Prologue

Lyrics

[ETHEREAL VOICE] Ahhh... [ENSEMBLE] Te deum laudamus, omnis te deum Dominus rex noster Te deum laudamus, omnis te deum Re terrea et filli Tibi omnes angeli, laude! [ARCHBISHOP PETER, spoken] Johann Faustus. You have been charged by the Holy Inquisition with blasphemy, apostasy, and rebellion before God's True and Holy Church. Are you prepared to confess your guilt? [JOHANN, spoken] Your Holiness, please, I - I... I have only written - I have only explained the objective nature of our universe. I - I - I have plotted the planets and stars in their courses and have found -... All I have ever stated... We are not the center of Creation! [ARCHBISHOP PETER] And what do such theories intimate, Doctor Faustus? [JOHANN, sung] I've told you all I've learned And yet you still insist My words that you have read The words that I have said Mean God does not exist [ARCHBISHOP PETER, spoken] And do you admit that it was the Devil's hand which led you to spread such lies? [ENSEMBLE, chanted] Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? [JOHANN, sung] Yes. It was his hand [ARCHBISHOP PETER, spoken] Now, my poor, lost child, will you at last turn from the darkness and repent? [GRETCHEN, sung] Doctor, who are you today? [JOHANN, spoken] Yes, Father, I will repent [ARCHBISHOP PETER, spoken] Johann Faustus: You are free. But to all who hear my voice, be it known that Johann Faustus is a convicted blasphemer! [ETHEREAL VOICE, sung] Ahhh... [JOHANN, spoken] My books? Those are my books... my, my - my notes -my- [ARCHBISHOP PETER, spoken] His writings, every page, every sentence shall be burned- [CROWD, spoken] Burn them! Burn him! Liar! [JOHANN, spoken] No, your Grace? How can you- ...? Please, no- [ARCHBISHOP PETER, spoken] They shall be burned until the skies turn black as testimony to the darkness of his lies! [JOHANN, spoken] No! No, please- please just leave me one! Just one! [ANA, spoken] Johann! [JOHANN, spoken] Ana! He's burning them! He's burning it all! [ENSEMBLE, sung] Te deum laudamus: omnis te deum Tibi omnes angeli, laude! [ANA, spoken] Johann! Come away, my love!