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Title:Faust
Author:JohannWolfgangVonGoethe
ReleaseDate:January4,2005[EBook#14591]
Language:English
***STARTOFTHISPROJECTGUTENBERGEBOOKFAUST***
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Faust
Faust
Haveyounotledthislifequitelongenough?_]
Faust
FAUSTby
JohannWolfgangvonGoethe
WITHILLUSTRATIONSBY
HarryClarke
TRANSLATEDINTOENGLISH,INTHEORIGINALMETRES,BY
BayardTaylor
AnIllustratedEdition
THEWORLDPUBLISHINGCOMPANY
CLEVELAND,OHIONEWYORK,N.Y.
PRINTEDINTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA
Faust
Faust
CONTENTS
PREFACEANGOETHEDEDICATION
PRELUDEATTHETHEATREPROLOGUEINHEAVEN
FAUSTSCENEI.NIGHT(Faust'sMonologue)
II.BEFORETHECITY-GATEIII.THESTUDY(TheExorcism)IV.THESTUDY(TheCompact)V.AUERBACH'SCELLARVI.WITCHES'KITCHEN
VII.ASTREETVIII.EVENINGIX.PROMENADE
X.THENEIGHBOR'SHOUSEXI.STREETXII.GARDEN
XIII.AGARDEN-ARBORXIV.FORESTANDCAVERNXV.MARGARET'SROOMXVI.MARTHA'SGARDENXVII.ATTHEFOUNTAIN
XVIII.DONJON(Margaret'sPrayer)XIX.NIGHT(Valentine'sDeath)
XX.CATHEDRALXXI.WALPURGIS-NIGHT
XXII.OBERONANDTITANIA'SGOLDENWEDDINGXXIII.DREARYDAY
XXIV.NIGHTXXV.DUNGEON
Faust
Faust
Faust
Preface
ItistwentyyearssinceIfirstdeterminedtoattemptthetranslationofFaust, inthe original metres. At that time, although more than a score of Englishtranslations of the First Part, and three or four of the Second Part, were inexistence,theexperimenthadnotyetbeenmade.TheproseversionofHaywardseemed to have been accepted as the standard, in default of anything moresatisfactory: theEnglishcritics,generally sustaining the translator inhisviewsconcerningthesecondaryimportanceofforminPoetry,practicallydiscouragedanyfurtherattempt;andnoone,familiarwithrhythmicalexpressionthroughtheneeds of his own nature, had devoted the necessary love and patience to anadequatereproductionofthegreatworkofGoethe'slife.
Mr. Brooks was the first to undertake the task, and the publication of histranslationoftheFirstPart(in1856)inducedme,foratime,togiveupmyowndesign.NopreviousEnglishversionexhibitedsuchabnegationofthetranslator'sowntastesandhabitsofthought,suchreverentdesiretopresenttheoriginalinits purest form. The care and conscience with which the work had beenperformedweresoapparent,thatInowstatewithreluctancewhatthenseemedtome tobe itsonlydeficiencies,—a lackof the lyrical fireand fluencyof theoriginal in somepassages, and anoccasional loweringof the tone through theuse of words which are literal, but not equivalent. The plan of translationadoptedbyMr.Brookswassoentirelymyown,thatwhenfurtherresidenceinGermanyandamorecarefulstudyofbothpartsofFausthadsatisfiedmethatthefieldwasstillopen,—thatthemeansfurnishedbythepoeticalaffinityofthetwo languages had not yet been exhausted,—nothing remained for me but tofollowhim inallessentialparticulars.Hisexampleconfirmedme in thebeliefthat there were few difficulties in the way of a nearly literal yet thoroughlyrhythmicalversionofFaust,whichmightnotbeovercomeby loving labor.AcomparisonofseventeenEnglishtranslations,inthearbitrarymetresadoptedbythetranslators,sufficientlyshowedthedangerofallowinglicenseinthisrespect:thewhitelightofGoethe's thoughtwastherebypassedthroughthetintedglassof other minds, and assumed the coloring of each. Moreover, the plea ofselecting different metres in the hope of producing a similar effect isunreasonable,wheretheidenticalmetresarepossible.
Thevalueofform,inapoeticalwork,isthefirstquestiontobeconsidered.No
poet ever understood this question more thoroughly than Goethe himself, orexpressed a more positive opinion in regard to it. The alternative modes oftranslationwhichhepresents(reportedbyRiemer,quotedbyMrs.Austin,inher"Characteristics of Goethe," and accepted by Mr. Hayward),[A] are quiteindependent of his views concerning the value of form, which we find givenelsewhere, in theclearestandmostemphaticmanner.[B]Poetry isnotsimplyafashion of expression: it is the form of expression absolutely required by acertain class of ideas. Poetry, indeed,may be distinguished fromProse by thesingle circumstance, that it is the utterance of whatever in man cannot beperfectlyutteredinanyotherthanarhythmicalform:itisuselesstosaythatthenakedmeaningisindependentoftheform:onthecontrary,theformcontributesessentially to the fullnessof themeaning. InPoetrywhichendures through itsowninherentvitality,thereisnoforcedunionofthesetwoelements.Theyareasintimately blended, and with the samemysterious beauty, as the sexes in theancientHermaphroditus.Toattempt to representPoetry inProse, isverymuchlikeattemptingtotranslatemusicintospeech.[C]
[A]"'Therearetwomaximsoftranslation,'sayshe:'theonerequiresthattheauthor,ofaforeignnation,bebroughttousinsuchamannerthatwemayregardhimasourown;theother,onthecontrary,demandsofus that we transport ourselves over to him, and adopt his situation, his mode of speaking, and hispeculiarities. The advantages of both are sufficiently known to all instructed persons, from masterlyexamples.'"Isitnecessary,however,thatthereshouldalwaysbethisalternative?Wherethelanguagesarekindred, and equally capable of all varieties of metrical expression, may not both these "maxims" beobserved in the same translation?Goethe, it is true,wasof theopinion thatFaust ought to be given, inFrench, in the manner of Clement Marot; but this was undoubtedly because he felt the inadequacy ofmodernFrenchtoexpressthenaive,simplerealismofmanypassages.ThesameobjectiondoesnotapplytoEnglish.ThereareafewarchaicexpressionsinFaust,butnomorethanarestillallowed—nay,frequentlyencouraged—intheEnglishofourday.
[B]"Youareright,"saidGoethe;"therearegreatandmysteriousagenciesincludedinthevariousformsofPoetry. If thesubstanceofmy 'RomanElegies'were tobeexpressed in the toneandmeasureofByron's'DonJuan,'itwouldreallyhaveanatrociouseffect."—Eckermann.
"Therhythm,"saidGoethe,"isanunconsciousresultofthepoeticmood.Ifoneshouldstoptoconsideritmechanically,whenabouttowriteapoem,onewouldbecomebewilderedandaccomplishnothingofrealpoeticalvalue."—Ibid.
"Allthatispoeticincharactershouldberythmicallytreated!Suchismyconviction;andifevenasortofpoetic prose should be gradually introduced, itwould only show that the distinction between prose andpoetryhadbeencompletelylostsightof."—GoethetoSchiller,1797.
TychoMommsen, in his excellent essay,DieKunst desDeutschenUebersetzers aus neueren Sprachen,goessofarastosay:"Themetricalorrhymedmodellingofapoeticalworkissoessentiallythegermofitsbeing,that,ratherthanbygivingitup,wemighthopetoconstructasimilarworkofartbeforetheeyesofour countrymen, by giving up or changing the substance. The immeasurable result which has followedworkswhereintheformhasbeenretained—suchastheHomerofVoss,andtheShakespeareofTieckandSchlegel—isanincontrovertibleevidenceofthevitalityoftheendeavor."
[C]"Goethe'spoemsexerciseagreatswayoverme,notonlybytheirmeaning,butalsobytheirrhythm.Itisalanguagewhichstimulatesmetocomposition."—Beethoven.
The various theories of translation from theGreek andLatin poets have beenadmirably stated by Dryden in his Preface to the "Translations from Ovid'sEpistles," and I donotwish to continue the endlessdiscussion,—especially asour literature needs examples, not opinions. A recent expression, however,carries with it so much authority, that I feel bound to present someconsiderationswhich the accomplished scholar seems to have overlooked.Mr.Lewes[D] justly says: "The effect of poetry is a compound of music andsuggestion; thismusicand this suggestionare intermingled inwords,which toalter is to alter the effect. For words in poetry are not, as in prose, simplerepresentativesofobjects and ideas: theyarepartsof anorganicwhole,—theyare tones in theharmony."He thereupon illustrates the effectof translationbychangingcertainwell-knownEnglishstanzasintoothers,equivalentinmeaning,but lackingtheirfelicityofwords, theirgraceandmelody.Icannotaccept thisillustrationasvalid,becauseMr.Lewespurposelyomitstheveryqualitywhichan honest translator should exhaust his skill in endeavoring to reproduce. Heturns away from the one best word or phrase in the English lines he quotes,whereas the translatorseeksprecisely thatonebestwordorphrase (havingalltheresourcesofhislanguageatcommand),torepresentwhatissaidinanotherlanguage.Morethanthis,histaskisnotsimplymechanical:hemustfeel,andbeguidedby,asecondaryinspiration.Surrenderinghimselftothefullpossessionofthespiritwhichshallspeakthroughhim,hereceives,also,aportionofthesamecreative power. Mr. Lewes reaches this conclusion: "If, therefore, we reflectwhat a poemFaust is, and that it contains almost every variety of style andmetre,itwillbetolerablyevidentthatnooneunacquaintedwiththeoriginalcanformanadequateideaofitfromtranslation,"[E]whichiscertainlycorrectofanytranslation wherein something of the rhythmical variety and beauty of theoriginal is not retained. That very much of the rhythmical character may beretainedinEnglish,waslongagoshownbyMr.Carlyle,[F]inthepassageswhichhetranslated,bothliterallyandrhythmically,fromtheHelena(PartSecond).Infact,wehavesomanyinstancesofthepossibilityofreciprocallytransferringthefinestqualitiesofEnglishandGermanpoetry,thatthereisnosufficientexcusefor an unmetrical translation of Faust. I refer especially to such subtile andmelodiouslyricsas"TheCastlebytheSea,"ofUhland,andthe"SilentLand"ofSalis,translatedbyMr.Longfellow;Goethe's"Minstrel"and"CopticSong,"byDr.Hedge;Heine's"TwoGrenadiers,"byDr.FurnessandmanyofHeine'ssongsby Mr Leland; and also to the German translations of English lyrics, by
FreiligrathandStrodtmann.[G]
[D]LifeofGoethe(BookVI.).
[E]Mr.Lewesgivesthefollowingadvice:"TheEnglishreaderwouldperhapsbestsucceedwhoshouldfirstreadDr.Anster'sbrilliantparaphrase,andthencarefullygo throughHayward'sprose translation."This issingularly at variance with the view he has just expressed. Dr. Anster's version is an almost incredibledilutionoftheoriginal,writteninothermetres;whileHayward'sentirelyomitstheelementofpoetry.
[F]ForeignReview,1828.
[G]WhenFreiligrathcanthusgiveusWalterScott:—
"Kommt,wiederWindkommt,WennWäldererzitternKommt,wiedieBrandungWennFlottenzersplittern!Schnellheran,schnellherab,SchnellerkommtAl'e!—HäuptlingundBub'undKnapp,HerrundVasalle!"
orStrodtmannthusreproduceTennyson:—
"EsfälltderStrahlaufBurgundThal,UndschneeigeGipfel,reichanSagen;
Viel'LichterwehnaufblauenSeen,BergabdieWasserstürzejagen!
Blas,Hüfthorn,blas,inWiederhallerschallend:Blas,Horn—antwortet,Echos,hallend,hallend,hallend!"
—itmustbeadullearwhichwouldbesatisfiedwiththeomissionofrhythmandrhyme.
Ihaveamoreseriousobjection,however, tourgeagainstMr.Hayward'sprosetranslation.Wherealltherestraintsofverseareflungaside,weshouldexpect,atleast,asaccurateareproductionofthesense,spirit,andtoneoftheoriginal,asthe genius of our language will permit. So far from having given us such areproduction,Mr.Haywardnotonlyoccasionallymistakestheexactmeaningofthe German text,[H] but, wherever two phrases may be used to express themeaningwith equal fidelity, he very frequently selects thatwhich has the lessgrace,strength,orbeauty.[I]
[H] On his second page, the lineMein Lied ertönt der unbekannten Menge, "My song sounds to theunknown multitude," is translated: "My sorrow voices itself to the strange throng." Other English
translators,Inotice,havefollowedMr.HaywardinmistakingLiedforLeid.
[I] I takebutoneoutofnumerous instances, for the sakeof illustration.Thecloseof theSoldier'sSong(PartI.SceneII.)is:—
"KühnisdasMühen,HerrlichderLohn!UnddieSoldatenZiehendavon."
Literally:
Boldistheendeavor,Splendidthepay!AndthesoldiersMarchaway.
ThisMr.Haywardtranslates:—
Boldtheadventure,Noblethereward—AndthesoldiersAreoff.
Fortherearefewthingswhichmaynotbesaid,inEnglish,inatwofoldmanner,—one poetic, and the other prosaic. In German, equally, a word which inordinaryusehasabareprosaiccharactermayreceiveafairerandfinerqualityfromitsplaceinverse.Theprosetranslatorshouldcertainlybeabletofeelthemanifestationofthislawinbothlanguages,andshouldsochoosehiswordsastomeettheirreciprocalrequirements.Aman,however,whoisnotkeenlysensibletothepowerandbeautyandvalueofrhythm,islikelytooverlookthesedelicateyetmostnecessarydistinctions.Theauthor'sthoughtisstrippedofalastgraceinpassing through his mind, and frequently presents very much the sameresemblance to the original as an unhewn shaft to the fluted column. Mr.Haywardunconsciouslyillustrateshislackofarefinedappreciationofverse,"ingiving,"ashesays,"asortofrhythmicalarrangement to the lyricalparts,"hisobjectbeing"toconveysomenotionofthevarietyofversificationwhichformsone great charm of the poem." A literal translation is always possible in theunrhymedpassages;butevenhereMr.Hayward'seardidnotdictatetohimthenecessityofpreservingtheoriginalrhythm.
While, therefore, I heartily recognizehis lofty appreciationofFaust,—while Ihonor him for the patient and conscientious labor he has bestowed upon histranslation,—Icannotbutfeelthathehashimselfillustratedtheunsoundnessofhisargument.Nevertheless,thecircumstancethathisprosetranslationofFausthas received so much acceptance proves those qualities of the original workwhichcannotbedestroyedbyatestsoviolent.Fromthecoldbareoutlinethusproduced, the reader unacquainted with the German language would scarcelyguesswhatglowofcolor,whatrichnessofchangefullife,whatfluentgraceandenergy of movement have been lost in the process. We must, of course,gratefully receive such anoutline,where anearer approach to the formof theoriginalisimpossible,but,untilthelatterhasbeendemonstrated,wearewrongtoremaincontentwiththecheapersubstitute.
It seems to me that in all discussions upon this subject the capacities of theEnglishlanguagehavereceivedbutscantyjustice.Theintellectualtendenciesofourracehavealwaysbeensomewhatconservative,anditsstandardsofliterarytasteorbelief,oncesetup,arenotvariedwithoutastruggle.TheEnglishearissuspicious of new metres and unaccustomed forms of expression: there arecriticaldetectiveson the trackofeveryauthor, andaviolationof theacceptedcanonsisfollowedbyasummonstojudgment.Thusthetendencyistocontractratherthantoexpandtheacknowledgedexcellencesofthelanguage.[J]
[J]Icannotresist thetemptationofquotingthefollowingpassagefromJacobGrimm:"Nooneofall themodernlanguageshasacquiredagreaterforceandstrengththantheEnglish,throughthederangementandrelinquishment of its ancient laws of sound. The unteachable (nevertheless learnable) profusion of itsmiddle-toneshasconferreduponitanintrinsicpowerofexpression,suchasnootherhumantongueeverpossessed. Its entire, thoroughly intellectual and wonderfully successful foundation and perfecteddevelopment issuedfromamarvelousunionof thetwonoblest tonguesofEurope, theGermanicandtheRomanic.TheirmutualrelationintheEnglishlanguageiswellknown,sincetheformerfurnishedchieflythematerialbasis,whilethelatteraddedtheintellectualconceptions.TheEnglishlanguage,byandthroughwhichthegreatestandmosteminentpoetofmoderntimes—ascontrastedwithancientclassicalpoetry—(of course I can refer only to Shakespeare)was begotten and nourished, has a just claim to be called alanguageoftheworld;anditappearstobedestined,liketheEnglishrace,toahigherandbroaderswayinallquartersoftheearth.Forinrichness,incompactadjustmentofparts,andinpureintelligence,noneofthe living languages can be comparedwith it,—not even ourGerman,which is divided even aswe aredivided,andwhichmustcastoffmanyimperfectionsbeforeitcanboldlyenteronitscareer."—UeberdenUrsprungderSprache.
ThedifficultiesinthewayofanearlyliteraltranslationofFaustintheoriginalmetres have been exaggerated, because certain affinities between the twolanguages have not been properly considered. With all the splendor ofversificationinthework,itcontainsbutfewmetresofwhichtheEnglishtongueis not equally capable.Hoodhas familiarizeduswithdactylic (triple) rhymes,and they are remarkably abundant and skillful inMr. Lowell's "Fable for the
Critics": even the unrhymed iambic hexameter of theHelena occurs now andtheninMilton'sSamsonAgonistes.ItistruethatthemetricalfootintowhichtheGermanlanguagemostnaturallyfalls is the trochaic,while inEnglish it is theiambic: it is true that German is rich, involved, and tolerant of newcombinations,whileEnglishissimple,direct,andrathershyofcompounds;butpreciselythesedifferencesaresomodifiedintheGermanofFaustthatthereisamutual approach of the two languages. In Faust, the iambic measurepredominates; the style iscompact; themany licenseswhich theauthorallowshimself are all directed towards a shortermode of construction. On the otherhand,Englishmetrecompelstheuseofinversions,admitsmanyverballibertiesprohibitedtoprose,andsoinclinestowardsvariousflexiblefeaturesofitssister-tonguethatmanylinesofFaustmayberepeatedinEnglishwithouttheslightestchange of meaning, measure, or rhyme. There are words, it is true, with sodelicateabloomuponthemthat itcan innowisebepreserved;butevensuchwords will always lose less when they carry with them their rhythmicalatmosphere.The flowofGoethe's verse is sometimes so similar to that of thecorrespondingEnglishmetre, that not only its harmonies and caesural pauses,butevenitspunctuation,maybeeasilyretained.
IamsatisfiedthatthedifferencebetweenatranslationofFaustinproseormetreischieflyoneoflabor,—andofthatlaborwhichissuccessfulinproportionasitisjoyouslyperformed.Myowntaskhasbeencheeredbythediscovery,thatthemore closely I reproduced the language of the original, the more of itsrhythmical characterwas transferred at the same time. If, nowand then, therewasaninevitablealternativeofmeaningormusic,Igavethepreferencetotheformer. By the term "original metres" I do not mean a rigid, unyieldingadherence toevery foot, line,and rhymeof theGermanoriginal,although thishasverynearlybeenaccomplished.Sincethegreaterpartoftheworkiswritteninanirregularmeasure,thelinesvaryingfromthreetosixfeet,andtherhymesarranged according to the author's will, I do not consider that an occasionalchangeinthenumberoffeet,ororderofrhyme,isanyviolationofthemetricalplan. The single slight liberty I have taken with the lyrical passages is inMargaret's song,—"The King of Thule,"—in which, by omitting the alternatefemininerhymes,yetretainingthemetre,Iwasenabledtomakethetranslationstrictly literal. If, in twoor three instances,Ihavelefta lineunrhymed,Ihavebalancedtheomissionbygivingrhymestootherlineswhichstandunrhymedinthe original text. For the same reason, I make no apology for the imperfectrhymes,which are frequently a translation aswell as a necessity.With all itssupremequalities,Faustisfarfrombeingatechnicallyperfectwork.[K]
[K]"Atpresent,everythingrunsintechnicalgrooves,andthecriticalgentlemenbegintowranglewhetherinarhymeansshouldcorrespondwithansandnotwithsz.IfIwereyoungandrecklessenough,Iwouldpurposelyoffendallsuchtechnicalcaprices:Iwouldusealliteration,assonance,falserhyme,justaccordingtomyownwillorconvenience—but,atthesametime,Iwouldattendtothemainthing,andendeavortosaysomanygoodthingsthateveryonewouldbeattractedtoreadandrememberthem."—Goethe,in1831.
Thefeminineanddactylicrhymes,whichhavebeenforthemostpartomittedbyallmetrical translatorsexceptMr.Brooks,are indispensable.Thecharacteristictoneofmanypassageswouldbenearlylost,withoutthem.Theygivespiritandgraceto thedialogue,point to theaphoristicportions(especially in theSecondPart),andanever-changingmusictothelyricalpassages.TheEnglishlanguage,though not so rich as the German in such rhymes, is less deficient than isgenerallysupposed.Thedifficultytobeovercomeisoneofconstructionratherthan of the vocabulary. The present participle can only be used to a limitedextent,onaccountofitsweaktermination,andthewantofanaccusativeformtothenounalsorestrictsthearrangementofwordsinEnglishverse.Icannothopetohavebeenalways successful; but I haveat least labored longandpatiently,bearing constantly in mind not only the meaning of the original and themechanicalstructureofthelines,butalsothatsubtileandhauntingmusicwhichseemstogovernrhythminsteadofbeinggovernedbyit.
B.T.
Faust
ANGOETHE
I
ErhabenerGeist,imGeisterreichverloren!WoimmerDeinelichteWohnungsey,Zumhöh'renSchaffenbistDuneugeboren,Undsingestdortdievoll'reLitanei.VonjenemStrebendasDuauserkoren,VomreinstenAether,drinDuathmestfrei,OneigeDichzugnädigemErwiedernDesletztenWiederhallsvonDeinenLiedern!
II
DenaltenMusendiebestäubtenKronenNahmstDu,zuneuemGlanz,mitkühnerHand:DulöstdieRäthselältesterAeonenDurchjüngerenGlauben,hellerenVerstand,Undmachst,woregeMenschengeisterwohnen,DieganzeErdeDirzumVaterland;UndDeineJüngersehninDir,verwundert,VerkörpertschondaswerdendeJahrhundert.
III
WasDugesungen,AllerLustundKlagen,DesLebensWiedersprüche,neuvermählt,—DieHarfetausendstimmigfrischgeschlagen,DieShakspeareeinst,dieeinstHomergewählt,—DarfichinfremdeKlängeübertragenDasAlles,wosoMancherschongefehlt?
LassDeinenGeistinmeinerStimmeklingen,UndwasDusangst,lassmichesDirnachsingen!
B.T.
Faust
Dedication
DEDICATION
Againyecome,yehoveringForms!Ifindye,Asearlytomycloudedsightyeshone!ShallIattempt,thisonce,toseizeandbindye?Stillo'ermyheartisthatillusionthrown?Yecrowdmorenear!Then,bethereignassignedye,Andswaymefromyourmisty,shadowyzone!Mybosomthrills,withyouthfulpassionshaken,Frommagicairsthatroundyourmarchawaken.
Ofjoyousdaysyebringtheblissfulvision;Thedear,familiarphantomsriseagain,And,likeanoldandhalf-extincttradition,FirstLovereturns,withFriendshipinhistrain.RenewedisPain:withmournfulrepetitionLifetrackshisdevious,labyrinthinechain,AndnamestheGood,whosecheatingfortunetorethemFromhappyhours,andleftmetodeplorethem.
Theyhearnolongerthesesucceedingmeasures,Thesouls,towhommyearliestsongsIsang:
Dispersedthefriendlytroop,withallitspleasures,Andstill,alas!theechoesfirstthatrang!Ibringtheunknownmultitudemytreasures;Theirveryplauditsgivemyheartapang,Andthosebeside,whosejoymySongsoflattered,Ifstilltheylive,widethroughtheworldarescattered.
Andgraspsmenowalong-unwontedyearningForthatsereneandsolemnSpirit-Land:Mysong,tofaintAeolianmurmursturning,Swayslikeaharp-stringbythebreezesfanned.Ithrillandtremble;tearontearisburning,Andthesternheartistenderlyunmanned.
WhatIpossess,Iseefardistantlying,AndwhatIlost,growsrealandundying.
Faust
PreludeattheTheatre
PRELUDEATTHETHEATRE
MANAGER====DRAMATICPOET====MERRY-ANDREW
MANAGER
Youtwo,whooftahelpinghandHavelent,inneedandtribulation.Come,letmeknowyourexpectationOfthis,ourenterprise,inGermanland!Iwishthecrowdtofeelitselfwelltreated,Especiallysinceitlivesandletsmelive;Thepostsareset,theboothofboardscompleted.AndeachawaitsthebanquetIshallgive.Alreadythere,withcuriouseyebrowsraised,Theysitsedate,andhopetobeamazed.IknowhowonethePeople'stastemayflatter,YethereahugeembarrassmentIfeel:Whatthey'reaccustomedto,isnogreatmatter,Butthen,alas!they'vereadanawfuldeal.Howshallweplan,thatallbefreshandnew,—Importantmatter,yetattractivetoo?For'tismypleasure-tobeholdthemsurging,Whentoourbooththecurrentsetsapace,Andwithtremendous,oft-repeatedurging,Squeezeonwardthroughthenarrowgateofgrace:Bydaylighteven,theypushandcraminToreachtheseller'sbox,afightinghost,Andasforbread,aroundabaker'sdoor,infamine,Togetaticketbreaktheirnecksalmost.ThismiraclealonecanworkthePoetOnmensovarious:now,myfriend,prayshowit.
POET
Speaknottomeofyondermotleymasses,Whombuttosee,putsoutthefireofSong!Hidefrommyviewthesurgingcrowdthatpasses,Andinitswhirlpoolforcesusalong!No,leadmewheresomeheavenlysilenceglassesThepurerjoysthatroundthePoetthrong,—WhereLoveandFriendshipstilldivinelyfashionThebondsthatbless,thewreathsthatcrownhispassion!Ah,everyutterancefromthedepthsoffeelingThetimidlipshavestammeringlyexpressed,—Nowfailing,now,perchance,successrevealing,—GulpsthewildMomentinitsgreedybreast;Oroft,reluctantyearsitswarrantsealing,Itsperfectstaturestandsatlastconfessed!Whatdazzles,fortheMomentspendsitsspirit:What'sgenuine,shallPosterityinherit.
MERRY-ANDREW
Posterity!Don'tnamethewordtome!IfIshouldchoosetopreachPosterity,Wherewouldyougetcontemporaryfun?Thatmenwillhaveit,there'snoblinking:Afineyoungfellow'spresence,tomythinking,Issomethingworth,toeveryone.Whogeniallyhisnaturecanoutpour,TakesfromthePeople'smoodsnoirritation;Thewidercircleheacquires,themoreSecurelyworkshisinspiration.Thenpluckupheart,andgiveussterlingcoin!LetFancybewithherattendantsfitted,—Sense,Reason,Sentiment,andPassionjoin,—
Buthaveacare,lestFollybeomitted!
MANAGER
Chiefly,enoughofincidentprepare!Theycometolook,andtheyprefertostare.Reeloffahostofthreadsbeforetheirfaces,Sothattheygapeinstupidwonder:thenBysheerdiffusenessyouhavewontheirgraces,Andare,atonce,mostpopularofmen.Onlybymassyoutouchthemass;foranyWillfinally,himself,hisbitselect:Whooffersmuch,bringssomethinguntomany,Andeachgoeshomecontentwiththeeffect,Ifyou'veapiece,why,justinpiecesgiveit:Ahash,astew,willbringsuccess,believeit!'Tiseasilydisplayed,andeasytoinvent.Whatuse,aWholecompactlytopresent?Yourhearerspickandpluck,assoonastheyreceiveit!
POET
Youdonotfeel,howsuchatradedebases;HowillitsuitstheArtist,proudandtrue!ThebotchingworkeachfinepretendertracesIs,Iperceive,aprinciplewithyou.
MANAGER
Suchareproachnotintheleastoffends;AmanwhosomeresultintendsMustusethetoolsthatbestarefitting.Reflect,softwoodisgiventoyouforsplitting,Andthen,observeforwhomyouwrite!Ifonecomesbored,exhaustedquite,Another,satiate,leavesthebanquet'stapers,And,worstofall,fullmanyawightIsfreshfromreadingofthedailypapers.Idlytoustheycome,astoamasquerade,
Merecuriositytheirspiritswarming:Theladieswiththemselves,andwiththeirfinery,aid,Withoutasalarytheirpartsperforming.Whatdreamsareyoursinhighpoeticplaces?You'repleased,forsooth,fullhousestobehold?Drawnear,andviewyourpatrons'faces!Thehalfarecoarse,thehalfarecold.One,whentheplayisout,goeshometocards;Awildnightonawench'sbreastanotherchooses:Whyshouldyourack,poor,foolishbards,Forendslikethese,thegraciousMuses?Itellyou,givebutmore—more,evermore,theyask:Thusshallyouhitthemarkofgainandglory.Seektoconfoundyourauditory!Tosatisfythemisatask.—Whatailsyounow?Is'tsuffering,orpleasure?
