These later songs of mine, alas! What I possess I see afar off lying,
And what I lost is real and undying. I know the public palate, that's confest;
Yet never pined so for a sound suggestion;
True, they are not accustomed to the best,
But they have read a dreadful deal, past question. _Poet_. Ah! Posterity! Come, then, and let us now a model see,
Let Phantasy with all her various choir,
Sense, reason, passion, sensibility,
But, mark me, folly too! Every one
Comes as spectator, and the show's the fun. Have you a piece, give it at once in pieces! _Poet_. One half are raw, the other cold. Go to, and find thyself another slave! What! Come, then, put forth these noble powers,
And, Poet, let thy path of flowers
Follow a love-adventure's winding ways. _Poet_. [THE LORD. _Raphael_. _Gabriel_. _Michael_. No, Lord! Poor souls! Ay, my servant! He! Forsooth! Good! but I'll make it a short story. [Alone. FAUST. _Faust_. Have now, alas! And here, at last, I stand, poor fool! Woe! Dull, dismal hole! Up! Fly! And this mysterious volume, see! but ah! Nature! Where you, ye breasts? Ha! _Faust. Away, intolerable sprite! _Faust_. _Faust_. I, image of the Godhead,
And no peer for thee! Shame! _Wagner_. Excuse me! _Faust_. _Wagner_. Ah! _Faust_. _Wagner_. _Faust_. _Wagner_. Ah God! well, art is long! _Faust_. _Wagner_. Excuse me! _Faust_. O yes, we've reached the stars at last! _Wagner_. _Faust_. To know them, yes, as weaklings can! _Wagner_. [_Exit_.] _Faust_. Alas! Old trumpery! That which thy fathers have bequeathed to thee,
Earn and become possessor of it! _Faust_. and we find him
Now no more there. _Faust_. Ah! Break from your prison,
Burst every tomb! _Others_. _The First_. I go with the others. _Fifth_. No! _Others_. _Others_. Stars! Quick, brother! Stop! there come two more behind,
My eyes! No, brother! _Beggar_. Good gentlemen, and you, fair ladies,
With such red cheeks and handsome dress,
Think what my melancholy trade is,
And see and pity my distress! Help the poor harper, sisters, brothers! Who loves to give, alone is gay. This day, a holiday to others,
Make it for me a harvest day. So I say, neighbor! All very good! Come, Agatha! _The other_. I look all round, I study all that pass,
But to this hour I have not found him. Daring the venture,
Glorious the pay! Daring the venture,
Glorious the pay. _Faust_. See, only see! _Wagner_. Huzza! huzza! Huzza! Ha, ha, ha! Huzza! huzza! Huzza! ha, ha, ha! huzza! Ta-ra-la! huzza! Huzza! huzza! ha! ha! ha! _Faust._ A few steps further on, until we reach that stone;
There will we rest us from our wandering. Ah! Ah! winter nights, so dear to mind and soul! _Faust_. Two souls, alas! Ay! _Wagner_. _Faust_. _Wagner_. I saw him some time since, he seemed not strange to me. _Faust_. _Wagner_. _Faust_. And if my senses suffer no confusion,
Behind him trails a fiery glare. _Wagner_. _Faust_. _Wagner_. _Faust_. The circle narrows, he is near! _Wagner_. Thou seest! a dog we have, no spectre, here! _Faust_. Come here, sir! come, our comrade be! _Wagner_. He has a poodle's drollery. _Faust_. _Wagner_. And he deserves your favor and a collar,
He, of the students the accomplished scholar. Be quiet, poodle! Stop growling, poodle! But ah, with the best will, I feel already,
No peace will well up in me, clear and steady. "In the beginning was the _Word_." I read. "In the beginning," read then, "was the _power_." Ah now,
No mystery art thou! Softly! Keep back, all of you, follow him not there! Like the fox in the trap,
Mourns the old hell-lynx his mishap. Help can you give him,
O do not leave him! Many good turns he's done us,
