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Digitized by the Internet Archive

in

2007

with funding from

Microsoft Corporation

http://www.archive.org/details/faustOOgoet

LonaonHUTCHINSON<5?C9-Parerno^n:r Row 1908

LONDON
A. C.

Fowler, Tenter
Moorfields, B.C.
1908

Street,

JS.

^
CONTENTS
PAGE

Preface
Dedication

vii

Prologue for the Theatre Prologue in Heaven

Night Before the Gate Faust's Study (i)
(ii)

3 5
11

15
.

Scene with the Student Auerbach's Cellar in Leipzig Witch's Kitchen

The Street
Evening
Public

a Neat Little Room

.

Walk

The Neighbour's House The Street Garden A Summer House

Forest and Cavern Margaret's Room Martha's Garden
.

27 37 46 53 59 68 77 79 83 85
91

93 98 99
103

At the Well Zwinger ... Night Street before Margaret's Door

:

105 109
Ill

Cathedral

May Day May Day

Night
:

The Hartz Mountains

113 117 120

131

Night's

A Gloomy Day Night: A Common

Dungeon
Appendix
Notes
:

Dream Intermezzo Open Country

:

138
141

...

142

Shelley's Translations
...

151

171

LIST

OF ILLUSTRATIONS
FACING PAGE
in

Faust and Margaret Prologue in Heaven

the Garden

Frontispiece
5 18

Faust and the Spirit of the Earth Before the Gate

27 32
..

Under the Lime Tree

the Poodle Mephistopheles appears to Faust Mephistopheles and the Student
In Auerbach's Cellar

Faust,

Wagner and

36
his

in

Study

40
54 66 70
72

Faust and the Magic Mirror... The Witch's Kitchen

...

...

...

...

...

Faust drinks the Magic Potion ... Faust meets Margaret in the Street

... ...
...

...
...

...
...

... ...

74

76

Margaret adorns herself with the Jewels

Mephistopheles at the Neighbour's House

... ... ...

... ...
...

... ...
...

80
86 98
100
102 106

Faust and Margaret

in

the

Summer House
Cavern

Faust and Mephistopheles

in the

Margaret at the Spinning Wheel Faust and Margaret in Martha's Garden Margaret at the Well Margaret supplicating the Mater Dolorosa Faust and Valentine ... ... ... ...
...
... ... ...
...

108
... ... ... ...

110
114 118
122

The

Evil Spirit tempting Margaret in the Cathedral

Witches ascending the Brocken ... ... ... On the Hartz Mountains The Young Witch At Oberon and Titania's Golden Wedding Feast
Faust and Mephistopheles on the
Faust
vigits

...

126
134
...

...
... ...
...

136 140
144 146

Common
... ...

... ... ...

... ...
...

Margaret

in

the

Dungeon

Faust disappears with Mephistopheles

PREFACE

THE
He
sight
play.
of,

first

part of Faust occupied

Goethe's attention

for

the

best thirty years of his hfe, or, as a French writer has happily

expressed
did not

it,

the play was his confidant during that period.

it

"

was never for long lost every new experience suggesting some development of the The Marionette fable of Faust," says Goethe, " murmured
continuously, but
it

work upon

with

many

voices

in

my

soul.

I,

too,

had wandered

into

every

department of knowledge, and had returned early enough

with the vanity of science.
aspects,

satisfied

And life, too, I had tried under various and always came back sorrowing and unsatisfied." Goethe took the old legend of Faustus, and without making any considerable alteration, he produced a Mystery play symbolising the higher and lower natures of man. Although the characters are often too subtle,
the play, as

Lewes says

in his

Life of Goethe, " appeals to

all

minds

with the irresistible fascination of an eternal problem, and with the

charm

of endless variety.

It

has every element

wit, pathos,
;

wisdom,

farce, mystery, melody, reverence, doubt, magic,

and irony

not a chord
In Faust
;

of the lyre

is

unstrung, not a fibre of the heart untouched.

we

see, as in a mirror, the eternal

it,

problem of our
Faust,
deeds,

intellectual

and,

beside

varied lineaments of our social existence."

But before we deal with

thing

Goethe's
his

we

will

say some-

legends concerning him which formed the basis not only of Goethe's drama,
himself,

about

Dr.

Faustus

and

the

but

of Christopher Marlowe's " Faustus," Calderon's " El Magico Prodigioso," Klinger's " Faust," and Heine's " Ballet," besides many

other dramas, pantomimes and romances.

PREFACE
The
particulars that are

known

of the

life

of Dr.

Johann

Faust,,

though of the most meagre kind, are

that such a person really once existed.
at first

sufficient to establish the fact

sight

somewhat
that

banal, but

Such a statement may seem when one considers the tangled

personality
of

web
as

of

legend
it

envelopes

the

the

far-famed

magician,

is

not astonishing that he presents himself to us chiefly

figure.

mythological

The

subject,

apart

from

the

details

preserved of his

life, is

almost an endless one.

After his death there

sprang up a maze of legends culminating

1587.

in the history

published

in

This

last

book forms the basis of Marlowe's play, Goethe's

appeared

drama, the opera, and the innumerable ballads, dramatic pieces and

pantomimes that have

subject of Dr. Faustus.

and

continue

to

appear on

the

Johann Faust, or Faustus, was born into this world, of parents humble origin, towards the end of the fifteenth century. The known, and the honour of being precise date of his birth is not his birth-place, like that of many other great men, is claimed by more than one town, namely, Kundlingen in Wurtemberg, Anhalt, and Brandenberg, while in the history of his life mentioned above, Rhodes, near Weimar, is assigned as his native place. He studied divinitj^ and obtained a degree of Doctor of Theology, but he grew weary of his religious profession and abandoned it for medicine, soon graduating He then devoted himself to the study of magic as a physician. and astrology, and traded on the credulity of a superstitious age. He was numbered among the friends of Paracelsus and Cornelius The Abbot Agrippa, and he is alluded to by Martin Luther. of Spanheim, Johann Trithemius, a notable scholar of the time, makes mention of meeting at Gelnhausen in May, 1506, one Georgius Sabellicus, who boasted that if all the works of Plato and This Aristotle were destroyed, he could restore them from memory. Sabellicus is supposed to have been Faust, and while he avoided Trithemius, whom he regarded as a cheat, he left a card with him in which he describes himself as a magician and after his own name There are other evidences of an adds that of " Faustus Junior." early sixteenth century Faust, but whether he was the same, or A friend another magician with a similar name, it is not clear. of Melancthon, Conrad Mudt, mentioned a charlatan who in 1513 boasted to him of powers of magic, and called himself Georgius
of
viii

PREFACE
Faustus,

Hemitheus

(demigod)

of

Heidelberg.

And according

to

Johann Mennel's notes of Melancthon's conversation, published in 1562, the Reformer is reported to have said that he knew a man named Faustus of Kundlingen, who studied at Cracow the magic which used to be taught there, and who attended the public lectures that were given on the art. In his wanderings he visited Venice, where he boasted that he would fly, but the devil who helped him to rise, allowed him to fall, so that he almost met with his death. He then relates that not many j'ears before, this same Faustus sat at
the village inn on his last day so deeply troubled that the innkeeper

inquired of him the reason for his mournful mood, as he had formerly

been a very wild fellow. Faust bid him not to be frightened that night. At midnight the house shook, and when in the morning Faust did not appear, the innl<eeper sought him in his chamber, where he found him lying near his bed, with his face horribly contorted. In this way
the devil
is

said to have taken his due.

is

The date

of Faust's death or

disappearance from the world

unascertainable, but

he does not
latest

seem
tion

to

have been heard of later than about 1530 or at the

Carlyle gives the date as about 1560.

1540, although

His reputa-

that

however did not die with him. He soon became the type of all is evil and diabolical he was accredited with every kind of mischievous prank, and he had the unenviable distinction of being
;

selected as the master spirit of centuries of crime.

notably one by
1585.

Other books containing stories of Faust followed on Mennel's, Wier in 1563, and another by Augustin Lercheimer in

But

in

September, 1587, at Frankfort on Main, there was

first

published by Johann Spies the

"

history of Faust, with the

title

of

Historia von

D. Johann Fausten,

dem

weit beschreyten Zauberer

are known,

and Schwartzkunstler." one of which is in the

Only

five

copies of this work

The book, which was reprinted with additions and alterations in 1588 and 1589, was apparently written by a minister of the Rsformed Church, with
British

Museum.

the intention of preaching against the vanity of the world.

of the mediaeval legends of

It

is

full

as
its

demons and magic, such as were accepted true in the Middle Ages. The story took hold of the public and influence was apparent almost at once in England. Before the
of
1587,

end
"

the

Bishop
Life

Ballad of the

of London, John Aylmer, had licensed and Death of Doctor Faustus the great
ix

PREFACE
Conjuror," and
in

1592 a translation appeared of the original book

under the

title

of

"The History

of the

Damnable

Life

and Deserved
in

Death of Dr. John Faustus.

at Franckfort,

Newly imprinted, and

convenient

places imperfect matter amended, according to the true copy printed

and translated into English by P. R. Gent, London, 1592." A later edition of this curious book was reprinted in the third volume of Mr. William J. Thom's " Early Prose Romances,"
1828, from which

our extracts are taken.

There also appeared

in

1594 at London an English translation of

"The Second Report

of

Doctor John Faustus, containing

his

Appearances, and the Deeds of

Published for the delight of

Wagner.
all

Written by an English Gentleman, student of Wittenberg,

in

an university of Germany,

Saxony.

those which desire novelties, by a friend of the same gentleman."

In this history of Faust, the
life

and death of the Doctor

is

traced

from

his

birth " in

the town of Rhodes, being in the

Province of

Weimar," with an account of his studies in divinity to the day when The he made his compact with Lucifer through Mephistopheles. following is given as a copy of the actual document which Faust wrote with his own blood, assigning his body and soul to Lucifer.
/,

John
to

Faustus, doctor, do

openly

ackiioivlcdge

with

mine

own

hand,

the great force

began

to study,

and strengthening of this and speculate the course and nature

gift that is

letter,

that since I

of the

elements, I

have not found, through the

find that

learning and ii'isdom that can

bring

men

are unable to instruct

to the hellish

given me me to my desire, and for that I me any farther in the matter ; noxo
front above, any sucJi

have

I,

Doctor Faustus,

prince of Orient, anil his messenger,

things, as

Mephistophiles, given
they shall learn me,

both

body and soul, upon such conditions, that

and

fulfil

my

desires

in

all

they

have

promised and

I'oxced

unto me, xcith due obedience unto me, according to

the articles mentioned between us.

Farther,
that
at
the
letter,

do covenant and chant with them by these presents,

twenty-four years next ensuing the date
of
this

end of

present

they being expired, and I in the meantime, during the said

years, be

served

of them at
xi'e

my

icill,
:

they accomplishing

my

desires to

the full in all points as

are agreed

that then I give to them all the

power

to

do xvith
be
it

me

at their pleasure, to rule, to send, fetch or carry

me

or mine,

either

body, soul, flesh,

blood or goods,

into

their

PREFACE
habitation, be
all the
it

xvheresoex^cr

and hereupon

I defie

God and

Iiis

Christ,

Host of Heaven, and

:

all living

creatures that bear the shape of

yea, all that live And again I say it, and it shall be so, and to more strengthening of this writing, I have written it with my own hand and blood, being in perfect memory : and hereupon I subscribe to

God
the

it

with

my name and
to

title,

calling all the infernal, middle

letter

and supreme

powers

witness of this

my

and

subscription,

John Faustus.
Approved in the elements, and
the spiritual doctor.

Faustus to take a copy of

Then says the book, "Mephistopheles took the writing and* willed it. With that the perverse Faustus being Thus the
spirit

resolute in his damnation, wrote a copy thereof, and gave the devil

one, and kept in store the other.

and Faustus were

agreed, and dwelt together

keeping "

no doubt there was a virtuous houseThere was, however, another member of this
;

household

who

will

be familiar, though

in
:

a different form, to the

"

readers of Goethe's play.

The

story says

Faust kept a boy with

him, that was his scholar, an unhappy wag, called Christopher Wagner,
to

whom

this sport

and
his

life

that he

saw

his

master followed seemed

himself,

pleasant.

Faustus loved the boy

in

well,

hoping to make him as good

than

or better seen

hellish

exercises

and he was
in

fellow with Mephistopheles.

his

Otherwise Faustus had no company

spirit

house but himself and boy, and

that ever

was
like

diligent at
friar,

Faustus's
a
little

command

going about the house, clothed

with

bell in his

hand, seen by none but Faustus."

is

Mephistopheles
everything

as good as his word, he provides Faust with

victuals,

he

desires,

wine

and

other

delights,

which

he filches with characteristic cunning from the Duke of Saxony, the

Duke
"

of

Bavaria and the Bishop of Salisburg.

his

And when Faust

opened

window what
it

fowl soever he wished for

. .

the house, were

his

never so dainty

came flying into Moreover Faust and

boy went in sumptuous apparel, the which Mephistopheles stole from the mercers at Norenburg." After a time Faust becomes restless, and desires to have proofs
of his companion's supernatural powers, so Mephistopheles not only

gives him a view of Hell, and of the torments of the damned, but

he carries

him

"

through

the air up to the

xi

Heavens

to

see the A
2

PREFACE
whole World, and how the Sky and Planets ruled,"
eight days.
in

the space of

Other journeys are tal<en by Faust and his companion, one in which practically all the then known places of the world are visited, named and described. The author of this strange and entertaining book never fails to introduce his moral either by means

of
in

dialogue

between

Faust

and
of

Mephistopheles, or
Faust's sin
is

by comment,

which the

inevitable
is

result

reiterated.

But
fits

whenever Faust
remorse, he
infernal
is

inclined to reflect, and he has occasional

of

at

once menaced
until

by a taste of the tortures of the

to

regions,

he

is

forced

give

up any
for

thougiits

of

repentance.
himself
to

At length the time draws near

Lucifer
all

Faust to resign

according to their compact.

completed,
his
heir.

years

are

but

and

he

makes
in

his

The twenty-four will naming his

also

servant

Wagner
as

as

To

Wagner Faust
you publish

leaves

his

books, and he gives him a

on condition

he saj^s
all

spirit,

Aberecock,

the form of an ape,

" that
I

my
I

cunning and

my

many

conceits, with

that

have done (when

all,

am

dead) in a

history,
will help

and

if
;

thou canst not remember

so shall the acts that
I

the spirit Aberecock

thee

have done be made manifest

passed
in

unto the world."

The
wailing;
sighing.

last

month
to
flesh fell

of

his

life

Faust

grieving

"talking

himself,

wringing his

hands,

sobbing

and and

His
neither

away, and he was very lean, and kept himself

hear of his

close;

could

he abide, see or

Mephistopheles
earth

any more."

On

the

last

day that

Faust was to spend on

this

he

gathered together some friends and students

at his house in merriment,

who
to

often visited him

into a village

and entreated them

"walk

called

Rimlich, half a mile

for

from Wittenburg, and that they would

a small banquet
;

there take with him

their repast

the which

they agreed unto

dinner
of
in

so that they went together, and there held their

a most sumptuous manner."

at the feast, but

Faust kept up a semblance

was ended he requested them to go with him into another room, where he delivered an oration in which he spoke of his near approaching doom, and he then dwelt on the wretchedness of his life, and finally exhorted them to profit by
merriment
it

when

his awful example.

"

The Students and the others

xii

that were there,

when they had

PREFACE
prayed for him, they wept, and so went
in forth.

But Faustus
lain
in

tarried

none of them could sleep, for that they attended to hear if they might be privy of his end. It happened that between twelve and one o'clock of midnight, there blew a mighty storm of wind against the house, as though it would have blown the foundation thereof out of its
;

the hall

and when the gentlemen were

bed,

Hereupon the students began to fear, and go out of their beds, but they would not stir out of the chamber, and the host of the house ran out of doors, thinking the house would fall. The students lay near unto the hall wherein Dr. Faustus lay, and they heard a mighty noise and hissing, as if the hall had been full of snakes and adders. With that the hall door flew open wherein Dr. Faustus was. Then he began to cry for help, saying, " Murder, murder " but it was with a half voice, and very hollow. Shortly after they heard him no more. But when it was day, the students, that had taken no rest that night, arose and went into the hall in which they had left Dr. Faustus, where notwithstanding they found
place.
I

not Faustus, but

to

all

the hall sprinkled with blood, the brains cleaving

devil

the

wall,

for

the

another.

In

one corner lay his eyes,

had beaten him from one wall against in another his teeth, a fearful
to

and pitiful sight to behold. Then began the students weep for him, and sought for his body in many places.

wail

and

Lastly they

came
dung,

into the yard,

when they found

torn,

his

body lying on the horse

to

most monstrously
his joints

and

fearful

behold, for

his

head
that

and
and
they

all

masters
buried

that

were dashed to pieces. were at his death,

in

The fore-named students

obtained
so so

much,

him

the

village

where

he

was

grievously

tormented."

Before we quit the subject of the death of Dr. Faustus,

interesting to note, on the evidence of

it

is

Neuman,

that during the Thirty

War, when the enemy entered Saxony, a detachment found The commander was Breda, a village on the Elbe. speedily informed by the Magistrate of the village that he was occupying the identical house in which Faust had met his horrible death, and that the walls were still besprinkled with his blood. On
Years'

quarters at

confronting

this

ghastly

evidence,

the

soldiers

stood

for

awhile

aghast, and then fled from the place in horror.

Among

those to read the Faust story-book on

its

appearance

in

PREFACE
English was
the

Christopher

Marlowe, then about twenty-five, having

year

before

graduated
first

Master

of

Arts

at

Benet
"

College,

Cambridge.

His

play " Tamburlaine the Great " had

not long

been produced; his "Tragical History of Doctor Faustus

followed shortly afterwards.

probably

But the date of

its

appearance cannot

be fixed, as the earliest edition of the play

is

the quarto of 1604,

published eleven years after Marlowe met his death at the age of

twenty-nine
respects

in

tavern
to

brawl. the
tastes

Marlowe's Faustus
of

is

in

some

Englishmen than Goethe's Faust. Charles Lamb preferred it to the German drama, which, however, he only knew through a translation. Marlowe's fine tragedy is, after all, a straightforward piece of work of the conventional type, based on the old German storj'-book, unrelieved with any humour, and without a Marguerite. " What has Margaret to do with Faust?"
suited

more

Lamb, "a scene from Marlowe is worth Goethe's whole play." Certainly in the last scene Marlowe reaches the highest poiut of poetical expression. But Marlowe's " Faustus " will not bear comparison with Goethe's Faust. Whatever view one may take of Lamb's
said

judgment, the

greatness

of Marlowe's
like

tragedy cannot

be

denied.

Marlowe did

not,

however,

Goethe, take advantage of the oppor-

tunities that the subject afforded

him of treating

it

symbolically.

For a hundred and seventy or eighty years after the publication of the famous old history of Dr. Faustus, the legend continued to be kept alive by the appearance of various plays,
in

1587

pantomimes and romances based on the story of the Doctor's life. But by far the most important version of the legend is that Born at Frankfort on the Maine on August 28th, of Goethe. 1749, Johann Wolfgang was the son of Johann Caspar Goethe, an imperial councillor in Frankfort, and Katherine Elizabeth, daughter Goethe's father of Johann Wolfgang Texter, the chief magistrate. was a man of good education, but of a stern and pedantic character. His mother, on the other hand, was of a joyous, affectionate nature, who gained the love of everyone. She was well read in most of she was also witty, shrewd, the best German and Italian authors for a poet's mother. Her illustrious and, in short, the very woman " I and my Wolfgang," son was born when she was only eighteen. she said, " have always held fast to one another, because we were Young Goethe was a precocious child, and both young together."
;

PREFACE
was
especially

quick

in

picking

up languages, for
to

it

is

said

that

before he
Italian,

was eight he had learned

write

in

German, French,

list a knowledge and Hebrew. In October, 1765, at the age of sixteen, Goethe went to Leipzig to study at the University. After partially abandoning his studies, and giving some attention to art, he entered

Latin and Greek, and he later added to this

of English

the University of Strasburg in

love
:

1770.

Here, as at Leipzig, he

fell

in

he also studied Shakespeare, and returned

influence of Shakespeare on Goethe

home
first

as Dr. Goethe.
considerable.

The
This

was undoubtedly
to
his

influence

he admits

in

regard

published work,

" Goetz

named
novel,

Gottfried
"

von Berlichingen," the story of an old German hero, surof the Iron Hand. In 1774 was published his

The Sorrows
a certain
utters

of

Young Werther," which Lewes describes

under which
:

as " but the cry of that dim, rooted pain

all

thoughtful
misery,
all
it

men

of

age were languishing

the complaint
at
;

it

paints the

passionately

and

heart and voice

to
it."

over
to

Europe
which
"

loudly

and
"

once

responded
poet's

This
the

unrest

Werther

was the

response was

outcome

of

a sense of unreality consequent on conditions of over civilization.

The success of the book was enormous, but it did not suggest a remedy it was not until the thunder of the French Revolution had rolled away that any relief was found for the malaise with which the world was suffering. Henceforth Goethe enjoyed universal fame. In Europe generally he was known for many years solely as the author but in Germany, where he was a reality, of this sentimental romance
: ;

his

remarkable intellectual

gifts

brought him to the notice of his

most influential contemporaries.

the

Among them was

Karl

August,

Duke

of

Saxe-Weimar, who begged him

time
being

to visit his Court.

Goethe
7th,
all-

accepted the invitation, and arrived at

1775, his

Weimar on November
This
visit

age at the
this

twenty-six.

was

important to the young poet, as he

his

practically

spent the rest of

long

life

in

small city on the banks of the Ilm.

Werther

had set a fashion, not only in ideas, but in dress. Goethe no sooner the appeared at the Court than he made a conquest of everyone even the poet Wieland, who was one of the ladies worshipped him
;
;

fixed

literary
" In the

stars

in

the constellation

of

Weimar, was
ideal of

instantly

won.

costume," says Lewes, "of his own Werther, which was

instantly adopted by the

Duke, he seemed the

XV

a poet.

To

PREFACE
moderns there are no very sentimental suggestions in a costume which was composed of a blue coat and brass buttons, top boots and leather breeches, the whole surmounted by powder and pigtail but in those days this costume was the suggestion of everything tender and romantic. Werther had consecrated it." No one, however, was more completely captivated by Goethe than Karl August. He and Goethe became inseparables but this friendship, begun with such force, did not exhaust itself; it was composed of qualities of a more enduring kind than mere boon companionship, and grew into one of those friendships which last a lifetime. Karl August soon showed his great appreciation of Goethe by over-stepping precedence and electing him to the post of Geheime Legations Rath, with a seat
; ;

and voice on the Privy Council, and a salary of 1,200 thalers (200). This was the first of many honours that his kind-hearted patron showered upon him but as years went on the poet chafed at the
;

restrictions of Court

life,

and the deadening

efl^'ect

that

it

had on
it

his

work.

He

certainly produced his classical play Iphigoiia, but

was

not until he got

to

away

for

a time from Weimar,

to
Italy,

first

on a journey

Switzerland, and

later

that

his

powers of composition
off practically

returned to him with their old vigour.

Faust may be said to have occupied Goethe on and

all

his

life-time.

The
his

Faust

legend was
Strasburg,

familiar
saj's

to

him

from
an

childhood.

In

1770-1

while at

Lewes,

he formed

the idea of putting

old legend.

personal

experiences into the form of

until

However, he did nothing

first

1774-5,

when he wrote
first

the ballad of King Thule, the

monologue and the

love

scene

with

Wagner.

And

while he was in
:

with
in

Lili,

he sketched

Marguerite's catastrophe

" the

scene with her

the street, and in

her bedroom, and the scenes during the walk and

his
in

between

Faust

and

Mephistopheles

the street, and the garden scene."

During
additions

journey to

Switzerland

he
Italy

made some considerable

The play was
first

to

the work, and

when

in

he read over the whole MS., and

printed
in

made some
Faust: Bin

further additions.

1790,
title:

as a portion of the seventh volume of Goethe's works, with the

Fragment.
adding
night.

In

1797

he remodelled
the

the

entire

work,
the

afterwards

the

two

Prologues,
it

Dedication,

and

Walpurgis
completed

in 1801,

The play as and was included

now

stands

was

practically

in the

1806 edition of Goethe's work.

xvi

PREFACE
Commentators who have dealt with every phrase of Goethe's drama, have shown what were the sources from which he derived his story. The suhject is too vast and compHcated to he treated
here,

but

it

is

sufficient

to

say

that

Goethe's

researches

for

material were very wide and thorough, and, like Sir Walter Scott, he

studied the history of Witchcraft and the Black Art.

In his
Life of Goethe,
Faiisf,

George Henry Lewes gives an excellent

I

analysis
attention
subject.

of

to

which

cannot
to

do

better

than direct the

study of
the

of

the reader

who
is

desires

make

full

Goethe's
is

play
far

immeasurably

more

matured
of

than
the

Marlowe's, and
story.

from being a mere dramatic version

He

has not only given us a psychological and philosophical

life

life, but he has exalted it into a symbol of human and the resultant work may be compared to a brilliant with innumerable facets, each reflecting a different colour and light. The latter days of Goethe still found him engaged on Faust.

study of Faustus'
;

It

has been regretted that he did

not leave the

first

part as

However, he continued the story in a second part, a work compared with the earlier portion in point of interest. This composition was completed in July, 1831, and on March 22, 1832, Goethe passed away at Weimar, at the ripe age of 82.
fragment.
not to be

Faust
has formed

is

not very
basis

suitable

for

popular

representation,

but

it

the

of

several

acting versions,

some

of which

have attained great success, chief of whicli is undoubtedlv the grand opera, popular both on account of the romantic story which it presents, and of Gounod's music. This opera in five acts was first produced at the Theatre Lyrique, Paris, on March 19th,
1859.

The words, founded on

the

first

part of Goethe's drama, were

written by Barbier

&

Carre,
original cast
:

The

following

was the
-

Marguerite
Siebel

Mme. Miolan
Mile. Faivre.

Carvalho.

Faust
Valentin

Mephistopheles

M. Barbot. M. Regnal. M. Balanque.

Martha

Mme.

Duclos.

The opera
1863,
in

London as "Faust" on June 11th, English on January 23rd, 1864; and in Germany as
first

appeared

in

PREFACE
"

Margarethe."
closely..

The

story of

the

opera follows

Goethe's tragedy

very

Among
Lyceum
the
first

the notable theatrical representations of Faust, mention

of the production in

must be made

London by Henry

Irving at the

which was adapted by W. G. Wills from part of Goethe's drama, and was mounted with much costliness
in 1885.

The

play,

and magnificence,
in

is

still

remembered by theatre-goers as a land-mark

Miss Ellen Terry,
tells

the progress of their play-going experiences.

who
in

played Marguerite to

Henry

Irving's

Mephistopheles,

us

her reminiscences of the popularity of this production, but adds,

that

some

of the

Lyceum
realistic.

plays

mothers who took their daughters regularly to the drew a line at Faust, which they considered too
English

Goethe's Faust has been translated into

many
in

times.

The

earliest version is probably that published

anonymously
if

1821.

Shelley was perhaps the next to attempt the task, but his

untimely
he ever
to

death

in

July,

1822,

prevented
so.
It
is

him
said

from finishing
that
of

it,

contemplated

doing

he
the

intended
earlier

make

good certain

deficiencies

in

the

work

translator.

Besides a few fragmentary

lines,

he completed the Prologue, and the

is

May-day Night.

The beauty

of these pieces

of course far above

in

any

other English metrical translations of the play, and although

some

minor points Shelley has misconstrued the meaning of the original, one cannot but regret that he did not live to finish the work. His two scenes will be found in the appendix to this book. Professor

John Stuart Blackie made a good verse translation of Faust in student days (published in 1834), and many years afterwards, 1880, revised and re-issued it.
Dr. John Anster, an
of a translation of
Irish lawyer, contributed

his
in

some fragments

Faust to Blackwood's Magazine, and afterwards

in

reprinted the whole play

is

1835.
is

The

translation, for a metrical one,

true to the original, and

pleasantly written.

Perhaps the best

Taylor,

verse translation of both parts of Faust was

made by Bayard

This version is deservedh' esteemed by and published in 1870-1. some above all others. One of the most popular translations, however, is that of Miss Anna Swanwick (both parts, and in verse), which

Yet another version in verse, forms a portion of the Bohn series. by Sir Theodore Martin, appeared in 1865. F'rench literature has been
xviii

PREFACE
enriched by a translation of Faust by a distinguished Gerard de Nerval.
It
is

man

of letters,

very

difficult to

derive satisfaction from a prose translation

One can hardly preserve the beauty of Goethe's style the most that can be looked for is a clear and accurate rendering of the original. The only English translation which can in any way be said to give
expect
to
;

of Faust, and almost impossible from a metrical one.

this is the version

by Abraham Hayward, reprinted

in this book.

The

country gentleman of Wiltshire, himself the author of some books on the science of agriculture, Abraham Hayward was

son of

born

on

November 22nd,
educated at

1801,

at

White

Luckington,

Somerset.
after

He was
home

Blundell's

School,

Tiverton,

and

tuition

was

articled to a country solicitor, but he

some abandoned this

profession for the Bar, and entered

himself at the age of twentyStarting without friends in

three as a student of the Inner Temple.

London, he soon made many by joining the London Debating Society, where he became associated (among others) with J. S. Mill, who

commended
editors
until

his

of

the

Law

powers of speaking. Magazine, and

In

He became one
continued as
its

of the original sole

director

June,

1844.

the

Hayward
his

visited

Germany
of

in

meantime he was called to the Bar. 1831, and on his return he printed
private
circulation,

translation
it

Faust

for

and

afterwards

published
revisited

in

1833 through Moxon.

In the

autumn
January

of that year he

Germany,

and

in

the

following

re-issued

an

enlarged edition of Faust.

Germany, and was received with cordiality by Hallam, Southey, Rogers, Allan Cunningham, and many others. Carlyle regarded it as the best
well noticed in

The book was

version in English.
position in society,

The success

of Faust gave

Hayward an assured

and henceforth he became a regular contributor

to the leading reviews.

By this time he had gained some notoriety as an authority on gastronomy, and had published his well-known book on " The Art
of Dining." The attention which he devoted to this art, indeed, was not ill bestowed, for his dinners at his Chambers in the Temple attracted some of the most distinguished men and women of the day, such as Lockhart, Macaulay, Sydney Smith, Lansdowne, Henry Bulwer, Lord Lyndhurst, and Mrs. Norton. In 1844 Hayward

began to contribute

to the

Edinburgh Review that series of essays

xix

PREFACE
for

which he became so celebrated, and which contain some of

work.

his

best

He

died
in

at

his

rooms
his

at

St.
;

James's
a

Street,

on

February 2nd, 1882,

bered for his
to

his eighty-third

year

man

to be

remem-

brilliant talents,

and

generous character, although

his

contemporaries

he

too

often

hasty temper, and a biting tongue.

showed that he possessed a Hayward's chief interest in life

" Faust,"

seems

to

have been divided between

his

and Gastronomy.
thought

In

reprinting

translation

it

has

not

been

necessary to

reproduce his Prefaces, as the purpose for which they were written has to a great extent passed away. It has been thought desirable also
to abridge his

somewhat voluminous

notes.

Among
designs
in

the

many

illustrators

of Goethe's

Faiisf,

Retzsch was,

perhaps, the earliest, and he

outline,

is certainly the best known. These which were published about 1820, were admired by Shelley and perhaps gave him an interest in the subject. They

were also

familial' to the Rossetti's in their childhood.

Something has

already been said about the difficulty of translating Goethe's Faust into
the English language.
artist

The same new

difficulties

have hitherto beset the

who

has attempted to illustrate the play.

vein,

seems

to have discovered a

with a happier result

pictures, like

Mr. Pogany, however, and he has worked it, we think, than any of his numerous predecessors. His

the great
;

drama they

illustrate,

are to a great extent

emblematical

his

schemes of colour
scenes

reflect the particular

emotional

atmosphere

of

the

they represent, and a

details.

subtle

meaning

appears to be suggested by the merest

reveal a deeper symbolism

Mr. Pogany's pictures

others
F'aust
is

than has been

Faust.
its

reached by
picture
of

who
and

have attempted to

illustrate

That

Marguerite
lover's

in

the Garden, with

delicate evening mist,

a true

dream.

Again, turn to Faust and Marguerite in the

;

Summer-

house, and

note the gay joyousness of the colour

note also the

sun-light through the trees in the scene

Under

the

Lime Tree, and

the cold blue tone of despair

in

the
is
it,

last

illustration

all

veritable

colour

poems.

Although
all

Poganj'

thoroughly familiar with the

he has viewed the subject with

Faust legend, and

this

that concerns

the eyes of one making a venture into a

new land

of promise,

and

may account

for the freshness

and originality of

his compositions.

September, 1908.

Roger Ingpen.

FAUST

DEDICATION

YE
delusion
mist.

approach again, ye wavering shapes, which once,

in

the morning of Hfe, presented yourselves to

!

my
you
that

troubled view
fast
? ?

Shall
feel

try,

this time, to hold

my heart still inclined to Ye crowd upon me well then, ye may

Do
I
!

hold

dominion over me, as ye

rise

around out

of vapour

and

My bosom

feels

youthfully agitated

by the magic

breath which atmospheres your train.

Ye
loved
rises

bring with you the images of happy days, and

arise
:

many

shades

like

to

an old half-expired Tradition,

pang
fair

with Friendship, in their company. The renewed the plaint repeats the labyrinthine mazy course of life, and names the dear ones, who, cheated of
First-love,
is
;

hours by fortune, have vanished away before me.

They hear not the following

I

lays

the

souls

to

whom
first

sang

my

first.

Dispersed

is

the friendly throng

the

echo, alas has died

away

My

sorrow voices

itself

to the

stranger

many

their very applause

makes my heart

sick

and
still

all

that in

other days was gladdened by

scattered through the world.

my

song

if

living, strays

And a
Spirit-realm

yearning,
seizes

long

unfelt,

for

that

quiet

pensive
in

me.

'Tis

hovering even now,

half-

A formed tones, my lisping lay, hke the ^olian harp. tremor seizes me tear follows tear the austere heart feels What I have, I see as in the itself growing mild and soft. distance and what is gone, becomes a reality to me.
: :

PROLOGUE FOR THE THEATRE

Manager
Manager.

Theatre- Poet Merryman.

two,

who have

so

often

stood

by

me

in need and tribulation, say, what hopes do you happen to enter-

tain of our undertaking

upon German

ground
it

wish very much to please

the multitude, particularly because

lives

the boards, are put up,

to a feast.

and lets live. The posts, and every one looks forward

There they sit already, cool, with elevated brows, and would fain be set a wondering. I know

how

the spirit of the people

is

propitiated

yet

have never been in such a dilemma as now. True, they are not accustomed to the best, but they have
read a terrible deal.
all

How

shall

we manage

it

that

be fresh and new, and pleasing and instructive,

at

once?

when

the

For assuredly I like to see the multitude, stream rushes toward our booth, and, with
undulations,

powerfully-repeated

forces
in

itself

through

the

narrow portal of
before
four,

grace

when,
their

broad daylight, already

to

they

elbow

way

the

paying-place,

and

risk breaking their

necks for a

ticket, as in a

famine at

FAUST
bakers' doors for bread.
It
is

the poet only that works this

friend,

miracle on people so various

Poet.
at

my
me
spirit

oh

do

it

to-day

Oh

speak not to

of

that motley multitude,

flight.

whose very aspect one's

takes

Veil

from

me

that undulating throng, which sucks us, against our will,

into the whirlpool.

No! conduct me
friendship, with

to the quiet, heavenly

nook, where alone

pure enjoyment blooms

godlike
!

for

the

poet

where love and

from us
in

hand, create and

cherish our hearts' blessings.

Ah

the depths of the breast,

to
itself

what there hath gushed what the lip stammered

and now perchance Often succeeding the wild moment's sway swallows up. only when it has endured through years, does it appear in
tremblingly
failing,

now

completed form.

What
If
I

glitters,

is

born

for

the

moment
posterity

the genuine remains unlost to posterity.

Merryman. Suppose chose

I

could but hear no

more about

to talk about posterity,

who then would

malvc

fun for contemporaries ? That they will have and ought to have it. The presence of a gallant lad, too, is always something, I should think. Who knows how to impart himself

agreeably

he

will

never be soured by popular caprice.

it

He
Then
Let

desires a large circle, to agitate

the more certainly.

yourself

do but
Fancy,
Feeling,

try

your best, and

all

show

model.

with

her
but

choruses,

Passion,

mark

Reason, me well not

Understanding,
without
Folly,

be heard.
But, most particularly, let there be incident Manager. enough. People come to look; their greatest pleasure is to see. If much is spun off before their eyes, so that the many can gape with astonishment, you have then gained in breadth immediately You can only you are a great favourite. subdue the mass by mass. Each eventually picks out something for himself. Who brings much, will bring something
;

to

many

a one, and

all

leave the
6

house content.

If

you

PROLOGUE FOR THE THEATRE

give a piece, give
it

once
It

in
is

pieces
easily

With such
?

a hash, you

cannot but succeed.

invented.
pull
it

served out, as easily as

the public will

What
You
that

avails

to pieces for

it to present a whole you notwithstanding.

Poet.

feel not the

baseness of such a handicraft

artist
!

how

little

becomes the true

I

The daubing
you.

of

these fine sparks,

see, is already a

maxim with

Such a reproof does not mortify me at all. A man who intends to work properly, must have an eye to the best tool. Consider, you have soft wood to split and
Manager.
;

Whilst one is driven from a meal of too many dishes all, very many a one comes from reading the newspapers. People hurry dissipated to us, as to masquerades and curiosity only wings every
only look
!

whom
;

you are writing for

by ennui, the

comes satiated and, what is worst of

other

step.

The

ladies give themselves

and play with about on your poetical height ? What is it that makes a Half are full house merry ? Look closely at your patrons cold, half raw. One hopes for a game of cards after the play another, a wild night on the bosom of a wench. Why, poor fools that ye are, do ye give the sweet Muses much I tell you, only give more, and more, trouble for such an end ? and more again thus you can never be wide of your mark. to satisfy them is hard Try only to mystify the people
!

and their finery as a treat, us without pay. What are you dreaming

What
poet,

Poet.

come to you ? Delight or pain ? Begone and seek thyself another servant The forsooth, is wantonly to sport away for thy sake the
is
!

highest right, the right of man, which Nature bestows upon

him

By what
?

stirs

he every heart
not the

By what subdues he

every element

Is it

harmony

which

bursts from
?

out his breast, and sucks the world back again into his heart

When

Nature, carelessly winding, forces the thread's intermin;

able length upon the spindle

when
7

the confused multitude of

B
2

FAUST
all

Beings jangles out of tune and harsh,

who,
to

life-infusing
it

so

disposes the ever equably-flowing series, that

?

moves
general

rhythmically consecration

Who

calls
it

the
in

Individual

the
?

where
?

strikes

glorious
?

accords

Who
in

bids the tempest rage to passions

the evening-red glow

the pensive spirit

all

Who

scatters on the loved one's path

?

beauteous blossomings of spring

kinds

Who
?

wreathes the

unmeaning green leaves

of
all
?

into a garland of

honour for deserts

Who

ensures Olympus

associates

Gods

Man's Power revealed in the Poet. Merryman. Employ these fine powers then, and carry on your poetical affairs as one carries on a love-adventure. Accidentally one approaches, one feels, one stays, and little
one gets entangled. The happiness increases, then one is delighted, then comes distress and it is disturbed Let us also before one is aware of it, it is even a romance.
by
little
;

give a play in this manner.

Do

but grasp into the thick of

human
in
is

life
it

and seize
the

Every one lives it, to not many is it known where you will, it is interesting. Little clearness
;
!

motley images

much

falsehood and a spark of truth

this

brew the best liquor, which refreshes and edifies Then assembles youth's fairest flower to all the world. Then every play, and listens to the revelation. see your gentle mind sucks melancholy nourishment for itself from out your work then one while this, and one while that, is stirred up each one sees what he carries in his heart. They are as yet equally ready to weep and to laugh they still honour the

way

to

soaring, are pleased with the glitter.

there

is

no such thing as pleasing

One who is formed, one who is forming, will

when
I

always be grateful.
Poet.

Then give me
still

also back again the times,

;

myself was

forming

when

a fountain of crowded lays

;

when mists \eiled the sprang freshly and unbrokenly forth when I before me, the bud still promised miracles world

PROLOGUE FOR THE THEATRE

gathered
the
dales!

the
I

thousand

tiowers

which profusely
yet

filled

all

had nothing, and after truth, and the pleasure in those impulses untamed, the deep, energy of hate, the might of love

enough,

the

longing

delusion!

Give

me

back

pain-fraught happiness, the

!

Give me back my youth

friend,

Merryman.

Youth,

my good

you want indeed,

the loveliest

when
of
afar,

foes press you hard in the fight,

cling

when

lasses

with ardour round your neck,

of

when

from

course beckons from the hard-won goal, when, after the dance's maddening whirl, one drinks away the night carousing. But to strike the
the the
swift

garland

lyre with spirit and grace, to sweep along, with happy wanderings, towards a self-appointed aim that, old gentlemen, is j'our duty, and we honour you not the less on that account. Old age does not make childish, as men say

familiar

it

only finds us

still

as true children.
;

Manager. Words enough have been interchanged let me now see deeds also. Whilst you are turning compliments, something useful may be done. What boots it to stand
talking
so.
If

about being

in

the

vein

The
;

hesitating never
poets,

is

ye once give yourselves out

for

command
sip strong

poesy.

drink

You well know what we want now brew away immediately

!

we would What is

not doing

and no day should be wasted Resolution should boldly seize the possible by in dallying. She will then not let it go, and the forelock at once. works on, because she cannot help it. You know, upon our German stage, every one tries what he likes. Therefore spare me neither scenery nor machinery
to-day
is
;

not done to-morrow

upon this day. Use the greater and the lesser light of there is no want are free to squander the stars heaven you So tread, in this of water, fire, rocks, beasts, and birds. narrow booth, the whole circle of creation and travel, with considerate speed, from Heaven, through the World, to Hell.
; ; ;

FAUST
PROLOGUE
The Lord

IN

HEAVEN
Afterwards

the

Heavenly Hosts. Mephistopheles.