POET
Go,findyourselfamoreobedientslave!What!shallthePoetthatwhichNaturegave,Thehighestright,supremeHumanity,Forfeitsowantonly,toswellyourtreasure?Whenceo'erthehearthisempirefree?TheelementsofLifehowconquershe?Is'tnothisheart'saccord,urgedoutwardfaranddim,Towindtheworldinunisonwithhim?Whenonthespindle,spuntoendlessdistance,ByNature'slistlesshandthethreadistwirled,AndthediscordanttonesofallexistenceInsullenjanglearetogetherhurled,Who,then,thechangelessordersofcreationDivides,andkindlesintorhythmicdance?WhobringstheOnetojointhegeneralordination,Whereitmaythrobingrandestconsonance?Whobidsthestormtopassionstirthebosom?Inbroodingsoulsthesunsetburnabove?WhoscatterseveryfairestAprilblossomAlongtheshiningpathofLove?
Whobraidsthenotelessleavestocrowns,requitingDesertwithfame,inAction'severyfield?WhomakesOlympussure,theGodsuniting?ThemightofMan,asintheBardrevealed.
MERRY-ANDREW
So,thesefineforces,inconjunction,Propelthehighpoeticfunction,Asinalove-adventuretheymightplay!Youmeetbyaccident;youfeel,youstay,Andbydegreesyourheartistangled;Blissgrowsapace,andthenitscourseisjangled;You'reravishedquite,thencomesatouchofwoe,Andthere'saneatromance,completedereyouknow!Letus,then,suchadramagive!Grasptheexhaustlesslifethatallmenlive!Eachsharestherein,thoughfewmaycomprehend:Where'eryoutouch,there'sinterestwithoutend.Inmotleypictureslittlelight,Mucherror,andoftruthaglimmeringmite,Thusthebestbeverageissupplied,Whencealltheworldischeeredandedified.Then,atyourplay,beholdthefairestflowerOfyouthcollect,toheartherevelation!Eachtendersoul,withsentimentalpower,Sucksmelancholyfoodfromyourcreation;Andnowinthis,nowthat,theleavenworks.Foreachbeholdswhatinhisbosomlurks.Theystillaremovedatoncetoweepingortolaughter,Stillwonderatyourflights,enjoytheshowtheysee:Amind,onceformed,isneversuitedafter;Oneyetingrowthwillevergratefulbe.
POET
Thengivemebackthattimeofpleasures,WhileyetinjoyousgrowthIsang,—When,likeafount,thecrowdingmeasures
Uninterruptedgushedandsprang!Thenbrightmistveiledtheworldbeforeme,Inopeningbudsamarvelwoke,AsIthethousandblossomsbroke,Whicheveryvalleyrichlyboreme!Inothinghad,andyetenoughforyouth—JoyinIllusion,ardentthirstforTruth.Give,unrestrained,theoldemotion,Theblissthattouchedthevergeofpain,ThestrengthofHate,Love'sdeepdevotion,—O,givemebackmyyouthagain!
MERRYANDREW
Youth,goodmyfriend,youcertainlyrequireWhenfoesincombatsorelypressyou;Whenlovelymaids,infonddesire,Hangonyourbosomandcaressyou;Whenfromthehard-wongoalthewreathBeckonsafar,theraceawaiting;When,afterdancingoutyourbreath,Youpassthenightindissipating:—ButthatfamiliarharpwithsoulToplay,—withgraceandboldexpression,Andtowardsaself-erectedgoalTowalkwithmanyasweetdigression,—This,agedSirs,belongstoyou,Andwenolessrevereyouforthatreason:Agechildishmakes,theysay,but'tisnottrue;We'reonlygenuinechildrenstill,inAge'sseason!
MANAGER
Thewordsyou'vebandiedaresufficient;'TisdeedsthatIprefertosee:Incomplimentsyou'rebothproficient,Butmight,thewhile,moreusefulbe.WhatneedtotalkofInspiration?
'TisnocompanionofDelay.IfPoetrybeyourvocation,LetPoetryyourwillobey!Fullwellyouknowwhathereiswanting;Thecrowdforstrongestdrinkispanting,Andsuch,forthwith,I'dhaveyoubrew.What'sleftundoneto-day,To-morrowwillnotdo.Wastenotadayinvaindigression:Withresolute,courageoustrustSeizeeverypossibleimpression,Andmakeitfirmlyyourpossession;You'llthenworkon,becauseyoumust.UponourGermanstage,youknowit,Eachtrieshishandatwhathewill;So,takeoftrapsandscenesyourfill,Andallyoufind,besuretoshowit!Useboththegreatandlesserheavenlylight,—Squanderthestarsinanynumber,Beasts,birds,trees,rocks,andallsuchlumber,Fire,water,darkness,DayandNight!Thus,inourbooth'scontractedsphere,ThecircleofCreationwillappear,Andmove,aswedeliberatelyimpel,FromHeaven,acrosstheWorld,toHell!
Faust
PROLOGUEINHEAVEN
PROLOGUEINHEAVEN
THELORD===THEHEAVENLYHOSTAfterwardsMEPHISTOPHELES
(TheTHREEARCHANGELScomeforward.)
RAPHAEL
Thesun-orbsings,inemulation,'Midbrother-spheres,hisancientround:HispathpredestinedthroughCreationHeendswithstepofthunder-sound.TheangelsfromhisvisagesplendidDrawpower,whosemeasurenonecansay;Theloftyworks,uncomprehended,Arebrightasontheearliestday.
GABRIEL
Andswift,andswiftbeyondconceiving,Thesplendoroftheworldgoesround,Day'sEden-brightnessstillrelievingTheawfulNight'sintenseprofound:Theocean-tidesinfoamarebreaking,Againsttherocks'deepbaseshurled,Andboth,thesphericracepartaking,Eternal,swift,areonwardwhirled!
MICHAEL
AndrivalstormsabroadaresurgingFromseatoland,fromlandtosea.AchainofdeepestactionforgingRoundall,inwrathfulenergy.Thereflamesadesolation,blazingBeforetheThunder'scrashingway:Yet,Lord,ThymessengersarepraisingThegentlemovementofThyDay.
THETHREE
Thoughstillbythemuncomprehended,Fromthesetheangelsdrawtheirpower,AndallThyworks,sublimeandsplendid,ArebrightasinCreation'shour.
MEPHISTOPHELES
SinceThou,OLord,deign'sttoapproachagainAndaskushowwedo,inmannerkindest,Andheretoforetomeetmyselfwertfain,AmongThymenials,now,myfaceThoufindest.Pardon,thistroopIcannotfollowafterWithloftyspeech,thoughbythemscornedandspurned:MypathoscertainlywouldmoveThylaughter,IfThouhadstnotallmerrimentunlearned.OfsunsandworldsI'venothingtobequoted;Howmentormentthemselves,isallI'venoted.Thelittlegodo'theworldstickstothesameoldway,AndisaswhimsicalasonCreation'sday.Lifesomewhatbettermightcontenthim,ButforthegleamofheavenlylightwhichThouhastlenthim:
HecallsitReason—thencehispower'sincreased,Tobefarbeastlierthananybeast.SavingThyGraciousPresence,hetome
Along-leggedgrasshopperappearstobe,Thatspringingflies,andflyingsprings,Andinthegrassthesameolddittysings.Wouldhestilllayamongthegrasshegrowsin!Eachbitofdungheseeks,tostickhisnosein.
THELORD
Hastthou,then,nothingmoretomention?Com'stever,thus,withillintention?Find'stnothingrightonearth,eternally?
MEPHISTOPHELES
No,Lord!Ifindthings,there,stillbadastheycanbe.Man'smiseryeventopitymovesmynature;I'vescarcethehearttoplaguethewretchedcreature.
THELORD
Know'stFaust?
MEPHISTOPHELES
TheDoctorFaust?
THELORD
Myservant,he!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Forsooth!Heservesyouafterstrangedevices:Noearthlymeatordrinkthefoolsuffices:Hisspirit'sfermentfaraspireth;Halfconsciousofhisfrenzied,crazedunrest,ThefaireststarsfromHeavenherequireth,FromEarththehighestrapturesandthebest,AndalltheNearandFarthathedesirethFailstosubduethetumultofhisbreast.
THELORD
ThoughstillconfusedhisserviceuntoMe,Isoonshallleadhimtoaclearermorning.Seesnotthegardener,evenwhilebudshistree,Bothflowerandfruitthefutureyearsadorning?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Whatwillyoubet?There'sstillachancetogainhim,Ifuntomefullleaveyougive,Gentlyuponmyroadtotrainhim!
THELORD
Aslongasheonearthshalllive,SolongImakenoprohibition.WhileMan'sdesiresandaspirationsstir,Hecannotchoosebuterr.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Mythanks!Ifindthedeadnoacquisition,Andnevercaredtohavetheminmykeeping.Imuchpreferthecheekswhereruddybloodisleaping,Andwhenacorpseapproaches,closemyhouse:Itgoeswithme,aswiththecatthemouse.
THELORD
Enough!Whatthouhastaskedisgranted.Turnoffthisspiritfromhisfountain-head;Totraphim,letthysnaresbeplanted,Andhim,withthee,bedownwardled;Thenstandabashed,whenthouartforcedtosay:Agoodman,throughobscurestaspiration,Hasstillaninstinctoftheonetrueway.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Agreed!But'tisashortprobation.AboutmybetIfeelnotrepidation.IfIfulfillmyexpectation,You'llletmetriumphwithaswellingbreast:Dustshallheeat,andwithazest,Asdidacertainsnake,mynearrelation.
THELORD
Thereinthou'rtfree,accordingtothymerits;
ThelikeoftheehavenevermovedMyhate.Ofallthebold,denyingSpirits,Thewaggishknaveleasttroubledothcreate.Man'sactivenature,flagging,seekstoosoonthelevel;Unqualifiedreposehelearnstocrave;Whence,willingly,thecomradehimIgave,Whoworks,excites,andmustcreate,asDevil.Butye,God'ssonsinloveandduty,Enjoytherich,theever-livingBeauty!CreativePower,thatworkseternalschemes,Claspyouinbondsoflove,relaxingnever,AndwhatinwaveringapparitiongleamsFixinitsplacewiththoughtsthatstandforever!
(Heavencloses:theARCHANGELSseparate.)
MEPHISTOPHELES(solus)
Ilike,attimes,tohearTheAncient'sword,Andhaveacaretobemostcivil:It'sreallykindofsuchanobleLordSohumanlytogossipwiththeDevil!
Faust
Faust
FIRSTPARTOFTHETRAGEDY
I
NIGHT
(Alofty-arched,narrow,Gothicchamber.FAUST,inachairathisdesk,restless.)
FAUST
I'vestudiednowPhilosophyAndJurisprudence,Medicine,—Andeven,alas!Theology,—Fromendtoend,withlaborkeen;Andhere,poorfool!withallmyloreIstand,nowiserthanbefore:I'mMagister—yea,Doctor—hight,Andstraightorcross-wise,wrongorright,Thesetenyearslong,withmanywoes,I'veledmyscholarsbythenose,—Andsee,thatnothingcanbeknown!Thatknowledgecutsmetothebone.I'mcleverer,true,thanthosefopsofteachers,DoctorsandMagisters,ScribesandPreachers;Neitherscruplesnordoubtscomenowtosmiteme,NorHellnorDevilcanlongeraffrightme.
Forthis,allpleasureamIforegoing;Idonotpretendtoaughtworthknowing,IdonotpretendIcouldbeateacherTohelporconvertafellow-creature.Then,too,I'veneitherlandsnorgold,Northeworld'sleastpomporhonorhold—
Nodogwouldenduresuchacurstexistence!Wherefore,fromMagicIseekassistance,ThatmanyasecretperchanceIreachThroughspirit-powerandspirit-speech,AndthusthebittertaskforegoOfsayingthethingsIdonotknow,—ThatImaydetecttheinmostforceWhichbindstheworld,andguidesitscourse;Itsgerms,productivepowersexplore,Andrummageinemptywordsnomore!
OfullandsplendidMoon,whomIHave,fromthisdesk,seenclimbtheskySomanyamidnight,—wouldthyglowForthelasttimebeheldmywoe!Everthineeye,mostmournfulfriend,O'erbooksandpaperssawmebend;ButwouldthatI,onmountainsgrand,Amidthyblessedlightcouldstand,Withspiritsthroughmountain-cavernshover,Floatinthytwilightthemeadowsover,And,freedfromthefumesoflorethatswatheme,Tohealthinthydewyfountainsbatheme!
Ah,me!thisdungeonstillIsee.Thisdrear,accursedmasonry,WhereeventhewelcomedaylightstrainsButdusklythroughthepaintedpanes.HemmedinbymanyatopplingheapOfbooksworm-eaten,graywithdust,Whichtothevaultedceilingcreep,Againstthesmokypaperthrust,—Withglasses,boxes,roundmestacked,Andinstrumentstogetherhurled,Ancestrallumber,stuffedandpacked—Suchismyworld:andwhataworld!
AnddoIask,whereforemyheartFalters,oppressedwithunknownneeds?
WhysomeinexplicablesmartAllmovementofmylifeimpedes?Alas!inlivingNature'sstead,WhereGodHishumancreatureset,InsmokeandmouldthefleshlessdeadAndbonesofbeastssurroundmeyet!
Fly!Up,andseekthebroad,freeland!AndthisoneBookofMysteryFromNostradamus'veryhand,Is'tnotsufficientcompany?WhenIthestarrycoursesknow,AndNature'swiseinstructionseek,Withlightofpowermysoulshallglow,Aswhentospiritsspiritsspeak.Tisvain,thisemptybroodinghere,Thoughguessedtheholysymbolsbe:Ye,Spirits,come—yehovernear—Oh,ifyouhearme,answerme!
(HeopenstheBook,andperceivesthesignoftheMacrocosm.)
Ha!whatasuddenraptureleapsfromthisIview,throughallmysensesswiftlyflowing!Ifeelayouthful,holy,vitalblissIneveryveinandfibrenewlyglowing.WasitaGod,whotracedthissign,Withcalmacrossmytumultstealing,Mytroubledhearttojoyunsealing,Withimpulse,mysticanddivine,ThepowersofNaturehere,aroundmypath,revealing?AmIaGod?—soclearmineeyes!InthesepurefeaturesIbeholdCreativeNaturetomysoulunfold.Whatsaysthesage,nowfirstIrecognize:"Thespirit-worldnoclosuresfasten;Thysenseisshut,thyheartisdead:Disciple,up!untiring,hastenTobathethybreastinmorning-red!"
(Hecontemplatesthesign.)
HoweachtheWholeitssubstancegives,Eachintheotherworksandlives!Likeheavenlyforcesrisinganddescending,Theirgoldenurnsreciprocallylending,WithwingsthatwinnowblessingFromHeaventhroughEarthIseethempressing,FillingtheAllwithharmonyunceasing!Howgrandashow!but,ah!ashowalone.Thee,boundlessNature,howmaketheemyown?Whereyou,yebeasts?FountsofallBeing,shining,WhereonhangHeaven'sandEarth'sdesire,Wheretoourwitheredheartsaspire,—Yeflow,yefeed:andamIvainlypining?
(Heturnstheleavesimpatiently,andperceivesthesignoftheEarth-Spirit.)
Howotherwiseuponmeworksthissign!Thou,SpiritoftheEarth,artnearer:Evennowmypowersareloftier,clearer;Iglow,asdrunkwithnew-madewine:Newstrengthandhearttomeettheworldinciteme,Thewoeofearth,theblissofearth,inviteme,Andthoughtheshockofstormsmaysmiteme,Nocrashofshipwreckshallhavepowertofrightme!Cloudsgatheroverme—Themoonconcealsherlight—Thelamp'sextinguished!—Mistsrise,—red,angryraysaredartingAroundmyhead!—TherefallsAhorrorfromthevaultedroof,Andseizesme!Ifeelthypresence,SpiritIinvoke!Revealthyself!Ha!inmyheartwhatrendingstroke!Withnewimpulsion
Mysensesheaveinthisconvulsion!Ifeeltheedrawmyheart,absorb,exhaustme:Thoumust!thoumust!andthoughmylifeitcostme!
(Heseizesthebook,andmysteriouslypronouncesthesignoftheSpirit.Aruddyflameflashes:theSpiritappearsintheflame.)
SPIRIT
Whocallsme?
FAUST(withavertedhead)
Terribletosee!
SPIRIT
Mehastthoulongwithmightattracted,Longfrommyspherethyfoodexacted,Andnow—
FAUST
Woe!Iendurenotthee!
SPIRIT
Toviewmeisthineaspiration,Myvoicetohear,mycountenancetosee;Thypowerfulyearningmovethme,HereamI!—whatmeanperturbationThee,superhuman,shakes?Thysoul'shighcalling,where?Whereisthebreast,whichfromitselfaworlddidbear,
Andshapedandcherished—whichwithjoyexpanded,Tobeourpeer,withus,theSpirits,banded?Whereartthou,Faust,whosevoicehaspiercedtome,Whotowardsmepressedwithallthineenergy?Heartthou,who,mypresencebreathing,seeing,Tremblesthroughallthedepthsofbeing,Awrithingworm,aterror-strickenform?
FAUST
Thee,formofflame,shallIthenfear?Yes,IamFaust:Iamthypeer!
SPIRIT
InthetidesofLife,inAction'sstorm,Afluctuantwave,Ashuttlefree,BirthandtheGrave,Aneternalsea,Aweaving,flowingLife,all-glowing,
ThusatTime'shummingloom'tismyhandpreparesThegarmentofLifewhichtheDeitywears!
FAUST
Thou,whoaroundthewideworldwendest,ThoubusySpirit,hownearIfeeltothee!
SPIRIT
Thou'rtliketheSpiritwhichthoucomprehendest,Notme!
(Disappears.)
FAUST(overwhelmed)
Notthee!Whomthen?I,imageoftheGodhead!Notevenlikethee!
(Aknock).
ODeath!—Iknowit—'tismyFamulus!Myfairestluckfindsnofruition:InallthefullnessofmyvisionThesoullesssneakdisturbsmethus!
(EnterWAGNER,indressing-gownandnight-cap,alampinhishand.FAUSTturnsimpatiently.)
WAGNER
Pardon,Iheardyourdeclamation;'TwassureanoldGreektragedyyouread?InsuchanartIcravesomepreparation,Sincenowitstandsoneingoodstead.I'veoftenhearditsaid,apreacherMightlearn,withacomedianforateacher.
FAUST
Yes,whenthepriestcomedianisbynature,Ashaplynowandthenthecasemaybe.
WAGNER
Ah,whenonestudiesthus,aprisonedcreature,Thatscarcetheworldonholidayscansee,—Scarcethroughaglass,byrareoccasion,Howshalloneleaditbypersuasion?
FAUST
You'llne'erattainit,saveyouknowthefeeling,Savefromthesoulitrisesclear,Sereneinprimalstrength,compellingTheheartsandmindsofallwhohear.Yousitforevergluing,patching;Youcookthescrapsfromothers'fare;AndfromyourheapofasheshatchingAstarvelingflame,yeblowitbare!Takechildren's,monkeys'gazeadmiring,Ifsuchyourtaste,andbecontent;Butne'erfromhearttoheartyou'llspeakinspiring,Saveyourownheartiseloquent!
WAGNER
Yetthroughdeliveryoratorssucceed;IfeelthatIamfarbehind,indeed.
FAUST
Seekthouthehonestrecompense!Beware,atinklingfooltobe!Withlittleart,clearwitandsenseSuggesttheirowndelivery;Andifthou'rtmovedtospeakinearnest,Whatneed,thatafterwordsthouyearnest?Yes,yourdiscourses,withtheirglitteringshow,Whereyeformentwistshreddedthoughtlikepaper,Areunrefreshingasthewindsthatblow
Therustlingleavesthroughchillautumnalvapor!
WAGNER
Ah,God!butArtislong,AndLife,alas!isfleeting.Andoft,withzealmycritic-dutiesmeeting,Inheadandbreastthere'ssomethingwrong.
HowharditistocompasstheassistanceWherebyonerisestothesource!And,haply,ereonetravelshalfthecourseMustthepoordevilquitexistence.
FAUST
Isparchment,then,theholyfountbeforethee,Adraughtwherefromthythirstforeverslakes?Notruerefreshmentcanrestorethee,Savewhatfromthineownsoulspontaneousbreaks.
WAGNER
Pardon!agreatdelightisgrantedWhen,inthespiritoftheagesplanted,Wemarkhow,ereourtimes,asagehasthought,Andthen,howfarhiswork,andgrandly,wehavebrought.
FAUST
Oyes,uptothestarsatlast!Listen,myfriend:theagesthatarepastArenowabookwithsevensealsprotected:WhatyoutheSpiritoftheAgescallIsnothingbutthespiritofyouall,
WhereintheAgesarereflected.So,oftentimes,youmiserablymarit!Atthefirstglancewhoseesitrunsaway.Anoffal-barrelandalumber-garret,Or,atthebest,aPunch-and-Judyplay,Withmaximsmostpragmaticalandhitting,Asinthemouthsofpuppetsarebefitting!
WAGNER
Butthen,theworld—thehumanheartandbrain!Oftheseonecovetssomeslightapprehension.
FAUST
Yes,ofthekindwhichmenattain!Whodaresthechild'struenameinpublicmention?Thefew,whothereofsomethingreallylearned,Unwiselyfrank,withheartsthatspurnedconcealing,Andtothemoblaidbareeachthoughtandfeeling,Haveevermorebeencrucifiedandburned.Iprayyou,Friend,'tisnowthedeadofnight;Ourconverseheremustbesuspended.
WAGNER
Iwouldhavesharedyourwatcheswithdelight,Thatsoourlearnedtalkmightbeextended.To-morrow,though,I'llask,inEasterleisure,Thisandtheotherquestion,atyourpleasure.MostzealouslyIseekforerudition:MuchdoIknow—buttoknowallismyambition.
[Exit.
FAUST(solus)
Thatbrain,alone,notloseshope,whosechoiceisTostickinshallowtrashforevermore,—Whichdigswitheagerhandforburiedore,And,whenitfindsanangle-worm,rejoices!
Daresuchahumanvoicedisturbtheflow,Aroundmehere,ofspirit-presencefullest?Andyet,thisoncemythanksIoweTothee,ofallearth'ssonsthepoorest,dullest!ForthouhasttornmefromthatdesperatestateWhichthreatenedsoontooverwhelmmysenses:Theapparitionwassogiant-great,Itdwarfedandwitheredallmysoul'spretences!
I,imageoftheGodhead,whobegan—DeemingEternalTruthsecureinnearness—Yechoirs,haveyebegunthesweet,consolingchant,Which,throughthenightofDeath,theangelsministrantSang,God'snewCovenantrepeating?
CHORUSOFWOMEN
WithspicesandpreciousBalm,wearrayedhim;Faithfulandgracious,Wetenderlylaidhim:LinentobindhimCleanlilywoundwe:Ah!whenwewouldfindhim,Christnomorefoundwe!
CHORUSOFANGELS
Christisascended!Blisshathinvestedhim,—
Woesthatmolestedhim,Trialsthattestedhim,Gloriouslyended!
FAUST
Why,hereindust,enticemewithyourspell,Yegentle,powerfulsoundsofHeaven?Pealratherthere,wheretendernaturesdwell.YourmessagesIhear,butfaithhasnotbeengiven;ThedearestchildofFaithisMiracle.IventurenottosoartoyonderregionsWhencethegladtidingshitherfloat;Andyet,fromchildhoodupfamiliarwiththenote,ToLifeitnowrenewstheoldallegiance.OnceHeavenlyLovesentdownaburningkissUponmybrow,inSabbathsilenceholy;And,filledwithmysticpresage,chimedthechurch-bellslowly,Andprayerdissolvedmeinaferventbliss.Asweet,uncomprehendedyearningDroveforthmyfeetthroughwoodsandmeadowsfree,Andwhileathousandtearswereburning,Ifeltaworldariseforme.Thesechants,toyouthandallitssportsappealing,ProclaimedtheSpring'srejoicingholiday;AndMemoryholdsmenow,withchildishfeeling,Backfromthelast,thesolemnway.Soundon,yehymnsofHeaven,sosweetandmild!Mytearsgushforth:theEarthtakesbackherchild!
CHORUSOFDISCIPLES
HasHe,victoriously,BurstfromthevaultedGrave,andall-gloriouslyNowsitsexalted?
IsHe,inglowofbirth,Rapturecreativenear?Ah!tothewoeofearthStillarewenativehere.We,hisaspiringFollowers,Himwemiss;Weeping,desiring,Master,Thybliss!
CHORUSOFANGELS
Christisarisen,OutofCorruption'swomb:Burstyetheprison,Breakfromyourgloom!Praisingandpleadinghim,Lovinglyneedinghim,Brotherlyfeedinghim,Preachingandspeedinghim,Blessing,succeedingHim,ThusistheMasternear,—ThusisHehere!
BeforetheCity-Gate
II
BEFORETHECITY-GATE
(Pedestriansofallkindscomeforth.)
SEVERALAPPRENTICES
Whydoyougothatway?
OTHERS
We'refortheHunters'lodge,to-day.
THEFIRST
We'llsauntertotheMill,inyonderhollow.
ANAPPRENTICE
GototheRiverTavern,Ishouldsay.
SECONDAPPRENTICE
Butthen,it'snotapleasantway.
THEOTHERS
Andwhatwillyou?
ATHIRD
Asgoesthecrowd,Ifollow.
AFOURTH
ComeuptoBurgdorf?Thereyou'llfindgoodcheer,Thefinestlassesandthebestofbeer,Andjollyrowsandsquabbles,trustme!
AFIFTH
Youswaggeringfellow,isyourhide
Athirdtimeitchingtobetried?Iwon'tgothere,yourjollyrowsdisgustme!
SERVANT-GIRL
No,—no!I'llturnandgototownagain.
ANOTHER
We'llsurelyfindhimbythosepoplarsyonder.
THEFIRST
That'snogreatluckforme,'tisplain.You'llhavehim,whenandwhereyouwander:Hispartnerinthedanceyou'llbe,—Butwhatisallyourfuntome?
THEOTHER
He'ssurelynotaloneto-day:He'llbewithCurly-head,Iheardhimsay.
ASTUDENT
Deuce!howtheystep,thebuxomwenches!Come,Brother!wemustseethemtothebenches.Astrong,oldbeer,apipethatstingsandbites,AgirlinSundayclothes,—thesethreearemydelights.
CITIZEN'SDAUGHTER
Justseethosehandsomefellows,there!It'sreallyshameful,Ideclare;—Tofollowservant-girls,whentheyMighthavethemostgenteelsocietyto-day!
SECONDSTUDENT(totheFirst)
Notquitesofast!Twootherscomebehind,—Those,dressedsoprettilyandneatly.Myneighbor'soneofthem,Ifind,Agirlthattakesmyheart,completely.Theygotheirwaywithlooksdemure,
Butthey'llacceptus,afterall,I'msure.
THEFIRST
No,Brother!notformetheirformalways.Quick!lestourgameescapeusinthepress:ThehandthatwieldsthebroomonSaturdaysWillbest,onSundays,fondleandcaress.
CITIZEN
Hesuitsmenotatall,ournew-madeBurgomaster!Sincehe'sinstalled,hisarrogancegrowsfaster.Howhashehelpedthetown,Isay?Thingsworsen,—whatimprovementnameshe?Obedience,morethanever,claimshe,Andmorethaneverwemustpay!
BEGGAR(sings)
Goodgentlemenandlovelyladies,Soredofcheekandfineofdress,Behold,howneedfulhereyouraidis,Andseeandlightenmydistress!Letmenotvainlysingmyditty;He'sonlygladwhogivesaway:Aholiday,thatshowsyourpity,Shallbeformeaharvest-day!
ANOTHERCITIZEN
OnSundays,holidays,there'snaughtItakedelightin,Likegossipingofwar,andwar'sarray,WhendowninTurkey,faraway,Theforeignpeoplearea-fighting.Oneatthewindowsits,withglassandfriends,Andseesallsortsofshipsgodowntherivergliding:Andblessesthen,ashomehewendsAtnight,ourtimesofpeaceabiding.
THIRDCITIZEN
Yes,Neighbor!that'smynotion,too:Why,letthembreaktheirheads,letloosetheirpassions,Andmixthingsmadlythroughandthrough,So,here,wekeepourgoodoldfashions!
OLDWOMAN(totheCitizen'sDaughter)
Dearme,howfine!Sohandsome,andsoyoung!Whowouldn'tlosehisheart,thatmetyou?Don'tbesoproud!I'llholdmytongue,Andwhatyou'dlikeI'llundertaketogetyou.
CITIZEN'SDAUGHTER
Come,Agatha!Ishunthewitch'ssightBeforefolks,lesttherebemisgiving:'Tistrue,sheshowedme,onSaintAndrew'sNight,Myfuturesweetheart,justashewereliving.
THEOTHER
Sheshowedmemine,incrystalclear,Withseveralwildyoungblades,asoldier-lover:Iseekhimeverywhere,Ipryandpeer,Andyet,somehow,hisfaceIcan'tdiscover.
SOLDIERS
Castles,withloftyRampartsandtowers,MaidensdisdainfulInBeauty'sarray,Bothshallbeours!Boldistheventure,Splendidthepay!Lads,letthetrumpetsForusbesuing,—Callingtopleasure,Callingtoruin.Stormyourlifeis;Suchisitsboon!
MaidensandcastlesCapitulatesoon.Boldistheventure,Splendidthepay!Andthesoldiersgomarching,Marchingaway!
