Prefixed to the Later Editions of Faust.

Ye hover nigh, dim-floating shapes again, That erst the misty eye of Fancy knew! Shall I once more your shadowy flight detain, And the fond dreamings of my youth pursue? Ye press around!—resume your ancient reign,— As from the hazy past ye rise to view; The magic breath that wafts your airy train Stirs in my breast long-slumbering chords again.

Ye raise the pictured forms of happy days, And many a dear loved shade comes up with you; Like the far echo of old-memoried lays, First love and early friendship ye renew. Old pangs return; life’s labyrinthine maze Again the plaint of sorrow wanders through, And names the loved ones who from Fate received A bitter call, and left my heart bereaved.

They hear no more the sequel of my song, Who heard my early chant with open ear; Dispersed for ever is the favoring throng, Dumb the response from friend to friend so dear. My sorrow floats an unknown crowd among, Whose very praise comes mingled with strange fear; And they who once were pleased to hear my lay, If yet they live, have drifted far away.

And I recall with long-unfelt desire The realm of spirits, solemn, still, serene; My faltering lay, like the Æolian lyre, Gives wavering tones with many a pause between; The stern heart glows with youth’s rekindled fire, Tear follows tear, where long no tear hath been; The thing I am fades into distance gray; And the pale Past stands out a clear to-day.