Tlic three

Archangels come forward.

Raphael.

chimes in, as ever, with the emulous music of his brother spheres, and performs his prescribed
sun

journey with thunder-speed.

gives

His aspect

strength

to

the

angels,

though

none can fathom him. Thy inconceivably sublime works are glorious as on the first day.
Gabriel.
of

And

rapid,

inconceivably rapid, the

;

pomp

the

earth

revolves

the

brightness of

paradise

alternates

with deep, fearful night.

The sea foams

;

broad waves at the deep base of the rocks and rock and sea are whirled on in the ever rapid course

up

in

of the spiieres.

Michael.

And storms

are roaring as

if

in

rivalry,

from

sea to land, from land to sea, and form

II

all

around a chain

FAUST
of

the

deepest

ferment

in

their

rage.

There,

flashing

desolation flares before the path of the thunder-chip.

But

thy messengers, Lord, respect the mild going of thy day.

Tlie
Tliree.

Thy aspect
first

gives

strength to the angels,

all

though none can fathom thee, and

are glorious as on the
Mephistopheles.
day.

thy sublime works

Since, Lord, you approach once again,

and inquu'e how things are going on with us, and on other occasions were generally not displeased to see me therefore is it that you see me also among your suite. Excuse me, cannot talk fine, not though the whole circle should cry scorn on me. My pathos would certainly make you laugh, have nothing to say about had you not left off laughing. only mark how men are plaguing suns and worlds I The little god of the world continues ever of themselves. He the same stamp, and is as odd as on the first day. would lead a somewhat better life of it, had you not given him a glimmering of heaven's light. He calls it reason, and He uses it only to be more brutal than every other brute. seems to me, with your Grace's leave, like one of the longlegged grass-hoppers, which is ever flying, and bounding as it flies, and then sings its old song in the grass; and would that he did but lie always in the grass He thrusts his

nose into every puddle. The Lord. Have you nothing else to say to

me

Are

you always coming for no other purpose than to complain ? Is nothing ever to your liking upon earth ? Mephistopheles. No, Lord! I find things there, as ever,
miserably bad.

Men,
I

in

their days of

wretchedness, move

my

pity

even

myself have not the heart to torment the

poor things.
TJie Lord.

Do you know Faust

The Doctor
servant
?

Mepliistoplieles.

The Lord.

My

12

PROLOGUE
Mephistopheles.
his

IN

HEAVEN

Verily! he serves you after a fashion of

own. The fool's meat and drink are not of earth. The ferment impels him towards the far away. He himself is half conscious of his madness. Of heaven he demands its brightest stars; and of earth its every highest enjoyment;

and

all

the near, and

all

the

far,

contents not his deeply-

agitated breast.

The Lord.
now,
I

Although he does but serve

light.

me

in perplexity

shall

soon lead him into

When
fruit

the tree buds,

will

the gardener

knows that blossom and

deck the

coming years.
Mephistopheles.

him
way.

yet,

if

you give

What will you wager? you shall lose me leave to guide him quietly my own
lives
is

The Lord.
it

So long as he

upon the earth, so long be

liable

not forbidden to thee.

Man

to error, whilst his

struggle lasts.
Mephistopheles.
I
I

am much
not at

obliged to you for that; for

I

have never had any fancy for the dead.

I

like

plump, fresh
I

cheeks the best.

am

home

to a corpse.

am

like

the cat with the mouse.

The Lord. spirit from his

seize

Enough,

it

is

permitted thee.

Divert this
if

original source,

and bear him,

thou canst

down on thy own path with thee. And stand abashed, when thou are compelled to own a good man, in his dark strivings, may still be conscious of the right way.
him,

Mephistopheles.
I

Well, well,
pain for

only

it

will

not
I

last

long.

my wager. Should Dust excuse my triumphing with my whole soul. eat, and with a relish, like my cousin, the renowned

am

not at

all

in

succeed,
shall

he

snake.

The Lord.
I

There also you are free

like

to act as
all

you

like.

have never hated the

is

of you.

Of

the spirits that

deny, the scoffer

is all

the least offensive to me.

:

Man's

activity

too prone to slumber

he soon gets fond of unconditional

13

FAUST
repose;
stirs
I

am

therefore glad to give him a companion,

devil,
in

who
of

and works, and must, as

children
of

be doing.
the living

But

ye, the

true

heaven, rejoice

profusion

beauty.
all

The

creative essence, which works and lives through

of love
;

time,

embrace you within the happy bounds

in

and
with

what

hovers

changeful

seeming, do
[Heaven

ye

fix

firm

everlasting

thoughts.
closes, the Arehaiigels disperse.

Mephistopheles
occasionally,
really civil
in

(alone).

like

to see

the Ancient
him.

One
It is

and take care not to break with

so great a Lord, to speak so kindly with the

Devil himself.

THE DRAMA
NIGHT
Faust in a high-vaulted narrow Gothic chamber, seated
restlessly at his desk.

Faust.

HAVE

now,

alas,

by zealous exertion,
philosophy,

thoroughly

mastered

the

jurist's craft,

and medicine,

and
I

to

my

sorrow, theology too.

Here

stand,

poor fool that

before.
I

am, just as wise as

Master, ay, and
for

am

called

Doctor, and have

now

nearly ten

years been leading

my

pupils

about

up and down, crossways and crooked ways nose and see that we can know nothing
;
!

by

the
it
I

This
True,

is

that almost burns up the heart within me.

am

cleverer

than

all

the

solemn

triflers

doctors,
For
no longer

masters, writers, and priests.

trouble
this

No

doubts nor scruples

devil.
I

me

fear neither hell nor the

is

very reason

all

joy torn from me.

;

fancy
I

no longer fancy could teach anything to better and to convert mankind.

I I I

know anything worth knowing

Then

have

neither land nor money, nor honour and rank

15

FAUST
any longer. I have therefore devoted myself to magic whether, through the power and voice of the Spirit, many a mystery might not become known to me that I may no longer, with bitter
in

the world.

No dog would

like

to live so

sweat, be obliged to speak of what

do not know

that

may
see

learn
all

what holds the world together in its inmost core, the springs and seeds of production, and drive no
in

longer a paltry traffic

words.

would that thou, radiant moonlight, wert looking thou, for whom I have for the last time upon my misery then, over sat watching so many a midnight at this desk books and papers, melancholy friend, didst thou appear to might wander on the mountain-tops in me Oh that thy loved light hover with spirits round the mountain cavesflit over the fields in thy glimmer, and, disencumbered from all the fumes of knowledge, bathe myself sound in thy dew still penned up in this dungeon ? Woe is me am accursed, musty, walled hole ! where even the precious light of heaven breaks mournfully through painted panes, stinted by this heap of books, which worms eat dust begrimes which, up to the very top of the vault, a smoke-smeared paper encompasses with glasses, boxes ranged round, with instruments piled up on all sides, ancestral lumber stuffed This is thy world, and a precious world in with the rest.
! ; ; ! !

Oh

it

is

And
in

dost thou
?

still

ask,

why
life ?

thy heart flutters confinedly

thy

bosom

Why

a vague

aching deadens within thee

every stirring principle of

nature, for which

Instead

of

the

animated
in

God made man,

thou hast nought around

thee but beasts' skeletons and dead men's bones,

smoke

and mould.

Up
for thee

awa}'

out into the wide world

is

And
it

this

mysterious

book, from
!

Nostradamus' own hand,

not guide enough

of the stars, and,

Thou then knowest the course

i6

NIGHT
when nature
to
thee, as

instructs thee, the soul's essence then rises up

speaks to another. poring here expounds the holy signs to thee

spirit

one

Vain
!

that dull

Ye

are hovering,

ye Spirits, near

me

answer me
thrills
I

if

you hear me.

at

[He opens the book and perceives the sign of the Macrocosm.

Ah
glowing,

what
shoot

rapture
!

all

senses at this sight

feel

fresh,

once through ail my hallowed life-joy, new-

through
?

nerve

that traced these signs

fill

and vein. Was it a god which still the storm within me,

poor heart with gladness, and, by a mystical intuition, unveil the powers of nature all around me. Am I a God ?
All

my

grows so bright
I

see,

in

these pure lines,

Nature
the
first

herself working in

my

soul's

presence.

time do
is

conceive what the sage saith,

Now
"

for

The
is

spirit-world

not closed.

Thy sense

is

shut,

thy heart

dead

Up,

acolyte! bathe, untired, thy earthly breast in the morning-red."

[He contemplates the sign.

How

all

weaves

itself

lives in the other.

How

into the whole one works and heavenly powers ascend and descend,
;

and reach each other the golden buckets, with bliss-exhaling pinions, press from heaven through earth, all ringing harmoniously through the All.

What
of
all
life,

show

but

Ah
?

seize thee, inHnite nature

show only Where shall I Ye breasts, where ? ye sources

a
!

the

blighted

on which hang heaven and earth, towards which breast presses ye gush, ye suckle, and am I

thus languishing

in vain

[He turns over the book indignantly, and sees the sign of the Spirit of the Earth.

How

differently this

sign

affects

me
;

Thou, Spirit of
feel

the Earth, art nearer to me.

exalted, already glow as with

Already do

my

energies

new wine
stand

feel

courage to

venture into the world

to

to endure earthly weal, earthly

woe

wrestle

with

storms,

and
17

unshaken

mid

the

FAUST
shipwreck's crash.

Clouds
;

thicken over
;

me

the
;

moon

pales

her light
flash

the lamp dies

away

exhalations arise

red beams

round

my head
roof

a cold shuddering flickers

!

down from
it

the vaulted
flitting

and fastens on me
in

feel

thou

art
!

round me, prayer-compelled

a

Spirit.
all

Unveil thyself

Ah

what
to

tearing

my

heart
!

stirring

new

sensations

feel

my senses are upmy whole heart

!

surrendered to thee.

Thou must

thou
;

must

should

it

cost

me my

life.

[He seizes the book and pronounces mystically the sign of the Spirit. A red flame flashes up the Spirit appears in the
flame.

Spirit.

Who

calls to

me

Faust {averting his

Spirit

face).

Horrible vision

Thou hast compelled me

hither, by dint of

long

sucking at
Faust.
Spirit.

my

sphere.
!

And now
I

Torture

endure thee

not.

Thou, prayest, panting, to see me, to hear

my

voice, to see

my
!

face.

Thy powerful
calling
?

invocation works upon

me.

am
is

here
the

What
soul's
in itself,

pitiful terror seizes thee,

the demigod
breast,
it ?

Where

Where
lift

is

the

that

created a world
the

and upbore and cherished

itself to

which,

with tremors of delight, swelled to

us,

a level with

Where art thou, Faust, whose voice rang who pressed towards me with all his energies ? Art thou he ? thou, who, at the bare perception of my breath,
Spirits.

to me,

art

shivering through

all

the

depths of

life,

a trembling,

writhing

worm

?
I

Faust.

Shall

yield

to thee, child of

Are

am

he,

am

Faust thy equal.

Spirit.

In the tides of In the

I

life.

storm of action,

am

tossed up and down,

drift hither

and

thither.

NIGHT
Birth and grave,

An

eternal sea,

A A
Thus
I

changeful weaving,

glowing

life

work at the whizzing loom of time, And weave the living clothing of the Deity. Faust. Busy spirit, thou who sweepest round the wide
world,

how near

feel to thee

Spirit.

Thou

art

mate

for

the

Spirit

whom

thou

COnceivest, not for me.

[The Spirit vanishes.

!

Faust (collapsing).
I,

the image of

Not for thee For whom then the Deity, and not mate for even thee!
it

[A knocking at the door.

Oh, death
fortune
is

know

that

is

my
!

amanuensis.

My

fairest

turned to naught.
[Wagner

That the un-idea'd groveller

and
night -cap, with a
in .displeasure.

must disturb

this fulness of visions

enters in his dressing-gown

in his

lamp

hand.

Faust turns round

you were improve myself in this art, for no\v-a-days it influences a good deal. I have often heard say, a player might instruct a priest.
;

Wagner.

surely reading a

Excuse me I hear you declaiming Greek tragedy. I should like

to

Faust.

Yes,

when
!

the priest

is

a player, as

may

likely

enough come to pass occasionally. Wagner. Ah when a man is so confined to his study, and hardly sees the world of a holyday hardly through a telescope, only from afar how is he to lead it by persuasion ? Faust. If you do not feel it, you will not get it by hunting for it, if it does not gush from the soul, and Sit subdue the hearts of all hearers with original delight. at it for ever glue together cook up a hash from the feast of others, and blow the paltry flames out of your own little heap of ashes You may gain the admiration of children if you have a stomach for it but you will never and apes,

19

FAUST
touch the hearts of others,
if

it

does not fiow fresh from

that

your own.

Wagner.
success.
I

But

it

is

elocution
I

makes the

orator's

feel well that

am

still

far behindhand.

Try what can be got by honest means Be no tinkling fool Reason and good sense are expressed with little art. And when you are seriously intent on saying something, is it necessary to hunt for words ? Your speeches, say, which are so glittering, in which ye crisp the shreds of humanity, are unrefreshing as the mist-wind which whistles through the withered leaves in autumn. Wagner. Oh, God art is long, and our life is short.
Faust.
!

Often indeed, during

in

head and heart

suffer both my critical studies, do How hard it is to compass the means

I
;

by which one mounts to the fountain-head

Faust.

and before he
!

has got half way, a poor devil must probably die

Is

parchment the holy

soul.

well, a drink

from which

allays the thirst for ever?

if

Thou hast not gained refreshment,

it is

it

gushes not from thy own

Wagner.
one's-self

Excuse me
spirit

a great pleasure to transport

;

into the

of

the times
to

to see

how

a wise

man has thought before us, and we have at last carried it.
Faust.

what a glorious height

My friend, the Oh, yes, up to the very stars. What you term past ages are to us a book with seven seals. the spirit of the times, is at bottom only your own spirit
in

which the times are

it

reflected.

miserable exhibition,
it

too,

frequently

is

One runs away from

and a

at at

the

first

glance!

dirt-tub

lumber-room! and,

best,

puppet-show play, wnih fine pragmatical saws, such as may happen to sound welt in the mouths of the puppets the heart and mind of man Wagner. But the world like to know something about that. every one would Who dares call Faust. Aye, what is called knowing
!
! !

20

NIGHT
name ? The few who have ever known anything about it, who siUily enough did not keep a guard over their full hearts, who revealed what they had felt and
the child by
its

true

seen to the multitude,

crucified

these,
I

time immemorial, have been

friend

and

burned.

beg,

the
off.

night

is

far

advanced for the present we must break

Wagner. could with you so learnedly.
I

of

Easter, permit
I

me

have kept waking to converse To-morrow, however, the first day a question or two more. Zealously
fain

have
I

devoted myself to study.

True,

know much

but

[Exit. would fain know all. Faust {alone). How all hope only quits not the brain, which clings perseveringly to trash, gropes with greedy hand for treasures, and exults at finding earth-worms Dare such a human voice sound here, where all around me teemed with spirits ? Yet ah, this once I thank thee,

thou poorest of

all

the sons of earth.

Thou

didst snatch

me from
sense.

despair,
!

which

had well-nigh got the better of

so giant-great, that
I

Alas

the vision

was

felt quite

shrunk into a dwarf.

I,

formed

in

God's own

image,

who
;

already

thought

myself near to the mirror of eternal truth

stripped off
in its

who

revelled, in

heaven's lustre and clearness, with the earthly part of

;

me

I,

more than cherub, whose

life

free spirit already,

imaginative soarings, aspired to glide through nature's

of gods

veins, and, in creating, enjoy the

how
I

must
If

atone for
I

it!

a thunder-word has swept

me

wide away.
I

dare not presume to mate myself with thee.

to hold thee. In that blest

have possessed the power to draw thee to me,

had no
so
little,

power

moment,

felt

so great; you cruelly thrust me back upon the uncertain lot Who will teach me ? What am I to shun ? of humanity. Must I obey that impulse ? Alas our actions, equally with
!

our sufferings, clog the course of our

21

lives.

FAUST
and more foreign, is ever clinging to the noblest conception the mind can form. When we have attained to the good of this world, what is better is termed falsehood and vanity. The glorious feelings which gave us
foreign,
life,

Something

grow
If

torpid in the wordh' bustle.

phantasy, at one time, on

daring wing, and

full

of

for is now enough her, when venture after venture has been wrecked in the whirlpool of time. Care straightway nestles in the depths of the heart, hatches vague tortures there, rocks herself restlessly, and frightens joy and peace away. She is ever putting on new masks she may appear as house and land, as wife and child, as fire, water, dagger and poison. You tremble before all that does not befall you, and must be always wailing what you never lose. I am not like the godheads I feel it but too deeply. I am like the worm, which drags itself through the dust, which, as it seeks its living in the dust, is crushed and buried by the step of the passer-by. Is it not dust? all that in a hundred shelves contracts this lofty wall the frippery, which, with its thousand forms of emptiness, cramps me up in this moth-world ? Shall I find what want here ? Must go on reading in a thousand books, that men have everywhere been miserable, that now and then there has been a happy one. Thou, hollow skull, what mean'st thou by that grin ? but that thy brain, like mine, was once bewildered, sought the bright day, and, with an ardent longing after truth, went

hope, dilates to infinity,

little

space

miserably astray in the twilight

Ye instruments

are surely mocking me, with your wheels

and cogs, cylinders and collars. I stood at the gate, ye were to be the key true, your wards are curiously twisted, but you raise not the bolt. Inscrutable at broad day, nature does not suffer herself to be robbed of her veil and what
; ;

22

NIGHT
she does not choose to reveal to thy mind, thou wilt not wrest from her by levers and screws.
art

Thou, antiquated lumber, which here only because my father

roll,

have never used, thou had occasion for you.

been growing smoke-besmeared since the dim lamp first smouldered at this desk. Far better would it be for me to have squandered away the little I possess, than to be sweating here under the burthen of that
hast
little.

Thou, old

To possess what thou hast

it.
;

inherited from thy sires,

is

enjoy

burden

What one does what the moment

not profit by,

brings forth,

an oppressive
only can
it

that

profit by.

But why are my looks fastened on that spot is that phial there a magnet to my eyes ? Why, of a sudden, is all
:

so exquisitely bright, as

one benighted
I

in

the

when wood ?
I

the moonlight breathes round

hail thee,
;

thou precious phial, which

in

now

take

down

with reverence
of
I

thee

honour the wit and art of man.

Thou abstraction
all

of kind soporific juices, thou concentration

refined deadly essences,

is

show thy favour

;

to thy master

see thee, and the pang

;

mitigated

grasp thee, and the

struggle abates

the spirit's

flood-tide ebbs

by degrees.

to me. prepared to permeate the realms of space, on a new track, to new spheres of pure activity. This sublime
I

am beckoned out into the wide sea; the glassy wave at my feet another day invites to other shores. A chariot of fire waves, on light pinions, down
;

glitters

feel

existence,

this

god-like

beatitude

And

thou,

worm

but

now, dost thou merit it ? Aye, only resolutely turn thy back on the lovely sun of this earth Dare to tear up the gates which each willingly slinks by Now is the time to show by deeds that man's dignity yields not to God's sublimity,
!

to

quail

not

in

presence
itself

of
its

that

dark

abyss,

in

which
c 2

phantasy

damns

to

own

torments

to

struggle

33

FAUST
onwards
is

to that pass, round

;

whose narrow mouth

upon the
step,

all

Hell

flaming

calmly to resolve

even at the

risk of dropping into nothingness.

which I have from your old forth not thought for many a year, You glittered at my father's festivities you receptacle gladdened the grave guests, as one passed you to the other. down, pure crystal
goblet, on

Now come
!

The gorgeousness

of

the

many

artfully-wrought

images,

the drinker's duty to explain them in rhyme, to empty the

contents at a draught,
youth.
I

remind
It
fills

me

of

many

a night of
:

my

shall

not

now

pass you to a neighbour

shall

not

now

display

my

wit on your devices.

Here

is

a juice

which soon
flood.

intoxicates.
this last

your cavity with

I

its

brown
I

Be

draught

which
to his

have brewed, which

as

choose

quaffed,

with

my whole

soul,

solemn

festal

greeting to the morn.

[He places the goblet

mouth.

The ringing of

bells

and singing of choruses.

CHORUS OF ANGELS.
Christ
is

arisen

Joy to the mortal,

Whom

the corrupting, Creeping, hereditary Imperfections enveloped.

Faust.
irresistibly

What deep humming, what clear strain, draws Are ye hollowthe goblet from my mouth ?

sounding bells already proclaiming the first festal hour of Are ye choruses already singing the comforting Easter ?

hymn, which once, round the night of the sepulchre, pealed forth, from angel lips, assurance to a new covenant
!

CHORUS OF WOMEN.

With

spices
;

Had we embalmed him We, his faithful ones, Had laid him out.
24

NIGHT
Clothes and bands
Cleanlily swathed

we round;

Ah

and we find Christ no more here

!

CHORUS OF ANGELS.
Christ
is

arisen

Happy

Who

the loving one, the afflicting,

Wholesome and chastening

Trial has stood
!

Faust.

Why, ye heavenly
out
in
!

tones, subduing and soft, do

you seek
are
to

me

the dust
I

Peal out, where weak

men

be
is

found

hear

the

Miracle

the pet child of faith.

message, but want faith. I dare not aspire to those

;

from whence the glad tidings sound and yet, accustomed to this sound from infancy, it even now calls me back to life. In other days, the kiss of heavenly love descended upon me in the solemn stillness of the Sabbath
spheres
then the full-toned
bell

sounded so

fraught

with

mystic
longing,

meaning, and a prayer was intense enjoyment.

inconceivably sweet, drove me forth to wander over wood and plain, and amidst a thousand burning tears, I felt a world rise up to me. This anthem harbingered the gay sports of youth, the unchecked happiness of spring festivity.
Recollection

now

holds

the last decisive step.

strains
!

The

tear

is

me back, with childlike feeling, from Oh sound on, ye sweet heavenly flowing, earth has me again.
!

CHORUS OF DISCIPLES.

The Buried One,

Already on high,
Living, sublime,

Has

gloriously raised himself

is,

He
Ah
!

in

reviving

bliss,

Near

to creating joy.

on earth's bosom Are we for suffering here

25

FAUST
left us, his own, Languishing here below Alas we weep over. Master, thy happy lot
!

He

CHORUS OF ANGELS.
Christ
is

arisen

Out

of corruption's lap.

Joyfully tear yourselves

Loose from your bonds Ye, in deeds giving praise to him,

!

Love manifesting.
Breaking bread brethren-like.
Travelling and preaching him,
Bliss promising

You

is

the master nigh,

is

For you

he here

BEFORE THE GATE

Promenaders of
all kinds

pass

out.

Some Mechanics.

that

way

Ot/iers.

We

are going up to the

Jiigerhaus.

The Former.
mill.

But we are going

I

to

the

A A
A A

Mechanic.
Second.
Third.

advise you to go to the

Wasserhof.

The road
I

is

not at

all

pleasant.
?

T/te others.

Fourth.

What shall you do then am going with the others, Come up to Burghdorf you
;

are there sure of finding the prettiest girls

and the best beer, and rows

of the first order.

Fifth.
?
I

You

wild fellow,

third time

don't like

your skin itching for the I have a horror of going there

is
;

that place.

Servant Girl.
Another.
poplars.

No, no,
shall

shall return to the town.

We

find

him

to

a certainty by those

The

First.

That
side.

walk by your
the green.

He will no great gain for me. With you alone does he dance upon
is
I

What have

to

do with your pleasures?

27

FAUST
Tlie Second.

He

is

sure not to be alone to-day.

The

curly-head, he said, would be with him.

Student.

The

come
taste.

along, brother,

stinging

tobacco,

how the brave wenches step out; we must go with them. Strong beer, and a girl in full trim, that now is my
devil
!

Citizens'

Daughters.
really a

Now

do but

look

at

those fine
of

lads

It

is

shame.

They might have the best

!

company, and are running after these servant-girls. Second Student to the First. Not so fast there are coming up behind they are trimly dressed out. One two have a great liking for the girl. of them is my neighbour They are walking in their quiet way, and yet will suffer us
; ;

to join

them in the end. The First. No, brother.

Quick, lest

do not

like

to

be under

The hand that twirls the mop on a Saturday, will fondle you best on Sundays Townsman. No, the new Burgomaster is not to my taste now that he has become so, he is daily getting Is it not bolder and what is he doing for the town ?
restraint.

we

lose

the game.

growing worse every day

One

is

obliged

to
in

submit to

more

restraints

than ever,

and pay more than

any time
ladies,

before.

Beggar

(sings).

Ye good gentlemen, ye

lovely

so trimly dressed and rosy cheeked, be pleased to look upon

me, to regard and relieve

sing

my

wants.

Do

not suffer
is

me

to

here

in

vain.
is

The free-handed only

a holiday to
all,

light-hearted.

Be

the day, which

a harvest-day to me.

Another Townsman. I know nothing better on Sundays and holidays than a chat of war and war's alarms, when
people are fighting,
behind,
far

away
his
;

in

Turkey.

A man
home

stands

at

the

window, takes

off

glass,

and sees the

returns

painted vessels glide

down

the

river

then

glad at heart at eve, and blesses peace and times of peace.

28

BEFORE THE GATE

Third Townsman.
to

Aye, neighbour,
care

have no objection
heads,

that

they

may break one

another's
I
;

and turn
things at

everything topsy-turvy, for aught

only

let

home remain

as they are.

Old Woman to the Citizens' Daughters. Hey dey: how smart the pretty young creatures. Who would not be smitten with you ? Only not so proud it is all very well and what you wish, I should know how to put you in the

An

way

of getting.
Citizen's Daughter.

Come

along, Agatha.
in

take care

not to be seen with such witches

public

true,

on Saint
in

Andrew's eve, she showed me

and blood.

my

future sweetheart

flesh

The
but
I

other.

She showed me mine

;

in
I

the glass, soldier-like,

with other bold fellows

Soldier.

look around,

seek him everywhere,

can never meet with him.

Towns with

lofty

Walls and battlements,

Maidens with proud

Scornful thoughts,
I

fain

would win.

Bold the adventure.

Noble the reward.

And
As So

the trumpets

Are our summoners

to joy to death.
is

That That

a storming.

is

life

for you!

Maidens and towns

Must surrender.
29

FAUST
Bold the adventure, Noble the reward

And
Are

the soldiers
off.

Faust.

Faust and Wagner. River and rivulet are freed from

glance of
the
dale.

ice

by the gay

quickening

the

spring.

The
in

joys
his

of

hope

are

weakness, has from thence he sends, in his flight, nothing but impotent showers of hail, in flakes, over the green-growing meadows. But the Sun endures no Production and growth are everywhere stirring white. he
in

budding

Old

winter,
;

retreated to the bleak mountains

is

about to enliven everything with colours.

flowers
;
.

wants
instead.

he

takes

gaily-dressed

The landscape men and women

the town.

crowd.
arisen

this rising ground upon Forth from the gloomy portal presses a motley Every one suns himself so willingly to-day. They

Turn

and look back from

celebrate the rising of the

;

Lord, for they themselves have

of

houses, from the bondage of mechanical drudgery, from the confinement of gables and roofs, from the stifling narrowness of streets, from the venerable gloom of churches, are they all raised

from

the

damp rooms

mean

up to the open
the river,
in

light of
itself

day.

But

look, look

how

quickly
;

the mass scatters

through the gardens and

fields

how

breadth and length, tosses

many

a merry bark

upon

its

surface, and

how

this last

wherry, overladen almost

farthest paths of the

to sinking,

moves

off.

Even from the

dresses

mountain,

gay-coloured
bustle of
;

glance
;

upon
is

us.

hear
Here,

already the

the village

here

the true heaven

of the multitude
I

big
I

and

little

are huzzaing joyously.

am

man

here,

may be

one.

Wagner. To walk with you, Sir Doctor, is honour and But I would not lose myself here alone, because I profit.
30

BEFORE THE GATE

am
an enemy to coarseness of every sort. sounds thoroughly skittle-playing, are People run
merriment,
riot as
if

Fiddlinj;;,

shouting,
to

detestable

me.
it

the devil

was

driving them, and call

call it singing.

RUSTICS UNDER THE LIME TREE.

DANCE AND SONG.

The swain dressed himself out for the dance, With party-coloured jacket, ribbon and garland, Smartly was he dressed The ring round the lime-tree was already full,
!

And

all

were dancing
!

like

mad.

Huzza! Huzza!
Tira-lira-hara-la

Merrily went the fiddle-stick.

He

pressed eagerly

in.

Gave a maiden a push With his elbow The buxom girl turned round
:

And

said

" Now that

!

call stupid."

Huzza
" Don't be so

Huzza
ill

Tira-lira-hara-la

bred."
it

Yet nimbly sped

They turned

right,

in the ring they turned left.

;

And all the petticoats were flying. They grew red, they grew warm, And rested panting arm-in-arm,
Huzza! Huzza!
Tira-lira-hara-la
!

And elbow on
"

hip.

Have done now

don't be so fond

"
!

a man has cajoled and Deceived his betrothed, But he coaxed her aside, And far and wide echoed from the lime-tree

How many

Huzza! Huzza!
Tira-lira-hara-la
!

Shouts and

fiddle-sticks.

31

FAUST
good of you, not to scorn us to-day, and great scholar as you are, to mingle in this crowd. Take then the fairest jug, which we have filled with fresh liquor I pledge you in it, and pray aloud that
Doctor, this
is

Old Peasant.

really

it

may do more than quench your

which
I

thirst

may

the

number

of drops

it

holds be added to your days.

Faust.
all

accept the refreshing draught, and wish you

[The people
collect

health and happiness in return.

round him.

Old Peasant.

appear on this glad day.

days, too, before now.

Of a surety it is well done of you, to You have been our friend in evil

Many
tiie

a one stands here alive

that time a young

whom

your father tore from

the
pestilence.

hot fever's rage,

when he stayed

You

too, at
:

into every sick house

but you came out safe.

man, went many a dead body was borne forth, You endured many a sore trial. The

Helper above helped the helper. All. Health to the tried friend

may

he long have the

teaches

power
help,

to help

Faust.

Bend before Him on

high,

who

how

to

and sends help. Wagner. What a feeling, great man, must you experience at the honours paid you by this multitude. Oh, happy he who can turn his gifts to so good an account. The father points you out to his boy all ask, and press, and hurry round. The fiddle stops, the dancer pauses. As you go by, they range themselves in rows, caps Hy into the air, and they all but bend the knee as if the Host were passing. Faust. Only a few steps further, up to that stone yonder Here we will rest from our walk. Here many a time have I sat, thoughtful and solitary, and mortified myself with prayer and fasting. Rich in hope, firm in faith,
; !

[He proceeds with Wagner.

thought to extort the stoppage of that pestilence from the Lord of Heaven, with tears, and sighs, and wringing of
32

BEFORE THE GATE

hands.

The applause

of

the

multitude
in

now sounds

to

like derision.
little

Oh

couldst thou read

my

inmost

soul,
!

me how

My and son have merited such an honour father was a worthy, sombre man, who, honestly but in his own way, meditated, with whimsical application, on nature
father
;

who, in the company of adepts, and her hallowed circles shut himself up in the dark laboratory, and fused contraries together after numberless recipes. There was a red lion, a bold lover, married to the lily in the tepid bath, and then
both, with

open flame, tortured from one

If

bridal

chamber
hues,

to

another.

the

young

queen,

with

varied
;

then

appeared
died,
hellish

the patients was the physic and no one inquired who recovered. Thus did we, with
in

the glass

this
in

electuaries,

rage

these vales and mountains

I

far

worse than the

to thousands
;

pestilence.

myself have given the poison

I

they pined away, and

!

must survive to hear

the reckless murderers praised

Wagner.
account
?

How
it

can you make yourself uneasy on that

Is

not

enough

for

a good

man

to

practice

conscientiously and scrupulously the art that has been handed

over to him
willingly

If,

in

youth, you honour your father, you will

:

learn

from him

if,

in

manhood, you extend the

still

bounds of knowledge, your son may mount

you.

higher than

still hope to emerge would use the very thing we know not, and cannot use what we know. But let us not embitter the blessing of this hour by such melancholy reflections. See, how the green-girt cottages shimmer in the setting Sun He bends and sinks the day is overlived. Yonder he hurries off, and quickens other life. Oh that I have no wing to lift me from the ground, to struggle after, for ever after, him I should see, in everlasting evening beams, the stilly world at my feet, every height on fire,

Faust.

Oh, happy

he,

who can

from

this sea of error

We

33

FAUST
every vale
streams.
in

repose,

the
my

silver

brook flowing into golden

all

The rugged mountain, with

heated bays, opens on

its

dark

defiles,

would not then break

with
its

godlike course.

Already
light,

the sea,

my

enraptured

sight.

Yet
day

the god seems at last to sink away.

But the new impulse

wakes.
before

hurry on to drink his everlasting

behind,

the

under
he
is

me and the night me the waves. A

gone.
Alas,

the

heavens above, and

!

no

as glorious dream bodily wing will so

it

is

passing,

easily

keep

pace with the wings of the mind. Yet it is the inborn tendency of our being for feeling to strive upwards and

onwards
sings

when, over

us, lost

in

the blue expanse, the lark

when, over rugged pine-covered heights, the outspread eagle soars and over marsh and sea, the crane struggles onwards to her home. I myself have often had my whimsical Wagner.
its trilling lay:
;

moments, but
kind.

One

never yet experienced an impulse of the soon looks one's fill of woods and fields, I shall
I

never envy the wings

pleasures
of

of

the
us,

bird.

How

differently
to

the

the mind

bear

from book

book,

from

page to page. With them, winter nights become cheerful and bright, a happy life warms every limb, and, ah when you actually unroll a precious manuscript, all heaven comes
!

down

to you.

Thou art conscious only of one impulse. Two souls, never become acquainted with the other
Faust.
!

Oh,
alas,

dwell

in

my

breast

the one would fain separate

clings,

itself

from
lifts

the other.

The one

with persevering fondness, to

:

the world, with organs like cramps of steel

itself energetically
!

the other

from the mist to the realms of an exalted ancestry. Oh if there be spirits in the air, which hover ruling 'twixt earth and heaven, descend ye, from your golden atmosphere, and lead me off to a new variegated life. Aye, were but a magic mantle mine, and could it bear me into
34

BEFORE THE GATE

foreign
lands,
I

would not part with

it

for

the costliest

garments not for a king's mantle. Wagner. Invoke not the well-known troop, which diffuses itself, streaming, through the atmosphere, and prepares danger in a thousand forms, from every quarter, The sharp-fanged spirits, with arrowy tongues, to man. press upon you from the north from the east, they come parching, and feed upon your lungs. If the south sends from the desert those which heap fire after fire upon thy brain, the west brings the swarm which only refreshes, to drown fields, meadows, and yourself. They are fond of listening,
;

ever

keenly alive for mischief: they obey with pleasure, because they take pleasure to delude they feign to be sent from heaven, and lisp like angels when they lie. But let
;

us

be going

the earth
is

is
;

already grown
is

grey, the

air

is

chill,

the mist

falling

it

only in the evening that

we

set a proper value on our

homes.
?

Why
What

do you stand
can thus
fix

still,

and gaze with astonishment thus attention in the gloaming ?

Faust.

your

Seest thou the black dog ranging through the

?

corn and stubble

Wagner. as any thing

Faust.
brute
?

saw him long ago

well
!

he did not strike

me
the

particular.

Mark him

for

what
in

do
way,

you
is

take

Wagner.
Faust.

For a poodle, who,

his

puzzling out

the track of his master.

Dost thou mark how, in wide spiral curves, he quests round and ever nearer us ? and, if I err not, a line of fire follows upon his track. Wagner. I see nothing but a black poodle you may be deceived by some optical illusion.
;

Faust.

It

appears

to

me, that
coil

he

is

drawing

light

magical nooses, to form a

around our

feet.

35

FAUST
Wagner. I see him bounding hesitatingly and around us, because, instead of his master, he sees
strangers.
shily

two

The circle grows narrow he is already close. Wagner. You see, it is a dog, and no spirit. He growls and hesitates, crouches on his belly and wags with his tail all as dogs are wont to do.
Faust.
;

Faust.

Come
It's

to us

Hither
;

Wagner.

a droll creature of a dog.

will and he will sit on his hind legs jump upon you lose aught, and he will fetch it to you, and jump into the water for your stick. find no trace of a 1 I believe you are right Faust.
; ;

Stand speak to him, and he

still,

spirit,

and

all

is

training.

Even a wise man may become attached to a dog when he is well brought up. And he richly deserves all
Wagner.
your favour, he, the accomplished pupil of your students, [Tliey enter the gate of the toin'ii. as he is.

FAUST'S STUDY
Faust entering with the poodle.

HAVE
deep

left plain

night,

and meadow veiled in which wakes the better

soul within

us with a holy feeling of

foreboding awe.

Wild desires are now

with

sunk

in
:

sleep,

every

deed

of

violence

the love of

man

is

stirring

the
Be
quiet

love of

God

is

stirring

now.
thither.

poodle,

run

not

hither

and
?

What

are you snuffling at on the threshold

;

behind the stove

without,

there

is

my

best

upon the mountain path,

gambolling,
so

down cushion for you. As you amused us by

Lie

running and
as a

now

receive

my

kindness

in

welcome quiet guest. Ah when the lamp is again burning friendily in our narrow cell, then all becomes clear in our bosom, the heart that knows itself. Reason begins to speak,
! ;

and hope to bloom, again

yes, for the fountain, of

we yearn
brutish

for

the streams

oh

life.

Growl

not,

poodle;

the

sound

ill

harmonises

with the hallowed tones which

We

are accustomed to see

now possess my whole soul. men deride what they do not

at

understand

to
like

see them

snarl

the good and beautiful,

Is

which

is

often troublesome to them.

it

the dog disposed to

snarl at

them

But ah
37

feel already that,

much

as
D

FAUST
contentment wells no longer from my breast. Yet why must the stream be so soon dried up, and we again lie thirsting ? I have had so much experience of This want, however, admits of being compensated. that!
I

maj' wish

for

it,

We
for

learn to prize that which

revelation,

is

not of this earth

we

long

which nowhere

burns more majestically or

more

beautifully than in the

New

Testament.
darling

feel impelled

to open the original text

feeling, the

to translate for once with upright

sacred original into

my

German.

[He opens a volume, and disposes himself for

the task. It is
I

written

"In the beginning was the Word."

Here
cannot
it

am

already at a stand
value
if

who
so

will

help
;

me
the

on

possibly

the
I

differently,

Word am truly

highly

must translate
spirit.
It

inspired

by

is

written: "In the beginning was the Sense."

the Hrst
line,

Consider well
Is
It
it

that your pen be not over hasty.

the

sense that influences and produces every thing?

stand thus: "In the beginning
as
to
I

should

was the Power."

Yet, even

am

writing
spirit

down
:

this,

something warns
!

me

not to keep

At once I see my way, comes to my aid and write conHdently "In the beginning was the Deed." If am to share the chamber with you, poodle, cease
it.

The
I

your howling
quit

cease
It is
;

your barking.
with

cannot endure
of us
I

so

troublesome a companion near to me.

the
cell.

One

reluctance that
is

two must withdraw the

is

rights of hospitality

the door
I
!

open
it

the

you.

see But what do natural means ? Is it shadow broad my poodle grows! He

is not the form into the house
!

Can

that

way come
?

clear for

to

pass

by

is

reality

How
I

long and

raises himself powerfully; that

of a

dog

What
Ah!
I

a phantom

have brought

he

looks already like a hippopotamus, with

Hery eyes,

terrific teeth.

am

sure of thee! Solomon's

key

is

good for such a

half-hellish brood.
38

FAUST'S STUDY
Spirits in the passage.

One

is

caught within

Stay without, follow none

As in the gin the fox, Quakes an old lynx of hell But take heed Hover thither, hover back,
!

Up and down.
And he
If j'e
is

loose

can aid him,

Leave him not in the lurch For he has already done

Much
Faust.
I

to serve us.

First to confront the beast.

Use the spell of the four: Salamander shall glow, Undine twine,
Sylph vanish,

Kobold be moving

Who

did not

know

The elements.
Their power and properties.

Were no master
Over the
Vanish
spirits.

in flame,
!

Salamander
Rushingly

How

together.

Undine
Shine
in
!

meteor beauty.

Sylph Incubus

Bring homely help.

!

Incubus

Step forth and make an end of

39

it.

t)

FAUST
No one
Thou
of

the

four

sticks
I

in

the

beast.

He

lies
feel.

undisturbed and grins at me.

shalt hear

have not yet made him

me

conjure stronger.

Art thou, fellow,

scapeling from hell

!

Then see this sign To which bend the dark

troop.

He

is

already swelling up with bristling hair.

Reprobate

Can'st thou read him

The

unoriginated,

Unpronounceable,

Through

all

heaven diffused,
?

Vilely transpierced

Driven behind the stove,

it

it

is

swelling like an elephant

fills

the whole space,

!

it

is

about to vanish into mist.

!

Rise
see'st
fire.

not to the ceiling

I

Down
in vain.

at thy master's feet

I

Thou

do not threaten
for the

will

scorch thee with holy

light.

Wait not

thrice

growing

Wait not
siiikr, in

for

the

strongest of

my

spells.
the dress

[Mephistopheles comes foncard as the mist

of a frax^elling scholar, from behind the stove.

Wherefore such a fuss? What may be your pleasure? Faust. This, then, was the kernel of the poodle A The casus makes me laugh. travelling scholar ?
!

Mephistopheles.

salute

your

learned

worship.

You

have made
Faust.

me sweat What is

with a vengeance.
thy

name ?
strikes

Mephistopheles.

The question

me

as trifling for

one
all

who

rates the

Word

so low

who, far estranged from

to the essence of things.

mere outward seeming, looks only

40

FAUST'S STUDY
Faust.

