Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Page 220
SIEBEL (as MEPHISTOPHELES approaches him)
I like not acid wine, I must allow,
Give me a glass of genuine sweet!
MEPHISTOPHELES (bores)
Tokay
Shall, if you wish it, flow without delay.
ALTMAYER
Come! look me in the face! no fooling now!
You are but making fun of us, I trow.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Ah! ah! that would indeed be making free
With such distinguished guests. Come, no delay;
What liquor can I serve you with, I pray?
ALTMAYER
Only be quick, it matters not to me.
[After the holes are all bored and, stopped.]
MEPHISTOPHELES (with strange gestures)
Grapes the vine-stock bears,
Horns the buck-goat wears!
Wine is sap, the vine is wood,
The wooden board yields wine as good.
With a deeper glance and true
The mysteries of nature view!
Have faith and here’s a miracle!
Your stoppers draw and drink your fill!
ALL (as they draw the stoppers and the wine chosen by each runs into his glass)
Oh beauteous spring, which flows so far!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Spill not a single drop, of this beware!
[They drink repeatedly.]
ALL (sing)
Happy as cannibals are we,
Or as five hundred swine.
MEPHISTOPHELES
They’re in their glory, mark their elevation!
FAUST
Let’s hence, nor here our stay prolong.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Attend, of brutishness ere long
You’ll see a glorious revelation.
SIEBEL (drinks carelessly; the wine is spilt upon the ground, and turns to fame)
Help! fire! help! Hell is burning!
MEPHISTOPHELES (addressing the flames)
Stop,
Kind element, be still, I say!
(To the Company)
Of purgatorial fire as yet ’tis but a drop.
SIEBEL
What means the knave! For this you’ll dearly pay!
Us, it appears, you do not know.
FROSCH
Such tricks a second time he’d better show!
ALTMAYER
Methinks ‘twere well we pack’d him quietly away.
SIEBEL
What, sir! with us your hocus-pocus play!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Silence, old wine-cask!
SIEBEL
How! add insult, too!
Vile broomstick!
BRANDER
Hold! or blows shall rain on you!
ALTMAYER (draws a stopper out of the table; fire springs
out against him)
I burn! I burn!
SIEBEL
’Tis sorcery, I vow! Strike home! The fellow is fair game, I trow! [They draw their knives and attack MEPHISTOPHELES.]
MEPHISTOPHELES (with solemn gestures)
Visionary scenes appear!
Words delusive cheat the ear!
Be ye there, and be ye here!
[They stand amazed and gale at one another.]
ALTMAYER
Where am I? What a beauteous land!
FROSCH
Vineyards! unless my sight deceives?
SIEBEL
And clust’ring grapes too, close at hand!
BRANDER
And underneath the spreading leaves,
What stems there be! What grapes I see!
[He seizes SIEBEL by the nose. The others reciprocally do the same, and raise, their knives.]
MEPHISTOPHELES (as above)
Delusion, from their eyes the bandage take!
Note how the devil loves a jest to break!
[He disappears with FAUST; the fellows draw back from one another.]
SIEBEL
What was it?
ALTMAYER
How?
FROSCH
Was that your nose?
BRANDER (to SIEBEL)
And look, my hand doth thine inclose!
ALTMAYER
I felt a shock, it went through every limb!
A chair! I’m fainting! All things swim!
FROSCH
Say! What has happened? What’s it all about?
SIEBEL
Where is the fellow? Could I scent him out,
His body from his soul I’d soon divide!
ALTMAYER
With my own eyes, upon a cask astride,
Forth through the cellar-door I saw him ride —
Heavy as lead my feet are growing.
[Turning to the table.]
I wonder is the wine still flowing!
SIEBEL
’Twas all delusion, cheat and lie.
FROSCH
’Twas wine I drank, most certainly.
BRANDER
But with the grapes how was it, pray?
ALTMAYER
That none may miracles believe, who now will say?
WITCHES’ KITCHEN
A large caldron hangs over the fire on a low hearth; various figures appear in the vapor rising from it. A FEMALE MONKEY sits beside the caldron to skim it, and watch that it does not boil over. The MALE MONKEY with the young ones is seated near, warming himself. The walls and ceiling are adorned with the strangest articles of witch-furniture.
FAUST, MEPHISTOPHELES
FAUST
This senseless, juggling witchcraft I detest!
Dost promise that in this foul nest
Of madness I shall be restored?
Must I seek counsel from an ancient dame?
And can she, by these rites abhorred,
Take thirty winters from my frame?
Woe’s me, if thou naught better canst suggest!
Hope has already fled my breast.
Has neither nature nor a noble mind
A balsam yet devis’d of any kind?
MEPHISTOPHELES
My friend, you now speak sensibly. In truth,
Nature a method giveth to renew thy youth:
But in another book the lesson’s writ; —
It forms a curious chapter, I admit.
