How to use and method in root

Best JavaScript code snippet using root

testvalues.js

Source:testvalues.js

1var textShort = 'short text',2 textMedium = "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nullam ultrices sem tincidunt ligula fringilla vestibulum. Proin fringilla iaculis orci, et pellentesque odio cursus et. Nam laoreet venenatis lorem, id pharetra arcu lacinia et. Sed vulputate odio vel sapien mollis a bibendum magna lacinia. Phasellus posuere velit et purus porttitor ac bibendum metus viverra. Cras at magna massa, non pretium metus. Aliquam erat tortor, aliquet feugiat dapibus vitae, adipiscing ac nibh. Etiam non erat nec purus iaculis pulvinar. Suspendisse eu nulla a tortor convallis egestas. Nullam tellus mi, dignissim et accumsan nec, gravida hendrerit orci. Integer convallis tempus diam, quis imperdiet mauris bibendum nec. Integer adipiscing metus dolor, et porttitor eros. Aliquam ac ipsum ipsum. Nullam congue nulla sit amet ligula fringilla accumsan venenatis ipsum tempor.\3\4Donec quis est et nisi rutrum posuere eget commodo justo. Vestibulum neque neque, suscipit elementum placerat in, tempus ut sapien. Nulla blandit, enim convallis semper facilisis, orci augue vehicula nisi, id elementum lectus dui a nunc. Nam mollis tempus lobortis. Duis non metus id enim euismod luctus. Praesent non velit sed nunc egestas aliquam id et velit. Proin porttitor convallis dapibus. Nullam id orci at neque tempus sagittis sed eu purus. Aenean venenatis tortor vel ipsum gravida ultricies. Phasellus interdum, neque non consequat malesuada, augue neque scelerisque mi, a imperdiet nibh augue posuere nunc. Nullam lobortis massa vel neque volutpat a ultrices ipsum volutpat. Duis non purus nisi, nec fringilla massa.\5\6In et ante ipsum. Nam a lectus libero, quis condimentum orci. Mauris volutpat consectetur feugiat. Praesent non leo tellus. Donec luctus tempus ultrices. Nunc vitae ante metus, a commodo nibh. Maecenas eget lacus massa, dapibus venenatis felis. Ut sit amet turpis a lectus tristique placerat et sed lectus. Aenean in diam vitae orci molestie malesuada. Nam vel leo purus. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Sed sit amet tellus lacus. Nulla congue egestas libero, vel tristique purus molestie vel.\7\8Mauris adipiscing, ligula quis dignissim sodales, dui massa laoreet ipsum, sit amet interdum sem dui et nunc. In at cursus velit. Mauris ut turpis tortor, at bibendum enim. Phasellus posuere lectus orci, id dignissim diam. Sed commodo, purus venenatis malesuada euismod, dolor augue semper diam, quis feugiat orci est tempor sem. Morbi quis lobortis orci. Nullam non arcu nec magna volutpat vulputate sit amet non lectus. Nullam gravida dictum quam, quis ultricies odio tempus quis. Sed sed elit ante. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Mauris fermentum, neque a eleifend molestie, mauris eros convallis libero, sit amet mollis orci urna in velit. Integer ac est dui. Nunc ac suscipit lorem. Nunc nec erat sed nibh adipiscing posuere.\9\10Proin semper dui at turpis volutpat eget varius ante porta. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Sed congue justo tellus. Aenean eleifend, risus vel imperdiet hendrerit, massa erat convallis lacus, ac condimentum augue eros at massa. Nam libero felis, consequat sit amet suscipit ut, consequat sed nunc. Mauris in nulla tellus. Mauris vulputate velit in elit congue vehicula. Donec eget nibh quam. Curabitur quam nunc, tristique ac egestas nec, lobortis et metus. Aliquam lobortis malesuada erat, vitae pharetra nisi congue non. Mauris lacus turpis, vestibulum eu fermentum non, porttitor sed leo. Mauris egestas blandit sem non blandit. Nam laoreet orci vel metus varius luctus. Suspendisse fermentum, nisl sit amet fermentum porta, dolor eros rutrum mi, id aliquam nulla orci at lorem. Aliquam erat volutpat. Nullam tristique elementum purus eget euismod. Sed lectus purus, mattis eu fermentum sed, laoreet in metus. Maecenas volutpat sagittis eros eu laoreet. ",11 textLong = "The Project Gutenberg EBook of Faust, by Goethe\12\13This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with\14almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or\15re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included\16with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net\17\18\19Title: Faust\20\21Author: Goethe\22\23Release Date: December 25, 2004 [EBook #14460]\24\25Language: English\26\27Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1\28\29*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAUST ***\30\31\32\33\34Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Bidwell and the PG Online\35Distributed Proofreading Team\36\37\38\39\40\41\42FAUST\43\44\45A TRAGEDY\46\47TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN\48\49OF\50\51GOETHE\52\53\54WITH NOTES\55\56BY\57\58CHARLES T BROOKS\59\60\61SEVENTH EDITION.\62\63BOSTON\64TICKNOR AND FIELDS\65\66MDCCCLXVIII.\67\68\69\70Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856,\71by CHARLES T. BROOKS,\72In the Clerk's Office of the District Court\73of the District of Rhode Island.\74\75UNIVERSITY PRESS:\76WELCH, BIGELOW, AND COMPANY,\77CAMBRIDGE.\78\79\80\81\82TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.\83\84\85Perhaps some apology ought to be given to English scholars, that is, those\86who do not know German, (to those, at least, who do not know what sort of\87a thing Faust is in the original,) for offering another translation to the\88public, of a poem which has been already translated, not only in a literal\89prose form, but also, twenty or thirty times, in metre, and sometimes with\90great spirit, beauty, and power.\91\92The author of the present version, then, has no knowledge that a rendering\93of this wonderful poem into the exact and ever-changing metre of the\94original has, until now, been so much as attempted. To name only one\95defect, the very best versions which he has seen neglect to follow the\96exquisite artist in the evidently planned and orderly intermixing of\97_male_ and _female_ rhymes, _i.e._ rhymes which fall on the last syllable\98and those which fall on the last but one. Now, every careful student of\99the versification of Faust must feel and see that Goethe did not\100intersperse the one kind of rhyme with the other, at random, as those\101translators do; who, also, give the female rhyme (on which the vivacity of\102dialogue and description often so much depends,) in so small a proportion.\103\104A similar criticism might be made of their liberty in neglecting Goethe's\105method of alternating different measures with each other.\106\107It seems as if, in respect to metre, at least, they had asked themselves,\108how would Goethe have written or shaped this in English, had that been his\109native language, instead of seeking _con amore_ (and _con fidelità_) as\110they should have done, to reproduce, both in spirit and in form, the\111movement, so free and yet orderly, of the singularly endowed and\112accomplished poet whom they undertook to represent.\113\114As to the objections which Hayward and some of his reviewers have\115instituted in advance against the possibility of a good and faithful\116metrical translation of a poem like Faust, they seem to the present\117translator full of paradox and sophistry. For instance, take this\118assertion of one of the reviewers: \"The sacred and mysterious union of\119thought with verse, twin-born and immortally wedded from the moment of\120their common birth, can never be understood by those who desire verse\121translations of good poetry.\" If the last part of this statement had read\122\"by those who can be contented with _prose_ translations of good poetry,\"\123the position would have been nearer the truth. This much we might well\124admit, that, if the alternative were either to have a poem like Faust in a\125metre different and glaringly different from the original, or to have it\126in simple and strong prose, then the latter alternative would be the one\127every tasteful and feeling scholar would prefer; but surely to every one\128who can read the original or wants to know how this great song _sung\129itself_ (as Carlyle says) out of Goethe's soul, a mere prose rendering\130must be, comparatively, a _corpus mortuum._\131\132The translator most heartily dissents from Hayward's assertion that a\133translator of Faust \"must sacrifice either metre or meaning.\" At least he\134flatters himself that he has made, in the main, (not a compromise between\135meaning and melody, though in certain instances he may have fallen into\136that, but) a combination of the meaning with the melody, which latter is\137so important, so vital a part of the lyric poem's meaning, in any worthy\138sense. \"No poetic translation,\" says Hayward's reviewer, already quoted,\139\"can give the rhythm and rhyme of the original; it can only substitute the\140rhythm and rhyme of the translator.\" One might just as well say \"no\141_prose_ translation can give the _sense and spirit_ of the original; it\142can only substitute the _sense and spirit of the words and phrases of the\143translator's language_;\" and then, these two assertions balancing each\144other, there will remain in the metrical translator's favor, that he may\145come as near to giving both the letter and the spirit, as the effects of\146the Babel dispersion will allow.\147\148As to the original creation, which he has attempted here to reproduce, the\149translator might say something, but prefers leaving his readers to the\150poet himself, as revealed in the poem, and to the various commentaries of\151which we have some accounts, at least, in English. A French translator of\152the poem speaks in his introduction as follows: \"This Faust, conceived by\153him in his youth, completed in ripe age, the idea of which he carried with\154him through all the commotions of his life, as Camoens bore his poem with\155him through the waves, this Faust contains him entire. The thirst for\156knowledge and the martyrdom of doubt, had they not tormented his early\157years? Whence came to him the thought of taking refuge in a supernatural\158realm, of appealing to invisible powers, which plunged him, for a\159considerable time, into the dreams of Illuminati and made him even invent\160a religion? This irony of Mephistopheles, who carries on so audacious a\161game with the weakness and the desires of man, is it not the mocking,\162scornful side of the poet's spirit, a leaning to sullenness, which can be\163traced even into the earliest years of his life, a bitter leaven thrown\164into a strong soul forever by early satiety? The character of Faust\165especially, the man whose burning, untiring heart can neither enjoy\166fortune nor do without it, who gives himself unconditionally and watches\167himself with mistrust, who unites the enthusiasm of passion and the\168dejectedness of despair, is not this an eloquent opening up of the most\169secret and tumultuous part of the poet's soul? And now, to complete the\170image of his inner life, he has added the transcendingly sweet person of\171Margaret, an exalted reminiscence of a young girl, by whom, at the age of\172fourteen, he thought himself beloved, whose image ever floated round him,\173and has contributed some traits to each of his heroines. This heavenly\174surrender of a simple, good, and tender heart contrasts wonderfully with\175the sensual and gloomy passion of the lover, who, in the midst of his\176love-dreams, is persecuted by the phantoms of his imagination and by the\177nightmares of thought, with those sorrows of a soul, which is crushed, but\178not extinguished, which is tormented by the invincible want of happiness\179and the bitter feeling, how hard a thing it is to receive or to bestow.\"\180\181\182\183\184DEDICATION.[1]\185\186Once more ye waver dreamily before me,\187Forms that so early cheered my troubled eyes!\188To hold you fast doth still my heart implore me?\189Still bid me clutch the charm that lures and flies?\190Ye crowd around! come, then, hold empire o'er me,\191As from the mist and haze of thought ye rise;\192The magic atmosphere, your train enwreathing,\193Through my thrilled bosom youthful bliss is breathing.\194\195Ye bring with you the forms of hours Elysian,\196And shades of dear ones rise to meet my gaze;\197First Love and Friendship steal upon my vision\198Like an old tale of legendary days;\199Sorrow renewed, in mournful repetition,\200Runs through life's devious, labyrinthine ways;\201And, sighing, names the good (by Fortune cheated\202Of blissful hours!) who have before me fleeted.\203\204These later songs of mine, alas! will never\205Sound in their ears to whom the first were sung!\206Scattered like dust, the friendly throng forever!\207Mute the first echo that so grateful rung!\208To the strange crowd I sing, whose very favor\209Like chilling sadness on my heart is flung;\210And all that kindled at those earlier numbers\211Roams the wide earth or in its bosom slumbers.\212\213And now I feel a long-unwonted yearning\214For that calm, pensive spirit-realm, to-day;\215Like an Aeolian lyre, (the breeze returning,)\216Floats in uncertain tones my lisping lay;\217Strange awe comes o'er me, tear on tear falls burning,\218The rigid heart to milder mood gives way!\219What I possess I see afar off lying,\220And what I lost is real and undying.\221\222\223\224\225PRELUDE\226\227IN THE THEATRE.\228\229\230 Manager. Dramatic Poet. Merry Person.\231\232_Manager_. You who in trouble and distress\233Have both held fast your old allegiance,\234What think ye? here in German regions\235Our enterprise may hope success?\236To please the crowd my purpose has been steady,\237Because they live and let one live at least.\238The posts are set, the boards are laid already,\239And every one is looking for a feast.\240They sit, with lifted brows, composed looks wearing,\241Expecting something that shall set them staring.\242I know the public palate, that's confest;\243Yet never pined so for a sound suggestion;\244True, they are not accustomed to the best,\245But they have read a dreadful deal, past question.\246How shall we work to make all fresh and new,\247Acceptable and profitable, too?\248For sure I love to see the torrent boiling,\249When towards our booth they crowd to find a place,\250Now rolling on a space and then recoiling,\251Then squeezing through the narrow door of grace:\252Long before dark each one his hard-fought station\253In sight of the box-office window takes,\254And as, round bakers' doors men crowd to escape starvation,\255For tickets here they almost break their necks.\256This wonder, on so mixed a mass, the Poet\257Alone can work; to-day, my friend, O, show it!\258\259_Poet_. Oh speak not to me of that motley ocean,\260Whose roar and greed the shuddering spirit chill!\261Hide from my sight that billowy commotion\262That draws us down the whirlpool 'gainst our will.\263No, lead me to that nook of calm devotion,\264Where blooms pure joy upon the Muses' hill;\265Where love and friendship aye create and cherish,\266With hand divine, heart-joys that never perish.\267Ah! what, from feeling's deepest fountain springing,\268Scarce from the stammering lips had faintly passed,\269Now, hopeful, venturing forth, now shyly clinging,\270To the wild moment's cry a prey is cast.\271Oft when for years the brain had heard it ringing\272It comes in full and rounded shape at last.\273What shines, is born but for the moment's pleasure;\274The genuine leaves posterity a treasure.\275\276_Merry Person_. Posterity! I'm sick of hearing of it;\277Supposing I the future age would profit,\278Who then would furnish ours with fun?\279For it must have it, ripe and mellow;\280The presence of a fine young fellow,\281Is cheering, too, methinks, to any one.\282Whoso can pleasantly communicate,\283Will not make war with popular caprices,\284For, as the circle waxes great,\285The power his word shall wield increases.\286Come, then, and let us now a model see,\287Let Phantasy with all her various choir,\288Sense, reason, passion, sensibility,\289But, mark me, folly too! the scene inspire.\290\291_Manager_. But the great point is action! Every one\292Comes as spectator, and the show's the fun.\293Let but the plot be spun off fast and thickly,\294So that the crowd shall gape in broad surprise,\295Then have you made a wide impression quickly,\296You are the man they'll idolize.\297The mass can only be impressed by masses;\298Then each at last picks out his proper part.\299Give much, and then to each one something passes,\300And each one leaves the house with happy heart.\301Have you a piece, give it at once in pieces!\302Such a ragout your fame increases;\303It costs as little pains to play as to invent.\304But what is gained, if you a whole present?\305Your public picks it presently to pieces.\306\307_Poet_. You do not feel how mean a trade like that must be!\308In the true Artist's eyes how false and hollow!\309Our genteel botchers, well I see,\310Have given the maxims that you follow.\311\312_Manager_. Such charges pass me like the idle wind;\313A man who has right work in mind\314Must choose the instruments most fitting.\315Consider what soft wood you have for splitting,\316And keep in view for whom you write!\317If this one from _ennui_ seeks flight,\318That other comes full from the groaning table,\319Or, the worst case of all to cite,\320From reading journals is for thought unable.\321Vacant and giddy, all agog for wonder,\322As to a masquerade they wing their way;\323The ladies give themselves and all their precious plunder\324And without wages help us play.\325On your poetic heights what dream comes o'er you?\326What glads a crowded house? Behold\327Your patrons in array before you!\328One half are raw, the other cold.\329One, after this play, hopes to play at cards,\330One a wild night to spend beside his doxy chooses,\331Poor fools, why court ye the regards,\332For such a set, of the chaste muses?\333I tell you, give them more and ever more and more,\334And then your mark you'll hardly stray from ever;\335To mystify be your endeavor,\336To satisfy is labor sore....\337What ails you? Are you pleased or pained? What notion----\338\339_Poet_. Go to, and find thyself another slave!\340What! and the lofty birthright Nature gave,\341The noblest talent Heaven to man has lent,\342Thou bid'st the Poet fling to folly's ocean!\343How does he stir each deep emotion?\344How does he conquer every element?\345But by the tide of song that from his bosom springs,\346And draws into his heart all living things?\347When Nature's hand, in endless iteration,\348The thread across the whizzing spindle flings,\349When the complex, monotonous creation\350Jangles with all its million strings:\351Who, then, the long, dull series animating,\352Breaks into rhythmic march the soulless round?\353And, to the law of All each member consecrating,\354Bids one majestic harmony resound?\355Who bids the tempest rage with passion's power?\356The earnest soul with evening-redness glow?\357Who scatters vernal bud and summer flower\358Along the path where loved ones go?\359Who weaves each green leaf in the wind that trembles\360To form the wreath that merit's brow shall crown?\361Who makes Olympus fast? the gods assembles?\362The power of manhood in the Poet shown.\363\364_Merry Person_. Come, then, put forth these noble powers,\365And, Poet, let thy path of flowers\366Follow a love-adventure's winding ways.\367One comes and sees by chance, one burns, one stays,\368And feels the gradual, sweet entangling!\369The pleasure grows, then comes a sudden jangling,\370Then rapture, then distress an arrow plants,\371And ere one dreams of it, lo! _there_ is a romance.\372Give us a drama in this fashion!\373Plunge into human life's full sea of passion!\374Each lives it, few its meaning ever guessed,\375Touch where you will, 'tis full of interest.\376Bright shadows fleeting o'er a mirror,\377A spark of truth and clouds of error,\378By means like these a drink is brewed\379To cheer and edify the multitude.\380The fairest flower of the youth sit listening\381Before your play, and wait the revelation;\382Each melancholy heart, with soft eyes glistening,\383Draws sad, sweet nourishment from your creation;\384This passion now, now that is stirred, by turns,\385And each one sees what in his bosom burns.\386Open alike, as yet, to weeping and to laughter,\387They still admire the flights, they still enjoy the show;\388Him who is formed, can nothing suit thereafter;\389The yet unformed with thanks will ever glow.\390\391_Poet_. Ay, give me back the joyous hours,\392When I myself was ripening, too,\393When song, the fount, flung up its showers\394Of beauty ever fresh and new.\395When a soft haze the world was veiling,\396Each bud a miracle bespoke,\397And from their stems a thousand flowers I broke,\398Their fragrance through the vales exhaling.\399I nothing and yet all possessed,\400Yearning for truth and in illusion blest.\401Give me the freedom of that hour,\402The tear of joy, the pleasing pain,\403Of hate and love the thrilling power,\404Oh, give me back my youth again!\405\406_Merry Person_. Youth, my good friend, thou needest certainly\407When ambushed foes are on thee springing,\408When loveliest maidens witchingly\409Their white arms round thy neck are flinging,\410When the far garland meets thy glance,\411High on the race-ground's goal suspended,\412When after many a mazy dance\413In drink and song the night is ended.\414But with a free and graceful soul\415To strike the old familiar lyre,\416And to a self-appointed goal\417Sweep lightly o'er the trembling wire,\418There lies, old gentlemen, to-day\419Your task; fear not, no vulgar error blinds us.\420Age does not make us childish, as they say,\421But we are still true children when it finds us.\422\423_Manager_. Come, words enough you two have bandied,\424Now let us see some deeds at last;\425While you toss compliments full-handed,\426The time for useful work flies fast.\427Why talk of being in the humor?\428Who hesitates will never be.\429If you are poets (so says rumor)\430Now then command your poetry.\431You know full well our need and pleasure,\432We want strong drink in brimming measure;\433Brew at it now without delay!\434To-morrow will not do what is not done to-day.\435Let not a day be lost in dallying,\436But seize the possibility\437Right by the forelock, courage rallying,\438And forth with fearless spirit sallying,--\439Once in the yoke and you are free.\440 Upon our German boards, you know it,\441What any one would try, he may;\442Then stint me not, I beg, to-day,\443In scenery or machinery, Poet.\444With great and lesser heavenly lights make free,\445Spend starlight just as you desire;\446No want of water, rocks or fire\447Or birds or beasts to you shall be.\448So, in this narrow wooden house's bound,\449Stride through the whole creation's round,\450And with considerate swiftness wander\451From heaven, through this world, to the world down yonder.\452\453\454\455\456 PROLOGUE\457\458\459 IN HEAVEN.\460\461\462[THE LORD. THE HEAVENLY HOSTS _afterward_ MEPHISTOPHELES.\463_The three archangels_, RAPHAEL, GABRIEL, _and_ MICHAEL, _come forward_.]\464\465_Raphael_. The sun, in ancient wise, is sounding,\466 With brother-spheres, in rival song;\467And, his appointed journey rounding,\468 With thunderous movement rolls along.\469His look, new strength to angels lending,\470 No creature fathom can for aye;\471The lofty works, past comprehending,\472 Stand lordly, as on time's first day.\473\474_Gabriel_. And swift, with wondrous swiftness fleeting,\475 The pomp of earth turns round and round,\476The glow of Eden alternating\477 With shuddering midnight's gloom profound;\478Up o'er the rocks the foaming ocean\479 Heaves from its old, primeval bed,\480And rocks and seas, with endless motion,\481 On in the spheral sweep are sped.\482\483_Michael_. And tempests roar, glad warfare waging,\484 From sea to land, from land to sea,\485And bind round all, amidst their raging,\486 A chain of giant energy.\487There, lurid desolation, blazing,\488 Foreruns the volleyed thunder's way:\489Yet, Lord, thy messengers[2] are praising\490 The mild procession of thy day.\491\492_All Three_. The sight new strength to angels lendeth,\493 For none thy being fathom may,\494The works, no angel comprehendeth,\495 Stand lordly as on time's first day.\496\497_Mephistopheles_. Since, Lord, thou drawest near us once again,\498And how we do, dost graciously inquire,\499And to be pleased to see me once didst deign,\500I too among thy household venture nigher.\501Pardon, high words I cannot labor after,\502Though the whole court should look on me with scorn;\503My pathos certainly would stir thy laughter,\504Hadst thou not laughter long since quite forsworn.\505Of sun and worlds I've nought to tell worth mention,\506How men torment themselves takes my attention.\507The little God o' the world jogs on the same old way\508And is as singular as on the world's first day.\509A pity 'tis thou shouldst have given\510The fool, to make him worse, a gleam of light from heaven;\511He calls it reason, using it\512To be more beast than ever beast was yet.\513He seems to me, (your grace the word will pardon,)\514Like a long-legg'd grasshopper in the garden,\515Forever on the wing, and hops and sings\516The same old song, as in the grass he springs;\517Would he but stay there! no; he needs must muddle\518His prying nose in every puddle.\519\520_The Lord_. Hast nothing for our edification?\521Still thy old work of accusation?\522Will things on earth be never right for thee?\523\524_Mephistopheles_. No, Lord! I find them still as bad as bad can be.\525Poor souls! their miseries seem so much to please 'em,\526I scarce can find it in my heart to tease 'em.\527\528_The Lord_. Knowest thou Faust?\529\530_Mephistopheles_. The Doctor?\531\532_The Lord_. Ay, my servant!\533\534_Mephistopheles_. He!\535Forsooth! he serves you in a famous fashion;\536No earthly meat or drink can feed his passion;\537Its grasping greed no space can measure;\538Half-conscious and half-crazed, he finds no rest;\539The fairest stars of heaven must swell his treasure.\540Each highest joy of earth must yield its zest,\541Not all the world--the boundless azure--\542Can fill the void within his craving breast.\543\544_The Lord_. He serves me somewhat darkly, now, I grant,\545Yet will he soon attain the light of reason.\546Sees not the gardener, in the green young plant,\547That bloom and fruit shall deck its coming season?\548\549_Mephistopheles_. What will you bet? You'll surely lose your wager!\550If you will give me leave henceforth,\551To lead him softly on, like an old stager.\552\553_The Lord_. So long as he shall live on earth,\554Do with him all that you desire.\555Man errs and staggers from his birth.