Warning, thrust me back again; By the forty years' repentance In the lonely desert land; [Pg 6420]By the blissful farewell sentence Which I wrote upon the sand!— THE THREE Thou thy presence not deniest Unto sinful women ever,— Liftest them to win the highest Gain of penitent endeavor,— So, from this good soul withdraw not— Who but once forgot, transgressing, Who her loving error saw not— Pardon adequate, and blessing! UNA PŒNITENTIUM [Formerly named Margaret, stealing closer] Incline, O Maiden, With mercy laden, In light unfading, Thy gracious countenance upon my bliss! My loved, my lover, His trials over In yonder world, returns to me in this! BLESSED BOYS [Approaching in hovering circles] With mighty limbs he towers Already above us; He, for this love of ours, Will richlier love us. Early were we removed, Ere Life could reach us; Yet he hath learned and proved, And he will teach us. THE PENITENT [Formerly named Margaret] The spirit choir around him seeing, New to himself, he scarce divines His heritage of new-born Being, When like the Holy Host he shines. Behold, how he each band hath cloven The earthly life had round him thrown, [Pg 6421]And through his garb, of ether woven, The early force of youth is shown! Vouchsafe to me that I instruct him! Still dazzles him the Day's new glare. MATER GLORIOSA Rise thou to higher spheres! Conduct him, Who, feeling thee, shall follow there! DOCTOR MARIANUS [Prostrate, adoring] Penitents, look up, elate. Where she beams salvation; Gratefully to blessed fate Grow, in re-creation! Be our souls, as they have been, Dedicate to thee! Virgin Holy, Mother, Queen, Goddess, gracious be! CHORUS MYSTICUS All things transitory But as symbols are sent: Earth's insufficiency Here grows to Event: The Indescribable, Here it is done: The Woman Soul leadeth us Upward and on! MIGNON'S LOVE AND LONGING From 'Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship.' Carlyle's Translation Nothing is more touching than the first disclosure of a love which has been nursed in silence; of a faith grown strong in secret, and which at last comes forth in the hour of need and reveals itself to him who formerly has reckoned it of small account. The bud which had been closed so long and firmly was now ripe to burst its swathings, and Wilhelm's heart could never have been readier to welcome the impressions of affection.[Pg 6422]