FAUST
I fain would know it.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Good! A remedy
Without physician, gold, or sorcery:
Away forthwith, and to the fields repair;
Begin to delve, to cultivate the ground;
Thy senses and thyself confine
Within the very narrowest round;
Support thyself upon the simplest fare;
Live like a very brute the brutes among;
Neither esteem it robbery
The acre thou dost reap, thyself to dung.
This the best method, credit me,
Again at eighty to grow hale and young.
FAUST
I am not used to it, nor can myself degrade
So far, as in my hand to take the spade.
This narrow life would suit me not at all.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Then we the witch must summon after all.
FAUST
Will none but this old beldame do?
Canst not thyself the potion brew?
MEPHISTOPHELES
A pretty play our leisure to beguile!
A thousand bridges I could build meanwhile.
Not science only and consummate art —
Patience must also bear her part.
A quiet spirit worketh whole years long;
Time only makes the subtle ferment strong.
And all things that belong thereto,
Are wondrous and exceeding rare!
The devil taught her, it is true;
But yet the draught the devil can’t prepare.
[Perceiving the beasts.]
Look yonder, what a dainty pair!
Here is the maid! the knave is there!
(To the beasts)
It seems your dame is not at home?
THE MONKEYS
Gone to carouse,
Out of the house,
Thro’ the chimney and away!
MEPHISTOPHELES
How long is it her wont to roam?
THE MONKEYS
While we can warm our paws she’ll stay.
MEPHISTOPHELES (to FAUST)
What think you of the charming creatures?
FAUST
I loathe alike their form and features!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Nay, such discourse, be it confessed,
Is just the thing that pleases me the best.
(To the MONKEYS)
Tell me, ye whelps, accursed crew!
What stir ye in the broth about?
MONKEYS
Coarse beggar’s gruel here we stew.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Of customers you’ll have a rout.
THE HE-MONKEY (approaching and fawning on MEPHISTOPHELES)
Quick! quick! throw the dice,
Make me rich in a trice,
Oh give me the prize!
Alas, for myself,
Had I plenty of pelf,
I then should be wise.
MEPHISTOPHELES
How blest the ape would think himself, if he
Could only put into the lottery!
[In the meantime the young MONKEYS have been playing with a large globe, which they roll forward.]
THE HE-MONKEY
The world behold;
Unceasingly roll’d,
It riseth and falleth ever;
It ringeth like glass!
How brittle, alas!
’Tis hollow, and resteth never.
How bright the sphere,
Still brighter here!
Now living am I!
Dear son, beware!
Nor venture there!
Thou too must die!
It is of clay;
‘Twill crumble away;
There fragments lie.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Of what use is the sieve
THE HE-MONKEY (taking it down)
The sieve would show, If thou wert a thief or no? [He runs to the SHE-MONKEY, and makes her look through it.]
Look through the sieve!
Dost know him the thief,
And dar’st thou not call him so?
MEPHISTOPHELES (approaching the fire)
And then this pot?
THE MONKEYS
The half-witted sot!
He knows not the pot!
He knows not the kettle!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Unmannerly beast!
Be civil at least!
THE HE-MONKEY
Take the whisk and sit down in the settle!
[He makes MEPHISTOPHELES sit down.]
FAUST (who all this time has been standing before a looking-glass, now approaching, and now retiring front it)
What do I see? What form, whose charms transcend
The loveliness of earth, is mirror’d here!
O Love, to waft me to her sphere,
To me the swiftest of thy pinions lend!
Alas! If I remain not rooted to this place,
If to approach more near I’m fondly lur’d,
Her image fades, in veiling mist obscur’d! —
Model of beauty both in form and face!
Is’t possible? Hath woman charms so rare?
In this recumbent form, supremely fair,
The essence must I see of heavenly grace?
Can aught so exquisite on earth be found?
MEPHISTOPHELES
The six days’ labor of a god, my friend,
Who doth himself cry bravo, at the end,
By something clever doubtless should be crown’d.
For this time gaze your fill, and when you please
just such a prize for you I can provide;
How blest is he to whom kind fate decrees,
To take her to his home, a lovely bride!
[FAUST continues to gaze into the mirror.]
MEPHISTOPHELES [stretching himself on the settle and playing with the whisk, continues to speak.]
Here sit I, like a king upon his throne;
My sceptre this; — the crown I want alone.
THE MONKEYS (who have hitherto been making all sorts of strange gestures, bring MEPHISTOPHELES a crown, with loud cries)
Oh, be so good,
With sweat and with blood
The crown to lime!
[They handle the crown awkwardly and break it in two pieces, with which they skip about.]
’Twas fate’s decree!
We speak and see!
We hear and rhyme.