FAUSTANDWAGNER
FAUST
ReleasedfromicearebrookandriverBythequickeningglanceofthegraciousSpring;Thecolorsofhopetothevalleycling,AndweakoldWinterhimselfmustshiver,Withdrawntothemountains,acrownlessking:Whence,everretreating,hesendsagainImpotentshowersofsleetthatdarkleInbeltsacrossthegreeno'theplain.Butthesunwillpermitnowhitetosparkle;Everywhereformindevelopmentmoveth;Hewillbrightentheworldwiththetintsheloveth,And,lackingblossoms,blue,yellow,andred,Hetakesthesegaudypeopleinstead.Turntheeabout,andfromthisheightBackonthetowndirectthysight.Outofthehollow,gloomygate,Themotleythrongscomeforthelate:Eachwillthejoyofthesunshinehoard,TohonortheDayoftheRisenLord!Theyfeel,themselves,theirresurrection:Fromthelow,darkrooms,scarcehabitable;FromthebondsofWork,fromTrade'srestriction;Fromthepressingweightofroofandgable;Fromthenarrow,crushingstreetsandalleys;Fromthechurches'solemnandreverendnight,Allcomeforthtothecheerfullight.Howlively,see!themultitudesallies,Scatteringthroughgardensandfieldsremote,Whileovertheriver,thatbroadlydallies,
Dancessomanyafestiveboat;Andoverladen,nightosinking,Thelastfullwherrytakesthestream.Yonderafar,fromthehill-pathsblinking,Theirclothesarecolorsthatsoftlygleam.Ihearthenoiseofthevillage,even;HereisthePeople'sproperHeaven;Herehighandlowcontentedsee!HereIamMan,—daremantobe!
WAGNER
Tostrollwithyou,SirDoctor,flatters;'Tishonor,profit,untome.ButI,alone,wouldshuntheseshallowmatters,Sinceallthat'scoarseprovokesmyenmity.Thisfiddling,shouting,ten-pinrollingIhate,—thesenoisesofthethrong:Theyrave,asSatanweretheirsportscontrolling.Andcallitmirth,andcallitsong!
PEASANTS,UNDERTHELINDEN-TREE(DanceandSong.)
Allforthedancetheshepherddressed,Inribbons,wreath,andgayestvestHimselfwithcarearraying:
AroundthelindenlassandladAlreadyfooteditlikemad:Hurrah!hurrah!Hurrah—tarara-la!
Thefiddle-bowwasplaying.
Hebroketheranks,nowhitafraid,Andwithhiselbowpunchedamaid,Whostood,thedancesurveying:
Thebuxomwench,sheturnedandsaid:"Now,youIcallastupid-head!"Hurrah!hurrah!Hurrah—tarara-la!
"Bedecentwhileyou'restaying!"
Thenroundthecirclewenttheirflight,Theydancedtoleft,theydancedtoright:Theirkirtlesallwereplaying.Theyfirstgrewred,andthengrewwarm,Andrested,panting,arminarm,—Hurrah!hurrah!Hurrah—tarara-la!
Andhipsandelbowsstraying.
Now,don'tbesofamiliarhere!Howmanyaonehasfooledhisdear,Waylayingandbetraying!
Andyet,hecoaxedhersoonaside,Androundthelindensoundedwide.Hurrah!hurrah!Hurrah—tarara-la!
Andthefiddle-bowwasplaying.
OLDPEASANT
SirDoctor,itisgoodofyou,Thatthusyoucondescend,to-day,Amongthiscrowdofmerryfolk,Ahighly-learnedman,tostray.Thenalsotakethefinestcan,Wefillwithfreshwine,foryoursake:Iofferit,andhumblywishThatnotaloneyourthirstisslake,—That,asthedropsbelowitsbrink,Somanydaysoflifeyoudrink!
FAUST
Itakethecupyoukindlyreach,Withthanksandhealthtoallandeach.
(ThePeoplegatherinacircleabouthim.)
OLDPEASANT
Intruth,'tiswellandfitlytimed,Thatnowourdayofjoyyoushare,Whoheretofore,inevildays,Gaveussomuchofhelpingcare.Stillmanyamanstandslivinghere,Savedbyyourfather'sskillfulhand,Thatsnatchedhimfromthefever'srageAndstayedtheplagueinalltheland.Thenalsoyou,thoughbutayouth,Wentintoeveryhouseofpain:Manythecorpsescarriedforth,Butyouinhealthcameoutagain.
FAUST
Notestortrialyouevaded:AHelpingGodthehelperaided.
ALL
Healthtotheman,soskilledandtried.Thatforourhelphelongmayabide!
FAUST
ToHimabovebowdown,myfriends,Whoteacheshelp,andsuccorsends!
(HegoesonwithWAGNER.)
WAGNER
Withwhatafeeling,thougreatman,mustthouReceivethepeople'shonestveneration!Howluckyhe,whosegiftshisstationWithsuchadvantagesendow!Thou'rtshowntoalltheyoungergeneration:Eachasks,andpressesneartogaze;Thefiddlestops,thedancedelays.Thougoest,theystandinrowstosee,
Andallthecapsareliftedhigh;Alittlemore,andtheywouldbendthekneeAsiftheHolyHostcameby.
FAUST
Afewmorestepsascend,asfarasyonderstone!—Herefromourwanderingwillwerestcontented.Here,lostinthought,I'velingeredoftalone,Whenfoolishfastsandprayersmylifetormented.Here,richinhopeandfirminfaith,Withtears,wrunghandsandsighs,I'vestriven,Theendofthatfar-spreadingdeathEntreatingfromtheLordofHeaven!Nowlikecontemptthecrowd'sapplausesseem:Couldstthoubutread,withinmineinmostspirit,HowlittlenowIdeem,Thatsireorsonsuchpraisesmerit!Myfather'swasasombre,broodingbrain,WhichthroughtheholyspheresofNaturegropedandwandered,Andhonestly,inhisownfashion,ponderedWithlaborwhimsical,andpain:Who,inhisduskywork-shopbending,Withprovedadeptsincompany,Made,fromhisrecipesunending,Opposingsubstancesagree.TherewasaLionred,awooerdaring,WithintheLily'stepidbathespoused,Andboth,tormentedthenbyflameunsparing,Byturnsineitherbridalchamberhoused.Ifthenappeared,withcolorssplendid,TheyoungQueeninhercrystalshell,Thiswasthemedicine—thepatients'woessoonended,Andnonedemanded:whogotwell?Thuswe,ourhellishbolusescompounding,Amongthesevalesandhillssurrounding,Worsethanthepestilence,havepassed.Thousandsweredonetodeathfrompoisonofmygiving;AndImusthear,byalltheliving,
Theshamelessmurdererspraisedatlast!
WAGNER
Why,therefore,yieldtosuchdepression?AgoodmandoeshishonestshareInexercising,withthestrictestcare,Theartbequeathedtohispossession!Dostthouthyfatherhonor,asayouth?Thenmayhisteachingcheerfullyimpelthee:Dostthou,asman,increasethestoresoftruth?Thenmaythineownsonafterwardsexcelthee.
FAUST
Ohappyhe,whostillrenewsThehope,fromError'sdeepstoriseforever!Thatwhichonedoesnotknow,oneneedstouse;Andwhatoneknows,oneusesnever.Butletusnot,bysuchdespondence,soThefortuneofthishourembitter!Markhow,beneaththeeveningsunlight'sglow,Thegreen-embosomedhousesglitter!Theglowretreats,doneisthedayoftoil;Ityonderhastes,newfieldsoflifeexploring;Ah,thatnowingcanliftmefromthesoil,Uponitstracktofollow,followsoaring!ThenwouldIseeeternalEveninggildThesilentworldbeneathmeglowing,Onfireeachmountain-peak,withpeaceeachvalleyfilled,Thesilverbrooktogoldenriversflowing.Themountain-chain,withallitsgorgesdeep,Wouldthennomoreimpedemygodlikemotion;AndnowbeforemineeyesexpandstheoceanWithallitsbays,inshiningsleep!Yet,finally,thewearygodissinking;Thenew-bornimpulsefiresmymind,—Ihastenon,hisbeamseternaldrinking,TheDaybeforemeandtheNightbehind,Abovemeheavenunfurled,thefloorofwavesbeneathme,—
Agloriousdream!thoughnowthegloriesfade.Alas!thewingsthatliftthemindnoaidOfwingstoliftthebodycanbequeathme.YetineachsoulisbornthepleasureOfyearningonward,upwardandaway,Wheno'erourheads,lostinthevaultedazure,Thelarksendsdownhisflickeringlay,—WhenovercragsandpinyhighlandsThepoisingeagleslowlysoars,AndoverplainsandlakesandislandsThecranesailsbytoothershores.
WAGNER
I'vehad,myself,attimes,someoddcaprices,Butneveryetsuchimpulsefelt,asthisis.Onesoonfatigues,onwoodsandfieldstolook,NorwouldIbegthebirdhiswingtospareus:HowotherwisethementalrapturesbearusFrompagetopage,frombooktobook!Thenwinternightstakelovelinessuntold,Aswarmerlifeineverylimbhadcrownedyou;Andwhenyourhandsunrollsomeparchmentrareandold,AllHeavendescends,andopensbrightaroundyou!
FAUST
Oneimpulseartthouconsciousof,atbest;O,neverseektoknowtheother!Twosouls,alas!residewithinmybreast,Andeachwithdrawsfrom,andrepels,itsbrother.OnewithtenaciousorgansholdsinloveAndclinginglusttheworldinitsembraces;Theotherstronglysweeps,thisdustabove,Intothehighancestralspaces.Iftherebeairyspiritsnear,'TwixtHeavenandEarthonpotenterrandsfleeing,Letthemdropdownthegoldenatmosphere,Andbearmeforthtonewandvariedbeing!Yea,ifamagicmantleonceweremine,
Towaftmeo'ertheworldatpleasure,Iwouldnotforthecostlieststoresoftreasure—Notforamonarch'srobe—thegiftresign.
WAGNER
Invokenotthusthewell-knownthrong,Whichthroughthefirmamentdiffusedisfaring,Anddangerthousand-fold,ourracetowrong.Ineveryquarterispreparing.SwiftfromtheNorththespirit-fangssosharpSweepdown,andwiththeirbarbédpointsassailyou;ThenfromtheEasttheycome,todryandwarpYourlungs,tillbreathandbeingfailyou:IffromtheDesertsendeththemtheSouth,Withfireonfireyourthrobbingforeheadcrowning,TheWestleadsonahost,tocurethedrouthOnlywhenmeadow,field,andyouaredrowning.Theygladlyhearken,promptforinjury,—Gladlyobey,becausetheygladlycheatus;FromHeaventheyrepresentthemselvestobe,Andlisplikeangels,whenwithliestheymeetus.But,letusgo!'Tisgrayandduskyall:Theairiscold,thevaporsfall.Atnight,onelearnshishousetoprize:—Whystandyouthus,withsuchastonishedeyes?What,inthetwilight,canyourmindsotrouble?
FAUST
Seestthoutheblackdogcoursingthere,throughcornandstubble?
WAGNER
Longsince:yetdeemedhimnotimportantintheleast.
FAUST
Inspecthimclose:forwhattak'stthouthebeast?
WAGNER
Why,forapoodlewhohaslosthismaster,Andscentsabout,histracktofind.
FAUST
Seestthouthespiralcircles,narrowingfaster,Whichhe,approaching,roundusseemstowind?Astreamingtrailoffire,ifIseerightly,Followshispathofmystery.
WAGNER
Itmaybethatyoureyesdeceiveyouslightly;NaughtbutaplainblackpoodledoIsee.
FAUST
ItseemstomethatwithenchantedcunningHesnaresourfeet,somefuturechaintobind.
WAGNER
Iseehimtimidly,indoubt,aroundusrunning,Since,inhismaster'sstead,twostrangersdothhefind.
FAUST
Thecirclenarrows:heisnear!
WAGNER
Adogthouseest,andnotaphantom,here!Beholdhimstop—uponhisbellycrawl—Histailsetwagging:caninehabits,all!
FAUST
Come,followus!Comehere,atleast!
WAGNER
'Tistheabsurdest,drollestbeast.Standstill,andyouwillseehimwait;Addresshim,andhegambolsstraight;
Ifsomething'slost,he'llquicklybringit,—Yourcane,ifinthestreamyouflingit.
FAUST
Nodoubtyou'reright:notraceofmind,Iown,Isinthebeast:Iseebutdrill,alone.
WAGNER
Thedog,whenhe'swelleducated,Isbythewisesttolerated.Yes,hedeservesyourfavorthoroughly,—Thecleverscholarofthestudents,he!
(Theypassinthecity-gate.)
Faust
TheStudy
III
THESTUDY
FAUST
(Entering,withthepoodle.)
Behindme,fieldandmeadowsleeping,Ileaveindeep,propheticnight,WithinwhosedreadandholykeepingThebettersoulawakestolight.Thewilddesiresnolongerwinus,Thedeedsofpassionceasetochain;TheloveofManreviveswithinus,TheloveofGodrevivesagain.
Bestill,thoupoodle;makenotsuchracketandriot!Whyatthethresholdwiltsnuffingbe?Behindthestovereposetheeinquiet!MysoftestcushionIgivetothee.Asthou,upyonder,withrunningandleapingAmusedushast,onthemountain'screst,
SonowItaketheeintomykeeping,Awelcome,butalsoasilent,guest.
Ah,when,withinournarrowchamberThelampwithfriendlylustreglows,Flamesinthebreasteachfadedember,Andintheheart,itselfthatknows.ThenHopeagainlendssweetassistance,AndReasonthenresumesherspeech:Oneyearns,theriversofexistence,TheveryfountsofLife,toreach.
Snarlnot,poodle!Tothesoundthatrises,Thesacredtonesthatmysoulembrace,
Thisbestialnoiseisoutofplace.Weareusedtosee,thatMandespisesWhathenevercomprehends,AndtheGoodandtheBeautifulvilipends,Findingthemoftenhardtomeasure:Willthedog,likeman,snarlhisdispleasure?
Butah!Ifeel,thoughwilltheretobestronger,Contentmentflowsfromoutmybreastnolonger.Whymustthestreamsosoonrundryandfailus,Andburningthirstagainassailus?ThereinI'vebornesomuchprobation!Andyet,thiswantmaybesuppliedus;WecalltheSupernaturaltoguideus;WepineandthirstforRevelation,Whichnowhereworthieris,morenoblysent,Thanhere,inourNewTestament.Ifeelimpelled,itsmeaningtodetermine,—Withhonestpurpose,onceforall,ThehallowedOriginalTochangetomybelovedGerman.
(Heopensavolume,andcommences.)'Tiswritten:"IntheBeginningwastheWord."HereamIbalked:who,nowcanhelpafford?TheWord?—impossiblesohightorateit;AndotherwisemustItranslateit.IfbytheSpiritIamtrulytaught.Thenthus:"IntheBeginningwastheThought"Thisfirstlineletmeweighcompletely,Lestmyimpatientpenproceedtoofleetly.IsittheThoughtwhichworks,creates,indeed?"IntheBeginningwasthePower,"Iread.Yet,asIwrite,awarningissuggested,ThatIthesensemaynothavefairlytested.TheSpiritaidsme:nowIseethelight!"IntheBeginningwastheAct,"Iwrite.
IfImustsharemychamberwiththee,
Poodle,stopthathowling,prithee!Ceasetobarkandbellow!Suchanoisy,disturbingfellowI'llnolongersuffernearme.Oneofus,dosthearme!Mustleave,Ifearme.Nolongerguest-rightIbestow;Thedoorisopen,artfreetogo.ButwhatdoIseeinthecreature?Isthatinthecourseofnature?Is'tactualfact?orFancy'sshows?Howlongandbroadmypoodlegrows!Herisesmightily:Acanineformthatcannotbe!WhataspectreI'veharboredthus!Heresemblesahippopotamus,Withfieryeyes,teethterribletosee:O,nowamIsureofthee!Forallofthyhalf-hellishbroodTheKeyofSolomonisgood.
SPIRITS(inthecorridor)
Someone,within,iscaught!Staywithout,followhimnot!Likethefoxinasnare,Quakestheoldhell-lynxthere.Takeheed—lookabout!Backandforthhover,Underandover,Andhe'llworkhimselfout.Ifyouraidavailhim,Letitnotfailhim;Forhe,withoutmeasure,Haswroughtforourpleasure.
FAUST
First,toencounterthebeast,
TheWordsoftheFourbeaddressed:Salamander,shineglorious!Wave,Undine,asbidden!Sylph,bethouhidden!Gnome,belaborious!
Whoknowsnottheirsense(Theseelements),—TheirpropertiesAndpowernotsees,—NomasteryheinheritsOvertheSpirits.
Vanishinflamingether,Salamander!Flowfoaminglytogether,Undine!Shineinmeteor-sheen,Sylph!Bringhelptohearthandshelf.Incubus!Incubus!Stepforward,andfinishthus!
OftheFour,nofeatureLurksinthecreature.Quiethelies,andgrinsdisdain:Notyet,itseems,haveIgivenhimpain.Now,toundisguisethee,Hearmeexorcisethee!Artthou,mygayone,Hell'sfugitivestray-one?Thesignwitnessnow,Beforewhichtheybow,ThecohortsofHell!
Withhairallbristling,itbeginstoswell.
BaseBeing,hearestthou?KnowestandfearestthouTheOne,unoriginate,
Namedinexpressibly,ThroughallHeavenimpermeate,Piercedirredressibly!
Behindthestovestillbanned,Seeit,anelephant,expand!Itfillsthespaceentire,Mist-likemelting,everfaster.'Tisenough:ascendnohigher,—LaythyselfatthefeetoftheMaster!Thouseest,notvainthethreatsIbringthee:WithholyfireI'llscorchandstingthee!WaitnottoknowThethreefolddazzlingglow!WaitnottoknowThestrongestartwithinmyhands!
MEPHISTOPHELES
(whilethevaporisdissipating,stepsforthfrombehindthestove,inthecostumeofaTravellingScholar.)Whysuchanoise?Whataremylord'scommands?
FAUST
Thiswasthepoodle'srealcore,Atravellingscholar,then?Thecasusisdiverting.
MEPHISTOPHELES
ThelearnedgentlemanIbowbefore:You'vemademeroundlysweat,that'scertain!
FAUST
Whatisthyname?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Aquestionsmall,itseems,ForonewhosemindtheWordsomuchdespises;Who,scorningallexternalgleams,
Thedepthsofbeingonlyprizes.
FAUST
Withallyougentlemen,thename'satest,Wherebythenatureusuallyisexpressed.ClearlythelatteritimpliesInnameslikeBeelzebub,Destroyer,FatherofLies.Whoartthou,then?
MEPHISTOPHELES
PartofthatPower,notunderstood,WhichalwayswillstheBad,andalwaysworkstheGood.
FAUST
Whathiddensenseinthisenigmalies?
MEPHISTOPHELES
IamtheSpiritthatDenies!Andjustlyso:forallthings,fromtheVoidCalledforth,deservetobedestroyed:'Twerebetter,then,werenaughtcreated.Thus,allwhichyouasSinhaverated,—Destruction,—aughtwithEvilblent,—Thatismyproperelement.
FAUST
Thounam'stthyselfapart,yetshow'stcompletetome?
MEPHISTOPHELES
ThemodesttruthIspeaktothee.IfMan,thatmicrocosmicfool,canseeHimselfawholesofrequently,PartofthePartamI,onceAll,inprimalNight,—PartoftheDarknesswhichbroughtforththeLight,ThehaughtyLight,whichnowdisputesthespace,AndclaimsofMotherNightherancientplace.Andyet,thestrugglefails;sinceLight,howe'eritweaves,
Still,fettered,untobodiescleaves:Itflowsfrombodies,bodiesbeautifies;Bybodiesisitscourseimpeded;Andso,butlittletimeisneeded,Ihope,ere,asthebodiesdie,itdies!
FAUST
Iseetheplanthouartpursuing:Thoucanstnotcompassgeneralruin,Andhastonsmallerscalebegun.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Andtruly'tisnotmuch,whenallisdone.ThatwhichtoNaughtisinresistanceset,—TheSomethingofthisclumsyworld,—hasyet,WithallthatIhaveundertaken,Notbeenbymedisturbedorshaken:Fromearthquake,tempest,wave,volcano'sbrand,Backintoquietsettleseaandland!Andthatdamnedstuff,thebestial,humanbrood,—Whatuse,inhavingthattoplaywith?HowmanyhaveImadeawaywith!Andevercirculatesanewer,fresherblood.Itmakesmefurious,suchthingsbeholding:FromWater,Earth,andAirunfolding,Athousandgermsbreakforthandgrow,Indry,andwet,andwarm,andchilly;AndhadInottheFlamereserved,why,really,There'snothingspecialofmyowntoshow!
FAUST
So,totheactivelyeternalCreativeforce,incolddisdainYounowopposethefistinfernal,Whosewickedclenchisallinvain!Someotherlaborseekthourather,QueerSonofChaos,tobegin!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Well,we'llconsider:thoucanstgatherMyviews,whennextIventurein.MightI,perhaps,departatpresent?
FAUST
Whythoushouldstask,Idon'tperceive.Thoughouracquaintanceissorecent,Forfurthervisitsthouhastleave.Thewindow'shere,thedoorisyonder;Achimney,also,youbehold.
MEPHISTOPHELES
ImustconfessthatforthImaynotwander,Mystepsbyoneslightobstaclecontrolled,—Thewizard's-foot,thatonyourthresholdmadeis.
FAUST
Thepentagramprohibitsthee?Why,tellmenow,thouSonofHades,Ifthatprevents,howcam'stthouintome?Couldsuchaspiritbesocheated?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Inspectthething:thedrawing'snotcompleted.Theouterangle,youmaysee,Isopenleft—thelinesdon'tfitit.
FAUST
Well,—Chance,thistime,hasfairlyhitit!Andthus,thou'rtprisonertome?Itseemsthebusinesshassucceeded.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Thepoodlenaughtremarked,asaftertheehespeeded;Butotheraspectsnowobtain:
TheDevilcan'tgetoutagain.
FAUST
Try,then,theopenwindow-pane!
MEPHISTOPHELES
ForDevilsandforspectresthisislaw:Wheretheyhaveenteredin,therealsotheywithdraw.Thefirstisfreetous;we'regovernedbythesecond.
FAUST
InHellitself,then,lawsarereckoned?That'swell!SomightacompactbeMadewithyougentlemen—andbinding,—surely?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Allthatispromisedshalldelighttheepurely;Noskinflintbargainshaltthousee.Butthisisnotofswiftconclusion;We'lltalkaboutthemattersoon.Andnow,Idoentreatthisboon—Leavetowithdrawfrommyintrusion.
FAUST
OnemomentmoreIasktheetoremain,Somepleasantnews,atleast,totellme.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Releaseme,now!Isoonshallcomeagain;Thenthou,atwill,maystquestionandcompelme.
FAUST
Ihavenotsnaresaroundtheecast;Thyselfhastledthyselfintothemeshes.WhotrapstheDevil,holdhimfast!Notsoonasecondtimehe'llcatchapreysoprecious.
MEPHISTOPHELES
An'tpleasethee,alsoI'mcontenttostay,Andservetheeinasocialstation;Butstipulating,thatImayWithartsofmineaffordtheerecreation.
FAUST
TheretoIwillinglyagree,Ifthediversionpleasantbe.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Myfriend,thou'ltwin,pastallpretences,Moreinthishourtosoothethysenses,Thanintheyear'smonotony.Thatwhichthedaintyspiritssingthee,Thelovelypicturestheyshallbringthee,Aremorethanmagic'semptyshow.Thyscentwillbetoblissinvited;Thypalatethenwithtastedelighted,Thynervesoftouchecstaticglow!Allunprepared,thecharmIspin:We'reheretogether,sobegin!
SPIRITS
Vanish,yedarkingArchesabovehim!Loveliestweather,Bornofblueether,Breakfromthesky!OthatthedarklingCloudshaddeparted!Starlightissparkling,Tranquiller-heartedSunsareonhigh.Heaven'sownchildrenInbeautybewildering,Waveringlybending,
Passastheyhover;LongingunendingFollowsthemover.They,withtheirglowingGarments,out-flowing,Cover,ingoing,Landscapeandbower,Where,inseclusion,Loversareplighted,Lostinillusion.Boweronbower!Tendrilsunblighted!Lo!inashowerGrapesthato'erclusterGushintomust,orFlowintoriversOffoamingandflashingWine,thatisdashingGems,asitboundethDownthehighplaces,Andspreading,surroundethWithcrystallinespaces,Inhappyembraces,Blossomingforelands,Emeraldshore-lands!AndthewingedracesDrink,andflyonward—FlyeversunwardTotheenticingIslands,thatflatter,DippingandrisingLightonthewater!Hark,theinspiringSoundoftheirquiring!See,theentrancingWhirloftheirdancing!AllintheairareFreerandfairer.Someofthemscaling
Boldlythehighlands,Othersaresailing,Circlingtheislands;Othersareflying;Life-wardallhieing,—AllforthedistantStarofexistentRaptureandLove!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Hesleeps!Enough,yefays!yourairynumberHavesunghimtrulyintoslumber:ForthisperformanceIyourdebtorprove.—Notyetartthoutheman,tocatchtheFiendandholdhim!—Withfairestimagesofdreamsinfoldhim,Plungehiminseasofsweetuntruth!Yet,forthethreshold'smagicwhichcontrolledhim,TheDevilneedsarat'squicktooth.Iusenolengthenedinvocation:Hererustlesonethatsoonwillworkmyliberation.
Thelordofratsandekeofmice,Offliesandbed-bugs,frogsandlice,Summonstheehithertothedoor-sill,Tognawitwhere,withjustamorselOfoil,hepaintsthespotforthee:—Therecom'stthou,hoppingontome!Towork,atonce!ThepointwhichmademecravenIsforward,ontheledge,engraven.Anotherbitemakesfreethedoor:So,dreamthydreams,OFaust,untilwemeetoncemore!
FAUST(awaking)
AmIagainsofoullycheated?Remainstherenaughtofloftyspirit-sway,ButthatadreamtheDevilcounterfeited,Andthatapoodleranaway?
TheStudy
IV
THESTUDY
FAUSTMEPHISTOPHELES
FAUST
Aknock?Comein!Againmyquietbroken?
MEPHISTOPHELES
'TisI!
FAUST
Comein!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Thricemustthewordsbespoken.
FAUST
Comein,then!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Thusthoupleasestme.Ihopewe'llsuiteachotherwell;Fornow,thyvaporstodispel,Icome,asquireofhighdegree,Inscarletcoat,withgoldentrimming,Acloakinsilkenlustreswimming,Atallcock's-featherinmyhat,Along,sharpswordforshoworquarrel,—AndIadvisethee,briefandflat,Todontheself-samegayapparel,That,fromthisdenreleased,andfree,Lifebeatlastrevealedtothee!
FAUST
Thislifeofearth,whatevermyattire,Wouldpainmeinitswontedfashion.ToooldamItoplaywithpassion;Tooyoung,tobewithoutdesire.WhatfromtheworldhaveItogain?Thoushaltabstain—renounce—refrain!SuchistheeverlastingsongThatintheearsofallmenrings,—Thatunrelieved,ourwholelifelong,Eachhour,inpassing,hoarselysings.InveryterrorIatmornawake,Uponthevergeofbitterweeping,Toseethedayofdisappointmentbreak,Tonoonehopeofmine—notone—itspromisekeeping:—Thateveneachjoy'spresentimentWithwilfulcavilwoulddiminish,WithgrinningmasksoflifepreventMyminditsfairestworktofinish!Then,too,whennightdescends,howanxiouslyUponmycouchofsleepIlayme:There,also,comesnoresttome,Butsomewilddreamissenttofrayme.TheGodthatinmybreastisownedCandeeplystirtheinnersources;TheGod,abovemypowersenthroned,Hecannotchangeexternalforces.So,bytheburdenofmydaysoppressed,Deathisdesired,andLifeathingunblest!
MEPHISTOPHELES
AndyetisneverDeathawhollywelcomeguest.
FAUST
Ofortunate,forwhom,whenvictoryglances,Thebloodylaurelsonthebrowhebindeth!
Whom,afterrapid,maddeningdances,Inclaspingmaiden-armshefindeth!OwouldthatI,beforethatspirit-power,Ravishedandraptfromlife,hadsunken!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Andyet,bysomeone,inthatnightlyhour,Acertainliquidwasnotdrunken.
FAUST
Eavesdropping,ha!thypleasureseemstobe.
MEPHISTOPHELES
OmniscientamInot;yetmuchisknowntome.
FAUST
Thoughsomefamiliartone,retrievingMythoughtsfromtorment,ledmeon,Andsweet,clearechoescame,deceivingAfaithbequeathedfromChildhood'sdawn,YetnowIcursewhate'erenticesAndsnaresthesoulwithvisionsvain;WithdazzlingcheatsanddeardevicesConfinesitinthiscaveofpain!Cursedbe,atonce,thehighambitionWherewiththeminditselfdeludes!CursedbetheglareofapparitionThatonthefinersenseintrudes!Cursedbethelyingdream'simpressionOfname,andfame,andlaurelledbrow!Cursed,allthatflattersaspossession,Aswifeandchild,asknaveandplow!CursedMammonbe,whenhewithtreasuresTorestlessactionspursourfate!Cursedwhen,forsoft,indulgentleisures,Helaysforusthepillowsstraight!Cursedbethevine'stranscendentnectar,—
ThehighestfavorLoveletsfall!Cursed,also,Hope!—cursedFaith,thespectre!AndcursedbePatiencemostofall!
