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diff --git a/3023.txt b/3023.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..df5087a --- /dev/null +++ b/3023.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8525 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Faust Part 1, by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe +#32 in our series by Goethe + +See also etexts numbers 2229 and 2230 for editions of this etext +in German. + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. 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We need your donations. + + +Title: Faust Part 1 + +Author: Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe + +Release date: January, 2002 [Etext #3023] +[Date last updated: May 9, 2004] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + + +The Project Gutenberg Etext Faust Part 1 by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe +******This file should be named 3023.txt or 3023.zip****** + + +Prepared by David Reed haradda@aol.com or davidr@inconnect.com + +Project Gutenberg Etexts are usually created from multiple editions, +all of which are in the Public Domain in the United States, unless a +copyright notice is included. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +Prepared by David Reed haradda@aol.com or davidr@inconnect.com + + + +Faust Part 1 +by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe + +INTRODUCTORY NOTE + +JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE, the greatest of German +men of letters, was born at Frank fort-on-the-Main, August 28, +1749. His father was a man of means and position, and he +personally supervised the early education of his son. The young +Goethe studied at the universities of Leipsic and Strasburg, and in +1772 entered upon the practise of law at Wetzlar. At the invitation +of Karl August, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, he went in 1775 to live in +Weimar, where he held a succession of political offices, becoming +the Duke's chief adviser. From 1786 to 1788 he traveled in Italy, +and from 179' to 1817 directed the ducal theater at Weimar. He +took part in the wars against France, 1792-3, and in the following +year began his friendship with Schiller, which lasted till the latter's +death in 1805. In 1806 he married Christiane Vulpius. From about +1794 he devoted himself chiefly to literature, and after a life of +extraordinary productiveness died at Weimar, March 22, 1832. +The most important of Goethe's works produced before he went to +Weimar were his tragedy "Gotz von Berlichingen" (1773), which +first brought him fame, and "The Sorrows of Young Werther," a +novel which obtained enormous popularity during the so-called +"Sturm und Drang" period. During the years at Weimar before he +knew Schiller he began "Wilhelm Meister," wrote the dramas, +"Iphigenie," "Egmont," and "Torquato Tasso," and his "Reinecke +Fuchs." To the period of his friendship with Schiller belong the +continuation of "Wilhelm Meister," the beautiful idyl of "Hermann +and Dorothea," and the "Roman Elegies." In the last period, +between Schiller's death in 1805 and his own, appeared "Faust," +"Elective Affinities," his autobiographical "Dichtung und +Wahrheit" ("Poetry and Truth"), his "Italian Journey," much +scientific work, and a series of treatises on German Art. + +Though the foregoing enumeration contains but a selection front +the titles of Goethe's best known writings, it suffices to show the +extraordinary fertility and versatility of his genius. Rarely has a +man of letters had so full and varied a life, or been capable of so +many-sided a development. His political and scientific activities, +though dwarfed in the eyes of our generation by his artistic +production, yet showed the adaptability of his talent in the most +diverse directions, and helped to give him that balance of temper +and breadth of vision in which he has been surpassed by no genius +of the ancient or modern world. + +The greatest and most representative expression of Goethe's +powers is without doubt to be found in his drama of "Faust"; but +before dealing with Goethe's masterpiece, it is worth while to say +something of the history of the story on which it is founded--the +most famous instance of the old and widespread legend of the man +who sold his soul to the devil. The historical Dr. Faust seems to +have been a self-called philosopher who traveled about Germany +in the first half of the sixteenth century, making money by the +practise of magic, fortune-telling, and pretended cures. He died +mysteriously about 1540, and a legend soon sprang up that the +devil, by whose aid he wrought his wonders, had finally carried +him off. In 1587 a life of him appeared, in which are attributed to +him many marvelous exploits and in which he is held up as an +awful warning against the excessive desire for secular learning and +admiration for antique beauty which characterized the humanist +movement of the time. In this aspect the Faust legend is an +expression of early popular Protestantism, and of its antagonism to +the scientific and classical tendencies of the Renaissance. + +While a succession of Faust books were appearing in Germany, the +original life was translated into English and dramatized by +Marlowe. English players brought Marlowe's work back to +Germany, where it was copied by German actors, degenerated into +spectacular farce, and finally into a puppet show. Through this +puppet show Goethe made acquaintance with the legend. + +By the time that Goethe was twenty, the Faust legend had +fascinated his imagination; for three years before he went to +Weimar he had been working on scattered scenes and bits of +dialogue; and though he suspended actual composition on it during +three distinct periods, it was always to resume, and he closed his +labors upon it only with his life. Thus the period of time between +his first experiments and the final touches is more than sixty years. +During this period the plans for the structure and the signification +of the work inevitably underwent profound modifications, and +these have naturally affected the unity of the result; but, on the +other hand, this long companionship and persistent recurrence to +the task from youth to old age have made it in a unique way the +record of Goethe's personality in all its richness and diversity. + +The drama was given to the public first as a fragment in 1790; then +the completed First Part appeared in 1808; and finally the Second +Part was published in 1833, the year after the author's death. +Writing in "Dichtung und Wahrheit" of the period about 1770, +when he was in Strasburg with. Herder, Goethe says, "The +significant puppet-play legend . . . echoed and buzzed in many +tones within me. I too had drifted about in all knowledge, and +early enough had been brought to feel the vanity of it. I too had +made all sorts of experiments in life, and had always come back +more unsatisfied and more tormented. I was now carrying these +things, like many others, about with me and delighting myself with +them in lonely hours, but without writing anything down." Without +going into the details of the experience which underlies these +words, we can see the be ginning of that sympathy with the hero of +the old story that was the basis of its fascination and that +accounted for Goethe's departure from the traditional catastrophe +of Faust's damnation. + +Of the elements in the finished Faust that are derived from the +legend a rough idea may be obtained from the "Doctor Faustus" of +Marlowe, printed in the present volume. As early as 1674 a life of +Faust had contained the incident of the philosopher's falling in love +with a servant-girl; but the developed story of Gretchen is Goethe's +own. The other elements added to the plot can be noted by a +comparison with Marlowe. + +It need hardly be said that Goethe's "Faust" does not derive its +greatness from its conformity to the traditional standards of what a +tragedy should be. He himself was accustomed to refer to it +cynically as a monstrosity, and yet he put himself into it as +intensely as Dante put himself into "The Divine Comedy." A +partial explanation of this apparent contradiction in the author's +attitude is to be found in what has been said of its manner of +composition. Goethe began it in his romantic youth, and availed +himself recklessly of the supernatural elements in the legend, with +the disregard of reason and plausibility characteristic of the +romantic mood. When he returned to it in the beginning of the new +century his artistic standards had changed, and the supernaturalism +could now be tolerated only by being made symbolic. Thus he +makes the career of Faust as a whole emblematic of the triumph of +the persistent striving for the ideal over the temptation to find +complete satisfaction in the sense, and prepares the reader for this +interpretation by prefixing the "Prologue in Heaven." The +elaboration of this symbolic element is responsible for such scenes +as the Walpurgis Night and the Intermezzo, scenes full of power +and infinitely suggestive, but destructive of the unity of the play as +a tragedy of human life. Yet there remains in this First Part even in +its final form much that is realistic in the best sense, the carousal +in Auerbach's cellar, the portrait of Martha, the Easter-morning +walk, the character and fate of Margaret. It is such elements as +these that have appealed to the larger reading public and that have +naturally been emphasized by performance on the stage, and by +virtue of these alone "Faust" may rank as a great drama; but it is +the result of Goethe's broodings on the mystery of human life, +shadowed forth in the symbolic parts and elaborated with still +greater complexity and still more far-reaching suggestiveness--and, +it must be added, with deepening obscurity--in the Second Part, +that have given the work its place with "Job," with the +"Prometheus Bound," with "The Divine Comedy," and with +"Hamlet." + + + + + +Dedication + +YE wavering shapes, again ye do enfold me, +As erst upon my troubled sight ye stole; +Shall I this time attempt to clasp, to hold ye? +Still for the fond illusion yearns my soul? +Ye press around! Come then, your captive hold me, +As upward from the vapoury mist ye roll; +Within my breast youth's throbbing pulse is bounding, +Fann'd by the magic breath your march surrounding. + +Shades fondly loved appear, your train attending, +And visions fair of many a blissful day; +First-love and friendship their fond accents blending, +Like to some ancient, half-expiring lay; +Sorrow revives, her wail of anguish sending +Back o'er life's devious labyrinthine way, +And names the dear ones, they whom Fate bereaving +Of life's fair hours, left me behind them grieving. + +They hear me not my later cadence singing, +The souls to whom my earlier lays I sang; +Dispersed the throng, their severed flight now winging; +Mute are the voices that responsive rang. +For stranger crowds the Orphean lyre now stringing, +E'en their applause is to my heart a pang; +Of old who listened to my song, glad hearted, +If yet they live, now wander widely parted. + +A yearning long unfelt, each impulse swaying, +To yon calm spirit-realm uplifts my soul; +In faltering cadence, as when Zephyr playing, +Fans the Aeolian harp, my numbers roll; +Tear follows tear, my steadfast heart obeying +The tender impulse, loses its control; +What I possess as from afar I see; +Those I have lost become realities to me. + + + + + +PROLOGUE FOR THE THEATRE + +MANAGER. DRAMATIC POET. MERRYMAN. + +MANAGER + +YE twain, in trouble and distress +True friends whom I so oft have found, +Say, for our scheme on German ground, +What prospect have we of success? +Fain would I please the public, win their thanks; +They live and let live, hence it is but meet. +The posts are now erected, and the planks, +And all look forward to a festal treat. +Their places taken, they, with eyebrows rais'd, +Sit patiently, and fain would be amaz'd. +I know the art to hit the public taste, +Yet ne'er of failure felt so keen a dread; +True, they are not accustomed to the best, +But then appalling the amount they've read.. +How make our entertainment striking, new, +And yet significant and pleasing too? +For to be plain, I love to see the throng, +As to our booth the living tide progresses; +As wave on wave successive rolls along, +And through heaven's narrow portal forceful presses; +Still in broad daylight, ere the clock strikes four, +With blows their way towards the box they take; +And, as for bread in famine, at the baker's door, +For tickets are content their necks to break. +Such various minds the bard alone can sway, +My friend, oh work this miracle to-day! + +POET + +Oh of the motley throng speak not before me, +At whose aspect the Spirit wings its flight! + +Conceal the surging concourse, I implore thee, +Whose vortex draws us with resistless might. +No, to some peaceful heavenly nook restore me, +Where only for the bard blooms pure delight, +Where love and friendship yield their choicest blessing, +Our heart's true bliss, with god-like hand caressing. + +What in the spirit's depths was there created, +What shyly there the lip shaped forth in sound; +A failure now, with words now fitly mated, +In the wild tumult of the hour is drown'd; +Full oft the poet's thought for years bath waited +Until at length with perfect form 'tis crowned; +What dazzles, for the moment born, must perish; +What genuine is posterity will cherish. + +MERRYMAN + +This cant about posterity I hate; +About posterity were I to prate, +Who then the living would amuse? For they +Will have diversion, ay, and 'tis their due. +A sprightly fellow's presence at your play, +Methinks should also count for something too; +Whose genial wit the audience still inspires, +Knows from their changeful mood no angry feeling; +A wider circle he desires, +To their heart's depths more surely thus appealing. +To work, then! Give a master-piece, my friend; +Bring Fancy with her choral trains before us, +Sense, reason, feeling, passion, but attend! +Let folly also swell the tragic chorus. + +MANAGER + +In chief, of incident enough prepare! +A show they want, they come to gape and stare. +Spin for their eyes abundant occupation, +SO that the multitude may wondering gaze, +You by sheer bulk have won your reputation, + +By mass alone can you subdue the masses, +Each then selects in time what suits his bent. +Bring much, you something bring for various classes, +And from the house goes every one content. +You give a piece, abroad in pieces send it! +'Tis a ragout--success most needs attend it; +'Tis easy to serve up, as easy to invent. +A finish'd whole what boots it to present! +Full soon the public will in pieces rend it. + +POET + +How mean such handicraft as this you cannot feel! +How it revolts the genuine artist's mind! +The sorry trash in which these coxcombs deal, +Is here approved on principle, I find. + +MANAGER + +Such a reproof disturbs me not a whit! +Who on efficient work is bent, +Must choose the fittest instrument. +Consider! 'tis soft wood you have to split; +Think too for whom you write, I pray! +One comes to while an hour away; +One from the festive board, a sated guest; +Others, more dreaded than the rest, +From journal-reading hurry to the play. +As to a masquerade, with absent minds, they press, +Sheer curiosity their footsteps winging; +Ladies display their persons and their dress, +Actors unpaid their service bringing. +What dreams beguile you on your poet's height? +What puts a full house in a merry mood? +More closely view your patrons of the night! +The half are cold, the half are rude. +One, the play over, craves a game of cards; +Another a wild night in wanton joy would spend. +Poor fools the muses' fair regards. +Why court for such a paltry end? +I tell you, give them more, still more, 'tis all I ask, +Thus you will ne'er stray widely from the goal; +Your audience seek to mystify, cajole;-- +To satisfy them--that's a harder task. +What ails thee? art enraptured or distressed? + +POET + +Depart! elsewhere another servant choose +What! shall the bard his godlike power abuse? +Man's loftiest right, kind nature's high bequest, +For your mean purpose basely sport away? +Whence comes his mastery o'er the human breast, +Whence o'er the elements his sway, +But from the harmony that, gushing from his soul, +Draws back into his heart the wondrous whole? +With careless hand when round her spindle, Nature +Winds the interminable thread of life; +When 'mid the clash of Being every creature +Mingles in harsh inextricable strife; +Who deals their course unvaried till it falleth, +In rhythmic flow to music's measur'd tone? +Each solitary note whose genius calleth, +To swell the mighty choir in unison? +Who in the raging storm sees passion low'ring? +Or flush of earnest thought in evening's glow? +Who every blossom in sweet spring-time flowering +Along the loved one's path would strow? +Who, Nature's green familiar leaves entwining, +Wreathe's glory's garland, won on every field? +Makes sure Olympus, heavenly powers combining? +Man's mighty spirit, in the bard reveal'd! + +MERRYMAN + +Come then, employ your lofty inspiration, +And carry on the poet's avocation, +Just as we carry on a love affair. +Two meet by chance, are pleased, they linger there, +Insensibly are link'd, they scarce know how; +Fortune seems now propitious, adverse now, +Then come alternate rapture and despair; +And 'tis a true romance ere one's aware. +Just such a drama let us now compose. +Plunge boldly into life--its depths disclose! +Each lives it, not to many is it known, +'Twill interest wheresoever seiz'd and shown; +Bright pictures, but obscure their meaning: +A ray of truth through error gleaming, +Thus you the best elixir brew, +To charm mankind, and edify them too. +Then youth's fair blossoms crowd to view your play, +And wait as on an oracle; while they, +The tender souls, who love the melting mood, +Suck from your work their melancholy food; +Now this one, and now that, you deeply stir, +Each sees the working of his heart laid bare. +Their tears, their laughter, you command with ease, +The lofty still they honour, the illusive love. +Your finish'd gentlemen you ne'er can please; +A growing mind alone will grateful prove. + +POET + +Then give me back youth's golden prime, +When my own spirit too was growing, +When from my heart th' unbidden rhyme +Gush'd forth, a fount for ever flowing; +Then shadowy mist the world conceal'd, +And every bud sweet promise made, +Of wonders yet to be reveal'd, +As through the vales, with blooms inlaid, +Culling a thousand flowers I stray'd. +Naught had I, yet a rich profusion! +The thirst for truth, joy in each fond illusion. +Give me unquell'd those impulses to prove;-- +Rapture so deep, its ecstasy was pain, +The power of hate, the energy of love, +Give me, oh give me back my youth again! + +MERRYMAN + +Youth, my good friend, you certainly require +When foes in battle round are pressing, +When a fair maid, her heart on fire, +Hangs on your neck with fond caressing, +When from afar, the victor's crown, +To reach the hard-won goal inciteth; +When from the whirling dance, to drown +Your sense, the night's carouse inviteth. +But the familiar chords among +Boldly to sweep, with graceful cunning, +While to its goal, the verse along +Its winding path is sweetly running; +This task is yours, old gentlemen, to-day; +Nor are you therefore less in reverence held; +Age does not make us childish, as folk say, +It finds us genuine children e'en in eld. + +MANAGER + +A truce to words, mere empty sound, +Let deeds at length appear, my friends! +While idle compliments you round, +You might achieve some useful ends. +Why talk of the poetic vein? +Who hesitates will never know it; +If bards ye are, as ye maintain, +Now let your inspiration show it. +To you is known what we require, +Strong drink to sip is our desire; +Come, brew me such without delay! +To-morrow sees undone, what happens not to-day +Still forward press, nor ever tire! +The possible, with steadfast trust, +Resolve should by the forelock grasp; +Then she will ne'er let go her clasp, +And labours on, because she must. +Therefore in bringing out your play, +Nor scenes nor mechanism spare! +Heaven's lamps employ, the greatest and the least, +Be lavish of the stellar lights, +Water, and fire, and rocky heights, +Spare not at all, nor birds, nor beast. +Thus let creation's ample sphere +Forthwith in this our narrow booth appear, +And with considerate speed, through fancy's spell, +Journey from heaven, thence through the world, to hell! + + + + + +PROLOGUE IN HEAVEN + +THE LORD. THE HEAVENLY HOSTS. +Afterwards MEPHISTOPHELES. + +Time three Archangels come forward + +RAPHAEL + +THE Sun, in ancient guise, competing +With brother spheres in rival song, +With thunder-march, his orb completing, +Moves his predestin'd course along; +His aspect to the powers supernal +Gives strength, though fathom him none may; +Transcending thought, the works eternal +Are fair as on the primal day. + +GABRIEL + +With speed, thought baffling, unabating, +Earth's splendour whirls in circling flight; +Its Eden-brightness alternating +With solemn, awe-inspiring night; +Ocean's broad waves in wild commotion, +Against the rocks' deep base are hurled; +And with the spheres, both rock and ocean +Eternally are swiftly whirled. + +MICHAEL + +And tempests roar in emulation +From sea to land, from land to sea, +And raging form, without cessation, +A chain of wondrous agency, +Full in the thunder's path careering, + +Flaring the swift destructions play; +But, Lord, Thy servants are revering +The mild procession of thy day. + +THE THREE + +Thine aspect to the powers supernal +Gives strength, though fathom thee none may; +And all thy works, sublime, eternal, +Are fair as on the primal day. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Since thou, O Lord, approachest us once more, +And how it fares with us, to ask art fain, +Since thou hast kindly welcom'd me of yore, +Thou see'st me also now among thy train. +Excuse me, fine harangues I cannot make, +Though all the circle look on me with scorn; +My pathos soon thy laughter would awake, +Hadst thou the laughing mood not long forsworn. +Of suns and worlds I nothing have to say, +I see alone mankind's self-torturing pains. +The little world-god still the self-same stamp retains, +And is as wondrous now as on the primal day. +Better he might have fared, poor wight, +Hadst thou not given him a gleam of heavenly light; +Reason, he names it, and doth so +Use it, than brutes more brutish still to grow. +With deference to your grace, he seems to me +Like any long-legged grasshopper to be, +Which ever flies, and flying springs, +And in the grass its ancient ditty sings. +Would he but always in the grass repose! +In every heap of dung he thrusts his nose. + +THE LORD + +Hast thou naught else to say? Is blame +In coming here, as ever, thy sole aim? +Does nothing on the earth to thee seem right? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +No, Lord! I find things there, as ever, in sad plight. +Men, in their evil days, move my compassion; +Such sorry things to plague is nothing worth. + +THE LORD + +Know'st thou my servant, Faust? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +The doctor? + +THE LORD + +Right. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +He serves thee truly in a wondrous fashion. +Poor fool! His food and drink are not of earth. +An inward impulse hurries him afar, +Himself half conscious of his frenzied mood; +From heaven claimeth he the fairest star, +And from the earth craves every highest good, +And all that's near, and all that's far, +Fails to allay the tumult in his blood. + +THE LORD + +Though in perplexity he serves me now, +I soon will lead him where more light appears; +When buds the sapling, doth the gardener know +That flowers and fruit will deck the coming years. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +What wilt thou wager? Him thou yet shall lose, +If leave to me thou wilt but give, +Gently to lead him as I choose! + +THE LORD + +So long as he on earth doth live, +So long 'tis not forbidden thee. +Man still must err, while he doth strive. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I thank you; for not willingly +I traffic with the dead, and still aver +That youth's plump blooming cheek I very much prefer. +I'm not at home to corpses; 'tis my way, +Like cats with captive mice to toy and play. + +THE LORD + +Enough! 'tis granted thee! Divert +This mortal spirit from his primal source; +Him, canst thou seize, thy power exert +And lead him on thy downward course, +Then stand abash'd, when thou perforce must own, +A good man in his darkest aberration, +Of the right path is conscious still. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +'Tis done! Full soon thou'lt see my exultation; +As for my bet no fears I entertain. +And if my end I finally should gain, +Excuse my triumphing with all my soul. +Dust he shall eat, ay, and with relish take, +As did my cousin, the renowned snake. + +THE LORD + +Here too thou'rt free to act without control; +I ne'er have cherished hate for such as thee. +Of all the spirits who deny, +The scoffer is least wearisome to me. +Ever too prone is man activity to shirk, +In unconditioned rest he fain would live; +Hence this companion purposely I give, +Who stirs, excites, and must, as devil, work. +But ye, the genuine sons of heaven, rejoice! +In the full living beauty still rejoice! +May that which works and lives, the ever-growing, +In bonds of love enfold you, mercy-fraught, +And Seeming's changeful forms, around you flowing, +Do ye arrest, in ever-during thought! +(Heaven closes, the Archangels disperse.) + +MEPHISTOPHELES (alone) + +The ancient one I like sometimes to see, +And not to break with him am always civil; +'Tis courteous in so great a lord as he, +To speak so kindly even to the devil. + + + + + + +THE TRAGEDY OF FAUST + +DRAMATIS PERSONAE + +Characters in the Prologue for the Theatre + +THE MANAGER. THE DRAMATIC POET. MERRYMAN. + +Characters in the Prologue in Heaven + +THE LORD. +RAPHAEL, GABRIEL, MICHAEL, (The Heavenly Host). +MEPHISTOPHELES. + +Characters in the Tragedy +FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES. WAGNER, a Student. +MARGARET. MARTHA, Margaret's Neighbour. +VALENTINE, Margaret's Brother. OLD PEASANT. A +STUDENT. ELIZABETH, an Acquaintance of Margaret's. +Faoscn, BRANDER, SIEBEL, ALTMAYER, +(Guests in Auerbach's Wine Cellar). +Witches; old and young; Wizards, Will-o'-the-Wisp, Witch Pedlar, +Protophantasmist, Servibilis, Monkeys, Spirits, Journeymen, +Country-folk, Citizens, Beggar, Old Fortune-teller, Shepherd, +Soldier, Students, &c. + +In the Intermezzo + +OBERON. TITANIA. ARIEL. PUCK, &C, &C. + + + + + +PART I + +NIGHT + +A high vaulted narrow Gothic chamber. +FAUST, restless, seated at his desk. + +FAUST + +I HAVE, alas! Philosophy, +Medicine, Jurisprudence too, +And to my cost Theology, +With ardent labour, studied through. +And here I stand, with all my lore, +Poor fool, no wiser than before. +Magister, doctor styled, indeed, +Already these ten years I lead, +Up, down, across, and to and fro, +My pupils by the nose,--and learn, +That we in truth can nothing know! +That in my heart like fire doth burn. +'Tis true I've more cunning than all your dull tribe, +Magister and doctor, priest, parson, and scribe; +Scruple or doubt comes not to enthrall me, +Neither can devil nor hell now appal me-- +Hence also my heart must all pleasure forego! +I may not pretend, aught rightly to know, +I may not pretend, through teaching, to find +A means to improve or convert mankind. +Then I have neither goods nor treasure, +No worldly honour, rank, or pleasure; +No dog in such fashion would longer live! +Therefore myself to magic I give, +In hope, through spirit-voice and might, +Secrets now veiled to bring to light, +That I no more, with aching brow, +Need speak of what I nothing know; +That I the force may recognise +That binds creation's inmost energies; +Her vital powers, her embryo seeds survey, +And fling the trade in empty words away. +O full-orb'd moon, did but thy rays +Their last upon mine anguish gaze! +Beside this desk, at dead of night, +Oft have I watched to hail thy light: +Then, pensive friend! o'er book and scroll, +With soothing power, thy radiance stole! +In thy dear light, ah, might I climb, +Freely, some mountain height sublime, +Round mountain caves with spirits ride, +In thy mild haze o'er meadows glide, +And, purged from knowledge-fumes, renew +My spirit, in thy healing dew! +Woe's me! still prison'd in the gloom +Of this abhorr'd and musty room! +Where heaven's dear light itself doth pass, +But dimly through the painted glass! +Hemmed in by book-heaps, piled around, +Worm-eaten, hid 'neath dust and mould, +Which to the high vault's topmost bound, +A smoke-stained paper doth enfold; +With boxes round thee piled, and glass, +And many a useless instrument, +With old ancestral lumber blent-- +This is thy world! a world! alas! +And dost thou ask why heaves thy heart, +With tighten'd pressure in thy breast? +Why the dull ache will not depart, +By which thy life-pulse is oppress'd? +Instead of nature's living sphere, +Created for mankind of old, +Brute skeletons surround thee here, +And dead men's bones in smoke and mould. + +Up! Forth into the distant land! +Is not this book of mystery +By Nostradamus' proper hand, +An all-sufficient guide? Thou'lt see +The courses of the stars unroll'd; +When nature doth her thoughts unfold +To thee, thy soul shall rise, and seek +Communion high with her to hold, +As spirit doth with spirit speak! +Vain by dull poring to divine +The meaning of each hallow'd sign. +Spirits! I feel you hov'ring near; +Make answer, if my voice ye hear! + +(He opens the book and perceives the sign of the Macrocosmos.) + +Ah! at this spectacle through every sense, +What sudden ecstasy of joy is flowing! +I feel new rapture, hallow'd and intense, +Through every nerve and vein with ardour glowing. +Was it a god who character'd this scroll, +The tumult in my spirit healing, +O'er my sad heart with rapture stealing, +And by a mystic impulse, to my soul, +The powers of nature all around revealing. +Am I a God? What light intense! +In these pure symbols do I see, +Nature exert her vital energy. +Now of the wise man's words I learn the sense; + +"Unlock'd the spirit-world is lying, +Thy sense is shut, thy heart is dead! +Up scholar, lave, with zeal undying, +Thine earthly breast in the morning-red!" +(He contemplates the sign.) + +How all things live and work, and ever blending, +Weave one vast whole from Being's ample range! +How powers celestial, rising and descending, +Their golden buckets ceaseless interchange! +Their flight on rapture-breathing pinions winging, +From heaven to earth their genial influence bringing, +Through the wild sphere their chimes melodious ringing! + +A wondrous show! but ah! a show alone! +Where shall I grasp thee, infinite nature, where? +Ye breasts, ye fountains of all life, whereon +Hang heaven and earth, from which the withered heart +For solace yearns, ye still impart +Your sweet and fostering tides--where are ye--where? +Ye gush, and must I languish in despair? +(He turns over the leaves of the book impatiently, and perceives +the sign of the Earth-spirit.) + +How all unlike the influence of this sign! +Earth-spirit, thou to me art nigher, +E'en now my strength is rising higher, +E'en now I glow as with new wine; +Courage I feel, abroad the world to dare, + +The woe of earth, the bliss of earth to bear, +With storms to wrestle, brave the lightning's glare, +And mid the crashing shipwreck not despair. + +Clouds gather over me-- +The moon conceals her light-- +The lamp is quench'd-- +Vapours are rising-- +Quiv'ring round my head +Flash the red beams-- +Down from the vaulted roof +A shuddering horror floats, +And seizes me! +I feel it, spirit, prayer-compell'd, 'tis thou +Art hovering near! +Unveil thyself! +Ha! How my heart is riven now! +Each sense, with eager palpitation, +Is strain'd to catch some new sensation! +I feel my heart surrender'd unto thee! +Thou must! Thou must! Though life should be the fee! +(He seizes the book, and pronounces mysteriously the sign +of the spirit. A ruddy flame flashes up; the spirit appears in the +flame.) + +SPIRIT + +Who calls me? +FAUST (turning aside) +Dreadful shape! + +SPIRIT + +With might, thou hast compelled me to appear, +Long hast been sucking at my sphere, +And now-- + +FAUST + +Woe's me! I cannot bear the sight! + +SPIRIT + +To see me thou dost breathe thine invocation, +My voice to hear, to gaze upon my brow; +Me doth thy strong entreaty bow-- +Lo! I am here I--What cowering agitation +Grasps thee, the demigod! Where's now the soul's deep cry? +Where is the breast, which in its depths a world conceiv'd +And bore and cherished? which, with ecstasy, +To rank itself with us, the spirits, heaved? +Where art thou, Faust? whose voice I heard resound, +Who towards me press'd with energy profound? +Art thou he? Thou,--who by my breath art blighted, +Who, in his spirit's depths affrighted, +Trembles, a crush'd and writhing worm! + +FAUST + +Shall I yield, thing of flame, to thee? +Faust, and thine equal, I am he! + +SPIRIT + +In the currents of life, in action's storm, +I float and I wave +With billowy motion! +Birth and the grave +A limitless ocean, +A constant weaving +With change still rife, +A restless heaving, +A glowing life-- +Thus time's whirring loom unceasing I ply, +And weave the life-garment of deity. + +FAUST + +Thou, restless spirit, dost from end to end +O'ersweep the world; how near I feel to thee! + +SPIRIT + +Thou'rt like the spirit, thou dost comprehend, +Not me! (Vanishes.) + +FAUST (deeply moved) + +I, God's own image! +And not rank with thee! (A knock.) +Oh death! I know it--'tis my famulus-- +My fairest fortune now escapes! +That all these visionary shapes +A soulless groveller should banish thus! +(WAGNER in his dressing gown and night-cap, a lamp +in his hand. FAUST turns round reluctantly.) + +WAGNER + +Pardon! I heard you here declaim; +A Grecian tragedy you doubtless read? +Improvement in this art is now my aim, +For now-a-days it much avails. Indeed +An actor, oft I've heard it said, as teacher, +May give instruction to a preacher. + +FAUST + +Ay, if your priest should be an actor too, +As not improbably may come to pass. + +WAGNER + +When in his study pent the whole year through, +Man views the world, as through an optic glass, +On a chance holiday, and scarcely then, +How by persuasion can he govern men? + +FAUST + +If feeling prompt not, if it doth not flow +Fresh from the spirit's depths, with strong control +Swaying to rapture every listener's soul, +Idle your toil; the chase you may forego! +Brood o'er your task! Together glue, +Cook from another's feast your own ragout, +Still prosecute your paltry game, +And fan your ash-heaps into flame! +'Thus children's wonder you'll excite, +And apes', if such your appetite; +But that which issues from the heart alone, +Will bend tile hearts of others to your own. + +WAGNER + +The speaker in delivery will find +Success alone; I still am far behind. + +FAUST + +A worthy object still pursue! +Be not a hollow tinkling fool! +Sound understanding, judgment true, +Find utterance without art or rule; +And when in earnest you are moved to speak, +Then is it needful cunning words to seek? +Your fine harangues, so polish'd in their kind, +Wherein the shreds of human thought ye twist, +Are unrefreshing as the empty wind, +Whistling through wither'd leaves and autumn mist! + +WAGNER + +Oh God! How long is art, +Our life how short! With earnest zeal +Still as I ply the critic's task, I feel +A strange oppression both of head and heart. +The very means how hardly are they won, +By which we to the fountains rise! +And haply, ere one half the course is run, +Check'd in his progress, the poor devil dies. + +FAUST + +Parchment, is that the sacred fount whence roll +Waters, he thirsteth not who once hath quaffed? +Oh, if it gush not from thine inmost soul, +Thou has not won the life-restoring draught. + +WAGNER + +Your pardon! 'tis delightful to transport +Oneself into the spirit of the past, +To see in times before us how a wise man thought, +And what a glorious height we have achieved at last. + +FAUST +Ay truly! even to the loftiest star! +To us, my friend, the ages that are pass'd +A book with seven seals, close-fasten'd, are; +And what the spirit of the times men call, +Is merely their own spirit after all, +Wherein, distorted oft, the times are glass'd. +Then truly, 'tis a sight to grieve the soul! +At the first glance we fly it in dismay; +A very lumber-room, a rubbish-hole; +At best a sort of mock-heroic play, +With saws pragmatical, and maxims sage, +To suit the puppets and their mimic stage. + +WAGNER + +But then the world and man, his heart and brain! +Touching these things all men would something know. + +FAUST + +Ay! what 'mong men as knowledge doth obtain! +Who on the child its true name dares bestow? +The few who somewhat of these things have known, +Who their full hearts unguardedly reveal'd, +Nor thoughts, nor feelings, from the mob conceal'd, +Have died on crosses, or in flames been thrown.-- +Excuse me, friend, far now the night is spent, +For this time we must say adieu. + +WAGNER + +Still to watch on I had been well content, +Thus to converse so learnedly with you. +But as to-morrow will be Easter-day, +Some further questions grant, I pray; +With diligence to study still I fondly cling; +Already I know much, but would know everything. +(Exit.) + +FAUST (alone) + +How him alone all hope abandons never, +To empty trash who clings, with zeal untired, +With greed for treasure gropes, and, joy-inspir'd, +Exults if earth-worms second his endeavour. + +And dare a voice of merely human birth, +E'en here, where shapes immortal throng'd, intrude? +Yet ah! thou poorest of the sons of earth, +For once, I e'en to thee feel gratitude. +Despair the power of sense did well-nigh blast, +And thou didst save me ere I sank dismay'd, +So giant-like the vision seem'd, so vast, +I felt myself shrink dwarf'd as I survey'd! + +I, God's own image, from this toil of clay +Already freed, with eager joy who hail'd +The mirror of eternal truth unveil'd, +Mid light effulgent and celestial day:-- +I, more than cherub, whose unfetter'd soul +With penetrative glance aspir'd to flow +Through nature's veins, and, still creating, know +The life of gods,--how am I punish'd now! +One thunder-word hath hurl'd me from the goal! + +Spirit! I dare not lift me to thy sphere. +What though my power compell'd thee to appear, +My art was powerless to detain thee here. +In that great moment, rapture-fraught, +I felt myself so small, so great; +Fiercely didst thrust me from the realm of thought +Back on humanity's uncertain fate! +Who'll teach me now? What ought Ito forego? +Ought I that impulse to obey? +Alas! our every deed, as well as every woe, +Impedes the tenor of life's onward way! + +E'en to the noblest by the soul conceiv'd, +Some feelings cling of baser quality; +And when the goods of this world are achiev'd, +Each nobler aim is termed a cheat, a lie. +Our aspirations, our soul's genuine life, +Grow torpid in the din of earthly strife. + +Though youthful phantasy, while hope inspires, +Stretch o'er the infinite her wing sublime, +A narrow compass limits her desires, +When wreck'd our fortunes in the gulf of time. +In the deep heart of man care builds her nest, +O'er secret woes she broodeth there, +Sleepless she rocks herself and scareth joy and rest; +Still is she wont some new disguise to wear, +She may as house and court, as wife and child appear, +As dagger, poison, fire and flood; +Imagined evils chill thy blood, +And what thou ne'er shall lose, o'er that dost shed the tear. +I am not like the gods! Feel it I must; +I'm like the earth-worm, writhing in the dust, +Which, as on dust it feeds, its native fare, +Crushed 'neath the passer's tread, lies buried there. + +Is it not dust, wherewith this lofty wall, +With hundred shelves, confines me round; +Rubbish, in thousand shapes, may I not call +What in this moth-world doth my being bound? +Here, what doth fail me, shall I find? +Read in a thousand tomes that, everywhere, +Self-torture is the lot of human-kind, +With but one mortal happy, here and there? +Thou hollow skull, that grin, what should it say, +But that thy brain, like mine, of old perplexed, +Still yearning for the truth, hath sought the light of day. +And in the twilight wandered, sorely vexed? +Ye instruments, forsooth, ye mock at me,-- +With wheel, and cog, and ring, and cylinder; +To nature's portals ye should be the key; +Cunning your wards, and yet the bolts ye fail to stir. +Inscrutable in broadest light, +To be unveil'd by force she doth refuse, +What she reveals not to thy mental sight, +Thou wilt not wrest me from her with levers and with screws. +Old useless furnitures, yet stand ye here, +Because my sire ye served, now dead and gone. +Old scroll, the smoke of years dost wear, +So long as o'er this desk the sorry lamp hath shone. +Better my little means hath squandered quite away, +Than burden'd by that little here to sweat and groan! +Wouldst thou possess thy heritage, essay, +By use to render it thine own! +What we employ not, but impedes our way, +That which the hour creates, that can it use alone! + +But wherefore to yon Spot is riveted my gaze? +Is yonder flasket there a magnet to my sight? +Whence this mild radiance that around me plays, +As when, 'mid forest gloom, reigneth the moon's soft light? + +Hail precious phial! Thee, with reverent awe, +Down from thine old receptacle I draw! +Science in thee I hail and human art. +Essence of deadliest powers, refin'd and sure, +Of soothing anodynes abstraction pure, +Now in thy master's need thy grace impart! +I gaze on thee, my pain is lull'd to rest; +I grasp thee, calm'd the tumult in my breast; +The flood-tide of my spirit ebbs away; +Onward I'm summon'd o'er a boundless main, +Calm at my feet expands the glassy plain, +To shores unknown allures a brighter day. + +Lo, where a car of fire, on airy pinion, +Comes floating towards me I I'm prepar'd to fly +By a new track through ether's wide dominion, +To distant spheres of pure activity. +This life intense, this godlike ecstasy-- +Worm that thou art such rapture canst thou earn? +Only resolve with courage stern and high, +Thy visage from the radiant sun to turn! +Dare with determin'd will to burst the portals +Past which in terror others fain would steal +Now is the time, through deeds, to show that mortals +The calm sublimity of gods can feel; +To shudder not at yonder dark abyss, +Where phantasy creates her own self-torturing brood, +Right onward to the yawning gulf to press, +Around whose narrow jaws rolleth hell's fiery flood; +With glad resolve to take the fatal leap, +Though danger threaten thee, to sink in endless sleep! + +Pure crystal goblet! forth I draw thee now, +From out thine antiquated case, where thou +Forgotten hast reposed for many a year! +Oft at my father's revels thou didst shine, +To glad the earnest guests was thine, +As each to other passed the generous cheer. +The gorgeous brede of figures, quaintly wrought, +Which he who quaff'd must first in rhyme expound, +Then drain the goblet at one draught profound, +Hath nights of boyhood to fond memory brought. +I to my neighbour shall not reach thee now, +Nor on thy rich device shall I my cunning show. +Here is a juice, makes drunk without delay; +Its dark brown flood thy crystal round doth fill; +Let this last draught, the product of my skill, +My own free choice, be quaff'd with resolute will, +A solemn festive greeting, to the coming day! +(He places the goblet to his mouth.) +(Tue ringing of bells, and choral voices.) + +Chorus of ANGELS + +Christ is arisen! +Mortal, all hail to thee, +Thou whom mortality, +Earth's sad reality, +Held as in prison. + +FAUST + +What hum melodious, what clear silvery chime +Thus draws the goblet from my lips away? +Ye deep-ton'd bells, do ye with voice sublime, +Announce the solemn dawn of Easter-day? +Sweet choir! are ye the hymn of comfort singing, +Which once around the darkness of the grave, +From seraph-voices, in glad triumph ringing, +Of a new covenant assurance gave? + +CHORUS OF WOMEN + +We, his true-hearted, +With spices and myrrh, +Embalmed the departed, +And swathed him with care; +Here we conveyed Him, +Our Master, so dear; +Alas! Where we laid Him, +The Christ is not here. + +CHORUS OF ANGELS + +Christ is arisen! +Blessed the loving one, +Who from earth's trial throes, +Healing and strengthening woes, +Soars as from prison. + +FAUST + +Wherefore, ye tones celestial, sweet and strong, +Come ye a dweller in the dust to seek? +Ring out your chimes believing crowds among, +The message well I hear, my faith alone is weak; +From faith her darling, miracle, hath sprung. +Aloft to yonder spheres I dare not soar, +Whence sound the tidings of great joy; +And yet, with this sweet strain familiar when a boy, +Back it recalleth me to life once more. +Then would celestial love, with holy kiss, +Come o'er me in the Sabbath's stilly hour, +While, fraught with solemn meaning and mysterious +Chim'd the deep-sounding bell, and prayer was bliss; +A yearning impulse, undefin'd yet dear, +Drove me to wander on through wood and field; +With heaving breast and many a burning tear, +I felt with holy joy a world reveal'd. +Gay sports and festive hours proclaim'd with joyous pealing, +This Easter hymn in days of old; +And fond remembrance now doth me, with childlike feeling, +Back from the last, the solemn step, withhold. +O still sound on, thou sweet celestial strain! +The tear-drop flows,--Earth, I am thine again! + +CHORUS OF DISCIPLES + +He whom we mourned as dead, +Living and glorious, +From the dark grave bath fled, +O'er death victorious; +Almost creative bliss +Waits on his growing powers; +Ah! Him on earth we miss; +Sorrow and grief are ours. +Yearning he left his own, +Mid sore annoy; +Ah! we must needs bemoan. +Master, thy joy! + +CHORUS OF ANGELS + +Christ is arisen, +Redeem'd from decay. +The bonds which imprison +Your souls, rend away! +Praising the Lord with zeal, +By deeds that love reveal, +Like brethren true and leal +Sharing the daily meal, +To all that sorrow feel +Whisp'ring of heaven's weal, +Still is the master near, +Still is he here! + +BEFORE THE GATE +Promenaders of all sorts pass out. + +ARTISANS + +Why choose ye that direction, pray? + +OTHERS + +To the hunting-lodge we're on our way. + +THE FIRST + +We towards the mill are strolling on. + +A MECHANIC + +A walk to Wasserhof were best. + +A SECOND + +The road is not a pleasant one. + +THE OTHERS + +What will you do? + +A THIRD + +I'll join the rest. + +A FOURTH + +Let's up to Burghof, there you'll find good cheer, +The prettiest maidens and the best of beer, +And brawls of a prime sort. + +A FIFTH + +You scapegrace! How; +Your skin still itching for a row? +Thither I will not go, I loathe the place. + +SERVANT GIRL + +No, no! I to the town my steps retrace. + +ANOTHER + +Near yonder poplars he is sure to be. + +THE FIRST + +And if he is, what matters it to me! +With you he'll walk, he'll dance with none but you, +And with your pleasures what have I to do? + +THE SECOND + +To-day he will not be alone, he said +His friend would be with him, the curly-head. + +STUDENT + +Why how those buxom girls step on! +Come, brother, we will follow them anon. +Strong beer, a damsel smartly dress'd, +Stinging tobacco,--these I love the best. + +BURGHER'S DAUGHTER + +Look at those handsome fellows there! +'Tis really shameful, I declare, +The very best society they shun, +After those servant girls forsooth, to run. + +SECOND STUDENT (to the first) + +Not quite so fast! for in our rear, +Two girls, well-dress'd, are drawing near; +Not far from us the one doth dwell, +And sooth to say, II like her well. +They walk demurely, yet you'll see, +That they will let us join them presently. + +THE FIRST + +Not I! restraints of all kinds I detest. +Quick! let us catch the wild-game ere it flies, +The hand on Saturday the mop that plies, +Will on the Sunday fondle you the best. + +BURGHER + +No, this new Burgomaster, I like him not, God knows, +Now, he's in office, daily more arrogant he grows; +And for the town, what doth he do for it? +Are not things worse from day to day? +To more restraints we must submit; +And taxes more than ever pay. + +BEGGAR (sings) + +Kind gentleman and ladies fair, +So rosy-cheek'd and trimly dress'd, +Be pleas'd to listen to my prayer, +Relieve and pity the distress'd. +Let me not vainly sing my lay! +His heart's most glad whose hand is free. +Now when all men keep holiday, +Should be a harvest-day to me. + +ANOTHER BURGHER + +On holidays and Sundays naught know I more inviting +Than chatting about war and war's alarms, +When folk in Turkey, up in arms, +Far off, are 'gainst each other fighting. +We at the window stand, our glasses drain, +And watch adown the stream the painted vessels gliding, +Then joyful we at eve come home again, +And peaceful times we bless, peace long-abiding. + +THIRD BURGHER + +Ay, neighbour! So let matters stand for me! +There they may scatter one another's brains, +And wild confusion round them see-- +So here at home in quiet all remains! + +OLD WOMAN (to the BURGHERS' DAUGHTERS) + +Heyday! How smart! The fresh young blood! +Who would not fall in love with you? +Not quite so proud! 'Tis well and good! +And what you wish, that I could help you to. + +BURGHER'S DAUGHTER + +Come, Agatha! I care not to be seen +Walking in public with these witches. True, +My future lover, last St. Andrew's E'en, +In flesh and blood she brought before my view. + +ANOTHER + +And mine she show'd me also in the glass, +A soldier's figure, with companions bold; +I look around, I seek him as I pass, +In vain, his form I nowhere can behold. + +SOLDIERS + +Fortress with turrets +And walls high in air, +Damsel disdainful, +Haughty and fair, +These be my prey! +Bold is the venture, +Costly the pay! + +Hark how the trumpet +Thither doth call us, +Where either pleasure +Or death may befall us. +Hail to the tumult! +Life's in the field! +Damsel and fortress +To us must yield. +Bold is the venture, +Costly the pay! +Gaily the soldier +Marches away. + +FAUST and WAGNER + +FAUST + +Loosed from their fetters are streams and rills +Through the gracious spring-tide's all-quickening glow; +Hope's budding joy in the vale doth blow; +Old Winter back to the savage hills +Withdraweth his force, decrepid now. +Thence only impotent icy grains +Scatters he as he wings his flight, +Striping with sleet the verdant plains; +But the sun endureth no trace of white; +Everywhere growth and movement are rife, +All things investing with hues of life: +Though flowers are lacking, varied of dye, +Their colours the motly throng supply. +Turn thee around, and from this height, +Back to the town direct thy sight. +Forth from the hollow, gloomy gate, +Stream forth the masses, in bright array. +Gladly seek they the sun to-day; +The Lord's Resurrection they celebrate: +For they themselves have risen, with joy, + +From tenement sordid, from cheerless room, +From bonds of toil, from care and annoy, +From gable and roof's o'er-hanging gloom, +From crowded alley and narrow street, +And from the churches' awe-breathing night, +All now have come forth into the light. +Look, only look, on nimble feet, +Through garden and field how spread the throng, +How o'er the river's ample sheet, +Many a gay wherry glides along; +And see, deep sinking in the tide, +Pushes the last boat now away. +E'en from yon far hill's path-worn side, +Flash the bright hues of garments gay. +Hark! Sounds of village mirth arise; +This is the people's paradise. + +Both great and small send up a cheer; +Here am I man, I feel it here. + +WAGNER + +Sir Doctor, in a walk with you +There's honour and instruction too; +Yet here alone I care not to resort, +Because I coarseness hate of every sort. +This fiddling, shouting, skittling, I detest; +I hate the tumult of the vulgar throng; +They roar as by the evil one possess'd, +And call it pleasure, call it song. + +PEASANTS (under the linden-tree) +Dance and song +The shepherd for the dance was dress'd, +With ribbon, wreath, and coloured vest, +A gallant show displaying. +And round about the linden-trees, +They footed it right merrily. Juchhe! Juchhe! +Juchheisa! Heisa! He! +So fiddle-bow was braying. + +Our swain amidst the circle press'd, +He push'd a maiden trimly dress'd, +And jogg'd her with his elbow; +The buxom damsel turn'd her head, +"Now that's a stupid trick!" she said, Juchhe! Juchhe! +Juchhesia! Heisa! He! +Don't be so rude, good fellow! + +Swift in the circle they advanced, +They danced to right, to left they danced, +And all the skirts were swinging. +And they grew red, and they grew warm, +Panting, they rested arm in arm, Juchhe! Juchhe! +Juchheisa! Heisa! He! +To hip their elbow bringing. + +Don't make so free! How many a maid +Has been betroth'd and then betray'd; +And has repented after! +Yet still he flatter'd her aside, +And from the linden, far and wide, Juchhe! Juchhe! +Juchheisa! Heisa! He! +Rang fiddle-bow and laughter. + +OLD PEASANT + +Doctor, 'tis really kind of you, +To condescend to come this way, +A highly learned man like you, +To join our mirthful throng to-day. +Our fairest cup I offer you, +Which we with sparkling drink have crown'd, +And pledging you, I pray aloud, +That every drop within its round, + +While it your present thirst allays, +May swell the number of your days. + +FAUST + +I take the cup you kindly reach, +Thanks and prosperity to each! +(The crowd gather round in a circle.) + +OLD PEASANT + +Ay, truly! 