now; What's more, it doth no longer stink; To you a glass I joyfully will give.
(Aside.)
If unprepar'd, however, this man drink, He hath not, as you know, an hour to
live.
Mephistopheles
He's my good friend, with whom 'twill prosper well; I grudge him not the
choicest of thy store. Now draw thy circle, speak thy spell, And straight a
bumper for him pour!
Ha! Ha! Just like yourself! You are, I ween, The same mad wag that you
have ever been!
Mephistopheles (to Faust)
My friend, learn this to understand, I pray! To deal with witches this is still the
way.
The Witch
Now tell me, gentlemen, what you desire?
Mephistopheles
Of your known juice a goblet we require. But for the very oldest let me ask;
Double its strength with years doth grow.
The Witch
Most willingly! And here I have a flask, From which I've sipp'd myself ere
now; What's more, it doth no longer stink; To you a glass I joyfully will give.
(Aside.)
If unprepar'd, however, this man drink, He hath not, as you know, an hour to
live.
Mephistopheles
He's my good friend, with whom 'twill prosper well; I grudge him not the
choicest of thy store. Now draw thy circle, speak thy spell, And straight a
bumper for him pour!
The lofty power Of wisdom's dower, From all the world conceal'd! Who
thinketh not, To him I wot, Unsought it is reveal'd.
Faust
What nonsense doth the hag propound? My brain it doth well - nigh
confound. A hundred thousand fools or more, Methinks I hear in chorus roar.
Mephistopheles
Incomparable Sibyl cease, I pray! Hand us the liquor without more delay.
And to the very brim the goblet crown! My friend he is, and need not be
afraid; Besides, he is a man of many a grade, Who hath drunk deep already.
(The Witch, with many ceremonies, pours the liquor into a cup; as Faust lifts it
to his mouth, a light flame arises.)
Mephistopheles
Gulp it down! No hesitation! It will prove A cordial, and your heart inspire!
What! with the devil hand and glove, And yet shrink back afraid of fire? (The
Witch dissolves the circle. Faust steps out.)
Mephistopheles
Now forth at once! thou dar'st not rest.
Witch
And much, sir, may the liquor profit you!
Mephistopheles (to the Witch)
And if to pleasure thee I aught can do, Pray on Walpurgis mention thy
request.
Witch
Here is a song, sung o'er, sometimes you'll see, That 'twill a singular effect
produce.
Mephistopheles (to Faust)
Come, quick, and let thyself be led by me; Thou must perspire, in order that
the juice Thy frame may penetrate through every part. Then noble idleness I
thee will teach to prize, And soon with ecstasy thou'lt recognise How Cupid
stirs and gambols in thy heart.
Faust
Let me but gaze one moment in the glass! Too lovely was that female form!
Mephistopheles
Nay! nay! A model which all women shall surpass, In flesh and blood ere long
thou shalt survey.
(Aside.)
As works that draught, thou presently shalt greet A Helen in each woman
thou dost meet.
A Street - Faust Meets Margaret
Faust (Margaret passing by)
Faust And Margaret: The meeting of Faust and Margaret.]
Faust
Fair lady, may I thus make free To offer you my arm and company?
Margaret
I am no lady, am not fair, Can without escort home repair.
(She disengages herself and exit.)
Faust
By heaven! This girl is fair indeed! No form like hers can I recall. Virtue she
hath, and modest heed, Is piquant too, and sharp withal. Her cheek's soft
light, her rosy lips, No length of time will e'er eclipse! Her downward glance
in passing by, Deep in my heart is stamp'd for aye; How curt and sharp her
answer too, To ecstasy the feeling grew!
(Mephistopheles enters.)
Faust
This girl must win for me! Dost hear?
Mephistopheles
Which?
Faust
She who but now passed.
Mephistopheles
What! She? She from confession cometh here, From every sin absolved and
free; I crept near the confessor's chair. All innocence her virgin soul, For next
to nothing went she there; O'er such as she I've no control!
Faust
She's past fourteen.
Mephistopheles
You really talk
Like any gay Lothario, Who every floweret from its stalk Would pluck, and
deems nor grace, nor truth, Secure against his arts, forsooth! This ne'er the
less won't always do.