\556\557_Mephistopheles_. Thank you; I never did aspire\558To have with dead folk much transaction.\559In full fresh cheeks I take the greatest satisfaction.\560A corpse will never find me in the house;\561I love to play as puss does with the mouse.\562\563_The Lord_. All right, I give thee full permission!\564Draw down this spirit from its source,\565And, canst thou catch him, to perdition\566Carry him with thee in thy course,\567But stand abashed, if thou must needs confess,\568That a good man, though passion blur his vision,\569Has of the right way still a consciousness.\570\571_Mephistopheles_. Good! but I'll make it a short story.\572About my wager I'm by no means sorry.\573And if I gain my end with glory\574Allow me to exult from a full breast.\575Dust shall he eat and that with zest,\576Like my old aunt, the snake, whose fame is hoary.\577\578_The Lord_. Well, go and come, and make thy trial;\579The like of thee I never yet did hate.\580Of all the spirits of denial\581The scamp is he I best can tolerate.\582Man is too prone, at best, to seek the way that's easy,\583He soon grows fond of unconditioned rest;\584And therefore such a comrade suits him best,\585Who spurs and works, true devil, always busy.\586But you, true sons of God, in growing measure,\587Enjoy rich beauty's living stores of pleasure!\588The Word[3] divine that lives and works for aye,\589Fold you in boundless love's embrace alluring,\590And what in floating vision glides away,\591That seize ye and make fast with thoughts enduring.\592\593[_Heaven closes, the archangels disperse._]\594\595_Mephistopheles. [Alone.]_ I like at times to exchange with him a word,\596And take care not to break with him. 'Tis civil\597In the old fellow[4] and so great a Lord\598To talk so kindly with the very devil.\599\600\601\602\603 FAUST.\604\605\606 _Night. In a narrow high-arched Gothic room_,\607 FAUST _sitting uneasy at his desk_.\608\609_Faust_. Have now, alas! quite studied through\610Philosophy and Medicine,\611And Law, and ah! Theology, too,\612With hot desire the truth to win!\613And here, at last, I stand, poor fool!\614As wise as when I entered school;\615Am called Magister, Doctor, indeed,--\616Ten livelong years cease not to lead\617Backward and forward, to and fro,\618My scholars by the nose--and lo!\619Just nothing, I see, is the sum of our learning,\620To the very core of my heart 'tis burning.\621'Tis true I'm more clever than all the foplings,\622Doctors, Magisters, Authors, and Popelings;\623Am plagued by no scruple, nor doubt, nor cavil,\624Nor lingering fear of hell or devil--\625What then? all pleasure is fled forever;\626To know one thing I vainly endeavor,\627There's nothing wherein one fellow-creature\628Could be mended or bettered with me for a teacher.\629And then, too, nor goods nor gold have I,\630Nor fame nor worldly dignity,--\631A condition no dog could longer live in!\632And so to magic my soul I've given,\633If, haply, by spirits' mouth and might,\634Some mysteries may not be brought to light;\635That to teach, no longer may be my lot,\636With bitter sweat, what I need to be taught;\637That I may know what the world contains\638In its innermost heart and finer veins,\639See all its energies and seeds\640And deal no more in words but in deeds.\641 O full, round Moon, didst thou but thine\642For the last time on this woe of mine!\643Thou whom so many a midnight I\644Have watched, at this desk, come up the sky:\645O'er books and papers, a dreary pile,\646Then, mournful friend! uprose thy smile!\647Oh that I might on the mountain-height,\648Walk in the noon of thy blessed light,\649Round mountain-caverns with spirits hover,\650Float in thy gleamings the meadows over,\651And freed from the fumes of a lore-crammed brain,\652Bathe in thy dew and be well again!\653 Woe! and these walls still prison me?\654Dull, dismal hole! my curse on thee!\655Where heaven's own light, with its blessed beams,\656Through painted panes all sickly gleams!\657Hemmed in by these old book-piles tall,\658Which, gnawed by worms and deep in must,\659Rise to the roof against a wall\660Of smoke-stained paper, thick with dust;\661'Mid glasses, boxes, where eye can see,\662Filled with old, obsolete instruments,\663Stuffed with old heirlooms of implements--\664That is thy world! There's a world for thee!\665 And still dost ask what stifles so\666The fluttering heart within thy breast?\667By what inexplicable woe\668The springs of life are all oppressed?\669Instead of living nature, where\670God made and planted men, his sons,\671Through smoke and mould, around thee stare\672Grim skeletons and dead men's bones.\673 Up! Fly! Far out into the land!\674And this mysterious volume, see!\675By Nostradamus's[5] own hand,\676Is it not guide enough for thee?\677Then shalt thou thread the starry skies,\678And, taught by nature in her walks,\679The spirit's might shall o'er thee rise,\680As ghost to ghost familiar talks.\681Vain hope that mere dry sense should here\682Explain the holy signs to thee.\683I feel you, spirits, hovering near;\684Oh, if you hear me, answer me!\685 [_He opens the book and beholds the sign of the Macrocosm.[_6]]\686Ha! as I gaze, what ecstasy is this,\687In one full tide through all my senses flowing!\688I feel a new-born life, a holy bliss\689Through nerves and veins mysteriously glowing.\690Was it a God who wrote each sign?\691Which, all my inner tumult stilling,\692And this poor heart with rapture filling,\693Reveals to me, by force divine,\694Great Nature's energies around and through me thrilling?\695Am I a God? It grows so bright to me!\696Each character on which my eye reposes\697Nature in act before my soul discloses.\698The sage's word was truth, at last I see:\699\"The spirit-world, unbarred, is waiting;\700Thy sense is locked, thy heart is dead!\701Up, scholar, bathe, unhesitating,\702The earthly breast in morning-red!\"\703 [_He contemplates the sign._]\704How all one whole harmonious weaves,\705Each in the other works and lives!\706See heavenly powers ascending and descending,\707The golden buckets, one long line, extending!\708See them with bliss-exhaling pinions winging\709Their way from heaven through earth--their singing\710Harmonious through the universe is ringing!\711 Majestic show! but ah! a show alone!\712Nature! where find I thee, immense, unknown?\713Where you, ye breasts? Ye founts all life sustaining,\714On which hang heaven and earth, and where\715Men's withered hearts their waste repair--\716Ye gush, ye nurse, and I must sit complaining?\717 [_He opens reluctantly the book and sees the sign of the earth-spirit._]\718How differently works on me this sign!\719Thou, spirit of the earth, art to me nearer;\720I feel my powers already higher, clearer,\721I glow already as with new-pressed wine,\722I feel the mood to brave life's ceaseless clashing,\723To bear its frowning woes, its raptures flashing,\724To mingle in the tempest's dashing,\725And not to tremble in the shipwreck's crashing;\726Clouds gather o'er my head--\727Them moon conceals her light--\728The lamp goes out!\729It smokes!--Red rays are darting, quivering\730Around my head--comes down\731A horror from the vaulted roof\732And seizes me!\733Spirit that I invoked, thou near me art,\734Unveil thyself!\735Ha! what a tearing in my heart!\736Upheaved like an ocean\737My senses toss with strange emotion!\738I feel my heart to thee entirely given!\739Thou must! and though the price were life--were heaven!\740 [_He seizes the book and pronounces mysteriously the sign of the spirit.\741 A ruddy flame darts out, the spirit appears in the flame._]\742\743_Spirit_. Who calls upon me?\744\745_Faust. [Turning away.]_ Horrid sight!\746\747_Spirit_. Long have I felt the mighty action,\748Upon my sphere, of thy attraction,\749And now--\750\751_Faust_. Away, intolerable sprite!\752\753_Spirit_. Thou breath'st a panting supplication\754To hear my voice, my face to see;\755Thy mighty prayer prevails on me,\756I come!--what miserable agitation\757Seizes this demigod! Where is the cry of thought?\758Where is the breast? that in itself a world begot,\759And bore and cherished, that with joy did tremble\760And fondly dream us spirits to resemble.\761Where art thou, Faust? whose voice rang through my ear,\762Whose mighty yearning drew me from my sphere?\763Is this thing thou? that, blasted by my breath,\764Through all life's windings shuddereth,\765A shrinking, cringing, writhing worm!\766\767_Faust_. Thee, flame-born creature, shall I fear?\768'Tis I, 'tis Faust, behold thy peer!\769\770_Spirit_. In life's tide currents, in action's storm,\771Up and down, like a wave,\772Like the wind I sweep!\773Cradle and grave--\774A limitless deep---\775An endless weaving\776To and fro,\777A restless heaving\778Of life and glow,--\779So shape I, on Destiny's thundering loom,\780The Godhead's live garment, eternal in bloom.\781\782_Faust_. Spirit that sweep'st the world from end to end,\783How near, this hour, I feel myself to thee!\784\785_Spirit_. Thou'rt like the spirit thou canst comprehend,\786Not me! [_Vanishes._]\787\788_Faust_. [_Collapsing_.] Not thee?\789 Whom then?\790 I, image of the Godhead,\791 And no peer for thee!\792 [_A knocking_.]\793O Death! I know it!--'tis my Famulus--\794Good-bye, ye dreams of bliss Elysian!\795Shame! that so many a glowing vision\796This dried-up sneak must scatter thus!\797\798 [WAGNER, _in sleeping-gown and night-cap, a lamp in his hand._\799 FAUST _turns round with an annoyed look_.]\800\801_Wagner_. Excuse me! you're engaged in declamation;\802'Twas a Greek tragedy no doubt you read?\803I in this art should like initiation,\804For nowadays it stands one well instead.\805I've often heard them boast, a preacher\806Might profit with a player for his teacher.\807\808_Faust_. Yes, when the preacher is a player, granted:\809As often happens in our modern ways.\810\811_Wagner_. Ah! when one with such love of study's haunted,\812And scarcely sees the world on holidays,\813And takes a spy-glass, as it were, to read it,\814How can one by persuasion hope to lead it?\815\816_Faust_. What you don't feel, you'll never catch by hunting,\817It must gush out spontaneous from the soul,\818And with a fresh delight enchanting\819The hearts of all that hear control.\820Sit there forever! Thaw your glue-pot,--\821Blow up your ash-heap to a flame, and brew,\822With a dull fire, in your stew-pot,\823Of other men's leavings a ragout!\824Children and apes will gaze delighted,\825If their critiques can pleasure impart;\826But never a heart will be ignited,\827Comes not the spark from the speaker's heart.\828\829_Wagner_. Delivery makes the orator's success;\830There I'm still far behindhand, I confess.\831\832_Faust_. Seek honest gains, without pretence!\833Be not a cymbal-tinkling fool!\834Sound understanding and good sense\835Speak out with little art or rule;\836And when you've something earnest to utter,\837Why hunt for words in such a flutter?\838Yes, your discourses, that are so refined'\839In which humanity's poor shreds you frizzle,\840Are unrefreshing as the mist and wind\841That through the withered leaves of autumn whistle!\842\843_Wagner_. Ah God! well, art is long!\844And life is short and fleeting.\845What headaches have I felt and what heart-beating,\846When critical desire was strong.\847How hard it is the ways and means to master\848By which one gains each fountain-head!\849\850And ere one yet has half the journey sped,\851The poor fool dies--O sad disaster!\852\853_Faust_. Is parchment, then, the holy well-spring, thinkest,\854A draught from which thy thirst forever slakes?\855No quickening element thou drinkest,\856Till up from thine own soul the fountain breaks.\857\858_Wagner_. Excuse me! in these olden pages\859We catch the spirit of the by-gone ages,\860We see what wisest men before our day have thought,\861And to what glorious heights we their bequests have brought.\862\863_Faust_. O yes, we've reached the stars at last!\864My friend, it is to us,--the buried past,--\865A book with seven seals protected;\866Your spirit of the times is, then,\867At bottom, your own spirit, gentlemen,\868In which the times are seen reflected.\869And often such a mess that none can bear it;\870At the first sight of it they run away.\871A dust-bin and a lumber-garret,\872At most a mock-heroic play[8]\873With fine, pragmatic maxims teeming,\874The mouths of puppets well-beseeming!\875\876_Wagner_. But then the world! the heart and mind of man!\877To know of these who would not pay attention?\878\879_Faust_. To know them, yes, as weaklings can!\880Who dares the child's true name outright to mention?\881The few who any thing thereof have learned,\882Who out of their heart's fulness needs must gabble,\883And show their thoughts and feelings to the rabble,\884Have evermore been crucified and burned.\885I pray you, friend, 'tis wearing into night,\886Let us adjourn here, for the present.\887\888_Wagner_. I had been glad to stay till morning light,\889This learned talk with you has been so pleasant,\890But the first day of Easter comes to-morrow.\891And then an hour or two I'll borrow.\892With zeal have I applied myself to learning,\893True, I know much, yet to know all am burning.\894 [_Exit_.]\895\896_Faust_. [_Alone_.] See how in _his_ head only, hope still lingers,\897Who evermore to empty rubbish clings,\898With greedy hand grubs after precious things,\899And leaps for joy when some poor worm he fingers!\900 That such a human voice should dare intrude,\901Where all was full of ghostly tones and features!\902Yet ah! this once, my gratitude\903Is due to thee, most wretched of earth's creatures.\904Thou snatchedst me from the despairing state\905In which my senses, well nigh crazed, were sunken.\906The apparition was so giant-great,\907That to a very dwarf my soul had shrunken.\908 I, godlike, who in fancy saw but now\909Eternal truth's fair glass in wondrous nearness,\910Rejoiced in heavenly radiance and clearness,\911Leaving the earthly man below;\912I, more than cherub, whose free force\913Dreamed, through the veins of nature penetrating,\914To taste the life of Gods, like them creating,\915Behold me this presumption expiating!\916A word of thunder sweeps me from my course.\917 Myself with thee no longer dare I measure;\918Had I the power to draw thee down at pleasure;\919To hold thee here I still had not the force.\920Oh, in that blest, ecstatic hour,\921I felt myself so small, so great;\922Thou drovest me with cruel power\923Back upon man's uncertain fate\924What shall I do? what slum, thus lonely?\925That impulse must I, then, obey?\926Alas! our very deeds, and not our sufferings only,\927How do they hem and choke life's way!\928 To all the mind conceives of great and glorious\929A strange and baser mixture still adheres;\930Striving for earthly good are we victorious?\931A dream and cheat the better part appears.\932The feelings that could once such noble life inspire\933Are quenched and trampled out in passion's mire.\934 Where Fantasy, erewhile, with daring flight\935Out to the infinite her wings expanded,\936A little space can now suffice her quite,\937When hope on hope time's gulf has wrecked and stranded.\938Care builds her nest far down the heart's recesses,\939There broods o'er dark, untold distresses,\940Restless she sits, and scares thy joy and peace away;\941She puts on some new mask with each new day,\942Herself as house and home, as wife and child presenting,\943As fire and water, bane and blade;\944What never hits makes thee afraid,\945And what is never lost she keeps thee still lamenting.\946 Not like the Gods am I! Too deep that truth is thrust!\947But like the worm, that wriggles through the dust;\948Who, as along the dust for food he feels,\949Is crushed and buried by the traveller's heels.\950 Is it not dust that makes this lofty wall\951Groan with its hundred shelves and cases;\952The rubbish and the thousand trifles all\953That crowd these dark, moth-peopled places?\954Here shall my craving heart find rest?\955Must I perchance a thousand books turn over,\956To find that men are everywhere distrest,\957And here and there one happy one discover?\958Why grin'st thou down upon me, hollow skull?\959But that thy brain, like mine, once trembling, hoping,\960Sought the light day, yet ever sorrowful,\961Burned for the truth in vain, in twilight groping?\962Ye, instruments, of course, are mocking me;\963Its wheels, cogs, bands, and barrels each one praises.\964I waited at the door; you were the key;\965Your ward is nicely turned, and yet no bolt it raises.\966Unlifted in the broadest day,\967Doth Nature's veil from prying eyes defend her,\968And what (he chooses not before thee to display,\969Not all thy screws and levers can force her to surrender.\970Old trumpery! not that I e'er used thee, but\971Because my father used thee, hang'st thou o'er me,\972Old scroll! thou hast been stained with smoke and smut\973Since, on this desk, the lamp first dimly gleamed before me.\974Better have squandered, far, I now can clearly see,\975My little all, than melt beneath it, in this Tophet!\976That which thy fathers have bequeathed to thee,\977Earn and become possessor of it!\978What profits not a weary load will be;\979What it brings forth alone can yield the moment profit.\980 Why do I gaze as if a spell had bound me\981Up yonder? Is that flask a magnet to the eyes?\982What lovely light, so sudden, blooms around me?\983As when in nightly woods we hail the full-moon-rise.\984 I greet thee, rarest phial, precious potion!\985As now I take thee down with deep devotion,\986In thee I venerate man's wit and art.\987Quintessence of all soporific flowers,\988Extract of all the finest deadly powers,\989Thy favor to thy master now impart!\990I look on thee, the sight my pain appeases,\991I handle thee, the strife of longing ceases,\992The flood-tide of the spirit ebbs away.\993Far out to sea I'm drawn, sweet voices listening,\994The glassy waters at my feet are glistening,\995To new shores beckons me a new-born day.\996 A fiery chariot floats, on airy pinions,\997To where I sit! Willing, it beareth me,\998On a new path, through ether's blue dominions,\999To untried spheres of pure activity.\1000This lofty life, this bliss elysian,\1001Worm that thou waft erewhile, deservest thou?\1002Ay, on this earthly sun, this charming vision,\1003Turn thy back resolutely now!\1004Boldly draw near and rend the gates asunder,\1005By which each cowering mortal gladly steals.\1006Now is the time to show by deeds of wonder\1007That manly greatness not to godlike glory yields;\1008Before that gloomy pit to stand, unfearing,\1009Where Fantasy self-damned in its own torment lies,\1010Still onward to that pass-way steering,\1011Around whose narrow mouth hell-flames forever rise;\1012Calmly to dare the step, serene, unshrinking,\1013Though into nothingness the hour should see thee sinking.\1014 Now, then, come down from thy old case, I bid thee,\1015Where thou, forgotten, many a year hast hid thee,\1016Into thy master's hand, pure, crystal glass!\1017The joy-feasts of the fathers thou hast brightened,\1018The hearts of gravest guests were lightened,\1019When, pledged, from hand to hand they saw thee pass.\1020Thy sides, with many a curious type bedight,\1021Which each, as with one draught he quaffed the liquor\1022Must read in rhyme from off the wondrous beaker,\1023Remind me, ah! of many a youthful night.\1024I shall not hand thee now to any neighbor,\1025Not now to show my wit upon thy carvings labor;\1026Here is a juice of quick-intoxicating might.\1027The rich brown flood adown thy sides is streaming,\1028With my own choice ingredients teeming;\1029Be this last draught, as morning now is gleaming,\1030Drained as a lofty pledge to greet the festal light!\1031 [_He puts the goblet to his lips_.\1032\1033_Ringing of bells and choral song_.\1034\1035_Chorus of Angels_. Christ hath arisen!\1036 Joy to humanity!\1037 No more shall vanity,\1038 Death and inanity\1039 Hold thee in prison!\1040\1041_Faust_. What hum of music, what a radiant tone,\1042Thrills through me, from my lips the goblet stealing!\1043Ye murmuring bells, already make ye known\1044The Easter morn's first hour, with solemn pealing?\1045Sing you, ye choirs, e'en now, the glad, consoling song,\1046That once, from angel-lips, through gloom sepulchral rung,\1047A new immortal covenant sealing?\1048\1049_Chorus of Women_. Spices we carried,\1050 Laid them upon his breast;\1051 Tenderly buried\1052 Him whom we loved the best;\1053\1054 Cleanly to bind him\1055 Took we the fondest care,\1056 Ah! and we find him\1057 Now no more there.\1058\1059_Chorus of Angels_. Christ hath ascended!\1060 Reign in benignity!\1061 Pain and indignity,\1062 Scorn and malignity,\1063 _Their_ work have ended.\1064\1065_Faust_. Why seek ye me in dust, forlorn,\1066Ye heavenly tones, with soft enchanting?\1067Go, greet pure-hearted men this holy morn!\1068Your message well I hear, but faith to me is wanting;\1069Wonder, its dearest child, of Faith is born.\1070To yonder spheres I dare no more aspire,\1071Whence the sweet tidings downward float;\1072And yet, from childhood heard, the old, familiar note\1073Calls back e'en now to life my warm desire.\1074Ah! once how sweetly fell on me the kiss\1075Of heavenly love in the still Sabbath stealing!\1076Prophetically rang the bells with solemn pealing;\1077A prayer was then the ecstasy of bliss;\1078A blessed and mysterious yearning\1079Drew me to roam through meadows, woods, and skies;\1080And, midst a thousand tear-drops burning,\1081I felt a world within me rise\1082That strain, oh, how it speaks youth's gleesome plays and feelings,\1083Joys of spring-festivals long past;\1084Remembrance holds me now, with childhood's fond appealings,\1085Back from the fatal step, the last.\1086Sound on, ye heavenly strains, that bliss restore me!\1087Tears gush, once more the spell of earth is o'er me\1088\1089_Chorus of Disciples_. Has the grave's lowly one\1090 Risen victorious?\1091 Sits he, God's Holy One,\1092 High-throned and glorious?\1093 He, in this blest new birth,\1094 Rapture creative knows;[9]\1095 Ah! on the breast of earth\1096 Taste we still nature's woes.\1097 Left here to languish\1098 Lone in a world like this,\1099 Fills us with anguish\1100 Master, thy bliss!\1101\1102_Chorus of Angels_. Christ has arisen\1103 Out of corruption's gloom.\1104 Break from your prison,\1105 Burst every tomb!\1106 Livingly owning him,\1107 Lovingly throning him,\1108 Feasting fraternally,\1109 Praying diurnally,\1110 Bearing his messages,\1111 Sharing his promises,\1112 Find ye your master near,\1113 Find ye him here![10]\1114\1115\1116\1117\1118 BEFORE THE GATE.\1119\1120 _Pedestrians of all descriptions stroll forth_.\1121\1122_Mechanics' Apprentices_. Where are you going to carouse?\1123\1124_Others_. We're all going out to the Hunter's House.\1125\1126_The First_. We're going, ourselves, out to the Mill-House, brothers.\1127\1128_An Apprentice_. The Fountain-House I rather recommend.\1129\1130_Second_. 'Tis not a pleasant road, my friend.\1131\1132_The second group_. What will you do, then?\1133\1134_A Third_. I go with the others.\1135\1136_Fourth_. Come up to Burgdorf, there you're sure to find good cheer,\1137The handsomest of girls and best of beer,\1138And rows, too, of the very first water.\1139\1140_Fifth_. You monstrous madcap, does your skin\1141Itch for the third time to try that inn?\1142I've had enough for _my_ taste in that quarter.\1143\1144_Servant-girl_. No! I'm going back again to town for one.\1145\1146_Others_. Under those poplars we are sure to meet him.\1147\1148_First Girl_. But that for me is no great fun;\1149For you are always sure to get him,\1150He never dances with any but you.\1151Great good to me your luck will do!\1152\1153_Others_. He's not alone, I heard him say,\1154The curly-head would be with him to-day.\1155\1156_Scholar_. Stars! how the buxom wenches stride there!\1157Quick, brother! we must fasten alongside there.\1158Strong beer, good smart tobacco, and the waist\1159Of a right handsome gall, well rigg'd, now that's my taste.\1160\1161_Citizen's Daughter_. Do see those fine, young fellows yonder!\1162'Tis, I declare, a great disgrace;\1163When they might have the very best, I wonder,\1164After these galls they needs must race!\1165\1166_Second scholar_ [_to the first_].\1167Stop! not so fast! there come two more behind,\1168My eyes! but ain't they dressed up neatly?\1169One is my neighbor, or I'm blind;\1170I love the girl, she looks so sweetly.\1171Alone all quietly they go,\1172You'll find they'll take us, by and bye, in tow.\1173\1174_First_. No, brother! I don't like these starched up ways.\1175Make haste! before the game slips through our fingers.\1176The hand that swings the broom o' Saturdays\1177On Sundays round thy neck most sweetly lingers.\1178\1179_Citizen_. No, I don't like at all this new-made burgomaster!\1180His insolence grows daily ever faster.\1181No good from him the town will get!\1182Will things grow better with him? Never!\1183We're under more constraint than ever,\1184And pay more tax than ever yet.\1185\1186_Beggar_. [_Sings_.] Good gentlemen, and you, fair ladies,\1187 With such red cheeks and handsome dress,\1188 Think what my melancholy trade is,\1189 And see and pity my distress!\1190 Help the poor harper, sisters, brothers!\1191 Who loves to give, alone is gay.\1192 This day, a holiday to others,\1193 Make it for me a harvest day.\1194\1195_Another citizen_.\1196Sundays and holidays, I like, of all things, a good prattle\1197Of war and fighting, and the whole array,\1198When back in Turkey, far away,\1199The peoples give each other battle.\1200One stands before the window, drinks his glass,\1201And sees the ships with flags glide slowly down the river;\1202Comes home at night, when out of sight they pass,\1203And sings with joy, \"Oh, peace forever!\"\1204\1205_Third citizen_. So I say, neighbor! let them have their way,\1206Crack skulls and in their crazy riot\1207Turn all things upside down they may,\1208But leave us here in peace and quiet.\1209\1210_Old Woman_ [_to the citizen's daughter_].\1211Heyday, brave prinking this! the fine young blood!\1212Who is not smitten that has met you?--\1213But not so proud! All very good!\1214And what you want I'll promise soon to get you.\1215\1216_Citizen's Daughter_. Come, Agatha! I dread in public sight\1217To prattle with such hags; don't stay, O, Luddy!\1218'Tis true she showed me, on St. Andrew's night,\1219My future sweetheart in the body.\1220\1221_The other_. She showed me mine, too, in a glass,\1222Right soldierlike, with daring comrades round him.\1223I look all round, I study all that pass,\1224But to this hour I have not found him.\1225\1226_Soldiers_. Castles with lowering\1227 Bulwarks and towers,\1228 Maidens with towering\1229 Passions and powers,\1230 Both shall be ours!\1231 Daring the venture,\1232 Glorious the pay!