Part 4
MEPHISTOPHELES. You're on the right track there; But you must not let yourself be distracted.
STUDENT. I'm in it with soul and body; Yet surely it would please me A little freedom and pastime On fine summer holidays.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Use time, it passes so quickly hence, But order teaches you to gain time. My dear friend, I advise you therefore First to attend the Collegium Logicum. There your mind will be well drilled, Laced into Spanish boots, So that henceforth more deliberately It may creep along the path of thought, And not, cross and crooked, Flit about like will-o'-the-wisps. Then they teach you many a day That what you otherwise did at a single stroke, As freely as eating and drinking, Requires One! Two! Three! to accomplish. True, with the factory of thought It is like a weaver's masterwork, Where one treadle moves a thousand threads, The shuttles shoot hither and thither, The threads flow unseen, One blow strikes a thousand connections. The philosopher steps in And proves to you that it must be so. The first were thus, the second thus, And therefore the third and fourth thus; And if the first and second were not, The third and fourth would never be. The students praise this everywhere, But weavers they have not become. Who would know and describe something living, First seeks to drive the spirit out, Then has the parts in his hand, Missing, alas! only the spiritual bond. Encheiresin naturae the chemists call it, Mocking itself and knowing not how.
STUDENT. I cannot quite understand you.
MEPHISTOPHELES. It will go better soon enough, When you learn to reduce everything And classify it properly.
STUDENT. All this makes me so dumb, As if a millwheel were turning in my head.
MEPHISTOPHELES. After that, before all other things, You must apply yourself to metaphysics! There see that you grasp profoundly What does not fit into a human brain; For what goes in and what does not, A splendid word is at your service. Yet for this half year Observe the best order, pray. Five hours you have each day; Be inside at the stroke of the bell! Have prepared yourself well beforehand, Studied the paragraphs well, So that afterwards you see the better That he says nothing but what stands in the book; But do apply yourself to writing, As if the Holy Ghost dictated to you!
STUDENT. You need not tell me that twice! I imagine how much it helps; For what one possesses in black and white, One may carry home with confidence.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Yet choose me a faculty!
STUDENT. I cannot bring myself to jurisprudence.
MEPHISTOPHELES. I cannot blame you too much for it, I know how this doctrine stands. Laws and rights are inherited Like an eternal sickness; They drag from generation to generation, And creep softly from place to place. Reason becomes nonsense, blessing plague; Woe to you that you are a grandson! Of the right born with us, Of that, alas! the question is never.
STUDENT. My aversion is increased by you. O happy he whom you instruct! Almost I would now study theology.
MEPHISTOPHELES. I should not wish to lead you astray. As for this science, It is so hard to avoid the false path, There lies in it so much hidden poison, And from the medicine it is scarce to be distinguished. The best too is, if you hear but one, And swear by the master's words. On the whole—keep to the words! Then you pass through the sure gate Into the temple of certainty.
STUDENT. But a concept must be with the word.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Quite so! Only one must not torment oneself too anxiously For just where concepts are lacking, A word presents itself in due time. With words one may contend excellently, With words prepare a system, In words one may believe excellently, From a word not a jot may be taken.
STUDENT. Pardon, I detain you with many questions, But I must trouble you further. Would you not say a forceful little word to me Of medicine too? Three years is a short time, And, God! the field is all too wide. If one only has a hint, One may feel one's way further readily.
MEPHISTOPHELES (aside). I am sick of the dry tone, Must play the devil properly again. (Aloud.) The spirit of medicine is easy to grasp; You study through the great and little world, To let it go at the end As God pleases. In vain that you roam scientifically all about, Each learns only what he can learn; But he who seizes the moment, He is the right man. You are still fairly well built, In boldness you will not be lacking either, And if you but trust yourself, Others' souls will trust you. Especially learn to lead the women; Their eternal woe and ah So thousandfold To cure from one point, And if you behave halfway decently, Then you have them all under your hat. A title must first make them familiar, That your art surpasses many arts; For welcome you then grope after all the trifles Which another spends many years on, Know well how to press the pulse, And embrace them, with fiery cunning glances, Freely around the slender waist, To see how tightly laced they are.
STUDENT. That looks better already! One sees at least where and how.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Gray, dear friend, is all theory, And green the golden tree of life.
STUDENT. I swear to you, it is like a dream to me. Might I trouble you another time, To hear the ground of your wisdom?