Faust
Sir Moralizer, prithee, pause; Nor plague me with your tiresome laws!
Goethe
To cut the matter short, my friend, She must this very night be mine, And if to
help me you decline, Midnight shall see our compact end.
Mephistopheles
What may occur just bear in mind! A fortnight's space, at least, I need, A fit
occasion but to find.
Faust
With but seven hours I could succeed; Nor should I want the devil's wile, So
young a creature to beguile.
Mephistopheles
Like any Frenchman now you speak, But do not fret, I pray; why seek To
hurry to enjoyment straight? The pleasure is not half so great, As when at first
around, above, With all the fooleries of love, The puppet you can knead and
mould As in Italian story oft is told.
Faust
No such incentives do I need.
Mephistopheles
But now, without offense or jest! You cannot quickly, I protest, In winning
this sweet child succeed. By storm we cannot take the fort, To stratagem we
must resort.
Faust
Conduct me to her place of rest! Some token of the angel bring! A kerchief
from her snowy breast, A garter bring me, - any thing!
Mephistopheles
That I my anxious zeal may prove, Your pangs to sooth and aid your love, A
single moment will we not delay, Will lead you to her room this very day.
Faust
And shall I see her? - Have her?
Mephistopheles
No! She to a neighbour's house will go; But in her atmosphere alone, The
tedious hours meanwhile you may employ, In blissful dreams of future joy.
Faust
Can we go now?
Mephistopheles
'Tis yet too soon.
Faust
Some present for my love procure!
(Exit.)
Mephistopheles
Presents so soon! 'tis well! success is sure! Full many a goodly place I know,
And treasures buried long ago; I must a bit o'erlook them now.
(Exit.)
Evening - A Small And Neat Room
Margaret
(braiding and binding up her hair)
I would give something now to know, Who yonder gentleman could be! He
had a gallant air, I trow, And doubtless was of high degree: That written on
his brow was seen Nor else would he so bold have been.
(Exit.)
Mephistopheles
Come in! tread softly! be discreet!
Faust (after a pause)
Begone and leave me, I entreat!
Mephistopheles (looking round)
Not every maiden is so neat
(Exit.)
Faust (gazing round)
Welcome sweet twilight, calm and blest, That in this hallow'd precinct reigns!
Fond yearning love, inspire my breast, Feeding on hope's sweet dew thy
blissful pains! What stillness here environs me! Content and order brood
around. What fulness in this poverty! In this small cell what bliss profound!
(He throws himself on the leather arm - chair beside the bed)
Receive me thou, who hast in thine embrace, Welcom'd in joy and grief the
ages flown! How oft the children of a by - gone race Have cluster'd round this
patriarchal throne! Haply she, also, whom I hold so dear, For Christmas gift,
with grateful joy possess'd, Hath with the full round cheek of childhood, here,
Her grandsire's wither'd hand devoutly press'd. Maiden! I feel thy spirit haunt
the place, Breathing of order and abounding grace. As with a mother's voice it
prompteth thee, The pure white cover o'er the board to spread, To strew the
crisping sand beneath thy tread. Dear hand! so godlike in its ministry! The hut
becomes a paradise through thee! And here - (He raises the bed - curtain.)
How thrills my pulse with strange delight! Here could I linger hours untold;
Thou, Nature, didst in vision bright, The embryo angel here unfold. Here lay
the child, her bosom warm With life; while steeped in slumber's dew, To
perfect grace, her godlike form, With pure and hallow'd weavings grew!
And thou! ah here what seekest thou? How quails mine inmost being now!
What wouldst thou here? what makes thy heart so sore? Unhappy Faust! I
know thee now no more.
Do I a magic atmosphere inhale? Erewhile, my passion would not brook
delay! Now in a pure love - dream I melt away. Are we the sport of every
passing gale?
Should she return and enter now, How wouldst thou rue thy guilty flame!
Proud vaunter - thou wouldst hide thy brow, And at her feet sink down with
shame.
Mephistopheles
Quick! quick! below I see her there.
Faust
Away! I will return no more!