\1233\1234 When the brass trumpet\1235 Summons us loudly,\1236 Joy-ward or death-ward,\1237 On we march proudly.\1238 That is a storming!\1239\1240 Life in its splendor!\1241 Castles and maidens\1242 Both must surrender.\1243 Daring the venture,\1244 Glorious the pay.\1245 There go the soldiers\1246 Marching away!\1247\1248\1249 FAUST _and_ WAGNER.\1250\1251_Faust_. Spring's warm look has unfettered the fountains,\1252Brooks go tinkling with silvery feet;\1253Hope's bright blossoms the valley greet;\1254Weakly and sickly up the rough mountains\1255Pale old Winter has made his retreat.\1256Thence he launches, in sheer despite,\1257Sleet and hail in impotent showers,\1258O'er the green lawn as he takes his flight;\1259But the sun will suffer no white,\1260Everywhere waking the formative powers,\1261Living colors he yearns to spread;\1262Yet, as he finds it too early for flowers,\1263Gayly dressed people he takes instead.\1264Look from this height whereon we find us\1265Back to the town we have left behind us,\1266Where from the dark and narrow door\1267Forth a motley multitude pour.\1268They sun themselves gladly and all are gay,\1269They celebrate Christ's resurrection to-day.\1270For have not they themselves arisen?\1271From smoky huts and hovels and stables,\1272From labor's bonds and traffic's prison,\1273From the confinement of roofs and gables,\1274From many a cramping street and alley,\1275From churches full of the old world's night,\1276All have come out to the day's broad light.\1277See, only see! how the masses sally\1278Streaming and swarming through gardens and fields\1279How the broad stream that bathes the valley\1280Is everywhere cut with pleasure boats' keels,\1281And that last skiff, so heavily laden,\1282Almost to sinking, puts off in the stream;\1283Ribbons and jewels of youngster and maiden\1284From the far paths of the mountain gleam.\1285How it hums o'er the fields and clangs from the steeple!\1286This is the real heaven of the people,\1287Both great and little are merry and gay,\1288I am a man, too, I can be, to-day.\1289\1290_Wagner_. With you, Sir Doctor, to go out walking\1291Is at all times honor and gain enough;\1292But to trust myself here alone would be shocking,\1293For I am a foe to all that is rough.\1294Fiddling and bowling and screams and laughter\1295To me are the hatefullest noises on earth;\1296They yell as if Satan himself were after,\1297And call it music and call it mirth.\1298\1299 [_Peasants (under the linden). Dance and song._]\1300\1301The shepherd prinked him for the dance,\1302With jacket gay and spangle's glance,\1303And all his finest quiddle.\1304And round the linden lass and lad\1305They wheeled and whirled and danced like mad.\1306Huzza! huzza!\1307Huzza! Ha, ha, ha!\1308And tweedle-dee went the fiddle.\1309\1310And in he bounded through the whirl,\1311And with his elbow punched a girl,\1312Heigh diddle, diddle!\1313The buxom wench she turned round quick,\1314\"Now that I call a scurvy trick!\"\1315Huzza! huzza!\1316Huzza! ha, ha, ha!\1317Tweedle-dee, tweedle-dee went the fiddle.\1318\1319And petticoats and coat-tails flew\1320As up and down they went, and through,\1321Across and down the middle.\1322They all grew red, they all grew warm,\1323And rested, panting, arm in arm,\1324Huzza! huzza!\1325Ta-ra-la!\1326Tweedle-dee went the fiddle!\1327\1328\"And don't be so familiar there!\1329How many a one, with speeches fair,\1330His trusting maid will diddle!\"\1331But still he flattered her aside--\1332And from the linden sounded wide:\1333Huzza! huzza!\1334Huzza! huzza! ha! ha! ha!\1335And tweedle-dee the fiddle.\1336\1337_Old Peasant._ Sir Doctor, this is kind of you,\1338That with us here you deign to talk,\1339And through the crowd of folk to-day\1340A man so highly larned, walk.\1341So take the fairest pitcher here,\1342Which we with freshest drink have filled,\1343I pledge it to you, praying aloud\1344That, while your thirst thereby is stilled,\1345So many days as the drops it contains\1346May fill out the life that to you remains.\1347\1348_Faust._ I take the quickening draught and call\1349For heaven's best blessing on one and all.\1350\1351 [_The people form a circle round him._]\1352\1353_Old Peasant._ Your presence with us, this glad day,\1354We take it very kind, indeed!\1355In truth we've found you long ere this\1356In evil days a friend in need!\1357Full many a one stands living here,\1358Whom, at death's door already laid,\1359Your father snatched from fever's rage,\1360When, by his skill, the plague he stayed.\1361You, a young man, we daily saw\1362Go with him to the pest-house then,\1363And many a corpse was carried forth,\1364But you came out alive again.\1365With a charmed life you passed before us,\1366Helped by the Helper watching o'er us.\1367\1368_All._ The well-tried man, and may he live,\1369Long years a helping hand to give!\1370\1371_Faust._ Bow down to Him on high who sends\1372His heavenly help and helping friends!\1373 [_He goes on with_ WAGNER.]\1374\1375_Wagner._ What feelings, O great man, thy heart must swell\1376Thus to receive a people's veneration!\1377O worthy all congratulation,\1378Whose gifts to such advantage tell.\1379The father to his son shows thee with exultation,\1380All run and crowd and ask, the circle closer draws,\1381The fiddle stops, the dancers pause,\1382Thou goest--the lines fall back for thee.\1383They fling their gay-decked caps on high;\1384A little more and they would bow the knee\1385As if the blessed Host came by.\1386\1387_Faust._ A few steps further on, until we reach that stone;\1388There will we rest us from our wandering.\1389How oft in prayer and penance there alone,\1390Fasting, I sate, on holy mysteries pondering.\1391There, rich in hope, in faith still firm,\1392I've wept, sighed, wrung my hands and striven\1393This plague's removal to extort (poor worm!)\1394From the almighty Lord of Heaven.\1395The crowd's applause has now a scornful tone;\1396O couldst thou hear my conscience tell its story,\1397How little either sire or son\1398Has done to merit such a glory!\1399My father was a worthy man, confused\1400And darkened with his narrow lucubrations,\1401Who with a whimsical, though well-meant patience,\1402On Nature's holy circles mused.\1403Shut up in his black laboratory,\1404Experimenting without end,\1405'Midst his adepts, till he grew hoary,\1406He sought the opposing powers to blend.\1407Thus, a red lion,[11] a bold suitor, married\1408The silver lily, in the lukewarm bath,\1409And, from one bride-bed to another harried,\1410The two were seen to fly before the flaming wrath.\1411If then, with colors gay and splendid,\1412The glass the youthful queen revealed,\1413Here was the physic, death the patients' sufferings ended,\1414And no one asked, who then was healed?\1415Thus, with electuaries so satanic,\1416Worse than the plague with all its panic,\1417We rioted through hill and vale;\1418Myself, with my own hands, the drug to thousands giving,\1419They passed away, and I am living\1420To hear men's thanks the murderers hail!\1421\1422_Wagner._ Forbear! far other name that service merits!\1423Can a brave man do more or less\1424Than with nice conscientiousness\1425To exercise the calling he inherits?\1426If thou, as youth, thy father honorest,\1427To learn from him thou wilt desire;\1428If thou, as man, men with new light hast blest,\1429Then may thy son to loftier heights aspire.\1430\1431_Faust._ O blest! who hopes to find repose,\1432Up from this mighty sea of error diving!\1433Man cannot use what he already knows,\1434To use the unknown ever striving.\1435But let not such dark thoughts a shadow throw\1436O'er the bright joy this hour inspires!\1437See how the setting sun, with ruddy glow,\1438The green-embosomed hamlet fires!\1439He sinks and fades, the day is lived and gone,\1440He hastens forth new scenes of life to waken.\1441O for a wing to lift and bear me on,\1442And on, to where his last rays beckon!\1443Then should I see the world's calm breast\1444In everlasting sunset glowing,\1445The summits all on fire, each valley steeped in rest,\1446The silver brook to golden rivers flowing.\1447No savage mountain climbing to the skies\1448Should stay the godlike course with wild abysses;\1449And now the sea, with sheltering, warm recesses\1450Spreads out before the astonished eyes.\1451At last it seems as if the God were sinking;\1452But a new impulse fires the mind,\1453Onward I speed, his endless glory drinking,\1454The day before me and the night behind,\1455The heavens above my head and under me the ocean.\1456A lovely dream,--meanwhile he's gone from sight.\1457Ah! sure, no earthly wing, in swiftest flight,\1458May with the spirit's wings hold equal motion.\1459Yet has each soul an inborn feeling\1460Impelling it to mount and soar away,\1461When, lost in heaven's blue depths, the lark is pealing\1462High overhead her airy lay;\1463When o'er the mountain pine's black shadow,\1464With outspread wing the eagle sweeps,\1465And, steering on o'er lake and meadow,\1466The crane his homeward journey keeps.\1467\1468_Wagner._ I've had myself full many a wayward hour,\1469But never yet felt such a passion's power.\1470One soon grows tired of field and wood and brook,\1471I envy not the fowl of heaven his pinions.\1472Far nobler joy to soar through thought's dominions\1473From page to page, from book to book!\1474Ah! winter nights, so dear to mind and soul!\1475Warm, blissful life through all the limbs is thrilling,\1476And when thy hands unfold a genuine ancient scroll,\1477It seems as if all heaven the room were filling.\1478\1479_Faust_. One passion only has thy heart possessed;\1480The other, friend, O, learn it never!\1481Two souls, alas! are lodged in my wild breast,\1482Which evermore opposing ways endeavor,\1483The one lives only on the joys of time,\1484Still to the world with clamp-like organs clinging;\1485The other leaves this earthly dust and slime,\1486To fields of sainted sires up-springing.\1487O, are there spirits in the air,\1488That empire hold 'twixt earth's and heaven's dominions,\1489Down from your realm of golden haze repair,\1490Waft me to new, rich life, upon your rosy pinions!\1491Ay! were a magic mantle only mine,\1492To soar o'er earth's wide wildernesses,\1493I would not sell it for the costliest dresses,\1494Not for a royal robe the gift resign.\1495\1496_Wagner_. O, call them not, the well known powers of air,\1497That swarm through all the middle kingdom, weaving\1498Their fairy webs, with many a fatal snare\1499The feeble race of men deceiving.\1500First, the sharp spirit-tooth, from out the North,\1501And arrowy tongues and fangs come thickly flying;\1502Then from the East they greedily dart forth,\1503Sucking thy lungs, thy life-juice drying;\1504If from the South they come with fever thirst,\1505Upon thy head noon's fiery splendors heaping;\1506The Westwind brings a swarm, refreshing first,\1507Then all thy world with thee in stupor steeping.\1508They listen gladly, aye on mischief bent,\1509Gladly draw near, each weak point to espy,\1510They make believe that they from heaven are sent,\1511Whispering like angels, while they lie.\1512But let us go! The earth looks gray, my friend,\1513The air grows cool, the mists ascend!\1514At night we learn our homes to prize.--\1515Why dost thou stop and stare with all thy eyes?\1516What can so chain thy sight there, in the gloaming?\1517\1518_Faust_. Seest thou that black dog through stalks and stubble roaming?\1519\1520_Wagner_. I saw him some time since, he seemed not strange to me.\1521\1522_Faust_. Look sharply! What dost take the beast to be?\1523\1524_Wagner_. For some poor poodle who has lost his master,\1525And, dog-like, scents him o'er the ground.\1526\1527_Faust_. Markst thou how, ever nearer, ever faster,\1528Towards us his spiral track wheels round and round?\1529And if my senses suffer no confusion,\1530Behind him trails a fiery glare.\1531\1532_Wagner_. 'Tis probably an optical illusion;\1533I still see only a black poodle there.\1534\1535_Faust_. He seems to me as he were tracing slyly\1536His magic rings our feet at last to snare.\1537\1538_Wagner_. To me he seems to dart around our steps so shyly,\1539As if he said: is one of them my master there?\1540\1541_Faust_. The circle narrows, he is near!\1542\1543_Wagner_. Thou seest! a dog we have, no spectre, here!\1544He growls and stops, crawls on his belly, too,\1545And wags his tail,--as all dogs do.\1546\1547_Faust_. Come here, sir! come, our comrade be!\1548\1549_Wagner_. He has a poodle's drollery.\1550Stand still, and he, too, waits to see;\1551Speak to him, and he jumps on thee;\1552Lose something, drop thy cane or sling it\1553Into the stream, he'll run and bring it.\1554\1555_Faust_. I think you're right; I trace no spirit here,\1556'Tis all the fruit of training, that is clear.\1557\1558_Wagner_. A well-trained dog is a great treasure,\1559Wise men in such will oft take pleasure.\1560And he deserves your favor and a collar,\1561He, of the students the accomplished scholar.\1562\1563 [_They go in through the town gate._]\1564\1565\1566\1567\1568 STUDY-CHAMBER.\1569\1570 _Enter_ FAUST _with the_ POODLE.\1571\1572\1573I leave behind me field and meadow\1574Veiled in the dusk of holy night,\1575Whose ominous and awful shadow\1576Awakes the better soul to light.\1577To sleep are lulled the wild desires,\1578The hand of passion lies at rest;\1579The love of man the bosom fires,\1580The love of God stirs up the breast.\1581\1582Be quiet, poodle! what worrisome fiend hath possest thee,\1583Nosing and snuffling so round the door?\1584Go behind the stove there and rest thee,\1585There's my best pillow--what wouldst thou more?\1586As, out on the mountain-paths, frisking and leaping,\1587Thou, to amuse us, hast done thy best,\1588So now in return lie still in my keeping,\1589A quiet, contented, and welcome guest.\1590\1591When, in our narrow chamber, nightly,\1592The friendly lamp begins to burn,\1593Then in the bosom thought beams brightly,\1594Homeward the heart will then return.\1595Reason once more bids passion ponder,\1596Hope blooms again and smiles on man;\1597Back to life's rills he yearns to wander,\1598Ah! to the source where life began.\1599\1600Stop growling, poodle! In the music Elysian\1601That laps my soul at this holy hour,\1602These bestial noises have jarring power.\1603We know that men will treat with derision\1604Whatever they cannot understand,\1605At goodness and truth and beauty's vision\1606Will shut their eyes and murmur and howl at it;\1607And must the dog, too, snarl and growl at it?\1608\1609But ah, with the best will, I feel already,\1610No peace will well up in me, clear and steady.\1611But why must hope so soon deceive us,\1612And the dried-up stream in fever leave us?\1613For in this I have had a full probation.\1614And yet for this want a supply is provided,\1615To a higher than earth the soul is guided,\1616We are ready and yearn for revelation:\1617And where are its light and warmth so blent\1618As here in the New Testament?\1619I feel, this moment, a mighty yearning\1620To expound for once the ground text of all,\1621The venerable original\1622Into my own loved German honestly turning.\1623 [_He opens the volume, and applies himself to the task_.]\1624\"In the beginning was the _Word_.\" I read.\1625But here I stick! Who helps me to proceed?\1626The _Word_--so high I cannot--dare not, rate it,\1627I must, then, otherwise translate it,\1628If by the spirit I am rightly taught.\1629It reads: \"In the beginning was the _thought_.\"\1630But study well this first line's lesson,\1631Nor let thy pen to error overhasten!\1632Is it the _thought_ does all from time's first hour?\1633\"In the beginning,\" read then, \"was the _power_.\"\1634Yet even while I write it down, my finger\1635Is checked, a voice forbids me there to linger.\1636The spirit helps! At once I dare to read\1637And write: \"In the beginning was the _deed_.\"\1638\1639If I with thee must share my chamber,\1640Poodle, now, remember,\1641No more howling,\1642No more growling!\1643I had as lief a bull should bellow,\1644As have for a chum such a noisy fellow.\1645Stop that yell, now,\1646One of us must quit this cell now!\1647'Tis hard to retract hospitality,\1648But the door is open, thy way is free.\1649But what ails the creature?\1650Is this in the course of nature?\1651Is it real? or one of Fancy's shows?\1652\1653How long and broad my poodle grows!\1654He rises from the ground;\1655That is no longer the form of a hound!\1656Heaven avert the curse from us!\1657He looks like a hippopotamus,\1658With his fiery eyes and the terrible white\1659Of his grinning teeth! oh what a fright\1660Have I brought with me into the house! Ah now,\1661No mystery art thou!\1662Methinks for such half hellish brood\1663The key of Solomon were good.\1664\1665_Spirits_ [_in the passage_]. Softly! a fellow is caught there!\1666 Keep back, all of you, follow him not there!\1667 Like the fox in the trap,\1668 Mourns the old hell-lynx his mishap.\1669 But give ye good heed!\1670 This way hover, that way hover,\1671 Over and over,\1672 And he shall right soon be freed.\1673 Help can you give him,\1674 O do not leave him!\1675 Many good turns he's done us,\1676 Many a fortune won us.\1677\1678_Faust_. First, to encounter the creature\1679By the spell of the Four, says the teacher:\1680 Salamander shall glisten,[12]\1681 Undina lapse lightly,\1682 Sylph vanish brightly,\1683 Kobold quick listen.\1684\1685He to whom Nature\1686Shows not, as teacher,\1687Every force\1688And secret source,\1689Over the spirits\1690No power inherits.\1691\1692 Vanish in glowing\1693 Flame, Salamander!\1694 Inward, spirally flowing,\1695 Gurgle, Undine!\1696 Gleam in meteoric splendor,\1697 Airy Queen!\1698 Thy homely help render,\1699 Incubus! Incubus!\1700 Forth and end the charm for us!\1701\1702No kingdom of Nature\1703Resides in the creature.\1704He lies there grinning--'tis clear, my charm\1705Has done the monster no mite of harm.\1706I'll try, for thy curing,\1707Stronger adjuring.\1708\1709 Art thou a jail-bird,\1710 A runaway hell-bird?\1711 This sign,[13] then--adore it!\1712 They tremble before it\1713 All through the dark dwelling.\1714\1715His hair is bristling--his body swelling.\1716\1717 Reprobate creature!\1718 Canst read his nature?\1719 The Uncreated,\1720 Ineffably Holy,\1721 With Deity mated,\1722 Sin's victim lowly?\1723\1724Driven behind the stove by my spells,\1725Like an elephant he swells;\1726He fills the whole room, so huge he's grown,\1727He waxes shadowy faster and faster.\1728Rise not up to the ceiling--down!\1729Lay thyself at the feet of thy master!\1730Thou seest, there's reason to dread my ire.\1731I'll scorch thee with the holy fire!\1732Wait not for the sight\1733Of the thrice-glowing light!\1734Wait not to feel the might\1735Of the potentest spell in all my treasure!\1736\1737\1738 MEPHISTOPHELES.\1739 [_As the mist sinks, steps forth from behind the stove,\1740 dressed as a travelling scholasticus_.]\1741Why all this noise? What is your worship's pleasure?\1742\1743_Faust_. This was the poodle's essence then!\1744A travelling clark? Ha! ha! The casus is too funny.\1745\1746_Mephistopheles_. I bow to the most learned among men!\1747'Faith you did sweat me without ceremony.\1748\1749_Faust_. What is thy name?\1750\1751_Mephistopheles_. The question seems too small\1752For one who holds the _word_ so very cheaply,\1753Who, far removed from shadows all,\1754For substances alone seeks deeply.\1755\1756_Faust_. With gentlemen like him in my presence,\1757The name is apt to express the essence,\1758Especially if, when you inquire,\1759You find it God of flies,[14] Destroyer, Slanderer, Liar.\1760Well now, who art thou then?\1761\1762_Mephistopheles_. A portion of that power,\1763Which wills the bad and works the good at every hour.\1764\1765_Faust_. Beneath thy riddle-word what meaning lies?\1766\1767_Mephistopheles_. I am the spirit that denies!\1768And justly so; for all that time creates,\1769He does well who annihilates!\1770Better, it ne'er had had beginning;\1771And so, then, all that you call sinning,\1772Destruction,--all you pronounce ill-meant,--\1773Is my original element.\1774\1775_Faust_. Thou call'st thyself a part, yet lookst complete to me.\1776\1777_Mephistopheles_. I speak the modest truth to thee.\1778A world of folly in one little soul,\1779_Man_ loves to think himself a whole;\1780Part of the part am I, which once was all, the Gloom\1781That brought forth Light itself from out her mighty womb,\1782The upstart proud, that now with mother Night\1783Disputes her ancient rank and space and right,\1784Yet never shall prevail, since, do whate'er he will,\1785He cleaves, a slave, to bodies still;\1786From bodies flows, makes bodies fair to sight;\1787A body in his course can check him,\1788His doom, I therefore hope, will soon o'ertake him,\1789With bodies merged in nothingness and night.\1790\1791_Faust_. Ah, now I see thy high vocation!\1792In gross thou canst not harm creation,\1793And so in small hast now begun.\1794\1795_Mephistopheles_. And, truth to tell, e'en here, not much have done.\1796That which at nothing the gauntlet has hurled,\1797This, what's its name? this clumsy world,\1798So far as I have undertaken,\1799I have to own, remains unshaken\1800By wave, storm, earthquake, fiery brand.\1801Calm, after all, remain both sea and land.\1802And the damn'd living fluff, of man and beast the brood,\1803It laughs to scorn my utmost power.\1804I've buried myriads by the hour,\1805And still there circulates each hour a new, fresh blood.\1806It were enough to drive one to distraction!\1807Earth, water, air, in constant action,\1808Through moist and dry, through warm and cold,\1809Going forth in endless germination!\1810Had I not claimed of fire a reservation,\1811Not one thing I alone should hold.\1812\1813_Faust_. Thus, with the ever-working power\1814Of good dost thou in strife persist,\1815And in vain malice, to this hour,\1816Clenchest thy cold and devilish fist!\1817Go try some other occupation,\1818Singular son of Chaos, thou!\1819\1820_Mephistopheles_. We'll give the thing consideration,\1821When next we meet again! But now\1822Might I for once, with leave retire?\1823\1824_Faust_. Why thou shouldst ask I do not see.\1825Now that I know thee, when desire\1826Shall prompt thee, freely visit me.\1827Window and door give free admission.\1828At least there's left the chimney flue.\1829\1830_Mephistopheles_. Let me confess there's one small prohibition\1831\1832Lies on thy threshold, 'gainst my walking through,\1833The wizard-foot--[15]\1834\1835_Faust_. Does that delay thee?\1836The Pentagram disturbs thee? Now,\1837Come tell me, son of hell, I pray thee,\1838If that spell-binds thee, then how enteredst thou?\1839_Thou_ shouldst proceed more circumspectly!\1840\1841_Mephistopheles_. Mark well! the figure is not drawn correctly;\1842One of the angles, 'tis the outer one,\1843Is somewhat open, dost perceive it?\1844\1845_Faust_. That was a lucky hit, believe it!\1846And I have caught thee then? Well done!\1847'Twas wholly chance--I'm quite astounded!\1848\1849_Mephistopheles_. The _poodle_ took no heed,\1850as through the door he bounded;\1851The case looks differently now;\1852The _devil_ can leave the house no-how.\1853\1854_Faust_. The window offers free emission.\1855\1856_Mephistopheles_. Devils and ghosts are bound by this condition:\1857\1858The way they entered in, they must come out. Allow\1859In the first clause we're free, yet not so in the second.\1860\1861_Faust_. In hell itself, then, laws are reckoned?\1862Now that I like; so then, one may, in fact,\1863Conclude a binding compact with you gentry?\1864\1865_Mephistopheles_. Whatever promise on our books finds entry,\1866We strictly carry into act.\1867But hereby hangs a grave condition,\1868Of this we'll talk when next we meet;\1869But for the present I entreat\1870Most urgently your kind dismission.\1871\1872_Faust_. Do stay but just one moment longer, then,\1873Tell me good news and I'll release thee.\1874\1875_Mephistopheles_. Let me go now! I'll soon come back again,\1876Then may'st thou ask whate'er shall please thee.\1877\1878_Faust_. I laid no snare for thee, old chap!\1879Thou shouldst have watched and saved thy bacon.\1880Who has the devil in his trap\1881Must hold him fast, next time he'll not so soon be taken.\1882\1883_Mephistopheles_. Well, if it please thee, I'm content to stay\1884For company, on one condition,\1885That I, for thy amusement, may\1886To exercise my arts have free permission.\1887\1888_Faust_. I gladly grant it, if they be\1889Not disagreeable to me.\1890\1891_Mephistopheles_. Thy senses, friend, in this one hour\1892Shall grasp the world with clearer power\1893Than in a year's monotony.\1894The songs the tender spirits sing thee,\1895The lovely images they bring thee\1896Are not an idle magic play.\1897Thou shalt enjoy the daintiest savor,\1898Then feast thy taste on richest flavor,\1899Then thy charmed heart shall melt away.\1900Come, all are here, and all have been\1901Well trained and practised, now begin!\1902\1903_Spirits_. Vanish, ye gloomy\1904 Vaulted abysses!\1905 Tenderer, clearer,\1906 Friendlier, nearer,\1907 Ether, look through!\1908 O that the darkling\1909 Cloud-piles were riven!\1910 Starlight is sparkling,\1911 Purer is heaven,\1912 Holier sunshine\1913 Softens the blue.\1914 Graces, adorning\1915 Sons of the morning--\1916 Shadowy wavings--\1917 Float along over;\1918 Yearnings and cravings\1919 After them hover.\1920 Garments ethereal,\1921 Tresses aerial,\1922 Float o'er the flowers,\1923 Float o'er the bowers,\1924 Where, with deep feeling,\1925 Thoughtful and tender,\1926 Lovers, embracing,\1927 Life-vows are sealing.\1928 Bowers on bowers!\1929 Graceful and slender\1930 Vines interlacing!\1931 Purple and blushing,\1932 Under the crushing\1933 Wine-presses gushing,\1934 Grape-blood, o'erflowing,\1935 Down over gleaming\1936 Precious stones streaming,\1937 Leaves the bright glowing\1938 Tops of the mountains,\1939 Leaves the red fountains,\1940 Widening and rushing,\1941 Till it encloses\1942 Green hills all flushing,\1943 Laden with roses.\1944 Happy ones, swarming,\1945 Ply their swift pinions,\1946 Glide through the charming\1947 Airy dominions,\1948 Sunward still fleering,\1949 Onward, where peering\1950 Far o'er the ocean,\1951 Islets are dancing\1952 With an entrancing,\1953 Magical motion;\1954 Hear them, in chorus,\1955 Singing high o'er us;\1956 Over the meadows\1957 Flit the bright shadows;\1958 Glad eyes are glancing,\1959 Tiny feet dancing.\1960 Up the high ridges\1961 Some of them clamber,\1962 Others are skimming\1963 Sky-lakes of amber,\1964 Others are swimming\1965 Over the ocean;--\1966 All are in motion,\1967 Life-ward all yearning,\1968 Longingly turning\1969 To the far-burning\1970 Star-light of bliss.