Many a fortune won us. _Faust_. Thy homely help render,
Incubus! I'll try, for thy curing,
Stronger adjuring. Art thou a jail-bird,
A runaway hell-bird? Thou seest, there's reason to dread my ire. Wait not to feel the might
Of the potentest spell in all my treasure! MEPHISTOPHELES. _Faust_. Ha! ha! _Faust_. _Faust_. Well now, who art thou then? _Faust_. _Faust_. _Faust_. Ah, now I see thy high vocation! And, truth to tell, e'en here, not much have done. That which at nothing the gauntlet has hurled,
This, what's its name? Calm, after all, remain both sea and land. _Faust_. _Faust_. Mark well! _Faust_. That was a lucky hit, believe it! And I have caught thee then? _Faust_. _Faust_. In hell itself, then, laws are reckoned? _Faust_. _Faust_. I laid no snare for thee, old chap! _Faust_. I gladly grant it, if they be
Not disagreeable to me. Vanish, ye gloomy
Vaulted abysses! He sleeps! _Faust_. STUDY-CHAMBER. FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES. _Faust_. 'Tis I. _Faust_. Come in! Must say it thrice, to please me. _Faust_. _Faust_. I am too old to live for folly,
Too young, to wish for nothing more. Renounce! renounce! _Faust_. O blest! _Faust_. _Faust_. Woe! Woe! _Faust_. There's ample grace--no hurry, not the least. _Faust_. _Faust_. _Faust_. _Faust_. _Faust_. _Faust_. But one thing!--For insurance' sake, I pray thee,
Grant me a line or two, at least. _Faust_. If this will satisfy thy mood,
I will consent thy whim to favor. _Faust_. _Faust_. Now, once for all, pleasure is not the question. _Faust_. But one thing haunts me, the old song,
That time is short and art is long. You need some slight advice, I'm fearing. Should like, myself, to come across 'm,
Would name him Mr. Microcosm. _Faust_. _Faust_. Cheer up, then! I tell thee, friend, a speculating churl
Is like a beast, some evil spirit chases
Along a barren heath in one perpetual whirl,
While round about lie fair, green pasturing places. _Faust_. _Faust_. 'Twill take but fifteen minutes, I am sure. Let me, I pray, your teachings share! You've come to the very place for it, then. One sees no green thing, not a tree. 'Tis all in use, we daily see. But choose some faculty, I pray! I cannot blame you much, I must acknowledge. All right! I seem,
I swear to you, like one who walks in dream. So far as I have power, you may. _Faust_. _Faust_. But how are we to start, I pray? Laugh out! You wanted it, what would you more? Wake up! Hurra! Woe's me, I'm lost! _Siebel_. A! tara! lara da! A! tara! lara da! Our whistles all are wet. Fie! _Siebel_. Who does so, I resent it! _Siebel_. As if he had love in his body. As if he had love in his body. he! he! As if he had love in his body. _Siebel_. They're fresh from travel, one might know it,
Their air and manner plainly show it;
They came here not an hour ago. Paris in small it is, and cultivates its people. _Siebel_. They're mountebanks, I'll bet a dollar! Perhaps. I'll smoke them, mark you that! _Faust_. Fair greeting to you, sirs! _Siebel_. The same, and thanks to boot. it grieved us parting with him, greatly. he takes! _Siebel_. I'll have him next time, wait a bit! O no! my powers are small, I'm but an amateur. _Siebel_. There was a king, right stately,
Who had a great, big flea,--
_Frosch_. A flea! D'ye take there, boys? A flea! There was a king, right stately,
Who had a great, big flea,
And loved him very greatly,
As if his own son were he. Bravo! Bravo! _Siebel_. _Siebel_. _Siebel_. They're from the Rhine, as near as I can make it. old sot, your lips already licking! Well, then! MEPHISTOPHELES
[_boring a hole in the rim of the table near the place