MEPHISTOPHELES. What I can do shall gladly be done.
STUDENT. I cannot possibly go again, I must present you my album, Grant me this token of your favor!
MEPHISTOPHELES. Very well. (He writes and gives it back.)
STUDENT (reads). Eritis sicut Deus, scientes bonum et malum. (Closes it reverently and takes his leave.)
MEPHISTOPHELES. Follow but the old saying and my cousin the serpent, You will surely once be anxious at your godlikeness! (Faust enters.)
FAUST. Where shall we go now?
MEPHISTOPHELES. Where it pleases you. We see the little, then the great world. With what joy, what profit Will you scratch through the course!
FAUST. But with my long beard I lack the easy manner of life. The attempt will not succeed with me; I never knew how to adapt myself to the world. Before others I feel so small; I will always be embarrassed.
MEPHISTOPHELES. My good friend, that will all come; As soon as you trust yourself, so soon you know how to live.
FAUST. How do we get out of the house then? Where have you horses, servant and wagon?
MEPHISTOPHELES. We only spread the mantle out, That shall bear us through the air. You take on this bold step Only no great bundle with you. A bit of fire-air, which I will prepare, Lifts us nimbly from this earth. And if we are light, we go up quickly; I congratulate you on your new course of life!
Auerbach's Cellar in Leipzig
Carousal of merry fellows.
FROSCH. Will no one drink? no one laugh? I'll teach you to make faces! You are like wet straw today, And otherwise always blaze brightly.
BRANDER. That's your fault; you bring nothing along, Not a folly, no roguery.
FROSCH (pours a glass of wine over his head). There you have both!
BRANDER. Double swine!
FROSCH. You wanted it, one should be so!
SIEBEL. Out the door with him, he picks a quarrel! With open breast sing rounds, swill and shout! Up! Holla! Ho!
ALTMAYER. Woe is me, I am lost! Cotton here! the fellow splits my ears.
SIEBEL. When the vault resounds, One feels the bass's deep power indeed.
FROSCH. Quite right, out with him who takes offense! A! tara lara da!
ALTMAYER. A! tara lara da!
FROSCH. The throats are tuned. (Sings.) The dear Holy Roman Empire, How does it still hold together?
BRANDER. A nasty song! Fie! a political song! A tiresome song! Thank God each morning That you need not care for the Roman Empire! I hold it at least for ample gain That I am not emperor or chancellor. Yet we too must not lack a head; We will elect a pope. You know what quality Decides, exalts the man.
FROSCH (sings). Soar up, lady nightingale, Greet my sweetheart ten thousand times.
SIEBEL. No greeting to the sweetheart! I will hear nothing of it!
FROSCH. Greeting and kiss to the sweetheart! you shall not forbid me! (Sings.) Bolt open! in the still night. Bolt open! the lover wakes. Bolt shut! early in the morning.
SIEBEL. Yes, sing, sing only and praise and extol her! I shall laugh in my time soon enough. She deceived me, she will do the same to you. To the lover be a hobgoblin sent! Let it toy with her at a crossroads; An old he-goat, when he returns from the Blocksberg, May still bleat good night to her at a gallop! A brave fellow of true flesh and blood Is far too good for the wench. I will know nothing of a greeting, But that her windows be smashed in.
BRANDER (striking the table). Pay heed! pay heed! listen to me! Gentlemen, confess, I know how to live. Lovers sit here, And to these, by station's due, I must give something for good night. Attend! A song of newest cut! And sing the round refrain vigorously! (He sings.) There was a rat in the cellar's nest, Lived only on fat and butter, Had fattened a little pack on itself, As Doctor Luther. The cook had set poison for it; Then the world grew so narrow for it, As if it had love in its body.
CHORUS (shouting). As if it had love in its body.
BRANDER. It scurried about, it scurried out, And drank from all the puddles, Gnawed, scratched, the whole house, Nothing availed its raging; It gave many an anxious leap, Soon the poor beast had enough, As if it had love in its body.
CHORUS. As if it had love in its body.
BRANDER. It came in its fright in broad daylight Running to the kitchen, Fell on the hearth and twitched, and lay, And panted miserably. Then the poisoner laughed yet. Ha! it whistles on its last hole, As if it had love in its body.
CHORUS. As if it had love in its body.