With such gentlemen as you, one may generally

it

learn the essence from the name, since

plainly,
if

appears but too

word,

who

your name be art thou then

fly-god, destroyer, liar.

?

Now,
is

in

Mephistopheles.
willing evil

part

of

that

power, which

ever

and ever producing good. Faust. What is meant by this riddle ? Mephistopheles. I am the spirit which constantly denies,
;

and that rightly

to

for everything that has originated, deserves

be annihilated.

Therefore better were

Thus,
all

it

that

nothing

should originate. a word. Evil,

is

that you call sin, destruction, in

my

proper element.
yourself a part, and yet

Faust.
before me.

You

call

stand whole

you the modest truth. Although commonly esteems himself a whole, I am a part of the part, which in the beginning was all a part of the darkness which brought forth light, the proud light, which now contests her ancient rank and space with mother night. But he succeeds not since, strive as he will, he cleaves, as if bound, to bodies. He streams from
Mephistopheles.
I

tell

man, that microcosm of

folly,

bodies, he gives beauty to bodies, a

body stops him

with

in

his

course,
long.

and

so,

hope,

he

will

perish

bodies before

Faust.

Now

know thy

dignified calling.

Thou

art not

able to destroy on a great scale, and so art just beginning

on a small one.
Mephistopheles.

And, to say truth,

little

progress has

been made

opposed to nothing the I have tried already, I have not yet learnt at it, with waves, storms, earthquakes, fire. Sea and land remain undisturbed after all And the damned set, the brood of brutes and men, there is no such thing as getting the better of them
in
it.

That which

is

something, this clumsy world,

much as how to come

41

FAUST
neither.

How many
constantly
to

have ah'eady buried

!

And new
on
so

fresh
it

blood

is

circulating
!

Things
air,

go

in

is

enough
I

make one mad

From

water, earth

wet,

dry, hot, cold

germs
fii'e,
I

by thousands evolve themselves.

devil's
hst,

Had

not reserved

should have nothing apart for myself.

Faust.
in

So thou opposest thy cold

malice,
to

clenched

impotent

the

ever
at

stirring,

the
else,

beneficent

creating power.

Try thy hand

something
about

wondrous

son of Chaos.
Mephistophelcs.

We
!

will think

it

in

good earnest

more
depart
?

of

that

anon
see

Might

be permitted this time to

Faust.

not
;

why you
call

ask.

have

now made
feel
is

acquaintance with you

inclined.

on

me

in

future as you
;

Here

is

the window, here the door

there

also

a chimney for you.

Mephistophelcs.

To confess the
walking out

truth, a small

obstacle

prevents
threshold.

me from

the

wizard-foot upon your

Faust.

The Pentagram embarrasses you

hell,
if

Tell

me

then,
in
?

thou child of

that repels thee,

how

cam'st thou

How was
angle, the

such a

spirit

entrapped
it

?
;

Mephistophelcs.

Mark
is,

well

it

is

not well drawn

little

one

outward one,
It
is

as thou see'st, a
accident.
hit.

open.

Faust.

a lucky
is

Thou shouldst be my

prisoner then.

This

a chance

Mephistopheles.

The poodle observed nothing when he

looks differently

jumped
get out.

in.

The thing

now

the devil cannot

Faust

But why do you not go through

It
is

tlie

window
devils

Mephistophelcs.

law

binding

on

and

phantoms, that they must go out the same way they stole
in.

The

first

is

free to us

we
42

are slaves as regards the

second.

FAUST'S STUDY
Faust
gentlemen
?

Hell itself

has

its

laws

am
be

glad of

it

in

that case a compact, a binding one,

may

made with you

Mephistopheles.
to the letter
it.
;

What

is

promised, that shalt thou enjoy

not the smallest deduction shall be

is
it

made from

But

this

not to be discussed so summarily, and

the next time.
this once.
tell

we
of

will

speak of
to let

But

most earnestly beg

you

me go

Faust.

Wait yet another moment, and

Let

me something
soon come

worth
back

telling.

Mephistopheles.
;

me

go now

will

you may then question me as you like. I have laid no snare for thee thou hast run into the net of thy own free will. Let whoever has got hold of the devil, keep hold of him he will not catch him a second time in a hurry.
Faust.
;

Mephistopheles.

If

you

like,

am

ready to stay and

that
I

keep

you
Faust.

company
I

here,

but

upon

condition

may
so,

beguile the time properly for you by

shall

my

arts.
;

attend with

pleasure

you may do

provided only that the art be an agreeable one.

Mephistopheles.

My

friend,
in

you

will gain

more

for your

senses

in this

one hour, than

spirits

the whole year's monotony.

What

to you, the lovely images which they call up, are not an unsubstantial play of enchantment. Your smell will be charmed, you will then delight your palate, and then your feelings will be entranced.

the

delicate

sing

No

preparation

is

necessary

we

are

all

assembled

strike up

SPIRITS.

Vanish ye darli Arched ceihngs above

More charmingly look The friendly blue sky

in
!

Were

the dark clouds

43

FAUST
Melted aw ay
!

Little stars sparkle,

Softer suns shine

Etherial beauty

in.

Of the children of heaven, Tremulous bcndinj" Hovers across Longing desire

;

Follows after.

And

the fluttering

Ribbons of drapery Cover tlie plains. Cover the bovver,

Where
Deep

lovers.

in

thought,

Give themselves for life. Bower on bower Sprouting tendrils Down-weighing grapes
!
!

Gush

into the vat

press.

Of the hard-squeezing The foaming wines

Gush

in

brooks,

Rustle through

Pure, precious stones. Leave the heights

Behind them lying, Broaden to seas Around the charm of Green-growing hills. And the winged throng
Sips happiness. Flies to meet the sun,

meet the bright which dancingly Float on the waves Where w-e hear Shouting in choruses,
Flies to
Isles,

Where we

see
;

Dancers on meads All in th' open air

Disporting alike.

Some

are clambering
heights,

Over the

Others are swimming

44

FAUST'S STUDY
Over the seas, Others are hovering
All All

towards the hfe, towards the far away Loving stars of

Bliss-giving grace.

Mephistopheles.
delicate youngsters
!

He

slumbers

Ye have

fairly

Well done, sung him to

my

airy,
I

sleep.

am

your debtor for

plunge him

this concert.

Thou

art not yet the

man

to hold fast the devil!

Play round him with sweet dreamy

a sea of illusion.
I

visions

in

But
I

to break the

spell of this threshold

need a

rat's tooth.

have not to

conjure long

one

is

already rustling hither, and will hear

a moment. The lord of rats and mice, of flies, frogs, bugs and lice, commands thee to venture forth and gnaw this threshold so Thou com'st hopping soon as he has smeared it with oil. The point which Instantly to the work forth already!
in
!

me

repelled

me
it

is
is

towards the front on the ledge

done.

one

bite

more, and
again.

Now
Am
I

Faust,

dream
once
.''

on,

till

we meet
deceived
?

Faust

{waking).

then

again

Was it in a lying Does the throng of spirits vanish thus dream that the devil appeared to me, and was it a poodle
that escaped
.''

FAUST'S STUDY
Fal'st.

Mephistopheles.

Faust.

OES

any one knock wants to disturb me

MepJiistophelcs.
It
in.

Come
is
I.

in

Who

aijain?

Faust.

Come

Mcp/iistophclcs.

You must say

so three

times.

Faust.

Come

in,

then

Mephistopheles.

So
I

far,

so good.
;

We

shall

go on
in

very well together,

fancies,
I

hope
like

for,

to chase

away your
a
stiff silk,

am

here,

a youth of condition,

coat of scarlet laced with gold, a mantle of

a cock's feather
at
in

my
to
is

hat,

and a long pointed sword

my

side.

And

my

advice to you

make no more words about it, to array yourself in the same

that unrestrained, emancipated,

manner immediatel}', may try what life is.

Faust.
In

every dress,
life

dare say,

shall
I

feel

the

torture of the contracted

to

of this earth.

am

too old

do nothing but
shalt

play,

too young to

What
"

can the world afford

me

be without a wish.
shalt
!

"

Thou
is

rings in

hour

That is every one's ears which our whole life long, every In the morning hoarsely singing to us. wake
renounce
!

"

renounce " the eternal song which

Thou

46

FAUST'S STUDY
only to horror.
day, which, in
no,
its
I

would

fain

weep

bitter tears to see the

course, will not accomplish a wish for me,

not one

which, with

wayward

captiousness,

weakens

even the presentiment of every joy, and disturbs the creation Then again, of my busy breast by a thousand ugly realities. when night comes round, I must stretch myself in anguish

on
in

my

bed

here, too, no rest

to

is

vouchsafed to

me

wild

dreams are sure

harrow me
stir

up.

The

God, that dwells

my

bosom, that can

my

inmost
to

soul, that

sways

all
;

my

energies

he

is

powerless as
is

regards things without

and thus

existence

a load

me, death an object of

earnest prayer, and

Mephistopheles.

life

detestable.

And

yet

death

is

never

an

entirely

welcome

guest.

Faust.

Oh

happy the man around whose brows he

wreathes the bloody laurel in the glitter of victory whom, after the maddening dance, he finds in a maiden's arms. Oh tliat 1 had sunk away, enrapt, exanimate, before the
great
spirit's

power

Mephistopheles.
a certain

And

yet a certain person did not drink

brown

juice on a certain night.

it

Faust.

Playing the spy,

I

seems,

is
;

thy amusement.
but
I

know much. Faust. Since a sweet familiar tone drew me from those thronging horrors, and played on what of childlike
Mephistopheles.

am

not omniscient

feeling

remained

in

me

with the concording note of happier

this

times,
its

my

curse on everything that entwines the soul with

it

den of wretchedness Accursed, first, be with blinding and flattering influences. Accursed, the lofty opinion in which the mind wraps itself
jugglery, and spell-binds
in
1

the

blinding
!

of

appearances,

by
of

which
the

our
of

senses
to

are
in

subdued

Accursed, what

plays

the pretender
lasting

us

dreams, the cheat of glory, Accursed, what flatters us as

47

name

property, as wife and child,

FAUST
as slave and plough
!

Accursed he

Mammon when

he

stirs

us to bold deeds with treasures, when he smooths our couch My curse on the balsam-juice of the for indolent delight
!

grape

My
!

curse on that highest grace of love

curse on Faith, and

My

curse

on Hope,
Patience

my

my

curse, above

all,

on

CHORUS OF SPIRITS

(iiivisiblc).

Woe, woe, Thou hast destroyed The beautiful world, With violent hand
;

it,

It

tumbles,

it

falls

abroad.
it

A demigod

has shattered

to pieces

We
And

bear away
into nothingness,

The wrecks The beauty

Mighty

wail over

that

is

lost.

Among
Build
it it

the sons of earth,

again,

Proudlier

Build

up

in

thy bosom

A new
With
Begin,

career of life, unstained sense

lays

And new

Shall peal out thereupon.

These are the little ones of my train. Listen, how, with wisdom beyond their years, they counsel you to pleasure and action. Out into the world, away from would they solitariness, where senses and juices stagnate
Mephistopheles.

fain lure you.

Cease to trifle with your grief which, like a vulture, The worst company will make you feeds upon your vitals. Yet I do not mean feel that you are a man among men. am none of your great I to thrust you amongst the pack. but if, united with me, you will wend your way men
;

through

life,

will

readily

accommodate myself
48

to be yours

FAUST'S STUDY
upon the spot. I am your companion, and, if it suits you, your servant, your slave to do for you in return ? Faust. And what am For that you have still a long day of grace. Mephistopheles. No, no the devil is an egoist, and is not likely Faust. Speak to do, for God's sake, what is useful to another. servant is a dangerous such a the condition plainly out
!

inmate.
Mephistopheles.
here,
I

will

bind

myself

to

your

service

When we and never sleep nor slumber at your call. as much for me. meet on the other side, you shall do if you first care little about the other side I Faust.
:

world to pieces, the other may arise afterwards My joys flow from this earth, and this sun will. if it I can only separate myself if shines upon my sufferings

knock

this

from them, what will and can, may come to pass. I will hear no more about it whether there be hating and loving in the world to come, and whether there be an Above or

Below

in

those spheres too.

In this

Mephistopheles.
yourself
;

mood, you may venture.

Bind

by

my

and during these days, you shall be delighted will give thee what no human being ever I arts
;

saw
mind,

yet.

Faust.
in
?

What, poor
high
if

devil, wilt

thou give

Was

a man's

its

of thee

But

comprehended by the like thou hast food which satisfies not ruddy
aspiring, ever
;

gold which, volatile, like quicksilver, melts

away

in

the hand;

a game, at which one never wins

breast,
is

a maiden, who, on
;

my

already ogling

my

neighbour
like

the bright godlike

!

Show me the a meteor joy of honour, which vanishes fruit which rots before it is plucked, and trees which every
day grow green anew. Mephistopheles. Such a task affrights
such treasures at

me

not.

have
the

my

disposal.
49

But,

my good

friend,

FAUST
time will come round

when we may
I

feast on

what

is

really

good

in

peace.
If

Faust.

ever

stretch

myself, calm

and composed,
If

upon a couch, be there at once an end of me.

ever flatteringly delude

thou canst

if thou canst cheat

last.
I

me into being pleased with myself me with enjoyment, be that day my

offer the

wager.

Mephistopheles.

Done
!

Faust.
passing
cast

And my hand upon it moment "Stay, thou art so

If

ever say to the

fair!" then

mayst thou
;

me

into chains
toll
;

then
then

will

readily perish

then

may

the death-bell

art

thou free from

fall

thy service.
:

The clock may stand, the index-hand may thing no more for me
!

be time a

Mephistopheles.

Think well of
a
perfect

it

we
so
I

shall

bear

it

in

mind.

Faust.

You have

right

to

do.

have

drag formed no rash estimate of myself. As slave; what care I, whether thine or another's.
Mephistopheles.
shall

on,

am

This very day, at the doctor's feast,

enter upon
against

my

duty as servant.
I

Only one thing

you
for

to
line

guard
or two.

accidents,

must

trouble

Hast Pedant, dost thou, too, require writing ? Is it not enough thou never known man nor man's word? that my word of mouth disposes of my days for all eternity?
Faust.
to Does not the world rave on in all its currents, and am be bound by a promise? Yet this prejudice is implanted in our hearts who would willingly free himself from it ? Happy
I
:

the

man who
cause

bears truth pure

to

in

his breast
!

he

will

never

have

repent
is

any

written and stamped,

But a parchment, a spectre which all shrink from.

sacrifice

The word

dies

away
What,

in

the very pen

the mastery.

evil spirit,

wax and leather is Brass, wouldst thou of me

;

in

30

FAUST'S STUDY
marble, parchment, paper
?

Shall

write with style, graver,

pen

leave the choice to thee.

Mephistopheles.

How

can you put yourself

in

a passion
will

and overwork your rhetoric in this manner ? Any scrap do you will subscribe your name with a drop of blood.
:

Faust.

If

this will fully satisfy you, the

whim

shall be

complied with.
Mephistopheles.

Blood

is

quite a peculiar sort of juice.

But fear not that I shall break this compact. What promise, is precisely what all my energies are striving I belong only to thy class. for. I have aspired too high Nature shuts herself The Great Spirit has spurned me have The thread of thought is snapped against me. long loathed every sort of knowledge. Let us quench our glowing passions in the depths of sensuality let every wonder
Faust.
I
:

be forthwith prepared beneath the hitherto impervious

of sorcery. into the rolling of accident.

veil

Let us cast ourselves into the rushing of time,

There pain and pleasure, success and disappointment, may succeed each other as they will man's proper element is restless activity. Mephistopheles. Nor end nor limit is prescribed to you. If it is your pleasure to sip the sweets of every thing, to snatch at all as you fly by, much good may it do you only fall to and don't be coy.

Faust.
I

tell

thee again, pleasure

to

is

not the question

devote

myself

the

intoxicating whirl

agonizing
vexation.

enjoyment

to

enamoured
I

hate

to to
;

the

most

animating

My
all

breast, cured of the thirst of knowledge, shall

itself to

henceforth bare
heart's core
in
spirit

every pang.

will

enjoy

in
;

my own
grapple

that

is

parcelled out

among mankind
;

with the highest and deepest

heap the weal and

whole race upon my breast, and thus dilate individuality to theirs, and perish also, in the end, them.

woe own

of the

my
like

51

FAUST
Mephisfopheles.

Oh, believe me, who many thousand

years have chewed the cud on this hard food, that, from the
cradle to the bier, no

Believe a being like

human being me, this Whole

;

digests
is

the old leaven.

only

made

for a god.

darkness

us he has brought forth into and only day and night are proper for you. But I will. Faust. That is well enough to say But I am Mephisfopheles. only troubled about one thing; time is short, art is long. I
exists in an eternal halo
; !

He

should suppose you would suffer yourself to be instructed.

Take

poet
at

to

counsel

make the gentleman

all

set

his

imagination

work, and heap

noble qualities on your

honoured head,

the

lion's

courage, the stag's swiftness, the

fiery blood of the

Italian,

the enduring firmness of the North.

of

Make him

find

out the secret

in
I

combining
a

magnanimity
set
plan, with
like to

with cunning, and of being

the burning desires of youth.

love, after

myself should

know

such a gentleman
Faust.

would

call

him Mr. A'licrocosm.

What, then, am I, if it be not possible to attain the crown of humanity, which every sense is striving for ? Mephisfopheles. Thou art in the end what thou art. Put on wigs with million of curls set they foot upon ell-high socks, thou abidest ever what thou art. I feel it in vain have scraped together and Faust. accumulated all the treasures of the human mind upon myself and when sit down at the end, still no new power wells up

within

am

not a hair's breadth higher, not a whit nearer

the Infinite.
Mephisfopheles.

My

good
;

Sir,

you see things precisely

we must manage matters better, before the joys of life pass away from us. What the deuce And you have surely hands and feet, and head and what enjoy with spirit, is that then the less my own ? If
as they are ordinarily seen
! .

can pay for six horses, are not their powers mine
52

SCENE WITH THE STUDENT

dash along and
legs.

am

a proper man, as

if

had four-and-twenty

Quick, then, have done with poring, and straight

away

into the
is

world with me.

green

tell

you, a fellow that speculates

like

a brute driven in a circle on

a barren heath by an

evil spirit, whilst fair

meadow
set about

lies
it ?

everywhere around.

Faust.

How

shall

we

Mephistopheles.

We

will just start

;

and take our chance.

life

What

a place of

martyrdom

what a precious
!

to lead

and a set of youngsters to death. Leave Why will you plague that to your neighbour, Mr. Paunch yourself to thrash straw ? The best that you can know, Even now I hear one in the you dare not tell the lads.
wearying one's
self

passage.

Faust.

cannot possibly see him.

;

The poor boy has waited long he must not be sent away disconsolate. Come, give me your cap and gown the mask will become me to admiration.
Mephistop/ieles.
:

[He changes his

dress.

Now
hour.

trust

to

my

wit.

require but a quarter of an

for

In the

mean time prepare

Mephistopheles

our pleasant

trip.

[Exit Faust.

in Faust's

gown.

Only despise reason and knowledge, the highest strength of humanity only permit thyself to be confirmed in delusion and sorcery-work by the spirit of lies, and I have thee unconditionally. Fate has given him a spirit which is ever pressing onwards uncurbed, whose overstrained striving o'erleaps the joys of earth. Him will I drag through the He wild passages of life, through vapid unmeaningness. shall sprawl, stand amazed, stick fast, and meat and drink
;

shall

hang, for his insatiableness, before

in vain
;

his

craving

lips

he shall pray for refreshment

given himself up to the
inevitably be lost.

and had he not already

Student
enters.

devil,

he would, notwithstanding,
[^4

53

FAUST
Student.
devotion,
with, a
to

am pay my
I

but

just

arrived,
to,

and

come,

full

of

respects

and

make acquaintance
by

man whom

all
I

name

to

me

with reverence.

Mephistopheles.

am

flattered

your
yet

politeness.

You

see a man, like

?

many

others.

Have you
I

made any
I

inquiry elsewhere

Student.

Interest yourself for me,

disposition,

pray you.

come

with
spirits

every good
;

but

money, and youthful my mother could hardly be brought to part with me, would fain learn something worth learning in the
a
little

world.

Mephistopheles.
Student.

You

are here at the very place for speaking,

halls,
I

it.

Honestly
walls,
is

already

wisli

myself

away.
taste.
tree,

These

these

are

by no means to
;

my

The space

exceedingly conhned
;

there

is

not a

nothing green, to be seen

and

in

the lecture rooms,

fail

on the benches,

hearing, sight and thinking

It all

me.
first,

Mephistopheles.

depends on

habit.

Thus, at

the child does not take

kindly to the

mother's breast, but

Just so will you
the breasts
of
at

soon finds a pleasure

daily

in

nourishing

itself.

experience

greater

pleasure

wisdom.
Student.
tell
I

shall

hang delightedly upon her neck: do but

it.

me how

am

to attain
Tell
?

Mephistopheles.
faculty you
fix
I

me

before

you go further, what

upon

Student.

should wish to be profoundly learned, and

is

should

like to

comprehend what

upon earth or

in

hea\'en,

science and nature.

Mephistopheles.

You

are here upon the right scent; but

you must not suffer your attention to be distracted. am heart and soul in the cause. Student. I
relaxation and pastime, to be sure, would not

little

come amiss on

bright

summer

holidays.
54

SCENE WITH THE STUDENT

Mephistopheles. so fast.

Make

the most of time,

it

glides

away

But method teaches you to gain time. For this reason, my good friend, I advise you to begin with a course of logic. In this study, the mind is well broken in, laced up in Spanish boots, so that it creeps circumspectly along the path of thought, and runs no risk of flickering, ignis-

fatuus-like, in all directions.

in

Then many

a day will be spent

teaching you that one, two, three

hit off at

is

necessary for that

which formerly you

drinking.
It is

a blow, as easily as eating and

with the fabric of thought as with a weaver's

the threads flow
blow.

master-piece; where one treadle moves a thousand threads:

the shuttle shoots backwards and forwards
:

unseen

ties,

by thousands, are struck

steps in
first

off at a

and proves to you, it must have would be so, the second so, and therefore the third and fourth so and if the first and second were not, the third and fourth would never be. The students of
philosopher,

he

Your

been so

the

all

countries put a high value on this, but none have become

weavers.
living,

He who
first to

wishes to know and describe anything

drive the
;

seeks

spirit

out of

it;

he has then

the parts in his hand

only,
it

unluckily, the spiritual

bond

is

wanting.

herself without

Chemistry terms knowing it.

I

encheiresis naturce,

and mocks

Student.

cannot quite comprehend you.

if

Mephistopheles. You will soon improve in that respect, you learn to reduce and classify all things properly.
Student.
I

am

so confounded by
in

all this,

feel as

if

mill-wheel

were turning round

In

my

head.

Mephistopheles.
else,

the

next
not

place,

before

everything
brains.

you must set to at metaphysics.

is

There see that you

for

conceive profoundly what

made

human

fine word will stand you in stead for what enters and what does not enter there. And be sure, for this half-year, to adopt the strictest regularity. You will have five lectures
55

8 2

FAUST
every day.

Be

in

as the

clock

strikes.

Be

well

prepared

beforehand with the paragraphs carefully conned, that you may see the better that he says nothing but what is in the

book

yet write

away as

zealously as

if

the Holy Ghost were

dictating to you.

You need can imagine how useful

Student.

not
it

tell
is.

me

that a second time.

in

For what one has

black

and white, one can carry home in comfort. Mephistopheles. But choose a faculty. I cannot reconcile myself to jurisprudence. Student. I cannot much blame you. 1 know the Mephistopheles.
nature of
this

science.
;

Laws descend,
trail

like

an inveterate

from generation to generation, and glide imperceptibly from place to place. Reason becomes nonsense beneficence, calamity. Woe to thee that thou art Of the law that is born with us of that, a grandson unfortunately, there is never a question.
hereditary disease

they

Student.

You

increase
I

my

repugnance.
like to

Oh, happy

he,

whom

you instruct.
it

should almost

study theology.

Mephistopheles.
this science,
is is

do not wish to mislead you.

As
;

for

so difficult to avoid the

wrong way
is

there
to

so

much hidden

poison

in

it,

which

hardly
it

be

distinguished from the medicine.

Here, again,

is

best to

attend but one master, and swear by his words. Generally you will then pass through the speaking, stick to words
;

safe gate into the temple of certainty.

Student.

But there must be some meaning connected

Right
is

with the word.

Mephistopheles.
;

only

we must

not be too anxious

fails

about that

for
in

it

precisely

where meaning

that

most opportunely. Disputes may be admirably a system may be built with words words form a capital subject for belief a word admits not of an iota being taken from it.

word comes

carried on with words

56

SCENE WITH THE STUDENT

Student.
questions,

kind as to

Your pardon, I detain you by my many must still trouble you. Would you be so but add a pregnant word or two on medicine. Three
I

years
wide.

is

a short time, and the Held,

God knows,
feel one's

is

far

too

If

one has but a

hint,

one can

way

along

further.

Mephistopheles (aside).
style.
I

begin to be tired of the prosing

[Aloud.

must play the

spirit of

devil true to character again.

is

The
the end

medicine

easy to be caught
vain

you study

through the great and

little

world, and let things go on in

It
is

as

it

pleases
;

God.

that you

wander
;

scientifically

about

no man

will

learn

more than he can

he

who

avails

himself of the passing

moment
built,

that
will

is

the

proper man.

You

are tolerably well

if

nor

you be

wanting
treat the

in boldness, and

you do but confide

in yourself,

other souls will confide

in you.

In particular, learn
!

how

to

and ahs so thousandfold, are to be cured from a single point, and if you only assume a moderately demure air, you will have them all under your thumb. You must have a title, to convince them that your art is superior to most others, and then you are admitted from the first to all those little privileges which
:

women

their eternal ohs

another spends years

pulse adroitly,

Learn how to feel the and boldly clasp them, with hot wanton looks,
in

coaxing
see

for.

around the tapering There Student.

rate the

hip, to
is

how

tightly

it

is

laced.

some sense

in that;

one sees at any

is

where and the how.

Grey,

Mephistopheles.

my
all

dear friend,
as a

all

theory, and

green the golden tree of

Student.
I I

life.

vow

to you,

trouble you another time to

dream to me. Might hear your wisdom speak upon

is

the grounds.
Mephistopheles.
I

am

at

your service, to the extent of

my

poor

abilities.

57

FAUST
Student.
I

cannot possibly go away without placing

my

album
favour.

in

your hands.

Do
With

not grudge

me

this token of

your

Mephistopheles.

all

my

heart.
[He writes and gh'cs
it

back.

Student (reads).

Eritis

sicut

Deus, scientes bonum

liis

et

malum.
cousin

[He closes the book reverentially, and takes

leave.

Mephistopheles.

Only follow the

old

saying

and

my
your

the snake, and

some time or other

you, with

likeness to God, will be sorry enough.

Whither now ? Where you please to see the little, Mephistopheles. then the great world. With what joy, what proMt, will you
Faust
(enters).
;

revel through the course

Faust.

But

with
I

my

long
fail

beard,
in

want the easy

1

manners
the

of

society.

shall

the attempt.
;

never
in

knew how

to present myself in the world

I

feel

so

little

presence of others.
Mephistopheles.

shall be in a constant state of

embarrassment.

My

dear friend,
feel

all

that

will
in

come

of

own accord so soon as you you know the art of life. Faust. How, then, are we
its
;

confidence

yourself,

to start ? Where are your and servants. Mephistopheles. We have but to spread out this mantle Only you will take no that shall bear us through the air. on this bold trip. A little inflammable air, heavy baggage which I will get ready, will lift us quickly from this earth and if we are light, we shall mount rapidly. \\'ish you joy of your new course of life.

carriages, horses,

AUERBACH'S CELLAR

IN

LEIPZIG

(Drinking bout of merry Felloxvs.)

Frosch.

no one drink
will

no one laugh

teach you to grin.

like

Why,

you are
enough.

wet straw to-day, yet

you blaze brightly

at other times

Brander.

That

is

your fault
it
:

you

contribute

nothing towards

no

nonsense, no beastliness

Frosch [throws a glass of wine over Brander's head). There are both for you
!

Brander.
Frosch.
Siebel.

You double hog

Why, you wanted me to be so. Out with him who quarrels

!
!

With

open heart strike up the song holla, holla, ho

!

swill

and shout

am a lost man. Cotton, me here the knave splits my ears. Siebel. It is only when the vault echoes again, that
Altmayer.
!

Woe

is

one feels the true power of the bass. Frosch. Right out with him who takes anything amiss.
:

taralara,

da

59

FAUST
Altmayer.
Frosch.
"

A
Our

taralara

throats are tuned.

holy

[He sings.

The
?

dear,

Romish

empire,

how

holds

it

still

together

Brander.
!

nasty song

psha,

political

song
life,

an
that

Thank God every morning offensive song you have not the Romish empire to care
esteem
it

of your
for.
I,

at

least,

no slight gain that

am

not emperor nor chancellor.

But we cannot do without a head. We will choose a pope. You know what sort of qualification turns the scale, and
elevates the man.

Soar up, Madam Nightingale, give sweetheart ten thousand greetings for me.
Frosch
{sings).

my

Sicbel.

No

greeting to the sweetheart

will

not hear

of

it.

Frosch.

Greeting to the

sweetheart, and a kiss too

Thou

shalt not hinder me.

[He sings.
!

Open Open
Shut
Siebel.

bolts bolts bolts

!

in stilly night.

the lover wakes.

at morning's

dawn.

Aye, sing,

sing

on,

and

praise

and

celebrate
in

her

my
!

turn for laughing will come.

She has taken me

she will do the same for you.

a lover
he-goat,

May

she have a hobgoblin for

He may

toy with

her on a cross way.

An

old

on his return from the Blocksberg, may wicker good night to her on the gallop. A hearty fellow of genuine flesh and blood is far too good for the wench. I will hear of no greeting, unless it be to smash her windows. Brander {striking on the table.) Attend, attend listen You gentlemen must allow me to know something to me Love-sick folks sit here, and I must give them of life. something suitable to their condition by way of good night. Attend a song of the newest cut and strike boldly in with
;

the chorus.
60

[He sings.

CELLAR
"

IN

LEIPZIG

There was a rat in the cellar who lived on nothing but fat and butter, and had raised himself up a paunch fit for Doctor Luther himself. The cook had laid poison for him then the world became too hot for him, as if he had love in
;

his body.

Chorus.
"

"

As

if

he had love

in his

body."
;

He

ran round, he ran out, he drank of every puddle

he gnawed
beast
"

and
;

scratched

the whole house,

but his fury

;

availed nothing

he gave many a bound of agony

for,
if

the poor

Chorus.

as was soon done " As if," &c. He came running into the
daylight,
pitiably.
is fell

he had love

in

his body.

kitchen, for sheer pain, in

open
panted

on

the

earth

and

lay

convulsed, and

Then the poisoner exclaimed, with a laugh

if

Ha

he

at his last gasp, as

he had love

in his

body."

Chorus.
Siebel.

"As

if,"

&c.
flats

How

the

chuckle

It is

a fine thing, to be

sure, to lay poison for the poor rats.

They stand high in your favour, I dare say. The misadventure Altmayer. The bald-pated paunch makes him humble and mild. He sees in the swollen rat his own image drawn to the life.
Brander.
!

Faust and Mephistopheles.

Mephistopheles.
into

Before

all

things else,

must bring you

merry company, that you may see how lightly life may With These people make every day a feast. be passed. little wit and much self-complacency, each turns round in the narrow circle-dance, like kittens playing with their tails. So long as they have no headache to complain of, and so long as they can get credit from their host, they are merry and free from care. Brander. They are just off a journey; one may see as
6i

FAUST
much from
an hour.
Frosch.
is

their strange

manner.

They have not been here

is

Thou

art right

Leipsig

the place for

me

it

a httle Paris, and gives

Siebel.

its

folks a finish.

Frosch.
I

What do you take the strangers to be ? Let me alone in the drinking of a bumper
;

will

worm

it

out of them as easily as draw a child's tooth.

to

They appear
Brander.
Alt may er.
Frosch.

me

to

be noble

they have a proud and

discontented look.

Mountebanks

to a certainty,

wager.

Likely enough.

Now mark
to
if

will

Mephistopheles
scent the devil,

Faust.

smoke them. These people would

never

he had them by the throat.

to you.

Faust.
Siebel.

Good morrow, gentlemen. Thanks, and good morrow

[Asiiic, lookiiii^ at
?

Mephistophelhs askance.

Why
you.

does the fellow halt on one foot

Mephistopheles.

Will you permit us to

sit

down with

We
Frosch.

shall
is

have company to cheer us instead of good

not to be had.

liquor,

which

Altinayer.
I

You seem a very

dainty gentleman.
?

dare say you are lately from Rippach

left
?

Did

you sup w
to-day.

ith

Mr. Hans before you

Mephistopheles.

We
we
;

passed

him
us

without

stopping

The

last

time

spoke to him, he had much to

with

say of his cousins

each.

he charged

compliments

to

[With an inclination toican's Frosch.

Altmayer
thing or two.
Siebel.

(aside).

Thou
!

hast

it

there

he

knows a

Frosch.

knowing fellow Only wait, I shall have him presently.

If
I

MepJiistopJi-eles.

am

not
62

mistaken,

we

heard some

CELLAR
echo admirably from
Frosch.
I

IN

LEIPZIG
?

practised voices singing in chorus

No doubt

singing

must

this vaulted roof.

dare say you are a dilettante.

Mephistopheles.
desire
is

Oh, no

The power

is

weak, but the

strong.

Altmayer.

Give us a song.

Mephistopheles.
Siebel.

As many as you
be brand new.

like.

Only

let it

Mephistopheles.
fair land of

We

are just returned from Spain, the

wine and song. [He sings. There was once upon a time a king who had a great flea" Frosch. Hark A flea Did you catch that A flea
"
!

is

a fine sort of chap.

Mephistopheles (sings).
a king
;

"

he had a great
his

flea,

There was once upon a time and was as fond of it as if it

called his tailor; the tailor

had been
came.
'

own

son.

Then he

measure the youngster for clothes, and measure him for breeches.' " Brandcr. Only don't forget to impress it on the tailor to measure with the greatest nicety, and, as he loves his
There,
head, to

make the breeches

had ribbons on

sit

smoothly.

Mephistopheles (sings).

"

He was now

attired in velvet

had a cross besides, and was forthwith made minister, and had a great star. Then his brothers and sisters also became great folks. And the
silk,

and

his coat,

and gentlemen at court were dreadfully tormented from the queen to the waiting-woman they were pricked and bitten, yet dared not crack nor scratch them away. But we crack and stifle fast enough when one pricks." Chorus. " But we crack," &c. Frosch. Bravo bravo That was capital. Siebel. So perish every flea. Brander. Point your fingers, and nick them cleverly.
ladies
! !

63

FAUST
Altmayer.
Liberty for ever
I
!

Wine

for ever

would willingly drink a glass in honour of liberty, were your wine a thought better. Siebel. You had better not let us hear that again Mephistopheles. I am afraid the landlord would feel hurt, or would treat these worthy gentlemen out of our
Mephistopheles.
!

own

stock.
Siebel.

O, bring

it

in

take the blame upon myself.

Frosch.

Give us a good glass, and

;

we

shall

not

be

sparing of our praise

small
;

only don't let your samples

give an
opinion,
I

be too

for

if

am

to

require a regular

mouthful.

Altmayer
Brander.
the door
?

(aside).

They are from the Rhine,

Bring a gimlet.
for
?

guess.

Mephistopheles.

What

You
is

surely have not the casks at

Altmayer.

Behind there,

a tool-chest of the landlord's.

to

Mephistopheles {taking the gimlet,

Frosch).

Now

say,

what wine would you wish

Frosch.
Mephistopheles.
I

to taste

What do you mean?

give every
{to

Have you

so

many

sorts?

Altmayer
ah'eady.

Frosch).

Ah

man his choice. You begin to lick your

choose,
I

lips

Frosch.
wine.

Well

if

am

to

will

take

Rhine

Our

father-land affords the very best of gifts.

Mephistopheles {boring a hole in the edge of the table where Frosch is sitting). Get a little wax to make stoppers
immediately.

Altmayer.

Ah
I

these are juggler's tricks.

{to

Mephistopheles

Brander).

And you
and

Brander.
sparkling.

choose

champagne,

let

it

be

right

[Mephistopheles bores
time prepared the

one of

the

others has

in

the

mean

wax-stoppers and stopped

the holes,

64

CELLAR
One cannot always
lies

IN LEIPZIG
is

avoid what

foreign

what

is

good often

so far

off.

true

German cannot

abide Frenchmen, but

willingly drinks their wines.

Mephistopheles approaches him). I must own do not like acid wine give me a glass of genuine sweet. You shall have Tokay in a Mephistopheles (bores).
Siebel (as
;

twinkling.

Altmayer.
plainly

No, gentlemen

look

me

in

the face.

see

you are only making fun of us. Ha ha that would be taking too great a liberty with such distinguished guests. Quick only speak out at once. What wine can I have the pleasure of serving
Mephistopheles.
!
!

you with

Altmayer.

With any

only don't lose time

in asking.

[After all the holes are bvred

and

stopped.

Mephistopheles {with strange

gesttires).

The vine bears grapes. The he-goat bears horns. Wine is juicy, vines are wood The wooden table can also give wine.
;

deep glance into nature

Behold a miracle, only have

faith

Now draw
All (as they

the stoppers and be merry.

the stoppers,

draw

and

the

wine he chose

runs into each man's glass).

for us
!

Oh

beautiful spring, that flows

Mephistopheles.

Only take care not to

spill

any of

it.

[They drink repeatedly.

All

(sing).

We
As

are as happy as cannibals,

five

hundred swine. Mephistopheles. These people are now mark how merry they are.
Faust.
I

in

their glory

should like to be off now.

65

FAUST
Mephistopheles.

But

first

attend

their brutishness will

display itself right gloriously.

Siebel

(drinks

carelessly
to

the

Xi'ine
!

is
!

spilt

upon
Hell

the
is

ground,
burning.

and

turns

Jlame).

Help

fire

help

Mephistopheles {conjuring the flame).

element.
fire of

Be

quiet, friendly

{To Siebel.)

This time
that be

it

was only a drop

!

of the

purgatory.

Siebel.

What may

Hold

you
us.

shall

pay dearly

for

it.

It

seems that you do not know

Frosch.

He
I

had better not try that a second time.

think

Altmayer.
quietly.

we had

better

send

him packing

Siebel.

What,

Sir,

dare you play

off

your hocuspocus

here

Mephistopheles.
Siebel.

Silence, old wine-butt.

!

Broomstick Brafider. But hold

you be rude to us or blows shall rain.

will

too.

against him).
Siebel.

Altmayer (draws a stopper from burn I burn I

!

the table; fire flies out

Sorcery; thrust home

[Tliey

draw

their knives

the knave is fair game. and fall upon Mephistopheles.

Mephistopheles (with solemn gestures).

False form and word.

Change sense and Be here, be there

[Tlicy

place.
!

stand amazed and gaze on each other.

Altmayer.
Frosch.
Siebel.

Where am
Vineyards
!

What
I

a beautiful country

Can

believe

my

eyes

And grapes

close at

hand

Brander.

Here, under these green leaves, see, what a

!

stem

see what a bunch

[He siezes Siebel by the nose.

The others do the same

one with the other, and brandish their knives.

66

CELLAR
Mephistopheles
{as

IN

LEIPZIG
Error,
loose the
devil's

be/ore).

bandage

from their eyes

jesting
!

And do ye remember the

[He disappears
icith

mode

of

Faust.

The fellows

start back

from one another.

Siebel.

What's the matter?

Altmayer.
Frosch.

How ? Was that

Siebel).
It

thy nose

Brander
limb

{to

And
I

have thine

in

my hand

Altmayer.
!

was

a shock which thrilled through every

Give

me

a chair,

Frosch.
Siebel.

No, do but

am sinking. what tell me

;

has happened
I

meet with him, it Where is the fellow? If much as his life is worth. shall be as myself saw him at the cellar door, riding Altmayer.
I

out upon a cask.

My

feet feel as

heavy as

lead.

[Turning towards the table.

My

wonder whether the wine is running still ? It was all a cheat, a lie, and a make-believe. Siebel. Frosch. Yet it seemed to me as if I was drinking wine. Brander. But how was it with the grapes ?
I

Altmayer.

Let any one

!

tell

me

after that, that one

is

not to believe in wonders

WITCH'S KITCHEN
A
lari^e

cauldron

is

hanging over the

fire

on a low hearth.

Different

fumes wliich rise from it. A Female Monkey is sitting by the cauldron and skimming it, and taking care that it The Male Monkey is seated near with the young does not run over. ones, and warming himself. The xcalls and ceiling are hung with
figures are seen in the
tlie

strangest articles of Witch furniture.

Faust.

LOATHE
that
of
I

this

witchcraft.
shall

mad concern of Do you promise me

in this

recover

chaos
this

insanity.

Do
.''

need an old
will

hag's

advice

And
.''

thirty
if

mess of cookery years from my body

really

take
is

Woe

me,

you

know

of

nothing

is

already gone.

better! Hope Has nature and has a

?

noble spirit discovered no sort of balsam

Mephistopheles.

My
also
in

friend,

wisely
youth.

There But it
Let

is
is

now again you speak natural mode of renewing

is

another book, and

a strange

chapter.

Faust.
Mephistopheles.

me know
!

it.

Well

to have a

mean without money,

field,

physician or sorcery: betake thyself straightway to the

begin to hack and dig, conhne thyself and thy sense within
68

WITCH'S KITCHEN
a thoroughly

contracted circle

support thyself on simple

it

food
to

live

with beasts as a beast, and think

is

no robbery

manure the land you crop. That me, to keep you young to eighty.
Faust.
I

the best way, believe

am

not used to

it.

cannot bring myself to take

the spade in hand.

Mcphistopheles.

The confined life does not suit me at all. Then you must have recourse to the
in

witch after
Faust.

all.