CHORUSOFSPIRITS(invisible)
Woe!woe!Thouhastitdestroyed,Thebeautifulworld,Withpowerfulfist:Inruin'tishurled,Bytheblowofademigodshattered!ThescatteredFragmentsintotheVoidwecarry,DeploringThebeautyperishedbeyondrestoring.MightierForthechildrenofmen,BrightlierBuilditagain,Inthineownbosombuilditanew!BidthenewcareerCommence,Withclearersense,AndthenewsongsofcheerBesungthereto!
MEPHISTOPHELES
ThesearethesmalldependantsWhogivemeattendance.Hearthem,todeedsandpassionCounselinshrewdold-fashion!Intotheworldofstrife,OutofthislonelylifeThatofsensesandsaphasbetrayedthee,Theywouldpersuadethee.Thisnursingofthepainforegothee,That,likeavulture,feedsuponthybreast!
Theworstsocietythoufind'stwillshowtheeThouartamanamongtherest.But'tisnotmeanttothrustTheeintothemobthouhatest!Iamnotoneofthegreatest,Yet,wiltthoutomeentrustThystepsthroughlife,I'llguidethee,—Willwillinglywalkbesidethee,—WillservetheeatonceandforeverWithbestendeavor,And,ifthouartsatisfied,Willasservant,slave,withtheeabide.
FAUST
Andwhatshallbemycounter-servicetherefor?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Thetimeislong:thouneed'stnotnowinsist.
FAUST
No—no!TheDevilisanegotist,Andisnotapt,withoutawhyorwherefore,"ForGod'ssake,"otherstoassist.Speakthyconditionsplainandclear!Withsuchaservantdangercomes,Ifear.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Here,anunweariedslave,I'llwearthytether,Andtothineeverynodobedientbe:WhenThereagainwecometogether,Thenshaltthoudothesameforme.
FAUST
TheTheremyscruplesnaughtincreases.
Whenthouhastdashedthisworldtopieces,Theother,then,itsplacemayfill.Here,onthisearth,mypleasureshavetheirsources;Yonsunbeholdsmysorrowsinhiscourses;Andwhenfromthesemylifeitselfdivorces,Lethappenallthatcanorwill!I'llhearnomore:'tisvaintoponderIftherewecherishloveorhate,Or,inthesphereswedreamofyonder,AHighandLowoursoulsawait.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Inthissense,even,canstthouventure.Come,bindthyselfbypromptindenture,Andthoumineartswithjoyshaltsee:Whatnomaneversaw,I'llgivetothee.
FAUST
Canstthou,poorDevil,givemewhatsoever?Whenwasahumansoul,initssupremeendeavor,E'erunderstoodbysuchasthou?Yet,hastthoufoodwhichneversatiates,now,—Therestless,ruddygoldhastthou,Thatruns,quicksilver-like,one'sfingersthrough,—Agamewhosewinningsnomaneverknew,—Amaidthat,evenfrommybreast,Beckonsmyneighborwithherwantonglances,AndHonor'sgodlikezest,Themeteorthatamomentdances,—Showmethefruitsthat,erethey'regathered,rot,Andtreesthatdailywithnewleafageclothethem!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Suchademandalarmsmenot:SuchtreasureshaveI,andcanshowthem.Butstillthetimemayreachus,goodmyfriend.
Whenpeacewecraveandmoreluxuriousdiet.
FAUST
Whenonanidler'sbedIstretchmyselfinquiet.Therelet,atonce,myrecordend!Canstthouwithlyingflatteryruleme,Until,self-pleased,myselfIsee,—Canstthouwithrichenjoymentfoolme,Letthatdaybethelastforme!ThebetIoffer.
MEPHISTOPHELESDone!
FAUSTAndheartily!
WhenthusIhailtheMomentflying:"Ah,stilldelay—thouartsofair!"Thenbindmeinthybondsundying,Myfinalruinthendeclare!Thenletthedeath-bellchimethetoken.Thenartthoufromthyservicefree!Theclockmaystop,thehandbebroken,ThenTimebefinisheduntome!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Considerwell:mymemorygoodisrated.
FAUST
Thouhastaperfectrightthereto.MypowersIhavenotrashlyestimated:AslaveamI,whate'erIdo—Ifthine,orwhose?'tisneedlesstodebateit.
MEPHISTOPHELES
ThenattheDoctors'-banquetI,to-day,Willasaservantwaitbehindthee.Butonethingmore!Beyondallrisktobindthee,Givemealineortwo,Ipray.
FAUST
Demand'stthou,Pedant,too,adocument?Hastneverknownaman,norprovedhisword'sintent?Is'tnotenough,thatwhatIspeakto-dayShallstand,withallmyfuturedaysagreeing?Inallitstidessweepsnottheworldaway,Andshallapromisebindmybeing?Yetthisdelusioninourheartswebear:Whowouldhimselftherefromdeliver?Blesthe,whosebosomTruthmakespureandfair!Nosacrificeshallherepentofever.Nathlessaparchment,writandstampedwithcare,Aspectreis,whichalltoshunendeavor.Theword,alas!dieseveninthepen,Andwaxandleatherkeepthelordshipthen.Whatwiltfromme,BaseSpirit,say?—Brass,marble,parchment,paper,clay?Thetermswithgraver,quill,orchisel,stated?Ifreelyleavethechoicetothee.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Whyheatthyself,thusinstantly,Witheloquenceexaggerated?Eachleafforsuchapactisgood;Andtosubscribethynamethou'lttakeadropofblood.
FAUST
Ifthoutherewithartfullysatisfied,Soletusbythefarceabide.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Bloodisajuiceofrarestquality.
FAUST
FearnotthatIthispactshallseektosever?ThepromisethatImaketotheeIsjustthesumofmyendeavor.Ihavemyselfinflatedalltoohigh;Myproperplaceisthyestate:TheMightySpiritdeignsmenoreply,AndNatureshutsonmehergate.ThethreadofThoughtatlastisbroken,Andknowledgebringsdisgustunspoken.Letusthesensualdeepsexplore,Toquenchthefervorsofglowingpassion!LeteverymarveltakeformandfashionThroughtheimperviousveilitwore!PlungeweinTime'stumultuousdance,IntherushandrollofCircumstance!Thenmaydelightanddistress,Andworryandsuccess,Alternatelyfollow,asbesttheycan:Restlessactivityprovestheman!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Foryounobound,notermisset.Whetheryoueverywherebetrying,Orsnatcharapidblissinflying,Mayitagreewithyou,whatyouget!Onlyfallto,andshownotimidbalking.
FAUST
Butthouhastheard,'tisnotofjoywe'retalking.Itakethewilderingwhirl,enjoyment'skeenestpain,Enamoredhate,exhilarantdisdain.Mybosom,ofitsthirstforknowledgesated,
Shallnot,henceforth,fromanypangbewrested,AndalloflifeforallmankindcreatedShallbewithinmineinmostbeingtested:Thehighest,lowestformsmysoulshallborrow,Shallheapuponitselftheirblissandsorrow,Andthus,myownsoleselftoalltheirselvesexpanded,Itoo,atlast,shallwiththemallbestranded!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Believeme,whoformanyathousandyearThesametoughmeathavechewedandtested,ThatfromthecradletothebierNomantheancientleavenhasdigested!Trustoneofus,thisWholesupernalIsmadebutforaGod'sdelight!Hedwellsinsplendorsingleandeternal,Butushethrustsindarkness,outofsight,AndyouhedowerswithDayandNight.
FAUST
Nay,butIwill!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Agoodreply!Oneonlyfearstillneedsrepeating:Theartislong,thetimeisfleeting.Thenletthyselfbetaught,sayI!Go,leaguethyselfwithapoet,Givethereintohisimagination,Thenwearthecrown,andshowit,Ofthequalitiesofhiscreation,—Thecourageofthelion'sbreed,Thewildstag'sspeed,TheItalian'sfieryblood,TheNorth'sfirmfortitude!Lethimfindfortheethesecrettether
ThatbindstheNobleandMeantogether.AndteachthypulsesofyouthandpleasureTolovebyrule,andhatebymeasure!I'dlike,myself,suchaonetosee:SirMicrocosmhisnameshouldbe.
FAUST
WhatamI,then,if'tisdeniedmypartThecrownofallhumanitytowinme,Wheretoyearnseverysensewithinme?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Why,onthewhole,thou'rt—whatthouart.Setwigsofmillioncurlsuponthyhead,toraisethee,Wearshoesanellinheight,—thetruthbetraysthee,Andthouremainest—whatthouart.
FAUST
Ifeel,indeed,thatIhavemadethetreasureOfhumanthoughtandknowledgemine,invain;AndifInowsitdowninrestfulleisure,Nofountofnewerstrengthisinmybrain:Iamnohair's-breadthmoreinheight,Nornearer,totheInfinite,
MEPHISTOPHELES
GoodSir,youseethefactspreciselyAstheyareseenbyeachandall.Wemustarrangethemnow,morewisely,Beforethejoysoflifeshallpall.Why,Zounds!Bothhandsandfeetare,truly—Andheadandvirileforces—thine:YetallthatIindulgeinnewly,Is'tthencelesswhollymine?IfI'vesixstallionsinmystall,
Arenottheirforcesalsolentme?Ispeedalong,completestmanofall,Asthoughmylegswerefour-and-twenty.Takehold,then!letreflectionrest,Andplungeintotheworldwithzest!Isaytothee,aspeculativewightIslikeabeastonmoorlandslean,Thatroundandroundsomefiendmisleadstoevilplight,Whileallaboutliepasturesfreshandgreen.
FAUST
Thenhowshallwebegin?
MEPHISTOPHELES
We'lltryawidersphere.
Whatplaceofmartyrdomishere!Is'tlife,Iask,is'tevenprudence,Toborethyselfandborethestudents?LetNeighborPaunchtothatattend!Whyplaguethyselfwiththreshingstrawforever?Thebestthoulearnest,intheendThoudar'stnottelltheyoungsters—never!Ihearone'sfootsteps,hithersteering.
FAUSTToseehimnowIhavenoheart.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Solongthepoorboywaitsahearing,Hemustnotunconsoleddepart.Thycapandmantlestraightwaylendme!I'llplaythecomedywithart.
(Hedisguiseshimself.)
Mywits,becertain,willbefriendme.Butfifteenminutes'timeisallIneed;Forourfinetrip,meanwhile,preparethyselfwithspeed!
[ExitFAUST.
MEPHISTOPHELES
(InFAUST'Slongmantle.)
ReasonandKnowledgeonlythoudespise,Thehigheststrengthinmanthatlies!LetbuttheLyingSpiritbindtheeWithmagicworksandshowsthatblindthee,AndIshallhavetheefastandsure!—Fatesuchabold,untrammelledspiritgavehim,Asforwards,onwards,evermustendure;Whoseover-hastyimpulsedravehimPastearthlyjoyshemightsecure.Draggedthroughthewildestlife,willIenslavehim,Throughflatandstaleindifference;Withstruggling,chilling,checking,sodepravehimThat,tohishot,insatiatesense,Thedreamofdrinkshallmock,butneverlavehim:Refreshmentshallhislipsinvainimplore—HadhenotmadehimselftheDevil's,naughtcouldsavehim,Stillwerehelostforevermore!
(ASTUDENTenters.)
STUDENT
Ashorttime,only,amIhere,Andcome,devotedandsincere,Togreetandknowthemanoffame,Whommentomewithreverencename.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Yourcourtesydothflatterme:Youseeaman,asothersbe.Haveyou,perchance,elsewherebegun?
STUDENT
Receivemenow,Ipray,asoneWhocomestoyouwithcouragegood,Somewhatofcash,andhealthyblood:Mymotherwashardlywillingtoletme;ButknowledgeworthhavingIfainwouldgetme.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Thenyouhavereachedtherightplacenow.
STUDENT
I'dliketoleaveit,Imustavow;Ifindthesewalls,thesevaultedspacesAreanythingbutpleasantplaces.Tisallsocrampedandcloseandmean;Oneseesnotree,noglimpseofgreen,Andwhenthelecture-hallsreceiveme,Seeing,hearing,andthinkingleaveme.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Allthatdependsonhabitude.Sofromitsmother'sbreastsachildAtfirst,reluctant,takesitsfood,Butsoontoseekthemisbeguiled.Thus,atthebreastsofWisdomclinging,Thou'ltfindeachdayagreaterrapturebringing.
STUDENT
I'llhangthereonwithjoy,andfreelydrainthem;Buttellme,pray,thepropermeanstogainthem.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Explain,beforeyoufurtherspeak,Thespecialfacultyyouseek.
STUDENT
Icravethehighesterudition;AndfainwouldmakemyacquisitionAllthatthereisinEarthandHeaven,InNatureandinSciencetoo.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Hereisthegenuinepathforyou;Yetstrictattentionmustbegiven.
STUDENT
BodyandsoulthereonI'llwreak;Yet,truly,I'vesomeinclinationOnsummerholidaystoseekAlittlefreedomandrecreation.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Usewellyourtime!Itfliessoswiftlyfromus;Buttimethroughordermaybewon,Ipromise.So,Friend(myviewstobrieflysum),First,thecollegiumlogicum.Therewillyourmindbedrilledandbraced,AsifinSpanishboots'twerelaced,Andthus,tograverpacesbrought,'Twillplodalongthepathofthought,Insteadofshootinghereandthere,
Awill-o'-the-wispinmurkyair.Dayswillbespenttobidyouknow,Whatonceyoudidatasingleblow,Likeeatinganddrinking,freeandstrong,—Thatone,two,three!theretobelong.TrulythefabricofmentalfleeceResemblesaweaver'smasterpiece,Whereathousandthreadsonetreadlethrows,Whereflytheshuttleshitherandthither.Unseenthethreadsareknittogether.Andaninfinitecombinationgrows.Then,thephilosopherstepsinAndshows,nootherwiseitcouldhavebeen:Thefirstwasso,thesecondso,Thereforethethirdandfourthareso;Werenotthefirstandsecond,thenThethirdandfourthhadneverbeen.Thescholarsareeverywherebelievers,Butneversucceedinbeingweavers.Hewhowouldstudyorganicexistence,Firstdrivesoutthesoulwithrigidpersistence;Thenthepartsinhishandhemayholdandclass,Butthespirituallinkislost,alas!Encheiresinnatures,thisChemistrynames,Norknowshowherselfshebantersandblames!
STUDENT
Icannotunderstandyouquite.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Yourmindwillshortlybesetaright,Whenyouhavelearned,allthingsreducing,Toclassifythemforyourusing.
STUDENT
Ifeelasstupid,fromallyou'vesaid,
Asifamill-wheelwhirledinmyhead!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Andafter—firstandforemostduty—OfMetaphysicslearntheuseandbeauty!SeethatyoumostprofoundlygainWhatdoesnotsuitthehumanbrain!Asplendidwordtoserve,you'llfindForwhatgoesin—orwon'tgoin—yourmind.Butfirst,atleastthishalfayear,Toorderrigidlyadhere;Fivehoursaday,youunderstand,Andwhentheclockstrikes,beonhand!PreparebeforehandforyourpartWithparagraphsallgotbyheart,Soyoucanbetterwatch,andlookThatnaughtissaidbutwhatisinthebook:Yetinthywritingasunweariedbe,AsdidtheHolyGhostdictatetothee!
STUDENT
Noneedtotellmetwicetodoit!Ithink,howuseful'tistowrite;Forwhatonehas,inblackandwhite,Onecarrieshomeandthengoesthroughit.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Yetchoosethyselfafaculty!
STUDENT
IcannotreconcilemyselftoJurisprudence.
MEPHISTOPHELES
NorcanIthereforegreatlyblameyoustudents:
Iknowwhatsciencethishascometobe.AllrightsandlawsarestilltransmittedLikeaneternalsicknessoftherace,—Fromgenerationuntogenerationfitted,Andshiftedroundfromplacetoplace.Reasonbecomesasham,Beneficenceaworry:Thouartagrandchild,thereforewoetothee!Therightbornwithus,oursinverity,Thistoconsider,there's,alas!nohurry.
STUDENT
Myowndisgustisstrengthenedbyyourspeech:Oluckyhe,whomyoushallteach!I'vealmostforTheologydecided.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Ishouldnotwishtoseeyouheremisguided:For,asregardsthisscience,letmehint'Tisveryhardtoshunthefalsedirection;There'ssomuchsecretpoisonlurkingin't,Solikethemedicine,itbafflesyourdetection.Hear,therefore,onealone,forthatisbest,insooth,Andsimplytakeyourmaster'swordsfortruth.Onwordsletyourattentioncentre!Thenthroughthesafestgateyou'llenterThetemple-hallsofCertainty.
STUDENT
Yetinthewordmustsomeideabe.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Ofcourse!Butonlyshuntooover-sharpatension,Forjustwherefailsthecomprehension,Awordstepspromptlyinasdeputy.Withwords'tisexcellentdisputing;
Systemstowords'tiseasysuiting;Onwords'tisexcellentbelieving;Nowordcaneverloseajotfromthieving.
STUDENT
Pardon!WithmanyquestionsIdetainyou.YetmustItroubleyouagain.OfMedicineIstillwouldfainHearonestrongwordthatmightexplainyou.Threeyearsisbutalittlespace.And,God!whocanthefieldembrace?Ifonesomeindexcouldbeshown,'Twereeasiergropingforward,truly.
MEPHISTOPHELES(aside)
I'mtiredenoughofthisdrytone,—MustplaytheDevilagain,andfully.
(Aloud)
TograspthespiritofMedicineiseasy:Learnofthegreatandlittleworldyourfill,Toletitgoatlast,sopleaseye,JustasGodwill!Invainthatthroughtherealmsofscienceyoumaydrift;Eachonelearnsonly—justwhatlearnhecan:YethewhograspstheMoment'sgift,Heistheproperman.Well-madeyouare,'tisnottobedenied,Therestaboldaddresswillwinyou;Ifyoubutinyourselfconfide,Atonceconfideallothersinyou.Toleadthewomen,learnthespecialfeeling!Theireverlastingachesandgroans,Inthousandtones,
Haveallonesource,onemodeofhealing;Andifyouractsarehalfdiscreet,You'llalwayshavethematyourfeet.Atitlefirstmustdrawandinterestthem,Andshowthatyoursallotherartsexceeds;Then,asagreeting,youarefreetotouchandtestthem,While,thustodo,foryearsanotherpleads.Youpressandcountthepulse'sdances,Andthen,withburningsidelongglances,Youclasptheswellinghips,toseeIftightlylacedhercorsetsbe.
STUDENT
That'sbetter,now!TheHowandWhere,onesees.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Myworthyfriend,grayarealltheories,AndgreenaloneLife'sgoldentree.
STUDENT
Isweartoyou,'tislikeadreamtome.MightIagainpresume,withtrustunbounded,Tohearyourwisdomthoroughlyexpounded?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Mostwillingly,towhatextentImay.
STUDENT
Icannotreallygoaway:AllowmethatmyalbumfirstIreachyou,—Grantmethisfavor,Ibeseechyou!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Assuredly.
(Hewrites,andreturnsthebook.)
STUDENT(reads)
EritissicutDeus,scientesbonumetmalum.
(Closesthebookwithreverence,andwithdraws)
MEPHISTOPHELES
Followtheancienttext,andthesnakethouwastorderedtotrample!WithallthylikenesstoGod,thou'ltyetbeasorryexample!
(FAUSTenters.)
FAUST
Now,whithershallwego?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Asbestitpleasesthee.
Thelittleworld,andthenthegreat,we'llsee.Withwhatdelight,whatprofitwinning,Shaltthouspongethroughthetermbeginning!
FAUST
YetwiththeflowingbeardIwear,Botheaseandgracewillfailmethere.Theattempt,indeed,wereafutilestrife;Inevercouldlearnthewaysoflife.Ifeelsosmallbeforeothers,andthenceShouldalwaysfindembarrassments.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Myfriend,thousoonshaltloseallsuchmisgiving:Bethoubutself-possessed,thouhasttheartofliving!
FAUST
Howshallweleavethehouse,andstart?Wherehastthouservant,coachandhorses?
MEPHISTOPHELES
We'llspreadthiscloakwithproperart,Thenthroughtheairdirectourcourses.Butonly,onsoboldaflight,Besuretohavethyluggagelight.Alittleburningair,whichIshallsoonprepareus,Abovetheearthwillnimblybearus,And,ifwe'relight,we'lltravelswiftandclear:Igratulatetheeonthynewcareer!
Auerbach'sCellarInLeipzig
V
AUERBACH'SCELLARINLEIPZIG
CAROUSALOFJOLLYCOMPANIONS
FROSCH
Isnoonelaughing?noonedrinking?I'llteachyouhowtogrin,I'mthinking.To-dayyou'relikewetstraw,sotame;Andusuallyyou'reallaflame.
BRANDER
Nowthat'syourfault;fromyouwenothingsee,Nobeastlinessandnostupidity.
FROSCH
(PoursaglassofwineoverBRANDER'Shead.)There'sbothtogether!
BRANDER
Twiceaswine!
FROSCH
Youwantedthem:I'vegivenyoumine.
SIEBEL
Turnoutwhoquarrels—outthedoor!Withopenthroatsingchorus,drinkandroar!Up!holla!ho!
ALTMAYER
Woe'sme,thefearfulbellow!Bringcotton,quick!He'ssplitmyears,thatfellow.
SIEBEL
Whenthevaultechoestothesong,Onefirstperceivesthebassisdeepandstrong.
FROSCH
Wellsaid!andoutwithhimthattakestheleastoffence!
Ah,tara,larada!
ALTMAYER
Ah,tara,lara,da!
FROSCH
Thethroatsaretuned,commence!
(Sings.)
ThedearoldholyRomanrealm,Howdoesitholdtogether?
BRANDER
Anastysong!Fie!apoliticalsong—Amostoffensivesong!ThankGod,eachmorning,therefore,ThatyouhavenottheRomanrealmtocarefor!Atleast,Iholditsomuchgainforme,ThatInorChancellornorKaiserbe.Yetalsowemusthavearulinghead,Ihope,Andsowe'llchooseourselvesaPope.YouknowthequalitythatcanDecidethechoice,andelevatetheman.
FROSCH
(sings)
Soarup,soarup,DameNightingale!Tenthousandtimesmysweethearthail!
SIEBEL
No,greetmysweetheartnot!Itellyou,I'llresentit.
FROSCH
Mysweetheartgreetandkiss!Idareyoutopreventit!
(Sings.)
Drawthelatch!thedarknessmakes:Drawthelatch!theloverwakes.Shutthelatch!themorningbreaks
SIEBEL
Yes,singaway,singon,andpraise,andbragofher!I'llwaitmypropertimeforlaughter:Mebythenosesheled,andnowshe'llleadyouafter.Herparamourshouldbeanuglygnome,
Wherefourroadscross,inwantonplaytomeether:Anoldhe-goat,fromBlocksbergcominghome,Shouldhisgood-nightinlustfulgallopbleather!AfellowmadeofgenuinefleshandbloodIsforthewenchadealtoogood.Greether?NotI:unless,whenmeeting,Tosmashherwindowsbeagreeting!
BRANDER(poundingonthetable)
Attention!Hearkennowtome!Confess,Sirs,Iknowhowtolive.Enamoredpersonsherehavewe,AndI,assuitstheirquality,Mustsomethingfreshfortheiradvantagegive.Takeheed!'Tisofthelatestcut,mystrain,Andallstrikeinateachrefrain!
(Hesings.)
Therewasaratinthecellar-nest,Whomfatandbuttermadesmoother:HehadapaunchbeneathhisvestLikethatofDoctorLuther.Thecooklaidpoisoncunningly,AndthenassoreoppressedwasheAsifhehadloveinhisbosom.
CHORUS(shouting)
Asifhehadloveinhisbosom!
BRANDER
Heranaround,heranabout,Histhirstinpuddleslaving;Hegnawedandscratchedthehousethroughout.Butnothingcuredhisraving.Hewhirledandjumped,withtormentmad,Andsoonenoughthepoorbeasthad,
Asifhehadloveinhisbosom.
CHORUS
Asifhehadloveinhisbosom!
BRANDER
Anddrivenatlast,inopenday,Heranintothekitchen,Fellonthehearth,andsquirminglay,Inthelastconvulsiontwitching.Thenlaughedthemurderessinherglee:"Ha!ha!he'sathislastgasp,"saidshe,"Asifhehadloveinhisbosom!"
CHORUS
Asifhehadloveinhisbosom!
SIEBEL
Howthedullfoolsenjoythematter!TomeitisaproperartPoisonforsuchpoorratstoscatter.
BRANDER
Perhapsyou'llwarmlytaketheirpart?
ALTMAYER
Thebald-patepot-bellyIhavenoted:Misfortunetameshimbydegrees;ForintheratbypoisonbloatedHisownmostnaturalformhesees.
FAUSTANDMEPHISTOPHELES
MEPHISTOPHELES
Beforeallelse,Ibringtheehither
Wherebooncompanionsmeettogether,Tolettheeseehowsmoothliferunsaway.Here,forthefolk,eachday'saholiday:Withlittlewit,andeasetosuitthem,Theywhirlinnarrow,circlingtrails,Likekittensplayingwiththeirtails?Andifnoheadachepersecutethem,Solongthehostmaycreditgive,Theymerrilyandcarelesslive.
BRANDER
Thefactiseasytounravel,Theirair'ssoodd,they'vejustreturnedfromtravel:Asinglehourthey'venotbeenhere.
FROSCH
You'veverilyhitthetruth!Leipzigtomeisdear:Parisinminiature,howitrefinesitspeople!
SIEBEL
Whoarethestrangers,shouldyouguess?
FROSCH
Letmealone!I'llsetthemfirsttodrinking,Andthen,asoneachild'stoothdraws,withcleverness,I'llwormtheirsecretout,I'mthinking.They'reofanoblehouse,that'sveryclear:Haughtyanddiscontentedtheyappear.
BRANDER
They'remountebanks,uponarevel.
ALTMAYER
Perhaps.
FROSCH
Lookout,I'llsmokethemnow!
MEPHISTOPHELES(toFAUST)
Notifhehadthembytheneck,Ivow,Woulde'erthesepeoplescenttheDevil!
FAUSTFairgreeting,gentlemen!
SIEBEL
Ourthanks:wegivethesame.
(Murmurs,inspectingMEPHISTOPHELESfromtheside.)
Inonefootisthefellowlame?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Isitpermittedthatweshareyourleisure?Inplaceofcheeringdrink,whichoneseeksvainlyhere,Yourcompanyshallgiveuspleasure.
ALTMAYER
Amostfastidiouspersonyouappear.
FROSCH
Nodoubt'twaslatewhenyoufromRippachstarted?AndsuppingtherewithHansoccasionedyourdelay?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Wepassed,withoutacall,to-day.Atourlastinterview,beforewepartedMuchofhiscousinsdidhespeak,entreatingThatweshouldgivetoeachhiskindlygreeting.
(HebowstoFROSCH.)
ALTMAYER(aside)
Youhaveitnow!heunderstands.
SIEBEL
Aknavesharp-set!
FROSCH
Justwaitawhile:I'llhavehimyet.
MEPHISTOPHELES
IfIamright,weheardthesoundOfwell-trainedvoices,singingchorus;Andtruly,songmustherereboundSuperblyfromthearcheso'erus.
FROSCH
Areyou,perhaps,avirtuoso?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Ono!mywishisgreat,mypowerisonlyso-so.
ALTMAYER
Giveusasong!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Ifyoudesire,anumber.
SIEBEL
Sothatitbeabran-newstrain!
MEPHISTOPHELES
We'vejustretracedourwayfrom.Spain,Thelovelylandofwine,andsong,andslumber.
(Sings.)
Therewasakingoncereigning,Whohadabigblackflea—
FROSCH
Hear,hear!Aflea!D'yerightlytakethejest?Icallafleaatidyguest.
MEPHISTOPHELES(sings)
Therewasakingoncereigning,Whohadabigblackflea,Andlovedhimpastexplaining,Ashisownsonwerehe.Hecalledhismanofstitches;Thetailorcamestraightway:Here,measuretheladforbreeches.Andmeasurehiscoat,Isay!
BRANDER
Butmind,allowthetailornocaprices:Enjoinuponhim,ashisheadisdear,Tomostexactlymeasure,sewandshear,Sothatthebreecheshavenocreases!
MEPHISTOPHELES
InsilkandvelvetgleamingHenowwaswhollydrest—Hadacoatwithribbonsstreaming,Acrossuponhisbreast.Hehadthefirstofstations,Aminister'sstarandname;AndalsoallhisrelationsGreatlordsatcourtbecame.
AndthelordsandladiesofhonorWereplagued,awakeandinbed;Thequeenshegotthemuponher,Themaidswerebittenandbled.Andtheydidnotdaretobrushthem,Orscratchthem,dayornight:Wecrackthemandwecrushthem,Atonce,whene'ertheybite.
CHORUS(shouting)
Wecrackthemandwecrushthem,Atonce,whene'ertheybite!
FROSCHBravo!bravo!thatwasfine.
SIEBEL
Everyfleamayitsobefall!
BRANDER
Pointyourfingersandnipthemall!
ALTMAYER
HurrahforFreedom!Hurrahforwine!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Ifainwoulddrinkwithyou,myglasstoFreedomclinking,If'twereabetterwinethathereIseeyoudrinking.
SIEBEL
Don'tletushearthatspeechagain!
MEPHISTOPHELES
DidInotfearthelandlordmightcomplain,I'dtreattheseworthyguests,withpleasure,Tosomefromoutourcellar'streasure.
SIEBEL
Justtreat,andletthelandlordmearraign!
