"THE DEVIL'S VILLANELLE," SYMPHONIC FANTASIA: Op. 9
La Villanelle du Diable, d'après un poème de M. Rollinat, Fantasie symphonique, pour grand orchestre et orgue, was composed in 1901. Its subject is Maurice Rollinat's[98] strange poem, La Villanelle du Diable. A "villanelle" (in the sense in which the term is used by Rollinat) is an old verse-form in which a couplet is followed by a refrain. In Rollinat's poem there are two alternating refrains, or burdens, which are united at the end.
The first is:
"Hell's a-burning, burning, burning."
(L'enfer brûle, brûle, brûle.)
the second:
"The Devil, prowling, runs about."
(Le Diable rôde et circule.)
Each refrain has been given a musical counterpart by the composer, and each couplet is illustrated, though suggestively rather than in literal detail.
The following prose translation of Rollinat's verses, made by Mr. Philip Hale, is prefixed to the published score of Loeffler's fantasia:
"Hell's a-burning, burning, burning. Chuckling in clear staccato, the Devil, prowling, runs about.
"He watches, advances, retreats like zig-zag lightning; Hell's a-burning, burning, burning.
"In dive and cell, underground and in the air, the Devil, prowling, runs about.
"Now he is flower, dragon-fly, woman, black cat, green snake; Hell's a-burning, burning, burning.
"And now, with pointed mustache, scented with vetiver, the Devil, prowling, runs about.
"Wherever mankind swarms, without rest, summer and winter, Hell's a-burning, burning, burning.
"From alcove to hall, and on the rail-ways, the Devil, prowling, runs about.
"He is Mr. Seen-at-Night, who saunters with staring eyes. Hell's a-burning, burning, burning.
"There floating as a bubble, here squirming as a worm, the Devil, prowling, runs about.
"He's grand seigneur, tough, student, teacher. Hell's a-burning, burning, burning.
"He inoculates each soul with his bitter whispering: the Devil, prowling, runs about.
"He promises, bargains, stipulates in gentle or proud tones. Hell's a-burning, burning, burning.
"Mocking pitilessly the unfortunate whom he destroys, the Devil, prowling, runs about.
"He makes goodness ridiculous and the old man futile. Hell's a-burning, burning, burning.
"At the home of priest or sceptic, whose soul and body he wishes, the Devil, prowling, runs about.
"Beware of him to whom he toadies, and whom he calls 'My dear sir.' Hell's a-burning, burning, burning.
"Friend of the tarantula, darkness, the odd number, the Devil, prowling, runs about.
"—My clock strikes midnight. If I should go to see Lucifer?—Hell's a-burning, burning, burning; the Devil, prowling, runs about."