The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries - novelonlinefull.com
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[_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 gla.s.s!
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-gla.s.s, 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 rec.u.mbent 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 G.o.d, 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._]
