[Der nächtliche Zug (Episode aus Lenaus Faust), S.513a]
"Faust enters the forest on horseback with dark clouds ominously filling the air.
Since he collaborated with evil, he is not aware of the beauty surrounding him: the forest bustling with life, the smell of Spring that fills the air, the song of the nightingale, fireflies shining their dim light in the trees, or starlight that later breaks through the tree tops.
Faust is distracted, and lets his horse wander deeper along the sombre path into the woods. He becomes aware of a purple glow, as well as the faint sounds of song closing in. At first he believes it to be his imagination, but then realizes that it is a procession of priests making their way through the forest. He hides from them, but observes them from the surrounding brush. As they pass him by, their celestial music penetrates his corrupted senses. He cannot help but observe with some regret the contrast between their true happiness and content as a result of virtue, and his superficial happiness gained by the fulfilment of earthly ambition at the cost of his soul. Their contentment fills him with disgust as they pass him by, disappearing again into the forest. All alone, Faust contemplates his inevitable fate, due to his pact with Mephistopheles. He cries bitterly while hugging his only companion, his faithful horse."
Pieter Johannes Christoffel Grobler,
"The Two Episodes from Lenau's Faust as a Unified Work" (link)
Kit Armstrong, piano (2015)
Audio (15:00)