where_ FROSCH _sits_]. Ah, these are jugglers' tricks, and whappers! Well, you shall have Tokay this minute. No, sirs, just look me in the eye! Come now! But quickly now! Wait not to ask; with any, then. Look at them now, they're happy as can be! _Faust_. Help! fire! Ho! Help! Peace, friendly element, be still! _Siebel_. Wait there, or you'll be sorry! Not twice, in this way, will it do to joke us! I vote, we give him leave himself here _scarce_ to make. _Siebel_. What, sir! _Siebel_. Broomstick, you! I burn! I burn! _Siebel_. Foul sorcery! Shame! Lay on! My eyes! _Siebel_. And grapes, too, close at hand! Loose, Error, from their eyes the band! How Satan plays his tricks, you need not now be told of. _Siebel_. How? And I have thine, too, in my hand! No, say what was the real case? _Siebel_. My! _Siebel_. But how about the bunches, brother? After such miracles, I'll doubt no other! In the smoke,
which rises from it, are seen various forms. FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES. _Faust_. Woe's me, if that's the best you know! _Faust_. I beg to know it. Well! _Faust_. So must we on the witch, then, call. _Faust_. See, what a genteel breed we here parade! _Faust_. No! My lot is right bad,
If money I had,
My wits would recover. 'Tis made of clay,
Pots are, also. He knows not the pot,
He knows not the kettle! Hush! O love, in mercy, now, thy swiftest pinions grant me! MEPHISTOPHELES
_stretching himself out on the settle and playing with the brush,
continues speaking_.] We speak and we see,
We hear and we rhyme it;
_Faust [facing the mirror_]. My head, too, I confess, is very near to spinning. Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Neglected the kettle, scorched the Frau! MEPHISTOPHELES
[_inverting the brush which he holds in his hand, and striking
among the glasses and pots_]. In two! In two! To thy melody, 'twill do. Spectre! Pardon the rudeness, sir, in me! Woman, the name offends my ear! Why so? Ha! ha! full well I know you, sir! Now, gentles, what shall I produce? And pray you, let it be the oldest;
Age makes it doubly strong for use. Pugh! _Faust_. Gulp it down! And any favor you may ask of me,
I'll gladly on Walpurgis' night accord you. _Faust_. Nay! [_Softly_.] A STREET. FAUST. _Faust_. _Margaret_. _Faust_. I've never seen the like, I swear. So modest is she and so pure,
And somewhat saucy, too, to be sure. _Faust_. _Faust_. She just went by. What! She? _Faust_. But 'twill not always do, we see. _Faust_. _Faust_. _Faust_. _Faust_. Lead me to her chamber of rest! _Faust_. And see her, too? Nay! _Faust_. _Faust_. [_Exit_.] Brave! [_Exit_.] EVENING. [_Exit_.] FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES. Come in, step softly, do not fear! Leave me alone, I prithee, here! [_Exit_.] Take me, too! Ah me! Dear, godlike hand! And here! Here, Nature! I know thee thus no more. Quick, now! She comes! _Faust_. True, child is child and play is play. _Faust_. I know not. (Quick! [_Exit_.] It seems so close, so sultry here. I wish my mother 'ld come home, I declare! [_She begins to sing, while undressing_.] There was a king in Thulè,
To whom, when near her grave,
The mistress he loved so truly
A golden goblet gave. I locked the press, I'm very clear. Dear me! it's very queer! only see! [_She arrays herself in it, and steps before the glass_.] Each burns for gold,
All turns on gold,--
Alas for us! PROMENADE. MEPHISTOPHELES _to him_. _Faust_. _Faust_. Some pin's loose in your head, old fellow! "My child," she cried, "unrighteous gains