Mephistopheles
Here is a casket, with a store Of jewels, which I got elsewhere Just lay it in
the press; make haste! I swear to you, 'twill turn her brain; Therein some
trifles I have placed, Wherewith another to obtain. But child is child, and play
is play.
Faust
I know not - shall I?
Mephistopheles
Do you ask? Perchance you would retain the treasure? If such your wish, why
then, I say, Henceforth absolve me from my task, Nor longer waste your
hours of leisure. I trust you're not by avarice led! I rub my hands, I scratch my
head,
(He places the casket in the press and closes the lock.)
Now quick! Away! That soon the sweet young creature may The wish and
purpose of your heart obey; Yet stand you there As would you to the lecture
- room repair, As if before you stood, Arrayed in flesh and blood, Physics
and metaphysics weird and grey! Away!
(Exeunt.)
Margaret (with a lamp)
Here 'tis so close, so sultry now,
(She opens the window.)
Yet out of doors 'tis not so warm. I feel so strange, I know not how I wish my
mother would come home. Through me there runs a shuddering I'm but a
foolish timid thing!
(While undressing herself she begins to sing.)
There was a king in Thule, True even to the grave; To whom his dying
mistress A golden beaker gave.
At every feast he drained it, Naught was to him so dear, And often as he
drained it, Gush'd from his eyes the tear.
When death came, unrepining His cities o'er he told; All to his heir resigning,
Except his cup of gold.
With many a knightly vassal At a royal feast sat he, In yon proud hall
ancestral, In his castle o'er the sea.
Up stood the jovial monarch, And quaff'd his last life's glow, Then hurled the
hallow'd goblet Into the flood below.
He saw it splashing, drinking, And plunging in the sea; His eyes meanwhile
were sinking, And never again drank he.
(She opens the press to put away her clothes, and perceives the casket.)
How comes this lovely casket here? The press I locked, of that I'm confident.
'Tis very wonderful! What's in it I can't guess; Perhaps 'twas brought by some
one in distress, And left in pledge for loan my mother lent.
Here by a ribbon hangs a little key! I have a mind to open it and see!
Heavens! only look! what have we here! In all my days ne'er saw I such a
sight! Jewels! which any noble dame might wear, For some high pageant
richly dight! This chain - how would it look on me! These splendid gems,
whose may they be?
(She puts them on and steps before the glass.)
Were but the ear - rings only mine! Thus one has quite another air. What
boots it to be young and fair? It doubtless may be very fine; But then, alas,
none cares for you, And praise sounds half like pity too. Gold all doth lure,
Gold doth secure All things. Alas, we poor!
Promenade - Faust And Mephistopheles
Faust walking thoughtfully up and down. To him Mephistopheles
Mephistopheles
By all rejected love! By hellish fire I curse, Would I knew aught to make my
imprecation worse!
Faust
What aileth thee? what chafes thee now so sore? A face like that I never saw
before!
Mephistopheles
I'd yield me to the devil instantly, Did it not happen that myself am he!
Faust
There must be some disorder in thy wit! To rave thus like a madman, is it fit?
Mephistopheles
Think! only think! The gems for Gretchen brought, Them hath a priest now
made his own! A glimpse of them the mother caught, And 'gan with secret
fear to groan. The woman's scent is keen enough; Doth ever in the prayer -
book snuff; Smells every article to ascertain Whether the thing is holy or
profane, And scented in the jewels rare, That there was not much blessing
there. "My child," she cries, "ill - gotten good Ensnares the soul, consumes the
blood; With them we'll deck our Lady's shrine, She'll cheer our souls with
bread divine!" At this poor Gretchen 'gan to pout; 'Tis a gift - horse, at least,
she thought, And sure, he godless cannot be, Who brought them here so
cleverly. Straight for a priest the mother sent, Who, when he understood the
jest, With what he saw was well content. "This shows a pious mind!" Quoth
he: "Self - conquest is true victory. The Church hath a good stomach, she,
with zest, Whole countries hath swallow'd down, And never yet a surfeit
known. The Church alone, be it confessed, Daughters, can ill - got wealth
digest."
