บทที่ บทที่ 14 · FOREST AND CAVERN

From five and six

(The witch’s tricks)

Make seven and eight,

’Tis finished straight!

And nine is one,

And ten is none.

This is the witch’s once-one’s-one!

FAUST

She talks like one who raves in fever.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Thou’lt hear much more before we leave her.

’Tis all the same: the book I can repeat,

Such time I’ve squandered o’er the history:

A contradiction thus complete

Is always for the wise, no less than fools, a mystery.

The art is old and new, for verily

All ages have been taught the matter,—

By Three and One, and One and Three,

Error instead of Truth to scatter.

They prate and teach, and no one interferes;

All from the fellowship of fools are shrinking.

Man usually believes, if only words he hears,

That also with them goes material for thinking!

THE WITCH (_continues_)

The lofty skill

Of Science, still

From all men deeply hidden!

Who takes no thought,

To him ’tis brought,

’Tis given unsought, unbidden!

FAUST

What nonsense she declaims before us!

My head is nigh to split, I fear:

It seems to me as if I hear

A hundred thousand fools in chorus.

MEPHISTOPHELES

O Sibyl excellent, enough of adjuration!

But hither bring us thy potation,

And quickly fill the beaker to the brim!

This drink will bring my friend no injuries:

He is a man of manifold degrees,

And many draughts are known to him.

(_The_ WITCH, _with many ceremonies, pours the drink into a

cup; as_ FAUST _sets it to his lips, a light flame arises_.)

Down with it quickly! Drain it off!

’Twill warm thy heart with new desire:

Art with the Devil hand and glove,

And wilt thou be afraid of fire?

(_The_ WITCH _breaks the circle_: FAUST _steps forth_.)

MEPHISTOPHELES

And now, away! Thou dar’st not rest.

THE WITCH

And much good may the liquor do thee!

MEPHISTOPHELES (_to the_ WITCH)

Thy wish be on Walpurgis Night expressed;

What boon I have, shall then be given unto thee.

THE WITCH

Here is a song, which, if you sometimes sing,

You’ll find it of peculiar operation.

MEPHISTOPHELES (_to_ FAUST)

Come, walk at once! A rapid occupation

Must start the needful perspiration,

And through thy frame the liquor’s potence fling.

The noble indolence I’ll teach thee then to treasure,

And soon thou’lt be aware, with keenest thrills of pleasure,

How Cupid stirs and leaps, on light and restless wing.

FAUST

One rapid glance within the mirror give me,

How beautiful that woman-form!

MEPHISTOPHELES

No, no! The paragon of all, believe me,

Thou soon shalt see, alive and warm.

_(Aside)_

Thou’lt find, this drink thy blood compelling,

Each woman beautiful as Helen!

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

VII

STREET

FAUST MARGARET _(passing by)_

FAUST

Fair lady, let it not offend you,

That arm and escort I would lend you!

MARGARET

I’m neither lady, neither fair,

And home I can go without your care.

[_She releases herself, and exit_.

FAUST

By Heaven, the girl is wondrous fair!

Of all I’ve seen, beyond compare;

So sweetly virtuous and pure,

And yet a little pert, be sure!

The lip so red, the cheek’s clear dawn,

[Illustration:]

I’ll not forget while the world rolls on!

How she cast down her timid eyes,

Deep in my heart imprinted lies:

How short and sharp of speech was she,

Why, ’twas a real ecstasy!

(MEPHISTOPHELES _enters_)

FAUST

Hear, of that girl I’d have possession!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Which, then?

FAUST

The one who just went by.

MEPHISTOPHELES

She, there? She’s coming from confession,

Of every sin absolved; for I,

Behind her chair, was listening nigh.

So innocent is she, indeed,

That to confess she had no need.

I have no power o’er souls so green.

FAUST

And yet, she’s older than fourteen.

MEPHISTOPHELES

How now! You’re talking like Jack Rake,

Who every flower for himself would take,

And fancies there are no favors more,

Nor honors, save for him in store;

Yet always doesn’t the thing succeed.

