The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 01

FAUST (to MEPHISTOPHELES)

Tell me, to what doth all this tend?Where will these frantic gestures end?This loathsome cheat, this senseless stuffI've known and hated long enough.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Mere mummery, a laugh to raise!Pray don't be so fastidious! SheBut 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 thenMake 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!

FAUST

The hag doth as in fever rave.

MEPHISTOPHELES

To these will follow many a stave.I know it well, so rings the book throughout;Much time I've lost in puzzling o'er its pages,For downright paradox, no doubt,A mystery remains alike to fools and sages.Ancient the art and modern too, my friend.'Tis still the fashion as it used to be,Error instead of truth abroad to sendBy means of three and one, and one and three.'Tis ever taught and babbled in the schools.Who'd take the trouble to dispute with fools?When words men hear, in sooth, they usually believe,That there must needs therein be something to conceive.

THE WITCH (continues)

 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 thy 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 proveA 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 juiceThy frame may penetrate through every part.Then noble idleness I thee will teach to prize,And soon with ecstasy thou'lt recognizeHow 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 the draught, thou presently shalt greetA Helen in each woman thou dost meet.

A STREET

FAUST (MARGARET passing by).

FAUST

Fair lady, may I thus make freeTo 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 talkLike any gay Lothario,Who every floweret from its stalkWould 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!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 seekTo 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 moldAs in Italian story oft is told.

FAUST

No such incentives, do I need.

MEPHISTOPHELES

But now, without offence 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 soothe 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 neighbor's house will go;But in her atmosphere aloneThe tedious hours meanwhile you may employIn 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 knowWho 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 raceHave 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 theeThe pure white cover o'er the board to spread,To stew 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 warmWith 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 storeOf 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 mayThe wish and purpose of your heart obey;Yet stand you thereAs would you to the lecture-room repair,As if before you stood,Arrayed in flesh and blood,Physics and metaphysics weird and gray!—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 pressI 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 dightThis 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 earrings 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 secureAll things. Alas, we poor!

PROMENADE

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 ascertainWhether 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 goodEnsnares the soul, consumes the blood;With them we'll deck our Lady 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."

FAUST

It is a general custom, too,Practised alike by king and jew.

MEPHISTOPHELES

With that, clasp, chain, and ring, he sweptAs they were mushrooms; and the casket,Without one word of thanks, he kept,As if of nuts it were a basket.Promised reward in heaven, then forth he hied—And greatly they were edified.

FAUST

And Gretchen!

MEPHISTOPHELES

 In unquiet moodKnows neither what she would or should;The trinkets night and day thinks o'er;On him who brought them, dwells still more.

FAUST

The darling's sorrow grieves me, bringAnother set without delay!The first, methinks, was no great thing.

MEPHISTOPHELES

All's to my gentleman child's play!

FAUST

Plan all things to achieve my end!Engage the attention of her friend!No milk-and-water devil be,And bring fresh jewels instantly!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Ay, sir! Most gladly I'll obey.

[FAUST exit.]

MEPHISTOPHELES

Your doting love-sick fool, with ease,Merely his lady-love to please,Sun, moon, and stars in sport would puff away.

[Exit.]

THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE

MARTHA (alone)

God pardon my dear husband, heDoth not in truth act well by me!Forth in the world abroad to roam,And leave me on the straw at home.And yet his will I ne'er did thwart,God knows, I lov'd him from my heart.

[She weeps.]

Perchance he's dead!—oh wretched state!—Had I but a certificate!

(MARGARET comes.)

MARGARET

Dame Martha!

MARTHA

Gretchen?

MARGARET

 Only think!My knees beneath me well-nigh sink!Within my press I've found todayAnother case, of ebony.And things—magnificent they are,More costly than the first, by far.

MARTHA

You must not name it to your mother!It would to shrift, just like the other.

MARGARET

Nay look at them! now only see!

MARTHA (dresses her up)

Thou happy creature!

MARGARET

 Woe is me!Them in the street I cannot wear,Or in the church, or anywhere.

MARTHA

Come often over here to me,The gems put on quite privately;And then before the mirror walk an hour or so,Thus we shall have our pleasure too.Then suitable occasions we must seize,As at a feast, to show them by degrees:A chain at first, pearl ear-drops then,—your motherWon't see them, or we'll coin some tale or other.

MARGARET

But, who, I wonder, could the caskets bring?I fear there's something wrong about the thing!

[A knock.]

Good heavens! can that my mother be?

MARTHA (peering through the blind)

'Tis a strange gentleman, I see.Come in!

[MEPHISTOPHELES enters.]

MEPHISTOPHELES

 I've ventur'd to intrude today.Ladies, excuse the liberty, I pray.

[He steps back respectfully before MARGARET.]

After dame Martha Schwerdtlein I inquire!

MARTHA

'Tis I. Pray what have you to say to me?

MEPHISTOPHELES (aside to her)

I know you now,—and therefore will retire;At present you've distinguished company.Pardon the freedom, Madam, with your leave,I will make free to call again at eve.

MARTHA (aloud)

Why, child, of all strange notions, heFor some grand lady taketh thee!

MARGARET

I am, in truth, of humble blood—The gentleman is far too good—Nor gems nor trinkets are my own.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Oh 'tis not the mere ornaments alone;Her glance and mien far more betray.Rejoiced I am that I may stay.

MARTHA

Your business, Sir? I long to know—

MEPHISTOPHELES

Would I could happier tidings show!I trust mine errand you'll not let me rue;Your husband's dead, and greeteth you.

MARTHA

Is dead? True heart! Oh misery!My husband dead! Oh, I shall die!

MARGARET

Alas! good Martha! don't despair!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Now listen to the sad affair!