FROSCH
Andifthewinebegood,ourpraisesshallbeample.Butdonotgivetooverysmallasample;For,ifitsqualityIdecide,WithagoodmouthfulImustbesupplied.
ALTMAYER(aside)
They'refromtheRhine!Iguessedasmuch,before.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Bringmeagimlethere!
BRANDER
Whatshalltherewithbedone?
You'venotthecasksalreadyatthedoor?
ALTMAYER
Yonder,withinthelandlord'sboxoftools,there'sone!
MEPHISTOPHELES(takesthegimlet)
(ToFROSCH.)
Now,givemeofyourtastesomeintimation.
FROSCH
Howdoyoumean?Haveyousomanykinds?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Thechoiceisfree:makeupyourminds.
ALTMAYER(toFROSCH)
Aha!youlickyourchops,fromsheeranticipation.
FROSCH
Good!ifIhavethechoice,soletthewinebeRhenish!OurFatherlandcanbestthesparklingcupreplenish.
MEPHISTOPHELES
(boringaholeintheedgeofthetable,attheplacewhereFROSCHsits)
Getmealittlewax,tomakethestoppers,quick!
ALTMAYER
Ah!Iperceiveajuggler'strick.
MEPHISTOPHELES(toBRANDER)
Andyou?
BRANDER
Champagneshallbemywine,Andletitsparklefreshandfine!
MEPHISTOPHELES
(bores:inthemeantimeonehasmadethewaxstoppers,andpluggedtheholeswiththem.)
BRANDER
What'sforeignonecan'talwayskeepquiteclearof,Forgoodthings,oft,arenotsonear;AGermancan'tenduretheFrenchtoseeorhearof,Yetdrinkstheirwineswithheartycheer.
SIEBEL
(asMEPHISTOPHELESapproacheshisseat)Forme,Igrant,sourwineisoutofplace;Fillupmyglasswithsweetest,willyou?
MEPHISTOPHELES(boring)
Tokayshallflowatonce,tofillyou!
ALTMAYER
No—lookme,Sirs,straightintheface!Iseeyouhaveyourfunatourexpense.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Ono!withgentlemenofsuchpretence,
Thatweretoventurefar,indeed.Speakout,andmakeyourchoicewithspeed!Withwhatavintagecan I serveyou?
ALTMAYER
Withany—onlysatisfyourneed.
(Aftertheholeshavebeenboredandplugged)
MEPHISTOPHELES(withsingulargestures)
Grapesthevine-stembears,Hornsthehe-goatwears!Thegrapesarejuicy,thevinesarewood,Thewoodentablegiveswineasgood!IntothedepthsofNaturepeer,—Onlybelievethere'samiraclehere!
Nowdrawthestoppers,anddrinkyourfill!
ALL
(astheydrawoutthestoppers,andthewinewhichhasbeendesiredflowsintotheglassofeach)
Obeautifulfountain,thatflowsatwill!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Buthaveacarethatyounothingspill!
(Theydrinkrepeatedly.)
ALL(sing)
As'twerefivehundredhogs,wefeelSocannibalicjolly!
MEPHISTOPHELES
See,now,theraceishappy—itisfree!
FAUST
Toleavethemismyinclination.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Takenotice,first!theirbestialityWillmakeabrilliantdemonstration.
SIEBEL
(drinkscarelessly:thewinespillsupontheearth,andturnstoflame)
Help!Fire!Help!Hell-fireissent!
MEPHISTOPHELES(charmingawaytheflame)
Bequiet,friendlyelement!
(Totherevellers)
Abitofpurgatory'twasforthistime,merely.
SIEBEL
Whatmeanyou?Wait!—you'llpayfor'tdearly!You'llknowus,toyourdetriment.
FROSCH
Don'ttrythatgameasecondtimeuponus!
ALTMAYER
Ithinkwe'dbettersendhimpackingquietly.
SIEBEL
What,Sir!youdaretomakesofree,Andplayyourhocus-pocusonus!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Bestill,oldwine-tub.
SIEBEL
Broomstick,you!Youfaceitout,impertinentandheady?
BRANDER
Justwait!ashowerofblowsisready.
ALTMAYER
(drawsastopperoutofthetable:firefliesinhisface.)Iburn!Iburn!
SIEBEL
'Tismagic!Strike—Theknaveisoutlawed!Cuthimasyoulike!(Theydrawtheirknives,andrushuponMEPHISTOPHELES.)
MEPHISTOPHELES(withsolemngestures)
Falsewordandformofair,Changeplace,andsenseensnare!Behere—andthere!
(Theystandamazedandlookateachother.)
ALTMAYER
WhereamI?Whatalovelyland!
FROSCH
Vines?CanItrustmyeyes?
SIEBEL
Andpurplegrapesathand!
BRANDER
Here,overthisgreenarborbending,Seewhatavine!whatgrapesdepending!
(HetakesSIEBELbythenose:theothersdothesamereciprocally,andraisetheirknives.)
MEPHISTOPHELES(asabove)
Loose,Error,fromtheireyestheband,AndhowtheDeviljests,benowenlightened!
(HedisappearswithFAUST:therevellersstartandseparate.)
SIEBEL
Whathappened?
ALTMAYER
How?
FROSCH
WasthatyournoseItightened?
BRANDER(toSIEBEL)
AndyoursthatstillIhaveinhand?
ALTMAYER
Itwasablowthatwentthrougheverylimb!Givemeachair!Isink!mysensesswim.
FROSCH
Butwhathashappened,tellmenow?
SIEBEL
Whereishe?IfIcatchthescoundrelhiding,
Heshallnotleavealive,Ivow.
ALTMAYER
Isawhimwiththeseeyesuponawine-caskridingOutofthecellar-door,justnow.Stillinmyfeetthefrightlikeleadisweighing.
(Heturnstowardsthetable.)
Why!Ifthefountofwineshouldstillbeplaying?
SIEBEL
'Twasalldeceit,andlying,falsedesign!
FROSCH
AndyetitseemedasIweredrinkingwine.
BRANDER
Butwiththegrapeshowwasit,pray?
ALTMAYER
Shallonebelievenomiracles,justsay!
Witches'Kitchen
Witches'Kitchen
VI
WITCHES'KITCHEN
(Uponalowhearthstandsagreatcaldron,underwhichafireisburning.Variousfiguresappearinthevaporswhichrisefromthecaldron.Anapesitsbesideit,skimsit,andwatcheslestitboilover.Thehe-ape,withtheyoungones,sitsnearandwarmshimself.Ceilingandwallsarecoveredwiththemostfantasticwitch-implements.)
FAUSTMEPHISTOPHELES
FAUST
Thesecrazysignsofwitches'craftrepelme!Ishallrecover,dostthoutellme,Throughthisinsane,chaoticplay?FromanoldhagshallIdemandassistance?AndwillherfoulmesstakeawayFullthirtyyearsfrommyexistence?Woe'sme,canstthounaughtbetterfind!Anotherbaffledhopemustbelamented:HasNature,then,andhasanoblemindNotanypotentbalsamyetinvented?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Oncemore,myfriend,thoutalkestsensibly.Thereis,tomaketheeyoung,asimplermodeandapter;Butinanotherbook'tiswritforthee,Andisamosteccentricchapter.
FAUST
YetwillIknowit.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Good!themethodisrevealedWithoutorgoldormagicorphysician.Betakethyselftoyonderfield,Therehoeanddig,asthycondition;Restrainthyself,thysenseandwillWithinanarrowspheretoflourish;Withunmixedfoodthybodynourish;Livewiththeoxasox,andthinkitnotatheftThatthoumanur'sttheacrewhichthoureapest;—That,trustme,isthebestmodeleft,Wherebyforeightyyearsthyyouththoukeepest!
FAUST
Iamnotusedtothat;Icannotstooptotryit—Totakethespadeinhand,andplyit.Thenarrowbeingsuitsmenotatall.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Thentothineaidthewitchmustcall.
FAUST
Whereforethehag,andheralone?Canstthouthyselfnotbrewthepotion?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Thatwereacharmingsport,Iown:I'dbuildathousandbridgesmeanwhile,I'veanotion.NotArtandScienceserve,alone;Patiencemustintheworkbeshown.Longisthecalmbrainactiveincreation;Time,only,strengthensthefinefermentation.Andall,belongingthereunto,Israreandstrange,howe'eryoutakeit:TheDeviltaughtthething,'tistrue,AndyettheDevilcannotmakeit.(PerceivingtheAnimals)See,whatadelicateracetheybe!
Thatisthemaid!themanishe!(TotheAnimals)Itseemsthemistresshasgoneaway?
THEANIMALS
Carousing,to-day!Offandabout,Bythechimneyout!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Whattimetakesshefordissipating?
THEANIMALS
Whilewetowarmourpawsarewaiting.
MEPHISTOPHELES(toFAUST)
Howfindestthouthetendercreatures?
FAUST
AbsurderthanIeveryetdidsee.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Why,justsuchtalkasthis,forme,Isthatwhichhasthemostattractivefeatures!
(TotheAnimals)
Buttellmenow,yecursedpuppets,Whydoyestirtheporridgeso?
THEANIMALS
We'recookingwaterysoupforbeggars.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Thenagreatpublicyoucanshow.
THEHE-APE
(comesupandfawnsonMEPHISTOPHELES)
Ocastthouthedice!Makemerichinatrice,Letmewiningoodseason!Thingsarebadlycontrolled,AndhadIbutgold,SohadImyreason.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Howwouldtheapebesurehisluckenhances.Couldhebuttrythelottery'schances!
(Inthemeantimetheyoungapeshavebeenplayingwithalargeball,whichtheynowrollforward.)
THEHE-APE
Theworld'stheball:Dothriseandfall,Androllincessant:Likeglassdothring,Ahollowthing,—Howsoonwill'tspring,Anddrop,quiescent?Herebrightitgleams,Herebrighterseems:Iliveatpresent!Dearson,Isay,Keepthouaway!Thydoomisspoken!'Tismadeofclay,Andwillbebroken.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Whatmeansthesieve?
THEHE-APE(takingitdown)
Wertthouthethief,
I'dknowhimandshamehim.
(HerunstotheSHE-APE,andletsherlookthroughit.)
Lookthroughthesieve!Know'stthouthethief,Anddarestnotnamehim?
MEPHISTOPHELES(approachingthefire)
Andwhat'sthispot?
HE-APEANDSHE-APE
Thefoolknowsitnot!Heknowsnotthepot,Heknowsnotthekettle!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Impertinentbeast!
THEHE-APE
Takethebrushhere,atleast,Andsitdownonthesettle!
(HeinvitesMEPHISTOPHELEStositdown.)
FAUST
(whoduringallthistimehasbeenstandingbeforeamirror,nowapproachingandnowretreatingfromit)
WhatdoIsee?WhatheavenlyformrevealedShowsthroughtheglassfromMagic'sfairdominions!Olendme,Love,theswiftestofthypinions,Andbearmetoherbeauteousfield!Ah,ifIleavethisspotwithfonddesigning,IfIattempttoventurenear,Dim,asthroughgatheringmist,hercharmsappear!—Awoman'sform,inbeautyshining!Canwoman,then,solovelybe?
AndmustIfindherbody,therereclining,Ofalltheheavensthebrightepitome?CanEarthwithsuchathingbemated?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Why,surely,ifaGodfirstplaguesHimselfsixdays,Then,self-contented,Bravo!says,Mustsomethingcleverbecreated.Thistime,thineeyesbesatiate!I'llyetdetectthysweetheartandensnareher,Andblestishe,whohastheluckyfate,Someday,asbridegroom,hometobearher.
(FAUSTgazescontinuallyinthemirror.MEPHISTOPHELES,stretchinghimselfoutonthesettle,andplayingwiththebrush,continuestospeak.)
SositI,liketheKinguponhisthrone:Iholdthesceptre,here,—andlackthecrownalone.
THEANIMALS
(whouptothistimehavebeenmakingallkindsoffantasticmovementstogetherbringacrowntoMEPHISTOPHELESwithgreatnoise.)
ObethousogoodWithsweatandwithbloodThecrowntobelime!
(Theyhandlethecrownawkwardlyandbreakitintotwopieces,withwhichtheyspringaround.)
'Tisdone,letitbe!Wespeakandwesee,Wehearandwerhyme!
FAUST(beforethemirror)
Woe'sme!Ifeartolosemywits.
MEPHISTOPHELES(pointingtotheAnimals)
Myownhead,now,isreallynightosinking.
THEANIMALS
Ifluckyourhits,Andeverythingfits,'Tisthoughts,andwe'rethinking!
FAUST(asabove)
Mybosomburnswiththatsweetvision;Letus,withspeed,awayfromhere!
MEPHISTOPHELES(inthesameattitude)
Onemust,atleast,makethisadmission—They'repoets,genuineandsincere.
(Thecaldron,whichtheSHE-APEhasuptothistimeneglectedtowatch,beginstoboilover:thereensuesagreatflame,whichblazesoutthechimney.TheWITCHcomescareeringdownthroughtheflame,withterriblecries.)
THEWITCH
Ow!ow!ow!ow!Thedamnédbeast—thecursédsow!Toleavethekettle,andsingetheFrau!Accursédfere!
(PerceivingFAUSTandMEPHISTOPHELES.)
Whatisthathere?Whoareyouhere?Whatwantyouthus?Whosneakstous?Thefire-painBurnboneandbrain!
(Sheplungestheskimming-ladleintothecaldron,andscattersflamestowardsFAUST,MEPHISTOPHELES,andtheAnimals.TheAnimalswhimper.)
MEPHISTOPHELES
(reversingthebrush,whichhehasbeenholdinginhishand,andstridingamongthejarsandglasses)
Intwo!intwo!Thereliesthebrew!Thereliestheglass!Thejokewillpass,Astime,foulass!Tothesingingofthycrew.
(AstheWITCHstartsback,fullofwrathandhorror)
Ha!know'stthoume?Abomination,thou!Know'stthou,atlast,thyLordandMaster?WhathindersmefromsmitingnowTheeandthymonkey-spriteswithfelldisaster?Hastforthescarletcoatnoreverence?Dostrecognizenomorethetallcock's-feather?HaveIconcealedthiscountenance?—Musttellmyname,oldfaceofleather?
THEWITCH
Opardon,Sir,theroughsalute!YetIperceivenoclovenfoot;Andbothyourravens,wherearetheynow?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Thistime,I'llletthee'scapethedebt;Forsincewetwotogethermet,'Tisverilyfullmanyadaynow.Culture,whichsmooththewholeworldlicks,AlsountotheDevilsticks.ThedaysofthatoldNorthernphantomnowareover:Wherecanstthouhornsandtailandclawsdiscover?And,asregardsthefoot,whichIcan'tspare,intruth,'Twouldonlymakethepeopleshunme;ThereforeI'veworn,likemanyaspindlyyouth,
Falsecalvesthesemanyyearsuponme.
THEWITCH(dancing)
Reasonandsenseforsakemybrain,SinceIbeholdSquireSatanhereagain!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Woman,fromsuchanamerefrain!
THEWITCH
Whyso?Whathasitdonetothee?
MEPHISTOPHELES
It'slongbeenwrittenintheBookofFable;Yet,therefore,nowhitbettermenwesee:TheEvilOnehasleft,theevilonesarestable.SirBaroncallmethou,thenisthemattergood;AcavalieramI,likeothersinmybearing.Thouhastnodoubtaboutmynobleblood:See,here'sthecoat-of-armsthatIamwearing!
(Hemakesanindecentgesture.)
THEWITCH(laughsimmoderately)
Ha!ha!That'sjustyourway,Iknow:Arogueyouare,andyouwerealwaysso.
MEPHISTOPHELES(toFAUST)
Myfriend,takeproperheed,Ipray!Tomanagewitches,thisisjusttheway.
THEWITCH
Wherein,Sirs,canIbeofuse?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Giveusagobletofthewell-knownjuice!But,Imustbegyou,oftheoldestbrewage;
Theyearsadoublestrengthproduce.
THEWITCH
Withallmyheart!Now,here'sabottle,Wherefrom,sometimes,Iwetmythrottle,Which,also,nottheslightest,stinks;AndwillinglyaglassI'llfillhim.
(Whispering)
Yet,ifthismanwithoutduepreparationdrinks,Aswellthouknow'st,withinanhour'twillkillhim.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Heisafriendofmine,withwhomitwillagree,Andhedeservesthykitchen'sbestpotation:Come,drawthycircle,speakthineadjuration,Andfillthygobletfullandfree!
THEWITCH
(withfantasticgesturesdrawsacircleandplacesmysteriousarticlestherein;meanwhiletheglassesbegintoring,thecaldrontosound,andmakeamusicalaccompaniment.Finallyshebringsagreatbook,andstationsinthecircletheApes,whoareobligedtoserveasreading-desk,andtoholdthetorches.ShethenbeckonsFAUSTtoapproach.)
FAUST(toMEPHISTOPHELES)
Now,whatshallcomeofthis?thecreaturesantic,Thecrazystuff,thegesturesfrantic,—AlltherepulsivecheatsIview,—Areknowntome,andhated,too.
MEPHISTOPHELES
O,nonsense!That'sathingforlaughter;Don'tbesoterriblysevere!Shejugglesyouasdoctornow,that,after,Thebeveragemayworkthepropercheer.
(HepersuadesFAUSTtostepintothecircle.)
THEWITCH
(beginstodeclaim,withmuchemphasis,fromthebook)
See,thusit'sdone!Maketenofone,Andtwoletbe,Makeeventhree,Andrichthou'Itbe.Casto'erthefour!Fromfiveandsix(Thewitch'stricks)Makesevenandeight,'Tisfinishedstraight!Andnineisone,Andtenisnone.Thisisthewitch'sonce-one's-one!
FAUST
Shetalkslikeonewhoravesinfever.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Thou'lthearmuchmorebeforeweleaveher.'Tisallthesame:thebookIcanrepeat,SuchtimeI'vesquanderedo'erthehistory:AcontradictionthuscompleteIsalwaysforthewise,nolessthanfools,amystery.Theartisoldandnew,forverilyAllageshavebeentaughtthematter,—ByThreeandOne,andOneandThree,ErrorinsteadofTruthtoscatter.Theyprateandteach,andnooneinterferes;Allfromthefellowshipoffoolsareshrinking.Manusuallybelieves,ifonlywordshehears,Thatalsowiththemgoesmaterialforthinking!
THEWITCH(continues)
TheloftyskillOfScience,stillFromallmendeeplyhidden!Whotakesnothought,Tohim'tisbrought,'Tisgivenunsought,unbidden!
FAUST
Whatnonsenseshedeclaimsbeforeus!Myheadisnightosplit,Ifear:ItseemstomeasifIhearAhundredthousandfoolsinchorus.
MEPHISTOPHELES
OSibylexcellent,enoughofadjuration!Buthitherbringusthypotation,Andquicklyfillthebeakertothebrim!Thisdrinkwillbringmyfriendnoinjuries:Heisamanofmanifolddegrees,Andmanydraughtsareknowntohim.
(TheWITCH,withmanyceremonies,poursthedrinkintoacup;asFAUSTsetsittohislips,alightflamearises.)
Downwithitquickly!Drainitoff!'Twillwarmthyheartwithnewdesire:ArtwiththeDevilhandandglove,Andwiltthoubeafraidoffire?
(TheWITCHbreaksthecircle:FAUSTstepsforth.)
MEPHISTOPHELES
Andnow,away!Thoudar'stnotrest.
THEWITCH
Andmuchgoodmaytheliquordothee!
MEPHISTOPHELES(totheWITCH)
ThywishbeonWalpurgisNightexpressed;WhatboonIhave,shallthenbegivenuntothee.
THEWITCH
Hereisasong,which,ifyousometimessing,You'llfinditofpeculiaroperation.
MEPHISTOPHELES(toFAUST)
Come,walkatonce!ArapidoccupationMuststarttheneedfulperspiration,Andthroughthyframetheliquor'spotencefling.ThenobleindolenceI'llteachtheethentotreasure,Andsoonthou'ltbeaware,withkeenestthrillsofpleasure,HowCupidstirsandleaps,onlightandrestlesswing.
FAUST
Onerapidglancewithinthemirrorgiveme,Howbeautifulthatwoman-form!
MEPHISTOPHELES
No,no!Theparagonofall,believeme,Thousoonshaltsee,aliveandwarm.
(Aside)
Thou'ltfind,thisdrinkthybloodcompelling,EachwomanbeautifulasHelen!
Street
Street
VII
STREET
FAUSTMARGARET(passingby)
FAUST
Fairlady,letitnotoffendyou,ThatarmandescortIwouldlendyou!
MARGARET
I'mneitherlady,neitherfair,AndhomeIcangowithoutyourcare.
[Shereleasesherself,andexit.
FAUST
ByHeaven,thegirliswondrousfair!OfallI'veseen,beyondcompare;Sosweetlyvirtuousandpure,Andyetalittlepert,besure!Thelipsored,thecheek'scleardawn,
Sosweetlyvirtuousandpure,andyetalittlepertbesure.
I'llnotforgetwhiletheworldrollson!Howshecastdownhertimideyes,Deepinmyheartimprintedlies:Howshortandsharpofspeechwasshe,Why,'twasarealecstasy!
(MEPHISTOPHELESenters)
FAUST
Hear,ofthatgirlI'dhavepossession!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Which,then?
FAUST
Theonewhojustwentby.
MEPHISTOPHELES
She,there?She'scomingfromconfession,Ofeverysinabsolved;forI,Behindherchair,waslisteningnigh.Soinnocentisshe,indeed,Thattoconfessshehadnoneed.Ihavenopowero'ersoulssogreen.
FAUST
Andyet,she'solderthanfourteen.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Hownow!You'retalkinglikeJackRake,Whoeveryflowerforhimselfwouldtake,Andfanciestherearenofavorsmore,Norhonors,saveforhiminstore;Yetalwaysdoesn'tthethingsucceed.
FAUST
MostWorthyPedagogue,takeheed!Letnotawordofmorallawbespoken!Iclaim,Itellthee,allmyright;AndifthatimageofdelightRestnotwithinminearmsto-night,Atmidnightisourcompactbroken.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Butthink,thechancesofthecase!Ineed,atleast,afortnight'sspace,Tofindanopportuneoccasion.
FAUST
HadIbutsevenhoursforall,IshouldnotontheDevilcall,Butwinherbymyownpersuasion.
MEPHISTOPHELES
YoualmostlikeaFrenchmanprate;Yet,pray,don'ttakeitasannoyance!Why,allatonce,exhaustthejoyance?YourblissisbynomeanssogreatAsifyou'duse,togetcontrol,Allsortsoftenderrigmarole,Andkneadandshapehertoyourthought,AsinItaliantales'tistaught.
FAUST
Withoutthat,Ihaveappetite.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Butnow,leavejestingoutofsight!Itellyou,onceforall,thatspeedWiththisfairgirlwillnotsucceed;Bystormshecannotcapturedbe;Wemustmakeuseofstrategy.
FAUST
Getmesomethingtheangelkeeps!Leadmethitherwhereshesleeps!Getmeakerchieffromherbreast,—Agarterthatherkneehaspressed!
MEPHISTOPHELES
ThatyoumayseehowmuchI'dfainFurtherandsatisfyyourpain,Wewillnolongerloseaminute;I'llfindherroomto-day,andtakeyouinit.
FAUST
AndshallIsee—possessher?
MEPHISTOPHELES
No!
Untoaneighborshemustgo,Andmeanwhilethou,alone,maystglowWitheveryhopeoffuturepleasure,Breathingheratmosphereinfullestmeasure.
FAUST
Canwegothither?
MEPHISTOPHELES
'Tistooearlyyet.
FAUST
AgiftforherIbidtheeget!
[Exit.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Presentsatonce?That'sgood:he'scertaintogetather!FullmanyapleasantplaceIknow,Andtreasures,buriedlongago:Imust,perforce,lookupthematter.[Exit.
Faust
VIII
EVENINGASMALL,NEATLYKEPTCHAMBER
MARGARET
(plaitingandbindingupthebraidsofherhair)
I'dsomethinggive,couldIbutsayWhowasthatgentleman,to-day.Surelyagallantmanwashe,Andofanoblefamily;AndmuchcouldIinhisfacebehold,—Andhewouldn't,else,havebeensobold!
[Exit
MEPHISTOPHELESFAUST
MEPHISTOPHELES
Comein,butgently:followme!
FAUST(afteramoment'ssilence)
Leavemealone,Ibegofthee!
MEPHISTOPHELES(pryingabout)
Noteverygirlkeepsthingssoneat.
FAUST(lookingaround)
Owelcome,twilightsoftandsweet,Thatbreathesthroughoutthishallowedshrine!Sweetpainoflove,bindthouwithfettersfleetTheheartthatonthedewofhopemustpine!HowallaroundasenseimpressesOfquiet,order,andcontent!Thispovertywhatbountyblesses!
Whatblisswithinthisnarrowdenispent!
(Hethrowshimselfintoaleathernarm-chairnearthebed.)
Receiveme,thou,thatinthineopenarmsDepartedjoyandpainwertwonttogather!Howoftthechildren,withtheirruddycharms,Hunghere,aroundthisthrone,wheresatthefather!Perchancemylove,amidthechildishband,GratefulforgiftstheHolyChristmasgaveher,Heremeeklykissedthegrandsire'switheredhand.Ifeel,Omaid!thyverysoulOforderandcontentaroundmewhisper,—Whichleadstheewithitsmotherlycontrol,Theclothuponthyboardbidssmoothlytheeunroll,Thesandbeneaththyfeetmakeswhiter,crisper.Odearesthand,tothee'tisgivenTochangethishutintoalowerheaven!Andhere!
(Heliftsoneofthebed-curtains.)
Whatsweetestthrillisinmyblood!HerecouldIspendwholehours,delaying:HereNatureshaped,asifinsportiveplaying,Theangelblossomfromthebud.Herelaythechild,withLife'swarmessenceThetenderbosomfilledandfair,Andherewaswrought,throughholier,purerpresence,Theformdivinerbeingswear!
AndI?Whatdrewmeherewithpower?HowdeeplyamImoved,thishour!WhatseekI?Whysofullmyheart,andsore?MiserableFaust!Iknowtheenownomore.
Isthereamagicvaporhere?Icame,withlustofinstantpleasure,Andliedissolvedindreamsoflove'ssweetleisure!Arewethesportofeverychangefulatmosphere?
Andif,thismoment,camesheintome,HowwouldIforthefaultatonementrender!Howsmallthegiantloutwouldbe,Proneatherfeet,relaxedandtender!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Bequick!Iseeherthere,returning.
FAUST
Go!go!Ineverwillretreat.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Hereisacasket,notunmeet,WhichelsewhereIhavejustbeenearning.Here,setitinthepress,withhaste!Iswear,'twillturnherhead,tospyit:SomebaublesIthereinhadplaced,Thatyoumightwinanotherbyit.True,childischild,andplayisplay.
FAUST
Iknownot,shouldIdoit?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Askyou,pray?
Yourself,perhaps,wouldkeepthebubble?ThenIsuggest,'twerefairandjustTosparethelovelydayyourlust,Andsparetomethefurthertrouble.Youarenotmiserly,Itrust?Irubmyhands,inexpectationtender—
(Heplacesthecasketinthepress,andlocksitagain.)
Nowquick,away!Thesweetyoungmaidentobetray,
Sothatbywishandwillyoubendher;AndyoulookasthoughTothelecture-hallyouwereforcedtogo,—Asifstoodbeforeyou,grayandloath,PhysicsandMetaphysicsboth!Butaway!
[Exeunt.
MARGARET(withalamp)
Itissoclose,sosultry,here!
(Sheopensthewindow)
Andyet'tisnotsowarmoutside.Ifeel,Iknownotwhy,suchfear!—Wouldmothercame!—wherecanshebide?Mybody'schillandshuddering,—I'mbutasilly,fearsomething!
(Shebeginstosingwhileundressing)
TherewasaKinginThule,Wasfaithfultillthegrave,—Towhomhismistress,dying,Agoldengobletgave.
Naughtwastohimmoreprecious;Hedraineditateverybout:Hiseyeswithtearsranover,Asoftashedrankthereout.
Whencamehistimeofdying,Thetownsinhislandhetold,NaughtelsetohisheirdenyingExceptthegobletofgold.
HesatattheroyalbanquetWithhisknightsofhighdegree,
IntheloftyhallofhisfathersIntheCastlebytheSea.
Therestoodtheoldcarouser,Anddrankthelastlife-glow;AndhurledthehallowedgobletIntothetidebelow.
Hesawitplungingandfilling,Andsinkingdeepinthesea:Thenfellhiseyelidsforever,Andnevermoredrankhe!
(Sheopensthepressinordertoarrangeherclothes,andperceivesthecasketofjewels.)
Howcomesthatlovelycasketheretome?Ilockedthepress,mostcertainly.'Tistrulywonderful!Whatcanwithinitbe?Perhaps'twasbroughtbysomeoneasapawn,Andmothergavealoanthereon?Andheretherehangsakeytofit:Ihaveamindtoopenit.Whatisthat?GodinHeaven!WhencecameSuchthings?NeverbeheldIaughtsofair!Richornaments,suchasanobledameOnhighestholidaysmightwear!Howwouldthepearl-chainsuitmyhair?Ah,whomayallthissplendorown?
(Sheadornsherselfwiththejewelry,andstepsbeforethemirror.)
