Following the story from where the Ferryman had dropped gold given to him by the Will-o'-Wisps, into a large Chasm near the River, we learn of there being a Green Snake in the Chasm who ate the gold.
As with the first scene where the Ferryman takes the Will-o'-wisps across the River. Enter into being the characters, their gestures and what they say and do. In this second scene again there are only three: two Will-o'-wisps and the Green Snake.
So the new scene, context, imagination Goethe creates is following eating the gold dropped into the Chasm the Green Snake grows transparent and luminous. She can see everything around her with her new light.
To aid our imagination for entering into the characters, their gestures and what they say I show now in italics the direct text of Goethe, translated by Thomas Carlyle:
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This encouraged her to venture from the Chasm into the countryside. Her light enabled her to see things she had not seen before. Every leaf seemed emerald, every flower dyed with new glory.
Upon reaching a wet rushy spot in the swamp she saw the two Will-o'-wisps. They glided towards her, skipped up over her and laughed in their fashion.
The Will-o'-wisps said: "Lady Cousin you are of the horizontal line, yet what of that? It is true we are related only by the look; for observe you."
The Will-o'-wisps compressing their whole breadth, made themselves as high and as peaked as possible.
The Will-o'-wisps said: How prettily this taper length beseems us gentlemen of the vertical line! Take it not amiss of us, good lady; what family can boast of such a thing? Since there ever was a Jack-o'-lantern in the world, no one of them has either sat or lain."
The Snake felt exceedingly uncomfortable in the company of the Will-o'-wisp relations because as much as she could hold her head high she found she always had to bend it down to the earth again.
In this embarrassment the Snake asked, hastily, if the Will-o'-wisps could tell her where the gold came from. She thought it had been a golden shower from the sky. The Will-o'-wisps laughed, shook themselves and gold pieces came clinking down around them. The Snake pushed nimbly forward to eat the coins.
The dapper Will-o'-wisps said: "Much good may it do you, Mistress, we can help you to a little more."
The Snake could hardly keep up with eating the coins they scattered. Her splendour increased. She shined beautifully. In the meantime the Will-o'-wisps grew rather lean and short in stature.
The Snake said: "I am obliged to you forever, ask of me what you will; all that I can I will do."
The Will-o'-wisps replied: "Very good! Then tell us where the fair Lily dwells? Lead us to the fair Lily's palace and garden; do not lose a moment, we are dying of impatience to fall down at her feet."
The Snake with a deep sigh said: "This service I cannot now do for you. The fair Lily dwells, alas, on the other side of the water."
The Will-o'-wisps exclaimed: "Other side of the water? And we have come across it, this stormy night! How cruel is the River to divide us! Would it not be possible to call the old man back?"
The Snake said: "It would be useless for if you found him ready on the bank, he would not take you in; he can carry anyone to this side, none to yonder."
The Will-o'-wisps cried: Here is a pretty kettle of fish. Are there no other means of getting through the water?"
The Snake replied: "There are other means, but not at this moment. I myself could take you over gentlemen, but not till Noon."
The Will-o'-wisps said: "That is the hour we do not like to travel in."
The Snake replied: Then you may go across in the evening, on the great Giant's shadow."
The Will-o'-wisps asked: "How is that?"
The Snake replied: The great Giant lives not far from this; with his body he has no power; his hands cannot lift a straw, his shoulders could not bear a faggot of twigs; but with his shadow he has power over much, nay all. At sunrise and sunset therefore he is strongest; so at evening you merely put yourself upon the back of his shadow, the Giant walks softly to the bank and the shadow carries you across the water. But if you please, about the hour of Noon, to be waiting at that corner of the wood where the bushes overhang the bank, I myself will take you over and present you to the Fair Lily; or on the other hand, if you dislike the noontide, you have just to go at nightfall to that bend of the rocks and pay a visit to the Giant; he will certainly receive you like a gentleman."
