RAPHAEL. The day-star, sonorous as of old,
Goes his predestined way along,
And round his path is thunder rolled,
While sister-spheres join rival song.
New strength have angels at the sight,
Though none may scan the infinitude,
And splendid, as in primal light,
The high works of the world are viewed.
Prologue in Heaven from Faust Part 1, By Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I recently picked up Penguin’s classic version of Faust. It inspired me to highlight the wonderful work to a broader audience. If the quote above intrigues you, there’s several hundred more pages of amazingly poetic verses.
GABRIEL. Swift, unimaginably swift
The glory of the earth rolls round,
And scenes of heavenly radiance shift
To fearfulness of night profound;
By floods of sea in foaming forces
Cliffs at their shuddering base are churned,
And flung in planetary courses
The seas and cliffs are ever turned.
MICHAEL. And storms contend in angry fuming
From sea to land, from land to sea,
A chain of raging force assuming,
In their tempestuous majesty.
The flame of brilliant devastation
Now lights the thunderbolt his way;
But angels, Lord, in adoration,
Hail the sweet progress of thy day.
THE THREE. Now strength have angels at the sight,
Amazed at thy infinitude,
And splendid as in primal light
Are all thy mighty works renewed.
Goethe
M. Y. Z. 