Werebuttheear-ringsmine,alone!Onehasatonceanotherair.Whathelpsone'sbeauty,youthfulblood?Onemaypossessthem,wellandgood;Butnonethemoredootherscare.Theypraiseushalfinpity,sure:Togoldstilltends,
OngolddependsAll,all!Alas,wepoor!
Promenade
Promenade
IX
PROMENADE
(FAUST,walkingthoughtfullyupanddown.TohimMEPHISTOPHELES.)
MEPHISTOPHELES
Byallloveeverrejected!Byhell-firehotandunsparing!IwishIknewsomethingworse,thatImightuseitforswearing!
FAUST
Whatailsthee?Whatis'tgripesthee,elf?AfacelikethinebeheldInever.
MEPHISTOPHELES
IwouldmyselfuntotheDevildeliver,IfIwerenotaDevilmyself!
FAUST
Thyheadisoutoforder,sadly:Itmuchbecomestheetoberavingmadly.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Justthink,thepocketofapriestshouldgetThetrinketsleftforMargaret!Themothersawthem,and,instanter,Asecretdreadbegantohaunther.Keenscenthasshefortaintedair;Shesnuffswithinherbookofprayer,Andsmellseacharticle,toseeIfsacredorprofaneitbe;Soheresheguessed,fromeverygem,Thatnotmuchblessingcamewiththem."Mychild,"shesaid,"ill-gottengood
Ensnaresthesoul,consumestheblood.BeforetheMotherofGodwe'lllayit;Withheavenlymannashe'llrepayit!"ButMargaretthought,withsourgrimace,"Agift-horseisnotoutofplace,And,truly!godlesscannotbeTheonewhobroughtsuchthingstome."Aparsoncame,bythemotherbidden:Hesaw,atonce,wherethegamewashidden,Andvieweditwithafavorstealthy.Hespake:"Thatistheproperview,—Whoovercometh,winnethtoo.TheHolyChurchhasastomachhealthy:Hatheatenmanyalandasforfeit,Andneveryetcomplainedofsurfeit:TheChurchalone,beyondallquestion,Hasforill-gottengoodstherightdigestion."
FAUST
Ageneralpracticeisthesame,WhichJewandKingmayalsoclaim.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Thenbaggedthespangles,chains,andrings,Asifbuttoadstoolswerethethings,Andthankednoless,andthankednomoreThanifasackofnutshebore,—Promisedthemfullestheavenlypay,Anddeeplyedifiedwerethey.
FAUST
AndMargaret?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Sitsunrestfulstill,Andknowsnotwhatsheshould,orwill;Thinksonthejewels,dayandnight,
Butmoreonhimwhogavehersuchdelight.
FAUST
Thedarling'ssorrowgivesmepain.Getthouasetforheragain!Thefirstwasnotagreatdisplay.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Oyes,thegentlemanfindsitallchild's-play!
FAUST
Fixandarrangeittomywill;Andonherneighbortrythyskill!Don'tbeaDevilstiffaspaste,Butgetfreshjewelstohertaste!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Yes,graciousSir,inallobedience!
[ExitFAUST.
SuchanenamoredfoolinairwouldblowSun,moon,andallthestarrylegions,Togivehissweetheartadivertingshow.
[Exit.
TheNeighbor'sHouse
X
THENEIGHBOR'SHOUSE
MARTHA(solus)
Godforgivemyhusband,yetheHasn'tdonehisdutybyme!Offintheworldhewentstraightway,—LeftmelieinthestrawwhereIlay.And,truly,Ididnaughttofrethim:GodknowsIloved,andcan'tforgethim!
(Sheweeps.)
Perhapshe'sevendead!Ah,woe!—HadIacertificatetoshow!
MARGARET(comes)
DameMartha!
MARTHA
Margaret!what'shappenedthee?
MARGARET
Iscarcecanstand,mykneesaretrembling!Ifindabox,thefirstresembling,Withinmypress!Ofebony,—Andthings,allsplendidtobehold,Andricherfarthanweretheold.
MARTHA
Youmustn'ttellittoyourmother!'Twouldgotothepriest,asdidtheother.
MARGARET
Ah,lookandsee—justlookandsee!
MARTHA(adorningher)
O,whatablessedluckforthee!
MARGARET
But,ah!inthestreetsIdarenotbearthem,Norinthechurchbeseentowearthem.
MARTHA
Yetthoucanstoftenthiswaywander,Andsecretlythejewelsdon,Walkupanddownanhour,beforethemirroryonder,—We'llhaveourprivatejoythereon.Andthenachancewillcome,aholiday,When,piecebypiece,canonethethingsabroaddisplay,Achainatfirst,thenotherornament:Thymotherwillnotsee,andstorieswe'llinvent.
MARGARET
Whoevercouldhavebroughtmethingssoprecious?Thatsomething'swrong,Ifeelsuspicious.
(Aknock)
GoodHeaven!Mymothercanthathavebeen?
MARTHA(peepingthroughtheblind)
'Tissomestrangegentleman.—Comein!
(MEPHISTOPHELESenters.)
MEPHISTOPHELES
ThatIsoboldlyintroduceme,Ibegyou,ladies,toexcuseme.
(Stepsbackreverently,onseeingMARGARET.)
ForMarthaSchwerdtleinI'dinquire!
MARTHA
I'mshe:whatdoesthegentlemandesire?
MEPHISTOPHELES(asidetoher)
Itisenoughthatyouareshe:You'veavisitorofhighdegree.PardonthefreedomIhaveta'en,—Willafternoonreturnagain.
MARTHA(aloud)
Ofallthingsintheworld!Justhear—Hetakestheeforalady,dear!
MARGARET
Iamacreatureyoungandpoor:Thegentleman'stookind,I'msure.Thejewelsdon'tbelongtome.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Ah,notalonethejewelry!Thelook,themanner,bothbetray—RejoicedamIthatImaystay!
MARTHA
Whatisyourbusiness?Iwouldfain—
MEPHISTOPHELES
IwouldIhadamorecheerfulstrain!Takenotunkindlyitsrepeating:Yourhusband'sdead,andsendsagreeting.
MARTHA
Isdead?Alas,thatheartsotrue!Myhusbanddead!Letmedie,too!
MARGARET
Ah,dearestdame,letnotyourcouragefail!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Hearmerelatethemournfultale!
MARGARET
ThereforeI'dneverlove,believeme!Alosslikethistodeathwouldgrieveme.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Joyfollowswoe,woeafterjoycomesflying.
MARTHA
Relatehislife'ssadclosetome!
MEPHISTOPHELES
InPaduaburied,heislyingBesidethegoodSaintAntony,Withinagravewellconsecrated,Forcool,eternalrestcreated.
MARTHA
Hegaveyou,further,nocommission?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Yes,oneofweight,withmanysighs:Threehundredmassesbuy,tosavehimfromperdition!Myhandsareempty,otherwise.
MARTHA
What!Notapocket-piece?nojewelry?Whateveryjourneymanwithinhiswalletspares,Andasatokenwithhimbears,Andratherstarvesorbegs,thanloses?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Madam,itisagrieftome;Yet,onmyword,hiscashwasputtoproperuses.Besides,hispenitencewasverysore,Andhelamentedhisillfortuneallthemore.
MARGARET
Alack,thatmenaresounfortunate!Surelyforhissoul'ssakefullmanyaprayerI'llproffer.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Youwelldeserveaspeedymarriage-offer:Youaresokind,compassionate.
MARGARET
O,no!Asyet,itwouldnotdo.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Ifnotahusband,thenabeauforyou!Itisthegreatestheavenlyblessing,Tohaveadearthingforone'scaressing.
MARGARET
Thecountry'scustomisnotso.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Custom,ornot!Ithappens,though.
MARTHA
Continue,pray!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Istoodbesidehisbedofdying.'Twassomethingbetterthanmanure,—Half-rottenstraw:andyet,hediedaChristian,sure,Andfoundthatheavierscorestohisaccountwerelying.Hecried:"Ifindmyconductwhollyhateful!
Toleavemywife,mytrade,inmannersoungrateful!Ah,theremembrancemakesmedie!WouldofmywrongtoherImightbeshriven!"
MARTHA(weeping)
Thedear,goodman!Longsincewasheforgiven.
MEPHISTOPHELES
"Yetshe,Godknows!wasmoretoblamethanI."
MARTHA
Helied!What!Onthebrinkofdeathheslandered?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Inthelastthroeshissenseswandered,IfIsuchthingsbuthalfcanjudge.Hesaid:"Ihadnotimeforplay,forgapingfreedom:Firstchildren,andthenworkforbreadtofeed'em,—Forbread,inthewidestsense,todrudge,Andcouldnoteveneatmyshareinpeaceandquiet!"
MARTHA
Hadhealllove,allfaithforgotteninhisriot?Myworkandworry,dayandnight?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Notso:thememoryofittouchedhimquite.Saidhe:"WhenIfromMaltawentawayMyprayersforwifeandlittleoneswerezealous,AndsuchaluckfromHeavenbefellus,WemadeaTurkishmerchantmanourprey,ThattotheSoldanboreamightytreasure.ThenIreceived,aswasmostfit,Sincebraverywaspaidinfullestmeasure,Mywell-apportionedshareofit."
MARTHA
Say,how?Say,where?Ifburied,didheownit?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Whoknows,now,whitherthefourwindshaveblownit?Afairyoungdamseltookhiminhercare,AsheinNapleswanderedround,unfriended;Andshemuchlove,muchfaithtohimdidbear,Sothathefeltittillhisdayswereended.
MARTHA
Thevillain!Fromhischildrenthieving!EvenallthemiseryonhimcastCouldnotpreventhisshamefulwayofliving!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Butsee!He'sdeadtherefrom,atlast.WereIinyourplace,donotdoubtme,I'dmournhimdecentlyayear,Andforanotherkeep,meanwhile,myeyesaboutme.
MARTHA
Ah,God!anotheronesodearAswasmyfirst,thisworldwillhardlygiveme.Thereneverwasasweeterfoolthanmine,Onlyhelovedtoroamandleaveme,Andforeignwenchesandforeignwine,Andthedamnedthrowofdice,indeed.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Well,well!Thatmighthavedone,however,Ifhehadonlybeenasclever,Andtreatedyourslipswithaslittleheed.Iswear,withthiscondition,too,Iwould,myself,changeringswithyou.
MARTHA
Thegentlemanispleasedtojest.
MEPHISTOPHELES
I'llcutaway,betimes,fromhere:She'dtaketheDevilathisword,Ifear.
(ToMARGARET)
Howfarestheheartwithinyourbreast?
MARGARET
Whatmeansthegentleman?
MEPHISTOPHELES(aside)
Sweetinnocent,thouart!
(Aloud.)
Ladies,farewell!
MARGARET
Farewell!
MARTHA
Amoment,erewepart!
I'dliketohavealegalwitness,Where,how,andwhenhedied,tocertifyhisfitness.IrregularwaysI'vealwayshated;Iwanthisdeathintheweeklypaperstated.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Yes,mygooddame,apairofwitnessesAlwaysthetruthestablishes.Ihaveafriendofhighcondition,Who'llalsoaddhisdeposition.I'llbringhimhere.
MARTHA
GoodSir,praydo!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Andthisyoungladywillbepresent,too?Agallantyouth!hastravelledfar:Ladieswithhimdelightedare.
MARGARET
BeforehimIshouldblush,ashamed.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Beforenokingthatcouldbenamed!
MARTHA
Behindthehouse,inmygarden,then,Thisevewe'llexpectthegentlemen.
AStreet
AStreet
XI
ASTREET
FAUSTMEPHISTOPHELES
FAUST
Howisit?underway?andsooncomplete?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Ah,bravo!DoIfindyouburning?Well,Margaretsoonwillstillyouryearning:AtNeighborMartha'syou'llthiseveningmeet.Afitterwomanne'erwasmadeToplythepimpandgypsytrade!
FAUST
Tiswell.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Yetsomethingisrequiredfromus.
FAUST
Oneservicepaystheotherthus.
MEPHISTOPHELES
We'vebuttomakeadepositionvalidThatnowherhusband'slimbs,outstretchedandpallid,AtPaduarest,inconsecratedsoil.
FAUST
Mostwise!Andfirst,ofcourse,we'llmakethejourneythither?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Sanctasimplicitas!noneedofsuchatoil;Depose,withknowledgeorwithoutit,either!
FAUST
Ifyou'venaughtbetter,then,I'lltearyourprettyplan!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Now,thereyouare!Oholyman!Isitthefirsttimeinyourlifeyou'redrivenTobearfalsewitnessinacase?OfGod,theworldandallthatinithasaplace,OfMan,andallthatmovesthebeingofhisrace,HaveyounottermsanddefinitionsgivenWithbrazenforehead,daringbreast?And,ifyou'llprobethethingprofoundly,Knewyousomuch—andyou'llconfessitroundly!—AshereofSchwerdtlein'sdeathandplaceofrest?
FAUST
Thouart,andthouremain'st,asophist,liar.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Yes,knewInotmoredeeplythydesire.Forwiltthounot,noloverfairer,PoorMargaretflatter,andensnareher,Andallthysoul'sdevotionswearher?
FAUST
Andfrommyheart.
MEPHISTOPHELES
'Tisveryfine!
Thineendlesslove,thyfaithassuring,Theonealmightyforceenduring,—Willthat,too,promptthisheartofthine?
FAUST
Hold!hold!Itwill!—Ifsuchmyflame,AndforthesenseandpowerintenseIseek,andcannotfind,aname;Thenrangewithallmysensesthroughcreation,Cravingthespeechofinspiration,Andcallthisardor,sosupernal,Endless,eternalandeternal,—Isthatadevilishlyinggame?
MEPHISTOPHELES
AndyetI'mright!
FAUST
Markthis,Ibegofthee!
Andsparemylungshenceforth:whoeverIntendstohavetheright,ifbuthistonguebeclever,
Willhaveit,certainly.Butcome:thefurthertalkingbringsdisgust,
Forthouartright,especiallysinceImust.
Garden
Garden
XII
GARDEN
(MARGARETonFAUST'Sarm.MARTHAandMEPHISTOPHELESwalkingupanddown.)
MARGARET
Ifeel,thegentlemanallowsforme,Demeanshimself,andshamesmebyit;AtravellerissousedtobeKindlycontentwithanydiet.IknowtoowellthatmypoorgossipcanNe'erentertainsuchanexperiencedman.
FAUST
Alookfromthee,aword,moreentertainsThanalltheloreofwisestbrains.
(Hekissesherhand.)
MARGARET
Don'tincommodeyourself!Howcouldyoueverkissit!Itissougly,roughtosee!WhatworkIdo,—howhardandsteadyisit!Motherismuchtooclosewithme.
[Theypass.
MARTHA
Andyou,Sir,travelalways,doyounot?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Alas,thattradeanddutyussoharry!Withwhatapangoneleavessomanyaspot,
Anddaresnotevennowandthentotarry!
MARTHA
Inyoung,wildyearsitsuitsyourways,Thisroundandroundtheworldinfreedomsweeping;Butthencomeontheevildays,Andso,asbachelor,intohisgravea-creeping,Noneeverfoundathingtopraise.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Idreadtoseehowsuchafateadvances.
MARTHA
Then,worthySir,improvebetimesyourchances!
[Theypass.
MARGARET
Yes,outofsightisoutofmind!Yourcourtesyaneasygraceis;Butyouhavefriendsinotherplaces,AndsensiblerthanI,you'llfind.
FAUST
Trustme,dearheart!whatmencallsensibleIsoftmerevanityandnarrowness.
MARGARET
Howso?
FAUST
Ah,thatsimplicityandinnocencene'erknowThemselves,theirholyvalue,andtheirspell!Thatmeekness,lowliness,thehighestgracesWhichNatureportionsoutsolovingly—
MARGARET
Soyoubutthinkamoment'sspaceonme,AlltimesI'llhavetothinkonyou,allplaces!
FAUST
Nodoubtyou'remuchalone?
MARGARET
Yes,forourhouseholdsmallhasgrown,Yetmustbecaredfor,youwillown.Wehavenomaid:Idotheknitting,sewing,sweeping,Thecooking,earlyworkandlate,infact;Andmother,inhernotionsofhousekeeping,Issoexact!Notthatsheneedssomuchtokeepexpensesdown:We,morethanothers,mighttakecomfort,rather:Aniceestatewasleftusbymyfather,Ahouse,alittlegardennearthetown.Butnowmydayshavelessofnoiseandhurry;Mybrotherisasoldier,Mylittlesister'sdead.True,withthechildatroubledlifeIled,YetIwouldtakeagain,andwilling,alltheworry,Soverydearwasshe.
FAUST
Anangel,iflikethee!
MARGARET
Ibroughtitup,anditwasfondofme.Fatherhaddiedbeforeitsawthelight,Andmother'scaseseemedhopelessquite,Soweakandmiserableshelay;Andsherecovered,then,soslowly,daybyday.Shecouldnotthink,herself,ofgivingThepoorweethingitsnaturalliving;AndsoInurseditallaloneWithmilkandwater:'twasmyown.
Lulledinmylapwithmanyasong,Itsmiled,andtumbled,andgrewstrong.
FAUST
Thepurestblisswassurelythenthydower.
MARGARET
Butsurely,also,manyawearyhour.Ikeptthebaby'scradlenearMybedatnight:if'tevenstirred,I'dguessit,Andwaking,hear.AndImustnurseit,warmbesidemepressit,Andoft,toquietit,mybedforsake,Anddandlingbackandforththerestlesscreaturetake,Thenatthewash-tubstand,atmorning'sbreak;Andthenthemarketingandkitchen-tending,Dayafterday,thesamething,never-ending.One'sspirits,Sir,arethusnotalwaysgood,Butthenonelearnstorelishrestandfood.
[Theypass.
MARTHA
Yes,thepoorwomenarebadoff,'tistrue:Astubbornbachelorthere'snoconverting.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Itbutdependsuponthelikeofyou,AndIshouldturntobetterwaysthanflirting.
MARTHA
Speakplainly,Sir,haveyounoonedetected?Hasnotyourheartbeenanywheresubjected?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Theproverbsays:One'sownwarmhearthAndagoodwife,aregoldandjewelsworth.
MARTHA
Imean,haveyounotfeltdesire,thoughne'ersoslightly?
MEPHISTOPHELES
I'veeverywhere,infact,beenentertainedpolitely.
MARTHA
Imeanttosay,wereyounottouchedinearnest,ever?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Oneshouldallowone'sselftojestwithladiesnever.
MARTHAAh,youdon'tunderstand!
MEPHISTOPHELES
I'msorryI'msoblind:ButIamsure—thatyouareverykind.
[Theypass.
FAUST
Andme,thouangel!didstthourecognize,Asthroughthegarden-gateIcame?
MARGARET
Didyounotseeit?Icastdownmyeyes.
FAUST
Andthouforgiv'stmyfreedom,andtheblameTomyimpertinencebefitting,AstheCathedralthouwertquitting?
MARGARET
Iwasconfused,thelikene'erhappenedme;Noonecouldeverspeaktomydiscredit.Ah,thoughtI,inmyconducthashereadit—Somethingimmodestorunseemlyfree?
HeseemedtohavethesuddenfeelingThatwiththiswench'twereveryeasydealing.Iwillconfess,IknewnotwhatappealOnyourbehalf,here,inmybosomgrew;ButIwasangrywithmyself,tofeelThatIcouldnotbeangrierwithyou.
FAUST
Sweetdarling!
MARGARET
Waitawhile!
(Sheplucksastar-flower,andpullsofftheleaves,oneaftertheother.)
FAUST
Shallthatanosegaybe?
MARGARET
No,itisjustinplay.
FAUST
How?
MARGARET
Go!you'lllaughatme.
(Shepullsofftheleavesandmurmurs.)
FAUST
Whatmurmurestthou?
MARGARET(halfaloud)
Helovesme—lovesmenot.
FAUST
Thousweet,angelicsoul!
MARGARET(continues)
Lovesme—not—lovesme—not—(pluckingthelastleaf,shecrieswithfrankdelight:)
Helovesme!
FAUST
Yes,child!andletthisblossom-wordFortheebespeechdivine!Helovesthee!Ah,know'stthouwhatitmeans?Helovesthee!
(Hegraspsbothherhands.)
MARGARET
I'malla-tremble!
FAUST
Otremblenot!butletthislook,LetthiswarmclaspofhandsdeclaretheeWhatisunspeakable!Toyieldonewholly,andtofeelaraptureInyielding,thatmustbeeternal!Eternal!—fortheendwouldbedespair.No,no,—noending!noending!
MARTHA(comingforward)
Thenightisfalling.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Ay!wemustaway.
MARTHA
I'daskyou,longerheretotarry,Buteviltonguesinthistownhavefullplay.
It'sasifnobodyhadnothingtofetchandcarry,Norotherlabor,Butspyingallthedoingsofone'sneighbor:Andonebecomesthetalk,dowhatsoe'eronemay.Whereisourcouplenow?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Flownupthealleyyonder,
Thewilfulsummer-birds!
MARTHA
Heseemsofherstillfonder.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Andsheofhim.Sorunstheworldaway!
AGARDEN-ARBOR
AGARDEN-ARBOR
XIII
AGARDEN-ARBOR
(MARGARETcomesin,concealsherselfbehindthedoor,putsherfingertoherlips,andpeepsthroughthecrack.)
MARGARET
Hecomes!
FAUST(entering)
Ah,rogue!ateasethouart:Ihavethee!(Hekissesher.)
MARGARET
(claspinghim,andreturningthekiss)
Dearestman!Ilovetheefrommyheart.
(MEPHISTOPHELESknocks)
FAUST(stampinghisfoot)
Who'sthere?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Afriend!
FAUST
Abeast!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Tistimetoseparate.
MARTHA(coming)
Yes,Sir,'tislate.
FAUST
MayInot,then,uponyouwait?
MARGARET
Mymotherwould—farewell!
FAUST
Ah,canInotremain?
Farewell!
MARTHA
Adieu!
MARGARET
Andsoontomeetagain!
[ExeuntFAUSTandMEPHISTOPHELES.
MARGARET
DearGod!Howeverisit,suchAmancanthinkandknowsomuch?Istandashamedandinamaze,Andanswer"Yes"toallhesays,Apoor,unknowingchild!andhe—Ican'tthinkwhathefindsinme![Exit.
FORESTANDCAVERN
XIV
FORESTANDCAVERN
FAUST(solus)
Spiritsublime,thougav'stme,gav'stmeallForwhichIprayed.NotuntomeinvainHastthouthycountenancerevealedinfire.Thougav'stmeNatureasakingdomgrand,Withpowertofeelandtoenjoyit.ThouNotonlycold,amazedacquaintanceyield'st,Butgrantest,thatinherprofoundestbreastIgaze,asinthebosomofafriend.TheranksoflivingcreaturesthoudostleadBeforeme,teachingmetoknowmybrothersInairandwaterandthesilentwood.Andwhenthestorminforestsroarsandgrinds,Thegiantfirs,infalling,neighborboughsAndneighbortrunkswithcrushingweightbeardown,Andfalling,fillthehillswithhollowthunders,—Thentothecavesecurethouleadestme,Thenshow'stmemineownself,andinmybreastThedeep,mysteriousmiraclesunfold.AndwhentheperfectmoonbeforemygazeComesupwithsoothinglight,aroundmefloatFromeveryprecipiceandthicketdampThesilveryphantomsoftheagespast,Andtempertheausteredelightofthought.
ThatnothingcanbeperfectuntoManInowamconscious.Withthisecstasy,WhichbringsmenearandnearertotheGods,Thougav'stthecomrade,whomInownomoreCandowithout,though,coldandscornful,heDemeansmetomyself,andwithabreath,Aword,transformsthygiftstonothingness.
Withinmybreasthefansalawlessfire,Unwearied,forthatfairandlovelyform:ThusindesireIhastentoenjoyment,Andinenjoymentpinetofeeldesire.
(MEPHISTOPHELESenters.)
MEPHISTOPHELES
Haveyounotledthislifequitelongenough?Howcanafurthertestdelightyou?'Tisverywell,thatonceonetriesthestuff,Butsomethingnewmustthenrequiteyou.
FAUST
Wouldtherewereotherworkforthee!Toplaguemydayauspiciousthoureturnest.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Well!I'llengagetolettheebe:Thoudarestnottellmesoinearnest.Thelossoftheeweretrulyveryslight,—comradecrazy,rude,repelling:
Faust
Onehasone'shandsfullallthedayandnight;Ifwhatonedoes,orleavesundone,isright,Fromsuchafaceasthinethereisnotelling.
FAUST
Thereis,again,thypropertone!—
Thatthouhastboredme,Imustthankfulbe!
MEPHISTOPHELES
PoorSonofEarth,howcouldstthouthusaloneHaveledthylife,bereftofme?I,foratime,atleast,haveworkedthycure;Thyfancy'sricketsplaguetheenotatall:HadInotbeen,sohadstthou,sure,WalkedthyselfoffthisearthlyballWhyheretocaverns,rockyhollowsslinking,Sit'stthou,as'twereanowla-blinking?Whysuck'st,fromsoddenmossanddrippingstone,Toad-like,thynourishmentalone?Afineway,this,thytimetofill!TheDoctor'sinthybodystill.
FAUST
Whatfreshandvitalforces,canstthouguess,Springfrommycommercewiththewilderness?But,ifthouhadstthepowerofguessing,Thouwouldstbedevilenoughtogrudgemysoultheblessing.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Ablessingdrawnfromsupernaturalfountains!Innightanddewtolieuponthemountains;AllHeavenandEarthinrapturepenetrating;ThyselftoGodhoodhaughtilyinflating;TogrubwithyearningforcethroughEarth'sdarkmarrow,Compressthesixdays'workwithinthybosomnarrow,—Totaste,Iknownotwhat,inhaughtypower,Thineownecstaticlifeonallthingsshower,Thineearthlyselfbehindtheecast,Andthentheloftyinstinct,thus—
(Withagesture:)
atlast,—
Idaren'tsayhow—topluckthefinalflower!
FAUST
Shameonthee!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Yes,thoufindestthatunpleasant!Thouhastthemoralrighttocryme"shame!"atpresent.Onedaresnotthatbeforechasteearsdeclare,Whichchastehearts,notwithstanding,cannotspare;And,onceforall,IgrudgetheenotthepleasureOflyingtothyselfinmoderatemeasure.Butsuchacoursethouwiltnotlongendure;Alreadyartthouo'er-excited,And,ifitlast,wiltsoonbeplightedTomadnessandtohorror,sure.Enoughofthat!Thylovesitslonelyyonder,Byallthingssaddenedandoppressed;Herthoughtsandyearningsseekthee,tenderer,fonder,—mightyloveisinherbreast.Firstcamethypassion'sfloodandpouredaroundherAswhenfrommeltedsnowastreamletoverflows;Thouhasttherewithsofilledanddrownedher,Thatnowthystreamallshallowshows.Methinks,insteadofintheforestslording,ThenobleSirshouldfinditgood,TheloveofthisyoungsillybloodAtoncetosetaboutrewarding.Hertimeismiserablylong;Shehauntsherwindow,watchingcloudsthatstrayO'ertheoldcity-wall,andfaraway."WereIalittlebird!"sorunshersong,Daylong,andhalfnightlong.Nowsheislively,mostlysad,Now,weptbeyondhertears;Thenagainquietsheappears,—Alwayslove-mad.
FAUST
Serpent!Serpent!
MEPHISTOPHELES(aside)
Ha!doItrapthee!
FAUST
Gettheeawaywiththineoffences,Reprobate!Namenotthatfairestthing,NorthedesireforhersweetbodybringAgainbeforemyhalf-distractedsenses!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Whatwouldstthou,then?Shethinksthatthouartflown;Andhalfandhalfthouart,Iown.
FAUST
YetamInear,andlovekeepswatchandward;ThoughIwerene'ersofar,itcannotfalter:IenvyeventheBodyoftheLordThetouchingofherlips,beforethealtar.
MEPHISTOPHELES
'Tisverywell!MyenvyoftreposesOnyourtwin-pair,thatfeedamongtheroses.
FAUST
Away,thoupimp!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Yourail,anditisfuntome.TheGod,whofashionedyouthandmaid,PerceivedthenoblestpurposeofHistrade,Andalsomadetheiropportunity.Goon!Itisawoeprofound!'Tisforyoursweetheart'sroomyou'rebound,
Andnotfordeath,indeed.
FAUST
Whatare,withinherarms,theheavenlyblisses?ThoughIbeglowingwithherkisses,DoInotalwaysshareherneed?Iamthefugitive,allhouselessroaming,Themonsterwithoutairorrest,Thatlikeacataract,downrocksandgorgesfoaming,Leaps,maddened,intotheabyss'sbreast!Andside-wardsshe,withyoungunwakenedsenses,WithinhercabinontheAlpinefieldHersimple,homelylifecommences,Herlittleworldthereinconcealed.AndI,God'shateflungo'erme,Hadnotenough,tothrustThestubbornrocksbeforemeAndstrikethemintodust!SheandherpeaceIyetmustundermine:Thou,Hell,hastclaimedthissacrificeasthine!Help,Devil!throughthecomingpangstopushme;Whatmustbe,letitquicklybe!Letfallonmeherfate,andalsocrushme,—Oneruinwhelmbothherandme!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Againitseethes,againitglows!Thoufool,goinandcomforther!Whensuchaheadasthinenooutletknows,Itthinkstheendmustsoonoccur.Hailhim,whokeepsasteadfastmind!Thou,else,dostwellthedevil-naturewear:NaughtsoinsipidintheworldIfindAsisadevilindespair.
