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FAUST 
 
 A TRAGEDY 
 
 BY 
 
 ^., a/^ATtn^— 
 
 T.W. von GOETHE 
 
 TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH VERSE 
 
 CHARLES HARTPOLE BOWEN 
 
 LONDON 
 LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 
 
 1878 
 
 All rights reserved 
 

 1f 
 
 
Forty years have well nigh elapsed since the follow- 
 ing translation of Faust was written. Put aside for 
 so long a period, it may well seem strange that it 
 should now appear in print. The only reason for this 
 that the writer has to give, is a desire to save any 
 friends who may hereafter care to read it the trouble 
 of perusing a manuscript. 
 
 KiLNACouRT, Queen's County : 
 May 24, 1877. 
 
 ^. 
 
 52889 
 
F A U ST. 
 
 DEDICATION, 
 
 Ye wild and spectre forms, again ye rise, 
 
 The troubled vision of my earliest youth ; 
 
 Say ! shall I grasp ye ere once more it flies, 
 
 And do I feel that this delusion sooth 
 
 My heart still haunts ? Come then before my eyes. 
 
 Crowd forth from mist and vaporous cloud uncouth ; 
 
 My spirit feels within its inmost source 
 
 The wizard breath that wafts your onward course. 
 
 With ye, ye bring the thoughts of happy daySj 
 And much-loved shades long lost again appear, 
 Whilst friendship's voice like half-remembered lays 
 Of some old tale, and early love's, I hear. 
 And then the pang returns and memory strays 
 Life's tangled paths anew. While sorrow near 
 With echoing plaint oft names the dear ones gone 
 From this dark way that I now tread alone. 
 
 B 
 
' " 'Faicd. 
 
 Alas ! they never more shall hear my song, 
 The souls for whom I first awoke its strain. 
 For ever vanished is the friendly throng, 
 I loathe the strange applause that comes in vain, 
 Since those to whom it rightly should belong 
 Relentless fate hath bound with noiseless chain ; 
 Or spared as yet, their weary course she goads 
 Through distant lands whilst void our old abodes. 
 
 Again th* unwonted longing for the still 
 And earnest spirit realm my heart recalls ; 
 The fleeting tones with half-formed numbers fill 
 My murmuring song. As when the low breeze falls 
 Upon the Eolian string I feel its thrill ; 
 Tear follows tear, awe softens, not appals 
 My nerved heart, that now grows mild and weak, 
 Earth fades away, and with the past I speak. 
 
Faust, 
 
 PROLOGUE. 
 
 In Heaven. 
 
 The Lord; the Heavenly Host. Afterwards Me- 
 
 PHISTOPHELES. ThE THREE ARCHANGELS COme fotwara 
 RAPHAEL 
 
 The sun chimes on in ancient wise 
 Amid the brother spheres of heaven ; 
 And his forewritten task still plies 
 With thunderspeed for ever driven. 
 Immortal strength the angels drain 
 Whilst gazing on the unfathomed truth. 
 The high and boundless works remain 
 All bright as in creation's youth. 
 
 GABRIEL 
 
 And swiftly, ever swiftly spinning, 
 Earth her varied pomp revolves, 
 Deep and fearful, night beginning, 
 Still as heavenly light dissolves 
 In mountain waves, the restless ocean 
 Foams the deep-based rocks among, 
 And rocks and seas with endless motion 
 In one swift course are whirled along. 
 
Faust. 
 
 MICHAEL 
 
 And storms with storms in might contending 
 From land and sea for ever roar, 
 Their mingled breath around is blending 
 A chain of deep miresting power. 
 The flashing blast on high careering, 
 Flames before the thunder's way ; 
 But we thy servants, Lord ! revering, 
 Enjoy the mildly changing day. 
 
 ALL THREE 
 
 Immortal strength the angels drain, 
 Tho' none thy purpose fathom may ; 
 Thy high and glorious works remain 
 All bright as at creation's day. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Since thou, O Lord, once more dost condescend 
 To ask for our affairs, we venture near ; 
 And as at times thine eye on me doth bend 
 Without displeasure, therefore am I here 
 Amid the general throng, and I beseech. 
 Although this goodly circle should cry shame, 
 That thou wilt pardon my uncourtly speech, 
 Which, to say truth, now feels a little lame ; 
 My pathos, too, I fear I must confess, 
 Might chance to draw from thee a laugh, unless 
 
To laugh is not thy wont ; its theme being low, 
 
 As I of suns and worlds but little know, 
 
 And merely occupy myself with man, 
 
 Since first to plague his neighbour he began ; 
 
 For still unchanged I find earth's little god, 
 
 And all his ways and actions quite as odd 
 
 As when thou sent'st him forth j indeed he might 
 
 Have gone on smoothly if of heaven's light 
 
 Thou hadst not given him that small glimpse which he 
 
 Calls knowledge, and contrives through it to be 
 
 More beastly than the beast, a mode of living 
 
 Whereby he thanks thee humbly for the giving. 
 
 He seems most like — I trust if 'tis improper 
 
 Thou wilt excuse my saying — a grasshopper. 
 
 That little long-legged thing that flits and springs, 
 
 Then down amid the grass its old song sings, 
 
 And in the grass he ever should repose ! 
 
 In every filthy mess he pokes his nose. 
 
 THE LORD 
 
 Hast thou then nothing more to tell or ask ? 
 Still to find fault for ever thy sole task. 
 On the whole earth is nothing to thy will ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 No, Lord. I find all there as ever ill, 
 Man's wretched lot with troubles so beset 
 That even to plague him I myself must fret. 
 
Faust, 
 
 THE LORD 
 
 Know*st thou my servant Faust ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 The doctor, ay ! 
 Truly he serves thee in no common way. 
 On earth his folly seeks not meat or drink 
 For his wild soul, that labours on the brink 
 Of the unfathomable, yet he knows 
 His madness partly, still he onward goes 
 And seeks to snatch its fairest star from heaven. 
 Nor shuns the joys that may by earth be given ; 
 But nothing near nor far from its unrest 
 May ever free his deeply toiling breast 
 
 THE LORD 
 
 Tho' wandering wide in error's trackless night 
 He now may serve me, upwards to the light 
 I yet will lead him ; when green leaves appear, 
 The gardener knows that flower and fruit are near. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 What wilt thou wager ? thou shalt lose him yet 
 If thy permission thou will'st only give, 
 And I to lead him quietly am let. 
 
Faust, 
 
 THE LORD 
 
 So long as man upon the earth doth live, 
 So long is nothing there to thee forbade, 
 For man must err till numbered with the dead. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 I thank thee. I'm content, for with such ware 
 I never had the least desire to deal. 
 For lips both full and fresh I only care j 
 Such as are not I have no wish to feel. 
 Nor with a corpse to dwell in the same house. 
 Our sympathy's like that of cat and mouse. 
 
 THE LORD 
 
 'Tis good, and now to thee do I give o'er 
 
 To sap this spirit to its inmost source. 
 
 And unimpeded if thou hast the power 
 
 To lead him with thee on thy downward course 
 
 And stand abashed, as thou shalt surely do 
 
 To leam an upright man, in error most 
 
 When wrapt he seems, still in himself doth know 
 
 The path to right 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Well, then, some time is lost. 
 But for my wager, there's no need to quake, 
 Yet one condition more I wish to make, 
 
Faust. 
 
 My triumph to enjoy in its full measure : 
 Dust shall he eat, and eat it with a pleasure, 
 Like my old relative the famous snake ! 
 
 THE LORD 
 
 Yea, e'en thus far be free to work thy will, 
 
 Since it to me seems good, with such as mate 
 
 AVith thee to bear, and of false spirits still 
 
 I ever hold the scoffer least in hate, 
 
 For man too lightly o'er his task would sleep 
 
 And quickly drown his soul in careless sloth, 
 
 But thee to urge him, who art never loth 
 
 This evil to prevent, I still do keep 
 
 Close at his side, and a companion give 
 
 "WTio devil, ever must unresting live. 
 
 But ye the sons of God ! whose happy fate 
 
 To share the living beauty ye behold, 
 
 That power which ever lives but to create 
 
 In love's glad bonds eternally shall fold, 
 
 And all that with imresting change seems fraught 
 
 By ye be fixed in everlasting thought. 
 
 \The heavens close and the Archangels vanish 
 
 MEPHiSTOPHELES {alone) 
 
 Than thus to see the Father and a word 
 To have with him at times, I might do worse ; 
 In truth 'tis somewhat fine that heaven's Lord 
 Will kindly with the devil himself converse. 
 
Faust 
 
 NIGHT, 
 
 FAUST 
 
 In a high-vaulted narrow Gothic Chamber. 
 
 Alas ! I now philosophy, 
 
 Abstrusest law and medicine too, 
 
 And to my cost theology, 
 
 With ceaseless toil have studied through. 
 
 Poor wretched fool ! what have I won ? 
 
 To end as wise as I begun. 
 
 Tis true I'm doctor called, and here 
 
 Now by the nose for many a year 
 
 I lead my pupils up and down, 
 
 Thro' crooked paths with much renown, 
 
 And see that we can nothing know ! 
 
 'Tis this doth sear my spirit through. 
 
 More am I skilled in all their gear 
 
 Than doctors, priests, and authors are; 
 
 I scruple not at good or evil, 
 
 No dread I know of hell or devil, 
 
 And therefore hope hath passed away, 
 
 Nor faith in knowledge feel I may. 
 
lo Faust, 
 
 In secret to myself I own 
 From all my arts there is not one 
 Whereby man's lot may bettered be, 
 Or he himself reformed by me : 
 Then neither wealth nor gold have I, 
 Nor honour, nor authority. 
 Is there a dog who thus would live ? 
 For this good cause myself I give 
 To magic up, and fain would try 
 If aught doth yet in secret lie 
 That by the spirit's power and spell 
 To be revealed I may compel 
 I would no longer toil in vain 
 That which I know not to explain. 
 But to their inmost core unfold 
 The subtie bonds which ever hold 
 The world's unbroken unity. 
 Production at her work would see, 
 Look on her secret springs displayed, 
 Nor drive in words this paltry trade. 
 
 Full, cloudless moon ! O would that thou 
 Wert for the last time shining now 
 This desk upon, where night by night 
 I watch thy late returning light, 
 Till o'er some mouldering tract or book 
 I meet, sad friend, thy gentle look. 
 O would that on the mountain way 
 In thy loved light I now might stray. 
 
Faust. 1 1 
 
 Round cave and glen with spirits hover, 
 GHde in thy beam the meadows over, 
 The loathed web I weave undo, 
 And bathe me in thy stainless dew. 
 
 Wretch that I am ! Still must I dwell 
 In this accursed walled-up cell ; 
 Where painted panes with dulness even 
 Infect the joyous light of heaven: 
 Cramped by a heap of books that must 
 And worms defile, begrimed with dust, 
 A charnel vault ! from roof to ground 
 Foul smoke -stained paper hanging round. 
 Old instruments, and without number 
 Boxes, glasses, round me strewn, 
 A pile of quaint ancestral lumber. 
 This for a world ! that world thine own. 
 
 Then dost thou ask why thus thy heart 
 So coldly in thy bosom beats, 
 And wherefore still a nameless smart 
 At every throb the life-pulse meets. 
 The living nature God did make 
 Thee to enjoy is yet unknown; 
 And things of life thou dost forsake 
 For soulless skull and mouldering bone. 
 
 Out ! out ! away into the wide 
 And breathing world ! Hold'st thou not it 
 
12 Faust, 
 
 Which now should be thine only guide, 
 This scroll by Nostradamus writ ? 
 The distant stars thou then shalt read, 
 When nature thy instructress be \ 
 Thy soul from earthly bondage freed, 
 Shall as a spirit speak with thee. 
 In vain dull toil would here expound 
 The mystic signs it may not clear ; 
 Ye viewless spirits hovering round, 
 O answer ye, if me ye hear ! 
 
 \He opens the book and looks at the sign of 
 the Microcosm 
 Ha ! while I gaze what instant raptures flow 
 Through every sense, how with unwonted thrill 
 Fresh at my heart I feel the lifeblood glow. 
 And every nerve and vein with gladness fill: 
 Hath hand immortal traced this mystic sign. 
 That can the inward storm thus quickly lay. 
 The wearied spirit steep in bliss divine. 
 And nature's secret power unveiled display, 
 Am I a god ? all is so light around. 
 My soul, while thee in these pure forms I trace, 
 Creative nature meet'st thou face to face. 
 Now what the sage hath said at length is found. 
 ' The spirit realm is closed not j 
 But thither wouldst thou bend thy flight, 
 Thy sense is dead, thy heart is shut, 
 Go bathe thee in the morning light. 
 
 \He looks at the sign 
 
Faust. 1 3 
 
 How one and all a web are weaving, 
 Each within the other living, 
 Their golden vessels interchanging. 
 How the powers of heaven are ranging 
 Up and down ! the earth is tingling 
 With the bliss exhaling, swinging 
 Of the many pinions winging 
 
 To and fro ! 
 All things are with all commingling 
 
 Thro' and thro'.' 
 What glorious dream is this ? But dream alone. 
 
 boundless nature, can'st thou ne'er be won ? 
 Where are thy breasts ? whence earth and heaven drain 
 Eternal life, where still in its distress, 
 
 The thirsting heart doth ever madly press ? 
 Ye gush ! ye flow ! and must I long in vain. 
 
 \He turns over the book indignantly, and looks at 
 the sign of the Earth 
 But thou, dark sign, less strange art thou to me, 
 Earth's kindred spirit, here I gaze on thee. 
 
 1 feel thy power, from thee like madd'ning wine 
 My strength redoubles till it equals thine. 
 
 Forth through the world I go ; what man may bear 
 Of earthly woe, or earthly joy, I dare. 
 The driving wreck may quiver on the rock, 
 I breathe the storm and revel in the shock. 
 
 A cloud gathers o'er me, 
 
 The moonlight is flown, 
 
 The lamp too is failing, 
 
14 Faust. 
 
 It reeks ! it is gone ! 
 With flickering rays 
 A red light plays, 
 
 My brow with fire is bound. 
 Down from the vault 
 A shuddering thrill 
 Sinks through my heart, 
 I feel the chill 
 
 Of a spirit sweeping round. 
 Thou whom I call 
 From thy mystic thrall 
 Unveil, and before me 
 Stand ! 
 Ha ! what throb unwonted swelling 
 To its core my bosom rends ? 
 I feel the fleeting senses welling, 
 Fast with thine my being blends. 
 
 Appear ! 
 Ay, be thou death itself, thou must appear. 
 \He seizes the book and pronounces the sign of the 
 Spirit; a red flame flashes up, t/ie Spirit appears 
 in tJie flame 
 
 SPIRIT 
 
 Who calls me ? 
 
 FAUST {turns away) 
 
 Thee ! O horrible ! 
 
Faust. 1 5 
 
 SPIRIT 
 
 By ceaseless sucking at my sphere 
 Thou at last hast dragged me here. 
 And now 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Away, thou shape of helL 
 
 SPIRIT 
 
 Thou hast prayed in agony 
 
 My voice to hear, my face to see. 
 
 Obedient to thy mighty call 
 
 I come, and thus can wretched fear. 
 
 Thou would-be god ! thy heart appal ? 
 
 Where is the soul that drew me here, 
 
 The heart that could a world create, 
 
 And in itself that world contain, 
 
 That in its joys would emulate 
 
 The joy of spirits, nor in vain 
 
 Till now hath striven — ^where art thou ? 
 
 Faust ! whose voice in her recesses 
 
 Earth hath heard, whose strength oppresses 
 
 Mine ; what, art thou he who now 
 
 Can quail with more than mortal fright, 
 
 Whose strength my breath alone doth blight, 
 
 A miserable trampled worm ? * 
 
1 6 Faust, 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Shall I then fear thee, thing of flame ? 
 Faust am I. I thy equal am. 
 
 SPIRIT 
 
 Thro' all that exists on the voiceless storm 
 Of motion that hath no ending, 
 I sweep and I glide 
 With the ceaseless tide 
 That life is for ever sending. • 
 From her fathomless source 
 I follow the course 
 Hither and thither wending, 
 Thro' cradle and grave 
 Of her restless wave, 
 To the ocean where all is blending. 
 Up and down, 
 A glowing change. 
 
 To and fro 
 I ever range. 
 And for ever I toil in the boundless sea 
 Of the universe, where all things that be 
 On the loom of time inweave do I 
 To the living garb of the deity. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Thou busy winged spirit who thus flittest 
 The world around, how near I feel to thee. 
 
Faust, 1 7 
 
 SPIRIT 
 
 The spirit thee resembling thou befittest, 
 
 Faust — not me. [Spirit vanishes 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Not thee ; who then ? 
 
 The image of the godhead I, 
 
 And not a mate for thee ! 
 
 [A knocking at the door 
 
 death ! 'tis my amanuensis. Must 
 
 His grovelling presence, with its base alloy, 
 
 This light-revealing vision thus destroy, 
 
 And strew my thoughts and fortunes in the dust? 
 
 Wagner enters in his dressing-gown and nightcap^ with a 
 lamp in his hand. Faust turns away in displeasure, 
 
 WAGNER 
 
 1 beg your pardon, but in passing by 
 
 I heard your voice, and from its tone you seemed 
 To read a speech from some Greek tragedy. 
 And as the art at present's much esteemed, 
 I fain would learn a little. It is said, 
 An actor best can teach a priest his trade. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Ay ! when the priest's an actor, as may be 
 
 The case ere long, the saying will be true. 
 
 c 
 
1 8 . Faust 
 
 WAGNER 
 
 Ah, when a man is so pent up that he 
 On hoHdays alone the world can see, 
 And then but see it through a telescope. 
 To lead it by persuasion shall he hope ? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 That which thou dost not feel, which does not well 
 
 A mystic stream from out the fountain soul, 
 
 The innate power that can alone compel 
 
 The hearts of others, and their course control, 
 
 No toil can win. Thou mayst thy heaped-up hoard 
 
 Of ashes kindle to a feeble fire. 
 
 And cook the fragments fi-om another's board 
 
 Into a paltry mess, if thou desire 
 
 The praise of fools. But in the heart alone 
 
 Is spun that coil which binds two hearts in one. 
 
 WAGNER 
 
 I feel * expression ' makes the speaker's gain 
 Alone. Tis that I therefore would attain. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 \Vho makes the truly great his aim. 
 No fi-othy, tinkling fool is he, 
 For truth and reason ever claim 
 Small aid from art where'er they be. 
 
Faust 19 
 
 If impulse from the heart inspire 
 
 Thy tongue to speech, dost thou require 
 
 To hunt for words ? No, this befits 
 
 Him who no lofty end conceives, 
 
 Whose idle talking fruitless flits 
 
 Like autumn wind through withered leaves. 
 
 WAGNER 
 
 Ah God ! how tedious are the paths of art. 
 Its steep ascent to chmb how short is life j * 
 How oft while struggling thro' the doubtful strife 
 Of learning's labour ache both head and heart. 
 The hidden spots where wisdom's fountains lie 
 Are hard to find, and oft ere half the road 
 With fruitless toil our weary feet have trod. 
 The chances are, poor devils, we must die. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Is parchment then the source whence thou wouldst drain 
 That sacred draught which thirst for ever quells ? 
 No ! thou shalt ever draw and drink in vam ; 
 Out thine own soul alone such water wells. 
 
 WAGNER 
 
 Excuse me. Thence great pleasure he derives, 
 Into the spirit of the times who dives, 
 Scanning each sage of old, and what he thought 
 On all that we since then so far have brought. 
 
20 Faust, 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Far ! far ! oh yes, up to the stars of heaven, 
 My friend, the times gone by to us are given, 
 A mystic scroll, a book with seven seals. 
 What we the spirit of the times do call 
 Is our own spirit, which to each and all 
 The times as in a glass itself reveals. 
 Ay ! and a wretched scene is often there, 
 Whereof a single glance might fright away 
 The boldest looker-on ; a motley fair 
 Of rags and rubbish, or at best a play 
 Of state affairs, where puppets in their places 
 Deal out old saws with all-important faces. 
 
 WAGNER 
 
 But yet to know mankind, to read the mind, 
 The inmost soul, may well our labour claim. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Ay ! what the crowd doth call to know mankind. 
 But who shall call the child by his right name ? 
 The few, the very few, who yet have made 
 Aught of the truth their own, who would declare 
 What they have learned, the swelling heart lay bare, 
 These have the cross and stake as yet repaid. 
 I pray you, friend ; 'tis time that we conclude. 
 The night is now far spent ; we should retire. 
 
FausL V 2 1 
 
 WAGNER 
 
 Well, as you wish. But in such learned mood 
 
 To hear you talk is what I most desire, 
 
 Therefore, before I go, one boon I crave. 
 
 Easter to-morrow comes, I fain would have 
 
 Some further converse ; truly I have gained 
 
 From study much, but have not all attained. \Goes 
 
 FAUST (alone) 
 
 One soul exists alone, hope never flies 
 
 The soul which clings to dross, whose eager hand 
 
 With restless labour digs each barren land 
 
 And gropes exulting where an earth-worm lies. 
 
 Dares such a mortal voice to echo here 
 
 Where thronging spirits with their presence fill 
 
 The pregnant air ? and I, that thou wert near, 
 
 Poor grovelling child of earth, must thank thee still, 
 
 For thou didst burst the chain wherewith despair 
 
 Had bound my sense, my failing eye didst screen. 
 
 Its dwarfish ken, alas ! might never bear 
 
 The withering brightness of such monster scene. 
 
 The living image of the godhead I, 
 Whose disembodied thought with eager gaze 
 'Mid light ethereal sought the mirrored maze 
 Of truth eternal : ay ! and deemed it nigh. 
 
 Who more than cherub freely would have coursed 
 Through nature's veins, whose wish was to create 
 
22 Faust, 
 
 And live the life of gods, am I thus forced 
 Th' ambitious hope so soon to expiate ! 
 Long sought, all-glorious vision thou art gone, 
 One thimderword to earth hath hurled me dowTi. 
 
 * Not dare to mate with thee in being ! ' Say, 
 Have I the power to draw thee near possest. 
 But not the power thy subtle strength to stay ? 
 In that brief moment how supremely blest 
 'Twas mine to feel — so little yet so great — 
 But thou didst thrust me back, and I must tread 
 The starless paths of man's uncertain fate. 
 WTio then shall teach me what to seek, to dread; 
 The throb of earthly fear, of earthly hope. 
 Must I then live their impulse to obey, 
 With this alone to guide me ; onward grope 
 My weary course o'er hfe's uncertain way, 
 Which equally on every side impedes, 
 One mingled mass, our sufferings and our deeds. 
 
 Aught in itself most noble, doth the mind 
 Of man conceive, still something foreign clings 
 Thereto for ever. If perchance we find 
 That which the world calls good, all better things 
 Are hes or madness deemed ; in earthly strife 
 High feelings sink that erst have given us life. 
 
 How oft would eager phantasy dilate 
 Through boundless space, or pierce the infinite, 
 
Faust, 23 
 
 Soaring on outspread wings with hope elate ; 
 But small the room that doth her course befit 
 When, baffled in her flight, she one by one 
 Sees on the wave of time her fortunes strewn. 
 
 Then deep within the heart's recesses, care 
 In secret nestles, and a countless brood 
 Of hidden pangs are soon engendered there, 
 The while she rocks herself in sleepless mood, 
 Nor day nor night her ruthless task doth rest, 
 Still chasing peace from out the affrighted breast. 
 
 In some new garb for ever masking she 
 As house or court, as wife or child appears. 
 As fire, dagger, poison, aught that we 
 See in our dreams or vision in our fears \ 
 Terror in all a phantom-evil views. 
 And wails as lost what we shall never lose. 
 
 What is it then but dust thus thickly clothes. 
 Piled on its many shelves, this lofty wall, 
 The sapless trash that in a world of moths, 
 Doth with its thousand shapes my soul enthral ? 
 That which I want, is this the fitting spot 
 Wherein to find it ; haply here I glean 
 Frotn endless tomes how men their wretched lot 
 Have made more wretched, how that there has been 
 At times a happy one. Thou fleshless skull, 
 What means thy hideous grin ? Shall I divine, 
 
24 Faust, 
 
 Since eyeless thus from thy recesses dull 
 
 Thou lookst upon me, that thy brain like mine 
 
 Hath been bewildered, that thou too like me 
 
 With untamed will didst seek the brighter day 
 
 Where truth eternal dwells, and grievously 
 
 In twilight dim like me didst lose thy way ? 
 
 And ye grim instruments ! At me ye mock 
 
 With many-cranked wheel and cog and groove. 
 
 I stood before the door ye should unlock, 
 
 Tho' quaint the key, the bolt it may not move, 
 
 And still in broadest day from mortal view 
 
 Her veiled secrets nature doth conceal. 
 
 Nor canst thou wring from her with bar or screw 
 
 That which she will not to thy mind reveal. 
 
 Ancestral lumber, that dost here remain 
 
 Untouched since last my father bent before thee, 
 
 Old smoke-stained roll, that on this desk hast lain 
 
 Since first the troubled lamp hath smouldered o'er thee. 
 
 My worldly all ! Far better wert thou gone, 
 
 Than cumbered with thee I should idly fret. 
 
 What falls to man, use only makes his owm ; 
 
 The rich are those who spend, not those who get ; 
 
 Of use is that the moment brings alone. 
 
 All else a burden is, 'neath which we vainly sweat. 
 
 Is yon small flask a magnet to the eye, 
 That mine so strangely on that spot doth brood ? 
 Whence shines this lovely light, thus suddenly 
 Like moonbeam falling through the midnight wood ? 
 
Faust, 25 
 
 Phial of price unnamed ! I take thee down, 
 Aye thee I honour, for in thee I own 
 The sum of man's intelHgence and art \ 
 Essence of all that gentle sleep doth bring. 
 Thou single power of every deadly thing 
 To me thy master now thy gifts impart. 
 I see thee ! pain and sorrow are no more. 
 I grasp thee ! quickly is the struggle o'er. 
 Wave after wave the spirit ebbs away, 
 O'er the wide sea I float, the skies are beaming. 
 The glassy flood beneath my feet is gleaming. 
 To other shores invites another day. 
 
 A car of fire sweeps down on pinions light .; 
 To me it comes, my bosom pants to rove. 
 Mounting the untrod paths thro' ether bright 
 To where new spheres of unchecked action move. 
 Canst thou then seek, whom haughty fate doth spurn, 
 Poor crawling worm, such bliss, such life divine ? 
 
 I Ay ! on the earth's fair sun but boldly turn 
 Thy back for ever, and these joys are thine. 
 
 ;The gate which all slink by, come, burst it now, 
 
 ; That gate which from thy view the future shields, 
 'Tis fitting time that thou by deeds shouldst show 
 
 [To God's own might man's worth in nothing yields. 
 )uail not before the dark and foul abyss 
 
 [Where phantasy itself to torture damns, 
 But onward through the entrance fearless press. 
 Around whose jaws all hell collected flames; 
 
26' Faust 
 
 Firm thy last step although thy course be run, 
 To end in nothing — ^haply there begun. 
 
 And now come down, thou crystal stainless cup, 
 Forth from thy antique case, too long laid up, 
 Thy worth forgotten and thy aid unsought 
 Oft hast thou circled round my father's board, 
 And earnest guests to festive mirth restored, 
 Passing from hand to hand with gladness fraught. 
 A master's skill hath richly thee inwrought 
 With strange devices ; these the drinker's task 
 In rhyme to tell, nor other aid to ask, 
 But breathless quaff thee at a single draught. 
 Now to no friendly lip I pass thee on, 
 Now shall my wit on thee no more be shown; 
 Here is the juice doth quickly still all thought. 
 Up to the brim, dark stream, thou fiUst the bowl; 
 Thou whom I mixed, who life and death control. 
 Now my last drink, art here with heart and soul 
 As festal greeting to the morning brought. 
 
 \Sets the cup to his lips. Ringing of bells and 
 singing of chorus 
 
 CHORUS OF ANGELS 
 
 Christ is arisen ! 
 Sadness and terror 
 Fly from the mortal 
 Whom sorrows and error 
 Darkly imprison. 
 