\1971\1972_Mephistopheles_. He sleeps! Ye airy, tender youths, your numbers\1973Have sung him into sweetest slumbers!\1974You put me greatly in your debt by this.\1975Thou art not yet the man that shall hold fast the devil!\1976Still cheat his senses with your magic revel,\1977Drown him in dreams of endless youth;\1978But this charm-mountain on the sill to level,\1979I need, O rat, thy pointed tooth!\1980Nor need I conjure long, they're near me,\1981E'en now comes scampering one, who presently will hear me.\1982\1983The sovereign lord of rats and mice,\1984Of flies and frogs and bugs and lice,\1985Commands thee to come forth this hour,\1986And gnaw this threshold with great power,\1987As he with oil the same shall smear--\1988Ha! with a skip e'en now thou'rt here!\1989But brisk to work! The point by which I'm cowered,\1990Is on the ledge, the farthest forward.\1991Yet one more bite, the deed is done.--\1992Now, Faust, until we meet again, dream on!\1993\1994_Faust_. [_Waking_.] Again has witchcraft triumphed o'er me?\1995Was it a ghostly show, so soon withdrawn?\1996I dream, the devil stands himself before me--wake, to find a poodle gone!\1997\1998\1999\2000\2001 STUDY-CHAMBER.\2002\2003 FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES.\2004\2005\2006_Faust_. A knock? Walk in! Who comes again to tease me?\2007\2008_Mephistopheles_. 'Tis I.\2009\2010_Faust_. Come in!\2011\2012_Mephistopheles_. Must say it thrice, to please me.\2013\2014_Faust_. Come in then!\2015\2016_Mephistopheles_. That I like to hear.\2017We shall, I hope, bear with each other;\2018For to dispel thy crotchets, brother,\2019As a young lord, I now appear,\2020In scarlet dress, trimmed with gold lacing,\2021A stiff silk cloak with stylish facing,\2022A tall cock's feather in my hat,\2023A long, sharp rapier to defend me,\2024And I advise thee, short and flat,\2025In the same costume to attend me;\2026If thou wouldst, unembarrassed, see\2027What sort of thing this life may be.\2028\2029_Faust_. In every dress I well may feel the sore\2030Of this low earth-life's melancholy.\2031I am too old to live for folly,\2032Too young, to wish for nothing more.\2033Am I content with all creation?\2034Renounce! renounce! Renunciation--\2035Such is the everlasting song\2036That in the ears of all men rings,\2037Which every hour, our whole life long,\2038With brazen accents hoarsely sings.\2039With terror I behold each morning's light,\2040With bitter tears my eyes are filling,\2041To see the day that shall not in its flight\2042Fulfil for me one wish, not one, but killing\2043Every presentiment of zest\2044With wayward skepticism, chases\2045The fair creations from my breast\2046With all life's thousand cold grimaces.\2047And when at night I stretch me on my bed\2048And darkness spreads its shadow o'er me;\2049No rest comes then anigh my weary head,\2050Wild dreams and spectres dance before me.\2051The God who dwells within my soul\2052Can heave its depths at any hour;\2053Who holds o'er all my faculties control\2054Has o'er the outer world no power;\2055Existence lies a load upon my breast,\2056Life is a curse and death a long'd-for rest.\2057\2058_Mephistopheles_. And yet death never proves a wholly welcome guest.\2059\2060_Faust_. O blest! for whom, when victory's joy fire blazes,\2061Death round his brow the bloody laurel windeth,\2062Whom, weary with the dance's mazes,\2063He on a maiden's bosom findeth.\2064O that, beneath the exalted spirit's power,\2065I had expired, in rapture sinking!\2066\2067_Mephistopheles_. And yet I knew one, in a midnight hour,\2068Who a brown liquid shrank from drinking.\2069\2070_Faust_. Eaves-dropping seems a favorite game with thee.\2071\2072_Mephistopheles_. Omniscient am I not; yet much is known to me.\2073\2074_Faust_. Since that sweet tone, with fond appealing,\2075Drew me from witchcraft's horrid maze,\2076And woke the lingering childlike feeling\2077With harmonies of happier days;\2078My curse on all the mock-creations\2079That weave their spell around the soul,\2080And bind it with their incantations\2081And orgies to this wretched hole!\2082Accursed be the high opinion\2083Hugged by the self-exalting mind!\2084Accursed all the dream-dominion\2085That makes the dazzled senses blind!\2086Curs'd be each vision that befools us,\2087Of fame, outlasting earthly life!\2088Curs'd all that, as possession, rules us,\2089As house and barn, as child and wife!\2090Accurs'd be mammon, when with treasure\2091He fires our hearts for deeds of might,\2092When, for a dream of idle pleasure,\2093He makes our pillow smooth and light!\2094Curs'd be the grape-vine's balsam-juices!\2095On love's high grace my curses fall!\2096On faith! On hope that man seduces,\2097On patience last, not least, of all!\2098\2099_Choir of spirits_. [_Invisible_.] Woe! Woe!\2100 Thou hast ground it to dust,\2101 The beautiful world,\2102 With mighty fist;\2103 To ruins 'tis hurled;\2104 A demi-god's blow hath done it!\2105 A moment we look upon it,\2106 Then carry (sad duty!)\2107 The fragments over into nothingness,\2108 With tears unavailing\2109 Bewailing\2110 All the departed beauty.\2111 Lordlier\2112 Than all sons of men,\2113 Proudlier\2114 Build it again,\2115 Build it up in thy breast anew!\2116 A fresh career pursue,\2117 Before thee\2118 A clearer view,\2119 And, from the Empyréan,\2120 A new-born Paean\2121 Shall greet thee, too!\2122\2123_Mephistopheles_. Be pleased to admire\2124 My juvenile choir!\2125 Hear how they counsel in manly measure\2126 Action and pleasure!\2127 Out into life,\2128 Its joy and strife,\2129 Away from this lonely hole,\2130 Where senses and soul\2131 Rot in stagnation,\2132 Calls thee their high invitation.\2133\2134Give over toying with thy sorrow\2135Which like a vulture feeds upon thy heart;\2136Thou shalt, in the worst company, to-morrow\2137Feel that with men a man thou art.\2138Yet I do not exactly intend\2139Among the canaille to plant thee.\2140I'm none of your magnates, I grant thee;\2141Yet if thou art willing, my friend,\2142Through life to jog on beside me,\2143Thy pleasure in all things shall guide me,\2144To thee will I bind me,\2145A friend thou shalt find me,\2146And, e'en to the grave,\2147Shalt make me thy servant, make me thy slave!\2148\2149_Faust_. And in return what service shall I render?\2150\2151_Mephistopheles_. There's ample grace--no hurry, not the least.\2152\2153_Faust_. No, no, the devil is an egotist,\2154And does not easily \"for God's sake\" tender\2155That which a neighbor may assist.\2156Speak plainly the conditions, come!\2157'Tis dangerous taking such a servant home.\2158\2159_Mephistopheles_. I to thy service _here_ agree to bind me,\2160To run and never rest at call of thee;\2161When _over yonder_ thou shalt find me,\2162Then thou shalt do as much for me.\2163\2164_Faust_. I care not much what's over yonder:\2165When thou hast knocked this world asunder,\2166Come if it will the other may!\2167Up from this earth my pleasures all are streaming,\2168Down on my woes this earthly sun is beaming;\2169Let me but end this fit of dreaming,\2170Then come what will, I've nought to say.\2171I'll hear no more of barren wonder\2172If in that world they hate and love,\2173And whether in that future yonder\2174There's a Below and an Above.\2175\2176_Mephistopheles._ In such a mood thou well mayst venture.\2177Bind thyself to me, and by this indenture\2178Thou shalt enjoy with relish keen\2179Fruits of my arts that man had never seen.\2180\2181_Faust_. And what hast thou to give, poor devil?\2182Was e'er a human mind, upon its lofty level,\2183Conceived of by the like of thee?\2184Yet hast thou food that brings satiety,\2185Not satisfaction; gold that reftlessly,\2186Like quicksilver, melts down within\2187The hands; a game in which men never win;\2188A maid that, hanging on my breast,\2189Ogles a neighbor with her wanton glances;\2190Of fame the glorious godlike zest,\2191That like a short-lived meteor dances--\2192Show me the fruit that, ere it's plucked, will rot,\2193And trees from which new green is daily peeping!\2194\2195_Mephistopheles_. Such a requirement scares me not;\2196Such treasures have I in my keeping.\2197Yet shall there also come a time, good friend,\2198When we may feast on good things at our leisure.\2199\2200_Faust_. If e'er I lie content upon a lounge of pleasure--\2201Then let there be of me an end!\2202When thou with flattery canst cajole me,\2203Till I self-satisfied shall be,\2204When thou with pleasure canst befool me,\2205Be that the last of days for me!\2206I lay the wager!\2207\2208_Mephistopheles_. Done!\2209\2210_Faust_. And heartily!\2211Whenever to the passing hour\2212I cry: O stay! thou art so fair!\2213To chain me down I give thee power\2214To the black bottom of despair!\2215Then let my knell no longer linger,\2216Then from my service thou art free,\2217Fall from the clock the index-finger,\2218Be time all over, then, for me!\2219\2220_Mephistopheles_. Think well, for we shall hold you to the letter.\2221\2222_Faust_. Full right to that just now I gave;\2223I spoke not as an idle braggart better.\2224Henceforward I remain a slave,\2225What care I who puts on the setter?\2226\2227_Mephistopheles_. I shall this very day, at Doctor's-feast,[16]\2228My bounden service duly pay thee.\2229But one thing!--For insurance' sake, I pray thee,\2230Grant me a line or two, at least.\2231\2232_Faust_. Pedant! will writing gain thy faith, alone?\2233In all thy life, no man, nor man's word hast thou known?\2234Is't not enough that I the fatal word\2235That passes on my future days have spoken?\2236The world-stream raves and rushes (hast not heard?)\2237And shall a promise hold, unbroken?\2238Yet this delusion haunts the human breast,\2239Who from his soul its roots would sever?\2240Thrice happy in whose heart pure truth finds rest.\2241No sacrifice shall he repent of ever!\2242But from a formal, written, sealed attest,\2243As from a spectre, all men shrink forever.\2244The word and spirit die together,\2245Killed by the sight of wax and leather.\2246What wilt thou, evil sprite, from me?\2247Brass, marble, parchment, paper, shall it be?\2248Shall I subscribe with pencil, pen or graver?\2249Among them all thy choice is free.\2250\2251_Mephistopheles_. This rhetoric of thine to me\2252Hath a somewhat bombastic savor.\2253Any small scrap of paper's good.\2254Thy signature will need a single drop of blood.[17]\2255\2256_Faust_. If this will satisfy thy mood,\2257I will consent thy whim to favor.\2258\2259_Mephistopheles._ Quite a peculiar juice is blood.\2260\2261_Faust_. Fear not that I shall break this bond; O, never!\2262My promise, rightly understood,\2263Fulfils my nature's whole endeavor.\2264I've puffed myself too high, I see;\2265To _thy_ rank only I belong.\2266The Lord of Spirits scorneth me,\2267Nature, shut up, resents the wrong.\2268The thread of thought is snapt asunder,\2269All science to me is a stupid blunder.\2270Let us in sensuality's deep\2271Quench the passions within us blazing!\2272And, the veil of sorcery raising,\2273Wake each miracle from its long sleep!\2274Plunge we into the billowy dance,\2275The rush and roll of time and chance!\2276Then may pleasure and distress,\2277Disappointment and success,\2278Follow each other as fast as they will;\2279Man's restless activity flourishes still.\2280\2281_Mephistopheles_. No bound or goal is set to you;\2282Where'er you like to wander sipping,\2283And catch a tit-bit in your skipping,\2284Eschew all coyness, just fall to,\2285And may you find a good digestion!\2286\2287_Faust_. Now, once for all, pleasure is not the question.\2288I'm sworn to passion's whirl, the agony of bliss,\2289The lover's hate, the sweets of bitterness.\2290My heart, no more by pride of science driven,\2291Shall open wide to let each sorrow enter,\2292And all the good that to man's race is given,\2293I will enjoy it to my being's centre,\2294Through life's whole range, upward and downward sweeping,\2295Their weal and woe upon my bosom heaping,\2296Thus in my single self their selves all comprehending\2297And with them in a common shipwreck ending.\2298\2299_Mephistopheles_. O trust me, who since first I fell from heaven,\2300Have chewed this tough meat many a thousand year,\2301No man digests the ancient leaven,\2302No mortal, from the cradle to the bier.\2303Trust one of _us_--the _whole_ creation\2304To God alone belongs by right;\2305_He_ has in endless day his habitation,\2306_Us_ He hath made for utter night,\2307_You_ for alternate dark and light.\2308\2309_Faust_. But then I _will!\2310\2311_Mephistopheles_. Now that's worth hearing!\2312But one thing haunts me, the old song,\2313That time is short and art is long.\2314You need some slight advice, I'm fearing.\2315Take to you one of the poet-feather,\2316Let the gentleman's thought, far-sweeping,\2317Bring all the noblest traits together,\2318On your one crown their honors heaping,\2319The lion's mood\2320The stag's rapidity,\2321The fiery blood of Italy,\2322The Northman's hardihood.\2323Bid him teach thee the art of combining\2324Greatness of soul with fly designing,\2325And how, with warm and youthful passion,\2326To fall in love by plan and fashion.\2327Should like, myself, to come across 'm,\2328Would name him Mr. Microcosm.\2329\2330_Faust_. What am I then? if that for which my heart\2331Yearns with invincible endeavor,\2332The crown of man, must hang unreached forever?\2333\2334_Mephistopheles_. Thou art at last--just what thou art.\2335Pile perukes on thy head whose curls cannot be counted,\2336On yard-high buskins let thy feet be mounted,\2337Still thou art only what thou art.\2338\2339_Faust_. Yes, I have vainly, let me not deny it,\2340Of human learning ransacked all the stores,\2341And when, at last, I set me down in quiet,\2342There gushes up within no new-born force;\2343I am not by a hair's-breadth higher,\2344Am to the Infinite no nigher.\2345\2346_Mephistopheles_. My worthy sir, you see the matter\2347As people generally see;\2348But we must learn to take things better,\2349Before life pleasures wholly flee.\2350The deuce! thy head and all that's in it,\2351Hands, feet and ------ are thine;\2352What I enjoy with zest each minute,\2353Is surely not the less mine?\2354If I've six horses in my span,\2355Is it not mine, their every power?\2356I fly along as an undoubted man,\2357On four and twenty legs the road I scour.\2358Cheer up, then! let all thinking be,\2359And out into the world with me!\2360I tell thee, friend, a speculating churl\2361Is like a beast, some evil spirit chases\2362Along a barren heath in one perpetual whirl,\2363While round about lie fair, green pasturing places.\2364\2365_Faust_. But how shall we begin?\2366\2367_Mephistopheles_. We sally forth e'en now.\2368What martyrdom endurest thou!\2369What kind of life is this to be living,\2370Ennui to thyself and youngsters giving?\2371Let Neighbor Belly that way go!\2372To stay here threshing straw why car'st thou?\2373The best that thou canst think and know\2374To tell the boys not for the whole world dar'st thou.\2375E'en now I hear one in the entry.\2376\2377_Faust_. I have no heart the youth to see.\2378\2379_Mephistopheles_. The poor boy waits there like a sentry,\2380He shall not want a word from me.\2381Come, give me, now, thy robe and bonnet;\2382This mask will suit me charmingly.\2383 [_He puts them on_.]\2384Now for my wit--rely upon it!\2385'Twill take but fifteen minutes, I am sure.\2386Meanwhile prepare thyself to make the pleasant tour!\2387\2388 [_Exit_ FAUST.]\2389\2390_Mephistopheles [in_ FAUST'S _long gown_].\2391Only despise all human wit and lore,\2392The highest flights that thought can soar--\2393Let but the lying spirit blind thee,\2394And with his spells of witchcraft bind thee,\2395Into my snare the victim creeps.--\2396To him has destiny a spirit given,\2397That unrestrainedly still onward sweeps,\2398To scale the skies long since hath striven,\2399And all earth's pleasures overleaps.\2400He shall through life's wild scenes be driven,\2401And through its flat unmeaningness,\2402I'll make him writhe and stare and stiffen,\2403And midst all sensual excess,\2404His fevered lips, with thirst all parched and riven,\2405Insatiably shall haunt refreshment's brink;\2406And had he not, himself, his soul to Satan given,\2407Still must he to perdition sink!\2408\2409 [_Enter_ A SCHOLAR.]\2410\2411_Scholar_. I have but lately left my home,\2412And with profound submission come,\2413To hold with one some conversation\2414Whom all men name with veneration.\2415\2416_Mephistopheles._ Your courtesy greatly flatters me\2417A man like many another you see.\2418Have you made any applications elsewhere?\2419\2420_Scholar_. Let me, I pray, your teachings share!\2421With all good dispositions I come,\2422A fresh young blood and money some;\2423My mother would hardly hear of my going;\2424But I long to learn here something worth knowing.\2425\2426_Mephistopheles_. You've come to the very place for it, then.\2427\2428_Scholar_. Sincerely, could wish I were off again:\2429My soul already has grown quite weary\2430Of walls and halls, so dark and dreary,\2431The narrowness oppresses me.\2432One sees no green thing, not a tree.\2433On the lecture-seats, I know not what ails me,\2434Sight, hearing, thinking, every thing fails me.\2435\2436_Mephistopheles_. 'Tis all in use, we daily see.\2437The child takes not the mother's breast\2438In the first instance willingly,\2439But soon it feeds itself with zest.\2440So you at wisdom's breast your pleasure\2441Will daily find in growing measure.\2442\2443_Scholar_. I'll hang upon her neck, a raptured wooer,\2444But only tell me, who shall lead me to her?\2445\2446_Mephistopheles_. Ere you go further, give your views\2447As to which faculty you choose?\2448\2449_Scholar_. To be right learn'd I've long desired,\2450And of the natural world aspired\2451To have a perfect comprehension\2452In this and in the heavenly sphere.\2453\2454_Mephistopheles_. I see you're on the right track here;\2455But you'll have to give undivided attention.\2456\2457_Scholar_. My heart and soul in the work'll be found;\2458Only, of course, it would give me pleasure,\2459When summer holidays come round,\2460To have for amusement a little leisure.\2461\2462_Mephistopheles_. Use well the precious time, it flips away so,\2463Yet method gains you time, if I may say so.\2464I counsel you therefore, my worthy friend,\2465The logical leisures first to attend.\2466Then is your mind well trained and cased\2467In Spanish boots,[18] all snugly laced,\2468So that henceforth it can creep ahead\2469On the road of thought with a cautious tread.\2470And not at random shoot and strike,\2471Zig-zagging Jack-o'-lanthorn-like.\2472Then will you many a day be taught\2473That what you once to do had thought\2474Like eating and drinking, extempore,\2475Requires the rule of one, two, three.\2476It is, to be sure, with the fabric of thought,\2477As with the _chef d'œuvre_ by weavers wrought,\2478Where a thousand threads one treadle plies,\2479Backward and forward the shuttles keep going,\2480Invisibly the threads keep flowing,\2481One stroke a thousand fastenings ties:\2482Comes the philosopher and cries:\2483I'll show you, it could not be otherwise:\2484The first being so, the second so,\2485The third and fourth must of course be so;\2486And were not the first and second, you see,\2487The third and fourth could never be.\2488The scholars everywhere call this clever,\2489But none have yet become weavers ever.\2490Whoever will know a live thing and expound it,\2491First kills out the spirit it had when he found it,\2492And then the parts are all in his hand,\2493Minus only the spiritual band!\2494Encheiresin naturæ's[19] the chemical name,\2495By which dunces themselves unwittingly shame.\2496\2497_Scholar_. Cannot entirely comprehend you.\2498\2499_Mephistopheles_. Better success will shortly attend you,\2500When you learn to analyze all creation\2501And give it a proper classification.\2502\2503_Scholar_. I feel as confused by all you've said,\2504As if 'twere a mill-wheel going round in my head!\2505\2506_Mephistopheles_. The next thing most important to mention,\2507Metaphysics will claim your attention!\2508There see that you can clearly explain\2509What fits not into the human brain:\2510For that which will not go into the head,\2511A pompous word will stand you in stead.\2512But, this half-year, at least, observe\2513From regularity never to swerve.\2514You'll have five lectures every day;\2515Be in at the stroke of the bell I pray!\2516And well prepared in every part;\2517Study each paragraph by heart,\2518So that you scarce may need to look\2519To see that he says no more than's in the book;\2520And when he dictates, be at your post,\2521As if you wrote for the Holy Ghost!\2522\2523_Scholar_. That caution is unnecessary!\2524I know it profits one to write,\2525For what one has in black and white,\2526He to his home can safely carry.\2527\2528_Mephistopheles_. But choose some faculty, I pray!\2529\2530_Scholar_. I feel a strong dislike to try the legal college.\2531\2532_Mephistopheles_. I cannot blame you much, I must acknowledge.\2533I know how this profession stands to-day.\2534Statutes and laws through all the ages\2535Like a transmitted malady you trace;\2536In every generation still it rages\2537And softly creeps from place to place.\2538Reason is nonsense, right an impudent suggestion;\2539Alas for thee, that thou a grandson art!\2540Of inborn law in which each man has part,\2541Of that, unfortunately, there's no question.\2542\2543_Scholar_. My loathing grows beneath your speech.\2544O happy he whom you shall teach!\2545To try theology I'm almost minded.\2546\2547_Mephistopheles_. I must not let you by zeal be blinded.\2548This is a science through whose field\2549Nine out of ten in the wrong road will blunder,\2550And in it so much poison lies concealed,\2551That mould you this mistake for physic, no great wonder.\2552Here also it were best, if only one you heard\2553And swore to that one master's word.\2554Upon the whole--words only heed you!\2555These through the temple door will lead you\2556Safe to the shrine of certainty.\2557\2558_Scholar_. Yet in the word a thought must surely be.\2559\2560_Mephistopheles_. All right! But one must not perplex himself about it;\2561For just where one must go without it,\2562The word comes in, a friend in need, to thee.\2563With words can one dispute most featly,\2564With words build up a system neatly,\2565In words thy faith may stand unshaken,\2566From words there can be no iota taken.\2567\2568_Scholar_. Forgive my keeping you with many questions,\2569Yet must I trouble you once more,\2570Will you not give me, on the score\2571Of medicine, some brief suggestions?\2572Three years are a short time, O God!\2573And then the field is quite too broad.\2574If one had only before his nose\2575Something else as a hint to follow!--\2576\2577_Mephistopheles_ [_aside_]. I'm heartily tired of this dry prose,\2578Must play the devil again out hollow.\2579 [_Aloud_.]\2580The healing art is quickly comprehended;\2581Through great and little world you look abroad,\2582And let it wag, when all is ended,\2583As pleases God.\2584Vain is it that your science sweeps the skies,\2585Each, after all, learns only what he can;\2586Who grasps the moment as it flies\2587He is the real man.\2588Your person somewhat takes the eye,\2589Boldness you'll find an easy science,\2590And if you on yourself rely,\2591Others on you will place reliance.\2592In the women's good graces seek first to be seated;\2593Their oh's and ah's, well known of old,\2594So thousand-fold,\2595Are all from a single point to be treated;\2596Be decently modest and then with ease\2597You may get the blind side of them when you please.\2598A title, first, their confidence must waken,\2599That _your_ art many another art transcends,\2600Then may you, lucky man, on all those trifles reckon\2601For which another years of groping spends:\2602Know how to press the little pulse that dances,\2603And fearlessly, with sly and fiery glances,\2604Clasp the dear creatures round the waist\2605To see how tightly they are laced.\2606\2607_Scholar_. This promises! One loves the How and Where to see!\2608\2609_Mephistopheles_. Gray, worthy friend, is all your theory\2610And green the golden tree of life.\2611\2612_Scholar_. I seem,\2613I swear to you, like one who walks in dream.\2614Might I another time, without encroaching,\2615Hear you the deepest things of wisdom broaching?\2616\2617_Mephistopheles_. So far as I have power, you may.\2618\2619_Scholar_. I cannot tear myself away,\2620Till I to you my album have presented.\2621Grant me one line and I'm contented!\2622\2623_Mephistopheles_. With pleasure.\2624 [_Writes and returns it_.]\2625\2626_Scholar [reads]._ Eritis sicut Deus, scientes bonum et malum.\2627 [_Shuts it reverently, and bows himself out_.]\2628\2629_Mephistopheles_.\2630Let but the brave old saw and my aunt, the serpent, guide thee,\2631And, with thy likeness to God, shall woe one day betide thee!\2632\2633_Faust [enters_]. Which way now shall we go?\2634\2635_Mephistopheles_. Which way it pleases thee.\2636The little world and then the great we see.\2637O with what gain, as well as pleasure,\2638Wilt thou the rollicking cursus measure!\2639\2640_Faust_. I fear the easy life and free\2641With my long beard will scarce agree.\2642'Tis vain for me to think of succeeding,\2643I never could learn what is called good-breeding.\2644In the presence of others I feel so small;\2645I never can be at my ease at all.\2646\2647_Mephistopheles_. Dear friend, vain trouble to yourself you're giving;\2648Whence once you trust yourself, you know the art of living.\2649\2650_Faust_. But how are we to start, I pray?\2651Where are thy servants, coach and horses?\2652\2653_Mephistopheles_. We spread the mantle, and away\2654It bears us on our airy courses.\2655But, on this bold excursion, thou\2656Must take no great portmanteau now.\2657A little oxygen, which I will soon make ready,\2658From earth uplifts us, quick and steady.\2659And if we're light, we'll soon surmount the sphere;\2660I give thee hearty joy in this thy new career.\2661\2662\2663\2664\2665 AUERBACH'S CELLAR IN LEIPSIC.[20]\2666\2667 _Carousal of Jolly Companions_.\2668\2669\2670_Frosch_.[21] Will nobody drink? Stop those grimaces!\2671I'll teach you how to be cutting your faces!\2672Laugh out! You're like wet straw to-day,\2673And blaze, at other times, like dry hay.\2674\2675_Brander_. 'Tis all your fault; no food for fun you bring,\2676Not a nonsensical nor nasty thing.\2677\2678_Frosch [dashes a glass of wine over his bead_]. There you have both!\2679\2680_Brander_. You hog twice o'er!\2681\2682_Frosch_. You wanted it, what would you more?