Ensnare the soul, dry up the veins. _Faust_. _Faust_. _Faust._ And what I wish, that mind and do! Stick closely to her neighbor, too. He has not treated me well, as I live! What now, Margery? _Margaret_. You must not tell it to your mother,
She'd serve it as she did the other. _Margaret_. Ah, only look! [_A knock._ ]
Ah, God! If that's my mother--then! my sakes! _Margaret_. Ah, God! What bring you, sir? Woe! Woe! I, too, shall go! _Margaret_. _Margaret_. Joy and woe, woe and joy, must have each other. All but one weighty, grave request! What! not a medal, pin nor stone? Madam, your case is hard, I own! But blame him not, he squandered ne'er a copper. _Margaret_. Alas! _Margaret_. It's not yet time for that, ah no! If not a husband, say, meanwhile a beau. _Margaret_. It happens, though. Tell on! Oh! "But God knows, I was less to blame than she." A lie! Not so, he thought of you with all his might. How? But mark! Ah, God! [_To_ MARGERY.] How is it with your heart, my best, now? _Margaret_. Ladies, farewell! _Margaret_. O pray, sir, do! _Margaret_. STREET. FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES. _Faust_. Ha, bravo? _Faust_. So far, so good! But one thing we must do. _Faust_. Well, one good turn deserves another, true. _Faust_. no need of such to-do;
Just swear, and ask not why or whether. _Faust_. If that's the best you have, the plan's not worth a feather. Confess it now! _Faust_. Ay, if one did not look a little nigher. _Faust_. And from the heart, too. _Faust_. Enough! I'm right, nathless! _Faust_. GARDEN. _Margaret_. _Faust_. [_Kisses her hand_.] _Margaret_. Don't take that trouble, sir! A hand so ugly, coarse, and rough! And you, sir, are you always travelling so? Alas, that business forces us to do it! _Margaret_. Yes, out of sight and out of mind! _Faust_. _Margaret_. How? _Faust_. _Faust_. You're, may be, much alone? _Margaret_. _Faust_. An angel, if like thee! _Margaret_. _Faust_. Ah! _Margaret_. I have, on every hand, been entertained politely. Ah, you misunderstand! _Faust_. _Margaret_. _Faust_. _Margaret_. _Faust_. _Margaret_. _Faust_. What's that for? _Margaret_. No, just for sport. _Faust_. How? _Margaret_. Go! _Faust_. He loves me--loves me not. _Faust_. _Faust_. Yes, my child! _Margaret_. _Faust_. O, shudder not! No, unending! Ay, and we must away. He seems attached to her. No wonder. And she to him. So goes the world, they say. _Margaret_. He comes! _Faust_. Ah rogue, how sly thou art! [_Kisses her_.] _Faust_. _Faust_. _Margaret_. _Faust_. Adé! _Margaret_. Till, soon, we meet again! _Margaret_. I blush my rudeness to confess,
And answer all he says with yes. [_Exit_.] O! _Faust_. Well! well! _Faust_. Now, that I like! Ah, I see,
Somewhat of Doctor sticks to thee. _Faust_. _Faust_. _Faust_. Viper! Viper! Ay! _Faust_. _Faust_. _Faust_. Out, pimp! But come! Her chamber is your destination,
And not the grave, I guess. _Faust_. This victim, hell, to thee was necessary! Help me, thou fiend, the pang soon ending! What must be, let it quickly be! Ha! Go in and comfort her, thou dunce! MARGERY'S ROOM. While him I crave,
Each place is the grave,
The world is all
Turned into gall. My wretched brain
Has lost its wits,
My wretched sense
Is all in bits. Him only to greet, I
The street look down,
Him only to meet, I
Roam through town. his kiss. Ah, could I find him
That best of men! MARGARET. FAUST. _Margaret_. Promise me, Henry. _Faust_. What I can. _Margaret_. How is it now with thy religion, say? _Faust_. _Margaret_. _Faust_. _Margaret_. Ah, could I influence thee, dearest! _Faust_. _Margaret_. _Faust_. My. _Margaret_. _Faust_. And who confess him,
Saying, I do believe? Love! God! _Margaret_. _Faust_. _Margaret_. _Faust_. _Margaret_. _Faust_. _Margaret_. The man whom thou for crony hast,
