第 十一 章 · STREET

t, I hold it so much gain for me,

That I nor Chancellor nor Kaiser be.

Yet also we must have a ruling head, I hope,

And so we’ll choose ourselves a Pope.

You know the quality that can

Decide the choice, and elevate the man.

FROSCH (_sings_)

_Soar up, soar up, Dame Nightingale!

Ten thousand times my sweetheart hail!_

SIEBEL

No, greet my sweetheart not! I tell you, I’ll resent it.

FROSCH

My sweetheart greet and kiss! I dare you to prevent it!

(_Sings_.)

_Draw the latch! the darkness makes:

Draw the latch! the lover wakes.

Shut the latch! the morning breaks_.

SIEBEL

Yes, sing away, sing on, and praise, and brag of her!

I’ll wait my proper time for laughter:

Me by the nose she led, and now she’ll lead you after.

Her paramour should be an ugly gnome,

Where four roads cross, in wanton play to meet her:

An old he-goat, from Blocksberg coming home,

Should his good-night in lustful gallop bleat her!

A fellow made of genuine flesh and blood

Is for the wench a deal too good.

Greet her? Not I: unless, when meeting,

To smash her windows be a greeting!

BRANDER (_pounding on the table_)

Attention! Hearken now to me!

Confess, Sirs, I know how to live.

Enamored persons here have we,

And I, as suits their quality,

Must something fresh for their advantage give.

Take heed! ’Tis of the latest cut, my strain,

And all strike in at each refrain!

(_He sings_.)

There was a rat in the cellar-nest,

Whom fat and butter made smoother:

He had a paunch beneath his vest

Like that of Doctor Luther.

The cook laid poison cunningly,

And then as sore oppressed was he

As if he had love in his bosom.

CHORUS (_shouting_)

As if he had love in his bosom!

BRANDER

He ran around, he ran about,

His thirst in puddles laving;

He gnawed and scratched the house throughout.

But nothing cured his raving.

He whirled and jumped, with torment mad,

And soon enough the poor beast had,

As if he had love in his bosom.

CHORUS

As if he had love in his bosom!

BRANDER

And driven at last, in open day,

He ran into the kitchen,

Fell on the hearth, and squirming lay,

In the last convulsion twitching.

Then laughed the murderess in her glee:

“Ha! ha! he’s at his last gasp,” said she,

“As if he had love in his bosom!”

CHORUS

As if he had love in his bosom!

SIEBEL

How the dull fools enjoy the matter!

To me it is a proper art

Poison for such poor rats to scatter.

BRANDER

Perhaps you’ll warmly take their part?

ALTMAYER

The bald-pate pot-belly I have noted:

Misfortune tames him by degrees;

For in the rat by poison bloated

His own most natural form he sees.

FAUST AND MEPHISTOPHELES

MEPHISTOPHELES

Before all else, I bring thee hither

Where boon companions meet together,

To let thee see how smooth life runs away.

Here, for the folk, each day’s a holiday:

With little wit, and ease to suit them,

They whirl in narrow, circling trails,

Like kittens playing with their tails?

And if no headache persecute them,

So long the host may credit give,

They merrily and careless live.

BRANDER

The fact is easy to unravel,

Their air’s so odd, they’ve just returned from travel:

A single hour they’ve not been here.

FROSCH

You’ve verily hit the truth! Leipzig to me is dear:

Paris in miniature, how it refines its people!

SIEBEL

Who are the strangers, should you guess?

FROSCH

Let me alone! I’ll set them first to drinking,

And then, as one a child’s tooth draws, with cleverness,

I’ll worm their secret out, I’m thinking.

They’re of a noble house, that’s very clear:

Haughty and discontented they appear.

BRANDER

They’re mountebanks, upon a revel.

ALTMAYER

Perhaps.

FROSCH

Look out, I’ll smoke them now!

MEPHISTOPHELES (_to_ FAUST)

Not if he had them by the neck, I vow,

Would e’er these people scent the Devil!