\2683\2684_Siebel_ Out of the door with them that brawl!\2685Strike up a round; swill, shout there, one and all!\2686Wake up! Hurra!\2687\2688_Altmayer_. Woe's me, I'm lost! Bring cotton!\2689The rascal splits my ear-drum.\2690\2691_Siebel_. Only shout on!\2692When all the arches ring and yell,\2693Then does the base make felt its true ground-swell.\2694\2695_Frosch_. That's right, just throw him out, who undertakes to fret!\2696A! tara! lara da!\2697\2698_Altmayer_. A! tara! lara da!\2699\2700_Frosch_. Our whistles all are wet.\2701 [_Sings_.]\2702 The dear old holy Romish realm,\2703 What holds it still together?\2704\2705_Brander_. A sorry song! Fie! a political song!\2706A tiresome song! Thank God each morning therefor,\2707That you have not the Romish realm to care for!\2708At least I count it a great gain that He\2709Kaiser nor chancellor has made of me.\2710E'en we can't do without a head, however;\2711To choose a pope let us endeavour.\2712You know what qualification throws\2713The casting vote and the true man shows.\2714\2715_Frosch [sings_].\2716 Lady Nightingale, upward soar,\2717 Greet me my darling ten thousand times o'er.\2718\2719_Siebel_. No greetings to that girl! Who does so, I resent it!\2720\2721_Frosch_. A greeting and a kiss! And you will not prevent it!\2722 [_Sings.]_\2723 Draw the bolts! the night is clear.\2724 Draw the bolts! Love watches near.\2725 Close the bolts! the dawn is here.\2726\2727_Siebel_. Ay, sing away and praise and glorify your dear!\2728Soon I shall have my time for laughter.\2729The jade has jilted me, and will you too hereafter;\2730May Kobold, for a lover, be her luck!\2731At night may he upon the cross-way meet her;\2732Or, coming from the Blocksberg, some old buck\2733May, as he gallops by, a good-night bleat her!\2734A fellow fine of real flesh and blood\2735Is for the wench a deal too good.\2736She'll get from me but one love-token,\2737That is to have her window broken!\2738\2739_Brander [striking on the table_]. Attend! attend! To me give ear!\2740I know what's life, ye gents, confess it:\2741We've lovesick people sitting near,\2742And it is proper they should hear\2743A good-night strain as well as I can dress it.\2744Give heed! And hear a bran-new song!\2745Join in the chorus loud and strong!\2746 [_He sings_.]\2747 A rat in the cellar had built his nest,\2748 He daily grew sleeker and smoother,\2749 He lined his paunch from larder and chest,\2750 And was portly as Doctor Luther.\2751 The cook had set him poison one day;\2752 From that time forward he pined away\2753 As if he had love in his body.\2754\2755_Chorus [flouting_]. As if he had love in his body.\2756\2757_Brander_. He raced about with a terrible touse,\2758 From all the puddles went swilling,\2759 He gnawed and he scratched all over the house,\2760 His pain there was no stilling;\2761 He made full many a jump of distress,\2762 And soon the poor beast got enough, I guess,\2763 As if he had love in his body.\2764\2765_Chorus_. As if he had love in his body.\2766\2767_Brander_. With pain he ran, in open day,\2768 Right up into the kitchen;\2769 He fell on the hearth and there he lay\2770 Gasping and moaning and twitchin'.\2771 Then laughed the poisoner: \"He! he! he!\2772 He's piping on the last hole,\" said she,\2773 \"As if he had love in his body.\"\2774\2775_Chorus_. As if he had love in his body.\2776\2777_Siebel_. Just hear now how the ninnies giggle!\2778That's what I call a genuine art,\2779To make poor rats with poison wriggle!\2780\2781_Brander_. You take their case so much to heart?\2782\2783_Altmayer_. The bald pate and the butter-belly!\2784The sad tale makes him mild and tame;\2785He sees in the swollen rat, poor fellow!\2786His own true likeness set in a frame.\2787\2788\2789 FAUST _and_ MEPHISTOPHELES.\2790\2791_Mephistopheles_. Now, first of all, 'tis necessary\2792To show you people making merry,\2793That you may see how lightly life can run.\2794Each day to this small folk's a feast of fun;\2795Not over-witty, self-contented,\2796Still round and round in circle-dance they whirl,\2797As with their tails young kittens twirl.\2798If with no headache they're tormented,\2799Nor dunned by landlord for his pay,\2800They're careless, unconcerned, and gay.\2801\2802_Brander_. They're fresh from travel, one might know it,\2803Their air and manner plainly show it;\2804They came here not an hour ago.\2805\2806_Frosch_. Thou verily art right! My Leipsic well I know!\2807Paris in small it is, and cultivates its people.\2808\2809_Siebel_. What do the strangers seem to thee?\2810\2811_Frosch_. Just let me go! When wine our friendship mellows,\2812Easy as drawing a child's tooth 'twill be\2813To worm their secrets out of these two fellows.\2814They're of a noble house, I dare to swear,\2815They have a proud and discontented air.\2816\2817_Brander_. They're mountebanks, I'll bet a dollar!\2818\2819_Altmayer_. Perhaps.\2820\2821_Frosch_. I'll smoke them, mark you that!\2822\2823_Mephistopheles_ [_to Faust_]. These people never smell the old rat,\2824E'en when he has them by the collar.\2825\2826_Faust_. Fair greeting to you, sirs!\2827\2828_Siebel_. The same, and thanks to boot.\2829 [_In a low tone, faking a side look at MEPHISTOPHELES_.]\2830Why has the churl one halting foot?\2831\2832_Mephistopheles_. With your permission, shall we make one party?\2833Instead of a good drink, which get here no one can,\2834Good company must make us hearty.\2835\2836_Altmayer_. You seem a very fastidious man.\2837\2838_Frosch_. I think you spent some time at Rippach[22] lately?\2839You supped with Mister Hans not long since, I dare say?\2840\2841_Mephistopheles_. We passed him on the road today!\2842Fine man! it grieved us parting with him, greatly.\2843He'd much to say to us about his cousins,\2844And sent to each, through us, his compliments by dozens.\2845 [_He bows to_ FROSCH.]\2846\2847_Altmayer_ [_softly_]. You've got it there! he takes!\2848\2849_Siebel_. The chap don't want for wit!\2850\2851_Frosch_. I'll have him next time, wait a bit!\2852\2853_Mephistopheles_. If I mistook not, didn't we hear\2854Some well-trained voices chorus singing?\2855'Faith, music must sound finely here.\2856From all these echoing arches ringing!\2857\2858_Frosch_. You are perhaps a connoisseur?\2859\2860_Mephistopheles_. O no! my powers are small, I'm but an amateur.\2861\2862_Altmayer_. Give us a song!\2863\2864_Mephistopheles_. As many's you desire.\2865\2866_Siebel_. But let it be a bran-new strain!\2867\2868_Mephistopheles_. No fear of that! We've just come back from Spain,\2869The lovely land of wine and song and lyre.\2870 [_Sings_.]\2871 There was a king, right stately,\2872 Who had a great, big flea,--\2873\2874_Frosch_. Hear him! A flea! D'ye take there, boys? A flea!\2875I call that genteel company.\2876\2877_Mephistopheles_ [_resumes_]. There was a king, right stately,\2878 Who had a great, big flea,\2879 And loved him very greatly,\2880 As if his own son were he.\2881 He called the knight of stitches;\2882 The tailor came straightway:\2883 Ho! measure the youngster for breeches,\2884 And make him a coat to-day!\2885\2886_Brander_. But don't forget to charge the knight of stitches,\2887The measure carefully to take,\2888And, as he loves his precious neck,\2889To leave no wrinkles in the breeches.\2890\2891_Mephistopheles_. In silk and velvet splendid\2892 The creature now was drest,\2893 To his coat were ribbons appended,\2894 A cross was on his breast.\2895 He had a great star on his collar,\2896 Was a minister, in short;\2897 And his relatives, greater and smaller,\2898 Became great people at court.\2899\2900 The lords and ladies of honor\2901 Fared worse than if they were hung,\2902 The queen, she got them upon her,\2903 And all were bitten and stung,\2904 And did not dare to attack them,\2905 Nor scratch, but let them stick.\2906 We choke them and we crack them\2907 The moment we feel one prick.\2908\2909_Chorus_ [_loud_]. We choke 'em and we crack 'em\2910The moment we feel one prick.\2911\2912_Frosch_. Bravo! Bravo! That was fine!\2913\2914_Siebel_. So shall each flea his life resign!\2915\2916_Brander_. Point your fingers and nip them fine!\2917\2918_Altmayer_. Hurra for Liberty! Hurra for Wine!\2919\2920_Mephistopheles_. I'd pledge the goddess, too, to show how high I set her,\2921Right gladly, if your wines were just a trifle better.\2922\2923_Siebel_. Don't say that thing again, you fretter!\2924\2925_Mephistopheles_. Did I not fear the landlord to affront;\2926I'd show these worthy guests this minute\2927What kind of stuff our stock has in it.\2928\2929_Siebel_. Just bring it on! I'll bear the brunt.\2930\2931_Frosch_. Give us a brimming glass, our praise shall then be ample,\2932But don't dole out too small a sample;\2933For if I'm to judge and criticize,\2934I need a good mouthful to make me wise.\2935\2936_Altmayer_ [_softly_]. They're from the Rhine, as near as I can make it.\2937\2938_Mephistopheles_. Bring us a gimlet here!\2939\2940_Brander_. What shall be done with that?\2941You've not the casks before the door, I take it?\2942\2943_Altmayer_. The landlord's tool-chest there is easily got at.\2944\2945_Mephistopheles_ [_takes the gimlet_] (_to Frosch_).\2946What will you have? It costs but speaking.\2947\2948_Frosch_. How do you mean? Have you so many kinds?\2949\2950_Mephistopheles_. Enough to suit all sorts of minds.\2951\2952_Altmayer_. Aha! old sot, your lips already licking!\2953\2954_Frosch_. Well, then! if I must choose, let Rhine-wine fill my beaker,\2955Our fatherland supplies the noblest liquor.\2956\2957 MEPHISTOPHELES\2958 [_boring a hole in the rim of the table near the place\2959 where_ FROSCH _sits_].\2960Get us a little wax right off to make the stoppers!\2961\2962_Altmayer_. Ah, these are jugglers' tricks, and whappers!\2963\2964_Mephistopheles_ [_to Brander_]. And you?\2965\2966_Brander_. Champaigne's the wine for me,\2967But then right sparkling it must be!\2968\2969 [MEPHISTOPHELES _bores; meanwhile one of them has made\2970 the wax-stoppers and stopped the holes_.]\2971\2972_Brander_. Hankerings for foreign things will sometimes haunt you,\2973The good so far one often finds;\2974Your real German man can't bear the French, I grant you,\2975And yet will gladly drink their wines.\2976\2977_Siebel_ [_while Mephistopheles approaches his seat_].\2978I don't like sour, it sets my mouth awry,\2979Let mine have real sweetness in it!\2980\2981_Mephistopheles_ [_bores_]. Well, you shall have Tokay this minute.\2982\2983_Altmayer_. No, sirs, just look me in the eye!\2984I see through this, 'tis what the chaps call smoking.\2985\2986_Mephistopheles_. Come now! That would be serious joking,\2987To make so free with worthy men.\2988But quickly now! Speak out again!\2989With what description can I serve you?\2990\2991_Altmayer_. Wait not to ask; with any, then.\2992\2993 [_After all the holes are bored and stopped_.]\2994\2995_Mephistopheles_ [_with singular gestures_].\2996From the vine-stock grapes we pluck;\2997Horns grow on the buck;\2998Wine is juicy, the wooden table,\2999Like wooden vines, to give wine is able.\3000An eye for nature's depths receive!\3001Here is a miracle, only believe!\3002Now draw the plugs and drink your fill!\3003\3004 ALL\3005 [_drawing the stoppers, and catching each in his glass\3006 the wine he had desired_].\3007Sweet spring, that yields us what we will!\3008\3009_Mephistopheles_. Only be careful not a drop to spill!\3010 [_They drink repeatedly_.]\3011\3012_All_ [_sing_]. We're happy all as cannibals,\3013 Five hundred hogs together.\3014\3015_Mephistopheles_. Look at them now, they're happy as can be!\3016\3017_Faust_. To go would suit my inclination.\3018\3019_Mephistopheles_. But first give heed, their bestiality\3020Will make a glorious demonstration.\3021\3022 SIEBEL\3023 [_drinks carelessly; the wine is spilt upon the ground\3024 and turns to flame_].\3025Help! fire! Ho! Help! The flames of hell!\3026\3027_Mephistopheles [_conjuring the flame_].\3028Peace, friendly element, be still!\3029 [_To the Toper_.]\3030This time 'twas but a drop of fire from purgatory.\3031\3032_Siebel_. What does this mean? Wait there, or you'll be sorry!\3033It seems you do not know us well.\3034\3035_Frosch_. Not twice, in this way, will it do to joke us!\3036\3037_Altmayer_. I vote, we give him leave himself here _scarce_ to make.\3038\3039_Siebel_. What, sir! How dare you undertake\3040To carry on here your old hocus-pocus?\3041\3042_Mephistopheles_. Be still, old wine-cask!\3043\3044_Siebel_. Broomstick, you!\3045Insult to injury add? Confound you!\3046\3047_Brander_. Stop there! Or blows shall rain down round you!\3048\3049 ALTMAYER\3050 [_draws a stopper out of the table; fire flies at him_].\3051I burn! I burn!\3052\3053_Siebel_. Foul sorcery! Shame!\3054Lay on! the rascal is fair game!\3055\3056 [_They draw their knives and rush at_ MEPHISTOPHELES.]\3057\3058_Mephistopheles_ [_with a serious mien_].\3059Word and shape of air!\3060Change place, new meaning wear!\3061Be here--and there!\3062\3063 [_They stand astounded and look at each other_.]\3064\3065_Altmayer_. Where am I? What a charming land!\3066\3067_Frosch_. Vine hills! My eyes! Is't true?\3068\3069_Siebel_. And grapes, too, close at hand!\3070\3071_Brander_. Beneath this green see what a stem is growing!\3072See what a bunch of grapes is glowing!\3073 [_He seizes_ SIEBEL _by the nose. The rest do the same to each\3074 other and raise their knives._]\3075\3076_Mephistopheles_ [_as above_]. Loose, Error, from their eyes the band!\3077How Satan plays his tricks, you need not now be told of.\3078 [_He vanishes with_ FAUST, _the companions start back from each\3079 other_.]\3080\3081_Siebel_. What ails me?\3082\3083_Altmayer_. How?\3084\3085_Frosch_. Was that thy nose, friend, I had hold of?\3086\3087_Brander_ [_to Siebel_]. And I have thine, too, in my hand!\3088\3089_Altmayer_. O what a shock! through all my limbs 'tis crawling!\3090Get me a chair, be quick, I'm falling!\3091\3092_Frosch_. No, say what was the real case?\3093\3094_Siebel_. O show me where the churl is hiding!\3095Alive he shall not leave the place!\3096\3097_Altmayer_. Out through the cellar-door I saw him riding--\3098Upon a cask--he went full chase.--\3099Heavy as lead my feet are growing.\3100\3101 [_Turning towards the table_.]\3102\3103My! If the wine should yet be flowing.\3104\3105_Siebel_. 'Twas all deception and moonshine.\3106\3107_Frosch_. Yet I was sure I did drink wine.\3108\3109_Brander_. But how about the bunches, brother?\3110\3111_Altmayer_. After such miracles, I'll doubt no other!\3112\3113\3114\3115\3116 WITCHES' KITCHEN.\3117\3118 [_On a low hearth stands a great kettle over the fire. In the smoke,\3119which rises from it, are seen various forms. A female monkey[28] sits by\3120the kettle and skims it, and takes care that it does not run over. The\3121male monkey with the young ones sits close by, warming himself. Walls and\3122ceiling are adorned 'with the most singular witch-household stuff_.]\3123\3124\3125 FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES.\3126\3127_Faust_. Would that this vile witch-business were well over!\3128Dost promise me I shall recover\3129In this hodge-podge of craziness?\3130From an old hag do I advice require?\3131And will this filthy cooked-up mess\3132My youth by thirty years bring nigher?\3133Woe's me, if that's the best you know!\3134Already hope is from my bosom banished.\3135Has not a noble mind found long ago\3136Some balsam to restore a youth that's vanished?\3137\3138_Mephistopheles_. My friend, again thou speakest a wise thought!\3139I know a natural way to make thee young,--none apter!\3140But in another book it must be sought,\3141And is a quite peculiar chapter.\3142\3143_Faust_. I beg to know it.\3144\3145_Mephistopheles_. Well! here's one that needs no pay,\3146No help of physic, nor enchanting.\3147Out to the fields without delay,\3148And take to hacking, digging, planting;\3149Run the same round from day to day,\3150A treadmill-life, contented, leading,\3151With simple fare both mind and body feeding,\3152Live with the beast as beast, nor count it robbery\3153Shouldst thou manure, thyself, the field thou reapest;\3154Follow this course and, trust to me,\3155For eighty years thy youth thou keepest!\3156\3157_Faust_. I am not used to that, I ne'er could bring me to it,\3158To wield the spade, I could not do it.\3159The narrow life befits me not at all.\3160\3161_Mephistopheles_. So must we on the witch, then, call.\3162\3163_Faust_. But why just that old hag? Canst thou\3164Not brew thyself the needful liquor?\3165\3166_Mephistopheles_. That were a pretty pastime now\3167I'd build about a thousand bridges quicker.\3168Science and art alone won't do,\3169The work will call for patience, too;\3170Costs a still spirit years of occupation:\3171Time, only, strengthens the fine fermentation.\3172To tell each thing that forms a part\3173Would sound to thee like wildest fable!\3174The devil indeed has taught the art;\3175To make it not the devil is able.\3176 [_Espying the animals_.]\3177See, what a genteel breed we here parade!\3178This is the house-boy! that's the maid!\3179 [_To the animals_.]\3180Where's the old lady gone a mousing?\3181\3182_The animals_. Carousing;\3183Out she went\3184By the chimney-vent!\3185\3186_Mephistopheles_. How long does she spend in gadding and storming?\3187\3188_The animals_. While we are giving our paws a warming.\3189\3190_Mephistopheles_ [_to Faust_]. How do you find the dainty creatures?\3191\3192_Faust_. Disgusting as I ever chanced to see!\3193\3194_Mephistopheles_. No! a discourse like this to me,\3195I own, is one of life's most pleasant features;\3196 [_To the animals_.]\3197Say, cursed dolls, that sweat, there, toiling!\3198What are you twirling with the spoon?\3199\3200_Animals_. A common beggar-soup we're boiling.\3201\3202_Mephistopheles_. You'll have a run of custom soon.\3203\3204 THE HE-MONKEY\3205 [_Comes along and fawns on_ MEPHISTOPHELES].\3206 O fling up the dice,\3207 Make me rich in a trice,\3208 Turn fortune's wheel over!\3209 My lot is right bad,\3210 If money I had,\3211 My wits would recover.\3212\3213_Mephistopheles_. The monkey'd be as merry as a cricket,\3214Would somebody give him a lottery-ticket!\3215\3216 [_Meanwhile the young monkeys have been playing with a great\3217 ball, which they roll backward and forward_.]\3218\3219_The monkey_. 'The world's the ball;\3220 See't rise and fall,\3221 Its roll you follow;\3222 Like glass it rings:\3223 Both, brittle things!\3224 Within 'tis hollow.\3225 There it shines clear,\3226 And brighter here,--\3227 I live--by 'Pollo!--\3228 Dear son, I pray,\3229 Keep hands away!\3230 _Thou_ shalt fall so!\3231 'Tis made of clay,\3232 Pots are, also.\3233\3234_Mephistopheles_. What means the sieve?\3235\3236_The monkey [takes it down_]. Wert thou a thief,\3237 'Twould show the thief and shame him.\3238 [_Runs to his mate and makes her look through_.]\3239 Look through the sieve!\3240 Discern'st thou the thief,\3241 And darest not name him?\3242\3243_Mephistopheles [approaching the fire_]. And what's this pot?\3244\3245_The monkeys_. The dunce! I'll be shot!\3246 He knows not the pot,\3247 He knows not the kettle!\3248\3249_Mephistopheles_. Impertinence! Hush!\3250\3251_The monkey_. Here, take you the brush,\3252 And sit on the settle!\3253 [_He forces_ MEPHISTOPHELES _to sit down_.]\3254\3255 FAUST\3256 [_who all this time has been standing before a looking-glass,\3257 now approaching and now receding from it_].\3258\3259What do I see? What heavenly face\3260Doth, in this magic glass, enchant me!\3261O love, in mercy, now, thy swiftest pinions grant me!\3262And bear me to her field of space!\3263Ah, if I seek to approach what doth so haunt me,\3264If from this spot I dare to stir,\3265Dimly as through a mist I gaze on her!--\3266The loveliest vision of a woman!\3267Such lovely woman can there be?\3268Must I in these reposing limbs naught human.\3269But of all heavens the finest essence see?\3270Was such a thing on earth seen ever?\3271\3272_Mephistopheles_. Why, when you see a God six days in hard work spend,\3273And then cry bravo at the end,\3274Of course you look for something clever.\3275Look now thy fill; I have for thee\3276Just such a jewel, and will lead thee to her;\3277And happy, whose good fortune it shall be,\3278To bear her home, a prospered wooer!\3279\3280[FAUST _keeps on looking into the mirror_. MEPHISTOPHELES\3281_stretching himself out on the settle and playing with the brush,\3282continues speaking_.]\3283Here sit I like a king upon his throne,\3284The sceptre in my hand,--I want the crown alone.\3285\3286 THE ANIMALS\3287 [_who up to this time have been going through all sorts of queer antics\3288 with each other, bring_ MEPHISTOPHELES _a crown with a loud cry_].\3289 O do be so good,--\3290 With sweat and with blood,\3291 To take it and lime it;\3292 [_They go about clumsily with the crown and break it into two pieces,\3293 with which they jump round_.]\3294 'Tis done now! We're free!\3295 We speak and we see,\3296 We hear and we rhyme it;\3297\3298_Faust [facing the mirror_]. Woe's me! I've almost lost my wits.\3299\3300_Mephistopheles [pointing to the animals_].\3301My head, too, I confess, is very near to spinning.\3302\3303_The animals_. And then if it hits\3304 And every thing fits,\3305 We've thoughts for our winning.\3306\3307_Faust [as before_]. Up to my heart the flame is flying!\3308Let us begone--there's danger near!\3309\3310_Mephistopheles [in the former position_].\3311Well, this, at least, there's no denying,\3312That we have undissembled poets here.\3313\3314[The kettle, which the she-monkey has hitherto left unmatched, begins to\3315run over; a great flame breaks out, which roars up the chimney. The_ WITCH\3316_comes riding down through the flame with a terrible outcry_.]\3317\3318_Witch_. Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!\3319 The damned beast! The cursed sow!\3320 Neglected the kettle, scorched the Frau!\3321 The cursed crew!\3322 [_Seeing_ FAUST _and_ MEPHISTOPHELES.]\3323 And who are you?\3324 And what d'ye do?\3325 And what d'ye want?\3326 And who sneaked in?\3327 The fire-plague grim\3328 Shall light on him\3329 In every limb!\3330\3331 [_She makes a dive at the kettle with the skimmer and spatters flames\3332 at _FAUST, MEPHISTOPHELES_, and the creatures. These last whimper_.]\3333\3334 MEPHISTOPHELES\3335 [_inverting the brush which he holds in his hand, and striking\3336 among the glasses and pots_].\3337\3338 In two! In two!\3339 There lies the brew!\3340 There lies the glass!\3341 This joke must pass;\3342 For time-beat, ass!\3343 To thy melody, 'twill do.\3344 [_While the_ WITCH _starts back full of wrath and horror.]\3345Skeleton! Scarcecrow! Spectre! Know'st thou me,\3346Thy lord and master? What prevents my dashing\3347Right in among thy cursed company,\3348Thyself and all thy monkey spirits smashing?\3349Has the red waistcoat thy respect no more?\3350Has the cock's-feather, too, escaped attention?\3351Hast never seen this face before?\3352My name, perchance, wouldst have me mention?\3353\3354_The witch_. Pardon the rudeness, sir, in me!\3355But sure no cloven foot I see.\3356Nor find I your two ravens either.\3357\3358_Mephistopheles_. I'll let thee off for this once so;\3359For a long while has passed, full well I know,\3360Since the last time we met together.\3361The culture, too, which licks the world to shape,\3362The devil himself cannot escape;\3363The phantom of the North men's thoughts have left behind them,\3364Horns, tail, and claws, where now d'ye find them?\3365And for the foot, with which dispense I nowise can,\3366'Twould with good circles hurt my standing;\3367And so I've worn, some years, like many a fine young man,\3368False calves to make me more commanding.\3369\3370_The witch [dancing_]. O I shall lose my wits, I fear,\3371Do I, again, see Squire Satan here!\3372\3373_Mephistopheles_. Woman, the name offends my ear!\3374\3375_The witch_. Why so? What has it done to you?\3376\3377_Mephistopheles_. It has long since to fable-books been banished;\3378But men are none the better for it; true,\3379The wicked _one_, but not the wicked _ones_, has vanished.\3380Herr Baron callst thou me, then all is right and good;\3381I am a cavalier, like others. Doubt me?\3382Doubt for a moment of my noble blood?\3383See here the family arms I bear about me!\3384 [_He makes an indecent gesture.]\3385\3386The witch [laughs immoderately_]. Ha! ha! full well I know you, sir!\3387You are the same old rogue you always were!\3388\3389_Mephistopheles [to Faust_]. I pray you, carefully attend,\3390This is the way to deal with witches, friend.\3391\3392_The witch_. Now, gentles, what shall I produce?\3393\3394_Mephistopheles_. A right good glassful of the well-known juice!\3395And pray you, let it be the oldest;\3396Age makes it doubly strong for use.\3397\3398_The witch_. Right gladly! Here I have a bottle,\3399From which, at times, I wet my throttle;\3400Which now, not in the slightest, stinks;\3401A glass to you I don't mind giving;\3402 [_Softly_.]\3403But if this man, without preparing, drinks,\3404He has not, well you know, another hour for living.\3405\3406_Mephistopheles_.\3407'Tis a good friend of mine, whom it shall straight cheer up;\3408Thy kitchen's best to give him don't delay thee.\3409Thy ring--thy spell, now, quick, I pray thee,\3410And give him then a good full cup.\3411\3412[_The_ WITCH, _with strange gestures, draws a circle, and places singular\3413things in it; mean-while the glasses begin to ring, the kettle to sound\3414and make music. Finally, she brings a great book and places the monkeys in\3415the circle, whom she uses as a reading-desk and to hold the torches. She\3416beckons_ FAUST _to come to her_.]\3417\3418_Faust [to Mephistopheles_].\3419Hold! what will come of this? These creatures,\3420These frantic gestures and distorted features,\3421And all the crazy, juggling fluff,\3422I've known and loathed it long enough!\3423\3424_Mephistopheles_. Pugh! that is only done to smoke us;\3425Don't be so serious, my man!\3426She must, as Doctor, play her hocus-pocus\3427To make the dose work better, that's the plan.\3428 [_He constrains_ FAUST _to step into the circle_.]\3429\3430 THE WITCH\3431 [_beginning with great emphasis to declaim out of the book_]\3432\3433 Remember then!\3434 Of One make Ten,\3435 The Two let be,\3436 Make even Three,\3437 There's wealth for thee.\3438 The Four pass o'er!\3439 Of Five and Six,\3440 (The witch so speaks,)\3441 Make Seven and Eight,\3442 The thing is straight:\3443 And Nine is One\3444 And Ten is none--\3445 This is the witch's one-time-one![24]\3446\3447_Faust_. The old hag talks like one delirious.\3448\3449_Mephistopheles_. There's much more still, no less mysterious,\3450I know it well, the whole book sounds just so!