But why the old woman

?

particular?

Cannot

you brew the drink yourself

MephistopJielcs.

That were a pretty pastime I would rather build a thousand bridges in the time. Not art and
!

science only, but patience

spirit
is

is

required for the job.

;

A
this

quiet
fine

busy at

it

for years

time only makes

fermented liquor strong.

curious.

And

the ingredients are exceedingly

it

cannot
pretty

The make

devil,
it.

it

is

true, has taught

the

her, but the devil

(Perceiving

Monkeys).
the
is

See what a
lad.

breed! That is the lass Monkeys). It seems your mistress

Tlie

that

{To
?

the

not at

home

Monkeys.

At the

feast.

Out of the house, Out and away by the chimney-stone.

Mephistopheles.

How
Whilst

long does she usually rake

The Monkeys.
creatures
?

we

are

warming our paws.

think you of the pretty

Mephistopheles (to Faust).

Faust.
precisely

What
I

The most
what
Tell
I

disgusting

ever saw.
like

Mephistopheles.

Nay, a

discourse

the

present

is

Monkeys).

fondest of engaging in. {To the me, accursed whelps, what are ye stirring

am

up with the porridge ? Monkeys. We are cooking coarse beggars' broth. Mephistopheles. You will have plenty of customers.
69 F

FAUST
The

He

Motihey

(approaches

and fawns o

Mephis-

TOPHELES).
quick throw the dice,

And make me rich And let me win

!

My
1

fate is a sorry one,

I

And had

money should not want

for consideration.

Mephistopheles.
himself,
if

How

happy

the

monkey would think

mean
time,

he could only put into the lottery.

Young Monkeys have,
in

[Tlic

the
it

been playing

with a large globe, and

roll

forn'ards.

The He Monkey. That is the world It rises and falls,

And
It

rolls unceasingly.
:

rings like glass

How
It is
It

soon breaks that

hollow within
;

glitters
still

much
!

here.

And
I

more here

am

alive

My

dear son,
aloof
die
!

Keep thee Thou must

It is of clay.

This makes potsherds.

Mephistopheles.

What
{takes

is
it

the sieve for

dozen).

The He Monkey
should

Wert thou

a thief,

know thee

at once.
to the

[He runs

female and makes her look through.

Look through the

sieve

And

Dost thou recognise the thief darest not name him ?

70

WITCH'S KITCHEN
Mephistopheles {approaching the
fire).

And

this pot

The Monkeys.

The

half-witted sot

He knows He knows
Mephistopheles.

not the pot

not the kettle

!

Uncivil brute

The He Monkey. Take the brush

the
settle.

here,

and

sit

down on
sit

[He makes Mephistopheles

down,

Faust

(who

all

this

time

has been standing be/ore a

now approaching and noic standing off' from it). see ? What a Iieavenly image shows itself in What do O Lo\e lend me the swiftest of thy this magic mirror Ah when do not wings, and bear me to her region venture to go near, can remain upon this spot, when mist. woman The loveliest image of a only see her as in a
looking-glass,
I
! !

Is

it

possible,

is

woman

so

lovely

Must

see in these

recumbent limbs the innermost essence of all Heavens ? Is there anything like it upon earth. Mephistopheles. When a God first works hard for six days, and himself says bravo at the end, it is but natural that something clever should come of it. For this time look I your fill. knovv' where to find out such a love for you, and happy he whose fortune it is to bear her home as a
bridegroom. 'fc>'
[Faust
coutiniies

looking

into

the

mirror.

Mephistopheles,
xcith
tlie

stretcliiug

Iiimself

on

the

settle

and playing

brush, continues speaking.

Here
sceptre

sit,

like

the king upon his throne

here

is

my

want the crown. The Monkeys {who have hitherto been playing all sorts of strange antics, bring Mephistopheles a crown, with loud acclamations). Oh, be so good as to glue the crown with
I

only

sweat and blood.

71

F 2

FAUST
[They
handle
the

crown

awkwardly, and break

it

into

tzco

pieces, with

which they jump about.

is

Now

it

done.
;

We We
almost

speak and see

hear and rhyme

Fatist [before the mirror).

Woe

is

me

am becoming
l\ly

mad

Mepliisiopheles [pointing to the Mon'keys).

own head

begins to totter now.

Tlie

Monkeys.

And
Faust
but
let

if we are lucky And if things fit, Then there are thoughts.

{as

before).

My

breast

is

beginning to burn.

Do

us begone immediately.

Mep/iisfopheles (in the

same

position).

Well, no one can

deny, at any rate, that they are sincere poets.

[The cauldron, which the She Monkey has neglected, begins
to boil over
;

a great flame arises, wJiich streams up the

chimney.
the

The Witch

comes shooting down through

cries.

flame with horrible

The Witch. Ough, ough, ough, ough

Damned

beast

Accursed sow

Neglecting the cauldron, scorching your

dame

Cursed beast
[Espying Faust and Mephistopheles.

What now ?

Who
Who

are ye

What would
The plague

ye here

hath come slinking

of fire
!

in ?

Into your bones

72

WITCH'S KITCHEN
[She dips
tlic

skiniining
at

ladle into

the

cauldron, and

sprinkles flames
the

Faust, Mephistopheles, and

Monkeys.

The Monkeys whimper.

the
briisli

Mephistopheles
in his hand,

{who

inverts

xvliidi

he holds

and

strikes

amongst
!

the glasses

and

pots).

To To

pieces

pieces
lies

There
It
is

the porridge
!

Tiicre lies the glass

only carrying on the jest

[As the

beating

time, thou carrion,

to thy melody.

Witch

steps back in rage

and amazement.

Dost Dost thou know me, thou atomy, thou scarecrow ? What is there to hinder thou know tliy lord and master ? me from striking in good earnest, from dashing thee and thy Hast thou no more any respect monkey-spirits to pieces ?
for the

red doublet
?
?

Canst thou not distinguish the cock's

?

feather

Have
Witch.

concealed this face

Must

then

name

myself

The But
I

master,

pardon this

rough

reception.
?

see no cloven foot.

Where

then are your two ravens

Mephistopheles.
to be sure,
it

This once, the apology

since

may

serve.

For,

is

some while
which
devil.

we saw

each other.

The

march

of intellect too,

licks all

the world into shape,

is

has even reached the

The northern phantom

see horns,
tail
I

now no

more

to be seen.

Where do you
society
;

And

as for the foot, which

cannot do without,

and claws ? it would

I

prejudice

me

in

therefore, like

many

a gallant,

have worn false calves these many years. The Witch (dancing). I am almost beside myself, to see the gallant Satan here again.
Mephistopheles.

The Witch.
but

The name, woman, beg to be spared. Wherefore ? What has it done to you ?
I

Mephistopheles.

It

has been long written

;

in

story books;
rid

men

are not the better for that

73

they are

of

the

FAUST
wicked one, the wicked have remained. Baron, that will do very well. I am a
cavaliers.

You may
cavalier,

call

me

like

other

You doubt
arms

not of
I

my
I

gentle

blood

see here,

this is the coat of

bear

[He wakes an unseemly gesture.

!

The Witch (laughs immoderately). Ha, ha your way. You are the same mad wag as ever.
Mcphistoplieles
[to

That

is

in

Faust).

My

friend,

attend to

this.

This

is

the

way

to deal with witches.

The Witch.
I

Now,

sirs,

say what you are

for.

Mephistopheles.

A
let

must beg you

power.
Witch.

to

good glass of the juice you wot of. it be of the oldest. Years double
willingly.

its

The which

Most

Here
give

is
;

bottle

out of
besides,

sometimes
(Aside).

sip

little
I

myself

which,

no longer stinks the

pleasure.

least.
if

will

you a glass with

it

But

this

man

drinks

unprepared,

you well know he cannot

Mephistopheles.

live
is

an hour.

worthy friend of mine, on whom it will have a good effect. I grudge him not the best Draw thy circle, spell thy spells, and give of thy kitchen. him a cup full.
a
[The Witch,
xcitli strange gestures, draics a circle and places rare things in it; in the mean time, the glasses begin to ring, and the cauldron to sound, and make ntnsic. Lastly, she brings a great book, and places the Monkeys in the circle, xcho are made to serve

He

Iter

for a reading desk and hold the torches.

She signs

to

Faust

to

approach.
(to
all

Faust

Mephistopheles).
this
?

But

tell

me what
these

is

to

come

of

This

absurd

apparatus,
^

frantic

gestures,

this

most disgusting

jugglery

know them

of

old and thoroughly abominate them.

Mephistopheles.

Pooh

that

is

only
is

fit

to laugh at.
oft'

Don't

be so fastidious.

As mediciner she

obliged to play

some
circle.

hocus-pocus, that the dose

may operate
74

well on you.

[He makes Faust enter the

WITCH'S KITCHEN
The Witch {with a strong emphasis, begins
to

declaim

from

the book).

You must understand, Of one make ten, And let two go. And three make even Then art thou rich.
Lose the
four.

Out of five and six. So says the Witch,

Make seven and

Then
it

eight,

is

done.
is

And And

nine

one,

ten

is

none,

That is the witches one-times-one. It seems to me that the hag is raving. Faust. Mephistopheles. There is a good deal more of it yet know it well the whole book is to the same tune. I have wasted many an hour upon it, for a downright contradiction
I
;

remains equally mysterious to wise

friend, the art
is

folks

and

fools.

My

old and new.

It

has ever been the fashion

to spread error instead of truth by three and one, and one and three. It is taught and prattled uninterruptedly. Who will concern themselves about dolts ? Men are wont to believe, when they hear only words, that there must be something in it. The Witch continues. The high power

Of knowledge,
Hidden from the whole world And he who thinks not. On him is it bestowed
;

Faust.

He What

has

it

without trouble.
is

sort of nonsense
75

she reciting to us

FAUST
My
head
is

splitting

seem

to

hear a hundred thousand

idiots

declaiming

in full chorus.

Mephistopheles. us thy drink, and

fill

for this draught will

of

Enough, enough, excellent Sibyl! Hand the cup to the brim without more ado; do my friend no harm. He is a man

many
[Tlic

grades, who has taken many a good gulp already. Witch xi-ith many ceremonies pours the liquor into a cup; as
Faust
lifts
it

to his luouth

lit^iit

flume arises.
It

Down
soon

with

it

at

once.
heart.

Do
fire
?

not stand

hesitating.

will

warm your

Are you
Witch

hail-fellow

well-met witli

the devil, and afraid of

[Tlie

dissolves the circle

Faust

steps out.

Now

You must not rest. The Witch. Much good may the draught do you. Mephistopheles {to the Witch). And if can do any
forth at once
!

thing to pleasure you, you need only mention

it

to

me on

Walpurgis' night.

The Witch.
it

Here
{to

is

a song

if

you sing
quick,

it

occasionally,

will

have a particular effect on you.

Faust).

Mephistopheles
it

Come
1

and be guided

is

absolutely necessary for you to perspire, to

make the
feel

spirit

work through blood and bone.

nobility of idleness,

will

afterwards teach
will

you to value the

and you
bestirs

ere

long, with heartfelt delight,

how Cupid

himself and

bounds hither and thither. Faust. Let me only look another moment in the glass. That female form was too, too lo^'ely. Nay, nay you shall soon see the model Mephistopheles. (Aside.) of all womankind in Hesh and blood. With this draught in your body, you will soon see an Helen in every
;

woman.

THE STREET
Faust (Margaret passing
by).

PRETTY LADY, may

of offering

take the liberty

you

Margaret.
pretty,

my arm and escort. am neither lady,

I

nor
exit.

and can go home by myself.

[She disengages herself, and

Faust.
lovely!
her.
I

By

heaven,

this

girl

is

have never seen the

like of

She

is

so well-behaved

and virtuous, and some-

The redness of her lip, the light shall never forget them all the days of of her cheek my life. The manner in which she cast down her eyes and how tart she was is deeply stamped upon my heart [Mephistopheles enters. it was absolutely ravishing
thing snappish withal.

Faust.
Faust.

Hark, you must get

me

the

girl.

Mephistopheles.

Which

She passed but now. What, she ? Mephistopheles.

She
all

came
sins.

from
I

her

confessor,

who

absolved her from

It
is

her

stole

up
for

close to the chair.

an innocent

little

thing, that
I

went

next to nothing to the confessional.

Faust.

Over her
speak

have no power. Jack Rake,

Yet she

is

past fourteen.
positively
like

Mephistopheles.

You

who
there

covets every sweet flower for himself, and fancies that

is

neither honour nor favour which

is

not to be had

for the plucking.

But

this will not

77

always do.

FAUST
Faust.

My

your morality.

And,

good Mr. Sermoniser, don't plague me with in a word, I tell you this if the sweet
:

young creature does not midnight our compact is

Mephistopheles.

lie

this

very night

in

my
I

arms, at

at an end.
is

Consider what

possible.

need a

fortnight, at least, only to find an opportunity.

Faust.

Had

but seven hours clear,

should not want

the devil's assistance to seduce such a child.

Mephistopheles.

You
it,
I

talk

but don't fret about

to

beg.

now almost like What boots it

a Frenchman
to

go straight

enjoyment ? The delight is not so great by far, as when you have kneaded and moulded the doll on all sides with all sorts of nonsense, as many a French story teaches. Faust. But I have appetite without all that. Mephistopheles. Now, seriously and without offence, I tell you once for all, that the lovely girl is not to be had in nothing here is to be taken by storm we such a hurry must have recourse to stratagem. Faust. Get me something belonging to the angel. get me a kerchief from Carry me to her place of repose
; ;
;

her bosom, a garter of

Mephistopheles.

my

love.

That

you

may

see

my

anxiety
;

to
this

minister to your passion,

we
She

will not lose a

moment

very day

will conduct you to her chamber.

Faust.

And

shall

see her

have her
in

Mephistopheles.

No.
all

will

be at a neighbour's.

In

the meantime, you,

alone,

and

her atmosphere,

may

feast to satiety on future joys.

Faust. Faust.
That's the

Can we go now
It is

Mephistopheles.

too early.
[E.vit.
!

Get me a present for her. Mephistopheles. Making presents directly

That's capital
fine place

way

to succeed

know many a
I

and
bit.

many

a long-buried

treasure.
g

must look them o\er a

[Exit.

EVENING
A
neat
little

Room.
hair).

Margaret (braiding and binding up her

WOULD
family

give

something to

know who
!

that gentleman

was to-day
is
I

He

had

a gallant
I

bearing, and

of a noble

am
brow

sure.
;

could read that

on

his

besides, he

would not
[Exit.

else have

been so impudent.

Mephistopheles
Mephistopheles.

Fal'st.
softly as possible

Come

in

as

only

come
Faust

in

[after

a pause).

Leave me
It
is

alone,

beg of

you.

Mephistopheles [looking round).

that
is

not every maiden

[Exit.

so neat.
[looking

Faust
of love,

round).
!

Welcome, sweet

twilight,

that

pervades this sanctuary

Possess

my

heart, delicious

pangs

you who

live

languishing on the

dew

of hope

What
!

a feeling of peace, order, and contentment breathes round

What abundance

in this

poverty
liimsetf

What

bliss in this cell

[He

titroxc's

upon the leathern easy chair by the

side of the bed.

79

FAUST
Oh
in
!

receive me, thou,

who

hast welcomed, with open arms,

joy and sorrow, the generations that are past.

Ah,

how

often has a
throne.

swarm

of children clustered about this patriarchal

in

Here, perhaps,

gratitude for her Christmas-box,

of childhood

with the

warm round cheek

has

my

beloved

piously kissed the withered hand of her grandsire.

I

Maiden,

abundance and order breathe round me that spirit which daily instructs thee like a mother which bids thee spread the cloth neatly upon the table and curl Dear hand so godlike you make the sand at thy feet. and here {He lifts up a bed-curtain) the hut a heaven linger for Here could what blissful tremor seizes me Nature here, in light dreams, you matured whole hours
feel thy spirit of

the born angel.

with

warm

life;

Here lay the child its gentle bosom filled and here, with wcavings of hallowed puritj^
!

the divine image developed itself. And thou, what has brought thee hither

moved

feel

What
?

wouki'st thou here

I

How deeply Why grows thy

?
I

heart so heavy

Am
for
>

in

instant

Poor Faust, no longer know thee. panted so enchanted atmosphere ? enjoyment, and feel myself dissolving into a
an

dream
air

of love.

Are we the sport

of

every pressure of the

And
would

if

she entered this very moment,

!

how
alas,

would'st thou

atone for thy guilt

lie,

The
Quick
!

big

boaster,

how

small

dissolved away, at her feet.

!

Mephistopheles.

see her coming below.

Away, away I return no more. I Here is a casket tolerably heavy. Mephistopheles. place it instantly in the took it from somewhere else. Only swear to you, she will be fairly beside herself. press here. but child is child, and I put baubles in it to gain another
Faust.
I
;

play

is

play.
I

Faust.

know not

shall
80

MARGARET'S ROOM
Mephistopheles.
Is that
a.

thing to ask about

Perchance

you mean to keep the treasure for yourself ? In that case advise you to spare the precious hours for your lusts, and I I I hope you are not avaricious. further trouble to me. hands scratch my head, rub my
[He places the casket
in tlie

press and closes the lock.

bend the sweet young creature to your heart's desire and now you look as if you were going as if Physic and Metaphysic were to the lecture-room

But away, quick

;

to

standing grey and bodily before you there.

But away
close,
it

[Exeunt.

Margaret {with a lamp).

here.

It

feels

so

so

sultry

{She opens the

I

-uniidozi\]

warm without. my mother would come home. am a silly, timid woman.

begin to feel

And yet know not how.

is
I I

not so very
I

wish
but
I

tremble

all

over

[She begins

to sing

as she undresses herself.

SONG.
There was a king in Thule, Faithful even to the grave,

To whom his dying mistress Gave a golden goblet.

He He

prized nothing above

it;

emptied

it

at every feast;

His eyes overflowed as often As he drank out of it.

And when he came

to die.
in

He reckoned up the cities He grudged none of them

But not so with the
8i

his

kingdom

to his heir,
goblet.

FAUST
He
sat at the royal banquet,
his knights

With

around him,

In his proud ancestral hall, there In his castle on the sea.

There stood the old toper. Took a parting draught of life's glow, And threw the hallowed goblet

Down
He saw
Deep
His eyes
[Site
it

into the waves.

splash,

fill

and sink

into the sea

fell,

he never
clothes,

Drank a drop more.

opens the press
to

put aicay her

and perceives
?
I

the casket.

How came
locked the

this
It

beautiful
is

casket here
!

am
is

sure
in
it,

press.

very strange

What

wonder ? Perhaps some one brought it as a pledge, and my mother lent upon it. A little key hangs by the ribbon; have a good mind to open it. What is this ? Good heavens
I
!

look

have never seen anything

set of trinkets
!

like

it

in

all

my
?

born

days

countess might wear such on

the highest festival.

How

would the chain become me

?

To

whom
If

can such finery belong

[She puts them on, and walks before the looking-glass.

the earrings were but mine

in

figure

them.
all

What
pity

one cuts quite a different avails your beauty, young maiden ?

!

That may be
hangs

pretty and good, but they let

;

it all

be.

You
gold

are praised, half in

but after gold presses

for us poor ones
!

on

everything. Alas,

PUBLIC WALK
Faust walking up and down thoughtfully.
Mephis toph eles

To him

all

despised
!

love

By
I
!

the elements of

hell

Would

that

knew something
?

worse to curse by
Faust.
is
it

What

is

the matter
so
in

What
?
I

that pinches you

sharply

never saw such a face

Mephistopheles.
to the devil directly,
I

my

life.

could give myself

were
brain

no devil myself.
?

Faust.

Is

your

disordered

It

becomes
has

you

truly, to rave like a

madman.
think
!

Mephistopheles.
carried off the jewels

Only

priest

provided for Margaret.

thing,
it.

The

mother gets sight of the have a secret horror of

a
fine

nose,

is

ever

snuffling

in

and begins at once to Truly the woman hath her prayer-book, and
in

smells in every piece of furniture whether the thing be holy or profane

"
;

and she plainly smells out

the jewels, that

child," said she,

there was not

much
it

blessing in them.

"

My
;

unrighteous wealth ensnares the soul, consumes the blood.

will

We
is

Mother of God she will gladden Margaret made a wry face it us with heavenly manna."
consecrate
to the
;

after

all,

thought she, a

gift

horse

and

truly,

he cannot

83

FAUST
be godless,

who brought

it

here so handsomely.

The mother
jest,

sent for a priest.

a good disposition

Scarcely had he heard the

sight.

but he

seemed well pleased with the

;

He
;

spoke

"
is

This shows
the gainer.

who conquers

himself,

he

The church has a good stomach

alone,

she has eaten up whole

countries, and has never yet over-eaten herself.

The church

my good woman,
That
too.
is
it

can digest unrighteous wealth."

;

Faiisf.

a general custom

Jew and a King

can do

So saying he swept off clasp, chain and ring, as if they were so many mushrooms thanked them neither more nor less than if it had been a basket of nuts; promised them all heavenly reward and very much
Mephistopheles.
;

edified they were.

Faust.

And Margaret Is now Mephistopheles.

trinkets,

sitting full
;

of restlessness

not

knowing what
the
to
her.

to do with herself

thinks day and night on

and

still

more

on

him who brought them

Faust.

My

love's grief distresses me.

Get her another

after
all.

set immediately.

The

first
!

were no great things

to be
sure, all
is

Mephistopheles.

Oh

child's

play to

the gentleman

Faust.

Do

it,

and order

it

as

wish.

Stick close to
;

her neighbour.

Don't be a milk-and-water devil

and fetch
Sir.

a fresh set of jewels.

Mephistopheles.

With

all

my

heart,

honoured

[Faust

exit.

love-sick fool like this puffs

stars,

away

into the air, sun,

moon and

by way of pastime for his mistress.

THE NEIGHBOUR'S HOUSE

Martha
{alone).

forgive

my

dear husband

he has

not acted well towards me.

straight

He

goes

and leaves lonely. Yet truly never did anything to vex him God knows I loved him to my heart. {She\ xveeps.) Perhaps he is actually dead.
world,
I
;

away into the me widowed and

Oh, torture

Had

but a certificate of his death

Margaret
Margaret
Martha.
Margaret.
.

enters.

M a rth a
What
is

the matter, Margaret

My
just

knees
such
quite

almost
grand,

sink

under
in

have
of

found

another

casket
far

me my press,
I

ebony,

and

things

costlier

than

the

first.

Martha. You must say nothing about it to your mother. She would carry it to the confessional again. Margaret. Now, only see do but look at them Martha {dresses her up in them). Oh you happy
!
!

creature.

Margaret.
in

Unfortunately,

must not be seen

in

them
G

the street, nor in the church.

85

FAUST
Martha.

Do

but

come over
in

frequently to me, and put

on the trinkets here

private.
;

Walk
shall

down
in

before the looking-glass

we

hour up and have our enjoyment

little

that.

And then an
little

occasion offers, a

holiday

happens,
;

where,
chain,
will

by
the

little,

one
or

lets

folks

see

them

first

then
not

pearl
it,

earrings.

observe

one

Your mother, perhaps, may make some pretence

have
brought
it.

to her.

Margaret.
caskets
?

But
is

who

could

the

two

There

something not right about

can that be

[Some one knocks.

Margaret.

Good God

my mother
It is

Martha come in
!

{looking t/irough the bliiuis).

a stranger-

MephistopJieles
at once
;

{enters).

have made free to come

ladies.

in

have to beg pardon of the

to enquire after Mrs.
I

[He steps back respectfully on seeing Margaret.

I

came

Martha Schwerdtlein.
your pleasure. Sir
I

Martha.
enough.

am

she

what

is

MephistopJieles {aside to her).

know you now

there.

that

is

You have
I

a visitor of distinction
I

Excuse

the liberty

have taken.
{aloud).

will call again in the afternoon.

Only think, child of all things in the world this gentleman takes you for a lady. Heavens, Margaret. I am a poor young creature. Oh the gentleman is too obliging. The jewels and ornaments are none of mine.
! !

Martha

Mephistophclcs.

Ah

it

is

not the jewels alone.

She
I

has a mien, a look, so striking.

stay.

How
.-'

glad

am

that

may

Martha.
will

What do you
I

bring then
I

am

very curious
I

Mephistopheles.

wish

had better news.

hope you
dead, and

not

make me

suffer for

it.

Your husband

is

sends you his compliments.

86

THE NEIGHBOUR'S HOUSE

Martha.
Is
is

dead
!

the good
I

soul
!

Oh, woe

is

me

My

husband

dead

Ah,

shall die

Margaret. Margaret.
in

Dear, good Martha, don't despair.

Listen to the melancholy
this
tale.

Mephistopheles.

For

reason

should wish

never to be

love for

all

the days of

my

life.

The

loss

would grieve
joy.

me

to death.

Mephistopheles.

Joy must have sorrow

sorrow,
life.

Martha.
in

Relate to

me
lies

the close of his buried in

Mephistopheles.

He

Padua

at St. Antony's,

a well-consecrated spot for an eternally cool bed of rest.

Martha.
to have three

Have you nothing

else for

me

?
!

Mephistopheles.

Yes, a request, big and heavy

be sure

hundred masses sung for him. For the rest, my pockets are empty. Martha. What not a coin by way of token Not a trinket what every journeyman mechanic husbands at the bottom of his pouch, saved as a keepsake, and rather
!
.''
.''

starves, rather begs

Mephistopheles.
really has not

Madam, squandered away

am
his

very

sorry.

But

he

money.
should

He
be

also bitterly

repented of his sins; aye, and bewailed his

Margaret.

ill-luck still

more.
1

Ah

that

mortals

so

unlucky

Assuredly

will sing

Mephistopheles.

many a requiem for him. You deserve to be married

is

directly.

You

are a sweet

girl.

Margaret.

Oh, no, there

If

time enough for that.

Mephistopheles.

not a husband, then a gallant in the

of the best gifts of

meantime.

It

were one
That
is

heaven to have

so sweet a thing in one's arms.

Margaret.
pass though.

not the custom in this country.

not,

Mephistopheles.

Custom or
relate to

such things do come to

Martha.

But

me
87
2

FAUST
Mephistopheles.
I

stood

by

his

death-bed.
;

It

was

somewhat
upon
a

better than

dung,

of

half-rotten straw
still

but he

died like a Christian, and found that he had

his score.

"How
!

thoroughly," he cried,

much more "must detest

I

myself

to

run away from

my

business and
is

my

wife

in
If

such
she

manner.

Oh

the recollection

death to me.

could but forgive

me

in

this life

"
! !

Martha

(weeping).

The good man

have long since

in fault

forgiven him.
Mepliistopheles.
" But,

God knows, she was more

!

than

I."

Martlia.

He

lied

then

What,

tell

lies

on the brink of

the grave
Mephistopheles.
if
I

He
a

certainly fabled with his last breath,

" I,"

am

but

half

connoisseur.

said

he,

"

had

no

occasion to gape for pastime

first

to get children,

and then
could

bread for them

not even eat

and

bread
in

in

the widest sense,

and
my

my

share

peace."
all

Martha.

Did he thus forget

?

my

truth,

all

love

my
it.

drudgery by day and night

Mepliistopheles.

Not so
I

he affectionately reflected on

left Malta, I prayed fervently for and heaven was so far favourable, that our ship took a Turkish vessel, which carried a treasure Bravery had its reward, and, as was of the great sultan.

He

said

"

When

my

wife and children

no more than Martha.

to

right,

How

got my Where
!

fair

share of

it."

Mephistopheles.

Who

Can he ha\'e buried it ? knows where it is now scattered

A fair damsel took an winds of heaven ? him as he was strolling about, a stranger, interest in She showed great fondness and fidelity towards in Naples. him so much so, that he felt it even unto his blessed
the
four
;

end.
MartJia.

The

villain

the robber of his children

88

And

THE NEIGHBOUR'S HOUSE

all

the wretchedness,
life.

all

the

poverty, could

not check his

scandalous

But consider, he has paid for it with would mourn him for in your place, his life. Now, were one chaste year, and have an eye towards a new sweetheart
Mephistopheles.
I I

in

the meantime.

Martha.
find

another
fool

shall not Oh God but There could like my first.

!

easily in this

world
too

hardly be a kinder-

hearted

he

only

loved

being

away from home

much, and

stranger

women, and stranger wine, and

the

cursed dicing.
Mephistopheles.

Well, well, things might have gone on

his part, only

very well,
for

if
I

he, on

had the same indulgence

I

you.

protest,

upon
!

this

condition,

would change
jest.
off.
I

rings with you myself

Martha.

Oh, the gentleman

is
it

pleased to
is

Mephistopheles [aside).

Now
it

full

time to be

dare say she would take the devil

himself at his word.

{To Margaret).
Margaret.
Farewell, ladies

How

goes

with your heart? Sir?

child.

What do you mean,

Mephistopheles (aside).

Good, innocent

(Aloud).

to

Margaret.

Farewell

Martha.

Oh, but

tell

me

quickly

should

like

have a certificate where, how, and when

my

love died and

was

buried.

was always a
in

friend to regularity, and should

like to

read his death

the paper.

Mephistopheles.

Aye,

my
a

good
of

manifested

by
;

the

testimony
I

madam, the truth is two witnesses all the

companion,
I

world
will

over
bring

and

have

gallant
for

whom
fetch

before

the

judge

you.

will

him

here.

Martha.

Oh, pray do

Mephistopheles.

And

the young lady will be here too

89

FAUST
a
fine

lad

has

travelled

much,

and

shows

all

possible

politeness to the ladies.

Margaret.

should be covered with

In the

confusion

in

the

presence of the gentleman.

Mephistopheles.

presence of no king on earth.

there,
in

Martha.
shall

Behind

the

house,

my

garden,

we

expect you both this evening.

THE STREET
Faust M ephistopheles.
Fausf.

t}'^
goes
soon do
? it ?

Is

it

in

train

Will

it

Mephistoplieles.

you
see

all

on
at

fire ?

shortly be yours.

find Do Bravo will very Margaret This evening you will

!

her
is

her

neighbour

Martha's.

This
it

woman

especially chosen, as

were, for the procuress and gypsey calling.

Faust.

So

far so good.

Mephistoplieles.
of
us.

Something,

however,

is

required

Faust.

One good
that

turn deserves another.

Mephistoplieles.

We

have only to

make a formal

deposition
in

the

stretched limbs of her lord repose

holy ground in Padua.

We shall Wisely done take the journey thither, I suppose simplicitas Mephistopheles. Sancta necessity for that. Only bear witness much about the matter.
Faust.
!
.''

first

be obliged to

There
without

no knowing
is

91

FAUST
Faust.
If

you

have

nothing

better

to

propose,

the

scheme
Is
it

is

at

an end. Oh, holy man

in
!

Mcphistophdcs.
the
first
?

There's for you

now

time

your

life

that you

have borne false

testimony

Have you not

confidently

given definitions of

God, of the world, and of whatever moves in it of man, and of the workings of his head and heart with unabashed And, looking fairly at the real nature front, dauntless breast ?

of things, did

you

you
art

must confess you did not

did

you

know
death
!

as

much

of these

matters as of Mr. Schwerdtlein's

Faust.

Thou

Mephisiopheles.

and ever wilt be a liar, a sophist. Aye, if one did not look a little deeper.
you
not, in all

To-morrow,
Faust.

too, will

honour,

make a
all

fool of
.''

poor Margaret, and swear to love her with

your soul

And

truly

from

my

heart.
!

Mephistophclcs.
eternal truth and love

Fine talking

Then
all
}

will

you speak of

of one
!

exclusive,

subduing passion;

will that also

Faust.

come from the heart Peace it will when

feel,

and seek a name

;

for the passion, the phrenzy, but find

all

none
grasp

then range with

at
all
is

my

senses

through

the

world,

sublime expressions, and

Mephistophclcs.

call this fiame,

which

most consuming
the

me, endless, eternal, eternal!

I

is

that a devilish play of lies!

all

am

right for
this,
I

that.

Faust.
lungs.

Hear

mark

beg of you, and spare

my

He who

is

determined to be right and has but a

tongue, will be right undoubtedly.

gossiping.

But come,

am
I

tired of

For you arc

right, particularly

because

cannot

help myself.

GARDEN
Margaret
07i

Faust's arm, iMartha zvith Mephistopheles,

walking up and dozen.

Margaret.

AM

sure, Sir, that you are only trifling

with

me

letting

yourself

down
wont

to
to

shame me.
I

Travellers are

put up with things out of good nature.

know

too well that

my

poor prattle

cannot entertain a
rience.

man
a

of your expe-

Faust.
thee,

glance,
all

gives

greater

pleasure

than

word from the wisdom of

!

this world.

[Hc kisses her hand.

Margaret.

Don't
it.''

inconvenience
is

yourself
so

How
I

can you kiss

It

so

coarse,

hard.

have
;

been

obliged
is

to

do

heaven
Sir,

knows what
are

not

my
in

mother
this

indeed too close.

[They pass on.

Martha.

And
?

you,

always

travelling

manner

Mephistopheles.

Alas,

that

business

and

duty

should force us to
regret,

it

How many
it
!

a place

one quits with

in the wild years of youth, rove about freely through the world. to But the evil day

and yet may not tarry in Martha. It does very well

93

FAUST
comes
grave
at last,

that

was never
I

and to sneak a solitary old bachelor to the well for any one yet.
shudder at the distant view of
Sir, think better of
it
it.

Mephistoplieles.

Martha.
Margaret.
sits

Then, worthy

in

time.

YThey pass on.

Aye
you.

out of sight out of mind

Politeness
;

easily on

But you have plenty of friends

I

they

are more sensible than

am.
!

Faust.
is

O, thou excellent creature

believe

me, what
of vanity

called

sensible, often

better deserves the

name

and narrow-mindedness.
Margaret.
Faust.

How
Alas,

that
its

simplicity,

that

innocence,
!

never

appreciates itself and

lowliness

the

own hallowed worth

gifts

highest

of

That humility, love-fraught, bounteous

little

nature

Only think of me one have time enough to think of you.

Margaret.
Faust.

minute

shall

You

are

much

alone,

dare say
is

Margaret.

Yes, our household

after.

but small, and yet

;

it

must be looked
mother
is

We
in

keep no maid

am

obliged to

cook, sweep, knit and sew, and run early and late.

And my

Not that she has such might do more than many others. My father left a nice little property a small house and garden in the suburbs. However, my days at
so precise

everything

pressing occasion to stint herself.

We

present are tolerably quiet.

little

My
my
all

brother
full

is

a soldier

my

sister

is

dead.

had

share of trouble with

her,

but

would gladly take

the anxiety upon

myself

again, so dear

Faust.

was the child to me. An angel, if it was like thee

I

Margaret.

brought

it

up,

and

it

loved

me

dearly.

It

was born

after

my

father's death.

We

gave up

my mother
;

for lost, so sad

was the

condition she then lay in

94

and she

GARDEN
recov^ered

very

slowly,

by degrees.
little

Thus she could not

I

think
up,
all

of

suckling the poor

worm, and so

brought

it

own.

by myself, with milk and water. It thus became my On my arm, in my bosom, it smiled, and sprawled,

and grew.

You felt, no doubt, the purest joy. Margaret. And many anxious hours too. The
Faust.
cradle stood at night by

little

one's

my

bed-side

it
it

could scarcely
drink
;

move

but
it

was awake

would not be quiet, to rise from bed, and walk up and down in the room dandling and early in the morning, stand already at the wash-tub it and so on, day then go to market and see to the house Under such circumstances. Sir, one is not always after day. in spirits but food and rest relish the better for it.
to
;

now obliged to now, when bed with me

;

give
it

now

to take

[Tlicy

pass on.
It is

Martha.

The poor women have the worst

like

of

it.

no easy matter to convert an old bachelor. It only depends on one Mephistopheles.

you to teach

me

better.

Martha.

Tell

me

plainly.

Sir,

have you never met with

any one

Has your heart never attached itself any where ? Mephistopheles. The proverb says a hearth of one's
.''

own, a good wife, are w^orth pearls and gold.

mean, have you never had an inclination ? I have been in general very politely Mephistopheles.
Martha.
I

received.

Martha.
affected
?

wished to say

was your heart never seriously

Mephistopheles.

One

should never venture to joke with

women.
Martha.
Ah, you do not understand me.
I

Mephistopheles.

am

heai'tily

sorry

for

it.

But

understand

that

you are very

95

kind.

[They pass on.

FAUST
Faust.
I

You knew me

again, you

little

angel, the

moment
eyes.

entered the garden.

Margaret.
Faust.

Did you not see

it ?

cast

down my
I

And
I

you

forgive

the

liberty

took

my

impudence as you were

Margaret.

lately leaving the cathedral.

;

was frightened
;

such a thing had never

happened to me before no one could say any thing bad of me. Alas, thought I, has he seen any thing bold, unmaidenly, in thy behaviour ? It seemed as if the thought suddenly struck him, " need stand on no ceremony with this girl." must own, knew not what began to stir in your favour here but certainly I was right angry with myself for not being able to be more angry with jou.
I
I

Faust.

Sweet love Margaret. Wait a moment

!

[She plucks a star-Jloxccr, and picks off

other.

tlic

Iciivcs

one after the

Faust.
Faust.

What

is

that for

nosegay

.'

Margaret.

No, only a game.

!

How

Margaret.
Faust.

Go

You

will

[She plucks off the

laugh at me. leat^es and murmurs

to herself.

What are you murmuring ? Margaret {half aloud). He loves me

Thou
angelic being
!

he loves me

not

Faust.

Margaret continues.
Faust.
thee
Yes,

Loves me

(Pluckitjg off the last leaf with

not loves me not He loves me fond

delight).
!

my

child.

as a judgment

from

Let this flower-prophecy be to heaven. He loves thee dost

?

thou understand what that means

Margaret.
Faust.
of

He

loves thee

[He takes both her hands.

I

tremble

all

over

Oh, tremble not.

say to thee

Let this look,

let

this pressure
!

the

hand,

what
95

is

unutterable

to

give

GARDEN
ourselves up wholly, and feel a bliss which must be eternal

Eternal

its

end would be despair

No, no end

no end
and

[Margaret presses his hands, breaks from away. He stands a moment in thought, and

Jiiiii,

runs

tlien

follows her.

Martha {approachhig).
Mephistoplielcs.

The

night

is

coming

on.

Aye, and we will away. would ask you to stay here longer, but it is much too wicked a place. One would suppose no one had any other object or occupation than to gape after his neighbour's incomings and outgoings. And one comes to be And our pair of lovers ? talked about, behave as one will. Mephistopheles. Have Hown up the walk yonder. Wanton

Martha.

butterflies

Martha.
the world.

He seems

fond of her.
of

Mephistopheles.

And she

him.

Such

is

the

way

of

SUMMER HOUSE
in, gets

Margaret runs

behind the door, holds the

tip

of her fifiger to her

lips,

and peeps

throtigh the crevice.

Margaret.

COMES
Faust
thus
[enters)
tfitle

Ah, rogue,

is

it

you

with

me

have
her.

caught you at

last.

[He kisses

Margaret
returning
iJie
I

(embracing
kiss).

him
!

and
from

Dearest
!

my
Faust (stamping).
Mephistoplieles.

heart

love thee

[Mei'mistophelhs knocks.

Who
A
It

is

there

friend.

Faust.

brute.
is

Mephistopheles.

time to part,
Yes,
it

believe.

Martha (comes
Faust.

up).

is

late.

Sir.

May
Must

Margaret.
Faust.

My
I

accompany you ? mother would farewell

not

then go
!

Farewell

Martha.
Margaret.
Margaret.

Adieu
Till

our next speedy meeting

[Faust a>ul Mephistopheles exeunt.

Gracious God

How many

things such a
his presence,
silly

man can think about! How abashed I stand in and say yea to e\'erything am but a poor cannot understand what he sees innie.
!

girl

98

FOREST AND CAVERN

Faust
{alone).

UBLIME
me
didst

spirit

thou gavest me, gavest

everything

prayed

for.

Not
fire

in vain

thou turn thy face

in

to me.

Thou gavest me glorious nature for a kingdom, with power to feel, to enjoy
her.
visit
It
is

not merely a cold wondering

that

thou

permittest

me
in

thou

grudgest
into the

me

not to look
of a friend.

into

her deep bosom, as

bosom

Thou passest

review

before

teachest
in

me the whole series of animated me to know my brothers in the

and
in

things,
still

and

wood,

the

air,

the water.
in

And when

the storm

and the giant-pine, precipitating its neighbour-boughs and neighbourstems, sweeps, crushing, down, and the mountain thunders with a dead hollow muttering to the fall, then thou bearest
creaks
the
forest,

roars and

me

off

to

the sheltered

cave

then

thou showest

me

to

wonders of my own breast And when the clear moon, with its soothing influences, rises full in my view, from the walllike rocks, out of the damp underwood, the silvery forms of past ages hover up to me, and soften the austere pleasure
myself,

and

deep

mysterious

reveal

themselves.

of contemplation.

Oh,

now
With

feel

that nothing perfect falls to the lot of

beatitude,

man

this

which brings
99

me

nearer and

FAUST
nearer to the gods, thou gavest
already
I

me

the companion,

whom

cannot do without
in

although, cold and insolent, he

degrades me

with a breath.

my own eyes, and turns thy gifts to nothing He is ev'er kindling a wildfire in my heart
Thus do
I

for that lovely image.

reel

from desire to enjoyof

ment, and

in

enjoyment languish
{enters).

for desire.

Mephistophcles
this kind of life
.''

Have you not had enough

deligiit in
it

any length It is all well enough to try once, but then on of time } again to something new. would you had something else to do than to Faust.
for
I

How

can you

plague
wish.
lose

me

in

my

happier hour.
Well, well
!

Mephistophcles.

will let

you alone
it

if

you
to

You need

not say so in earnest.

Truly,

is

little

The
read

an ungracious, peevish and crazy companion One livelong day one has one's hands full.
in

in

you.

cannot

your worship's face what pleases you, and what to

let alone.

