The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume I Part 84

'Twas wisely done, however, to repair On May-night to the Brocken, and when there, By our own choice ourselves to isolate!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Mark, of those flames the motley glare!

A merry club a.s.sembles there.

In a small circle one is not alone.

FAUST

I'd rather be above, though, I must own!

Already fire and eddying smoke I view; The impetuous millions to the devil ride; Full many a riddle will be there untied.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Ay! and full many a riddle tied anew.

But let the great world rave and riot!

Here will we house ourselves in quiet.

A custom 'tis of ancient date, Our lesser worlds within the great world to create!

Young witches there I see, naked and bare, And old ones, veil'd more prudently.

For my sake only courteous be!

The trouble small, the sport is rare.

Of instruments I hear the cursed din-- One must get used to it. Come in! come in!

There's now no help for it. I'll step before, And introducing you as my good friend, Confer on you one obligation more.

How say you now? 'Tis no such paltry room; Why only look, you scarce can see the end.

A hundred fires in rows disperse the gloom; They dance, they talk, they cook, make love, and drink: Where could we find aught better, do you think?

FAUST

To introduce us, do you purpose here As devil or as wizard to appear?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Though I am wont indeed to strict incognito, Yet upon gala-days one must one's orders show.

No garter have I to distinguish me, Nathless the cloven foot doth here give dignity.

Seest thou yonder snail? Crawling this way she hies; With searching feelers, she, no doubt, Hath me already scented out; Here, even if I would, for me there's no disguise.

From fire to fire, we'll saunter at our leisure, The gallant you, I'll cater for your pleasure.

(_To a party seated round, some expiring embers_)

Old gentleman, apart, why sit ye moping here?

Ye in the midst should be of all this jovial cheer, Girt round with noise and youthful riot; At home one surely has enough of quiet.

GENERAL

In nations put his trust, who may, Whate'er for them one may have done; For with the people, as with women, they Honor your rising stars alone!

MINISTER

Now all too far they wander from the right; I praise the good old ways, to them I hold, Then was the genuine age of gold, When we ourselves were foremost in men's sight.

PARVENU

Ne'er were we 'mong your dullards found, And what we ought not, that to do were fair; Yet now are all things turning round and round, When on firm basis we would them maintain.

AUTHOR

Who, as a rule, a treatise now would care To read, of even moderate sense?

As for the rising generation, ne'er Has youth displayed such arrogant pretense.

MEPHISTOPHELES (_suddenly appearing very old_)

Since for the last time I the Brocken scale, That folk are ripe for doomsday, now one sees; And just because my cask begins to fail, So the whole world is also on the lees.

HUCKSTER-WITCH

Stop, gentlemen, nor pa.s.s me by, Of wares I have a choice collection: Pray honor them with your inspection.

Lose not this opportunity!

Yet nothing in my booth you'll find Without its counterpart on earth; there's naught, Which to the world, and to mankind, Hath not some direful mischief wrought.

No dagger here, which hath not flow'd with blood, No chalice, whence, into some healthy frame Hath not been poured hot poison's wasting flood.

No trinket, but hath wrought some woman's shame, No weapon but hath cut some sacred tie, Or from behind hath stabb'd an enemy.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Gossip! For wares like these the time's gone by, What's done is past! what's past is done!

With novelties your booth supply; Us novelties attract alone.

FAUST

May this wild scene my senses spare!

This, may in truth be called a fair!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Upward the eddying concourse throng; Thinking to push, thyself art push'd along.

FAUST

Who's that, pray?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Mark her well! That's Lilith.

FAUST

Who?

MEPHISTOPHELES