Faust (in the distance)
Here!
Mephistopheles
Already, whirl'd so far away! The master then indeed I needs must play. Give
ground! Squire Voland comes! Sweet folk, give ground! Here, doctor, grasp
me! With a single bound Let us escape this ceaseless jar; Even for me too
mad these people are. Hard by there shineth something with peculiar glare,
Yon brake allureth me; it is not far; Come, come along with me! we'll slip in
there.
Faust
Spirit of contradiction! Lead! I'll follow straight! 'Twas wisely done, however,
to repair On May - night to the Brocken, and when there By our own choice
ourselves to isolate!
Mephistopheles
Mark, of those flames the motley glare! A merry club assembles there. In a
small circle one is not alone.
Faust
I'd rather be above, though, I must own! Already fire and eddying smoke I
view; The impetuous millions to the devil ride; Full many a riddle will be there
untied.
Mephistopheles
Ay! and full many a riddle tied anew. But let the great world rave and riot!
Here will we house ourselves in quiet. A custom 'tis of ancient date, Our
lesser worlds within the great world to create! Young witches there I see,
naked and bare, And old ones, veil'd more prudently. For my sake only
courteous be! The trouble's small, the sport is rare. Of instruments I hear the
cursed din One must get used to it. Come in! come in! There's now no help
for it. I'll step before And introducing you as my good friend, Confer on you
one obligation more. How say you now? 'Tis no such paltry room; Why only
look, you scarce can see the end. A hundred fires in rows disperse the gloom;
They dance, they talk, they cook, make love, and drink: Where could we find
aught better, do you think?
Faust
To introduce us, do you purpose here As devil or as wizard to appear?
Mephistopheles
Though I am wont indeed to strict incognito, Yet upon gala - days one must
one's orders show. No garter have I to distinguish me, Nathless the cloven
foot doth here give dignity. Seest thou yonder snail? Crawling this way she
hies: With searching feelers, she, no doubt, Hath me already scented out;
Here, even if I would, for me there's no disguise. From fire to fire, we'll
saunter at our leisure, The gallant you, I'll cater for your pleasure.
(To a party seated round some expiring embers.)
Old gentleman, apart, why sit ye moping here? Ye in the midst should be of all
this jovial cheer, Girt round with noise and youthful riot; At home one surely
has enough of quiet.
General
In nations put his trust, who may, Whate'er for them one may have done; For
with the people, as with women, they Honour your rising stars alone!
Minister
Now all too far they wander from the right; I praise the good old ways, to
them I hold, Then was the genuine age of gold, When we ourselves were
foremost in men's sight.
Parvenu
Ne'er were we 'mong your dullards found, And what we ought not, that to do
were fair; Yet now are all things turning round and round, When on firm basis
we would them maintain.
Author
Who, as a rule, a treatise now would care To read, of even moderate sense?
As for the rising generation, ne'er Has youth displayed such arrogant
pretence.
Mephistopheles
(suddenly appearing very old)
Since for the last time I the Brocken scale, That folk are ripe for doomsday,
now one sees; And just because my cask begins to fail, So the whole world is
also on the lees.
Huckster - Witch
Stop, gentlemen, nor pass me by, Of wares I have a choice collection: Pray
honour them with your inspection. Lose not his opportunity! Yet nothing in my
booth you'll find Without its counterpart on earth; there's naught, Which to the
world, and to mankind, Hath not some direful mischief wrought. No dagger
here, which hath not flow'd with blood, No chalice, whence, into some
healthy frame Hath not been poured hot poison's wasting flood. No trinket,
but hath wrought some woman's shame, No weapon but hath cut some
sacred tie, Or from behind hath stabb'd an enemy.
Mephistopheles
Gossip! For wares like these the time's gone by, What's done is past! what's
past is done! With novelties your booth supply; Us novelties attract alone.
Faust
May this wild scene my senses spare! This, may in truth be called a fair!
Mephistopheles
Upward the eddying concourse throng; Thinking to push, thyself art push'd
along.
Faust
Who's that, pray?
Mephistopheles
Mark her well! That's Lilith.