FAUST

Most Worthy Pedagogue, take heed!

Let not a word of moral law be spoken!

I claim, I tell thee, all my right;

And if that image of delight

Rest not within mine arms to-night,

At midnight is our compact broken.

MEPHISTOPHELES

But think, the chances of the case!

I need, at least, a fortnight’s space,

To find an opportune occasion.

FAUST

Had I but seven hours for all,

I should not on the Devil call,

But win her by my own persuasion.

MEPHISTOPHELES

You almost like a Frenchman prate;

Yet, pray, don’t take it as annoyance!

Why, all at once, exhaust the joyance?

Your bliss is by no means so great

As if you’d use, to get control,

All sorts of tender rigmarole,

And knead and shape her to your thought,

As in Italian tales ’tis taught.

FAUST

Without that, I have appetite.

MEPHISTOPHELES

But now, leave jesting out of sight!

I tell you, once for all, that speed

With this fair girl will not succeed;

By storm she cannot captured be;

We must make use of strategy.

FAUST

Get me something the angel keeps!

Lead me thither where she sleeps!

Get me a kerchief from her breast,—

A garter that her knee has pressed!

MEPHISTOPHELES

That you may see how much I’d fain

Further and satisfy your pain,

We will no longer lose a minute;

I’ll find her room to-day, and take you in it.

FAUST

And shall I see—possess her?

MEPHISTOPHELES

No!

Unto a neighbor she must go,

And meanwhile thou, alone, mayst glow

With every hope of future pleasure,

Breathing her atmosphere in fullest measure.

FAUST

Can we go thither?

MEPHISTOPHELES

’Tis too early yet.

FAUST

A gift for her I bid thee get!

[_Exit_.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Presents at once? That’s good: he’s certain to get at her!

Full many a pleasant place I know,

And treasures, buried long ago:

I must, perforce, look up the matter. _[Exit_.

[Illustration]

VIII

EVENING A SMALL, NEATLY KEPT CHAMBER

MARGARET

(_plaiting and binding up the braids of her hair_)

I’d something give, could I but say

Who was that gentleman, to-day.

Surely a gallant man was he,

And of a noble family;

And much could I in his face behold,—

And he wouldn’t, else, have been so bold!

[_Exit_

MEPHISTOPHELES FAUST

MEPHISTOPHELES

Come in, but gently: follow me!

FAUST (_after a moment’s silence_)

Leave me alone, I beg of thee!

MEPHISTOPHELES (_prying about_)

Not every girl keeps things so neat.

FAUST (_looking around_)

O welcome, twilight soft and sweet,

That breathes throughout this hallowed shrine!

Sweet pain of love, bind thou with fetters fleet

The heart that on the dew of hope must pine!

How all around a sense impresses

Of quiet, order, and content!

This poverty what bounty blesses!

What bliss within this narrow den is pent!

(_He throws himself into a leathern arm-chair near the bed_.)

Receive me, thou, that in thine open arms

Departed joy and pain wert wont to gather!

How oft the children, with their ruddy charms,

Hung here, around this throne, where sat the father!

Perchance my love, amid the childish band,

Grateful for gifts the Holy Christmas gave her,

Here meekly kissed the grandsire’s withered hand.

I feel, O maid! thy very soul

Of order and content around me whisper,—

Which leads thee with its motherly control,

The cloth upon thy board bids smoothly thee unroll,

The sand beneath thy feet makes whiter, crisper.

O dearest hand, to thee ’tis given

To change this hut into a lower heaven!

And here!

(_He lifts one of the bed-curtains_.)

What sweetest thrill is in my blood!

Here could I spend whole hours, delaying:

Here Nature shaped, as if in sportive playing,

The angel blossom from the bud.

Here lay the child, with Life’s warm essence

The tender bosom filled and fair,

And here was wrought, through holier, purer presence,

The form diviner beings wear!

And I? What drew me he

SCENE 15.