Is one whom I with all my soul detest. _Faust_. _Margaret_. His presence stirs my blood, I own. God pardon me, if I do him wrong! _Faust_. _Margaret_. _Faust_. Ah, thou mistrustful angel, thou! _Margaret_. This weighs on me so sore,
That when we meet, and he is by me,
I feel, as if I loved thee now no more. _Faust_. _Margaret_. _Faust_. _Margaret_. _Faust_. Thou angel, need of that there's not. _Margaret_. I hope, of course, it will not harm her! _Faust_. _Margaret_. [_Exit_.] _Mephtftopheles_. _Faust_. They think: if there he yields, he'll follow our will too. _Faust_. _Faust_. In physiognomy, too, her skill is masterly. Well, what's that to you? I find my pleasure in it, too! AT THE WELL. _Margery_. No, not a word. _Lizzy_. She's made a fool of herself at last, they say. _Margery_. _Lizzy_. Pah! _Margery_. Ah! _Lizzy_. There was hugging and smacking, and so it went on--
And lo! _Margery_. _Lizzy_. _Margery_. _Lizzy_. Besides, he's gone. _Margery_. Now, that's not fair! _Lizzy_. If she gets him, her lot'll be hard to bear. though black as could be,
It never was black enough for me. Yet--all that led me to it, sure,
O God! it was so dear, so pure! DONJON. NIGHT. Bravo! Kling! Klang! What's that comes yonder, sneaking along? There are two of them there, if I see not wrong. FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES. _Faust_. _Faust_. _Faust_. _Faust_. Give o'er, give o'er! Take heed! take heed! to music, then, good-bye, now. Never you flinch, Sir Doctor! Brisk! Stand close by me, out with your whisk! I'll parry. Be sure. O woe! But come! We must be off. I hear a clatter;
And cries of murder, too, that fast increase. Come out! Come out! _Margery_ [_at the window_]. They swear and scuffle, scream and fight. _People_. _Margery_ [_coming out_]. _People_. _Margery_. Why howl, as if half-dead? Come, hear me, every one! My Margery, look! _Margery_. My brother! God! That which is done, alas! is done. _Margery_. My brother! I tell thee, let these weak tears be! [_Dies_.] CATHEDRAL. Margy! _Margery_. Woe! Woe! Dies irae, dies illa
Solvet saeclum in favillâ. Hark! _Margery_. Judex ergo cum sedebit,
Quidquid latet apparebit. _Margery_. What! They turn their faces,
The glorified, from thee. To take thy hand, the pure ones
Shudder with horror. Woe! _Margery_. MEPHISTOPHELES. _Faust_. I do not feel it, not a bit! Heigh, there! Heigh! heigh! But see! Spheres of magic, dream, and vision,
Now, it seems, are opening o'er us. For thy credit, use precision! All our loving, longing, yearning? Uhu! Schuhu! _Faust_. _Faust_. Hark, how the forests crash and boom! _Voice_. Old Baubo comes along, I vow! _Voice_. _Voice_. Peeped into an owl's nest, mother of mine! _Voice_. _Voice_. _The other half_. Come on, come on, from Felsensee! Ho, there! whoa, there! Take me too! take me too! Here! What! Room! Sweet people, Clear the ground! Here, Doctor, grasp my arm! See! Come! come! _Faust_. But I must say, thy plan was very bright! _Faust_. I'd rather be up there, I own! See! And tie up many another, too. Well! Come on! Come on! For so it needs must be,
Thou shalt at once be introduced by me. _Faust_. Had she already smelt the rat,
I should not very greatly wonder. Disguise is useless now, depend on that. Come, then! One can, at home, enough retirement get. _General_. _Minister_. _Parvenu_. Good gentlemen, don't hurry by! You're quite behind the times, I tell you, Aunty! _Faust_. I swear, I never--! _Faust_. _Faust_. let us fall to. Apples you greatly seem to prize,
And did so even in Paradise. Let him hold a ------ near,