\3451I've lost full many a year in poring o'er it,\3452For perfect contradiction, you must know,\3453A mystery stands, and fools and wise men bow before it,\3454The art is old and new, my son.\3455Men, in all times, by craft and terror,\3456With One and Three, and Three and One,\3457For truth have propagated error.\3458They've gone on gabbling so a thousand years;\3459Who on the fools would waste a minute?\3460Man generally thinks, if words he only hears,\3461Articulated noise must have some meaning in it.\3462\3463_The witch [goes on_]. Deep wisdom's power\3464 Has, to this hour,\3465 From all the world been hidden!\3466 Whoso thinks not,\3467 To him 'tis brought,\3468 To him it comes unbidden.\3469\3470_Faust_. What nonsense is she talking here?\3471My heart is on the point of cracking.\3472In one great choir I seem to hear\3473A hundred thousand ninnies clacking.\3474\3475_Mephistopheles_. Enough, enough, rare Sibyl, sing us\3476These runes no more, thy beverage bring us,\3477And quickly fill the goblet to the brim;\3478This drink may by my friend be safely taken:\3479Full many grades the man can reckon,\3480Many good swigs have entered him.\3481\3482 [_The_ WITCH, _with many ceremonies, pours the drink into a cup;\3483 as she puts it to_ FAUST'S _lips, there rises a light flame_.]\3484\3485_Mephistopheles_. Down with it! Gulp it down! 'Twill prove\3486All that thy heart's wild wants desire.\3487Thou, with the devil, hand and glove,[25]\3488And yet wilt be afraid of fire?\3489\3490 [_The_ WITCH _breaks the circle_; FAUST _steps out_.]\3491\3492_Mephistopheles_. Now briskly forth! No rest for thee!\3493\3494_The witch_. Much comfort may the drink afford you!\3495\3496_Mephistopheles [to the witch_]. And any favor you may ask of me,\3497I'll gladly on Walpurgis' night accord you.\3498\3499_The witch_. Here is a song, which if you sometimes sing,\3500'Twill stir up in your heart a special fire.\3501\3502_Mephistopheles [to Faust_]. Only make haste; and even shouldst thou tire,\3503Still follow me; one must perspire,\3504That it may set his nerves all quivering.\3505I'll teach thee by and bye to prize a noble leisure,\3506And soon, too, shalt thou feel with hearty pleasure,\3507How busy Cupid stirs, and shakes his nimble wing.\3508\3509_Faust_. But first one look in yonder glass, I pray thee!\3510Such beauty I no more may find!\3511\3512_Mephistopheles_. Nay! in the flesh thine eyes shall soon display thee\3513The model of all woman-kind.\3514 [_Softly_.]\3515Soon will, when once this drink shall heat thee,\3516In every girl a Helen meet thee!\3517\3518\3519\3520\3521 A STREET.\3522\3523 FAUST. MARGARET [_passing over_].\3524\3525_Faust_. My fair young lady, will it offend her\3526If I offer my arm and escort to lend her?\3527\3528_Margaret_. Am neither lady, nor yet am fair!\3529Can find my way home without any one's care.\3530 [_Disengages herself and exit_.]\3531\3532_Faust_. By heavens, but then the child _is_ fair!\3533I've never seen the like, I swear.\3534So modest is she and so pure,\3535And somewhat saucy, too, to be sure.\3536The light of the cheek, the lip's red bloom,\3537I shall never forget to the day of doom!\3538How me cast down her lovely eyes,\3539Deep in my soul imprinted lies;\3540How she spoke up, so curt and tart,\3541Ah, that went right to my ravished heart!\3542 [_Enter_ MEPHISTOPHELES.]\3543\3544_Faust_. Hark, thou shalt find me a way to address her!\3545\3546_Mephistopheles_. Which one?\3547\3548_Faust_. She just went by.\3549\3550_Mephistopheles_. What! She?\3551She came just now from her father confessor,\3552Who from all sins pronounced her free;\3553I stole behind her noiselessly,\3554'Tis an innocent thing, who, for nothing at all,\3555Must go to the confessional;\3556O'er such as she no power I hold!\3557\3558_Faust_. But then she's over fourteen years old.\3559\3560_Mephistopheles_. Thou speak'st exactly like Jack Rake,\3561Who every fair flower his own would make.\3562And thinks there can be no favor nor fame,\3563But one may straightway pluck the same.\3564But 'twill not always do, we see.\3565\3566_Faust_. My worthy Master Gravity,\3567Let not a word of the Law be spoken!\3568One thing be clearly understood,--\3569Unless I clasp the sweet, young blood\3570This night in my arms--then, well and good:\3571When midnight strikes, our bond is broken.\3572\3573_Mephistopheles_. Reflect on all that lies in the way!\3574I need a fortnight, at least, to a day,\3575For finding so much as a way to reach her.\3576\3577_Faust_. Had I seven hours, to call my own,\3578Without the devil's aid, alone\3579I'd snare with ease so young a creature.\3580\3581_Mephistopheles_. You talk quite Frenchman-like to-day;\3582But don't be vexed beyond all measure.\3583What boots it thus to snatch at pleasure?\3584'Tis not so great, by a long way,\3585As if you first, with tender twaddle,\3586And every sort of fiddle-faddle,\3587Your little doll should mould and knead,\3588As one in French romances may read.\3589\3590_Faust_. My appetite needs no such spur.\3591\3592_Mephistopheles_. Now, then, without a jest or slur,\3593I tell you, once for all, such speed\3594With the fair creature won't succeed.\3595Nothing will here by storm be taken;\3596We must perforce on intrigue reckon.\3597\3598_Faust_. Get me some trinket the angel has blest!\3599Lead me to her chamber of rest!\3600Get me a 'kerchief from her neck,\3601A garter get me for love's sweet sake!\3602\3603_Mephistopheles_. To prove to you my willingness\3604To aid and serve you in this distress;\3605You shall visit her chamber, by me attended,\3606Before the passing day is ended.\3607\3608_Faust_. And see her, too? and have her?\3609\3610_Mephistopheles_. Nay!\3611She will to a neighbor's have gone away.\3612Meanwhile alone by yourself you may,\3613There in her atmosphere, feast at leisure\3614And revel in dreams of future pleasure.\3615\3616_Faust_. Shall we start at once?\3617\3618_Mephistopheles_. 'Tis too early yet.\3619\3620_Faust_. Some present to take her for me you must get.\3621\3622 [_Exit_.]\3623\3624_Mephistopheles_. Presents already! Brave! He's on the right foundation!\3625Full many a noble place I know,\3626And treasure buried long ago;\3627Must make a bit of exploration.\3628\3629 [_Exit_.]\3630\3631\3632\3633\3634 EVENING.\3635\3636 _A little cleanly Chamber_.\3637\3638MARGARET [_braiding and tying up her hair_.]\3639I'd give a penny just to say\3640What gentleman that was to-day!\3641How very gallant he seemed to be,\3642He's of a noble family;\3643That I could read from his brow and bearing--\3644And he would not have otherwise been so daring.\3645 [_Exit_.]\3646\3647 FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES.\3648\3649_Mephistopheles_. Come in, step softly, do not fear!\3650\3651_Faust [after a pause_]. Leave me alone, I prithee, here!\3652\3653_Mephistopheles [peering round_]. Not every maiden keeps so neat.\3654 [_Exit_.]\3655\3656_Faust [gazing round_]. Welcome this hallowed still retreat!\3657Where twilight weaves its magic glow.\3658Seize on my heart, love-longing, sad and sweet,\3659That on the dew of hope dost feed thy woe!\3660How breathes around the sense of stillness,\3661Of quiet, order, and content!\3662In all this poverty what fulness!\3663What blessedness within this prison pent!\3664 [_He throws himself into a leathern chair by the bed_.]\3665Take me, too! as thou hast, in years long flown,\3666In joy and grief, so many a generation!\3667Ah me! how oft, on this ancestral throne,\3668Have troops of children climbed with exultation!\3669Perhaps, when Christmas brought the Holy Guest,\3670My love has here, in grateful veneration\3671The grandsire's withered hand with child-lips prest.\3672I feel, O maiden, circling me,\3673Thy spirit of grace and fulness hover,\3674Which daily like a mother teaches thee\3675The table-cloth to spread in snowy purity,\3676And even, with crinkled sand the floor to cover.\3677Dear, godlike hand! a touch of thine\3678Makes this low house a heavenly kingdom slime!\3679And here!\3680 [_He lifts a bed-curtain_.]\3681What blissful awe my heart thrills through!\3682Here for long hours could I linger.\3683Here, Nature! in light dreams, thy airy finger\3684The inborn angel's features drew!\3685Here lay the child, when life's fresh heavings\3686Its tender bosom first made warm,\3687And here with pure, mysterious weavings\3688The spirit wrought its godlike form!\3689 And thou! What brought thee here? what power\3690Stirs in my deepest soul this hour?\3691What wouldst thou here? What makes thy heart so sore?\3692Unhappy Faust! I know thee thus no more.\3693 Breathe I a magic atmosphere?\3694The will to enjoy how strong I felt it,--\3695And in a dream of love am now all melted!\3696Are we the sport of every puff of air?\3697 And if she suddenly should enter now,\3698How would she thy presumptuous folly humble!\3699Big John-o'dreams! ah, how wouldst thou\3700Sink at her feet, collapse and crumble!\3701\3702_Mephistopheles_. Quick, now! She comes! I'm looking at her.\3703\3704_Faust_. Away! Away! O cruel fate!\3705\3706_Mephistopheles_. Here is a box of moderate weight;\3707I got it somewhere else--no matter!\3708Just shut it up, here, in the press,\3709I swear to you, 'twill turn her senses;\3710I meant the trifles, I confess,\3711To scale another fair one's fences.\3712True, child is child and play is play.\3713\3714_Faust_. Shall I? I know not.\3715\3716_Mephistopheles_. Why delay?\3717You mean perhaps to keep the bauble?\3718If so, I counsel you to spare\3719From idle passion hours so fair,\3720And me, henceforth, all further trouble.\3721I hope you are not avaricious!\3722I rub my hands, I scratch my head--\3723 [_He places the casket in the press and locks it up again_.]\3724 (Quick! Time we sped!)--\3725That the dear creature may be led\3726And moulded by your will and wishes;\3727And you stand here as glum,\3728As one at the door of the auditorium,\3729As if before your eyes you saw\3730In bodily shape, with breathless awe,\3731Metaphysics and physics, grim and gray!\3732Away!\3733 [_Exit_.]\3734\3735_Margaret [with a lamp_]. It seems so close, so sultry here.\3736 [_She opens the window_.]\3737Yet it isn't so very warm out there,\3738I feel--I know not how--oh dear!\3739I wish my mother 'ld come home, I declare!\3740I feel a shudder all over me crawl--\3741I'm a silly, timid thing, that's all!\3742 [_She begins to sing, while undressing_.]\3743 There was a king in Thulè,\3744 To whom, when near her grave,\3745 The mistress he loved so truly\3746 A golden goblet gave.\3747\3748 He cherished it as a lover,\3749 He drained it, every bout;\3750 His eyes with tears ran over,\3751 As oft as he drank thereout.\3752\3753 And when he found himself dying,\3754 His towns and cities he told;\3755 Naught else to his heir denying\3756 Save only the goblet of gold.\3757\3758 His knights he straightway gathers\3759 And in the midst sate he,\3760 In the banquet hall of the fathers\3761 In the castle over the sea.\3762\3763 There stood th' old knight of liquor,\3764 And drank the last life-glow,\3765 Then flung the holy beaker\3766 Into the flood below.\3767\3768 He saw it plunging, drinking\3769 And sinking in the roar,\3770 His eyes in death were sinking,\3771 He never drank one drop more.\3772 [_She opens the press, to put away her clothes,\3773 and discovers the casket_.]\3774\3775How in the world came this fine casket here?\3776I locked the press, I'm very clear.\3777I wonder what's inside! Dear me! it's very queer!\3778Perhaps 'twas brought here as a pawn,\3779In place of something mother lent.\3780Here is a little key hung on,\3781A single peep I shan't repent!\3782What's here? Good gracious! only see!\3783I never saw the like in my born days!\3784On some chief festival such finery\3785Might on some noble lady blaze.\3786How would this chain become my neck!\3787Whose may this splendor be, so lonely?\3788 [_She arrays herself in it, and steps before the glass_.]\3789Could I but claim the ear-rings only!\3790A different figure one would make.\3791What's beauty worth to thee, young blood!\3792May all be very well and good;\3793What then? 'Tis half for pity's sake\3794They praise your pretty features.\3795Each burns for gold,\3796All turns on gold,--\3797Alas for us! poor creatures!\3798\3799\3800\3801\3802 PROMENADE.\3803\3804\3805 FAUST [_going up and down in thought_.] MEPHISTOPHELES _to him_.\3806\3807_Mephistopheles_. By all that ever was jilted! By all the infernal fires!\3808I wish I knew something worse, to curse as my heart desires!\3809\3810_Faust_. What griping pain has hold of thee?\3811Such grins ne'er saw I in the worst stage-ranter!\3812\3813_Mephistopheles_. Oh, to the devil I'd give myself instanter,\3814If I were not already he!\3815\3816_Faust_. Some pin's loose in your head, old fellow!\3817That fits you, like a madman thus to bellow!\3818\3819_Mephistopheles_. Just think, the pretty toy we got for Peg,\3820A priest has hooked, the cursed plague I--\3821The thing came under the eye of the mother,\3822And caused her a dreadful internal pother:\3823The woman's scent is fine and strong;\3824Snuffles over her prayer-book all day long,\3825And knows, by the smell of an article, plain,\3826Whether the thing is holy or profane;\3827And as to the box she was soon aware\3828There could not be much blessing there.\3829\"My child,\" she cried, \"unrighteous gains\3830Ensnare the soul, dry up the veins.\3831We'll consecrate it to God's mother,\3832She'll give us some heavenly manna or other!\"\3833Little Margaret made a wry face; \"I see\3834'Tis, after all, a gift horse,\" said she;\3835\"And sure, no godless one is he\3836Who brought it here so handsomely.\"\3837The mother sent for a priest (they're cunning);\3838Who scarce had found what game was running,\3839When he rolled his greedy eyes like a lizard,\3840And, \"all is rightly disposed,\" said he,\3841\"Who conquers wins, for a certainty.\3842The church has of old a famous gizzard,\3843She calls it little whole lands to devour,\3844Yet never a surfeit got to this hour;\3845The church alone, dear ladies; _sans_ question,\3846Can give unrighteous gains digestion.\"\3847\3848_Faust_. That is a general pratice, too,\3849Common alike with king and Jew.\3850\3851_Mephistopheles_. Then pocketed bracelets and chains and rings\3852As if they were mushrooms or some such things,\3853With no more thanks, (the greedy-guts!)\3854Than if it had been a basket of nuts,\3855Promised them all sorts of heavenly pay--\3856And greatly edified were they.\3857\3858_Faust_. And Margery?\3859\3860_Mephistopheles_. Sits there in distress,\3861And what to do she cannot guess,\3862The jewels her daily and nightly thought,\3863And he still more by whom they were brought.\3864\3865_Faust._ My heart is troubled for my pet.\3866Get her at once another set!\3867The first were no great things in their way.\3868\3869_Mephistopheles._ O yes, my gentleman finds all child's play!\3870\3871_Faust._ And what I wish, that mind and do!\3872Stick closely to her neighbor, too.\3873Don't be a devil soft as pap,\3874And fetch me some new jewels, old chap!\3875\3876_Mephistopheles._ Yes, gracious Sir, I will with pleasure.\3877 [_Exit_ FAUST.]\3878Such love-sick fools will puff away\3879Sun, moon, and stars, and all in the azure,\3880To please a maiden's whimsies, any day.\3881 [_Exit._]\3882\3883\3884\3885\3886 THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE.\3887\3888\3889 MARTHA [_alone]._\3890My dear good man--whom God forgive!\3891He has not treated me well, as I live!\3892Right off into the world he's gone\3893And left me on the straw alone.\3894I never did vex him, I say it sincerely,\3895I always loved him, God knows how dearly.\3896 [_She weeps_.]\3897Perhaps he's dead!--O cruel fate!--\3898If I only had a certificate!\3899\3900 _Enter_ MARGARET.\3901Dame Martha!\3902\3903_Martha_. What now, Margery?\3904\3905_Margaret_. I scarce can keep my knees from sinking!\3906Within my press, again, not thinking,\3907I find a box of ebony,\3908With things--can't tell how grand they are,--\3909More splendid than the first by far.\3910\3911_Martha_. You must not tell it to your mother,\3912She'd serve it as she did the other.\3913\3914_Margaret_. Ah, only look! Behold and see!\3915\3916_Martha [puts them on her_]. Fortunate thing! I envy thee!\3917\3918_Margaret._ Alas, in the street or at church I never\3919Could be seen on any account whatever.\3920\3921_Martha._ Come here as often as you've leisure,\3922And prink yourself quite privately;\3923Before the looking-glass walk up and down at pleasure,\3924Fine times for both us 'twill be;\3925Then, on occasions, say at some great feast,\3926Can show them to the world, one at a time, at least.\3927A chain, and then an ear-pearl comes to view;\3928Your mother may not see, we'll make some pretext, too.\3929\3930_Margaret._ Who could have brought both caskets in succession?\3931There's something here for just suspicion!\3932 [_A knock._ ]\3933Ah, God! If that's my mother--then!\3934\3935_Martha_ [_peeping through the blind_].\3936'Tis a strange gentleman--come in!\3937\3938 [_Enter_ MEPHISTOPHELES.]\3939Must, ladies, on your kindness reckon\3940To excuse the freedom I have taken;\3941 [_Steps back with profound respect at seeing_ MARGARET.]\3942I would for Dame Martha Schwerdtlein inquire!\3943\3944_Martha._ I'm she, what, sir, is your desire?\3945\3946_Mephistopheles_ [_aside to her_]. I know your face, for now 'twill do;\3947A distinguished lady is visiting you.\3948For a call so abrupt be pardon meted,\3949This afternoon it shall be repeated.\3950\3951_Martha [aloud]._ For all the world, think, child! my sakes!\3952The gentleman you for a lady takes.\3953\3954_Margaret_. Ah, God! I am a poor young blood;\3955The gentleman is quite too good;\3956The jewels and trinkets are none of my own.\3957\3958_Mephistopheles_. Ah, 'tis not the jewels and trinkets alone;\3959Her look is so piercing, so _distinguè_!\3960How glad I am to be suffered to stay.\3961\3962_Martha_. What bring you, sir? I long to hear--\3963\3964_Mephistopheles_. Would I'd a happier tale for your ear!\3965I hope you'll forgive me this one for repeating:\3966Your husband is dead and sends you a greeting.\3967\3968_Martha_. Is dead? the faithful heart! Woe! Woe!\3969My husband dead! I, too, shall go!\3970\3971_Margaret_. Ah, dearest Dame, despair not thou!\3972\3973_Mephistopheles_ Then, hear the mournful story now!\3974\3975_Margaret_. Ah, keep me free from love forever,\3976I should never survive such a loss, no, never!\3977\3978_Mephistopheles_. Joy and woe, woe and joy, must have each other.\3979\3980_Martha_. Describe his closing hours to me!\3981\3982_Mephistopheles_. In Padua lies our departed brother,\3983In the churchyard of St. Anthony,\3984In a cool and quiet bed lies sleeping,\3985In a sacred spot's eternal keeping.\3986\3987_Martha_. And this was all you had to bring me?\3988\3989_Mephistopheles_. All but one weighty, grave request!\3990\"Bid her, when I am dead, three hundred masses sing me!\"\3991With this I have made a clean pocket and breast.\3992\3993_Martha_. What! not a medal, pin nor stone?\3994Such as, for memory's sake, no journeyman will lack,\3995Saved in the bottom of his sack,\3996And sooner would hunger, be a pauper--\3997\3998_Mephistopheles_. Madam, your case is hard, I own!\3999But blame him not, he squandered ne'er a copper.\4000He too bewailed his faults with penance sore,\4001Ay, and his wretched luck bemoaned a great deal more.\4002\4003_Margaret_. Alas! that mortals so unhappy prove!\4004I surely will for him pray many a requiem duly.\4005\4006_Mephistopheles_. You're worthy of a spouse this moment; truly\4007You are a child a man might love.\4008\4009_Margaret_. It's not yet time for that, ah no!\4010\4011_Mephistopheles_. If not a husband, say, meanwhile a beau.\4012It is a choice and heavenly blessing,\4013Such a dear thing to one's bosom pressing.\4014\4015_Margaret_. With us the custom is not so.\4016\4017_Mephistopheles_. Custom or not! It happens, though.\4018\4019_Martha_. Tell on!\4020\4021_Mephistopheles_. I slood beside his bed, as he lay dying,\4022Better than dung it was somewhat,--\4023Half-rotten straw; but then, he died as Christian ought,\4024And found an unpaid score, on Heaven's account-book lying.\4025\"How must I hate myself,\" he cried, \"inhuman!\4026So to forsake my business and my woman!\4027Oh! the remembrance murders me!\4028Would she might still forgive me this side heaven!\"\4029\4030_Martha_ [_weeping_]. The dear good man! he has been long forgiven.\4031\4032_Mephistopheles_. \"But God knows, I was less to blame than she.\"\4033\4034_Martha_. A lie! And at death's door! abominable!\4035\4036_Mephistopheles_. If I to judge of men half-way am able,\4037He surely fibbed while passing hence.\4038\"Ways to kill time, (he said)--be sure, I did not need them;\4039First to get children--and then bread to feed them,\4040And bread, too, in the widest sense,\4041And even to eat my bit in peace could not be thought on.\"\4042\4043_Martha_. Has he all faithfulness, all love, so far forgotten,\4044The drudgery by day and night!\4045\4046_Mephistopheles_. Not so, he thought of you with all his might.\4047He said: \"When I from Malta went away,\4048For wife and children my warm prayers ascended;\4049And Heaven so far our cause befriended,\4050Our ship a Turkish cruiser took one day,\4051Which for the mighty Sultan bore a treasure.\4052Then valor got its well-earned pay,\4053And I too, who received but my just measure,\4054A goodly portion bore away.\"\4055\4056_Martha_. How? Where? And he has left it somewhere buried?\4057\4058_Mephistopheles_. Who knows which way by the four winds 'twas carried?\4059He chanced to take a pretty damsel's eye,\4060As, a strange sailor, he through Naples jaunted;\4061All that she did for him so tenderly,\4062E'en to his blessed end the poor man haunted.\4063\4064_Martha_. The scamp! his children thus to plunder!\4065And could not all his troubles sore\4066Arrest his vile career, I wonder?\4067\4068_Mephistopheles_. But mark! his death wipes off the score.\4069Were I in your place now, good lady;\4070One year I'd mourn him piously\4071And look about, meanwhiles, for a new flame already.\4072\4073_Martha_. Ah, God! another such as he\4074I may not find with ease on this side heaven!\4075Few such kind fools as this dear spouse of mine.\4076Only to roving he was too much given,\4077And foreign women and foreign wine,\4078And that accursed game of dice.\4079\4080_Mephistopheles_. Mere trifles these; you need not heed 'em,\4081If he, on his part, not o'er-nice,\4082Winked at, in you, an occasional freedom.\4083I swear, on that condition, too,\4084I would, myself, 'change rings with you!\4085\4086_Martha_. The gentleman is pleased to jest now!\4087\4088_Mephistopheles [aside_]. I see it's now high time I stirred!\4089She'd take the very devil at his word.\4090 [_To_ MARGERY.]\4091How is it with your heart, my best, now?\4092\4093_Margaret_. What means the gentleman?\4094\4095_Mephistopheles. [aside_]. Thou innocent young heart!\4096 [_Aloud_.]\4097Ladies, farewell!\4098\4099_Margaret_. Farewell!\4100\4101_Martha_. But quick, before we part!--\4102I'd like some witness, vouching truly\4103Where, how and when my love died and was buried duly.\4104I've always paid to order great attention,\4105Would of his death read some newspaper mention.\4106\4107_Mephistopheles_. Ay, my dear lady, in the mouths of two\4108Good witnesses each word is true;\4109I've a friend, a fine fellow, who, when you desire,\4110Will render on oath what you require.\4111I'll bring him here.\4112\4113_Martha_. O pray, sir, do!\4114\4115_Mephistopheles_. And this young lady 'll be there too?\4116Fine boy! has travelled everywhere,\4117And all politeness to the fair.\4118\4119_Margaret_. Before him shame my face must cover.\4120\4121_Mephistopheles_. Before no king the wide world over!\4122\4123_Martha_. Behind the house, in my garden, at leisure,\4124We'll wait this eve the gentlemen's pleasure.\4125\4126\4127\4128\4129 STREET.\4130\4131 FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES.\4132\4133_Faust_. How now? What progress? Will 't come right?\4134\4135_Mephistopheles_. Ha, bravo? So you're all on fire?\4136Full soon you'll see whom you desire.\4137In neighbor Martha's grounds we are to meet tonight.\4138That woman's one of nature's picking\4139For pandering and gipsy-tricking!\4140\4141_Faust_. So far, so good!\4142\4143_Mephistopheles_. But one thing we must do.\4144\4145_Faust_. Well, one good turn deserves another, true.\4146\4147_Mephistopheles_. We simply make a solemn deposition\4148That her lord's bones are laid in good condition\4149In holy ground at Padua, hid from view.\4150\4151_Faust_. That's wise! But then we first must make the journey thither?\4152\4153_Mephistopheles. Sancta simplicitas_! no need of such to-do;\4154Just swear, and ask not why or whether.\4155\4156_Faust_. If that's the best you have, the plan's not worth a feather.\4157\4158_Mephistopheles_. O holy man! now that's just you!\4159In all thy life hast never, to this hour,\4160To give false witness taken pains?\4161Have you of God, the world, and all that it contains,\4162Of man, and all that stirs within his heart and brains,\4163Not given definitions with great power,\4164Unscrupulous breast, unblushing brow?\4165And if you search the matter clearly,\4166Knew you as much thereof, to speak sincerely,\4167As of Herr Schwerdtlein's death? Confess it now!\4168\4169_Faust_. Thou always wast a sophist and a liar.\4170\4171_Mephistopheles_. Ay, if one did not look a little nigher.\4172For will you not, in honor, to-morrow\4173Befool poor Margery to her sorrow,\4174And all the oaths of true love borrow?\4175\4176_Faust_. And from the heart, too.\4177\4178_Mephistopheles_. Well and fair!\4179Then there'll be talk of truth unending,\4180Of love o'ermastering, all transcending--\4181Will every word be heart-born there?\4182\4183_Faust_. Enough! It will!--If, for the passion\4184That fills and thrills my being's frame,\4185I find no name, no fit expression,\4186Then, through the world, with all my senses, ranging,\4187Seek what most strongly speaks the unchanging.\4188And call this glow, within me burning,\4189Infinite--endless--endless yearning,\4190Is that a devilish lying game?\4191\4192_Mephistopheles_. I'm right, nathless!\4193\4194_Faust_. Now, hark to me--\4195This once, I pray, and spare my lungs, old fellow--\4196Whoever _will_ be right, and has a tongue to bellow,\4197Is sure to be.\4198But come, enough of swaggering, let's be quit,\4199For thou art right, because I must submit.\4200\4201\4202\4203\4204 GARDEN.\4205\4206 MARGARET _on_ FAUST'S _arm_. MARTHA _with_ MEPHISTOPHELES.\4207 [_Promenading up and down_.]\4208\4209_Margaret_. The gentleman but makes me more confused\4210\4211With all his condescending goodness.