SIEBEL. How the dull fellows rejoice! It is a fine art to me, To strew poison for the poor rats!
BRANDER. They seem to stand in your favor?
ALTMAYER. The paunch with the bald pate! Misfortune makes him tame and mild; He sees in the swollen rat His quite natural likeness. (Faust and Mephistopheles enter.)
MEPHISTOPHELES. I must first of all bring you Into merry company, So that you see how easily one lives. To these people every day is a feast. With little wit and much enjoyment Each turns in the narrow circular dance, Like young cats with the tail. If they complain not of headache, So long as the host but extends credit, They are content and carefree.
BRANDER. They just come from the journey, One sees it by their strange manner; They are not an hour here.
FROSCH. Truly, you are right! I praise my Leipzig! It is a little Paris, and forms its people.
SIEBEL. What are you looking at the strangers for?
FROSCH. Let me be! With a full glass I draw, like a child's tooth, The worms easily out of the fellow's nose. They seem to me from a noble house, They look proud and dissatisfied.
BRANDER. Mountebanks they are surely, I wager!
ALTMAYER. Perhaps.
FROSCH. Look out, I'll screw them!
MEPHISTOPHELES (to Faust). The little folk never sense the devil, Even if he had them by the collar.
FAUST. Be greeted, gentlemen!
SIEBEL. Much thanks for the return greeting. (Aside, looking at Mephistopheles from the side.) Why does the fellow limp on one foot?
MEPHISTOPHELES. Is it permitted us also to sit with you? Instead of a good drink, which one cannot have, The company shall entertain us.
ALTMAYER. You seem a very spoiled gentleman.
FROSCH. You surely broke off late from Rippach? Did you first sup with Master Hans?
MEPHISTOPHELES. Today we passed him by! We spoke with him last time. Of his cousins he knew much to tell, Many greetings he charged us with to each. (He bows toward Frosch.)
ALTMAYER (aside). There you have it! he understands!
SIEBEL. A shrewd fellow!
FROSCH. Now, wait, I'll get him yet!
MEPHISTOPHELES. If I mistake not, we heard Trained voices sing chorus? Surely, song must resound excellently here From this vaulting!
FROSCH. Are you perhaps a virtuoso?
MEPHISTOPHELES. Oh no! the power is weak, but the pleasure is great.
ALTMAYER. Give us a song!
MEPHISTOPHELES. If you desire, the multitude.
SIEBEL. Only also a brand-new piece!
MEPHISTOPHELES. We just come back from Spain, The fair land of wine and songs. (Sings.) There was once a king, Who had a great flea—
FROSCH. Hark! A flea! Did you catch that? A flea is a neat guest to me.
MEPHISTOPHELES (sings). There was once a king Who had a great flea, Whom he loved not little, As his own son. Then he called his tailor, The tailor came near. There, measure the young lord clothes And measure him breeches too!
BRANDER. Only forget not to enjoin the tailor That he measure me most exactly, And that, so dear his head is to him, The breeches make no folds!
MEPHISTOPHELES. In velvet and in silk Was he now arrayed Had ribbons on the garment, Had also a cross thereon And was straightway minister, And had a great star. Then his siblings Became great lords at court too.
And lords and ladies at court, They were sorely plagued, The queen and the maid Were stung and gnawed, And dared not pinch them, And could not scratch them away. We pinch and stifle But straight, if one stings.
CHORUS (shouting). We pinch and stifle But straight, if one stings.
FROSCH. Bravo! Bravo! That was fine!
SIEBEL. So may it befall every flea!
BRANDER. Point the fingers and catch them neatly!
ALTMAYER. Long live freedom! Long live wine!
MEPHISTOPHELES. I would gladly drink a glass, to honor freedom high, If your wines were but a little better.
SIEBEL. We will not hear that again!
MEPHISTOPHELES. I only fear the host will complain; Else I would give these worthy guests From our cellar something for their pleasure.
SIEBEL. Only bring it on! I take it on myself.
FROSCH. If you produce a good glass, we will praise you. Only give not too small samples; For if I am to judge, I demand also the mouth quite full.
ALTMAYER (aside). They are from the Rhine, as I sense.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Get a gimlet!
BRANDER. What is to be done with that? You don't have the casks before the door?
ALTMAYER. Back there the host has a little basket of tools standing.
MEPHISTOPHELES (takes the gimlet. To Frosch.) Now say, what do you wish to taste?
