooked leaps, the clumsy hops, Nor for appearance careth.

FIDDLER

To take each other's life, I trow, Would cordially delight them!

As Orpheus' lyre the beasts, so now The bagpipe doth unite them.

DOGMATIST

My views, in spite of doubt and sneer, I hold with stout persistence, Inferring from the devils here, The evil one's existence.

IDEALIST

My every sense rules Phantasy With sway quite too potential; Sure I'm demented if the _I_ Alone is the essential.

REALIST

This ent.i.ty's a dreadful bore, And cannot choose but vex me; The ground beneath me ne'er before Thus totter'd to perplex me.

SUPERNATURALIST

Well pleased a.s.sembled here I view Of spirits this profusion; From devils, touching angels too, I gather some conclusion.

SCEPTIC