Faust
Margaret'sRoom
XV
MARGARET'SROOM
MARGARET
(atthespinning-wheel,alone)
Mypeaceisgone,Myheartissore:Inevershallfindit,Ah,nevermore!
SaveIhavehimnear.Thegraveishere;TheworldisgallAndbitternessall.
MypoorweakheadIsrackedandcrazed;Mythoughtislost,Mysensesmazed.
Mypeaceisgone,Myheartissore:Inevershallfindit,Ah,nevermore!
Toseehim,himonly,AtthepaneIsit;Tomeethim,himonly,ThehouseIquit.
Hisloftygait,Hisnoblesize,Thesmileofhismouth,Thepowerofhiseyes,
AndthemagicflowOfhistalk,theblissIntheclaspofhishand,And,ah!hiskiss!
Mypeaceisgone,Myheartissore:Inevershallfindit,Ah,nevermore!
MybosomyearnsForhimalone;Ah,daredIclasphim,Andhold,andown!
Andkisshismouth,Toheart'sdesire,AndonhiskissesAtlastexpire!
Faust
XVI
MARTHA'SGARDEN
MARGARETFAUST
MARGARET
Promiseme,Henry!—
FAUST
WhatIcan!
MARGARET
Howis'twiththyreligion,pray?Thouartadear,good-heartedman,Andyet,Ithink,dostnotinclinethatway.
FAUST
Leavethat,mychild!Thouknow'stmyloveistender;Forlove,mybloodandlifewouldIsurrender,AndasforFaithandChurch,Igranttoeachhisown.
MARGARET
That'snotenough:wemustbelievethereon.
FAUST
Mustwe?
MARGARET
WouldthatIhadsomeinfluence!
Then,too,thouhonorestnottheHolySacraments.
FAUST
Ihonorthem.
MARGARET
Desiringnopossession
'Tislongsincethouhastbeentomassortoconfession.BelievestthouinGod?
FAUST
Mydarling,whoshalldare
"IbelieveinGod!"tosay?Askpriestorsagetheanswertodeclare,Anditwillseemamockingplay,Asarcasmontheasker.
MARGARET
Thenthoubelievestnot!
FAUST
Hearmenotfalsely,sweetestcountenance!WhodareexpressHim?AndwhoprofessHim,Saying:IbelieveinHim!Who,feeling,seeing,DenyHisbeing,Saying:IbelieveHimnot!TheAll-enfolding,TheAll-upholding,FoldsandupholdshenotThee,me,Himself?Archesnottheretheskyaboveus?Liesnotbeneathus,firm,theearth?Andrisenot,onusshining,Friendly,theeverlastingstars?LookInot,eyetoeye,onthee,
Andfeel'stnot,throngingToheadandheart,theforce,Stillweavingitseternalsecret,Invisible,visible,roundthylife?Vastasitis,fillwiththatforcethyheart,Andwhenthouinthefeelingwhollyblessedart,Callit,then,whatthouwilt,—CallitBliss!Heart!Love!God!Ihavenonametogiveit!Feelingisallinall:TheNameissoundandsmoke,ObscuringHeaven'sclearglow.
MARGARET
Allthatisfineandgood,tohearitso:Muchthesamewaythepreacherspoke,Onlywithslightlydifferentphrases.
FAUST
Thesamething,inallplaces,Allheartsthatbeatbeneaththeheavenlyday—Eachinitslanguage—say;ThenwhynotI,inmine,aswell?
MARGARET
Tohearitthus,itmayseempassable;Andyet,somehitchin'ttheremustbeForthouhastnoChristianity.
FAUST
Dearlove!
MARGARET
I'velongbeengrievedtoseeThatthouartinsuchcompany.
FAUST
Howso?
MARGARET
Themanwhowiththeegoes,thymate,
Withinmydeepest,inmostsoulIhate.Inallmylifethere'snothingHasgivenmyheartsokeenapangofloathing,Ashisrepulsivefacehasdone.
FAUST
Nay,fearhimnot,mysweetestone!
MARGARET
Ifeelhispresencelikesomethingill.I'veelse,forall,akindlywill,But,muchasmyhearttoseetheeyearneth,Thesecrethorrorofhimreturneth;AndIthinkthemanaknave,asIlive!IfIdohimwrong,mayGodforgive!
FAUST
Theremustbesuchqueerbirds,however.
MARGARET
Livewiththelikeofhim,mayInever!Whenonceinsidethedoorcomeshe,Helooksaroundsosneeringly,Andhalfinwrath:Oneseesthatinnothingnointeresthehath:'TiswrittenonhisveryforeheadThatlove,tohim,isathingabhorréd.Iamsohappyonthinearm,Sofree,soyielding,andsowarm,Andinhispresencestifledseemsmyheart.
FAUST
Forebodingangelthatthouart!
MARGARET
Itovercomesmeinsuchdegree,Thatwheresoe'erhemeetsus,even,IfeelasthoughI'dlostmyloveforthee.Whenheisby,IcouldnotpraytoHeaven.Thatburnswithinmelikeaflame,Andsurely,Henry,'tiswiththeethesame.
FAUST
There,now,isthineantipathy!
MARGARET
ButImustgo.
FAUST
Ah,shallthereneverbe
Aquiethour,toseeusfondlyplighted,Withbreasttobreast,andsoultosoulunited?
MARGARET
Ah,ifIonlysleptalone!I'ddrawtheboltsto-night,forthydesire;Butmother'ssleepsolighthasgrown,Andifwewerediscoveredbyher,'Twouldbemydeathuponthespot!
FAUST
Thouangel,fearitnot!Hereisaphial:inherdrinkButthreedropsofitmeasure,Anddeepestsleepwillonhersensessink.
MARGARET
WhatwouldInot,togivetheepleasure?Itwillnotharmher,whenonetriesit?
FAUST
If'twould,mylove,wouldIadviseit?
MARGARET
Ah,dearestman,ifbutthyfaceIsee,Iknownotwhatcompelsmetothywill:SomuchhaveIalreadydoneforthee,Thatscarcelymoreisleftmetofulfil.
(EnterMEPHISTOPHELES.)[Exit.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Themonkey!Isshegone?
FAUST
Hastplayedthespyagain?
MEPHISTOPHELES
I'veheard,mostfully,howshedrewthee.TheDoctorhasbeencatechised,'tisplain;Greatgood,Ihope,thethingwilldothee.ThegirlshavemuchdesiretoascertainIfoneisprimandgood,asancientrulescompel:Iftherehe'sled,theythink,he'llfollowthemaswell.
FAUST
Thou,monster,wiltnorseenorownHowthispuresoul,offaithsolowly,Solovingandineffable,—ThefaithaloneThathersalvationis,—withscruplesholyPines,lestsheholdaslostthemanshelovessowell!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Thou,fullofsensual,super-sensualdesire,Agirlbythenoseisleadingthee.
FAUST
Abortion,thou,offilthandfire!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Andthen,howmasterlyshereadsphysiognomy!WhenIampresentshe'simpressed,sheknowsnothow;Sheinmymaskahiddensensewouldread:ShefeelsthatsurelyI'mageniusnow,—PerhapstheveryDevil,indeed!Well,well,—to-night—?
FAUST
What'sthattothee?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Yetmydelight'twillalsobe!
Faust
AttheFountain
XVII
ATTHEFOUNTAIN
MARGARETandLISBETHWithpitchers.
LISBETH
HastnothingheardofBarbara?
MARGARET
No,notaword.Igosolittleout.
LISBETH
It'strue,Sibyllasaid,to-day.She'splayedthefoolatlast,there'snotadoubt.Suchtaking-onofairs!
MARGARET
Howso?
LISBETH
Itstinks!
She'sfeedingtwo,whene'ersheeatsanddrinks.
MARGARET
Ah!
LISBETH
Andso,atlast,itservesherrightly.Sheclungtothefellowsolongandtightly!
Thatwasapromenading!Atvillageanddanceparading!Asthefirsttheymusteverywhereshine,Andhetreatedheralwaystopiesandwine,Andshemadeato-dowithherfacesofine;Someanandshamelesswasherbehavior,Shetookallthepresentsthefellowgaveher.'Twaskissingandcoddling,onandon!Sonow,attheend,theflowerisgone.
MARGARET
Thepoor,poorthing!
LISBETH
Dostpityher,atthat?
Whenoneofusatspinningsat,Andmother,nights,ne'erletusoutthedoorShesportedwithherparamour.Onthedoor-bench,inthepassagedark,Thelengthofthetimethey'dnevermark.Sonowherheadnomoreshe'lllift,Butdochurch-penanceinhersinner'sshift!
MARGARET
He'llsurelytakeherforhiswife.
LISBETH
He'dbeafool!AbriskyoungbladeHasroom,elsewhere,toplyhistrade.Besides,he'sgone.
MARGARET
Thatisnotfair!
LISBETH
Ifhimshegets,whyletherbeware!Theboysshalldashherwreathonthefloor,Andwe'llscatterchaffbeforeherdoor!
[Exit.
MARGARET(returninghome)
HowscornfullyIoncereviled,Whensomepoormaidenwasbeguiled!MorespeechthananytonguesufficesIcraved,tocensureothers'vices.Blackasitseemed,Iblackenedstill,Andblackeryetwasinmywill;Andblessedmyself,andboastedhigh,—Andnow—alivingsinamI!Yet—allthatdrovemyheartthereto,God!wassogood,sodear,sotrue!
Faust
Donjon
XVIII
DONJON
(Inanicheofthewallashrine,withanimageoftheMaterDolorosa.Potsofflowersbeforeit.)
MARGARET
(puttingfreshflowersinthepots)
Incline,OMaiden,Thousorrow-laden,Thygraciouscountenanceuponmypain!
TheswordThyheartin,Withanguishsmarting,ThoulookestuptowhereThySonisslain!
ThouseesttheFather;Thysadsighsgather,AndbearaloftThysorrowandHispain!
Ah,pastguessing,Beyondexpressing,Thepangsthatwringmyfleshandbone!Whythisanxiousheartsoburneth,Whyittrembleth,whyityearneth,KnowestThou,andThoualone!
Where'erIgo,whatsorrow,Whatwoe,whatwoeandsorrowWithinmybosomaches!Alone,andah!unsleeping,I'mweeping,weeping,weeping,Theheartwithinmebreaks.
Thepotsbeforemywindow,Alas!mytearsdidwet,AsintheearlymorningFortheetheseflowersIset.
WithinmylonelychamberThemorningsunshonered:Isat,inuttersorrow,Alreadyonmybed.
Help!rescuemefromdeathandstain!OMaiden!Thousorrow-laden,InclineThycountenanceuponmypain!
Faust
Faust
XIX
NIGHT
STREETBEFOREMARGARET'SDOOR
VALENTINE(asoldier,MARGARET'Sbrother)
WhenIhavesatatsomecarouse.Whereeachtoeachhisbragallows,AndmanyacomradepraisedtomeHispinkofgirlsrightlustily,Withbrimmingglassthatspilledthetoast,Andelbowsplantedasinboast:Isatinunconcernedrepose,Andheardtheswaggerasitrose.Andstrokingthenmybeard,I'dsay,Smiling,thebumperinmyhand:"Eachwellenoughinherownway.ButisthereoneinallthelandLikesisterMargaret,goodasgold,—Onethattohercanacandlehold?"Cling!clang!"Here'stoher!"wentaroundTheboard:"Hespeaksthetruth!"criedsome;"Inhertheflowero'thesexisfound!"Andalltheswaggerersweredumb.Andnow!—Icouldtearmyhairwithvexation.Anddashoutmybrainsindesperation!Withturned-upnoseeachscampmayfaceme,Withsneersandstingingtauntsdisgraceme,And,likeabankruptdebtorsitting,Achance-droppedwordmaysetmesweating!Yet,thoughIthreshthemalltogether,Icannotcallthemliars,either.
Butwhatcomessneaking,there,toview?IfImistakenot,therearetwo.
Ifhe'sone,letmeathimdrive!Heshallnotleavethespotalive.
FAUSTMEPHISTOPHELES
FAUST
HowfromthewindowofthesacristyUpwardth'eternallampsendsforthaglimmer,That,lesseningside-wards,faintergrowsanddimmer,Tilldarknessclosesfromthesky!Theshadowsthuswithinmybosomgather.
MEPHISTOPHELES
I'mlikeasentimentaltom-cat,rather,Thatroundthetallfire-ladderssweeps,Andstealthy,then,alongthecopingcreeps:Quitevirtuous,withal,Icome,Alittlethievishandalittlefrolicsome.IfeelineverylimbthepresageForerunningthegrandWalpurgis-Night:Dayafterto-morrowbringsitsmessage,Andonekeepswatchthenwithdelight.
FAUST
Meanwhile,maynotthetreasurerisenbe,Whichthere,behind,Iglimmeringsee?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Shaltsoonexperiencethepleasure,Toliftthekettlewithitstreasure.Ilatelygavethereinasquint—Sawsplendidlion-dollarsin't.
FAUST
Notevenajewel,notaring,Todecktherewithmydarlinggirl?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Isaw,amongtherest,athingThatseemedtobeachainofpearl.
FAUST
That'swell,indeed!ForpainfulisitTobringnogiftwhenherIvisit.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Thoushouldstnotfinditsoannoying,Withoutreturntobeenjoying.Now,whiletheskyleadsforthitsstarrythrong,Thou'lthearamasterpiece,noworkcompleter:I'llsingher,first,amoralsong,Thesurer,afterwards,tocheather.
(Singstothecither.)
WhatdostthouhereIndaybreakclear,Kathrinadear,Beforethylover'sdoor?Beware!thebladeLetsinamaid.ThatoutamaidDepartethnevermore!
ThecoaxingshunOfsuchanone!Whenonce'tisdoneGood-nighttothee,poorthing!Love'stimeisbrief:UntonothiefBewarmandlief,Butwiththewedding-ring!
VALENTINE(comesforward)
Whomwiltthoulure?God's-element!Rat-catchingpiper,thou!—perdition!
TotheDevil,first,theinstrument!TotheDevil,then,thecurstmusician!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Thecither'ssmashed!Fornothingmore'tisfitting.
VALENTINE
There'syetaskullImustbesplitting!
MEPHISTOPHELES(toFAUST)
SirDoctor,don'tretreat,Ipray!Standby:I'lllead,ifyou'llbuttarry:Outwithyourspit,withoutdelay!You'vebuttolunge,andIwillparry.
VALENTINE
Thenparrythat!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Whynot?'tislight.
VALENTINE
That,too!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Ofcourse.
VALENTINE
IthinktheDevilmustfight!
Howisit,then?myhand'salreadylame:
MEPHISTOPHELES(toFAUST)
Thrusthome!
VALENTINE(jails)
OGod!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Nowisthelubbertame!
Butcome,away!'Tistimeforustofly;Fortherearisesnowamurderouscry.Withthepolice'twereeasytocompoundit,Butherethepenalcourtwillsiftandsoundit.
[ExitwithFAUST.
MARTHA(atthewindow)
Comeout!Comeout!
MARGARET(atthewindow)
Quick,bringalight!
MARTHA(asabove)
Theyswearandstorm,theyyellandfight!
PEOPLE
Hereliesonedeadalready—see!
MARTHA(comingfromthehouse)
Themurderers,whitherhavetheyrun?
MARGARET(comingout)
Wholieshere?
PEOPLE
'Tisthymother'sson!
MARGARET
AlmightyGod!whatmisery!
VALENTINE
I'mdying!Thatisquicklysaid,Andquickeryet'tisdone.Whyhowl,youwomenthere?Instead,Comehereandlisten,everyone!
(Allgatheraroundhim)
MyMargaret,see!stillyoungthouart,Butnottheleastbitshrewdorsmart,Thybusinessthustoslight:SothisadviceIbidtheeheed—Nowthatthouartawhoreindeed,Why,beonethen,outright!
MARGARET
Mybrother!God!suchwordstome?
VALENTINE
InthisgameletourLordGodbe!What'sdone'salreadydone,alas!Whatfollowsit,mustcometopass.Withonebegin'stthousecretly,Thensoonwillotherscometothee,Andwhenadozentheehaveknown,Thou'rtalsofreetoallthetown.WhenShameisbornandfirstappears,Sheisinsecretbroughttolight,AndthentheydrawtheveilofnightOverherheadandears;Herlife,infact,they'reloathtospareher.Butlethergrowthandstrengthdisplay,Shewalksabroadunveiledbyday,Yetisnotgrownawhitthefairer.Theugliersheistosight,Themoresheseekstheday'sbroadlight.ThetimeIverilycandiscernWhenallthehonestfolkwillturn
Fromthee,thoujade!andseekprotectionAsfromacorpsethatbreedsinfection.Thyguiltyheartshallthendismaythee.Whentheybutlooktheeintheface:—Shaltnotinagoldenchainarraythee,Noratthealtartakethyplace!Shaltnot,inlaceandribbonsflowing,Makemerrywhenthedanceisgoing!Butinsomecorner,woebetidethee!Amongthebeggarsandcrippleshidethee;Andso,thoughevenGodforgive,Onearthadamnedexistencelive!
MARTHA
CommendyoursoultoGodforpardon,Thatyouyourheartwithslanderharden!
VALENTINE
Thoupimpmostinfamous,bestill!CouldIthywitheredbodykill,'Twouldbring,forallmysinfulpleasure,Forgivenessintherichestmeasure.
MARGARET
Mybrother!ThisisHell'sownpain!
VALENTINE
Itellthee,fromthytearsrefrain!WhenthoufromhonordidstdepartItstabbedmetotheveryheart.NowthroughtheslumberofthegraveIgotoGodasasoldierbrave.
(Dies.)
Faust
Cathedral
XX
CATHEDRAL
SERVICE,ORGANandANTHEM.
(MARGARETamongmuchpeople:theEVILSPIRITbehindMARGARET.)
EVILSPIRIT
HOWotherwisewasit,Margaret,Whenthou,stillinnocent,Heretothealtarcam'st,AndfromthewornandfingeredbookThyprayersdidstprattle,Halfsportofchildhood,HalfGodwithinthee!Margaret!Wheretendsthythought?WithinthybosomWhathiddencrime?Pray'stthouformercyonthymother'ssoul,Thatfellasleeptolong,longtorment,andthroughthee?Uponthythresholdwhosetheblood?AndstirrethnotandquickensSomethingbeneaththyheart,ThylifedisquietingWithmostforebodingpresence?
MARGARET
Woe!woe!WouldIwerefreefromthethoughtsThatcrossme,drawinghitherandthitherDespiteme!
CHORUS
Diesira,diesilla,Solvetsoecluminfavilla!(Soundoftheorgan.)
EVILSPIRIT
Wrathtakesthee!Thetrumpetpeals!Thegravestremble!AndthyheartFromashyrestTofierytormentsNowagainrequickened,Throbstolife!
MARGARET
WouldIwereforth!IfeelasiftheorganhereMybreathtakesfromme,MyveryheartDissolvedbytheanthem!
CHORUS
Judexergocumsedebit,Quidquidlatet,adparebit,Nilinultumremanebit.
MARGARET
Icannotbreathe!ThemassypillarsImprisonme!ThevaultedarchesCrushme!—Air!
EVILSPIRIT
Hidethyself!SinandshameStayneverhidden.
Air?Light?Woetothee!
CHORUS
Quidsummisertuncdicturus,Quempatronemrogaturus,CumvixJustussitsecurus
EVILSPIRIT
Theyturntheirfaces,Theglorified,fromthee:Thepure,theirhandstooffer,Shuddering,refusethee!Woe!
CHORUS
Quidsummisertunedicturus?
MARGARET
Neighbor!yourcordial!(Shefallsinaswoon.)
Shefallsinaswoon
Walpurgis-Night
XXI
WALPURGIS-NIGHT
THEHARTZMOUNTAINS.
DistrictofSchierkeandElend.
FAUSTMEPHISTOPHELES
MEPHISTOPHELES
DOSTthounotwishabroomstick-steed'sassistance?Thesturdiesthe-goatIwouldgladlysee:Thewaywetake,ourgoalisyetsomedistance.
FAUST
SolongasinmylegsIfeelthefreshexistence.Thisknottedstaffsufficesme.Whatneedtoshortensotheway?Alongthislabyrinthofvalestowander,Thenclimbtherockyrampartsyonder,Wherefromthefountainflingseternalspray,Issuchdelight,mystepswouldfaindelay.Thespring-timestirswithinthefragrantbirches,Andeventhefir-treefeelsitnow:Shouldthenourlimbsescapeitsgentlesearches?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Inoticenosuchthing,Ivow!'Tiswinterstillwithinmybody:UponmypathIwishforfrostandsnow.Howsadlyrises,incompleteandruddy,Themoon'slonedisk,withitsbelatedglow,Andlightssodimly,that,asoneadvances,Ateverysteponestrikesarockortree!Letus,then,useaJack-o'-lantern'sglances:
Iseeoneyonder,burningmerrily.Ho,there!myfriend!I'lllevythineattendance:Whywastesovainlythyresplendence?Bekindenoughtolightusupthesteep!
WILL-O'-THE-WISP
Myreverence,Ihope,willmeenableTocurbmytemperamentunstable;Forzigzagcourseswearewonttokeep.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Indeed?he'dlikemankindtoimitate!Now,intheDevil'sname,gostraight,OrI'llblowouthisbeing'sflickeringspark!
WILL-O'-THE-WISP
Youarethemasterofthehouse,Imark,AndIshalltrytoserveyounicely.Butthen,reflect:themountain'smagic-madto-day,Andifawill-o'-the-wispmustguideyouontheway,Youmustn'ttakethingstooprecisely.
FAUST,MEPHISTOPHELES,WILL-O'-THE-WISP
(inalternatingsong)
We,itseems,haveenterednewlyInthesphereofdreamsenchanted.Dothybidding,guideustruly,ThatourfeetbeforwardsplantedInthevast,thedesertspaces!Seethemswiftlychangingplaces,Treesontreesbesideustrooping,Andthecragsaboveusstooping,Andtherockysnouts,outgrowing,—Hearthemsnoring,hearthemblowing!O'erthestones,thegrasses,flowingStreamandstreamletseekthehollow.HearInoises?songsthatfollow?
HearItenderlove-petitions?Voicesofthoseheavenlyvisions?Soundsofhope,ofloveundying!Andtheechoes,liketraditionsOfolddays,comefaintandhollow.
Hoo-hoo!Shoo-hoo!NearerhoverJayandscreech-owl,andtheplover,—Aretheyallawakeandcrying?Is'tthesalamanderpushes,Bloated-bellied,throughthebushes?Andtheroots,likeserpentstwisted,Throughthesandandboulderstoiling,Frightus,weirdestlinksuncoilingToentrapus,unresisted:LivingknotsandgnarlsuncannyFeelwithpolypus-antennaeForthewanderer.Miceareflying,Thousand-colored,herd-wisehieingThroughthemossandthroughtheheather!
Andthefire-flieswinkanddarkle,Crowdedswarmsthatsoarandsparkle,Andinwilderingescortgather!
Tellme,ifwestillarestanding,Oriffurtherwe'reascending?Allisturning,whirling,blending,Treesandrockswithgrinningfaces,Wanderinglightsthatspininmazes,Stillincreasingandexpanding!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Graspmyskirtwithheartundaunted!Hereamiddle-peakisplanted,Whenceoneseeth,withamaze,Mammoninthemountainblaze.
FAUST
HowstrangelyglimmersthroughthehollowsAdrearylight,likethatofdawn!ItsexhalationtracksandfollowsThedeepestgorges,faintandwan.Heresteam,thererollingvaporsweepeth;Hereburnstheglowthroughfilmandhaze:Nowlikeatenderthreaditcreepeth,Nowlikeafountainleapsandplays.Herewindsaway,andinahundredDividedveinsthevalleybraids:There,inacornerpressedandsundered,Itselfdetaches,spreadsandfades.HeregushthesparklesincandescentLikescatteredshowersofgoldensand;—But,see!inalltheirheight,atpresent,Therockyrampartsblazingstand.
<i>Undertheoldribsoftherockretreating</i>
Undertheoldribsoftherockretreating
MEPHISTOPHELES
HasnotSirMammongrandlylightedHispalaceforthisfestalnight?'Tisluckythouhastseenthesight;Theboisterousguestsapproachthatwereinvited.
FAUST
Howravesthetempestthroughtheair!Withwhatfierceblowsuponmyneck'tisbeating!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Undertheoldribsoftherockretreating,Holdfast,lestthoubehurleddowntheabyssesthere!Thenightwiththemistisblack;Hark!howtheforestsgrindandcrack!Frightened,theowletsarescattered:Hearken!thepillarsareshattered.Theevergreenpalacesshaking!Boughsaregroaningandbreaking,Thetree-trunksterriblythunder,Therootsaretwistingasunder!InfrightfullyintricatecrashingEachontheotherisdashing,Andoverthewreck-strewngorgesThetempestwhistlesandsurges!Hear'stthouvoiceshigherringing?Faraway,ornearersinging?Yes,themountain'ssidealong,Sweepsaninfuriateglamouringsong!
WITCHES(inchorus)
ThewitchesridetotheBrocken'stop,Thestubbleisyellow,andgreenthecrop.Theregathersthecrowdforcarnival:SirUriansitsoverall.
Andsotheygooverstoneandstock;Thewitchshe——-s,and——-sthebuck.
AVOICE
Alone,oldBaubo'scomingnow;Sheridesuponafarrow-sow.
CHORUS
Thenhonortowhomthehonorisdue!DameBaubofirst,toleadthecrew!Atougholdsowandthemotherthereon,Thenfollowthewitches,everyone.
AVOICE
Whichwaycom'stthouhither?
VOICE
O'ertheIlsen-stone.Ipeepedattheowlinhernestalone:Howshestaredandglared!
VOICE
BetaketheetoHell!Whysofastandsofell?
VOICE
Shehasscoredandhasflayedme:Seethewoundsshehasmademe!
WITCHES(chorus)
Thewayiswide,thewayislong:See,whatawildandcrazythrong!Thebroomitscratches,theforkitthrusts,Thechildisstifled,themotherbursts.
WIZARDS(semichorus)
Asdoththesnailinshell,wecrawl:Beforeusgothewomenall.WhentowardstheDevil'sHousewetread,Woman'sathousandstepsahead.
OTHERSEMICHORUS
Wedonotmeasurewithsuchcare:Womaninthousandstepsistheft.Buthowsoe'ershehastenmay,Maninoneleaphasclearedtheway.
VOICE(fromabove)
Comeon,comeon,fromRockyLake!
VOICE(frombelow)
Aloftwe'dfainourselvesbetake.We'vewashed,andarebrightaseveryouwill,Yetwe'reeternallysterilestill.
BOTHCHORUSES
Thewindishushed,thestarshootsby.Thedrearymoonforsakesthesky;Themagicnotes,likesparkonspark,Drizzle,whistlingthroughthedark.
VOICE(frombelow)
Halt,there!Ho,there!
VOICE(fromabove)
Whocallsfromtherockycleftbelowthere?
VOICE(below)
Takeme,too!takeme,too!I'mclimbingnowthreehundredyears,Andyetthesummitcannotsee:AmongmyequalsIwouldbe.
BOTHCHORUSES
Bearsthebroomandbearsthestock,Bearstheforkandbearsthebuck:Whocannotraisehimselfto-nightIsevermorearuinedwight.
HALF-WITCH(below)
SolongIstumble,illbestead,Andtheothersarenowsofarahead!AthomeI'veneitherrestnorcheer,AndyetIcannotgainthemhere.
CHORUSOFWITCHES
Tocheerthewitchwillsalveavail;Aragwillanswerforasail;Eachtroughagoodlyshipsupplies;Hene'erwillfly,whonownotflies.
BOTHCHORUSES
Whenroundthesummitwhirlsourflight,Thenlower,andonthegroundalight;AndfarandwidetheheatherpressWithwitchhood'sswarmsofwantonness!
(Theysettledown.)
MEPHISTOPHELES
Theycrowdandpush,theyroarandclatter!Theywhirlandwhistle,pullandchatter!Theyshine,andspirt,andstink,andburn!Thetruewitch-elementwelearn.Keepclose!orweareparted,inourturn,Whereartthou?
FAUST(inthedistance)
Here!
MEPHISTOPHELES
What!whirledsofarastray?
Thenhouse-rightImustuse,andcleartheway.Makeroom!SquireVolandcomes!Room,gentlerabble,room!
Here,Doctor,holdtome:inonejumpwe'llresumeAneasierspace,andfromthecrowdbefree:It'stoomuch,evenforthelikeofme.Yonder,withspeciallight,there'ssomethingshiningclearerWithinthosebushes;I'veamindtosee.Comeon!we'llslipalittlenearer.
FAUST
SpiritofContradiction!On!I'llfollowstraight.'Tisplannedmostwisely,ifIjudgearight:WeclimbtheBrocken'stopintheWalpurgis-Night,Thatarbitrarily,here,ourselvesweisolate.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Butsee,whatmotleyflamesamongtheheather!Thereisalivelyclubtogether:Insmallercirclesoneisnotalone.
FAUST
Betterthesummit,Imustown:TherefireandwhirlingsmokeIsee.TheyseektheEvilOneinwildconfusion:Manyenigmastheremightfindsolution.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Butthereenigmasalsoknottedbe.Leavetothemultitudetheirriot!Herewillwehouseourselvesinquiet.Itisanold,transmittedtrade,Thatinthegreaterworldthelittleworldsaremade.Iseestark-nudeyoungwitchescongregate,Andoldones,veiledandhiddenshrewdly:Onmyaccountbekind,nortreatthemrudely!Thetrouble'ssmall,thefunisgreat.Ihearthenoiseofinstrumentsattuning,—Viledin!yetonemustlearntobearthecrooning.