FROSCH. What do you mean? Have you so many kinds?
MEPHISTOPHELES. I leave it free to each.
ALTMAYER (to Frosch). Aha! you already begin to lick your lips.
FROSCH. Good! if I shall choose, I will have Rhine wine. The fatherland bestows the very best gifts.
MEPHISTOPHELES (while he bores a hole in the edge of the table at the place where Frosch sits). Get a little wax, to make the stoppers at once!
ALTMAYER. Ah, those are conjurer's tricks.
MEPHISTOPHELES (to Brander). And you?
BRANDER. I will Champagne wine And it shall be right sparkling! (Mephistopheles bores; one has in the meantime made the wax stoppers and stops them.) One cannot always avoid the foreign; The good often lies so far from us. A true German man likes no Frenchman, But their wine he drinks gladly.
SIEBEL (while Mephistopheles approaches his place). I must confess, the sour I do not like, Give me a glass of the true sweet!
MEPHISTOPHELES (bores). Tokay shall flow to you at once.
ALTMAYER. No, gentlemen, look me in the face! I see it, you only meant it for our pleasure.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Eh! Eh! With such noble guests It would be a bit too much ventured. Quick! only straight out with it! With what wine can I serve?
ALTMAYER. With any! only don't ask long. (After the holes are all bored and stopped.)
MEPHISTOPHELES (with strange gestures). Grapes bears the vine! Horns the he-goat! The wine is juicy, wood the vine, The wooden table can give wine too. A deep look into nature! Here is a wonder, believe it! Now draw the stoppers and enjoy!
ALL (while they draw the stoppers and the desired wine runs into each one's glass). O beautiful fountain that flows to us!
MEPHISTOPHELES. Only take care that you spill none on me! (They drink repeatedly.)
ALL (sing). We feel quite cannibalish, As if five hundred sows!
MEPHISTOPHELES. The folk is free, see how well it fares!
FAUST. I should like to depart now.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Only first take heed, the bestiality Will reveal itself most splendidly.
SIEBEL (drinks carelessly, the wine flows on the ground and becomes a flame). Help! Fire! Help! Hell burns!
MEPHISTOPHELES (charming the flame). Be calm, friendly element! (To the fellows.) For this once it was but a drop of purgatory.
SIEBEL. What is that supposed to be? Wait! You shall pay dearly for it! It seems that you do not know us.
FROSCH. Let him keep that from us a second time!
ALTMAYER. I thought, we should let him go quite gently sideways.
SIEBEL. What, sir? He will presume, And here perform his hocus-pocus?
MEPHISTOPHELES. Still, old wine-cask!
SIEBEL. Broomstick! You would even be rude to us?
BRANDER. Wait only, blows shall rain!
ALTMAYER (draws a stopper from the table, fire springs toward him). I burn! I burn!
SIEBEL. Sorcery! Stab! the fellow is outlawed! (They draw their knives and advance on Mephistopheles.)
MEPHISTOPHELES (with earnest gesture). False image and word Change sense and place! Be here and there! (They stand amazed and look at one another.)
ALTMAYER. Where am I? What fair land!
FROSCH. Vineyards! Do I see right?
SIEBEL. And grapes ready to hand!
BRANDER. Here under this green foliage, See what a vine! See what a grape! (He takes Siebel by the nose. The others do it mutually and raise their knives.)
MEPHISTOPHELES (as above). Error, loose the band of the eyes! And mark you, how the devil jokes! (He vanishes with Faust; the fellows start apart.)
SIEBEL. What is there?
ALTMAYER. How?
FROSCH. Was that your nose?
BRANDER (to Siebel). And yours I have in my hand!
ALTMAYER. It was a shock that went through all my limbs! Get a chair, I sink down!
FROSCH. No, only tell me, what has happened?
FROSCH. Where is the fellow? If I scent him, He shall not go alive from me!
ALTMAYER. I saw him myself ride out to the cellar door— Upon a cask— It lies lead-heavy in my feet. (Turning to the table.) Well! Should the wine still flow?
SIEBEL. All was deceit, lie and semblance.
FROSCH. Yet it seemed to me as if I drank wine.
BRANDER. But how was it with the grapes?
ALTMAYER. Now tell me one thing, one shall believe no wonder!