If a ------ he does not fear. Eh! Unless each step he criticizes,
The step as good as no step he will call. But when we move ahead, that plagues him more than all. And most so, if you went by his superior learning. What, and you still are here! all in vain. _Faust_. _Faust_. _Faust_. I must confess, she seems to me
To look like my own good Margery. it is a magic shape, an idol, no live thing. _Faust_. _Faust_. _Servibilis_. _Herald_. _Oberon_. _Puck_. _Ariel_. _Oberon_. Two who wish to love each other,
Need only first to quarrel. _Fortissimo_. Fly-snouts and gnats'-noses, these,
And kin in all conditions,
Grass-hid crickets, frogs in trees,
We take for our musicians! _Solo_. See, the Bagpipe comes! fall back! How odd! _Orthodox_. Neither claws, nor tail I see! _Purist_. Bad luck has brought me here, I see! _Matron_. Fly-snouts and gnat-noses, please,
Swarm not so round the naked! Find better company, who can! Here, brides attended duly! _Xenia[_44] We are here as insects, ah! Come, grasp my skirt, Lord bless us! Hark! _Fiddler_. _Dogmatist_. _Realist_. Fly-snouts and gnats'-noses, peace! Musicians you, right jaunty! _Puck_. _Ariel_. DREARY DAY. FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES. _Faust_. _Faust_. Dog! Misery! Misery! Wilt fly, and art not proof
against dizziness? Did we thrust ourselves on thee, or thou on us? _Faust_. _Faust_. Rescue her! _Faust_. Lead me to her! _Faust_. That, too, from thee? Murder and death of a world upon thee,
monster! Lead me thither, I say, and free her! I will lead thee, and hear what I can do! So much I can do. _Faust_. NIGHT. FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES. _Faust_. _Faust_. Up they go--down they go--wheel about, reel about. _Faust_. Pass on! Pass on! PRISON. On! My mother, the harlot,
That strung me up! My father, the varlet,
That ate me up! Woe! woe! They come. Hush! hush! _Margaret_ [_prostrating herself before him_]. Art thou a man, then feel for my distress. _Faust_. [_She stands up._]
Ah, I am yet so young, so young! Fair was I too, and that was my undoing. My love was near, far is he now! Spare me! _Faust_. _Margaret_. Now I am wholly in thy power. I shall never be happy again, I know. See! Margery! Margery! He calls. I hear him. I will be near him. _Faust_. _Margaret_. O say it once again. Come! _Margaret_. O tarry! Hurry! Unless thou hurriest,
Bitterly we both must rue it. _Margaret_. Kiss me! woe! thy lips are cold,
Stone-dumb. Oh! O come! Take courage, my darling! Is it, then, thou? _Faust_. Come, follow me! _Margaret_. _Faust_. Come! come! _Margaret_. Woe! woe! Thine, too--'tis thou! Go, wipe it off! Ah God! Put up thy sword again;
I pray thee, do! _Faust_. _Margaret_. No, thou must longer tarry! _Faust_. _Faust_. _Margaret_. O, Henry, might I too. _Faust_. _Margaret_. _Faust_. _Margaret_. Quick! To rise 'tis trying,
It struggles still! Rescue! rescue! _Faust_. _Margaret_. See! _Faust_. _Margaret_. _Faust_. _Margaret_. Day! Ay, it is day! We meet again,
But not at the dancing. The multitude presses, no word is spoke. _Faust_. Up! My horses are neighing,
They shudder and snort for the bound. _Margaret_. What's that, comes up from the ground? He! He! He seeks me! _Faust_. _Margaret_. Come! come! _Margaret_. Thine am I, Father! Rescue me! Ye angels, holy bands, attend me! She's judged! _Voice [from above_]. She's saved! _Voice [from within, dying away_]. Henry! Henry! NOTES. _Noyes's Psalms_, c. iv. 4.] Dr. Literally, a handling of nature.] Aderat clauda haec,
Ast erat ampla gradû. The one side
bears a lion, the other a full length image of St. John.] ho!