Faust
Who?
Mephistopheles
Adam's first wife. Of her rich locks beware! That charm in which she's
parallel'd by few; When in its toils a youth she doth ensnare, He will not soon
escape, I promise you.
Faust
There sit a pair, the old one with the young; Already they have bravely
danced and sprung!
Mephistopheles
Here there is no repose to - day. Another dance begins; we'll join it, come
away!
Faust
(dancing with the young one)
Once a fair vision came to me; There in I saw an apple - tree, Two beauteous
apples charmed mine eyes; I climb'd forthwith to reach the prize.
The Fair One
Apples still fondly ye desire, From paradise it hath been so. Feelings of joy
my breast inspire That such too in my garden grow.
Mephistopheles (with the old one)
Once a weird vision came to me; Therein I saw a rifted tree. It had a . . . . . . ;
But as it was it pleased me too.
The Old One
I beg most humbly to salute The gallant with the cloven foot! Let him a . . .
have ready here, If he a . . . does not fear.
Proctophantasmist
Accursed mob! How dare ye thus to meet? Have I not shown and
demonstrated too, That ghosts stand not on ordinary feet? Yet here ye dance,
as other mortals do!
The Fair One (dancing)
Then at our ball, what doth he here?
Faust (dancing)
Oh! He must everywhere appear. He must adjudge, when others dance; If on
each step his say's not said, So is that step as good as never made. He's most
annoyed, so soon as we advance; If ye would circle in one narrow round, As
he in his old mill, then doubtless he Your dancing would approve, - especially
If ye forthwith salute him with respect profound!
Proctophantasmist
Still here! what arrogance! unheard of quite! Vanish; we now have fill'd the
world with light! Laws are unheeded by the devil's host; Wise as we are, yet
Tegel hath its ghost! How long at this conceit I've swept with all my might,
Lost is the labour: 'tis unheard of quite!
The Fair One
Cease here to teaze us any more, I pray.
Proctophantasmist
Spirits, I plainly to your face declare: No spiritual control myself will bear,
Since my own spirit can exert no sway.
(The dancing continues.)
To - night, I see, I shall in naught succeed; But I'm prepar'd my travels to
pursue, And hope, before my final step indeed, To triumph over bards and
devils too.
Mephistopheles
Now in some puddle will he take his station, Such is his mode of seeking
consolation; Where leeches, feasting on his rump, will drain Spirits alike and
spirit from his brain.
(To Faust, who has left the dance.)
But why the charming damsel leave, I pray, Who to you in the dance so
sweetly sang?
Faust
Ah, in the very middle of her lay, Out of her mouth a small red mouse there
sprang.
Mephistopheles
Suppose there did! One must not be too nice. 'Twas well it was not grey, let
that suffice. Who 'mid his pleasures for a trifle cares?
Faust
Then saw I
Mephistopheles
What?
Faust
Mephisto, seest thou there Standing far off, a lone child, pale and fair? Slow
from the spot her drooping form she tears, And seems with shackled feet to
move along; I own, within me the delusion' strong, That she the likeness of my
Gretchen wears.
Mephistopheles
Gaze not upon her! 'Tis not good! Forbear! 'Tis lifeless, magical, a shape of
air, An idol. Such to meet with, bodes no good; That rigid look of hers doth
freeze man's blood, And well - nigh petrifies his heart to stone: The story of
Medusa thou hast known.
Faust
Ay, verily! a corpse's eyes are those, Which there was no fond loving hand to
close. That is the bosom I so fondly press'd, That my sweet Gretchen's form,
so oft caress'd!
Mephistopheles
Deluded fool! 'Tis magic, I declare! To each she doth his lov'd one's image
wear.
Faust
What bliss! what torture! vainly I essay To turn me from that piteous look
away. How strangely doth a single crimson line Around that lovely neck its
coil entwine, It shows no broader than a knife's blunt edge!
Mephistopheles
Quite right. I see it also, and allege That she beneath her arm her head can
bear, Since Perseus cut it off. - But you I swear Are craving for illusion still!
