The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume I Part 95

The sun himself is purest gold; for pay And favor serves the herald, Mercury; Dame Venus hath bewitched you from above, Early and late, she looks on you with love; Chaste Luna's humor varies hour by hour; Mars, though he strike not, threats you with his power, And Jupiter is still the fairest star; Saturn is great, small to the eye and far; As metal him we slightly venerate, Little in worth, though ponderous in weight.

Now when with Sol fair Luna doth unite.

Silver with gold, cheerful the world and bright!

Then easy 'tis to gain whate'er one seeks; Parks, gardens, palaces, and rosy cheeks; These things procures this highly learned man.

He can accomplish what none other can.

EMPEROR

Double, methinks, his accents ring, And yet they no conviction bring.

_Murmur_

Of what avail!--a worn-out tale-- Calendery--and chemistry-- I the false word--full oft have heard-- And as of yore--we're hoax'd once more.

MEPHISTOPHELES

The grand discovery they misprize, As, in amaze, they stand around; One prates of gnomes and sorceries, Another of the sable hound.

What matters it, though witlings rail, Though one his suit 'gainst witchcraft press, If his sole tingle none the less, If his sure footing also fail?

Ye of all swaying Nature feel The secret working, never-ending, And, from her lowest depths up-tending, E'en now her living trace doth steal.

If sudden cramps your limbs surprise, If all uncanny seem the spot-- There dig and delve, but dally not!

There lies the fiddler, there the treasure lies!

_Murmur_

Like lead it lies my foot about-- Cramp'd is my arm--'tis only gout-- Twitchings I have in my great toe-- Down all my back strange pains I know-- Such indications make it clear That sumless treasuries are here.

EMPEROR

To work--the time for flight is past.-- Put to the test your frothy lies!

These treasures bring before our eyes!

Sceptre and sword aside I'll cast, And with these royal hands, indeed, If thou lie not, to work proceed.

Thee, if thou lie, I'll send to h.e.l.l!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Thither to find the way I know full well!-- Yet can I not enough declare, What wealth unown'd lies waiting everywhere: The countryman, who ploughs the land, Gold-crocks upturneth with the mould; Nitre he seeks in lime-walls old, And findeth, in his meagre hand, Scared, yet rejoiced, rouleaus of gold.

How many a vault upblown must be, Into what clefts, what shafts, must he Who doth of hidden treasure know, Descend, to reach the world below!

In cellars vast, impervious made, Goblets of gold he sees displayed, Dishes and plates, row after row; There beakers, rich with rubies, stand; And would he use them, close at hand Well stored the ancient moisture lies; Yet--would ye him who knoweth, trust?-- The staves long since have turned to dust, A tartar cask their place supplies!

Not gold alone and jewels rare, Essence of n.o.blest wines are there, In night and horror veiled. The wise, Unwearied here pursues his quest.

To search by day, that were a jest; 'Tis darkness that doth harbor mysteries.

EMPEROR

What can the dark avail? Look thou to that!

If aught have worth, it cometh to the light.

Who can detect the rogue at dead of night?

Black are the cows, and gray is every cat.

These pots of heavy gold, if they be there-- Come, drive thy plough, upturn them with thy share!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Take spade and hoe thyself;--dig on-- Great shalt thou be through peasant toil-- A herd of golden calves anon Themselves shall tear from out the soil; Then straight, with rapture newly born, Thyself thou canst, thy sweet-heart wilt adorn.

A sparkling gem, l.u.s.trous, of varied dye, Beauty exalts as well as majesty.

EMPEROR

To work, to work! How long wilt linger?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Sire, Relax, I pray, such vehement desire!

First let us see the motley, joyous show!

A mind distraught conducts not to the goal.

First must we calmness win through self-control, Through things above deserve what lies below.

Who seeks for goodness, must himself be good; Who seeks for joy, must moderate his blood; Who wine desires, the luscious grape must press; Who craveth miracles, more faith possess.

EMPEROR

So be the interval in gladness spent!

Ash-Wednesday cometh, to our heart's content.

Meanwhile we'll solemnize, whate'er befall, More merrily the joyous Carnival.

[_Trumpets. Exeunt._]

MEPHISTOPHELES

That merit and success are link'd together, This to your fools occurreth never; Could they appropriate the wise man's stone, That, not the wise man, they would prize alone.

ACT THE SECOND

HIGH-VAULTED, NARROW GOTHIC CHAMBER, FORMERLY FAUST'S, UNALTERED

MEPHISTOPHELES (_stepping from behind a curtain. While he raises it and looks back_, FAUST _is seen, stretched upon an old-fashioned bed_)

Lie there, ill-starred one! In love's chain, Full hard to loose, he captive lies!

Not soon his senses will regain Whom Helena doth paralyze.

(_Looking round_)

Above, around, on every side I gaze, uninjured all remains: Dimmer, methinks, appear the color'd panes, The spiders' webs are multiplied, Yellow the paper, and the ink is dry; Yet in its place each thing I find; And here the very pen doth lie, Wherewith himself Faust to the Devil signed, Yea, quite dried up, and deeper in the bore, The drop of blood, I lured from him of yore-- O'erjoyed to own such specimen unique Were he who objects rare is fain to seek--; Here on its hook hangs still the old fur cloak, Me it remindeth of that merry joke, When to the boy I precepts gave, for truth, Whereon, perchance, he's feeding now, as youth.

The wish comes over me, with thee allied, Enveloped in thy worn and rugged folds, Once more to swell with the professor's pride!

How quite infallible himself he holds; This feeling to obtain your savants know; The devil parted with it long ago.

[_He shakes the fur cloak which he has taken down; crickets, moths, and chafers fly out._]