Witch's Kitchen
On a low hearth stands a great kettle over the fire. In the vapor that rises therefrom, various shapes appear. A monkey sits by the kettle and skims it and takes care that it does not overflow. The male monkey with the young sits nearby and warms itself. Walls and ceiling are adorned with the strangest witch-household gear.
Faust. Mephistopheles.
FAUST. This mad magic opposes me! Do you promise me I shall be healed In this mess of raving? Do I ask counsel of an old woman? And shall the slatternly cookery Wipe thirty years from my body? Woe to me, if you know nothing better! Already the hope has vanished from me. Has nature and has a noble spirit Not found some balsam?
MEPHISTOPHELES. My friend, now you speak sensibly again! To rejuvenate you, there is also a natural means; But it stands in another book, And is a strange chapter.
FAUST. I would know it.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Good! A means, without money And doctor and sorcery to have. Go at once out into the field, Begin to chop and dig, Keep yourself and your mind In a quite limited circle, Nourish yourself with unmixed food, Live with the cattle as cattle, and regard it not as robbery, To dung the field you harvest yourself; That is the best means, believe, To rejuvenate you to eighty years!
FAUST. That I am not used to, I cannot bring myself To take the spade in hand. The narrow life does not suit me at all.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Then the witch must be tried after all.
FAUST. Why just the old woman! Can you not brew the draught yourself?
MEPHISTOPHELES. That were a fine pastime! I would meanwhile gladly build a thousand bridges. Not art and science alone, Patience is needed in the work. A quiet spirit is busy for years, Time alone makes the fine fermentation powerful. And all that belongs thereto Is very wondrous stuff! The devil taught it her indeed; But the devil cannot do it. (Seeing the animals.) See what a dainty race! That is the maid! that is the man! (To the animals.) It seems the lady is not at home?
THE ANIMALS. At the feast, Out of the house Through the chimney!
MEPHISTOPHELES. How long may she be carousing?
THE ANIMALS. As long as we warm our paws.
MEPHISTOPHELES (to Faust). How do you find the tender creatures?
FAUST. As absurd as I ever saw anyone!
MEPHISTOPHELES. No, a discourse like this Is just the one I like best to lead! (To the animals.) So tell me then, accursed puppets, What are you stirring in the mush?
THE ANIMALS. We cook broad beggar's soup.
MEPHISTOPHELES. There you have a great public.
THE TOMCAT (comes up and flatters Mephistopheles). Oh throw at once, And make me rich, And let me win! It is badly off, And were I in funds, I were in my senses.
MEPHISTOPHELES. How happy the ape would deem himself, Could he but play the lottery! (Meanwhile the young monkeys have played with a great ball and roll it forth.)
THE TOMCAT. That is the world; It rises and falls And rolls constantly; It sounds like glass; How soon breaks that! Is hollow within. Here it shines brightly, And here even more. "I am living!" My dear son, Keep from it! You must die! It is of clay, There are shards.
MEPHISTOPHELES. What is the sieve for?
THE TOMCAT (takes it down). Wert thou a thief, I'd know thee straight. (He runs to the she-cat and lets her look through it.) Look through the sieve! Knowest the thief, And mayst not name him?
MEPHISTOPHELES (approaching the fire). And this pot?
TOMCAT AND SHE-CAT. The silly fool! He knows not the pot, He knows not the kettle!
MEPHISTOPHELES. Impolite beast!
THE TOMCAT. Take the fan here, And sit in the chair! (He urges Mephistopheles to sit.)
FAUST (who during this time has stood before a mirror, now approached it, now withdrawn from it). What do I see? What a heavenly image Shows itself in this magic mirror! O Love, lend me your swiftest wing, And lead me into her fields! Ah, if I do not remain on this spot, If I dare to go near, I can see her only as in mist!— The fairest image of a woman! Is it possible, is the woman so fair? Must I on this outstretched body See the sum of all heavens? Does such a thing exist on earth?
MEPHISTOPHELES. Naturally, if a god first plagues himself six days, And at the end says Bravo, There must come something worthy. For this time look your fill; I know how to track out such a treasure for you, And blessed who has the good fate To lead her home as bride! (Faust keeps looking into the mirror. Mephistopheles, stretching himself in the chair and playing with the fan, continues to speak.)
Here I sit like the king on the throne, The scepter hold I here, only the crown is lacking.
“Stories of the world, in your language.”