MARGARET

I for this cause should fear to love.The loss my certain death would prove.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Joy still must sorrow, sorrow joy attend.

MARTHA

Proceed, and tell the story of his end!

MEPHISTOPHELES

At Padua, in St. Anthony's,In holy ground his body lies;Quiet and cool his place of rest,With pious ceremonials blest.

MARTHA

And had you naught besides to bring?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Oh yes! one grave and solemn prayer;Let them for him three hundred masses sing!But in my pockets, I have nothing there.

MARTHA

No trinket! no love-token did he send!What every journeyman safe in his pouch will hoardThere for remembrance fondly stored,And rather hungers, rather begs than spend!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Madam, in truth, it grieves me sore,But he his gold not lavishly hath spent.His failings too he deeply did repent,Ay! and his evil plight bewail'd still more.

MARGARET

Alas! That men should thus be doomed to woe!I for his soul will many a requiem pray.

MEPHISTOPHELES

A husband you deserve this very day;A child so worthy to be loved.

MARGARET

 Ah no,That time hath not yet come for me.

MEPHISTOPHELES

If not a spouse, a gallant let it be.Among heaven's choicest gifts, I place,So sweet a darling to embrace.

MARGARET

Our land doth no such usage know.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Usage or not, it happens so.

MARTHA

Go on, I pray!

MEPHISTOPHELES

 I stood by his bedside.Something less foul it was than dung;'Twas straw half rotten; yet, he as a Christian died.And sorely hath remorse his conscience wrung."Wretch that I was," quoth he, with parting breath,"So to forsake my business and my wife!Ah! the remembrance is my death.Could I but have her pardon in this life!"—

MARTHA (weeping)

Dear soul! I've long forgiven him, indeed!

MEPHISTOPHELES

"Though she, God knows, was more to blame than I."

MARTHA

He lied! What, on the brink of death to lie!

MEPHISTOPHELES

If I am skill'd the countenance to read,He doubtless fabled as he parted hence.—"No time had I to gape, or take my ease," he said,"First to get children, and then get them bread;And bread, too, in the very widest sense;Nor could I eat in peace even my proper share."

MARTHA

What, all my truth, my love forgotten quite?My weary drudgery by day and night!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Not so! He thought of you with tender care.Quoth he: "Heaven knows how fervently I prayed,For wife and children when from Malta bound;—The prayer hath heaven with favor crowned;We took a Turkish vessel which conveyedRich store of treasure for the Sultan's court;Its own reward our gallant action brought;The captur'd prize was shared among the crew,And of the treasure I received my due."

MARTHA

How? Where? The treasure hath he buried, pray?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Where the four winds have blown it, who can say?In Naples as he stroll'd, a stranger there,—A comely maid took pity on my friend:And gave such tokens of her love and care,That he retained them to his blessed end.

MARTHA

Scoundrel! to rob his children of their bread!And all this misery, this bitter need,Could not his course of recklessness impede!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Well, he hath paid the forfeit, and is dead.Now were I in your place, my counsel hear;My weeds I'd wear for one chaste year,And for another lover meanwhile would look out.

MARTHA

Alas, I might search far and near,Not quickly should I find another like my first!There could not be a fonder fool than mine,Only he loved too well abroad to roam;Loved foreign women too, and foreign wine,And loved besides the dice accurs'd.

MEPHISTOPHELES

All had gone swimmingly, no doubt,Had he but given you at home,On his side, just as wide a range.Upon such terms, to you I swear,Myself with you would gladly rings exchange!

MARTHA

The gentleman is surely pleas'd to jest!

MEPHISTOPHELES (aside)

Now to be off in time, were best!She'd make the very devil marry her.

(To MARGARET)

How fares it with your heart?

MARGARET

How mean you, Sir?

MEPHISTOPHELES (aside)

The sweet young innocent!

(aloud)

Ladies, farewell!

MARGARET

Farewell!

MARTHA

 But ere you leave us, quickly tell!I from a witness fain had heard,Where, how, and when my husband died and was interr'd.To forms I've always been attached indeed,His death I fain would in the journals read.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Ay, madam, what two witnesses declareIs held as valid everywhere;A gallant friend I have, not far from here,Who will for you before the judge appear.I'll bring him straight.

MARTHA

I pray you do!

MEPHISTOPHELES

And this young lady, we shall find her too?A noble youth, far traveled, heShows to the sex all courtesy.

MARGARET

I in his presence needs must blush for shame.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Not in the presence of a crownèd king!

MARTHA

The garden, then, behind my house, we'll name,There we'll await you both this evening.

A STREET

FAUST, MEPHISTOPHELES

FAUST

How is it now? How speeds it? Is't in train?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Bravo! I find you all aflame!Gretchen full soon your own you'll name.This eve, at neighbor Martha's, her you'll meet again;The woman seems expressly madeTo drive the pimp and gipsy's trade.

FAUST

Good!

MEPHISTOPHELES

But from us she something would request.

FAUST

A favor claims return, as this world goes.

MEPHISTOPHELES

We have on oath but duly to attestThat her dead husband's limbs, outstretch'd, reposeIn holy ground at Padua.

FAUST

 Sage indeed!So I suppose we straight must journey there!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Sancta simplicitas! For that no need! Without much knowledge we have but to swear.

FAUST

If you have nothing better to suggest,Against your plan I must at once protest.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Oh, holy man! methinks I have you there!In all your life, say, have you ne'erFalse witness borne, until this hour?Have you of God, the world, and all it doth contain,Of man, and that which worketh in his heart and brain,Not definitions given, in words of weight and power,With front unblushing, and a dauntless breast?Yet, if into the depth of things you go,Touching these matters, it must be confess'd,As much as of Herr Schwerdtlein's death you know!

FAUST