FAUST

Fair greeting, gentlemen!

SIEBEL

Our thanks: we give the same.

(_Murmurs, inspecting_ MEPHISTOPHELES _from the side_.)

In one foot is the fellow lame?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Is it permitted that we share your leisure?

In place of cheering drink, which one seeks vainly here,

Your company shall give us pleasure.

ALTMAYER

A most fastidious person you appear.

FROSCH

No doubt ’twas late when you from Rippach started?

And supping there with Hans occasioned your delay?

MEPHISTOPHELES

We passed, without a call, to-day.

At our last interview, before we parted

Much of his cousins did he speak, entreating

That we should give to each his kindly greeting.

(_He bows to_ FROSCH.)

ALTMAYER (_aside_)

You have it now! he understands.

SIEBEL

A knave sharp-set!

FROSCH

Just wait awhile: I’ll have him yet.

MEPHISTOPHELES

If I am right, we heard the sound

Of well-trained voices, singing chorus;

And truly, song must here rebound

Superbly from the arches o’er us.

FROSCH

Are you, perhaps, a virtuoso?

MEPHISTOPHELES

O no! my wish is great, my power is only so-so.

ALTMAYER

Give us a song!

MEPHISTOPHELES

If you desire, a number.

SIEBEL

So that it be a bran-new strain!

MEPHISTOPHELES

We’ve just retraced our way from. Spain,

The lovely land of wine, and song, and slumber.

(_Sings_.)

There was a king once reigning,

Who had a big black flea—

FROSCH

Hear, hear! A flea! D’ye rightly take the jest?

I call a flea a tidy guest.

MEPHISTOPHELES (_sings_)

There was a king once reigning,

Who had a big black flea,

And loved him past explaining,

As his own son were he.

He called his man of stitches;

The tailor came straightway:

Here, measure the lad for breeches.

And measure his coat, I say!

BRANDER

But mind, allow the tailor no caprices:

Enjoin upon him, as his head is dear,

To most exactly measure, sew and shear,

So that the breeches have no creases!

MEPHISTOPHELES

In silk and velvet gleaming

He now was wholly drest—

Had a coat with ribbons streaming,

A cross upon his breast.

He had the first of stations,

A minister’s star and name;

And also all his relations

Great lords at court became.

And the lords and ladies of honor

Were plagued, awake and in bed;

The queen she got them upon her,

The maids were bitten and bled.

And they did not dare to brush them,

Or scratch them, day or night:

We crack them and we crush them,

At once, whene’er they bite.

CHORUS (_shouting_)

We crack them and we crush them,

At once, whene’er they bite!

FROSCH

Bravo! bravo! that was fine.

SIEBEL

Every flea may it so befall!

BRANDER

Point your fingers and nip them all!

ALTMAYER

Hurrah for Freedom! Hurrah for wine!

MEPHISTOPHELES

I fain would drink with you, my glass to Freedom clinking,

If ’twere a better wine that here I see you drinking.

SIEBEL

Don’t let us hear that speech again!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Did I not fear the landlord might complain,

I’d treat these worthy guests, with pleasure,

To some from out our cellar’s treasure.

SIEBEL

Just treat, and let the landlord me arraign!

FROSCH

And if the wine be good, our praises shall be ample.

But do not give too very small a sample;

For, if its quality I decide,

With a good mouthful I must be supplied.

ALTMAYER (_aside_)

They’re from the Rhine! I guessed as much, before.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Bring me a gimlet here!

BRANDER

What shall therewith be done?

You’ve not the casks already at the door?

ALTMAYER

Yonder, within the landlord’s box of tools, there’s one!

MEPHISTOPHELES (_takes the gimlet_)

(_To_ FROSCH.)

Now, give me of your taste some intimation.

FROSCH

How do you mean? Have you so many kinds?

MEPHISTOPHELES

The choice is free: make u

SCENE 12.