FAUST (before the mirror)
Woe’s me! well-nigh distraught I feel!
MEPHISTOPHELES (pointing to the beasts)
And even my own head almost begins to reel.
THE MONKEYS
If good luck attend,
If fitly things blend,
Our jargon with thought
And with reason is fraught!
FAUST (as above)
A flame is kindled in my breast!
Let us begone! nor linger here!
MEPHISTOPHELES (in the same position)
It now at least must be confessed,
That poets sometimes are sincere.
[The caldron which the SHE-MONKEY has neglected begins to boil over; a great flame arises, which streams up the chimney. The WITCH comes down the chimney with horrible cries.]
THE WITCH
Ough! ough! ough! ough!
Accursed brute! accursed sow!
The caldron dost neglect, for shame!
Accursed brute to scorch the dame!
(Perceiving FAUST and MEPHISTOPHELES.)
Whom have we here?
Who’s sneaking here?
Whence are ye come?
With what desire?
The plague of fire
Your bones consume!
[She dips the skimming-ladle into the caldron and throws flames at FAUST, MEPHISTOPHELES, and the MONKEYS. The MONKEYS whimper.]
MEPHISTOPHELES (twirling the whisk which he holds in his hand, and striking among the glasses and pots)
Dash! Smash!
There lies the glass!
There lies the slime!
’Tis but a jest;
I but keep time,
Thou hellish pest,
To thine own chime!
[While the WITCH steps back in rage and astonishment.]
Dost know me! Skeleton! Vile scarecrow, thou!
Thy lord and master dost thou know?
What holds me, that I deal not now
Thee and thine apes a stunning blow?
No more respect to my red vest dost pay?
Does my cock’s feather no allegiance claim?
Have I my visage masked today?
Must I be forced myself to name?
THE WITCH
Master, forgive this rude salute!
But I perceive no cloven foot.
And your two ravens, where are they?
MEPHISTOPHELES
This once I must admit your plea; —
For truly I must own that we
Each other have not seen for many a day.
The culture, too, that shapes the world, at last
Hath e’en the devil in its sphere embraced;
The northern phantom from the scene hath pass’d;
Tail, talons, horns, are nowhere to be traced!
As for the foot, with which I can’t dispense,
’Twould injure me in company, and hence,
Like many a youthful cavalier,
False calves I now have worn for many a year.
THE WITCH (dancing)
I am beside myself with joy,
To see once more the gallant Satan here!
MEPHISTOPHELES
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Woman, no more that name employ!
THE WITCH
But why? what mischief hath it done?
MEPHISTOPHELES
To fable-books it now doth appertain;
But people from the change have nothing won.
Rid of the evil one, the evil ones remain.
Lord Baron call thou me, so is the matter good;
Of other cavaliers the mien I wear.
Dost make no question of my gentle blood;
See here, this is the scutcheon that I bear!
[He makes an unseemly gesture.]
THE WITCH (laughing immoderately)
Ha! Ha! Just like yourself! You are, I ween,
The same mad wag that you have ever been!
MEPHISTOPHELES (to FAUST)
My friend, learn this to understand, I pray!
To deal with witches this is still the way.
THE WITCH
Now tell me, gentlemen, what you desire?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Of your known juice a goblet we require.
But for the very oldest let me ask;
Double its strength with years doth grow.
THE WITCH
Most willingly! And here I have a flask,
From which I’ve sipp’d myself ere now;
What’s more, it doth no longer stink;
To you a glass I joyfully will give.
(Aside.)
If unprepar’d, however, this man drink,
He hath not, as you know, an hour to live.
MEPHISTOPHELES
He’s my good friend, with whom ‘twill prosper well;
I grudge him not the choicest of thy store.
Now draw thy circle, speak thy spell,
And straight a bumper for him pour!
[The WITCH, with extraordinary gestures, describes a circle, and places strange things within it. The glasses meanwhile begin to ring, and the caldron to sound and make music. Lastly, she brings a great book; places the MONKEYS in the circle to serve her as a desk, and to hold the torches. She beckons FAUST to approach.]
FAUST (to MEPHISTOPHELES)
Tell me, to what doth all this tend?
Where will these frantic gestures end?
This loathsome cheat, this senseless stuff
I’ve known and hated long enough.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Mere mummery, a laugh to raise!
Pray don’t be so fastidious! She
But as a leech, her hocus-pocus plays,
That well with you her potion may agree.
[He compels FAUST to enter the circle.]
[The, WITCH, with great emphasis, begins to declaim from the book.]
This must thou ken:
Of one make ten,
Pass two, and then
Make square the three,
So rich thou’lt be.
Drop out the four!
From five and six,
Thus says the witch,
Make seven and eight.
So all is straight!
And nine is one,
And ten is none,
This is the witch’s one-time-one!