Come then, ascend yon little hill! As on the Prater all is gay, And if my senses
are not gone, I see a theatre, - what's going on?
Servibilis
They are about to recommence; - the play Will be the last of seven, and spick
- span new 'Tis usual here that number to present. A dilettante did the piece
invent, And dilettanti will enact it too. Excuse me, gentlemen; to me's assign'd
As dilettante to uplift the curtain.
Mephistopheles
You on the Blocksberg I'm rejoiced to find, That 'tis your most appropriate
sphere is certain.
Walpurgis - Night's Dream Or Oberon And Titania's Golden Wedding-Feast
Intermezzo
The Theatre
Manager
Vales, where mists still shift and play, To ancient hills succeeding, These our
scenes; - so we, to - day, May rest, brave sons of Mieding.
Herald
That the marriage golden be, Must fifty years be ended; More dear this feast
of gold to me, Contention now suspended.
Oberon
Spirits, if present, grace the scene. And if with me united, Then gratulate the
king and queen, Their troth thus newly plighted!
Puck
Puck draws near and wheels about, In mazy circles dancing! Hundreds swell
his joyous shout, Behind him still advancing.
Ariel
Ariel wakes his dainty air, His lyre celestial stringing. Fools he lureth, and the
fair, With his celestial singing.
Oberon
Wedded ones, would ye agree, We court your imitation: Would ye fondly
love as we, We counsel separation.
Titania
If husband scold and wife retort, Then bear them far asunder; Her to the
burning south transport, And him the North Pole under.
The Whole Orchestra (fortissimo)
Flies and midges all unite With frog and chirping cricket, Our orchestra
throughout the night, Resounding in the thicket!
(Solo)
Yonder doth the bagpipe come! Its sack an airy bubble. Schnick, schnick,
schnack, with nasal hum, Its notes it doth redouble.
Embryo Spirit
Spider's foot and midge's wing, A toad in form and feature; Together verses it
can string, Though scarce a living creature.
A Little Pair
Tiny step and lofty bound, Through dew and exhalation; Ye trip it deftly on
the ground, But gain no elevation.
Inquisitive Traveller
Can I indeed believe my eyes? Is't not mere masquerading? What! Oberon in
beauteous guise, Among the groups parading!
Orthodox
No claws, no tail to whisk about, To fright us at our revel; Yet like the gods
of Greece, no doubt, He too's a genuine devil.
Northern Artist
These that I'm hitting off to - day Are sketches unpretending; Towards Italy
without delay, My steps I think of bending.
Purist
Alas! ill - fortune leads me here, Where riot still grows louder; And 'mong the
witches gather'd here But two alone wear powder!
Young Witch
Your powder and your petticoat, Suit hags, there's no gainsaying; Hence I sit
fearless on my goat, My naked charms displaying.
Matron
We're too well - bred to squabble here, Or insult back to render; But may
you wither soon, my dear, Although so young and tender.
Leader of the Band
Nose of fly and gnat's proboscis, Throng not the naked beauty! Frogs and
crickets in the mosses, Keep time and do your duty!
Weathercock (towards one side)
What charming company I view Together here collected! Gay bachelors, a
hopeful crew. And brides so unaffected!
Weathercock (towards the other side)
Unless indeed the yawning ground Should open to receive them, From this
vile crew, with sudden bound, To Hell I'd jump and leave them.
Xenien
With small sharp shears, in insect guise Behold us at your revel! That we may
tender, filial - wise, Our homage to the devil.
Hennings
Look now at yonder eager crew, How naively they're jesting! That they have
tender hearts and true, They stoutly keep protesting!
Musaget
Oneself amid this witchery How pleasantly one loses; For witches easier are
to me To govern than the Muses!
Ci - devant Genius of the Age
With proper folks when we appear, No one can then surpass us! Keep close,
wide is the Blocksberg here As Germany's Parnassus.
Inquisitive Traveller
How name ye that stiff formal man, Who strides with lofty paces? He tracks
the game where'er he can, "He scents the Jesuits' traces."
Crane
Where waters troubled are or clear, To fish I am delighted; Thus pious
