Kabanata Kabanata 10 · THE NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE

e fabric of mental fleece

Resembles a weaver’s masterpiece,

Where a thousand threads one treadle throws,

Where fly the shuttles hither and thither.

Unseen the threads are knit together.

And an infinite combination grows.

Then, the philosopher steps in

And shows, no otherwise it could have been:

The first was so, the second so,

Therefore the third and fourth are so;

Were not the first and second, then

The third and fourth had never been.

The scholars are everywhere believers,

But never succeed in being weavers.

He who would study organic existence,

First drives out the soul with rigid persistence;

Then the parts in his hand he may hold and class,

But the spiritual link is lost, alas!

_Encheiresin natures_, this Chemistry names,

Nor knows how herself she banters and blames!

STUDENT

I cannot understand you quite.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Your mind will shortly be set aright,

When you have learned, all things reducing,

To classify them for your using.

STUDENT

I feel as stupid, from all you’ve said,

As if a mill-wheel whirled in my head!

MEPHISTOPHELES

And after—first and foremost duty—Of

Metaphysics learn the use and beauty!

See that you most profoundly gain

What does not suit the human brain!

A splendid word to serve, you’ll find

For what goes in—or won’t go in—your mind.

But first, at least this half a year,

To order rigidly adhere;

Five hours a day, you understand,

And when the clock strikes, be on hand!

Prepare beforehand for your part

With paragraphs all got by heart,

So you can better watch, and look

That naught is said but what is in the book:

Yet in thy writing as unwearied be,

As did the Holy Ghost dictate to thee!

STUDENT

No need to tell me twice to do it!

I think, how useful ’tis to write;

For what one has, in black and white,

One carries home and then goes through it.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Yet choose thyself a faculty!

STUDENT

I cannot reconcile myself to Jurisprudence.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Nor can I therefore greatly blame you students:

I know what science this has come to be.

All rights and laws are still transmitted

Like an eternal sickness of the race,—

From generation unto generation fitted,

And shifted round from place to place.

Reason becomes a sham, Beneficence a worry:

Thou art a grandchild, therefore woe to thee!

The right born with us, ours in verity,

This to consider, there’s, alas! no hurry.

STUDENT

My own disgust is strengthened by your speech:

O lucky he, whom you shall teach!

I’ve almost for Theology decided.

MEPHISTOPHELES

I should not wish to see you here misguided:

For, as regards this science, let me hint

’Tis very hard to shun the false direction;

There’s so much secret poison lurking in ’t,

So like the medicine, it baffles your detection.

Hear, therefore, one alone, for that is best, in sooth,

And simply take your master’s words for truth.

On _words_ let your attention centre!

Then through the safest gate you’ll enter

The temple-halls of Certainty.

STUDENT

Yet in the word must some idea be.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Of course! But only shun too over-sharp a tension,

For just where fails the comprehension,

A word steps promptly in as deputy.

With words ’tis excellent disputing;

Systems to words ’tis easy suiting;

On words ’tis excellent believing;

No word can ever lose a jot from thieving.

STUDENT

Pardon! With many questions I detain you.

Yet must I trouble you again.

Of Medicine I still would fain

Hear one strong word that might explain you.

Three years is but a little space.

And, God! who can the field embrace?

If one some index could be shown,

’Twere easier groping forward, truly.

MEPHISTOPHELES (_aside_)

I’m tired enough of this dry tone,—

Must play the Devil again, and fully.

(_Aloud_)

To grasp the spirit of Medicine is easy:

Learn of the great and little world your fill,

To let it go at last, so please ye,

Just as God will!

In vain that through the realms of science you may drift;

Each one learns only—just what learn he can:

Yet he who grasps the Moment’s gift,

He is the proper man.

Well-made you are, ’tis not to be denied,

The rest a bold address will win you;

If you but in yourself confide,

At once confide all others in you.

To lead the women, learn the special feeling!

Their everlasting aches and groans,

In thousand tones,

Have all one source, one mode of healing;

And if your acts are half discreet,

You’ll always have them at your feet.

A title first must draw and interest them,

And show that yours all other arts exceeds;

Then, as a greeting, you are free to touch and test them,

While, thus to do, for years another pleads.

You press and count the pulse’s dances,

And then, with burning sidelong glances,

You clasp the swelling hips, to see

If tightly laced her corsets be.

STUDENT

That’s better, now! The How and Where, one sees.

MEPHISTOPHELES

My worthy friend, gray are all theories,

And green alone Life’s golden tree.

STUDENT

I swear to you, ’tis like a dream to me.

Might I again presume, with trust unbounded,

To hear your wisdom thoroughly expounded?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Most willingly, to what extent I may.

STUDENT

I cannot really go away:

Allow me that my album first I reach you,—

Grant me this favor, I beseech you!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Assuredly.

(_He writes, and returns the book_.)

STUDENT (_reads_)

_Eritis sicut Deus, scientes bonum et malum_.

(_Closes the book with reverence, and withdraws_)

MEPHISTOPHELES

Follow the ancient text, and the snake thou wast ordered to trample!

With all thy likeness to God, thou’lt yet be a sorry example!

(FAUST _enters_.)

FAUST

Now, whither shall we go?

MEPHISTOPHELES

As best it pleases thee.

The little world, and then the great, we’ll see.

With what delight, what profit winning,

Shalt thou sponge through the term beginning!

FAUST

Yet with the flowing beard I wear,

Both ease and grace will fail me there.

The attempt, indeed, were a futile strife;

I never could learn the ways of life.

I feel so small before others, and thence

Should always find embarrassments.

MEPHISTOPHELES

My friend, thou soon shalt lose all such misgiving:

Be thou but self-possessed, thou hast the art of living!

FAUST

How shall we leave the house, and start?

Where hast thou servant, coach and horses?

MEPHISTOPHELES

We’ll spread this cloak with proper art,

Then through the air direct our courses.

But only, on so bold a flight,

Be sure to have thy luggage light.

A little burning air, which I shall soon prepare us,

Above the earth will nimbly bear us,

And, if we’re light, we’ll travel swift and clear:

I gratulate thee on thy new career!

[Illustration]

V

AUERBACH’S CELLAR IN LEIPZIG

CAROUSAL OF JOLLY COMPANIONS

FROSCH

Is no one laughing? no one drinking?

I’ll teach you how to grin, I’m thinking.

To-day you’re like wet straw, so tame;

And usually you’re all aflame.

BRANDER

Now that’s your fault; from you we nothing see,

No beastliness and no stupidity.

FROSCH

(_Pours a glass of wine over_ BRANDER’S _head_.)

There’s both together!

BRANDER

Twice a swine!

FROSCH

You wanted them: I’ve given you mine.

SIEBEL

Turn out who quarrels—out the door!

With open throat sing chorus, drink and roar!

Up! holla! ho!

ALTMAYER

Woe’s me, the fearful bellow!

Bring cotton, quick! He’s split my ears, that fellow.

SIEBEL

When the vault echoes to the song,

One first perceives the bass is deep and strong.

FROSCH

Well said! and out with him that takes the least offence!

_Ah, tara, lara da_!

ALTMAYER

_Ah, tara, lara, da_!

FROSCH

The throats are tuned, commence!

(_Sings_.)

_The dear old holy Roman realm,

How does it hold together_?

BRANDER

A nasty song! Fie! a political song—

A most offensive song! Thank God, each morning, therefore,

That you have not the Roman realm to care for!

At leas

SCENE 11.