He would fain be That is just the right tone thanked for wearying me to death. what sort of life Poor son of earth Mephistophcles. would you have led without me ? I have cured you, for
Faust.
! !

some time
this globe.

to come, of the crotchets of imagination, and, but

for me, you

would already have taken your departure from in caverns and fissures of rocks, like nourishment from sodden moss and an owl ? The dripping stone, like a toad ? A fair, sweet pastime

Why mope Why sip in

doctor

still

sticks to you.

Faust.

Dost thou understand what new life-power

.''

this

Aye, could'st wandering in the desert procures for me thou have but a dim presentiment of it, thou would'st be devil enough to grudge me my enjoyment. To lie on Mephistophcles. A super-earthly pleasure the mountains in darkness and dew clasp earth and heaven
!

lOO

FOREST AND CAVERN

ecstatically

swell

yourself up to a godhead

rake

through

marrow with your thronging presentiments feel the whole six days' work in your bosom in haughty might know not what now overflow, in love's raptures, enjoy
the earth's

into

all,

with your earthly nature cast aside

I

lofty intuition (xvith

and then the a gesture) must not say how to end

! !

Fatisi.

Mephistopheles.
entitled
to

Fye upon you That

!

is

not
!

to

your

mind.

cry fye

so

morally

We

must not

You are name toAnd,

in

chaste ears what chaste hearts cannot renounce.

word,

occasionally.

do not grudge you the pleasure of lying to yourself But you will not keep it up long. You are already driven back into your old course, and, if this holds
I

much
horror.

longer, will

be fretted into madness or torture and

!

Enough
to

of this

your

little

love sits yonder at home,

and
At

all

her

is

confined and melancholy.

You
all

are

never

absent from her thoughts.

first,
;

She loves you

it

subduingly.

your passion came overflowing,

like a

snow-flushed

rivulet rivulet

you have poured

is

into

her heart,

and

lo

your
the

dry again.

Methinks, instead of reigning

in

woods, your worship would do well to reward the poor young monkey for her love. The time seems lamentably long to
her
;

she stands at the

window and watches

the clouds
!

roll

away over the

song, during
is

old town-walls.

"Were

a bird

" so runs her

all

the day and half the night.

One

while she

cheerful, mostly cast

then, again, composed, to

down, one while fairly outwept : all appearance and ever lovesick

Faust.

Serpent

serpent

Mephistopheles (aside).

Good

if

can but catch you

Faust.
lovely

Reprobate

woman.

take thyself away, and name not the Bring not the desire for her sweet body
!

before

my

half-distracted senses again

Mephistopheles.
that you
ai'e
off,

What
in

is

to be done, then
are.

She thinks
H

and

some manner you

lOI

FAUST
Fatist.
I

am

near her, and were Nay,

ever so far
I

off,

can never forget, never lose her.

already envy the

body of the Lord when her lips are touching it. have often Mephistopheles. Very well, my friend. envied you the twin-pair, which feed among roses. Faust. Pander begone. cannot You rail, and Mephistopheles. Good again help laughing. The God, who made lad and lass, well
I
!

understood

the
it

noble
a

calling

of

making

opportunity
!

too.

But away,

is

mighty matter to be sad about

You
1

should betake yourself to your mistress's chamber

think, to death.

not,
.''

Faust.

What
.''

arc the joys of heaven in her arms

!

Let

me
the

kindle on her breast

Do

not feel her wretchedness

i"

unceasingly

Am

not the outcast

monster without aim or dashed from rock to rock, in de\'ouring fury towards the precipice ? And she, upon the side, with childlike simplicity, in her little cot upon the little mountain Held, and all her And I, homely cares embraced within tliat little world the hated of God it was not enough for me to grasp the Her, her peace, must rocks and smite them to shatters
!

the houseless one rest who, like a cataract,

.''

undermine
!

Hell,
quickly
!

thou could'st

not

rest

without
!

this

sacrihce

Devil, help

me

to shorten

the pang
fall

Let what

must

be, be

Let her fate

!

crushing upon me,

and both of us perish together

Mephistopheles.
in,

How
you

it

seethes and glows again

!

Get

and comfort
it

her,

fool

When
!

such a noddle sees no

the end.

outlet,

immediately represents to

itself

He who

bears himself bravely, for ever

And

yet,

on other occasions,
I

you have a fair spice of the devil in you. in the world more insipid than a devil that

know nothing

despaii's.

MARGARET'S ROOM
Margaret
{alone, at the

spinning

xchcel).

PEACE
My
I

is is

gone
heavy

heart

shall find

it

never,

And ne\er more.

Where
Is

ha\e him not.

the grave to me.

The whole world

Is

embittered to me.

My
Is

poor head

wandering,

My

poor sense

Distracted.

My peace My heart is
I

is

gone heavy
;

shall find

it

never,

And never more.

For him alone look Out at the window For him alone go I Out of the liouse
!

103

H 2

FAUST
His stately step, His noble form
;

The smile of his mouth, The power of his eyes,

And of his speech The witching flow The pressure of his

;

hand,

And, ah

his kiss

My peace My heart is
I

is

gone
;

heavy
it

shall find

never,

And never more.

My bosom
After him.

struggles enfold him

!

Ah And And
I

could

hold liim
kiss
I

him
!

As

would

On
I

his kisses

should die

away

MARTHA'S GARDEN
Margaret
Margaret.

Faust.

ROiMISE me, Henry can Faust. What

I

Margaret.
feel

Now,
to

tell
?
I

me,

as

religion

how do You are a

you

dear,

good

man,

but
of
it.

believe

don't think

much
I

Faust.

No more
love
love,
I

of that,
:

my
I

child

you

feel

you

would

lay

down my

life

for

those

nor would

deprive

any of their feeling and their church. we must believe Margaret. That is not right
;

in

it.

Faust.

Must we

.'

had any influence over you Besides, you do not honour the holy sacraments. honour them. Faust. I
Margaret.
!

Ah

if

Margaret.

you went

to

But without desiring them. It is long since mass or confession. Do you believe in God
.''

Faust.

My
priests

love,

who

dares say,

believe in

God

.''

You
will

and philosophers, and their answer appear but a mockery of the questioner.
ask
Margaret.

may

You

don't believe, then

105

FAUST
Faust.

Mistake
?

name him
feel

me not, and who avow

:

thou lovely one

:

Who
r

dare

"

believe

in

him
"

"

Who

him not ? The Allthe AU-sustainer, does he not embrace and sustain thee, me, himself ? Does not the heaven arch itself there above ? Lies not the earth Hrm here below ? And do not eternal stars rise, kindly twinkling, on high Are we not looking into each other's eyes, and is not all thronging to thy head and heart, and weaving in eternal mystery,
dare to say
1

and

"

believe in

cmbracer,

?^

invisibly
it

visibly,

about thee
wilt

With
it

it

fill

thy heart, big as

the feeling, then

is,
it
!

and when thou art wholly blest

in

call

what thou
I

Call
it
!

God
is

have no name for

! Heart ! Love ! Feeling is all in all. Name

Bliss
!

sound and smoke, clouding heaven's glow Margaret. That is all \'ery fine and good. The priest nearly the same, only with somewhat different says
Faust.
All

words.
hearts
in in
all

places under the blessed light

of

its own language why not in mine? day say it, each Margaret. Thus taken, it may pass but, for all that,
;

there

is

something

wrong about
!

it,

for

thou

hast

no

Christianity.

Faust.
see you

Dear
I

child

Margaret.
in.

have long been grieved at the company

so

Faust.

How
inmost

.'

Margaret.

The man you have with you

soul.

is

hateful

to

me
life

in

my

Nothing

in

the whole course of

my

has given
Faust.

my

heart such a pang, as the repulsive visage

of that man.

Fear him not, dear child. have Margaret. His presence makes my blood creep. But, much as I long kind feelings towards everybody else. you, I have an unaccountable horror of that man, to see
I

106

-.'^r

_tj

MARTHA'S GARDEN
and hold him
for a roj<ue besides.

God

forgive me,

if

do

him wronrt.

There must be such oddities, notwithstanding. would not live with the like of him. Margaret. Whenever he comes to the door, he looks in so mockingly, one sees that he and with fury but half-suppressed sympathises with nothing. It is written on his forehead that feel so happy in thy arms he can love no living soul. and his in such glowing abandonment so unrestrained
Faust.
I
;

It

presence closes up
Faust.

my

heart's core.
!

angel, you overcomes me to such a degree, that when Margaret. even think I do not love you he but chances to join us, should never be able to any longer. And in his presence, and this eats into my heart. You, too, Henry, must pray
I I
;

You misgiving

feel the

same.

Faust.

You have an
I

antipathy, that

is

all.

Margaret.
Faust.

must go now.
I

Ah, can

never recline one

little

hour undis-

turbed upon thy bosom, and press heart to heart and soul
to soul

Margaret.
leave the

Ah, did

but sleep alone

door unbolted for you this very night.

would gladly But my

mother does not sleep sound, and were she to catch us, I should die upon the spot. Faust. Thou angel, there is no fear of that. You see this phial Only three drops in her drink will gently envelope nature in deep sleep. Margaret. What would not do for thy sake It will
!

.''

do her no harm,
Faust.
could
?

hope.
I

Would
If,

recommend
I

it

to you,

my

love,

if

it

Margaret.
not what drives

best of men,
to

do but look on you,

will.
I

know

me

comply with your

107

have already

FAUST
done so much for you, that next to nothing now remains for

me

to do.

[Exit.

Mephistopheles

(icho

enters).

The

silly

monkey
.''

is

she gone.

Hast thou been playing the spy again heard what passed plainly enough. Mephistopheles. You were catechised, Doctor. Much good may it do you. The girls are certainly deeply interested in knowing whether a man be pious and plain after the old fashion. They say to
Faust.
I

themselves
Faust.

" If

he

is

pliable in that matter,

he

will also

be

pliable to us."

Thou, monster as thou

fond,
to
faithful
soul,
is

art,

canst not conceive

how

this

full

of

her

faith,

which,

according

her

notions,

alone

capable

of

conferring

eternal happiness, feels a holy horror to think that she must

hold her best-beloved for

Mephistopheles.

lost.

Thou

super-sensual,

sensual

lover,

chit of a girl leads thee

physiognomy This In my presence she feels she knows not how. too. little mask betokens some hidden sense. She feels that am most assuredly a genius perhaps the devil himself.
in
I

by the nose. Faust. Thou abortion of dirt and fire And she is knowing Mephistopheles.

To-night, then

Faust.

What

is
I

that to you

Mephistopheles.

have

my

pleasure

in

it,

though.

AT THE WELL
Margaret and Bessy with
Bessy.
pitchers.

AVE

you heard nothing of Barbara ? Not a word. I go very Margaret.

Bessy.
Certainly, Sybella told
it

httle abroad.

me

to-day.

Siie

has even

made a

fool of

herself at last.

That comes of playing

the fine lady.

Margaret.
Bessy.
It
is

How

so

bad

business.

She feeds two

when she
Bessy.

eats and drinks now.

Margaret.

Ah

She is rightly served at last. What a time she has hung upon the fellow There was a promenading and a gallanting to village junkettings and dancing booths she forsooth must be the first in everything he was ever treating her to tarts and wine. She thought great things of her beauty, and was so lost to honour as not to be ashamed to receive presents from him. There was a hugging and kissing and lo, the fiower
1

is

gone

Margaret.
Bessy.

Poor thing

You

really pity her

When
let

the like of us were

at the spinning, our

mothers never
109

us go

down

at night.

FAUST
She stood sweet with her
door, and in
tlie

lover

on the bench before the

lonj^ for

dark walU, the time was never too

herself,
in

them.
in

But now she may humble

the church.
will surely

and do penance,

a white sheet,

Margaret.
Bessy.

He

make her
if

his wife.
did.

He would

be a fool

he

brisk
off.

young

fellow has the world before him.

Besides, he's
!

Margaret.
Bessy.
If

That's not handsome

she gets him,

her garland

it

boys

will

tear

for

go her, and
will

ill

with
will

her.

The
E.\if.

we

strew cut

sti'aw before her door.

How stoutly I could formerly Margaret {going home). how I could revile, if I saw a poor maiden make a slip
!

words enough to speak of another's shame would, it and, blacken it as How it seemed to me was never black enough for me and blessed myself and Yet all felt so grand, and am now myself a prey to sin
never
find
1

black

that drove

me

to

it,

was,

God knows,

so sweet, so dear

ZWINGER
//; ilic

niche of the wall a devotional image of the Mater

Dolorosa, with pots of Jlowers before

it.

Margaret (places fresh flowers

in the pots)

INCLINE,
Thou full of pain, Thy countenance graciously
distress.

to

my

The swoi'd in thy heart, With thousand pangs

Up-lookest thou to thy Son's death.

To the Father look'st And sendest sighs

thou,

Aloft for his and thy distress.

Who feels How rages My torment to the quick How the poor heart in me throbbeth. How it trembleth, how it yearneth,
.?

Knowest

thou, and thou alone

Ill

FAUST
Whithersoe'er
I

go,

What
Grows
I

woe, what woe, what woe,

within

Hardly, alas,

my bosom here! am alone,

I I

weep,

weep,
is

weep,

iMy heart

bursting within

me

The flower-pots on my window-sill with tears, alas Bedewed

I
!

When

at morning's

dawn

Plucked these flowers for thee.

When
The

brightly in

my chamber

rising sun's rays shone,

all

Already, in

wretchedness,

Was
Help

sitting

up

in

my

bed.

rescue

me from shame and

death

Ah, incline,

Thou full of pain. Thy countenance graciously

to

my

distress

NIGHT.-STREET BEFORE MARGARET'S DOOR

Valentine
[a Soldier,

Margaret's

brother).

made one of a company, where many like to show of, and the fellows were
loud
in

their praises of the

flower of

maidens, and drowned their commendation

in

bumpers,
on
the

with
I

my
sat

elbows
in

leaning

board,

quiet

confidence,

swaggering
in
its

then
but

take the bumper

in
is

way

and listened to all their stroke my beard with a smile, and my hand, and say " All very well there one in the whole country to
:

compare with
candle to
so
it

my

dear Margaret,
?

who
"

is

fit

to hold a
!

my

sister
!

went round

Hob and Some shouted,

"

nob, kling

klang
;

he

is

right

she

is the pearl of the whole sex;" and all those praisers were dumb. And now it is enough to make one tear i^ out one's hair by the roots, and run up the walls shall be twitted by the sneers and taunts of every knave, shall sit like a bankrupt debtor, and sweat at every

chance word.
yet
is
I

And though
call

might crush them at a blow,

could not

them
?

liars.
1

Who

comes there

Who

slinking this
If it is

way
he,
I

If

mistake not, there are two of

;

them.

will

have at him at once

he shall not

leave this spot alive.

113

FAUST
Fatist.

How

from the window of the Sacristy there,

at

the h'ght of the eternal lamp flickers upwards, and glimmers

weaker
round
!

and

weaker
is

the

sides,

and darkness

thickens

Just so

all

night-like in
I

my

breast.

Mcpliistophcles.

And
I

feel languishing like the tom-cat,

that sneaks along the fire-ladders and then creeps stealthily

round the walls.

feel

quite

virtuously,

with
In
thrill

a spice of

thievish pleasure, a spice of wantonness.

such a manner

does the glorious Walpurgis night already

every limb.
;

me

through

The day after to-morrow it comes round to us again there one knows what one wakes for. Fatist. In the mean time, can that be the treasure
rising,

that

which

see glimmering yonder

.''

Mepliistoplielcs.

You

will

soon enjoy the

it.

lifting

up of
capital

the casket.

lately took a squint at

There are
adorn

lion-dollars within.

Faust.
mistress with

Not a trinket
.''

not
I

a ring

to

my

lovely

Mephistophelcs.

think

saw some such thing there

sorrv

as a sort of pearl necklace.

Faust.

That

is

well.

feel

when

go to her

without a present.
Mephistophelcs.

You ought

not to regret having

some
sing

enjoyment

gratis.

Now

that the heavens are studied thick

art.
I

with stars, you shall hear a true piece of

will

her a moral song, to

make

a fool of her the

more

certainly.

[He sings

to the guitar.

"What

are you doing here, Catherine, before your lover's

?

door at morning dawn

"

Stay, and beware

he

lets

thee

in

a maid, not to come out a maid.

Beware

If

it

be done, then good night to you, you

poor,

poor things.

pleasure any spoiler,

you love yourselves, do nothing to except with the ring on the finger.
If

Valentine [comes forward).

114

Whom

art thou luring here

t)

M-

STREET
by God
!

thou cursed ratcatcher

First, to

the devil with

the instrument, then to the devil with the singer.

Mepltistopheles.
all

The

guitar

is

broken to pieces

It

is

up with

it.

Valentine.

Now

then for a skull-cracking.

Faust).

Mephistoplieles

{to

Don't
I

give
you.

Courage

Stick close, and do as

!

tell

Doctor Out with your

way.
!

toasting-iron

Thrust away, and Valentine. Parry that

!

will parry.

Mephistoplieles.

Why
that
!

not

Valentine.

And
I

Mephistoplieles.

To be
believe

sure.

Valentine.

the

devil

is

fighting.

What

is

that

My

hand

is

already disabled.
{to

Mephisiopheles
Valentine falls.
Mepliistoplieles.

Faust).

Thrust home
!

Oh, torture

The clown
in

is

tamed now.
for

But away
outcry

We

must vanish
I

twinkling,

horrible

is

already raised.

am

perfectly at

home with
out
light

the police, but

should find

it

hard to clear scores with the criminal courts.

Martha
Martha
People.

{at the

window).

Out

Margaret

{at the

uundow).

Bring a

{as

be/ore).

They are

railing

and

scuffling,

screaming and

fighting.
lies

Here

one dead already.

Martha {coming
People.

out).

Have the murderers escaped

Margaret {coming
Margaret.
done.

out).

Who
!

lies here.''

Thy mother's son. Almighty God what misery

I

Valentine.
still

am

dying

that

Why
ye,

do you
little

women

and sooner stand howling and wailing }

is

soon

said,

Come

here and listen to me.

[All
!

come round him.

!

Margaret you are still young are not yet adroit enough, and manage your matters

Look

my

you
I

ill.

FAUST
tell it

you

in

confidence, since you are, once for

all,

a whore,

be one in good earnest.

Margaret.
Valentine.

Brother

God
our

Leave
!

What do you mean Lord God out of the game.

!

What
will

is

done, alas

cannot be undone, and things

privately with one
;

will take

their course.

You begin
too.
is

more

of

them

soon follow; and when a dozen have had you, the whole
will

town

have you
first

When

Shame

born, she

is

brought into the world

is drawn over her head and ears. Aye, people would fain stiHe her. But when she grows and waxes big, she walks flauntingly in open day, and yet is not a whit the fairer. The uglier her face becomes,

clandestinely, and the veil of night

the more she courts the light of day.

By my
towns-people

truth,
will

already see the time

when

all

honest

turn aside from you, you whore, as from

an infected corpse.
they look you
again
!

Your heart

will will

sink within you

when

in

the face.
will

You

wear no golden chain

the church,

No more
in

you stand

at the altar in

or take pride
hide yourself in

a fair lace collar at the dance.

You

will

some dark miserable

corner, amongst beggars

and cripples, and, even should God forgive you, be cursed upon earth Martha. Commend your soul to God's mercy. Will you yet heap the sin of slander upon your soul.
!

Valentine.

Could
I

but get at thy withered body, thou

full

shameless bawd,

should hope to find a

sins

measure of
pang

pardon for

all

my

Margaret.
Valentine.

My

brother

Oh,

this agonizing
I

Have done with

tears,

tell

you.

When

you

all.

renounced I go through death's sleep unto God, a soldier and a

honour, you gave

me

the deepest heart-stab of

brave one.

^^<^

'^'''s-

CATHEDRAL
SERVICE, ORGAN AND ANTHEM.
Margaret amongst a number of
Evil Spirit.
People.

Evil Spirit

behind Margaret.

different

was

it

with thee,

Margaret,

When

still

full

of innocence

Thou earnest to the altar there Out of the well-worn little book
Lispedst prayers,

Half child-sport, Half

God
1

in

the heart

Margaret

Where

is

thy head

In thy heart

What crime

Prayest thou for thy mother's soul

who
.''

Slept over into long, long pain through thee

Whose blood on thy threshold And under thy heart

Stirs
it

.''

not quickening even now,

itself

Torturing

and thee
?

With

its

foreboding presence
117

FAUST
Margaret.

Woe

woe

Would that were free from the thoughts, That come over me and across me
1

Despite of
Chorus.

me
dies

Dies

irae,

ilia

Solvet seclum

in

fax

ilia.

[Urgan plays.

Evil Spirit.

Horror seizes thee The Trump sounds

The graves tremble And thy heart

From

the repose of

its

ashes

For fiery torment Brought to life again, Trembles up

!

Margaret.

Would
I

that
if

were hence

feel as

the organ
breath,

Stifled

my

As if the anthem Dissohed my heart's core

CItorus.

Judex ergo cum

Quidquid
Margaret.
I

sedebit,

latet adparebit.

Nil inultum remanebit.

feel so

thronged

The

wall-pillars

Close on

me

The vaulted
Presses on

roof

me

Air
ii8

CATHEDRAL
Evil Spirit.

Hide thyself Sin and shame Remain, unhidden.

!

Air

Light

Woe
Chorus.

to thee

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus Quern patronum rogaturus ?

Cum
The

vix Justus

sit

securus.

Evil Spirit.
glorified

from thee

Avert their faces. The pure shudder

To reach thee

their hands.

Woe
Chorus.

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus

Margaret.

Neighbour

your smelling-bottle

[Slie sicooiis

away.

MAY-DAY NIGHT
THE HARTZ MOUNTAINS
District of Schirke

mid Elend.

Faust Mephistopheles.

Mephistopheles.

you not long for a broomstick

For
the

my
are

part

should

be

glad
this

of

roughest he-goat.
still

By

road

we

far

from our destination.

Fatist.

So long as

feel

fresh

upon
is

my

legs, this

knotted stick suffices me.

What

the use of shortening the

way

To creep along

of the vales, and then ascend these from which the ever-bubbling spring dashes this is the pleasure which gives zest to such a path. The spring is already weaving in the birch trees, and even the pine is beginning to feel it, ought it not to have some effect upon our limbs ?

the labyrinth

rocks,

Mephistopheles.
All is

Verily,

I
I

feel

nothing

of

it.

wintry

in

my

body, and

should prefer frost

and snow upon

disk of the red

my
moon

path.

How

mournfully the imperfect

!

rises with belated glare

and gives so

bad a
a rock.

light, that,

at every step,

one runs against a tree or

With your leave, I will call a will-o'the-wisp. I see one yonder, burning right merrily. Holloa, there, my friend
!

20

MAY-DAY NIGHT
may
I

entreat your
?

company
Out

Why

wilt thou

blaze

away
shall
is

so uselessly

Be

so good as to light us up along here.

of

Will-o'the-Wisp.

reverence,

hope,

succeed

in

subduing

my Ha
!

unsteady nature.

Our course
to

ordinarily but a zigzag one.

Mephisiopheles.

ha

But go

straight,

in

the devil's

you think name, or

imitate

will

men. blow your

flickering life out.

Will-o'the-Wisp.

see well that you are master here,

and
is

will willingly
is

the mountain
to

accommodate myself to you. But consider magic-mad to-night, and if a will-o'the-wisp show you the way, you must not be too particular.

Faust, Mephistopheles, Will-o'the-VVisp, in altcnialiiig song.

dreams and enchantments, it seems, have we entered. Lead us right, and do yourself credit that we may advance betimes in the wide, desolate regions. See trees after trees, how rapidly they move by and the cliffs, that bow, and the long-snouted rocks, how they snort, how they blow Through the stones, through the turf, brook and brookling hurry down. Do I hear rustling do I hear songs do I
Into the sphere of
! ; !
.-' .''

hear the sweet plaint of love

what

voices
! ;

of those blest days

like

.''

we

hope, what

we
it

love

And Echo,

the tale of

old times, sends back the sound.

Tu-whit-tu-whoo

and the jay, have they all remained awake ? Are those salamanders through the brake, with their long legs, thick paunches And the roots, like snakes, wind from out of rock and sand, and stretch forth strange filaments to terrify, to seize us from coarse speckles, instinct with life, they
.'

sounds nearer

the owl, the pewet,

set polypus-fibres for the traveller.

And

the mice, thousand-

coloured, in whole tribes, through the

heath

And

the

glow-worms

fly,

moss and through the in crowded swarms, a

confounding escort.

FAUST
But tell me whether we stand still, or whether we are moving on. rocks and Everythinj.* seems to turn round, trees, which make grimaces, and the will-o'the-wisps, which multiply, which swell themselves out. Here Mephistopheles. Keep a stout hold of my skirt is a central peak, from which one sees with wonder how

Mammon
red,

is

glowing

in

the mountain.

Faust.

How

strangely a melancholy light, of morning

glimmers through the mountain gorges, and quivers even

to the deepest recesses of the precipice.

damp, there float exhalations. vapour and gauze, then steals along
then again bursts forth
like

Here rises a mineHere glow sparkles out of

like

a fine thread, and

a fountain.

Here

it

winds, a
;

whole track, with a hundred veins, through the valley and here, in the compressed corner, it scatters itself at once. There sparks are sputtering near, like golden sand upsprinkled.

But, see

the wall of rocks

is

on

fire

in

all

its

height.

Mephistopheles.

Does not Sir

Mammon
?

illuminate

his

palace magnificently for this festival

It

is

lucky that you

have seen
Faust.

it.

already see traces of the boisterous guests.

the storm-blast
it

How

is

raging through the air

With what thumps

Mephistopheles.

strikes against

my

neck

the rock, or

it

will

thickens the
forest
!

night.

You must lay hold of the old ribs of hurl you down into this abyss. A mist Hark what a crashing through the
!

The owls

fly

scared away.

Hark, to the splintering

!

of the pillars of

the ever-green palaces

the crackling and

snapping of the boughs, the mighty groaning of the trunks,

the creaking and yawning of the roots
!

All

come crashing
;

down, one over the other, in fearfully-confused fall and the winds hiss and howl through the wreck-covered cliffs Dost thou hear voices aloft ? in the distance ? close at hand ? Aye, a raving witch-song streams along the whole mountain.

122

%
"^%.,

f--*-^^

MAY-DAY NIGHT
The Witches, in chorus. To the Brocken the witches The stubble is yellow, the sown-fields are green. repair Sir Urian sits at There the huge multitude is assembled.
!

the top.

On

they go, over stone and stock

the witches,

the he-goats.
Voices.

Old

Baubo comes alone

to

she

rides

upon

farrow-sow.
Chorus.

Then honour
her,

whom

honour

Baubo

to the front,

mother upon
Voice.

and lead the way! A then follows the whole swarm of witches.
I

Mother proper sow and

is

due

Voice.
nest.

Which way did you come ? there peeped By Ilsenstein.

!
!

into

the owl's

She gave me such a look

Voice. Voice.

What a rate you are riding at Oh, drive to hell She has grazed me in passing only look at the
:

wound

Chorus of Witches. What mad throng is

scratches
:

The way is broad the way is long. the besom The fork sticks this
.''

the child

is

suffocated

the mother bursts.

We steal along like snails in Wizards {half-chorus). for, in going to the their house the women are all before house of the wicked one, woman is a thousand steps in
; ;

advance.

do not take that so precisely. The woman does it with a thousand steps but, let her make as much haste as she can, the man does it at a single bound. Come with us, come with us, from Voices (above).

The other Half.

We

Felsensee
Voices {from beloxv).

We

should

like to

mount with

you.

We wash,

and are thoroughly clean, but we Both Choruses. The wind is still, the stars fly, the The magic-choir melancholy moon is glad to hide herself.
are ever barren.
sputters forth sparks by thousands in
its
!

whizzing.

Voice {from below).

Hold

Hold

123

FAUST
in

{from above). the rock ?

Voice

Who

calls

there,

from the

cleft

Voice {from below). Take me with you take me with I you have been mounting for three hundred years already, and cannot reach the top. I would fain be with my fellows. Both Choruses. The besom carries, the stick carries,
! !

the

fork

carries,
is

the

he-goat

carries.

Who

cannot raise
after

himself to-night

lost for ever.

Demi-Wiich
such
a
!

{below).

have
far

been
the

tottering

length
I

of

time

how

others

are a-head
it

already
neither.

have no rest at home,

Witc/ies.

and don't get

here

Chorus of
;

The

salve
;

gives

courage to the

witches a rag is good for a sail every trougii makes a good ship he will never fly, who flew not to-night. Bo/h Choruses. And when we round the peak, sweep along the ground, and cover the heath far and wide with [Tlicy let themselves down. your swarm of witch-hood. Mcphistopheles. There's crowding and pushing, rustling and clattering There's whizzing and twirling, bustling and
; !

babbling

There's glittering, sparkling, stinking,

!

burning

But stick close to me, or we be separated in a moment. Where art thou ? Faust {in the distance). Here
true witch-element
!

shall

Mcphistopheles.

What

already torn

away so
!
!

far

Squire Voland must exert my authority as master. Room Here, comes Make room, sweet people, make room and now, at one bound, let us Doctor, take hold of me
!
!

get clear of the crowd.

It

is

too mad, even for the like of

me.

Hard by

there, shines something with a peculiar light.

Something attracts me towards those bushes.

Come
!

along,

we

will slip in there.

Faust.

Thou

spirit of contradiction

But go on
to be sure

thou

may'st lead me.

But

it

was wisely done,

124

We

MAY- DAY NIGHT

repair
to

the

Brocken

on

Walpurgis' night

to
in

try

and

isolate ourselves

when we

get here.
!

Mephistopheles.

Only see what variegated flames

merry club company.

Faust.
see

is

met together.

One

is

not alone

a small

should prefer being above, though

already
is

flame and eddying

smoke.

Yonder

the

multitude

streaming to the Evil One.

untied.

Many

a riddle

must there be
also
will

Mephistopheles.

And many
It
is

a riddle
it

is

Let the great world bluster as

ourselves
in

will,

we
I

anew. here house

tied
in

peace.

an old saying, that

the great

world one makes

little

worlds.
old
if
I

Yonder
ones,

see young witches,

naked
is

and

bare,

and
is

who

prudently

cover

themselves.

Be

compliant,
great.
!

only for

my

sake

the trouble

small, the sport

hear the tuning of instruments.

oneself
I

Confounded

jangle

One must accustom

it

to
will

it.

Come
fresh
trifling

along,

come

along,

cannot be otherwise.

go

forward

and
space.

introduce you,

and

shall

lay
?

obligation.

What

sayest
1

thou,

friend

you under a This is no

you can hardly see the end. A hundred fires are burning in a row. People are dancing, talking, cooking, drinking, love-making Now tell me where anything better is to be found Faust. To introduce us here, do you intend to present

Only look

yourself as wizard or devil

?
I

Mephistopheles.
incognito.

In

truth,

am

much

used

to

go
I

But one shows one's orders on gala days.

have no garter to distinguish me, but the cloven foot is held in high honour here. Do you see the snail there ? she

and with her feelers has already found out something in me. Even if I would, I could not deny myself here. But come we will go from fire to fire I will be the pander, and you shall be the gallant.
up,
1

comes creeping

125

FAUST
[To some
lolio

arc sitting round expiring embers.

Old gentlemen, what are you doing here at the extremity ? I find you nicely in the middle, should commend you, did Every one is in the thici{ of the riot and youthful revelry. surely enough alone at home. General. Who can put his trust in nations, though he For with the people, as has done ever so much for them with the women, youth has always the upper hand. Minister. At present people are wide astray from the right path For, verily, when the good old ones for me all in all, that was the true golden age. we were Parvenu. We, too, were certainly no fools, and often But now every thing is turned did what we ought not. topsy-turvy, and just when we wished to keep it firm.
I
.''

Author.

Who

now-a-days, speaking generally, likes to

.''

read a work of even moderate sense

Mephistopheles
feel

And

as for the rising

generation, they were never so malapert.

{who

all

at

once

appears
that

very
I

old).

the people ripe for doomsday,

last time;
is

now

ascend the
cask

witch-mountain for the

and because

my own

runs thick, the world also

come
I

to the dregs.

Witch {who sells old clothes and frippery). Do not Now is your time. Look pass by in this manner, gentlemen I have them of all sorts. And yet at my wares attentively there is nothing in my shop which has not its fellow upon earth that has not, some time or other, wrought proper There is no dagger mischief to mankind and to the world. no chalice, from here, from which blood has not flowed which hot consuming poison has not been poured into a healthy body; no trinket, which has not seduced some amiable woman no sword, which has not cut some tie asunder, which has not perchance stabbed an adversary from behind. Mephistopheles. Cousin you understand but ill the Happened, done temper of the times. Done, happened
;

126

MAY- DAY NIGHT

Take
to

dealing

in

novelties

novelties

only

have
is

any
a fair

attraction for us.

Faust.

If

can but keep

my

senses

This

with a vengeance
Mephistopheles.

You

think to

The whole throng struggles upwards. shove, and you yourself are shoved.
then,
is

Faust.

Who,

that

Mephistopheles.

Mark her

well

That

is

Lilith.

Faust.

Who

Adam's first wife. Beware of her fair hair, of that ornament in which she shines pre-eminent. When she ensnares a young man with it, she does not let him off again so easily. Faust. There sit two, the old one with the young one. They have already capered a good bit Mephistopheles. That has neither stop nor stay to-night.
Mephistopheles.
!

A new

dance is beginning come, we will set to. Faust {dancing with the young one). I had once upon In it, I saw an apple-tree; two lovely a time a fair dream. apples glittered on it they enticed me, I climbed up. The Fair One. You are very fond of apples, and have been so from Paradise downwards, I feel moved with joy,
; :

that

my

garden also bears such.

I

Mephistopheles (with the old one).

had once upon a

time a wild dream.

The Old One.

of the cloven foot.

present

my

best respects to the knight

Confounded mob how dare you ? Was it not long since demonstrated to you ? A spirit never stands upon ordinary feet and you are actually dancing
Procktophantasmist.
! ;

away,

like

us mortals

The Fair One. What does he come to our ball for then ? Faust (dancing). Ha He is absolutely everywhere. He must appraise what others dance! If he cannot talk about
!

127

FAUST
every step, the step
is is

as good as never

made
If

at

all.

He

most vexed, when we go forwards.

in

turn round

a circle, as he does
I

in

his old mill,

you would but he would

to consult

term that good, him about it.

is

dare say

particularly

were you

Procktophantasmlst.

You

are
!

still

there, then

No, that

But vanish We have enlightened the world, you know That devil's crew, they pay no attention We are so wise, and Tegel is haunted, notwithto rules. not been sweeping away standing! How long have It is at the delusion and it never becomes clean unheard of Tlie Fair One. Have done boring us here, at any rate,
unheard of
! !

then

Prockioplmntasiiiist.
I

tell

you,

Spirits,

to

your faces,
cannot
I

endure not the despotism of the

it.

spirit.

My
I

spirit

exercise

{Tlie

dancing goes
;

on.)

To-night,

see,

shall
;

succeed

in

nothing

but

am always
last

ready for a journey

to

and

still

hope,

before

my

step,

get

the

better

of

devils

and poets.

MephistopJieles.

He

will,

forthwith,

seat

himself
;

in

puddle

that

is

his

mode

of

soothing
his

himself

leeches have
of spirits

amused themselves on
girl,

and when rump, he is cured

left
tlie

and spirit. (To Why do you leave the pretty you in the dance
.''

Faust, wlio has

dance.)

who sung

so sweetly to

Faust.

Ah

in

the

middle of the song, a red mouse

nothing out of the

jumped out

of her mouth.

Mcphistopheles.

There

is

way

in that.

One must
that the
in

not

be too nice about

grey.

such

matters.

Enough

mouse was not

of

Who

cares for such things

moment
Faust.

enjoyment.
I

Then

saw

Mcphistopheles.

What ?
128

MAY-DAY NIGHT
Faust.

Mephisto, do you see yonder a pale, fair

!

girl,

standing alone and afar off

:

She drags

herself but slowly

from the place she seems to move with fettered feet. I must own, she seems to me to resemble poor Margaret. Mepliisiopheles. Have nothing to do with that no good can come of it to any one. It is a creation of enchantment, is lifeless, an idol. It is not well to meet it the blood of man thickens at its chill look, and he is well nigh turned to stone. You have heard, no doubt, of Medusa. Faust. In truth, they are the eyes of a corpse, which there was no fond hand to close. That is the bosom, which Margaret yielded to me that is the sweet body, which I enjoyed. That is sorcery, thou easily deluded Mephistopheles. fool for she wears to every one the semblance of his
!

beloved.

Faust.

What

bliss

what

suffering

cannot tear
red

myself from that look.

line,

How

strangely does a single

knife,

no thicker than the back of a

Mephistopheles.

adorn that lovely

neck.

Right

see

it

carry her head under her arm, for

for
her.
hill,
if
I

too. She can also Perseus has cut it off

!

the

But ever this fondness for delusion Come up however here all is as merry as in the Prater
;

and
is

am

not bewitched,
^.

actually see a theatre.

What

going on here, then

Servibilis.

They

will
;

recommence immediately.
it

A new
it.

piece, the last of

seven

is

the custom here to give so

many. Excuse

dilettante

has written
but
I

me.

Gentlemen,

and dilettanti play must be off. It is

it,

my

dilettante office to

draw up the

curtain.

Mephistopheles.
that
is

When
I

find
;

you upon the Blocksberg,

this
is

just

what

approve

for

the proper place

for you.
129

MAY-DAY NIGHT'S DREAM;

OR,

OBERON AND

TITANIA'S

GOLDEN WEDDING-FEAST
INTERMEZZO

INTERMEZZO
Theatre-Manager.

we

rest for once

we, the brave

sons of Mieding.

damp
ry
!

dale

that
the

is

Old mountain the whole

Herald.

That

wedding-feast
are
over,
to
I

may
past
like
;

be

golden,
if

fifty-years
is

be

but

the quarrel

shall

the golden the better.

spirits

Oberon.

If

ye
:

are

with

me, this

is

the

time to

show

it

the king and

the queen, they are

united anew.

Puck.
about,

When Puck comes

and his hundreds come after to rejoice along with him.

Ariel.

and whirls himself foot goes whisking in the dance,

Ariel
his

awakes

the

song,
trifles,

in

tones
but
it

of

heavenly purity
lures the
fair.

music lures many

ones,

also

Oberon.

Wedded

who would

agree,

let

them

take-

a lesson from us two.

it

To make a couple
gruff,

love each other,

is

only necessary to separate them.

Titania.
If

the

husband looks

whimsical, take hold of both of them immediately.

and the wife be Conduct

K

me

her to the South, and him to the extremity of the North.

133

FAUST
Orchestra-Tutti
(Fortissimo).
!

Flies'
in

snouts,

and gnats'

noses, with their kindred

in

Frog

the leaves, and cricket

the grass
Solo.

they are the musicians.

here comes the bagpipe
to
!

See,

It

is

the soap-

bubble.
its

Hark

the

Schnecke-schnicke-schnack

through

snub-nose.
Spirit that is fashionitig
itself.

Spider's foot and toad's

belly,

and

little

wings for the

it

little
it

wight

It

does not

make

an animalcule,

is

true, but

makes a

little

poem.

pair of Lovers.

Little

step and high bound, through

Truly, you trip it me enough, honey-dew and exhalations. but you do not mount into the air. Inquisitive Traveller. Is not this masquerading-mockery }

Can

believe

my

eyes
I

.''

To see the beauteous

tail
!

god, Oberon,

here to-night, too

Orthodox.

No

claws, no

Yet

it

stands beyond a
is

doubt that, even as "The Gods of Greece," so

devil.

he too a

Northern Artist.

What
I

catch,

is

at present only sketch-

ways as
journey.

it

were; but

prepare myself betimes for the Italian

brings

Purist.

Ah

my

ill-fortune
!

me

hither

what a

constant scene of rioting

only two are powdered.

and of the whole host of witches,

Powder as well as petticoats are for sit naked upon my little old and grey women. Therefore he-goat, and show a stout body. Matron. We have too much good-breeding to squabble
I

Young Witch.

with

j'ou here.

But
the

hope you
Flies'

will rot,

young and
gnats'
in

delicate

as you are.

Leader of
don't
cricket

Band.
about
!

snouts and

noses,

swarm
in

so

the

naked.

Frog

leaves,

and
I

the grass

Continue, however, to keep time,

beg of you.
134

INTERMEZZO
Weathercock
heart's

{towards
!

one

side).

Company
brides
!
!

to

one's

content

Truly,

nothing

but

and

young

bachelors,

man

for

man

the hopefullest people

Weathercock {towards the other side). And if the ground does not open, to swallow up all of them with a quick run,

will

immediately jump into

hell.
little

Xenien.

We

are here as insects, with

sharp nebs, to

honour Satan, our worshipful papa, according to his dignity. Hennings. See how naively they joke together in a crowded troop. They will e'en say in the end, that they had good hearts.
!

Musaget.
witches
;

like full
I

well to lose myself in this host of

for, truly,

should

know how

to

manage these
people, one
skirt
!

better than Muses.

Ci-devant Genius of the Age. becomes somebody. Come, take

Blocksberg, like the
Inquisitive

With proper
hold of

my
is

The
of

German Parnassus, has Tell me what Traveller.

a very broad top.

the

name

that

stiff

man.

He walks
"
I

with

stiff

steps.

He
in

snuffles

everything he can snuffle.

He

is

scenting out Jesuits."

The Crane.
waters.

like to fish in

clear

and even

troubled

On

the

same

principle

you see the pious gentlemen

associate even with devils.

Worldling.
is

Aye, for the pious, believe me, everything

actually

a vehicle.

They

form many a conventicle, here

upon the Blocksberg.

Dancer.
distant

drums.

hear Here is surely a new choir coming But don't disturb yourselves there are
!

single-toned bitterns

among

the reeds.

Dancing Master* How each throws up his legs! gets on as best he may The crooked jumps, the clumsy hops, and asks not how it looks.
!

This and the following stanza were added

in

the last complete Edition of Goethe's

Works.