 Faust, 2 7 
 
 FAUST 
 
 WTiat solemn strain, what clear and sacred tone, 
 
 The cup untasted from my lip repels, 
 
 The Easter dawn already make ye known. 
 
 With festal clang, ye hollow tolling bells. 
 
 Ye choirs, the gladd'ning hymn again ye pour. 
 
 That angels sung around the sepulchre. 
 
 The joyous song which man's redemption tells. 
 
 CHORUS OF WOMEN 
 
 With sweet spices we bathed Him, 
 
 The blood from each wound 
 We washed, and we swathed Him \ 
 
 With linen around. 
 To the tomb we conveyed Him, 
 
 His true ones, with care. 
 But alas ! where we laid Him 
 
 We find Him not there. 
 
 CHORUS OF ANGELS 
 
 Christ is arisen ! 
 Triumph and gladness 
 Now to the loving ones ! 
 Trial and sadness, 
 Burst is your prison ! 
 
28 FausL 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Ye heavenly strains, with solemn soothing sound, 
 Why seek me in the dust wherein I dwell ? 
 Go echo there, where weaker men are found. 
 I hear your message, but the tale ye tell 
 To faith is spoken, faith whose petted child 
 Is miracle, and they alone may lead 
 To where I dare not soar, to regions mild 
 \Vhence these glad tidings hither vainly speed. 
 And yet this sound from earHest childhood known, 
 Its friendly voice to life recalls me now; 
 Once did the kiss of heavenly love come down 
 In sabbath stillness on my youthful brow ; 
 Then broke the pealing bell the hallowed air, 
 Then fervent pleasure breathed in sacred prayer, 
 And longing strange and sweet my course impelled 
 Thro' wood and field, then trickled tear on tear 
 Down my hot cheek until I deemed thee near, 
 Thou better world, which fancy's eye beheld. 
 This hymn ! its voice to youth did ever bring 
 The sports, the freedom of the festive spring, 
 And memory doth with childish thrill restrain 
 The last dread step. Peal on, ye heavenly songs. 
 Tears wet my cheek ; the tear to ye belongs ; 
 To ye I yield ; earth holds me once again. 
 
 CHORUS OF YOUNG PEOPLE 
 
 Death hath He vanquished, 
 Corruption He knew not, 
 
Faust, 29 
 
 The grave hath relinquished 
 The tombed one ye view not. 
 
 Wrapt in unending bliss, 
 
 Near the Creator, He 
 
 Highly exalted is ; . 
 
 Ah ! then must we 
 Here on earth's bosom still, 
 Such is thy holy will, 
 Suffer and languish till 
 Here we our lot fulfil. 
 Master, like Thee. 
 
 CHORUS OF ANGELS 
 
 Christ is arisen ! 
 The grave could not bind Him, 
 
 No longer imprison 
 The bonds that entwined Him. 
 Ye faithful ones, rouse ye from suffering and fear ; 
 Journeying brotherly. 
 Love shall your labour be, 
 
 Preaching the promise He 
 Made, man from sin to free, 
 For you is your Master here. 
 You is He near. 
 
30 Faust. 
 
 BEFORE THE GATE. 
 Promenaders of all kinds pass out. 
 
 SOME MECHANICS 
 
 Why are you going that way ? 
 
 OTHERS 
 
 We are going up to the Jagerhaus. 
 
 THE FIRST 
 
 But we're for a walk to the mill to-day. 
 
 A MECHANIC 
 
 The Wasserhof is what I would choose. 
 
 SECOND MECHANIC 
 
 That road's not pleasant, the other's the best. 
 
 THIRD MECHANIC 
 
 What do you do ? 
 
 FOURTH MECHANIC 
 
 I go with the rest. 
 
Faust, 3 1 
 
 FIFTH MECHANIC 
 
 \ 
 
 No, come up to Bergsdorf j for there, never fear, 
 We shall find pretty girls and the best of good beer, 
 With rare rows in the bargain. 
 
 FOURTH MECHANIC 
 
 Go up there, what for ? 
 Is twice not enough of such fighting and din. 
 That still, my fine fellow, you hate a whole skin ? 
 You may go if you like, but the place I abhor. 
 
 SERVANT MAID 
 
 No, no, I'll go back to the town. 
 
 ANOTHER 
 
 Here under the poplars we surely shall find him. 
 
 THE FIRST 
 
 But still if we do the luck is your own. 
 What's he to me that I should mind him ? 
 For, walk or dance, for ever he'll be 
 With you, and what pleasure is that to me ? 
 
 THE SECOND 
 
 Ay, were he alone. But the curly head 
 Will surely be with him to-day, he said. 
 
32 Faust, 
 
 STUDENT 
 
 The devil ! how lustily the damsels stride. 
 Come, brother, let us with them side by side. 
 Strong beer, right sharp tobacco, in her best 
 A maiden decked ; a fig for all the rest. 
 
 citizens' daughters 
 See, what a shame ! when they might choose 
 The best of company, that youths like those 
 Will follow servant girls, and rather talk 
 With them, than come and with their equals walk. 
 
 SECOND STUDENT 
 
 Hold, not so fast ; I see two more behind. 
 Well-dressed ones too, and pretty. One my neighbour 
 Some time has been, and I feel half inclined 
 To fall in love with her without more labour. 
 They walk demurely in their quiet way. 
 But ask to join them, and the)r'll not say nay. 
 
 FIRST STUDENT 
 
 No, brother, that's slow work. Come, forward push, 
 Quick, or we lose the game. The hand that Mondays 
 Bring back its weekly task, to twirl the brush, 
 That is the hand can fondle best on Sundays. 
 
 TOWNSMEN 
 
 With this new burgomaster all's not right ; 
 He gained his end, and now it comes to light 
 
Faust, 2)7) 
 
 Then for the town itself, what has he done ? 
 Is it not growing worse from day to day, 
 With more restraints to bear and more to pay. 
 Than e'er was heard of till his rule begun ? 
 
 BEGGAR {sings) 
 
 Good gentlemen and ladies fair, 
 With rosy cheek and silken dress, 
 O make the beggar's wants your care. 
 And kindly look on my distress. 
 Who freely give alone are gay, 
 Then not in vain here let me sing, 
 But let this day a holiday 
 To all — to me a harvest bring. 
 
 ANOTHER TOWNSMAN 
 
 On festive days I know of no delight 
 
 Like a good talk of war and war's alarms, ^ 
 
 When distant nations with each other fight, 
 
 And far behind the Turk is up in arms. 
 
 With open window drain one's quiet glass. 
 
 And view the barges gay and gliding river ; 
 
 Then to one's happy home at evening pass. 
 
 And bless sweet peace, of joys like these the giver. 
 
 THIRD TOWNSMAN 
 
 Ay ! neighbour, ay ! if distant folks will break 
 ft Each other's heads, they may, I little care. 
 
34 Faust. 
 
 Nor how great stir in other parts they make, 
 If things at home stay only as they are. 
 
 AN OLD WOMAN {to the cittzeti^ daughters) 
 
 Heyday ! how smart my pretty flesh and blood ; 
 Who could such beauty see and not adore you ? 
 But not so proud ! altho' 'tis well and good, 
 For what you wish, I know to set before you. 
 
 citizen's daughter 
 
 Come, Agatha, come on ; with hags like these 
 In public to be seen it is not right, 
 Tho' true, my future lover, as she says. 
 Alive she showed me on St. Andrew's night. 
 
 SECOND citizen's DAUGHTER 
 
 And mine in crystal pure she made appear, 
 A soldier youth, with many more behind him ; 
 And though I never cease both far and near 
 To seek him out, yet nowhere can I find him. 
 
 SOLDIERS ^^ 
 
 Towns with their battlements, 
 
 Towers and wall. 
 Maids with their haughty thoughts 
 
 Scorning us all, 
 
 Soon shall they fall. 
 Bold the adventure is, noble when won. 
 
Faust, 35 
 
 And the trumpet that calls us 
 
 Our banner beneath, 
 
 It summons to pleasure 
 
 Or summons to death. 
 
 Glorious the storming, 
 
 And glorious the life j 
 For both must surrender, 
 
 The city and maid ; 
 
 Right bold is the venture. 
 
 And richly repaid. 
 And the soldiers triumphant are gone. 
 
 Faust and Wagner. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 The stream and the fountain have burst their chain. 
 
 It hath melted away in the spring's bright smile, 
 
 And hope in the valley is green again. 
 
 The winter old he hath lingered awhile j 
 
 But now he retreats to his mountain home. 
 
 And the icy showers unheeded come 
 
 That he sends in his flight o'er the grassy plain, 
 
 Where his wrath in its weakness is idle and vain. 
 
 For the sun no traces of white may bear, 
 
 While in hues of summer the earth he pranks, 
 
 But all is living and moving there, 
 
 And the distant crowd by the river's banks 
 
 For flowers hath scattered its motley ranks. 
 
 D 2 
 
36 Faust. 
 
 Behold from the outspread town below 
 The varied throng in a ceaseless flow, 
 Its mingling masses with pleasure elate, 
 Pour out o'er the plain through the dusky gate. 
 How sweet is the sunshine to all to-day ! 
 Their Lord is arisen ! with festal voice 
 The bell is proclaiming aloud, and they 
 Themselves have arisen, and all rejoice. 
 From the bonds of their daily toil they come, 
 From the sordid dwelling and cheeriess room. 
 From cellar and roof, from the narrowness 
 Of the crowded street with its stifling press ; 
 From the shadowy gloom of the holy pile, 
 To the gladdening light of the morning's smile. 
 But see ! now see ! how the parting throng 
 Is streaming thro' garden and field and wood. 
 How merrily tossing or gliding along 
 Gay barges unnumbered are stemming the flood, 
 The last one just pushing away from the shore, 
 She is laden until they can lade her no more. 
 From ever)' hillock and mountain way 
 Bright colours are gleaming far and near ; 
 For pleasure o'er all is abroad to-day : 
 Already the clamour and hum I hear 
 Of that paradise of the multitude, 
 The village green, where gentle and rude 
 Are laughing and shouting. Ay ! here again 
 I may mingle a man in the ranks of men. 
 
FaiLst, 37 
 
 WAGNER 
 
 Doctor ! with you to walk and converse hold 
 Is pride and profit both, else might not I 
 Without you hither come for wealth untold, 
 To these rude scenes I bear such enmity. 
 This fiddling, screaming, bowling, and the rest 
 Distracts me so with its infernal ringing, 
 While all run riot as with devils possest, 
 And then they call it pleasure, call it singing. 
 
 PEASANTS {under the lime tree dancing and singing) 
 
 The shepherd decked his jacket new 
 With ribbons red and white and blue, 
 
 Right gay was his apparel. 
 Merrily went the fiddle-bow. 
 And all were dancing to and fro, 
 
 Tira-la ! Tira-la ! 
 
 Huzza ! Tira-la ! 
 And round the lime tree whirl. 
 
 But while to join the dance he rushed, 
 
 A maid he with his elbow pushed 
 
 Such conduct taking evil, 
 
 In anger turned the buxom lass 
 
 And said to him * How rude that was ! * 
 
 Tira-la ! Tira-la ! 
 
 Huzza ! Tira-la, 
 Pray don't be so uncivil. 
 
38 Faust, 
 
 Yet still the ring goes briskly round, 
 And right and left the dancers bound. 
 
 While petticoats are flying : 
 But all grew red, and all grew warm, 
 At length they rest them arm in arm. 
 Tira-la ! Tira-la ! 
 Huzza ! Tira-la ! 
 With hip to elbow, sighing. 
 
 No, hold your tongue ; how many a one 
 His bride with vows like yours hath won, 
 
 And promised while betraying. 
 And yet he coaxed the maid aside, 
 While echoed from the lime tree wide 
 Tira-la ! Tira-la ! 
 Huzza ! Tira-la ! 
 With shouts and fiddle playing. 
 
 OLD PEASANT 
 
 Doctor, we may indeed be vain 
 Since one so wise and learned as you, 
 Doth venture here and not disdain 
 To mingle with this noisy crew. 
 Lo here with liquor fresh to-day 
 For you our finest cup I fill. 
 The proffered draught I humbly pray 
 May it your thirst not only stiD, 
 But to your valued life I hope 
 A day may add for every drop. 
 
Faust, 
 
 FAUST 
 
 With thanks the grateful bowl I drain, 
 And wish all health and joy again. 
 
 OLD PEASANT 
 
 Ay, truly ! it is right and good 
 That you in happy times appear, 
 Who oft by all a friend hast stood 
 In evil days amongst us here ; 
 And many a one here living stands 
 Whose pains your father's art allayed, 
 And burst their fever's burning bands, 
 What time alone the plague he stayed. 
 Then midst the sick a beardless youth 
 From house to house you went about, 
 And many a lifeless corpse came forth, 
 But still uninjured you came out ; 
 The Helper from above did heed, 
 And helped the helper in his need. 
 
 ALL 
 
 Long live the tried and trusty friend ! 
 Long may he help to others lend ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Who help and power to help hath sent. 
 To Him in heaven the knee be bent. 
 
 \JIe goes on with Wagner 
 
40 Faust. 
 
 - WAGNER 
 
 What must thy feelings be, thou honoured man, 
 Who dost respect Hke this from all obtain ! 
 O happy he ! whose gifts thus godlike can 
 Such envied worth for their possessor gain. 
 The father sees and points thee to his son, 
 The music stops, the dance is given o'er ; 
 All join the press, and question while they run. 
 Thou walkest on, the crowd make way before ; 
 The head is bared, the cap is tossed on high ; 
 Almost they kneel as tho' the Host drew nigh. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 A little farther walk we to yon stone, 
 
 And from our wandering rest ; how often there 
 
 With labouring thought o'ercome I've sat me down 
 
 And wrung my soul \vith fasting and with prayer. 
 
 In faith unshaken, rich in hope, I strove. 
 
 Thro' tears, thro' sighs, thro' wringing hands to bend 
 
 The Lord to mercy, on His throne above. 
 
 That here the raging pestilence might end. 
 
 Like mockery sounds the multitude's applause, 
 
 Within my inward breast. O couldst thou read, 
 
 To father as to son how little cause 
 
 Exists, that fame like this should be decreed. 
 
 A worthy sombre man my father was. 
 
 With upright purpose but by methods strange, 
 
 Through nature's secret depchs he sought to range. 
 
Faicst. 41 
 
 And pored unwearied o'er her mystic laws 
 With tried adepts a trusty brotherhood. 
 
 . Shut in their swarthy kitchen, 'twas his use 
 O'er endless recipes for days to brood, 
 - And hostile substances together fuse. 
 There in the tepid bath the Lion Red, 
 A lover bold, was with the Lily married, 
 Then wrung with open flame from bed to bed 
 By subtle arts the bridal pair were carried; 
 Was, deep within the glass at length descried, 
 Imbued with varying hues, the youthful Queen, 
 They deemed the medicine found; the patients died, 
 
 * And no one asked if any cured had been. 
 Thus we the helpless sick thro' hill and vale 
 With these our heUish drugs did long assail, 
 More fatar far than pestilence were we. 
 The poisonous draught alone this hand did give, 
 Which thousands drank and died, and still I live, 1 
 That praised their ruthless murderer may be. 
 
 WAGNER 
 
 \ Why with such idle cares your soul afflict ? 
 What from the best of men require we more. 
 Than that the art which others handed o'er, 
 He daily exercise with conscience strict? 
 If tc thy father honour thou dost lend 
 In youth, then gladly wilt thou knowledge gain. 
 A man become, dost thou its bounds extend. 
 So shall thy son to loftier ends attain. 
 
42 Faust, 
 
 FAUST 
 
 O happy he, who this wide sea of wrong 
 
 Still dreams to 'scape, whom hope doth ever buoy; 
 
 AMiere all for that they know not, restless long, 
 
 While that they know, they know not to employ. 
 
 But come ! we will not cloud with thoughts of woe 
 
 The sweet enjoyment of this parting hour; 
 
 See how the greeR-girt cottages below 
 
 Gleam in yon flood of light the sun doth pour ! 
 
 He bends, he sinks, the day with him is gone, 
 
 Away he hastes, and life is ever new. 
 
 O that no wang exists to bear me on. 
 
 That I might soar from earth and follow too ! 
 
 Then ever dwelling in the evening's beam 
 
 Would I the mountain heights on fire behold, 
 
 The valley's deep repose, the silver stream, 
 
 Lost in the distant wave of burnished gold. 
 
 On, on, the godlike flight for ever on. 
 
 Nor clift, nor chasm, nor craggy summit stays. 
 
 The sea appears ! earth's watery bounds are won, 
 
 Behold the glowing coves, the sunlit bays. 
 
 Down sinks the god at length, yet still doth last, 
 
 Unquenched, the longing for eternal light, 
 
 It still impels me, on I forward haste. 
 
 Before the day, and after me the night, 
 
 Above the heavens and under me the sea, 
 
 A glorious dream ! he sinks and it is gone. 
 
 Alas ! the spirit's wing keeps pace alone, 
 
Faust, 43 
 
 No earthly wing may bear him company; 
 Yet is in all the innate feeling strong 
 To struggle on and upwards. When from high, 
 Lost in the blue expanse, the lark her song 
 Pours down, thrilling the air with melody; 
 When poised on outspread wing the eagle free 
 Far o'er the floating cloud and pine-clad height, 
 Sweeps on his way ; when over plain and sea 
 The crane unwearied wings her homeward flight. 
 
 WAGNER 
 
 Oft hath my fancy too its wayward hour, 
 Yet never have I felt a wish like yours ; 
 This thirst for wood and field hath soon an end. 
 No bird its wing I grudge, but borne would be 
 On the mind's joys. O then how blissfully 
 From book to book, from page to page we wend ! 
 Then winter nights become both bright and fair, 
 When warm with life our every limb hath grown ; 
 And ah ! unroU'st thou then some parchment rare. 
 The boundless heaven itself to thee comes down. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 One impulse only from thy heart doth well, 
 Another is, O mayst thou feel it never ! 
 Alas ! two souls within my bosom dwell, 
 And from the other each itself would sever. 
 One to the earth below, in ceaseless love 
 
44 Faust, 
 
 Clings with a clasp of steel that never yields ; 
 
 One soars from out the mist and seeks above 
 
 A higher ancestry, in nobler fields. 
 
 O, be there viewless spirits hovering near, 
 
 That hold 'twixt earth and heaven their airy throne, 
 
 Descend ye from your golden atmosphere. 
 
 And bear me hence with ye to worlds unknown. 
 
 Ah ! were a magic mantle mine ! that I 
 
 Thro' stranger lands, thro' untracked realms might range, 
 
 For jewelled robes its worth I would not change, 
 
 Nor mantle of a king that gift should buy. 
 
 WAGNER 
 
 Call not the well known children of the air, 
 
 On every wind a fearful troop they ride. 
 
 And danger thousandfold for men prepare : 
 
 Thronging the atmosphere on every side 
 
 The sharp-fanged spirits from the frozen north 
 
 Press on and pierce thee with their arrowy tongues, 
 
 With withering breath they from the east rush forth 
 
 And feed destroying on thy parched lungs. 
 
 The south sends those that on thy glowing brain. 
 
 Hasting from deserts hot, their fire pour down. 
 
 The west the swarm that thee and fields and plain 
 
 Alike refreshes, but at last to drown. 
 
 They hear with joy, on mischief ever bent, 
 
 Deceit their purpose, gladly they obey, 
 
 \\Tiile messengers from heaven we deem them sent. 
 
 They lisp like angels, only to betray. 
 
Faust, 45 
 
 Now let us go. The earth's with grey o'ercast, 
 
 The air grows cool, the mists are falling fast; 
 
 At evening first our home we rightly prize. 
 
 Why standst thou speechless thus with wond'ring eyes ? 
 
 What thro' the evening's gloom can look thus strange ? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 See you a coalblack dog the stubble range ? 
 
 WAGNER 
 
 Yes ! but in that I nothing wondrous see. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Watch well the brute ! what thinkst thou he should be ? 
 
 WAGNER 
 
 A poodle clearly, who with curious nose 
 Hunts on his master's track as poodles will. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 But markst thou hov/ in snakelike curves he goes, 
 Whilst round he courses near and nearer still ; 
 And err I not, behind him visibly 
 A streak of fire upon his path he leaves. 
 
 WAGNER 
 
 I nothing but a black-haired poodle see, 
 Mayhap some secret cause your eye deceives. 
 
46 Faust, 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Methinks some magic noose he lightly draws, 
 A future toil, wherewith our feet he binds. 
 
 WAGNER 
 
 He's boimding thus, and hesitates, because 
 Two strangers in his master's place he finds. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 The ring is closed, his course is o'er. 
 
 -WAGNER 
 
 Now see, a dog is he, and nothing more. 
 He crawls and doubts, upon his belly lays 
 And wags his tail, a dog in all his ways. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Come hither, join our company. 
 
 WAGNER 
 
 A poodle-mannered beast is he, 
 Stand you but still, he sits and begs ; 
 Speak, and he's up with outstretched legs. 
 Hide glove or stick, where'er you fling it, 
 In pond or stream, he'll seek and bring it. 
 
Faust, 47 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Ay, you are right, no spirit's trace is shown, 
 All, as you say, from training comes alone. 
 
 WAGNER 
 
 Such well-bred dog to make his friend 
 A wise man oft will condescend. 
 And well hath he your favour earned, 
 The student's pupil deeply learned. 
 
 \They enter the gate 
 
 STUDY, 
 
 FAUST {entering with the poodle) 
 
 O'er field and meadow now forsaken, 
 Night her gloomy veil hath spread; 
 To holier thoughts the soul doth waken, 
 Sad with deep foreboding dread. 
 Now sleeps each passion wild and erring, 
 With every deed and feeling rude, 
 Within the heart alone are stirring 
 The love of man, the love of God. 
 
 Be quiet, poodle ! run not up and down, 
 Why at the threshold snuff and smell you so ? 
 
48 Faust. 
 
 Take my best cushion, it shall be your own 
 If quietly behind the stove you go. 
 The grateful kindness which would here repay 
 The playful tricks wherewith you did your best 
 To make us merry on our mountain way \ 
 Receive you now a welcome, peaceful guest. 
 
 WTien once again the lamp is burning 
 
 Friendly in our narrow cell, 
 
 Soon enters absent peace returning. 
 
 And all within the heart is w^ell; 
 
 Then reason speaks, and blossoms bursting 
 
 Hope puts forth with fresh essay j 
 
 She seeks life's fountains gently thirsting, 
 
 Life's springs, alas ! too far away. 
 
 Cease, poodle ! cease your growling — ill accords 
 With these sweet echoing tones which now surround 
 My soul with harmony, its brutish soimd. 
 Accustomed are we, that in uncouth words- 
 Men mock the worth they may not understand, 
 And hating oft the good, the beautiful. 
 That is not such to them, with it will quarrel, 
 And with the dog like him too snap and snarl 
 Ay ! rest, alas. ! is unattainable. 
 No more contentment from this heart may well ! 
 But wherefore must the stream so quickly fail, 
 And thirst more fierce again the breast assail ? 
 Yet thus that it must be too well I know, 
 
Faust, 49 
 
 Still may the void be filled ; what hidden lies, 
 
 What is not of the earth, we learn to prize. 
 
 What revelation's light alone may show, 
 
 And say from whence more gloriously doth shine 
 
 That light than from God's Testament divine. 
 
 Come, sacred text ; that which thou dost impart 
 
 In tongue of olden worlds I long t'unfold 
 
 In our dear German tongue, and thus unrolled. 
 
 Thy sacred meaning scan, with upright heart. 
 
 \He opens the volume and sets himself to the task 
 'Tis written, * In the beginning was the Word.' 
 I stop already. What is here inferred ? 
 So highly 'tis impossible to prize 
 The Word alone. No, we must otherwise 
 Read it. If us the Spirit influence, 
 'Tis written, * In the beginning was the Sense.' 
 Bethink you well ! let not the pen too fast 
 Write this first line in inconsiderate haste. 
 Could Sense create and form with nothing more ? 
 It should be, ' In the beginning was the Power.' 
 E'en while I write it down repeats again 
 A warning something, * This may not remain.' 
 The Spirit aids ; it whispers what we need. 
 I write it, ' In the beginning was the Deed.' 
 
 Poodle, leave off this howling ! 
 
 Cease this growling ! 
 If that the chamber you with me would share. 
 Such boisterous companion here I bear 
 No longer. What, you will not ? Then must one 
 
 E 
 
5P Faust. 
 
 Of us two quickly from this cell begone. 
 With grief I feel our fellowship thus cease ; 
 The door is open ; there ! depart in peace. 
 
 But what do I here behold ! 
 Can nature a vision like this unfold ? 
 Is it a Shadow ? is it aught real ? 
 Could earthly being such change befall ? 
 How longer and broader the poodle grows, 
 A doglike form no more he shows. 
 What hideous phantom have I brought home ! 
 Like Nile-bred monster is he become, 
 With eyes of fire and visage fell. 
 I have thee now, I know thee well ! 
 Solomon's key is a bridle good 
 To manage and curb th' half hellish brood. 
 
 SPIRITS {in the passage) 
 
 One is prisoner within, 
 
 Follow him no one, 
 Like a fox in a gin, 
 There quakes a true one, 
 An old lynx of hell, 
 Trapped with a spell. 
 
 Haste ye to help him, but take ye heed ! 
 
 Danger is brewing, beware ! beware 1 
 Veil the moonbeam, darken the air ; 
 
 We should succour him in his need, 
 
 He for us hath done many a deed. 
 
Faust 5 1 
 
 Hover above ! hover below I 
 Hither and thither, and to and fro, 
 Then is he freed. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Here first to compel thee thy task to give o'er, 
 Monster, confronts thee the spell of the Four. 
 
 Salamander shall glow. 
 
 Undine shall flow. 
 
 Sylph disappear. 
 
 Kobold bestir. 
 
 Who knows not the power, 
 
 Who knows not the worth, 
 
 Of fire, of water. 
 
 Of air, and of earth, 
 
 Who knows not to call them, 
 
 Tho' hidden they be, 
 
 O'er spirits no ruler. 
 
 No master is he. 
 
 Vanishing, flaming, 
 , Fly, Salamander ! 
 
 Rushingly streaming, 
 Join thee, Undine ! 
 In meteor beauty. 
 Show thee, Sylph ! 
 Incubus earthly. 
 
 Help! help! 
 Come forth and finish the spell ! 
 
52 Faust, 
 
 None of the Four the beast doth harm, 
 He lies unruffled and grins at me ; 
 As yet he suffers no injury, 
 But thou shalt list to a stronger charm. 
 
 A being more fell 
 
 Doth that form confine, 
 
 A scapeling of hell, 
 
 Then behold thee the sign ! 
 
 That sign to which bow 
 
 The dark troop below. 
 Ay ! now he is swelling and bristling with fear. 
 
 Lost being accursed, 
 
 Behold thou Him here, 
 
 The vilely transpierced. 
 
 Not made, uncreated. 
 
 The wadely diffused. 
 
 Thro' all heaven dilated, 
 Whom to name none may dare ! 
 
 Backward driven the stove behind. 
 
 No more to monster form confined. 
 
 It swells, it rages, it mounts on high, 
 
 Away in vapour it fain would fleet ; 
 
 Vain are thy efforts, no aid is nigh. 
 
 Come, crouch thee down at thy master's feet. 
 
 Is it enough, or dost thou require 
 
 To feel the sting of the sacred fire ? 
 
Faust, 53 
 
 Await not the might 
 Of the thrice glowing light ! 
 Await not the might 
 Of the power that hath no measure. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {as the Mtst rtscs, comes from behind the 
 stove clad as a travelling scholar) 
 Why such a stir ! what is your wisdom's pleasure ? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 A travelling scholar ! here at last we get 
 The poodle's kernel ; tis a ' casus ' queer. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Right plentifully you have made me sweat, 
 I beg to compliment you, learned sir ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 How namest thou thyself? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 This seems to me 
 A question somewhat mean from one who holdeth 
 The Word so cheaply — who. from show would be 
 Estranged — who being's depth alone beholdeth. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 With gentlemen like you most commonly 
 One may the temper in the name descry, 
 Since that but all too plainly doth appear 
 
54 Faust, 
 
 When Fly-god, Liar, and such names we hear ; 
 So once again I ask, who art thou ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 WTiat 
 Evil doth ever will and good beget, 
 A mystic power, a part am I of that 
 
 FAUST 
 
 A riddle this ! No, thou must answer yet 
 In words less imintelligible. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 I 
 
 The spirit am which ever doth deny. 
 And rightly doth it. For all things that are 
 Should perish ; therefore it were better far 
 That nothing did exist ; all that your kind 
 Call sin, destruction, death, the whole defined 
 By that to which one general name is lent 
 Of evil — ^is my proper element 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Thou call'st thyself a part, and yet a whole I see ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 'Tis that I speak the truth with modesty, 
 Though that small world of folly, man, it seems, 
 Himself undoubtingly a whole esteems. 
 Part of the part I am which first was all. 
 Part of the darkness whence light first did fall ; 
 
Faust, 55 
 
 The rebel offspring, proud ambitious light, 
 That now contests her rule with parent night ; 
 But bound to bodies it shall strive in vain, 
 Too firmly clasped, it ne'er shall break that chain. 
 It streams from bodies. Bodies make it fair. 
 Control it on its path a body may, 
 And so we hope its struggles mortal are, 
 And it like bodies too shall pass away. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Now then I know thy dignified employ ! 
 Things in the mass unable to destroy, 
 Piecemeal to undermine hast thou begun. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Ay ! and in truth not much as yet have done. 
 
 This thing, this clumsy world of woes, 
 
 Great as the trouble I have taken, 
 
 Remains, at least as yet, unshaken ; 
 
 Nor earthquake, fire, flood, or storm 
 
 Doth land disturb or ocean harm. 
 And that damned stuff the brood of beasts and men, 
 That ever fives, that nothing can o'ercome, 
 How many thousands vainly I entomb ! 
 Still springs fi-esh blood and circulates again. 
 And ever goes it thus ; it well might drive 
 One mad, to see how air, earth, water strive, 
 Evolving each its germs a thousandfold. 
 
Faust, 
 
 In wet and dry, in hot and cold the same. 
 Had I not luckily retained thee, Flame, 
 I nothing for myself apart might hold. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 So that cold devil's fist dost thou, 
 Thus vainly clenched in envious strife, 
 To that kind Power oppose, whence flow 
 The ceaseless streams of joyous life ! 
 Some other task go seek thee out. 
 Strange child of chaos, one more fit. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 The matter we will think about, 
 
 Hereafter speak we more of it. 
 
 But with your leave I now would go. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 What need is there for such request ? 
 Since now we one another know, 
 Pray call whenever it suits you best ; 
 Here is the window, here the door. 
 The chimney too is at your service. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 There stands a trifling bar before 
 Which troubles me I must confess, 
 The witch's foot the threshold shows. 
 
Faust 5 7 
 
 FAUST 
 
 The pentagram then makes thee fear ; 
 Say, if thy going this oppose, 
 Thou son of hell, how cam'st thou here ? 
 How was such spirit here ensnared ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Observe it closely, 'tis but ill prepared ; 
 The farther angle on the outer side 
 It stands a little open, as you see. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 A lucky accident it seems for me, 
 
 And so my prisoner thou must here abide 3 
 
 A truly rare and unexpected chance. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 The poodle marked not when he would advance ; 
 Once in, the thing another face doth wear, 
 Nor make his exit may the devil dare. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 But wherefore thro' the window not withdraw ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 For ghosts and devils there is one fixed law. 
 There where they enter, there they must away. 
 To choose the first is free to us alone. 
 
58 Faust, 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Then hell itself hath laws too of its own ! 
 I'm glad of that, since thus a compact may 
 Even with such gentlemen as you be made. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Whatever is promised shall be strictly paid, 
 And naught deducted, but hereafter we 
 Can speak of this again ; to understand 
 The matter rightly would some time demand ; 
 So for this once I pray you set me free. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Stop, here a moment please you to remain, 
 And tell me something novel ere you go. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Pray set me free. I soon am back again, 
 Then question me on all you wish to know. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 I lured thee not, but come thou hast 
 Into the web of thy free will; 
 Who holds the devil, hold him fast, 
 To catch him twice may task thy skill. 
 
h 
 
 Faust, 59 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Well, if you like it I'm content to stay; 
 But since you keep me here for company, 
 Permit me thro' my arts that I essay, 
 To make the time pass somewhat pleasantly. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Ay, any you prefer to use you're free, 
 So that the art a pleasing one shall be. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Thou shalt, my friend, in this one hour 
 
 More pleasure through thy senses drain, 
 
 Than labouring on as heretofore 
 
 From years of sameness thou couldst gain. 
 
 What the sweet spirits sing to thee, 
 
 The lovely visions they unfold 
 
 Are no unreal mockery. 
 
 But taste thou shalt with joy untold 
 
 All that the heart and brain can know 
 
 Of pleasure unalloyed with woe, 
 
 Nor prefatory charm we need, 
 
 We all are here and ready — ^heed ! 
 
 SPIRITS 
 
 Prison of gloom. 
 Vanish thy darkness, 
 
6o Faust, 
 
 Shadowy pall 
 Of arch and of wall, 
 The mortal beneath, 
 In the likeness of death 
 No longer enthrall. 
 
 But away ! 
 Hither sweet sky, 
 Blue depths of ether, 
 Shine from on high. 
 Sparkle revolving, 
 Bright stars dissolving. 
 The cloud as it passes. 
 The vapoury masses. 
 Melt as they fly 
 
 A new day. 
 Milder suns beaming, 
 Hitherward gleaming. 
 Are making their flight. 
 Children of light, 
 Spirits of love. 
 From the heaven above 
 Downward are bending, 
 Tremulous clinging 
 Longing desire, 
 Higher and higher, 
 With them is winging 
 
 Her way. 
 Flutteribg beneath 
 A many-hued wTeath, 
 
Faust, 6 1 
 
 Colour the earth is binding, 
 Decking the bower 
 Where love's deep power 
 Is heart with heart inwinding. 
 Bowers by bowers, 
 Leafbursting flowers. 
 Cluster on cluster bowing, 
 Down-laden the vine, 
 The sparkling wine 
 
 Ceaselessly foaming and flowing, 
 
 From wrenching stress 
 
 Of the creaking press ; 
 
 Streams in their sparkling bed 
 
 Are rushing along. 
 
 O'er gem and o'er stone, 
 
 The amber and ruby red. 
 
 The heights are past. 
 
 Outspreading fast 
 
 They widen a glowing sea, 
 
 And far between 
 
 Bright hills of green 
 
 Are glistering gloriously. 
 
 Chasing delight 
 
 In their winged flight. 
 
 Myriads follow the sun. 
 
 Where distant isles 
 
 In evening's smiles 
 
 Lie floating the waves upon; 
 
 The echoing song 
 
62 Faust. 
 
 Of a joyous throng 
 
 The mellowing breezes bear, 
 
 Lightly hover 
 
 The green seas over 
 
 The wand'ring troops of the air. 
 
 The heights above 
 
 Those climbing rove, 
 
 Scattered beneath them these; 
 
 The waters skim 
 
 Or hstless swim 
 
 On the gently heaving seas. 
 
 Fleeing from strife. 
 
 Seeking the life 
 
 Of the distant far-away, 
 
 Of the stars of love 
 
 That onward move 
 
 In bliss unendingly. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Well done, my airy youngsters, ye have sung 
 
 To right good purpose ; for this sleep, among 
 
 My other debts your concert shall be writ ; 
 
 Thou art not yet, my friend, the man to hold the devil 
 
 Sleep on, in this same pleasant sea of dreams, 
 
 Your senses all with our free leave may revel. 
 
 Whilst we, what this cursed pentagram may split, 
 
 A rat's tooth, seek. But short delay I fear, 
 
 My friends seem plenty and will quickly hear. 
 
Faust. 63 
 
 The lord and ruler of rats and mice, 
 Of flies, of frogs, of fleas and lice. 
 Commands thee forth \ with tooth and claw 
 This spellbound threshold scratch and gnaw 
 Where with oil 'tis smeared about. 
 Ha ! ha ! already you're hopping out. 
 Quick to the task, your work must mar 
 The forward angle, the charmed bar; 
 Come, one bite more the work is done ! 
 Now, Faust ! till we meet again, sleep on. 
 
 FAUST {awaking) 
 
 How is it? am I then deceived once more, 
 The spirit realm gone, the vision o'er? 
 Hath child of hell with lying dreams betrayed ? 
 Was that a poodle and naught else that fled ? 
 
 STUDY. 
 
 Faust, Mephistopheles. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Who's there ? Come in ! What fool must now intrude ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 'Tis I. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Come in. 
 
64 Faust, 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Once more. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Come in. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 So good ! 
 I hope we now sliall live in harmony, 
 Since your quaint humours forth to chase am I 
 Come back A youth right noble pray behold, 
 My scarlet doublet how 'tis laced with gold, 
 My cloak of silk the stiffest, in my hat 
 The brave cock's-feather, and a sword with that 
 Of length most fashionable. Come, my friend, 
 Bestir yourself, and follow sage advice, 
 Off with that musty gown, this moping end, 
 A gallant bold we'll have you in a trice; 
 Then forth, unbound and free, what life can give 
 Try for the once, and tasting truly live. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 In every garb alike must I endure 
 The cramping torture of this life of earth, 
 A ceaseless pang no change can ever cure. 
 I may not mate me with the joyous throng 
 ^Vho hve for pleasure — now too old for mirth, 
 And yet to live without a wish too young. 
 
Faust, 65 
 
 What can the world afford me but the dearth 
 
 Of all I seek for, all for which I long ? 
 
 Still ' Thou must do without ' unceasing rings 
 
 In every ear — the burden of her song 
 
 Our whole life thro' each hour hoarsely sings 
 
 The one unvarying note — to sleep in vain 
 
 I lay me down, to reawake to pain. 
 
 Tears, scalding tears, how gladly would I weep 
 
 To see that day which would for me fulfil 
 
 One wish, one single wish, that would not steep 
 
 In bitter fancies with foreboding thrill 
 
 Each thought of joy \ nor loathsome from my breast 
 
 Its fairest fruits with earthy finger wrest. 
 
 Night comes — with horror each returning night 
 
 My couch I visit, but no longer there 
 
 Rest may I hope to find — wild dreams affright — 
 
 I wake, and visionary terrors scare. 
 
 The God who deep within my bosom dwells, 
 
 Swaying with might omnipotent the soul, 
 
 My inmost being to His will compels, 
 
 But outward things is powerless to control. 
 
 A burden thus existence is to me, 
 
 And life I hate, and death I fain would see ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 A potent guest, but rarely welcome he ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 O mortal happy, whom in conquest's pride 
 Arresting death with bloodstained laurel binds. 
 
 F 
 
66 Faust. 
 
 Oh ! happier still the loved of his heart's bride, 
 "Whom clasped within her circling arms he finds. 
 Oh ! when the godlike working of the soul 
 Each sense hath wrapt, thus lifeless had I lain. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 And yet one night I saw a well filled bowl 
 Which some one did not seem inclmed to drain. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Ha ! spying ! this then seems thy trade to be. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 I'm not all-seeing, but I some things see. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Since that ill hour, when sweet and strangely pealing 
 
 With well known tones upon my spirit broke 
 
 A sound of happier times, and childliood's feeHng 
 
 Within my labouring breast once more awoke, 
 
 Accursed to me is all that here confining 
 
 By lure and witchery its onward flow, 
 
 All that with false and flattering toils entwnning, 
 
 The soul imprisons in this den of woe ; 
 
 Accursed first the lofty thought enwrapping 
 
 The shackled spirit in its selRvTought snare, 
 
 Accursed the outward show of things entrapping 
 
 Our erring senses with unreal glare ; 
 
 Accursed the flattering visions of our dreaming, 
 
Faust. 67 
 
 The cheat of glory, of surviving fame, 
 
 Accursed all that our possessions seeming, 
 
 As wife and child, as slave and plough we name ; 
 
 Accursed be Mammon, when with heaped-up treasures 
 
 He urges headlong on to deeds of dread, 
 
 Accursed when minist'ring to idle pleasures, 
 
 He smooths the pillow for the sated head. 
 
 A curse on thee, thou vine, whose juice allayeth 
 
 Pain but a moment. Love, accursed be 
 
 Thy balm, and hope and faith that each betray eth, 
 
 But patience, fall the heaviest curse on thee ! 
 
 CHORUS OF UNSEEN SPIRITS 
 
 Woe ! Woe ! 
 Thou hast destroyed it, 
 
 The beautiful world. 
 
 With thy strong fist. 
 
 Stricken and shattered, 
 
 In vain 'tis scattered, 
 A more than mortal the work hath done 
 
 Wailing gather 
 
 The fragments, thither 
 Where being hath no existence bear 
 
 The perishing wreck. 
 And in pierceless gloom 
 For ever entomb 
 The beauty that was, and is gone ! 
 
 Son of the earth, 
 Thou who exceedest 
 
68 Faust, 
 
 In might thy bretliren, 
 Quail not now. 
 No aid thou askest, 
 No helper thou needest, 
 In thy bosom rebuild it. Thou, 
 Fairer and brighter 
 Than that which was, 
 Purer and lighter 
 Sense shalt cause, 
 A stream of existence 
 From fountains that stain 
 Of trouble ne'er tainted, 
 And matchless the strain 
 Sweet music shall echo around. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 These are my little ones, pretty and wise, 
 To deeds and enjoyments they sagely advise. 
 From the waste where thy senses and \dgour deca\- 
 From loneliness, hark ! how they call thee away 
 To the realm where pleasures abound. 
 Come ! cease to cherish thus thy misery. 
 That as a vulture battens on thy heart, 
 This truth can teach the basest company 
 That still amongst mankind a man thou art. 
 Yet 'tis not meant to thrust thee rudely forth, 
 That thou amongst the vulgar herd shouldst mate ; 
 I do not rank me with the proud and great, 
 Still you will find that I am something worth, 
 
Faust, oa 
 
 And should you bend your steps thro' Hie with me, 
 We'll doubt not journey on right pleasantly. 
 Say but the word, you see a comrade brave, 
 Or what you please, your servant or your slave. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Ay, but the price 'twould be as well to hear. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 The reckoning ? that won't come for many a day. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 I thank you, but the devil as I fear 
 
 An egotist is, and it may be his way 
 
 To charge one for his favours somewhat dear. 
 
 So speak out plainly j he who has to deal 
 
 With such a servant may suspicious feel. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Here to thy service I myself will bind, 
 And at thy bidding know not sleep or rest ; 
 When we hereafter each' the other find, 
 Like service shalt thou do at my behest. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Of the hereafter little heed would I, 
 
 Did shattered once this world in fragments lie, 
 
 Alike to me then be what other will. 
 
 I feel no joys but from this eartli are won, 
 
 I know no pain unlighted by this sun. 
 
7o Faust. 
 
 Were but this world and I no longer one. 
 No more I ask thee, fate, thy worst fulfil. 
 Din not the tale in unregarding ears 
 That men again shall hate, again shall love, 
 That other realms exist in other spheres, 
 One named Below, another named Above. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 This is your present humour ! Well we may 
 Our compact strike at once ; then thou shalt drain 
 From my full cup of bliss such sweets each day 
 As mortal lip shall never taste again. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Wliat joys, poor devil, can be thine to lend. 
 Such as thou art ? The heights to which aspire 
 Man's spirit may, how canst thou comprehend ? 
 Yet if thou hast the food which leaves desire 
 Unsatisfied ; the ruddy gold which grasped. 
 Quicksilver-like the eager hand doth fly; 
 A game where no one wins ; a maid who clasped 
 Within my arms the while with amorous eye 
 My neighbour lures ; proud honour's diadem. 
 That with the feeling of a god we wear, 
 Cro\\Tiing the toil of life ; the glittering gem 
 That, like a meteor, vanisheth in air ; 
 Show me the fruit that ere 'tis plucked doth rot. 
 The tree that blossoms every day anew. 
 
Faust. 7 1 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Gladly I will ; such task affrights me not. 
 Of gifts like these to give I've not a few. 
 Yet trust me, my good friend, that by and by 
 The time will come when we shall feast at ease. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 If e'er in peace upon my couch I lie, 
 Then on thy prey destruction freely seize ; 
 Canst thou but once to self-approval school 
 My flattered spirit, thro' thy arts betray 
 My soul to pleasure, with enjoyment fool, 
 Be that, whene'er it come, my latest day. 
 I wager. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Done! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 My hand in thine I lay. 
 If ever to the passing hour I cry 
 * Yet for a moment stay, thou art so fair,' 
 Forth with thy chain and fettered let me lie, 
 Gape the abyss and I will enter there. 
 Then may the death-bell toll, thy debt be paid, 
 Thy service ended, thenceforth be thou free, 
 Be stopt the clock, the busy index stayed. 
 And time that was exist no more for me. 
 
2 ^Faust. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Think well on this, our memory is good. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Spare thy advice, full justice shalt thou have ; 
 Such words are uttered not in thoughtless mood. 
 Thine or another's — I must be a slave, 
 This do I know, nor further ask I would. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Then need no time be lost. I com^ prepared 
 By dinner hour my duties to pursue ! 
 But let me beg, 'gainst accidents to guard, 
 That you will first subscribe a line or two. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 ^Vhat thou a pedant ! Thou wouldst wTite it down. 
 
 Are man and man's pledged word to thee imknown ? 
 
 Is't not enough my spoken word engage 
 
 My coming days to all eternity ? 
 
 Doth not the world in tides unbridled rage. 
 
 And shall a simple promise fetter me ? 
 
 Yet in the heart this fixed delusion reigns, 
 
 And who the ruling power would disenthrone, 
 
 Happy who truth pure in his breast maintains, 
 
 Nought offered for her sake shall he bemoan. 
 
 But your dry parchment, written, stamped, and sealed, 
 
 A spectre is whose aspect all would fly. 
 
Faust, 73 
 
 The promise dies within the pen we wield ; 
 
 In wax and leather lies the mastery. 
 
 What will'st thou, evil spirit ? what doth please 
 
 Thy taste ? Brass, marble, parchment, which of these, 
 
 Or what? Name but thy choice and it is done. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Gently, my friend ; why run so hotly on, 
 And urge your oratory to this mad flight ? \ 
 The smallest scrap is for our purpose good. 
 Subscribe it merely with a drop of blood. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 If this be all to satisfy thy mind 
 
 That thou require, thy whim its course may take. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Blood is a juice of quite peculiar kind. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Dismiss all fear that I the bond will break. 
 The task whereat my every power hath strained 
 Is that to which I pledge myself — no more ; 
 Spurned is the narrow sphere to man ordained, 
 Its bounds are passed to thine, am I come o'er. 
 The Greater Spirit hath in vain been sought, 
 Ban-ed are His ways, all access nature foils, 
 Snapt, ere 'tis finished, every thread of thought. 
 
74 Faust. 
 
 Long loathe I knowledge with its sickening toils. 
 Enough ! the past may perish ! I would still 
 All glowing passions in the surging sea 
 Of sensual bliss — henceforth let witchcraft fill 
 Each charmed hour with unseen mystery, 
 Plunge in the rush of time the roll of things, 
 Insatiate grasp whatever the moment flings. 
 The throb of joy, the pang of wretchedness, 
 Defeat's sharp sting, the rapture of success ; 
 Apart or mingled taste what fate may give, 
 In restless action man alone should live. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Nor end nor limit your free course shall bind 
 To orbit measured; be your will to fly 
 From change to change, and each in turn to try; 
 In all you sip much pleasure may you find. 
 Only fall to, and be not over coy ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Have I not told thee that I seek not joy ? 
 
 The passions* tumult, agonising bliss, 
 
 Enamoured hate, vexation's sting, to this 
 
 And this alone my bosom I would bare ; 
 
 The thirst for knowledge quenched, all sense of pain 
 
 WTiich parcelled out mankind by piecemeal share, 
 
 Poured to the very dregs my soul would drain. 
 
 With unstayed spirit singly would I grasp 
 
 Its height and depth, then weal and woe would clasp 
 
Faust. 75 
 
 To my sole breast. Myself I would extend 
 Thro' man's whole being, and like that would end. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 O take my word for this, who year by year, 
 
 For many a century, of such rare feast 
 
 Do chew the cud. From cradle to the bier 
 
 The leaven old no mortal may digest. 
 
 Trust one of race more proved, a whole like this 
 
 Can to a God alone unveiled appear, 
 
 Who ever in eternal brightness is. 
 
 And who to darkness limits our career, 
 
 And yours to day and night, your proper sphere. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 But this I will ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 'Tis well enough to choose. 
 But still there's one thing which to play this part 
 Makes difficult — time's shTrt and long is art. 
 To take advice I trust you'll not refuse. 
 Find for your friend a poet ; with your leave 
 The gentleman on fancy's wing shall sweep 
 The realms of thought; then all he can conceive 
 Of attributes most noble let him heap 
 Upon your honoured skull. The lion's mood 
 When from his dreaded haunts he wanders forth, 
 The stag's swift foot, the ItaHan's fiery blood, 
 
76 Faust. 
 
 The fixed endurance of the hardy north. 
 Let him for you alone the secret find 
 To cunning wed with loftiness of mind; 
 On you a bright example straightway prove 
 That youth's hot passions do most wisely love. 
 If in my way such gentleman should fall, 
 Him Mr. Microcosm I would call ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 ^Vhat am I then, if nothing can impart 
 
 Humanity's perfection; nothing gain 
 
 That crown for which my every sense doth strain ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Thou art from first to last but what thou art 
 Set wigs -svith myriad curls upon thy head. 
 With outstretched foot on ellhigh buskins tread, 
 Still thou remainest ever what thou art. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 I feel it ; vainly mid all gifts that own 
 The mind their master doth my spirit dwell; 
 When to enjoyment I would lay me down 
 No newborn vigour from within doth well, 
 I rise again not higher by a hair, 
 Nor to the infinite one step more near. 
 
Faust. "]*] 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 My worthy sir, 'tis this alone you see, 
 
 Things as things ever to mankind are shown, 
 
 But our affairs to manage better we 
 
 Must learn, ere yet the sweets of life be flown. 
 
 What would you more ? you've hands and feet and head, 
 
 You all that constitutes a man possess. 
 
 That I enjoy the feast before me spread. 
 
 Is it on that account my own the less ? 
 
 Are not their powers my own if count I can 
 
 Six steeds at will to bear me on my road ? 
 
 Do I not post along, a proper man, 
 
 As tho' on four-and-twenty legs I strode ? 
 
 Come then ! away with thought, the path is free, 
 
 Step bravely forth and try the world with me. 
 
 I tell thee this, the fool like thee who lives 
 
 In speculation, fares but as the beast 
 
 Some evil spirit in a circle drives 
 
 Mid flowering meadows, on a herbless waste. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 But how begin ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Hence instantly away. 
 Enjoy you martyrdom, that here you stay? 
 A very pleasant life forsooth you lead. 
 Plaguing yourself mid youngsters till half dead; 
 
 / 
 
78 Faust 
 
 Be wise — to Neighbour Paunch make o'er your trade. 
 Should threshing straw be thus your only care ? 
 If haply by odd grains of truth repaid, 
 To share them with the youths you may not dare. 
 Here's one ; I hear his footstep at the door. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Let him begone. I cannot see him now. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 The luckless wight hath tarried full an hour, 
 
 And thus uncomforted he should not go. 
 
 Come ! lend your cap and go^vn, the dress will fit 
 
 My person to a hair. I've tried of yore. \Puts it on 
 
 The rest may be entrusted to my wdt. 
 
 'Tis but ten minutes' work ; while you equip 
 
 I'll do the job ; then start we on our trip. 
 
 \Exit Faust 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES (/« Y K\5'i'f ?> gOUm QT'C.) 
 
 Man's hold of strength but once despise, 
 
 From reason's light and knowledge freed, 
 
 Thy spirit let the god of lies 
 
 With magic and delusions feed. 
 
 Then art thou mine, fast are thy chains, 
 
 Fate hath to him a spirit given 
 
 Whose strength unbridled restless strains 
 
 With reckless course, and onward driven 
 
Faust. 79 
 
 O'erbounds the good which earth contains. 
 But I will drag him thro' this heaven 
 He seeks, thro' wilds of lawless life, 
 In flat unmeaningness to sprawl, 
 Bewildered, helpless mid the strife 
 Of scenes incongruous, where all 
 His eager lip shall mock, nor aught 
 The food for which he prays shall yield, 
 That were his doom from hell unbought, 
 'Twere still irrevocably sealed. 
 
 A STUDENT {enters) 
 Most reverend sir, pray pardon me, 
 For eager zeal that thus would seek 
 A man in thee to hear and see. 
 Whose praises every tongue doth speak. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Your wish is flattering, but there's naught 
 In me but find you elsewhere may ; 
 Am I the first whom you have sought ? 
 
 STUDENT 
 
 Yes, and your aid I fain would pray; 
 Here am I come in willing mood, 
 With gold enough and youthful blood; 
 My mother scarce with me would part, 
 But thirst for learning lured my heart. 
 
8o Faust, 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 To the right well your course is ta'en. 
 
 STUDENT 
 
 Yet strange, I w'ish me forth again. 
 
 In truth I could not like these halls ; 
 
 Pent up within their gloomy walls, 
 
 This small dull space where nothing green, 
 
 No grass, no flower, no tree is seen. 
 
 Amid these desks my senses sink, 
 
 I hardly hear or see or think. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 That comes with habit ; thus at first 
 Will turn him from the mother's breast 
 The testy babe ; once slaked his thirst, 
 How soon vmb eager lip 'tis pressed. 
 And so at Wisdom's breast shall you 
 Each day more pleased your task renew. 
 
 STUDENT 
 
 But tell me, thou, the means I must employ 
 Her neck to gain, and there 111 hang with joy 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Well, that no further time be lost, 
 What faculty doth please you most ? 
 
Faust. 8 1 
 
 STUDENT 
 
 I wish well learned in all to be, 
 Whate'er the earth contains to see, 
 The things in heaven to comprehend, 
 And wisdom's scope, and nature's end. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 You've hit the track ! now go but on,^ 
 And live for this and this alone. . 
 
 STUDENT 
 
 To it my heart and soul I lay, 
 But summer come, I must confess. 
 With now and then a holiday 
 I should not like my task the less. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Misuse not time, too quickly it is gone, 
 And yet by order's aid may time be won. 
 Thereto, dear friend, my counsel is that you 
 Firstly your mind with logic well 'imbue ; 
 Through this the intellect becomes well paced. 
 And walks in Spanish boots so tightly laced 
 That it the path of thought doth henceforth tread 
 With cautious circumspection, and we dread 
 No more lest ignis-fatuus-like it bound 
 From right to left, and quit the well-tried ground. 
 
 G 
 
82 Faust. 
 
 Next you may learn, for all you've learned as yet 
 
 With no more trouble than to drink and eat, 
 
 If patiently the study you pursue, 
 
 That one, two, three are requisite thereto. 
 
 In truth 'tis with the fabric of man's thought 
 
 As with the web by skilful weaver wrought, 
 
 A thousand threads bestirs a single throw, 
 
 Like lightning flies the shuttle to and fro. 
 
 The gliding threads unseen are intenvound, 
 
 A thousand ties at every blow are bound. 
 
 Here the philosopher steps in, and this 
 
 He straightway shows you must be as it is ; 
 
 The first was so, and so hath been the second, 
 
 Thus surely so may third and fourth be reckoned. 
 
 'Tis clear if first and second were not, then 
 
 The third and fourth could have by no means been ; 
 
 Students of every land in this believers, 
 
 Go where you will you'll find, but none turn weavers. 
 
 He who a living subject would lay bare. 
 
 To drive the spirit out is his first care, 
 
 Then makes his hand each hidden part its own. 
 
 Unluckily, the vital bond is gone ! 
 
 ' Encheiresis naturae ' calls this chemistry, 
 
 And, pleased herself, she mocks unconsciously. 
 
 STUDENT 
 
 Excuse me ! This I don't quite comprehend. 
 
FatisL 83 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Not yet, but soon you will when for this end 
 All things to properly reduce you learn, 
 And classify them, each one in its turn. 
 
 STUDENT 
 
 I hope so : but your words my brain confound 
 As if a mill-wheel in my head turned round. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Then closely other matters ere you try 
 Your mind with metaphysics you must ply. 
 And deeply thinking, spare yourself no pains 
 To clasp whatever fits not human brains ; 
 For what may be, or not be, in your head 
 A well-coined word will serve you in its stead. 
 The first half year I strongly recommend 
 That you in strictest order all attend 
 Five lectures regularly every day ; 
 As the clock strikes be ever in the way 
 With paragraphs well conned, the choicest mode 
 To keep your knowledge in the beaten road ; 
 For thus prepared, you can more easily look 
 That he says nothing writ not in the book. 
 Yet write away without a moment lost, 
 As did dictate to you the Holy Ghost. 
 G 2 
 
84 Faust. 
 
 STUDENT 
 
 This needs no second telling, one may come 
 At once to comprehend the benefit, 
 For what is written down, in black and white 
 Secured, in comfort he may carry home. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Well, but as yet no faculty you name. 
 
 STUDENT 
 
 With jurisprudence I could never bear. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Its merits when we scan I must say there, 
 
 In my opinion, you're not much to blame ; 
 
 J.aws, like disease hereditary, down 
 
 One generation to the next transmits, 
 
 From place to place they smoothly progress on, 
 
 With grasp which seizes still but never quits. 
 
 Reason is folly made, well-doing TVTong. 
 
 A grandson, thou ! thy back had need be strong ; 
 
 Laws bom with us, indeed, concerning these 
 
 We feel quite sure, no question ever is. 
 
 STUDENT 
 
 My old distaste redoubles with thy speech, 
 How happy he whom thou vouchsaf'st to tead^ 
 I almost think thenlogy I'll try. 
 
Faust, 85 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 I would not you should err incautiously. 
 
 A science this amid its paths who strays. 
 
 Hath no light task the true one to secure, 
 
 Much hidden poison lies in all its ways, 
 
 So masked we scarce can tell it from the cure. 
 
 The safest rule which prudence here affords, 
 
 Is hear but one and swear your master's words 
 
 In general — on words you should depend j 
 
 Thro' the sure gate your course you then will bend, 
 
 And straightway Certainty's proud temple gain. 
 
 STUDENT 
 
 But Still the word some meaning must contain. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 to be sure ; but you should never care 
 Too anxiously for that ; fails meaning there 
 Steps in the word and makes the matter plain. 
 On words disputes are admirably grounded, 
 
 On words may systems most with ease be founded, 
 On words a man most safely may believe ; 
 A word one jot may neither lose nor give. 
 
 STUDENT 
 
 1 pray your pardon. Altho' much I fear 
 I ask too many questions, still from you, 
 So ably you discourse, a word or two 
 
86 Faust. 
 
 On medicine with pleasure I would hear. 
 To compass all three years, the time applied 
 For this, God knows the field is far too wide. 
 If even a hint by any means we get, 
 How slight soe'er, it helps us on our way. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES (aside) 
 
 Enough ! this prose grows dull we've tried as yet, 
 In style more fit the devil I now must play. 
 A/oud] Far easier medicine's spirit to unfold, 
 With toil thro' great and little world you plod. 
 That things may in the end their course s6 hold, 
 
 As pleases God. 
 Their time in deep research the foolish lose, 
 Each only that doth learn that learn he can. 
 Who best the happy moments knows to use. 
 
 He is the proper man. 
 You're passably well built, to add but mind 
 Becoming boldness, to yourself be true. 
 If in yourself you do but trust, you'll find 
 That other souls will freely trust you too. 
 But women you must chiefly make your care, 
 Their many-toned and endless ahs ! and ohs ! 
 
 The wise man knows. 
 From one point only to be cured they are ; 
 Plague not yourself with doubts and idle fears. 
 Feign due respect, but ever act ^\^th ease. 
 A title too their confidence will gain ; 
 Your undisputed skill thro' this one sees 
 
Faust. S7 
 
 At welcome, then you one and all obtain 
 Those favours others labour for for years. 
 Adroitly learn the throbbing pulse to press, 
 And clasp the tapering waist with bold address, 
 Scanning the hip the while with earnest eye, 
 ' That it be not too tightly laced,' to try. 
 
 STUDENT 
 
 Well, here at least the where and how we see. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Grey, my dear friend, is all our theory -, 
 Not so, but green the golden tree of life. 
 
 STUDENT 
 
 My thoughts as in a dream are all at strife. 
 Perhaps more fully on some future day 
 Its principles your wisdom will display. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 So far as lies it in my power I'll do. 
 
 STUDENT 
 
 Without one more request I cannot go. 
 My commonplace-book this, upon a leaf 
 Perhaps some mark of favour you'll vouchsafe. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Gladly ! [ Writes and gives it back 
 
88 Faust 
 
 STUDENT (reads) 
 
 Eritis sicut Deus scientes bonum et malum. 
 
 \Closes the book with reverence and leaves 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Heed you the promise and my friend the serpent, 
 Your * God-resembling ' you Tvall soon repent ! 
 
 FAUST (enters) 
 Where now our course ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 WTiere'er it pleases you. 
 The little world seen, the greater world we'll view ; 
 How you will revel on the blissful way 
 Where untold joys shall every step repay ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 But then this grizzly beard and gown, 
 And all life's lighter arts unknown, 
 Th' attempt must fail ; it cannot be, 
 I and the world could ne'er agree. 
 With other men in contact come, 
 I ne'er could feel myself at home. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Cheap wares, my friend, you want; they're easily earned. 
 Yourself once trust, the art of life is learned. 
 
Faicst. 89 
 
 FAUST 
 
 But forth from hence how should we ride ? 
 Here neither steeds nor servants are. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 We need but spread my mantle wide, 
 It soon will waft us high and far. 
 Since bold the trip we make, 'twere well 
 Our bundle should be somewhat small ; 
 Well mixed, a little fiery air 
 Will serve us both aloft to bear. 
 If light we mount, dismiss your fear, 
 Righ: welcome to your new career ! 
 
 AUERBACH'S WINE VAULTS IN LEIPSIC. 
 {Club-room of Boon Companions.) 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 Will no one laugh, will no one booze ? 
 Another tune I'll make you choose. 
 Wet straw were livelier stuff to-day, 
 Yet other times you blaze away. 
 
 BRANDER 
 
 The fault's your own, you might at least, 
 If joke you can't, perform the beast 
 
90 Faust, 
 
 FROSCH {throws a glass of wine at his head) 
 Well, both I will ! 
 
 BRANDER 
 
 You swinish brute ! 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 No more IVe done than grant your suit ! 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 Out with the knave who quarrels, out ! 
 
 With open heart sing, Runda ! s\vdll and shout ! 
 
 Hurrah ! huzza ! 
 
 ALTMAYER 
 
 Alas, my ears ! I'm dead. 
 Bring cotton quick ! the villain splits my head. 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 When the vault echoes, then alone 
 
 Is felt the power of your true bass's tone. 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 Right ! out with him who finds amiss aught here. 
 A tara, lara ! 
 
 ALTMAYER 
 
 Tara, lara da ! 
 
Fatcst. 91 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 Our throats are tuned and clear. \stngs 
 
 Our Holy Roman Empire dear, 
 How holds it still together ! 
 
 BRANDER 
 
 A beastly song ! a song political ! 
 
 Faugh ! an offensive song, in each day's prayer 
 
 Thank God this Roman Empire's not your care. 
 
 Mine I at least esteem a happy lot. 
 
 That Emperor or Chancellor I'm not. 
 
 But since 'tis fit that all a head respect, 
 
 We too a Pope will properly elect ; 
 
 You know the gifts and qualities that can 
 
 Our votes ensure and elevate the man ! 
 
 FROSCH (sings) 
 
 Sweet nightingale with outspread wing, 
 Fond greetings to my loved one bring. 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 No greetings here ! we no such trash will have ! 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 Greetings and kisses too, without your leave ! [sings 
 
 Open bolts at night's approach, 
 Open bolts when lovers watch, 
 Bolts be to, with dawning day. 
 
92 Fates L 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 Ay, sing ! sing on and praise her while you may ; 
 My turn to laugh will come and quickly too. 
 Me she deceived, she'll do as much for you. 
 May some foul ' Kobold ' win her love I pray, 
 And scurvy tricks with her on cross-roads play ; 
 Some old he-goat who back from Blocksberg hies, 
 Bleating good night to her as off he flies. 
 A hearty youth of proper flesh and blood, 
 For such deceitful wench were far too good. 
 No, I'll no greeting, or but one allow, 
 And that shall be the smashing of her window ! 
 
 BRANDER {striking the table) 
 
 Enough ! enough ! attend to me ; 
 
 You'll grant, my masters, life I know. 
 
 Since here sit lovesick folks I see, 
 
 'Twere best what may with them agree 
 
 For good night we bestow. 
 
 Silence ! a song i' the newest cut ! 
 
 A rousing chorus mind you put ! \sings 
 
 A rat his home a cellar made, 
 
 He lived on fat and butter, 
 
 A jolly paunch he quickly had 
 
 Were fit for Dr. Luther ; 
 
 The cook she poisoned pan and pot, 
 
 Then soon he felt the world too hot, 
 
 As love 'twere in his body. 
 
Faust. 93 
 
 CHORUS {shouting 
 As love 'twere in his body. 
 
 BRANDER 
 
 He first ran in, he then ran out, 
 
 Puddle and pool assailing, 
 
 He gnawed, he scratched the house about. 
 
 His rage was unavailing ; 
 
 By spring and bound with pain he strove, 
 
 But soon the poor beast had enough, 
 
 As love 'twere in his body. 
 
 CHORUS 
 As love 'twere in his body. 
 
 BRANDER 
 
 He came through pain in open day 
 
 Into the kitchen running. 
 
 Fell on the hearth and panting lay 
 
 Most pitiably groaning ; 
 
 The poisoner then she mocked his moan, 
 
 Ha ! ha ! your piping's out of tune, 
 
 As love 'twere in your body. 
 
 CHORUS 
 
 As love 'twere in your body 
 
94 Fatist. 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 How they enjoy the stuff, the loutish flats ! 
 
 A pretty task is this, a noble art 
 
 To scatter poison for poor luckless rats ! 
 
 BRANDER 
 
 Your friends no doubt, you rightly take their part. 
 
 ALTMAYER 
 
 Bald-pated paunch, his fate with theirs agrees ! 
 How tame mischance his heart hath made, 
 Here in the swollen rat he sees 
 His image to the life portrayed. 
 
 Enter Faust and Mephistopheles. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Now first and foremost here must I 
 Provide you merry company, 
 That you may learn how some at least 
 Can make their Hfe a daily feast. 
 With little wit, but ceaseless glee, 
 Their round of pleasure never fails, 
 While kitten-like they chase their tails ; 
 And if from headache only free. 
 So long as host will credit give. 
 Blest and unplagued by care they live. 
 
Faust. 95 
 
 BRANDER 
 
 They're lately off a journey come, 
 Their manner shows hey're not at home, 
 An hour hardly are they here. 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 You're right by Jove, be praised our Leipsic dear ! 
 The little Paris gives the proper air. 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 Who think you then the strangers be ? 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 Come, ere a well-filled glass one drains 
 I'll worm it out ; leave that to me ; 
 A baby's tooth shall ask more pains. 
 A noble's look in both I view, 
 They're proud and discontented too. 
 
 BRANDER 
 
 They're quacks or mountebanks, I lay ! 
 
 ALTMAYER 
 
 They are. 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 I'll smoke them then ; here goes ! 
 
9^ Faust, 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {tO FAUST) 
 
 These folks the devil never nose, 
 Though clutch their very throats he may. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Good morrow, gentlemen ! 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 Good morrow, sirs. 
 \In an underto?ie looking askant at Mephistopheles 
 What halts the fellow when a foot he stirs ? 
 
 mephistopheles 
 With your permission we will seat us here. 
 And if indifferent wine the place affords, 
 Good company at least our wits will cheer. 
 
 ALTMAYER 
 
 The dainty gentlemen bespeak your words. 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 Twould seem from ' Rippach ' you have lately come. 
 Pray did you sup with Mr. Hans when there ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 We thought to-day he might not be at home ; 
 Last time we made it our especial care, 
 His cousins made the burden of his speech, 
 He charged us with his compliments to each. \ 
 
 [ With ail i7icli7iation to Frosch 
 
Fates t, 97 
 
 ALTMAYER {aside) 
 You've caught it ! he's awake. 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 A knowing blade ! 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 Well wait ! I'll have him soon, be ne'er afraid. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Just now we heard, or much I err. 
 Voices well tuned in chorus sound. 
 Methinks the song must nobly here 
 From these deep vaulted roofs rebound. 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 You boast a virtuoso's skill ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 O no, the power is weak though strong the will. 
 
 ALTMAYER 
 
 Come, then, a song ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Well, if it pleases you. 
 
98 , Faust. 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 Only take care the piece be spick span new ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Trust me, it shall. Direct from Spain we come, 
 Delicious land of wine and song the home ! \sing5 
 
 An age ago, or nearly, 
 A king he had a flea. 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 Hark to the flea ! well, mind you, that's no jest ; 
 A flea, by Jove, must be a pleasant guest ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 An age ago, or nearly, 
 
 A king he had a flea, 
 
 This flea he loved him dearly. 
 
 As his owa son were he. 
 
 He bade to call his tailor. 
 
 And to his tailor spake : 
 
 Come measure me this youngster, 
 
 And coat and breeches make. 
 
 BRANDER 
 
 The tailor ! bravo ! mind that you impose 
 The strictest charge to measure to a hair; 
 And as his head perchance he may hold dear 
 To see there be no wrinkle in the hose. 
 
 \ 
 
Faust. 9 9 
 
 MEPHisTOPHELES {continuing) 
 
 In velvet and in satin 
 He now was duly drest, 
 He jewels had his hat in, 
 And crosses on his breast. 
 The minister he soon did play, 
 And had a diamond star ; 
 His brothers and his sisters, they 
 At Court great people were. 
 
 The lords and ladies of the Court 
 They soon were plagued full sore ; 
 The queen and maids of every sort 
 Were pricked and bit all o'er. 
 Yet crack they did not dare to, 
 Nor scratch nor make a fuss ; 
 We crack, and little care do, 
 Whoever pricks at us ! 
 
 CHORUS {shouting) 
 
 We crack, and little care do, 
 Whoever pricks at us ! 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 Bravo ! bravo ! capital ! 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 So may it every flea befall. 
 
 H 2 
 
lOO Faust, 
 
 BRANDER 
 
 Nab them fast with finger fine ! 
 
 ALTMAYER 
 
 Long live fi'eedom ! long live wine \ ' 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 A glass to fi-eedom ! sooth, 'twere not amiss 
 Were your wine somewhat better than it is 1 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 Venture you'd best no more remarks like this \ 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Our hosts 'twould give offence, I am afi-aid. 
 Else fi-om our private cellar, with their leave, 
 Something our worthy guests at once should have. 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 Out with it quick ! on me the blame be laid. 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 Let but your wine be good we'll praise it well, 
 Only take care the samples be not small ; 
 For if my judgment you would have with truth, 
 'Twere indispensable you fill my mouth ! 
 
Faust, TO I 
 
 ALTMAYER 
 
 They're from the Rhine. I thought as much before. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Bring here a gimlet ! 
 
 BRANDER 
 
 Pray this trouble spare, 
 Surely you've not your wine-butts at the door ! 
 
 ALTMAYER 
 
 The landlord's tool-chest lies behind you there. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {takes a gimlet) {to f-ROScn) 
 Come, tell me now what liquor would you taste ? 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 What mean you, have you then so many kinds ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Each man shall have whatever best he finds ! 
 
 ALTMAYER {tO FROSCH ) 
 
 Ha ! ha ! this makes you smack your lips in haste. 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 Good ! then Rhine wine I choose without more words, 
 The best of gifts our fatherland affords ! 
 
I02 Faust. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {whUe baring a hole in the table opposite 
 to frosch) 
 
 Get wax to make some stoppers ; come, be quick ! 
 
 ALTMAYER 
 
 Pooh ! it's a cheat, some scurvy juggler's trick. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {tO BRANDER) 
 
 And you ? 
 
 BRANDER 
 
 Champagne's the wine for me, 
 Champagne I choose, right sparkling let it be. 
 
 [MEPHISTOPHELES bores ; meanwhile one of the 
 party has made stoppers and stops the holes 
 
 BRANDER 
 
 One cannot always what is foreign spare, 
 
 Good lies, alas ! too often far from home ; 
 
 A German true your Frenchman cannot bear, 
 
 Yet, would he drink, their wines right welcome come. 
 
 siEBEL {while MEPHISTOPHELES approaches) 
 
 Your acid stuff with me it finds no grace. 
 Give me a glass of something strong and sweet. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 To you, my friend, Tokay I'll quickly mete. 
 
Faust, 
 
 ALTMAYER 
 
 Halt, gentlemen ! Come, look me in the face, 
 I plainly see on us you try your jests. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Ha ! ha ! to joke with such distinguished guests 
 That certainly would be a thought too bold ; 
 But quick, speak out, and let your wish be told ; 
 I stand prepared to serve the wine you choose. 
 
 ALTMAYER 
 
 Give what you please, not time in asking lose. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {all the koks being bored and stopped, 
 with strange gestures) 
 
 Grapes are the vine's fruit ! 
 Horns bears the he goat ! 
 Wine is juicy. Vines are wood. 
 The table wooden can yield as good. 
 
 Deep knowledge of nature the power it hath ;. 
 
 Here is a miracle, only have faith ! 
 
 Now draw the stoppers, and your glasses fill ! 
 
 ALL ((ivhile they draw out the stoppers, and the wine 
 chosen by each runs into his glass) 
 
 O springs delicious ! forth for us you well ! 
 
I04 Faust. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Now take good care no drop of it you spill. 
 
 \They drink repeatedly 
 
 ALL {singing) 
 
 As cannibals right merry we ! 
 Five hundred lusty swine. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 The folks are happy now ! behold their bliss ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Enough — I see it ; hence ! 'tis time we go. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Wait yet a little, and their brutishness 
 I promise you itself will plainly show. 
 
 siEBEL [drinks carelessly, the wine is spilt, and turns 
 to/lame) 
 
 Help ! fire ! help ! Hell earth has rent ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Quiet thee, friendly element ; [To his neighbour 
 
 This time 'tis but a drop from purgatory. 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 What's that ? but wait ! for this you dearly pay : 
 You little know on whom your tricks you vent. 
 
Faust, 105 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 Ay ! this with us he'd better not repeat. 
 
 AI.TMAYER 
 
 'Twere well to get him quietly away. 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 What, sirrah ! Think you thus presume you ma}-, 
 Us with your hocus-pocus here to treat ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Silence, old wine-butt ! 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 Broomstick base, 
 Will you commence your insolence again ? 
 
 BRANDER 
 
 Down with the knave, I say; stout blows shall rain. 
 
 ALTMAYER {draws a stopper out of the table, fire bursts 
 out against him) 
 
 I burn ! I burn ! 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 'Tis hellish witchcraft, see ! 
 Your knives ! strike home ! the villain's life is free ! 
 \They draw their knives and advance on 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
io6 FaiLst, 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {^ith mnust gestures) 
 Word and form strange, 
 Sense and object change, 
 Hither, thither, range. 
 \They stand amazed, and stare at each other 
 
 ALTMAYER 
 
 ^\^le^e am I ? what a lovely land ! 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 Vines ! if my eyes see right, and grapes at hand ! 
 
 BRANDER 
 
 Through leafy bowers of green they peer. 
 See, what a stem ! see, what a bunch is here ! 
 
 [Seizes Siebel by the ?wse; the rest do the same 
 one to another, and raise their knives 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Loose error from their eyes the band ! 
 Mark you how jests the devil plays. 
 
 \He vanisJies with Faust. The others let go 
 each other 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 What's this? 
 
 ALTMAYER 
 
 How now? i 
 
\ 
 
 Faust. J 07 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 Your nose it was ? 
 
 BRANDER {to. SIEBEL) 
 
 And yours, too, hold I in my hand ? 
 
 ALTMAYER 
 
 Heavens, what a shock ! I'm palsied all ! 
 A chair, or I shall surely fall ! 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 Ho ! what has happened ? tell me, pray ! 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 Where is the knave ? but find him me. 
 His life for this shall surely pay. 
 
 ALTMAYER 
 
 Sure am I, him I hence did see 
 Upon a wine cask ride away. 
 My feet are shod with lead, I feel. 
 
 \Tu-nis himself towards the table 
 Hold ! can this wine be running still ? 
 
 SIEBEL 
 
 Twas all some lying, cheating prank. 
 
 FROSCH 
 
 And yet I'm sure 'twas wine I drank. 
 
io8 Faust. 
 
 BRANDER 
 
 But then the grapes, how this explain ? 
 
 ALTMAYER 
 
 Now tell me, who'll doubt miracles again ? 
 
 THE WITCHES' KITCHEN. 
 
 On a low hearth hangs a large cauldron over tJiefire; in 
 the steam which rises from it appear various figures. A 
 She Monkey sits by the cauldron skimmi?ig it^ and taking 
 care that it does not run over. The He Monkey with 
 his youTig ones sits near at hand a?id warms himself. 
 The walls and roof are hung with the strangest articles of 
 Witch Furniture. 
 
 Faust and Mephistopheles. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 This crazed pursuit of magic how I loathe ! 
 And would'st thou say my proper cure, forsooth, 
 In this abode of madness find shall I ? 
 What, an old woman's council do I need ! 
 And shall my body, by such cookery. 
 From rust of thirty years be straightway freed ? 
 Alas ! if thou no better means dost know, 
 My latest hope I feel already gone ; 
 
Faust, 109 
 
 Rate nature and the spirit then so low, 
 That not one balsam for this end they own. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Like a wise man, my friend, thou speak'st again.. 
 True, natural means there are to compass it. 
 But then another book doth this contain, 
 And in a most strange chapter it is writ. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 This well I know. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Good ! would'st thou means that need 
 Nor gold, nor drug, nor witchcraft to possess? 
 Up, and betake thee to the field with speed. 
 Where thou the earth may'st hack, and dig, and dress, 
 To keep thyself and sense within the bounds 
 Of this thy narrow circle, duly care. 
 Nourish thy body with unseasoned fare, 
 Nor heed the idle riot that surrounds ; 
 Live with the beast as beast, disdain not thou 
 Thyself to dung the acre thou dost reap. 
 These are the best of means, in sooth, I know, 
 A man at eighty years still young to keep. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 To this I am not used, nor bear could I 
 With weary hand the labouring spade to ply. 
 This narrow sphere of life could ne'er be mine. 
 
TO Faust, 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Well, then, at last the witch we must call in. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 But why this hag's assistance should we need ? 
 To brew the drink, art thou thyself unskilled ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 A pretty pastime 'twere for me, indeed ! 
 
 A thousand bridges in less space I'd build. 
 
 Science for this will not suffice alone, 
 
 With toil and patience must the job be done; 
 
 A noiseless spirit is at work for years, 
 
 With time, the fine distilment's strength appears; 
 
 The many things 'tis needful to prepare. 
 
 Ingredients rare to find, and wondrous too; 
 
 The devil himself, 'tis true, hath taught it her, 
 
 But still the drink himself he cannot brew. 
 
 [Looking at the Monkeys 
 See the attendants, how pretty the pair, 
 We've the man-servant here and the maid-servant there I 
 
 [To the Beasts 
 Where is the dame ? you are here alone. 
 
 MONKEYS 
 
 There's feasting abroad, she is up and gone, 
 Out and away, by the chimney stone. 
 
Faust, 1 1 1 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Lasts long the revel ? when comes she back ? 
 
 MONKEYS 
 
 . What time to warm our paws we take. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {to FAUST) 
 
 Are they not delicate creatures these ? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Brutes more disgusting I ne'er did see ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Well, for my part, such converse me. 
 
 Of all things on earth, it the most doth please. 
 
 \Tothe Monkeys 
 Ye whelps accursed, come tell me both, 
 What twirl ye there in the porridge about? 
 
 MONKEYS 
 
 We are cooking a mess of beggar's broth. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Then guests will be plenty there's little doubt ! 
 
 HE MONKEY {approaches and fawns on mephistopheles) 
 
 Throw the dice 
 Once or twice. 
 
112 Faust. 
 
 Make me rich, let me win, 
 ' Hard my lot ! 
 Gold I've not, 
 Else were I my senses in ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 How happy were our good ape could he but 
 By any means into the lottery put ! 
 
 {During this time the Young Monkeys have been 
 playing with a large ball, and roll it forwards 
 
 HE MONKEY 
 
 The world a ball. 
 
 Doth rise and fall, 
 
 We rolling follow ; 
 
 Like glass doth ring 
 
 The brittler thing; 
 
 Within 'tis hollow ; 
 
 It glitters o'er 
 
 Here much, there more. 
 
 Our life we cherish ! 
 
 Child of my heart, 
 
 Hold thee apart ! 
 
 Thou must perish. 
 
 Of clay it is, 
 
 Remember this, 
 
 There are potsherds garish ! 
 
Faust, 113 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 What means the sieve ? 
 
 HE MONKEY {takes it down) 
 Wert thou a thief, 
 I thee should quickly know. 
 \He runs to the She Monkey and makes he?- 
 look through 
 
 Look thro' the sieve, 
 
 Behold'st the thief. 
 
 And dar'st not name him thou ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 And this huge pot ? 
 
 BOTH MONKEYS 
 
 The brainless sot. 
 He knows not the pot. 
 He knows not the kettle. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Unmannerly brute ! 
 
 HE MONKEY 
 
 The whisk doth suit. 
 
 Here ! take it and sit on the settle ! 
 
 FAUST {who ail this time has been standing before a 
 
 mirror^ now approaching^ now drawing back) 
 
 What do I see ? a form how heavenly fair 
 
 Lies pictured here within the magic glass ! 
 
 I 
 
1 14 Faust. 
 
 To her blest sphere, O grant me, love, to pass, 
 And my frail strength on thy swift wing upbear. 
 Bound to one spot, alas ! must I remain. 
 Approach forbidden ; would I draw me near, 
 Wrapt in a veil of mist, she doth appear. 
 No woman form so fair shall wear again ; 
 Can woman be as she is imaged here ? 
 Behold in these fair outstretched limbs how plain 
 Each heavenly essence in a single sphere ! 
 Doth then such being make the earth its home ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Why, when a God first plagued himself six days. 
 
 And when his work is ended bravo says. 
 
 Of course from this must something clever come ! 
 
 Here for the present you your fill may gaze ; 
 
 Just such another prize my search doth bide. 
 
 How happy he who the good fortune has 
 
 To bear her with him to his home a bride ! 
 
 [Faust continues to look itito the mirror; Mephis* 
 TOPHELES, stretching himself on the settle and 
 playing with the whisk, goes on speaking 
 Here sit I like a king upon his throne. 
 My sceptre this ! I only want the crown. 
 
 I 
 
Faust. £ 1 5 
 
 THE MONKEYS {wJio kave been playing all kinds cf 
 strange tricks with each other, bring Mephistopheles 
 a crown with loud cries) 
 
 O ! be thou so good 
 With sweat and with blood 
 The crown to unite ! 
 \They handle the ci'own awkwardly and break it 
 into two pieces, with which they jump about 
 'Tis done, we are free, 
 We hear and we see, 
 We rhyme and recite ! 
 
 FAUST {opposite the glass) 
 Alas J my brain grows crazed, no more I dare ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {pointing to the monkeys) 
 Sooth ! my own head is almost giddy now. 
 
 monkeys 
 
 If lucky we are, 
 If fortune is fair, 
 Thoughts will follow ! 
 
 FAUST (as before) 
 
 A scorching flame consumes my aching breast, 
 Away ! away ! I dare not linger here. 
 
 1 2 
 
1 1 6 Faust. 
 
 MEPHiSTOPHELES {tfi the same position) 
 Well, come, we this much must allow at least, 
 ^^^late'er their skill our poets are sincere. 
 
 \The cauldron which the She Monkey has 
 neglected begins to boil over; a great flame rises 
 and rusJies up through the chi^nney . The Witch 
 comes flying down through the flame with 
 horrible cries 
 
 THE WITCH 
 
 Ough ! ough ! ough ! ough ! 
 Damned beast, cursed sow ! 
 To quit the cauldron darest thou ! 
 Cursed brute ! nor fear 
 Thy dame to sear. 
 
 \Seeing Faust arui Mephistopheles 
 Who enters here? 
 What would you now ? 
 Get ye aback ! 
 May hell-flame rack 
 Your inmost bones with fire and ache ! 
 \She dips the ladle into the cauldrofi^ and spriTikles 
 flames at Faust, Mephistopheles, and the 
 Monkeys. The Monkeys whimper 
 
 mephistopheles (whirling the whisk which he holds 
 in his handy strikes amongst the pots and glasses) 
 Fly fraffig^nts, fly \ 
 Broth scattered lie 
 
Faust, 117 
 
 With glass and bowl. 
 A measure droll, 
 Thou carrion foul ! 
 Here I beat to thy melody, 
 
 \The Witch draws back full of rage and 
 amazement 
 
 Know'st thou me now, thou scarecrow skeleton ? 
 Dost thou at length thy lord and master know ? 
 What holds me that I lay not stoutly on. 
 And crush thee and thy monkey spirits too ? 
 How ! no respect to the red doublet yield ? 
 This, the cock's-feather, canst thou not descry ? 
 Have I this visage haply so concealed 
 That name myself to thee perforce must I ? 
 
 WITCH 
 
 O master, pray ! forgive my questions bold. 
 
 Surely no cloven foot I here behold ! 
 
 And your two ravens too ! where are they gone ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Well, on this plea come off for once you may, 
 In truth I now bethink me many a day 
 Hath passed since I myself to thee have shown ; 
 And fashion, too, that all things licks to shape. 
 The devil himself from this finds no escape. 
 The northern phantom from the world withdraws, 
 Where now behold'st thou horns or tail or claws ? 
 
1 1 8 Faust. 
 
 As to the foot, which I as yet can't spare, 
 In company 'twould do me serious hurt ; 
 Therefore for several years I have ta'en good care 
 Like many younger men false calves to sport ! 
 
 THE WITCH (dancing) 
 
 My senses fail outright with glee ! 
 The gallant Satan here I see ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Woman ! that name I strait forbid it thee. 
 
 WITCH 
 
 ^Vhe^efo^e ? what mischief hath it done ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 To story-books 't has been too long consigned ; 
 
 Men seem not much the better. Although gone 
 
 The wicked one, the wicked still we find. 
 
 So call me baron now, the title's good ; 
 
 A cavalier I am as others are. 
 
 Thou surely canst not doubt my noble blood. 
 
 See here displayed the ancient arms I bear. 
 
 \Makes an unseemly gesture 
 
 THE WITCH {laughs immoderately) 
 
 Ha ! ha ! thy way of old. From this I ween 
 The wag thou art that thou hast ever been. 
 
 I 
 
Faust, ri9 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {tO FAUST) 
 
 Attend to this, my friend, and mark it well : 
 This is the way with witches you must deal. 
 
 THE WITCH 
 
 Now tell me, master, what's your will ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Bring here the juice you know of. Fill 
 A bumper good, and of your oldest stock ; 
 Time can alone the proper strength instil. 
 
 THE WITCH 
 
 With pleasure. See on yonder shelf 
 
 A flask I sometimes taste myself; 
 
 It does not in the slightest stink. 
 
 A glass of this I'll gladly give. 
 
 Aside\ If haply unprepared this man should drink, 
 
 Another hour thou knowst he cannot live ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 O, he's a friend of mine, an(J it will serve him. 
 
 I grudge him not the best your pot affords. 
 
 Come, draw your circle ! speak your words ! 
 
 Forth with the glass and fill it to the brim ! 
 
 [Witch with strange gestures draws a circle^ 
 places strange articles within it; while this is 
 doing the glasses begin to ring, the cauldron to 
 sound and make music; lastly, she brings a great 
 book,places theMomYiEY in the circle, who serves 
 for a desk and holds the torch. She makes a sign 
 to Faust to draw near 
 
1 20 Faust, 
 
 FAUST {to MEPHISTOPHELES) 
 
 But why all this ! more have we than enough ! 
 These frantic gestures and this crazy stuff, 
 The loathsome trash, the paltry jingling cheat, 
 Full well I know, and know it but to hate. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Pooh ! tricks of course, but we must pass them by ; 
 
 Don't be so very critical, I pray. 
 
 A doctor ! She must hocus-pocus ply, 
 
 That duly operate her physic may. 
 
 THE WITCH {makes faust enter the circle. Begins to 
 declaim with great emphasis out of the book) 
 
 To thee be known 
 Ten made from one, 
 \\Tien two is gone. 
 And even three, 
 
 That rich you be ! 
 Pass o'er the four. 
 From five, six each. 
 The Witch doth teach. 
 Seven made and eight, 
 
 The end thou art at. 
 And nine is one. 
 And ten is none. 
 This is the Witch's one times one ! 
 
Faust, 1 2 1 
 
 FAUST 
 
 The dame methinks doth well-nigh rave ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Much more of this we yet shall have; 
 
 I know it well, the whole book jingles that. 
 
 Here have I lost full many an hour at school ! 
 
 For this your contradiction flat 
 A secret like remains to wise man and to fool. 
 
 My friend, the art is old and new 
 
 The way 't hath been for countless ages. 
 
 Thro' two and one, and one and two, 
 
 To blot out truth with error's pages. 
 
 Thus man doth prate and teach at will; 
 Who plagues himself with making dolts his care ? 
 
 Of words but give mankind their fill. 
 They never doubt that meaning must be there. 
 
 WITCH {continues) 
 
 The mighty power 
 
 Of wisdom's lore, 
 From all the world 'tis hidden ! 
 
 Who thinketh not 
 
 The gift hath got. 
 And got it too, unbidden ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 What can this rhyming nonsense be ? 
 My head grows wild with its mad clatter, 
 
122 Faust. 
 
 I seem in chorus, close to me, 
 
 To hear ten thousand idiots chatter. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Enough ! enough ! thou queen of hags, thy cup 
 Bring hither now, and to the brim fill up. 
 Let there not one drop's space unfilled remain; 
 The draught will harm him not, but vigour lend. 
 A man of many grades is this, my friend. 
 Gulps good and many he ere now hath ta'en. 
 
 \TJu Witch with many ceremonies pours the 
 
 liquor into the cup ; as Faust places it to his 
 
 lips a light flame arises 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Come, come ! be quick; down with it, down ! 
 The draught will soon thy heart's blood warm, 
 Thou ^^^th the devil wouldst be one. 
 And flame can thus thy fears alarm ! 
 
 \The Witch breaks tlie circle ^ Faust steps out 
 Now out at once, rest mayst not thou. 
 
 the witch 
 Much may thy drinking benefit ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES (to the WITCH) 
 
 If I a favour thee can do. 
 
 Remind me of it on Walpurgis Night ! 
 
Faust, ■ 12: 
 
 THE WITCH 
 
 Here is a song, at times to sing it try, 
 
 Th' effect desired most wondrously 'twill speed. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Quick ! follow me, where hence in haste I lead, 
 
 That thou perspire, and copiously, there's need; 
 
 To make the juice work thro' thee thoroughly, 
 
 Its turn must idleness awhile await, 
 
 But thou at length with inward joy elate, 
 
 Shalt feel brisk Cupid bound, and hither, thither fly. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 The glass ! the glass ! O I could look me blind ! 
 That woman form, alas ! 'twas too, too fair ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Nay, nay ! the model of all women find 
 
 In flesh and blood we shall, not far from here. 
 
 Aside] My friend, with this drink in your carcase, you 
 
 In every jade a Helen soon would view ! 
 
1 24 Faust, 
 
 THE STREET. 
 Faust, Margaret {passing by). 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Fair lady, let me offer you, I pray, 
 Aid of my arm, and escort on your way. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 I'm neither fair nor lady; home 
 I hence can go as I have come. 
 
 \pisengages Iierself and goes 
 
 FAUST 
 
 By heaven, she is a lovely child. 
 So fair a form I ne'er beheld. 
 Such modest maidenly address. 
 Curbed with a pretty snappishness. 
 That lip's bright red, that cheek of light, 
 Will ever haunt me, day and night ! 
 The impress of her downcast eyes, 
 How deep within my heart it lies ! 
 How sharp the short reply she gave, 
 It makes one's soul with rapture rave ! 
 
Faust, 1 2 5 
 
 Enter Mephistopheles 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Hark ! thou must win for me that maid with haste. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES. 
 
 Which meanest thou ? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Her who was just now here. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 What, her ? She came that moment from the priest, 
 
 Whose word of every sin hath made her clear; 
 
 The chair for some few minutes I stood near. 
 
 It is a httle thoughtless innocent, 
 
 Who for mere nothing to confession went ; 
 
 O'er such as she thou know'st no power I hold. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Why, fourteen years and upwards she has told. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Thou speak'st, my friend, like a rank profligate, 
 Who deems each flower but blooms his wish to sate. 
 And thinks nor palm nor favour there should be, 
 The which to pluck at will he stand not free ; 
 But ne'er the less this will not always do. 
 
126 Faust. 
 
 FAUST. 
 
 Good Mr. Preacher, pray do thou 
 
 Let this thy moralising rest in peace. 
 
 I tell thee now, and in a word 'tis said, 
 
 If this sweet maiden be not by thy aid 
 
 This very eve within my arms laid, 
 
 Our league at midnight shall for ever cease. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 But think a moment first what can be done ; 
 Full fourteen days would be required alone 
 For this to find the opportunity. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Should I of seven hours but make good use, 
 Such a mere child I think me to seduce, 
 The devil's assistance hardly need should I. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 How like a Frenchman you do talk of late ! 
 Don't, I entreat you, thus yourself annoy. 
 What use your wish thus headlong to enjoy, 
 The pleasure is not by one half so great 
 As when with nonsense choice on every side 
 The puppet first you leisurely have plied. 
 Till fitly kneaded, to your will 'tis wrought. 
 So in the best Italian tales we're taught. 
 
Faust, 127 
 
 FAUST 
 
 But appetite I have without all this. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Ay ! but now once for all no jest it is. 
 I tell you, you must calm your haste, 
 The matter runs not quite so fast j 
 By storm can nothing here be done, 
 The maiden must by art be won. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 O bring me of my love some trace ! 
 O bear me to her resting place ! 
 A kerchief that hath wrapt her breast, 
 A garter once by her possest ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 That you may see I do my best 
 
 To aid and further here your interest, 
 
 An hour we will not lose, but you to-day 
 
 Hence to her chamber I will straight convey. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 And shall I see her ? win her ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 No! 
 Just then to see a neighbour she must go, 
 
28 Faust, 
 
 But meanwhile you her absence will allow, 
 
 To feed upon an atmosphere all fraught 
 
 With her sweet self and pleasure taste in thought. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Can we away ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 No, 'tis too early yet 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Well, mind that you for her some present get. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Presents at once ! thaf s brave ! the nail you've hit. 
 Choice spots am I acquainted with and plenty, 
 Where fine old treasures slyly buried lie, 
 'Twere well that I look over them a bit. \^Exit 
 
 E VENING. 
 A neat little Chamber. 
 
 MARGARET {braiding and binding up Jur hair) 
 
 I'd something give that I could say 
 WTio was that gentleman to-day ; 
 He had a brave and gallant air, 
 And noble was I'm almost sure. 
 
Faust, 129 
 
 But read his brow that might be told, 
 
 Besides, else were he not so bold. \Exit 
 
 Mephistopheles, Faust. 
 
 mephistopheles 
 Come in ; tread softly. Come in, do ! 
 
 FAUST {after a pause) 
 Alone here leave me I entreat. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {lookifig round) 
 Not every maid you'll find so neat. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Welcome sweet twilight, welcome thou, 
 Who thus this hallowed spot pervadest, 
 Throb in my heart love's gratefiil throe, 
 Who languishing, on Hope's dew feedest. 
 How gentle stillness breathes around, 
 Here order and contentment dwell, 
 'Mid poverty is plenty found, 
 What bliss imprisoned in this narrow cell I 
 
 \He throws himself upon a leathern easy-chair at 
 the bedside 
 Receive me too, O thou who those long gone, 
 In weal and woe received with outspread arm. 
 Alas ! how oft round this paternal throne 
 In childhood's sports have hung the busy swarm. 
 
 K 
 
30 Faust, 
 
 Here haply, glad with Christmas gift dismissed, 
 
 My love her grandsire's withered hand hath kissed. 
 
 I feel, O maid ! thy spirit everywhere. 
 
 Thy soul of busy order round me stir. 
 
 That bids thee daily with a mother's care 
 
 Deck the pure board that bears thy frugal fare 
 
 With snowy cloth, and strew with sand the floor. 
 
 Oh, dear, dear hand ! to pious tasks thus given. 
 
 Thro' thee the homely hut becomes a heaven. 
 
 And here ! \He lifts up the curtain of the bed 
 
 ^^^lat blissful tremor o'er my senses streams ! 
 
 Here I could linger on from hour to hour. 
 
 Nature here fashioning, thou didst mature 
 
 The bom angel 'mid sweet sunny dreams. 
 
 Here lay the child ! while hfe's warm flood 
 
 Her young breast heaving gently rolled, 
 
 And here with working pure and good 
 
 God's image d.id itself unfold. 
 
 And thou ! what brought thee hither tell. 
 
 Alas ! how sadly, deeply moved I feel. 
 
 What wouldst thou here? Sunk thus thy heart of 
 
 yore? 
 Unhappy Faust ! 1 know thee thus no more, 
 Surrounds me here a mazy atmosphere. 
 The flame that onw^ard to enjoyment drove, 
 Exhales it in a gentle dream of love ? 
 Sport of each wind, must we its impress bear. 
 If haply now thine eye she here should meet, 
 How wouldst thou for thy guilty thoughts atone ? 
 
Faust, 131 
 
 Vain boaster, ah ! how little at her feet 
 Away dissolving wouldst thou sink thee down ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Be quick ! this way I see her come. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Hence ! hence ! I here no more return. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 A casket see you will not spurn, 
 I've ta'en it from another home. 
 Here, place it in this oaken chest, 
 I promise you 'twill turn her head. 
 The trifles in it, for the rest, 
 Were meant to win another maid \ 
 But child is child and play is play. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 I know not. Shall I ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Shall you, eh ! 
 Perhaps the treasure you' would guard I 
 If so, your lustful grace, it be. 
 Day's blessed light, I trust, with me, 
 From further trouble will be spared. 
 K 2 
 
132 Faust, 
 
 Can Avarice then with Love be wed ? 
 I wring my hands and scratch my head ! 
 
 [He places the casket in the chest, and turns the key 
 Now, quick away ! 
 'Tis yours without delay 
 
 The sweet young thing at \vish and will to lead. 
 WTiat, still you stand ! 
 And look as were the lecture-room at hand, 
 As if before you clothed in flesh and blood 
 Ph)rsic and metaphysic stood. 
 Away ! [Exeunt 
 
 MARGARET {with a lamp) 
 
 It grows so close and sultry now ; 
 
 \She opens the window 
 Without 'tis not so warm by near. 
 It's strange ; I feel I know not how, 
 I wish I had my mother here ! 
 A shuddering runs all over me, 
 A silly woman I must be ! 
 
 [She begins to sing whilst undressing herself 
 
 There lived a king in Thule 
 Was faithful to his grave, 
 A golden goblet had he. 
 His dying mistress gave. 
 
 He nothing prized so dearly. 
 He drained it at each feast ; 
 His eyes he wept out nearly. 
 When he from it did taste. 
 
Faust, 133 
 
 At length when he was dying, 
 He counted tower and town, 
 Of all his heir denying 
 The goblet dear alone. 
 
 Then sat at kingly festival, 
 His knights around him, he 
 Within his lofty father's hall, 
 In his castle on the sea. 
 
 There quaffed his last cup, hasting, 
 The toper old upstood, 
 The hallowed goblet casting 
 Down in the rolling flood. 
 
 He saw it whirling, drinking. 
 Sink deep into the sea ; 
 He felt his own eyes sinking. 
 No drop again drank he ! 
 \^She opens the chest to pict in her clothes and 
 perceives the casket 
 
 What can have brought this pretty casket here ? 
 
 I locked the chest I'm almost sure. 
 
 And no one comes this chamber near ! 
 
 It's strange ! What can be in it? 'Tis a pledge 
 
 My mother holds perhaps for money lent ; 
 
 The key, I see, hangs fastened to the ledge. 
 
 My opening it there's nothing should prevent. 
 
 What's this ? Good heavens ! only look at it ! 
 
 Its like I never saw in all my days ! 
 
 An ornament for some great lady fit. 
 
 When she her wealth at festivals displays. 
 
134 ^ * Faust, 
 
 How would the chain become me ? Let me see. 
 To whom can all this finery pertain ? 
 
 \She decks Jiersdf with them^ and stands before 
 tJie mirror 
 If but the earrings did belong to me ! 
 With such fine things one looks as well again. 
 Of what avail your beauty, luckless maid ! 
 Tis praised perhaps when people please you would, 
 For this much haply it is well and good, 
 But nothing more remains when that is said. 
 Praised half in pity, soon forgot ! 
 Gold seeks alone, 
 By gold is won. 
 The world ! Ah, poor one's lot ! 
 
 THE PUBLIC WALK. 
 
 Faust walking up and dow7i, thoughtfully, to 
 him Mephistopheles 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 By all despised love ! by every hellish element ! 
 Would I knew something worse, that I might curse it 
 to my heart's content ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 How now ! what bites you that you thus exclaim ! 
 So grim a look till now visage ne'er wore. 
 
Faust, 135 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Straight to the devil I would make me o'er, 
 But devil myself unluckily I am ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Has misadventure turned thy brain astray ? 
 Thee it becomes the madman's part to play ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Think only what should Gretchen's gifts befall ! 
 Away a priest has swept them one and all. 
 Her mother of the ornaments caught sight, 
 These straight misgivings in her mind excite. 
 In faith a subtle nose is that of hers, 
 She's always snuffling in her book of prayers, 
 Smells at each piece of furniture, and fain 
 Would try if it be holy or profane. 
 As thus she sniffed the jewels, seemed it clear 
 Much blessing could not well be looked for there. 
 * My child ! ' she cries, ' beware ! unrighteous gain 
 Ensnares the soul and sows the seed of pain. 
 An offering to God's mother these shall speed. 
 With heavenly manna she our hearts will feed ! ' 
 Here Gretchen's pretty lip began to fall. 
 Well ! thought she, 'tis a gift- horse after all ! 
 Of this I'm sure that godless is not he 
 Who gave it thus, whoever he may be. 
 
1 2i^ Faust. 
 
 No more delay : the mother called a priest 
 
 To him no sooner was made known the jest, 
 
 Than on the casket pleased his eye did brood. 
 
 He said, ' 'Tis well ! you have not strove in vain ; 
 
 Who overcometh, he doth gain ! 
 
 Our Holy Church hath got a stomach good ; 
 
 At times whole countries she has swallowed, 
 
 But yet repletion never followed. 
 
 The Church, good women, trust me, can 
 
 Alone digest ill-gotten gain.' 
 
 FAUST 
 
 A practice common 'tis in sooth, 
 Your Jew and king can do it both ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Swept straight clasp, chain, and ring away. 
 
 As were so many mushrooms they, 
 
 With no more thankful word or look 
 
 Than if a bag of nuts he took. 
 
 Of heaven's reward he bid them not despair, 
 
 And left them. Truly edified they were ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 And Gretchen ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Sits but ill at ease, 
 Not knowing what would pain or please. 
 
Faust. 1 3 7 
 
 Thinks on the trinkets night and day, 
 But more on him whose gifts were they. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Dear maid ! it pains me she should grieve, 
 Let her at once new trinkets have. 
 The first were no great things at best ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Of course no trouble this ! Oh ! not the least. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Do all that I would have thee do. 
 Stick to her neighbour closely thou. 
 No milk-and-water devil be— away ! 
 New jewels get for her, and that to-day ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Most noble sir, your pleasure shall be done. 
 
 \JExit Faust 
 Your love-sick fool, be he of the true sort. 
 Puffs clean away alike sun, stars, or moon, 
 If only he can make his mistress sport ! \Exit 
 
138 Faust. 
 
 THE NEIGHBOUR'S HOUSE. 
 
 MARTHA {alone) 
 My worthy man has used me ill, ^ 
 I trust that God forgive him will ! 
 Away about the world he's gone, 
 And leaves me here to pine alone. 
 For trouble I ne'er gave him cause. 
 And loved him truly well, God knows ! 
 He may be dead ! O agony ! 
 If even legal proof had I ! [She weeps 
 
 Enter Margaret. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Oh, Martha ! 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 What's the matter now ? 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 I feel as if my knees would sink, 
 
 I found to-day — what should you think ? 
 
 A casket like the first, I vow, 
 
 Of ebony, and in it were 
 
 Such other things, but richer far. 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 Your mother this you must not tell, 
 Else go they to the priest as well ! 
 
Faust, 139 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Oh, only look ! but view them, do ! 
 
 MARTHA {decks her out with them) 
 A happy lucky creature thou ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 But in the streets such things to wear, 
 Or even at church, I may not dare k 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 Come often in a quiet way. 
 
 And here in private put them on. 
 
 Stand at the glass an hour or two a day, 
 
 We'll pleasure find in this alone ; 
 
 And when an opportunity one sees, 
 
 Then people can be shown them by degrees, 
 
 A necklace now, and then an earring wear, 
 
 Should this your mother see, we'll find pretence for her. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Who can have both these caskets brought ? 
 In truth things look not as they ought. 
 
 \Some one knocks 
 Good God ! my mother, has she seen ? 
 
 MARTHA {looking through the blind) 
 'Tis a strange gentleman. Come in ! 
 
1 40 Faust 
 
 Enter Mephistopheles. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Fve made so free to enter straight, 
 Your pardon, ladies, I entreat. 
 
 \pra'ws back respectfully before Margaret 
 I Mistress Martha Schwerdtlein seek. 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 Sir, I am she, your pleasure speak ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {oside to her) 
 I know you, madam, now ; 'twere rude 
 On such distinguished guest t' intrude. 
 Excuse the liberty I've ta'en. 
 This evening I will call again. 
 
 MARTHA {aloud) 
 
 Child ! what the stranger thinks you, guess ! " 
 A noble lady — nothing less. 
 
 MARGARET . 
 
 A lowly maid alone you see. 
 The gentleman would flatter me. 
 Jewels nor ornaments I own. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Oh ! not these ornaments alone, 
 That striking look, that gracious air ! 
 It joys me that remain I dare. 
 
Faust, 141 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 What brings you, sir, I fain would hear. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Would better news I had to bear ! 
 Take comfort, pray ! your husband, he 
 Is dead — he sends his compliments by me. 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 Is dead ! The faithful soul ! Alas, 
 My husband ! O that dead I was ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Ah, Martha dear, despair not so ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Hear, madam, the sad story through. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Such loss to suffer who would love ! 
 Death only could my grief remove. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Joy must bring sorrow — sorrow joy ! 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 Relate it all ; his end you saw 1 
 
142 Faust, 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 In church o' the holy Anthony 
 He lies entombed at Padua, 
 For ever cool — a chosen place 
 To make a bed of rest it was ! 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 Is this the whole ? Naught else you bring ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 But this, a deep and earnest prayer 
 
 * Three hundred masses you would cause to sing ! ' 
 
 Void for the rest my pockets are. 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 WTiat not one gift ! 'tis not to be believed ; 
 
 What doth in each mechanic's pouch at bottom bide 
 
 For keepsake set aside ! 
 
 Which he than spend, hunger or beg had rather. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Believe me, madam, I am deeply grieved, 
 But, truth to say, his gold he did not squander ; 
 His little failings," tco, he did deplore, 
 But his ill-fortune he bewailed much more. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Alas ! what luckless beings mortals are ! 
 Poor man, for him I'll many a requiem say. 
 
Faust. 143 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 You're worthy of a spouse this very day, , 
 You sweet young creature, amiable as fair ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Oh no ! for that the time has not yet come. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 No husband ! well, a gallant in his room. 
 To me 'twere more than earthly bliss 
 So sweet a thing to hold and kiss. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 But no such custom here we know. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Custom or not, it happens though ! 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 Go on ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 I stood beside his dying bed, 
 Than dung it somewhat better might have been 
 Half-rotten straw, but \\4th true Christian mien 
 He died. A lengthy reckoning still, he said, 
 Was his. * Oh, what atonement can I make,' 
 He cried, * that thus my wife I should forsake ? 
 
144 Faust, 
 
 Alas, the thought of it is agony ! 
 
 Could she but ere I die forgive her wrong.' 
 
 MARTHA {weeping) 
 The dear good man, I have forgiven him long ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 * But God knows she was more to blame than L' 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 If s false ! What, lie thus dn the eve of death ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 He fabled truly with his latest breath 
 
 If I may be but half a connoisseur. 
 
 ' For pastime there was little need to gape,' he said, 
 
 * Children to get, and then for them get bread. 
 Was work enough for one so very poor ; 
 And then my share in peace was never eaten.' 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 Had he then all my truth, my love forgotten ? 
 My drudgery by day — by night ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Not so ; he prized it highly, as was right. 
 He said. ' As I away from Malta sailed. 
 For wife and child I prayed with fervent zeal, 
 And heaven was pleased to fa\ our my appeal, 
 
Faust. 
 
 For soon our ship a Turkish vessel hailed, 
 That bore the Sultan's gold : we boarded it, 
 Therewith our bravery was right well repaid ; 
 The spoil divided duly, as was fit, 
 Amongst the rest well measured share I had.' 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 How ? where ? he hid it haply in the ground ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Who knows ! beneath the four winds 'twill be found. 
 As once a stranger he in Naples strayed, 
 A pretty damsel chose him for her friend, 
 Her sweet caresses such impression made. 
 He bore its trace unto his blessed end ! 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 The sinful wretch ! his luckless children's robber ! 
 No wretchedness, not even the want of bread, 
 Could nothing then a life so shameless hinder? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Bethink thee, 'tis enough for this he's dead ; 
 Now were I you, much rather I would choose 
 To mourn him deeply for a year or so. 
 And meanwhile look me out another spouse. 
 
 H5 
 
 C 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 heavens ! what like my first, O no ! 
 
 1 find in all the world no other such! 
 
 L 
 
146 Faust. 
 
 A kinder fool in truth could hardly be. 
 Indeed to rove about he loved too much. 
 With stranger women he was rather free, 
 And wine, and worst of all the cursed dice. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Well, well, perhaps it had gone smoothly on 
 If he, good man, had not been over nice, 
 But had on his part done as you have done. 
 I swear to you if on such terms we stood. 
 Change rings with you myself I gladly would 1 
 
 / 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 Oh, my good sir, it pleaseth you to jest ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 To stay much longer here I can't afford, 
 The devil himself she'd hold him to his word. 
 
 \To Margaret 
 Dwells all at peace, sweet maid, within your breast ? 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 What mean you, sir ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {to himself) 
 
 Thou dear untutored heart ! 
 Aloud\ Ladies farewell ! 
 
Faust. 147 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Farewell. 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 Before we part, 
 One word ! I would certificate I had 
 How my dear husband died and where he's laid. 
 A friend to order I have always been, 
 And wish his death were in the papers seen ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Quite right ! Two persons' word, when both 
 In that agree, is always held the truth. 
 Good madam, with me is a clever friend, 
 Our way together to the judge we'll wend. 
 I bring him hither. 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 Do so, pray. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 This fair young lady, too, will stay ! 
 He is a gay and travelled knight, 
 And with the ladies most polite. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Before him I would sink with fear. 
 
148 Faust. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Before no king the earth doth bear. 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 This evening to my garden come, 
 Behind the house. We'll be at home. 
 
 THE STREET. 
 Faust, Mephistopheles. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 How now? speak quickly ! Goes it all aright? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Bravo, my friend, you're in a blaze I see. 
 Yes, Gretchen's yours, or soon at least shall be. 
 We four at Neighbour Martha's meet this night ; 
 I know a few, but this the choicest jade 
 I've hit on yet to drive the gipsy's trade ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 'Tis well. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 But now remains another task. 
 
Faust, 149 
 
 FAUST 
 
 So be it. Some return may fairly ask 
 Such service good. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 We straightway must depose 
 That holy ground in Padua doth inclose 
 Her liege-lord stark and stiff ; this must be done 
 In good set form of law. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 And journey thither 
 Forthwith of course ? A pretty task the one 
 You've here enjoined. Well, well ! when must we 
 thither? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Sancta Simplicitas ! what need to go ? 
 
 Bear witness only \ why make such a pother, 
 
 As if 'twere requisite the fact to know ? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Is this your scheme ? You must invent some other, 
 Or here the matter ends. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 O sainted man ! 
 Is't come to this, that you false witness bear 
 
1 50 Faust, 
 
 Now for the first time since your life began ! 
 
 God and the world, and all that therein moves, 
 
 Man, what man's head or heart or knows or loves, 
 
 Have you not these without one qualm, one blush, 
 
 Boldly defined, and now you hold your breath 
 
 At such small stop as this. Look inward ; tush \ 
 
 AVhat know you more of them than Schwerdtlein's death? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Sophist and liar thou art, and wilt be ever. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 So please you, if you will not deign th' endeavour 
 To look a little deeper. Tell me now. 
 Will you not on the morrow freely vow 
 To this poor child your soul's eternal truth ? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Ay, and will keep that vow. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 You will, forsooth ! 
 And then on love and constancy dilate, 
 And that sweet wish that doth annihilate 
 All other wishes ; this, too, from thy heart ? 
 
Faust. 151 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Peace ! peace ! it will be, if the mind impart 
 
 No name for that I feel. If wild I scan 
 
 Earth's loveliest creations, and I grasp 
 
 At words that may portray them^ but not this \ 
 
 If in the madness of my soul I clasp 
 
 A flame that feels eternal, and I can 
 
 Call it no less ; say'st thou such pang, such bliss, 
 
 Is but one hell-born phantasy of lies ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Well, be it as it may, although you prize 
 My judgment Httle, still I'm in the right, 
 And so you'll find it. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Hark ! no more till night, 
 My lungs grow weary ; one word add I may. 
 Who in the right determined is to be. 
 Needs but two things, the tongue and will to say 
 That right he is, and right undoubtedly 
 He will be. Now then let this gossip cease, 
 You have your way, for I must fain cry peace. 
 
1 5 2 Faust. 
 
 THE GARDEN, 
 
 Margaret leaning on ifAUST's arm, Martha 7vith 
 Mephistopheles walking up and down. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 O sir, your pity spares me ; this I feel, 
 
 Such condescension adds but to my shame ; 
 
 So great a traveller can I know conceal 
 
 His thoughts, and what he meets with give a name 
 
 Better than it deserves, nor please can such 
 
 A tongue as mine one who -has seen so much. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 More bliss I glean from thy one look, one word, 
 Than the world's wisdom could in years afford. 
 
 ]^F{e kisses her hand 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 How can you do so? Kiss a hand like mine, 
 So rude and hard with working all day long ; 
 My mother takes good care I grow not fine 
 With idleness, for that she would think wrong. 
 
 \They pass on 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 And you, sir, without ceasing ever roam ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Ay, my dear madam, we at duty's call 
 
Faust, 153 
 
 Sweet spots must leave that we could wish our home, 
 But such desires are granted not to all. 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 ^Tis well enough to rove in youth's wild years 
 And freely tramp the wide world up and down. 
 But when at length the evil day man nears, 
 Wifeless to crawl into his grave, you'll own 
 A sorry ending to his life appears. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 The mere thought makes me shudder ! 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 Worthy sir, 
 What should be done why would you thus defer ? 
 
 \They move on. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Ay, out of sight is out of mind, 
 And flattery is light task to you. 
 With many friends whom you must find 
 Wiser than me, I doubt not too. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 O best of beings, trust me that alone 
 Is vanity and blindness of the mind 
 Which men call sense ! 
 
154 Fails L 
 
 MARGARET 
 How SO ? 
 
 * FAUST 
 
 Alas ! sweet one, 
 Simplicity and innocence we find 
 Ever the last its hallowed worth to know, 
 And meekness lowly still the highest boon 
 Of all that Nature with unceasing flow 
 From her vast store of love pours forth to bless 
 Her children. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Then you'll think of me ? Ah ! soon, 
 Too many days to think of you I'll have. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Are you so oft alone ? 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Am I ? O yes ! 
 Often the livelong day from mora till eve. 
 Our household is a very little one, 
 Yet all within it must be clean and neat ; 
 There's cooking, sweeping, knitting to be done, 
 So much that I am ever on my feet. 
 And then my mother, so precise is she 
 That all about her must in order be. 
 
Faust. 155 
 
 Yet little need have we to be so close, 
 
 For many others call much less their own ; 
 
 My father dying left us this small house, 
 
 And little garden too, hard by the town. 
 
 Here quietly enough my days are sped. 
 
 My brother is a soldier, and I had 
 
 A little sister, but she now is dead ; 
 
 And trouble great she gave me, yet full glad 
 
 Greater to bear were I, so she were here. 
 
 Poor child, once more — to me she was so dear. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 An angel, if it but resembled thee 1 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 I brought it up and loved it well, 
 'Twas ever on my knee. 
 For ere 'twas bom, poor babe, befell 
 My father's death. And then so sickly 
 My mother lay, we thought that quickly 
 Her end must come, yet did it not ; 
 Slowly and by degrees she mended. 
 But could not feed the babe whose lot, 
 Poor nestling, had been death, but tended 
 It was by me with spoonfuls warm 
 Of milk and water, till my arm 
 It needed not, for soon it grew 
 Stirring and strong and friendly too. 
 
156 Faust. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 How happy thou hast been ! how pure thy joy ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 In sooth it was, but not without alloy. 
 
 By night its little cradle stood 
 
 My pillow near, so watchful I, 
 
 That neither stir nor cry it could 
 
 But it was in my arms, and try 
 
 To quiet it I did with food, 
 
 Or struggling with its fretful mood 
 
 I rocked it gratefully. 
 
 And then all night I lay awake, 
 
 Its little hand in mine 
 
 I chafed and warmed till day would break, 
 
 When be it wet or fine, 
 
 I needs must up to wash and light 
 
 The fire within the hearth, 
 
 The house to sweep and put to right. 
 
 Then to the market forth. 
 
 A cheerless life you'll think at best. 
 
 And yet it sweetened food and rest. \TJiey pass on 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 But we poor women always badly fare, 
 Your sturdy bachelor is hard to move. 
 
Faust, 157 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 With one like you I never need despair, 
 However late, to learn at length to love. 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 But tell me, pray, sir, has your heart alone 
 Thus ever dwelt, nor gentle bondage known ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 The proverb says, ' A wife and hearth 
 Far more than gold and pearls are worth.' 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 My meaning is, have you no liking felt ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 With me the world has ever fairly dealt. 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 But I would ask, has nothing stirred your breast ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 With women men should ne'er attempt a jest. 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 Ah ! you don't comprehend me. 
 
J 58 Faust, 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 I lament 
 It should be thus, but feel your kind intent. 
 
 \T?iey pass on 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Sweet little angel ! so you knew me when 
 I came into the garden ? Did you so ? 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 And you perceived it not ? I looked down then, 
 Because I felt that this my eyes would show. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 And you forgave my freedom, and the while 
 
 That to accost you thus I were so bold, 
 
 As forth you came from out the sacred pile ? 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 My thoughts were so confused I could not hold 
 Myself erect, for never till that hour 
 Had I been so addressed. No evil word 
 Had e'er been said of me ; I deemed full sure 
 In some unseemly manner I had erred, 
 For the thought seemed to strike him suddenly 
 That I was one with whom he might make free ; 
 Still I was pleased, and yet felt angry too, 
 To think that I were not more wroth with you. 
 
Faust, -159 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Sweet love ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Be still a moment. 
 \^She plucks an aster ^ and pulls off the leaves one by one 
 
 FAUST 
 
 What means this ? 
 Make you a nosegay ? 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 No, 'tis but a game. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 How say you ? 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Ah ! he mocks me well, I wiss ! 
 \_She plucks off the leaves^ muhnwing to herself 
 
 FAUST 
 
 What murmurest thou ? 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 My fate this flower shall name. 
 He loves 1 He loves me not ! He loves me ! Yes ! 
 {Plucking off the last leaf with delight 
 He loves me ! 
 
i6o FausL 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Ay, dear child, and heaven shall bless 
 That bright flower's prophecy, which doth foretell 
 He loves thee — loves thee. Tell me, canst thou guess 
 AVhat the word means, he loves thee — loves thee well ? 
 
 \^He takes both her ha?ids 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 I grow SO faint. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 O tremble not, but let 
 This gaze, this pressure of the hand, express 
 That which were else unutterable ! 
 Let bliss boundless, unimaginable, wrap 
 Our being, one and endless ; for an end 
 Were the annihilation of all hope i 
 Utter despair — no end I 
 No end ! no end ! 
 
 [Margaret presses his hand ^ frees herself and 
 
 ru7is aivay ; he stands a moment lost in thought, 
 
 then follows her 
 
 MARTHA {advancing 
 
 In truth it is an evil tell-tale place, 
 Or it would please me well that you should stay 
 A little longer ; but it seems the grace 
 Hath no one here to mind his own affairs, 
 
Faust , 1 6 1 
 
 But ever to his neighbour's doth attend, 
 Watching each step, and in and out, of theirs, 
 So that the best are talked of in the end. 
 But our young couple 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Up yon walk have flown 
 The wanton butterflies ! 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 Right deeply he. 
 With her is smitten, as it seems to me. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 And she with him. 'Tis thus the world runs on. 
 
 A SUMMER HOUSE. 
 
 Margaret runs in, hides behind the door, holds her 
 finger to her lips, and looks through a crevice. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 He comes ! 
 
 Enter Faust. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Ha, rogue ! Why thus provoke 
 Thy lover ? But I have thee now ! \^He kisses her 
 
1 62 Faust. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Alas ! I can no longer cloak 
 
 From thee my weak heart's wish. \Kis5ing him in return 
 [Mephistopheles kfwcks at the door 
 
 Who's 
 
 there? 
 
 FAUST {stamping) 
 
 What ho ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 A friend. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 A brute. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 
 
 
 
 Tis time 
 
 we 
 
 go. 
 
 
 
 MARTHA {entering) 
 
 
 
 Ay, it 
 
 grows late, good sir. 
 
 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Come, say not no. 
 I fain would bear you company. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Farewell ! 
 What would my mother think ? 
 
Faust. 163 
 
 Well then, farewell ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 M \RTHA 
 
 Adieu ! 
 
 That it were wrong ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 We'll meet ere long. 
 \Exeunt Faust and Mephistopheles 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Ah, gracious heaven ! how such a man 
 
 So many things encompass can, 
 
 And I must stand abashed, and may 
 
 No other answer make than Yea ! 
 
 To all he says. Yet, silly child, 
 
 Can he be thus by thee beguiled I {Goes 
 
 FOREST AND CA VERN. 
 
 FAUST {alone) 
 
 Spirit sublime ! thou gavest, gavest me all 
 That I have prayed for, and thy gaze of fire 
 Didst never yet in vain upon me turn. 
 The superexcellence of glorious Nature 
 
164 Faust, 
 
 Thou for a realm hast given me, with the power 
 
 To feel and to enjoy ; no cold and wondering insight 
 
 To me thou grantedst, but her bosom's depths 
 
 Unveiled, and bade me scan them as a friend's. 
 
 Rank after rank the throng of living things 
 
 Hast thou led past, and taught me as a brother 
 
 In the still woods the air, the flood to know ; 
 
 And when the boisterous storm howls and creaks 
 
 Through the deep forest, when the giant pine 
 
 Reels, and its neighbour-stem and branch o'erswaying, 
 
 Sweeps crashing down, and from the cavemed hills 
 
 Its echoing fall rebounds in hollow thunders. 
 
 Thou bear'st me oft to some safe sheltered cave, 
 
 Show'st me myself, while erst mysterious wonders 
 
 Of mine own breast are there laid bare before me ; 
 
 Full in my view the clear bright moon climbs up, 
 
 Shedding mild influences from wall-like rock. 
 
 From the dank thicket's mist uprise the forms 
 
 Of ages past, and with their silvery sheen 
 
 Soothe contemplation that had else been sad. 
 
 Alas, alas ! that to the lot of man 
 
 Falls nothing perfect ! Now too well I feel 
 
 This rapturous enjoyment thou hast given, 
 
 That step by step exalts me to a God, 
 
 But a companion to my side hast linked 
 
 From whom I cannot part. Cold, cold, and insolent, 
 
 He to myself makes me degraded feel, 
 
 And with a breath thy gifts to ashes turns. 
 
 Unceasingly for this loved idol he 
 
Faust. 165 
 
 A maddening glow within my bosom fans, 
 And thus I reel from longing to enjoyment, 
 And in enjoyment pine but for desire. 
 
 Enter Mephistopheles. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Well, are you sated with this life of love ? 
 Surely for joys like these you sigh no longer ; 
 'Tis well enough the thing for once to prove, 
 But then away to sip at something stronger. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Would that thou couldst procure more fitting task 
 Than thus to plague me in my happiest hour. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Well, well ! in earnest this you dare not ask, 
 Yet my free leave you have at will to pore 
 Over your own mad thoughts. In truth, to lose 
 A mate so rude and crazy were a gain ; 
 With so much work on hand I well might choose, 
 For what doth pleasure bring, and what doth pain. 
 Is read with trouble in your worship's face. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 That's the true tone at last ! the proper key. 
 To thwart and tease as though he did a grace ! 
 
1 66 Faust. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Poor son of earth ! and prithee but for me 
 What were the life 't had been thy lot to lead ? 
 Your mind, at least for some fair space to come. 
 From quips and quaint imaginings I've freed, 
 Which had it not been done, perchance your home 
 Had been the other world. What brings you here, 
 Hiding yourself in clefts and cavemed rocks, 
 Perched like an owl, or sharing his choice food 
 In the dank moss, 'mid dripping stones and stocks ? 
 Why sit you moping \rith your brother toad ? 
 A pretty pastime for you, is it not ? 
 I fear the Doctor is not quite forgot 1 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Believest thou that in the loneliness 
 Of the vast desert there are fountains pure. 
 From whence the wanderer's life in its distress 
 May drain new vigour? No ! for else full sure 
 . Thy devil's envy would itself employ 
 To drug the draught it knows not to destroy. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 A more than human, more than earthly pleasure. 
 
 In night and dew upon the mountain lying, 
 
 To drink in earth and heaven at your leisure, 
 
 And so dilate you, with the Godhead vieing. 
 
 Earth's marrow^ through and through with eager longing 
 
Faust 167 
 
 To interpenetrate within you feeling, 
 
 The entire six-days' work your bosom thronging, 
 
 And with a more than mortal's love annealing 
 
 Your earthly nature ; melt in bliss away. 
 
 And then the lofty intuition ends ! [ With a gesture 
 
 But how it ends I hardly dare to say. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Fy on you ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 What, my homeliness offends ! 
 And you forsooth cry fy ! Well, this is brave. 
 Fine right to play the moralist you have ! 
 But that must never modest ears annoy 
 Which modest hearts can ne'ertheless enjoy ! 
 However, since 'tis pleasant to deceive 
 Oneself a little, you have my free leave 
 To take your bent ; it will not long endure. 
 Back to your ways of old, my friend, you're wending. 
 And madness, should this freak be long in ending. 
 Or pangs and horror, soon will prove its cure. 
 But come ! enough of this. Your loved one pining 
 Sits hi her home the while forlorn and sad, 
 Its future lot all fruitlessly divining 
 That little heart where love his nest hath made ! 
 But your fierce passion, which at first came rushing, 
 A snow-fed torrent headlong from on high, 
 Into the unresisting bosom gushing, 
 
1 68 Faust, 
 
 Seems now a brooklet somewhat spent and dry. 
 Methinks, fair sir, that this your forest-throne 
 You might relinquish till more fitting day, 
 Nor leave this poor young monkey quite alone, 
 But love like hers at least in part repay. 
 How wearisome to her must feel each hour ! 
 She stands beside the window ; one by one 
 The passing clouds she counts as they sail o'er 
 The grey old ramparts of the neighbouring town ; 
 And then she chants her little ceaseless song, 
 ' Were I a bird ! ' all day and all night long ; 
 Smiling by times, then sad, but resting never, 
 She weeps till she can weep no more, 
 Then seems as peaceful as of yore, 
 But lovesick ever ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Serpent ! serpent ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {apart) 
 
 Ay, you're right. If I 
 Don't catch you now, I'll do so by-and-by. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Polluted monster, hence ! Name not again 
 The lovely maid ; awake not the desire 
 For her sweet form within me, that its fire 
 Again may rack my half-distracted brain 1 
 
Fates t. 169 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 What would you then ? She thinks that you are flown, 
 And rightly too, for you are halfway gone. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 No, I am near her. Yet though far I were, 
 I ne'er could wander, never could forget — 
 Ay, that the sacred wafer's self doth fret 
 My soul with envy when her lips draw near. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 That's well, my friend ! in sooth I've envied you 
 More times than one such rosebuds fed with dew. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Base tempter, hence ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Go on, abuse me, I 
 May only laugh, since he who youth and maid 
 Created at his will, was not afraid 
 To add the good gift opportunity ! 
 But tush ! no more these idle follies heed ; 
 Why fails your heart ? Methinks your path doth lead 
 Straight to the loved one's chamber, not to death. 
 
1 70 Faust, 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Ay, heaven for me exists but in her arms ; 
 I am, but live not while her bosom warms 
 No life in mine. One boundless void I breathe 
 Without her presence ; all around doth mock 
 The homeless monster, thus for ever cast 
 A headlong torrent down from rock to rock 
 Towards the abyss where it must end at last. 
 But she dwells far apart in childlike thought, 
 Tending her household cares, a peaceful task \ 
 Her little world that Alpine cottage fraught 
 With all she loves or knows, nor more doth ask. 
 And I, the abhorred of God, what would I there ? 
 Was't not enough the rocks \nth demon might 
 To grasp and shatter ? Must I now prepare 
 This spotless being's peace to madly blight ? 
 Hell ! hell ! this offering canst thou not forego ? 
 Thou wilt not ! Come then, devil, lend thine aid, 
 Short be the pang, since it must needs be so. 
 And crush me in the ruin I have made. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Well, how it seethes and glows ! Why this ado ? 
 Get in and comfort her, thou fool, for sure 
 When such a numskull can no outlet view, 
 The end is come, the matter past all cure ! 
 
Faust. 171 
 
 Life to the bold of heart ! and times there are 
 When thou the fiend canst act in seemly way, 
 But wouldst thou devil be, and know despair, 
 A brave and pleasant part you've ta'en to play ! 
 
 ^ 
 
 MARGARETS CHAMBER. 
 MARGARET {alone at her spinning-wheel) 
 
 My heart is heavy, 
 My peace is gone ; 
 'Twill ne'er return. 
 For ever flown 1 
 
 When him I see not. 
 The grave I see 3 
 Bitter and dark 
 Is the world to me. 
 
 My brain is turned, 
 My mind distraught, 
 Wild and wandering 
 Every thought 
 
 My heart is heavy. 
 My peace is gone ; 
 It ne'er will return. 
 For ever flown ! 
 
172 Faust. 
 
 Forth from the window, 
 For him^lone 
 I look, and follow 
 When he has gone. 
 
 His noble form ! 
 His bearing how high ! 
 The smile of his lip, 
 The glance of his eye ! 
 
 His witching words, 
 Alas ! I miss ; 
 The thrill of his hand, 
 And ah ! — his kiss ! 
 
 My heart is heavy. 
 My peace is gone ; 
 'Twill ne'er return, 
 For ever flown ! 
 
 Void is my bosom, 
 I long to go ! 
 Oh, might I clasp him. 
 And hold him so 1 
 
 I fain would kiss him. 
 And kiss again ; 
 Death in his kisses, 
 It were no pain. 
 
Faust. 173 
 
 MARTHA'S GARDEN. 
 Margaret, Faust. 
 
 margaret 
 Well, thou wilt promise, Heinrich ? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 What I can. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Thy thoughts about religion 'tis I seek, 
 
 And fain would know. Thou art a dear kind man, 
 
 But then of this I never hear thee speak ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 O heed this not ! my love is all thine own. 
 And life for those I love could I lay down, 
 But none of feeling, none of faith bereave. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 'Tis not enough ! we also must believe. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Must we ? 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 We must. Alas ! were influence mine. 
 
1 74 Faust. 
 
 To wake in thee one thought for things divine ! 
 Thou honourest not the holy Sacrament. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 I honour it 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 But not with right intent. 
 This couldst thou not without the wish to share. 
 And then the mass thou shunn'st, nor kneeFst in prayer. 
 Believest thou in God ? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Who dares, sweet love ! 
 Say, * I believe in God ' ? To sage or priest 
 The question put, and his reply will prove 
 A mockery of the questioner at best ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Then thou believ'st not ? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Dearest ! say not so. 
 Mistake me not, but who dare thus avow 
 That ' he beHeves in Him ; ' who feel, and dare to say 
 That ' he believes not in Him,' all-embracing, 
 All-sustaining? Doth He not compass all, 
 And all uphold ? Thee — me — Himself? 
 Spreads not the canopy of heaven above us ? 
 Stands firmly not the solid earth beneath ? 
 
Faust, 175 
 
 Rise not the eternal stars with friendly aspect 
 Down twinkling from on high ? 
 And look we not into each other's eyes ? 
 Are not all things that be, seen and unseen, 
 About thy head and heart for ever weaving 
 One maze eternal ? Fill with it thy breast, 
 And wholly happy in the feeling, then 
 E'en call it as thou wilt, Love, Rapture, God. 
 For me it hath no name ! Feeling is all. 
 Name but a sound, a light-obscuring cloud. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Well, this perhaps may be all fine and good ; 
 The priest says much the same, but when he does 
 He uses different words. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 All say it ! all 
 In every place, nor is there spot which knows 
 The light of heaven, wherein exists one heart 
 That says it not in its own proper tongue. 
 Then why not I in mine ? 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 So understood 't may do, but still 
 There lurks within it something ill. 
 It is not Christian speech. 
 
1 76 Faust, 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Sweet child ! 
 
 margI 
 
 I fear me much thou'st b^ beguiled, 
 And sorely I am grieved to si^ 
 That thou canst bear such company. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 How so ? 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 WTiy ever at thy side 
 That man my eye could ne'er abide, 
 Whose hateful visage dagger-like 
 Into my loathing heart doth strike ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Thou silly thing ! what foolish fear ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 My heart's blood creeps when he is near. 
 Yet of all those I know, not one 
 I hate but him — but him alone ! 
 I hold him for a villain too, 
 God pardon me if wrong I do ! 
 
Faust, 1 77 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Such oddities there needs will be. 
 
 MARGARET. 
 
 I could not live near such as he ! 
 
 When entering at the door his eye 
 
 Peers in on all so mockingly, 
 
 « 
 While rage but ill concealed betrays 
 
 That sympathy with none he has. 
 
 How plainly on his evil brow 
 
 'Tis \vrit that love he ne'er could know 
 
 For living soul ! Alas ! with thee 
 
 How happy could I feel, how free, 
 
 Did not his presence crush my heart ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Misgiving angel 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 We must part. 
 My breathing ceases when I hear 
 His coming step ; I almost fear 
 To love thee then, yet may not dare 
 Whilst he is by to utter prayer. 
 This gnaws into my heart, and thou. 
 Dear Heinrich, tell me, feel'st thou so ? 
 
 N 
 
1 78 Faiist 
 
 FAUST 
 
 'Tis but antipathy. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 I must away. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Oh, may I never from the livelong day 
 
 One little hoiu: upon thy bosom rest, * ' 
 
 Soul pressed to soul as now, and breast to breast? 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Did I but sleep alone, for thy dear sake 
 
 This night the bolt I gladly would undo ; 
 
 But much I fear my mother might awake, 
 
 And were we caught her eye would strike me through, 
 
 And I would die upon the spot for shame. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Fear not, sweet love ! there shall be none to blame. 
 Seest thou this little phial ! In her drink 
 Drop but three drops, and sleep will softly sink 
 Upon her eyelids. 
 
 MARGARET. 
 
 Canst thou nothing ask. 
 And I refuse ? It will not harm her ? Nay ! 
 
Faust. 1 79 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Could it be thus, dear child, and thine the task ? 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Well, well ! it must be so. I cannot say 
 What power compels me, but no choice have I, 
 Whate'er my wish, but I must fain comply. 
 And now of all things thou canst ask, scarce one 
 Remains to do, so many I have done. \G0e5 
 
 Enter Mephistopheles. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 The little monkey, is she off? 
 
 ' FAUST 
 
 What, here ! 
 Play'st thou the spy again ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 In the old mood ? 
 Ay, I have heard it all, you need not fear. 
 Plainly enough ; I hope 'twill do you good. 
 She catechised you soundly, Doctor ! Well, 
 In truth the women act not much amiss. 
 When after the old fashion they would tell 
 Whether a man be pious, for by this 
 They aptly judge if he doth heaven obey. 
 The chances are, they too will have their way. 
 
 ' N 2 
 
1 80 Faust, 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Thou monster ! 'tis not thine to comprehend 
 How this fond truthfiil soul, full of her faith. 
 
 In which her all-sufficient bliss she hath, 
 
 Can feel her heart a holy horror rend 
 
 To hold the man most dear to her for lost ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 O thou most sensual, supersensual ass ! 
 Hast thou so quickly found it to thy cost, 
 A silly chit can fool thee ? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Hence, thou mass 
 Of filth and fire ! Abortion monstrous, hence ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 In physiognomy she shows some skill. 
 And in my presence feels she knows not how ; 
 My mask, it seems, bespeaks some secret ill. 
 She deemed fiill sure I was a genius j now 
 Thinks me the devil perhaps, or soon she will. 
 Tonight? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 What's that to thee? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 No matter, I 
 Will find my own enjoyment by-and-by. 
 
Faust. 1 8 1 
 
 AT THE FOUNTAIN. 
 Margaret and Bessy, with pitchers, 
 
 BESSY 
 
 What, have you nothing heard of Barbara ? 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 No, not a word. I go so seldom out. 
 
 BESSY. 
 
 Sybilla told me, whom just now I saw. 
 A pretty business she has been about ; 
 Playing the fool at last ! 'Tis always so 
 When people are so proud. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 How is it? 
 
 BESSY 
 
 Howt 
 Why all she eats and drinks now serves for two. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Ah! 
 
 BESSY 
 
 Prithee, could she look for less ? 
 
1 82 Faust. 
 
 That fellow at her side for ever, 
 
 None but herself dared e'er address 
 
 At village fair or dance ; and never 
 
 A day might pass, but he forsooth 
 
 With cakes and \\ine must treat her both ! 
 
 And much she prized her pretty face, 
 
 But little of her honour thought, 
 
 And took as it were no disgrace 
 
 The presents which he daily brought 
 
 But after presents kisses come, 
 
 And lo ! the flower hath lost its bloom ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Poor thing ! 
 
 BESSY 
 
 Forsooth you pity her ! 
 "UTien at the spiiming wheel we were, 
 Of us our mothers ne'er lost sight. 
 Nor venture out at dusk we might. 
 But she could with her lover talk 
 Without the door, or on the walk ; 
 Beneath the trees might stroll or sit 
 For hvelong hours as she thought fit. 
 But church with sheet and taper now 
 She fain must seek, and penance do ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 But he will surely marry her ? 
 
I 
 
 FausL 183 
 
 BESSY. 
 
 Be such a fool, indeed ! not he ! 
 For him the world is wide and free. 
 Besides, he's gone. 
 
 MARGARET. 
 
 Ah ! that is base. 
 
 BESSY. 
 
 But should she get him, still her face 
 
 I think she scarce would dare to show. 
 
 For straw before her door we'Jl strew. 
 
 For greeting too the boys will tear 
 
 Her wreath, and fling the fragments there ! \Exit 
 
 MARGARET {going homi) 
 
 What things, alas ! I once could say. 
 Did a poor maiden chance to stray ! 
 Nor words enough could find to blame. 
 So heinous seemed another'^ shame. 
 How black I thought it, and would paint 
 It blacker still, and ne'er content ! 
 I blessed myself and felt so proud ! 
 And now my head in sin must shroud. 
 Heaven only knows, alas ! the cause 
 How sweet to me, how dear it was ! 
 
184 Faust. 
 
 ORATORY. 
 
 In a niche the image of the Mater Dolorosa with 
 pots of flowers before it. 
 
 MARGARET {puts freshflowers in the pots) 
 Virgin and Mother ! 
 Thou who hast known 
 Pangs that no other 
 Could suffer, look down ! 
 
 I-iOwly before thee, 
 In sorrow and guilt, 
 I kneel and implore thee. 
 O hear me thou wilt. 
 
 Tiiy eye it is bent 
 On thy crucified Son, 
 Thy heart it is rent 
 For thy holiest One ! 
 
 Thy sighs they ascend 
 To the Father above ; 
 He thy sorrows will end, 
 And thy cup will remove \ 
 
Faust, 185 
 
 Who the misery that dwells 
 In my bosom may know, * 
 
 Who the anguish that wells 
 With its throbbing but thou ? 
 
 The yearning that racks me, 
 To whom may I own ? 
 The horror that tracks me, 
 Thou seest it alone ! 
 
 Woe ! and for ever ! 
 Sorrow and woe, 
 Leaving me never. 
 Wherever I go ! 
 
 I weep, and I weep, 
 Alone I would be ; 
 My shame will not sleep, 
 It is ever with me ! 
 
 At mom I gather, 
 When daylight appears, 
 The flowers I bring thee. 
 All wet with my tears. 
 
 The dawn I await not, 
 My grief is awake ; 
 Restless and wretched 
 My couch I forsake. 
 O hither to save me from shame and from death, 
 
1 86 Faust, 
 
 Virgin and Mother ! 
 Thou who hast known 
 Pangs that no other 
 Could suffer, look down ! 
 
 NIGHT. 
 
 Street before Margaret's door. 
 
 VALENTINE {a soldier^ Margaret's brother) 
 
 When boon companions sat around, 
 And each in turn his pleasure found 
 As * flower of maidens ' her to prize 
 Who chanced to glad his loving eyes, 
 And drowned in brimming glass the word, 
 I sat with elbow on the board 
 In easy mood, nor checked the toast, 
 But calmly took their swaggering boast, 
 Then stroked my beard, and glass in hand, 
 Would answer thus the noisy band : — 
 All in its way, but show me one, 
 Through all the country' up and down 
 Who's fit with Gretchen to compare, 
 Or hold to her a candle dare. 
 Hob ! nob ! kling ! klang ! around it went, 
 And cries, ' He's right,' the ceiling rent ; 
 
Faust, 187 
 
 *■ The pearl of maids is she.' At that 
 In silence down each boaster sat. 
 But now my beard I fain would rend, 
 Or mad with rage my being end. 
 What taunts, what sneers from every knave. 
 Where'er I turn, I now shall have ! 
 And must like roguish debtor bear, 
 And sweat at each chance word I hear, 
 Though crush them one and all might I ! 
 What use ? — I could not say they lie ! 
 
 But who comes here ? If right I view, 
 This way their road, and they are two. 
 If he be one, I'll straight let drive, 
 This spot he ne'er shall leave alive ! 
 
 Faust and Mephistopheles 
 
 FAUST 
 
 How from yon window of the sacristy 
 
 Aloft the ever-burning lamp doth flicker, 
 
 With gleam that quickly fades, whilst darkness thicker 
 
 On either side wraps all encirclingly ! 
 
 E'en so my soul within, where all is night ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 And I for my part like a tom-cat feel, 
 
 When he with faint and noiseless foot doth steal 
 
1 88 Faust, 
 
 Round spouts and wall- tops, virtuously quite — 
 With a slight thievish pleasure, more or less 
 Flavoured with a small spice of wantonness. 
 Ay ! brave Walpurgis Night ! your advent 'tis 
 That thrills me thus. Another day and you 
 Come round again, and there one well, I wiss, 
 Can tell what he's about, and what to do. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Hist ! something glitters upward ! Can it be 
 The treasure rising that I yonder see ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Yes, 'tis the casket which you soon shall glad 
 Your heart by lifting, for I lately had 
 A peep at it, and I can safely say 
 Therein right noble lion-dollars lay. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 And not an ornament, not even a ring, 
 Nothing my loved one could accept from me ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 I now bethink me there was some such thing, 
 A kind of pearl necklace it might be. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 'Tis well ! to come to her I cannot bear 
 Without some gift, some trinket she can wear. 
 
Faust 189 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 But surely there's no need to fret, 
 
 If now and then by chance you get 
 
 Enjoyment gratis. Come, the sky 
 
 Grows bright with stars. Behold my lute ! 
 
 A masterpiece I mean to try, 
 
 One that our purpose well ^^dll suit, 
 
 A moral song, your choicest kind 
 
 To fool a woman to her mind ! \Sings to the guitar 
 
 Dear Catharine, why 
 Thus draw'st thou nigh, 
 Ere dawns the day, 
 Thy lover's door ? 
 Sweet maid beware ! 
 Nor enter there. 
 Lest maid thou may 
 Return no more ! 
 
 Oh, heed thee well ! 
 Thou canst not tell 
 Thy lot, poor thing. 
 If once undone ! 
 Oh, let not love 
 The victor prove. 
 But with the ring 
 Alone be won. 
 
 VALENTINE {comes forward) 
 
 Whom com'st thou here to lure with damned intent. 
 Infernal rascal, twanging thy guitar ? 
 
1 90 Faust, 
 
 First to the devil with the instrument, 
 And to the devil with the singer after ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Well, the poor lute is done for ! there it goes ! 
 
 VALENTINE 
 
 Now for thy skull ; there's virtue still in blows. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Have at him, Doctor ! Courage ! only stick 
 Close to my side, FU tell you what to do. 
 Out with your toasting-iron ! Come, be quick ! 
 Thrust home ! I'll parry. 
 
 VALENTINE 
 
 Parry that ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 More too ! 
 
 Then that ! 
 
 VALENTINE 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Oh, certainly ! 
 
 VALENTINE 
 
 How's this? the steel 
 
Faust. 1 9 1 
 
 I Drops from my hand ! a sudden chill I feel ! 
 The fiend himself is fighting ! , 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {tO FAUST) 
 
 On, strike home ! 
 
 VALENTINE {falls) 
 
 Oh heaven ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 The clod is tamed for 'time to come!' 
 And now away ! 'twere best be off in haste ; 
 Ere long the cry of murder we shall catch, 
 For the police I feel myself a match, 
 But penal courts by no means suit my taste. 
 
 MARTHA («/ the window) 
 Run out ! Run out ! 
 
 MARGARET {at the wifidow) 
 
 Quick, bring a light ! 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 A brawl it is ! They shout and fight ! 
 
 PEOPLE 
 
 And here lies one already dead. 
 
192 Faust, 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 Where are the murderers ? Are they flown ? 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Who lies here ? 
 
 PEOPLE 
 
 Thy mother's son ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 O heaven ! you say not life has fled ! 
 
 VALENTINE 
 
 Ay ! I am dying ! quickly told, 
 
 And done as quickly too. 
 
 Why thus, ye women, wail and scold ? 
 
 There's other work to do. \All come round him 
 
 Bethink thee, Gretchen ! young thou art, 
 
 Nor over well canst take thy part. 
 
 For little skill thou hast 
 
 Go now, a word ere I be gone, — 
 
 A harlot once, go bravely on, 
 
 Since what is past is past ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 My brother ! God ! what meanest thou ? 
 
Faust. 193 
 
 VALENTINE 
 
 Leave God alone ! 1 tell thee, do ; 
 What's done is done, and now perforce - 
 What is to come must take its course. 
 Betimes thou didst begin with one, 
 But him will others follow soon, 
 And when a dozen you have known, 
 Then welcome one and all the town. 
 
 When Shame is newly born the day 
 Beholds her not, her infant brow 
 Night's veil enwraps, and turns away 
 The prying world, and m.en would now 
 Fain stifle her. But soon she grows 
 Apace, then flauntingly she goes 
 Forth to the light, and undismayed 
 Walks with unbridled head the earth, 
 Nor fairer looks than at her birth, 
 But uglier still the more displayed. 
 
 Ay, ay ! ere long the time shall be 
 All honest folk will turn from thee 
 As from a corpse the plague hath stricken, 
 Thou harlot ! and thy heart shall sicken. 
 And sink within thee, when their eye 
 Encounters thine ! nor shalt thou bear 
 Thy chain of gold, nor draw thee nigh 
 To church or altar shalt thou dare, 
 o 
 
1 94 Faust. 
 
 No longer for the dance thy neck 
 With lace-embroidered collar deck, 
 But hic'e thee in some comer fell, 
 Where outcast rogues and cripples dwell, 
 Herding in darkness. Thou shalt live 
 On earth accursed, though God forgive ! 
 
 MARTHA 
 
 Commend thy soul to God, ^v^lt thou. 
 Nor to thy sins add slander too ! 
 
 VALENTINE 
 
 Could I thy withered carcass grip, 
 Thou shameless bawd, I soon would wipe 
 My sin how great soe'er away, 
 And for his mercy God repay. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 My brother ! heaven, what tortures these ! 
 
 VALENTINE 
 
 Have done with tears ! I tell thee cease. 
 
 When honour from thee cast didst thou, 
 
 'Twas then my heart was stabb'd, not now. 
 
 I go ; His found the death I wooed, 
 
 I die as die a soldier should ! {Dies 
 
Faust. 195 
 
 CATHEDRAL. 
 
 Service^ Organ and Anthem. 
 
 Margaret amongst a number of people^ Evil Spirit 
 behind her. 
 
 EVIL SPIRIT 
 
 How different was it with thee, Margaret, 
 When full of innocence thou drewest nigh 
 Unto the altar here ! 
 When out thy little well-worn book 
 Thou lispedst prayer, 
 Half childish play ! 
 Half God in l;ieart. 
 
 Margaret ! 
 What are thy thoughts ? 
 Within thy heart 
 What crime ? 
 Prayest thou for thy mother's soul who slept 
 Through thy hand over into long, long pain ? 
 Whose blood is that upon thy threshold ? 
 
 Under thy heart 
 Stirs there not quickening now 
 That which itself and thee 
 
 Tortures 
 
 « 
 
 With its foreboding presence ? 
 o 2 
 
1 96 Faust. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Woe ! woe ! 
 O would that I were free 
 From these dread thoughts that crowd into my mind 
 Despite of all I do ! 
 
 CHORUS 
 
 Dies irae, dies ilia • 
 
 Sol vet sseclum in fa villi. \Organ plays 
 
 EVIL SPIRIT 
 
 Horror seizes thee ! 
 The trumpet sounds ! 
 The graves are opening ! 
 
 And thy heart, 
 From the repose of ashes 
 For fiery torments 
 To new life awakened, 
 
 Trembling arises ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Would I were away ! 
 The organ stops my breath ! 
 The chant o'erpowers me ! 
 My heart grows faint ! 
 
Faust. 197 
 
 CHORUS 
 
 Judex ergo cum sedebit, \Organ 
 
 Quidquid latet adparebit, 
 Nil inultum remanebit. 
 
 MARGARET. 
 
 The crowd is stifling me ! 
 The pillared walls 
 Are closing in around ! 
 The vaulted roof 
 Sinks down upon me ! 
 Air ! air ! 
 
 EVIL SPIRIT 
 
 Hide thyself, Margaret. Sin and shame 
 Remain not hidden ! 
 An-! light! 
 Woe to thee ! 
 
 CHORUS 
 
 Quid sum miser tunc dicturus, 
 Quem patronum rogaturus, 
 Cum vix Justus sit securus? 
 
 EVIL SPIRIT 
 
 The glorified avert 
 From thee their faces. 
 
1 98 Faust. 
 
 Their hands the pure in heart 
 Shudder to reach thee ! 
 Woe ! woe ! 
 
 CHORUS 
 
 Quid sum miser tunc dicturus ? 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Neighbour, your smelling-bottle ! 
 
 \She falls in a swoon 
 
 MA Y-DA V. NIGHT: 
 The Hartz Mountains. District of Schirke and Elend. 
 
 Mephistopheles, Faust. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Would not a broomstick be right welcome now ? 
 The roughest goat for my part I could ride. 
 Be this our way, we still have far to go. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 While fresh upon my legs for me will do 
 This knotted staff ; I nothing need beside. 
 
Faust, 1 99 
 
 Why seek to thus make short a pleasant way ? 
 To slowly thread the labyrinths of the vale, 
 Then cliff and rock with vigorous foot to scale, 
 Whence the bright springs that ever babbling play 
 Cast themselves headlong ; this doth well repay 
 The lengthened path. But see ! already Spring 
 Her web of green within the birch is weaving, 
 E'en to the hoary pine her breath doth bring 
 A youthful freshness. She around is leaving 
 Nothing untouched ; then why our limbs alone ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 In truth such influence I in no wise share, 
 My body feels all wintry, and were strewn 
 With frost and snow my path it better were. 
 How melancholy with belated beam 
 The red moon rises ; from her unfilled disc 
 Shedding upon our way such doubtful gleam, 
 That thus to journey on, one soon would risk 
 At every step o'er stock or stone a fall ! 
 But hold ! an ignis-fatuus yonder flits ; 
 Him with your leave to aid us I will call. 
 Holloa ! come hither, friend ! It ill befits 
 So bright a spark to blaze thus uselessly, 
 And as just now 'tis rather dark, I pray 
 That for a while you bear us company. 
 So forward, if you please, and show the way. 
 
200 Faust, 
 
 IGNIS-FATUUS 
 
 With great respect, though troublesome, Til try 
 The Hghtness of my nature to forego ; 
 Our course is usually zigzag, you know. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Ha ! ha ! my friend, 'tis irksome to comply, 
 Mankind to imitate forsooth you aim ! 
 But go st aightforward in the devil's name, 
 Or soon I'll puff your flickering life out On ! 
 
 IGNIS-FATUUS 
 
 That you are master here is plainly shown, 
 So as it best may please you I will act. 
 But you're aware this day the mountain side 
 Enchanted is, and if you take for guide 
 An ignis-fatuus, don't be too exact ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES, FAUST, IGNIS-FATUUS {in alternating 
 chorus) 
 
 The realm of dreams and magic sphere 
 Are entered now ; behind is left 
 The nether world. Lead on, nor fear 
 The dizzy path o'er crag and cleft, 
 But stoutly onward, forward, haste 
 Into the wide, the desert waste ! 
 
Faust. 20 1 
 
 See the trees commingling fast, 
 Bough and stem are rushing past, 
 Toppling cliffs are nodding down, 
 Rock and crag are come and gone ! 
 Giant-snouted, high and low. 
 How they snort and how they blow ! 
 Over turf and over stone 
 Stream and streamlet hurry on ; 
 Are their voices that I hear, 
 Or songs that mingle far and near ? 
 Sadd'ning plaint and passion's lays, 
 Tones of love and happy days, 
 With echo catching every strain 
 That vibrates long, o'er rock and vale 
 To send it sounding back again, 
 Like long unheard but well-known tale. 
 Too-whoo ! too-whoo ! their roundelay. 
 The owl, the pewet, and the jay 
 Are clamouring ; are they all awake ? 
 The salamander through the brake, 
 With outstretched legs and belly wide 
 In seeming crawls ; or is it he ? 
 From rocks and sands on every side. 
 Are those roots or snakes we see, 
 Twisting, coiling, all around. 
 To seize or fright us ? Forth they shoot 
 Long speckled fibres, would they wound 
 Or grasp the intruding wanderer's foot 
 Like hideous polypi ! Behold ! 
 
202 Faust. 
 
 How troops of mice of every hue 
 Through the heath and through the moss, 
 O'er the moor in thousands cross, 
 Onward all their course pursue. 
 Below, above, their wings unfold 
 The glownvorm and the fire-fly. 
 Swarming, sparkling every^^^here, 
 O'er the path and in the air 
 They flit a dazzling company. 
 
 Do we stand, or do we go 
 Back or forward, tell me how ? 
 
 All is motion, all is life 1 
 Rocks and trees are looking down, 
 Wisp on wisp is upward blown. 
 Till the air with fire is rife ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Come ! grasp my skirt and keep stout hold. We'll scale 
 This central crag ; its top will well disclose 
 Things worth the seeing. Upward fi-om the vale 
 You'll view how Mammon through the mountain glows. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 How strangely gleams a melancholy light 
 Like the red dawn from out the cloven rocks 
 And far ravines, illumining the night 
 That reigns around, and to our eye unlocks 
 
Faust. 2 
 
 The mountain depths ! MistUke it rises here, 
 And there hke threads through every fissure steals 
 Down to the vast abyss, to reappear 
 In form a fountain ; then divided wheels 
 Tracking the valley with its thousand veins, 
 Till checked in some opposing nook it swells, 
 Massing itself in splendour. Sparkling grains 
 Like golden sands upsprinkled through the air 
 Are glittering far and wide ', higher and higher 
 The light gleams up ! Behold how everywhere 
 The rocks and wall-like cliffs are all on fire ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 What think you of all this ? For my part 1 
 Must own Sir Mammon, for the festival, 
 Illuminates his palace passing well. 
 But hist ! the boisterous guests methinks I spy ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 How the storm rages through the air ! my neck 
 Its fierce and frequent strokes can scarce sustain. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Cling to the crags, old ribs ! each muscle strain 
 To keep your hold, till their mad speed they check. 
 Else they will hurl you down ! A mist comes on, 
 Doubling the gloom of night. 
 Hark to the crash ! 
 
:o4 Fails t. 
 
 The forest yields ; out flit in wild affright 
 The alarmed owls, scared by the lightning flash ! 
 Hear how they creak and groan, 
 The pillars of the evergreen palaces 
 Are splintering near and far 
 Beneath the stress 
 Of the fierce storm ! against it vainly war. 
 The crackling boughs and trunks 
 Down crash they all, 
 In terrible and intertangled fall, 
 And through the wreck-strewn waste 
 Hisses and howls the blast. 
 Hark to the singing ! 
 From hollow and height 
 Voices are ringing, 
 'Tis the children of night. 
 In the turmoil rejoicing how clamour and song 
 Are raging and streaming the mountain along ! 
 
 CHORUS OF WITCHES 
 
 Away to the Brocken the witches hie. 
 The com is green and the stubble is dry, 
 In troops they are gathering \ aloft as befits, 
 Sir Urian enthroned in the centre he sits. 
 Then hie over stock and hie over stone. 
 To witch and to ^vizard alone it is known 
 What there shall be seen and what there shall be done. 
 
Fails t. 205 
 
 VOICES 
 
 Old Baubo is coming with hasty strides, 
 On a sow that has farrowed she stoutly rides ! 
 
 CHORUS 
 
 Honour to her to whom honour is due, 
 Lead on. Mother Baubo, and honour to you. 
 A sow for her steed, and Baubo upon her, 
 Wizards and witches mil follow with honour ! 
 
 VOICE 
 
 Which way comest thou ? 
 
 VOICE 
 
 Over Ilsenstein. 
 The owl was awake in the white moonshine, 
 I looked into her nest as I rode by, 
 And she stared at me with her round bright eye. 
 
 VOICE 
 
 Speed ye to hell? Why ride ye so fast ? 
 
 VOICE 
 
 She has grazed me in passing — look at the wound ! 
 
io6 Fails t. 
 
 VOICE 
 
 Others are coming, none will be last ; 
 Hold, or may curses your course confound ! 
 
 CHORUS OF WITCHES 
 
 The way is broad, the way is long, 
 But what is that for a mad-brained throng ? 
 Sticks the fork and scratches the broom ! 
 The child is choked in its mother's womb ! 
 
 HALF-CHORUS OF WIZARDS 
 
 Like snails that carry their house we crawl, 
 Already the women our course forestall ; 
 When leads the way to the devil's door. 
 They are ever a thousand steps before ! 
 
 OTHER HALF 
 
 Your tongue is foul and your word untrue ; 
 With a thousand steps must a woman do. 
 Haste as she will, it ever was found 
 What a man can do at a single bound. 
 
 VOICES {above) 
 Come with us ! Come with us from Felsensee ! 
 
 VOICES (below) 
 We fain would mount, but it may not be. 
 
FausL 20; 
 
 We are washed and naked, but toil in vain, 
 For barren as ever we still remain. 
 
 BOTH CHORUSES 
 
 The wind is hushed, the stars have fled, 
 The troubled moon hath veiled her head ; 
 In race and revel the magic choir 
 Is sputtering song and sputtering fire ! 
 
 VOICE {from beneath) 
 O stay ! O stay ! 
 
 VOICE {frojn above) 
 
 Out of the crannied rocks below 
 Some one is calling ! 
 
 VOICES {above) 
 
 Away ! away ! 
 
 VOICE {from beneath) 
 
 Oh, take me with you, oh, take me now ! 
 Three hundred years and more I toil, 
 But something ever my task doth foil. 
 To reach yon peak in vain I try 
 And I yearn for kindred company ! 
 
2o8 Faust, 
 
 BOTH CHORUSES 
 
 The besom will carry, the broomstick will bear, 
 The prong and the he -goat can travel the air ! 
 So little the trouble, so little the cost, 
 Who mounts not to-day he for ever is lost ! 
 
 HALF WITCHES (below) 
 
 I am tripping and straining for many an hour, 
 Are others already so far before ? 
 At home I could rest not, so hither I hie. 
 But here nor quiet nor rest have I ! 
 
 CHORUS OF WITCHES 
 
 The salve alone true witches need, 
 For sail a rag, for mast a reed, 
 And every trough a ship mil be ; 
 Who flies not now, ne'er fly will she ! 
 
 BOTH CHORUSES 
 
 Come on ! our flight is near its end, 
 Round yonder peak then straight descend ; 
 Now swarming down from every side, 
 The heath we'll cover far and wide ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 What crowding, pushing, rustling, clattering ! 
 What whizzing, twirling, tugging, chattering ! 
 
Faust. 209 
 
 What flashing, spurting, stinking, burning ! 
 As heaven and earth were overturning. 
 In soothe we breathe a pleasant atmosphere. 
 Your true witch-element is this ! Hold on, 
 Or we shall be divided. Do you hear ? 
 Wliere are you ? 
 
 FAUST {at a disiance) 
 Here ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 How now ! Already gone, 
 Swept clean away ! Methinks 'tis time that I 
 As master here should use authority. 
 Place for young Voland ! Come, good people, place ! 
 Here, Doctor, take my arm. To gain free space 
 Would need delay, so with one spring we'll make 
 Our exit hence. This throng is all too mad 
 Even for myself, and yonder in the brake 
 Is something shining with a most strange light 
 That much attracts me. Thither then our flight 
 We'll wing, and see how there the game be played. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Spirit of contradiction ! Well, lead on, 
 I'll follow since thou think'st 'twere wisely done 
 On May-day night to wander up the Brocken, 
 And then to stand apart in idle spleen ! 
 
 p 
 
2IO Faust, 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 But see those pretty parti-coloured flames ! 
 A small but merry club their light portends ; 
 And there no doubt we'll see some pleasant games. 
 On 3 can't be called alone with a few friends ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 But rather far 'mid yonder press were I, 
 Where thro' the whirling smoke so ruddily 
 The red light glows, for there were best descried 
 How the mad crowd streams onward in its course 
 Up to the Evil One, and there perforce 
 Were many a riddle by the way untied. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 And many a riddle there were tied anew ! 
 
 Come, let the great world bluster as it list. 
 
 Here quiet may be found, so here we'll rest 
 
 'Tis an old saying, old as it is true, 
 
 * Each for himself his little world doth make 
 
 In the great world of all ' — and witches are 
 
 But women, as it seems, nor quite forget 
 
 Their woman-ways, for see how stript and bare 
 
 The young ones are, and how the older sort 
 
 Have cloaked their withered charms. But doff, I pray, 
 
 This humour for a while, and join the sport ; 
 
 Tiie trouble you will find 'twill well repay. 
 
Faust. 2 1 r 
 
 Listen ! their instruments I hear them tune ; 
 
 What a confounded jangle ! But one soon 
 
 Will grow accustomed to it. Onward now ! 
 
 Come, let's be moving. I the way will show, 
 
 And introduce you. For this favour you 
 
 Shall be my debtor, and will thank me too. 
 
 What think you of the scene ? Well, after all, 
 
 'Tis passing gay, and not so very small ; 
 
 A hundred fires are burning at the least. 
 
 What seems there wanting? You may dance and feast. 
 
 Cook, chatter, drink, make love, like all around. 
 
 What would you more, or where could more be found ? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 But tell me, ere we here be introduced, 
 Whether as fiend or wizard you appear. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 In truth to go incognito I'm used 
 
 On most occasions. But as elsewhere here 
 
 On gala days one's orders one would show. 
 
 Indeed I have no Garter at my knee, 
 
 But then my cloven foot as well will do, 
 
 For here 'tis much respected as you see. 
 
 Look at yon snail ! With outstretched feeling eye 
 
 How hitherward she creeps in curious mood. 
 
 And scents the air, as guessing something nigh. 
 
 I could not her deny me if I would. 
 
2 1 2 Faust, 
 
 So come, my friend, from fire to fire we'll stray ; 
 I'll be the pimp, whilst you the gallant play. 
 
 \To a party sitting round some expiring embers 
 How now, old gentleman, what do you here ? 
 I should commend you rather did you share 
 Yon youthfiil revelry. Your choice seems queer ; 
 Surely at home there's time enough for care ! 
 
 GENERAL 
 
 "Who can in nations trust, how great soe'er 
 His deeds may be ? With women and the herd,. 
 Merit when linked with age comes ever late, 
 And worthless youth is still to worth preferred. 
 
 MINISTER 
 
 Ay, so it is. How madly men will stray 
 From the true path ! The good old times for me ! 
 Then we were all in all ; but with our day 
 The golden age hath fled, and fools are free. 
 
 PARVENU 
 
 Nor were we dull, and sometimes too would do 
 That which we ought not. But with all our care. 
 The world turns topsy-turvy, and that too 
 Just when we wish to keep things as they were. 
 
 AtTTHOR 
 
 Write ne'er so wisely now, alas ! no more 
 
 Men works of substance heed. Who'll read, I pray, 
 
Faust, 213 
 
 One line of common sense ? And when before 
 Was youth so self-sufficient as to-day? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {who all at once appears very old) 
 
 ^ Well, for the last time I have climbed the mountain, 
 Where all seems ripe for doomsday ! My small cask 
 Runs turbid now, and naught seems left to drain 
 On earth save dregs. The world hath done its task ! 
 
 PEDLAR-WITCH 
 
 €ome hither, gentlemen, don't pass me by. 
 Now is your time ; for in my pack you'll find 
 All you can want, fine wares of every kind ; 
 'Tis well worth while to view them carefully. 
 Nothing my bundle holds that is not quite 
 As choice as aught on earth. No dagger here 
 That hath not tasted blood ; no chalice bright 
 Whence healthy lips, without one thought of fear, 
 Have not drained death \ no jewel but a pledge 
 Of broken faith and maiden's shame hath been ; 
 No sword that hath not severed with its edge 
 Some sacred tie, or in the back unseen 
 5 tabbed friend or foe. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Good cousin, hold ! Such wares 
 Are out of fashion now ; their day's gone by. 
 
/ 
 
 2 14 Faust. 
 
 Come, mend your trade, for such things no one cares 
 Seek something new. We all want novelty. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 If I can be unto myself but true ! 
 
 A witches' fair ! and with a vengeance too ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 How surges on the upward struggling throng ! 
 AH fain would push, and all are borne along. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 But who is that ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Look well at her ! You see 
 Adam's first wife ; 'tis Lilith. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 How ! 'tis she ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Ay, and beware of her, for that fair hair, 
 Her sole adornment, nor needs she more, 
 Even now can liu-e as surely as before. 
 And woe to him these tresses once ensnare. 
 
Faust, 2 1 5 
 
 FAUST 
 
 There are another two, who sit them down ; 
 
 How madly they have danced — one young, one old ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Ay, here there's sport for all and rest for none ; 
 They'll dance anew. Here pleasure grows not cold. . 
 
 FAUST {dancing with the young one) 
 
 I once did dream. My dream was fair ; 
 In it I saw an apple-tree. 
 Two lovely apples glittered there, — 
 I climbed it ; how they charmed me ! 
 
 THE FAIR ONE 
 
 You love the apple. Love it much ; 
 That love in Paradise was taught. 
 And I am pleased, well pleased, with such 
 That this my garden too is fraught. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {with the old one) 
 
 I once did dream. My dream was wild ; 
 In it I saw a cloven tree. 
 The fruit it bore had few beguiled, 
 But sweet or bitter serves for me. 
 
2i6 FaiLst. 
 
 THE OLD ONE 
 
 And I with joyous welcome greet 
 The gallant with the cloven hoof ; 
 ^Vhen he to join the dance thinks meet, 
 No witch is she who stands aloof. 
 
 PROCTOPHANTASMIST 
 
 Confounded mob ! what's this you needs must do ? 
 Hath it not long ere now been proved to you 
 That spirits walk not on their feet ; and yet 
 To dance like mortals merely you have met ! 
 
 THE FAIR ONE 
 
 If thus he thinks, why comes he to our ball ? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Ha ! ha ! he's everywhere and carps at all. 
 
 What others dance our friend must criticise, 
 
 And comment on each step, or, in his eyes. 
 
 Such step had ne'er been danced. But nothing so 
 
 Doth anger him as when we forward go. 
 
 But should you haply in a circle run, 
 
 As he in his old mill is used to do, 
 
 That he calls good, especially if you 
 
 Consult him on the matter — when 'tis done ! 
 
Faust, 2 1 7 
 
 PROCTOPHANTASMIST 
 
 What, not yet gone ! Well, 'tis unheard of, this ! 
 Vanish at once I for too enlightened is 
 The world through us that you should still exist. 
 This devil's pack ! what, will they never list 
 To sense or rule? And notwithstanding we 
 Have proved 'tis not, must Tegel haunted be, 
 And this foul rubbish everywhere intrude, 
 But swept away to be again renewed ? 
 
 THE FAIR ONE 
 
 Then go your way, and cease to pester us. 
 
 PROCTOPHANTASMIST 
 
 I tell you, spirits, to your faces, thus 
 To endure the despotism of spirit I 
 Will not submit, and if mine cannot vie 
 In mastery with you, I take me hence. 
 
 [ The dancing goes on 
 This night I see success attends not sense, 
 But I am always ready for a move ; 
 And still I hope ere my last step to prove 
 That I am right ; and ere for good I go 
 Devils and poets too the truth shall know. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Forthwith he'll seat him in a puddle ; 'tis 
 His usual solace when things go amiss. 
 
2 1 8 Faust. 
 
 Of this the leeches take full benefit, 
 
 And cure him straight of spirits and the spirit ! 
 
 [To Faust, who has left the dance 
 But wherefore thus forsake that pretty lass, 
 WTio in the dance just now so sweetly sang ? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Why, in the middle of her song there sprang 
 Forth from her mouth a mouse as red as blood ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Well, what of that ? If rightly understood 
 One should not be too scrupulously nice. 
 It was not grey it seems, so let it pass. 
 Alas for love, were lovers thus precise ! • 
 
 FAUST 
 
 And then I saw 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 What now? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Mephisto, see you not 
 Yon girl so fair and pale, how lifelessly, 
 As 'twere with fettered feet, she seeks to move ! 
 Is she not like poor Margaret ? 
 
Faust. 2 1 9 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 It may be. 
 But look not on her ; gazing will but prove 
 Hurtful. It is a phantom best forgot, 
 An idol ill to meet. Man's blood will grow 
 Thick in its presence, and his flesh to stone 
 Be well nigh turned. But surely you should know 
 Medusa? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Ay ! life is not in those eyes 
 No loving hand has closed, no pulse doth thrill 
 Within that beauteous bosom. The sweet prize, 
 So dearly won, how changed ! But Margaret still ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Thou easy fool, 'tis magic ! Every one 
 Sees his first love in her ; not thou alone. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 What untold bliss ! what never equalled pain ! 
 
 1 gaze, and yet unsated gaze again. 
 
 That lovely neck, how fair ! How strangely too. 
 
 One small red line adorns it, to the eye 
 
 Not thicker than a knife's keen edge ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Just so ! 
 I see it too, and doubt not by-and-by 
 
2 20 Faust. 
 
 Under her arm that we shall see her take 
 
 Her head, with Perseus' help. But come, awake ! 
 
 Why ever thus for mad delusions long ? 
 
 Let's mount yon hill ; I wager there the throng 
 
 We find as merry as 'twere in the Prater. 
 
 But what means this? Be it not magic too, 
 
 Here we have actors and a theatre ! 
 
 How goes the play ? 
 
 SERVIBILIS 
 
 'Twill soon conamence anew. 
 A novel piece, the last one of the seven ; 
 As usual by a dilettante writ. 
 By dilettanti too it will be given. 
 But pray excuse my absence ; I must flit 
 Time presses ; and, a dilettante, I 
 The curtain raise, and so, fair sir, adieu ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Commend me to your fellows ! Certainly, 
 The Blocksberg is the very place "for you ! 
 
Faust. 2 2 r 
 
 WALPURGIS NIGHTS DREAM; OR, 
 OBERON AND TITANIA'S GOLDEN 
 WEDDING. 
 
 THEATRE MANAGER 
 
 Hill and hollow, crag and dale 
 Critic's voice we heed not ; 
 Mountain old and dewy vale, 
 Other scene we need not. 
 
 HERALD 
 
 That the wedding golden be, 
 Years must lifty number ; 
 Gladsome day the day to me, 
 Strife and quarrel slumber. 
 
 OBERON. 
 
 Who the fairy sceptre own. 
 Spirits gather round us ; 
 King and queen again are one, 
 Hymen's wreath hath bound us ! 
 
2 22 Faust. 
 
 PUCK 
 
 Puck he comes in merry mood, 
 Leads the frolic measure ; 
 Hundredfold becomes the crowd, 
 All is rife with pleasure ! 
 
 ARIEL 
 
 Ariel sweet song awakes, 
 Harebells echo clearly ; 
 Many a fool his music makes, 
 Beauty loves him dearly ! 
 
 OBERON 
 
 Wedded ones will disagree, 
 Wedlock hath its smarting ; 
 Would you love, but do as we, 
 Nothing helps like parting. 
 
 TITANIA 
 
 FrowTi the husband, chide the wife, 
 Be their footsteps wended 
 North and south, then ceases strife, 
 Quarrel soon is ended ! . 
 
 ORCHESTRA, tutti (fortisstmo) 
 
 Nose of gnat, and snout of fly, 
 Frog and cricket waking, 
 
Faust» 2 2 
 
 With their kindred far and nigh 
 All are music making. 
 
 SOLO 
 
 Bagpipe droning at his back, 
 Hither comes Soap-bubble. 
 Hear the schnecker-schnecke-schnack, 
 Toiling through the stubble. 
 
 SPIRIT WHICH IS BEING FORMED 
 
 Paunch of toad and spider's foot, 
 Little wings that should be, 
 Animalcula 'tis not, 
 Little poem 'twould be ! 
 
 A PAIR OF LOVERS 
 
 Moonlit mist and honey-dew. 
 With high step and revel. 
 You may trip it lightly through. 
 Air you cannot travel. 
 
 INQUISITIVE TRAVELLER 
 
 Is all around in masquing mood ? 
 Who's here? Can I believe me ? 
 'Tis Oberon the comely god, 
 Unless my eyes deceive me ! 
 
 ORTHODOX 
 
 Clawless, hoofless, tail without. 
 How fair a form to view ; 
 
2 24 Pates t. 
 
 Yet, like the gods of Greece, no doubt 
 He is a devil too ! 
 
 NORTHERN ARTIST 
 
 To catch a little sketch-ways is 
 All that I now can tn^; 
 But for th' Italian journey this 
 Will fit me by-and-by. 
 
 PURIST 
 
 Luckless wretch, what brings me here, 
 'Mid racket loud and louder ? 
 What troops of witches far and near, 
 And only two wear powder ! 
 
 YOUNG WITCH 
 
 Your powder, like your petticoats. 
 Suits little old and grey, 
 But we sit naked on our goats, 
 And bodies stout display ! 
 
 MATRON 
 
 Too much pohteness we by far 
 To mar the feast have got. 
 But young and tender as you are 
 I hope you'll quickly rot I 
 
Faust, 225 
 
 LEADER OF THE BAND 
 
 Nose of gnat and snout of fly, 
 Round the bare ones buzz not ; 
 Frog and cricket, music ply, 
 Mind the time you lose not ! 
 
 WEATHERCOCK {on One side) 
 
 Of company there seems no lack. 
 Brides and bridegrooms plenty. 
 Here's room for taste ; a hopeful pack. 
 Each may choose from twenty ! 
 
 WEATHERCOCK {on the other side) 
 
 If shift not wind, if gape not ground, 
 And all this rabble swallow, 
 To hell I'll off with whisk and bound, 
 And they who list may follow ! 
 
 XENIEN 
 
 With keen-edged little nippers here 
 As insects we come flitting. 
 For Satan, our papa, we fear 
 And honour as 'tis fitting. 
 
 HENNINGS 
 
 See how they crowd and run about, 
 And joke as all were brothers ; 
 And in the end will say, no doubt, 
 Their hearts are good as others ! 
 Q 
 
2 2 6 I^aust, 
 
 MUSAGET 
 
 Amid the host of watches one 
 One's self with pleasure loses ; 
 To manage these is easier done 
 Than to conduct the muses. 
 
 CI-DEVANT GENIUS OF THE AGE 
 
 Here to be somebody I hope ; 
 Hold on, lest others pass us. 
 The Blocksberg has a roomy top, 
 Like German/s Parnassus ! 
 
 INQUISITIVE TRAVELLER 
 
 Who's that stiff gentleman, I pray ? 
 He seems but ill-contented; 
 Snuffing at all who come his way, 
 As though ' he Jesuits scented ! ' 
 
 CRANE 
 
 I like in limpid streams to fish. 
 But more in waters troubled ; 
 As saints to live with devils wish, 
 Whereby their gains are doubled. 
 
 WORLDLING 
 
 Ay, to the pious all comes right, 
 And fancy not they hell spare ; 
 Conventicles voull find to-night 
 On Blocksberg even as elsewhere. 
 
Faust, 
 
 DANCER 
 
 Another choir this way speeds, 
 I hear their distant drumming \ 
 Hist ! bullfinches amongst the reeds 
 Are single-noted humming ! 
 
 DOGMATIST 
 
 That I am wrong I'll not agree, 
 No ! not for doubt or cavil ; 
 The devil though must something be. 
 If that there be a devil ! 
 
 IDEALIST 
 
 For once my fancy doth appear 
 Too strong, I grant it freely \ 
 If ' I be all,' it stands quite clear 
 That I to-day am silly ! 
 
 REALIST 
 
 Can entity be but a cheat ? 
 It plagues me much already ; 
 Here for the first time on my feet 
 I feel myself unsteady ! 
 
 SUPERNATURALIST 
 
 I'm charmed with these, and feel me here 
 As happy as I could be; 
 
 Q 2 
 
2 28 Faust, 
 
 For devils since there are, 'tis clear 
 Good spirits too there should be \ 
 
 SCEPTIC 
 
 The flame they track where'er it roam, 
 And think them near the treasure ; 
 Who doubts may here feel quite at home. 
 So I look on at leisure ! 
 
 LEADER OF THE BAND 
 
 Frogs and crickets, sharp and flat. 
 Accursed dilettanti ; 
 Snout o fly and nose of gnat. 
 Musicians here in plenty ! 
 
 THE ADROIT ONES 
 
 * Sans-souci ' yclept we are, 
 A brotherhood right merry ; 
 Walk on our heads and no wise care, 
 Since feet no longer carry ! 
 
 THE MALADROIT ONES 
 
 Nice bits ere now weVe spunged and won, 
 
 But good old times, adieu ; 
 
 On naked soles we now must run, 
 
 Our shoes are quite danced through ! 
 
Faust, 229 
 
 will-o'-the-wisp 
 
 The bog and fen whence we are sprung 
 A moment back confined us ! 
 The glittering gallants here among 
 The dancers now you find us ! 
 
 STAR-SHOOT 
 
 In star and firelight firom on high, 
 Down hither I have shot me ; 
 Now in the grass askew I lie, 
 Who on my legs will put me ? 
 
 THE MASSIVE ONES 
 
 Give place ! give place ! down goes the grass, 
 The air grows thick and gusty -, 
 Stout spirits they who this way pass, 
 Their limbs are plump and lusty 1 
 
 PUCK 
 
 Elephants' cubs you fain would play ; 
 Don't tread with foot so clumsy. 
 The plumpest here should be to-day 
 Stout Puck, and hither comes he \ 
 
 ARIEL 
 
 Hath kindly nature wings to thee, 
 Hath wings the spirit given, 
 
230 Faust. 
 
 To the sweet hill-tops follow me. 
 Where best the rose hath thriven. 
 
 ORCHESTRA {pianisstmo) 
 
 Mist and cloud-drift part and speed, 
 Night by day be banished ! 
 Light winds breathe on leaf and reed. 
 All that was is vanished ! 
 
Faust, 231 
 
 A GLOOMY DAY. 
 A Plain, 
 
 FAUST 
 
 In misery, despairing, long wandering wretchedly on 
 earth, and now imprisoned, the dear unhappy being, as 
 criminal ill-doer- barred up in a dungeon, awaiting horrid 
 tortures ! Come even to this ! to this ! Traitorous, 
 worthless spirit, and this hast thou concealed from me ! 
 Stand forth ! stand ! roll thy devilish eyes in grim re- 
 pressed fury ! stand ! and brave me with thy unendurable 
 presence. Imprisoned ! in irretrievable misery, given o'er 
 to evil spirits — and sentence-passing unfeeling humanity ! 
 And me the while lullest thou in tasteless dissipations, 
 hiding from me her ever-growing wTetchedness, and leav- 
 ing her, without one helping hand, to perish ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 She is not the first. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Dog ! execrable monster ! Turn him, thou infinite 
 
232 Fait St. 
 
 Spirit, turn the reptile again into his dog's shape, in which 
 it hath pleased him to trot before me by night, to roll 
 before the feet of the harmless wanderer, and to fasten on 
 his shoulders when he had thrown him do\vn. Turn him 
 again into his favourite form, that he may crouch once 
 more upon his belly in the sand, that I may spurn him 
 with my foot ! The reprobate ! * Not the first ! ' Oh, 
 misery ! misery ! 'Tis not to be conceived by human 
 soul, that any second being can have sunk to such a 
 depth of wTetchedness as this. That the first, writhing in 
 its death agony, hath not, in the sight of the Ever-pardon- 
 ing, atoned for the full guilt of all that should come after. 
 The misery of this one alone thrills through my heart 
 and brain, and thou canst calmly grin over the fall of 
 thousands ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Now are we already at our wits' end, just where the 
 senses of you mortals become fairly crazed ! Wherefore 
 enterest thou into fellowship with us, if thou canst not go 
 through with it ? Wilt fly, and art not secure against 
 dizziness ? Forced we ourselves on thee, or thou thyself 
 on us? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Gnash not thy ravening teeth at me thus hatefully ! 
 I look on thee with loathing. Great glorious Spirit, thou 
 who vouchsafest to appear to me, thou who knowest my 
 heart and inmost soul, why link me to this shameful com- 
 panion, who preys on mischief and revels in destruction ? 
 
Faust, 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Hast ended ? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Save her, or woe to thee ! The direst of curses shall 
 cleave to thee for thousands of ages ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 I cannot loose the shackles of the avenger, nor undo 
 his bolts. Save her ! who was it that plunged her into 
 ruin — I or thou ? (Faust looks wildly around.) Grasp 
 at the thunder, wouldst thou? Well indeed it is not 
 given to you poor mortals ! To dash to pieces the first 
 innocent person that comes across your path ! Your true 
 tyrant's fashion this, of venting himself on perplexities ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Bring me thither ! she shall be freed ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 And the danger to which you expose yourself ! No 
 heed of that ! Remember blood-guiltiness by thy hand 
 still lies upon the town. Avenging spirits hover over the 
 place of the slain, and lie in wait for the returning 
 murderer. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 This too from thee ? Murder and death of a world 
 upon thee, monster ! Conduct me hence, I say, and free 
 her! 
 
2 34 Faust. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 I will conduct thee, and what I can do, hear. Have 
 I all power in heaven and upon earth ? I will cloud the 
 gaoler's senses ; gain thou the keys, and bear her off with 
 mortal hand. I will keep watch. The magic horses 
 shall stand ready ; I will carry thee away ! This much I 
 can do. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Up ! lef s begone ! 
 
 NIGHT. 
 An open Plain. 
 
 Faust and Mephistopheles rushing along on black 
 horses. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 What are they doing round the Ravenstone yonder ? 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Can't tell what they're cooking and brewing. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Waving up, waving down, bending and bowing. 
 
Faust, 235 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 A witch company ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 They are charming and strewing. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Speed on ! speed on ! 
 
 A PRISON. 
 
 FAUST, with a bunch of keys and a lamp before an iron 
 wicket. 
 
 Why do I shudder thus ? How chill the blood 
 Creeps through my veins ! Concentred in my breast 
 All mankind's miseries seem. Thou drear abode, 
 Where, e'er so weary, none might ever rest, 
 And these thy dark and gloomy walls her home, 
 Whose crime at worst a fond delusion was ! 
 What, do I dread to her once more to come ? 
 Once more to see her do I fear, alas ! 
 But on ! already stirs the morning's breath. 
 What do I here ? Would I oullinger death ? 
 
 \He lays hold of the lock; singing within 
 
236 Faust. 
 
 My mother, the harlot, 
 
 She strangled and killed me ; 
 
 My father, the varlet, 
 
 Hath eaten me up. 
 
 The bones she hath gathered, 
 
 My young sister dear, i^ 
 
 Lovingly gathered, 
 
 And laid them here. 
 But a beautiful wood-bird now am I, ! 
 
 And away I flit to my home on high ! 
 
 FAUST {unlocking the door) 
 
 She feels not he who loves her stands so near, 
 The rustling straw, her clanking chain can hear ! 
 
 \He enters 
 
 MARGARET {hiding herself in the straw) 
 Woe ! woe ! they come ! Oh, bitter death, they come ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Hush, hush ! 'tis I ! I come to set thee free. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Is thy heart human ? Think upon my doom. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Cry, and the guard will wake ere we can flee. 
 
FaiLst. 237 
 
 MARGARET {pfi her knees) 
 
 Who gave thee power thus to drag me forth 
 At midnight, headsman ? Is it not enough 
 That I must die so soon ? It were scarce worth 
 Thy pains to kill me now. Oh, keep the rough, 
 Rough hand of death from off me till the morn, 
 When I must die ! So young ; oh ay, so young ! 
 And I was fair ; and therefore I am torn 
 From life away. And he that from this wrong 
 Should shield me is afar, my garland thrown 
 Down in the dust, its flowers all soiled and strewn ! 
 Seize on me not thus rudely. I to thee 
 Have done no ill ; till now in all my days 
 Thou know'st I never saw thee ! Why then be 
 So hard of heart, and thus upon me gaze 
 With cruel look ? Oh, let me not in vain 
 Implore thy mercy ; think upon my pain ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Can I this hear and see, and breathe again ? 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 I now am in thy power, but ere we go 
 
 My child I first would suckle. All night through 
 
 I pressed it to my heart, but they have come 
 
 And taken it from me ; they would make me grieve. 
 
 And now they say I killed it Bitter doom ! 
 
 Songs too they sing about me all believe ! 
 
238 Faust. 
 
 Tis wicked of them. If an old tale end 
 In this way, wherefore should they thus apply 
 To me its meaning ? Who hath bid them send 
 This story forth, and falsely say 'tis I ? 
 
 FAUST {throwing himself down) 
 To still thy pain, to calm thy misery, 
 Thy lover kneels before thee — look ! 'tis he ! 
 
 MARGARET (throws herself beside him) 
 Oh, let us kneel and pray the holy aid 
 O' the saints in heaven ! Art thou not afraid ? 
 See under the steps and under the floor 
 
 How hell is upseething ! 
 
 Hist ! thro' the door. 
 
 To the gnashing and ^Tithing 
 
 Of the Evil One! 
 
 FAUST {calls) 
 Oh, Gretchen, Gretchen ! 
 
 MARGARET {Hstefliug) 
 
 Some one hath called me. That voice alone 
 Can my true love's be. 
 
 [She spritigs up; the chains fall off 
 He is here, he is here ! 
 Who holds me or binds me when he is near ? 
 To save me he hastens, to him I flee, 
 My head on his bosom and I am free ! 
 
Faust. 239 
 
 His Gretchen he called on, he stands by the door, 
 His arm will clasp me, to loose me no more. 
 I come ! 'Tis the sound of his voice \ its loved tone 
 The howling and scoffing of hell cannot drown. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 It is I ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 'Tis thou ! oh, say that once again ! 
 
 \Clasping him 
 'Tis he ! 'tis he ! Where now are grief and pain, 
 The galling chain, the dungeon's agony ? 
 'Tis thou ! to save me hither didst thou fly, 
 And I am saved ! 
 
 The street is yonder ; there I first did meet thee. 
 The happy garden too, where I and Martha 
 Did wait thy coming, when I scarce dared greet thee. 
 I see them yonder now, as I first saw ! 
 
 FAUST {endeavouring to force her away) 
 Come with me ! Come at once ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Not yet ! not yet ! 
 It is so sweet to stay where thou dost stay. 
 Oh, haste thee not to go I 
 
240 Faust. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Come ! come away ! 
 We must fly quickly hqnce. Thou dost forget ; 
 A moment lost were death to one or both. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Thou wilt not kiss me then ? Say, art thou loth 
 
 To do so now ? Tis but a little while 
 
 Since we were parted, yet my lover can 
 
 Forget how he could kiss me once, and wile 
 
 Whole hours away, and wherefore other than 
 
 Thou then wast seem'st thou ? Cold upon thy breast 
 
 I feel me now, where once thy word and look 
 
 Waked such a blissful glow, I fain must rest 
 
 Till stifled by thy kisses. Wilt thou brook 
 
 That I shall kiss thee ? Kiss me, or J will ! 
 
 \She embraces hivi 
 
 Alas ! alas ! thy lip so cold 
 
 No word doth part ! 
 
 Is thy love flown, 
 
 Stolen and gone. 
 
 Another's is thy heart ? 
 
 \She turns away fro7n him 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Come, dearest, come ! take courage ! Doubt not now 
 My love less true, less warm my bosom's glow. 
 But this I ask — hence let us flee ! 
 
Fatcst. 241 
 
 MARGARET {tumitig towards him) 
 Art thou indeed, art thou then truly he ? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 I am, I am. Come with me ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Thou this chain 
 Hast loosed, and tak'st me to thy breast again ? 
 Art thou then not afraid ? Dost thou not know 
 Whom thou wouldst rescue, who with thee would go ? 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Come, come, night wanes apace ! We must not stay. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 My mother I have murdered, so they say. 
 
 My child too I have drowned. It is not good ! 
 
 Was it for this on me and thee bestowed ? 
 
 And is it thou ? Is it then truly thou ? 
 
 Give me thy hand ; it is no dream, no ! no ! 
 
 Thy hand so loved ! Ah fie ! what's this ? 'tis wet. 
 
 Wipe it, I pray thee, quickly. Where did get 
 
 Thy hand that dark red stain ? 'Tis not yet gone. 
 
 God, 'tis blood ! 'tis blood ! What hast thou done } 
 Put up thy sword ! Upon my bended knee 
 
 1 do entreat thee ! 
 
 R 
 
242 Faust. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Wouldst thou kill me not, 
 Speak not of that which has been. It must be 
 That what is done is done. 'Twere best forgot. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 .\h no ! thou must remain, and I will show 
 
 To thee their graves. Thou lov'st me, and I know 
 
 That thou wilt look to them — to-morrow early. 
 
 My mother, she in the best place shall lie, 
 
 And next to her my brother ; to one side 
 
 Must I be placed, apart, but not too wide, 
 
 And on my breast my little one. But none 
 
 Shall lie beside me ; it indeed were bliss 
 
 To have thee near me, but that hope is gone. 
 
 I feel impelled to cling to thee, but thou 
 
 To thrust me back dost seem, and still thy air 
 
 Is kind and good as ever. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Think'st thou so, 
 Then, dearest, come with me. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Out yonder there ? 
 
Fatcst. 24, 
 
 FAUST 
 
 AVhere we may breathe in freedom. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Tell me, stands 
 Out there the tomb ? Waits death with outstretched hands 
 To lay me in it? Thither I may go, 
 Not one step further. Thou dost leave me now. 
 Oh, that I could go with thee ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Thou canst ; but will it. Open stands the door ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 I dare not go, for me hope lives no more. 
 
 How should I fly ? They watch on every side ! 
 
 What misery to beg, nor this to do 
 
 As outcast, but with evil conscience too. 
 
 Through places strange how wretched 'twere to stray, 
 
 And they will catch me go where'er I may. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Then here with thee I bide. 
 
 R 2 
 
244 Faust. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Haste, haste to save it ! 
 It is my child ! 
 Quick ! by the path 
 Where the streamlet wild 
 Runs through the wood, 
 To the left beyond. 
 Where the plank lies across it. 
 There ! there ! in the pond 
 It struggles ! it rises ! 
 Seize ! save it, O save ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Bethink thee, Gretchen dear, this must not be. 
 One step, one little step, and thou art free ! 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 O that we over yon mountain were ! 
 That is my mother, I see her there ! 
 Yonder she sits on the cold grey stone, 
 Her head waves slowly up and do^vn, 
 Nor looks nor beckons; her watching is o'er, 
 She hath slept so long she will wake no more. 
 That we might be happy she slept so fast. 
 Alas ! so happy. It could not last. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 If words, if prayers, no power to move thee have. 
 No power to save thee, then my arm must save. 
 
Faust. 245 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Stand off ! I will not be compelled. No force 
 Lives that shall drag me hence. How murderously 
 Thou look'st upon me ! Yet time was that I 
 Did all for love of thee. Thou know'st 'twas so. 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Dear Gretchen ! dearest, see ! The air grows grey ; 
 The day is dawning fast. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Day ! the last day ! 
 It hurries on ; my wedding day 't should be. • 
 
 Let no one know the past, nor know that we 
 Have met already. See my garland. Woe, 
 Woe, woe ! 'Tis over, aH is over now ! 
 We two shall meet again. Yes, we shall meet ; 
 Not in the dance though ! Look ! the square, the 
 
 street. 
 Hold not the crowd that gathers silently. 
 The bell is tolling ; hark ! they draw more nigh. 
 The staff they are breaking; they seize me, they bind ! 
 The block is uncovering ; the keen-edged steel 
 Is gleaming and quivering, each, each must feel. 
 Still lies the world, 'tis noiseless as the grave ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Would I had ne'er been born, this had not been. 
 
246 FausL 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {appears without) 
 
 Away, or you are lost ! What means this scene, 
 This mad delay? W^y stand you dallying there ? 
 Already shudder in the morning air 
 My drooping steeds. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 What's this ? what shape of fear 
 Rises from earth ? He ! he ! what does he here, 
 Here in the holy place ? Oh, drive him, drive 
 The monster hence. He seeks me ! 
 
 FAUST 
 
 Thou shalt live. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Judgment of God, to thee myself I give. 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Come, come, or to thy fate thee too I leave. 
 
 MARGARET 
 
 Thine am I, holy Father ! take me ! save ! 
 Ye angel hosts, ye sainted spirits, ward 
 Evil from off me now ; be ye my guard ! 
 Heinrich, for thee alone I grieve, for thee ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES 
 
 Hear ; she is judged ! 
 
FaiLst. 247 
 
 VOICE FROM ABOVE 
 
 She is saved ! 
 
 MEPHISTOPHELES {to FAUST) 
 
 Hither to me ! [ Vanishes with Faust 
 
 VOICES FROM WITHIN {dying away) 
 Heinrich ! Heinrich ! 
 
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