With a slight bow, the Will-o'-wisps went off and the Snake was not discontented to get rid of them, partly that she might enjoy the brightness of her own light, partly to satisfy a curiosity, with which,
for a long time, she had been agitated in a singular way.
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This "curiosity," with her new found ability to illuminate her immediate surroundings, was to go to a Chasm in the rocks where she often went, to see for the first time objects which hithertoo she had only been able to feel which she felt betrayed the shaping hand of man.
All this and the consequences of her experience in the next Post!
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So, be the characters and let the experience of doing so enable us to sense the potential relevance to what we are doing in our lives today.
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An audio recording of this scene is shown under Episode 2 on www.tgsatbl.blogspot.com
The Will-o'-wisps said: How prettily this taper length beseems us gentlemen of the vertical line! Take it not amiss of us, good lady; what family can boast of such a thing? Since there ever was a Jack-o'-lantern in the world, no one of them has either sat or lain."
The Snake felt exceedingly uncomfortable in the company of the Will-o'-wisp relations because as much as she could hold her head high she found she always had to bend it down to the earth again.
In this embarrassment the Snake asked, hastily, if the Will-o'-wisps could tell her where the gold came from. She thought it had been a golden shower from the sky. The Will-o'-wisps laughed, shook themselves and gold pieces came clinking down around them. The Snake pushed nimbly forward to eat the coins.
The dapper Will-o'-wisps said: "Much good may it do you, Mistress, we can help you to a little more."
The Snake could hardly keep up with eating the coins they scattered. Her splendour increased. She shined beautifully. In the meantime the Will-o'-wisps grew rather lean and short in stature.
The Snake said: "I am obliged to you forever, ask of me what you will; all that I can I will do."
The Will-o'-wisps replied: "Very good! Then tell us where the fair Lily dwells? Lead us to the fair Lily's palace and garden; do not lose a moment, we are dying of impatience to fall down at her feet."
The Snake with a deep sigh said: "This service I cannot now do for you. The fair Lily dwells, alas, on the other side of the water."
The Will-o'-wisps exclaimed: "Other side of the water? And we have come across it, this stormy night! How cruel is the River to divide us! Would it not be possible to call the old man back?"
The Snake said: "It would be useless for if you found him ready on the bank, he would not take you in; he can carry anyone to this side, none to yonder."
The Will-o'-wisps cried: Here is a pretty kettle of fish. Are there no other means of getting through the water?"
The Snake replied: "There are other means, but not at this moment. I myself could take you over gentlemen, but not till Noon."
The Will-o'-wisps said: "That is the hour we do not like to travel in."
The Snake replied: Then you may go across in the evening, on the great Giant's shadow."
The Will-o'-wisps asked: "How is that?"
The Snake replied: The great Giant lives not far from this; with his body he has no power; his hands cannot lift a straw, his shoulders could not bear a faggot of twigs; but with his shadow he has power over much, nay all. At sunrise and sunset therefore he is strongest; so at evening you merely put yourself upon the back of his shadow, the Giant walks softly to the bank and the shadow carries you across the water. But if you please, about the hour of Noon, to be waiting at that corner of the wood where the bushes overhang the bank, I myself will take you over and present you to the Fair Lily; or on the other hand, if you dislike the noontide, you have just to go at nightfall to that bend of the rocks and pay a visit to the Giant; he will certainly receive you like a gentleman."
With a slight bow, the Will-o'-wisps went off and the Snake was not discontented to get rid of them, partly that she might enjoy the brightness of her own light, partly to satisfy a curiosity, with which,
for a long time, she had been agitated in a singular way.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This "curiosity," with her new found ability to illuminate her immediate surroundings, was to go to a Chasm in the rocks where she often went, to see for the first time objects which hithertoo she had only been able to feel which she felt betrayed the shaping hand of man.
All this and the consequences of her experience in the next Post!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, be the characters and let the experience of doing so enable us to sense the potential relevance to what we are doing in our lives today.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An audio recording of this scene is shown under Episode 2 on www.tgsatbl.blogspot.com
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