135

K2

FAUST
Fiddler.

How
how
!

deeply

this

pack

of

ragamuffins

hate

each other, and

finishing

gladly they would give each other the unites

blow

The bagpipe
I

them

here, as Orpheus'

lyre the beasts.

Dogmatist.

will

not be put out of

my

opinion, not

by either

critics

or

doubts.

The
once,
that

devil,

though,

must be
masterful

something; for
Idealist.
in

how

else could there be devils.''

is

Phantasy, this
Truly,
if
I

really
I

too

my

mind.

be

All,

must be beside

myself to-day.
Realist.

Entity

is
I

a regular plague to me, and cannot

but vex
firm

me much.

stand

here,

for

the

first

time,

not

upon

my

feet.
I

Supeniatitralist.

am
;

greatly
for,

pleased at
devils,
I

being

here,

and

am

delighted with these

from

can certainly

flame, and believe Only doubt (ziceifel) rhymes Here I am quite at home. to devil {teufel). Leader of the Band. Frog in the leaves, and cricket in the grass Confounded dilettanti Flies' snouts and gnats' noses you are fine musicians

draw conclusions as to good spirits. Sceptic. They follow the track of the

themselves near the treasure.

TIte

Knowing Ones.

Sansoiici, that

is

the

name

of the

There is no longer any walking upon feet, wherefore we walk upon our heads. In times past we have sponged The Maladroit Ones. Our shoes many a tit-bit but now, good bye to all that are danced through we run on bare soles. We come from the bog, from which Will-o'tlie-Wisps. we are just sprung but we are the glittering gallants here
host of merry creatures.
; ! ; ;

in

the dance directly.

Star-Shoot.

hither.
will help

From on high, in star-and-fire-light, am now lying crooked-ways in the grass

legs
?

shot

who

me upon my

136

INTERMEZZO
room and round about The Massive Ones. Room so down go the grass-stalks. Spirits are coming, but spirits as they are, they have plump limbs.
! ! !

Puck.
Ariel.

Don't tread
this

so

heavily,

like

elephants'

calves

and the plumpest on

If

day be the stout Puck himself.

gave

kind

nature

if

the
hill

spirit

gave
!

you

wings, follow

my

light track

up to the
Drifting
!

of roses

Orchestra {pianissimo).
mists,

clouds,
in

and wreathed
the leaves, and

brighten
in

wind

from on high Breeze the rushes, and all is dissipated

GLOOMY DAY.-OPEN COUNTRY

Faust.
Fausi.

Mephistopheles.

MISERY!
/X' ^fsJ^L

Despairing

Lonjt

wretciied wanderer upon the earth, and

now

prisoner

The

dear,

unhappy

being, cooped up in the dungeon, as a

malefactor, for horrid tortures

to that
spirit,
!

Even

to that

Treacherous, worthless
hast
roll

and

this
!

thou

concealed

from me
infuriated

Stand, only stand

in

thy devilish eyes

In irremediable

thy

head

Stand and brave me with

thy unbearable presence!

A
evil

prisoner!
spirits,

misery
hast

Given over to

and to sentencein

passing, unfeeling

man

And me,
with

the

mean

time,

thou

been

lulling

tasteless

dissipations,

concealing her growing wretchedness from

leaving her to perish without help.

me, and

Mephistopheles.

She

is

not the

first.
!

monster Turn him, thou Infinite Spirit turn the reptile back again into his dog's shape, in which he was often pleased to ti'ot before me by
Faust.
!

Dog
!

horrible

night,

to

roll

before

the

feet

of

the harmless wanderer,

and fasten on
into his

his shoulders

favourite
in

shape,

when he fell. Turn him again that he may crouch on his belly
I

before

me

the

sand, whilst
138

spurn him with

my

foot,

OPEN COUNTRY
Not the first Wo! wo! It is inconceivable by any human soul, that more than one creature should have sunk into such a depth of misery, that the first, in its writhingthe reprobate
! !

death-agony, was not sufficient to atone for the guilt of all It harrows the rest in the sight of the Ever-pardoning.

up my marrow and my very life, the misery of this one thou art grinning away calmly at the fate of thousands. Now are we already at our wits' end Mephistopheles.
:

again

your mortals snaps with overstraining. Why dost thou enter into fellowship with us, canst not go through with it } Will'st By, and art if thou Did we force ourselves on thee, not safe from dizziness
!

just

where the sense

of

.'

or thou thyself on us

.''

Faust.

Gnash not thy greedy teeth thus defyingly

thee
!

at

me

loathe

Great,

glorious

Spirit,

thou

who

deignedst to appear to me, thou

my

soul,

why yoke me

to

this

who knowest my heart and shame-fellow who feeds on

!
.''

mischief, and battens on destruction

Mephistopheles.

Hast done
!

Faust.

Save her
I

or

woe

to thee

The most
shackles

horrible

curse on thee for thousands of years

Mephistopheles.

cannot

loosen

the
!

of
it

the
that

avenger, nor undo his bolts.

Save
?

her

Who

was

plunged her into ruin

.''

or thou

[Faust looks wildly around.

Art thou grasping after the thunder ? Well, that it is not To dash to pieces one who given to you wretched mortals
!

replies

to

you

in

all

innocence
thither

that
She

is

just

the tyrant's

way

of venting himself in perplexities.

Faust.

Bring

me

shall be free

Mephistopheles.

And

the danger to which you

of blood,
spirits

expose

yourself
lies

.?

Know, the
and
lie

guilt

upon the town.

Avenging
in

from your hand, still hover over the place

of the slain,

wait for the returning murderer.

139

FAUST
Faust.
free her

That, too, from thee

!

world upon thee, monster

Mephistopheles.

Murder and death of a Conduct me thither, I say, and

?
I

will
in
;

conduct thee, and what

can,

hear
keys,

Have

all

power

cloud the gaoler's senses

heaven and upon earth ? I will do you possess yourself of the

!

and bear her off with human hand. I will watch The magic horses will be ready, I will bear you off. This

much

can do.

Faust.

Up and away

NlGHTA COMMON
Faust and Mephistopheles rushing along upon black
Faust.
horses.

are

they

working
Can't

those
?

about

the Ravenstone yonder

Mephistopheles.
tell

what they're

cooking and making.

Faust.

Are

waving

upwards

waving

downwards bending
Mephistoplieles.

stooping.

A
On

witch company.

Faust.

They are sprinkling and charming.

!

Mephistopheles.

on

DUNGEON
Faust
wicket).
{iviih

a bunch of keys and a lamp, before an iron

TREMOR,
the

long

unfelt,

seizes of

me

concentrated misery

man-

kind fastens on me.

Here, behind these

damp

walls,

is

her dwelhng-place, and

!

her crime was a good delusion

hesitatest
to see her again
!

Thou
fearest

to go to her
!

Thou

On

thy irresolution lingers death

lock.

hitherwards.

[He takes hold of the

Singing

xvithin.

My
My

mother, the whore.

killed

That

me!
!

father, the rogue,

That ate me up

My

little

sister

Picked up the bones At a cool place There I became a beautiful

!

little

wood-bird.

Fly away

fly

away

Faust (opening
her lover
is

the lock).

She has no presentiment that

straw
rustle.

listening, hears the chains clank, the

[He enters.

Margaret {hiding her face in the bed of straw). Woe They come. Bitter death woe Faust (softly). Hush! hush! I come to free thee.
! !

142

DUNGEON
Margaret {throwing herself before human, feel for my wretchedness.
Faust.
him).
If

thou

art

You

will

wake the guard by your

knees).
?

cries
to

[He takes hold of the chains

unlock them.

Margaret (on her

this

Who
let

has given you, headsman,

for

power over me

You come

me

whilst
Is

it

is

yet

midnight.

Be

merciful and
?

me

live.

not to-morrow
[She stands up.

morning soon enough

I

I and am to die already My true-love was was fair, too, and that was my undoing near he is now far away. Torn lies my garland, scattered Spare Don't take hold of me so roughly the flowers.

am

yet so young, so young

me
in

What have
!

vain
!

Let me done to you never saw you before in all

I
.''

not

implore
life,

my

you

know

Faust.

Can
I

endure

this

misery

Only let pressed it this whole me first give suck to the child. night to my heart. They took it away to vex me, and now And I shall never be happy again. They killed it. say An old It is wicked of the people. sing songs upon me!
Margaret.
entirely in thy power.
I I

am now

tale

ends

so,

who

bids

them apply

it

.''

A lover lies at Faust (throws himself on the ground). unloose the bonds of wretchedness. thy feet, to Margaret {throws herself by his side). Ay, let us kneel See, under these steps, under the to invoke the saints. The Evil One, with fearful fury, threshold, hell is seething
!

is

making a din. Faust (passionately). Margaret! Margaret! That was my true-love's voice. Margaret (listening). The chains fall off). Where is he ? I (She springs icp. Nobody shall hinder me. I will him call. I am free heard He called Margaret! lie on his bosom! fly to his neck!
!

He

stood upon the threshold.

In

the midst, through the

H3

FAUST
howling and clattering of
scoffing,
I

hell,

through the grim, devilish

knew the
'Tis
I.

sweet, the loving tone again.

Faust.

Margaret.
him.)
'Tis he!

'Tis thou!
'Tis he!

Ah, say so once again!

{Clasping

Whither is all my wretchedness? Whither the agony of the dungeon? the chains? 'Tis thou am saved! There again already Thou com'st to save me. and the is the street, where I saw thee for the first time cheerful garden, where I and Martha waited for thee. Faust (striving to take her axvay). Come Come with me liUe to stay where thou stayest. Margaret. Oh stay

[Caressing him.

Faust.

Haste!
it.

If

you do not make haste,

we

shall

pay dearly for

Margaret.

you can no longer kiss ? So short time away from me, my love, and already forgotton how to feel so sad upon your neck ? when, in kiss Why do other times, a whole heaven came over me fi-om your words,
! !

What
I

your looks

and you kissed me as

!

if

smother
him.)

me

Kiss
!

me

or

will

kiss

you were going to (She embraces you

!

O woe

your
?

lips

are cold,

are
me

dumb.
of
it
?

Where have

you

left

your love

who

has robbed

[She turns from him.

Faust.

Come
!

follow

me

take courage,

my

love.

will press thee to

my

heart with thousandfold warmth

this.

only
And

follow

me

ask thee but

to

Margaret [turning
is
it

him).

And

is

it

thou, then

thou, indeed

Faust.

'Tis

I.

Come

along!
fetters,

Margaret.
1

You undo my

you take

me

to your

How comes it that you are not afraid of bosom again me ? And do you then know, my love, whom you are freeing ? the depth of night is already Faust. Come, come
!

passing away.
144

DUNGEON
Margaret.
child.
I

have
not

killed

my

mother,

have drowned
?

my

Was
'Tis

it
!

too
It

thou

scarcely believe
!

on thee, bestowed on thee and me it. Give me thy hand.

Wipe but oh, 'tis damp no dream thy dear hand Oh, it off. It seems to me as if there was blood on it. thy sword I pray Put up God what hast thou done
is
!
.''

thee, do

Faust.

Let what

is

past, be past.

Thou
1

wilt

kill

me.

Margaret.

No, you must remain behind.

!

will describe

you must see to them the first thing to-morrow. Give my mother the best place; my brother close by me, a little on one side, only not too far oif And the little one on my right breast no one else will lie
the graves to you
;

by me.
delight
!

To
But

nestle to
it

tliy

side,

that

was

a sweet, a dear
I

will

never be mine again.

to you, and you

feel

as

if

were
off.

irresistibly

drawn
you
;

were thrusting me
along.

And

yet, 'tis
If

and you
.''

look, so kind.
I,

Faust.

you

feel that 'tis

come

Margaret.
Fatcst

Out there
If
!

Into the free air!

Margaret
wait,

the

grave

is

without,

if

death

lies

in

then

come

Hence
!

into

the

eternal

resting-place,
^

and not a step further. Thou art now going away Henry, could I but go too
Faust.
open.

Thou canst
I

Only consent
there

The door stands

no hope for
with
in a

Margaret.

dare not go out

.''

is

me

What
is

avails

it

flying

They are
to

lying in wait for me.

It

so

miserable

to
It

be obliged
is

beg,

and

an

evil

conscience, too.
land,

so miserable to
I

wander
will.

strange

and

they
1

will

catch me, do as

Faust.

shall be

with thee.

Margaret. Quick, quick! Save thy poor child. Keep the path up by the brook over the bridge

Away!
the

into

H5

FAUST
wood to
quick
the
left

where the plank is in the pond.

it
!

Only
is
still

and catch hold of help Help struggling

! !

it

tries

to

rise

it

Faust.
free.

Be

calm,

pray!

Only one

step,

and thou art

sits

Margaret.

there sits brain grows chill mother on a mother on a stone, and waves her head to and fro. She beckons not, she nods not, her head is heavy; she slept so She slept that we might enjoy long, she'll wake no more. ourselves. Those were pleasant times Faust. As no prayer, no persuasion, is here of any
!

Were we stone my

but past the

hill

There

my my

avail,

will risk the

bearing thee away.

Margaret.

Let
of

me go

No,
!

endure

no

violence

Lay not hold

me

so murderously

Time was, you know,

!

when

did

all

to pleasure you.
is
!

My love my love dawning The last day Yes, is growing day Tell no My wedding-day it was to be is breaking in one that thou hadst been with Margaret already. Woe to We shall meet again, over now It is all my garland
Faust.

The day Margaret. Day

1

but not at the dance. The crowd thickens; it is not heard. The square, the streets, cannot hold them. The bell tolls How they bind and seize me! Already the staff breaks!
!

am
lies

hurried off to the blood-seat!

is

Already quivering for

every neck
Faust.

the sharp steel which quivers for mine.

Dumb

the world as the grave!

Oh
!

that

had never been born

Mephistopheles {appears without).

Up! or you are

!

lost.

Lingering and prattling Vain hesitation shudder; the morning is gloaming up. Margaret. What rises up from the floor

My
.?

horses

He

Send him away! would nie

!

What would
146

he at the holy place?

He He

DUNGEON
Faust.

Thou shalt live! Margaret. Judgment of God

Mephistopheles
{to

have given myself up

will leave

to thee.

Faust).

Come! come!

you

in

the scrape with her.

Margaret.

Thine

am

I,

Father!

Ye Holy Hosts, range yourselves round tremble to look upon thee. Henry
!

Save me, ye Angels! about, to guard me

!

Mephistopheles.

She
Is
{to

is

judged
!

Voice front above.

saved

Mephistopheles

Faust).

Hither to

me
!

[Disappears with Faust.

Voice from within, dying away.

Henry

Henry

APPENDIX

SCENES FROM THE FAUST OF GOETHE

Translated by Percy Bysshe Shelley.

PROLOGUE
The Lord and
the

IN

HEAVEN.
Enter three Archangels.

Host of Heaven.

Raphael, Gabriel, Michael.

The sun makes music as Amid the rival spheres of Heaven

Raphael.

of old

On

its

predestined circle roll'd

Ans^els even
its

With thunder speed: the

Draw

strength from gazing on

glance.
:

Though none its meaning fathom may The world's unwither'd countenance
Is bright

as at creation's day.
swift

Gab.

And

and

swift, with rapid lightness.

The adorned Earth

spins silently.

Alternating Elysian brightness

With deep and dreadful night

the sea

Foams in broad billows from the deep Up to the rocks, and rocks and ocean,
Onward, with spheres which never Are hurried in eternal motion.
Mic.
sleep,

And tempests

in

contention roar
;

From
Which

land to sea, from sea to land

And, raging, weave a chain of power.

girds the earth, as with a band.

flashing desolation there,

Flames before the thunder's way; But thy servants, Lord, revere The gentle changes of thy day.
151

L2

APPENDIX
Chorus of the Three.
thy glance,

The Angels draw strength from

;

Though no one comprehend thee may Thy world's unwither'd countenance

Is

bright as on creation's day.*

Enter Mephistopheles.

Meph. As thou, O Lord, once more art kind enough To interest thyself in our affairs And ask, " How goes it with you there below ? "
'

Rap.
its

The sun sounds, according

to ancient custom,

In the song of emulation of his brother-spheres.

And
Its

fore-written circle

Fulfils with a step of thunder.

countenance gives the Angels strength

it.

Though no one can fathom The incredible high works

Are excellent as at the first day. Gab. And swift, and inconceivably swift The adornment of earth winds itself round. And exchanges Paradise-clearness With deep dreadful night. The sea foams in broad waves From its deep bottom, up to the rocks, And rocks and sea are torn on together
In the eternal swift course of the spheres.

Mic. And storms roar in emulation From sea to land, from land to sea, And make, raging, a chain

Of deepest operation round about. There flames a flashing destruction

Before the path of the thunderbolt. But thy servants, Lord, revere

The gentle alternations of thy day. Cho. Thy countenance gives the Angels Though none can comprehend thee
;

strength.

And
Such

all

thy lofty works

at the first day.
;

Are excellent as
is

the literal translation of this astonishing chorus

it is

impossible
;

to represent in another language the

volatile strength
tion,

melody

of the versification

even the

and delicacy of the ideas escape in the crucible of translaand the reader is surprised to find a caput mortuum. Translator's Note.

SHELLEY'S TRANSLATIONS
And as indulgently at other times Thou tookedst not my visits in ill part, Thou seest me here once more among thy
Though I should scandalize this company, You will excuse me if I do not talk
In the high style which they think fashionable
;

household.

My

pathos would certainly make you laugh too,

not long since given over laughing.
I

Had you
I

Nothing know
observe only

to say of

suns and worlds

how men plague themselves

o'

The little god As wonderful

the world keeps the

:

same stamp.

as on creation's day

little better would he live, hadst thou Not given him a glimpse of heaven's light. Which he calls reason, and employs it only To live more beastlily than any beast. With reverence to j'our Lordship be it spoken,

He's

like
flits

one of those long-legg'd grasshoppers,

Who

and jumps about, and sings

old song
i'

for ever
let

The same
Burying

the grass.

There

him

lie.

his

nose

in

every heap of dung.

to say.

The Lord.
Always
Mepli.

Have you no more

and
cavil,

Do you
? ?

come here
to scold,

and complain

Seems nothing ever

No, Lord!

right to
I

you on earth

find all there, as ever,

bad at best.

Even
I

am

sorry for man's days of sorrow

could myself almost give up the pleasure

Of plaguing the poor things. The Lord. Knowest thou Faust Meph. The Doctor? The Lord. Ay my servant Faust.
;

Meph.

In truth
in

He

serves you

a fashion quite his

own

And

the fool's meat and drink are not of earth.

His aspirations bear him on so far That he is half aware of his own folly,

For he demands from Heaven

153

its fairest star,

APPENDIX
And from
Yet
all

the earth the highest joy

all

it

bears,

things far, and

things near, are vain

To calm
I

the deep emotions of his breast.

The Lord.

Though he now serves me

him
full

in

a cloud of error,

will soon lead

forth to the clear day.

When
That

trees look green

well the gardener

knows

fruits

Mcph.

and blooms will deck the coming year. What will you bet? now I am sure of winning

Only, observe you give

To

lead him softly on

me full permission my path.

As long

The Lord.

As he
Is

shall live

upon the earth, so long

nothing unto thee forbidden

till

Man
Thanks.

Must err
Meph.

he has ceased to struggle.

ask

And
I

that

is all

for willingly

never make acquaintance with the dead.

full
if
I

The And For

fresh cheeks of youth are food for me,

I

a corpse knocks,

am

not at home.
play
I

am

like

a cat

like to

little

with the mouse before

Well, well
its
!

eat

it.

The Lord.
His
spirit

it is
;

permitted thee.

Draw thou
;

from

springs

as thou find'st power,

Seize him and lead him on thy

downward path

And stand ashamed when

failure teaches thee

That a good man, even in his darkest longings, Is well aware of the right way. Well and good. Mcph.
I

am

not in
if I

much doubt about my

then
'tis

bet.

And

lose,

your turn

to

crow
breast.

Enjoy your triumph then with a

full

Ay

dust shall he devour, and that with pleasure.

Like

my
I

old paramour, the

famous Snake.
it

Tlie Lord.

Pray come here when

suits

you

for

never

Had much dislike for people of your sort. And, among all the Spirits who rebell'd.
The knave was ever
the least tedious to me.
134

SHELLEY'S TRANSLATIONS
The
active spirit of
seeiis

man soon
;

sleeps,

and soon
I

He

unbroken quiet

therefore

Have given him

the Devil for a companion,

Who may
And must

provoke him to some sort of work,

create for ever.

But ye, pure

;

Children of God, enjoy eternal beauty

Let that which ever operates and lives

Clasp you within the limits of

its

love

And The

seize with sweet

floating

and melancholy thoughts phantoms of its loveliness.

[Heaven
closes
I ;

the Archangels exeunt.

Mcph.

From
is

time to time

visit the

Old Fellow,

And
Civil

take care to keep on good terms with him.

enough

this

same God Almighty,

To

talk so freely with the Devil himself.

MAY-DAY NIGHT.
Scene

The

Hartz Mountain, a desolate Country.

Faust, Mephistopheles.

Meph.
I

Would you
still

not like a broomstick

;

As

for

me

wish

had a good stout ram to ride

far

For we are
Faust.

from

th'

appointed place.

This knotted
feel fresh

staff is help

enough

for me.

Whilst
Is

upon

my

legs.

What good
way
?

there in making short a pleasant

To creep along the labyrinths And climb those rocks, where

Is

of the vales.

ever-babbling springs

Precipitate themselves in waterfalls.

the true sport that seasons such a path.

Already Spring kindles the birchen spray.

And

the hoar pines already feel her breath

Shall she not

work also within our limbs

155

APPENDIX
Mcpli.

Nothing of such an influence do

is all

feel.

My

body

wintry, and

wish

The flowers upon our path were frost and snow. But see, how melancholy rises now. Dimly uplifting her belated beam. The blank unwelcome round of the red moon,

And gives so bad a light, that every step One stumbles 'gainst some crag. With your
I'll
I

permission,

call

an Ignis-fatuus to our aid

jollily.
I

see one yonder burning

Halloo,

my

friend

may

request that you

Would

favour us with your bright

company?
?

Why

should you blaze away there to no purpose

Pray be so good as light us up this way. With reverence be it spoUen, Ignis-FafiiKS.

will try

To overcome the lightness of my nature Our course, you know, is generally zig-zag.
;

Mcpli.

With men.

Ha, ha! your worship thinks you have Go straight on, in the Devil's name.

to deal

Or
I
I

shall puff

your flickering

life

out.

li>.-Fat.

Well,
;

see you are the master of the house

will

accommodate myself to you.

Only consider, that to-night this mountain Is all enchanted, and if Jack-a-lantern Shows you his way, though you should miss your own.

You ought

not to be too exact with him.

Faust, Mephistopheles, and Ignis-Fatuus,

ill

alternate Chorus.

The limits of the sphere of dream, The bounds of true and false, are
Lead us on, thou wandering gleam, Lead us onward, far and fast,

past.

To
But

tiie

wide, the desert waste.

see,

how

swift

advance and

shift.

Trees behind

trees,

row by row,

136

SHELLEY'S TRANSLATIONS
How,
clift

by

clift,

rocks bend and

lift

Their frowning foreheads as

we
!

go.

The giant-snouted

crags, ho

ho
!

How

they snort, and

how they blow

Through the mossy sods and stones. Stream and streamlet hurry down A rushing throng A sound of song Beneath the vault of Heaven is blown
!

Sweet Of this bright day, sent down

That Paradise on Earth
is

notes of love, the speaking tones

to say

known.

Resound around, beneath, above. All we hope and all we love

Finds a voice
in this blithe strain.

Which wakens hill and wood and rill. And vibrates far o'er field and vale, And which Echo, like the tale
Of
old times, repeats again.
!

To whoo to whoo The sound of song,

near, nearer

now
!

the rushing throng

Are the screech, the lapwing, and the All awake as if 'twere day? See, with long legs and belly wide,

jay.

salamander

in the

brake

Every root

is like

a snake,

And along

the loose hill-side.

night.

With strange contortions through the

Curls, to seize or to affright

And, animated, strong, and many.

They dart

forth polypus-antennas.
their poison

To blister with The wanderer.

spume Through the dazzling gloom

The many-colour'd mice, that thread The dewy turf beneath our tread.
In troops each other's motions cross.

Through the heath and through the moss

And,
in legions intertangled,

137

APPENDIX
The
fire-flies
flit,

and swarm, and throng,

Till all

the mountain depths are spangled.

Tell me, shall

Shall

we go or stay? we onward ? Come along

is

Everything around

swept
!

Forward, onward, far away

Trees and masses intercept The sight, and wisps on every side

Are
Meph.

puff'ed

up and multiplied.
vigorously seize

Now

my

skirt,

and gain

This pinnacle of isolated crag.

One may observe with wonder from this point, How Mammon glows among the mountains.
Faust.

Ay
light, like

And

strangely through the solid depth below

the red dawn.

melancholy

Of mountains,
Here the

Shoots from the lowest gorge of the abyss there lightning hitherward
:

rise
;

Pillars of smoke, here clouds float gently by

light

burns

soft as the

enkindled
;

air,

Or the illumined dust of golden flowers And now it glides like tender colours spreading And now bursts forth in fountains from the earth And now it winds, one torrent of broad light. Through the far valley with a hundred veins; And now once more within that narrow corner
;

Masses

itself into

intensest splendour.

And near

us, see,

sparks spring out of the ground,

Like golden sand scatter'd upon the darkness;

The pinnacles That hems us

Meph.

of that black wall of

in,

mountains
Rare,
in faith

are kindled.
!

Does not

Sir

Mammon

gloriously illuminate

His palace for

this festival

it is

A
I

pleasure which you had not

known

before.

spy the boisterous guests already.

158

SHELLEY'S TRANSLATIONS
Faust.

How
fierce strokes they fall

The With what

Meph.

children of the wind rage in the air

upon

my

neck

Cling tightly to the old ribs of the crag.

!

Beware

for

if

with them thou warrest

In their fierce flight towards the wilderness,

Their breath

will

sweep thee into dust, and drag

Thy body

to a grave in the abyss.

cloud thickens the night.

!

Hark how the tempest crashes through the The owls fly out in strange aff^right The columns of the evergreen palaces
and shatter'd The roots creak, and stretch, and groan And ruinously overthrown, The trunks are crush'd and shatter'd

forest!

Are

split

By

the fierce blast's unconquerable stress.

all

Over each other crack and crash they

In terrible

and intertangled and howl

fall

And through
The
It is

the ruins of the shaken mountain

airs hiss

not the voice of the fountain,

the wolf in his midnight prowl.
?

Nor

Dost thou not hear

Aloft, afar,

Strange accents are ringing

anear
!

The witches are singing The torrent of a raging wizard song

Streams the whole mountain along.
Chorus of Witches.
green,

The stubble

is

yellow, the corn

is

Now

to the

Brocken the witches go

The mighty multitude here may be seen

Gathering, wizard and witch, below.
Sir

Urean

is

sitting aloft in the air;

!

and hey over stone 'Twixt witches and incubi, what shall be done
stock
!

Hey over
it

Tell

who dare

tell it

who dare
159

APPENDIX
A
Yoicc.
nine,

Upon

a sow-swine,

whose farrows were

Old Baubo rideth alone.

Chorus.

Honour

her, to

whom honour
to
!

is

due.

Old mother Baubo, honour

you An able sow, with old Baubo upon her. Is worthy of glory, and worthy of honour
legion of witches
night,
is

The

coming behind,

Darkening the

Over awake in the white moonshine The owl was I saw her at rest in her downy nest.
Voice.

A A

Voice.

and outspeeding the wind Which way comest thou

!

Ilsenstein

And she

stared at

Voices.

me with her broad, And you may now as well,

fast,

bright eye.

take your course on

to Hell,

Since you ride by so

on the headlong
I

blast.

Voice.

She dropt poison upon as

past.

Here are the wounds

Chorus of Witches.

Come away
long.

come along
?

The way is wide, the way is But what is that for a Bedlam throng

Stick with the prong, and scratch with the broom.

The

child in the cradle lies strangled at

home.

And

the mother

is

clapping her hands.

I.

Seniichorus of Witches

We
are
all

glide in

Like snails when the

women

away

And from

a house once given over to sin

Woman

has a thousand steps to stray.

II.

Semichorus
take.

thousand steps must a

woman

Where

man

but a single spring will make.

Voices Above.

Come

with us,

come with

us,

from

Felunsee.
Voices Beloxv. the upper sky

With what joy would we

!

fly,

through

We

are wash'd,
toil

we are

'nointed, stark
is

naked are we

But our

and our pain

1

for ever in vain.

60

SHELLEY'S TRANSLATIONS
Both Choruses. The wind is still, the The melancholy moon is dead The magic notes, like spark on spark.
;

stars are fled,

Drizzle, whistling through the dark.

Come away
Voices Below. Voices Above.

Stay, oh, stay

Out
Oh,

of the crannies of the rocks.

Who
I,

calls ?
let

Voices Below.

me

join

your flocks

three hundred years have striven

To catch your skirt and mount to Heaven, And still in vain. Oh, might I be With company akin to me Some on a ram and some on a Botli Choruses.
!

prong.

On

poles and on broomsticks

is

we

flutter

along

Forlorn

the wight

who

can rise not to-night.

I

A Half-Witch

Below.
:

have been tripping

this

many an hour

Are the others already so far before ? No quiet at home, and no peace abroad

And

less

methinks

is

found by the road.

Chorus of Witches.
thee, aroint

Come onward away

aroint

witch to be strong must anoint-

anoint
;

Then every trough will be boat enough With a rag for a sail we can sweep through the sky, Who flies not to-night, when means he to fly ? Both Choruses. We cling to the skirt, and we strike
on the ground
;

Witch-legions thicken around and around

Wizard-swarms cover the heath

Meph.

all

over.

[They descend.

What

thronging, dashing, raging, rustling

;

What What
There

whispering, babbling, hissing, bustling

glimmering, spurting, stinking, burning.

a true witch element about us,
i6i

As Heaven and Earth were overturning.

is

APPENDIX
Take hold on me, or we
shall he divided
;

Where

are you

Faitst (from

a distance).

Here!

What Meph. must exert my authority in the house. Place for young Voland pray make way, good people. Take hold on me, doctor, and with one step Let us escape from this unpleasant crowd
I
!

They are too

mad

for people of

my

sort.

Just there shines a peculiar kind of light

Something attracts me
This way
Faust.
:

in

those bushes.
there
!

Come

we

shall slip

down

in

a minute.

Spirit of Contradiction

Well, lead on

'Twere a wise feat indeed to wander out Into the Brocken upon May-day night.

And

then to isolate oneself

in

scorn,

Disgusted with the humours of the time. Meph. See yonder, round a many-colour'd flame

merry club is huddled altogether: Even with such little people as sit there
not be alone.
I

One would
Faust.

Would that Up yonder in the glow and whirling smoke, Where the blind million rush impetuously To meet the evil ones there might solve Many a riddle that torments me
;

were

Meph.

Yet
is

Many

a riddle there

tied

anew
!

Inextricably.

Let the great world rage

We
'Tis

will stay here safe in the quiet dwellings.

an old custom.

Men have
in

ever built
all.

Their own small world

I

the great world of

see young witches naked there, and old ones

Wisely attired with greater decency. Be guided now by me, and you shall buy

A pound
I

of pleasure with a

dram

of trouble.

hear them tune their instruments

to this

one must
Come,
I'll

Get used

damn'd scraping.
162

lead you

SHELLEY'S TRANSLATIONS
Among them
As a
fresh
;

and what there you do and

'twixt us

see,

compact

two

shall be.

How
Look

say you
forth,

now

this space is

wide enough

you cannot see the end of it An hundred bonfires burn in rows, and they Who throng around them seem innumerable

Dancing and drinking, jabbering, making

love,

And cooking, are at work. Now tell me, friend, What is there better in the world than this ?
Fatist.

In introducing us, do

you assume

The character
MepJi.

of wizard or of devil ?
I

In truth,
;

generally go about

In strict incognito

and yet one

likes

To wear
I

one's orders upon gala days.

have no ribbon at

my

knee
is

but here

At home, the cloven foot

honourable.

See you that

snail there ?

she comes creeping up.

fire to fire
:

And
I

with her feeling eyes hath smelt out something

if I

could not,

would, mask myself here.

Come
I'll

now, we'll go about from

be the pimp, and you shall be the lover.

\_To

some Old Women, who are heap of glimmering coals.

sitting

round a

Old gentlewomen, what do you do out here You ought to be with the young rioters
Right
in the thickest of the revelry
is

But every one

General.

best content at home.

Who

dare confide

in right

or a just claim ?
!

So much as I had done for them and now With women and the people 'tis the same, Youth will stand foremost ever, age may go

To

the dark grave unhonour'd.

Minister.

Nowadays
:

People assert their rights

they go too far

But as for me, the good old times I praise Then we were all in all, 'twas something worth One's while to be in place and wear a star That was indeed the golden age on earth.
;

163

APPENDIX
Parvenu*

We

too are active, and

;

What we
round,

ougiit not, perhaps

all

Will seize, whilst

we did and do and yet we now things are whirl'd round and

spoke of Fortune's wheel, and keep our ground.

Author.

Who now

can taste a treatise of deep sense

And ponderous volume ? 'tis impertinence To write what none will read, therefore will I To please the young and thoughtless people try. MepJi. {Who at once appears to have grown very
I

old).

find the people ripe for the last day,

I

Since

last

came up
little

to the

wizard mountain

And
So

as

my

cask runs turbid now,

is

the world drain'd to the dregs.

Pedlar-Witch.

Look here,
fast

Gentlemen

do not hurry on so

And
I

lose the chance of a

full

have a pack
sort,
like

good pennyworth. of the choicest wares

Of every
Is

nothing

and yet in all my bundle what may be found on earth

Nothing that

in a

moment

will

make

rich

Men and
There
is

the world with fine malicious mischief

no bowl consuming poison may be drain'd From which By innocent and healthy lips no jewel, The price of an abandon'd maiden's shame No sword which cuts the bond it cannot loose.
; ;

no dagger drunk with blood

Or

stabs the wearer's

enemy

in

the back

No
Meph.
Gossip, you

What

has been, has been

know little of these times. what is done, is past.

;

They shape themselves into the innovations They breed, and innovation drags us with it. The torrent of the crowd sweeps over us. You think to impel, and are yourself impell'd.
Faust.

Who

is

that yonder ?

sort of fundholder.

164

SHELLEY'S TRANSLATIONS
Meph.
Lilith.

Mark her

well.

It is

Faust.

Who ?
Lilith, the first wife of

Meph.

Adam.

Beware
All

of her fair hair, for she excels

;

women in the magic of her locks And when she winds them round a young man's
She
will

necic,

not ever set him free again.

Faust.

There

sit

a girl and an old

woman

they
:

Seem

to be tired with pleasure and with play.

There is no rest to-night for any one one dance ends another is begun Come, let us to it We shall have rare fun.
Meph.

When

\_Faust dances

and

sings with a Girl,

and

Mephisfopheles with an Old

Woman.

Brocto-Phantasmist.

What

is this

cursed multitude

about

Have we not long

since proved to demonstration

That ghosts move not on ordinary feet ? But these are dancing just like men and women. The Girl. What does he want then at our ball
Faust.
Is far

Oh! he
all in his

above us

conceit

Whilst we enjoy, he reasons of enjoyment

And any
If
it

step which in our dance

we

tread,

be left out of his reckoning,

Is

not to be consider'd as a step.

There are few things that scandalize him not And when you whirl round in the circle now.

As he went round

the wheel

in his
all

old mill,

He

says that you go wrong in

if

respects,

Especially

you congratulate him

Fly
of

Upon

the strength of the resemblance.

Brocto-Phant.

Vanish

Unheard

impudence

What,

still

there

In this enlighten'd age too, since you have been

165

APPENDIX
But this infernal brood Proved not to exist Will hear no reason and endure no rule. Are we so wise, and is the pond still haunted ? How long have 1 been sweeping out this rubbish
!

Of

superstition,

and the world

all

will not
!

Come

clean with
!

my

pains

it is

a case

Unheard of The Girl.

That
I

Then leave
I

off

teasing us so.

Biocto-Phaut.

tell

you, spirits, to your faces now,

should not regret this despotism

but that mine can wield
shall
it

Of

spirits,
I

not.

To-night

make poor work

of

it,

Yet

will take

a round with you, and hope

Before

my

last step in the living

dance
in

To

beat the poet and the devil together.

Mcph.

At

last

he

will sit

down

some

foul puddle

That

his way some leech, diverted with his gravity, Cures him of spirits and the spirit together. [To Faust, who has seceded from the
is

of solacing himself;

Until

dance.

Why Who

do you

let

that fair girl pass from you.

in

sung so sweetly to you

the dance

Faust.

red mouse

in the middle of her singing

Sprang from her mouth. That was all right, my Meph. Be it enough that the mouse was not grey. Do not disturb your hour of happiness

friend.

With close consideration Faust. Then saw I

Meph.
Faust.
Fair
girl,

of such

trifles.

What ?
Seest thou not a pale.

standing alone,

far, far

away

She drags herself now forward with slow And seems as if she moved with shackled she I cannot overcome the thought that
Is like

steps,
feet

poor Margaret. Let

it it

Meph. No good can come of

be

pass on

it is

not well

66

SHELLEY'S TRANSLATIONS
To meet it it
is
;

an enchanted piiantom,
its

A
It

lifeless idol

with

freezes up the blood of

numbing look, man and they

;

Who

meet

its

ghastly stare are turn'd to stone,

Like those
Faust.

who saw Medusa.

Oh, too true
closed, alas
!

Her Which no beloved hand has

That
is

eyes are like the eyes of a fresh corpse

!

the heart which Margaret yielded to

!

me

Those are the lovely limbs which I enjoy'd Meph. It is all magic, poor deluded fool She looks to every one like his first love. Faust. Oh, what delight what woe I cannot turn My looks from her sweet piteous countenance.
! !

How

strangely does a single blood-red

line.

Not broader than the sharp edge Adorn her lovely neck
!

of a knife.

Meph.
Perseus has cut

Ay, she can carry

;

Her head under her arm upon occasion

it

off for her.

These pleasures

End
It is

in delusion.

Gain this rising ground.

in

as airy here as
if I

And
I

am

not mightily deceived,

see a theatre

What may

this

mean

Attendant.
for
'tis

Quite a new piece, the last of seven,

to represent that

The custom now

'Tis written

number.

by a Dilettante, and

The
I

actors

who perform
;

are Dilettanti

Excuse me, gentlemen

but

must

vanish,

am

a Dilettante curtain-lifter.

NOTES

NOTES
Page
sang my
P.
3.

Tliey hear not the folloxving lays

the
is

souls to

whom

first.

To understand

the Dedication,
p. xiv.

it

necessary to refer

to the history of the book.

5.

See Preface,

Prologue for the Theatre.

is

It

must be borne

in

mind that

the theatre

one of those temporary theatres or booths whicii are

common
one.
P. 9.

at fairs,

and that the company

is

supposed to be an itinerant

is your duty. It was a favourite theory power of caUing up the most vivid emotions was in no respect impaired by age, whilst the power of pourtraying them was greatly improved by experience. P. 9. Use the greater and the lesser light of heaven. " And God made two great lights the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser

That, old gentlemen,

of Goethe, that the

light to rule the night;

he made the stars also."

Gen.

i.

17.
is

P. 11.

Prologue in Heaven.

The
1st
in

idea of this prologue

taken

from the Book of Job, chapters

and 2nd.
the guise
is

" It
in

is

worthy of
between

remark," says Dr. Schubart, "that

his

which the poet

introduces his Mephistopheles, a great difference

to be seen

mode

of

treating

the

principle

of
in

evil,

and that followed by

It

Klopstock, Milton, and

Lord Byron

Cain.

has also been a

biblical

matter of course, to hold to one side only of the

tradition,

which represents Satan as an angel of

light fallen

through pride and

creation
of

haughtiness, endeavouring to disturb the glorious

the

Supreme Being.

Goethe, on the contrary, has adhered rather to

the

the other side of the tradition, of which

Job is the groundwork, according to which Satan or the Devil forms one of
of

Book

the Lord's Host, not as a rebel

against his

will,

but as a powerful

tempter, authorised and appointed as such," &c.

[Vorlesungeu).

day.

P. 12.
"

But thy messengers, Lord,

respect the mild going of thy

Canst thou send lightnings, that they

171

may

go,

and say unto

APPENDIX
them, Here we are?"

Job.

xxxviii. 35.

"And

of the angels

lie

saith,

Who
St.

maketh

his angels spirits,

i.

and

his ministers a flame of fire."

Paul, Heb.
P. 13.

7.

A good man
I

in

his dark

strivings, &c.
is

Drang

in

this

passage
it

is

untranslatable, though the

meaning

clear.

In rendering

as above,

had the striving of jarring impulses (Coleridge's Aids)

scoffer is

in

my

mind.

P. 13.

The

the least

offensive to me.
is
I

This

does not
malicious,

convey the character of Mephistopheles, nor The meaning must be: word that would.
roguish devil
defies.

there any English

prefer a

who laughs
/
like to

or scoffs at

my

works, to one

who openly

P. 14.

see

the

Ancient
Fellow.

translates

den Alien, the Old

One occasionally. Shelley But the term may allude

is

merely to "The Ancient of Days," and

spectful

not necessarily a disre-

one.

correspondent proposes The Old

is

Gentleman.

am

also told that der Alte

a slang expression for the father.

In allusion to Mephistopheles liking to see

Dr. Hinrichs observes

is
still

"A

The Lord

occasionally,

fallen angel, as

Shakspeare himself says,

an angel, who
him,
host."

likes to see the

breaking with

wherefore we
p. 37.

Lord occasionally, and avoids find Mephistopheles in heaven

scene
is

amongst the
P. 15.

First Scene.

The opening

the only part in which

the Faustus of
I

Marlow bears any

:

similarity to the Faust of Goethe.

quote
is

it,

with the Chorus, in which an outline of the traditional

story

sketched

Enter Chorus.

Not marching

in

the fields of Tharsinicn,

Where Mars
Nor sporting Nor
Only
in

did
in

mate the warlike Carthagen

the dalliance of love,

In courts of kings,

where

state

is

ovcrturn'd

the

pomp

of proud audacious deeds,

;

Intends our muse to vaunt his heavenly verse this, gentles, we must now perform, The form of Paustus' fortunes, good or bad
:

And now to patient judgments we appeal, And speak for Faustus in his infancy:

Now
In

is

he born of parents base of stock,

a

Germany, within

town

call'd

Rhodes;

NOTES
At riper years to Wittenburg he went So much he profits in divinity, That shortly he was graced with Doctor's name, Excelling all, and sweetly can dispute In th' heavenly matters of theology Till, swoln with cunning and a self-conceit. His waxen wings did mount above his reach And melting heavens conspired his overthrow
;
; ;

For

falling to a devilish exercise.

And

glutted

now

with learning's golden

gifts,

He surfeits on the cursed necromancy. Nothing so sweet as magic is to him,

Which he prefers before his chiefest bliss. Whereas his kinsman chiefly brought him up. And this the man that in his study sits.

ACT THE FIRST. SCENE

Faustus
Faust.
in his Study.

I.

Settle thy studies, Faustus, and begin. the depth of that thou wilt profess Having commenced, be a divine in show, Yet level at the end of every art. And live and die in Aristotle's works,

To sound

Sweet analytics, 'tis thou hast ravished me. Bene disserere est fines logicis. Is, to dispute well, logic's chiefest end ?
Affords this art no greater miracle ? Then read no more thou hast attain'd that end, A greater subject fitteth Faustus' wit
;

Bid economy farewell and Galen come. Be a physician, Faustus heap up gold.
: ;

And be

eternized for some wondrous cure Summon bonum medicinje sanitas The end of physic is our bodies' health
;

Why,

Faustus, hast thou not attain'd that end

Are not thy bills hung up as monuments, Whereby whole cities have escaped the plague. And thousand desperate maladies been cured ? Yet thou art still but Faustus and a man. Could'st thou make men to live eternally.
Or, being dead, raise them to life again. Then this profession were to be esteem'd. Where is Justinian ? Physic, farewell
!

Si

una eademque res legatur duobus,

173

APPENDIX
Alter rem, alter valorem
rei,

&c.
nisi,

petty case of paltry legacies.

filiiim

Exhereditari

non potest pater

&c.

Such

is

the subject of the institute,

And

universal body of the law.

fits a mercenary drudge, aims at nothing but external trash, Too servile and illiberal for me.

This study

Who

When

all is

done, divinity

is
:

best.

Jerome's Bible, Faustus view it well. Stipendium peccati mors est: ha! stipendium, &x. The reward of sin is death that's hard. Si peccasse negamus, fallimur, et nulla est in nobis Veritas If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and there is no truth in us. Why then belike we must sin. And so consequently die. Ay, we must die an everlasting death. What doctrine call you this ? Che sera, sera
:

What

will be, shall

be

divinity, adieu

These metaphysics of magicians, And necromantic books are heavenly

Lines, circles, letters, characters

Ay, these are those that Faustus most desires. Oh what a world of profit and delight.
!

Of power,
Is

of honour, and omnipotence, promised to the studious artisan All things that move between the quiet pole. Shall be at my command. Emperors and kings Are but obey'd in their several provinces; But his dominion that exceeds in this. Stretches as far as doth the mind of man A sound magician is a demigod. [Enter Wagnek. Here tire my brains to get a deity. Marloiv's Works, vol. ii.
! :

Lord Byron's Manfred is clearly traceable His own and Goethe's opinions to Faust, either Marlow's or Goethe's. on this matter may be collected from the following extracts, which form part of a note to the last edition of Byron's Works, vol. ii. p. 71. In June, 1820, Lord Byron thus writes to iMr. Murray: " Enclosed is something will interest you to wit, the opinion of the perhaps in Europe, upon one of the great greatest man in Germany, tnen of your advertisements (all famous hands, as Jacob Tonson
of
;

The commencement

174

NOTES
used to say of his ragamuffins),
in

short, a critique of Goethe's

upon

Manfred.

There

is

the original, an English translation, and an Italian

in

one

keep them

all

your archives, for the opinions of such a man

never read, for
don't

as Goethe, whether favourable or not, are always interesting, and this

more so, as favourable. His Faust German; but Matthew Monk Lewis,

know

in

1816, at Coligny, translated

most of it to me viva voce, and I was naturally much struck with it but it was the Steinbach, and the Jungfrau, and something else much

more than Faustus, that made me write Manfred.

however, and that of Faustus are very similar."

The

first

scene,

The following
"

is

part of the extract from Goethe's Kimst

letter inclosed:

itnd

AUerthum, which the above

Byron's tragedy, Manfred, was to

me

a wonderful phenomenon,
intellectual poet
it

and one that closely touched me.* This singularly has taken my Faustus to himself, and extracted from
nourishment
the
for his

the strongest

hypochondriac humour.
in

He

has made use of

impelling principles

his

own way,
;

for his

own

purposes, so

them remains the same and it is particularly on this The whole is in account that I cannot enough admire his genius. this way so completely formed anew, that it would be an interesting
that no one of task for the critic to point out, not only the alterations he has made,

but their degree of resemblance with, or dissimilarity

in

to,

the original

the course of which

cannot deny that the gloomy heat of an

unbounded and exuberant despair, becomes at last oppressive to us. Yet is the dissatisfaction we feel always connected with esteem and
admiration."

Lord Jeffrey, in the Edinburgh Review, thus distinguishes Marlow's hero from Manfred " Faustus is a vulgar sorcerer, tempted to sell his soul to the devil for the ordinary price of sensual pleasure, and earthly power and glory and who shrinks and shudders in agony when the forfeit comes to be exacted. The style, too, of Marlow, though elegant and scholar-like, is weak and childish compared with the depth and force of much of Lord Byron, and the disgusting buffoonery of low farce, of which the piece is principally made up, place it more in
: ;

contrast, than

in

any terms of comparison,

witli

that of his
in

noble
the last

There is a translation of one of Manfred's soliloquies by Goethe complete edition of his Works, vol. iii. p. 207.

APPENDIX
successor.
In the tone

the character of

the diction

and pitch of the composition, as well as in solemn parts, Manfred in the more

reminds us more of the Prometheus of ^schylus than of any more modern performance." The following extracts from Captain Medwin's Conversations may
also be placed here with propriety
"
:

The Germans,"
I

said

Byron, " and

believe
'

Goethe himself,
All
1

consider that
of that

have taken great

liberties with

Faust.'

know
at

drama

is

from a sorry French translation, from an occasional

it

reading or two into English of parts of

Diodata, and from the

by

Monk

Lewis,

when

Hartz-mountain scene that Shelley versified

from the other day.

Nothing

envy him so much as

in

to be able to to originality,

read that astonishing production

the original.

As

Goethe had too much sense to pretend that he is not under obligations to authors ancient and modern; who is not? You tell me the
plot
is

almost entirely

Calderon's.

The

Fete,

the

Scholar,
fiend,

the

argument

about the

Logos,

the selling himself to the

;

and

afterwards denying his power

the enchanted mirror, are
all

his

disguise of the plumed cavalier,

from Cyprian.

That utagico prodigiosa

nobody seems to know anything Then the vision is not unlike that oi" Marlow's in his Faustus.' The bed-scene is from 'Cymbeline;' the song or serenade, a translation of Ophelia's in 'Hamlet; 'and more than all, the prologue is from Job, which is the first drama in the

must

be

worth

reading,

and

about

it

but you and Shelley.*

'

world, and perhaps the oldest poem.

had an idea of writing a

is

'

Job,'

but

found
it."

it

too sublime.

There

no poetry to be compared

with
"

him that Japhet's soliloquy in Heaven and Earth,' and address to the Mountains of Caucasus, strongly resembled Faust's. I shall have commentators enough by and by,' said he, to dissect my
I

told

'

'

'

thoughts, and find owners for them.'

"

Medwin's Conversatio7is of

Lord Byron,
Again
:

pp. "
I

141, 142.

have a great curiosity about everything relating to

is

Goethe, and please myself with thinking there

*

some analogy between

is

The
all

trifling

analogy that really does exist between the works,

It is

mentioned

in

almost
plot

the Commentaries.

hardly possible for Shelley to have said that Gothe's

to

is almost entirely Calderon's, and Captain Mcdwin had probably been enlarging Lord Byron on what Shelley had incidentally mentioned as coincidences.

176

NOTES
our characters and writings.
I

offered to give 100/. to

So much interest do I take in him, that any person who would translate his 'Memoirs'

for
to

me.

my own reading. Shelley has sometimes explained part of them He seems to be very superstitious, and is a believer in
part of his
I

astrology, or rather was, for he was very young when he wrote the
first
life.
I

would give the world

'

to read
it,

'

Faust

'

in the

original.

have been urging Shelley to translate

'

but he said that

living

the translator of

Wallenstein
it
;

was the only person

who

could

venture to attempt

that he had written to Coleridge, but in vain.

it

For a man
"

to translate

he must think as he does."

"
"
p.

I, "the first line, 'The sun thunders through the sky?' He speaks of the music of the spheres in Heaven," said

How

do you explain," said

he,

where, as
267.

in Job, the first

scene

is laid."

Medwins

Conversations,

Tieck, towards the end of his

masterly Introduction to Lenz's

Works, discountenances the notion that either Byron or Scott was under any literary obligation to Goethe. This notion, as regards Scott,
is in

part supported by reference to individual characters or passages

in his

works, (as Finella copied from Mignon, or the interview between

Leicester and

Amy,

at

Cumnor, imitated from Egmont,) but

von

principally
first

by supposing that the translation of Gotz

Berlichingen

inspired him with a taste for that style of writing in which he afterUnluckily for this wards so pre-eminently distinguished himself.* theory, it is now well known that he had this taste already ;+ and even

without any direct evidence upon the point,

it

seems more probable

that the taste originated the translation, than the translation the taste.

Scott says that the rhythm and irregular versification of The Lay of
the Last Minstrel

were imitated from Christabel; but were not these Faust? " I was once pressed many years ago to translate the Faust and I so far entertained the proposal as to read the work through with great attention, and to revive in my mind my own former plan of Michael Scott. But then I considered with myself whether the time taken up in executing the translation might not more worthily
peculiarities of Christabel imitated from

Mr. Carlyle (Specimens of German Romance,

vol. iv. p. 6,) starts this supposition, vol.

i.

See the Annotated Edition of the Waverley Novels,

General Preface.

177

APPENDIX
be devoted to the composition of a work which, even
if

parallel

in

some

points to the

Faust, should be truly original

interesting

in

motive and

execution,

and therefore more

I

and valuable than

I

any

version which

could

make

and,
and
pp.

secondly,

debated with myself

English

whether

it

became my moral character

lend

to render into

and
tell

so far, certainly,
I

my

countenance to language
blasphemous.

much
I

of which

thought
that
I

vulgar,

licentious,

need

not

you

never

put

pen to paper as a translator of

ii.

Faust."

Coleridge's Table Talk, vol.

117, 118.

P. 15.

For

this very reason is all joy torn

from me.
to

"

communed

with

my own

heart,

saying,

Lo,

am come

great estate, and

have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem, yea, my heart hath great experience of wisdom and
knowledge.
"

And

I I

gave

my

heart to

know wisdom, and

is

to

know madness
spirit.

and

folly:

perceived that this also

is

vexation of

For

in

much wisdom
P. 16.
/

much

grief
1.

and he that increaseth

knowledge,

increaseth sorrow."

Eccl. c.

have therefore devoted myself to magic. Goethe tells us, in his Memoirs, that whilst he was confined by ill-health, he and Miss von Klettenberg read through several books on alchemy Opus Mago-Caballisticum, Theophrastus Paracelsus e.g., Welling's
;

Basilius

Valentinus,

Helmont,

Starkey,

and

the

Aurea
:

Catena

Homeri.*
to

The study

of these writers

subsequently induced Goethe

put up a small chemical apparatus, of which he says

certain

"

Now
he

were
enters

ingredients

of

the

Macrocosmus and Microcosmus

In
his

dealt with

after a strange

fashion."

Farbenlehre, also,

upon

an

animated

defence of

natural

magic.

It

is

clear

from many passages in his Memoirs, that the reflections on the insufficiency of knowledge which he has here put into the mouth

For instance " The were his own at one period. fable of Faust found many an answering remarkable puppet-show echo in my breast. I too had ranged through the whole round of
of

Faust,

knowledge, and was early enough led to see its vanity." Nostradamus. " Nostradamus, properly Michel Notre P. 16.

Dame, born
*

in

1503,

at

St.

Remy

in

Provence, of a family of
it

Doring

(Life of Goethe, p. 72)

mentions the circumstance and connects

with

Faust.

178

NOTES
Jewish
origin,

studied
fell

medicine,
into

applied

himself

somewhat
his

to

quackery,
astrology.

and

at

last

the

favourite
his

malady of
at
'

age,

The prophecies which, from made known in rhymed quatrains under

seclusion
title

Salon, he

the

of

Centuries of

the World,'

excited great notice by their style and their obscurity.

Henry
him
this

the Second, King of France, sent for the author and rewarded

royally.

a tournament, and lost his

When, subsequently, this monarch was wounded believed that the prophecy life, men
to

in

of

event
:

was
"
'

be

found
jeune

in

the

35th

quatrain

of

the

First

Century

Le

lion

le

vieux surmontera,

En camps

bellique par singulier duel,

Dans cage d'or les yeux lui crevera. Deux plaies une, puis mourir mort cruelle.'

The most distinguished persons of his time visited him at Salon. There were not Charles the Ninth appointed him his physician. wanting people, however, who made light of his prophecies. So
late as 1781, they

"

were prohibited by the Papal Court, because the

downfall of Papacy was announced in them.

1565."
P.

He

died at Salon in

Conversations-Lexicon,
17.

fit.

Nostradamus.
the

Macrocosm,
:

Dr.

Hinrichs says
is

"

and Spirit of The Macrocosm

as

Earth or Microcosm.

of

signifies

Nature, as such,

and
to

opposed

to

Microcosm,

man."
Falk,
latter,

p.

59.

But
the

incline

think

Macrocosm
in

means

the

Universe,
in

and
"

Spirit

Earth, the Earth generally.

Thus
the

accounting for Faust's

weakness
which
at

the

presence of time
tiger,

says,

The mighty and

all

multiform universality of the earth

the

itself

that focus of
within
itself

phenomena,
mountain,

same

contains
lion,

sea,

Homer, Phidias, Raphael, storm, earthquake, Newton, Mozart, and Apelles whom, appear when and where it might, would it not strike with trembling, fear, and awe ? " p. 247. The Ganzen (I am here adopting the gloss of a friend) is the Omncity of the metaphysicians, and Eins in dem Andern wirkt tind lebt, is The Immanence of All in each of Plato. " But the best commentary on the whole of the passage in which these words occur, is to be found in the first chapter of Herder's
lamb,

Ideen,

who

(according to

Falk)
of

received

many

of his notions from

is

Goethe.

The

analogy

the

following
179

passage

sufficiently

APPENDIX
marked
the
I
:

"

When,
this

therefore,

open the great book of Heaven, and

conclude, as undistractedly as

see before

me

measureless palace, which alone, and everywhere,

to
fill,
I

Godhead only has power

the whole to the
b.
i.

can, from

particular,

from the particular to the

whole."

Ideal,
Spirits'

c. 1.

The

chaunt probably suggested Shelley's

frame

" Nature's vast

the web of human things.

"
!

Birth and the grave In Dodsley's Collection of

entitled
Fire,
"

Old Plays

(vol. v.) is

"A

Moral Mask,"

Microcosm," by Thomas Nabbs,

&c., figure as

in

which Nature, Earth,

Water, &c., "According

dramatis personte.

to

Paracelsus," says

Mr. Heraud, "the macrocosm

little

is

the great world, and

man

is

the microcosm, or a

world
to

the

kind of epitome of the great.

Oswald

Crollius,

'

physician

most
to

illustrious Prince Christian Anhaltin,' in his

admonitory preface

Books of Philosophy, delivers himself right learnedly on both worlds, macros and micros."
Paracelsus's

Three

P. 17.

How

heavenly powers,

S-c.

"And he dreamed, and behold,

it reached the heaven and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it."

a ladder set up on the earth and the top of

Genesis,

c. xxviii. v.

12.

P. 18.
"

cold shuddering, &c.

all

Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made

my

bones

to shake.

Then a spirit passed before my face the hair of my flesh stood The Book of Job, ch. iv. P. 19. Enter Wagner. The traditional Faust had a disciple or pupil named Wagner or Wagenar, who figures in all the dramas or
"
:

up."

histories

founded on the
of

Translation

serviteur qu'il

Le Docteur Fauste avoit un jeune avoit elev6 quand il etudioit Wittenberg, que vit
:

Widman

fable.
"

He

is

thus described

in

Cayet's

;i

toutes les illusions de son maitre Fauste, toutes ses magies et tout
et debauche demeurer a Wittenberg il mendoit, et personne ne le vouloit prendre a cause de sa mauvaise nature le nommoit Christofle Wagner, et fut des-lors serviteur du garfon se

son art diabolique.

II

etoit

un mauvais gargon, coureur

:

du commencement

qu'il vint

Dr. Fauste;

il

se tint tres bien avec

fils
:

lui,

en sorte que

le

Dr. Fauste
tout boitant

Tappeloit son

il

alloit

ou

il

vouloit, quoiqu'il

allat

i8o

NOTES
et de

travers."

book entitled " Christoph. Wagner's Magic Arts

at

and Life of Dr. Faust," was published

Berlin, in

1714,

assumed
In his

to be by the veritable attendant of the philosopher.

Dr. Hinrichs has a strange theory about this character.

opinion,

Faust

represents

Philosophy,

and
all

Wagner,

Empiricism;

Philosophy being Germany, and Empiricism

It is

the rest of the world.

also worthy of remark that one of Goethe's early friends was Wagner. He signalized himself by stealing from Faust (which was communicated to him in confidence previously to publication) the tragic portion relating to Margaret, and making it the subject of a tragedy, called the Infanticide. Goethe expresses great indignation
called
at the treachery. P. 23.

Memoirs, B.

14.

To possess li-liat thou hast inherited from thy sires, enjoy it. The inscription on an old tomb-stone may serve to illustrate the meaning of this passage " What I gave, I have what I spent, I had what I left, I lost."

P. 28. Behind, far away,

in

Turkey.

The common people

in

Germany

are wont to consider themselves as placed forward in the

world, and speak of certain distant or outlandish countries as behind.

" There is a belief that on St. Andrew's eve, St. Thomas's eve, Christmas eve, and New Year's eve, A table must be a maiden might invite and see her future lover.

P. 29. Saint Andrew's eve, &c.

covered for two, but without forks.

himself to her

Whatever the lover leaves behind

;

him, on going away, must be carefully picked up

he then attaches

who

possesses

it,

and loves her ardently.

to the sight of
it

But he

should never be allowed to

come

again, or he will

think of the pain he endured on that night by supernatural means,

and becomes aware of the charm, whereby great unhappiness is occasioned. A beautiful maiden in Austria once sought to see her lover according to the necessary forms, whereupon a shoemaker
entered with a dagger, threw

and immediately disappeared She took up the dagger and locked it away in a chest. Soon again. afterwards came the shoemaker and sought her in marriage. Some
it

to her,

years after their marriage, she went one Sunday after vespers to the chest to look out something which she wanted for her next day's work.

husband came to her and insisted on looking in she held him back, but he pushed her aside, looked into the chest, and saw his lost dagger. He instantly seizes it, and requires

As she opened the

;

chest, her

i8i

APPENDIX
to

know,

in a

word,
the

how

she got

it,

as he had lost

it

at a peculiar time.

was unable to think of an excuse, and freely same dagger which he had left behind on that night when she required to see him. Upon this he grew furious, and exclaimed, with a fearful oath Then thou art the girl, who tortured
In her confusion she
that
it

owns

is

'

me

so inhumanly that night.'

And

with that he struck the dagger

right through her heart.

"The

like

is

related in various places of others.

Orally, of a

huntsman who left his hanger. During her first confinement the wife sent him to her chest to fetch clean linen, forgetting that the charmed instrument was there, which he finds and kills her with it." (Deutsche Sageii. Heraiisgegebcii von den Brildern Grimm. Berlin, 1816, No. 114). The same work (No. 118) contains a story founded on the superstition of the magic mirror (alluded to in the next line but one), in which
absent friends or lovers
not peculiar to Germany.
P. 30.

may

be seen.

This superstition, however,

is

River and

rivulet, &c.

To

understand Faust's position

in

this speech, the reader

must fancy a town on a river, like most of those upon the Rhine, with a suburban village on the opposite bank. Falk makes this scene the groundwork of a commentary on the advantages of the Sabbath a fair specimen of the mode in which most of the commentaries on Faust are eked out. P. 33. There was a red lion, &c. Mr. T. Griffiths, of Kensington, who delivered an extremelj' interesting lecture on Alchymical Signs at the Royal Institution, enables me to furnish an explanation of this passage, which has generally been passed over as (what M. SaintAulaire is pleased to term it) galimatias. There was a red lion. This expression implies the red stone, red
;

mercury, or cinnabar.

bold lover.

This

expression alludes to the property the above

to the adepts) of devouring, swallowing,

compound possessed (according

or ravishing every pure metallic nature or body.

married. This

to the lily.

simply implies the conjoining or union of two

;

bodies of opposite natures

red and white were supposed to be male

and female.

This

term denotes a preparation of antimony, called

;

lilium
albified

minerale, or lilium

Paracelsi the white stone, or perhaps mercury, sometimes called the " white fume," or the " most
jga

milk-white swanne."

NOTES

in the
or a "

tepid bath.

This denotes a vessel This

filled

with heated water,

balneum Marise," used as a very convenient means of elevating

then with open flame.

the body of an aludel or alembic slowly to a gentle heat.

and

means the

direct

and

fierce

application of fire to the aludel upon

after the

tortured.The
;

its removal from the water bath, marriage had taken place betwixt the " red and the white."

adepts

deemed

their
fire

compounds

sensible

of

pleasure and pain

bodies
;

the heat of the open

tortured the newly united

is

these therefore endeavoured to escape, or sublime, which

is

the sense in which the word tortured

to be taken.
in

from

one bridal chamber.

first

This means the body of the aludel,

which they were

placed,

and which had been heated to such a

degree as to cause their sublimation.

to

another

This signifies the glass head or capital placed on the

which received the sublimed vapours. Many heads body were put on in succession, into which the vapours successively passed. // the young queen. This implies the supposed royal offspring of the red lion and the lily, or its alliance to the noble metals the
of the aludel,

sublimer products.

with
of.

varied hues then appeared.

During
;

the process, various

hues appeared on the sublimed compound

according to the order of

their appearance, the perfection or completion of the great

work was

judged

Purple and ruby were most esteemed, for being royal

colours they were good omens.

in

the g/ass. This

means the

glass head or capital of the aludel,

as before noticed.

this

was

the medicine.

The term
bodies,

medicine was used to express

to

both the

elixir to heal

human

and that

transmute the bodies

of metals into the purest gold

and

silver.
:

the

The passage divested of alchymical obscurity would read thus " There was red mercury, a powerfully acting body, united with Then tincture of antimony, at a gentle heat of the water-bath.
fire

being exposed to the heat of the open

filled its

in

an aludel, a sublimate

heads

in succession,

which,

if it

appeared with various hues,

was the desired medicine."

In his note to me, Mr. Griffiths adds
:

is

" All the

terms

it

contains

may

be found in alchymical works

it

a very good specimen of

mystical writing."
183

N 2

APPENDIX
P. 34.

The

sih'er brook flowing info golden streams.

This

may

allude to the gradual gliding of the waters, as the

sunbeams come to play upon them, or to another natural phenomenon, which I will explain by an anecdote. In the summer of 1831, it was my good
fortune to pass through the beautiful valley of Ahrenberg, a valley

which wants but a Moore to make an Ovoca of it. Whilst we were changing horses, I walked with a German student to a rising ground
to get a better view of the scenery.
in

such a manner, that

the stream, and

The setting sun was shining the beams massed themselves on a broad part
transversely over a tributarj' brook, thus

of

fell

giving a rich golden glow to the river and the appearance of a white
silvery line to the rivulet.

We
:

had hardly gained the height, when

goldne Stroma flicssen."

my

fellow-traveller exclaimed
"

Den Silberbach

in

The realms of an exalted ancestry. This alludes to a spirit of man, or to " For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with Phil. i. Christ, which is better."
P. 34.

supposed divine origin of the soul or

P.

35. Invoke not

the

tcell-known

streaming, through the atmosphere,

&c. " The

troop,

which diffuses

itself,

spirits of the aire will

mix themselves with thunder and lightning, and so infest the clyme where they raise any tempest, that soudainely great mortality shall
ensue to the inhabitants."
cited in
(Pierce Pennilesse his Supplication, 1592;
"

Steeven's Shakspeare.)
it is

The

air is

not so

full

of flies in
stiffly

summer, as
maintains."
P. 35.

at

all

times of invisible devils; this Paracelcus

i.

Burton, Anat. part

line

of

fire follotvs

upon his

track.-

In

his

work on
:

Colours, Goethe gives the following explanation of this phenomenon "A dark object, the moment it withdraws itself, imposes on the eye Between jest and the necessity of seeing the same form bright.
earnest,
I

shall quote a

passage from Faust which

consciousness,

is

applicable here.

(Then follows the passage.)

poetical intuition

This had been written some time,

from

and

in half

when, as
in

twilight, a black poodle ran

by

my window

was growing the street, and drew

it

a clear, shining appearance after him,

passing form remaining
in

the undefined image of his Such phenomena occasion the more pleasing surprise, as they present themselves most vividly and beautifully, precisely when we suffer our eyes to wander unconsciously. the eye.
184

NOTES
There
persons
be a
is

no one to

whom

such counterfeit images have not often

;

appeared, but they are allowed to pass unnoticed

yet

have known
it

who teased themselves on this symptom of the diseased state of

I

account, and believed

their eyes,

to

explanation which

had

it

in

my power
is

to give inspired

whereupon the them with

the highest satisfaction.

of
it,

He who

instructed as to the real nature

remarks the phenomenon more frequently, because the reflexion immediately suggests itself. Schiller wished many a time that this
theoi-y had never been communicated to him, because he was eveiywhere catching glimpses of that the necessity for which was

known
one.

to him." The phenomenon is now a recognised and familiar See Sir David Breicster's Letters on Natural Magic, p. 20.

In a note to the following lines in the

Lay

of the Last Minstrel,

in

there

is

a strange
:

story of a fiend

appearing

the

shape of a

black dog

"

For he was speechless, ghastly, wan. Like him of whom the story ran.

He
evil

spoke the spectre-hound

in

Man."

Canto

6.

According to the tradition, Faust was constantly attended by an spirit in the shape of a black dog. This four-footed follower
in

has a place

most of the old

pictures, those

in

Auerbach's cellar
they do not

not excepted.
understand.
is

P. 37.

We

are accustomed to see

men deride what

said,

" It has often

and with truth been

suffers

that unbelief
it.

an inverted superstition, and our age

is

greatly by

A
is

noble deed

attributed to selfishness, an heroic action to vanity, an

;

undeniable poetic production to a state of delirium

still

nay, what

stranger, everything of the highest excellence that

is,

comes

forth,
it

everything most worthy of remark that occurs,

barely possible, denied."
P. 38.
is

so long as

is

Goethe, Farbenlehre.
revelation,

We

long for

zchich

nowhere burns,
in

<&c.

It

clear from Goethe's Memoirs,

is

that he
that,

here describing the workings of his

his spirit

and many other parts of own mind

his works,

youth

when

to the

Bible for

was tormented by doubts, he constantly referred consolation, and found it there. It also appears
the
surface
in

that

he occasionally struggled to penetrate below

somewhat the same manner as Faust. " So far as the main sense was concerned, held by Luther's edition in particulars, I referred
I
;

185

APPENDIX
occasionally to Schmidt's verbal
translations,

and sought
of,

to

make

my

little

Hebrew

as

useful

as

could."

It

is

a singular fact that,

next to the Bible, the book which Goethe was fondest

and which
Herder on
literally

confessedly exercised the greatest influence on his mind, was Spinosa.

So constantly, indeed, was he studjnng

one occasion
In
is

this writer,
" "
!

that

said to have exclaimed to him,

Why

you

never read any Latin book but Spinosa

one of Lessing's plans for a drama to be founded on Faust,

Fatisf, &., 82).

Faust was to be studying Aristotle {Ueber Goethe's

In Calderon's El Magico Prodigioso, Cyprian P. 39.
is

studying Pliny.
I

Salamander,
by
les

Undine,

SyJpJi,

Kobold.

shall

illustrate

Faust's

conjuration
stir

an

extract

from a very

singular

work,

Eutretiens
Villars, in

Coiufe de Gabalis, by M. de which Salamanders, Undines, Sylphs, and Kobolds {alias

Sciences secretes dn

Gnomes) are described: " When you shall be enrolled among the children
'

of

the

philosophers, and your eyes fortified by the

will

use of the holy

elixir,

discover

that

the

elements

are

inhabited

by

very

perfect

creatures, of the knowledge of

whom

the sin of

Adam

deprived his

unfortunate posterity.

The immense space between earth and sky

flies
;

has other inhabitants than birds and

than whales and sprats
;

the ocean

other guests
alone,

the earth was not

itself

made

for moles

nor

is

the desolating flame

'

a desert.

"

The

air

is

full

of beings of

human

form, proud in appearance,

but docile in reality, great lovers of science, officious towards sages,

intolerant towards fools.
'

Their wives and daughters are masculine

Amazonian beauties "'How! you do not mean to say that spirits marry?' " Be not alarmed, my son, about such trifles believe what
' ;

say

to be solid
it

and

will only

true, and the faithful epitome of cabalistic science, which depend on yourself one day to verify by your own eyes.
;

Know

then that seas and rivers are inhabited as well as the air

and

that ascended sages have given the

this floating population.

name

of Lindanes or
;

They engender few males

;

Nymphs to women overflow

:

their

beauty

is

extreme
is filled

the

daughters of

men

are incomparably

inferior.

"'The earth

of small stature, the

down to its very centre with Gnomes, a people wardens of treasures, mines, and precious stones.
i86

NOTES
They are
ingenious, friendly to man, and easy to
all

furnish the children of sages with

the

as the reward of their service only the

command. They money they want, and ask honour of being commanded.
fiery region, they

Their
"

women
'

are small, very agreeable, and magnificent in their attire.

the

As

for

Salamanders, who inhabit the

wait on the sages, but without

any eagerness

for

the

task;

their

females are rarely to be seen.'

"

This book probably furnished Pope with machinery for his Rape
of the Lock, suggested the plot of Idris

and

Zeiiide to Wieland,

and

gave

De

la

P. 40.
scholar.

"

Motte Fouque a basis for his delightful story of Undine. Mephistopheles comes forward in the dress of a travelling That Mephistopheles comes forth as a travelling scholar
is

(scholasticus),and therefore as a philosopher,

not without significance.

friend, he

For on seeing him Faust knows that he

himself

is

approached as a
even
the

being

devoted

to

philosophy

and

expression

fahrender scholast expresses the unquiet with which Faust is filled. The wandering about through the world for example, of Jordanus

Bruno, &c.
impelled

is

to be

by which
furnishes

viewed with reference to internal restlessness, these philosophers wandered unceasingly from
Aisth. Vorl.
particulars
it

place to place."
p.

Dr. Hinrichs

p.

91

Dr. Stieglitz (Sage,

to

64,)

some curious
called,

as

these scholastici

vagantes as they were

would seem that they did not fill a very respectable station in society; and it is no compliment to Giordano Bruno (a man of distinguished merit) to be put forth as an
from which
P. 41. Fly-god,
of a

example of the character.

i.e.

Beelzebub, whose
fly.

name
in the
;

is

partly

compounded
all.

Hebrew word
P. 41. /

signifying

am a

part of the part

icliich

beginning was

"

And

the earth was without form and void

and darkness was upon

the face of

the face of the deep. the waters.

"
"

And

the Spirit of

God moved upon

And God said, Let And God saw the

there be light
light,

that
c.
i.

it

and there was light. was good and God divided the
:

light

from the darkness."

"

Gen.

Granted, that day, proceeding from the original source of deserves all honour, because it invigorates, quickens, gladdens

light,

still

it does not follow that darkness must be addressed and shunned as the evil principle, because it makes us uneasy, and lulls us to sleep

187

APPENDIX
we
rather see in such an effect the characteristics of sensuous beings
Goethe.

controlled by phenomena."
P. 41.

That which

is

opposed

to nothing.

Dr. Schubart

cautions
is

us against supposing that under the term iiichts a complete void

intended, as
it

means merely

the original state of things under the

reign of Chaos.
P. 42.

From

air, tcater, earth, Sc.

" In

the air, in the water, in

I

the marshes, in the sand,

genera and species multiplied, and

Philosophie, &c.

believe

that they will continue to multiply in the

same proportion with the

b. 2, c. 4.

course of discovery."
P.
42.

Herder, Ideen

zitr

The Pentagram. Drudenfuss, was a Pentagonal

The

Pentagram,

Pentalpha,
:

or

figure like the following

supposed
to

to possess the

same

sort of

power which used popularly

this subject

to be attributed to the horseshoe amongst us.

Those who wish

Schol.
in

for

more information on

Aristoph. Nub. 599, and

Lucian's

Dialogue

may refer Dc lapsu

inter saliitandiim

in

the

pp. 729, 730, in notis.

Amsterdam quarto edition of 1743, vol. i. The Pentalpha is also mentioned in Hobhouse's
p.

Historical Illustrations of the Fourth Canto of Childe Harold,

In

334.

one of a series of engravings by a Dutch

artist of the

beginning

Sichem by name), Faust is represented standing within two intersecting circles, upon two intersecting
of the seventeenth century (Van

squares, conjuring Alephistopheles,who

P. 43.
Tell

is

just appearing in his true shape.

me something worth
sagen does not
tlie

telling.

whether

gtite Miilir zit

to

P. 46.
"

What

Thon shall
us, "
17.

renounce!" "Our
shall

can

xcorld

mean afford me

to fell one's fortune.

?

It

is

a matter of doubt
"
!

" T/ioti shall renounce

physical

as well as social

life,

manners, customs, worldly wisdom, philosophy,

religion, all e.xclaim

ii.

That we

renounce."

Dichtung und Wahrheif, part

book

P. 48.

That highest grace

of love.

Meaning
:

probably

le

don

d'amoureux merci, or the

P. 49.
traditional

last favour.

And what am
compact was

I to do for you in return

The

actual or

to the following effect

i88

NOTES
"Puis
le

D. Fauste regoit son sang sur une

et ecrit

tuile, et
:

y met des

charbons tout chauds,

comme

s'ensuit

ci

apres

"'Jean Fauste, Docteur, reconnois de ma propre main manifestement pour une chose
qu'apres que je
ratifiee,

et

ce

en
les

vertu

de

cet

ecrit

me

suis

mis a speculer

el^mens, et apres les

:

dons qui m'ont

ete distribuez et departis

dela-haut

lesquels

n'ont

que autrement des hommes, lors je me suis je n'ai peu etre enseigne presentement adonne a un Esprit, qui s'appelle Miphistophilcs,
point trouve d'habitude
ce
qui est valet du prince infernal en Orient, par paction entre
lui

dans

mon entendement.

Et de

et

moi, qu'il m'adresseroit et m'apprendroit,

qui

comme

il

m'etoit predestine,
sujet
et
lui

aussi

reciproquement

m'a

promis de m'etre
lui

en

toutes

choses.
d'ici

Partant et a I'opposite, je

ai

promis

certifie,

que

a vingt-quatre ans de la date de ces presentes, vivant jusquesil

m'enseignera en son art et science, et en comme me maintiendra, gouvernera, conduira, et me fera tout bien, avec toutes choses necessaires a mon corps, a mon ame, a ma chair, mon sang, et a ma sante: que je suis et serai sien a jamais.
la

completement,

ses inventions

a.

Partant, je renonce a tout ce qui est pour la vie du maitre celeste et

de tous
de de

les

hommes,

et

que

je sois

en tout
j'ai

sien.

certitude, et plus

grande confirmation,
I'ai

ecrit la presente

Pour plus grande promesse

ma ma
In

propre main, et

sousecrit de

suis tire expressement pour ce faire, de

mon propre sang que je me mon sens et de mon jugement,

Cayct's

pensee et volonte, et
i.

I'ai

arrete, scelle et testifie, &c."

Widtnan part
P. 49.

Marlow's Faustus the instrument

is

formally set out.

But

if

thou hast food, &c.

This
Faust.

passage has caused a

to

good deal of puzzling, though neither FalU nor Schubart seems be aware of any difficulty
:

"

know thy

rotten
will'st

gifts,"

says

"

Which
of

of thy

fine

goods of the earth

thou offer

me

How

could the

like

of

thee ever be capable of measuring the

unquiet

man's

breast.

Hast thou food to serve up which never satisfies ? Or canst thou I loathe only show trees which daily bloom anew and bud again ?
this foliage

of yesterday, this tale, which, ever the same,

is

told in

the morning, and in the evening dies

" Zeig

mir die Frucht die

away again fault eh' man sic

bricht

Und Baume

die sich tiiglich neu begriinen."

Falk,
189

p.

283.

APPENDIX
" This (Mephistopheles' promise) appears to

Faust but mockery.

is

What

can a devil give a

it

man
in

to satisfy him,
gifts

when he

not capable

of giving

to

himself?

The
the

of a devil," he says,

"are but

delusion, and melt

away

same manner as

his quicksilver-like

gold

thus he can only bestow fruits which would not rot before the
skill

plucking, but no ever-budding tree sprouts forth beneath his

and

fostering."Sc/(?/6a/-f, 198.

None
however,

of the

editions

that

interrogatory, as Falk seems to understand

for

have seen make the hast du an it. There are authorities,

thou
hast,

construing
"

it

Though

&c.

It

is

also

contended that

Doch hast du Speise

die nicht siittigt, hast

Du
is

rothes Geld, &c."

to be construed affirmatively:

satisfies,"^&c.;

and that the zeig mir,

is all

saying
I

"
:

This

"However, thou hast food which never &c., is ironical and tantamount to thou canst show me." But on this construction

do not see how the inversion of the second hasf du is to be justified, whilst the answer of Mephistopheles clearly implies that the zeig mir, &c., was a demand on the part of Faust. The most probable
supposition
that Faust's meaning was pretty nearly the same as in the subsequent speech, in which he expresses a wish to enjoy all that is
is,

parcelled out

among mankind.

we may

well suppose

him saying
:

Taking
"

this

wish into consideration,

give nothing of any real

You can
;

value in the eyes of a

man

like

me

but

if

perishable enjoyments of humanity to bestow,

P. 50.

let

you have the common me have them."

the inauguration-feast

At

the doctor's feast.

Alluding

to

given on the taking of a degree.

P. 52. /

am

not a hair's breadth higher,

S-c.

"Which
Matt.

of you by
vi.

taking thought can add one cubit to his stature?"

P. 53.

27.

instruction

admired.

modes of pursued in German Universities, and has been much But the effect is in a great measure produced by the
is

Student enters.

This

scene

a satire on the

happy application of pedantic phrases and college slang, which are no more capable of being relished in England than such terms
as
-n'ooden-spoou,
little-go,

cranuiiing,

plucking,

in

Germany.
tone
:

distinguished scholar thus mentions this scene and the three other

scenes which have been thought to resemble

great and overwhelming tragic powers
I go

it

in

"

To the

of Goethe, Aristophanes, of

NOTES
course,

can make no

pretension

but in their

preference of

the

arbitrary comic to the comic of manners, the two writers

close together
;

come very

and both writers should have

it,

lived, as

Madame
times,

de

Stael expresses

when there was an

intellectual chaos, similar to

the material chaos.

is,

Had Aristophanes

written in

modern

it

perhaps, not impertinent to suggest, that the Auerbach's

Leipzig,

Keller

in

the

Hexenkiiche, the Walpurgisnacht, and perhaps the

quizzing scene with the young student just fresh from his university,
are precisely the sort of scenes which would have fallen from
pen."
his

MitcheU's Translation of Aristophanes, Preface,

evident from

p. xxvii.

It is

many passages

in

his

Memoirs, that Goethe's

if
:

early impressions of university pursuits were pretty nearly what he

has put into the mouth of Mephistopheles

Falk, did his opinions
"

nor,

we are

to believe

change materially

in after-life

Our

scientific

men

are rather too fond of details.

in

They count
lots,

out to us the whole consistency of the earth

so happy as to have a different

separate

and are
is is

name
;

for every lot.

[Thonerde]

that
I

is

quartz {Keiserlerde)
if
I

that

is

this,

That and this

these

argil
that.

But what am

the better
I

am

ever so perfect

in all

names?

When

hear them
'

always think of the old

lines in

Faust

Eiiclieire sin naturce nennt's die

Chemie

Bohrt sich seiber Esel und weiss nicht wie!'

"What am
want
to

the better for these lots? what for their

it

names?

know what

is

that impels every several

portion of

the

some other portion, either to rule or to obey it, and qualifies some for the one part and some for the other, according to a law innate in them all, and operating like a voluntary choice. But this is precisely the point upon which the most perfect
universe to seek out

and universal silence prevails." " Everything in science," said he

turn of thought, "
is

at another time, with the

same

become too much divided

and
alloted
into

into

compartments.
courses
of

In our professors' chairs the several provinces {Fiicher) are violently

and

arbitrarily

severed,
to

half-yearly

lectures, according

The number of real discoveries is small, especially when one views them consecutively through a few centuries. Most of what these people are so busy about, is mere
fixed

plans.

what has been said by this or that celebrated predecessor. Such a thing as independent original knowledge is hardly thought of.
repetition of
19:

APPENDIX
Young men are
for

driven
real

in flocks into

lecture-rooms, and are crammed,

want of any
is

nutriment, with quotations and words.