'tis well done, that you +Our festive meeting thus attend; +You, who in evil days of yore, +So often show'd yourself our friend! +Full many a one stands living here, +Who from the fever's deadly blast, +Your father rescu'd, when his skill +The fatal sickness stay'd at last. +A young man then, each house you sought, +Where reign'd the mortal pestilence. +Corpse after corpse was carried forth, +But still unscath'd you issued thence. + +Sore then your trials and severe; +The Helper yonder aids the helper here. + +ALL + +Heaven bless the trusty friend, and long +To help the poor his life prolong! + +FAUST + +To Him above in homage bend, +Who prompts the helper and Who help doth send. +(He proceeds with WAGNER.) + +WAGNER + +What feelings, great man, must thy breast inspire, +At homage paid thee by this crowd! Thrice blest +Who from the gifts by him possessed +Such benefit can draw! The sire +Thee to his boy with reverence shows; +They press around, inquire, advance, +Hush'd is the fiddle, check'd the dance. +Where thou dost pass they stand in rows, +And each aloft his bonnet throws, +But little fails and they to thee, +As though the Host came by, would bend the knee. + +FAUST + +A few steps further, up to yonder stone! +Here rest we from our walk. In times long past, +Absorb'd in thought, here oft I sat alone, +And disciplin'd myself with prayer and fast. +Then rich in hope, with faith sincere, +With sighs, and hands in anguish press'd, +The end of that sore plague, with many a tear, +From heaven's dread Lord, I sought to wrest. +The crowd's applause assumes a scornful tone. +Oh, could'st thou in my inner being read, +How little either sire or son, +Of such renown deserves the meed! +My sire, of good repute, and sombre mood, +O'er nature's powers and every mystic zone, +With honest zeal, but methods of his own, +With toil fantastic loved to brood; +His time in dark alchemic cell, +With brother adepts he would spend, +And there antagonists compel, +Through numberless receipts to blend. +A ruddy lion there, a suitor bold, +In tepid bath was with the lily wed. +Thence both, while open flames around them roll'd, +Were tortur'd to another bridal bed. +Was then the youthful queen descried +With varied colours in the flask +This was our medicine; the patients died, +"Who were restored?" none cared to ask. +With our infernal mixture thus, ere long, +These hills and peaceful vales among, +We rag'd more fiercely than the pest; +Myself the deadly poison did to thousands give; +They pined away, I yet must live, +To hear the reckless murderers blest. + +WAGNER + +Why let this thought your soul o'ercast? +Can man do more than with nice skill, +With firm and conscientious will, +Practise the art transmitted from the past? +If thou thy sire dost honour in thy youth, +His lore thou gladly wilt receive; +In manhood, dost thou spread the bounds of truth, +Then may thy son a higher goal achieve. + +FAUST + +How blest, in whom the fond desire +From error's sea to rise, hope still renews! +What a man knows not, that he doth require, +And what he knoweth, that he cannot use. +But let not moody thoughts their shadow throw +O'er the calm beauty of this hour serene! +In the rich sunset see how brightly glow +Yon cottage homes, girt round with verdant green! +Slow sinks the orb, the day is now no more; +Yonder he hastens to diffuse new life. +Oh for a pinion from the earth to soar, +And after, ever after him to strive! +Then should I see the world below, +Bathed in the deathless evening-beams, +The vales reposing, every height a-glow, +The silver brooklets meeting golden streams. +The savage mountain, with its cavern'd side, +Bars not my godlike progress. Lo, the ocean, +Its warm bays heaving with a tranquil motion, +To my rapt vision opes its ample tide! +But now at length the god appears to sink; +A new-born impulse wings my flight, +Onward I press, his quenchless light to drink, +The day before me, and behind the night, +The pathless waves beneath, and over me the skies. +Fair dream, it vanish'd with the parting day! +Alas! that when on spirit-wing we rise, +No wing material lifts our mortal clay. +But 'tis our inborn impulse, deep and strong, +Upwards and onwards still to urge our flight, +When far above us pours its thrilling song +The sky-lark, lost in azure light, +When on extended wing amain +O'er pine-crown'd height the eagle soars, +And over moor and lake, the crane +Still striveth towards its native shores. + +WAGNER + +To strange conceits oft I myself must own, +But impulse such as this I ne'er have known: +Nor woods, nor fields, can long our thoughts engage, +Their wings I envy not the feather'd kind; +Far otherwise the pleasures of the mind, +Bear us from book to book, from page to page! +Then winter nights grow cheerful; keen delight +Warms every limb; and ah! when we unroll +Some old and precious parchment, at the sight +All heaven itself descends upon the soul. + +FAUST + +Thy heart by one sole impulse is possess'd; +Unconscious of the other still remain! +Two souls, alas! are lodg'd within my breast, +Which struggle there for undivided reign: +One to the world, with obstinate desire, +And closely-cleaving organs, still adheres; +Above the mist, the other doth aspire, +With sacred vehemence, to purer spheres. +Oh, are there spirits in the air, +Who float 'twixt heaven and earth dominion wielding, +Stoop hither from your golden atmosphere, +Lead me to scenes, new life and fuller yielding! +A magic mantle did I but possess, +Abroad to waft me as on viewless wings, +I'd prize it far beyond the costliest dress, +Nor would I change it for the robe of kings. + +WAGNER + +Call not the spirits who on mischief wait! +Their troop familiar, streaming through the air, +From every quarter threaten man's estate, +And danger in a thousand forms prepare! +They drive impetuous from the frozen north, +With fangs sharp-piercing, and keen arrowy tongue +From the ungenial east they issue forth, +And prey, with parching breath, upon thy lungs; +If, waft'd on the desert's flaming wing, +They from the south heap fire upon the brain, +Refreshment from the west at first they bring, +Anon to drown thyself and field and plain. +In wait for mischief, they are prompt to hear; +With guileful purpose our behests obey; +Like ministers of grace they oft appear, +And lisp like angels, to betray. +But let us hence! Grey eve doth all things blend, + +The air grows chill, the mists descend! +'Tis in the evening first our home we prize-- +Why stand you thus, and gaze with wondering eyes? +What in the gloom thus moves you? + +FAUST + +Yon black hound +See'st thou, through corn and stubble scampering round? + +WAGNER + +I've mark'd him long, naught strange in him I see! + +FAUST + +Note him! What takest thou the brute to be? + +WAGNER + +But for a poodle, whom his instinct serves +His master's track to find once more. + +FAUST + +Dost mark how round us, with wide spiral curves, +He wheels, each circle closer than before? +And, if I err not, he appears to me +A line of fire upon his track to leave. + +WAGNER + +Naught but a poodle black of hue I see; +'Tis some illusion doth your sight deceive. + +FAUST + +Methinks a magic coil our feet around, +He for a future snare doth lightly spread. + +WAGNER + +FAUST + +The circle narrows, he's already near! + +WAGNER + +A dog dost see, no spectre have we here; +He growls, doubts, lays him on his belly, too, +And wags his tail--as dogs are wont to do. + +FAUST + +Come hither, Sirrah! join our company! + +WAGNER + +A very poodle, he appears to be! +Thou standest still, for thee he'll wait; +Thou speak'st to him, he fawns upon thee straight; +Aught thou mayst lose, again he'll bring, +And for thy stick will into water spring. + +FAUST + +Thou'rt right indeed; no traces now I see +Whatever of a spirit's agency. +'Tis training.--nothing more. + +WAGNER + +A dog well taught +E'en by the wisest of us may be sought. +Ay, to your favour he's entitled too, +Apt scholar of the students, 'tis his due! +(They enter the gate of the town.) + +STUDY +FAUST (entering with the poodle) + +Now field and meadow I've forsaken; +O'er them deep night her veil doth draw; +In us the better soul doth waken, +With feelings of foreboding awe, +All lawless promptings, deeds unholy, +Now slumber, and all wild desires; +The love of man doth sway us wholly, +And love to God the soul inspires. + +Peace, poodle, peace! Scamper not thus; obey me! +Why at the threshold snuffest thou so? +Behind the stove now quietly lay thee, +My softest cushion to thee I'll throw. +As thou, without, didst please and amuse me +Running and frisking about on the hill, +So tendance now I will not refuse thee; +A welcome guest, if thou'lt be still. + +Ah! when the friendly taper gloweth, +Once more within our narrow cell, +Then in the heart itself that knoweth, +A light the darkness doth dispel. +Reason her voice resumes; returneth +Hope's gracious bloom, with promise rife; +For streams of life the spirit yearneth, +Ah! for the very fount of life. + +Poodle, snarl not! with the tone that arises. +Hallow'd and peaceful, my soul within, +Accords not thy growl, thy bestial din. +We find it not strange, that man despises +What he conceives not; +That he the good and fair misprizes-- +Finding them often beyond his ken; +Will the dog snarl at them like men? + +But ah! Despite my will, it stands confessed, +Contentment welleth up no longer in my breast. +Yet wherefore must the stream, alas, so soon be dry, +That we once more athirst should lie? +Full oft this sad experience hath been mine; +Nathless the want admits of compensation; +For things above the earth we learn to pine, +Our spirits yearn for revelation, +Which nowhere burns with purer beauty blent, + +Than here in the New Testament. +To ope the ancient text an impulse strong +Impels me, and its sacred lore, +With honest purpose to explore, +And render into my loved German tongue. +(He opens a volume, and applies himself to it.) +'Tis writ, "In the beginning was the Word!" +I pause, perplex'd! Who now will help afford? +I cannot the mere Word so highly prize; +I must translate it otherwise, +If by the spirit guided as I read. +"In the beginning was the Sense!" Take heed, +The import of this primal sentence weigh, +Lest thy too hasty pen be led astray! +Is force creative then of Sense the dower? +"In the beginning was the Power!" +Thus should it stand: yet, while the line I trace. +A something warns me, once more to efface. +The spirit aids! from anxious scruples freed, +I write, "In the beginning was the Deed!" + +Am I with thee my room to share, +Poodle, thy barking now forbear, +Forbear thy howling! +Comrade so noisy, ever growling, +I cannot suffer here to dwell. +One or the other, mark me well, +Forthwith must leave the cell. +I'm loath the guest-right to withhold; +The door's ajar, the passage clear; +But what must now mine eyes behold! +Are nature's laws suspended here? +Real is it, or a phantom show? +In length and breadth how doth my poodle grow! +He lifts himself with threat'ning mien, +In likeness of a dog no longer seen! +What spectre have I harbour'd thus! +Huge as a hippopotamus, +With fiery eye, terrific tooth! +Ah I now I know thee, sure enough! +For such a base, half-hellish brood, +The key of Solomon is good. + +SPIRITS (without) +Captur'd there within is one! +Stay without and follow none! +Like a fox in iron snare, +Hell's old lynx is quaking there, +But take heed! +Hover round, above, below, +To and fro, +Then from durance is he freed! +Can ye aid him, spirits all, +Leave him not in mortal thrall! +Many a time and oft bath he +Served us, when at liberty. + +FAUST + +The monster to confront, at first, +The spell of Four must be rehears'd; + +Salamander shall kindle, +Writhe nymph of the wave, +In air sylph shall dwindle, +And Kobold shall slave. + +Who doth ignore +The primal Four, +Nor knows aright +Their use and might, +O'er spirits will he +Ne'er master be! + +Vanish in the fiery glow, +Salamander! +Rushingly together flow. +Undine! +Shimmer in the meteor's gleam, +Sylphide! +Hither bring thine homely aid, + +Incubus! Incubus! +Step forth! I do adjure thee thus! +None of the Four +Lurks in the beast: +He grins at me, untroubled as before; +I have not hurt him in the least. +A spell of fear +Thou now shalt hear. +Art thou, comrade fell, +Fugitive from hell? + +See then this sign, +Before which incline +The murky troops of Hell! +With bristling hair now doth the creature swell. + +Canst thou, reprobate, +Read the uncreate, +Unspeakable, diffused +Throughout the heavenly sphere, +Shamefully abused, +Transpierced with nail and spear! + +Behind the stove, tam'd by my spells, +Like an elephant he swells; +Wholly now he fills the room, +He into mist will melt away. +Ascend not to the ceiling! Come, +Thyself at the master's feet now lay! +Thou seest that mine is no idle threat. +With holy fire I will scorch thee yet! +Wait not the might +That lies in the triple-glowing light! +Wait not the might +Of all my arts in fullest measure! + +MEPHISTOPHELES +(As the mist sinks, comes forward from behind the stove, in the +dress of a travelling scholar) + +Why all this uproar? What's the master's pleasure? + +FAUST + +This then the kernel of the brute! +A travelling scholar? Why I needs must smile. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Your learned reverence humbly I salute! +You've made me swelter in a pretty style. + +FAUST + +Thy name? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +The question trifling seems from one, +Who it appears the Word doth rate so low; +Who, undeluded by mere outward show, +To Being's depths would penetrate alone. + +FAUST + +With gentlemen like you indeed +The inward essence from the name we read, +As all too plainly it doth appear, +When Beelzebub, Destroyer, Liar, meets the ear. +Who then art thou? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Part of that power which still +Produceth good, whilst ever scheming ill. + +FAUST + +What hidden mystery in this riddle lies? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +The spirit I, which evermore denies! +And justly; for whate'er to light is brought +Deserves again to be reduced to naught; +Then better 'twere that naught should be. +Thus all the elements which ye +Destruction, Sin, or briefly, Evil, name, +As my peculiar element I claim. + +FAUST + +Thou nam'st thyself a part, and yet a whole I see. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +The modest truth I speak to thee. +Though folly's microcosm, man, it seems, +Himself to be a perfect whole esteems: +Part of the part am I, which at the first was all, +A part of darkness, which gave birth to light, +Proud light, who now his mother would enthrall, +Contesting space and ancient rank with night. +Yet he succeedeth not, for struggle as he will, +To forms material he adhereth still; +From them he streameth, them he maketh fair, +And still the progress of his beams they check; +And so, I trust, when comes the final wreck, +Light will, ere long, the doom of matter share. + +FAUST + +Thy worthy avocation now I guess! +Wholesale annihilation won't prevail, +So thou'rt beginning on a smaller scale. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +And, to say truth, as yet with small success. +Oppos'd to naught, this clumsy world, +The something--it subsisteth still; +Not yet is it to ruin hurl'd, +Despite the efforts of my will. +Tempests and earthquakes, fire and flood, I've tried; +Yet land and ocean still unchang'd abide! +And then of humankind and beasts, brood,-- +Neither o'er them can I extend my sway. +What countless myriads have I swept away! +Yet ever circulates the fresh young blood. +the accursed + +It is enough to drive me to despair! +As in the earth, in water, and in air, +A thousand germs burst forth spontaneously; +In moisture, drought, heat, cold, they still appear! +Had I not flame selected as my sphere +Nothing apart had been reserved for me. + +FAUST + +So thou with thy cold devil's fist +Still clench'd in malice impotent +Dost the creative power resist, +The active, the beneficent! +Henceforth some other task essay, +Of Chaos thou the wondrous son! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +We will consider what you say, +And talk about it more anon! +For this time have I leave to go? + +FAUST + +Why thou shouldst ask, I cannot see. +Since thee I now have learned to know, +At thy good pleasure, visit me. +Here is the window, here the door, +The chimney, too, may serve thy need. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I must confess, my stepping o'er +Thy threshold a slight hindrance doth impede; +The wizard-foot doth me retain. + +FAUST + +The pentagram thy peace doth mar? +To me, thou son of hell, explain, +How earnest thou in, if this thine exit bar? +Could such a spirit aught ensnare? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Observe it well, it is not drawn with care, +One of the angles, that which points without, +Is, as thou seest, not quite closed. + +FAUST + +Chance hath the matter happily dispos'd! +So thou my captive art? No doubt! +By accident thou thus art caught! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +In sprang the dog, indeed, observing naught; +Things now assume another shape, +The devil's in the house and can't escape. + +FAUST + +Why through the window not withdraw? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +For ghosts and f or the devil 'tis a law. +Where they stole in, there they must forth. We're free +The first to choose; as to the second, slaves are we. + +FAUST + +E'en hell hath its peculiar laws, I see! +I'm glad of that! a pact may then be made, +The which you gentlemen will surely keep? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +What e'er therein is promised thou shalt reap, +No tittle shall remain unpaid. +But such arrangements time require; +We'll speak of them when next we meet; +Most earnestly I now entreat, +This once permission to retire. + +FAUST + +Another moment prithee here remain, +Me with some happy word to pleasure. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Now let me go! ere long I'll come again, +Then thou may'st question at thy leisure. + +FAUST + +'Twas not toy purpose thee to lime; +The snare hast entered of thine own free will: +Let him who holds the devil, hold him still! +So soon he'll catch him not a second time. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +If it so please thee, I'm at thy command; +Only on this condition, understand; +That worthily thy leisure to beguile, +I here may exercise my arts awhile. + +FAUST + +Thou'rt free to do so! Gladly I'll attend; +But be thine art a pleasant one! + +MEPHISTOPHELES +My friend, +This hour enjoyment more intense, +Shall captivate each ravish'd sense, +Than thou could'st compass in the bound +Of the whole year's unvarying round; +And what the dainty spirits sing, +The lovely images they bring, +Are no fantastic sorcery. +Rich odours shall regale your smell, +On choicest sweets your palate dwell, +Your feelings thrill with ecstasy. + +No preparation do we need, +Here we together are. Proceed. + +SPIRITS + +Hence overshadowing gloom, +Vanish from sight! +O'er us thine azure dome, +Bend, beauteous light! +Dark clouds that o'er us spread, +Melt in thin air! +Stars, your soft radiance shed, +Tender and fair. +Girt with celestial might, +Winging their airy flight, +Spirits are thronging. +Follows their forms of light +Infinite longing! +Flutter their vestures bright +O'er field and grove! +Where in their leafy bower +Lovers the livelong hour +Vow deathless love. +Soft bloometh bud and bower! +Bloometh the grove! +Grapes from the spreading vine +Crown the full measure; +Fountains of foaming wine +Gush from the pressure. +Still where the currents wind, +Gems brightly gleam. +Leaving the hills behind +On rolls the stream; +Now into ample seas, +Spreadeth the flood; +Laying the sunny leas, +Mantled with wood. +Rapture the feather'd throng, +Gaily careering, +Sip as they float along; +Sunward they're steering; +On towards the isles of light +Winging their way, +That on the waters bright +Dancingly play. +Hark to the choral strain, +Joyfully ringing! +While on the grassy plain +Dancers are springing; +Climbing the steep hill's side, +Skimming the glassy tide, +Wander they there; +Others on pinions wide +Wing the blue air; +All lifeward tending, upward still wending, +Towards yonder stars that gleam, +Far, far above; +Stars from whose tender beam +Rains blissful love. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Well done, my dainty spirits! now he slumbers! +Ye have entranc'd him fairly with your numbers! +This minstrelsy of yours I must repay,-- +Thou art not yet the man to hold the devil fast!-- +With fairest shapes your spells around him cast, +And plunge him in a sea of dreams! +But that this charm be rent, the threshold passed, +Tooth of rat the way must clear. +I need not conjure long it seems, +One rustles hitherward, and soon my voice will hear. +The master of the rats and mice, +Of flies and frogs, of bugs and lice, +Commands thy presence; without fear +Come forth and gnaw the threshold here, +Where he with oil has smear'd it.--Thou +Com'st hopping forth already! Now +To work! The point that holds me bound +Is in the outer angle found. +Another bite--so--now 'tis done-- +Now, Faustus, till we meet again, dream on. + +FAUST (awaking) +Am I once more deluded! must I deem +That thus the throng of spirits disappear? +The devil's presence, was it but a dream? +Hath but a poodle scap'd and left me here? + +STUDY +FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES + +FAUST + +A knock? Come in! Who now would break my rest? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +'Tis I! + +FAUST + +Come in! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Thrice be the words express'd. + +FAUST + +Then I repeat, Come in! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +'Tis well, +I hope that we shall soon agree! +For now your fancies to expel, +Here, as a youth of high degree, +I come in gold-lac'd scarlet vest, +And stiff-silk mantle richly dress'd, +A cock's gay feather for a plume, +A long and pointed rapier, too; +And briefly I would counsel you +To don at once the same costume, +And, free from trammels, speed away, +That what life is you may essay. + +FAUST + +In every garb I needs must feel oppress'd, +My heart to earth's low cares a prey. +Too old the trifler's part to play, +Too young to live by no desire possess'd. +What can the world to me afford? +Renounce! renounce! is still the word; +This is the everlasting song +In every ear that ceaseless rings, +And which, alas, our whole life long, +Hoarsely each passing moment sings. +But to new horror I awake each morn, +And I could weep hot tears, to see the sun +Dawn on another day, whose round forlorn +Accomplishes no wish of mine--not one. +Which still, with froward captiousness, impains +E'en the presentiment of every joy, +While low realities and paltry cares +The spirit's fond imaginings destroy. +Then must I too, when falls the veil of night, +Stretch'd on my pallet languish in despair, +Appalling dreams my soul affright; +No rest vouchsafed me even there. +The god, who throned within my breast resides, +Deep in my soul can stir the springs; +With sovereign sway my energies he guides, +He cannot move external things; +And so existence is to me a weight. +Death fondly I desire, and life I hate. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +And yet, methinks, by most 'twill be confess'd +That Death is never quite a welcome guest. + +FAUST + +Happy the man around whose brow he binds +The bloodstain'd wreath in conquest's dazzling hour; +Or whom, excited by the dance, he finds +Dissolv'd in bliss, in love's delicious bower! +O that before the lofty spirit's might, +Enraptured, I had rendered up my soul! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Yet did a certain man refrain one night, +Of its brown juice to drain the crystal bowl. + +FAUST + +To play the spy diverts you then? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I own, +Though not omniscient, much to me is known. + +FAUST + +If o'er my soul the tone familiar, stealing, +Drew me from harrowing thought's bewild'ring maze, +Touching the ling'ring chords of childlike feeling, +With sweet harmonies of happier days: +So curse I all, around the soul that windeth +Its magic and alluring spell, +And with delusive flattery bindeth +Its victim to this dreary cell! +Curs'd before all things be the high opinion, +Wherewith the spirit girds itself around! +Of shows delusive curs'd be the dominion, +Within whose mocking sphere our sense is bound! +Accurs'd of dreams the treacherous wiles, +The cheat of glory, deathless fame! +Accurs'd what each as property beguiles, +Wife, child, slave, plough, whate'er its name! +Accurs'd be mammon, when with treasure +He doth to daring deeds incite: +Or when to steep the soul in pleasure, +He spreads the couch of soft delight! +Curs'd be the grape's balsamic juice! +Accurs'd love's dream, of joys the first! +Accurs'd be hope! accurs'd be faith! +And more than all, be patience curs'd! + +CHORUS OP SPIRITS (invisible) + +Woe! woe! +Thou hast destroy'd +The beautiful world +With violent blow; +'Tis shiver'd! 'tis shatter'd! +The fragments abroad by a demigod scatter'd! +Now we sweep +The wrecks into nothingness! +Fondly we weep +The beauty that's gone! +Thou, 'mongst the Sons of earth, +Lofty and mighty one, +Build it once more! +In thine own bosom the lost world restore! +Now with unclouded sense +Enter a new career; +Songs shall salute thine ear, +Ne'er heard before! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +My little ones these spirits be. +Hark! with shrewd intelligence, +How they recommend to thee +Action, and the joys of sense! +In the busy world to dwell, +Fain they would allure thee hence: +For within this lonely cell, +Stagnate sap of life and sense. + +Forbear to trifle longer with thy grief, +Which, vulture-like, consumes thee in this den. +The worst society is some relief, +Making thee feel thyself a man with men. +Nathless, it is not meant, I trow, +To thrust thee 'mid the vulgar throng. + +I to the upper ranks do not belong; +Yet if, by me companion'd, thou +Thy steps through life forthwith wilt take; +Upon the spot myself I'll make +Thy comrade;-- Should it suit thy need, +I am thy servant, am thy slave indeed! + +FAUST + +And how must I thy services repay? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Thereto thou lengthen'd respite hast! + +FAUST + +No! No! +The devil is an egoist I know: +And, for Heaven's sake, 'tis not his way +Kindness to any one to show. +Let the condition plainly be exprest! +Such a domestic is a dangerous guest. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I'll pledge myself to be thy servant here, +Still at thy back alert and prompt to be; +But when together yonder we appear, +Then shalt thou do the same for me. + +FAUST + +But small concern I feel for yonder world; +Hast thou this system into ruin hurl'd, +Another may arise the void to fill. +This earth the fountain whence my pleasures flow, +This sun doth daily shine upon my woe, +And if this world I must forego, +Let happen then,--what can and will. +I to this theme will close mine ears, +If men hereafter hate and love, + +FAUST + +And if there be in yonder spheres +A depth below or height above. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +In this mood thou mayst venture it. But make +The compact! I at once will undertake +To charm thee with mine arts. I'll give thee more +Than mortal eye hath e'er beheld before. + +FAUST + +What, sorry Devil, hast thou to bestow? +Was ever mortal spirit, in its high endeavour, +Fathom'd by Being such as thou? +Yet food thou hast which satisfieth never, +Hast ruddy gold, that still doth flow +Like restless quicksilver away, +A game thou hast, at which none win who play, +A girl who would, with amorous eyen, +E'en from my breast, a neighbour snare, +Lofty ambition's joy divine, +That, meteor-like, dissolves in air. +Show me the fruit that, ere 'tis pluck'd, doth rot, +And trees, whose verdure daily buds anew! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Such a commission scares me not, +I can provide such treasures, it is true; +But, my good friend, a season will come round, +When on what's good we may regale in peace. + +FAUST + +If e'er upon my couch, stretched at my ease, I'm found, +Then may my life that instant cease! +Me canst thou cheat with glozing wile +Till self-reproach away I cast,-- +Me with joy's lure canst thou beguile +Let that day be for me the last! +Be this our wager! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Settled! + +FAUST + +Sure and fast! +When to the moment I shall say, +"Linger awhile! so fair thou art!" +Then mayst thou fetter me straightway, +Then to the abyss will I depart! +Then may the solemn death-bell sound, +Then from thy service thou art free, +The index then may cease its round, +And time be never more for me! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I shall remember: pause, ere 'tis too late. + +FAUST + +Thereto a perfect right hast thou. +My strength I do not rashly overrate. +Slave am I here, at any rate, +If thine, or whose, it matters not, I trow. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +At thine inaugural feast I will this day +Attend, my duties to commence.-- +But one thing!--Accidents may happen, hence +A line or two in writing grant, I pray. + +FAUST + +A writing, Pedant! dost demand from me? +Man, and man's plighted word, are these unknown to thee? +Is't not enough, that by the word I gave, +My doom for evermore is cast? +Doth not the world in all its currents rave, +And must a promise hold me fast? +Yet fixed is this delusion in our heart; +Who, of his own free will, therefrom would part? +How blest within whose breast truth reigneth pure! +No sacrifice will he repent when made! +A formal deed, with seal and signature, +A spectre this from which all shrink afraid. +The word its life resigneth in the pen, +Leather and wax usurp the mastery then. +Spirits of evil! what dost thou require? +Brass, marble, parchment, paper, dost desire? +Shall I with chisel, pen, or graver write? +Thy choice is free; to me 'tis all the same. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Wherefore thy passion so excite +And thus thine eloquence inflame? +A scrap is for our compact good. +Thou under-signest merely with a drop of blood. + +FAUST + +If this will satisfy thy mind, +Thy whim I'll gratify, howe'er absurd. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Blood is a juice of very special kind. + +FAUST + +Be not afraid that I shall break my word! +The scope of all my energy +Is in exact accordance with my vow. +Vainly I have aspired too high; +I'm on a level but with such as thou; +Me the great spirit scorn'd, defied; +Nature from me herself doth hide; +Rent is the web of thought; my mind +Doth knowledge loathe of every kind. +In depths of sensual pleasure drown'd, +Let us our fiery passions still! +Enwrapp'd in magic's veil profound, +Let wondrous charms our senses thrill! +Plunge we in time's tempestuous flow, +Stem we the rolling surge of chance! +There may alternate weal and woe, +Success and failure, as they can, +Mingle and shift in changeful dance! +Excitement is the sphere for man. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Nor goal, nor measure is prescrib'd to you, +If you desire to taste of every thing, +To snatch at joy while on the wing, +May your career amuse and profit too! +Only fall to and don't be over coy! + +FAUST + +Hearken! The end I aim at is not joy; +I crave excitement, agonizing bliss, +Enamour'd hatred, quickening vexation. +Purg'd from the love of knowledge, my vocation, +The scope of all my powers henceforth be this, +To bare my breast to every pang,--to know +In my heart's core all human weal and woe, +To grasp in thought the lofty and the deep, +Men's various fortunes on my breast to heap, +And thus to theirs dilate my individual mind, +And share at length with them the shipwreck of mankind. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Oh, credit me, who still as ages roll, +Have chew'd this bitter fare from year to year, +No mortal, from the cradle to the bier, +Digests the ancient leaven! Know, this Whole +Doth for the Deity alone subsist! +He in eternal brightness doth exist, +Us unto darkness he hath brought, and here +Where day and night alternate, is your sphere. + +FAUST + +But 'tis my will + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Well spoken, I admit! +But one thing puzzles me, my friend; +Time's short, art long; methinks 'twere fit +That you to friendly counsel should attend. +A poet choose as your ally! +Let him thought's wide dominion sweep, +Each good and noble quality, +Upon your honoured brow to heap; +The lion's magnanimity, +The fleetness of the hind, +The fiery blood of Italy, +The Northern's stedfast mind. +Let him to you the mystery show +To blend high aims and cunning low; +And while youth's passions are aflame +To fall in love by rule and plan! +I fain would meet with such a man; +Would him Sir Microcosmus name. + +FAUST + +What then am I, if I aspire in vain +The crown of our humanity to gain, +Towards which my every sense doth strain? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Thou'rt after all--just what thou art. +Put on thy head a wig with countless locks, +And to a cubit's height upraise thy socks, +Still thou remainest ever, what thou art. + +FAUST + +I feel it, I have heap'd upon my brain +The gather'd treasure of man's thought in vain; +And when at length from studious toil I rest, +No power, new-born, springs up within my breast; +A hair's breadth is not added to my height, +I am no nearer to the infinite. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Good sir, these things you view indeed, +Just as by other men they're view'd; +We must more cleverly proceed, +Before life's joys our grasp elude. +The devil! thou hast hands and feet, +And head and heart are also thine; +What I enjoy with relish sweet, +Is it on that account less mine? +If for six stallions I can pay, +Do I not own their strength and speed? +A proper man I dash away, +As their two dozen legs were mine indeed. +Up then, from idle pondering free, +And forth into the world with me! +I tell you what;--your speculative churl +Is like a beast which some ill spirit leads, +On barren wilderness, in ceaseless whirl, + +While all around lie fair and verdant meads. + +FAUST + +But how shall we begin? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +We will go hence with speed, +A place of torment this indeed! +A precious life, thyself to bore, +And some few youngsters evermore! +Leave that to neighbour Paunch!--withdraw, +Why wilt thou plague thyself with thrashing straw? +The very best that thou dost know +Thou dar'st not to the striplings show. +One in the passage now doth wait! + +FAUST + +I'm in no mood to see him now, + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Poor lad! He must be tired, I trow; +He must not go disconsolate. +Hand me thy cap and gown; the mask +Is for my purpose quite first rate. +(He changes his dress.) +Now leave it to my wit! I ask +But quarter of an hour; meanwhile equip, +And make all ready for our pleasant trip! +(Exit FAUST.) + +MEPHISTOPHELES (in FAUST'S long gown) + +Mortal! the loftiest attributes of men, +Reason and Knowledge, only thus contemn, +Still let the Prince of lies, without control, +With shows, and mocking charms delude thy soul, +I have thee unconditionally then! +Fate hath endow'd him with an ardent mind, +Which unrestrain'd still presses on for ever, +And whose precipitate endeavour +Earth's joys o'erleaping, leaveth them behind. +Him will I drag through life's wild waste, +Through scenes of vapid dulness, where at last +Bewilder'd, he shall falter, and stick fast; +And, still to mock his greedy haste, +Viands and drink shall float his craving lips beyond-- +Vainly he'll seek refreshment, anguish-tost, +And were he not the devil's by his bond, +Yet must his soul infallibly be lost! + +A STUDENT enters + +STUDENT + +But recently I've quitted home, +Full of devotion am I come +A man to know and hear, whose name +With reverence is known to fame. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Your courtesy much flatters me! +A man like other men you see; +Pray have you yet applied elsewhere? + +STUDENT + +I would entreat your friendly care! +I've youthful blood and courage high; +Of gold I bring a fair supply; +To let me go my mother was not fain; +But here I longed true knowledge to attain. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +You've hit upon the very place. + +STUDENT + +And yet my steps I would retrace. +These walls, this melancholy room, +O'erpower me with a sense of gloom; +The space is narrow, nothing green, +No friendly tree is to be seen: +And in these halls, with benches filled, distraught, +Sight, hearing fail me, and the power of thought. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +It all depends on habit. Thus at first +The infant takes not kindly to the breast, +But before long, its eager thirst +Is fain to slake with hearty zest: +Thus at the breasts of wisdom day by day +With keener relish you'll your thirst allay. + +STUDENT + +Upon her neck I fain would hang with joy; +To reach it, say, what means must I employ? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Explain, ere further time we lose, +What special faculty you choose? + +STUDENT + +Profoundly learned I would grow, +What heaven contains would comprehend, +O'er earth's wide realm my gaze extend, +Nature and science I desire to know. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +You are upon the proper track, I find; +Take heed, let nothing dissipate your mind. + +STUDENT + +My heart and soul are in the chase! +Though to be sure I fain would seize, +On pleasant summer holidays, +A little liberty and careless ease. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Use well your time, so rapidly it flies; +Method will teach you time to win; +Hence, my young friend, I would advise, +With college logic to begin! +Then will your mind be so well braced, +In Spanish boots so tightly laced, +That on 'twill circumspectly creep, +Thought's beaten track securely keep, +Nor will it, ignis-fatuus like, +Into the path of error strike. +Then many a day they'll teach you how +The mind's spontaneous acts, till now +As eating and as drinking free, +Require a process;--one! two! three! +In truth the subtle web of thought +Is like the weaver's fabric wrought: +One treadle moves a thousand lines, +Swift dart the shuttles to and fro, +Unseen the threads together flow, +A thousand knots one stroke combines. +Then forward steps your sage to show, +And prove to you, it must be so; +The first being so, and so the second, +The third and fourth deduc'd we see; +And if there were no first and second, +Nor third nor fourth would ever be. +This, scholars of all countries prize,-- +Yet 'mong themselves no weavers rise.-- +He who would know and treat of aught alive, +Seeks first the living spirit thence to drive: +Then are the lifeless fragments in his hand, +There only fails, alas the spirit-band. +This process, chemists name, in learned thesis, +Mocking themselves, Naturer encheiresis. + +STUDENT + +Your words I cannot fully comprehend. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +In a short time you will improve, my friend, +When of scholastic forms you learn the use; +And how by method all things to reduce. + +STUDENT + +So doth all this my brain confound, +As if a mill-wheel there were turning round. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +And next, before aught else you learn, +You must with zeal to metaphysics turn! +There see that you profoundly comprehend, +What doth the limit of man's brain transcend; +For that which is or is not in the head +A sounding phrase will serve you in good stead. +But before all strive this half year +From one fix'd order ne'er to swerve! + +Five lectures daily you must hear; +The hour still punctually observe! +Yourself with studious zeal prepare, +And closely in your manual look, +Hereby may you be quite aware +That all he utters standeth in the book; +Yet write away without cessation, +As at the Holy Ghost's dictation! + +STUDENT + +This, Sir, a second time you need not say! +Your counsel I appreciate quite; +What we possess in black and white, +We can in peace and comfort bear away. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +A faculty I pray you name. + +STUDENT + +For jurisprudence, Some distaste I own. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +To me this branch of science is well known, +And hence I cannot your repugnance blame. +Customs and laws in every place, +Like a disease, an heir-loom dread, +Still trail their curse from race to race, +And furtively abroad they spread. +To nonsense, reason's self they turn; +Beneficence becomes a pest; +Woe unto thee, that thou'rt a grandson born! +As for the law born with us, unexpressed;-- +That law, alas, none careth to discern. + +STUDENT + +You deepen my dislike. The youth +Whom you instruct, is blest in sooth! +To try theology I feel inclined. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I would not lead you willingly astray, +But as regards this science, you will find +So hard it is to shun the erring way, +And so much hidden poison lies therein, +Which scarce can you discern from medicine. +Here too it is the best, to listen but to one, +And by the master's words to swear alone. +To sum up all--To words hold fast! +Then the safe gate securely pass'd, +You'll reach the lane of certainty at last. + +STUDENT + +But then some meaning must the words convey. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Right! But o'er-anxious thought, you'll find of no avail, +For there precisely where ideas fail, +A word comes opportunely into play +Most admirable weapons words are found, +On words a system we securely ground, +In words we can conveniently believe, +Nor of a single jot can we a word bereave. + +STUDENT + +Your pardon for my importunity; +Yet once more must I trouble you: +On medicine, I'll thank you to supply +A pregnant utterance or two! +Three years! how brief the appointed tide! +The field, heaven knows, is all too wide! +If but a friendly hint be thrown, +'Tis easier then to feel one's way. + +MEPHISTOPHELES (aside) + +I'm weary of the dry pedantic tone, +And must again the genuine devil play. + +(Aloud) +Of medicine the spirit's caught with ease, +The great and little world you study through, +That things may then their course pursue, +As heaven may please. +In vain abroad you range through science' ample space, +Each man learns only that which learn he can; +Who knows the moment to embrace, +He is your proper man. +In person you are tolerably made, +Nor in assurance will you be deficient: +Self-confidence acquire, be not afraid, +Others will then esteem you a proficient. +Learn chiefly with the sex to deal! +Their thousands ahs and ohs, +These the sage doctor knows, +He only from one point can heal. +Assume a decent tone of courteous ease, +You have them then to humour as you please. +First a diploma must belief infuse, +That you in your profession take the lead: +You then at once those easy freedoms use +For which another many a year must plead; +Learn how to feel with nice address +The dainty wrist;--and how to press, +With ardent furtive glance, the slender waist, +To feel how tightly it is laced. + +STUDENT + +There is some sense in that! one sees the how and why. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Grey is, young friend, all theory: +And green of life the golden tree. + +STUDENT + +I swear it seemeth like a dream to me. +May I some future time repeat my visit, +To hear on what your wisdom grounds your views? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Command my humble service when you choose. + +STUDENT + +Ere I retire, one boon I must solicit: +Here is my album, do not, Sir, deny +This token of your favour! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Willingly! +(He writes and returns the book.) + +STUDENT (reads) + +ERITIS SICUT DEUS, SCIENTES BONUM ET MALUM +(He reverently closes the book and retires.) + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Let but this ancient proverb be your rule, +My cousin follow still, the wily snake, +And with your likeness to the gods, poor fool, +Ere long be sure your poor sick heart will quake! + +FAUST (enters) +Whither away? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +'Tis thine our course to steer. +The little world, and then the great we'll view. +With what delight, what profit too, +Thou'lt revel through thy gay career! + +FAUST +Despite my length of beard I need +The easy manners that insure success; +Th' attempt I fear can ne'er succeed; +To mingle in the world I want address; +I still have an embarrass'd air, and then +I feel myself so small with other men. + +MEPHISTOPHELES +Time, my good friend, will all that's needful give; +Be only self-possessed, and thou hast learn'd to live. + +FAUST + +But how are we to start, I pray? +Steeds, servants, carriage, where are they? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +We've but to spread this mantle wide, +'Twill serve whereon through air to ride, +No heavy baggage need you take, +When we our bold excursion make, +A little gas, which I will soon prepare, +Lifts us from earth; aloft through air, +Light laden, we shall swiftly steer;-- +I wish you joy of your new life-career. + +AUERBACH'S CELLAR IN LEIPZIG +A Drinking Party + +FROSCH + +No drinking? Naught a laugh to raise? +None of your gloomy looks, I pray! +You, who so bright were wont to blaze, +Are dull as wetted straw to-day. + +BRANDER + +'Tis all your fault; your part you do not bear, +No beastliness, no folly. + +FROSCH +(pours a glass of wine over his head) + +There, +You have them both! + +BRANDER + +You double beast! + +FROSCH + +'Tis what you ask'd me for, at least! + +SIEBEL + +Whoever quarrels, turn him out! +With open throat drink, roar, and shout. +Hollo! Hollo! Ho! + +ALTMAYER + +Zounds, fellow, cease your deaf'ning cheers! +Bring cotton-wool! He splits my ears. + +SIEBEL + +'Tis when the roof rings back the tone, +Then first the full power of the bass is known. + +FROSCH + +Right! out with him who takes offence! +A! tara lara da! + +ALTMAYER + +A! tara lara da! + +FROSCH + +Our throats are tuned. Come let's commence! + +(Sings) +The holy Roman empire now, +How holds it still together? + +BRANDER + +An ugly song! a song political! +A song offensive! Thank God, every morn +To rule the Roman empire, that you were not born! +I bless my stars at least that mine is not +Either a kaiser's or a chancellor's lot. +Yet 'mong ourselves should one still lord it o'er the rest; +That we elect a pope I now suggest. +Ye know, what quality ensures +A man's success, his rise secures. + +Faoscn (sings) +Bear, lady nightingale above, +Ten thousand greetings to my love. + +SIESEL + +No greetings to a sweetheart! +No love-songs shall there be! + +FROSCH + +Love-greetings and love-kisses! Thou shalt not hinder me! + +(Sings) +Undo the bolt! in silly night, +Undo the bolt! the lover wakes. +Shut to the bolt! when morning breaks, + +SIEBEL + +Ay, sing, sing on, praise her with all, thy might!! +My turn to laugh will come some day. +Me hath she jilted once, you the same trick she'll play. +Some gnome her lover be! where cross-roads meet, +With her to play the fool; or old he-goat, +From Blocksberg coming in swift gallop, bleat +A good night to her, from his hairy throat! +A proper lad of genuine flesh and blood, +Is for the damsel far too good; +The greeting she shall have from me, +To smash her window-panes will be! + +BRANDER (striking on the table) + +Silence! Attend! to me give ear! +Confess, sirs, I know how to live: +Some love-sick folk are sitting here! +Hence, 'tis but fit, their hearts to cheer, +That I a good-night strain to them should give. +Hark! of the newest fashion is my song! +Strike boldly in the chorus, clear and strong! + +(He sings) +Once in a cellar lived a rat, +He feasted there on butter, +Until his paunch became as fat +As that of Doctor Luther, +The cook laid poison for the guest, +Then was his heart with pangs oppress'd, +As if his frame love wasted. + +Chorus (shouting) +As if his frame love wasted. + +BRANDER + +He ran around, he ran abroad, +Of every puddle drinking. +The house with rage he scratch'd and gnaw'd, +In vain,--he fast was Sinking; +Full many an anguish'd bound he gave, +Nothing the hapless brute could save, +As if his frame love wasted. + +CHORUS + +As if his frame love wasted. + +BRANDER + +By torture driven, in open day, +The kitchen he invaded, +Convulsed upon the hearth he lay, +With anguish sorely jaded; +The poisoner laugh'd, Ha! ha! quoth she, +His life is ebbing fast, I see, +As if his frame love wasted. + +CHORUS + +As if his frame love wasted. + +SIEBEL + +How the dull boors exulting shout! +Poison for the poor rats to strew +A fine exploit it is no doubt. + +BRANDER + +They, as it seems, stand well with you! + +ALTMAYER + +Old bald-pate! with the paunch profound! +The rat's mishap hath tamed his nature; +For he his counterpart bath found +Depicted in the swollen creature. + +FAUST AND MEPHISTOPHELES + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I now must introduce to you +Before aught else, this jovial crew, +To show how lightly life may glide away; +With the folk here each day's a holiday. +With little wit and much content, + +Each on his own small round intent, +Like sportive kitten with its tail; +While no sick-headache they bewail, +And while their host will credit give, +Joyous and free from care they live. + +BRANDER + +They're off a journey, that is clear,-- +From their strange manners; they have scarce been here +An hour. + +FROSCH + +You're right! Leipzig's the place for me +'Tis quite a little Paris; people there +Acquire a certain easy finish'd air. + +SIEBEL + +What take you now these travellers to be? + +FROSCH + +Let me alone! O'er a full glass you'll see, +As easily I'll worm their secret out, +As draw an infant's tooth. I've not a doubt +That my two gentlemen are nobly born, +They look dissatisfied and full of scorn. + +BRANDER + +They are but mountebanks, I'll lay a bet! + +ALTMAYER + +Most like. + +FROSCH + +Mark me, I'll screw it from them yet! + +MEPHISTOPHELES (to FAUST) + +These fellows would not scent the devil out, +E'en though he had them by the very throat! + +FAUST + +SIEBEL + +Thanks for your fair salute. +(Aside, glancing at MEPHISTOPHELES.) +How! goes the fellow on a halting foot? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Is it permitted here with you to sit? +Then though good wine is not forthcoming here, +Good company at least our hearts will cheer. + +ALTMAYER + +A dainty gentleman, no doubt of it. + +FROSCH + +You're doubtless recently from Rippach? Pray, +Did you with Master Hans there chance to sup? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +To-day we pass'd him, but we did not stop! +When last we met him he had much to say +Touching his cousins, and to each he sent +Full many a greeting and kind compliment. +(With an inclination towards FROSCH.) + +ALTMAYER (aside to FROSCH) + +You have it there! + +SIEBEL + +Faith! he's a knowing one! + +FROSCH + +Have patience! I will show him up anon! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +We heard erewhile, unless I'm wrong, +Voices well trained in chorus pealing? +Certes, most choicely here must song +Re-echo from this vaulted ceiling! + +FROSCH + +That you're an amateur one plainly sees! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Oh no, though strong the love, I cannot boast much skill. + +ALTMAYER + +Give us a song! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +As many as you will. + +SIEBEL + +But be it a brand new one, if you please! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +But recently returned from Spain are we, +The pleasant land of wine and minstrelsy. + +(Sings) +A king there was once reigning, +Who had a goodly flea-- + +FROSCH + +Hark! did you rightly catch the words? a flea! +An odd sort of a guest he needs must be. + +MEPHISTOPHELES (sings) + +A king there was once reigning, +Who had a goodly flea, +Him loved he without feigning, +As his own son were he! +His tailor then he summon'd, +The tailor to him goes: +Now measure me the youngster +For jerkin and for hose! + +BRANDER + +Take proper heed, the tailor strictly charge, +The nicest measurement to take, +And as he loves his head, to make +The hose quite smooth and not too large! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +In satin and in velvet, +Behold the yonker dressed; +Bedizen'd o'er with ribbons, +A cross upon his breast. +Prime minister they made him, +He wore a star of state; +And all his poor relations +Were courtiers, rich and great. + +The gentlemen and ladies +At court were sore distressed; +The queen and all her maidens +Were bitten by the pest, +And yet they dared not scratch them, +Or chase the fleas away. +If we are bit, we catch them, +And crack without delay. + +CHORUS (shouting) + +If we are bit, &c. + +FROSCH + +Bravo! That's the song for me! + +SIEBEL + +Such be the fate of every flea! + +BRANDER + +With Clever finger catch and Kill! + +ALTMAYER + +Hurrah for wine and freedom still! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Were but your wine a trifle better, friend, +A glass to freedom I would gladly drain. + +SIEBEL + +You'd better not repeat those words again t + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I am afraid the landlord to offend; +Else freely I would treat each worthy guest +From our own cellar to the very best. + +SIEBEL + +Out with it then! Your doings I'll defend. + +FROSCH + +Give a good glass, and straight we'll praise you, one and all. +Only let not your samples be too small; +For if my judgment you desire, +Certes, an ample mouthful I require. + +ALTMAYER (aside) + +I guess they're from the Rhenish land. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Fetch me a gimlet here! + +BRANDER + +Say, what therewith to bore? +You cannot have the wine-casks at the door? + +ALTMAYER + +Our landlord's tool-basket behind doth yonder stand. + +MEPHISTOPHELES (takes the gimlet) + +(To FROSCH) + +Now only say! what liquor will you take? + +FROSCH + +How mean you that? have you of every sort? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Each may his own selection make. + +ALTMAYER (to FROSCH) + +Ha! Ha! You lick your lips already at the thought. + +FROSCH + +Good, if I have my choice, the Rhenish I propose; +For still the fairest gifts the fatherland bestows. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +(boring a hole in the edge of the table opposite to where FROSCH +is sitting) + +Give me a little wax--and make some stoppers--quick! + +ALTMAYER + +Why, this is nothing but a juggler's trick! + +MEPHISTOPHELES (to BRANDER) + +And you? + +BRANDER + +Champagne's the wine for me; +Right brisk, and sparkling let it be! + +(MEPHISTOPHELES bores; one of the party has in the meantime +prepared the wax-stoppers and stopped the holes.) + +BRANDER + +What foreign is one always can't decline, +What's good is often scatter'd far apart. +The French your genuine German hates with all his heart, +Yet has a relish for their wine. + +SIEBEL. + +(as MEPHISTOPHELES approaches him) + +I like not acid wine, I must allow, +Give me a glass of genuine sweet! + +MEPHISTOPHELES (bored) + +Tokay +Shall, if you wish it, flow without delay. + +ALTMAYER + +Come! look me in the face! no fooling now! +You are but making fun of us, I trow. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Ah! ah! that would indeed be making free +With such distinguished guests. Come, no delay; +What liquor can I serve you with, I pray? + +ALTMAYER + +Only be quick, it matters not to me. +(After the holes are bored and stopped.) + +MEPHISTOPHELES (with strange gestures) + +Grapes the vine-stock bears, +Horns the buck-goat wears! +Wine is sap, the vine is wood, +The wooden board yields wine as good. +With a deeper glance and true +The mysteries of nature view! +Have faith and here's a miracle! +Your stoppers draw and drink your fill! + +ALL. + +(as they draw the stoppers and the wine chosen by each runs into +his glass) +Oh beauteous spring, which flows so far! + +MEPHISTOPHELES +Spill not a single drop, of this beware! (They drink repeatedly.) + +ALL (sing) + +Happy as cannibals are we, +Or as five hundred swine. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +They're in their glory, mark their elevation! + +FAUST + +Let's hence, nor here our stay prolong. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Attend, of brutishness ere long +You'll see a glorious revelation. + +SIEBEL + +(drinks carelessly; the wine is spilt upon the ground, and turns to +flame) +Help! fire! help! Hell is burning! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +(addressing the flames) + +Stop, +Kind element, be still, I say! + +(To the Company.) + +SIEBEL + +What means the knave! For this you'll dearly pay! +Us, it appears, you do not know. + +FROSCH + +Such tricks a second time he'd better show! + +ALTMAYER + +Methinks 'twere well we pack'd him quietly away. + +SIEBEL + +What, sir! with us your hocus-pocus play! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Silence, old wine-cask! + +SIEBEL + +How! add insult, too! +Vile broomstick! + +BRANDER + +Hold, or blows shall rain on you! + +ALTMAYER + +(draws a stopper out of the table; fire springs out against him) +I burn! I burn! + +SIEBEL + +'Tis sorcery, I vow! +Strike home! The fellow is fair game, I trow! +(They draw their knives and attack MEPHISTOPHELES.) + +MEPHISTOPHELES (with solemn gestures) + +Visionary scenes appear! +Words delusive cheat the ear! Be ye there, and be ye here! +(They stand amazed and gaze at each other.) + +ALTMAYER + +Where am I? What a beauteous land! + +FROSCH + +Vineyards! unless my sight deceives? + +SIEBEL + +And clust'ring grapes too, close at hand! + +BRANDER + +And underneath the spreading leaves, +What stems there be! What grapes I see! +(He senses SIEBEL by the nose. +The others reciprocally do the same, and raise their knives.) + +MEPHISTOPHELES (as above) + +Delusion, from their eyes the bandage take! +Note how the devil loves a jest to break! +(He disappears with FAUST; the fellows draw back from one +another.) + +SIEBEL + +What was it? + +ALTMAYER + +How? + +FROSCH + +Was that your nose? + +BRANDER (to SIEBEL) + +And look, my hand doth thine enclose! + +ALTMAYER + +I felt a shock, it went through every limb! +A chair! I'm fainting! All things swim! + +FROSCH + +Say what has happened, what's it all about? + +SIEBEL + +Where is the fellow? Could I scent him out, +His body from his soul I'd soon divide! + +ALTMAYER + +With my own eyes, upon a cask astride, +Forth through the cellar-door I saw him ride-- +Heavy as lead my feet are growing. +(Turning to the table.) +I wonder is the wine still flowing! + +SIEBEL + +'Twas all delusion, cheat and lie. + +FROSCH + +'Twas wine I drank, most certainly. + +BRANDER + +But with the grapes how was it, pray? + +ALTMAYER + +That none may miracles believe, who now will say? + +WITCHES' KITCHEN + +A large caldron hangs over the fire on a low hearth; various figures +appear in the vapour rising from it. A FEMALE MONKEY sits +beside the caldron to skim it, and watch that it does not boil over. +The MALE MONKEY with the young ones is seated near, +warming himself. The walls and ceiling are adorned with the +strangest articles of witch-furniture. + +FAUST, MEPHISTOPHELES + +FAUST + +This senseless, juggling witchcraft I detest! +Dost promise that in this foul nest +Of madness, I shall be restored? +Must I seek counsel from an ancient dame? +And can she, by these rites abhorred, +Take thirty winters from my frame? +Woe's me, if thou naught better canst suggest! +Hope has already fled my breast. +Has neither nature nor a noble mind +A balsam yet devis'd of any kind? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +My friend, you now speak sensibly. In truth, +Nature a method giveth to renew thy youth: +But in another book the lesson's writ;-- +It forms a curious chapter, I admit. + +FAUST + +I fain would know it. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Good! A remedy +Without physician, gold, or sorcery: +Away forthwith, and to the fields repair, +Begin to delve, to cultivate the ground, +Thy senses and thyself confine +Within the very narrowest round, +Support thyself upon the simplest fare, +Live like a very brute the brutes among, +Neither esteem it robbery +The acre thou dost reap, thyself to dung; +This is the best method, credit me, +Again at eighty to grow hale and young. + +FAUST + +I am not used to it, nor can myself degrade +So far, as in my hand to take the spade. +This narrow life would suit me not at all. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Then we the witch must summon after all. + +FAUST + +Will none but this old beldame do? +Canst not thyself the potion brew? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +A pretty play our leisure to beguile! +A thousand bridges I could build meanwhile. +Not science only and consummate art, +Patience must also bear her part. +A quiet spirit worketh whole years long; +Time only makes the subtle ferment strong. +And all things that belong thereto, +Are wondrous and exceeding rare! +The devil taught her, it is true; +But yet the draught the devil can't prepare. +(Perceiving the beasts.) +Look yonder, what a dainty pair! +Here is the maid! the knave is there! +(To the beasts) +It seems your dame is not at home? + +THE MONKEYS + +Gone to carouse, +Out of the house, +Thro' the chimney and away! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +How long is it her wont to roam? + +THE MONKEYS + +While we can warm our paws she'll stay. + +MEPHISTOPHELES (to FAUST) + +What think you of the charming creature? + +FAUST + +I loathe alike their form and features! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Nay, such discourse, be it confessed, +Is just the thing that pleases me the best. + +(To the MONKEYS) + +Tell me, ye whelps, accursed crew! +What Stir ye in the broth about? + +MONKEYS + +Coarse beggar's gruel here we stew. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Of customers you'll have a rout. + +THE HE-MONKEY +(approaching and fawning on MEPHISTOPHELES) + +Quick! quick! throw the dice, +Make me rich in a trice, +Oh give me the prize! +Alas, for myself! +Had I plenty of pelf, +I then should be wise. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +How blest the ape would think himself, if he +Could only put into the lottery! + +(In the meantime the young MONKEYS have been playing with a +large globe, which they roll forwards) + +THE HE-MONKEY +The world behold; +Unceasingly roll'd, +It riseth and falleth ever; +It ringeth like glass! +How brittle, alas! +'Tis hollow, and resteth never. +How bright the sphere, +Still brighter here! +Now living am I! +Dear son, beware! +Nor venture there! +Thou too must die! +It is of clay; +'Twill crumble away; +There fragments lie. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Of what use is the sieve? + +THE HE-MONKEY (taking it dozen) + +The sieve would show, +If thou wert a thief or no? +(He runs to the SHE-MONKEY, and makes her look through it.) +Look through the sieve! +Dost know him the thief, +And dar'st thou not call him so? + +MEPHISTOPHELES (approaching the fire) + +And then this pot? + +THE MONKEYS + +The half-witted sot! +He knows not the pot! +He knows not the kettle! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Unmannerly beast! +Be civil at least! + +THE HE-MONKEY + +Take the whisk and sit down in the settle! +(He makes MEPHISTOPHELES sit down.) + +FAUST + +(who all this time has been standing before a looking-glass, +now approaching, and now retiring from it) + +What do I see? what form, whose charms transcend +The loveliness of earth, is mirror'd here! +O Love, to waft me to her sphere, +To me the swiftest of thy pinions lend! +Alas! If I remain not rooted to this place, +If to approach more near I'm fondly lur'd, +Her image fades, in veiling mist obscur'd +Model of beauty both in form and face! +Is't possible? Hath woman charms so rare? +In this recumbent form, supremely fair, +The essence must I see of heavenly grace? +Can aught so exquisite on earth be found? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +The six days' labour of a god, my friend, +Who doth himself cry bravo, at the end, +By something clever doubtless should be crown'd. +For this time gaze your fill, and when you please +Just such a prize for you I can provide; +How blest is he to whom kind fate decrees, +To take her to his home, a lovely bride! + +(FAUST continues to gaze into the mirror. MEPHISTOPHELES +stretching himself on the settle and playing with the whisk, +continues to speak.) + +Here sit I, like a king upon his throne; +My sceptre this;--the crown I want alone. + +THE MONKEYS + +(who have hitherto been making all sorts of strange gestures, bring +MEPHISTOPHELES a crown, with loud cries) + +Oh, be so good, +With Sweat and with blood +The crown to lime! + +(They handle the crown awkwardly and break it in two +pieces, with which they skip about.) + +'Twas fate's decree! +We speak and see! +We hear and rhyme. + +FAUST (before the mirror) + +Woe's me! well-nigh distraught I feel! + +MEPHISTOPHELES +(pointing to the beasts) + +And even my own head almost begins to reel. + +THE MONKEYS + +If good luck attend, +If fitly things blend, +Our jargon with thought +And with reason is fraught! + +FAUST (as above) + +A flame is kindled in my breast! +Let us begone! nor linger here! + +MEPHISTOPT'IELES +(in the same position) + +It now at least must be confessed, +That poets sometimes are sincere. + +(The caldron begins to boil over; a great flame arises, +which streams up the chimney. The WITCH comes down the +chimney with horrible cries.) + +THE WITCH + +Ough! ough! ough! ough! +Accursed brute! accursed SOW! +The caldron dost neglect, for shame! +Accursed brute to scorch the dame! + +(Perceiving FAUST and MEPHISTOPHELES) + +Whom have we here? +Who's sneaking here? +Whence are ye come? +With what desire? +The plague of fire +Your bones consume! + +(She dips the skimming-ladle into the caldron and +throws flames at FAUST, MEPHISTOPHELES, and +the MONKEYS. The MONKEYS whimper.) + +MEPHISTOPHELES +(twirling the whisk which he holds in his hand, and striking among +the glasses and pots) + +Dash! Smash! +There lies the glass! +There lies the slime! +'Tis but a jest; +I but keep time, +Thou hellish pest, +To thine own chime! + +(While the WITCH steps back in rage aind astonishment.) + +Dost know me! Skeleton! Vile scarecrow, thou! +Thy lord and master dost thou know? +What holds me, that I deal not now +Thee and thine apes a stunning blow? +No more respect to my red vest dost pay? +Does my cock's feather no allegiance claim? +Have I my visage masked to-day? +Must I be forced myself to name? + +THE WITCH + +Master, forgive this rude salute! +But I perceive no cloven foot. +And your two ravens, where are they? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +This once I must admit your plea;-- +For truly I must own that we +Each other have not seen for many a day. +The culture, too, that shapes the world, at last +Hath e'en the devil in its sphere embraced; +The northern phantom from the scene hath pass'd, +Tail, talons, horns, are nowhere to be traced! +As for the foot, with which I can't dispense, +'Twould injure me in company, and hence, +Like many a youthful cavalier, +False calves I now have worn for many a year. + +THE WITCH (dancing) + +I am beside myself with joy, +To see once more the gallant Satan here! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Woman, no more that name employ! + +THE WITCH + +But why? what mischief hath it done? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +To fable-books it now doth appertain; +But people from the change have nothing won. +Rid of the evil one, the evil ones remain. +Lord Baron call thou me, so is the matter good; +Of other cavaliers the mien I wear. +Dost make no question of my gentle blood; +See here, this is the scutcheon that I bear! +(He makes an unseemly gesture.) + +THE WITCH +(laughing immoderately) + +Ha! Ha Just like yourself! You are, I ween, +The same mad wag that you have ever been! + +MEPHISTOPHELES (to FAUST) + +My friend, learn this to understand, I pray! +To deal with witches this is still the way. + +THE WITCH + +Now tell me, gentlemen, what you desire? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Of your known juice a goblet we require. +But for the very oldest let me ask; +Double its strength with years doth grow. + +THE WITCH + +Most willingly! And here I have a flask, +From which I've sipp'd myself ere now; +What's more, it doth no longer stink; +To you a glass I joyfully will give. +(Aside.) + +If unprepar'd, however, this man drink, +He hath not, as you know, an hour to live. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +He's my good friend, with whom 'twill prosper well; +I grudge him not the choicest of thy store. +Now draw thy circle, speak thy spell, +And straight a bumper for him pour! + +(The WITCH, with extraordinary gestures, describes a circle, and +places strange things within it. The glasses meanwhile begin to +ring, the caldron to sound, and to make music. Lastly, she brings a +great book; places the MONKEYS in the circle to serve her as a +desk, and to hold the torches. She beckons FAUST to approach.) + +FAUST (to MEPHISTOPHELES) + +Tell me, to what doth all this tend? +Where will these frantic gestures end? +This loathsome cheat, this senseless stuff +I've known and hated long enough. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Mere mummery, a laugh to raise! +Pray don't be so fastidious! She +But as a leech, her hocus-pocus plays, +That well with you her potion may agree. +(He compels FAUST to enter the circle.) + +(The WITCH, with great emphasis, begins to declaim the book.) + +This must thou ken: +Of one make ten, +Pass two, and then +Make square the three, +So rich thou'lt be. +Drop out the four! +From five and six, +Thus says the witch, +Make seven and eight. +So all is straight! +And nine is one, +And ten is none, +This is the witch's one-time-one! + +FAUST + +The hag doth as in fever rave. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +To these will follow many a stave. +I know it well, so rings the book throughout; +Much time I've lost in puzzling o'er its pages, +For downright paradox, no doubt, +A mystery remains alike to fools and sages. +Ancient the art and modern too, my friend. +'Tis still the fashion as it used to be, +Error instead of truth abroad to send +By means of three and one, and one and three. +'Tis ever taught and babbled in the schools. +Who'd take the trouble to dispute with fools? +When words men hear, in sooth, they usually believe. +That there must needs therein be something to conceive. + +THE WITCH (continues) +The lofty power +Of wisdom's dower, +From all the world conceal'd! +Who thinketh not, +To him I wot, +Unsought it is reveal'd. + +FAUST + +What nonsense doth the hag propound? +My brain it doth well-nigh confound. +A hundred thousand fools or more, +Methinks I hear in chorus roar. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Incomparable Sibyl cease, I pray! +Hand us thy liquor without more delay. +And to the very brim the goblet crown! +My friend he is, and need not be afraid; +Besides, he is a man of many a grade, +Who bath drunk deep already. + +(The WITCH, with many ceremonies, pours the liquor into a cup; +as FAUST lifts it to his mouth, a light flame arises.) + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Gulp it down! +No hesitation! It will prove +A cordial, and your heart inspire! +What! with the devil hand and glove, +And yet shrink back afraid of fire? + +(The WITCH dissolves the circle. FAUST steps Out.) + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Now forth at once! thou dar'st not rest. + +WITCH + +And much, sir, may the liquor profit you! + +MEPHISTOPHELES (to the WITCH) + +And if to pleasure thee I aught can do, +Pray on Walpurgis mention thy request. + +WITCH + +Here is a song, sung o'er, sometimes you'll see, +That 'twill a singular effect produce. + +MEPHISTOPHELES (to FAUST) + +Come, quick, and let thyself be led by me; +Thou must perspire, in order that the juice +Thy frame may penetrate through every part. +Then noble idleness I thee will teach to prize, +And soon with ecstasy thou'lt recognise +How Cupid stirs and gambols in thy heart. + +FAUST + +Let me but gaze one moment in the glass! +Too lovely was that female form! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Nay! nay! + +A model which all women shall surpass, +In flesh and blood ere long thou shalt survey. +As works the draught, thou presently shalt greet +A Helen in each woman thou dost meet. + +A STREET + +FAUST (MARGARET passing by) + +FAUST + +Fair lady, may I thus make free +To offer you my arm and company? + +MARGARET + +I am no lady, am not fair, +Can without escort home repair. +(She disengages herself and exit.) + +FAUST + +By heaven! This girl is fair indeed! +No form like hers can I recall. +Virtue she hath, and modest heed, +Is piquant too, and sharp withal. +Her cheek's soft light, her rosy lips, +No length of time will e'er eclipse! +Her downward glance in passing by, +Deep in my heart is stamp'd for aye; +How curt and sharp her answer too, +To ecstasy the feeling grew! + +(MEPHISTOPHZLES enters.) + +FAUST + +This girl must win for me! Dost hear? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Which? + +FAUST + +She who but now passed. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +She from confession coineth here, +From every sin absolved and free; +I crept near the confessor's chair. +All innocence her virgin soul, +For next to nothing went she there; +O'er such as she I've no control! + +FAUST + +She's past fourteen. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +You really talk +Like any gay Lothario, +Who every floweret from its stalk +Would pluck, and deems nor grace, nor truth, +Secure against his arts, forsooth! +This ne'er the less won't always do. + +FAUST + +Sir Moralizer, prithee, pause; +Nor plague me with your tiresome laws! +To cut the matter short, my friend, +She must this very night be mine,-- +And if to help me you decline, +Midnight shall see our compact end. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +What may occur just bear in mind! +A fortnight's space, at least, I need, +A fit occasion but to find. + +FAUST + +With but Seven hours I could succeed; +Nor should I want the devil's wile, +So young a creature to beguile. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Like any Frenchman now you speak, +But do not fret, I pray; why seek +To hurry to enjoyment straight? +The pleasure is not half so great, +As when at first around, above, +With all the fooleries of love, +The puppet you can knead and mould +As in Italian story oft is told. + +FAUST + +No such incentives do I need. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +But now, without offence or jest! +You cannot quickly, I protest, +In winning this sweet child succeed. +By storm we cannot take the fort, +To stratagem we must resort. + +FAUST + +Conduct me to her place of rest! +Some token of the angel bring! +A kerchief from her snowy breast, +A garter bring me,--any thing! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +That I my anxious zeal may prove, +Your pangs to sooth and aid your love, +A single moment will we not delay, +Will lead you to her room this very day. + +FAUST + +And shall I see her ?--Have her? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +No! +She to a neighbour's house will go; +But in her atmosphere alone, +The tedious hours meanwhile you may employ, +In blissful dreams of future joy. + +FAUST + +Can we go now? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +'Tis yet too soon. + +FAUST + +Some present for my love procure! +(Exit.) + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Presents so soon! 'tis well! success is sure! +Full many a goodly place I know, +And treasures buried long ago; +I must a bit o'erlook them now. +(Exit.) + +EVENING. A SMALL AND NEAT ROOM + +MARGARET +(braiding and binding up her hair) + +I would give something now to know, +Who yonder gentleman could be! +He had a gallant air, I trow, +And doubtless was of high degree: +That written on his brow was seen-- +Nor else would lie so bold have been. +(Exit.) + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Come in! tread softly! be discreet! + +FAUST (after a pause) + +Begone and leave me, I entreat! + +MEPHISTOPHELES (looking round) + +Not every maiden is so neat. + +FAUST (gazing round) + +Welcome sweet twilight, calm and blest, +That in this hallow'd precinct reigns! +Fond yearning love, inspire my breast, +Feeding on hope's sweet dew thy blissful pains! +What stillness here environs me! +Content and order brood around. +What fulness in this poverty! +In this small cell what bliss profound! +(He throws himself on the leather arm-chair beside +the bed.) + +Receive me thou, who hast in thine embrace, +Welcom'd in joy and grief the ages flown! +How oft the children of a by-gone race +Have cluster'd round this patriarchal throne! +Haply she, also, whom I hold so dear, +For Christmas gift, with grateful joy possess'd, +Hath with the full round cheek of childhood, here, +Her grandsire's wither'd hand devoutly press'd. +Maiden! I feel thy spirit haunt the place, +Breathing of order and abounding grace. +As with a mother's voice it prompteth thee, +The pure white cover o'er the board to spread, +To strew the crisping sand beneath thy tread. +Dear hand! so godlike in its ministry! +The hut becomes a paradise through thee! +And here +(He raises the bed-curtain.) +How thrills my pulse with strange delight! +Here could I linger hours untold; +Thou, Nature, didst in vision bright, +The embryo angel here unfold. +Here lay the child, her bosom warm +With life; while steeped in slumber's dew, +To perfect grace, her godlike form, +With pure and hallow'd weavings grew! + +And thou! ah here what seekest thou? +How quails mine inmost being now! +What wouldst thou here? what makes thy heart so sore? +Unhappy Faust! I know thee now no more. + +Do I a magic atmosphere inhale? +Erewhile, my passion would not brook delay! +Now in a pure love-dream I melt away. +Are we the sport of every passing gale? + +Should she return and enter now, +How wouldst thou rue thy guilty flame! +Proud vaunter--thou wouldst hide thy brow,-- +And at her feet sink down with shame. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Quick! quick! below I see her there. + +FAUST + +Away! I will return no more! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Here is a casket, with a store +Of jewels, which I got elsewhere. +Just lay it in the press; make haste! +I swear to you, 'twill turn her brain; +Therein some trifles I have placed, +Wherewith another to obtain. +But child is child, and play is play. + +FAUST + +I know not--shall I? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Do you ask? +Perchance you would retain the treasure? +If such your wish, why then, I say, +Henceforth absolve me from my task, +Nor longer waste your hours of leisure. +I trust you're not by avarice led! +I rub my hands, I scratch my head,-- +(He places the casket in the press and closes the lock,) +Now quick! Away! +That soon the sweet young creature may +The wish and purpose of your heart obey; +Yet stand you there +As would you to the lecture-room repair, +As if before you stood, +Arrayed in flesh and blood, +Physics and metaphysics weird and grey!-- +Away! (Exeunt.) + +MARGARET (with a lamp) +Here 'tis so close, so sultry now, +(She opens the window.) +Yet out of doors 'tis not so warm. +I feel so strange, I know not how-- +I wish my mother would come home. +Through me there runs a shuddering-- +I'm but a foolish timid thing! +(While undressing herself she begins to sing.) + +There was a king in Thule, +True even to the grave; +To whom his dying mistress +A golden beaker gave. + +At every feast he drained it, +Naught was to him so dear, +And often as he drained it, +Gush'd from his eyes the tear. + +When death came, unrepining +His cities o'er he told; +All to his heir resigning, +Except his cup of gold. + +With many a knightly vassal +At a royal feast sat he, +In yon proud ball ancestral, +In his castle o'er the sea. + +Up stood the jovial monarch, +And quaff'd his last life's glow, +Then hurled the hallow'd goblet +Into the flood below. + +He saw it splashing, drinking, +And plunging hi the sea; +His eyes meanwhile were sinking, +And never again drank he. +(She opens the press to put away her clothes, and perceives the +casket.) + +How comes this lovely casket here? The press +I locked, of that I'm confident. +'Tis very wonderful! What's in it I can't guess; +Perhaps 'twas brought by some one in distress. +And left in pledge for loan my mother lent. +Here by a ribbon hangs a little key! +I have a mind to open it and see! +Heavens! only look! what have we here! +In all my days ne'er saw I such a sight! +Jewels! which any noble dame might wear, +For some high pageant richly dight! +This chain--how would it look on me! +These splendid gems, whose may they be? +(She puts them on and steps before the glass.) + +Were but the ear-rings only mine! +Thus one has quite another air. +What hoots it to be young and fair? +It doubtless may be very flue; +But then, alas, none cares for you, +And praise sounds half like pity too. +Gold all doth lure, +Gold doth secure +All things. Alas, we poor! + +PROMENADE + +FAUST walking thoughtfully up and down. To him +MEPHISTOPHELES. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +By all rejected love! By hellish fire I curse, +Would I knew aught to make my imprecation worse! + +FAUST + +What aileth thee? what chafes thee now so sore? +A face like that I never saw before! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I'd yield me to the devil instantly, +Did it not happen that myself am he! + +FAUST + +There must be some disorder in thy wit! +To rave thus like a madman, is it fit? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Think! only think! The gems for Gretchen brought, +Them hath a priest now made his own!-- +A glimpse of them the mother caught, +And 'gan with secret fear to groan. +The woman's scent is keen enough; +Doth ever in the prayer-book snuff; +Smells every article to ascertain +Whether the thing is holy or profane, +And scented in the jewels rare, +That there was not much blessing there. +"My child," she cries, "ill-gotten good +Ensnares the soul, consumes the blood; +With them we'll deck our Lady's shrine, +She'll cheer our souls with bread divine!" +At this poor Gretchen 'gan to pout; +'Tis a gift-horse, at least, she thought, +And sure, he godless cannot be, +Who brought them here so cleverly. +Straight for a priest the mother sent, +Who, when he understood the jest, +With what he saw was well content. +"This shows a pious mind!" Quoth he: +"Self-conquest is true victory. +The Church bath a good stomach, she, with zest, +Whole countries hath swallow'd down, +And never yet a surfeit known. +The Church alone, be it confessed, +Daughters, can ill-got wealth digest." + +FAUST + +It is a general custom, too. +Practised alike by king and jew. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +With that, clasp, chain, and ring, he swept +As they were mushrooms; and the casket, +Without one word of thanks, he kept, +As if of nuts it were a basket. +Promised reward in heaven, then forth he hied-- +And greatly they were edified. + +FAUST + +And Gretchen! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +In unquiet mood +Knows neither what she would or should; +The trinkets night and day thinks o'er, +On him who brought them, dwells still more. + +FAUST + +The darling's sorrow grieves me, bring +Another set without delay! +The first, methinks, was no great thing. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +All's to my gentleman child's play! + +FAUST + +Plan all things to achieve my end! +Engage the attention of her friend! +No milk-and-water devil be, +And bring fresh jewels instantly! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Ay, sir! Most gladly I'll obey. +(FAUST exit.) + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Your doting love-sick fool, with ease, +Merely his lady-love to please, +Sun, moon, and stars in sport would puff away. +(Exit.) + +THE NEIGHBOUR'S HOUSE +MARTHA (alone) + +God pardon my dear husband, he +Doth not in truth act well by me! +Forth in the world abroad to roam, +And leave me on the straw at home. +And yet his will I ne'er did thwart, +God knows, I lov'd him from my heart. +(She weeps.) + +Perchance he's dead!--oh wretched state!-- +Had I but a certificate! + +(MARGARET comes) + +MARGARET + +Dame Martha! + +MARTHA + +Gretchen? + +MARGARET + +Only think! +My knees beneath me well-nigh sink! +Within my press I've found to-day, +Another case, of ebony. +And things--magnificent they are, +More costly than the first, by far. + +MARTHA + +You must not name it to your mother! +It would to shrift, just like the other. + +MARGARET + +Nay look at them! now only see! + +MARTHA (dresses her up) + +Thou happy creature! + +MARGARET + +Woe is me! +Them in the street I cannot wear, +Or in the church, or any where. + +MARTHA + +Come often over here to me, +The gems put on quite privately; +And then before the mirror walk an hour or so, +Thus we shall have our pleasure too. +Then suitable occasions we must seize, +As at a feast, to show them by degrees: +A chain at first, pearl ear-drops then,--your mother +Won't see them, or we'll coin some tale or other. + +MARGARET + +But, who, I wonder, could the caskets bring? +I fear there's something wrong about the thing! +(a knock,) + +MARTHA (peering through the blind) + +'Tis a strange gentleman, I see. +Come in! + +(MEPHISTOPHELES enters) + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I've ventur'd to intrude to-day. +Ladies, excuse the liberty, I pray. +(He steps back respectfully before MARGARET.) + +After dame Martha Schwerdtlein I inquire! + +MARTHA + +'Tis I. Pray what have you to say to me? + +MEPHISTOPHELES (aside to her) + +I know you now,--and therefore will retire; +At present you've distinguished company. +Pardon the freedom, Madam, with your leave, +I will make free to call again at eve. + +MARTHA (aloud) + +Why, child, of all strange notions, he +For some grand lady taketh thee! + +MARGARET + +I am, in truth, of humble blood-- +The gentleman is far too good-- +Nor gems nor trinkets are my own. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Oh 'tis not the mere ornaments alone; +Her glance and mien far more betray. +Rejoiced I am that I may stay. + +MARTHA + +Your business, Sir? I long to know + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Would I could happier tidings show! +I trust mine errand you'll not let me rue; +Your husband's dead, and greeteth you. + +MARTHA + +Is dead? True heart! Oh misery! +My husband dead! Oh, I shall die! + +MARGARET + +Alas! good Martha! don't despair! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Now listen to the sad affair! + +MARGARET + +I for this cause should fear to love. +The loss my certain death would prove. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Joy still must sorrow, sorrow joy attend. + +MARTHA + +Proceed, and tell the story of his end! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +At Padua, in St. Anthony's, +In holy ground his body lies; +Quiet and cool his place of rest, +With pious ceremonials blest. + +MARTHA + +And had you naught besides to bring? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Oh yes! one grave and solemn prayer; +Let them for him three hundred masses sing! +But in my pockets, I have nothing there. + +MARTHA + +No trinket! no love-token did he send! +What every journeyman safe in his pouch will hoard +There for remembrance fondly stored, +And rather hungers, rather begs than spend! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Madam, in truth, it grieves me sore, +But he his gold not lavishly bath spent. +His failings too he deeply did repent, +Ay! and his evil plight bewail'd still more. + +MARGARET + +Alas! That men should thus be doomed to woe! +I for his soul will many a requiem pray. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +A husband you deserve this very day; +A child so worthy to be loved. + +MARGARET + +Ah no, +That time bath not yet come for me. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +If not a spouse, a gallant let it be. +Among heaven's choicest gifts, I place, +So sweet a darling to embrace. + +MARGARET + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Usage or not, it happens so. + +MARTHA + +Go on, I pray! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I stood by his bedside. Something less foul it was than dung; +'Twas straw half rotten; yet, he as a Christian died. +And sorely hath remorse his conscience wrung. +"Wretch that I was," quoth he, with parting breath, +"So to forsake my business and my wife! +Ah! the remembrance is my death, +Could I but have her pardon in this life! "-- + +MARTHA (weeping) + +Dear soul! I've long forgiven him, indeed! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +"Though she, God knows, was more to blame than I." + +MARTHA + +He lied! What, on the brink of death to lie! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +If I am skill'd the countenance to read, +He doubtless fabled as he parted hence.-- +"No time had I to gape, or take my ease," he said, +"First to get children, and then get them bread; +And bread, too, in the very widest sense; +Nor could I eat in peace even my proper share." + +MARTHA + +What, all my truth, my love forgotten quite? +My weary drudgery by day and night! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Not so! He thought of you with tender care. +Quoth he: "Heaven knows how fervently I prayed, +For wife and children when from Malta bound;-- +The prayer hath heaven with favour crowned; +We took a Turkish vessel which conveyed +Rich store of treasure for the Sultan's court; +It's own reward our gallant action brought; +The captur'd prize was shared among the crew +And of the treasure I received my due." + +MARTHA + +How? Where? The treasure hath he buried, pray? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Where the four winds have blown it, who can say? +In Naples as he stroll'd, a stranger there,-- +A comely maid took pity on my friend; +And gave such tokens of her love and care, +That he retained them to his blessed end. + +MARTHA + +Scoundrel! to rob his children of their bread! +And all this misery, this bitter need, +Could not his course of recklessness impede! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Well, he bath paid the forfeit, and is dead. +Now were I in your place, my counsel hear; +My weeds I'd wear for one chaste year, +And for another lover meanwhile would look out. + +MARTHA + +Alas, I might search far and near, +Not quickly should I find another like my first! +There could not be a fonder fool than mine, +Only he loved too well abroad to roam; +Loved foreign women too, and foreign wine. +And loved besides the dice accurs'd. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +All had gone swimmingly, no doubt, +Had he but given you at home, +On his side, just as wide a range. +Upon such terms, to you I swear, +Myself with you would gladly rings exchange! + +MARTHA + +The gentleman is surely pleas'd to jest! + +MEPHISTOPIIELES (aside) + +Now to be off in time, were best! +She'd make the very devil marry her. +(To MARGARET.) + +How fares it with your heart? + +MARGARET + +How mean you, Sir? + +MEPHISTOPHELES (aside) + +The sweet young innocent! +(aloud) + +Ladies, farewell! + +MARGARET + +Farewell! + +MARTHA + +But ere you leave us, quickly tell! +I from a witness fain had heard, +Where, how, and when my husband died and was interr'd. +To forms I've always been attached indeed, +His death I fain would in the journals read. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Ay, madam, what two witnesses declare +Is held as valid everywhere; +A gallant friend I have, not far from here, +Who will for you before the judge appear. +I'll bring him straight. + +MARTHA + +I pray you do! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +And this young lady, we shall find her too? +A noble youth, far travelled, he +Shows to the sex all courtesy. + +MARGARET + +I in his presence needs must blush for shame. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Not in the presence of a crowned king! + +MARTH A + +The garden, then, behind my house, we'll name, +There we'll await you both this evening. + +A STREET + +FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES + +FAUST + +How is it now? How speeds it? Is't in train? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Bravo! I find you all aflame! +Gretchen full soon your own you'll name. +This eve, at neighbour Martha's, her you'll meet again; +The woman seems expressly made +To drive the pimp and gipsy's trade. + +FAUST + +Good! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +But from us she something would request. + +FAUST + +A favour claims return as this world goes. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +We have on oath but duly to attest, +That her dead husband's limbs, outstretch'd, repose +In holy ground at Padua. + +FAUST + +Sage indeed! +So I suppose we straight must journey there! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Sancta simplicitas! For that no need! +Without much knowledge we have but to swear. + +FAUST + +If you have nothing better to suggest, +Against your plan I must at once protest. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Oh, holy man! methinks I have you there! +In all your life say, have you ne'er +False witness borne, until this hour? +Have you of God, the world, and all it doth contain, +Of man, and that which worketh in his heart and brain, +Not definitions given, in words of weight and power, +With front unblushing, and a dauntless breast? +Yet, if into the depth of things you go, +Touching these matters, it must be confess'd, +As much as of Herr Schwerdtlein's death you know! + +FAUST + +Thou art and dost remain liar and sophist too. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Ay, if one did not take a somewhat deeper view! +To-morrow, in all honour, thou +Poor Gretchen wilt befool, and vow +Thy soul's deep love, in lover's fashion. + +FAUST + +And from my heart. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +All good and fair! +Then deathless constancy thou'lt swear; +Speak of one all o'ermastering passion,-- +Will that too issue from the heart? + +FAUST + +Forbear! +When passion sways me, and I seek to frame +Fit utterance for feeling, deep, intense, +And for my frenzy finding no fit name, +Sweep round the ample world with every sense, +Grasp at the loftiest words to speak my flame, +And call the glow, wherewith I burn, +Quenchless, eternal, yea, eterne-- +Is that of sophistry a devilish play? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Yet am I right! + +FAUST + +Mark this, my friend, +And spare my lungs; who would the right maintain, +And hath a tongue wherewith his point to gain, +Will gain it in the end. +But come, of gossip I am weary quite; +Because I've no resource, thou'rt in the right. + +GARDEN + +MARGARET on FAUST'S arm. MARTHA with +MEPHISTOPHELES walking up and down + +MARGARET + +I feel it, you but spare my ignorance, +The gentleman to shame me stoops thus low. +A traveller from complaisance, +Still makes the best of things; I know +Too well, my humble prattle never can +Have power to entertain so wise a man. + +FAUST + +One glance, one word from thee doth charm me more, +Than the world's wisdom or the sage's lore. +(He kisses her hand.) + +MARGARET + +Nay! trouble not yourself! A hand so coarse, +So rude as mine, how can you kiss! +What constant work at home must I not do perforce! +My mother too exacting is. +(They pass on.) + +MARTHA + +Thus, sir, unceasing travel is your lot? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Traffic and duty urge us! With what pain +Are we compelled to leave full many a spot, +Where yet we dare not once remain! + +MARTHA + +In youth's wild years, with vigour crown'd, +'Tis not amiss thus through the world to sweep; +But ah, the evil days come round! +And to a lonely grave as bachelor to creep, +A pleasant thing has no one found. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +The prospect fills me with dismay. + +MARTHA + +Therefore in time, dear sir, reflect, I pray. +(They pass on.) + +MARGARET + +Ay, out of sight is out of mind! +Politeness easy is to you; +Friends everywhere, and not a few, +Wiser than I am, you will find. + +FAUST + +O dearest, trust me, what doth pass for sense +Full oft is self-conceit and blindness! + +MARGARET + +How? + +FAUST + +Simplicity and holy innocence,-- +When will ye learn your hallow'ed worth to know! +Ah, when will meekness and humility, +Kind and all-bounteous nature's loftiest dower-- + +MARGARET + +Only one little moment think of me! +To think of you I shall have many an hour. + +FAUST + +You are perhaps much alone? + +MARGARET + +Yes, small our household is, I own, +Yet must I see to it. No maid we keep, +And I must cook, sew, knit, and Sweep, +Still early on my feet and late; +My mother is in all things, great and small, +So accurate! +Not that for thrift there is such pressing need; +Than others we might make more show indeed; +My father left behind a small estate, +A house and garden near the city-wall. +But fairly quiet now my days, I own; +As soldier is my brother gone; +My little sister's dead; the babe to rear +Occasion'd me some care and fond annoy; +But I would go through all again with joy, +The darling was to me so dear. + +FAUST + +An angel, sweet, if it resembled thee! + +MARGARET + +I reared it up, and it grew fond of me. +After my father's death it saw the day; +We gave my mother up for lost, she lay +In such a wretched plight, and then at length +So very slowly she regain'd her strength. +Weak as she was, 'twas vain for her to try +Herself to suckle the poor babe, so I +Reared it on milk and water all alone; +And thus the child became as 'twere roy own; +Within my arms it stretched itself and grew, +And smiling, nestled in my bosom too. + +FAUST + +Doubtless the purest happiness was thine. + +MARGARET + +But many weary hours, in sooth, were also mine. +At night its little cradle stood +Close to my bed; so was I wide awake +If it but stirred; +One while I was obliged to give it food, +Or to my arms the darling take; +From bed full oft must rise, whene'er its cry I heard, +And, dancing it, must pace the chamber to and fro; +Stand at the wash-tub early; forthwith go +To market, and then mind the cooking too-- +To-morrow like to-day, the whole year through. +Ah, sir, thus living, it must be confess'd +One's spirits are not always of the best; +Yet it a relish gives to food and rest. +(They pass on.) + +MARTHA + +Poor women! we are badly off, I own; +A bachelor's conversion's hard, indeed! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Madam, with one like you it rests alone, +To tutor me a better course to lead. + +MARTHA + +Speak frankly, sir, none is there you have met? +Has your heart ne'er attach'd itself as yet? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +One's own fire-side and a good wife are gold +And pearls of price, so says the proverb old. + +MARTHA + +I mean, has passion never stirred your breast? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I've everywhere been well received, I own. + +MARTHA + +Yet hath your heart no earnest preference known? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +With ladies one should ne'er presume to jest. + +MARTHA + +Ah! you mistake! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I'm sorry I'm so blind! +But this I know--that you are very kind. +(They pass on.) + +FAUST + +Me, little angel, didst thou recognise, +When in the garden first I came? + +MARGARET +Did you not see it? I cast down my eyes. + +FAUST +Thou dost forgive my boldness, dost not blame +The liberty I took that day, +When thou from church didst lately wend thy way? + +MARGARET + +I was confused. So had it never been; +No one of me could any evil say. +Alas, thought I, he doubtless in thy mien, +Something unmaidenly or bold hath seen? +It seemed as if it struck him suddenly, +Here's just a girl with whom one may make free! +Yet I must own that then I scarcely knew +What in your favour here began at once to plead; +Yet I was angry with myself indeed, +That I more angry could not feel with you. + +FAUST + +Sweet love! + +MARGARET + +Just wait awhile! +(She gathers a star-flower and plucks off the leaves one after +another.) + +FAUST + +A nosegay may that be? + +MARGARET + +No! It is but a game. + +FAUST + +How? + +MARGARET + +Go, you'll laugh at me! +(She plucks off the leaves and murmurs to herself.) + +FAUST + +What murmurest thou? + +MARGARET (half aloud)' + +He loves me--loves me not. + +FAUST + +Sweet angel, with thy face of heavenly bliss! + +MARGARET (continues) + +He loves me--not--he loves me--not-- +(Plucking off the last leaf with fond joy.) + +He loves me! + +FAUST + +Yes! +And this flower-language, darling, let it be, +A heavenly oracle! He loveth thee! +Know'st thou the meaning of, He loveth thee? +(He seizes both her hands.) + +MARGARET + +I tremble so! + +FAUST + +Nay! Do not tremble, love! +Let this hand-pressure, let this glance reveal +Feelings, all power of speech above; +To give oneself up wholly and to feel +A joy that must eternal prove! +Eternal!--Yes, its end would be despair. +No end!--It cannot end! +(MARGARET presses his hand, extricates herself, +and runs away. He stands a moment in thought, and then follows +her.) + + +MARTHA (approaching) + +Night's closing. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Yes, we'll presently away. + +MARTHA + +I would entreat you longer yet to stay; +But 'tis a wicked place, just here about; +It is as if the folk had nothing else to do, +Nothing to think of too, +But gaping watch their neighbours, who goes in and out; +And scandal's busy still, do whatsoe'er one may. +And our young couple? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +They have flown up there. +The wanton butterflies! + +MARTHA + +He seems to take to her. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +And she to him. 'Tis of the world the way! + +A SUMMER-HOUSE + +(MARGARET runs in, hides behind the door, holds the tip of her +finger to her lip, and peeps through the crevice.) + +MARGARET + +He comes! + +FAUST + +Ah, little rogue, so thou +Think'st to provoke me! I have caught thee now! +(He kisses her.) + +MARGARET + +(embracing him, and returning the kiss) + +Dearest of men! I love thee from my heart! +(MEPHISTOPHELES knocks.) + +Who's there? + +FAUST (stamping) + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +A friend! + +FAUST + +A brute! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +MARTHA (comes) + +Ay, it is late, good sir. + +FAUST + +Mayn't I attend you, then? + +MARGARET + +Oh no--my mother would--adieu, adieu! + +FAUST + +And must I really then take leave of you? Farewell! + +MARTHA + +Good-bye! + +MARGARET + +Ere long to meet again! + +(Exeunt FAUST and MEPHISTOPHELES.) + +MARGARET + +Good heavens! how all things far and near +Must fill his mind,--a man like this! +Abash'd before him I appear, +And say to all things only, yes. +Poor simple child, I cannot see, +What 'tis that he can find in me. +(Exit.) + +FOREST AND CAVERN + +FAUST (alone) + +Spirit sublime! Thou gav'st me, gav'st me all +For which I prayed! Not vainly hast thou turn'd +To me thy countenance in flaming fire: +Gayest me glorious nature for my realm, +And also power to feel her and enjoy; +Not merely with a cold and wondering glance, +Thou dost permit me in her depths profound, +As in the bosom of a friend to gaze. +Before me thou dost lead her living tribes, +And dost in silent grove, in air and stream +Teach me to know my kindred. And when roars +The howling storm-blast through the groaning wood, +Wrenching the giant pine, which in its fall +Crashing sweeps down its neighbour trunks and boughs, +While hollow thunder from the hill resounds; +Then thou dost lead me to some shelter'd cave, +Dost there reveal me to myself, and show +Of my own bosom the mysterious depths. +And when with soothing beam, the moon's pale orb +Full in my view climbs up the pathless sky, +From crag and dewy grove, the silvery forms +Of by-gone ages hover, and assuage +The joy austere of contemplative thought. + +Oh, that naught perfect is assign'd to man, +I feel, alas! With this exalted joy, +Which lifts me near and nearer to the gods, +Thou gav'st me this companion, unto whom +I needs must cling, though cold and insolent, +He still degrades me to myself, and turns +Thy glorious gifts to nothing, with a breath. +He in my bosom with malicious zeal +For that fair image fans a raging fire; +From craving to enjoyment thus I reel, +And in enjoyment languish for desire. (MEPHISTOPHELES +enters.) + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Of this lone life have you not had your fill? +How for so long can it have charms for you? +'Tis well enough to try it if you will; +But then away again to something new! + +FAUST + +Would you could better occupy your leisure, +Than in disturbing thus my hours of joy. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Well! Well! I'll leave you to yourself with pleasure, +A serious tone you hardly dare employ. +To part from one so crazy, harsh, and cross, +Were not in truth a grievous loss. +The live-long day, for you I toil and fret; +Ne'er from his worship's face a hint I get, +What pleases him, or what to let alone. + +FAUST + +Ay truly! that is just the proper tone! +He wearies me, and would with thanks be paid + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Poor Son of Earth, without my aid, +How would thy weary days have flown? +Thee of thy foolish whims I've cured, +Thy vain imaginations banished, +And but for me, be well assured, +Thou from this sphere must soon have vanished. +In rocky hollows and in caverns drear, +Why like an owl sit moping here? +Wherefore from dripping stones and moss with ooze embued, +Dost suck, like any toad, thy food? +A rare, sweet pastime. Verily! +The doctor cleaveth still to thee. + +FAUST + +Dost comprehend what bliss without alloy +From this wild wand'ring in the desert springs?-- +Couldst thou but guess the new life-power it brings, +Thou wouldst be fiend enough to envy me my joy. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +What super-earthly ecstasy! at night, +To lie in darkness on the dewy height, +Embracing heaven and earth in rapture high, +The soul dilating to a deity; +With prescient yearnings pierce the core of earth, +Feel in your labouring breast the six-days' birth, +Enjoy, in proud delight what no one knows, +While your love-rapture o'er creation flows,-- +The earthly lost in beatific vision, +And then the lofty intuition--. +(With a gesture.) + +I need not tell you how--to close! + +FAUST + +Fie on you! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +This displeases you? "For shame!" +You are forsooth entitled to exclaim; +We to chaste ears it seems must not pronounce +What, nathless, the chaste heart cannot renounce. +Well, to be brief, the joy as fit occasions rise, +I grudge you not, of specious lies. +But long this mood thou'lt not retain. +Already thou'rt again outworn, +And should this last, thou wilt be torn +By frenzy or remorse and pain. +Enough of this! Thy true love dwells apart, +And all to her seems flat and tame; +Alone thine image fills her heart, +She loves thee with an all-devouring flame. +First came thy passion with o'erpowering rush, +Like mountain torrent, swollen by the melted snow; +Pull in her heart didst pour the sudden gush, +Now has thy brookiet ceased to flow. +Instead of sitting throned midst forests wild, +It would become so great a lord +To comfort the enamour'd child, +And the young monkey for her love reward. +To her the hours seem miserably long; +She from the window sees the clouds float by +As o'er the lofty city-walls they fly, +"If I a birdie were!" so runs her song, +Half through the night and all day long. +Cheerful sometimes, more oft at heart full sore; +Fairly outwept seem now her tears, +Anon she tranquil is, or so appears, +And love-sick evermore. + +FAUST + +Snake! Serpent vile! + +MEPHISTOPHELES (aside) + +Good! If I catch thee with my guile! + +FAUST + +Vile reprobate! go get thee hence; +Forbear the lovely girl to name! +Nor in my half-distracted sense, +Kindle anew the smouldering flame! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +What wouldest thou! She thinks you've taken flight; +It seems, she's partly in the right. + +FAUST +I'm near her still--and should I distant rove, +Her I can ne'er forget, ne'er lose her love; +And all things touch'd by those sweet lips of hers, +Even the very Host, my envy stirs. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +'Tis well! I oft have envied you indeed, +The twin-pair that among the roses feed. + +FAUST + +Pander, avaunt! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Go to! I laugh, the while you rail, +The power which fashion'd youth and maid, +Well understood the noble trade; +So neither shall occasion fail. +But hence!--A mighty grief I trow! +Unto thy lov'd one's chamber thou +And not to death shouldst go. + +FAUST + +What is to me heaven's joy within her arms? +What though my life her bosom warms!-- +Do I not ever feel her woe? +The outcast am I not, unhoused, unblest, +Inhuman monster, without aim or rest, +Who, like the greedy surge, from rock to rock, +Sweeps down the dread abyss with desperate shock? +While she, within her lowly cot, which graced +The Alpine slope, beside the waters wild, +Her homely cares in that small world embraced, +Secluded lived, a simple, artless child. +Was't not enough, in thy delirious whirl +To blast the stedfast rocks; +Her, and her peace as well, +Must I, God-hated one, to ruin hurl! +Dost claim this holocaust, remorseless Hell! +Fiend, help me to cut short the hours of dread! +Let what must happen, happen speedily! +Her direful doom fall crushing on my head, +And into ruin let her plunge with me! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Why how again it seethes and glows! +Away, thou fool! Her torment ease! +When such a head no issue sees, +It pictures straight the final close. +Long life to him who boldly dares! +A devil's pluck thou'rt wont to show; +As for a devil who despairs, +Nothing I find so mawkish here below. + +MARGARET'S ROOM + +MARGARET +(alone at her spinning wheel) + +My peace is gone, +My heart is Sore, +I find it never, +And nevermore! + +Where him I have not, +Is the grave; and all +The world to me +Is turned to gall. + +My wilder'd brain +Is overwrought; +My feeble senses +Are distraught. + +My peace is gone, +My heart is sore, +I find it never, +And nevermore! + +For him from the window +I gaze, at home; +For him and him only +Abroad I roam. + +His lofty step, +His bearing high, +The smile of his lip, +The power of his eye, + +His witching words, +Their tones of bliss, +His hand's fond pressure, +And ah--his kiss! + +My peace is gone, +My heart is sore, +I find it never, +And nevermore. + +My bosom aches +To feel him near; +Ah, could I clasp +And fold him here! + +Kiss him and kiss him +Again would I, +And on his kisses +I fain would die. + +MARTHA'S GARDEN + +MARGARET and FAUST + +MARGARET + +Promise me, Henry! + +FAUST + +What I can! + +MARGARET + +How thy religion fares, I fain would hear. +Thou art a good kind-hearted man, +Only that way not well-disposed, I fear. + +FAUST + +Forbear, my child! Thou feelest thee I love; +My heart, my blood I'd give, my love to prove, +And none would of their faith or church bereave. + +MARGARET + +That's not enough, we must ourselves believe! + +FAUST + +Must we? + +MARGARET + +Ah, could I but thy soul inspire! +Thou honourest not the sacraments, alas! + +FAUST + +I honour them. + +MARGARET + +But yet without desire; +'Tis long since thou hast been either to shrift or mass. +Dost thou believe in God? + +FAUST + +My darling, who dares say, +Yes, I in God believe? +Question or priest or sage, and they +Seem, in the answer you receive, +To mock the questioner. + +MARGARET + +Then thou dost not believe? + +FAUST + +Sweet one! my meaning do not misconceive! +Him who dare name? +And who proclaim, +Him I believe? +Who that can feel, +His heart can steel, +To say: I believe him not? +The All-embracer, +All-sustainer, + +Holds and sustains he not +Thee, me, himself? +Lifts not the Heaven its dome above? +Doth not the firm-set earth beneath us lie? +And beaming tenderly with looks of love, +Climb not the everlasting stars on high? +Do we not gaze into each other's eyes? +Nature's impenetrable agencies, +Are they not thronging on thy heart and brain, +Viewless, or visible to mortal ken, +Around thee weaving their mysterious chain? +Fill thence thy heart, how large soe'er it be; +And in the feeling when thou utterly art blest, +Then call it, what thou wilt,-- +Call it Bliss! Heart! Love! God! +I have no name for it! +'Tis feeling all; +Name is but sound and smoke +Shrouding the glow of heaven. + +MARGARET + +All this is doubtless good and fair; +Almost the same the parson says, +Only in slightly different phrase. + +FAUST + +Beneath Heaven's sunshine, everywhere, +This is the utterance of the human heart; +Each in his language doth the like impart; +Then why not I in mine? + +MARGARET + +What thus I hear +Sounds plausible, yet I'm not reconciled; +There's something wrong about it; much I fear +That thou art not a Christian. + +FAUST + +My sweet child! + +MARGARET + +Alas! it long bath sorely troubled me, +To see thee in such odious company. + +FAUST + +How so? + +MARGARET + +The man who comes with thee, I hate, +Yea, in my spirit's inmost depths abhor; +As his loath'd visage, in my life before, +Naught to my heart e'er gave a pang so great. + +FAUST + +Him fear not, my sweet love! + +MARGARET + +His presence chills my blood. +Towards all beside I have a kindly mood; +Yet, though I yearn to gaze on thee, I feel +At sight of him strange horror o'er me steal; +That he's a villain my conviction's strong. +May Heaven forgive me, if I do him wrong! + +FAUST + +Yet such strange fellows in the world must be! + +MARGARET + +I would not live with such an one as he. +If for a moment he but enter here, +He looks around him with a mocking sneer, +And malice ill-conceal'd; +That he with naught on earth can sympathize is clear; +Upon his brow 'tis legibly revealed, +That to his heart no living soul is dear. +So blest I feel, within thine arms, +So warm and happy,--free from all alarms; +And still my heart doth close when he comes near. + +FAUST + +Foreboding angel! check thy fear! + +MARGARET + +It so o'ermasters me, that when, +Or wheresoe'er, his step I hear, +I almost think, no more I love thee then. +Besides, when he is near, I ne'er could pray. +This eats into my heart; with thee +The same, my Henry, it must be. + +FAUST + +This is antipathy! + +MARGARET + +I must away. + +FAUST + +For one brief hour then may I never rest, +And heart to heart, and soul to soul be pressed? + +MARGARET + +Ah, if I slept alone! To-night +The bolt I fain would leave undrawn for thee; +But then my mother's sleep is light, +Were we surprised by her, ah me! +Upon the spot I should be dead. + +FAUST + +Dear angel! there's no cause for dread. +Here is a little phial,--if she take +Mixed in her drink three drops, 'twill steep +Her nature in a deep and soothing sleep. + +MARGARET + +What Do I not for thy dear sake! +To her it will not harmful prove? + +FAUST + +Should I advise it else, sweet love? + +MARGARET + +I know not, dearest, when thy face I see, +What doth my spirit to thy will constrain; +Already I have done so much for thee, +That scarcely more to do doth now remain. +(Exit,) + +MEPHISTOPHELES (enters) + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +The monkey! Is she gone? + +FAUST + +Again hast played the spy? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Of all that pass'd I'm well apprized, +I heard the doctor catechised, +And trust he'll profit much thereby! +Fain would the girls inquire indeed +Touching their lover's faith and creed, +And whether pious in the good old way; +They think, if pliant there, us too he will obey. + +FAUST + +Thou monster, does not see that this +Pure soul, possessed by ardent love, +Full of the living faith, +To her of bliss +The only pledge, must holy anguish prove, +Holding the man she loves, Fore-doomed to endless death! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Most sensual, supersensualist? The while +A damsel leads thee by the nose! + +FAUST + +Of filth and fire abortion vile! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +In physiognomy strange skill she shows; +She in my presence feels she knows not how; +My mask it seems a hidden sense reveals; +That I'm a genius she must needs allow, +That I'm the very devil perhaps she feels. +So then to-night-- + +FAUST + +What's that to you? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I've my amusement in it too! + +AT THE WELL + +MARGARET and BESSY, with pitchers + +BESSY + +Of Barbara hast nothing heard? + +MARGARET + +I rarely go from home,--no, not a word + +BESSY + +'Tis true: Sybilla told me so to-day! +That comes of being proud, methinks; +She played the fool at last, + +MARGARET + +How so? + +BESSY + +They say +That two she feedeth when she eats and drinks. + +MARGARET + +Alas! + +BESSY + +She's rightly served, in sooth, +How long she hung upon the youth! +What promenades, what jaunts there were, +To dancing booth and village fair! +The first she everywhere must shine, +He always treating her to pastry and to wine. +Of her good looks she was so vain, +So shameless too, that to retain +His presents, she did not disdain; +Sweet words and kisses came anon-- +And then the virgin flower was gone. + +MARGARET + +Poor thing! + +BESSY + +Forsooth dost pity her? +At night, when at our wheels we sat, +Abroad our mothers ne'er would let us stir. +Then with her lover she must chat, +Or on the bench or in the dusky walk, +Thinking the hours too brief for their Sweet talk; +Her proud head she will have to bow, +And in white sheet do penance now! + +MARGARET + +But he will surely marry her? + +BESSY + +Not he! +He won't be such a fool! a gallant lad +Like him, can roam o'er land and sea, +Besides, he's off. + +MARGARET +That is not fair! + +BESSY + +If she should get him, 'twere almost as bad! +Her myrtle wreath the boys would tear; +And then we girls would plague her too, +For we chopp'd straw before her door would strew! +(Exit.) + +MARGARET (walking towards home) + +How stoutly once I could inveigh, +If a poor maiden went astray; +Not words enough my tongue could find, +'Gainst others' sin to speak my mind! +Black as it seemed, I blacken'd it still more, +And strove to make it blacker than before. +And did myself securely bless-- +Now my own trespass doth appear! +Yet ah!--what urg'd me to transgress, +God knows, it was so sweet, so dear! + +ZWINGER + +Enclosure between the City-wall and the Gate. +(In the niche of the wall a devotional image of the Mater +dolorosa, with flower-pots before it.) + +MARGARET +(putting fresh flowers in the pots) + +Ah, rich in sorrow, thou, +Stoop thy maternal brow, +And mark with pitying eye my misery! +The sword in thy pierced heart, +Thou dost with bitter smart, +Gaze upwards on thy Son's death agony. +To the dear God on high, +Ascends thy piteous sigh, +Pleading for his and thy sore misery. +Ah, who can know +The torturing woe, +The pangs that rack me to the bone? +How my poor heart, without relief, +Trembles and throbs, its yearning grief +Thou knowest, thou alone! +Ah, wheresoe'er I go, +With woe, with woe, with woe, +My anguish'd breast is aching! +When all alone I creep, +I weep, I weep, I weep, +Alas! my heart is breaking! +The flower-pots at my window +Were wet with tears of mine, +The while I pluck'd these blossoms, +At dawn to deck thy shrine! +When early in my chamber +Shone bright the rising morn, +I sat there on my pallet, +My heart with anguish torn. +Help! from disgrace and death deliver me! +Ah! rich in sorrow, thou, +Stoop thy maternal brow, +And mark with pitying eye my misery! + +NIGHT. STREET BEFORE MARGARET'S DOOR + +VALENTINE +(a soldier, MARGARET'S brother) + +When seated 'mong the jovial crowd, +Where merry comrades boasting loud +Each named with pride his favourite lass, +And in her honour drain'd his glass; +Upon my elbows I would lean, +With easy quiet view the scene, +Nor give my tongue the rein until +Each swaggering blade had talked his fill. +Then smiling I my beard would stroke, +The while, with brimming glass, I spoke; +"Each to his taste!--but to my mind, +Where in the country will you find, +A maid, as my dear Gretchen fair, +Who with my sister can compare?" +Cling! Clang! so rang the jovial sound! +Shouts of assent went circling round; +Pride of her sex is she!--cried some; +Then were the noisy boasters dumb. + +And now I--I could tear out my hair, +Or dash my brains out in despair!-- +Me every scurvy knave may twit, +With stinging jest and taunting sneer! +Like skulking debtor I must sit, +And sweat each casual word to hear! +And though I smash'd them one and all,-- +Yet them I could not liars call. +Who comes this way? who's sneaking here? +If I mistake not, two draw near. +If he be one, have at him;--well I wot +Alive he shall not leave this spot! + +FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES + +FAUST + +How from yon sacristy, athwart the night, +Its beams the ever-burning taper throws, +While ever waning, fades the glimmering light, +As gathering darkness doth around it close! +So night-like gloom doth in my bosom reign. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I'm like a tom-cat in a thievish vein, +That up fire-ladders tall and steep, +And round the walls doth slyly creep; +Virtuous withal, I feel, with, I confess, +A touch of thievish joy and wantonness. +Thus through my limbs already burns +The glorious Walpurgis night! +After to-morrow it returns, +Then why one wakes, one knows aright! + +FAUST + +Meanwhile, the treasure I see glimmering there, +Will it ascend into the open air? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Ere long thou wilt proceed with pleasure, +To raise the casket with its treasure; +I took a peep, therein are stored, +Of lion-dollars a rich hoard. + +FAUST + +And not a trinket? not a ring? +Wherewith my lovely girl to deck? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I saw among them some such thing, +A string of pearls to grace her neck. + +FAUST + +'Tis well! I'm always loath to go, +Without some gift my love to show. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Some pleasures gratis to enjoy, +Should surely cause you no annoy. +While bright with stars the heavens appear, +I'll sing a masterpiece of art: +A moral song shall charm her ear, +More surely to beguile her heart. +(Sings to the guitar.)' + +Kathrina say, +Why lingering stay +At dawn of day +Before your lover's door? +Maiden, beware, +Nor enter there, +Lest forth you fare, +A maiden never more. + +Maiden take heed! +Reck well my rede! +Is't done, the deed? +Good night, you poor, poor thing! +The spoiler's lies, His arts despise, +Nor yield your prize, +Without the marriage ring! + +VALENTINE (steps forward) +Whom are you luring here? I'll give it you! +Accursed rat-catchers, your strains I'll end! +First, to the devil the guitar I'll send! +Then to the devil with the singer too! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +The poor guitar! 'tis done for now. + +VALENTINE + +Your skull shall follow next, I trow! + +MEPHISTOPHELES (to FAUST) + +Doctor, stand fast! your strength collect! +Be prompt, and do as I direct. +Out with your whisk, keep close, I pray, +I'll parry I do you thrust away! + +VALENTINE + +Then parry that! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Why not? + +VALENTINE + +That too! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +With ease! + +VALENTINE + +The devil fights for you! +Why how is this? my hand's already lamed! + +MEPHISTOPHELES (to FAUST) + +Thrust home! + +VALENTINE (falls) + +Alas! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +There! Now the lubber's tamed! +But quick, away! We must at once take wing; +A cry of murder strikes upon the ear; +With the police I know my course to steer, +But with the blood-ban 'tis another thing. + +MARTHA (at the window) + +Without! without! + +MARGARET (at the window) + +Quick, bring a light! + +MARTHA (as above) + +They rail and scuffle, scream and fight! + +PEOPLE + +One lieth here already dead! + +MARTHA (coming out) + +Where are the murderers? are they fled? + +MARGARET (coming out) + +Who lieth here? + +PEOPLE + +Thy mother's son. + +MARGARET + +Almighty God! I am undone! + +VALENTINE +I'm dying--'tis a soon-told tale, +And sooner done the deed. +Why, women, do ye howl and wail? +To my last words give heed! (All gather round him.) +My Gretchen, see! still young art thou, +Art not discreet enough, I trow, +Thou dost thy matters ill; +Let this in confidence be said: +Since thou the path of shame dost tread, +Tread it with right good will! + +MARGARET + +My brother! God! what can this mean? + +VALENTINE + +Abstain, +Nor dare God's holy name profane! +What's done, alas, is done and past! +Matters will take their course at last; +By stealth thou dost begin with one, +Others will follow him anon; +And when a dozen thee have known, +Thou'lt common be to all the town. +When infamy is newly born, +In secret she is brought to light, +And the mysterious veil of night +O'er head and ears is drawn; +The loathsome birth men fain would slay; +But soon, full grown, she waxes bold, +And though not fairer to behold, +With brazen front insults the day: +The more abhorrent to the sight, +The more she courts the day's pure light. + +The time already I discern, +When thee all honest folk will spurn, +And shun thy hated form to meet, +As when a corpse infects the street. +Thy heart will sink in blank despair, +When they shall look thee in the face! +A golden chain no more thou'lt wear! +Nor near the altar take in church thy place! +In fair lace collar simply dight +Thou'lt dance no more with spirits light! +In darksome corners thou wilt bide, +Where beggars vile and cripples hide, +And e'en though God thy crime forgive, +On earth, a thing accursed, thou'lt live! + +MARTHA + +Your parting soul to God commend! +Your dying breath in slander will you spend? + +VALENTINE + +Could I but reach thy wither'd frame, +Thou wretched beldame, void of shame! +Full measure I might hope to win +Of pardon then for every sin. + +MARGARET + +VALENTINE + +I tell thee, from vain tears abstain! +'Twas thy dishonour pierced my heart, +Thy fall the fatal death-stab gave. +Through the death-sleep I now depart +To God, a soldier true and brave. +(dies.) + +CATHEDRAL + +Service, Organ, and Anthem + +MARGARET amongst a number of people + +EVIL-SPIRIT behind MARGARET + +EVIL-SPIRIT + +How different, Gretchen, was it once with thee, +When thou, still full of innocence, +Here to the altar camest, +And from the small and well-conn'd book +Didst lisp thy prayer, +Half childish sport, +Half God in thy young heart! +Gretchen! +What thoughts are thine? +What deed of shame +Lurks in thy sinful heart? +Is thy prayer utter'd for thy mother's soul, +Who into long, long torment slept through thee? +Whose blood is on thy threshold? +--And stirs there not already 'neath thy heart +Another quick'ning pulse, that even now +Tortures itself and thee +With its foreboding presence? + +MARGARET + +Woe! Woe! +Oh could I free me from the thoughts +That hither, thither, crowd upon my brain, +Against my will! + +CHORUS + +Dies irae, dies illa, +Solvet saeclum in favilla. +(The organ sounds.) + +EVIL-SPIRIT + +Grim horror seizes thee! +The trumpet sounds! +The graves are shaken! +And thy heart +From ashy rest +For torturing flames +Anew created, +Trembles into life! + +MARGARET + +Would I were hence! +It is as if the organ +Choked my breath, +As if the choir +Melted my inmost heart! + +CHORUS + +Judex ergo cum sedebit, +Quidquid latet adparebit! +Nil inultunt remanebit. + +MARGARET + +I feel oppressed! +The pillars of the wall +Imprison me! +The vaulted roof +Weighs down upon me I--air! + +EVIL-SPIRIT + +Wouldst hide thee? sin and shame +Remain not hidden! +Air! light! +Woe's thee! + +CHORUS + +Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? +Quem patronum rogaturus! +Cum vix justus sit securus. + +EVIL-SPIRIT + +The glorified their faces turn +Away from thee! +Shudder the pure to reach +Their hands to thee! +Woe! + +CHORUS + +Quid sum miser tunc dicturus-- + +MARGARET + +Neighbour! your smelling bottle! +(She swoons away.) + +WALPURGIS-NIGHT + +THE HARTZ MOUNTAINS. DISTRICT OF SCHIERKE +AND ELEND + +FAUST and MEPHISTOPHELES + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +A broomstick dost thou not at least desire? +The roughest he-goat fain would I bestride, +By this road from our goal we're still far wide. + +FAUST + +While fresh upon my legs, so long I naught require, +Except this knotty staff. Beside, +What boots it to abridge a pleasant way? +Along the labyrinth of these vales to creep, +Then scale these rocks, whence, in eternal spray, +Adown the cliffs the silvery fountains leap: +Such is the joy that seasons paths like these! +Spring weaves already in the birchen trees; +E'en the late pine-grove feels her quickening powers; +Should she not work within these limbs of ours? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Naught of this genial influence do I know! +Within me all is wintry. Frost and snow +I should prefer my dismal path to bound. +How sadly, yonder, with belated glow +Rises the ruddy moon's imperfect round, +Shedding so faint a light, at every tread +One's sure to stumble 'gainst a rock or tree! +An Ignis Fatuus I must call instead. +Yonder one burning merrily, I see. +Holla! my friend! may I request your light? +Why should you flare away so uselessly? +Be kind enough to show us up the height! + +IGNIS FATUUS + +Through reverence, I hope I may subdue +The lightness of my nature; true, +Our course is but a zigzag one. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Ho! ho! +So men, forsooth, he thinks to imitate! +Now, in the devil's name, for once go straight! +Or out at once your flickering life I'll blow. + +IGNIS FAPUUS + +That you are master here it obvious quite; +To do your will, I'll cordially essay; +Only reflect! The hill is magic-mad to-night; +And if to show the path you choose a meteor's light, +You must not wonder should we go astray. + +FAUST, MEPHISTOPHELES, IGNIS FATUUS +(in alternate song) + +Through the dream and magic-sphere +As it seems, we now are speeding; +Honour win, us rightly leading, +That betimes we may appear +In yon wide and desert region! + +Trees on trees, a stalwart legion, +Swiftly past us are retreating, +And the cliffs with lowly greeting; +Rocks long-snouted, row on row, +How they snort, and how they blow! + +Through the stones and heather springing, +Brook and brooklet haste below; +Hark the rustling! Hark the singing! +Hearken to love's plaintive lays; +Voices of those heavenly days-- +What we hope, and what we love! +Like a tale of olden time, +Echo's voice prolongs the chime. + +To-whit! To-whoo! It sounds more near; +Plover, owl, and jay appear, +All awake, around, above? +Paunchy salamanders too +Peer, long-limbed, the bushes through! +And, like snakes, the roots of trees +Coil themselves from rock and sand, +Stretching many a wondrous band, +Us to frighten, us to seize; +From rude knots with life embued, +Polyp-fangs abroad they spread, +To snare the wanderer! 'Neath our tread, +Mice, in myriads, thousand-hued, +Through the heath and through the moss! +And the fire-flies' glittering throng, +Wildering escort, whirls along, +Here and there, our path across. + +Tell me, stand we motionless, +Or still forward do we press? +All things round us whirl and fly; +Rocks and trees make strange grimaces, +Dazzling meteors change their places, +How they puff and multiply! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Now grasp my doublet--we at last +A central peak have reached, which shows, +If round a wondering glance we cast, +How in the mountain Mammon glows. + +FAUST + +How through the chasms strangely gleams, +A lurid light, like dawn's red glow, +Pervading with its quivering beams, +The gorges of the gulf below! +Here vapours rise, there clouds float by, +Here through the mist the light doth shine; +Now, like a fount, it bursts on high, +Meanders now, a slender line; +Far reaching, with a hundred veins, +Here through the valley see it glide; +Here, where its force the gorge restrains, +At once it scatters, far and wide; +Anear, like showers of golden sand +Strewn broadcast, sputter sparks of light: +And mark yon rocky walls that stand +Ablaze, in all their towering height! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Doth not Sir Mammon for this fete +Grandly illume his palace! Thou +Art lucky to have seen it; now, +The boisterous guests, I feel, are coming straight. + +FAUST + +How through the air the storm doth whirl! +Upon my neck it strikes with sudden shock. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Cling to these ancient ribs of granite rock, +Else to yon depths profound it you will hurl. +A murky vapour thickens night. +Hark! Through the woods the tempests roar! +The owlets flit in wild affright. +Hark! Splinter'd are the columns that upbore +The leafy palace, green for aye: +The shivered branches whirr and sigh, +Yawn the huge trunks with mighty groan. +The roots upriven, creak and moan! +In fearful and entangled fall, +One crashing ruin whelms them all, +While through the desolate abyss, +Sweeping the, wreck-strewn precipice, +The raging storm-blasts howl and hiss! +Aloft strange voices dost thou hear? +Distant now and now more near? +Hark! the mountain ridge along, +Streameth a raving magic-song! + +WITCHES (in chorus) + +Now to the Brocken the witches hie, +The stubble is yellow, the corn is green; +Thither the gathering legions fly, +And sitting aloft is Sir Urial seen: +O'er stick and o'er stone they go whirling along, +Witches and he-goats, a motley throng. + +VOICES + +Alone old Baubo's coming now; +She rides upon a farrow sow. + +CHORUS + +Honour to her, to whom honour is due! +Forward, Dame Baubo! Honour to you! +A goodly sow and mother thereon, +The whole witch chorus follows anon. + +VOICE + +Which way didst come? + +VOICE + +O'er Ilsenstein! +There I peep'd in an owlet's nest. +With her broad eye she gazed in mine! + +VOICE + +Drive to the devil, thou hellish pest! +Why ride so hard? + +VOICE + +She has graz'd my side, +Look at the wounds, how deep and how wide! + +WITCHES (in chorus) + +The way is broad, the way is long; +What mad pursuit! What tumult wild! +Scratches the besom and sticks the prong; +Crush'd is the mother, and stifled the child. + +WIZARDS (half chorus) + +Like house-encumber'd Snail we creep; +While far ahead the women keep, +For when to the devil's house we speed, +By a thousand steps they take the lead. + +THE OTHER HALF + +Not so, precisely do we view it;---- +They with a thousand steps may do it; + +But let them hasten as they can, +With one long bound 'tis clear'd by man. + +VOICES (above) + +Come with us, come with us from Felsensee. + +VOICES (from below) + +Aloft to you we would mount with glee! +We wash, and free from all stain are we, +Yet barren evermore must be! + +BOTH CHORUSES + +The wind is hushed, the stars grow pale, +The pensive moon her light doth veil; +And whirling on, the magic choir +Sputters forth sparks of drizzling fire. + +VOICE (from below) + +Stay! stay! + +VOICE (from above) + +What voice of woe +Calls from the cavern'd depths below? + +VOICE (from below) + +Take me with you! Oh take me too! +Three centuries I climb in vain, +And yet can ne'er the summit gain! +To be with my kindred I am fain. + +BOTH CHORUSES + +Broom and pitch-fork, goat and prong, +Mounted on these we whirl along; +Who vainly strives to climb to-night, +Is evermore a luckless wight! + +DEMI-WITCH (below) + +I hobble after, many a day; +Already the others are far away! + +No rest at home can I obtain-- +Here too my efforts are in vain! + +CHORUS OF WITCHES + +Salve gives the witches strength to rise; +A rag for a sail does well enough; +A goodly ship is every trough; +To-night who flies not, never flies. + +BOTH CHORUSES + +And when the topmost peak we round, +Then alight ye on the ground; +The heath's wide regions cover ye +With your mad swarms of witchery! +(They let themselves down.) + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +They crowd and jostle, whirl and flutter! +They whisper, babble, twirl, and splutter! +They glimmer, sparkle, stink and flare-- +A true witch-element! +Beware! +Stick close! else we shall severed be. +Where art thou? + +FAUST (in the distance) + +Here! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Already, whirl'd so far away! +The master then indeed I needs must play. +Give ground! Squire Voland comes! +Sweet folk, give ground! +Here, doctor, grasp me! With a single bound +Let us escape this ceaseless jar; +Even for me too mad these people are. +Hard by there shineth something with peculiar glare, +Yon brake allureth me; it is not far; +Come, come along with me! we'll slip in there. + +FAUST + +Spirit of contradiction! Lead! I'll follow straight! +'Twas wisely done, however, to repair +On May-night to the Brocken, and when there +By our own choice ourselves to isolate! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Murk, of those flames the motley glare! +A merry club assembles there. +In a small circle one is not alone, + +FAUST + +I'd rather be above, though, I must own! +Already fire and eddying smoke I view; +The impetuous millions to the devil ride; +Full many a riddle will be there untied. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Ay! and full many a riddle tied anew. +But let the great world rave and riot! +Here will we house ourselves in quiet. +A custom 'tis of ancient date, +Our lesser worlds within the great world to create! +Young witches there I see, naked and bare, +And old ones, veil'd more prudently. +For my sake only courteous be! +The trouble's small, the sport is rare. +Of instruments I hear the cursed din-- +One must get used to it. +Come in! come in! +There's now no help for it. I'll step before +And introducing you as my good friend, +Confer on you one obligation more. +How say you now? 'Tis no such paltry room +Why only look, you scarce can see the end. +A hundred fires in rows disperse the gloom; +They dance, they talk, they cook, make love, and drink: +Where could we find aught better, do you think? + +FAUST + +To introduce us, do you purpose here +As devil or as wizard to appear? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Though I am wont indeed to strict incognito, +Yet upon gala-days one must one's orders show. +No garter have I to distinguish me, +Nathless the cloven foot doth here give dignity. +Seest thou yonder snail? Crawling this way she hies: +With searching feelers, she, no doubt, +Hath me already scented out; +Here, even if I would, for me there's no disguise. +From fire to fire, we'll saunter at our leisure, +The gallant you, I'll cater for your pleasure. +(To a party seated round some expiring embers.) +Old gentleman, apart, why sit ye moping here? +Ye in the midst should be of all this jovial cheer, +Girt round with noise and youthful riot; +At home one surely has enough of quiet. + +GENERAL + +In nations put his trust, who may, +Whate'er for them one may have done; +For with the people, as with women, they +Honour your rising stars alone! + +MINISTER + +Now all too far they wander from the right; +I praise the good old ways, to them I hold, +Then was the genuine age of gold, +When we ourselves were foremost in men's sight. + +PARVENU + +Ne'er were we 'mong your dullards found, +And what we ought not, that to do were fair; + +Yet now are all things turning round and round, +When on firm basis we would them maintain. + +AUTHOR + +Who, as a rule, a treatise now would care +To read, of even moderate sense? +As for the rising generation, ne'er +Has youth displayed such arrogant pretence. + +MEPHISTOPHELES +(suddenly appearing very old) + +Since for the last time I the Brocken scale, +That folk are ripe for doomsday, now one sees; +And just because my cask begins to fail, +So the whole world is also on the lees. + +HUCKSTER-WITCH + +Stop, gentlemen, nor pass me by, +Of wares I have a choice collection: +Pray honour them with your inspection. +Lose not this opportunity +Yet nothing in my booth you'll find +Without its counterpart on earth; there's naught, +Which to the world, and to mankind, +Hath not some direful mischief wrought. +No dagger here, which bath not flow'd with blood, +No chalice, whence, into some healthy frame +Hath not been poured hot poison's wasting flood. +No trinket, but bath wrought some woman's shame, +No weapon but bath cut some sacred tie, +Or from behind bath stabb'd an enemy. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Gossip! For wares like these the time's gone by, +What's done is past! what's past is done! +With novelties your booth supply; +Us novelties attract alone. + +FAUST + +May this wild scene my senses spare! +This, may in truth be called a fair! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Upward the eddying concourse throng; +Thinking to push, thyself art push'd along. + +FAUST + +Who's that, pray? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Mark her well! That's Lilith. + +FAUST + +Who? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Adam's first wife. Of her rich locks beware! +That charm in which she's parallel'd by few; +When in its toils a youth she doth ensnare, +He will not soon escape, I promise you. + +FAUST + +There sit a pair, the old one with the young; +Already they have bravely danced and sprung! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Here there is no repose to-day. +Another dance begins; we'll join it, come away! + +FAUST +(dancing with the young one) + +Once a fair vision came to me; +Therein I saw an apple-tree, +Two beauteous apples charmed mine eyes; +I climb'd forthwith to reach the prize. + +THE FAIR ONE. + +Apples still fondly ye desire, +From paradise it bath been so. +Feelings of joy my breast inspire +That such too in my garden grow. + +MEPHISTOPHELES (with the old one) + +Once a weird vision came to me; +Therein I saw a rifted tree. +I had a . . . . .have ready here, +But as it was it pleased me too. + +THE OLD ONE + +I beg most humbly to salute +The gallant with the cloven foot! +Let him a . . . have ready here, +If he a . . . does not fear. + +PROCTOPHANTASMIST + +Accursed mob! How dare ye thus to meet? +Have I not shown and demonstrated too, +That ghosts stand not on ordinary feet? +Yet here ye dance, as other mortals do! + +THE FAIR ONE (dancing) + +Then at our ball, what doth he here? + +FAUST (dancing) + +Oh! He must everywhere appear. +He must adjudge, when others dance; +If on each step his say's not said, +So is that step as good as never made. +He's most annoyed, so soon as we advance; +If ye would circle in one narrow round, +As he in his old mill, then doubtless he +Your dancing would approve,--especially +If ye forthwith salute him with respect profound! + +PROCTOPHANTASMIST + +Still here! what arrogance! unheard of quite! +Vanish; we now have fill'd the world with light! +Laws are unheeded by the devil's host; +Wise as we are, yet Tegel hath its ghost! +How long at this conceit I've swept with all my might, +Lost is the labour: 'tis unheard of quite! + +THE FAIR ONE + +Cease here to teaze us any more, I pray. + +PROCTOPHANTASMIST + +Spirits, I plainly to your face declare: +No spiritual control myself will bear, +Since my own spirit can exert no sway. +(The dancing continues.) + +To-night, I see, I shall in naught succeed; +But I'm prepar'd my travels to pursue, +And hope, before my final step indeed, +To triumph over bards and devils too. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Now in some puddle will he take his station, +Such is his mode of seeking consolation; +Where leeches, feasting on his rump, will drain +Spirits alike and spirit from his brain. +(To FAUST, who has left the dance.) + +But why the charming damsel leave, I pray, +Who to you in the dance so sweetly sang? + +FAUST + +Ah, in the very middle of her lay, +Out of her mouth a small red mouse there sprang. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Suppose there did! One must not be too nice. +'Twas well it was not grey, let that suffice. +Who 'mid his pleasures for a trifle cares? + +FAUST + +Then saw I-- + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +What? + +FAUST + +Mephisto, seest thou there +Standing far off, a lone child, pale and fair? +Slow from the spot her drooping form she tears, +And seems with shackled feet to move along; +I own, within me the delusion's strong, +That she the likeness of my Gretchen wears. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Gaze not upon her! 'Tis not good! Forbear! +'Tis lifeless, magical, a shape of air, +An idol. Such to meet with, bodes no good; +That rigid look of hers doth freeze man's blood, +And well-nigh petrifies his heart to stone:-- +The story of Medusa thou hast known. + +FAUST + +Ay, verily! a corpse's eyes are those, +Which there was no fond loving hand to close. +That is the bosom I so fondly press'd, +That my sweet Gretchen's form, so oft caress'd! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Deluded fool! 'Tis magic, I declare! +To each she doth his lov'd +one's image wear. + +FAUST + +What bliss! what torture! vainly I essay +To turn me from that piteous look away. +How strangely doth a single crimson line +Around that lovely neck its coil entwine, +It shows no broader than a knife's blunt edge! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Quite right. I see it also, and allege +That she beneath her arm her head can bear, +Since Perseus cut it off.--But you I swear +Are craving for illusion still! +Come then, ascend yon little hill! +As on the Prater all is gay, +And if my senses are not gone, +I see a theatre,--what's going on? + +SERVIRILIS + +They are about to recommence;--the play +Will be the last of seven, and spick-span new--' +'Tis usual here that number to present. +A dilettante did the piece invent, +And dilettanti will enact it too. +Excuse me, gentlemen; to me's assign'd +As dilettante to uplift the curtain. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +You on the Blocksberg I'm rejoiced to find, +That 'tis your most appropriate sphere is certain. + +WALPURGIS-NIGHT'S DREAM +OR OBERON AND TITANIA'S GOLDEN WEDDING-FEAST + +Intermezzo + +THEATRE + +MANAGER + +Vales, where mists still shift and play, +To ancient hills succeeding,-- +These our scenes;--so we, to-day, +May rest, brave sons of Mieding. + +HERALD + +That the marriage golden be, +Must fifty years be ended; +More dear this feast of gold to me, +Contention now suspended. + +OBERON + +Spirits, if present, grace the scene, +And if with me united, +Then gratulate the king and queen, +Their troth thus newly plighted! + +PUCK + +Puck draws near and wheels about, +In mazy circles dancing! +Hundreds swell his joyous shout, +Behind him still advancing. + +ARIEL + +Ariel wakes his dainty air, +His lyre celestial stringing.-- +Fools he lureth, and the fair, +With his celestial singing. + +OBERON + +Wedded ones, would ye agree, +We court your imitation: +Would ye fondly love as we, +We counsel separation. + +TITANIA + +If husband scold and wife retort, +Then bear them far asunder; +Her to the burning south transport, +And him the North Pole under. + +THE WHOLE ORCHESTRA (fortissimo) + +Flies and midges all unite +With frog and chirping cricket, +Our orchestra throughout the night, +Resounding in the thicket! + +(Solo) +Yonder doth the bagpipe come! +Its sack an airy bubble. +Schnick, schnick, schnack, with nasal hum, +Its notes it doth redouble. + +EMBRYO SPIRIT + +Spider's foot and midge's wing, +A toad in form and feature; +Together verses it can string, +Though scarce n living creature. + +A LITTLE PAIR + +Tiny step and lofty bound, +Through dew and exhalation; +Ye trip it deftly on the ground, +But gain no elevation. + +INQUISITIVE TRAVELLER + +Can I indeed believe my eyes? +Is't not mere masquerading? +What! Oberon in beauteous step +Among the groups parading! + +ORTHODOX + +No claws, no tail to whisk about, +To fright us at our revel;-- +Yet like the gods of Greece, no doubt, +He too's a genuine devil. + +NORTHERN ARTIST + +These that I'm hitting off to-day +Are sketches unpretending; +Towards Italy without delay, +My steps I think of bending. + +PURIST + +Alas! ill-fortune leads me here, +Where riot still grows louder; +And 'mong the witches gather'd here +But two alone wear powder! + +YOUNG WITCH + +Your powder and your petticoat, +Suit hags, there's no gainsaying; +Hence I sit fearless on my goat, +My naked charms displaying. + +MATRON + +We're too well-bred to squabble here, +Or insult back to render; +But may you wither soon, my dear, +Although so young and tender. + +LEADER OF THE BAND + +Nose of fly and gnat's proboscis, +Throng not the naked beauty! +Frogs and crickets in the mosses, +Keep time and do your duty! + +WEATHERCOCK (towards one side) + +What charming company I view +Together here collected! +Gay bachelors, a hopeful crew. +And brides so unaffected! + +WEATHERCOCK (towards the other side) + +Unless indeed the yawning ground +Should open to receive them, +From this vile crew, with sudden bound, +To Hell I'd jump and leave them. + +XENIEN + +With small sharp shears, in insect guise +Behold us at your revel! +That we may tender, filial-wise, +Our homage to the devil. + +HENNINGS + +Look now at yonder eager crew, +How naively they're jesting! +That they have tender hearts and true, +They stoutly keep protesting! + +MUSAGET + +Oneself amid this witchery +How pleasantly one loses; +For witches easier are to me +To govern than the Muses! + +CI-DEVANT GENIUS OF THE AGE + +With proper folks when we appear, +No one can then surpass us! +Keep close, wide is the Blocksberg here +As Germany's Parnassus. + +INQUISITIVE TRAVELLER + +How name ye that stiff formal man, +Who strides with lofty paces? +He tracks the game where'er he can, +"He scents the Jesuits' traces." + +CRANE + +Where waters troubled are or clear, +To fish I am delighted; +Thus pious gentlemen appear +With devils here united. + +WORLDLING + +By pious people, it is true, +No medium is rejected; +Conventicles, and not a few, +On Blocksberg are erected. + +DANCER + +Another chorus now succeeds, +Far off the drums are beating. +Be still! The bitterns 'mong the reeds +Their one note are repeating. + +DANCING MASTER + +Each twirls about and never stops, +And as he can he fareth. +The crooked leaps, the clumsy hops, +Nor for appearance careth. + +FIDDLER + +To take each other's life, I trow, +Would cordially delight them! +As Orpheus' lyre the beasts, so now +The bagpipe doth unite them. + +DOGMATIST + +My views, in spite of doubt and sneer, +I hold with stout persistence, +Inferring from the devils here, +The evil one's existence. + +IDEALIST + +My every sense rules Phantasy +With sway quite too potential; +Sure I'm demented if the I +Alone is the essential. + +REALIST + +This entity's a dreadful bore, +And cannot choose but vex me; +The ground beneath me ne'er before +Thus totter'd to perplex me. + +SUPERNATURALIST + +Well pleased assembled here I view +Of spirits this profusion; +From devils, touching angels too, +I gather some conclusion. + +SCEPTIC + +The ignis fatuus they track out, +And think they're near the treasure, +Devil alliterates with doubt, +Here I abide with pleasure. + +LEADER OF THE BAND + +Frog and cricket in the mosses,-- +Confound your gasconading! +Nose of fly and gnat's proboscis;-- +Most tuneful serenading! + +THE KNOWING ONES + +Sans-souci, so this host we greet, +Their jovial humour showing; +There's now no walking on our feet, +So on our heads we're going. + +THE AWKWARD ONES + +In seasons past we snatch'd, 'tis true, +Some tit-bits by our cunning; +Our shoes, alas, are now danced through, +On our bare soles we're running. + +WILL-O'-THE-WISPS + +From marshy bogs we sprang to light, +Yet here behold us dancing; +The gayest gallants of the night, +In glitt'ring rows advancing. + +SHOOTING STAR + +With rapid motion from on high, +I shot in starry splendour; +Now prostrate on the grass I lie;-- +Who aid will kindly render? + +THE MASSIVE ONES + +Room! wheel round! They're coming lo! +Down sink the bending grasses. +Though spirits, yet their limbs, we know, +Are huge substantial masses. + +PUCK + +Don't stamp so heavily, I pray; +Like elephants you're treading! +And 'mong the elves be Puck to-day, +The stoutest at the wedding! + +ARIEL + +If nature boon, or subtle sprite, +Endow your soul with pinions;-- +Then follow to yon rosy height, +Through ether's calm dominions! + +ORCHESTRA (pianissimo) + +Drifting cloud and misty wreathes +Are fill'd with light elysian; +O'er reed and leaf the zephyr breathes-- +So fades the fairy vision! + +A GLOOMY DAY. A PLAIN + +FAUST and MEPHISTOPHELES + +FAUST + +In misery! despairing! long wandering pitifully on the face of the +earth and now imprisoned! This gentle hapless creature, immured +in the dungeon as a malefactor and reserved for horrid tortures! +That it should come to this! To this!--Perfidious, worthless spirit, +and this thou hast concealed from me!--Stand! ay, stand! roll in +malicious rage thy fiendish eyes! Stand and brave me with thine +insupportable presence! Imprisoned! In hopeless misery! Delivered +over to the power of evil spirits and the judgment of unpitying +humanity I--And me, the while, thou wert lulling with tasteless +dissipations, concealing from me her growing anguish, and leaving +her to perish without help! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +She is not the first. + +FAUST + +Hound! Execrable monster!--Back with him, oh thou infinite +spirit! back with the reptile into his dog's shape, in which it was his +wont to scamper before me at eventide, to roll before the feet of +the harmless wanderer, and to fasten on his shoulders when he fell! +Change him again into his favourite shape, that he may crouch on +his belly before me in the dust, whilst I spurn him with my foot, +the reprobate!--Not the first!--Woe! Woe! By no human soul is it +conceivable, that more than one human creature has ever sunk into +a depth of wretchedness like this, or that the first in her writhing +death-agony should not have atoned in the sight of all-pardoning +Heaven for the guilt of all the rest! The misery of this one pierces +me to the very marrow, and harrows up my soul; thou art grinning +calmly over the doom of thousands! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Now we are once again at our wit's end, just where the reason of +you mortals snaps! Why dost thou seek our fellowship, if thou +canst not go through with it? Wilt fly, and art not proof against +dizziness? Did we force ourselves on thee, or thou on us? + +FAUST + +Cease thus to gnash thy ravenous fangs at me! I loathe thee!--Great +and glorious spirit, thou who didst vouchsafe to reveal thyself unto +me, thou who dost know my very heart and soul, why hast thou +linked me with this base associate, who feeds on mischief and +revels in destruction? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Hast done? + +FAUST + +Save her!--or woe to thee! The direst of curses on thee for +thousands of years! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I cannot loose the bands of the avenger, nor withdraw his +bolts.--Save her!--Who was it plunged her into perdition? I or +thou? + +(FAUST looks wildly around.) + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +Would'st grasp the thunder? Well for you, poor mortals, that 'tis +not yours to wield! To smite to atoms the being however innocent, +who obstructs his path, such is the tyrant's fashion of relieving +himself in difficulties! + +FAUST + +Convey me thither! She shall be free! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +And the danger to which thou dust expose thyself? Know, the guilt +of blood, shed by thy hand, lies yet upon the town. Over the place +where fell the murdered one, avenging spirits hover and watch for +the returning murderer. + +FAUST + +This too from thee? The death and downfall of a world be on thee, +monster I Conduct me thither, I say, and set +her free! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I will conduct thee. And what I can do,--hear! Have I all power in +heaven and upon earth? I'll cloud the senses of the warder,--do +thou possess thyself of the keys and lead her forth with human +hand! I will keep watch! The magic steeds are waiting, I bear thee +off. Thus much is in my power. + +FAUST + +Tip and sway! + +NIGHT. OPEN COUNTRY + +FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES + +(Rushing along on black horses) + +FAUST + +What weave they yonder round the Ravenstone? + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +I know not what they shape and brew. + +FAUST + +They're soaring, swooping, betiding, stooping. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +A witches' pack. + +FAUST + +They charm, they strew. + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +On! On! + +DUNGEON + +FAUST +(with a bunch of keys and a lamp before a small iron door) + +A fear unwonted o'er my spirit falls; +Man's concentrated woe o'erwhelms me here! +She dwells immur'd within these dripping walls; +Her only trespass a delusion dear! +Thou lingerest at the fatal door, +Thou dread'st to see her face once more? +On! While thou dalliest, draws her death-hour near. +(He seizes the lock. Singing within.) +My mother, the harlot, +She took me and slew! +My father, the scoundrel, +Hath eaten me too! +My sweet little sister +Hath all my bones laid, +Where soft breezes whisper +All in the cool shade! +Then became I a wood-bird, and sang on the spray, +Fly away! little bird, fly away! fly away! + +FAUST (opening the lock) + +Ah! she forebodes not that her lover's near, +The clanking chains, the rustling straw, to hear. +(He enters.) + +MARGARET +(hiding her face in the bed of straw) + +Woe! woe! they come! oh bitter 'tis to die! + +FAUST (softly) + +Hush! hush! be still! I come to set thee free! + +MARGARET +(throwing herself at his feet) + +If thou art human, feel my misery! + +FAUST + +Thou wilt awake the jailor with thy cry! +(He grasps the chains to unlock them.) + +MARGARET (on her knees) + +Who, headsman, unto thee this power +O'er me could give? +Thou com'st for me at midnight-hour. +Be merciful, and let me live! +Is morrow's dawn not time enough? +(She stands up.) + +I'm still so young, so young-- +And must so early die! +Fair was I too, and that was my undoing. +My love is now afar, he then was nigh; +Torn lies the garland, the fair blossoms strew'd. +Nay, seize me not with hand so rude! +Spare me! What harm have I e'er done to thee? +Oh let me not in vain implore! +I ne'er have seen thee in my life before! + +FAUST +Can I endure this bitter agony? + +MARGARET + +I now am at thy mercy quite. +Let me my babe but suckle once again! +I fondled it the live-long night; +They took it from me but to give me pain, +And now, they say that I my child have slain. +Gladness I ne'er again shall know. +Then they sing songs about me,--'tis wicked of the throng-- +An ancient ballad endeth so; +Who bade them thus apply the song? + +FAUST +(throwing himself on the ground) + +A lover at thy feet bends low, +To loose the bonds of wretchedness and woe. + +MARGARET +(throws herself beside him) + +Oh, let us kneel and move the saints by prayer! +Look! look! yon stairs below, +Under the threshold there, +Hell's flames are all aglow! +Beneath the floor, +With hideous noise, +The devils roar! + +FAUST (aloud) + +Gretchen! Gretchen! + +MARGARET (listening) + +That was my lov'd one's voice! +(She springs up, the chains fall off.) + +Where is he? I heard him calling me. +Free am I! There's none shall hinder me. +To his neck will I fly, +On his bosom will lie! + +Gretchen, he called!-- +On yon threshold he stood; +Amidst all the howling of hell's fiery flood, +The scoff and the scorn of its devilish crew, +The tones of his voice, sweet and loving, I knew. + +FAUST + +'Tis I! + +MARGARET + +'Tis thou! O say so once again! +(embracing him.) + +'Tis he! 'Tis he! where's now the torturing pain? +Where are the fetters? where the dungeon's gloom? +'Tis thou! To save me thou art come! +And I am sav'd!-- +Already now the street I see +Where the first time I caught a glimpse of thee. +There too the pleasant garden shade, +Where I and Martha for thy coming stay'd. + +FAUST +(endeavouring to lead her away,) + +Come! come away! + +MARGARET + +Oh do not haste! +I love to linger where thou stayest. (caressing him.) + +FAUST + +Ah haste! For if thou still delayest, +Our lingering we shall both deplore. + +MARGARET + +How, dearest? canst thou kiss no more! +So short a time away from me, and yet, +To kiss thou couldst so soon forget! +Why on thy neck so anxious do I feel-- +When formerly a perfect heaven of bliss +From thy dear looks and words would o'er me steal? +As thou wouldst stifle me thou then didst kiss!-- +Kiss me! +Or I'll kiss thee! (She embraces him.) + +Woe! woe! Thy lips are cold,-- Are dumb! +Thy love where hast thou left? +Who bath me of thy love bereft? +(She turns away from him.) + +FAUST + +Come! Follow me, my dearest love, be bold! +I'll cherish thee with ardour thousand-fold; +I but entreat thee now to follow me! + +MARGARET +(turning towards him) + +And art thou he? and art thou really he? + +FAUST + +'Tis I! O come! + +MARGARET + +Thou wilt strike off my chain, +And thou wilt take me to thine arms again. +How comes it that thou dost not shrink from me?-- +And dost thou know, love, whom thou wouldst set free? + +FAUST + +Come! come! already night begins to wane. + +MARGARET + +I sent my mother to her grave, +I drown'd my child beneath the wave. +Was it not given to thee and me--thee too? +'Tis thou thyself! I scarce believe it yet. +Give me thy hand! It is no dream! 'Tis true! +Thine own dear hand!--But how is this? 'Tis wet? +Quick, wipe it off! Meseems that yet +There's blood thereon. +Ah God! what hast thou done? +Put up thy sword, I beg of thee! + +FAUST + +Oh, dearest, let the past forgotten be! +Death is in every word. + +MARGARET + +No, thou must linger here in sorrow! +The graves I will describe to thee, +And thou to them must see +To-morrow: +The best place give to my mother, +Close at her side my brother, +Me at some distance lay-- +But not too far away! +And the little one place on my right breast. +Nobody else will near me lie! +To nestle beside thee so lovingly, +That was a rapture, gracious and sweet! +A rapture I never again shall prove; +Methinks I would force myself on thee, love, +And thou dost spurn me, and back retreat-- +Yet 'tis thyself, thy fond kind looks I see. + +FAUST + +If thou dost feel 'tis I, then come with me! + +MARGARET + +What, there? without? + +FAUST + +Yes, forth in the free air. + +MARGARET + +Ay, if the grave's without,-- +If death lurk there! +Hence to the everlasting resting-place, +And not one step beyond!-- +Thou'rt leaving me? +Oh Henry! would that I could go with thee! + +FAUST + +Thou canst! But will it! +Open stands the door. + +MARGARET + +I dare not go! I've naught to hope for more. +What boots it to escape? They lurk for me! +'Tis wretched to beg, as I must do, +And with an evil conscience thereto! +'Tis wretched, in foreign lands to stray. +And me they will catch, do what I may. + +FAUST + +With thee will I abide. + +MARGARET + +Quick! Quick! +Save thy poor child! +Keep to the path +The brook along, +Over the bridge +To the wood beyond, +To the left, where the plank is, +In the pond. +Seize it at once! +It fain would rise, +It struggles still! +Save it. Oh save! + +FAUST + +Dear Gretchen, more collected be! +One little step, and thou art free! + +MARGARET + +Were we but only past the hill! +There sits my mother upon a stone-- +My brain, alas, is cold with dread!-- +There sits my mother upon a stone, +And to and fro she shakes her head; +She winks not, she nods not, her head it droops sore; +She slept so long, she waked no more; +She slept, that we might taste of bliss: +Ah! those were happy times, I wis! + +FAUST + +Since here avails nor argument nor prayer, +Thee hence by force I needs must bear. + +MARGARET + +Loose me! I will not suffer violence! +With murderous hand hold not so fast! +I have done all to please thee in the past! + +FAUST + +Day dawns! My love! My love! + +MARGARET + +Yes! day draws near. +The day of judgment too will soon appear! +It should have been my bridal! No one tell, +That thy poor Gretchen thou hast known too well. +Woe to my garland! +Its bloom is o'er! +Though not at the dance-- +We shall meet once more. +The crowd doth gather, in silence it rolls; +The squares, the streets, +Scarce hold the throng. +The staff is broken,--the death-bell tolls,-- +They bind and seize me! +I'm hurried along, +To the seat of blood already I'm bound! +Quivers each neck as the naked steel +Quivers on mine the blow to deal-- +The silence of the grave now broods around! + +FAUST + +Would I had never been born! + +MEPHISTOPHELES (appears without) + +Up! or you're lost. +Vain hesitation! Babbling, quaking! +My steeds are shivering, +Morn is breaking. + +MARGARET + +What from the floor ascendeth like a ghost? +'Tis he! 'Tis he! Him from my presence chase! +What would he in this holy place? +It is for me he cometh! + +FAUST + +Thou shalt live! + +MARGARET + +Judgment of God! To thee my soul I give! + +MEPHISTOPHELES (to FAUST) + +Come, come! With her I'll else abandon thee! + +MARGARET + +Father, I'm thine! Do thou deliver me! +Ye angels! Ye angelic hosts! descend, +Encamp around to guard me and defend!-- +Henry! I shudder now to look on thee! + +MEPHISTOPHELES + +She now is judged! + +VOICES (from above) + +Is saved! + +MEPHISTOPHELES (to FAUST) + +Come thou with me! +(Vanishes with FAUST) + +VOICE (from within, dying away) + +Henry! Henry! + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg Etext of Faust Part 1, +by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe + |