The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume I Part 63

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, Pa.s.s 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!

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 send By 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 prove A 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 juice Thy frame may penetrate through every part.

Then n.o.ble idleness I thee will teach to prize, And soon with ecstasy thou'lt recognize How Cupid stirs and gambols in thy heart.

FAUST

Let me but gaze one moment in the gla.s.s!

Too lovely was that female form!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Nay! nay!

A model which all women shall surpa.s.s, In flesh and blood ere long thou shalt survey.

(_Aside._) As works the draught, thou presently shalt greet A Helen in each woman thou dost meet.

A STREET

FAUST (MARGARET _pa.s.sing by_).

FAUST

Fair lady, may I thus make free To offer you my arm and company?