The

insight which

wanting to the teacher, the learner is to get for himself as he may. No great wisdom or acuteness is necessary to
perceive
that
this
is

an

entirely

mistaken

path."

Mrs. Austin's

Characteristics of Goethe.
It is worthy of note that Burton {Attaf. part i., sect. 2, sub-sec. remarks on the several sciences in somewhat the same spirit as

7),

Goethe.
P. 55.
torture, like
p. 406).

Spanish

boots.

The

Spanish boot was an instrument of

in

the Scottish

boot mentioned

Old Mortality
in

(vol.

ii.

P. 55.

Then many a day

it

xvill

be spent
I

teaching yon, &c.

to
pull

" In logic

struck

me
it

as strange that

was so

to

pieces,

dismember, and, as

were, destroy those

very operations of the

mind which
youth,
in

had gone through with the greatest ease from

to

my

order

perceive

the

proper

use

of

them."

Goethe's

Memoirs.
P. 56. As if was the custom enough for their
the
in

Holy Ghost were dictating

to you.

It

is

or

Germany

for

the

professors

to

read

slowly

pupils

to follow

them with the pen.

This

was

called dictating.

P. 56.

Goethe is by his father

reluctance

cannot reconcile myself to jurisprudence. Here again repeating his own sentiments. He was originally destined
/

for

the

law,

but

it

was
to

only

with

the

greatest
for

that

he

could

be

brought

qualify

himself

the

necessary examination at Strasburg, where such examinations were comparatively light. He says, that he had no turn for anything positive. {Memoirs, book ix.) The exclamation, " Woe to thee that
thou
art

a grandson,"

alludes

to

the

artificial

and

complicated

systems which people coming

find

late into the

entailed upon
in

them.

The law
parlance

that
is

is

world are pretty sure to born with us, means, I

the law of nature.
It

suppose, what

common

called
in

may
to

assist

future translators, not versed

Gesetz, in strictness,

German

jurisprudence,

be told, that

law or a rule of law, generally. both included under the term laws.
P. 57.
Tlie spirit of medicine.

means enactment, and Reeht, Gesetz, and Rechte, therefore, are

associated a good deal

Goethe

ig2

NOTES
with medical students at Strasburg, and took considerable interest
in the studies usually followed in

connection with medicine.

Leipzig.

P. 59.

Atierbach's

cellar

in

Auerbach's
class

cellar

is

place of public entertainment of the

same

Maiden Lane, Covent during my last visit to Germany, and took some pains to ascertain the traditions connected with it, which the waiter seemed to have a
Cider
Cellar
in

and character as the Garden. I supped there

particular pleasure in communicating.

He

assured
in

me

that

there

was not the shadow

in

of a doubt as to

my

being seated
;

the very vault

which both Faust and Goethe had caroused

in

and producing an old

it

copy of Widman, he avowed himself ready to make oath that

been

had
It

the cellar, as a sort of heir-loom, for 300 years at the least.

was
like

really a very curious copy, but bore the date of

MDCXCV. The

principal curiosities of the vault are

two very old paintings, shaped

it

the segment of a circle, painted,

is

Faust's presence and achievements there.

supposed, to commemorate The one represents him at

;

the table drinking to the sound of music, with a party of students

the

other represents him in the act of passing out of the door upon a cask,
whilst the spectators are holding up their hands in astonishment.

The

first-mentioned bears a Latin inscription, which has proved a puzzler

to the philologists
" Vive, Bibe, Obgregare,

Memor

Fauste hujus et hujus Paenrc. Aderat claudo hsc 1525." Asterat ample Gradu.

distinguished scholar. Dr. Maginn, proposes to read

" Vive, Bibe, Obgregare,

it

thus

Memor

Fausti hujus et hujus

PKnte.
Ast, erat

Aderat clauda haec

ampla Gradu. 1525."

lines following
:

Over the other are inscribed the

"

Doctor Faust zu dieser Frist

Aus Aurbach's Keller geritten ist, Auf einem Fass mit Wein geschwind, Welches gesehen viel Mutterkind.
Seiches durch seine subtile Kraft hat gethan, Und des Teufel's Lohn empfangen davon. 1525."

It

has been

made a doubt whether

193

this date (1525) refers to the

time at which the pictures were painted, or to that at which the

APPENDIX
adventures took place.
"

The following are the

:

best traditional accounts

of the magical exploits in the text

At the

city of

Prague

is

a publican's house,

the Anchor, where the Doctor one day called as he

known by the sign of was upon a tour.

all

Seating himself

them
'

among
?
'

the travellers, in a short time he thus accosted

like to

'

Gentlemen, would you

the world
!

partake of

kinds of foreign
out,

wines

in

The whole
you
first

party, with
like to taste

one accord, cried

Yes, yes

'
'

Then

will

the French, Spanish,

Rhenish, Malaga, or any other kind?' continued he, 'whichever you

most approve.'
"

Upon

this

one of the

guests

exclaimed

'

Doctor

Faustus

whatever wine you please

of disposing of
it.'

to furnish, Doctor,

we

shall find

Whereupon he begged them

to

some means provide him with

This being
in

plenty of bottles and glasses, and he would supply the rest.

done, he bored several holes in the table, and placing a funnel

each,

he held the bottles under

contain.

it,

and decanted as

much wine

as they would

them down one after another, the delighted guests to laugh heartily, and heartily did they regale themselves." began The other adventure, in Roscoe's German Novelists, vol. i. p. 377. which the guests of Faust seize each other's noses mistaking them The old French version of for grapes, is also told by Mr. Roscoe.

As he

laid

Widman
"

runs thus

Le Docteur Fauste
les
ils

avoit,

en un certain
qu'il

lieu, invito

des

hommes
chose.

principaux pour

traiter,

sans
ils

eut

appret6

aucune

Quand done

furent venus,
II

virent bien la table couverte, mais la

cuisine 6toit encore froide.

se faisoit aussi des noces, le

meme

soir,

d'un riche et honnete bourgeois, et avoient et^ tous les domestiques de la maison empechez, pour bien et honorablement traiter les gens qui y ^toient invitez. Ce que le Docteur Fauste aiant appris, commanda a

son Esprit que de ces noces

traiter ses h6tes.

il

lui

apportat un service de vivres tout

il

appretez, soit poissons ou autres, qu'in-continent

les enlevat

de

la

pour
les

Soudain
les

il

y eut en
le

la

maison, ou Ton faisoit

noces, un grand vent par

cheminees, fenetres et portes, qui eteignit

vent fut cesse, et les chandelles
d'oii
le

toutes les chandelles.

Apres que

derechef allumez, et qu'ils

trouverent, qu'il

eurent vu

tumulte avoit
roti,
il

et6,

ils

manquoit a un mets une piece de

Lors furent Fauste
194

a un autre une

poule, a un autre une oye, et que dans la chaudiere

de grands poissons.

et ses invitez

manquoit aussi pourviis de

NOTES
vivres,

mais

le

vin

manquoit
aii

toutefois

non

pas

long-temps, car

Mepliosfophiles fus fort bien

voiage de Florence dans les caves de

;

Fougres dont
ils

il

en apporta quantite

mais apres

qu'ils eiirent

mange,
leur

desiroient (qui est ce pour quoi

ils

etoient principalement venus,)

qu'il leur fit

pour

plaisir

quelque tour d'enchantemens.

Lors

il

fit

venir sur

une vigne avec ses grappes de saison, dont un chacun en prit sa part. II commanda puis apres de prendre un cotiteau, et le mettre a. la racine, comme s'ils I'eussent vouler couper. N^anmoins,
la table
ils

n'en purent pas venir a bout: puis apres,

il

s'en alia hors des ^tuves,

et

ne tarda gu6res sans revenir

par
le nez, et

lors

ils

s'arreterent tous et se tinrent

I'un I'autre
ils

un coiateau dessus.
les grappes.

Quand done
eut
fait

puis apres

voulurent,

ils

purent couper
ils

Cela leur fut ainsi mis

venir toutes

aucunement, mais
meures."

eurent bien voulu

qu'il les

Part

iii.,

ch. 33.
is

The adventure on the cask

P. 60.

also recorded in this history.

Soar
greetings

up,

Madame
me.
his
"
in

Nightingale, give
following
is

my
the

sweetheart ten

thousand

for

The
mind
:

song

which

Goethe probably had

FRAU NACHTIGALL.

" Nachtigal, ich hor dich singen

Komme
Wie

Das Herz mocht mir im Leib zerspringen, doch und sag mir bald,
ich

mich verhalten

soil.

" Nachtigal, ich seh dcih laufen,

Au dem Bachlein thust du saufen, Du tunkst dein klein Schniiblein ein

IMeinst es
" Nachtigal,

war der beste Wein.

wo ist gut wohnen, Auf den Linden, in den Kronen, Bei der schon Frau Nachtigal, Grilss niciii Schatzchen tausendinal."
in

This song

is

the collection of Alte Deutsche Lieder, entitled

Des

Knaben Wunderhorn, compiled by MM. von Arnim and Brentano. The plan was probably suggested by Dr. Percy's Relics
;

a book
others,)

which

(translated

and
least

imitated
as

by Burger, an

Herder,

and
this

has exercised at

great

influence on

German
329.

literature as

on our own.

See

some

interesting

remarks on
i.

subject in the last edition of Wordsworth's Works, vol

195

p.

APPENDIX
P. 62.

Leipsic

is

the place,

&c.

It

appears from his Memoirs,

that

when Goethe commenced

his college studies at Leipzig, a great

affectation of politeness prevailed

amongst the students. Did you sup / dare say you are lately from Rippacli ? P. 62. Hans before you left ? Rippach is a village near Leipzig, with Mr. and to ask for Hans von Rippach, a fictitious personage, was an

old joke

amongst the students. The ready reply of Mephistopheles indicating no surprise, shows Siebel and Altmayer that he is up to
it.

Hans
P.

is

the

German

Jack, as

Hans

der Reisentodter, Jack the

Giant-killer.
63.

Mephistopheles
to

sin,qs.

A
to.

favourite
" Bertuch,

at

the

court

of

Weimar is said Falk, " who was

be

alluded

the

father,"

says

treasurer to the Duke, used

in after

times to speak

with great glee of a singular head in the accounts which he had to consisted almost entirely of breeches, It submit in those days.
waistcoats,

shoes
within

and
the

stockings

for

German

literati,

who were
with

wandering
P. 68.
is

gates of

Weimar,

slenderly

provided

those articles."
be

Witches' Kitchen.

This song was set to music by Beethoven. The best commentary on this scene

to

found

in

Retzsch's

Outlines.

represented as something
but

between

the

The monkeys are there monkey and the baboon

;

he

himself told

me

that Meerkatze

is

the

common

little

long-

tailed

monkey. The term is thus used in a German translation of " Eine Hurenjager, unvergleichliche Ausflucht fiir einen Lear. Meerkatzen-Trieb den Sternen zur Last zu legen." Act i. seinen Madame de sc. 2, in Edmund's Speech on Planetary Influences. Stael considers it to mean something between a monkey and a cat.

The
save

following

passage

(in

which Goethe
profitless

is

the speaker)
:

the reader a good deal of

(the

puzzling

" For

may
thirty

years they
in spirit in

the

Germans) have been sorely vexed and tormented broomstick on the Blocksberg and the cat's dialogue by the Witches' kitchen, which occur in Faust, and all the

interpreting

and allegorising of

this dramatic-humoristic

extravaganza

Really people should learn when have never thoroughly prospered. they are young to make and take a joke, and to throw away scraps
as scraps."
P. 69.

Falk.

At

the feast, &c.

Falk
196

observes, in allusion to the text

in

of these three lines, that Faust

and Mephistopheles are greeted

NOTES
a tone which, through the diphthong
the language of monkeys.
P.
69.
att,

bears a strong affinity to

Coarse
palpable

beggars'

broth.

"The
all

breifen

Bettel-Siippen

have an ironical reference to the coarse superstitions which extend

with a thick

shade

amongst

nations

throughout the

whole history of the world." Falk. Take the brush here, &c. Retzsch represents Mephistopheles P. 71
.

as holding a light screen or fan in his hand.

P.
71.

Oh!

be

so

good as had

to

glue the crown,

S-c.

"A
the

wish
old
its

which, profoundly considered, sounds so politically, that one would

swear

the

monkey-spirits
the

read

the

history of

both
with

Romish

and

new empire,
Falk.

chapter

by

chapter,

all

dethronings and assassinations, from the beginning of the

first to

the

end of the
P. 73.

last

war."

Thou atomy. " Thou atomy, thou!" Shakespeare. P. 73. The northern phantom is now no more to be seen. Where do you now see horns, tail, and claws ? The old German catechisms,

from Luther's time downwards, were generally adorned with a

piece, representing the devil with all the

frontis-

above-mentioned appendages.

P. 75. P. 75.

That

is

the witches' one-times-one.

i.e.,

multiplication-table.

For a downright
is
:

on

this

passage

contradiction, &c.

Dr.

Hinrichs' note
like

"

system of philosophy which,

that of

Hegel,
ist

begins with

such a contradiction,
it

for

Nichts, has the advantage that

it,

frightens

Das Seyn away those who have no

instance,
called Margaret.

call for

both wise

men and
rank

fools."
first

P. 77.

Margaret.

Goethe's
about

love

was

She

was a

girl of inferior

in life,

apprenticed, during the love-affair,

at the

to a milliner.

He was
was
in

fifteen

commencement

of the

acquaintance, and she two or three years older.

introduction he

Previously to the

the habit of following her to church, but never

ventured on accosting her.

P. 81.
this

There was a King in Thule.

others,

See the Dichtung und Wahrheit, Many of the songs in

for
it.

h. 5.

Faust,

among

were not originally written

Goethe mentions

in his

Memoirs

that he sung this song with considerable applause in a

social meeting.

P. 89. of

/ icould

change rings with you myself.

In some countries
o

Germany

the bridegroom, instead of placing the ring on the finger

of the bride, gives

one to her and receives one

197

in return.

APPENDIX
P. 89.

Two

xcifiicsses.
all

Alluding to the rule of the

German
4, 20, 9.

civil law,

which
testis

forms the basis of

oinniito

non audiatiir.

Cod.
bird,

the

systems.

Uiiiiis

rcspoiisio

P. 101.

Were
"

&c.
Fliigeln
;

Wenn

ich ein Voglein wiir,

hiitt,

Und auch zwei

Flog ich zu dir

Weils aber nicht kann seyn,

Bleib ich
"
all hier.

Bin ich gleich weit von dir. Bin ich doch im Schlaf bei

dir,

Und

red mit dir

ich

Wenn
"

erwachen
allein.

thu,

Bin ich

Es vergeht keine Stund

in

her Nacht,

Da mein Herze nicht Und an dich gedenkt,

Dass du mir
viel

erwacht,

tausendmal
Herder's Volkslieder,

Dein Herze geschenkt."

b.
i.,

p. 67.

Wunderhoni, part
P.
102.

i.,

p.

231.

The

twin-pair,

which feed
ch.
iv., v. 5.
it.
'

among

roses.

"Thy

two

breasts are like two

young roes

that are twins, which feed

among

the

lilies."

Song of Solomon,

Schiraz says, according to Herder:

P.
106.

P. 106.

I have no name for

"The

Persian poet Saadi of

Name
:

is

knows God, is silent.' " sound and smoke. In most of the editions

Who

preceding
1828,
it

the

collected

edition
is

of Goethe's

Works commenced
is

in

stands

-Nature

sound Mid smoke.

hateful to
nte,
c-c.

P. 106.

The man you have with you

mentioned
Charlotte),
in

Margaret's intuitive apprehension of Mephistopheles

an
rest

incident
till
I

Goethe's

had introduced
like

my

friend

Memoirs Merk at

is

copied

from

"

could scarcely

Lotta's (the original

of Werther's

but his presence in this circle did

will,

me no
hardly
friend

good
bring

for,

Mephistopheles, go where he
with
him."

he

will

blessing

Goethe

always

called

this

" Mephistopheles Merk,"

and gives a strange account of the mingled

goodness and devilishness of his disposition.

198

NOTES
P. 108.

Full of her faith,

"

^-cThe words :
allein

Der ganz
Ihr selig

machend
in
i.e.,

ist,

have here the same meaning as

Ueber Alleinseligmachende Kirche;
P. 110.
to a

Dr. Carove's celebrated work

the Catholic Church.

We
It

will strew cut straw before her door. to

This

alludes
in

German custom something analogous

Skimmerton-riding

this country.

consists in strewing cut or chopped straw

before

the door of a bride

wedding.

whose virtue is suspected, the day before the The garland (like the snood) is a token of virginity,
Zwinger. Zwinger
is

and a ruined maiden

P.
111.

said to have lost her garland.

is untranslatable, and a good deal meaning of the term. " Zwinger (says a learned correspondent) from Zwingen, to subdue, is a name given to castles found in some of the free towns, and formerly held by an imperial governor. They are often in the middle of the town, and have a passage wherein a devotional image with a lamp has occa-

of doubt exists as to the

sionally been placed, not expressly for the sake of devotion, but to

lighten

up

dark passage

Margaret wishes
In

to

be

unobserved,

and prefers
firmed
scene,
to

this lonely spot to the chapel."

in

This account was conhis

me

conversation by Retzsch.
is

outline

of the of
in

Margaret

represented

kneeling before an

image

the
his

Virgin
Letters

placed in a niche

close to

a church.

Mr. Dovvnes,
"

from

Continental

Countries,

says

On

our

way

(frohi

Goslar to the Rammelsberg)

we

visited the Zwinger,

an

old tower

of three stories, containing a saloon for masquerades.

The

walls are

so thick as to admit of a small side apartment adjoining one of the

windows.
P.

scene

in

Goethe's

Faust

is

entitled

Zwinger

it

is

perhaps identical with

111.

this."

Mater

Dolorosa.

The
his

following
to
:

lines of

Manzoni

(a

great favourite of Goethe) in

hymn

the Virgin,

might be

supposed to have been suggested by this scene

"

La femminetta nel tuo sen regale La sua spregiata lagrima depone,

te,

beata, della sur immortale

affanni espone
i
:

Alma

gli

te,

che

prieghi ascolti e

le

querele

199

APPENDIX
Non come
suole
il il

mondo, ne dcgV imi

de' grandi

dolor col suo crudele

Discernimento estimi."
P. 114.

Can

that be

the treasure rising, &.

This
is

alludes to a

superstitious belief that the presence of a treasure

indicated by a

blue the

light

or flame to the initiated.

in

Intermezzo, and also

:

little

The same allusion occurs in poem by Goethe, called Der

von weitem,

Schatzgrdber

"

Und Und

ich sah ein Licht

es

kam

gleich

einem Sterne."
is

P.

114.

Lion-dollars

The

Lmventhaler

a coin

first

struck by

the

Bohemian Count Schlick, from the mines of Joachims-Thai in Bohemia; the finest in the years 1518-1529, under Ludovick, the The one side represents the first king of Hungary and Bohemia. fork-tailed lion, with the inscription "Ludvvig I. D. G. Rex Bohm." The reverse, the full-length image of St. John, with the arms of

Schlick.

Kohlers Miintz-Beliistigiingen.
in

The common people

to follow

Germany

believe

(or believed) that

rat-

catchers, by whistling or piping a peculiar note, could compel the rats

them wherever they chose.

/

Deutche Sagen, No. 245.

This

accounts for the application of the term to a serenading seducer.

P. 115.
it

am

perfectly at

home with

the police, but should find

hard

to

clear scores ivith the criminal courts.

Bhitbann
The

is

an old

name

for criminal jurisdiction in the general sense.

distinction

between Polizei-Uebertretungen and Verbrechen, to which the above

passage might otherwise be supposed to
the
refer,

was introduced
;

into

German systems
till

in imitation of the

French code

consequently

not

long after the period at which this scene was written.

See
sure,

Mittermaier's Strafverfahren, pp. 10 and 16.

I

To make matters

referred both Blutbann and Blutschuld to M. Mittermaier himself.

It
is

common

unter ihrem

" She bears the pledge of love under her heart." Thus Schiller in Die Kindesmorderin " Nicht das Knablein unter meinem Herzen?"

Herzen

in

Germany

to say. Sic triigt das

Pfand der Liebe

P.

118.

/ feel
(I

as if the organ,
forgot
to

&c.

There
the

is

a
in

passage

in

Goethe's

works

note

down

place)

which

he

describes the Dies

irce

as having a similar effect upon himself. 200

NOTES
P.

Schirke

120. May-Day Night. and Elend. Walpurgis

The Hartz Mountains.

is

District

of

the

name

of the female saint

is

who

converted the Saxons to Christianity.

to
her.

May-day Night
to

dedicated

The Hartz

is

the most northerly range of mountains in the Conversations-Lexicon)

the
district

Germany, and comprises (according

about
of

1350 square miles,

mostly within
is

of

Hanover.

The Brocken or Blocksberg

which
all

the

summit

of the chain, on the top

the witches of Germany hold an annual meeting. Elend are two villages on or near the Brocken. As these mountains are now a favourite resort of tourists, it is useless to add a minute description of them. Mr. Downes, in his Letters from Continental Countries, has given a con amore description of the localities; and Heine has supplied some curious particulars in the

Schirke and

volume of his Reisehilder. Dr. Schubart says, that, as the Greeks had their Olympus, the Jews their Sinai, the Spaniards their
first

Montserrat, the Indians the Himelaya mountains, so have the

their Blocksberg.

Germans

In the case of the Blocksberg, however, there are

it,

assignable causes for the superstitions associated with

to that which

in addition

the wildness of the mountain affords.

On
to

the

first

establishment of Christianity, the

refuge on
it
;

Druids are said

have taken

of their rites
In

one

and the lights and noises attendant on the celebration were mistaken by the surrounding peasantry for sorcery. of Goethe's minor poems. Die erste Walpiirgisnacht,
translated

spiritedly

by Dr. Anster, the effects of this belief are

vividly pourtrayed.

Another cause is to be found in a phenomenon thus described by the author of Waverley. " The solitudes of the Hartz forest in Germany, but especially the mountains called
Blocksberg, or rather Brockenburg, are the chosen scenes for the
of witches, demons,

tales

and apparitions.
to
in

The occupation
is

of

the
that

inhabitants,

who

are either miners or foresters,

superstition,

of a

kind

them peculiarly prone phenomena which they witness

renders

and
their

the

natural

pursuit
set

of

solitary

or
the

subterraneous

profession,

are

often

down
is

by

them

to

interference of goblins or the

power of magic.

Among

the various

legends current in that wild country, there

a favourite one, which

in

supposes the Hartz to be haunted with a kind of tutelar demon,

the shape of a wild man, of huge stature, he head wreathed with

oak-leaves, and his middle cinctured with the same, bearing in his
20

APPENDIX
to

hand a pine torn up by the roots. It is certain that many profess have seen such a form traversing, with huge strides, in a line

parallel to their

own

course, the opposite ridge of a mountain,

;

when

divided from
is

it

by a narrow glen
to optical

so generally admitted, that

it

by ascribing

and indeed the fact of the apparition modern scepticism has only found refuge deception." The Antiquary, vol. i. p. 249.
:

This optical deception admits of a simple explanation

a

"

When
or

the rising sun throws his rays over the Brocken upon the body of

man

standing opposite to fine light

fix his

clouds

floating

around

hovering past him, he needs only

in all probability

eye steadily upon them, and

be will see the singular spectacle of his

five

own shadow
p.

extending to the length of

or six hundred feet, at the distance of

about two miles before him."

Brewster
collection
s

Hibbert on Apparitions,

440, note.
Gillie's

Letters

on

Natural
stories,

Magic,
is

Lett.

6.

In

Mr.

of

German
or,

there

a very interesting one called

The First of May ;

P. 121.

Walburga's Night.
the stones, through

Goethe's

little

poem
and

called

Die Harz Reise has no perceptible connection with the Hartz.

Through

ling hurry down.

trickles

the turf, brook

brook-

"

Here and there on rushes the water,

silver-clear,
fibres.

Again,

among the stones, and bathes the naked roots and in many places, the water spouts more freely from
little

out

of

rocks and roots, and forms

cascades.

There

is

such a strange

murmuring and
songs

rustling

the

the birds sing broken snatches of languishing

;

trees whisper as with thousands of maidens' tongues

as

with thousands of maidens' eyes the rare mountain flowers gaze upon
us,

and stretch out towards us

&c.,

their singularly broad, conically forked

i.

leaves,"

&c.

Heine, Reisebilder, vol.

p.

173.

See also

his

account of the
P. 121.

rise of the Use, p. 223.

And

the roots, like snakes, &c.

" In
in

consequence of the
places unable to

rocky nature of the ground, the roots are

penetrate
it,

many

and wind, snake-like, over the huge blocks of granite, which lie scattered everywhere about, like huge play-balls, for the unearthly revellers to throw at each on May-day night." Reisebilder.
P.
122.

vereinzelt sich

masses
Sc.

It

scatters

itself

at

once.

Shelley
line
literal

has

translated

itself

probably

under the notion of making

There sparks are
version
is

the contrast
glittering

more complete.

But the next

that the

near,

shows

clearly

the

proper one.

NOTES
"

But not long

after there arose against

it

a tempestuous wind,

called Euroclydon."

English Bible.

P. 123.

Sir Urian.

This
is, I

is

common name
is

for

the devil in

Germany.
P.
123.

Voland

(post)

believe,

one of the names of Beelzebub.

a high granite rock on the

By

Ilsenstein.

Ilsenstein

Brocken, so called from the brook Use, which, according to tradition,

was

originally a

princess.

Felsensee (rock-lake)

is

another of the

localities.

P. 124.

Make room,

sweet people.

Probably
life

an allusion to your

most sweet

voices, in Coriolanus.

" And

P. 126.

Now

that I ascend the witch-mouiitain for the hist time.

because the contradictions of

their highest pitch, but at the

same time have found

and thought have reached their end and

ascended

solution, does Mephistopheles convince himself that he has

the Blocksberg for the last

P. 127.
Lilith.

time?"

Ueber Goethe's Faust, Leipzig.

Lilith.

have received several suggestions as to

(for

The following passage,

vol.
i.

which

have to thank

Dr.

Rosen),

extracted from Gesenius's

p. 916),
is

Commentary on

Isaiah, (Leipz. 1821, 8vo,

the fullest and most satisfactory:

is,

" Lilith, f\''7w (itocturna),

in the

popular belief of the Hebrews,

a female spectre in the shape of a finely-dressed

particular, lies
in

woman, which,

in

wait for and

kills

children, like the Lamiaj

and

Striges
Fast.
vi.

amongst the Romans.

123.

See
in

Horace, Art, Poet. 340; Ovid,

the

This
it

is

the Rabbinical account, and the superstition

appears old, as
variation,

is

to be found

amongst

all

other people.

same form, and with little More recently they themselves

it into a kind of system, and turned Lilith into a wife Adam's on whom he begot demons, and who still has power to lie with men and kill children who are not protected by amulets, with which the Jews of a still later period supply themselves as a protection

have brought

of

against her.

S.

Buxtorf, Lexicon. Talmudic,

ii.

p.

1140; Eisenmenger's

Entdecktes Judenthum, vol.

p.

413,

et

seq."

See also Brown's

Jewish Antiquities,

vol.
:

ii.

p.

273.

Burton
devils."

tells

us

"

The Talmudists say

1,

that

Adam had

a wife

called Lilis before he married Eve,

and of her he begat nothing but

Sect. 2, Sub-sec. 2.

Anat. of Melancholy, Part

127.

P.

Procktophantasmist.

The

person

intended

is

now

203

APPENDIX
generally

understood to be Nicolai of
reputation
of
of

Berlin,

a writer

who once
the

enjoyed a considerable

Germany,
Bibliothek,

and
a

through

medium

the AUgemeine Deutsche

periodical

established

by him about 1765

exercised
for

in

co-operation

with a

work Lessing and

Mendelsohn,
influence

nearly

twenty

years

widely -spread

upon
in

German

literature.
spirit,

The

severity of his criticisms,

written

cold

prosaic

involved

him

in

many

disputes;

among

others, with Wieland,

Fichte,

Herder, Lavater, and Goethe.

He had

also given offence to Goethe, by publishing a parody on

entitled

The

Sufferings of Werther,

"The Joys

of Werther," in which

Werther is made to shoot himself with a pistol loaded with chicken's blood, and recovers and lives happily. Goethe judiciously carried
alive,

on the joke by writing a continuation, in which Werther, though is represented as blinded by the blood, and bewailing his ill

fortune in not being able to see the beauties of Charlotte.

Goethe

says

tliat

his
all

reply,

though only circulated

in

manuscript, deprived

Nicolai of
talent,

literary consideration.

He

speaks of him as a

man

of

but incapable of allowing merit in anything which went the

his

least

beyond

own contracted
"

notions of excellence

Was

schiert

mich der Berliner Bann

!

Geschmackler-Pfaffenwesen

Und wer mich

"

nicht verstehen kann

lesen."

Der lerne besser

Goethe.
" Nicolai

To

the very last,"

says

Mr. Carlyle,
in

never

could

persuade himself, that there was anything

heaven or earth that

was not dreamt

He was animated with a fierce most people thought him partly right but when he wrote against Kant's philosophj% without comprehending it, and judged of poetry as he judged of Brunswick mum, by its ittility, many people thought him wrong. A man of such spiritual
of in his philosophy.
;

zeal against Jesuits

in

this,

habitudes
Nicolai

is

now by

the

Germans

called

a Philistcr,

Philistine.

earned for himself the painful pre-eminence of being Erz-

Philistine, Arch-Philistine."

German Romance,

vol. iv. p. 15.

In 1791

mental agitation produced such an effect on his nerves,

that for several weeks he appeared to himself continually surrounded

with

phantoms,
the
sufferer

whom

he

distinctly

knew, however,

to

creations of his imagination.

An account
quoted
204

of his malady,

be mere drawn up
of

by

himself,

is

by

Dr.

Hibbert

(Theory

NOTES
Apparitions)

and may be seen

in

Nicholson's Philosophical Journal,

vol. vi. p. 161.

Bleeding by leeches was one of the remedies resorted

to; this explains the subsequent allusion to them.

He

died in 1811.

The
Berlin.

phrase, es spitld in Tcgel, has sadly puzzled both translators and

is

commentators. Tegel

a small place about eight or ten miles from

In the year 1799, the inhabitants of Berlin,

who

pride them-

selves very highly on their enlightenment,

were

fairly

taken in by the

story of a ghost,
Tegel.
forth

said

to

haunt the dwelling of a Mr. Schulz at

character
of

No
to

less

than two commissions of distinguished persons set

the

investigate

the

apparition.
of

The

first

betook themselves to the house on the waited from eleven at night

till

13th

September,

1797,

one

in the

morning, heard a noise,

and saw nothing. The second party were more fortunate, for one of them rushed with such precipitation towards the place from whence the noise proceeded, that the ghost was under the necessity of decamping in a hurry, leaving the instruments with which he made
the noise (very clumsy contrivances) as spolia opiina to the conquerors.

Thus began and ended the Tegel ghost's

rivalled our Cock-lane ghost
in celebrity,

career,

deal

of

controversy.
1798,
in

This

statement
the

is

who however fully and gave rise to a good taken from an account
:

published in

8vo, with

motto
(to
:

" Parturiunt
I

montes,
it)

nascetur ridiculus mus."

"
free

Dr. Hitzig

whom
me

am

indebted for

proposes the following interpretation

We
from

Berlin folks (enlightened by

prejudice)

Nicolai) are so wise (so

and

Tegel

is

haunted

notwithstanding

(we

notwithstanding suffer our heads to be turned by a ghost story, so

stupid as this of Tegel.")

Shelley and M. Stapfer say Brocktophantasmist.

This alteration

destroys the etymology, which the allusion to the leeches shows to

be

HpcuKTos.

P. 128.

red mouse
at

jumped

out of her mouth.

seat
at

"The following
about
the
the others and

incident occurred

a nobleman's

Thiiringen,

beginning of
fruit in the

the seventeenth
girl

century.

The servants .were paring

left

room, when a

becoming sleepy,
off,

laid herself

down, apart but not far

still

on a bank, to repose.
red

After

she had laid

a short time, a

little

mouth, which was open.

to

one another.

Most of the The mouse ran hastily

205

mouse crept out of her people saw it, and showed it

to the

open window, crept

APPENDIX
through, and remained a short space without.

forward waiting-

maid, whose curiosity was excited by what she saw, spite of the

remonstrances of the
left her.

rest,

went up

to the

inanimate maiden, shook

little

her, and removed her to another place a

further

off,

Shortly afterwards the mouse returned, ran to

and then the former

had crept out of the maiden's mouth, ran up and down as if it could not find its way and was at a loss what to The maiden, however, was dead, and do, and then disappeared.
familiar spot,

where

it

remained

dead.

had done in vain. been often tormented by the sorceress and could have no peace Deutsche Sagen, No. 247. this ceased on the maiden's death." story of two maidens who were The same work contains a accustomed to dispatch their souls on evil errands in the shape of
;

The forward waiting-maid repented of what she In the same establishment, a lad had before then

smoke, and a story of a maiden whose soul used to leave her in the shape of a cat (Nos. 248, 249) but I find nothing about a gray mouse.
;

P. 129.

As merry

as in the Prater.

Alluding

to

the

Prater of

Vienna.
P. 129.

When

find yon upon the Blocksberg.

To

wish a

man

like

upon the Blocksberg Ich wiinsche den Kerl auf dem Blocksberg is This speech has in German wishing him at the devil, in English.
P. 133.

the effect of a pun.

The

Intei-mezzo.

It

is

quite

impossible to convey to

the English reader

effect

more than a very

faint notion of this scene.

satirical

The

is produced almost exclusively by rhymed, to things and persons not generally known even in Germany though no one who has ever witnessed the delight with which Germans belonging to the inner circle of educated society dwell upon it, can It is doubt that it possesses merit of a high order in its way.

allusions, quaintly

impossible to explain
the
limits

all
I

the allusions v.'ithout rambling far beyond

of

a note.

must,

therefore,

confine

myself to

such

particulars as admit of compression.

The Midsummer Night's Dream and Wieland's Oberon have furnished the basis of the first seven or eight stanzas and some of
the
last.

Mieding, mentioned

in

the

first

couplet,

Weimar

Theatre.
:

Goethe has immortalised him by a

2o6

was scene-painter to the little poem on

his death

NOTES
"

Dach Ach Die Arbeit stockt, die Hand wird jedem schwer, Dcr Lcim wird halt, die Farhe fliesst nicht melir."

Wie

Mieding todt

erschallt bis unter's

ein

Das hohle Haus, von Echo kehrt

There are other

lead

lines

in

the

me
The

to

suppose

him

poem, however, which would rather stage-manager. He is mentioned by

is is

Dohring
stiff
full

(p. 198).

Inquisitive

Traveller

Nicolai
to him.

and the allusion to the

man
I

smelling after Jesuits

He had

written Travels

of denunciations of popery.

have been told that the words put into the mouth of the northern artist are intended as a quiz on the style of expression
affected by the

allude to
to

German Goethe's own

artists of the

day, but

rather think they

Italian

Journey, which might be almost said

have revolutionised

his

mind.

distinguished
to.

German

critic

thinks that

of

Fernow is The Gods of Greece Die Goffer Griechenlands is the title a well-known poem of Schiller's, which somewhat scandalised
the person alluded

the strict people of his day.

in

Some
typiiy

useful notes

upon

it

are contained

Klattowsky's Manual.

The Purist
upon the stage.

is

said

to

a school of critics

who

affected

great zeal for purity of

expression, and

strict attention to

costume,

The Xenien, as

is

well known,

is

the

name

given by Goethe and

Schiller to verses, mostly satirical or epigrammatical, which

they

published from time to time in co-partnership.

important era in

German

literature.

"

A war

of

These formed an all the few good

(says Mr. Carlyle,)

heads

in the nation, with all the

in

many bad ones

for

began

Schiller's

Musenalmanach

1793.

The

Xenien

(in

another place he names the Horen along with them), a series of philosophic epigrams, jointly by Schiller and Goethe, descended
there

unexpectedly, like a flood of

ethereal

fire,

on the German

literary
visiting

world
the

quickening

all

that

was noble
with

into

new

life,

but

ancient

empire

of

dullness

astonishment
in

and
this

unknown pangs."
manner, but the

The war might have been commenced

burden of maintaining
it

(as

half admits in another place*) certainly

fell
ii.,

Mr. Carlyle himself upon the Schlegels and

German Romance,
207

vol.

p. 8.

APPENDIX
Tieck,

whose admirable critical productions the Xenien bears about the same relation that the sharp-shooters bear to the regular
to

army.

The Genius
literary journals
in
is

of the

edited

Age and The Musaget were the names of by Hennings who was at different times
;

controversy with the Schlegels, Schiller, and Goethe.

also

Hennings
is

attacked

in

the Xenien.

One

of Goethe's

minor poems

entitled

Die Miisagcfcn.
of

The extent
years
since
it

the

German Parnassus

is

an old joke.

few

thousand living
entitled

was computed there were no less than fourteen Goethe wrote a little poem authors in Germany.
Parnass,
:

Dciitscher

in

which

he

spiritedly

apostrophises

the invading crowd

"

Ach, die Biische sind geluiickt Ach, die Blumen sind erstickt Von der Sohlen dieser Brut Wer begegnet ihrer Wuth ? "
said

The

Crane

information, Irrlichter
poetical Icarus,
stick.

To the best of my to mean Herder. means parvenus and Sternschnuppe a sort of who mounts like a rocket and comes down like the
is
:

Most

of the

other allusions refer to well-known classes in

in

society, or to sects or schools

metaphysical philosophy.

originally

M. Varnhagen von Enso tells me that many more verses were composed for the Intermezzo. Goldene Hochzeit means the fiftieth anniversary of a marriage
;

Silberne Hochzeit, the twenty-fifth. P. 138.

To

roll before the feet,

&c.

This

alludes to a prevalent

superstition, that evil spirits will sometimes place themselves in the

path of a foot passenger,

the view of tripping him

in

the shape of a dog or other animal, with

up and springing upon him when down.

the spirits set upon him by Prospero
:

Thus Caliban,
"

in allusion to

Some time, like apes, that moe and chatter at me. And after, bite me then like hedge-hogs, which
;

Lie tumbling

in

my

bare-foot way."

Tempest, Act
P. 141.

ii.

sc. 2.

Tlie
round

What
is

are they

working about

the Ravenstone

yonder?

Rabenstein
it.

so called because ravens are often seen hovering

is

Retzsch's outline

the best commentary. 208

NOTES
P.
142.

My
the

mother, the whore, &c.

story,

This
in

song

is

founded on
Haiistitle

a popular
Miircheii

German

to

be

found

the

Kinder-mid

of

distinguished

brothers

Grimm, under the

of

Van den Machandel-Boom, and in the English selection from that work (entitled German Popular Stories) under the title of
The Juniper
as
Tree.

The

wife of a rich man, whilst standing

little

under

a juniper tree, wishes for a

child as white as

snow and as red

blood

under the juniper when dead.

and on another occasion expresses a wish to be buried Soon after, a little boy as white as
is

snow and as red as blood

born

the mother dies of joy at beholding

it, and is buried according to her wish. The husband marries again, and has a daughter. The second wife, becoming jealous of the boy, murders him and serves him up at table for the unconscious father

to eat.

The

father finishes

the whole dish, and throws the bones

girl,

under the
in

table.

The

little

who

is

made
ties

the innocent assistant

her mother's villany,

picl<s

them

up,

them

in

silk

hand-

and buries them under the juniper tree. The tree begins to move its branches mysteriously, and then a kind of cloud rises from it, a fire appears in the cloud, and out of the fire comes a
kerchief,

beautiful bird, which flies about singing the following song

"

Min Moder de mi slacht't, Min Vader de mi att, Min Swester de Marleenken

Socht
alle

mine Beeniken,

Un

bindt sie in een syden Dock,

;

Legts unner den Machandelboom Kywitt Kywitt ach watt en schon Vagel bin ich
! !

"

The

literal translation
iVIy

would be

mother who slew me,

father
sister

My My

who ate me, Mary Anne,

Gathers

ail

my

bones
in

And

binds

them up
!

a silk handkerchief,

Lays them under the juniper tree. Kywitt Kywitt ah what a beautiful bird
!

am

I.

P. 146.
duty,
is

The The

staff breaks. ^The signal for the executioner to do his

given by the breaking of a

blood-seat.

P. 146.

"This
is

wand or
to be

staff.

alludes to the

German custom

of

tying the unfortunate female that

beheaded on a wooden

chair.

209

APPENDIX
Males on such melancholy occasions are kneeling on a sand." Boileans Remarks, page 19.
P. 147.
little

heap of

She

is

judged.

-Some

difference of opinion prevails as to

the concluding sentences of this scene.

tation
is,

The more

poetical interpre-

that Margaret dies after pronouncing the last words assigned

to her; that the

spirit parts
;

and

deceitful
;

judgment of Heaven is pronounced upon her as her that Mephistopheles announces it in his usual sardonic style that the voice from above makes known its real
;

and that the voice from within, dying away, is Margaret's spirit calling to her lover on its way to heaven, whilst her body lies dead upon the stage. This is the only mode in which the voice from
purport
within, dying away, can be accounted for.

M. de

Schlegel, however,
:

certainly the highest living authority on such matters, says

gerichtet, se rapporte a la sentence de

" Sie ist

;

mort prononcee par

le It

juge

les

mots suivants, Sie

contended that Sie

ist
ist

gerettet

au salut de son ame."

has been
in

gerichtet refers both to the

judgment
to

heaven

and

to the

judgment upon earth.

can
well
exist,

As

to the translation of the passage,

is

no doubt
to

for

richten

literally

judge,

and

is

constantly used in the precise sense the above interpretation attributes

it
;

for instance,

Die Lebendigen und die Todfeii zu

richten, to

judge

the quick

and

the dead.

THE BND

.1.

C. Fosclcr, Pritilci. 6.

Tenter Street. MoOKlieUls. iMtuloil, B.C.