Come,comealong!Itmustbe,Ideclare!I'llgoaheadandintroducetheethere,Thineobligationnewlyearning.Thatisnolittlespace:whatsay'stthou,friend?Lookyonder!thoucanstscarcelyseetheend:Ahundredfiresalongtheranksareburning.Theydance,theychat,theycook,theydrink,theycourt:Nowwhere,justtellme,istherebettersport?
FAUST
Wiltthou,tointroduceustotherevel,Assumethepartofwizardorofdevil?
MEPHISTOPHELES
I'mmostlyused,'tistrue,togoincognito,Butonagala-dayonemayhisordersshow.TheGarterdoesnotdeckmysuit,Buthonoredandathomeisheretheclovenfoot.Perceiv'stthouyondersnail?Itcometh,slowandsteady;Sodelicatelyitsfeelerspry,Thatithathscentedmealready:Icannotheredisguiseme,ifItry.Butcome!we'llgofromthisfiretoanewer:Iamthego-between,andthouthewooer.
(Tosome,whoaresittingarounddyingembers:)
Oldgentlemen,whyattheoutskirts?Enter!I'dpraiseyouifIfoundyousnuglyinthecentre,Withyouthandrevelroundyoulikeazone:Youeach,athome,arequiteenoughalone.
GENERAL
Say,whowouldputhistrustinnations,Howe'erforthemonemayhaveworkedandplanned?Forwiththepeople,aswithwomen,Youthalwayshastheupperhand.
MINISTER
They'renowtoofarfromwhatisjustandsage.Ipraisetheoldones,notunduly:Whenwewereall-in-all,then,truly,Thenwastherealgoldenage.
PARVENU
Wealsowerenotstupid,either,Andwhatweshouldnot,oftendid;Butnowallthingshavefromtheirbasesslid,Justaswemeanttoholdthemfasttogether.
AUTHOR
Who,now,aworkofmoderatesensewillread?Suchworksareheldasantiquateandmossy;Andasregardstheyoungerfolk,indeed,Theyneveryethavebeensopertandsaucy.
MEPHISTOPHELES
(whoallatonceappearsveryold)
IfeelthatmenareripeforJudgment-Day,NowforthelasttimeI'vethewitches'-hillascended:Sincetotheleesmycaskisdrainedaway,Theworld's,aswell,mustsoonbeended.
HUCKSTER-WITCH
Yegentlemen,don'tpassmethus!Letnotthechanceneglectedbe!Beholdmywaresattentively:Thestockisrareandvarious.Andyet,there'snothingI'vecollected—Noshop,onearth,likethisyou'llfind!—Whichhasnot,once,sorehurtinflictedUpontheworld,andonmankind.Nodagger'shere,thatsetnotbloodtoflowing;Nocup,thathathnotonce,withinahealthyframePouredspeedydeath,inpoisonglowing:Nogems,thathavenotbroughtamaidtoshame;
Nosword,butseveredtiesfortheunwary,Orfrombehindstruckdowntheadversary.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Gossip!thetimesthoubadlycomprehendest:What'sdonehashapped—whathaps,isdone!'Twerebetteriffornoveltiesthousendest:Bysuchalonecanwebewon.
FAUST
Letmenotlosemyselfinallthispother!Thisisafair,asneverwasanother!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Thewhirlpoolswirlstogetabove:Thou'rtshovedthyself,imaginingtoshove.
FAUST
Butwhoisthat?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Noteherespecially,TisLilith.
FAUST
Who?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Adam'sfirstwifeisshe.
Bewarethelurewithinherlovelytresses,Thesplendidsoleadornmentofherhair!Whenshesucceedstherewithayouthtosnare,Notsoonagainshefreeshimfromherjesses.
FAUST
Thosetwo,theoldonewiththeyoungonesitting,They'vedancedalreadymorethanfitting.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Norestto-nightforyoungorold!Theystartanotherdance:comenow,letustakehold!
FAUST(dancingwiththeyoungwitch)
Alovelydreamoncecametome;Ithenbeheldanapple-tree,Andtheretwofairestapplesshone:Theyluredmeso,Iclimbedthereon.
THEFAIRONE
Appleshavebeendesiredbyyou,SincefirstinParadisetheygrew;AndIammovedwithjoy,toknowThatsuchwithinmygardengrow.
MEPHISTOPHELES(dancingwiththeoldone)
Adissolutedreamoncecametome:ThereinIsawacloventree,Whichhada————————;Yet,——as'twas,Ifanciedit.
THEOLDONE
IofferheremybestsaluteUntotheknightwithclovenfoot!Lethima—————prepare,Ifhim—————————doesnotscare.
PROKTOPHANTASMIST
Accursédfolk!Howdareyouventurethus?Hadyounot,longsince,demonstrationThatghostscan'tstandonordinaryfoundation?
Andnowyouevendance,likeoneofus!
THEFAIRONE(dancing)
Whydoeshecome,then,toourball?
FAUST(dancing)
O,everywhereonhimyoufall!Whenothersdance,heweighsthematter:Ifhecan'teverystepbechatter,Then'tisthesameaswerethestepnotmade;Butifyouforwardsgo,hisireismostdisplayed.IfyouwouldwhirlinregulargyrationAshedoesinhisdulloldmill,He'dshow,atanyrate,good-will,—Especiallyifyouheardandheededhishortation.
PROKTOPHANTASMIST
Youstillarehere?Nay,'tisathingunheard!Vanish,atonce!We'vesaidtheenlighteningword.Thepackofdevilsbynorulesisdaunted:Wearesowise,andyetisTegelhaunted.Toclearthefollyout,howhaveIsweptandstirred!Twillne'erbeclean:why,'tisathingunheard!
THEFAIRONE
Thenceasetoboreusatourball!
PROKTOPHANTASMIST
Itellyou,spirits,toyourface,Igivetospirit-despotismnoplace;Myspiritcannotpractiseitatall.
(Thedancecontinues)
Naughtwillsucceed,Isee,amidsuchrevels;YetsomethingfromatourIalwayssave,Andhope,beforemylaststeptothegrave,Toovercomethepoetsandthedevils.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Henowwillseathiminthenearestpuddle;Thesolacethis,whereofhe'smostassured:Andwhenuponhisrumptheleecheshangandfuddle,He'llbeofspiritsandofSpiritcured.
(ToFAUST,whohasleftthedance:)
Whereforeforsakestthouthelovelymaiden,Thatinthedancesosweetlysang?
FAUST
Ah!inthemidstofittheresprangAredmousefromhermouth—sufficientreason.
MEPHISTOPHELES
That'snothing!Onemustnotsosqueamishbe;Sothemousewasnotgray,enoughforthee.Who'dthinkofthatinlove'sselectedseason?
FAUST
ThensawI—.
MEPHISTOPHELES
What?
FAUST
Mephisto,seestthouthere,
Aloneandfar,agirlmostpaleandfair?Shefalterson,herwayscarceknowing,Asifwithfetteredfeetthatstayhergoing.Imustconfess,itseemstomeAsifmykindlyMargaretwereshe.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Letthethingbe!Allthencehaveevildrawn:Itisamagicshape,alifelesseidolon.Suchtoencounterisnotgood:Theirblank,setstarebenumbsthehumanblood,Andoneisalmostturnedtostone.Medusa'staletotheeisknown.
FAUST
Forsooth,theeyestheyareofonewhom,dying,Nohandwithlovingpressureclosed;ThatisthebreastwhereonIoncewaslying,—Thebodysweet,besidewhichIreposed!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Tismagicall,thoufool,seducedsoeasily!Untoeachmanhislovesheseemstobe.
FAUST
Thewoe,therapture,soensnareme,ThatfromhergazeIcannottearme!And,strange!aroundherfairestthroatAsinglescarletbandisgleaming,Nobroaderthanaknife-bladeseeming!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Quiteright!ThemarkIalsonote.Herheadbeneathherarmshe'llsometimescarry;TwasPerseusloppedit,heroldadversary.Thoucrav'stthesameillusionstill!Come,letusmountthislittlehill;ThePratershowsnolivelierstir,And,ifthey'venotbewitchedmysense,Iverilyseeatheatre.What'sgoingon?
SERVIBILIS
'Twillshortlyrecommence:
Anewperformance—'tisthelastofseven.Togivethatnumberisthecustomhere:'TwasbyaDilettantewritten,AndDilettantiinthepartsappear.ThatnowIvanish,pardon,Ientreatyou!AsDilettanteIthecurtainraise.
MEPHISTOPHELES
WhenIupontheBlocksbergmeetyou,Ifinditgood:forthat'syourproperplace.
Faust
WALPURGIS-NIGHT'SDREAM
XXII
WALPURGIS-NIGHT'SDREAM
OBERONANDTITANIA'sGOLDENWEDDING
INTERMEZZO
MANAGER
SonsofMieding,restto-day!Needlessyourmachinery:Mistyvaleandmountaingray,Thatisallthescenery.
HERALD
Thattheweddinggoldenbe.Mustfiftyyearsberounded:ButtheGoldengivetome,Whenthestrife'scompounded.
OBERON
Spirits,ifyou'rehere,beseen—Showyourselves,delighted!Fairykingandfairyqueen,Theyarenewlyplighted.
PUCK
ComethPuck,and,lightoflimb,Whisksandwhirlsinmeasure:Comeahundredafterhim,Tosharewithhimthepleasure.
ARIEL
Ariel'ssongisheavenly-pure,Histonesaresweetandrareones:
Thoughuglyfacesheallure,Yethealluresthefairones.
OBERON
Spouses,whowouldfainagree,Learnhowweweremated!Ifyourpairswouldlovingbe,Firstbeseparated!
TITANIA
Ifherwhimsthewifecontrol,Andthemanberateher,TakehimtotheNorthernPole,AndhertotheEquator!
ORCHESTRA.TUTTI.
Fortissimo.
Snoutoffly,mosquito-bill,Andkinofallconditions,Frogingrass,andcricket-trill,—Thesearethemusicians!
SOLO
Seethebagpipeonourtrack!'Tisthesoap-blownbubble:Heartheschnecke-schnicke-schnackThroughhisnostrilsdouble!
SPIRIT,JUSTGROWINGINTOFORM
Spider'sfootandpaunchoftoad,Andlittlewings—weknow'em!Alittlecreature'twillnotbe,Butyet,alittlepoem.
ALITTLECOUPLE
Littlestepandloftyleap
Throughhoney-dewandfragrance:You'llnevermounttheairysteepWithallyourtrippingvagrance.
INQUISITIVETRAVELLER
Is'tbutmasqueradingplay?SeeIwithprecision?Oberon,thebeauteousfay,Meets,to-night,myvision!
ORTHODOX
Notaclaw,notailIsee!Andyet,beyondacavil,Like"theGodsofGreece,"mustheAlsobeadevil.
NORTHERNARTIST
Ionlyseize,withsketchyair,Someoutlinesofthetourney;YetIbetimesmyselfprepareFormyItalianjourney.
PURIST
Mybadluckbringsmehere,alas!Howroarstheorgylouder!Andofthewitchesinthemass,Butonlytwowearpowder.
YOUNGWITCH
Powderbecomes,likepetticoat,Agrayandwrinklednoddy;SoIsitnakedonmygoat,Andshowastrappingbody.
MATRON
We'vetoomuchtactandpolicyToratewithgibesascolder;
Yet,youngandtenderthoughyoube,Ihopetoseeyoumoulder.
LEADEROFTHEBAND
Fly-snoutandmosquito-bill,Don'tswarmsoroundtheNaked!Frogingrassandcricket-trill,Observethetime,andmakeit!
WEATHERCOCK(towardsoneside)
Societytoone'sdesire!Bridesonly,andthesweetest!Andbachelorsofyouthandfire.Andprospectsthecompletest!
WEATHERCOCK(towardstheotherside)
AndiftheEarthdon'topennowToswallowupeachranter,Why,thenwillImyself,Ivow,Jumpintohellinstanter!
XENIES
Usaslittleinsectssee!Withsharpestnippersflitting,ThatourPapaSatanweMayhonorasisfitting.
HENNINGS
How,incrowdstogethermassed,Theyarejesting,shameless!Theywillevensay,atlast,Thattheirheartsareblameless.
MUSAGETES
Amongthiswitches'revelryHiswayonegladlyloses;And,truly,itwouldeasierbe
ThantocommandtheMuses.
CI-DEVANTGENIUSOFTHEAGE
Theproperfolksone'stalentslaud:Comeon,andnoneshallpassus!TheBlocksberghasasummitbroad,LikeGermany'sParnassus.
INQUISITIVETRAVELLER
Say,who'sthestiffandpompousman?Hewalkswithhaughtypaces:Hesnufflesallhesnufflecan:"HescentstheJesuits'traces."
CRANE
Bothclearandmuddystreams,formeAregoodtofishandsportin:AndthusthepiousmanyouseeWithevendevilsconsorting.
WORLDLING
Yes,forthepious,Isuspect,Allinstrumentsarefitting;AndontheBlocksbergtheyerectFullmanyaplaceofmeeting.
DANCER
Anewerchorusnowsucceeds!Ihearthedistantdrumming."Don'tbedisturbed!'tis,inthereeds,Thebittern'schangelessbooming."
DANCING-MASTER
HoweachhislegsinnimbletripLiftsup,andmakesaclearance!Thecrookedjump,theheavyskip,Norcarefortheappearance.
GOODFELLOW
Therabblebysuchhateareheld,Tomaimandslaydelightsthem:AsOrpheus'lyrethebrutescompelled,Thebagpipehereunitesthem.
DOGMATIST
I'llnotbeledbyanylureOfdoubtsorcritic-cavils:TheDevilmustbesomething,sure,—Orhowshouldtherebedevils?
IDEALIST
Thisonce,thefancywroughtinmeIsreallytoodespotic:Forsooth,ifIamallIsee,Imustbeidiotic!
REALIST
Thisrackingfussoneveryhand,Itgivesmegreatvexation;And,forthefirsttime,hereIstandOninsecurefoundation.
SUPERNATURALIST
WithmuchdelightIseetheplay,Andgranttothesetheirmerits,SincefromthedevilsIalsomayInferthebetterspirits.
SCEPTIC
Theflametheyfollow,onandon,Andthinkthey'renearthetreasure:ButDevilrhymeswithDoubtalone,SoIamherewithpleasure.
LEADEROFTHEBAND
Frogingreen,andcricket-trill.Suchdilettants!—perdition!Fly-snoutandmosquito-bill,—Eachone'safinemusician!
THEADROIT
Sanssouci,wecalltheclanOfmerrycreaturesso,then;Goa-footnomorewecan,Andonourheadswego,then.
THEAWKWARD
Oncemanyabitwesponged,butnow,Godhelpus!thatisdonewith:Ourshoesarealldancedout,wetrow,We'vebutnakedsolestorunwith.
WILL-O'-THEWISPS
Fromthemarshesweappear,Whereweoriginated;Yetintheranks,atonce,we'rehereAsglitteringgallantsrated.
SHOOTING-STAR
Dartinghitherfromthesky,Instarandfirelightshooting,Cross-wisenowingrassIlie:Who'llhelpmetomyfooting?
THEHEAVYFELLOWS
Room!androundaboutus,room!Troddenarethegrasses:Spiritsalso,spiritscome,Andtheyarebulkymasses.
PUCK
Enternotsostall-fedquite,
Likeelephant-calvesaboutone!Andtheheaviestweightto-nightBePuck,himself,thestoutone!
ARIEL
IflovingNatureatyourback,OrMind,thewingsuncloses,FollowupmyairytrackTothemountofroses!
ORCHESTRA
pianissimoCloudandtrailingmisto'erheadArenowilluminated:Airinleaves,andwindinreed,Andallisdissipated.
DREARYDAY
XXIII
DREARYDAY
AFIELD
FAUSTMEPHISTOPHELES
FAUST
Inmisery!Indespair!Longwretchedlyastrayonthefaceoftheearth,andnowimprisoned!Thatgracious,ill-starredcreatureshutinadungeonasacriminal,andgivenuptofearfultorments!Tothishasitcome!tothis!—Treacherous,contemptiblespirit,andthouhastconcealeditfromme!—Stand,then,—stand!Rollthedevilisheyeswrathfullyinthyhead!Standanddefymewiththineintolerablepresence!Imprisoned!Inirretrievablemisery!Delivereduptoevilspirits,andtocondemning,unfeelingMan!Andthouhastlulledme,meanwhile,withthemostinsipiddissipations,hastconcealedfrommeherincreasingwretchedness,andsufferedhertogohelplesslytoruin!
<i>Rollthedevilisheyeswrathfullyinthyhead</i>
Rollthedevilisheyeswrathfullyinthyhead
MEPHISTOPHELES
Sheisnotthefirst.
FAUST
Dog!Abominablemonster!Transformhim,thouInfiniteSpirit!transformthereptileagainintohisdog-shape?inwhichitpleasedhimoftenatnighttoscamperonbeforeme,torollhimselfatthefeetoftheunsuspectingwanderer,andhanguponhisshoulderswhenhefell!Transformhimagainintohisfavoritelikeness,thathemaycrawluponhisbellyinthedustbeforeme,—thatImaytramplehim,theoutlawed,underfoot!Notthefirst!Owoe!woewhichnohumansoulcangrasp,thatmorethanonebeingshouldsinkintothedepthsofthismisery,—thatthefirst,initswrithingdeath-agonyundertheeyesoftheEternalForgiver,didnotexpiatetheguiltofallothers!Themiseryofthissingleonepiercestotheverymarrowofmylife;andthouartcalmlygrinningatthefateofthousands!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Nowwearealreadyagainattheendofourwits,wheretheunderstandingofyoumenrunswild.Whydidstthouenterintofellowshipwithus,ifthoucanstnotcarryitout?Wiltfly,andartnotsecureagainstdizziness?Didwethrustourselvesuponthee,orthouthyselfuponus?
FAUST
Gnashnotthusthydevouringteethatme?Itfillsmewithhorribledisgust.Mighty,gloriousSpirit,whohastvouchsafedtomeThineapparition,whoknowestmyheartandmysoul,whyfettermetothefelon-comrade,whofeedsonmischiefandglutshimselfwithruin?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Hastthoudone?
FAUST
Rescueher,orwoetothee!Thefearfullestcursebeupontheeforthousandsofages!
MEPHISTOPHELES
IcannotloosenthebondsoftheAvenger,norundohisbolts.Rescueher?Whowasitthatplungedherintoruin?I,orthou?
(FAUSTlooksaroundwildly.)
Wiltthougraspthethunder?Wellthatithasnotbeengiventoyou,miserablemortals!Tocrushtopiecestheinnocentrespondent—thatisthetyrant-fashionofrelievingone'sselfinembarrassments.
FAUST
Takemethither!Sheshallbefree!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Andthedangertowhichthouwiltexposethyself?Knowthattheguiltofblood,fromthyhand,stillliesuponthetown!Avengingspiritshoveroverthespotwherethevictimfell,andlieinwaitforthereturningmurderer.
FAUST
That,too,fromthee?Murderanddeathofaworlduponthee,monster!Takemethither,Isay,andliberateher!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Iwillconveytheethere;andhear,whatIcando!HaveIallthepowerinHeavenandonEarth?Iwillbecloudthejailer'ssenses:getpossessionofthekey,andleadherforthwithhumanhand!Iwillkeepwatch:themagicsteedsareready,Iwillcarryyouoff.Somuchisinmypower.
FAUST
Upandaway!
OpenField
XXIV
NIGHT
OPENFIELD
(FAUSTandMEPHISTOPHELESspeedingonwardonblackhorses.)
FAUST
Whatweavetheythereroundtheraven-stone?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Iknownotwhattheyarebrewinganddoing.
FAUST
Soaringup,sweepingdown,bowingandbending!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Awitches'-guild.
FAUST
Theyscatter,devoteanddoom!
MEPHISTOPHELES
On!on!
Dungeon
XXV
DUNGEON
FAUST
(withabunchofkeysandalamp,beforeanirondoor)
Ashudder,longunfelt,comeso'erme;Mankind'scollectedwoeo'erwhelmsme,here.Shedwellswithinthedark,dampwallsbeforeme,Andallhercrimewasadelusiondear!What!Idelaytofreeher?Idread,onceagaintoseeher?On!myshrinkingbutlingersDeathmorenear.
(Hegraspsthelock:thesoundofsingingisheardinside.)
Mymother,theharlot,Whoputmetodeath;Myfather,thevarlet,Whoeatenmehath!Littlesister,sogood,Laidmybonesinthewood,Inthedampmossandclay:ThenwasIabeautifulbirdo'thewood;Flyaway!Flyaway!
FAUST(unlocking)
Shedoesnotdreamherloverlistensnear;Thathetherattlingchain,therustlingstraw,canhear.
(Heenters.)
MARGARET(hidingherselfonthepallet)Woe!woe!Theycome.Odeathofbitterness!
FAUST(whispering)
Hush!hush!Thehouriscomethatfreesthee.
MARGARET(throwingherselfbeforehim)Artthouaman,thenpitymydistress!
FAUSTThycrieswillwaketheguards,andtheywillseizethee!(Hetakesholdofthefetterstounlockthem.)
MARGARET(onherknees)
Who,headsman!untotheesuchpowerOvermecouldgive?Thou'rtcomeformeatmidnight-hour:Havemercyonme,letmelive!Is'tnotsoonenoughwhenmorningchimehasrun?
(Sherises.)
AndIamyetsoyoung,soyoung!AndnowDeathcomes,andruin!I,too,wasfair,andthatwasmyundoing.Mylovewasnear,butnowhe'sfar;Tornliesthewreath,scatteredtheblossomsare.Seizemenotthussoviolently!Spareme!WhathaveIdonetothee?Letmenotvainlyentreatthee!Ineverchanced,inallmydays,tomeetthee!
FAUST
ShallIoutlivethismisery?
MARGARET
NowamIwhollyinthymight.Butletmesuckle,first,mybaby!Iblisseditallthislivelongnight;Theytook'taway,tovexme,maybe,AndnowtheysayIkilledthechildoutright.AndnevershallIbegladagain.Theysingsongsaboutme!'tisbadofthefolktodoit!
There'sanoldstoryhasthesamerefrain;Whobadethemsoconstrueit?
FAUST(fallinguponhisknees)
Hereliethonewholovestheeever,Thethraldomofthywoetosever.
MARGARET(flingingherselfbesidehim)
Oletuskneel,andcalltheSaintstohideus!Underthestepsbesideus,Thethresholdunder,Hellheavesinthunder!TheEvilOneWithterriblewrathSeekethapathHispreytodiscover!
FAUST(aloud)
Margaret!Margaret!
MARGARET(attentivelylistening)
Thatwasthevoiceofmylover!
(Shespringstoherfeet:thefettersfalloff.)
Whereishe?Iheardhimcallme.Iamfree!Nooneshallenthrallme.TohisneckwillIfly,Onhisbosomlie!Onthethresholdhestood,andMargaret!calling,MidstofHell'showlingandnoisesappalling,Midstofthewrathful,infernalderision,Iknewthesweetsoundofthevoiceofthevision!
FAUST
'TisI!
MARGARET
'Tisthou!O,sayitonceagain!
(Claspinghim.)
'Tishe!'tishe!Wherenowisallmypain?Theanguishofthedungeon,andthechain?'Tisthou!Thoucomesttosaveme,AndIamsaved!—AgainthestreetIseeWherefirstIlookedonthee;Andthegarden,brightlyblooming,WhereIandMarthawaitthycoming.
FAUST(strugglingtoleave)
Come!Comewithme!
MARGARET
Delay,now!SofainIstay,whenthoudelayest!
(Caressinghim.)
FAUST
Away,now!Iflongerherethoustayest,Weshallbemadetodearlyrueit.
MARGARET
Kissme!—canstnolongerdoit?Myfriend,soshortatimethou'rtmissing,Andhastunlearnedthykissing?Whyismyheartsoanxious,onthybreast?Whereonceaheaventhyglancesdidcreateme,Aheaventhylovingwordsexpressed,Andthoudidstkiss,asthouwouldstsuffocateme—Kissme!OrI'llkissthee!
(Sheembraceshim.)
Ah,woe!thylipsarechill,Andstill.HowchangedinfashionThypassion!Whohasdonemethisill?
(Sheturnsawayfromhim.)
FAUST
Come,followme!Mydarling,bemorebold:I'llclaspthee,soon,withwarmthathousand-fold;Butfollownow!'TisallIbegofthee.
MARGARET(turningtohim)
Andisitthou?Thou,surely,certainly?
FAUST
'TisI!Comeon!
MARGARET
Thouwiltunloosemychain,
Andinthylapwilttakemeonceagain.Howcomesitthatthoudostnotshrinkfromme?—Say,dostthouknow,myfriend,whomthoumak'stfree?
FAUST
Come!come!Thenightalreadyvanisheth.
MARGARET
MymotherhaveIputtodeath;I'vedrownedthebabyborntothee.Wasitnotgiventotheeandme?Thee,too!—'Tisthou!Itscarcelytruedothseem—Givemethyhand!'Tisnotadream!Thydear,dearhand!—But,ah,'tiswet!Why,wipeitoff!Methinksthatyet
There'sbloodthereon.Ah,God!whathastthoudone?Nay,sheathethyswordatlast!Donotaffrayme!
FAUST
O,letthepastbepast!Thywordswillslayme!
MARGARET
No,no!Thoumustoutliveus.NowI'lltelltheethegravestogiveus:Thoumustbeginto-morrowTheworkofsorrow!Thebestplacegivetomymother,Thencloseathersidemybrother,Andmealittleaway,Butnottooveryfar,Ipray!Andhere,onmyrightbreast,mybabylay!Nobodyelsewillliebesideme!—Ah,withinthinearmstohideme,Thatwasasweetandagraciousbliss,Butnomore,nomorecanIattainit!Iwouldforcemyselfontheeandconstrainit,Anditseemsthourepellestmykiss:Andyet'tisthou,sogood,sokindtosee!
FAUST
Ifthoufeel'stitisI,thencomewithme!
MARGARET
Outyonder?
FAUST
Tofreedom.
MARGARET
Ifthegraveisthere,Deathlyinginwait,thencome!Fromheretoeternalrest:Nofurtherstep—no,no!Thougoestaway!OHenry,ifIcouldgo!
FAUST
Thoucanst!Justwillit!Openstandsthedoor.
MARGARET
Idarenotgo:there'snohopeanymore.WhyshouldIfly?They'llstillmystepswaylay!Itissowretched,forcedtobegmyliving,Andabadconsciencesharpermiserygiving!Itissowretched,tobestrange,forsaken,AndI'dstillbefollowedandtaken!
FAUST
I'llstaywiththee.
MARGARET
Bequick!Bequick!Savethyperishingchild!Away!FollowtheridgeUpbythebrook,
Ifthegraveisthere,Deathlyinginwait,thencome!
Ifthegraveisthere,Deathlyinginwait,thencome!
Overthebridge,Intothewood,
Totheleft,wheretheplankisplacedInthepool!Seizeitinhaste!'Tistryingtorise,'Tisstrugglingstill!Saveit!Saveit!
FAUST
Recallthywanderingwill!Onestep,andthouartfreeatlast!
MARGARET
Ifthemountainwehadonlypassed!Theresitsmymotheruponastone,—Ifeelanicyshiver!Theresitsmymotheruponastone,Andherheadiswaggingever.Shebeckons,shenodsnot,herheavyheadfallso'er;Shesleptsolongthatshewakesnomore.Sheslept,whilewewerecaressing:Ah,thosewerethedaysofblessing!
FAUST
Herewordsandprayersarenothingworth;I'llventure,then,tobeartheeforth.
MARGARET
No—letmego!I'llsuffernoforce!Graspmenotsomurderously!I'vedone,else,allthingsfortheloveofthee.
FAUST
Thedaydawns:Dearest!Dearest!
MARGARET
Day?Yes,thedaycomes,—thelastdaybreaksforme!Mywedding-dayitwastobe!
TellnoonethouhasbeenwithMargaret!Woeformygarland!ThechancesAreover—'tisallinvain!Weshallmeetonceagain,Butnotatthedances!Thecrowdisthronging,nowordisspoken:ThesquarebelowAndthestreetsoverflow:Thedeath-belltolls,thewandisbroken.Iamseized,andbound,anddelivered—Shovedtotheblock—theygivethesign!NowovereachneckhasquiveredThebladethatisquiveringovermine.Dumbliestheworldlikethegrave!
FAUST
OhadIne'erbeenborn!
MEPHISTOPHELES(appearsoutside)
Off!oryou'relosteremorn.Uselesstalking,delayingandpraying!Myhorsesareneighing:Themorningtwilightisnear.
MARGARET
Whatrisesupfromthethresholdhere?He!he!sufferhimnot!Whatdoeshewantinthisholyspot?Heseeksme!
FAUST
Thoushaltlive.
MARGARET
JudgmentofGod!myselftotheeIgive.
MEPHISTOPHELES(toFAUST)
Come!orI'llleaveherinthelurch,andthee!
MARGARET
ThineamI,Father!rescueme!Yeangels,holycohorts,guardme,Camparound,andfromevilwardme!Henry!Ishuddertothinkofthee.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Sheisjudged!
VOICE(fromabove)
Sheissaved!
MEPHISTOPHELES(toFAUST)
Hithertome!
(HedisappearswithFAUST.)
VOICE(fromwithin,dyingaway)
Henry!Henry!
Faust
End
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