\4212Men who have travelled wide are used\4213To bear with much from dread of rudeness;\4214I know too well, a man of so much mind\4215In my poor talk can little pleasure find.\4216\4217_Faust_. One look from thee, one word, delights me more\4218Than this world's wisdom o'er and o'er.\4219 [_Kisses her hand_.]\4220\4221_Margaret_. Don't take that trouble, sir! How could you bear to kiss it?\4222A hand so ugly, coarse, and rough!\4223How much I've had to do! must I confess it--\4224Mother is more than close enough.\4225 [_They pass on_.]\4226\4227_Martha_. And you, sir, are you always travelling so?\4228\4229_Mephistopheles_. Alas, that business forces us to do it!\4230With what regret from many a place we go,\4231Though tenderest bonds may bind us to it!\4232\4233_Martha_. 'Twill do in youth's tumultuous maze\4234To wander round the world, a careless rover;\4235But soon will come the evil days,\4236And then, a lone dry stick, on the grave's brink to hover,\4237For that nobody ever prays.\4238\4239_Mephistopheles_. The distant prospect shakes my reason.\4240\4241_Martha_. Then, worthy sir, bethink yourself in season.\4242 [_They pass on_.]\4243\4244_Margaret_. Yes, out of sight and out of mind!\4245Politeness you find no hard matter;\4246But you have friends in plenty, better\4247Than I, more sensible, more refined.\4248\4249_Faust_. Dear girl, what one calls sensible on earth,\4250Is often vanity and nonsense.\4251\4252_Margaret_. How?\4253\4254_Faust_. Ah, that the pure and simple never know\4255Aught of themselves and all their holy worth!\4256That meekness, lowliness, the highest measure\4257Of gifts by nature lavished, full and free--\4258\4259_Margaret_. One little moment, only, think of me,\4260I shall to think of you have ample time and leisure.\4261\4262_Faust_. You're, may be, much alone?\4263\4264_Margaret_. Our household is but small, I own,\4265And yet needs care, if truth were known.\4266We have no maid; so I attend to cooking, sweeping,\4267Knit, sew, do every thing, in fact;\4268And mother, in all branches of housekeeping,\4269Is so exact!\4270Not that she need be tied so very closely down;\4271We might stand higher than some others, rather;\4272A nice estate was left us by my father,\4273A house and garden not far out of town.\4274Yet, after all, my life runs pretty quiet;\4275My brother is a soldier,\4276My little sister's dead;\4277With the dear child indeed a wearing life I led;\4278And yet with all its plagues again would gladly try it,\4279The child was such a pet.\4280\4281_Faust_. An angel, if like thee!\4282\4283_Margaret_. I reared her and she heartily loved me.\4284She and my father never saw each other,\4285He died before her birth, and mother\4286Was given up, so low she lay,\4287But me, by slow degrees, recovered, day by day.\4288Of course she now, long time so feeble,\4289To nurse the poor little worm was unable,\4290And so I reared it all alone,\4291With milk and water; 'twas my own.\4292Upon my bosom all day long\4293It smiled and sprawled and so grew strong.\4294\4295_Faust_. Ah! thou hast truly known joy's fairest flower.\4296\4297_Margaret_. But no less truly many a heavy hour.\4298The wee thing's cradle stood at night\4299Close to my bed; did the least thing awake her,\4300My sleep took flight;\4301'Twas now to nurse her, now in bed to take her,\4302Then, if she was not still, to rise,\4303Walk up and down the room, and dance away her cries,\4304And at the wash-tub stand, when morning streaked the skies;\4305Then came the marketing and kitchen-tending,\4306Day in, day out, work never-ending.\4307One cannot always, sir, good temper keep;\4308But then it sweetens food and sweetens sleep.\4309 [_They pass on_.]\4310\4311_Martha_. But the poor women suffer, you must own:\4312A bachelor is hard of reformation.\4313\4314_Mephistopheles_. Madam, it rests with such as you, alone,\4315To help me mend my situation.\4316\4317_Martha_. Speak plainly, sir, has none your fancy taken?\4318Has none made out a tender flame to waken?\4319\4320_Mephistopheles_. The proverb says: A man's own hearth,\4321And a brave wife, all gold and pearls are worth.\4322\4323_Martha_. I mean, has ne'er your heart been smitten slightly?\4324\4325_Mephistopheles_. I have, on every hand, been entertained politely.\4326\4327_Martha_. Have you not felt, I mean, a serious intention?\4328\4329_Mephistopheles_.\4330Jesting with women, that's a thing one ne'er should mention.\4331\4332_Martha_. Ah, you misunderstand!\4333\4334_Mephistopheles_. It grieves me that I should!\4335But this I understand--that you are good.\4336 [_They pass on_.]\4337\4338_Faust_. So then, my little angel recognized me,\4339As I came through the garden gate?\4340\4341_Margaret_. Did not my downcast eyes show you surprised me?\4342\4343_Faust_. And thou forgav'st that liberty, of late?\4344That impudence of mine, so daring,\4345As thou wast home from church repairing?\4346\4347_Margaret_. I was confused, the like was new to me;\4348No one could say a word to my dishonor.\4349Ah, thought I, has he, haply, in thy manner\4350Seen any boldness--impropriety?\4351It seemed as if the feeling seized him,\4352That he might treat this girl just as it pleased him.\4353Let me confess! I knew not from what cause,\4354Some flight relentings here began to threaten danger;\4355I know, right angry with myself I was,\4356That I could not be angrier with the stranger.\4357\4358_Faust_. Sweet darling!\4359\4360_Margaret_. Let me once!\4361\4362 [_She plucks a china-aster and picks off the leaves one after another_.]\4363\4364_Faust_. What's that for? A bouquet?\4365\4366_Margaret_. No, just for sport.\4367\4368_Faust_. How?\4369\4370_Margaret_. Go! you'll laugh at me; away!\4371 [_She picks and murmurs to herself_.]\4372\4373_Faust_. What murmurest thou?\4374\4375_Margaret [half aloud_]. He loves me--loves me not.\4376\4377_Faust_. Sweet face! from heaven that look was caught!\4378\4379_Margaret [goes on_]. Loves me--not--loves me--not--\4380 [_picking off the last leaf with tender joy_]\4381He loves me!\4382\4383_Faust_. Yes, my child! And be this floral word\4384An oracle to thee. He loves thee!\4385Knowest thou all it mean? He loves thee!\4386 [_Clasping both her hands_.]\4387\4388_Margaret_. What thrill is this!\4389\4390_Faust_. O, shudder not! This look of mine.\4391This pressure of the hand shall tell thee\4392What cannot be expressed:\4393Give thyself up at once and feel a rapture,\4394An ecstasy never to end!\4395Never!--It's end were nothing but blank despair.\4396No, unending! unending!\4397\4398 [MARGARET _presses his hands, extricates herself, and runs away.\4399 He stands a moment in thought, then follows her_].\4400\4401_Martha [coming_]. The night falls fast.\4402\4403_Mephistopheles_. Ay, and we must away.\4404\4405_Martha_. If it were not for one vexation,\4406I would insist upon your longer stay.\4407Nobody seems to have no occupation,\4408No care nor labor,\4409Except to play the spy upon his neighbor;\4410And one becomes town-talk, do whatsoe'er they may.\4411But where's our pair of doves?\4412\4413_Mephistopheles_. Flown up the alley yonder.\4414Light summer-birds!\4415\4416_Martha_. He seems attached to her.\4417\4418_Mephistopheles_. No wonder.\4419And she to him. So goes the world, they say.\4420\4421\4422\4423\4424 A SUMMER-HOUSE.\4425\4426 MARGARET [_darts in, hides behind the door, presses the tip of\4427 her finger to her lips, and peeps through the crack_].\4428\4429_Margaret_. He comes!\4430\4431 _Enter_ FAUST.\4432\4433_Faust_. Ah rogue, how sly thou art!\4434I've caught thee!\4435 [_Kisses her_.]\4436\4437_Margaret [embracing him and returning the kiss_].\4438Dear good man! I love thee from my heart!\4439\4440 [MEPHISTOPHELES _knocks_.]\4441\4442_Faust [stamping_]. Who's there?\4443\4444_Mephistopheles_. A friend!\4445\4446_Faust_. A beast!\4447\4448_Mephistopheles_. Time flies, I don't offend you?\4449\4450_Martha [entering_]. Yes, sir, 'tis growing late.\4451\4452_Faust_. May I not now attend you?\4453\4454_Margaret_. Mother would--Fare thee well!\4455\4456_Faust_. And must I leave thee then? Farewell!\4457\4458_Martha_. Adé!\4459\4460_Margaret_. Till, soon, we meet again!\4461\4462 [_Exeunt_ FAUST _and_ MEPHISTOPHELES.]\4463\4464_Margaret_. Good heavens! what such a man's one brain\4465Can in itself alone contain!\4466I blush my rudeness to confess,\4467And answer all he says with yes.\4468Am a poor, ignorant child, don't see\4469What he can possibly find in me.\4470\4471 [_Exit_.]\4472\4473\4474\4475\4476 WOODS AND CAVERN.\4477\4478_Faust_ [_alone_]. Spirit sublime, thou gav'st me, gav'st me all\4479For which I prayed. Thou didst not lift in vain\4480Thy face upon me in a flame of fire.\4481Gav'st me majestic nature for a realm,\4482The power to feel, enjoy her. Not alone\4483A freezing, formal visit didst thou grant;\4484Deep down into her breast invitedst me\4485To look, as if she were a bosom-friend.\4486The series of animated things\4487Thou bidst pass by me, teaching me to know\4488My brothers in the waters, woods, and air.\4489And when the storm-swept forest creaks and groans,\4490The giant pine-tree crashes, rending off\4491The neighboring boughs and limbs, and with deep roar\4492The thundering mountain echoes to its fall,\4493To a safe cavern then thou leadest me,\4494Showst me myself; and my own bosom's deep\4495Mysterious wonders open on my view.\4496And when before my sight the moon comes up\4497With soft effulgence; from the walls of rock,\4498From the damp thicket, slowly float around\4499The silvery shadows of a world gone by,\4500And temper meditation's sterner joy.\4501 O! nothing perfect is vouchsafed to man:\4502I feel it now! Attendant on this bliss,\4503Which brings me ever nearer to the Gods,\4504Thou gav'st me the companion, whom I now\4505No more can spare, though cold and insolent;\4506He makes me hate, despise myself, and turns\4507Thy gifts to nothing with a word--a breath.\4508He kindles up a wild-fire in my breast,\4509Of restless longing for that lovely form.\4510Thus from desire I hurry to enjoyment,\4511And in enjoyment languish for desire.\4512\4513 _Enter_ MEPHISTOPHELES.\4514\4515_Mephistopheles_. Will not this life have tired you by and bye?\4516I wonder it so long delights you?\4517'Tis well enough for once the thing to try;\4518Then off to where a new invites you!\4519\4520_Faust_. Would thou hadst something else to do,\4521That thus to spoil my joy thou burnest.\4522\4523_Mephistopheles_. Well! well! I'll leave thee, gladly too!--\4524Thou dar'st not tell me that in earnest!\4525'Twere no great loss, a fellow such as you,\4526So crazy, snappish, and uncivil.\4527One has, all day, his hands full, and more too;\4528To worm out from him what he'd have one do,\4529Or not do, puzzles e'en the very devil.\4530\4531_Faust_. Now, that I like! That's just the tone!\4532Wants thanks for boring me till I'm half dead!\4533\4534_Mephistopheles_. Poor son of earth, if left alone,\4535What sort of life wouldst thou have led?\4536How oft, by methods all my own,\4537I've chased the cobweb fancies from thy head!\4538And but for me, to parts unknown\4539Thou from this earth hadst long since fled.\4540What dost thou here through cave and crevice groping?\4541Why like a hornèd owl sit moping?\4542And why from dripping stone, damp moss, and rotten wood\4543Here, like a toad, suck in thy food?\4544Delicious pastime! Ah, I see,\4545Somewhat of Doctor sticks to thee.\4546\4547_Faust_. What new life-power it gives me, canst thou guess--\4548This conversation with the wilderness?\4549Ay, couldst thou dream how sweet the employment,\4550Thou wouldst be devil enough to grudge me my enjoyment.\4551\4552_Mephistopheles_. Ay, joy from super-earthly fountains!\4553By night and day to lie upon the mountains,\4554To clasp in ecstasy both earth and heaven,\4555Swelled to a deity by fancy's leaven,\4556Pierce, like a nervous thrill, earth's very marrow,\4557Feel the whole six days' work for thee too narrow,\4558To enjoy, I know not what, in blest elation,\4559Then with thy lavish love o'erflow the whole creation.\4560Below thy sight the mortal cast,\4561And to the glorious vision give at last--\4562 [_with a gesture_]\4563I must not say what termination!\4564\4565_Faust_. Shame on thee!\4566\4567_Mephistopheles_. This displeases thee; well, surely,\4568Thou hast a right to say \"for shame\" demurely.\4569One must not mention that to chaste ears--never,\4570Which chaste hearts cannot do without, however.\4571And, in one word, I grudge you not the pleasure\4572Of lying to yourself in moderate measure;\4573But 'twill not hold out long, I know;\4574Already thou art fast recoiling,\4575And soon, at this rate, wilt be boiling\4576With madness or despair and woe.\4577Enough of this! Thy sweetheart sits there lonely,\4578And all to her is close and drear.\4579Her thoughts are on thy image only,\4580She holds thee, past all utterance, dear.\4581At first thy passion came bounding and rushing\4582Like a brooklet o'erflowing with melted snow and rain;\4583Into her heart thou hast poured it gushing:\4584And now thy brooklet's dry again.\4585Methinks, thy woodland throne resigning,\4586'Twould better suit so great a lord\4587The poor young monkey to reward\4588For all the love with which she's pining.\4589She finds the time dismally long;\4590Stands at the window, sees the clouds on high\4591Over the old town-wall go by.\4592\"Were I a little bird!\"[26] so runneth her song\4593All the day, half the night long.\4594At times she'll be laughing, seldom smile,\4595At times wept-out she'll seem,\4596Then again tranquil, you'd deem,--\4597Lovesick all the while.\4598\4599_Faust_. Viper! Viper!\4600\4601_Mephistopheles_ [_aside_]. Ay! and the prey grows riper!\4602\4603_Faust_. Reprobate! take thee far behind me!\4604No more that lovely woman name!\4605Bid not desire for her sweet person flame\4606Through each half-maddened sense, again to blind me!\4607\4608_Mephistopheles_. What then's to do? She fancies thou hast flown,\4609And more than half she's right, I own.\4610\4611_Faust_. I'm near her, and, though far away, my word,\4612I'd not forget her, lose her; never fear it!\4613I envy e'en the body of the Lord,\4614Oft as those precious lips of hers draw near it.\4615\4616_Mephistopheles_. No doubt; and oft my envious thought reposes\4617On the twin-pair that feed among the roses.\4618\4619_Faust_. Out, pimp!\4620\4621_Mephistopheles_. Well done! Your jeers I find fair game for laughter.\4622The God, who made both lad and lass,\4623Unwilling for a bungling hand to pass,\4624Made opportunity right after.\4625But come! fine cause for lamentation!\4626Her chamber is your destination,\4627And not the grave, I guess.\4628\4629_Faust_. What are the joys of heaven while her fond arms enfold me?\4630O let her kindling bosom hold me!\4631Feel I not always her distress?\4632The houseless am I not? the unbefriended?\4633The monster without aim or rest?\4634That, like a cataract, from rock to rock descended\4635To the abyss, with maddening greed possest:\4636She, on its brink, with childlike thoughts and lowly,--\4637Perched on the little Alpine field her cot,--\4638This narrow world, so still and holy\4639Ensphering, like a heaven, her lot.\4640And I, God's hatred daring,\4641Could not be content\4642The rocks all headlong bearing,\4643By me to ruins rent,--\4644Her, yea her peace, must I o'erwhelm and bury!\4645This victim, hell, to thee was necessary!\4646Help me, thou fiend, the pang soon ending!\4647What must be, let it quickly be!\4648And let her fate upon my head descending,\4649Crush, at one blow, both her and me.\4650\4651_Mephistopheles_. Ha! how it seethes again and glows!\4652Go in and comfort her, thou dunce!\4653Where such a dolt no outlet sees or knows,\4654He thinks he's reached the end at once.\4655None but the brave deserve the fair!\4656Thou _hast_ had devil enough to make a decent show of.\4657For all the world a devil in despair\4658Is just the insipidest thing I know of.\4659\4660\4661\4662\4663 MARGERY'S ROOM.\4664\4665 MARGERY [_at the spinning-wheel alone_].\4666 My heart is heavy,\4667 My peace is o'er;\4668 I never--ah! never--\4669 Shall find it more.\4670 While him I crave,\4671 Each place is the grave,\4672 The world is all\4673 Turned into gall.\4674 My wretched brain\4675 Has lost its wits,\4676 My wretched sense\4677 Is all in bits.\4678 My heart is heavy,\4679 My peace is o'er;\4680 I never--ah! never--\4681 Shall find it more.\4682 Him only to greet, I\4683 The street look down,\4684 Him only to meet, I\4685 Roam through town.\4686 His lofty step,\4687 His noble height,\4688 His smile of sweetness,\4689 His eye of might,\4690 His words of magic,\4691 Breathing bliss,\4692 His hand's warm pressure\4693 And ah! his kiss.\4694 My heart is heavy,\4695 My peace is o'er,\4696 I never--ah! never--\4697 Shall find it more.\4698 My bosom yearns\4699 To behold him again.\4700 Ah, could I find him\4701 That best of men!\4702 I'd tell him then\4703 How I did miss him,\4704 And kiss him\4705 As much as I could,\4706 Die on his kisses\4707 I surely should!\4708\4709\4710\4711\4712 MARTHA'S GARDEN.\4713\4714 MARGARET. FAUST.\4715\4716_Margaret_. Promise me, Henry.\4717\4718_Faust_. What I can.\4719\4720_Margaret_. How is it now with thy religion, say?\4721I know thou art a dear good man,\4722But fear thy thoughts do not run much that way.\4723\4724_Faust_. Leave that, my child! Enough, thou hast my heart;\4725For those I love with life I'd freely part;\4726I would not harm a soul, nor of its faith bereave it.\4727\4728_Margaret_. That's wrong, there's one true faith--one must believe it?\4729\4730_Faust_. Must one?\4731\4732_Margaret_. Ah, could I influence thee, dearest!\4733The holy sacraments thou scarce reverest.\4734\4735_Faust_. I honor them.\4736\4737_Margaret_. But yet without desire.\4738Of mass and confession both thou'st long begun to tire.\4739Believest thou in God?\4740\4741_Faust_. My. darling, who engages\4742To say, I do believe in God?\4743The question put to priests or sages:\4744Their answer seems as if it sought\4745To mock the asker.\4746\4747_Margaret_. Then believ'st thou not?\4748\4749_Faust_. Sweet face, do not misunderstand my thought!\4750Who dares express him?\4751And who confess him,\4752Saying, I do believe?\4753A man's heart bearing,\4754What man has the daring\4755To say: I acknowledge him not?\4756The All-enfolder,\4757The All-upholder,\4758Enfolds, upholds He not\4759Thee, me, Himself?\4760Upsprings not Heaven's blue arch high o'er thee?\4761Underneath thee does not earth stand fast?\4762See'st thou not, nightly climbing,\4763Tenderly glancing eternal stars?\4764Am I not gazing eye to eye on thee?\4765Through brain and bosom\4766Throngs not all life to thee,\4767Weaving in everlasting mystery\4768Obscurely, clearly, on all sides of thee?\4769Fill with it, to its utmost stretch, thy breast,\4770And in the consciousness when thou art wholly blest,\4771Then call it what thou wilt,\4772Joy! Heart! Love! God!\4773I have no name to give it!\4774All comes at last to feeling;\4775Name is but sound and smoke,\4776Beclouding Heaven's warm glow.\4777\4778_Margaret_. That is all fine and good, I know;\4779And just as the priest has often spoke,\4780Only with somewhat different phrases.\4781\4782_Faust_. All hearts, too, in all places,\4783Wherever Heaven pours down the day's broad blessing,\4784Each in its way the truth is confessing;\4785And why not I in mine, too?\4786\4787_Margaret_. Well, all have a way that they incline to,\4788But still there is something wrong with thee;\4789Thou hast no Christianity.\4790\4791_Faust_. Dear child!\4792\4793_Margaret_. It long has troubled me\4794That thou shouldst keep such company.\4795\4796_Faust_. How so?\4797\4798_Margaret_. The man whom thou for crony hast,\4799Is one whom I with all my soul detest.\4800Nothing in all my life has ever\4801Stirred up in my heart such a deep disfavor\4802As the ugly face that man has got.\4803\4804_Faust_. Sweet plaything; fear him not!\4805\4806_Margaret_. His presence stirs my blood, I own.\4807I can love almost all men I've ever known;\4808But much as thy presence with pleasure thrills me,\4809That man with a secret horror fills me.\4810And then for a knave I've suspected him long!\4811God pardon me, if I do him wrong!\4812\4813_Faust_. To make up a world such odd sticks are needed.\4814\4815_Margaret_. Shouldn't like to live in the house where he did!\4816Whenever I see him coming in,\4817He always wears such a mocking grin.\4818Half cold, half grim;\4819One sees, that naught has interest for him;\4820'Tis writ on his brow and can't be mistaken,\4821No soul in him can love awaken.\4822I feel in thy arms so happy, so free,\4823I yield myself up so blissfully,\4824He comes, and all in me is closed and frozen now.\4825\4826_Faust_. Ah, thou mistrustful angel, thou!\4827\4828_Margaret_. This weighs on me so sore,\4829That when we meet, and he is by me,\4830I feel, as if I loved thee now no more.\4831Nor could I ever pray, if he were nigh me,\4832That eats the very heart in me;\4833Henry, it must be so with thee.\4834\4835_Faust_. 'Tis an antipathy of thine!\4836\4837_Margaret_. Farewell!\4838\4839_Faust_. Ah, can I ne'er recline\4840One little hour upon thy bosom, pressing\4841My heart to thine and all my soul confessing?\4842\4843_Margaret_. Ah, if my chamber were alone,\4844This night the bolt should give thee free admission;\4845But mother wakes at every tone,\4846And if she had the least suspicion,\4847Heavens! I should die upon the spot!\4848\4849_Faust_. Thou angel, need of that there's not.\4850Here is a flask! Three drops alone\4851Mix with her drink, and nature\4852Into a deep and pleasant sleep is thrown.\4853\4854_Margaret_. Refuse thee, what can I, poor creature?\4855I hope, of course, it will not harm her!\4856\4857_Faust_. Would I advise it then, my charmer?\4858\4859_Margaret_. Best man, when thou dost look at me,\4860I know not what, moves me to do thy will;\4861I have already done so much for thee,\4862Scarce any thing seems left me to fulfil.\4863 [_Exit_.]\4864\4865 Enter_ MEPHISTOPHELES.\4866\4867_Mephtftopheles_. The monkey! is she gone?\4868\4869_Faust_. Hast played the spy again?\4870\4871_Mephistopheles_. I overheard it all quite fully.\4872The Doctor has been well catechized then?\4873Hope it will sit well on him truly.\4874The maidens won't rest till they know if the men\4875Believe as good old custom bids them do.\4876They think: if there he yields, he'll follow our will too.\4877\4878_Faust_. Monster, thou wilt not, canst not see,\4879How this true soul that loves so dearly,\4880Yet hugs, at every cost,\4881The faith which she\4882Counts Heaven itself, is horror-struck sincerely\4883To think of giving up her dearest man for lost.\4884\4885_Mephistopheles_. Thou supersensual, sensual wooer,\4886A girl by the nose is leading thee.\4887\4888_Faust_. Abortion vile of fire and sewer!\4889\4890_Mephistopheles_. In physiognomy, too, her skill is masterly.\4891When I am near she feels she knows not how,\4892My little mask some secret meaning shows;\4893She thinks, I'm certainly a genius, now,\4894Perhaps the very devil--who knows?\4895To-night then?--\4896\4897_Faust_. Well, what's that to you?\4898\4899_Mephistopheles_. I find my pleasure in it, too!\4900\4901\4902\4903\4904 AT THE WELL.\4905\4906 MARGERY _and_ LIZZY _with Pitchers.\4907\4908_Lizzy_. Hast heard no news of Barbara to-day?\4909\4910_Margery_. No, not a word. I've not been out much lately.\4911\4912_Lizzy_. It came to me through Sybill very straightly.\4913She's made a fool of herself at last, they say.\4914That comes of taking airs!\4915\4916_Margery_. What meanst thou?\4917\4918_Lizzy_. Pah!\4919She daily eats and drinks for two now.\4920\4921_Margery_. Ah!\4922\4923_Lizzy_. It serves the jade right for being so callow.\4924How long she's been hanging upon the fellow!\4925Such a promenading!\4926To fair and dance parading!\4927Everywhere as first she must shine,\4928He was treating her always with tarts and wine;\4929She began to think herself something fine,\4930And let her vanity so degrade her\4931That she even accepted the presents he made her.\4932There was hugging and smacking, and so it went on--\4933And lo! and behold! the flower is gone!\4934\4935_Margery_. Poor thing!\4936\4937_Lizzy_. Canst any pity for her feel!\4938When such as we spun at the wheel,\4939Our mothers kept us in-doors after dark;\4940While she stood cozy with her spark,\4941Or sate on the door-bench, or sauntered round,\4942And never an hour too long they found.\4943But now her pride may let itself down,\4944To do penance at church in the sinner's gown!\4945\4946_Margery_. He'll certainly take her for his wife.\4947\4948_Lizzy_. He'd be a fool! A spruce young blade\4949Has room enough to ply his trade.\4950Besides, he's gone.\4951\4952_Margery_. Now, that's not fair!\4953\4954_Lizzy_. If she gets him, her lot'll be hard to bear.\4955The boys will tear up her wreath, and what's more,\4956We'll strew chopped straw before her door.\4957\4958 [_Exit._]\4959\4960_Margery [going home]_. Time was when I, too, instead of bewailing,\4961Could boldly jeer at a poor girl's failing!\4962When my scorn could scarcely find expression\4963At hearing of another's transgression!\4964How black it seemed! though black as could be,\4965It never was black enough for me.\4966I blessed my soul, and felt so high,\4967And now, myself, in sin I lie!\4968Yet--all that led me to it, sure,\4969O God! it was so dear, so pure!\4970\4971\4972\4973\4974 DONJON.[27]\4975\4976 [_In a niche a devotional image of the Mater Dolorosa,\4977 before it pots of flowers._]\4978\4979MARGERY [_puts fresh flowers into the pots_].\4980 Ah, hear me,\4981 Draw kindly near me,\4982 Mother of sorrows, heal my woe!\4983\4984 Sword-pierced, and stricken\4985 With pangs that sicken,\4986 Thou seest thy son's last life-blood flow!\4987\4988 Thy look--thy sighing---\4989 To God are crying,\4990 Charged with a son's and mother's woe!\4991\4992 Sad mother!\4993 What other\4994 Knows the pangs that eat me to the bone?\4995 What within my poor heart burneth,\4996 How it trembleth, how it yearneth,\4997 Thou canst feel and thou alone!\4998\4999 Go where I will, I never\5000 Find peace or hope--forever\5001 Woe, woe and misery!\5002\5003 Alone, when all are sleeping,\5004 I'm weeping, weeping, weeping,\5005 My heart is crushed in me.\5006\5007 The pots before my window,\5008 In the early morning-hours,\5009 Alas, my tears bedewed them,\5010 As I plucked for thee these flowers,\5011\5012 When the bright sun good morrow\5013 In at my window said,\5014 Already, in my anguish,\5015 I sate there in my bed.\5016\5017 From shame and death redeem me, oh!\5018 Draw near me,\5019 And, pitying, hear me,\5020 Mother of sorrows, heal my woe!\5021\5022\5023\5024\5025 NIGHT.\5026\5027 _Street before_ MARGERY'S _Door._\5028\5029\5030 VALENTINE [_soldier,_ MARGERY'S _brother_].\5031\5032When at the mess I used to sit,\5033Where many a one will show his wit,\5034And heard my comrades one and all\5035The flower of the sex extol,\5036Drowning their praise with bumpers high,\5037Leaning upon my elbows, I\5038Would hear the braggadocios through,\5039And then, when it came my turn, too,\5040Would stroke my beard and, smiling, say,\5041A brimming bumper in my hand:\5042All very decent in their way!\5043But is there one, in all the land,\5044With my sweet Margy to compare,\5045A candle to hold to my sister fair?\5046Bravo! Kling! Klang! it echoed round!\5047One party cried: 'tis truth he speaks,\5048She is the jewel of the sex!\5049And the braggarts all in silence were bound.\5050And now!--one could pull out his hair with vexation,\5051And run up the walls for mortification!--\5052Every two-legged creature that goes in breeches\5053Can mock me with sneers and stinging speeches!\5054And I like a guilty debtor sitting,\5055For fear of each casual word am sweating!\5056And though I could smash them in my ire,\5057I dare not call a soul of them liar.\5058\5059What's that comes yonder, sneaking along?\5060There are two of them there, if I see not wrong.\5061Is't he, I'll give him a dose that'll cure him,\5062He'll not leave the spot alive, I assure him!\5063\5064\5065 FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES.\5066\5067_Faust_. How from yon window of the sacristy\5068The ever-burning lamp sends up its glimmer,\5069And round the edge grows ever dimmer,\5070Till in the gloom its flickerings die!\5071So in my bosom all is nightlike.\5072\5073_Mephistopheles_. A starving tom-cat I feel quite like,\5074That o'er the fire ladders crawls\5075Then softly creeps, ground the walls.\5076My aim's quite virtuous ne'ertheless,\5077A bit of thievish lust, a bit of wantonness.\5078I feel it all my members haunting--\5079The glorious Walpurgis night.\5080One day--then comes the feast enchanting\5081That shall all pinings well requite.\5082\5083_Faust_. Meanwhile can that the casket be, I wonder,\5084I see behind rise glittering yonder.[28]\5085\5086_Mephistopheles_. Yes, and thou soon shalt have the pleasure\5087Of lifting out the precious treasure.\5088I lately 'neath the lid did squint,\5089Has piles of lion-dollars[29] in't.\5090\5091_Faust_. But not a jewel? Not a ring?\5092To deck my mistress not a trinket?\5093\5094_Mephistopheles_. I caught a glimpse of some such thing,\5095Sort of pearl bracelet I should think it.\5096\5097_Faust_. That's well! I always like to bear\5098Some present when I visit my fair.\5099\5100_Mephistopheles_. You should not murmur if your fate is,\5101To have a bit of pleasure gratis.\5102Now, as the stars fill heaven with their bright throng,\5103List a fine piece, artistic purely:\5104I sing her here a moral song,\5105To make a fool of her more surely.\5106 [_Sings to the guitar_.][30]\5107 What dost thou here,\5108 Katrina dear,\5109 At daybreak drear,\5110 Before thy lover's chamber?\5111 Give o'er, give o'er!\5112 The maid his door\5113 Lets in, no more\5114 Goes out a maid--remember!\5115\5116 Take heed! take heed!\5117 Once done, the deed\5118 Ye'll rue with speed--\5119 And then--good night--poor thing--a!\5120 Though ne'er so fair\5121 His speech, beware,\5122 Until you bear\5123 His ring upon your finger.\5124\5125_Valentine_ [_comes forward_].\5126Whom lur'ft thou here? what prey dost scent?\5127Rat-catching[81] offspring of perdition!\5128To hell goes first the instrument!\5129To hell then follows the musician!\5130\5131_Mephistopheles_. He 's broken the guitar! to music, then, good-bye, now.\5132\5133_Valentine_. A game of cracking skulls we'll try now!\5134\5135_Mephistopbeles_ [_to Faust_]. Never you flinch, Sir Doctor! Brisk!\5136Mind every word I say---be wary!\5137Stand close by me, out with your whisk!\5138Thrust home upon the churl! I'll parry.\5139\5140_Valentine_. Then parry that!\5141\5142_Mephistopheles_. Be sure. Why not?\5143\5144_Valentine_. And that!\5145\5146_Mephistopheles_. With ease!\5147\5148_Valentine_. The devil's aid he's got!\5149But what is this? My hand's already lame.\5150\5151_Mephistopheles_ [_to Faust_]. Thrust home!\5152\5153_Valentine_ [_falls_]. O woe!\5154\5155_Mephistopheles_. Now is the lubber tame!\5156But come! We must be off. I hear a clatter;\5157And cries of murder, too, that fast increase.\5158I'm an old hand to manage the police,\5159But then the penal court's another matter.\5160\5161_Martha_. Come out! Come out!\5162\5163_Margery_ [_at the window_]. Bring on a light!\5164\5165_Martha_ [_as above_]. They swear and scuffle, scream and fight.\5166\5167_People_. There's one, has got's death-blow!\5168\5169_Martha_ [_coming out_]. Where are the murderers, have they flown?\5170\5171_Margery_ [_coming out_]. Who's lying here?\5172\5173_People_. Thy mother's son.\5174\5175_Margery_. Almighty God! What woe!\5176\5177_Valentine_. I'm dying! that is quickly said,\5178And even quicklier done.\5179Women! Why howl, as if half-dead?\5180Come, hear me, every one!\5181 [_All gather round him_.]\5182My Margery, look! Young art thou still,\5183But managest thy matters ill,\5184Hast not learned out yet quite.\5185I say in confidence--think it o'er:\5186Thou art just once for all a whore;\5187Why, be one, then, outright.\5188\5189_Margery_. My brother! God! What words to me!\5190\5191_Valentine_. In this game let our Lord God be!\5192That which is done, alas! is done.\5193And every thing its course will run.\5194With one you secretly begin,\5195Presently more of them come in,\5196And when a dozen share in thee,\5197Thou art the whole town's property.\5198\5199When shame is born to this world of sorrow,\5200The birth is carefully hid from sight,\5201And the mysterious veil of night\5202To cover her head they borrow;\5203Yes, they would gladly stifle the wearer;\5204But as she grows and holds herself high,\5205She walks uncovered in day's broad eye,\5206Though she has not become a whit fairer.\5207The uglier her face to sight,\5208The more she courts the noonday light.\5209\5210Already I the time can see\5211When all good souls shall shrink from thee,\5212Thou prostitute, when thou go'st by them,\5213As if a tainted corpse were nigh them.\5214Thy heart within thy breast shall quake then,\5215When they look thee in the face.\5216Shalt wear no gold chain more on thy neck then!\5217Shalt stand no more in the holy place!\5218No pleasure in point-lace collars take then,\5219Nor for the dance thy person deck then!\5220But into some dark corner gliding,\5221'Mong beggars and cripples wilt be hiding;\5222And even should God thy sin forgive,\5223Wilt be curs'd on earth while thou shalt live!\5224\5225_Martha_. Your soul to the mercy of God surrender!\5226Will you add to your load the sin of slander?\5227\5228_Valentine_. Could I get at thy dried-up frame,\5229Vile bawd, so lost to all sense of shame!\5230Then might I hope, e'en this side Heaven,\5231Richly to find my sins forgiven.\5232\5233_Margery_. My brother! This is hell to me!\5234\5235_Valentine_. I tell thee, let these weak tears be!\5236When thy last hold of honor broke,\5237Thou gav'st my heart the heaviest stroke.\5238I'm going home now through the grave\5239To God, a soldier and a brave.\5240 [_Dies_.]\5241\5242\5243\5244\5245 CATHEDRAL.\5246\5247 _Service, Organ, and Singing._\5248\5249\5250 [MARGERY _amidst a crowd of people._ EVIL SPIRIT _behind_ MARGERY.]\5251\5252_Evil Spirit_. How different was it with thee, Margy,\5253When, innocent and artless,\5254Thou cam'st here to the altar,\5255From the well-thumbed little prayer-book,\5256Petitions lisping,\5257Half full of child's play,\5258Half full of Heaven!\5259Margy!\5260Where are thy thoughts?\5261What crime is buried\5262Deep within thy heart?\5263Prayest thou haply for thy mother, who\5264Slept over into long, long pain, on thy account?\5265Whose blood upon thy threshold lies?\5266--And stirs there not, already\5267Beneath thy heart a life\5268Tormenting itself and thee\5269With bodings of its coming hour?\5270\5271_Margery_. Woe! Woe!\5272Could I rid me of the thoughts,\5273Still through my brain backward and forward flitting,\5274Against my will!\5275\5276_Chorus_. Dies irae, dies illa\5277Solvet saeclum in favillâ.\5278\5279 [_Organ plays_.]\5280\5281_Evil Spirit_. Wrath smites thee!\5282Hark! the trumpet sounds!\5283The graves are trembling!\5284And thy heart,\5285Made o'er again\5286For fiery torments,\5287Waking from its ashes\5288Starts up!\5289\5290_Margery_. Would I were hence!\5291I feel as if the organ's peal\5292My breath were stifling,\5293The choral chant\5294My heart were melting.\5295\5296_Chorus_. Judex ergo cum sedebit,\5297Quidquid latet apparebit.\5298Nil inultum remanebit.\5299\5300_Margery_. How cramped it feels!\5301The walls and pillars\5302Imprison me!\5303And the arches\5304Crush me!--Air!\5305\5306_Evil Spirit_. What! hide thee! sin and shame\5307Will not be hidden!\5308Air? Light?\5309Woe's thee!\5310\5311_Chorus_. Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?\5312Quem patronum rogaturus?\5313Cum vix justus sit securus.\5314\5315_Evil Spirit_. They turn their faces,\5316The glorified, from thee.\5317To take thy hand, the pure ones\5318Shudder with horror.\5319Woe!\5320\5321_Chorus_. Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?\5322\5323_Margery_. Neighbor! your phial!--\5324 [_She swoons._]\5325\5326\5327\5328\5329 WALPURGIS NIGHT.[32]\5330\5331 _Harz Mountains._\5332\5333 _District of Schirke and Elend._\5334\5335\5336 FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES.\5337\5338_Mephistopheles_. Wouldst thou not like a broomstick, now, to ride on?\5339At this rate we are, still, a long way off;\5340I'd rather have a good tough goat, by half,\5341Than the best legs a man e'er set his pride on.\5342\5343_Faust_. So long as I've a pair of good fresh legs to stride on,\5344Enough for me this knotty staff.\5345What use of shortening the way!\5346Following the valley's labyrinthine winding,\5347Then up this rock a pathway finding,\5348From which the spring leaps down in bubbling play,\5349That is what spices such a walk, I say!\5350Spring through the birch-tree's veins is flowing,\5351The very pine is feeling it;\5352Should not its influence set our limbs a-glowing?\5353\5354_Mephistopheles_. I do not feel it, not a bit!\5355My wintry blood runs very slowly;\5356I wish my path were filled with frost and snow.\5357The moon's imperfect disk, how melancholy\5358It rises there with red, belated glow,\5359And shines so badly, turn where'er one can turn,\5360At every step he hits a rock or tree!\5361With leave I'll beg a Jack-o'lantern!\5362I see one yonder burning merrily.\5363Heigh, there! my friend! May I thy aid desire?\5364Why waste at such a rate thy fire?\5365Come, light us up yon path, good fellow, pray!\5366\5367_Jack-o'lantern_. Out of respect, I hope I shall be able\5368To rein a nature quite unstable;\5369We usually take a zigzag way.\5370\5371_Mephistopheles_. Heigh! heigh! He thinks man's crooked course to travel.\5372Go straight ahead, or, by the devil,\5373I'll blow your flickering life out with a puff.\5374\5375_Jack-o'lantern_. You're master of the house, that's plain enough,\5376So I'll comply with your desire.\5377But see! The mountain's magic-mad to-night,\5378And if your guide's to be a Jack-o'lantern's light,\5379Strict rectitude you'll scarce require.\5380\5381FAUST, MEPHISTOPHELES, JACK-O'LANTERN, _in alternate song_.\5382\5383 Spheres of magic, dream, and vision,\5384 Now, it seems, are opening o'er us.\5385 For thy credit, use precision!\5386 Let the way be plain before us\5387 Through the lengthening desert regions.\5388\5389 See how trees on trees, in legions,\5390 Hurrying by us, change their places,\5391 And the bowing crags make faces,\5392 And the rocks, long noses showing,\5393 Hear them snoring, hear them blowing![33]\5394\5395 Down through stones, through mosses flowing,\5396 See the brook and brooklet springing.\5397 Hear I rustling? hear I singing?\5398 Love-plaints, sweet and melancholy,\5399 Voices of those days so holy?\5400 All our loving, longing, yearning?\5401 Echo, like a strain returning\5402 From the olden times, is ringing.\5403\5404 Uhu! Schuhu! Tu-whit! Tu-whit!\5405 Are the jay, and owl, and pewit\5406 All awake and loudly calling?\5407 What goes through the bushes yonder?\5408 Can it be the Salamander--\5409 Belly thick and legs a-sprawling?\5410 Roots and fibres, snake-like, crawling,\5411 Out from rocky, sandy places,\5412 Wheresoe'er we turn our faces,\5413 Stretch enormous fingers round us,\5414 Here to catch us, there confound us;\5415 Thick, black knars to life are starting,\5416 Polypusses'-feelers darting\5417 At the traveller. Field-mice, swarming,\5418 Thousand-colored armies forming,\5419 Scamper on through moss and heather!\5420 And the glow-worms, in the darkling,\5421 With their crowded escort sparkling,\5422 Would confound us altogether.\5423\5424 But to guess I'm vainly trying--\5425 Are we stopping? are we hieing?\5426 Round and round us all seems flying,\5427 Rocks and trees, that make grimaces,\5428 And the mist-lights of the places\5429 Ever swelling, multiplying.\5430\5431_Mephistopheles_. Here's my coat-tail--tightly thumb it!\5432We have reached a middle summit,\5433Whence one stares to see how shines\5434Mammon in the mountain-mines.\5435\5436_Faust_. How strangely through the dim recesses\5437A dreary dawning seems to glow!\5438And even down the deep abysses\5439Its melancholy quiverings throw!\5440Here smoke is boiling, mist exhaling;\5441Here from a vapory veil it gleams,\5442Then, a fine thread of light, goes trailing,\5443Then gushes up in fiery streams.\5444The valley, here, you see it follow,\5445One mighty flood, with hundred rills,\5446And here, pent up in some deep hollow,\5447It breaks on all sides down the hills.\5448Here, spark-showers, darting up before us,\5449Like golden sand-clouds rise and fall.\5450But yonder see how blazes o'er us,\5451All up and down, the rocky wall!\5452\5453_Mephistopheles_. Has not Sir Mammon gloriously lighted\5454His palace for this festive night?\5455Count thyself lucky for the sight:\5456I catch e'en now a glimpse of noisy guests invited.\5457\5458_Faust_. How the mad tempest[34] sweeps the air!\5459On cheek and neck the wind-gusts how they flout me.\5460\5461_Mephistopheles_. Must seize the rock's old ribs and hold on stoutly!\5462Else will they hurl thee down the dark abysses there.\5463A mist-rain thickens the gloom.\5464Hark, how the forests crash and boom!\5465Out fly the owls in dread and wonder;\5466Splitting their columns asunder,\5467Hear it, the evergreen palaces shaking!\5468Boughs are twisting and breaking!\5469Of stems what a grinding and moaning!\5470Of roots what a creaking and groaning!\5471In frightful confusion, headlong tumbling,\5472They fall, with a sound of thunder rumbling,\5473And, through the wreck-piled ravines and abysses,\5474The tempest howls and hisses.\5475Hearst thou voices high up o'er us?\5476Close around us--far before us?\5477Through the mountain, all along,\5478Swells a torrent of magic song.\5479\5480_Witches_ [_in chorus_]. The witches go to the Brocken's top,\5481 The stubble is yellow, and green the crop.\5482 They gather there at the well-known call,\5483 Sir Urian[85] sits at the head of all.\5484 Then on we go o'er stone and stock:\5485 The witch, she--and--the buck.\5486\5487_Voice_. Old Baubo comes along, I vow!\5488She rides upon a farrow-sow.\5489\5490_Chorus_. Then honor to whom honor's due!\5491 Ma'am Baubo ahead! and lead the crew!\5492 A good fat sow, and ma'am on her back,\5493 Then follow the witches all in a pack.\5494\5495_Voice_. Which way didst thou come?\5496\5497_Voice_. By the Ilsenstein!\5498Peeped into an owl's nest, mother of mine!\5499What a pair of eyes!\5500\5501_Voice_. To hell with your flurry!\5502Why ride in such hurry!\5503\5504_Voice_. The hag be confounded!\5505My skin flie has wounded!\5506\5507_Witches_ [_chorus]._ The way is broad, the way is long,\5508 What means this noisy, crazy throng?\5509 The broom it scratches, the fork it flicks,\5510 The child is stifled, the mother breaks.\5511\5512_Wizards_ [_semi-chorus_]. Like housed-up snails we're creeping on,\5513The women all ahead are gone.\5514When to the Bad One's house we go,\5515She gains a thousand steps, you know.\5516\5517_The other half_. We take it not precisely so;\5518What she in thousand steps can go,\5519Make all the haste she ever can,\5520'Tis done in just one leap by man.\5521\5522_Voice_ [_above_]. Come on, come on, from Felsensee!\5523\5524_Voices_ [_from below_]. We'd gladly join your airy way.\5525For wash and clean us as much as we will,\5526We always prove unfruitful still.\5527\5528_Both chorusses_. The wind is hushed, the star shoots by,\5529 The moon she hides her sickly eye.\5530 The whirling, whizzing magic-choir\5531 Darts forth ten thousand sparks of fire.\5532\5533_Voice_ [_from below_]. Ho, there! whoa, there!\5534\5535_Voice_ [_from above_]. Who calls from the rocky cleft below there?\5536\5537_Voice_ [_below_]. Take me too! take me too!\5538Three hundred years I've climbed to you,\5539Seeking in vain my mates to come at,\5540For I can never reach the summit.\5541\5542_Both chorusses_. Can ride the besom, the stick can ride,\5543 Can stride the pitchfork, the goat can stride;\5544 Who neither will ride to-night, nor can,\5545 Must be forever a ruined man.\5546\5547_Half-witch_ [_below_]. I hobble on--I'm out of wind--\5548And still they leave me far behind!\5549To find peace here in vain I come,\5550I get no more than I left at home.\5551\5552_Chorus of witches_. The witch's salve can never fail,\5553 A rag will answer for a sail,\5554 Any trough will do for a ship, that's tight;\5555 He'll never fly who flies not to-night.\5556\5557_Both chorusses_. And when the highest peak we round,\5558 Then lightly graze along the ground,\5559 And cover the heath, where eye can see,\5560 With the flower of witch-errantry.\5561 [_They alight_.]\5562\5563_Mephistopheles._ What squeezing and pushing, what rustling and hustling!\5564What hissing and twirling, what chattering and bustling!\5565How it shines and sparkles and burns and stinks!\5566A true witch-element, methinks!\5567Keep close! or we are parted in two winks.\5568Where art thou?\5569\5570_Faust_ [_in the distance_]. Here!\5571\5572_Mephistopheles_. What! carried off already?\5573Then I must use my house-right.--Steady!\5574Room! Squire Voland[36] comes. Sweet people, Clear the ground!\5575Here, Doctor, grasp my arm! and, at a single bound;\5576Let us escape, while yet 'tis easy;\5577E'en for the like of me they're far too crazy.\5578See! yonder, something shines with quite peculiar glare,\5579And draws me to those bushes mazy.\5580Come! come! and let us slip in there.\5581\5582_Faust_. All-contradicting sprite! To follow thee I'm fated.\5583But I must say, thy plan was very bright!\5584We seek the Brocken here, on the Walpurgis night,\5585Then hold ourselves, when here, completely isolated!\5586\5587_Mephistopheles_. What motley flames light up the heather!\5588A merry club is met together,\5589In a small group one's not alone.\5590\5591_Faust_. I'd rather be up there, I own!\5592See! curling smoke and flames right blue!\5593To see the Evil One they travel;\5594There many a riddle to unravel.\5595\5596_Mephistopheles_. And tie up many another, too.\5597Let the great world there rave and riot,\5598We here will house ourselves in quiet.\5599The saying has been long well known:\5600In the great world one makes a small one of his own.\5601I see young witches there quite naked all,\5602And old ones who, more prudent, cover.\5603For my sake some flight things look over;\5604The fun is great, the trouble small.\5605I hear them tuning instruments! Curs'd jangle!\5606Well! one must learn with such things not to wrangle.\5607Come on! Come on! For so it needs must be,\5608Thou shalt at once be introduced by me.\5609And I new thanks from thee be earning.\5610That is no scanty space; what sayst thou, friend?\5611Just take a look! thou scarce canst see the end.\5612There, in a row, a hundred fires are burning;\5613They dance, chat, cook, drink, love; where can be found\5614Any thing better, now, the wide world round?\5615\5616_Faust_. Wilt thou, as things are now in this condition,\5617Present thyself for devil, or magician?\5618\5619_Mephistopheles_. I've been much used, indeed, to going incognito;\5620\5621But then, on gala-day, one will his order show.\5622No garter makes my rank appear,\5623But then the cloven foot stands high in honor here.\5624Seest thou the snail? Look there! where she comes creeping yonder!\5625Had she already smelt the rat,\5626I should not very greatly wonder.\5627Disguise is useless now, depend on that.\5628Come, then! we will from fire to fire wander,\5629Thou shalt the wooer be and I the pander.\5630 [_To a party who sit round expiring embers_.]\5631Old gentlemen, you scarce can hear the fiddle!\5632You'd gain more praise from me, ensconced there in the middle,\5633'Mongst that young rousing, tousing set.\5634One can, at home, enough retirement get.\5635\5636_General_. Trust not the people's fickle favor!\5637However much thou mayst for them have done.\5638Nations, as well as women, ever,\5639Worship the rising, not the setting sun.\5640\5641_Minister_. From the right path we've drifted far away,\5642The good old past my heart engages;\5643Those were the real golden ages,\5644When such as we held all the sway.\5645\5646_Parvenu_. We were no simpletons, I trow,\5647And often did the thing we should not;\5648But all is turning topsy-turvy now,\5649And if we tried to stem the wave, we could not.\5650\5651_Author_. Who on the whole will read a work today,\5652Of moderate sense, with any pleasure?\5653And as regards the dear young people, they\5654Pert and precocious are beyond all measure.\5655\5656_Mephistopheles_ [_who all at once appears very old_].\5657The race is ripened for the judgment day:\5658So I, for the last time, climb the witch-mountain, thinking,\5659And, as my cask runs thick, I say,\5660The world, too, on its lees is sinking.\5661\5662_Witch-broker_. Good gentlemen, don't hurry by!\5663The opportunity's a rare one!\5664My stock is an uncommon fair one,\5665Please give it an attentive eye.\5666There's nothing in my shop, whatever,\5667But on the earth its mate is found;\5668That has not proved itself right clever\5669To deal mankind some fatal wound.\5670No dagger here, but blood has some time stained it;\5671No cup, that has not held some hot and poisonous juice,\5672And stung to death the throat that drained it;\5673No trinket, but did once a maid seduce;\5674No sword, but hath some tie of sacred honor riven,\5675Or haply from behind through foeman's neck been driven.\5676\5677_Mephistopheles_. You're quite behind the times, I tell you, Aunty!\5678By-gones be by-gones! done is done!\5679Get us up something new and jaunty!\5680For new things now the people run.\5681\5682_Faust_. To keep my wits I must endeavor!\5683Call this a fair! I swear, I never--!\5684\5685_Mephistopheles_. Upward the billowy mass is moving;\5686You're shoved along and think, meanwhile, you're shoving.\5687\5688_Faust_. What woman's that?\5689\5690_Mephistopheles_. Mark her attentively.\5691That's Lilith.[37]\5692\5693_Faust_. Who?\5694\5695_Mephistopbeles_. Adam's first wife is she.\5696Beware of her one charm, those lovely tresses,\5697In which she shines preeminently fair.\5698When those soft meshes once a young man snare,\5699How hard 'twill be to escape he little guesses.\5700\5701_Faust_. There sit an old one and a young together;\5702They've skipped it well along the heather!\5703\5704_Mephistopheles_. No rest from that till night is through.\5705Another dance is up; come on! let us fall to.\5706\5707_Faust_ [_dancing with the young one_]. A lovely dream once came to me;\5708In it I saw an apple-tree;\5709Two beauteous apples beckoned there,\5710I climbed to pluck the fruit so fair.\5711\5712_The Fair one_. Apples you greatly seem to prize,\5713And did so even in Paradise.\5714I feel myself delighted much\5715That in my garden I have such.\5716\5717_Mephistopheles_ [_with the old hag_]. A dismal dream once came to me;\5718In it I saw a cloven tree,\5719It had a ------ but still,\5720I looked on it with right good-will.\5721\5722_The Hog_. With best respect I here salute\5723The noble knight of the cloven foot!\5724Let him hold a ------ near,\5725If a ------ he does not fear.\5726\5727_Proctophantasmist_.[38] What's this ye undertake? Confounded crew!\5728Have we not giv'n you demonstration?\5729No spirit stands on legs in all creation,\5730And here you dance just as we mortals do!\5731\5732_The Fair one_ [_dancing_]. What does that fellow at our ball?\5733\5734_Faust_ [_dancing_]. Eh! he must have a hand in all.\5735What others dance that he appraises.\5736Unless each step he criticizes,\5737The step as good as no step he will call.\5738But when we move ahead, that plagues him more than all.\5739If in a circle you would still keep turning,\5740As he himself in his old mill goes round,\5741He would be sure to call that sound!\5742And most so, if you went by his superior learning.\5743\5744_Proctophantasmist_. What, and you still are here! Unheard off obstinates!\5745Begone! We've cleared it up! You shallow pates!\5746The devilish pack from rules deliverance boasts.\5747We've grown so wise, and Tegel[39] still sees ghosts.\5748How long I've toiled to sweep these cobwebs from the brain,\5749And yet--unheard of folly! all in vain.\5750\5751_The Fair one_. And yet on us the stupid bore still tries it!\5752\5753_Proctophantasmist_. I tell you spirits, to the face,\5754I give to spirit-tyranny no place,\5755My spirit cannot exercise it.\5756 [_They dance on_.]\5757I can't succeed to-day, I know it;\5758Still, there's the journey, which I like to make,\5759And hope, before the final step I take,\5760To rid the world of devil and of poet.\5761\5762_Mephistopheles_. You'll see him shortly sit into a puddle,\5763In that way his heart is reassured;\5764When on his rump the leeches well shall fuddle,\5765Of spirits and of spirit he'll be cured.\5766 [_To_ FAUST, _who has left the dance_.]\5767Why let the lovely girl slip through thy fingers,\5768Who to thy dance so sweetly sang?\5769\5770_Faust_. Ah, right amidst her singing, sprang\5771A wee red mouse from her mouth and made me cower.\5772\5773_Mephistopheles_. That's nothing wrong! You're in a dainty way;\5774Enough, the mouse at least wan't gray.\5775Who minds such thing in happy amorous hour?\5776\5777_Faust_. Then saw I--\5778\5779_Mephistopheles_. What?\5780\5781_Faust_. Mephisto, seest thou not\5782Yon pale, fair child afar, who stands so sad and lo